It’s ok if your Valentines this year are Ben and Jerry, but friends don’t let friends spend the night at a pity party. Instead, grab your single friends and scope out these local events for a good time–you may even find your next date!

A Very Fine Valentine: The Timberfakes at Hard Rock Café

Since Justin Timberlake still won’t make any new music despite desperate internet pleas he do so, The Timberfakes, a Boston-based Justin Timberlake tribute band, have stepped in to bring sexy back to downtown Boston. With a set list that includes material from JT’s N*SYNC days, solo career and SNL spoofs, the Timberfakes playing at the Hard Rock Café (24 Clinton St., Boston) will make you feel 15 again. Friday, Feb. 10; 8 p.m., 21+ only. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Revolutionary Chocolate at the Old State House

Head down to the Old State House (206 Washington Street in downtown Boston) with your history buff friends for an after-hours demonstration of 18th century chocolate making. Enjoy sampling the aforementioned historically accurate candies, because calories consumed for educational purposes don’t count towards that New Year’s Resolution you made. Ingest some interesting tidbits about Boston’s chocolate history while being guided on a candlelit tour of the tower, and see items from the collection rarely displayed in the museum. Friday, Feb. 17; 6 p.m. Tickets $7.50.

Mortified’s Doomed Valentine’s Day Show

Remember the painfully embarrassing puppy-love-and-war things you used to angstily scribble about in that Lisa Frank journal you were convinced was as secure as Fort Knox, but really your entire family knew about the push-button release? Don’t miss this special love themed event at the Coolidge (290 Harvard St., Brookline), featuring regular men and women “sharing their most hilariously embarrassing diary entries, lyrics, poems, and artwork from their teenage years…from unrequited high-school crushes and tumultuous off-and-on romances to bad prom dates and awkward sexual firsts.” You might be single, but you’ll be thankful you don’t have to live through that again! Monday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15 in advance, $18 at the door, students with valid ID $12. 

Valentine’s Crawl with Crawl in Boston

Crawl in Boston is a social networking group that organizes bar crawls as a way for people to meet and explore the city, and, by asking for donations from each crawler, also raises money for local charities such as Horizons for Homeless Children, or this crawl’s beneficiary, the Hattie B. Cooper Center, which provides educational services to underprivileged children and families in Roxbury.  The Valentine’s Crawl is advertised as the biggest of the year and offers $3 drink specials–not to mention Crawl in Boston also claims to be responsible for at least five weddings! Check their Facebook event page for a list of bars, more info and to RSVP. Come on, it’s for the children, right? Saturday, Feb., 11; 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., $5. 

Project Cupid

Project Cupid is a charity fundraiser, so you can feel good about paying for a date. Boston’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes, including former NESN sportscaster Heidi Watney, will strut their stuff on the auction block at The Estate (1 Boylston Place, Boston) to raise funds for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Winning bidders get a dinner date with their “prize” at a local restaurant. There will also be auctions and raffles for sporting events and memorabilia, hotel stays, spa services and more. Saturday, Feb., 11; 6:30 p.m. $15 suggested donation at the door, with all proceeds going to charity.

Susan Baxter, 32, founded Hire a Boston Wingwoman in 2010.

Susan Baxter, 32, has the solution for single Boston guys looking for love: Wingwomen. Sure, you’ve got your Bud Light-guzzling, cleavage-ogling, popped collar-wearing wingman already, but isn’t the same old “you distract the less attractive friend while I talk to the hot one” routine getting a little stale? Baxter’s wingwomen get straight to the point with confidence, class, and a well-worth-it fee: the girl you’re going after.

For clients of Baxter’s company, Hire a Boston Wingwoman, it works like this: You and a wingwoman go to a bar or a lounge, or wherever you want to go to meet chicks. You scan the room, zoom in on your potential love interest, and your wingwoman goes in for the kill. It might begin with a compliment (“I love those shoes!”) or a question (“What’s your favorite drink here?”). Then, she might say something like, “This is my friend Joe; we’re looking for a bar to go after this. Do you know of anywhere good?”

“She kind of hangs around in the background once the introduction is made,” says Baxter. “If it doesn’t work out, then the client tries another woman. And if it doesn’t seem like the woman is interested, the wingwoman can pretend to be the client’s girlfriend.”

Wingwomen are better sidekicks than wingmen, Baxter says, because “Women tend to have their guards up when they go out; maybe it’s a girl’s night and they are just out for some cocktails with their friends and aren’t looking to talk to guys. Women feel less intruded upon if a woman comes up to them. They have their guards up when a man goes up and says, ‘Hey, I’m Joe, how are you ladies this evening?’ It’s old, and it’s lame, and she’s like, ‘Oh, here we go again.’”

Even better, adds Baxter, “It’s a boost of confidence to walk in to a place with a beautiful woman by your side. Girls like competition, so if they see you with an attractive woman, they’ll think you’ve got something to offer.”

So what makes a successful wingwoman? Generally, says Baxter, they are outgoing, and unafraid to approach and strike up conversation with that intimidating, hot girl you’ve got your eye on.

“You’ve gotta play the part,” she says. “You can’t go to that trendy, upscale bar if you look like you just got out of a Red Sox game; it’s gotta be realistic. But each wingwoman has a different personality. Some are bubbly and are good for clubs, and some are more intelligent and would be good for a social networking-type party. They’re attractive, outgoing, social, and willing to go up to a woman and say, ‘Hey, where’d you get your hair done? I’m looking for a new salon in the area.’”

Baxter, who has a master’s degree in applied sociology from the University of Massachusetts, started her business in September of 2010 with the knowledge that “a lot of people are shy and are intimidated to go up to people at a bar,” she says. “People tend to just stand there at the end of the bar and wait to be approached.” Plus, she was already being a wingwoman for her guy (and girl) friends, so why not make it a business?

“My ‘aha’ moment was when I was watching an episode of the ‘Tyra Banks Show,’ and a woman was on there who was a wingwoman for her friends,” says Baxter. “And I was like, ‘Wait, that’s what I do!’ The idea had spread to New York City and to Las Vegas, and I thought, why not Boston?”

Now, Hire a Boston Wingwoman employs nearly 40 wingwomen (and counting–she’s hiring!) in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The business works with about 10 clients a weekend, with many repeat clients. Fall is the busiest time of year for the company, which Baxter attributes to several factors: “In the fall, people are coming back from their vacation or their summer fling, and are looking for something more serious. The holidays are coming and they don’t want to be alone; it’s time to settle down. Plus, fall weather is cozy.”

Hiring a wingwoman costs $65 an hour, with a two hour minimum, and is $30 for every half-hour thereafter. Several testimonials on the company’s website attest that it’s worth the price: “My wingwoman focused on making connections and harnessing intuition,” says client Scott Alden. ”The method was to hang out with her, be myself and seize the moment when it was right. Women who saw that I was with her felt more comfortable around me, and I didn’t have to work as hard. I felt comfortable, too.” Michael, a client from Cambridge, writes, “I felt really comfortable after meeting the wingwoman, who introduced me to a couple of very attractive ladies.  I have already re-hired her because she was great company and made me very confident.”

There’s no guarantee that a wingwoman will help you find your future wife, of course, but who can argue with at least giving it a try? Besides, you get to be seen with a hot, confident woman by your side instead of your cologne-drenched, awkward-pick-up-line-using best friend.

(Media Credit/Melissa Ostrow via UrbanDaddy.com)

There was a time when cocktails weren’t trendy, but classic. For most of Boston, that time has passed, but for Elm Street’s clandestine Saloon, that time is now. Upon walking into Somerville’s newest basement joint, one anticipates the impressive atmosphere and bar menu. To our surprise, it was the soundtrack that proved immediately impressive. The sound of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris affirmed our suspicions that good things were to come.

And come, they did, in the form of the bright green Nay Sayer cocktail ($10), remarkably complex fried pickled peppers ($9) and a savory steak and kidney pie ($26). As a cocktail, the Nay Sayer is bad for you while tasting very, very good. Indeed, the shot of wheatgrass included in the whiskey and ginger beer mix makes the concoction feel almost healthful.

The wine list is slightly narrow-minded, obviously aiming to please to masses, but the cocktails easy compensate for this. The Ward 44 ($10) is the alcoholic answer to smoky, chocolate covered bacon, and the Corpse Reviver no. 2 ($10) provides tart, absinthe laced refreshment.

Where food is concerned, the deep fried pickled peppers stuffed with Boursin cheese reign over all other appetizers. The steak and kidney pie earned accolades from a native Brit, as well as this reporter and her companion. The savory filling and delightfully rich crust allow one to forget, and even embrace, the fact that it is cold outside.

A reported favorite of Davis Square’s “Slutcracker “cast, Saloon is not to be missed. Whether you crave brown walls, brown gravy, or brown liquor, it is sure to satisfy.

Saloon, 255 Elm St, Somerville; 617-628-4444; www.saloondavis.com

A series of meningitis infections have appeared in various areas of Massachusetts. An unnamed seventh-grade student at Boston Latin Academy died today from a probable case of bacterial meningitis, as well as 64-year old Russell Marcoux, the town manager of Bedford, on November 10. A staff member of Hopedale Junior-Senior High also fell ill on November 17, but appears to be doing well.

Health commission officials have concluded that there are less than fifty people at the Boston Latin Academy who came in contact enough with the 12-year old girl to have possibly contracted the infection, and have advised anyone who spent extended amounts of time with her to visit their doctor. Dr. Anita Barry, the director of the Infectious Disease Bureau at the health commission, said “We consider close contact to be someone who was within 3 to 6 feet for at least an hour duration. It’s not someone who happened to walk past”.

Meanwhile, in Bedford, N.H., town official Russell Marcoux was hospitalized on October 31 at Elliot hospital in Manchester. Cause of his contraction of the illness is unknown, though it is believed that it was not contagious.

Also, parents of students at Hopedale Junior-Senior High have been contacted after a staff member fell ill, but state health officials say that the chances of the infection spreading are slim.

Meningitis can be transferred through contact with saliva, but can be avoided with a vaccine that prevents three strains of the virus. Symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic, include high fever, severe headaches, stiff neck, vomiting or nausea, difficulty concentrating, sleepiness, and sensitivity to light.

Boston’s Mean Creek has been hard at work writing and recording their much anticipated new album.

“The songs feel more different. Dare I say more poppy and happier,” guitarist Chris Keene said. “It is not in generic way. Weare just expressing different emotions.”

For the band creating new material has been invigorating. “It’s been exciting to work on new stuff. It’s been very natural,” Keene said.

There latest single “Land of hopes and dreams” has quickly become a fan favorite. “I love the song,” Keene said. “The song expresses the feeling how it feels to live in this country to us. It’s hard to explain. The song speaks for itself.”

Keene gets equally flustered when discussing about the sound of his band. “It’s hard to describe us,” he said. “I never knew how to answer that question.”

The Improper Bostonian declared them one of the ten bands you have to hear. Paste magazine said “Mean Creek is not merely a great Boston Band; they’re a really great band period. Everyone outside the 617 should be warned Boston has birthed its next prodigious band. Be prepared.”

The beloved rock band must be doing something right. In 2009,they won Boston Music Award’s Best New Act of the Year. This year they are nominated for Artist of the Year,” “Album/EP of the Year” and Song of the Year (Sunlight)

“It’s awesome,” Keene said. “We couldn’t be happier. It feels amazing to be recognized.”

Known for being a Boston band, the band credits the New England city for shaping them as artists.

“Boston has shaped who I am as a person,” Keene said. “The city has its own attitude. It feels different than any other place.Every place has its own attitude. I think it being cold for months makes you a certain way.”

The band formed a couple of years ago. Keene knew lead vocalist Aurore Ounjjan from high school. One day, the pair decided they wanted to forma band. Time went by and they finally met bassist Erik Wormwood and drummer Mikey Holland. “It didn’t really feel like a band until we met those guys,” Keene said.

The four instantly connected. “It all just came together,” Keene said. “That’s what made Mean Creek.”

Mean Creek is revered for their vibrant live shows. “I hate watching someone who is apathetic in what they are doing,” Keene said. “I just want to watch someone who loves what they are doing. When someone loves playing music, it is obvious and contagious.”

Mean Creek will be playing Brighton Music Hall on Nov. 26.

Adele, who has been suffering from rupturing blood vessels in her throat, has undergone laser microsurgery.

The 23-year old singer had to cancel numerous concerts on her U.S. tour due to the hemorrhaging caused by the rupturing blood vessels. But, Dr. Steven M. Zeitels, the director of the Massachusetts General Voice Center where Adele was operated upon, “expects Adele to make a full recovery from her microsurgery”.

Unfortunately for fans, Adele has apparently cancelled public appearances for the remainder of the year to rest her healing throat.

wireimage.com

A Boston-based throat surgeon has confirmed that he is treating singer Adele for a singing related injury, according to the Boston Globe.

Dr. Steven Zeitels announced on Sunday that he is seeing the soul singer regarding a common injury amongst singers.

“There have been crazy and unfortunate rumors — that she’s being treated for cancer, for example. I can tell you that is absolutely not true,” said Zeitels. “To be blunt, her throat is bleeding. It’s a common condition among singers. But it is not career-ending. It is not the most serious. And in her case it can be fixed with surgery. And I will be performing that surgery on Adele at some point in the future.  I believe she will be just fine.”

The doctor went to the press as per the request of Adele’s representatives to ensure that the public knew the truth and to refute cancer rumors.

Zeitels is the director of the Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Eugene B. Casey Professor of Laryngeal Surgery at Harvard Medical School.

Adele recently canceled her tour, citing throat injuries as the reason.

Theo Epstein, the general manager who assembled two World Series championship Boston Red Sox teams, has officially resigned and will depart for the Chicago Cubs, where he has been named president of baseball operations.

The move comes after an epic September collapse and one of the most disastrous endings to a season in Boston sports history.

Epstein has long been rumored to be interested in the Cubs job, as the presidency is a major promotion. He could also perhaps bring a championship to the only team that suffered a longer World Series drought than the Red Sox.

The teams released the following statement:

The Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs jointly announce this evening that, effective immediately, Theo Epstein has resigned from the Red Sox in order to become the new President of Baseball Operations for the Cubs. The clubs also have reached an agreement regarding a process by which appropriate compensation will be determined for the Red Sox and that issue will be resolved in the near term.

Both the Red Sox and the Cubs intend to hold press events on Tuesday, October 25 during which the Cubs intend to announce Mr. Epstein, and the Red Sox intend to announce his successor as General Manager.

Out of respect for the World Series, both clubs have agreed to forego further comment until Tuesday, the next scheduled non-game day.

Protesters link arms as police approach (Blast Staff photo/John Stephen Dwyer)

Dozens of the protesters arrested during Occupy Boston’s expansion into a renovated portion of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway on Monday will not face criminal charges if they pay a $50 court fee and accept a civil infraction.

This was done at Boston Municipal Court this afternoon the request of the prosecutors in the office of Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, said Jake Wark, his spokesman.

Most of the protesters had no prior criminal record.

“Most had no prior records and had their misdemeanor trespassing charges amended to civil infractions at prosecutors’ request,” Wark said.

But some declined the offer of a civil infraction, equivalent to a speeding ticket, and will now have to press on with their criminal cases.

“A small number insisted on proceeding criminally,” Wark said. “Another small number had criminal records, and they were arraigned with court dates in December.”

A protester is arrested during the bridge rally (Blast Staff photo/John Stephen Dwyer)

Yesterday, thousands of people swelled the ranks of Occupy Boston in a march that began at the Boston Common and snaked through various Boston neighborhoods to protest — among other complaints — high unemployment, government malfeasance and corporate greed.

Student groups and representatives from local labor unions were well-represented.

The throng stopped at several points, sitting in the streets and blocking traffic in an act of non-violent civil disobedience. Then, in what one local commentator has since called the “battle of old North Washington bridge,” the protestors blocked the bridge to Charlestown for over an hour but were prevented from advancing onto the expanse itself. One protestor, a gray-haired man in a baseball cap, was arrested.

According to many within the Occupy Boston movement, the “battle of the bridge” was a diversionary tactic enabling protestors to expand their protest community in front of South Station to a part of the Rose Kennedy Greenway that Mayor Thomas Menino and Boston Police had declared to be off-limits. Protestors, arguing that their camp is too overcrowded to accommodate the number of people who arrived daily to join their cause, see physical expansion as vital to the success of their mission. They note that similar protests in other US cities have been allowed to expand and unsuccessfully implored Boston to afford them the same opportunity.

"Medics" stand by on the Greenway during the protests (Blast Staff photo/John Stephen Dwyer)

By early evening, police and protestors were at a standoff. Tents had been pitched in the new area and some of the infrastructure of the main camp, such as the protest group’s logistics and medical tents, were in place as well.

Gregg Housh, a 34-year old father of two serving as liaison between Occupy Boston and the city, reported having been given conflicting information. Word from the mayor was that the new site had to be surrendered by midnight or it would be cleared by force, while Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis threatened to tear down both areas if the new site wasn’t vacated by midnight.

Boston police, in an official statement later, said this was not true and that police only wanted the protesters to vacate the Greenway expansion.

The new encampment held a general assembly meeting to decide if they should stay or go. Nancy Brennan, Executive Director of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, stood up to address the crowd and, like all speakers, used the call-and-response of the “people’s mic” being used in occupy protests across the country.

The “people’s mic” involves the crowd simply repeating what the speaker is saying so that the message carries across a large group.

Police form a line during the bridge protest (Blast Staff photo/John Stephen Dwyer)

Brennan reminded everyone that the Conservancy had asked protestors not to expand onto the other portion of the park because of special concerns regarding a new irrigation system put into place and works on loan by various artists. But she ended her comments saying “…another thing that the Greenway stands for…is freedom of speech…and I ask…for as long as you are on this land…would you please help us take care of it?” Her smile beamed as the crowd chanted “Nancy! Nancy! Nancy!” in appreciation.

After the meeting, she said that the lawn planted in the space in question is deep-rooted, grown without chemicals, and was likely to survive the occupation, “If not,” she explained, “they’ve promised to replace it…and I have no doubt they will.”

As midnight approached, protestors locked arms and formed a human barrier to protect their occupation sites. A tight circle of more than 160 people surrounded the new campground while a ragged line of more than 220 people protected the original site. Legal advisers went around dispensing pamphlets and legal aid phone numbers, helping people write a contact number on their bare skin should they be arrested.

Medical volunteers were also present, most of them equipped with bottled cocktails of Maalox and water to neutralize pepper spray should it be used.

Jason Lydon, a Unitarian Universalist minister with the Community Church in Boston’s Back Bay, offered comforting words to the largely young and frightened protestors.

“Remember to relax and to breathe … remember that whatever happens, if you get arrested or whatever, this community will not abandon you,” Lydon said. “We will take care of you.”

Shorly after 1 a.m., hundreds of law enforcement officials, including Boston, transit and State Police, as well as members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s department descended upon the scene.

They began making arrests around 1:20 am as protestors sang “God Bless America” or chanted slogans such as “this is a peaceful demonstration” and “the whole world is watching.”

A contingent of gray-haired war veterans and one young female Iraqi war vet, from the group Veterans for Peace had their own chant: “We have a permit. It’s called the Constitution.”

The police gave several warnings by bullhorn for the crowd to leave or face arrest. Those who stayed were quickly taken into custody. Just minutes after the first protester was cable tied, 141 arrests had been made.

Some protestors complained about what they saw as excessive use of police force.

A member of the veterans group said they were prepared to come along peacefully, “they didn’t have to rough us up and walk all over the American flags we fought overseas to defend.”

Protestors were also upset that police may not have seen the difference between the protestors who locked arms in resistance and the medical and legal advisers, identified by their clothes, who stood close by to help.

Protestors also claimed that phones, cameras and other valuables belonging to the protestors were thrown into the trash along with the mangled remains of their tents that were taken down.

Blast recorded footage of a woman being arrested on a sidewalk adjacent to the park after she yelled at police.

A statement at the Occupy Boston website objected to both the way the arrests had been conducted and the way the protestors had been characterized saying:

“…hundreds of police in full riot gear brutally attacked Occupy Boston, which had peacefully gathered on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The Boston Police Department made no distinction between protesters, medics, or legal observers, arresting legal observer Urszula Masny-Latos, who serves as the Executive Director for the National Lawyers Guild, as well as four medics attempting to care for the injured….Following the raid, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis made no mention of veterans, organized labor, students, or families, nor did he issue an apology for his department’s aggressive tactics. Since the beginning of its occupation, Occupy Boston has worked tirelessly and successfully to maintain a positive working relationship with city officials. Today’s reprehensible attack by the Boston Police Department against a movement that enjoys the broad support of the American people represents a sad and disturbing shift away from dialogue and towards violent repression…Despite the city’s attempt to silence us, Occupy Boston remains, and bears no ill-will towards the men and women of the Boston Police Department who were simply following orders.”

In the wake of the arrests this morning, Mayor Menino maintained that he has a certain degree of sympathy with the protestors and told the Boston Globe, “I understand they have freedom of speech and freedom of expression, but we have a city to manage…I’m open to suggestions, but civil disobedience will not be tolerated.”

Talking to NECN, Menino expressed his mistaken belief that anarchists – a minority contingent within the Occupy Boston community since day one – had recently entered the movement and had changed its character.

Charged with unlawful assembly and aided with bail money donated by supporters, most of those arrested were released today but are due to be back in court later in the week.

The original Occupy Boston encampment, set up on September 30, remained in place this afternoon.

Frank Zoll at work. (Courtesy of Zoll Cellars.)

On Wednesday, the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE) will be hosting Frank Zoll of Zoll Cellars in Shrewsbury as part of a two-part winemaking class. The two classes will feature Frank, who is the owner and primary winemaker at his vineyard, directing students in the creation of wine, from the crushing of grapes to the bottling of their very own homemade bottles.

Zoll’s passion for food and beverage began as child, when he would make bread as a hobby and continued when he attended Johnson & Wales in Providence, Rhode Island, graduating in 1997. In 2001, while he was pastry chef at The Marriot Marquis in New York City, often cooking for up to 3,000 people, Frank began making wine in his parents’ kitchen. Starting with grapes he’d procure from California, Massachusetts, and New York, Zoll began making more and more wine until, in 2008, he planted his first vineyard in Shrewsbury. The next year Zoll Cellars was a genuine winery and has continued to grow since the first Zoll Cellars bottles were introduced to commercial market in late 2010.

Zoll Cellars grows roughly 25 percent of the grapes they use for the wines in their repertoire. The varietal grown in Shrewsbury is Traminette, which is a French-American hybrid that shares many characteristics with a Gewurztraminer, strong and heady with a heavily perfumed scent of grapefruit, honey, and peach. Frank contracts most of the other grapes, including Riesling and Cab Franc, from other states.

Wines produced on the East Coast and in the middle of this country do not have a reputation for yielding the highest quality wines; that distinction has been bestowed upon California, Oregon, and Washington, but Zoll is looking to open people’s eyes to the growing quality of local wines.

“I want to show people what is growing around them, we can make good wine in this region,” he said. “We have an Alsatian like terroir with an elevation of 500 or so feet. It is similar to a Zone 5, French varietals grow well in Massachusetts.”

Currently Zoll Cellars distributes to nearly 20 wine and liquor stores across Massachusetts and is expanding. In 2011 they have sold over 500 cases.

Zoll is teaching the wine class at BCAE because he has noticed how much people enjoy consuming wine and that there has been a rising interest in the industry as a whole. On October 12th at 6:00pm Zoll will bring in a between 400 and 500 pounds of Riesling and a 30 gallon ratchet-press to the BCAE and instruct the students while they crush the grapes by hand. “We’re going to put the Riseling into fermentation for four weeks at room temperature, then bottle it in November,” says Zoll. “Each student will take home six bottles just in time for Thanksgiving.”

The second class, on November 15, will involve the bottling of the wine. Zoll chose Riesling because it pairs well with the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. “It’s similar to a nouveau style of Riesling,” he said. “It goes very well with both roasted turkey and butternut squash.”

You can sign up for the class online at the BCAE website.

After a drop in listenership partly due to weak AM signal, WEEI The Sports Hub (850 AM) will begin simulcasting on WMKK (93.7 FM), wiping out the existing pop rock station on that channel.

The Boston Globe reports that Entercom, WEEI’s parent company, will announce WEEI’s switch to the station best known as Mike FM.

The Sports Hub executives have denied claims that a simulcast on FM radio was in the future, but it has been discussed that this would be a smart move for the station.

This news comes only a few months after WEEI’s victory in Arbitron’s spring ratings book.  The station earned an 8.8 share, winning the men 25-54 demographic.

The announcement will most likely be made on Thursday morning at 8 a.m. on the “Dennis and Callahan Show.”

Beckett walks the red carpet with Avalanna Routh, a 5-and-a-half-year-old with a rare brain tumor.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett donned not  his cleats but those oh-so-attractive bowling shoes at Lucky Strike Lanes in Boston for the fifth annual Beckett Bowl, a star-studded bowling tournament to benefit Children’s Hospital Boston, the top pediatric hospital in the nation. The annual fundraiser, held this year on Aug. 29, was organized by the Josh Beckett Foundation, which supports community-based programs that improve the health and well-being of children, especially those who are seriously ill, disabled, poor or otherwise disadvantaged.

The night was clear and warm, a great relief in Boston, which had been battered by tropical storm Irene just the day before. As the sun began to set, an impressive lineup of Boston’s professional athletes and celebrities began to walk the red carpet with some very special guests: several of the pediatric cancer patients currently being treated at Children’s Hospital. Blast caught up with some of our hometown boys to get their thoughts on the event.

Though he’s modest about his bowling skills, Beckett said of the event, “This is something that’s close to my heart and any time you can touch other people’s lives, your life ends up being touched just the same.” Of course, we couldn’t let “Big-Game Beckett” walk by without getting his thoughts on this week’s Yankees series, especially with Jeter and A-Rod out. “It makes their lineup a little easier, but I’m sure they’ll replace them with somebody that’s pretty good, so you gotta go out and make the pitches,” he said.

Following Beckett, Sox second-baseman Dustin Pedroia described his bowling skills as “Not very good, but I’ll give it a shot,” he said. “I’m here to support my teammate, and it’s pretty fun. I’ve been here every year to support Josh and it’s just great to do anything I can to help him and his charity out.”

Other celebrities spotted lacing up for this great cause included John O’Hurley of “Seinfeld” and “Family Feud” fame, NESN broadcaster Heidi Watney, former New England Patriot Max Lane, several members of the New England Revolution, current Stanley Cup champions Bruins players Dan Paille and Dennis Seidenberg, and Staind lead guitarist Mike Mushok. Many of the Red Sox roster were also in attendance, including Adrian Gonzalez, Jon Lester, Jason Varitek, Mike Aviles, Jacoby Ellsbury, manager Terry Francona and Red Sox president Larry Lucchino.

Inside, Beckett kicked off the event by thanking the local sports and business communities, and helpingWilliam Oulton, a pediatric brain tumor patient from Medford, Mass., throw the first ball, which of course looked like a giant baseball.  William and his family, who are avid Sox fans, were excited about the event, which provided an amazing distraction during this tough time. Although his tumor damaged his optic nerve and left him legally blind in one eye, William sees no reason he cannot realize his dream of becoming a professional baseball player himself.

Beckett helps pediatric brain tumor patient William Oulton throw the first ball.

A few lanes over, Blast also spoke with Red Sox center-fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who was busily signing autographs and chatting with fans. “This is great. I’ve been coming each year and it seems to get bigger and bigger and it’s great to be here on behalf of the kids,” said Ellsbury.  While he felt “alright” about his bowling skills, Jacoby approached the Yankees with more confidence. “We’re excited. It’s a big series, and it should be a great three games. We want to win. We want to be in the playoffs, but we just want to keep on winning games and go out there each night and beat them,” he said. A great outlook for Ellsbury, who went on to smash a two-run homer over the Green Monster in Wednesday’s victory, proving why he is an American League MVP candidate.

The Josh Beckett Foundation also hosted the Beckett Bowl Ultimate Jeep Raffle presented by After FX Customs, where fans had a chance to win Monster Seat tickets to Red Sox games, autographed jerseys, or the grand prize of a fully customized 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4-door. The tournament was followed by an afterparty where lucky fans mingled with their idols.

In just a few short years, the Beckett Bowl has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Children’s Hospital Boston, and funded the 2009 opening of The Josh Beckett Cancer Treatment Room, which features a miniature Fenway Park scene, giving patients the chance to experience a ballpark-like atmosphere.  Just back from a brutal travel schedule, and in-between a hurricane and a pressure-packed Yankee series, our Red Sox players took their only day off to give back to Boston and proved once again why they are heroes on and off the field.

There is so much to do in Boston that living here can feel like a full-time job. It only seems fair that someone should offer monetary compensation.

No matter how satisfying your real job may be, getting paid for what you do in your leisure time will always seem ideal. Sadly, no matter how much you think about it on the T or ponder it in the Public Garden, there is nothing out there that will allow you to cash in on your spare time.

Unless of course you’ve got an iPhone. Want to get paid for your walk home? There’s an App for that.

Gigwalk is an application that allows users to report, record and share information about their surroundings. The application is free, and works by notifying users when a job is available in their area.

According to Jenifer Silver, a local Gigwalker, there are over 4,000 gigs in Boston. Provided you’re willing to snap a photo, you can now earn a second paycheck for doing whatever you’re doing, wherever you happen to be.

People rely on Gigwalk to provide them with information the internet may fail to capture, such as the daily drink special at a tiny independent cafe. Gigwalkers, as Gigwalk employees are known, function as a human search engine, providing photographic proof to specialized queries.

Silver reports responding to anywhere between five and 40 gigs per week. “My favorites are the ones where you can pop in and out without anyone noticing, such as Starbucks, McDonalds and other fast food settings. Occasionally I’ll make friends with the person working and they’ll give me a coffee!” Though Silver’s rate of response depends on her daily schedule, she points out that any time can be a good time for a gig: she’s even completed gigs on dates with her husband.

If the idea of earning $5 while dining out sounds appetizing, take heart in the fact that Gigwalk is growing. Over 100,000 gigs are available nationwide, and 5,067 of them are coming to Boston. With most gigs paying between $4 and $7 each, Gigwalkers have the potential to earn $12 to $20 an hour. Unlike you’re entry level office job, effort is always rewarded at Gigwalk. The more gigs you complete accurately, the higher your odds of accessing gigs that pay between $70 and $90 each.

“Since launching Gigwalk in May, we have rapidly grown into an on-demand mobile army of 50,000 iPhone users nationwide,” said Ariel Seidman, CEO and co-founder of Gigwalk. This army isn’t fighting for just anyone, either. With a client roster that includes TomTom and MenuPages, Gigwalk could prove beneficial to both your wallet and your resume.

So go out to eat, drink, and enjoy your city. And, if you’re a Gigwalker, get paid for doing so.

A teenager was shot dead on Saturday with no provocation of the alleged killer.  Alex Sierra, 16, was fired at when a Roslindale man asked him if he was from the Villa Victoria housing development, and Sierra answered “yes.”

Ricardo Arias was arraigned today in the Boston Municipal Court for allegedly murdering Sierra, and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.

Arias and a 16-year-old companion were seen in the area of Tremont and West Boylston on Saturday evening, asking people on the streets if they lived in “the Villa,” a reference to the housing project that had a long-standing rivalry with Mission Hill.  Investigators believe the rivalry sparked the shooting.

“The victim, Alex Sierra, was the one and only person who answered yes,” said Assistant District Attorney Amy Galatis.

The victim staggered into a barbershop after being shot, and was then transported to Boston Medical Center, where he died from the injuries.

“Once again, an innocent child has been gunned down amid the madness of a gang feud he had no part in,” Conley said. “Alex Sierra had no criminal record, he had never been arrested, he had no gang affiliation, and neither he nor his family did anything to deserve this fate.”

The suspects were apprehended through a description of their vehicle and their appearance.

According to Galatis, Arias was on a one-day-pass from the Department of Youth Services that allowed him to go to a baseball game.  He was at the DYS for unlawfully possessing a handgun in December 2010.

Arias will go to court on October 4.  His underage companion will attend a closed-door hearing at Juvenile Court.

After undergoing major renovations and menu changes, Tryst restaurant in Arlington is celebrating its grand re-opening on Sept. 12 with “buy one get one free” entrees–and you’re invited!

Chef/owner Paul Turano proudly debuts the completion of his vision for Tryst, which has been at its 689 Massachusetts Ave. location for nearly seven years. A tapas menu and updated, lively decor help Turano bring the city to the suburbs.

“When I first opened Tryst, my goal was to bring the Boston dining scene to the suburbs, and I think we’ve done that to some extent, but life gets in the way,” says Turano. “I originally had planned to return to honing the concept less than a year after we opened, but things got busy pretty quickly. Two kids and thousands of supportive customers later I feel like I have finally completed my vision of bringing a city-like neighborhood restaurant to Arlington.”

The New Menu

Just a Fling

Shrimp Tacos with avocado, red onion and Aji crema, $8

Local Corn Chowder with avocado spuma and cornbread crouton, $8

Sassafras Glazed Baby Back Ribs with house-made kim chee, $10

Duck Wraps  with spiced cashews and crunchy vegetables, $11

Crispy Fried Calamari  with arugula, cherry tomatoes and hot pepper aioli, $12

Tomato, Basil and Fresh Mozzarella Flatbread,  $10

Habanero Chicken Wings with Great Hill bleu cheese and carrot pickles, $9

House-made Guacamole and Chips, $10

Artisan Cheese Plate  with three cheeses and spiced fruits, $11

A Lil’ Something on the Side

($6 each or three for $15)

Marinated Olives

Roasted Asparagus with evoo and parmesan

Truffle Fries

Sweet and Spicy Bar Nuts

Cheese Croquettes

Ricotta Stuffed Squash Blossoms with curried tomato sauce

Griddled Rice Cake

Getting Fresh

Simply Tossed Greens with champagne mustard vinaigrette, $6

Market Salad with Boston lettuce, shaved seasonal vegetables, seven-grain croutons and mustard vinaigrette, $9

Heirloom Tomato Salad  with burrata, arugula, sourdough crostini and vin cotto, $9

Baby Spinach Salad with Great Hill bleu cheese, poached cherries, pecan crisps and apple cider vinaigrette, $9

Caesar Salad with hearts of romaine, evoo, roasted garlic, cracked pepper and sourdough crouton, $9

(Add roasted chicken, $3, add steak tips, $6, to any salad) 

Getting Serious

Herb Roasted All-Natural Chicken with potato puree, toasted almond green beans and natural juices, $18

Prime Sirloin Tips with cheese croquettes, arugula and smoked tomato, $19

Slow Roasted Salmon with crab stuffed squash blossom, griddled rice cake and avocado salad, $24

Wild Striped Bass with “summer minestrone,” house-made pancetta and lemon aioli, $25

Pig Under a Brick with corn polenta, mostarda, collard greens and apricot glaze,  $22

Grilled Angus Sirloin with potato puree, roasted asparagus and truffle butter, $29

The Grand Re-opening

When: Monday, Sept. 12 from 5 to 8 P.M.

Where: Tryst, 689 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington

RSVP: Reservations are required. Call 781-641-2227 or visit trystrestaurant.com for more information.

A single-vehicle crash left two men with serious injuries early this morning, according to State Police and the Suffolk County District Attorney.

State Troopers found a white Infinity in flames on the median near the Storrow Drive off-ramp to Kenmore Square at 4:15 a.m. this morning.  Two men, the 27 year-old driver and his 29 year-old brother, from North Andover were in the car, and police could not get them out immediately.

The Boston Fire Department put out the blaze and removed the men from the car using the Jaws of Life.

The operator was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital and the passenger to Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  Both men were in critical condition, suffering from burn and trauma injuries, but are now reported to be in stabilized condition.

State Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.

Have Nots sophomore album "Proud"

The Boston based punk band Have Nots announced a tour with Big D and the Kids Table, also of Boston, set to kick off this Fall.

The six-week tour will start in Buffalo, NY on September 20 and hit many major cities across the country.

“We’ve been trying to make this tour happen for a while, but logistically it just hasn’t worked out,” said Have Nots drummer Steve Patton. “With Big D releasing a new record that harkens back to a more ska/punk sound, and our new record Proud just coming out, it seemed like the perfect time to do it, and we couldn’t be happier that the guys agreed to take us along!”

Have Nots were named one of Alternative Press’ 100 Bands You Need To Know in 2011.  Their sophomore album, Proud, has been greatly praised, with the Boston Phoenix claiming it may get punk skeptics to reform their tastes.

“Simply put, this sophomore effort by Have Nots, a gang of Boston punks who like to mix a scally capful of ska in with their high-octane onslaught, roars out of the gate and rarely lets up,” the Boston Globe said.

Catch the punks at one of the dates listed below:

After a spree of violence over the holiday weekend, Mayor Thomas M. Menino said he would hold an emergency meeting with the city’s police commanders this afternoon to decide whether police should act differently to avoid more violence.

Four were killed and nine wounded yesterday throughout five different neighborhoods in just five hours.

“It’s so frustrating,” Menino told Boston Globe reporters. “You think you’ve touched every base. You think you’ve done everything right.”

Commissioner Edward F. Davis said the violence may have been spurred by “alcohol-fueled parties,” typical of holiday weekends.

He said many of the shootings appear to be gang-related.

The identities of the victims were not released, however police did release a list of when and where the violent acts took place. The following happened in chronological order:

-7:16 p.m. 60 Hollander Street Roxbury. One person shot to death.

-9:55 p.m. 36 Norton Street Dorchester. Three shot, one fatally.

-11:26 p.m. 120 Huntington Ave., South End. Two people stabbed. One victim is in critical condition and one victim is stable. One person is under arrest.

-11:33 pm. 52 Thomas Park, South Boston. Two people stabbed and neither suffered life-threatening injuries.

-11:34 p.m. Talbot Avenue and Washington Street, Dorchester. One person was shot, and he went to Carney Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

-11:36 p.m. Blue Hill Avenue and Morton Street, Mattapan. One person was found in this location but believed to have shot elsewhere. He was taken to the Carney, where he was in stable condition. The Area B-3 police station is at this intersection.

-11:54 p.m. 975 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester. One person was stabbed and was taken to Boston Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

JULY 5

-12:15 a.m. 245 Columbia Road, Dorchester. Police said a person walked up to the vehicle and opened fire at the two men inside. The car lurched forward and smashed into a building. Two people were shot, and both later died from their wounds.

After a 23 year search, a man was indicted in the murder of his girlfriend in the West Roxbury area known as the Grove, according to Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis and Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.

Michael Coker, 48, was arrested today for the murder of 20 year-old Janet Phinney in 1988. Phinney was found strangled in a wooded area behind her home.

“Homicide detectives, Suffolk County prosecutors and the Phinney family have been seeking justice for Janet for more than 20 years,” Davis said. “The dogged efforts of the Cold Case Squad, the painstaking re-examination of the evidence by the BPD Crime Lab and the relentless dedication of prosecutors made this indictment possible. My hope is that this significant development provides Janet’s family with some sense of peace.”

Phinney was working as a hairstylist and a waitress at the time of her murder. She lived with her parents and was discovered dead by a neighbor after her parents had filed a missing persons report.

Officials suspected the victim’s ex-boyfriend, Coker, but did not have enough evidence until recently to charge him.

“Today, after more than 20 years of uncertainty, Janet Phinney’s family members received the news that their loved one’s murderer has been indicted and arrested,” Conley said. “Whether it’s days, weeks, months or years, the message here is that we will never quit in our pursuit of justice.”

Boston Police Department’s Cold Case Squad reopened the Phinney case in 2010, enhanced by new forensic technology involving DNA samples.

Wasn’t his whole life a gamble?

Gangster James J. “Whitey” Bulger allegedly told federal authorities after his arrest that he regularly visited Las Vegas during his time on the lam.

And he “won more than he lost,” he said.

In court documents filed Monday, federal prosecutors said Bulger liked to play the slots during his visits.

Bulger also told officials that he crossed the Mexican border at San Diego and regularly purchased prescription drugs in Tijuana. Former Bulger right-hand man Kevin Weeks has said in the past that Bulger used to boast about how easy it was to get prescription medicine in Mexico.

The FBI also said Monday that Bulger admitted to returning to Boston multiple times in disguise while “armed tot he teeth” in order to “take care of some unfinished business.”

Bulger did not elaborate.

A tourist in a Red Sox jersey poses for a photo in front of Whitey Bulger's apartment. (Kristen Gard for Blast Magazine)

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — As you walk down 3rd Street, between California Avenue and Washington Avenue, it’s just like any other neighborhood. A man sporting Nike sneakers and headphones jogs down the street, while a couple bikes by. On the sidewalk, a grandfather pushes a stroller while his wife, daughter and daughter’s young child follow behind him, and a neighbor grabs a package from her front stoop. Across the street, a man is hosing down the sidewalk, a UPS truck is delivering packages, and an Arrowhead Springs truck is delivering water. For all intents and purposes, this appears to be a busy, normal neighborhood.

But on Wednesday, former mob boss James J. “Whitey” Bulger was found here, along with his longtime girlfriend Catherine Greig. Inside the apartment authorities found $800,000 and later hauled bags labeled as containing weapons, and ammunition out of the apartment.

Bulger had been on the lam for 16 years and was arrested for his alleged role in 19 murders. He was an informant for the Boston FBI. Later, he made the FBI “Ten Most Wanted” list next to Osama Bin Laden.

As news crews swarmed the neighborhood, neighbors appeared intrigued but reserved regarding Bulger’s presence in the apartment complex. One man on his phone boasted to his friend that he had “ridden by him on my bike, I’m sure I have.”

When asked directly about the mob boss, however, numerous people claimed ignorance.

A woman and her daughter, visiting from San Francisco were vacationing across the street from the three-story apartment building. “I’ve been following it on the news, but I had no idea this was happening right across the street!” she exclaimed, before giving her young daughter a brief description of the mob boss.

None of the residents we spoke to would allow their names to be published out of fear for their safety.

While residents of the area went about their routine, tourists were taking advantage of the historic event. Starline Tours briefly stopped in front of the apartment complex. Some cars slowed as they passed, while others stopped altogether capturing pictures on their cell phones.

A group of people, two of whom donned Boston Red Sox clothing, stopped to take pictures in front of the apartment, proudly showcasing their Boston apparel. One of the men even loaned his jersey to a woman in the group so she too could take a picture in front of the apartment in Boston clothing.

A birthday party turned deadly in September 2009 and ended in the shooting of a young woman, Paula Castillo. The case was brought to life again this morning at the trial of her alleged killers.

Castillo’s friends threw a party for her 18th birthday at 28 Hillis Road, which Ruben Sanchez,21, Miguel Vasquez,20, and Andres Brea, 21, attended. These three suspects engaged in a verbal argument with the party’s hostess and were asked to leave.

The suspects complied and left the party, but upon reaching Brea’s car, Sanchez pulled out a revolver and began firing shots at the house, with the other two suspects’ encouragement, according to Jennifer Hickman, assistant district attorney.

The shots hit Castillo, who was leaning out a window at 28 Hillis Road, who was found by police “lying on the ground in a pool of blood,” according to Hickman.

“It wasn’t supposed to end with the death of a young woman,” a Suffolk County prosecutor told the Superior Court this morning about the party.

An off duty police officer witnessed the incident from his nearby home and reported it to the District E-18 police station.

He recalled that “the shooter – Mr. Sanchez – get into that vehicle, observed the vehicle drive a short distance, make a U-turn, and stop in front of 28 Hillis Road for one final round let off from the front seat passenger,” according to prosecutors.

The officer did not see Castillo get shot.

Police were able to get accounts from witnesses at the party, which led to the arrests of the three suspects.

Officers found a revolver in the trunk of Brea’s car, and Sanchez tested positive for gunshot residue.

Sanchez is charged with second-degree murder, Vasquez is charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon and Brea is charged with being an accessory after the fact to assault by means of a dangerous weapon.

All three defendants are also being charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawful possession of a loaded firearm

It takes superior willpower to deny the waitress when she suggests a tasty appetizer or recites the desert menu in mouth-watering detail. Normally the words “zucchini blossom frittata” are enough to make eyes light up and heads nod enthusiastically. The chance to nosh on delectable items for a good cause makes saying “Yes, please!” even easier.

For the week of June 12 to 19, restaurants across the Greater Boston area will be donating portions of their proceeds to the American Red Cross, benefiting tornado relief efforts in Western Massachusetts (and Boston foodies’ discerning palates). Greater Boston’s restaurateurs are doing their part by making such generous donations; do yours by keeping these establishments in mind as you make plans for the upcoming week!

Participating restaurants

62 Restaurant & Wine Bar, located in Salem, will be donating 15 percent of their dinner sales on Sunday, June 19.

Boston’s Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro will be donating 100 percent of their dessert sales on Monday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 14.

Bella Luna Restaurant & Milky Way Lounge, located in Jamaica Plain, will be donating 75 percent of sales of their Smoked Trout pâte with Pickled Red Onion and Capers on Crostini ($8) from Sunday, June 12 through Sunday, June 19.

The Beehive, located in Boston’s South End, will be donating 100 percent of their dessert sales on Tuesday, June 14.

Bondir, located in Cambridge, will be donating 100 percent of dessert sales from Sunday, June 12 through Sunday, June 19, 2011.

Blue on Highland, an upscale eatery in Needham, will be donating 50 percent of their dessert sales on Monday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 14.

Burtons Grill, a New England-based restaurant group, will be donating 10 percent of their total dinner sales on Monday, June 13 from their Massachusetts restaurants in Boston, North Andover, Hingham and Peabody and their South Windsor, Conn., location.

Butter Café & Bakery in Walpole will be donating 50 percent of take-home dinner sales from Monday, June 13 through Friday, June 17.

China Blossom, the legendary family-run restaurant in North Andover, will be donating 10 percent of their dinner sales on Monday, June 13.

Dante, located in Cambridge, will be donating 100 percent of sales of their Zucchini Blossom Frittata with buffalo ricotta and basil honey ($15) from Sunday, June 12 through Sunday, June 19.

Myers + Chang, located in Boston’s South End, will be donating 100 percent of proceeds from their Mama Chang’s Pork and Chive Dumplings ($11) from Sunday, June 12 through Sunday, June 19.

Nebo, located in Boston’s North End, will be donating 100 percent of sales from their Zeppole dessert, which is fried dough puffs dusted with powdered sugar ($6) from Sunday, June 12 through Sunday, June 19.

Orzo Trattoria, located in North Andover, will be donating 15 percent of their lunch sales on Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 16.

Taranta, located in Boston’s North End, will be donating 100 percent of proceeds from their Guavannolis dessert, which is guava and ricotta mini cannolis with pistachio brittle ($8).

Tryst, located in Arlington, will be donating 100 percent of their dessert proceeds on Monday, June 13, Tuesday, June 14, and Wednesday, June 15.

A former Boston Police Officer was sentenced to fifteen months in prison today for a fraud scheme involving work-related disability claim.

Eliezer Gonzalez, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns after pleading guilty to 34 counts of mail fraud in February.

Gonzalez will serve fifteen months in prison followed by two years of supervised released, and will pay $167,393 in restitution and forfeiture to the City of Boston and Colonial Life Insurance, as well as a mandatory special assessment of $3,400.

The former Officer went out on injured leave after allegedly incurring on-the-job injuries in 2007. Gonzalez then began receiving tax-free injured pay and filed for accidental disability retirement.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Gonzalez greatly exaggerated and lied about his injuries, from which he collected $173,000 in injured leave pay from the City of Boston and $3,600 in supplemental insurance benefits.

Gonzalez was found out after he was surveilled and videotaped feigning injuries “on or near the same days” that he was seen walking without troubles and appearing injury-free, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Throughout the time that Gonzalez collected disability pay, he was seen at the L Street Bath House, Salsa Dancing and traveling abroad without difficulty.

On gorgeous summer days, it seems as if everyone heads to restaurant patios and decks for lunch. Yes, it’s nice to be outside, but do you really want to wait forever for a cramped table? The Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro has a romantic, old fashioned and chic solution: a picnic.

Just call ahead one hour and order your meal picnic-style, grab that special someone and dine outside at the Public Gardens (just steps away from the Bistro) or at the location of your choice. They’ll even give you a blanket and a basket!

Choose items from the following menu for your picnic in the park:

Tea-cured gravlax, herbed potato salad, green beans and baby greens, $13

Seasonal greens, pear, goat cheese, endives and hazelnuts, $9

Frisée salad with blue cheese, apples, bacon and walnuts, $9

Mediterranean grilled chicken salad with tomato, feta and green olives, $10

Lentil and farro burger, baby spinach, spiced yogurt and red pepper salad, $12

Steak salad with organic romaine, walnuts, blue cheese, tomatoes and red wine vinaigrette, $18

Grilled ground sirloin burger with Kosher dill pickles and french fries, $13

Baked croque madame, smoked ham, béchamel, soft farm egg with baby greens and pommes frites, $13

Maine crab roll with crème fraîche, red peppers and mustard, greens and pommes frites, $14

The picnic-style menu is available beginning June 6 (and will continue until the weather turns cold) on Mondays through Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.  For more information, go to www.beaconhillhotel.com or call 617-723-1133 or 617-723-7575.

A Massachusetts State Police trooper was hit by a vehicle and seriously hurt Tuesday morning in a suspected hit-and-run in South Boston, State Police siad.

The trooper, whose name was not released, was struck at Frontage Road and the on-ramp for the eastbound Massachusetts Turnpike.

He was taken to a Boston hospital for treatment. Police are looking for the driver, but no additional details have been released.

The Max Brenner dining room looks like it belongs in Willy Wonka's factory.

There’s a new restaurant in town, right on Boston’s “Restaurant Row” in the Back Bay. Max Brenner Boston is a new chocolate-themed restaurant designed to entice all your senses and indulge even the biggest sweet-tooth’s desires.

Max Brenner, also known as “The Bald Man,” calls what he does a “chocolate culture.” In the early ‘90s, Brenner started his chocolate career by working throughout Europe as an apprentice to some of the most renowned pastry chefs and chocolate experts in the world. While in Paris, he also encountered some of the leading fashion designers, sparking in him a creative interest in design and aesthetics as well. By the late ‘90s, Brenner had his own small workshop where he began to offer his wild chocolate creations. His new vision was to expand the experience of chocolate beyond taste to an emotional experience that encompasses what chocolate symbolizes to people in their lives. Over the next decade, Brenner opened a series of restaurants both internationally and stateside, finally opening his 36th location right here in Beantown at 745 Boylston St. at the end of March.

I popped in for dinner on a Monday evening, eager to see this “chocolate culture” for myself. As a self-proclaimed chocoholic and foodie, the promise of a whole chocolate experience drew me like a moth to a flame. The second I pulled open the large double doors, the scent of warm chocolate wafted out–an excellent beginning! My guest and I were sat immediately, and took a few minutes to check out the walls of lab beakers filled with chocolate chips, the pipes labeled “100 percent pure chocolate” criss-crossing the ceiling and the walls painted with Hershey bars, Oreos and hearts. It’s as if a room from Willy Wonka’s factory was plunked down right here in the city.

Chocolate Pizza with milk and white chocolate, ice cream and marshmallows ($7.50).

We are given two menus, one with appetizers and dinner items and the other with desserts and drinks. I order the Berry Nutty Professor (peanut liqueur, Frangelico, Chambord and milk chocolate served on the rocks and garnished with a chocolate strawberry; $11.50), which is possibly the best drink I’ve ever had. My guest orders a fruit-flavored Brazilian Breezer (acai liqueur, cranberry juice and guava nectar; $11.95) and we dig into appetizers of Chicken, Bacon & Cheddar Rolls ($12.95; individual $7.25) and a tower of Black & Tan Beer Battered Vidalia Onion Rings with, yes, dark chocolate ranch dipping sauce ($6.95).

For dinner, we order the Brenner Burger Maxed Out with American Kobe beef, which comes with waffle fries dusted with chili and cocoa powder and served with a pickle ($15.95), and the Tostones Alla Marie, a grilled steak with plantains and rice and beans ($18.25). I complement my burger, which melts in my mouth, with a Banana Split Martini served in a stemless glass over crushed ice ($12.95). It comes on a platter with a beaker of extra martini and a small bowl of cut bananas and whipped cream dusted with powdered sugar.  It’s certainly the most interesting drink presentation I’ve seen, and bonus points for the small beaker of additional martini.

Although I’m stuffed at this point, not ordering dessert would be a crime. As I flip through pages of international hot chocolates, milkshakes, fondues, cakes and ice cream, I decide on a Suckao, a small, dense, concentrated shot of rich chocolate ($5.25). Another platter comes over, this time filled with a small cup of cream being heated over a candle, a bowl of dark chocolate chips, and a metal spoon used to spoon in and melt as much or as little dark chocolate as you’d like to add. My guest has an Eighties Milkshake made with milk chocolate ganache and vanilla bourbon ice cream ($7.95), served in a “drink me” glass reminiscent of “Alice in Wonderland,” keeping the whimsical theme alive through the very end of the meal.

Banana Split Waffle with vanilla bourbon ice cream, milk chocolate truffle, and caramelized Rice Krispies ($13.95).

As we leave, we pass through the gift shop where you can purchase homemade candies, cookbooks, t-shirts, body lotions, and a whole host of other products. A staff member offers us a sample praline, and I summon strength to find room for one more bite in my very full stomach, and am of course glad I did. I would be sluggishly dragging my feet back to my car after a meal like that if I weren’t practically vibrating on a sugar rush.

Max Brenner has won me over. Conveniently located in the Back Bay, it is accessible to both parking garages and public transportation. Entrees are all under $30, pretty reasonably priced for downtown Boston, and there wasn’t a thing I tried that I didn’t enjoy. I loved the nostalgic feeling of childhood favorites remembered and reinterpreted into this modern experience, and will gladly meet you there for a milkshake anytime.

Max Brenner, 745 Boylston St., Boston, 617-274-1741, www.maxbrenner.com

A 32-year-old Somerville man was ordered held without bail yesterday, accused of cutting off three of his girlfriend’s fingers in a grisly act of domestic violence, prosecutors said.

Jose Gonzalez, 32, was arraigned yesterday and charged with mayhem. He was ordered held under the state’s so-called “dangerousness statute,” said Erika Gully-Santiago, a spokeswoman for Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.

At yesterday’s hearing, prosecutors said Gonzalez and his girlfriend had been arguing in a car on Washington Street when a police officer approached the crying woman to ask if anything was wrong. She said everything was alright.

Fifteen minutes later, a surveillance camera caught Gonzalez dropping the 30-year-old woman off at Boston Medical Center. Police later found a foldout knife and one of the woman’s pinky fingers on Washington Street.

This week through April 3, 16 of the top restaurants around the city will be participating in the second annual Boston Wine Week. During the event, which is the brainchild of restaurateur Babak Bina, diners will be offered select, high-end wines at the set price of $9 per glass and $32 per bottle during regular business hours. Some of the wines featured retail for up to $90 a bottle.

“We really hit it right with this concept,” said Bina, who owns Bin 26 Enoteca, BiNA Osteria/Alimentari and Lala Rokh. “You get to try these great wines at affordable prices.”

The success of the event is also predicated on the fact that people are truly interested in learning. If a glass of wine usually costs $25 and is discounted to $9, then it gives people the opportunity to see for themselves the nuance of a higher end wine.  “We are as much in the business of education as feeding and nourishing,” said Bina.

In celebration of Boston Wine Week, the Second Glass is hosting a Classy Boston Bar Crawl tonight, March 31, that stops at a group of the participating restaurants. The crawl starts at 6 p.m. at 94 Mass Ave and moves on to Back Bay Social and Brasserie Jo. On April 3 they will be hosting an Industry Night Classy Bar Crawl with stops at BiNA Osteria, Kingston Station, Petit Robert Central and Woodward at the Ames Hotel.

Boston Wine Week is an opportunity for both wine experts to find great deals and for those who don’t know much about it to learn, or be swayed.

Wine racks at Bin 26 Enoteca, one of Bina's restaurants participating in this year's Wine Week.

“At the end of the day the bottom line is there is a difference between wines, and our goal is to facilitate appreciation and a better understanding,” said Bina. “I went on the Classy Bar Crawl last year and there was a man there who told me that he was a beer connoisseur who wasn’t a wine drinker. He told me that he felt kind of enlightened and it was a great experience. To have someone who is a beer drinker appreciate wine, that is perfect.”

For tickets to tonight’s Classy Boston Bar Crawl or the Crawl on April 3, go here. For a complete list of participating restaurants, go here.

When Brehon Garcia-Dale assumed her position as Food and Wine Program Manager at the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE) in February 2010 she did not have any verifiable cooking experience.

She, in fact, did not cook.

This might seem puzzling, having a culinary novice design, schedule, and creatively execute a plan that involves an impassioned understanding of food; her job is to effectively manage classes in which inexpert students, with varying cooking skills, pay to be become slightly more cultured. Yet, the program has flourished under Brehon’s watch because of her intense work ethic, easy-going likability and, most importantly, the intelligence to accurately gauge what will draw the general population into the intimidating beast that is the kitchen: name recognition, and more specifically, celebrity.

In the last fifteen-or-so years, with the advent of the Food Network and the resulting cooking-competition-based network and basic cable shows, the rise in the public’s interest in the culinary world has been astronomical. As a result chefs are now celebrities, nearly canonized by their fans and legitimately hated by their detractors. Food professionals have become pop-culture figures to the point that each demographic of Americans has a personality aimed directly at them. Do you have an affinity for deep-fried bacon served over grandma’s meatloaf and adjectives stolen from Swingers or Jim Rome, all while believing that the late 1990’s were the absolute peak of male style in the United States? I give you Guy Fieri. Do you read Kerouac and wish people would listen to better music (like The Stooges, man) while yearning for a world free of xenophobia? Try out Anthony Bourdain.

Brehon recognized this trend and, with a little help from her PR background, effectively recruited a veritable who’s who in the Boston restaurant scene (along with the existing, steady group of professional culinary educators) to teach classes at the BCAE’s newly renovated, state-of-the-art kitchens on Arlington St. in Boston.

Born in New York City, Brehon grew up around food. “My father is Cuban, and my mother and grandmother are Italian cooks”, she said. “We were always eating something good.” She also worked in restaurants and was interested in the dining scene in New York and then Boston, where she moved to attend school.

After graduating from Emerson College with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and public relations she ended up at Regan Communications. She did not work on any of Regan’s many restaurant accounts, but made the necessary connections in the industry and recognized the importance of establishing deep, genuine associations in the business world. “My time at Regan helped out a lot with my ability to facilitate relationships,” Brehon said.

“When I started at the BCAE I spoke with a lot of consumers and found out what they were looking for,” said Brehon. “I wanted to figure out how to get people through the door.”

Her successful tactic led to such noteworthy Boston figures as Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley’s Bistro and Rebecca Newell of The Beehive casually instilling their wisdom on small groups of students, many who are young professionals, over a couple glasses of wine in a comfortable setting.

As someone who has allowed professional busyness to breed complacency in the kitchen, I decided to take a class to brush up on my skills with Brian Poe. Brian started out as a bartender-line cook combo at a dive bar in Alabama. Through curiosity and drive he quickly moved up the ladder and became one of the top chefs in Arizona, then LA. He moved out to Boston to serve as executive chef at The Seasons before taking over The Rattlesnake on Boylston Street.

Since opening the Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake concept in 2009, the reputation of the restaurant has risen precipitously. With Brian turning the casual southwestern concept on its head (at one point Vermont Quail Tacos were on the menu), The Rattlesnake’s customers have evolved from twenty-somethings looking to copiously imbibe to an amalgamation of serious diners seeking good food that is lovingly prepared out on a limb.

Poe taught the class of eight students with a gregarious, self-deprecating style that erased any feeling that my learning experience was going to be an awkward few hours. He told us a bit about his background, and then dove right into teaching. The aim of the class was to take several, inexpensive common ingredients and use them in a multitude of ways to make different dishes.

We made a Basil-Chipotle Salsa, then added a few ingredients and pureed those into a Basil and Tequila Vinaigrette. We took leftover rinds and threw them in a bucket, along with some basil, to make sangria. We seasoned a duck breast with the salsa ingredients, and then took the fat trimmings and starting rendering them with the sangria to make a reduction. All in all we made four dishes, including a dessert of couscous pudding with duck-fat-fried cinnamon-dusted tortillas. The highlight of the whole meal was a seared duck taco with upland cress and the sangria reduction. The class was informative and benefited from the fact that the atmosphere felt like a 100 level college class mixed with happy hour.

“I love the energy and excitement that comes from people who love food, love to cook and have a hunger for learning,” said Poe. “The BCAE designs their classes to be very hands on where the students are cooking right alongside me as opposed to having me just talk about what I love to do.”

“There isn’t a science to it,” added Brehon. “I tell all the chefs to do their thing and just let the experts dictate what will be taught.”

The freedom that Brehon gives the chefs is one thing that attracts them to the program, but the fact that teaching a class works as a form of networking, a face-to-face form of marketing if you will, is also beneficial to their participation. If you meet a chef and get to know them, you are more than likely going to visit their restaurant at some point (from the BCAE’s perspective, if you have been to a restaurant you are more likely to participate in a class with the chef from that restaurant.)

With all the social media outlets, the restaurant customer now has a voice. In an industry once relegated to worshipping known restaurant reviewers and VIPs, now any person can make or break the reputation of a restaurant via yelp!, or any of the other customer review sites. This has forced smart restaurants to explore ways to incorporate the masses more and ingratiate themselves with the hand that feeds.

“It’s extremely rewarding and gratifying when a former student walks through the door of Poe’s Kitchen for dinner after taking a class with you, especially if it’s their first time,” said Poe. “The BCAE food program connects you with Bostonians who love food at a real grass roots and personal level.”

Brehon has combined all these things into an extremely successful program (she’s also learned how to cook.) Because of the success of the celebrity chef series, the classes with the culinary teaching professionals have gained in popularity as well. People like to learn from someone they respect as an expert, and it doesn’t hurt that it might give you a solid story to tell friends.

“No one is going to forget how Gordon Hamersley taught them to chop an onion correctly,” said Brehon. “My job is very gratifying.”

For more information visit: http://www.bcae.org/

Wednesdays may be hurdles you have to grin and bear before reaching Friday, but Boston’s BOND restaurant and lounge wants to help you over that hump with their Jazz Experiment, live jazz shows every Wednesday from 7 to 10 p.m. that will make you look forward to the middle of the week.

Schedule of artists

March 2: Jesse Scheinin, a 21-year-old saxophonist and student at the Berklee College of Music with a high energy and spontaneous sound.

March 9: Yvonne Aubert, whose jazz is traditional, classic and timeless.

March 16: Sharik Hasan, an internationally acclaimed pianist and composer.

March 23: Samantha Farrell, a singer-songwriter and guitarist with a unique style that embraces soul, jazz and R&B. Her music has been featured in TV shows such as “One Tree Hill” and “Privileged,” as well as in independent films.

March 30: Ada Pasternak, a violinist, singer and student at the Berklee College of Music.

April 6: Sharik Hasan

April 13: Silvina Moreno, an Argentinean singer-songwriter and student at the Berklee College of Music who specializes in Tango.

April 20: Samantha Farrell

April 27: Nadia Washington, a singer with a powerful yet smooth voice who has been compared to such legends as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn.

For more information, visit www.bondboston.com. For reservations, call 617-956-8765.

For years, lovers have given generic and boring gifts to their significant others on Valentine’s Day.  Collections of drugstore chocolates, cheap perfumes and colognes and crappy “romantic” candles that are said to set the mood have become a rut that gift givers turn to.

In the spirit of the new year, we at Blast suggest that a new standard be set for Valentine’s Day gifts. Boston establishments such as Beacon Hill Chocolates, Condom World, Sweet & Nasty and LUSH Cosmetics raise the bar for Valentine’s Day with their unique, fun gifts that put a spin on traditional choices.

Beacon Hill Chocolates

91 Charles St.
617-725-1900
www.beaconhillchocolates.com

Forget that heart-shaped box of cheap chocolates! On the brick streets of Beacon Hill lies aptly named Beacon Hill Chocolates, a gourmet chocolate store that prides itself in its unique keepsake gift boxes and artisan chocolates.

The company, which will be celebrating its fifth birthday this April, imports rich chocolates from chocolatiers in Belgium, France and a local business in Natick, Mass., called Cocoa Pod.

Rebecca Novak, the manager of the store, said that the big seller for Valentine’s Day this year will be the handcrafted keepsake boxes. Chocolates for Valentine’s Day may not be original, but with these decorative decoupage-style boxes designed with vintage postcards, lithographs, illustrations and photographs, customers can mix and match any type of chocolate truffles they want.

“It’s personalized,” Novak said. “You can’t find the boxes anywhere else.”

Out of the hundreds of artfully crafted truffles and painted hearts, Novak personally recommends the heart-shaped Cognac Caramels or the Brownie Bite Truffles. Other special items to look out for include the Caramel Sushi, Salted Caramel Fudge and the over-sized Chocolate Conversation Hearts.

It’s advisable to place custom orders a week prior to Valentine’s Day, especially for the fresh chocolate-covered strawberries that will be available this year.

Condom World

332 Newbury St.
617-267-7233
www.condomworldboston.com

Upon entering Condom World, the popular X-rated store on Newbury Street, the first thing that stands out is a swaying clock designed to look like two cows “doing the nasty.”

Mike Morrison, the store’s manager, thinks that couple-related products will be the best sellers this year for Valentine’s Day.

“Love is in the air and we’re a sex shop,” Morrison said.

Rather than look at items that are separate for men and women, Morrison motions towards products that couples can use together. Items such as vibrating rings, edible body lotion and lube, dirty dice, books of “coupons” that merit sexy activities such as “one hot bath together,” and body paint pens allow for shared Valentine’s Day gifts.

Various other items around the store include Kama Sutra books, naughty costumes and masturbation items for those who are celebrating the holiday alone.

The wall-length stretch of vibrators and dildos may be intimidating at first glance, but the fun, hands-on nature of Condom World gifts goes unmatched for Valentine’s Day.

Sweet & Nasty

90 Massachusetts Ave., # 90A
617-266-7171
www.sweet-n-nasty.com

Looking for a sweet treat besides the usual box of chocolates? Take the train to Hynes Convention Center and buy a couple of chocolate penis pops from Sweet & Nasty erotic bakery.

Niki Novak, the owner of Sweet & Nasty, dove into the erotic bakery business in October of 1981 and has been going strong for 30 years.

When visiting her sister in New York, Novak had her first penis cake experience and it was about as appetizing as corrugated cardboard.  This served as a springboard for Novak to open her own erotic bakery with naughty goods that tasted great.

All the big sellers for Valentine’s Day are edible, such as G-strings, booby tassels, handcuffs and anatomically correct body parts.

“It combines chocolate, sex and love,” Novak said, describing the essence of her work.

The light-hearted humor behind the Valentine’s Day gifts from Sweet & Nasty replaces the typical serious romance theme of the holiday. Lovers may not wish to propose to their significant others with a chocolate mold of two pigs “making bacon,” but it’s items like these that show that some thought was put into the gifts.

Novak says it’s typical to hear customers say, “This would be perfect for so and so” or, “Oh my God, this is so gross.”  She explained that the most disgusted customers end up making the final purchases.

Anyone who wants some Buxom Bettys or Bite-Sized Tit Pops should place orders sooner than later.  Two to three days prior to Valentine’s Day at Sweet & Nasty can only be described as a mob scene.

LUSH Cosmetics

166 Newbury St.
617-375-5874
www.lushusa.com/shop

Perfume and cologne are one of the many generic “go-to” gifts for Valentine’s Day.  If anyone is considering the gift of scent, the one store on Newbury Street that you can smell from a block away is calling out to lovers this year.

LUSH Cosmetics is the candy land of homemade bath bombs, soaps and all that smells wonderful.

Sarah Hewitt, the manager of the Newbury Street location, says that one of the best sellers for Valentine’s Day is the Sex Bomb bath bombs.

“Sex Bomb is the ultimate sensual bath bomb,” Hewitt said.

Items such as Sex Bomb and the limited edition Valentine’s Day products are better than ordinary perfumes because they are made of natural aphrodisiacs that set the mood for the holiday.

Some of the limited edition bubble bars, bath bombs and soaps that are sure to sell out quickly are Magic Mushroom, The Ex Factor, Frog Prince and Love Birds.

Gifts from LUSH can range anywhere from $4 to $200.

Popular scents that Hewitt recommends are vanilla, chocolate, rose and jasmine.  These scents can be found in many of the massage bars, and not only do they smell good, but they lend themselves to romantic back rubs.

LUSH’s soaps and unique fragrances can replace the cheap cologne gift as well with scents like Demon in the Dark, Ice Blue, Sea Vegetable and Karma.  The masculine scents smell lovely without being too overpowering.

If you find yourself single and sad, grab a Blackberry bath bomb and spend the holiday smelling bergamot, a natural anti-depressant.

Dorchester-Milton Restaurant Week kicks off on Monday, Jan. 17, and lasts through Monday, Jan. 31. Participating in this year’s event are Dorchester’s 224 Boston Street, Ashmont Grill, The Blarney Stone, dbar, Ledge Kitchen & Drinks and Tavolo, and Milton’s 88 Wharf and Abby Park. Each will offer a unique and inspired three-course meal on Sunday through Thursday evenings for just $30.11. While all eight restaurants will still offer their usual menu selections during Restaurant Week, the special menu that each has crafted for this event is a showcase of their culinary creativity and a perfect way to discover what each restaurant is all about.

Ashmont Grill

555 Talbot Ave., Dorchester
617-825-4300
Ashmont Grill offers its diners a taste of traditional American comfort food. Typical dinner items include Fish and Chips ($18) and a childhood favorite, a Pearl Hot Dog with hand-cut fries ($6). A fun, friendly and lively destination, the restaurant is no newcomer to special events. Every Monday at 6:30 p.m., Ashmont Grill hosts a wine club, complete with a four-course meal for just $35. Items from this year’s Restaurant Week menu include Split Pea Soup with smoked ham, Pan Seared Mackerel with poached potatoes and a decadent Banana Upside-Down Cake.

The Blarney Stone

1505 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
617-436-8223
Legendary as America’s first bar to sell draught Guinness, The Blarney Stone is a must for anyone craving hearty classics such as tangy Buffalo Chicken Tenders ($9) and Chicken Parmesan served over pasta ($14). Their Restaurant Week menu offers soul-warming fare such as Maine Lobster Bisque, Chicken Milanese served with herb roasted potatoes and warm swiss chard and a traditional Italian Tiramisu.

dbar

1236 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
617-265-4490
dbar dishes out fine cuisine and offers a happening nightlife. At dbar, a French influence works to transform classic American comfort foods into totally unique dishes, pairing familiar favorites with sophisticated ingredients. Items from their standard menu include Brioche French Toast ($7.95), a Melted Leek and Chevre Omelet ($9.95), and Seared Diver’s Scallops ($21). Their Restaurant Week menu features elegant selections including Crispy Duck Confit served with wild mushroom salad, Truffled Mac and Cheese and a Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee.

Ledge Kitchen & Drinks

2261 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
617-698-2261
Ledge Kitchen & Drinks offers a massive selection of satisfying dishes, including an Irish Breakfast ($12), Ledge Crab Cakes ($16), and a Stuffed Pork Chop ($18). Their Restaurant Week menu mirrors their usual hearty fare: Stuffed Golden Onion Rings, Braised Osso Bucco with crispy polenta, Passion Fruit Crème Brulee and Spicy Hot Chocolate served with homemade cookies.

Tavolo

1918 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
617-822-1918
Tavolo is a true neighborhood joint; it’s a “comfortable spot where everybody knows your name.” In addition to its relaxed atmosphere, Tavolo offers its diners a selection of refined Italian dishes. Tavolo’s dinner menu features tasty appetizers such as their Spreadables with Tuscan beans, whipped ricotta, roasted garlic and grilled toast ($12), meat-filled Lasagna ($18) and a vegetarian lasagna layered with ricotta, tomatoes and braised greens, all slathered with a creamy béchamel sauce ($16). Their Restaurant Week menu will feature scrumptious Italian fare, including Risotto flavored with Prosecco, foraged mushrooms and pecorino cheese; Roasted Rainbow Trout served with potato salad, capers, anchovies and a radish-dill crème fraiche; and a Ricotta Pound Cake with fresh fruit compote.

88 Wharf

88 Wharf St., Milton
857-598-4826
The menu at 88 Wharf presents a variety of sophisticated cuisine. 88 Wharf is open for brunch, dinner and Social Hour. The latter takes place on weeknights from 5 to 6 p.m. and after 9 p.m. when the kitchen offers elegant bites such as roasted olives and truffled potato chips ($1 to $5) The regular dinner menu stars the 88 Grill selection, a choice of three cuts of all natural, grass-fed beef from Brandt Farms served as the customer likes with a choice of sauces and sides ($18 to $27). Their Restaurant Week menu maintains the same level of European sophistication, with options including Pumpkin Tortelloni with foie-gras truffle butter; Duck Confit Risotto with cranberries, roasted mushrooms, chives and marsala; and a Chocolate-Caramel Brioche Bread Pudding.

Abby Park

550 Adams St., Milton
617-696-8700
Incorporating a selection of fresh, local seafood, produce and dairy into its cuisine, Abby Park is an avid supporter of its community and a proponent of local, natural and organic ingredients. The restaurant offers weekly specials such as $2 Tapas on Tuesdays and $1 Oysters at the bar on Wednesdays. Abby Park serves up an eclectic mix of modern American fare fused with Mediterranean and European flavors, such as the Meze Plate ($11) and Short Ribs of Beef braised in red wine and Guinness ($28). Their Restaurant Week menu includes Crispy Shrimp and Calamari with lemon aioli; Salmon Aqua Pazza seared with spicy tomato caper basil sauce; and a choice of any dessert from their regular menu.

224 Boston Street

224 Boston St., Dorchester
617-265-1217
224 Boston Street serves up contemporary American cuisine prepared with fresh, high quality ingredients. The standard menu features such comforting American classics as Herb Baked Meatloaf served with sour cream and chive potatoes ($15.50) and the Boston Street Cod Cakes with shoestring fries and homemade tartar sauce ($16.50). Their Restaurant Week menu includes select dishes from their regular menu, including Grilled Center-Cut Lamb Loin Chops with Roasted Plum Tomato, Eggplant and Manzanilla Olive Coponata; Pistachio Crusted Chicken Breast with an Orange Marmalade Cream Sauce and Goat Cheese Ravioli; and a Death By Chocolate dessert.

From the posh Mexican-inspired cuisine that utilizes New England ingredients to the authentic hand-painted toilet bowls, every aspect of Lolita Cocina and Tequila Bar in Boston’s Back Bay brims over with flare. Located only paces from the Copley T stop, Lolita is a must for anyone interested in great food, tasty drinks and a lively atmosphere.

Just a few steps below street level, Lolita’s lavishly dark interior immediately envelops the senses: windowless walls are covered from floor to ceiling in velvety red and black wallpaper, antique wrought-iron doors frame the walk-up tequila bar that’s inlaid with black alligator skin tile, and silent black and white Mexican films are projected onto the mid-19th century brick that was hand-selected by owners and siblings Chris and Stephanie Jamison.

Since opening the restaurant just under a month ago, Chris and Stephanie seem to have gained quite a positive reputation for Lolita; when we went here for dinner on a Saturday, we waited 30 minutes for a table. The wait was eased, however, by a $6 pint of the dark, chocolaty Lolita Craft Brew.

As soon as we sat down, we were greeted by a dramatic amuse-bouche: a silver bowl brimming over with dry ice smoke, filled with a grapefruit granita, an Italian ice-like dessert, and doused with a complimentary shot of tequila. The sour grapefruit and sharp tequila were a great way to wake up our palate for the meal ahead. Then we dove into a large basket of homemade tortilla chips served with three of Lolita’s homemade salsas.

Lolita boasts a liquor cabinet with over 200 tequilas, and its drink menu is just as diverse. We enjoyed the Bonita margarita ($14), rimmed with sugar and flavored with ginger and white peach, and the Lolita margarita ($12), rimmed with salt and flavored with grapefruit and lime. If dining with a crowd (or a couple of big drinkers), Lolita also offers their signature margaritas by the pitcher.

At the end of a meal, every table is presented with this sour apple cotton candy shooter scattered with cherry Pop Rocks candy.

Lolita’s dinner menu is studded with a variety of tantalizing options that marry traditional Mexican recipes with local New England ingredients. We started off our meal with the Crispy Masa Oysters ($11), a plate of fried oysters served atop fresh salsa and chipotle crema, and the Tres Ceviches ($12), a trio of ceviches ranging in taste from sweet to spicy, each in an individual shot glass. For our main course, we had the pulled pork tacos ($12), served with pickled onions and salsa verde, and a side dish of the Iron Pan Corn Bread ($6). The corn bread came out floating in a pool of garlicky butter sauce, and paired beautifully with the tangy tacos. For a complimentary sweet treat at the end of the meal, every table is presented with a whimsical glassful of homemade sour apple cotton candy scattered with cherry Pop Rocks candy, a unique take on a childhood favorite. Our waitress playfully alluded to Marge Simpson’s blue coiffure as the inspiration for this sticky delight.

Owners Chris and Stephanie opened Lolita last month with the hope of creating “an upscale, decadent experience with the rock ‘n roll atmosphere usually associated with tequila and Mexican food.” We think they’ve struck the perfect balance between comfort and elegance. Lolita is an ideal spot for either a romantic date or a group of friends looking to kick back, savor scrumptious food and sip on fantastic drinks. We longingly look forward to our next visit.

Social activist, author, and three-time Emmy Award-winning news anchor Carole Simpson will deliver the keynote address at the 11th Annual World of Wellesley Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast on Jan. 17.

Simpson notes that she finds herself indebted to King, whom she came to know professionally early in her career. Inspired by King’s efforts to establish racial equality and fair housing in Chicago, Simpson strove to pursue social justice within her own field. Simpson has challenged and redefined industry norms, working tirelessly to establish fair labor practices for women and minorities within broadcast journalism.

Now Leader-in-Residence of Emerson’s College of Communication, Simpson boasts a career rich in achievement. Beginning as a reporter at Chicago’s WCFL Radio, Simpson went on to work as an NBC news correspondent and eventually anchored the weekend edition of ABC’s “World News Tonight.” While at ABC, she helped anchor the network’s live coverage of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. In 1992, Carole Simpson became the first woman and first minority to serve as the sole anchor of a presidential debate. The career that was jump-started by breaking the news of King’s first crusade for equal rights has been long and successful, yet Simpson has never forgotten the inspiration of its catalyst.

In addition to the keynote speech, the event will feature performances celebrating cultural diversity and it will honor the Wellesley METCO Family Friends Program with the World of Wellesley Advancing Race Relations Award.

Details

What: World of Wellesley’s 11th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast

When: Monday, Jan. 17  from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Where: Sun Life Financial, One Sun Life Park, Wellesley

Tickets: $25; tables of 10 available for $250. Cash/check accepted at door. For reservations , call 781-235-2739 or 781-237-5202. For more information, go to www.world-of-wellesley.org.

Suspect Brandon K. Jones

Police in Mesa, Ariz. arrested 26-year-old Brandon K. Jones, of Mesa, last Friday as a result of a “complex” federal child pornography investigation based out of Boston.

Jones was linked to the investigation through information gathered by federal agents and detectives from the Massachusetts State Police. The Mesa Police Department was notified that a suspect in Mesa with “ongoing access to a child” was producing “graphic” child pornography videos in which a small child was being molested.

While serving a search warrant at Jones’ home, which he shares with his mother, police allegedly found child pornography, including homemade videos of a man police identified as Jones molesting a 5-year-old child, on Jones’ laptop computer. Jones was then taken into custody. During his custodial interview, Jones confessed to molesting the victim and videotaping the crime.

“Thanks to quick efforts by the Mesa Police Department, this child was rescued from a very dangerous situation,” said Matt Allen, special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix, in a statement. “By working together on initiatives such as the Internet Crimes Against Children task forces, law enforcement agencies across the United States have created a team effort to protect our children from predators.”

Jones has been charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

“The arrest of Brandon Jones should serve as a warning to those who would prey on the innocent children in our communities,” Mesa Police Chief Frank Milstead said in a statement. “Investigating those who victimize our children will remain a top priority of the Mesa Police Department. This arrest was made possible by the collaboration between local law enforcement and our federal law enforcement partners.”

You can ring in the new year with this hottie at Revolution Rock Bar's NYE 2011 burlesque celebration

Let’s face it: It’s pretty lame to spend New Year’s Eve in PJs watching a disco ball drop on TV at some cool celebration you’re not at. Even though 2011 is only days away, it’s not too late to make plans for a night on the town. Blast has put together a list of our top five spots to ring in the new year, each offering a unique NYE experience. Cheers!

A red carpet celebration

Calderwood Pavilion

Guys, dust off that tux and ladies grab that dress you’ve been waiting for an excuse to wear and attend the ultimate NYE celebration, which just so happens to be the official NYE event of Blast Magazine! The James Bond-themed event, hosted by Miss Massachusetts 2010 Lacey Wilson and Miss Maine 2010 Katie Whittier, will feature a red carpet entrance, professional photographers and videographers, live music and DJ entertainment, party favors, complimentary appetizers from 10 to 11 p.m. and prizes awarded to the best dressed party-goers!

Where: Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont St., Boston

When: 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Tickets: $85 for general admission, $140 for VIP, VIP table for five $999. A portion of the profits will benefit The Home For Little Wanderers charity. For tickets and more information, go here. 21+ event

A sexy, scandalous soirée

Revolution Rock Bar

Enter 2011 with some va-va-voom! The world-famous burlesque group, Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce, wants to celebrate the new year with you! Enjoy the sultry and scantily-clad ladies’ performances along with complimentary appetizers, a champagne toast and party favors.

Where: Revolution Rock Bar, 200 High St., Boston

When: 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Tickets: $60. More information and tickets available here. VIP tickets also available. 21+ event

A soulful and stylish night

The Beehive

This hip spot, known for its live jazz, old school-style cocktails and fabulous food, just might be the coolest place to ring in the new year. Choose from over 69 champagnes to fill your glass, nosh on a buffet of hors d’oeuvres and desserts and feast your eyes on shimmying belly dancers while listening to live funk music.

Where: The Beehive, Boston Center for the Arts, 541 Tremont St., Boston

When: 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

Tickets: $65 without food, $95 with food. Cash bar. For tickets and more information, go here or call 617-423-0069. 21+ event

A casual, inexpensive experience

Kings Lounge

Tuck that cash back in your wallet and enjoy a cover-free evening at Kings’ Back Bay and Dedham locations. There will be bowling, music, party favors and a menu available all night long. Looking to add a little romance? Then order from the three-course pre fixe menu, complete with a champagne toast, for $45 per person.

Where: Kings Back Bay, 50 Dalton St., Boston and Kings Dedham, 600 Legacy Place, Dedham

When: Doors open at 8 p.m.

Tickets: None needed; no cover charge.

For more information, go to KingsBackBay.com or KingsDedham.com or call 617-266-2695 (Back Bay) or 781-329-6000 (Dedham). 21+ event

A high-energy, club-atmosphere

The Estate

Dance your way into the new year with music from award-winning DJ Buddy Costa at this swanky, celebrity-studded night spot. Get party favors and join in a champagne toast with all the other hot, young partiers you’ve been grinding against all night!

Where: The Estate, One Boylston Place, Boston

When: Doors open at 10 p.m.

Tickets: $75, $60 in advance. For tickets and  more information, go here or call 617-351-7000. 21+ event

Avdeep Sahi (Media Credit/Avinder Sahi)

LEXINGTON — At 3 a.m., his alarm clock went off, and Avdeep Sahi, 16, slowly rose from bed, his legs and body aching from the previous day’s football practice. While the rest of Lexington was asleep, Avdeep was getting ready to call India and get to work.

After shaking away his early morning drowsiness, Avdeep, in his ever-gregarious tone, called developers in India to troubleshoot some problems he was having as he worked towards completing the challenging project he undertook at the beginning of the summer: developing an iPhone application from scratch.

In addition to being an entrepreneur, Avdeep is an active and vibrant member of the Lexington High School community. Even though his family moved to the United States from India just four years ago, in 2006, he has adjusted quickly to his surroundings, even introducing his American friends to Indian culture by starting a cricket club in school. As if his numerous endeavors are not enough, he is also a student teacher in a computer programming class.

“He has proven to be a natural leader who is hardworking and active,” Avdeep’s father, Avinder, said.

The iPhone application project originated this past spring when Avdeep was deciding where he wanted to intern for school credit between his sophomore and junior years in high school. Due in large part to his love of Mac computers, he chose to work at Lexington Community Media Center (LexMedia), which has a substantial and well equipped Mac lab for digital editing.

LexMedia covers local events in Lexington, and Avdeep’s main responsibility was to record and edit some of the content that would be broadcast. While interning, he had an idea for how he could help LexMedia take advantage of the fact that people are spending more time on their Smartphones and less time on their computers.

“For about a year I had started teaching myself the basics of how to program applications by viewing videos online and reading magazines,” Avdeep said. “I then proposed that if they let me use their resources, I would attempt to create an iPhone application that would make all of their content available for users, streamlined to their Smartphones.”

When Avdeep offered to volunteer his time to produce the iPhone application, LexMedia said they would be happy to let him attempt to do it. However, there were some questions as to whether or not he could complete such a complex project.

“Avdeep told them that he would have to get connected with the process, the resources, the training, and he would try to make the application, but was not sure if he would be able to do it,” Avinder said.

“Before the summer I didn’t even truly know how to program,” Avdeep added.

Despite his uncertainty, Avdeep dove in head first and dedicated nearly all of his free time to developing the application. However, he soon found that the labyrinthine project was impossible to complete without the help of others. Luckily, he knew a couple of companies that specialize in iPhone development, one of which is a company in Cambridge called Endeca. On Fridays, Avdeep would commute to Cambridge and pick the brains of the professionals at Endeca.

In addition to calling developers in India from home, Avdeep spent many nights in the lab at LexMedia. He also sought the help of individuals at CMC Americas, another application development company. Near the end of the process Avdeep ran into a problem with PC hardware and started using his high school’s Mac lab. His teachers took an interest in his project and helped Avdeep troubleshoot while uploading the content.

“All of the people were truly gracious with their resources and time,” Avdeep said. “They were really nice to me.”

Avinder believes that the country’s recent economic struggles had a lot to do with why people were so willing to lend a helping hand to his son. Avdeep’s mentors and teachers saw a bright future in him and wanted to give a young man a chance in a tough economic climate.

“Ever since the downturn we have become pessimistic about what is around us, but there are pockets of people who are an open source,” Avinder said. “People are available with their time, knowledge, resources, and are raising their availability to high school kids,” he said.

In September, after three months of working tirelessly, Avdeep finished the application. He submitted the content to Apple for them to review. During the review process, the Sahis realized how lucky Avdeep was, as he was exposed to talented professionals who provided him with guidance and let him use their resources for free.

“People are putting their faith in a much younger generation today,” Avinder said.

In early October, Avdeep was informed that the LexMedia iPhone application had been approved, and at the age of 16 he had its copyrights. The finished product, available through iTunes and App Store, provides updates from LexMedia’s portal, Facebook page and videos, as well as access to Lexington news and events schedules. Avdeep is currently working on new features for the application’s updates, including a live feed option.

The process, from start to finish, cost a few hundred dollars and proves that sometimes the only capital you need is drive. This is a young man who saw an opportunity and did not simply dream — he made his dream happen.

“All you need is motivation,” Avdeep said.

Below are screen shots from Avdeep’s LexMedia iPhone application, courtesy of Avdeep and Apple: