The Boston Traveler

Back at the end of January, a revamped band website with suggestive video footage set tongues a-wagging about a possible reunion of Boston’s own 1980s–1990s boy-band sensation New Kids on the Block. There’s been little noise on the stone-cold-facts front since, until today when People magazine reported that all five members of NKOTB — brothers Jonathan Knight and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood — will appear on the April 4 edition of the NBC morning show Today.
That’s this Friday, fans, just in time for the weekend. The Boston Traveler will have footage of that …read more

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Follow the long red brick path!
One of Boston’s biggest attractions is the Freedom Trail, a pedestrian walk along a red path, primarily constructed of bricks, that links sixteen historic locations in Boston. The trail begins on the Boston Common downtown and ends at Charlestown’s Bunker Hill Monument about 2.5 miles away.
During the journey, participants also encounter the Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel, King’s Chapel Burying Ground, the Benjamin Franklin statue, Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, the site where the Boston Massacre occurred, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, Paul …read more

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Tonight at 8pm EST, 72-year-old ice hockey legend Willie O’Ree will make a long-anticipated guest-star appearance on the critically acclaimed television comedy Everybody Hates Chris.
Narrated by Chris Rock, the series is based on the comedian’s experiences growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community located in Brooklyn, New York. The highly publicized segment featuring O’Ree was filmed last August, and eager hockey fans in-the-know have been waiting to see it since last fall.
O’Ree, a Canadian of African ancestry from New Brunswick, is often called the Jackie Robinson of ice hockey for his accomplishment making history when he broke the color barrier …read more

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The current April 2008 issue of Boston Magazine includes a lengthy piece on “61 New Best Things About Boston.” If you’re not familiar with the city and plan on passing through, consider give the article a read to develop a stronger sense of the local flavor. I’ll get you started with the first ten things on the list.

The rest of the country secretly wants to be like us
Somewhere in an MIT Lab, a researcher is this close to saving the planet
Swimming in the Charles
Robin Young, 57, public radio doyenne
Author Atul Gawande
Musician Lori McKenna
Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin
The lilacs in …read more

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There’s a lot from my childhood I don’t recall, but three things I do remember quite clearly: going to the beach the first time, going to Coney Island the first time, and going to the circus the first time. I always grow a little happier whenever the circus comes to town because I hope the children who get to see it will remember their first time forever, too.
My earliest circus experience was with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden — not bad at all. This weekend, however, scores of kids (and adults) from …read more

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Amazing. The Harlem Globetrotters have been around since 1926. And, no, the name of the group isn’t an indication the members are exclusively from or first came together in Harlem. The comedic basketball team actually originated in Chicago, Illinois, as simply the Globetrotters.
The name of the famous African-American community in New York City was added because it instantly called to mind — you guessed it — the African-American community, as well as the identity of the players themselves. We can all thank London-born, 5′3″ Abe Saperstein (1902–1966) for giving the world such an enduring and entertaining …read more

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All this weekend, starting tomorrow, the non-profit Society of Arts and Crafts will be presenting its annual CraftBoston extravaganza at South Boston’s Seaport World Trade Center (200 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, 877-732-7678).
The massive exhibition event is held on the last weekend of March each year in order to give national artists the opportunity to show their creations to interested individuals. This time around, 175 acclaimed artists will participate, bringing along their unique and limited (these aren’t factory-produced goods, after all) artistic work, which includes ceramics, furniture, and jewelry.
An especially nice touch is the craft show’s focus on non-profit organizations at …read more

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Last night/this morning, Newton native and television sitcom fan fave John Krasinski appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
The popular actor has a lot going on these days besides his hit NBC series The Office, most notably entertainment-wise the upcoming feature film Leatherheads. It premieres in theaters nationwide next Friday, April 4.
Despite the odd title, the 1920s-era romantic comedy has a top-notch cast that includes Academy Award winners George Clooney and Renée Zellweger. Talk about a local boy making good! Krasinski is keeping some mighty fine company these days on both the small and big screens.
Since …read more

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I recently wrote about Franklin Park Zoo’s upcoming Earth Day celebration. The zoo has a number of interesting events and activities scheduled for April 20 that are certain to make attendees feel even more in tune with our planet than they normally do.
This photo post extends the love, giving readers an opportunity to experience the beauty of Franklin Park Zoo and its diverse inhabitants from the comfort of their computers.
All photographs are courtesy of Ryan E. Poplin, while the witty (or so I’d like to believe) captions are solely my fault.

Baby Gorilla with Mama

Mommy, why do all …read more

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Tuesday, April 22, is Earth Day this year, and Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo (One Franklin Park Road, Boston, 617-541-5466) is prepared to make the occasion memorable for children and adults alike the preceding Sunday.
Franklin Park Zoo first opened in 1913, making it one of the oldest zoos in the United States. Operated by Zoo New England, it’s also located in Franklin Park, the largest park in Boston, which also has a second notable characteristic.
Franklin Park is the last of twelve parks that form a famous local chain of parks called the Emerald Necklace, as well. Each of the …read more

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