Heard NY

The Summer List (finally.)

How is it that I started a summer list what seems like only a few days ago and now the summer is half over?  Here is the 2012 Summer List – the few things I’ve done already and the epic amount that I will probably not get to. 

To Watch – If you haven’t already, go see Moonrise Kingdom.  It was my first Wes Anderson that I had no patience to wait until its DVD release to see and it was worth it.  I may go twice, which is something I haven’t done since Titanic.

To RepEAT – Toscanini’s, the fist time I went this summer they had Bourbon Ginger Snap and it was heaven.  Some other frozen treat favorites include the new JP Licks location on Charles St, that is dangerously close to my apartment.  Luckily though, the Cheesecake Oreo flavor was only available for the month of June.  I raved about Frozen Hoagie in my SoWa post, if you see that truck, get yourself a slider.

Al Fresco – The Rattlesnake roof is always a favorite of mine for outdoor drinking, but add to the list Bar Lola and Mjia Cantina & Tequila Bar, where I highly recommend the house Marg and the grilled fish tacos.  Also newly opened in the seaport is Rosa Mexicano and Empire, which I’m unclear whether it has outdoor seating.

To See – My college professor/mentor Andy is a very accomplished artist (his work is part of our prestigious office art collection) and his favorite story to tell is how, in his early days, he accepted an Alex Katz piece in lieu of payment for a gallery show.  That piece is now worth well more than what he would have paid that day.  Alex Katz has been a favorite of mine since college and summertime is a great season to see his best works.  Alex Katz Prints is at the MFA through July 29th.

To Hear – This blog is not unfamiliar to Walk The Moon cheerleading – but the fact is they are great guys and tons of fun to listen to.  Anna Sun should be your song of the summer.  They’ve been playing lots of shows headlining their Naked Feet Tour and celebrating the release of their ‘debut’ album earlier this summer.  I was excited to see them when they were in Boston and killed it at their show at the Paradise.  I finally got to hear ‘Let’s Dance’ live.  I am happy.

Other than that I am content listening to 60s French pop songs and live Talking Heads albums this summer, so no new music to obsess over.  Except for maybe ‘Birthday Cake.’

To Do In Boston –  The Talking Taste series at the ICA Boston.  Sadly, this Friday’s with chef Ken Oringer is already sold out, but I will definitely be going to at least one of these this summer.

The Color Run, a 5K where you get pelted with colored powder every kilometer and then party after the race, is July 28th in Amesbury.

Wishing I Could Do, but Can’t – TWO ALIKE, tonight at the ICA Boston at 8:30.  I’m running my 5th JP Morgan Corporate Challenge and don’t think I would make it to this performance.  It is co-presented by Concord Academy Summer Stages –

“A collaboration between choreographer/performer Jack Ferver and sculptor Marc Swanson, this visceral and darkly humorous performance explores the shattering effects of abuse on queer youth.”

Weekend Escapes – If you find yourself on the Vineyard this summer, go the opposite way of the crowds of tourists heading to Oak Bluffs and Edgartown to Menemsha instead.  There’s a beach, a quaint harbour with limited moorings, great fish markets, coffee shops and low-key scene.  Go to Larsen’s for lobsters, steamers and seaweed salad.

I’m heading to Vegas for my third summer trip – it gets better every year.  There will be glo sticks and neon and D list celebrities, but that’s all I can tell you.