Lifestyle

By Richard Campbell The site of a flash mob became Lawn on D when its festivities commenced this past Saturday, including more lawn games than usual, rock climbing, ice skating, giant collision space balls, and the fifth annual Blue Man Groups drumming contest for participants to get an opportunity to join the Blue Man Group in performance onstage. Tyler Peterson from Marblehead was the winner in a knock down drag out drumming battle between five participants, and also won over $6,000 in prizes that included a DW drum kit, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks- plus tickets and prizes from Blue Man Group. But perhaps the biggest win was being able to perform a piece called “Drum Finale Throwdown” with the famed Blue Men and Blue [...]

By Richard Campbell It was just cooling off this past Thursday night as the M Street League gathered for an amiable showdown at the edge of Medal of Honor Park.  The Silk Worms, coached by Dan Barzottini were facing Fat Baby, coached by Dave Piccirilli, and I would say they were fairly well matched in some respects, but the Fat Baby had the humor and the hits. Besting the Silk Worms 9-5, the scrappy Babies put on a show, and kept the small attending audience’s attention with side splitting one liners. The M Street League has 25 teams divided in two Divisions, with Lincoln Tavern 11-1 and City Tap House 10-1 at the top of their respective divisions, these two teams are the ones to [...]

By Richard Campbell Now that the flood gates are about to open on the Massachusetts marijuana experiment, as a follow-up on Rick Winterson’s questions last week, it would be prudent to introduce some of the latest studies on the effects of the drug on the adolescent brain.  The one thing that should be remembered is that adolescent brains (particularly male adolescent brains) are not fully formed and the consequences of smoking pot at this stage in life are different from adult use in many ways.  Anyone who has read the literature will come to this conclusion.  From more “mild” effects, like partial cognition and memory impairment, to the extreme effects for adolescents with vulnerable genetic predisposition towards mental illnesses, the record is not very encouraging. [...]

By Richard Campbell Opening this week on the UMASS Boston campus is an interesting graduate work art show by Li Wang, who having returned from studying in Japan on a Ruth Butler scholarship, was influenced by works of traditional Asian artists. The beautiful creations this study inspired have an iconic and unique feeling to them- as though one is traveling back in time simultaneous to referencing current trends in art and iconography. The work is realized with particular skill and attention to detail, and well worth a visit. One of the critical aspects often missing in post-modern art is aesthetically pleasing work that entertains the viewer for its ingenuity that would make it personal art- art that one could purchase to display in a home [...]

  by Rick Winterson      Country & Western in South Boston?  Why, certainly!  Every Tuesday night, that is. Plan a Tuesday drop in/hang out downstairs in the Supper Club at Capo Restaurant – 443 West Broadway, not very far from where Blinstrub’s sat for so many years.  Combine eating (varied Italian/American dishes), with drinking (inventive designer cocktails), and original C&W (“Dalton and The Sheriffs”).  And you know what?  At Capo, there’s no admission or cover.  Just show up Tuesday evenings and enjoy. Let’s mention that Dalton and The Sheriffs’ performances contain mostly their own original music, from half or more up to the entire gig, depending on the gig’s length and audience responses.  Why emphasize that fact?  Two reasons – because audiences consistently ask [...]