Heya Bostonist, I am a hypothetical Chicago Cubs fan who has just moved to Boston from another large city, where I liked to watch the Cubs among fellow fans. In fact, my old city had a Cubs bar, where Cubs fans would go to watch our team lose all the big games. But, in Boston, I had to watch the Diamondbacks sweep the Cubs in the NLDS all by myself. Where do Boston's Cubs fans......

I've been hearing about a tapir named Seamus on the news. What's a tapir? Yes, Franklin Park Zoo has a baby tapir newly named "Seamus." "Seamus" just received his name after recovering from a bout with pneumonia, and he's ready to make his debut. While "Seamus" is a properly Irish name for Boston, a tapir is actually a mammal originating from South America or Malaysia. It resembles an anteater with hooves. Seamus is a Baird's......

I recently received a petition by e-mail to support passage of a proposed state law that would protect mothers who breast feed in public from being charged with indecent exposure. Is this really a pressing issue? I thought we had protective laws. - A mom in Somerville No Mass. law expressly protects breast feeding, putting the Commonwealth in the minority of states (only 14 others have no law that explicitly allows breastfeeding in public places)......

You might have seen all the signs around Boylston Street today announcing the street being closed Saturday morning. The city then put up a flashing sign for motorists this afternoon warning them of the “Lions Club International Parade of Nations.” What the hell is the Lions Club parade you ask? Well, Bostonist had to submit an “Ask Bostonist” question to itself and did a bit of research on this one. The 89th Lions Clubs International......

So I have an apartment that I love with one problem: a faulty, f***ed up, awful refrigerator. It should be BURNED. I can't even have frozen vegetables because the freezer part is one giant block of ice. However, in the lease the owners have cunningly put "a refrigerator unit is a privilege, not a right. If it breaks, it's on you" (essentially). Doesn't that break tenant-landlord stuff? Don't we renters have a right to......

Dear Ask Bostonist, I have two out-of-town friends (NYC and DC) who are visiting me next weekend. They are all excited about being in Boston for St. Patrick's Day, but every time I venture out of the 17th in Boston, I don't seem to have a good time...very long lines, cheesy bars (Purple Shamrock, anyone?), or just a skeleton crew is left. Any suggestions where I can take them on St. Patty's Day after work?......

Hey Bostonist, I'm Adam, and I'm a food writer for your sibling to the south, DCist. I'm making a trip up to Boston for St. Patty's to visit friends and will likely be the one cooking the big dinner we won't eat at either 'noch's or Harvest. What I'm looking for is the best cheesemonger in Boston, as I'm planning my menu around the cheese course. I figured you guys would have the goods. Please......

OK, this isn't the ordinary Ask Bostonist, where some kindhearted soul makes the flattering mistake of thinking Bostonist might be a useful resource. Instead, a reader e-mailed us privately to object to our periodic use of the "F" word. We responded (pleasantly) to her complaint, and she wrote back. Because we think the question of whether and when to curse is an interesting one (especially for us blogging hacks who aspire to some semblance of......

Hi! Do you know any cool places for trivia night? Thanks. - Amy Boston is a bar town and a nerd town, and bars + nerds = trivia night. Bostonist has lived in other cities and never encountered the enthusiasm for boozy tests of general knowledge that pervades our fair city. That said, everyone has different priorities for what makes a good trivia night. Bostonist Katharine points out that a great many trivia nights in......

I want to ask.. why I had to go to boston.com to find out why there's snow on the Common! - Lodrina C. Um, because we dropped the ball when we should have been telling you about the upcoming Boston Winter Festival, in which the City's Parks Department teams up with various Vermont ski mountains and Toyota to put lots of fake snow on the Common and provide free snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other......

Do you know what movie is being flimed on Charles Street (the Cambridge end)? The last block is filled with trailers and temporary tents. I saw some names on a trailer door - Lucy and Desi - which led me to believe it's an "I Love Lucy" remake. But a quick search on IMDB revealed no movie of the same title. So have you heard what it is? Or, more importantly, do you know what......

Thanks for the tips on biking in the winter in boston. I'm outfitting myself with gear, but my gloves for biking are sub-par...do you have any suggestions? Bostonist has often found that our hands and feet are the weak points in our winter biking preparation: There are a million coat options, many of them good, and practically everything these days is made of some space-age polymer that wicks sweat, traps heat, and serves up delicious......

Dear Bostonist, I’m got a some holiday parties this month and I always show up with a random bottle of wine in hand for the party host. Do you have any creative, inexpensive gifts that aren’t alcoholic and not completely lame, to give to the party-throwers? Thanks! Sick of Chardonnay Bostonist has definitely been in that situation as recently as this past weekend when we showed up to a friend’s soiree with a 12 pack......

I'm a Chicago native doing the whole school thing here in Boston. Know of any good bars to watch the Sox sweep their way to victory with my fellow Chicago brethren? Ordinarily, Bostonist would be disinclined to spend time answering the inquiries of out-of-towners who root for teams that bested the Red Sox in the playoffs. But dammit, we like Ozzie Guillen so much that we can't say no, and we have lived in enough......

Hi Bostonist, As a graduate student who refuses to watch TV, I spend most of my time under a rock reading, writing my masterpieces, and surfing the internet. Because of that, I don't get out too much and I pretty much rely solely on you, bostonist, for all my cambridge/boston news. I heard it through the grapevine today that it's now illegal to drive and talk on your cell phone... is this true? - Danielle......

Hey Bostonist, I ditched my car about a month ago and have been biking everywhere I used to take my car. It's been great, don't get me wrong, definitely the way to get around the geographically small and relatively hill-free city is by bike. I'm a little uneasy though: your horror stories of getting hit, almost getting run over by the UPS man, and getting ticketed don't really help. I wonder if you could......

I will be spending 4 days in your lovely city for a design conference at the Hynes starting next week. Would have you have any suggestions as to what I should do while I am visiting Boston? Good places to eat on the company dime (sadly solo), places to go, etc? I want to make the most out of my trip. Any suggestions would be welcome. - Samae Claspill For once, our use of the......

Hey Bostonist: last week you told us where we could get rid of some "September 1" leftovers and help the needy. I wanted to give my extra clothes to the Katrina victims but I heard on Morning Edition that physical goods aren’t the best donations. Are Goodwill, Boomerangs, and the Salvation Army my only options for clothing donations? Relief efforts are gearing up to full swing in the Gulf Coast. Monetary gifts are the best......

Lawmakers on Beacon Hill will consider a bill this week that would require all religious organizations in the state to disclose their real estate holdings. The bill's supporters concede that, although phrased generally, the proposal is aimed squarely at the much-pilloried-of-late Catholic archdiocese, motivated by widespread anger over, among other things, school and church closures that the church has managed somewhat inartfully. The Globe story contains an interesting discussion (which we recommend) of how these......

Everyone in Boston has seemingly fallen in love with the tabloid. The Herald—classic tabloid, The (Weekly) Dig—stapled, redesigned tabloid, The Metro—free tabloid, The Phoenix—booted the fold tabloid. The Boston Globe goes tabloid today with the launch of their new six times weekly (Mon-Sat) feature "Sidekick." Unlike the recent redesign over at the Phoenix, the Boston Globe will still fold twice, horizontal and vertical rise will be creased. James Reed will be editing Sidekick, which......

I am relatively new to the area and found myself stymied last weekend when I got a craving to play video games, only to find that Jillians is sorely lacking in that department. Do you know of a place in the Greater Boston Area like Dave & Busters or Gameworks that has arcade games? Preferably one that also serves beer? Thanks in advance! Brigita Why Boston does go by the name "Hub of the Universe,"......

My sister got engaged over Christmas and is insisting that I be the maid/matron/whatever of honor at her October wedding. I'm the only female in the wedding other than the bride, so I get to pick any dress I'd like to wear. My sister is coming to town over Easter to "help me" with this choice, and I'm at a loss as to which stores we should hit. Filene's seems a natural, but are there......