Back in Boston

It's been a few weeks...but we were in Boston for a weekend for Brotherman Dan's surprise 50th birthday party. He had no idea...hahaha.

Since this was a repeat trip to the Boston area and primarily a family visit, we set aside the important historic monuments for more contemporary sites.

Stata Center, MIT - Frank Gehry

ICA - Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Swoon in the ICA

Day 17 - Holiday holiday

Newtonville, Massachusetts:

This is the most laid back day I've had in over two weeks. My brother Ray took the day off to spend my last day in the Boston area with me. Between him and Dan, they'd fixed my car, arranged my junk in the car, fed me like the mayor of hungrytown, got me some dry ice, penny squished with me, and took me out for ice cream. I love those guys!

I watched Neil Jordan's new film, Ondine, at Dedham. I usually can't stand Colin Farrell...especially when he plays an American and his Irish brogue surfaces like swamp bubbles. He was pretty decent in this movie - because he was playing an Irish man. I won't kill it for other folks who might/should watch this film; I'm just going to say that it's an adult version of The Secret of Roan Inish.

My plan had been to go to Pennsylvania tomorrow from Boston, but Frank Lloyd Wright screwed me up. Fallingwater in southwestern Pennsylvania is closed Wednesdays of all days. Ah well. Plan B...I'm headed for Connecticut bright and early to see Mark Twain's house, and I'll stay overnight in the Land of Steady Habits.

Day 16 - Courtesy driving in MA & Museum of Bad Art

Boston:

With already two needless stops on this trip, you can understand that these days cops give me the creeps. They're always at the back of my mind like food when my stomach's empty...but in this case, dog food. I'm not knocking all cops. Of course there are many good officers out there. I just haven't encountered them in the last two weeks on the road. I've always appreciated the Bostonian way of flashing headlights to warn oncoming traffic of a speed trap coming up. Class. We should have something like that in L.A. We should have each others' back.

Boston's always a pleasure to visit. My brothers are here and there are always lots of things to do. We did lobster and kitsch this time. I'm going to dedicate this post to the MOBA (Museum of Bad Art) and let the pictures do the talking.

Today's day...

+ Raleigh Flea Market
+ Fenuil Hall
+ Auto Show
+ Flat Penny Hunting
+ Giant Hood Milk Bottle
+ Building Sighting
+ Lobster Fest
+ Lots More...

Day 15 - Three toll roads add up and it ain't purty

Boston:

Cleveland wasn't part of the plan. After all, Ohio isn't even in the south, but what can I do? Superman. Gehry. I'd say it was worth visiting a city I could see myself living in...for a while at least. I was going to hang west and head to Chicago but BaddicuFinch put his foot down. Chicago was OUR future trip so keep out!

I arranged my music, water, and cheese puffs on the passenger seat for easy access. I knew the drive to Massachusetts would be grueling, and there was no way I was going to stop at food joints and waste time. Ten and a half hours, boooyyyyeeee. I took the I-90 passing through Pennsylvania and New York. I was charged three times for tolls totaling $28 - my precious motel money. Good thing I'm crashing at Ray and Dan's for a couple of days.

I could've made the trip quicker but for the speed traps every twenty miles or so. Just go over five miles and they snag you. A movie played in my head during the trip. This time my original was a western with a young Tommy Lee Jones. Great mental-movie moments. I've always thought Jones should've starred in more films in his youth.

With the movie waning and Modest Mouse thudding too loudly in my ears, I started scanning the road for deer, squirrels, and whatever creatures had been squished on the road. I must have seen over forty poor animals on the highway. The worse were the baby fawns. They looked like they were sleeping. I prayed that I wouldn't hit anything - not one creature - because I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

I reached Newtonville, just outside Boston, at 4pm as predicted, and Ray and Dan were pulling up as I arrived. Happy times. Dan, a caraholic, checked out my Clive, unhappy about the number the New Mexico cops did on the hubcaps and bumper. Eventually we went to a couple of thrift stores and ended up having dinner with Adrienne, Dan's mom. Met Dan's cousin, Marilyn. Very nice woman. Anyhoo, I'm super tired so I'm going to stop my ramblings. Good night!

Boston baked books

I had a blast in the Boston area visiting family last week. About a block away from Ray and Dan is Newtonville Books, where I took refuge from a snowy-windy day and browsed the books about local stuff.

Also while in Boston I finished up Cometbus 51, with Aaron Cometbus detailing the history behind the legendary Moe's/Cody's/Shakespeare & Co. bookshops in Berkeley. What a great read.

Got me thinking...Orange County is pathetic when it comes to book stores. So we have Libreria Martinez in Santa Ana (which announced today they'll be moving next door rather than closing up), and Reuben Martinez has worked hard promoting literacy and hawking books, but that's about the only shop worth mentioning from a short and sad list.