Enjoy the View

View from Columbia Point     

     I'm always searching for a good view of Boston and while I've been lucky to observe the city from a bird's eye view, I always come back to my favorite spot:  Columbia Point in Dorchester (also home to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum).  The view is free and far enough away from the hustle and bustle of town plus you can enjoy the sea breezes off Dorchester Bay.  The area is also part of the Boston Harborwalk where you can stroll the perimeter of the bay and eat lunch while sitting at one of the picnic tables.   Feel free to take a peek at the public art sculptures across the street on the UMASS campus or take a look at President Kennedy's sailboat the Victura which is on display during the summer season.  If you have an hour or two, explore the JFK Library and Museum. It's a $12.00 admission fee which is fairly inexpensive compared to some of the other museums in the city.  The exhibits give an insightful perspective from that era.  You'll leave feeling optimistic no matter which political affiliation you fall under. That you can count on.



The nautical flags spell out JFK and JBK for
John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy

The Harborwalk



JFK's boat, the Victura


 

All photos by Jennifer Stanish 2013
    

A Scorcha!

My Rating System    

4 Dunkies-Wicked Awesome; Add to DVD/Blu-Ray Collection

3 Dunkies- Wicked Good

2 Dunkies-  I’d rather be at Fenway during a rain delay.

1 Dunkie- I’d rather be stuck on the Red Line during the morning commute.



I'm giving The Heat 3 Dunkies. If you've seen the trailers and read the reviews then you already know the movie stars Sandra Bullock as the uptight FBI agent and Melissa McCarthy as the Boston detective. It's your typical buddy cop flick except this time it's two females in the lead roles.  It's rated R for a reason as it's a bit raunchy and lots of F-bombs are dropped but it all works. Melissa McCarthy is typically awesome in the role of Detective Mullins. Just when you think she's over the top with her verbal jabs she displays a sincerity in her delivery that pulls you back in. Bullock and McCarthy have a fun rapport that makes you think they had a great time filming this movie.
    It's obvious the movie was shot in Boston and the supporting actors prove it. There is a scene where Bullock as Special Agent Ashburn is talking with Mullins' brothers at the dinner table. They ask her if she's a narc and she doesn't understand them because of their thick Boston accents. Normally, I hate scenes when the Boston accent is so exaggerated for laughs but this time it felt natural and I did laugh out loud.  It probably didn't hurt that Joey McIntyre was in the scene too. What can I say, I'm a little biased.
    So, to sum it all up, go cool off and see The Heat.  I guarantee you'll have a few laughs.


Oh wait, one more thing...I saw the movie at the AMC Theaters in Braintree.  The theaters now have reclining chairs! When did that happen?  It was so comfortable. I would definitely recommend seeing a flick there at least once.


 

Still Strong

Photo by J. Stanish

 

I spent some time in town today and visited the memorial on Boylston Street. The Mayor's office recently announced the items would be removed in a few days and archived for a future memorial site.  It's been just over two months since the marathon bombings.  In those two months, we've been pleasantly distracted by a tremendous Bruins playoff run and a good start from the Sox but it still doesn't erase what happened in our city.  We're reminded every day when we see the Boston Strong logos adorning buildings, trains, buses, cars, hats and t-shirts. We're reminded when we stroll down Boylston and see the words Finish Line painted on the street. And we're reminded at the memorial site where hundreds of sneakers hang on the fence and thousands of messages of love from all over the world are scribbled in notes to the people of Boston. Stay Strong.  We have and we will.

 

Photo by J. Stanish

 

Photo by J. Stanish

 

 

 

Donations to The One Fund Boston can be made to:

 

https://secure.onefundboston.org/

 

All donations assist the families who lost loved ones and those who were severely wounded in the attacks.