Bostonist was among the throng that lined Charles Street all day Saturday for Boston Pride's annual parade. We saw a lot of feathers, leather, strollers, recycling, parasols, Crocs, and puppies, but, more than anything else, we saw the kind of support and solidarity that make Massachusetts such a wonderful place to live. If you missed the show, catch a few glimpses in our gallery.......

The Bruins' win over Pittsburgh had a little something for everybody. It had scoring (including two by Marco Sturm), goaltending (Tim Thomas came one shot away from two straight shutouts), fighting (Milan Lucic exchanged pleasantries with Jarkko Ruutu for a good long satisfying while), and most importantly a win, which pulled the scorching-hot B's within four points of the Northeast Division lead. Kevin Paul Dupont analyzes why doing nothing might have been the best move......

Bostonist never thought of Bill Belichick as cover material, unless one counts the awesomeness of the Sports Illustrated cover with Belichick as Santa. But a few gay males might get a surprise when they pick up the latest issue of Spirit Magazine, "Boston's Premier Magazine for the Gay and Lesbian Community." Because there's Bill Belichick's mug and hoodie alternative on the cover. Fabulous it is not. First off, Belichick is a cougar-sexual. Second, "Belichick" and......

As any Massachusetts resident well knows, former governor and Republican presidential aspirant Mitt Romney can transform himself overnight. One minute, he's the moderate governor of a liberal state. The next, he's a staunch conservative who claims that he somehow tamed the residents of that state. In the second and last installment of the Year in Mitt Mashups, we'll look at the various disguises Romney wears: An Osmond Mitt Romney has never shied away from being......

--When word got out that Mayor Menino wanted to bring in a petting zoo to revitalize Downtown Crossing, we thought it was a joke. But it turns out that the barnyard animals are at the crossing on weekends outside Filene's Basement. Animal activists are underwhelmed, and how can looking at sad, cold animals inspire people to shop? [Boston Herald] --Wondering what all the screaming was about early yesterday evening at Downtown Crossing? It didn't......

--Boston Daily has been following the story of Bernard Margolis, the Boston Public Library president who got fired by Mayor Menino. And Margolis has plenty to say about it. [Boston Daily] --The South End Is Over isn't over. And the incoming yuppies South End Is Over doesn't like better watch out: "If the Eagle ever closes, which I hope it will not, if only to annoy the pretentious Atelier dwelling yups across the street, I......

--Where have all the gay bars gone? Robert David Sullivan writes that we should be concerned about their disappearance: "In the Boston area, many of Harvard Square's bookstores, Kenmore Square's student eateries, and myriad other places that guaranteed a diverse urban experience have closed their doors, replaced by a far more uniform lineup of bank branches, chain stores, and upscale restaurants." A must-read. [Boston Globe] --If you haven't noticed with the cold temperatures and long......

Former Massachusetts governor and presidential aspirant Mitt Romney attended the Republican CNN/YouTube debate last night, even though he admitted he was concerned about taking questions from a snowman complaining about global warming. CNN teased him a little bit in the beginning by showing a brief highlight reel with the snowman, but then they disappointed by saying that only "serious" questions would appear. And then CNN showed questions from a dude performing a singsongy tune on......

The Globe published a long piece about the mystery still surrounding Army specialist Ciara Durkin's death in Afghanistan in late September. Durkin, who was from Quincy, was shot in the head, although the Army called it a "non-combat-related incident." Her family is not satisfied with that explanation, and the Globe report provides evidence that someone on the base may have had it out for Durkin. In one event, Durkin wrote an e-mail saying, "Ok. so......

--Corinne Stephen was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the brutal death of Dontel Jeffers, a four-year-old who died in her foster care in 2005. [Boston Herald, Boston Globe] --Massachusetts environmentalists are upset because they think the Legislature's new energy bill will breed wind farms. Folks, if you want to free yourselves from oil, you are going to have to suck it up at some point and try out the turbines somewhere. [Boston Globe] --Follow-Up: Herald......

Michele McPhee, police beat reporter for the Herald, has been hiding a few secrets. For all of her tough talk about crime on the streets, she has a passion for fashion. Unfortunately, she has a strange way of letting that passion show. Word is out on the Web that McPhee has a theory for why fashion designers like skinny models. She said on her WTKK show, "And who do homosexual men like? Little boys." McPhee......

Former Massachusetts governor and presidential aspirant Mitt Romney has introduced the "Mitt Market." When the news first got out, it seemed that Team Romney made another boo-boo along the lines of advertising on gay.com. "Mitt Market" is awfully close to "meat market." However, the Mitt Market is another way for Romney to raise money, as if he doesn't have enough. The Mitt Market is just like one of those stores that sells your crap on......

With his staff was busy reaching out to his gay supporters, Mitt Romney went to work alienating what must be a much larger constituency: his extended family. At a campaign stop in South Carolina yesterday, Romney ran into a woman whom he misidentified as his "niece" (she's his second cousin) who works as a "teacher" (she's a pediatrician) and whose name he did not know. Despite her cousin's warm affections, Heather Krueger (whom Romney called......

It's safe to say both the anti-gay presidential aspirant and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and readers of gay.com got quite a shock when they saw a Mitt Romney for President ad on the website. Was Romney letting his rainbow flag fly? Jim Rutenberg at the New York Times reports that it is no joke: "Over the course of at least two days in August, [readers of gay.com] may well also have seen banner advertisements......

If you see incredibly offensive signs or spot a ruckus breaking out at Boston churches tomorrow, don't be surprised. Bostonist wants to warn you that Fred Phelps, the poor excuse for a human being who has picketed funerals of American soldiers with signs that say "GOD HATES FAGS," will be in town this weekend. Sam Baltrusis at EDGE Boston writes, Rev. Fred Phelps and his vitriolic, anti-gay group of supporters will be in Massachusetts on......

While Mitt Romney might be hugely relieved, Boston NBC affiliate WHDH put a little (D) by Idaho Senator Larry Craig's name when replaying portions of Craig's Tuesday night interview with Matt Lauer: One can only imagine what Democrats would have to say about that: "Nuh-uh! He's not one of ours! No thanks!" Most likely someone in the WHDH control booth was sleepy, and they figured Craig was a Democrat because Romney's not friends with him......

Dan Savage Thursday, October 18, 8:00 pm The Heights Room, Boston College, Free More info. The ubiquitous sex columnist and friend of Colbert Dan Savage will offer advice at Boston College tomorrow. Lena Chen at Sex and the Ivy told us of the appearance and said she might be there herself. (Now that would be something if Chen and Savage were on a panel together!) Savage has popped up frequently in the Ist-a-Verse. Seattlest was......

And embattled Idaho Senator Larry Craig, he of the "cruisy toilet," is surprised that former Massachusetts governor and presidential aspirant Mitt Romney dropped him like a hot potato? A really, really hot potato you'd like to meet in a Minneapolis toilet stall? Anyway, Craig, who is trying to withdraw his guilty plea to the misdemeanor after allegedly trying to pick up an undercover cop in a Minneapolis restroom, went on NBC and gave Romney two......

The death of Ciara Durkin, Quincy resident and member of the National Guard in Afghanistan, is gaining widespread attention because of questions surrounding her death. After saying that Durkin died in combat, the Pentagon has said that she did not die in combat, but she was actually shot in the head while on a secure base. Her family announced yesterday that Army investigators met with them for four hours on Wednesday to reassure them that......

You may not have noticed since they've been largely under the radar, but the Boston Film Festival starts this weekend at the AMC Loews Boston Common, and they have some good movies. The Boston Film Festival website has the full schedule, and Bostonist has pulled out some highlights: Lars and the Real Girl, Saturday, September 15, 7:30-9:30 Have you ever wondered what might happen if a fella bought a blow-up doll and actually fell in......

The Joiner is a newcomer to Boston and a compulsive joiner of clubs and organizations. He shares his experience joining Boston area groups weekly at Bostonist. The scene at Downtown Crossing's Alley Bar the afternoon of Saturday, September 1, should have been more somber, considering New England's only gay rugby squad had lost its first match of the season by a score too embarrassing to relate. But that's not how rugby works. After the match......

Former Massachusetts governor and current presidential aspirant Mitt Romney is probably off somewhere kicking himself right now. One of his biggest supporters, Senator Larry Craig, a Republican from Idaho, allegedly engaged in "lewd conduct in a men's room" at the Minneapolis airport. We'll let you use your own imagination - just see our past post about individuals who are "Lewd at Logan." On paper, Craig was an ideal match for Romney in the nonsexual sense.......

Frankly, we'd like to know what Daisuke Matsuzaka did to alienate his teammates. Does he play "Gyroball" constantly in the clubhouse? Mix wasabi in with the Ben Gay as a lockerroom prank? There must be some reason why his lineup consistently fails to give him any run support, making him 1-3 against the Devil Rays to his 12-7 record against the rest of the league. Don Orsillo put it best late in the game last......

Londonist are starting to think their city is getting just a little bit too expensive, when even Christian Slater can't afford to go out there. And there's no escaping, as local singer Lily Allen discovered when she was barred entry to the US. The British mapping agency caused further bad karma, by blocking a 3-D representation of London in Google Earth. But the smiles returned to Londonist's faces as they interviewed Baroness von Reichardt,......

NESN asks the question, "Will the poetry in the field spark romance in the stands?" Perhaps - but the first episode of Sox Appeal suggests that if you really want to woo someone, you're better off doing it without the distractions of a baseball game. Garrett Lucash, a retired figure skater who will apparently do anything to banish the stereotype of the male figure skater, meets with three different women. He tries to strike......

LAist was comped front row seats by the Dodgers due to Malingering being struck by a foul ball last week, and she came back with some great photos, and earlier made fun of 4th of July on Venice Beach. But the biggest stories of the week was that the Mayor's Hot Tamale was revealed, and that a Kwik-E-Mart was erected in Burbank. Phillyist was busy doing the Fourth of July up right, exercising their......

What with Paris Hilton's release earlier this week and the upcoming celebration of American Independence (sorry, Londonist!), we've been thinking a lot about freedom. Freedom to vote, freedom to choose, and most importantly, freedom to blog. Here are a few things we're happy we've been free to blog about this week. Being the nation's capital, DCist felt especially proud to let freedom ring this week by exposing the really important issues, like how sad they......

From the tallest skyscraper in the City of Brotherly Love to Canadian tourism copywriting brilliance, here's what you should know from our -ist cities: This week, Phillyist took a gleeful listen to the White Stripes' exciting new release, watched in awe as their new tallest skyscraper was finally completed, found a cheaper way to get to Gothamist, invented a tasty new dessert, and brought back their Craigslist Round-Up feature with a bang. Bostonist watches......

We hear Mitt Romney doesn't do caffeine. That's a Mormon thing, but it's not unusual – plenty of non-Mormons eschew caffeine. But there's more to the no-caffeine-Romney connection than dietary choices. Now that Romney has taken the lead in the New Hampshire polls, people are starting to wonder if he is the real deal – or if he's like caffeine-free Coca-Cola. --Whether he's the real deal or not, he's launching a soda-pop-worthy ad campaign and......

--Lowe's Home Improvement stores have been getting a heap of negative publicity. First, their banner on the Boston Globe website's home page obscured the big news that legislators voted down the gay marriage ban. (See Adam and Spatch's appropriate sarcasm regarding these obtrusive Internet ads.) But it gets worse. The Lowe's brass is probably cringing at the news that a shootout erupted at the Danvers Lowe's last night. Imagine, you're at Lowe's, you're picking up......