Beer Review: CBC Amber

Beer: Cambridge Amber
Brewer: Cambridge Brewing Company
Source: Draft
Rating: *** (7.0 of 10)
Comments:   This beer features a dark copper/brown color with a thin head.  The scent is faint and grainy while the taste is nutty and yeasty with a clean finish.  Sporadic lacing covers the inside of the glass.  This is an enjoyable local brew.

Beer Review: Comet Tail Pale Ale

Beer: Comet Tail Pale Ale
Brewer: Blue Hills Brewery
Source: 1 pt 6 fl oz bottle
Rating: ** (6.0 of 10)
Comments:  The beer is orange/brown with a lot of sediment floating around making it appear much like the come tail of its name.  Not too much aroma and a malty flavor with some fruity hints.  Not too bad but not too great either.

Singing in the Fall

In the coming months I will be singing thrice weekly with a variety of organizations.  It looks like it will be a lot of fun, although maybe a challenge for time commitments as well with rehearsals starting this week.

For the first time, I will be singing with the Mystic Chorale.  The fall concert Pastures of Plenty – Woody Guthrie at 100 will take place Saturday, Nov 17, 8:00pm and (my birthday!) Sunday, Nov 18, 3:30pm at Tremont Temple in Boston.  I’m looking forward to singing songs written and inspired by one of my all-time favorite persons.

My son and I will also once again be performing with SingPositive, JP.  This multi-generational, family chorus will be making our sophomore outing with a concert themed on Optimism in Hard Times on Sunday, December 16th, 4pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jamaica Plain.  If you are looking for a musical, community experience, I definitely recommend looking into SingPositive which is branching out into other communities in the Boston area.

Finally, my daughter and I will be attending regular classes of Music Together at the Children’s Music Center of Jamaica Plain.  There’s no performance with this one but it may be the most fun.  I enjoyed singing with my son when he was little and look forward to repeating the experience and introducing my baby girl to music and rhythm.

This post is partially shameless self-promotion to get you to come out to my performances, but I also hope that anyone looking for opportunities to sing and perform music in the Boston area (with or without children) will see this post.  I highly recommend all of these organizations and suggest you check them out and get involved if you’re interested.  If you know of any good singing and music activities in the Boston area, let me know in the comments.

Photopost: Museum of Science

A few photos from a visit to Boston’s Museum of Science with my son this weekend.

Escalator innards.

 

There’s no app for that.

 

Freshly-hatched chick.

World’s largest collection of barf bags (many of which are politically-themed)

 

The ever so elusive Plastic Pink Lawn Flamingo (Pseudamingoflay plasticus)

Photopost: Ecotarium

My son  and I journeyed to the Ecotarium for Free Fun Fridays.  The Ecotarium is a science museum surrounded by outdoor compound including nature trails, animal exhibits, a playground, and even a train ride.  We had a great time with the only downside being that my parochial Bostonian view found the drive to Worcester a bit too long.

All aboard.

Walking on air.

A fox named Sox.

Turkeys on the prowl.

Boston’s South End: A Photo Collage

A photo collage of sites in Boston’s South End.

Learn more about these sites on the South End Walking Tour presented by Boston By Foot, this Sunday August 26th at 2pm.

Buy advance tickets for the tour online and meet us across from Back Bay Station on Dartmouth Street.

This Sunday: Boston By Foot South End Walking Tour

Come join a South End Walking Tour presented by Boston By Foot.

I will be one of the guides, but this is not just shameless self-promotion as the other five guides are a dream team of some of the best walking tour guides in Boston.  Come learn about one of the largest, most diverse, and dynamic neighborhoods in Boston.

Buy advance tickets for the tour online and meet us across from Back Bay Station on Dartmouth Street at 2 pm on Sunday August 26th.

Photopost: Mass United FC

Yesterday, my son Peter and I attended a Mass United FC soccer game for the first time.  Mass United is plays in the National Premier Soccer League, which is the fourth level on the United States soccer pyramid (which I guess would be equivalent to A-league in baseball terms).  The game was sparsely attended but this did not seem to bother my son one whit as he watched all 90 minutes and cheered “Go United Go!!!” the whole time.  The other fans seemed more amused than annoyed, so who was I to curb his enthusiasm.  Sadly, Mass United loss to the New York Red Bulls academy team 1-2.  The Red Bulls’ goals in the first half came on embarrassing lapses by the United defense, but the United goal in the second half came on a beautiful bicycle kick.  Since Peter enjoyed the game so much, we’ll have to go again although most games start at 7 pm which may be rough on a 4 year old.  Maybe next season?

My son was delighted with the balloon he was given upon entering Manning Field.

The teams and referees line up for the National Anthem.

The Mass United supporters group was small in number but strong in volume and enthusiasm.

Watching the action.

The referee is a woman. Both coaches seemed unhappy that she wasn’t giving out enough cards.

Mass United come out for the second half.

Waiting for a throw-in.

My best action shot.

Related Posts:

• Boston Breakers Home Opener (2011)
• Photopost: Boston Breakers (2010)

Photopost: Wachusett Meadows

We celebrated Father’s Day with a hike around the beautiful Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton, MA.

A colorful blossom.

One of many frogs in the Farm Pond.

Under the surface swam a gazillion tadpoles.

Ribbit!

A red-winged blackbird pauses a moment on a floating log.

Croak!

Barren trees within the Beaver Wetland.

Sheep work as lawnmowers.

Baa.

A squirrel perched on a small branch.

The forest floor covered in ferns.

Related Posts:

• Woolapalooza
• Audubon Nature Fastival
• Boston Nature Center

Photopost: Baseball Double Header

Over Memorial Day Weekend, I enjoyed a two-city, two-team, two-day baseball double header. On Sunday, I traveled down to New York to see R.A. Dickey and the Mets take on the San Diego Padres in the good company of some of my Mets fan friends. The next day, my son Peter & I went to Fenway Park for the Red Sox victory over the Detroit Tigers.

The Mets starting lineup.

R.A. Dickey on the mound.

St. Mary High School alumnus Tim Teufel coaches at third base.

David Wright at bat.

Mookie Wilson’s plaque in the Mets Hall of Fame.

1986 World Series trophy (sorry Red Sox fans)

Detail of the trophy.

John Franco’s hat from the first game after the September 11th attacks.

Ball from Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

View of the ballpark from the LIRR platform.

Welcome to Fenway Park.

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia before the game.

Pitcher Félix Doubront warms up in the outfield.

Celebrating America with the National Anthem and a big flag.

Retired Red Sox Trot Nixon is honored before the game.

My son’s photo of a beach ball in the bleachers.

Related posts:

• Shea Stadium: A Personal History
• Citi Field
• Fenway Park