Wicked Ass Boston, Massholes!

After a perfect day at the beach with cherished friends, I headed towards Boston...or more specifically Jamaica Plain (the locals call it JP), to meet up with a fellow Couchsurfer named Lesli.

Lesli sounded really cool on her profile.

She's a pastry chef who is into antiques, and knows Boston well.

She sounded way cool on the phone, and seemed really laid back in my "fly by the seatness".

I arrived late-ish....9:45pm, or so....and she was welcoming and kind to me even though I got there so late. She was nice enough to drive me around the city, and on this drive I would take a photo that would later become a birthday gift: A night shot of the Boston skyline from Cambridge.

Her house was comfortable and full of deliciously selected antiques. The room I stayed in reminded me of my room when I was little. It had a gorgeous white wrought iron bed and was doused in high end bedding. The breeze came through my window as I slept like a baby....

Driving in, I noticed a mythic looking cemetery....which was ultimately a highlight in my Jamaica Plain exploration.
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Sugarplums danced in Lesli's beautiful and silent house, only to wake up to the richest, most delicious cup of French press coffee, and a homemade pumpkin muffin....covered in pumpkin seeds. THANK YOU, LESLI!!!

Lesli told me I would really enjoy the cemetery. She mentioned how peaceful it was to walk around.... It looked so spooky when I was driving in at night, but I was totally up for it after my recent brushes with the paranormal, and my desire to see at least part of the area on foot.

The walk was all goodness.

Flowers, flowers, flowers. 75 degrees. An unforgivably perfect day.

My walk through Forest Hills Cemetery was one of the most surreal, and pleasantly sobering walks I have ever taken. It was truly astounding how long these tombstones had been there....
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Lesli was nice enough to let me park my vehicle at her place the next night while I would stay in the virtually free ($60. a night + points) hotel room I had acquired with Starwood points.

The Sheraton on Dalton St. was very clean, well preserved, and couldn't have been in a better location.

My friends were staying at The Colonnade across the street...and we were RIGHT next to a great little Dive bar- Bukowski Tavern, and if "beer only" isn't your thing: a sparkly bowling alley (blacklight/underground/full bar)...Kings Bowling Billiards and Lounge is RIGHT next to Bukowski..... Not to mention the best deal on parking I've seen (Thanks, Tam). ($15. if you move it in the morning, $30. Max.)

Tam and I joined my friends from Austin at the wrong JJ Foley's (in the South End) .....first.....then, took another cab to the right one in downtown crossing. The gang was there celebrating my friend's 40th birthday, and his brand new engagement. Cocktails were had, laughs were laughed....and after a T fake-out (it wasn't running after almost everyone paid)...we hopped in a cab with someone who knew the same people as my Bostonian Birthday friend. A late night dip in the Sheraton pool ensued, followed by a photo session at The Christian Science Center: an undeniably handsome spot for snapping late night photos.

The next day, Tam and I headed to Provincetown, MA....at the tippy tippy tip of Mass.

The drive through Truro was cool and worth the trouble. I saw my first real historic lighthouse, and it was definitely awesome. As in: awe inspiring.

The disappearing cliffs of Truro are upsetting and lovely.... When I stared at the cliffs, I wondered if the sea would eventually consume the lighthouse......

Provincetown, MA was the Madonna-loving, shopping, culinary, artsy gay area I had hoped for..... Tam and I had delectable seafood items and a couple of margaritas by the sea. It was pretty much perfect, thanks to Monica at The Surf Club. (They have terrible reviews on Tripadvisor, but...go on a Monday, silly---and ask for Monica!) Fried clams and Lobster Quesadillas are both excellent choices.

The drive back, Tam drove the whole way (thanks again, Tam)....and I was lulled to sleep by the road---but we made it to my car and I spent one more night in the nice hotel, following a free line of bowling thanks to Kenny. Kenny, wherever you are---thanks for letting the 4 of us join you gratis..... I will dream of rolling balls and pounded pins before I get up and schlep it to Portland, Maine.

Pictures coming soon.......

Steve Martin stole my heart again. In Newport, RI this time....

After my much needed break in Mystic, CT.... I headed back to Newport, RI to catch Steve Martin do his bluegrass thing.

The show was at the legendary International Tennis Hall Of Fame.

What a beautiful venue.... but, before I get into all that---JUST KNOW that if you park across the street from the venue,...they DO NOT validate parking... So, you have to go buy some gum at CVS to have your parking ticket validated, and then you have to do it again and again every two hours.... I dropped the ball the second hour, and ended up paying $12. to park on top of the $95. ticket to see the show (which I had purchased long before the trip---so it isn't included in the per diem situation).

The venue: Well,...not to tip off any jerky bad people....but, the "security" was EXTREMELY LAX. So, when I realized that no one was searching anything I feigned a need to grab my jacket and went ahead to grab my camera and flask in addition to the "much needed" jacket.

When you walk into the I.T.H.O.F., you are greeted by a pack of charming old guys who are seething charisma. One of them started singing Nancy Sinatra to me, due to the green boots I was wearing which were indeed "made for walking". Following the giggling Navy Jackets, you see the most manicured and beautiful grass tennis court you will ever see. Wimbledon isn't as gorgeous as this. It smells green and floral... Drinks and food are available. Mixed drinks, $7, beer and wine $5., Sodas, $2.

I paid full price for my first drink and eventually said fuck this. I then bought a couple of Diet Pepsis and rocked my virtually undetectable flask which mimics a palm-sized perfume bottle.... It saved me some money, though illegal. Do not do this if you have no finesse whilst breaking rules :).

I was ushered to my seat by another sweet person who obviously lives a happy life in gorgeous Newport, RI. My seat was Row E, Seat 41. I thought, COOL!!! I'll be on the 5th row.

NO.

It was on the FIRST ROW of my section---so nobody was between me and the love of my life, Mr. Martin.

The girl that started the show, Sarah Jerosz, was an amazing talent. Her voice and songs were truly humbling and fantastic. To start this huge show off with just herself and a guitar was just incredible. What grace and courage. She was probably 22 or something.

After another guy came out and I spent a great deal of time waiting for the Port-O-Let....it was time for Steve.

He looked so great.
Light suit, white hair, smart glasses...fit......younger than I remember him looking the last time I saw him.... WOW.

And his banjo skills did not disappoint whatsoever. Whipsmart song lyrics and the musical skills of a savant,.... naturally. I expected nothing less. He blew me so much further away than I thought he would. Funny, talented, handsome.....

I got a whole lot of pictures that were just okay, because they wouldn't let you just sit right by the stage and click until you got a great one. You had to be quick and sly about everything. I did get some video footage of the tail end of King Tut. IT ROCKED SO HARD, PEOPLE!!!

My friend, Nancy, was kind enough to host me one final night....before we had a Clam bake/ Lobster boil on the beach the next day and I had a blast with her after the show, as usual......
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The next day was really fun.

Nancy broke her back getting and preparing food and beverage, as well as holding down the fort of a fabulous waterfront table at the cleanest, dearest little beach by her house.

After a long day of prep and stress,....I finally saw her unwind over homemade (by herself) mojitos and freshly cooked New England clams and lobsters.

I alas got to meet the elusive Grandma Bev I had heard about for 20 years, and she was as beautiful and delightful as I had heard.

We drove by this exquisite lotus pond before I gathered my things and began the trek to Boston.