--The Turnpike Authority is giving you a choice: Bitch about traffic during the day while they do roadwork, or pay up for it if it gets done at night. [WBZ] --If you were feeling icky about horse racing after the gruesome death of Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles, you're not going to like this: Horse manure from Suffolk Downs has been running into a Boston Harbor tributary. [Boston Herald] --The Federal Aviation Administration is......

You've always meant to start that wine tasting group, right? It's just about the last New Year's Resolution that we haven't broken. Well, now's the time. Introducing Third Thirsty Thursday. The concept is the spawn of the Interweb's wine darling Gary Vaynerchuk. "When you and the rest of your crew each bring a bottle, it's the best way to get started with wine," he said. Your first opportunity is next week Thursday, March 20. Continue......

Six bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1870. You can't afford them. On March 14, Skinner, in conjunction with Lower Falls Wine Co., presents an auction of fine wines in Boston. This is only the second fine wine auction in Boston. As an effort to earn a piece of the nearly $200 million annual wine auction market, Skinner and Lower Falls Wine Co. presented the first one back in 2007. The auction offers something for everyone.......

--Fraternity brothers at MIT's Delta Upsilon are saying that Robert Wells, who died over the weekend, fell from his window in an accident. [Boston Globe] --Over at the State Senate, Therese Murray has introduced a health-care reform bill. One point of the bill is to demand that health insurance firms explain themselves when they raise their rates. [Boston Herald] --Massachusetts legislators will discuss a bill officially allowing breast-feeding in public because there are still......

The days are getting longer. The nights are getting shorter. Layers of clothing are slowly coming off and you're getting thirsty. Luckily local wine whiz Chris Campbell (left) has a few wine suggestions to slake your thirst. First, German Riesling. Campbell says when enjoyed in the spring and summer, this varietal becomes not only enjoyable, but thought provoking. "Try a dry, light, Kabinett style," he said. "Its low alcohol and high acidity has my attention,"......

Photo by Phillyist's Matt Johnson, SkyscraperSunset.com, December 19, 2007. Phillyist explored an impending implosion and lived to tell the tale.Gothamist marveled at the city's new NYC-branded condom campaign - especially the use of a Toronto landmark in the advertising. (Also, fun fact: Gothamist turned five years old yesterday.)Tired of the worldwide Scientology protests? Torontoist totally isn't: they covered the big downtown protest the day it happened, and followed up with an examination of all......

Darkbuster's 3rd Annual Hometown Throwup Darkbuster with 20 bands over 8 shows at Harpers Ferry Tonight, 2/17, through Sunday, 2/24 9:00 p.m., $10.00 (18+) Last Show: 2:00 p.m., (All Ages) $50 All-show pass available Yes, the title is a parody on The Bosstones' annual show that they recently revived, but Darkbuster is giving playful homage to their friends. They even played one night of the Hometown Throwdown in December. Darkbuster started their own multi-show tradition......

Veggiest Quick Hits -- Happy Valentine's Day! For us being vegan is all about the love. We love our bodies and want to keep them healthy and strong and free of animal products. We love the environment and want to protect it from the extremely destructive practices of factory farming. We love animals and don't want to see them mistreated. You'll most certainly be doing your heart a favor. Heart disease is still one......

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......

Meet our new food columnist, Lisa Dacundo of "Transplanted Tastebuds." She'll bring you food ideas for the weekend, such as this comforting pasta meal. Growing up in New England, many of us know what it's like to endure bitter cold winters that seem to last well into April. When we were kids, a little tomato soup from a can somehow melted away the chill that crept into our bones during the hours of sledding, snowmen......

The cold weather is no excuse for you not to get out! Human Dogsledding No kidding. The 8th annual National Human Dog Sled Competition will start today in Lowell. You can learn more about other Lowell Winterfest events, which sound like fun. However, for Bostonist, it is all about the human dogsledding--and teams usually wear costumes. Challenger rounds will be tonight at 6:45 and 10:00 pm, and championship rounds will be tomorrow at 3:30 and......

Music Cat Power will be at the Orpheum. Last time Bostonist saw her, she seemed a little plowed and, with her dark glasses, she resembled country singer Ronnie Milsap. Since then, she's been hanging out with Karl Lagerfeld. She's different every time, but the music is always memorable. 7:30 pm. It's cosmopolitan night at the MFA, and we aren't talking about drinks. The uber-sophisticated Keren Ann and Dean & Britta will perform. MFA, Remis Auditorium,......

After freezing our buns off outside Casa Lampoon, while 'Pooners were slinging T-shirts and crackers at the crowd, only to be told that Paris Hilton was late, we're glad that we weren't the only ones who missed out on seeing the Queen of Wine in a Can.* The BPD denied a group of rowdy fans the opportunity to see Ms. Hilton early this morning on Warrenton Street: As officers were attempting to move traffic and......

Gordon's Fine Wine and Culinary Center is slated to host "Sip, Shop, and Support" at their Waltham store Feb. 12 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Gordon's' Marketing and Events Director Lindsay S. Cohen created the monthly charitable event with her friends Gail Schneider and Catherine Howe during her first few days on the job. "The ultimate ladies night out" features a free wine tasting as well......

The Savant Project has an unwieldy name for a bistro, and, riding the 39 bus on our way to Brigham Circle, Bostonist kept thinking of idiots. But the name sticks with you, as does the interior of the place, once you've gotten a glimpse. Small, in the way urban restaurants have to be, it had a scattering of tables in the front, under the glow of gold tin walls. The bar lay just past the......

Movies Catch a sneak preview of In Bruges, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. The movie, which screened at Sundance, follows two hit men who are forced to vacation in the tourist hotspot. CNN dared to call the film "Tarantino-esque." Whether or not "Tarantino-esque" fits, the trailer is full of some sharp one-liners. Director Martin McDonagh will be there. Brattle Theatre, 7:00 pm. Doors open at 6:00, and getting there early is recommended. Check out......

Meet more of Bostonist's new writers! Dale Cruse, of Drinks Are On Me, is launching a weekly drinks column for Bostonist that will appear on Wednesdays. Bostonist loves his site, which tracks food and wine trends, and is thrilled that he's joining the team. The Boston Wine Expo is slated for February 8-10 at the Seaport World Trade Center. Jonathon Alsop, founder of the Boston Wine School, gives us his rules to make sure it’s......

The cold weather - and holiday festivities - descended upon Gothamist. The Rockefeller Christmas tree was lit, Broadway stagehand finally ended their strike, and NASCAR decided to run their victory lap through Times Square. There were disturbing photographs revealing the working conditions in which many city manholes are produced and ninjas were also a hot topic, either robbing homes or entering into alibis. But the city was really rocked by how Rudy Giuliani's visits......

--The National Research Council says that the federal review of the BU Biolab flunked. Future neighbors of the lab, you might want to join an opposition group or invest in a gas mask. [Boston Globe] --BU officials don't particularly care about the report. [The BU Daily Free Press] --The state appeals court overturned a 2005 reckless driving conviction for a man who drove recklessly because he had just been shot and was driving himself to......

Art House Silent Art Auction Thursday, November 29, 7:00 pm Brattle Theatre, Cambridge, $15 More info The Brattle Theatre is holding its fourth-annual silent art auction so you can do some good for local culture and make your apartment less ugly. Bids start at $35, which is pretty cheap for getting your foot in the door as an art collector. The Brattle has previewed some of the works so you can glance at them ahead......

Beauty and the Geek: For the next-to-last episode, the teams traveled to wine country for an "I Love Lucy" challenge. They had to pick grapes, stomp them, and bottle grape juice--while tied to each other. Despite the disturbing sight of Big Dave and Little Jasmine hunkered over each other while stomping grapes, the pair won the challenge, prepared three bottles of grape juice laced with Eau de Foot, and guaranteed themselves a spot in the......

Organization is everything: Pick up a pill box and the drug store, and count out your Xanax, Ativan, or Valium ahead of time. Determine how many pills you will need for certain situation. Label one box of pills "EMERGENCY." Fill it. You can use that one when your cousin Rooster, who spent a few years in juvie, shows up at festivities looking for money, or when your uncle pats your butt and calls you "pleasingly......

MSPCA-Angell Wine-Tasting Benefit Tuesday, November 20, 5:30-7:30 pm Harvard Club, 374 Comm Ave, Boston $25--good cause! More info The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell will get you to open your wallets for a good cause by getting you drunk. To be more specific, the MSPCA-Angell is holding a wine-tasting focusing on Portuguese wines and Portos. The event promises more than 150 varieties to whet your palate. The group has been......

For those who will be entertaining vegetarians or vegans this Turkey Day, or for anyone looking for healthier meal options, Bostonist wanted to show that a delicious and animal-friendly feast is easier to prepare than you may think. By substituting plain soymilk for regular milk, and non-dairy margarine for butter, traditional dishes such as mashed potatoes can be made easily vegan. Oh, and if you don't tell your guests you made the switch we......

Two Boston University professors broke the stereotype of uptight, elbow-patched instructors last week when they let their students bring beer to their advertising class. Unfortunately, these cool professors are now in trouble. Angela Marie Latona at the Daily Free Press reports that Lawrence DeLamarter and Dave Schaefer (wait--any relation to el cheapo Schaefer beer?) let students bring beer so they could build an advertising campaign around the product. Their next classes were cancelled. That is......

--Casting Meryl Streep as our beloved Julia Child? Appetizing or nauseating? One writer's tummy churns at the thought. [MenuPages] --Cab drivers are organizing in preparation for a battle with the mayor over whether or not they have the right to refuse fares that might be dangerous. [Boston Herald] --Attention, Logan Airport passengers: Continental Airlines is moving to Terminal A from Terminal C on November 11. And the white zone is for immediate loading and unloading......

Meal and Chat With Rudolph Chelminski Sunday, November 4, 5:00 pm Chez Henri 1 Shepard St, Cambridge Make reservations at 617.354.8980 More info Goodies With the Phantom Gourmet Tuesday, November 6, 7:00 pm Z Square 14 JFK, Cambridge More info Who knew that a bookstore would know how to feed the people so well? But Porter Square Books will be serving up two culinary treats. First off, brace yourself for some Beaujolais. Author Rudolph Chelminski......

This was a rough week, as we were faced with some hard calls regarding our shows, the World Series, and TiVo limitations. TiVo did not deliver America's Next Top Model, so this week's discussion is somewhat abbreviated. --Beauty and the Geek: The geeks have a fantasy handed to them on a platter--turning their beauties into super-heroines for the Comic-Con convention in San Diego. The geeks are dizzy with the possibilities, especially Northeastern Jen's partner, William.......

Celebrate the origins of the Native American genocide by going to see some European art! Bostonist couldn't miss that irony. But the truth is, if you've got this rainy Columbus Day off anyway, you could do worse than to check out the Fenway Cultural District's "Opening Our Doors." All the museums in the area are free today, from the MFA to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. (The reaction of one Bostonian: "The Gardner's free?! That......

…maybe because he is your average elderly tourist! Back when the FBI was posting pictures of an old white guy on its website because they thought it was Whitey Bulger, Bostonist wrote, "The particular pair in the photo look like any other upper-class retired couple looking for a European wine-tasting. If it isn't Whitey Bulger, then the retired couple mistaken for Bulger and Grieg are in for quite a surprise." And guess what? An old......