--150 members of Anonymous, the group that wears Guy Fawkes masks and opposes Scientology, was back yesterday to protest. [Boston Herald] --Welcome back, Army Reserve's 719th Movement Control Battalion! [Boston Globe, WCVB] --The Herald is launching a series on the mortgage mess. Today it focuses on an allegedly shady man, Dwight Jenkins, who was taking investors money in the hopes that fixer-uppers would be profitable when "flipped." [Background from Boston Herald, Jenkins profile from Boston......

Gary Vaynerchuk has a message for Bay Staters: Rise up against your oppressors. He says it’s a “sad state of affairs” that the place that hosted the Boston Tea Party allows itself to fall victim to “archaic wine shipping laws.” Vaynerchuk, the 30-something host of the wildly popular Wine Library TV podcast – “the Internet’s most passionate wine program” – says that “a few special interest groups have shut things down” and not allowed wine......

The Bachelor Casting Call Saturday, November 10, and Sunday, November 11, 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Nov. 10 and 3:00 to 6:00 pm on Nov. 11 Felt, 533 Washington St., Boston More Info It's the season for the new reality-television cycle, and with writers on strike, expect even more casting calls in the future. We just visited the "Beauty & the Geek" and "The Next Food Network Star" casting calls, and now ABC is......

An audition for the next bubbly Rachael Ray or earthy Emeril Lagasse would be rowdy, right? You'd think the personalities would be bouncing off the walls as chefs rumbled over who made the best coq au vin. But yesterday's atmosphere at the Flat Iron Tapas Bar & Lounge at the Bulfinch Hotel was tense and quiet, almost like a classroom in which students wait to take the SAT. The Next Food Network Star had......

Next Food Network Star Auditions Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 11:00 am-4:00 pm Flat Iron Tapas Bar & Lounge, Bulfinch Hotel 107 Merrimack St., Boston More info Auditions are being held for a new season of The Next Food Network Star. Last time, the show plucked Tommy Grella from Methuen out of a lineup because of his oversized personality, body type, proportions, and ever-present stogie. Unfortunately, homesickness got the better of him, and he left early.......

By now you've probably noticed that we're tracking Tommy Grella's progress in The Next Food Network Star because we're still annoyed that Boston wasn't represented in Top Chef (you hear us, Bravo?). And we like the fact that Grella breaks the "Boston tough guy" reality-TV character. Despite the ever-present cigar and Mafioso style that had one judge yelp, "You almost looked pissed off at us!" Tommy Grella is a tremendous teddy bear. This week's episode......

The Herald published a great article on the perception of Massachusetts natives on reality television. In general, they're perceived as tough guys at best and obnoxious at worst. Exhibits include Chris Tamburello of "The Real World," Mr. Boston of "I Love New York," Boston Rob of "Survivor," and John Lakness of "Pirate Master." (Where are the women here?) But Tommy Grella of The Next Food Network Star doesn't fit the stereotype. He's big and cuddly......

We were deeply disappointed that a Boston chef isn't on the new season of Top Chef, but the Food Network picked Tommy Grella of Methuen as one of the competitors for "The Next Food Network Star." The show made its debut last night, and we can see why the Food Network gravitated towards Grella. As soon as he walks into the house, he makes an impression with his girth and his declaration that he is......

This week we'd like to congratulate the -ist network's Mother Hen, Gothamist's Jen Chung, who found herself a recipient of Wired Magazine's Wired Rave Award. If that doesn't sound terribly exciting, keep in mind another recipient was J.K. Rowling. Yep, that's right, the -ist network and Harry Potter now have something in common. Go us. Austinist has a chat with the ever-fashionable Golden Girl Rue McClanahan, and managed to catch some local fashionistas making......

Jacques Pepin will be signing at the Brookline Booksmith between 1:15 and 2:15 pm, Friday, April 13. Note time/date change Boston has become a foodie mecca these past few weeks. Last week, the Oldways Table presented its vision of cuisine, and now Jacques Pepin will appear at the Brookline Booksmith on Friday afternoon. Pepin will be there to sign copies of Chez Jacques: Traditions and Rituals of a Cook, which came out on April......

Rachael Ray will be at the Barnes & Noble at Prudential Center for a book signing at noon tomorrow - Wednesday, December 20. Then she'll be at the Sur La Table in the Mall at Chestnut Hill on the same day from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. A Globe article named "Hatred of Rachael Ray Can Be a Powerful Uniting Force" became one of the most popular articles on globe.com (not as popular as "Flatulence......

Who says Boston doesn't have any celebrities? Since Norm and Cliff don't grace our Thursday night televisions and heralding Good Will Hunting has become passé a lot of people are talking about how we don’t have much celeb power here in the Hub. Forbes Magazine takes a break from rating the richest people in America and the world to take focus on the 100 hottest celebrities – based on both influence and on their annual......

Bostonist knows that any "serious" Thanksgiving reveler will be leaving work at noon today and not using those extra free hours to get in a little pre-holiday afternoon cocktail or some early Christmas shopping, no, but heading straight home and starting Thanksgiving food preparations. For all those A-typers out there, Bostonist presents our top Turkey Tips: Baste often, and plentifully. Or, if all that attentiveness sounds like, frankly, a bore, try this tip from......

Since it is the day of chocolate and love, Bostonist thought you might enjoy a nice cup of homemade hot cocoa, courtesy of Martha Stewart Living's February 2005 issue. Even while locked away in jail, she still is able to make one mean cup of cocoa. Hot Chocolate Serves 6 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped 4 cups milk 1 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar Pinch of......