Metaboston

Thoreau's Journal Blogged

This Date, From Henry David Thoreau's Journal does exactly what it says it will bringing us a new post or as 19th century folk put it a new "journal entry" for each day. 

Today's, or February 2, 1860's, is a nice one:

The fox seems to get his living by industry and perseverance. He runs smelling for miles along the most favorable routes, especially the edge of rivers and ponds, until he smells the track of a mouse beneath the snow or the fresh track of a partridge, and then follows it till he comes upon his game. After exploring thus a great many quarters, after hours of fruitless search, he succeeds. There may be a dozen partridges resting in the snow within a square mile, and his work is simply to find them with the aid of his nose. Compared with the dog, he affects me as high-bred, unmixed. There is nothing of the mongrel in him. He belongs to a noble family which has seen its best days, - a younger son. Now and then he starts, and turns and doubles on his track, as if he heard or scented danger. (I watch him through my glass.) He does not mind us at the distance of only sixty rods. I have myself seen one place where a mouse came to the surface to-day in the snow. Probably he has smelt out many such galleries. Perhaps he seizes them through the snow.

Revisiting all the fascinating stuff from the past through technology is a great part of this time.

By the way, Thoreau has an interesting bouffant/faux-hawk in this picture along with the classic neckbeard.

Blogger Night at Cambridge's American Repertory Theatre

Cambridge's American Repertory Theatre is reaching out to bloggers with complimentary tickets to their new play Let Me Down Easy by Anna Deveare Smith.  If you're not a theatregoer, you've probably seen Smith in a movie but she might be most familiar from the West Wing.  The

"The American Repertory Theatre invites Boston bloggers to the A.R.T.'s latest production: "LET ME DOWN EASY a play in evolution"

To receive a complimentary ticket, bloggers are asked to write impressions and feedback about the performance on their blog within a few days after the show. You do not need to be an arts or entertainment blogger to attend! If you are curious about theater and/or the A.R.T. this is a great night to see what it's like and then write about it.

It seems like a great idea in trying to broaden theatre audiences and especially good that it isn't limited to "arts and entertainment" bloggers whose audiences are most likely already aware of the play.  It will be interesting to see if there are any issues if blog word isn't positive.  There will be a series of events so it sounds like they've built patience into the plan.

Great work by Sooz to help organize this.

"Sooz, a Boston blogger and event planner, has teamed up with the A.R.T. to host a series of blogger nights at the American Repertory Theatre in Harvard Square.

Info:
Location:  Loeb Drama Center at A.R.T., 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 
Date:  September 16, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Cost:  Free
(via Metaboston Media Blog)

Beyond Boston Chic: Fashion on the Street

Beyond Boston Chic is a local variation of the street photography/fashion blog epitomized by the Sartorialist.

Bad Boston Bike Lanes?

Does Boston have a bike lane that's worse than the nominee in car-worshipping L.A.? Mike Mennonno thinks we can find one.  Ideas?

Review of Tealuxe in Harvard Square and on Newbury Street

Review of Tealuxe in Harvard Square and on Newbury Street

Harvard Racism Scoffs Gawker

NY-gossip site Gawker heads outside "the city" to take a jab at Harvard for a recent incident where students called the police on the Harvard Black Men's Forum and Association of Black Harvard Women for their games of dodgeball and capture-the-flag on the Harvard Quad.

After-Work Drinks

Gridskipper's selection of "Boston's Best Happy Hours" seems a bit arbitrary (the Pour House?) but it does have a few good suggestions like Grendel's Den.  It depends on what you want from your after-work drinking but Grendel's Den draws a crowd but it's not oppressively crowded and it has a pleasant relaxed atmosphere that can get you ready for whatever comes next.  The food isn't so great but it's cheap.

The Barking Crab is a very pleasant spot for a drink on the water but keep in mind that in a few more weeks (June 21) the Boston Harbor Hotel starts putting on free concerts on the harbor during the week (Tues: Soul, Wed: Swing, Thurs: Blues) as well as movies on Fridays.  It's a nice setting to relax after work with the boats, scenery and music.

NY Times on Boston Now

Old media giant the New York Times takes a look at upstart media venture Boston Now, a free newspaper given out at T stops and other commuter hotspots that intends to get its content from Boston bloggers.  Boston Now claims a current circulation of 85,000 but admits that it has not yet had a significant blogger presence in its paper.  Bloggers will retain ownership of their articles but will not receive financial compensation but may receive other incentives such as press credentials.  That could end up being a good enough tradeoff for many bloggers.

Newton and Watertown--Big Blogging Neighborhoods

Newton and Watertown rank number 4 and number 7 on outside.in's list of the"bloggiest" neighborhoods (based on their review of "local bloggers in over 3,000 US neighborhoods for the past six months) (via online news squared).

Here's what outside.in says about them:

4. Newton, MA

The Neighborhood
Comprised of 13 villages that form a bedroom community of nearby Boston. Home to the various campuses of Boston College, Newton has graced the top of the FBI's annual "Safest City" study for the last five years.

Local Blogger
Kristine Munroe, monitor of The Garden City

Local Obsessions
Houses appear to be selling - does this mean that the Newton housing market is picking up? How is the increase of Route 9 traffic from Chestnut Hill Square going to affect the Parker Street area?

7. Watertown, MA

The Neighborhood
An affordable alternative to its rival Boston suburbs, noted for its citizen involvement in community issues and local politics.

Local Blogger
Lisa Williams, vocal advocate of citizen journalism, author of H2otown, and co-founder of the newly-launched Placeblogger.com

Local Obsessions
A lack of interest led to the cancellation of the Watertown High School's 2007 Girl's Softball season - will someone start a youth softball league to seed the passion of softball to a younger generation?