Holy smokes! They’ve caught Whitey Bulger!!
I used to hang around the North End of Boston before it got all prettied up and gentrified and yuppified and before the Big Dig and all the “walkable” improvements connecting the NO to the rest of Beantown.
I remember walking under I-93 which goes straight through Boston, through little-used (at the time) tunnel reeking of urine and a bit intimidating with homeless people lining the walls — all just to get to the North End.
I’d go there and hang out at the old caffes where men played chess and you could smoke ’til your lungs gave out. I met more than one made man there back in the days. And though I kept my distance, they were often very protective of me. I was always alone at the caffes, sitting in there all day long, reading, writing, smoking (yes, back then I smoked!), and drinking coffee after coffee. Sometimes they’d let me play chess with them. And often, if a man bothered me or was hitting on me (yes, this did happen to me … back in the day!!), they’d intervene.
Often the serious players in the crime world would come in and just go straight back to the doors that led to a basement meeting place. It wasn’t glamorous; they weren’t sexy (well, one was, but that’s another story), and I knew they were ruthless, bad — for the most part — guys. Not goodfellas by a long shot. But they were always decent to me. Go figure.
Of course, the North End wasn’t exactly Whitey’s hangout. He was a South Boston thug of mythic — and monstrous — proportion. I’m so glad they caught him.
Lovin’ summer means getting physical
photo courtesy of Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida.
For print readers — just turn to the next to the last page of the TICKET. Online? Just click on the link below to read.
Close enounters of the reptilian kind
An unusual sighting in the Coolidge backyard.
A close encounter between feline and reptilian intruder.
Reptilian retreat.
Under the category of It Just Ain’t Right
Why in the world do we have a pension system for members of Congress whereby if they voluntarily resign they still get their pension? Anthony Weiner is covered under the Federal Employee Retirement System — which is almost entirely funded with taxpayer dollars.
Anthony Weiner can start collecting a $25,000 annual pension as early as age 56, or $35,000 if he sticks it out to the ripe old age of 62. On top of that, the guy will get cost-of-living increases.
Seriously — if a member of Congress resigns his or her post, I don’t think they should get paid this pension.
There oughtta be a law!
(Source: smartmoney.com)
Sweet deal for dads
Just passing along this sweet deal for Dads and the people who love them and want to feed them on Father’s Day!
Dad’s Eat FREE on Father’s Day at Gecko’s Grill & Pubs
Purchase an entrée from our regular menu and your dad
will receive a complimentary meal from our Special Father’s Day Menu
on Sunday, June 19, 2011.
No substitutes
Visit GeckosGrill.com to see menus.
One free meal per dad per day!
5 Convenient Locations:
4870 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL * 941-923-8896
5585 Palmer Crossing Cir., Sarasota, FL * 941-923-6061
1900 Hillview Street, Sarasota, FL * 941-953-2929
4310 SR 64 E., Bradenton, FL * 941-744-2664
7228 55th Ave., E., Bradenton, FL * 941-727-8988
Day with Dad Fuels Lifetime of Security and Love
Father’s Day is Sunday June 19th … hope you enjoy my “Sense and the City” column in today’s Sarasota Herald-Tribune — page 37E for you print readers out there and if you’re an online reader — just click here:
Day with Dad Fuels Lifetime of Security and Love
Here’s a snippet to get you started …with the spectacular, ever-changing view of the water, jumping mullet, and a family of ospreys flying directly overhead, it’s a challenge to look at a computer screen. I just want to watch the world.
Sarasota’s Sports Page Celebrating Sweet Sixteen
A gazillion businesses, restaurants, and bars have come and gone on Sarasota’s Main Street over the years, but the Sports Page — 1319 Main Street — is celebrating 16 years, sixteen years, folks! in the same location, under the same ownership.
Maybe you know the owner? Bob Richards and Kenny Barr?
Either way, stop in to this minor miracle of staying power on Thursday June 16th (that’s tomorrow) from 4 to 8 when they’re celebrating their sweet 16th with free munchies/light bites. Cash bar … but who can complain about that!?
Parking meters be damned … go on out and support this Sarasota mainstay!
Sarasota Magazine and sister pub BIZ 941 Nab Awards
Local publications Sarasota Magazine and BIZ 941 won several 2011 Sunshine State Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists South Florida chapter, which I think announced the awards earlier this week.
Two big must-reads (if you haven’t … you can click on the hyperlinked text and read them online) won — one by Biz(941) editor Susan Burns who won second place for Serious Feature Reporting in “The Collapse of the Colony,” and Sarasota Magazine’s Bob Plunket “Havana, 1960,” which won first place in a featuring writing category.
Plunkett also picked up second place for his Arts/Cultural Reporting piece “Masterpiece Theater,” and Sarasota Magazine executive editor Kay Kipling won third place for her Sarasota Magazine Arts/Cultural Reporting, “Maestro of the Museum.”
Kudos to our local writers!
Reasons to avoid downtown Sarasota!
So, I was asked to go out the other night for dinner — to celebrate some good news I received earlier this week and my date asked me where I wanted to go. It was a toss-up for both of us between Caraguilo’s Restaurant on Palm Avenue (a favorite of mine for years) or another place not situated in downtown. It took less than a nanosecond for us to both say the name of the non-downtown restaurant — no cost for parking! It wasn’t a drawn-out decision, no big debate — just a no-brainer.
It’s not just paying for parking. Here are the two things that put the nail in the coffin for me as far as downtown goes:
“Those who choose downtown’s sidewalks and parks for their front yards deserve the same consideration as a gated community,” said Peter Fanning, president of the Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association. “We should be able to walk unmolested by catcalls, panhandling and unwanted approach.” Yup, you read it right. The downtown residents should have the experience of living in a gated community — hmmmm …. at taxpayer’s expense, I guess. We can pay for the parks and the pretty twinkling lights …. just don’t go downtown to enjoy them if you don’t live there! Source: SRQ Daily 6/8
Then I picked up the Pelican Press and read an article about how the Downtown Improvement District just decided to support the City Commission’s removal of the park benches at the Five Points park.
I absolutely won’t shop or eat downtown now as much as I can avoid it — which will be pretty much always. The meters were bad enough, but now to know that the folk who are supposed to be in charge of improving our downtown for all of us to enjoy are actually supporting this crazy bit of bench business — it’s too much. There are too many other places to go in Sarasota County.
I’d LOVE to hear how anyone else is experiencing the new meters, the park bench removal — wherever you fall on the issues, pro or con or somewhere in the middle — I invite you to post your comments here.
Ferocious and sweet … Saturday’s Music Festival Concert is NOT to be missed!
I give you at least a gazillion reasons as to why you CAN. NOT. miss Saturday night’s Sarasota Orchestra Music Festival concert at the Sarasota Opera House — they’re all in my Sarasota Herald Tribune Sense and the City column (page 37E if you’re reading the print paper — or click on the hyperlink below).
Beg, borrow, or buy a ticket!
Stuart Malina will be the guest conductor.
If you only go to one classical music concert in your lifetime … let this be the one!