Bostonist

More Than a Feeling: New George Clooney Movie Stares at Goats, Appreciates Boston

Kerry Skemp — 2009-11-06T18:30:04-05:00

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.

Our fair city first surfaces when Lyn attempts to explain his preferred methods for getting into psychic mode. "Drinking helps," he admits, then adds that music does too, one of his favorite tunes being Boston's "More Than a Feeling." The song comes up again later in the film, a reminder of both the necessarily subjective, feeling-based nature of both PsyOps and war in general, as well as of the 1970s vibe surrounding the New Earth Army ("I will eat your green skin" is one of the Jedi warriors' vows to Mother Earth).

Boston comes up again when military contractors rescue Cassady and company from a dire situation in the desert. We're cited as an important market for corporate product right before an inter-contractor fight opens fire at an Iraqi gas station (at which the contractors' SUVs arrived by pushing aside citizens' cars). Gee, doesn't it make you feel good to support these contractors with both tax and after tax dollars?

Some critics are slamming the movie for not taking a clear satirical stance, but maybe they're missing the point. War doesn't make much sense, whether it's waged by rich contractor assholes with guns or hippies with eagle feathers: was this movie about a particularly absurd form of "warfare" really supposed to? If nothing else, it's at least possible to close your eyes and slip away into enjoyment of Clooney's cloud-bursting eyes during the film.

Bostonist Was There: StarChefs.com Gala Tasting at The State Room 11/3/2009

Tom Lewis — 2009-11-06T17:00:51-05:00

StarChefs.com Gala Tasting at The State Room from Thomas Attila Lewis on Vimeo.

Excellent food and drink were had at StarChefs.com Boston Rising Stars Review 2009 held at the State Room downtown on Tuesday night, November 3rd. Local chefs and mixology talent showed their skills in an incredibly glamorous setting 33 floors up.

The Northern Lights Cocktail by Craigie on Main made with Highland Park Single Malt Scotch

One of the best things of the evening was the following cocktail made with Highland Park Single Malt Scotch:

Northern Lights

1 ½ oz. Highland Park 12 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
¾ oz. St Germain
½ oz. Lemon Juice
¼ oz. Douglas Fir
¼ oz. Orange Juice
¼ oz. Demerera Syrup
2 Dashes Tiki Bitters

Mount in a mixing glass, add ice and shake. Strain into a specialty glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

The tasted the wares of:

- Host Chef Jodi Bernhard from Longwood Events at The State Room
- Chef Mike Pagliarini from Via Matta
- Pastry Chef Jiho Kim from L'Espalier
- Chef Maura Kilpatrick from Sofra
- Mixologist Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli from Craigie on Main
- Martin Daraz Brand Ambassador of Highland Park Scotch

To see the full lineup check out StarChefs.com

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Presented By:

2009-11-06T17:00:51-05:00

Boston Blotter: Cops Chase Armed Man, Officers Stabbed

MJG — 2009-11-06T16:24:49-05:00

Blotter siren

-- Boston Police arrested a man with a gun on Thursday after chasing him on foot. The suspect was driving "erratically" near Egelston Square and attempted to park in front of a hydrant. Police determined the owner of the car was unlicensed, prompting officers to try to stop the car. The operator of the car exited the car and fled. Officers pursued the suspect, observed he was armed. After refusing to drop the weapon, police took it away during a physical struggle. The suspect faces various assault and weapons charges. [BPDNews.com]

-- An inmate at the Souza-Baranowksi Correction Center in Shirley allegedly stabbed two correctional officers on Wednesday after being told he'd have to share a cell. [Globe]

-- A Medford resident took a laptop from a Somerville apartment. One resident returned to observe the suspect carrying the computer. The suspect reportedly said "Hi" to the resident before fleeing. He suspect faces charges of nighttime break-in. [Somerville Journal]

-- Three youths allegedly broke into and vandalized the Chabad Jewish Center in Hyannis. [WCVB]

All charges alleged until proven under law.

Thanks to This Week's Advertisers

tien mao — 2009-11-06T16:00:00-05:00

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist.

Boston Symphony Orchestra, where you can get tickets for $20 if you're under 40!
Zipcar is wheels when you want them. Rates start at $7/hour and include gas, insurance and 180 miles/day. Join now and get $50 in free driving. Sweet.
GroupOn, using collective buying power to bring you one ridiculous coupon each day.

If you're interested in advertising on Bostonist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.

Bite Size News, November 6: Soldiers Remembered Edition

MJG — 2009-11-06T15:45:22-05:00

Image by sw_awesometown from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

Marine Capt. Kyle Van De Giesen's funeral was held today in North Attleboro. He was killed in Afghanistan on October 26. [WCVB]

A Plainville man is stationed at Fort Hood, where an Army major allegedly killed 13 people on Thursday in a shooting spree. [Attleboro Sun Chronicle]

Governor Deval Patrick: MBTA expansion ovr safety? [Boston Herald]

A Belmont High School student was hit and killed by a commuter rail train yesterday afternoon. [Boston Herald]

Lynn is not Florida, but it's possible Tuesday's mayoral election could result in a recount. [Boston Globe]

One person from Ward 1, Precinct 15 voted in Tuesday's election in Boston. [MyFoxBoston.com]

Randazza Served and Pwnd Glen Beck in 2009

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-06T13:50:25-05:00

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]

This Week In Booze: If You Build It

C. Fernsebner — 2009-11-06T13:30:27-05:00

islordhoopen.com

Is Lord Hobo open yet? How about now? Now? Reload. Reload. [islordhoboopen.com]

When life gives you beer cartons, make beer carton libraries. [Book Patrol]
Liquor licensing in Massachusetts is a dark art. [Drinkboston]

Cocktail prodigy Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli is leaving Craigie On Main at the end of the year. [Grub Street]
Do you love champagne? Or booze made by secretive, silent French monks? [Chartreuse & Pol Roger—PDF]

MC Slim JB unleashes his well-informed wrath upon ten reprehensible trends in dining, including exorbitant wine prices at certain Boston restaurants. [MC Slim JB]

Judge not, lest ye be judged by your beer preferences. [Bostonist]

Photo of the Day, November 6, 2009: Goodbye Teddy

p0larbare — 2009-11-06T13:00:10-05:00

jameswilsonphoto has another great Film Friday shot. This photo is much like his others with great contrast and a good use of available light. The framing of the shot works well and makes the subject of the photo appear larger than life.

Stuff to Eat in the Suburbs: Watertown—Stellina Restaurant

Ann Woody — 2009-11-06T11:30:12-05:00

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Have you ever needed that perfectly in-between place to dine in Watertown? Somewhere nice, but not too expensive. Somewhere you can dress up if you want, but without high fashion expectations. Somewhere tasty, but not overwhelmingly gourmet. If so, we've found that Stellina is a slam-dunk for all of these criteria.

Located in Watertown Square, Stellina is fairly easy to get to from Watertown, Waltham, or Newton. One of the best things about Stellina is the fantastic patio hidden behind the restaurant (and hidden from the huge parking lot right next to it. This romantic and fun little area boasts a beautiful fountain, flowers, and even grape vines, complete with real grapes. Unfortunately, we’re past prime outside time, but maybe if you familiarize yourself with the staff this fall and winter you can get good seats come spring.

Stellina’s boasts a basically Italian menu with an overall Mediterranean flair. On our most recent visit, we started with a pumpkin soup featuring chipotle as the special ingredient. When we first read the soup description on the menu, it didn't quite reel us in. However, as our waitress was bringing us our butternut squash ravioli, she informed us that an extra soup had accidentally been plated, and offered it to us. We never turn down free food, and fortunately it turned out that the soup was really quite good. The chipotle gave the dish an unexpected yet welcome kick, and the base of the soup was rich and hearty without losing any pumpkin flavor or tasting too sweet. It's those little things, like having our waitress offer us the extra soup, that stand out at Stellina. (Not to mention we have a new favorite spice for pumpkin soup.)

The butternut squash ravioli with fried sage leaves and brown butter was absolutely fantastic. The pasta was fresh and supple and the filling was a successful balance of squash, sugar, sage, and ricotta. The salty, smooth butter was accented perfectly by the slightly crunchy burst of flavor offered by the sage leaves. Odd as it may sound, this Bostonist will definitely be dreaming about this ravioli for months to come.

Tasty starters aside, the entrées are where Stellina can sometimes go awry. This Bostonist has had everything from acceptable pasta to fantastic swordfish at this little restaurant. While their pastas are generally decent, Stellina truly shines when preparing meat or fish. On this visit, we tried the steak with sautéed mushrooms and shallots, featuring spinach and polenta fries. Tender and cooked precisely as asked for, medium to medium rare, the perfectly salty steak was nicely accompanied by almost-caramelized shallots that prompted everyone at the table to have a taste. The shallots' role in the sauce lent a fantastically rich and slightly sweet addition to every polenta fry. Crunchy on the outside with soft, slightly creamy polenta on the inside, these polenta fries were almost worth the trip on their own.

We finished the evening with a lovely Tiramisu. Though Tiramisu is sometimes better in concept than execution, nothing in this light and flavorful dessert was overpowering. The lady fingers had been soaked just long enough, the cream was fresh, and the chocolate was of the finest quality. It was a wonderful way to end a fine evening.

In addition to these delicious dishes, Stellina offers an extensive wine list and surprisingly strong cocktails. You can check out Stellina’s menu (including the wine list) on the restaurant's website, though keep in mind that the many seasonal and daily specials won’t be listed online. Of note about Stellina is that they take reservations; a wonderful convention that more Boston area restaurants should consider adopting. The next time you're looking for a fun but not too fancy night out in the Watertown area, give Stellina a try.

Friday Happenings

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-06T10:53:07-05:00

Still from Los Muertos courtesy HFA.

Movies

Argentinian cinema is in great shape these days, and Lisandro Alonso is a big reason why. The HFA runs through the young director's four films this weekend to give Bostonians a glimpse at a promising talent who is not screened often enough in this country. The series kicks off today with Los Muertos (2004), which follows "the enigmatic journey of a newly released convict through the sweltering heart of the jungle," and Fantasma (2006), a companion piece that follows the star of Los Muertos as he wanders through Teatro San Martin looking for the premiere of his film. Alonso will be on hand to tell you why. Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, 7 p.m. $12. More information.

Attractive Men

The Office heartthrob and Newton native John Krasinski will introduce his new film adaption of David Foster Wallace's short story collection Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, his debut as a director. Kendall Square Cinema, 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

Singing

The Cantata Singers open their season with a refreshingly diverse slate of offerings, including music by Heinrich Schütz, Hugo Distler, Arnold Schoenberg, and J.S. Bach's entrancing Cantata BWV 8. Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory, 30 Gainsborough St., 8 p.m. $17 to $52. More information.

Night Nurse

Lady Saw often gets advanced as a point against dancehall's well deserved reputation for misogyny, and it is true that her songs cover territory—abuse and neglect, female sexual autonomy—that most dancehall hits, shall we say, gloss over. The fact that she shares a bill that also features Beenie Man—one of the best deejays of his generation—and Shaggy says something about the advancement of contemporary Jamaican music, but we are not sure what that is. Club Lido, 1290 North Shore Rd., Revere, 9 p.m. $35/$40.

Weird Music

Swedish experimental music concern Sons of God (Guds söner) make their Boston debut alongside Joachim Nordwall and local-ish trumpeter Greg Kelley. The band describes "their field of activity as an investigation of a mental airspace, undertaken with the aid of unconventional tools. The aural aspect is important, but equal care is devoted to the visual." Room 181, North Hall, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, 621 Huntington Ave., 8 p.m. $10.

Stylish Bostonians Have Nice Clothes, Lack Self-Awareness

LyetteAnn — 2009-11-06T10:00:35-05:00

Fashionable puppy by hmmlargeart from photos tagged "Bostonist" on flickr.

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.

He has since confirmed that, yes, he totally meant to sound like a jackass, but not in the way the entire Globe readership apparently thought. As a joke! Ah, yes, "The people that I tend to value for their contribution to the history of ideas happen to be the same people I happen to admire for their style. There’s a certain seriousness and formality and propriety that goes along with the ideas and ostensibly the style." This is totally hilarious now that we get it! But in the future, Ribas might want to take into account the fact that, if no one knows you're joking, it's not funny.

Happily, the list isn't all pretension and po-mo attempts at humor. There are some interesting tidbits to be found, although none of them really have to do with fashion. We learn that Patriots defensive lineman Jarvis Green is a wine aficionado; whimsical hat designer Marie Galvin considers herself a "recovering goth"; and Stacey Gabriel, co-director of genome sequencing and analysis at the Broad Institute, is "a huge follower of Us magazine and InStyle." And we're pleased that the Globe featured Bostonist favorites Maureen Hautaniemi of The Savant Project, and Martine Severin of blog-we-love Beyond Boston Chic.

But those highlights can't save a piece featuring quotes like, "I wanted to wear sneakers [to the White House] but my wife made me change into shoes," from Karmaloop owner Greg Selkoe; and, "I don’t care what people think. I’ll go to a dive bar with a white rabbit fur shawl on," from Intel computer architect Lisa Wu. Bostonist feels sort of bad for anyone that desperate to appear hip. But only sort of, since they still have more money and cooler jobs than us, after all.

Sports Redux: A Fair Point

Michael Femia — 2009-11-06T09:20:42-05:00

Charles Krupa / Associated Press

It's one point. A shootout loss. One goal. The Bruins will gratefully take it right now. With the offense struggling to even find the goal, let alone put the puck in it, and with swine flu racing towards the team, it's time to think about baby steps.

Sure it took two games, two periods, and 19 minutes for the B's to find the net, but Patrice Bergeron did, just in the nick of time, beating Montreal's Carey Price with an extra skater in the final minute. Sure, they lost the shootout, but they'll take it. "I think it was great getting that goal there and pushing it to overtime and getting a point out of the game. It’s a great step in the right direction," summed up Blake Wheeler.

The B's put their share of pressure on Price, outshooting the Habs 43-26, but they came up 0-for-3 on power plays, which concerns coach Clade Julien: "They’re squeezing the sticks. We’re trying to make them relax." Quiet, you. The lone Montreal goal in regulation came from old friend Glen Metropolit. Mike Cammalleri scored for the Habs in the shootout. Buffalo is next, tomorrow night.

The Red Sox made their first move of the brand-new offseason, sending two lefties (Jose Alvarez and Hunter Jones) to the Marlins for outfielder Jeremy Hermida. "This was not a blockbuster," cautioned Theo Epstein. The plan now is to have Hermida as a fourth outfielder, but since nobody knows how many outfielders we'll actually have by spring training, don't count on that. Jason Bay filed for free agency, and while the Sox have 15 days to talk to him exclusively, they're not expected to make him an offer he can't refuse. Also filing for free agency were Rocco Baldelli and "Country Time" Wagner, and don't expect the Sox to work too hard on either of those.

The NBA has decided not to make a big thing out of the Rajon Rondo/Chris Paul feud that flared up in Sunday's game. We've heard from a couple of sources that the contretemps started when Rondo reminded Paul that he won a ring and opined that Paul never would. And then Paul decided after the game he needed to teach Rondo "to respect me as a man." Quiet, you.

Boston Blotter: Heroin Like Swine Flu You Have To Pay For

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-05T16:10:18-05:00

-- Public health officials released a report today calling heroin and OxyContin addiction an "epidemic" in Massachusetts. The report calls for a public health campaign on the scale of the fight against H1N1 to combat the problem. The report estimates that 3,265 Massachusetts residents died from opiate overdose between 2002 and 2007. [Globe]

-- State police in New Bedford shot a man to death during a drug bust after he allegedly opened fire on them. [Herald]

-- Boston cops are warning folks in Southie about a man (pictured, allegedly) who has allegedly robbed three women in the past two weeks. The man strikes at night and has not robbed any men, police say. Who says chivalry is dead? [BPDNews]

-- A Harvard Business School student in drag tried to choke a cop while his colleagues took cell phone pictures, police say. [Herald]

-- The drunk driving WEEI personality who hit and killed a 19-year-old will not face homicide charges. [Herald]

All charges alleged until proven under law.

Bite Size News, November 5: Winners & Losers Edition

cheap_robv — 2009-11-05T16:00:00-05:00

Image by Lorianne DiSabato from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

Mayor Menino wants to "take more risks" in the next four years. [Boston Globe]

Flaherty and Yoon are keeping their options open. [Boston Globe]

Town of Amherst votes to accept two Guantanamo Bay prisoners as residents -- if they're released. [Christian Science Monitor]

One state official did such a poor job, she has been contracted to finish her work after being forced to resign. [Boston Globe]

If it was up to a BU researcher, buses and trolleys would never be covered in Bacardi ads again. [WBUR]

A gold star mother is halfway through Congress in hopes of being buried next to her Iraq veteran son -- presumably after she passes away. [Mansfield News]

The Bay State's racing commission strikes down Raynham Park's request for dog racing in 2010. [Boston Herald]

A Western Mass town attempts to clamp down on crazy cat ladies. [WHDH]

You can watch a live streaming of this evening's U.N. Gaza Report discussion at Brandeis between Richard Goldstone and former Israeli ambassador Dore Gold. [Boston Globe]

Bruins: Krejci Has H1N1

MJG — 2009-11-05T14:14:38-05:00

David Krejci had the H1N1 virus, won't play tonight and is day-to-day. Peter Chiarelli predictably said the team is taking sufficient precautions to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. Claude Julien and his club are down with Chiarelli's take. Julien says other teams don't care about the problems facing his team. FYI, Canadiens in Boston tonight.

Drinking in Boston: What Beer Are You?

Llalan — 2009-11-05T14:00:00-05:00

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.

An article in Ad Age earlier this week shared some of the company’s thought provoking, or perhaps just provoking, findings. More interesting than the article itself was the long string of comments following it: message after message filled with indignation, disgust, and bile. Everyone had been wrongly categorized.

Here are some examples of why the beer drinking masses were up in arms. While Budweiser drinkers are sensible, their Bud Light-drinking compatriots are “lacking in carefulness.” Also, Budweiser drinkers are 42% more likely than the average Joe to regularly use breath freshening strips. (?) Michelob Ultra drinkers are often conceited; Heineken drinkers, posers. And since Blue Moon drinkers are “quite willing to go against convention,” they naturally “can also be sarcastic and snide in order to get a point across.” Well, some of this is starting to sound familiar…

One matter that really got the readers’ goat was that all craft beers were lumped together as one category. However, the researchers had some flattering findings…if you consider it complimentary that craft drinkers are “more likely to spend time thinking about beer rather than work.”

More controversy after the jump

Photo courtesy dubstyle on Flickr using Creative Commons License

Some of these fantastical stats were debated humorously by the readers. “My stats prof always told me, ‘There are lies, damn lies, and statistics.’” We suppose if you are an abstainer and disagree with the fact that you “don’t like to loosen up very much,” you could be a little miffed. Another reader mocked the entire study: “This is the best self-help I've ever found. I can change to whom I want to be like, just by drinking a different beer!”

What do we think about this? When taken with a grain of salt, the study is just pretty amusing. On the other hand, if the broad strokes of the study’s generalizations don’t fit your own self-image, you’re bound to feel wronged. It was, after all, just a marketing research venture though, meant to find the average in a wide-reaching study. John Durant, Mindset Media’s Director-Research, reminds the readers that “the study we ran does not say all individuals in a group are the same.” What do our individual readers out there feel about such a study?

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Photo of the Day, November 5, 2009: Leafy Contrast

p0larbare — 2009-11-05T13:00:32-05:00

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.

Boston Jewish Film Festival: Hello Goodbye

Eitan Kensky — 2009-11-05T12:00:00-05:00

Boston Jewish Film Festival
Hello Goodbye
Tonight, Coolidge Corner, 6:30
Monday, November 9, 7pm: Hollywood Hits Premier Theater
Wednesday, November 11, 7pm: Showcase Cinemas Randolph

(Hello Goodbye is sold out at all listed venues, but standby for BJFF pass holders begins an hour before showtime any available tickets will be released for sale 20 minutes prior to the film.)

There's a scene in Daniel Burman's Empty Nest--a film we reviewed earlier this year for a screening sponsored by the Boston Jewish Film Festival--where the two main characters, a husband and wife, arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport and are summarily subjected to a search of their possessions, the passport authorities doubting their intentions. Suddenly the wife puts a stop to it. "We're Jewish," she says, "I know the dances," and just as quickly she and the agents break into a rendition of an Israeli folk dance. It's a punctuated moment of glee in what had been a mostly tempered affair.

In Hello Goodbye we find ourselves at the airport again and again, waiting to be let in to the country, or just as likely waiting to be let out. It's no surprise that this has turned into the defining cinematic trope of the rise of a distinct Israeli identity and its divergence from other manifestations of Jewishness. The border is the site where eligibility has to be determined, every piece of evidence questioned. In Israel it problematizes the relationship between religion and statehood, the notion that Israel is a homeland for every Jew caught up in the menial, physical task of sorting through documents that (generally) proclaim only nationality.

Hello Goodbye turns this all into high comedy. The protagonist, a formerly successful, secular Jewish gynecologist Alain (Gerard Depardieu!), is struggling to leave Israel. Waiting for his wife he doesn't get on the plane, despite imploring announcements on the PA. His bag is blown up and he's apprehended. But the interrogation becomes a means of psycho-analysis and we relive the events of the movie and look at everything that's transpired in a condescending tone that shows the absurdity of Alain and his wife's actions. Yet it simultaneously turns things back on the interrogators, revealing the entire process as one big joke.

Yes, this is a film about Jewish identity, but a funny one. Depardieu and Fanny Ardent are terrific as a married couple who leave Paris for good after their son marries a non-Jew and they take a terrific vacation in Israel. She immerses herself in the Jewish tradition while he experiences life the life of the struggling immigrant, a lower-class Israeli existence. Hello Goodbye is enjoyable throughout, one of the real highlight's of this year's festival.

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Presented By:

2009-11-05T12:00:00-05:00

"New New England"

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-05T09:28:53-05:00

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

Sports Redux: Celtics Escape Wolf Trap

Michael Femia — 2009-11-05T09:17:57-05:00

Jim Mone / Associated Press

Let's face it. That was uglier than Minnesota's starting power forward.

But if the Celtics are going to make a run at 70+ wins this season (and while PTI and the Globe and others are speculating about the possibility, we say, let's can that talk and let things unfold), they have to win games like last night. Trap games, against young athletic teams, on the second night of back-to-backs. And somehow, finally, the Celtics did.

The C's had their worst defensive night of the season, allowing Minnesota to shoot 52% and letting old friend Al Jefferson pound Perk down low as the Wolves built an 8-point halftime lead. Offensively, Pierce couldn't get anything going, Ray hit one of his dry spells, and only KG's midrange jumpers seemed to fall for the longest time. Finally, though, in the last four minutes, the C's locked down, forcing some wild Minnesota shots and turnovers to seal the 92-90 win. Doc Rivers on the turnaround: "We didn't get too excited, didn't get too frustrated when we were playing awful. I think that's good. That is a sign of experience. I don't think anybody panicked." The Suns come to town tomorrow.

And, well, it's still 2-1 this century! Yes, the Yankees (mostly Matsui) pounded Pedro and the Phillies to claim their 27th World Series title. Luckily for Red Sox fans and all good Americans, this Series went so long it's only like three weeks until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. We keep telling ourselves, anyway. The Herald breaks down some of the things that are keeping Theo Epstein worrying these days.

It seems like it's been months since the Patriots pummeled the Bucs in London. Now they're getting ready for the Dolphins on Sunday, and Tom Brady says he's never felt better. The mood in Miami is less than confident.

Boston Blotter: Election Day Shooting in Dorchester, Muggings in JP

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-04T16:43:50-05:00

-- Some Dorchester voters had more on their minds yesterday than the Boston mayoral contest. A 23-year-old man was shot and killed yesterday morning in front of the John Marshall Elementary School, which serves Dorchester as a polling place. Voting was briefly disrupted, and classes were dismissed early as a result of the violence. [Herald]

-- In JP, cops working the polls at English High School were able to nab three suspects for allegedly mugging two people in the course of a few hours. [UHub]

-- Somerville cops caught an alleged burglar with $3,600 worth of loot during a canvas of East Somerville, which has seen a spike in home break-ins. [Somerville Journal]

All charges alleged until proven under law.

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

MJG — 2009-11-04T16:16:31-05:00

Image by Amar Raavi from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

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]

A Massachusetts State Police officer lost his Logan airport billet and got a written reprimand after getting a manicure while in uniform. Hope that was one good manicure, trooper. [WCVB]

Whether he wanted it or not, Scott Brown has former lieutenant governor Kerry Healey's endorsement in the December 8 Senate primary. [Boston Globe]

Seven people, including three police officers, were injured in a fire in Lynn. [Lynn Daily Item]

The Phoenix discusses the present and future of Gov. Deval Patrick. [The Phoenix]

PolitixBlotter: N.H. State Rep. Arrested For Underage Drinking

MJG — 2009-11-04T14:35:48-05:00

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 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.

Portland Cello Project at the Middle East

Kerry Skemp — 2009-11-04T14:00:00-05:00

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Last night, Bostonist had the pleasure of meeting the Portland Cello Project, an enjoyable blend of classical, rock, and pop songs played out on cello strings. From Manuel De Falla's "Danza Del Fuego" to Britney Spears' "Toxic," the group ran the gamut of sounds both typical for and atypical of the classical instrument. PCP member Anna Fritz played her own composition, "Breath and Bone," a gentle rumination on interpersonal relationships. The band moved through other arrangements, including a Norfolk and Western song and the Halo theme. Adam Thompson of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down judged an audience singalong to a string version of Outkast's "Hey Ya," accompanied by Thao member Willis Thompson on drums. Boston received a 7.9 on the Pitchfork scale for its "Hey Ya" skills, besting Milwaukee, tying Urbana, Illinois; and eking by Montreal. Toronto, however, remains in the lead. Justin Power joined the group on for a few songs, upping the indie ante on stage. Throughout the evening, PCP seemed perturbed by the noise from Throwed, the "Indie / Electro Dance Party" happening upstairs at the Middle East, so finish the evening the band fought back with its "Toxic" cover, creating a clash between cello and silicone as disturbing as the clown mobs PCP frontman Douglas Jenkins described encountering at a dual ICP/PCP show in Detroit.

All told, the diverse musical experience made Bostonist wish for the opportunity to see more cellos (and strings in general) at venues that serve PBR rather than pretension, and let you in wearing Chucks and ripped jeans. PCP is currently on tour with Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, hitting NYC tonight, Philly tomorrow, and DC on Friday.

Photo of the Day, November 4, 2009: Carousel Dream

p0larbare — 2009-11-04T13:10:05-05:00

Ed O'Connor took a shot of the Kennedy Greenway carousel on the last day before it was removed for the winter. The long exposure gives us the light streaks and soft, dreamy appearance of the shot.

Boston Jewish Film Festival: Opening Night with Eli and Ben

Eitan Kensky — 2009-11-04T12:00:00-05:00

Boston Jewish Film Festival
Eli and Ben
Tonight, 7 pm
Coolidge Corner Theater
Sold out, though there will be a standby line for all-festival "Friends" passes. Eli and Ben plays again on Saturday at the MFA.

Eli and Ben, the opening film for this year's Boston Jewish Film Festival, is a far more muted affair than last year's The Deal. In this post-Madoff world, the showy tale of a Hollywood flim-flam man whose defining strength is his ability to talk story, the ability to effortlessly pile layers of lies on top of each other, is somehow out of step and no longer palatable. There's been too much artifice already. Times call for quieter, more restrained movies such as this one, a coming-of-age story that looks not so much at the loss of an innocence as a genealogy of morality. Bonus: Eli and Ben also happens to be a pretty good movie.

Where The Deal was bombastic and uninteresting as anything other than a rumination on the Jewishness of Jewish film, Eli and Ben is a universal story of learning about your parents, coming to see them as the flawed human beings they are. That the flaw is ostensibly Ben's financial corruption only adds to its timely appeal, but the specifics are secondary to the general ideal of truth and honesty. The message is simple, but its treatment is so thoroughly unpreachy and unrevelatory as to be quite satisfying.

Eli (Yuval Shevakh) is a wild student, just at the age when he's interested in girls, with an uncertain place in the school social hierarchy. Ben (Lior Ashkenazi), his father, is an architect turned city planner in the posh Tel Aviv suburb of Herzliya. Ben's is an extremely comfortable domestic life, uninspiring. His own father, one of the most successful architects in Israel, regularly stops in to make grandiose statements about art. Theirs is the reverse of the relationship between Eli and Ben: Eli wants to know who his father really is, while Ben's father doesn't ever care to see past surface beauty.

Eli and Ben is at some times delicately acted, though at others decidedly not; Yuval Shevakh's performance breaks at moments when we suspect he hasn't lived the experience, during moments of emotional extremity. Overall, Eli's emotional growth is more static than we would want from a child actor, where the emphasis has to be placed on development, but the portrayal is natural. Ori Ravid's direction is steady. This is unflashy-though-assured storytelling, a guiding hand moving us from place to place, seldom overbearing. And somehow, in a movie where none of the individual components are outstanding, the end result almost is.

The Boston Jewish Film Festival opens tonight at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. View the full schedule here, or buy tickets here. As noted, Eli and Ben is sold out tonight but plays again on Saturday, November 7 at 7PM at the MFA. Tickets are sold out online but available at the MFA in person or by phone at 617-369-3306.

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Wednesday Happenings

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-04T11:30:38-05:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djs1021/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

Booze

Blanchard's Grand Wine Tasting is basically the best semi-annual event on JP's Centre Street. The evening includes samples of more than 100 wines from throughout the world, and all of the wines featured in the tasting will be on sale at 20 percent off. There's also a fair bit of snacking to be done. Veteran's tip: The best snacks usually go out last. Blanchard's Wine and Spirits, 741 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Free.

Latin Jazz

Berklee's Latin Culture Celebration 2009 continues with performances from the Angel David Mattos and the Pan American Faculty Band. Berklee alumnus Mattos weaves his Puerto Rican heritage into his Latin jazz compositions and is a heck of a piano player to boot. The Pan American Faculty Band does what it sounds like it does. Berklee Performance Center, 136 Mass. Ave., 8 p.m. $10.

Drinking it Off

Whether it was GOP wins in Virginia and New Jersey or the repeal of Maine's same sex marriage law, there's surely something from yesterday's election that progressives need to drink off of their minds. Join our old friends at Socializing for Justice tonight as they sip cocktails and take stock of yesterday's victories and defeats. Mantra, 52 Temple Pl., 6 p.m. $2.

Symphonies

The NEC Philharmonia tackles a pair of early symphonies by Beethoven and Ives, Beethoven's first and Ives's second, that served as programmatic notices for iconoclastic careers to come. Conducted by Hugh Wolff. Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory, 30 Gainsborough St., 8 p.m. Free.

You Say You Want a Revolution... Playoff Win?

Kerry Skemp — 2009-11-04T11:00:00-05:00

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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.

Sports Redux: TSOP (The Strangulation of Philadelphia)

Michael Femia — 2009-11-04T10:15:17-05:00

Matt Slocum / Associated Press

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.

The C's did what they do, overcoming a shaky offensive night by putting Philly in the Iron Clamps of Shooting Doom, holding them to 36.3% from the floor and an earth-shattering 1-of-16 from the three-point line (and that one was in the garbagiest of garbage time). Sixers coach Eddie Jordan: "I would say in that outside of the first 6 minutes, when I thought we played really, really well, it was certainly a stinker."

The defense covered up some really lame offensive performances: KG scored 3, Ray Allen 5. Making up for that was Paul Pierce (21), and the long-range gunnery of Rasheed Wallace and Eddie House, a combined 10-of-13 from long range. Sheed was extra motivated to be playing in his hometown: "A lot of friends and family don't get the opportunity to see me play. Everybody can't get that league pass and all that stuff." He even got himself his first Celtic technical for old time's sake. The C's go on to Minnesota to visit Garnett's old friends and our own old friends Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes tonight.

The Bruins finally broke their win-one/lose-one streak that's lasted the whole season, but unfortunately, they did it by losing their second straight. Specifically, they got shut out for the second straight game and lost 2-0 to the Red Wings. Coach Claude Julien moped afterwards, "We're going to have to decide that we're tired of hearing we had a good effort without winning." In Toronto, Phil Kessel made his Maple Leafs debut, and fortunately for the psyche of Bruins fans everywhere, he didn't score either.

Pedro Martinez is all that stands between the Yankees and the World Championship tonight. So Dan Shaughnessy makes nice and tries to pretend that the Boston sports media was with him all the way. As we consider ourselves part of the Boston sports media, we'd like to disavow basically everything Shank says, ever.

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

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-04T10:00:20-05:00

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

In some areas [along the Red Line between Alewife and Harvard], the fasteners are no longer holding the track in place, causing track to move out of alignment and presenting the possibility of train derailment.

The $80 million project to fix the leak that is causing that deathtrap is only one of "51 projects classified as ‘a danger to life or limb of passengers and/or employees,'" which will cost the T approximately $543 million to complete. Meanwhile, the report also forecasts budget deficits of $550 million by 2014, and we will be riding our bike to Davis Square.

The report, which was ordered by Governor Deval Patrick, places blame for the T's financial apocalypse where riders have long suspected that it lies: the legislation in 2000 that changed the structure of the state's support for the agency. Instead of paying off the T's debt at the end of each year, as it had, Massachusetts now pays the agency a fixed rate every year. Unfortunately, costs of labor, health care, and electricity have skyrocketed since the overhaul, and the T has been racking up debt like a drunk gambling addict trapped in Suffolk Downs for eight straight years.

How to fix the situation? As the report says, "The Outlook is Bleak." (The report also includes a chapter called "Debt—The Faustian Bargain," which we wished we could have written.) But, the report does suggest that the agency "Slow expansion until the safety and maintenance priorities can be addressed"—goodbye Green Line extension—and that "the MBTA should not be able to enter into new debt obligations without MassDOT oversight." So there's that. [Globe]

Image from the 2007 Red Line escape courtesy Lolita Parker Jr.

Maine's Yokels Restrict Marriage Rights

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-04T09:24:11-05:00

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]

Election Shocker: Boston Retains Incumbents, Again

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-03T22:27:36-05:00

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]

Boston Blotter: T Cops Grab Gropers

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-03T16:25:09-05:00

Blotter siren

-- T police arrested two men on unrelated counts of indecent assault and battery yesterday. William Carlyle, a 52-year-old Boston man, was nabbed at Copley Station after allegedly grabbing a woman's buttocks on the Green Line platform at Park Station. And William James was picked up for allegedly grabbing a woman's buttocks on a Red Line platform at Quincy Center Station last June. [MBTA Spokesman Joe Pesaturo]

-- The Boston police sniper who faced accusations that he raped a fellow officer will not be charge with a crime. [Herald]

-- An enraged victim and a downtown valet helped to foil an apparent attempted carjacking. Boston police later arrested the alleged perp. [BPDNews]

All charges alleged until proven under law.

Presented By:

2009-11-03T16:25:09-05:00

Bite Size News, November 3: People Choose Edition

MJG — 2009-11-03T15:59:25-05:00

Image by fr3sh_fruitt from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr

The early voter turnout in Boston was heavy in places as the choice between Menino and Flaherty was finally made. [Boston Herald, Boston Globe]

Peter Anderson, a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves, claims he was fired from Taunton State Hospital on Monday because of his military service obligation. Under federal law, a termination of that kind is illegal. [WCVB]

In case you needed more information on swine flu, Harvard has launched an iPhone application exclusively dedicated to it. [Boston Globe]

Online job postings in the Boston area have dropped close to 25% in the past year. [Boston Business Journal]

The owner of a Brockton plant linked to the most recent beef recall insists his plant is clean and wasn't the cause of any problem. [Brockton Enterprise]

Tufts University is now the most expensive school in Massachusetts. [Boston Herald]

Stephen Colbert has signed his show on as the official sponsor of the U.S. Speedskating team after the previous sponsor, a bank, went bankrupt. [SI.com]

Nice Weather Gets 11% of Voters Out by Noon, 16% by Now

Kerry Skemp — 2009-11-03T15:30:00-05:00

According to the Globe, over 40,000 ballots were cast by noon today in Boston's mayoral and municipal election. According to Twitter, 20,000 more votes came in by 3pm to raise the day's turnout to 16.7% so far. If you haven't already voted, check out if your city is having an election and where you should go to participate. Scandalous update: A Vietnamese translator at a polling place in Dorchester was apparently given the boot for telling voters to support Flaherty. Another Dorchester site complained of having no Vietnamese translator.

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

p0larbare — 2009-11-03T13:00:55-05:00

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.

At-Large Candidates Support Parks

MJG — 2009-11-03T11:33:00-05:00

Boston Park Advocates highlighted the 2009 At-Large City Council Debate on Parks and Open Spaces on Monday. The candidates discussed ways to increase funding for parks, expansion of bike lanes, community gardens and seniors programs, and how to maintain sports fields. The debate featured 100 sponsors, which means people love parks. [UniversalHub]

Still on the Fence? 20 Reasons to Vote for One Guy Or Another

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-03T10:55:18-05:00

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]

Tuesday Happenings

Rick Sawyer — 2009-11-03T10:40:50-05:00

Image courtesy NEC.

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.

Folk

The David Wax Museum plays "Mexo-Americana Music," fusing the twang of the Ozarks with sounds of the border towns. Boston's homegrown answer to Calexico. The Alchemist Lounge, 435 S. Huntington Ave., Jamaica Plain, 10 p.m. Free.

Indie Rock

Those of us who still fondly remember Three Mile Pilot might harbor a soft spot for The Black Heart Procession, which emerged from the ashes of that superior group. It's indie rock, but not the bad kind. Paradise Rock Club, 967 Comm. Ave., 8 p.m.

Election Day Arrives

Kerry Skemp — 2009-11-03T10:30:00-05:00

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).