Popular

Bostonist Popular: The posts that got people talking, ranked by your recommendations and comments.

9

Voters in New England's least appealing state told approximately one tenth of its population that it could go f*ck itself but without the sanction of marriage. Maine, also home to Olympia Snowe, did not include a trigger option in its narrow repeal of the state's same-sex marriage law. [Globe]

Stylish Bostonians Have Nice Clothes, Lack Self-Awareness
7

Bostonist is so glad the New York Times and Co. didn't nuke the Boston Globe back in the spring, because then we would never have had the sublime pleasure of reading the interviews with 2009's "25 Most Stylish Bostonians" (so named because, we presume, the "25 Most Stylish Bostonians Who Have More Money and/or Cooler Jobs Than You" was too long). We were especially taken with João Ribas, whose outstandingly obnoxious quotes like, "I have an abhorrence of both consumer culture and infantilism, which is why I don’t own a pair of jeans" make him sound like a character out of a Decemberists song.

Photo of the Day, November 2, 2009: Jack
6

Either Readredreedreeds found this as amusing a concept as we did, or he's just tired of Halloween. A cute, quirky shot like this shows why it's a good idea to always have your camera around.

Photo of the Day, November 3, 2009: Deer Island
5

JHamel took what is normally portrayed as an ugly subject and made it into art. This photo of the water treatment plant on Deer Island resembles a Frank Gehry masterpiece, and teaches us an important lesson on using perspective and framing to enhance your subject.

Photo of the Day, November 5, 2009: Leafy Contrast
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BGLewandowski was able to pair cool blues and warm reds in today's PotD. The photo has a sufficient depth of field to give you fine detail in both the leaf and the wood, and the great shadows add another dimension to the subject.

This Week In Booze: If You Build It
5

When life gives you beer cartons, make beer carton libraries.

4

It's gotten boring waiting for Lord Hobo to open. The restaurant, which will eventually occupy the deathbed of the B-Side Lounge, has been threatening to open since last January, which has given its owners plenty of time to think of a less retarded name. ("Peasant Bourgeoisie"?) At any rate, its menu is finally live, complete with nearly two dozen irritating ellipses. The good news? 30 freaking beers. (Via Grub Street Boston)

Red Line a Leaky Death Trap, MBTA Basically Screwed, Says Report
4

Okay, we might be exaggerating a little, but this sentence from the independent review of the MBTA that was released yesterday caught our attention:

Drinking in Boston: What Beer Are You?
4

Ever been afraid that you’re being judged by what kind of beer you’re drinking? Ever judge others based on what they’re drinking? Of course you have. Well now one market research company, Mindset Media, thinks they have cracked the code on beer drinkers’ personalities.

3

Michael Flaherty and Tom Menino have both tried everything in the past few months to knock people's socks off. Unfortunately for them, many Bostonians remained thoroughly socked, and some have not even made up their mind yet whom to vote for. Over at the Globe, Alex Beam runs through 10 reasons to vote for either guy. Our favorite? Regarding Menino: "2. Flaherty likens Menino to jailed former mayor James Michael Curley, “The Rascal King,’’ of Jack Beatty’s memorable book title. But aren’t there two statues of Curley in downtown Boston? Isn’t his home a local landmark? Throw me in that briar patch!" [Globe]

3

Brian McFadden redraws our regional map. Watch out for Liebermanistan. [Big Fat Whale]

3

A quick update on the Glen Beck WIPO case. The verdict is in, and Gloucester attorney Marc J. Randazza's totally killer pleadings were sufficient to convince the WIPO panelist to deny Glen Beck's complaint against the website GlenBeckRapedandMurderedaYoungGirlin1990. Since Randazza regrettably did not write the decision, it is not particularly hilarious, but it is pretty scathing. We, as Americans, should be happy that Frederick M. Abbott, panelist for the Geneva-based WIPO court, has more reverence for the First Amendment than Glen Beck does. [Legal Satyricon]

Close to the Edge: Near Death on the Orange Line
3

Last night, leaving the Celtics game, we saw a woman come an inch away from death. It was on the inbound Orange Line platform at North Station. We had missed a train and had to wait an interminable 15 minutes before the next train arrived, so we were relieved when the Worflike voice of the T announced "The next Orange Line train to Forest Hills is now approaching." The lights of the oncoming train shined through the tunnel.

2

The Globe reports that a Charlestown man has done the unthinkable. No, not break his thumb in a fight. He spent seven days running across the Sahara, and finished fifth out of a group of ninety-six folks crazy enough to do the same. George Chmiel, who's only been running for two years, came in near the top of the Sahara Race yesterday, after a series of blisters, lost toenails, and items (including pants) left behind to save weight in his backpack. Chmiel ran for his honorary "niece," Luci, who has panhypopituitarism. Learn more about Luci and her disease at Luci and George or the Magic Foundation. Congratulations to George for not only mastering the race, but also supporting such a great cause.

2

Another even-numbered game on the schedule; another win. It's a more reliable way of telling time than waking up this morning and not remembering if your cell phone/computer/alarm clock made the change for you.

2

Tonight, Mayor Thomas Menino was reelected to a historic fifth term, which, if served, will make him the longest serving mayor in Boston history. He beat Michael Flaherty by a wide margin of 57 percent of the vote to 42 percent, according to unofficial results. Incumbent City Councilors at large John Connolly and Stephen Murphy also retained their seats by hefty margins. Felix Arroyo and Ayanna Pressley will join city council with 16 and 15 percent of the vote, respectively. Pressley will be the first African American woman to serve on city council in Boston's history. In District 7, Chuck Turner blew away his competition despite a cloud of legal troubles, and Sal Lamattina, Michael Ross, and Mark Ciommo each held off challenges in their respective districts. [City of Boston]

2

Superficially, it looked like the old rivalry again. The Sixers have brought back the old logo, the old floor from the Spectrum (more or less) and uniforms that hearken back to the days of Dr. J and Andrew Toney. But the team that Philly put on the floor last night was no match for the early 09-10 Celtics. The '83 Sixers might not have been.

2

Like we said on Monday, the New England Revolution came through with a win against the Chicago Fire in their first MLS playoff game of the season on Sunday. Bostonist was there to watch and came away with a couple of photos. The Revs face Chicago again on Saturday, this time in the Windy City. Play was sloppy at times in the first match. Though the first goal was made on a sweet header by Emmanuel Osei, the team's second goal (by Shalrie Joseph) came only after what seemed like hours of muddled chaos in front of the net. Let's hope the team can pull it together this weekend with some strong passing and smart shots.

2

Brian Poznanski, a 20-year-old state representative from New Hampshire, was arrested this weekend at an underage drinking party. Poznanski is also an Eagle scout and the vice president of his junior class at St. Anselm’s College. Fox25 got reaction from Nashua residents. Dan Hogan said this proves why we can't vote for young people. Right. Some mature politicians could clean up the mess made by whippersnappers like Poznanski. Robin Portello of said there are no second chances in politics. Really? Has she heard of Joe Biden? Bostonist has one question: Is Poznanski's middle initial "W"? All charges alleged until proven under law.

2

Bostonist caught the new George Clooney flick, Men Who Stare at Goats, last night. Despite being a little over the top, the film is an often-entertaining (if ultimately somewhat pointless) ride through the PsyOps of the New Earth Army, with The Dude as guide (you could pretend that Jeff Bridges is playing a different character here, but he's really not). From killing goats to locating long-lost idols and nemeses, the psychic abilities of Clooney's character ("Jedi warrior" Lyn Cassady) prove remarkably effective, at least within the fictional realm. The film's a sort of Fear and Loathing in Baghdad with a little Catch-22 mixed in, plus some Kevin Spacey going borderline Nazi (it's mostly the mustache, but he's also quite an asshole to his fellow Earth Army members). Perhaps more important than Cassady's excessive tan and his appropriately groovy mental prowess, though, is the subtle yet sustained presence of Boston in the film.

Sports Redux: The Chronicles of Rondo
1

The Celtics are beating good teams by double digits. They're ticking off All-Star opponents. They're 4-0 after dispatching the Hornets last night at the Garden. And most importantly, they seem to have locked up their point guard for a few more years.

1

The chatter has been rampant for months, and today's the big day. Not only will Tom Menino and Michael Flaherty face off in the race for mayor of Boston, but there are many other municipal elections going on around the state. Find out if your town is having an election today and, if so, where you can go to vote. If you're in Boston proper, you can locate your polling place here. Happy voting! Check Blue Mass Group, Red Mass Group, and Universal Hub for voter comments (or leave your own here).

Tuesday Happenings
1

Minimalism [nec]shivaree, the "attack wing of NEC's new music program," performs three benchmark pieces that span two and half decades of American minimalism. Steve Reich's Piano Phase (1967) might be the best known of the three; it was Reich's first attempt to integrate the phasing effects of his tape experiments into live, instrumental music. No less stunning is Morton Feldman's iconoclastic Why Patterns? (1978), in which three soloists play three separate patterns that eventually interlock with each other. ("The compositional concentration is solely on which pattern should be reiterated and for how long," Feldman said of the piece.) The third piece, Mario Davidovsky's Synchronism X (1992) pairs live guitar with a prerecorded electronic piece. Directed by Stephen Drury. Williams Hall, New England Conservatory, 30 Gainsborough St., 8 p.m. Free. More information.

Bite Size News, November 3: People Choose Edition
1

Bite Size News, November 4: Politics, Cops, Kids Edition
1

While Boston voted for Mayor Tom Menino again, cities and towns around Massachusetts voted incumbents out and elected a diverse array of new leaders. [Boston Globe] With thousands of auxiliary ballots left to count, City Council and School Committee candidates in Cambridge won't have official results until at least the end of the day Wednesday. [Cambridge Chronicle] A Georgetown woman wants the Bay State to require insurers to cover children’s hearing aids. [Boston Herald]

Haunted Libraries in Massachusetts
0

Even if you're not feeling spooky this weekend, the spirits might come to you in the right place. No, not the graveyard; not even the Lizzie Borden house. This Halloween, you might just be most haunted in a seemingly innocuous location: the library.

0

In pop culture, scientists have mostly suffered from the flimsiest of one-dimensional portrayals. Whether socially awkward shut-ins or evil geniuses bent on world conquest, the popular imagination has taken a rather dim and confused look at real people doing interesting work. And really, is there much to see behind the white coats, anyway?

0

Gothamist learned that Vespa owners are resorting to illegal measures (okay, scraping off their vehicle ID numbers) to keep their scooters on the street, not that it'll help.

  • Book It: November Book Events
    0

    November's not quite as packed with book events as October was, but some big names are still coming to town. The list includes Al Gore and David Plouffe, as well as Jonathan Safran Foer, Cory Doctorow (of BoingBoing) and John Krasinksi, who's adapted David Foster Wallace's Brief Interviews with Hideous Men for the screen. Harvard Book Store is also hosting a special sale for "frequent buyers," though you must sign up for the club before November 8 to qualify. Check the list to see what your favorite events might be this month.

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