Ferry trip from Boston to Salem, MA.

Like many New Englanders, I ventured to Salem for the first time on the week before Halloween, because that is a thing that you do around here. That was also the last time I did that thing. And honestly, the only thing I remember from that trip was how bad the traffic and parking was.

 Ooooooh.  Fast Ferry...

That’s why I recommend taking the ferry from Boston during the Halloween off-season. I took my little excursion from Long Warf to Salem on a sweltering summer day in mid-August. One of the sites you are sure to see on your visit is freaks. People dressed as pirates, witches, warlocks, demons and combinations of all four wander the streets as if they're in an Edgar Allan Poe story. Some are actually gainfully employed. For others; I guess it’s a lifestyle choice – which is fine. Either way, great photo opportunities abound. Personally, I prefer to take pictures of other weird shit that that I find...and the weather was a bit warm for warlock wear.

If you do go, plan for a full day and set a couple hours aside to visit the Peabody Essex Museum. The Peabody is considered one of the oldest continuously operating museums in the United States and houses one of the major collections of Asian art in the country. These pictures are from an outdoor installation on the Crowninshield-Bentley Lawn by artist Patrick Dougherty appropriately entitled Stickwork. 

Minus all the witches and shit - Salem is a classic New England seaside village with plenty of souvenir shops, whimsical galleries, lobster shanties and multitudes of objet d'art. But let’s be honest – Salem is known for the witch trials, and right behind the Salem Witch Trials Memorial is the Burying Point. For dead people…

Fun with filters

I must admit, I did have an agenda on this day. I knew that at the end of my journey a golden liquid reward would be waiting for me. Beer. Session beer, to be exact. Notch Brewing had recently opened a tap room and brew house along a canal off Derby Street downtown. The recently converted industrial space features a great outdoor patio, soft gooey German pretzels, German Landjäger (a fancy Slim Jim) and fresh quart cans to go. The place rules. 

Also recommended if you go…

The Lobster Shanty. And when they say shanty, they mean it! If you’re looking for a legit Lobster Roll, you’ll find it here. The best seafood joints in New England are usually not on the water (where you pay for the view, not the quality of food).

If you get into town early, eat breakfast with the locals at The Ugly Mug Diner. They serve the best fresh ground coffee and the Mug offers Bloody Marys and other boozy breakfast drinks.

For lunch, try the Gulu Gulu Café. It has a bit of European / Bohemian flair and they serve a pretty decent crepe and a nice meat and cheese plate.  

Bye Salem. Back to Boston…  

Photos of the Central Artery coming down. Big Dig Boston.

As every season passes, it gets harder and harder to remember how dark, dank and sketchy this giant swath of Boston actually was. Dirty Old Boston (to steal a term from a fellow blogger) was a very real reality. Walking under the "raised artery" late at night was a dangerous proposition - with rats the size of Zdeno Chara staring you down - looking for a fight.

Before the actual digging that became the Big Dig began, those in the know knew that this little project was going to be a shit-show. Boston had a bit of a reputation for corruption - the year that ground was broken on the project was the same year Whitey Bulger went on the lam. The highway that sliced through our city like a rusty machete, from Boston Garden to Chinatown, had to be addressed...no matter how many palms needed to be greased.

These pictures are dated December 2003 - but I can't be sure if that's the exact date of these photos...but I guess I did own a digital camera back then. Maybe someone more familiar with the Big Dig can comment and confirm the date.

I started working on Kingston Street down by the Chinatown Gate around 1998. The ground shook and groaned on a daily basis as if Godzilla was searching for an exit from the underworld. What a friggin' mess it was downtown...

If I accidentally left my window open just half an inch over the weekend - I'd have to spend 10 minutes cleaning the dust and grime off my computer and desk.

If I remember correctly - these photos were taken between Congress and Broad Streets.

And now for something completely different...

These photos were taken within the last two years in approximately the same area.

Look...all the rats have been replaced with little humans. 

It's been one hell of a renaissance for Boston, but not without it's problems and unfinished parcels. The Greenway is still a work in progress. Some of the original plans will never see the light of day, but maybe that's a good thing...hopefully it will grow organically and served the people of Boston for decades to come.

The Greenway is starting to live up to it's name..

Boathouse Bash along the Charles River - Summer 2015

The Harry Parker Boathouse sits along one of my regular bike routes along the Charles River. It's the funky modern building that looks like a gigantic Norwegian sauna on Nonantum Road as you make your way towards Newton. It mocks all those other more traditional boat homes owned by major universities. It's a community rowing center with the goal of "making rowing accessible without regard to individual ability, background or experience."

 

I've seen various types of events being held on the premises while pedaling along the river - from weddings to corporate team building type shit. When I saw a public event on my news-feed that included some of my favorite local bands and beers - I figured I should pull over and join the festivities for once. I was not disappointed...

The Riverside BBQ was awesome - killer food...and simply perfect weather along the Charles. I believe they held a couple of these BBQs over the summer with different restaurants and bands. Look how much fun these hobos are having!!!

Just kidding. They ain't hobos - it's just Tigerman WOAH! everboby.

I ended up attending a second event there just a couple weeks ago. It was pretty cool, there was a mini regatta and it was helping to raise funds for the boathouse and some of the programs it supports. I was happy to help...

Good times. Already looking forward to the 2016 season...

Graffiti and Street Art in Somerville

Boston will never be a Mecca for graffiti or street art - which means that when I do catch a colorful glimpse of spray-paint it really makes an impression. Much of the time I'm in a car or on the T and I spy something out of the corner of my eye in some dark alley or underpass. The truth is - I don't spend as much time partying along the train tracks as I used to. So when I saw easy access to this stretch of tracks while walking in Somerville I boldly looked both ways for oncoming trains and took some photos.

Nice to see Wolf Tits back in the scene. I was bummed when the one in Chinatown got covered.

I found some other crazy crap scattered about the train tracks. I don't like to use filters on my photos too much, but sometimes they actually work...

And here's an example of some rare street art sculpture...

Beware the Owel Shot...

The hunt for underground art in Boston

When I stroll into a Back Bay or Soho type gallery – the sort with mostly bare walls, where the host barely looks up from their ipad to acknowledge me – I want to scream “THIS IS NOT ART”!!! It’s all too easy, and clean, and safe…and boring.

My tastes dip down towards the underground – with styles often regarded as low-brow or outsider art. I prefer to enjoy a Gansett Tallboy rather than a glass of Chardonnay when art gazing. Many artists of this ilk got their start on the streets or along train tracks; armed with cans of spray paint or a handful of stickers. Simply put - we need more places to bring these creative souls indoors and offer them the opportunity to develop their talent. 

The hunt for these artists in Boston can be an adventure in and of itself - and might require a trip into a neighborhood that’s not considered artsy fartsy. Secret spots are out there - hiding in coffee shops, rock clubs and temporary loft spaces throughout the city. And here’s a tip – original art can be affordable...and it’s all very satisfying to support a scrappy young artist that's well deserved.

 One place that consistently showcases new and underground art is Sweetree Ink in Watertown, MA. It’s owned and curated by Dave Tree, front man of the longtime Boston hardcore band Tree. It’s also his silk screening shop, a place where he will screen-print any design conceivable onto any piece of clothing or flat surface imaginable. The shop is notorious for its silkscreen parties where guests bring their own clothes and fabrics and can choose from over 100 different designs.

 Sweetree Ink tends to have group shows with a dozen or more artists. The walls of the small space on Mt. Auburn Street are usually covered top to bottom in art. The space might not have museum grade lighting and perfectly hung paintings – but the opening parties are pretty righteous and I wouldn't want my art to be served any other way… 

The only regret I have from a recent visit to Sweetree is that I didn't get a list of all the artist names - but here are a few that I was already familiar with: Adam O'Day, Ian Sanity, Joey Mars and Carl Ristaino. 

Joey Mars

Adam O'Day (bought this one for my girlfriend)

Artist doing art stuff

Dave Tree be like..."you gonna buy some fucking art?!?!?!"

Now go buy some art...