12 Manny Being Manny John Hart, the general manager of the Cleveland Indians when they drafted Manny Ramirez in 1991, remembered, “He was kind of a different kid.” Really? Never noticed. Hart recalls that Ramirez had been late paying some bills during a stretch in his first season with the Indians and bill collectors were […]
7 The Fisk-Carlton I owe a long-overdue apology to a college professor for an early morning class I missed in the fall of 1975 while attending Northeastern University. You see, there was Game 6 of the ’75 World Series to take in, and when it didn’t end until 12:34 AM, the chances of making that […]
4 The Thrill of Schill Curt Schilling’s sock was bloodied by the popping sutures in his right ankle as he pitched the Red Sox to a 4-2 win in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series in 2004 against the Yankees, tying the series at 3-3. That moment was every bit as heroic as […]
Centuries before Nike introduced its signature swoosh, and Apple its nibbled pomme, the idea of branding — creating an iconic image and a distinct personality for a business — was simply old hat. It was called the “trade sign.” Early trade signs were America’s first attempt at branding, and a darned good one. The origins […]
PROJECT: Sea-Glass Mirror Surround Beachlovers Holly Rader and Carol Smith-Sloan are longtime friends who share a passion for beach glass. Recently they’ve started transforming their collections of those ocean-tumbled fragments into art. They’ve adorned mirrors, picture frames, and mantels with colorful shards — but these days they’re concentrating on larger installations, such as the mirror […]
This seaside garden in Connecticut is an oasis for birds and butterflies. “I choose plants to feed the birds or attract the butterflies,” says Bunny O’Callahan, explaining the composition of her seaside garden in Connecticut. “Sunflowers really draw the goldfinches in. I like to float on my back in the pool and listen to them […]
Dogman starts his howl at 6 p.m. That’s when Del Christman, minor-league baseball’s most recognizable hot-dog guy, puts on his outfit: white shorts, collar, “Hats Off to Dogman!” T-shirt, and finally the hat — always the hat — complete with dog flaps and a Scooby-Doo doll. “Then I go see the fans and start barking,” […]
A warm evening breeze drifts over Tanglewood. The muted sounds of flutes, clarinets, violins, and a harp join the rustle of pine boughs overhead. The Boston Symphony Orchestra is tuning up, preparing for tonight’s concert: Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle and a Brahms symphony. Cellist Owen Young walks among the picnickers, tucking away their hampers. They spread […]
When the red-coated ranks of British regulars tramped westward from Boston on the fateful morning of April 19, 1775, little did they know that they were about to catapult the sleepy village of Concord, Massachusetts into the history books. The British captured the rebels’ stores of ammunition and flour and dumped the lot into the […]
A few weeks ago I was honored to be a judge at Mass NARAL’s annual “Chocolate Madness” event, which raises funds to support women’s reproductive rights. I know better than to use this blog for directed political agendas, so I’ll leave you with the knowledge I’ve been in support of this event for more than […]
Dylan in the Movies is the type of band I can’t help but root for. The band’s founder and lead singer, Brian Sullivan, is the kind of tenacious underdog musician you want to see make it big. His story is classic — practically archetypal. A regular guy who grew up on the periphery of the […]
For one long weekend each May, Nantucket becomes a mecca for thousands of wine aficionados thirsty for knowledge. They come from all over the world because the Nantucket Wine Festival combines solid wine information, access to the world’s greatest wines (and winemakers), and food to match. Even if you can’t make the festival, come for […]
