Warming up with a Hot Tonny

We tend to get sick in the winter because we spend less time outdoors, in the sun and grounded. I would say most people are also less active in the winter.  I'm not excusing myself from any of that.  So it's the middle of January, it's cold out and I've felt better.  I've heard several people swear by the Hot Toddy this season so far, and tried on in Montana.  Not bad!  And I think there's something true about it helping with colds.

Today, feeling slightly under the weather, I went out to get some comfort food and decided to get hot toddy supplies.  Traditional hot toddy I think is warm water, lemon and whiskey.  Or something like that.  I switched mine up.  I made a clove, ginger and turmeric tea.  Just sliced the roots up, brought the water to a boil and then down to just under a simmer for a while.  Until the water was pretty yellow.  

I wore a cape for the duration of this recipe

I like using distilled water because it really draws out the flavors/nutrients.  The ginger is great for settling the stomach, and helps get blood flowing.  Cloves also aid digestion, but have antiparasitic, antioxidant and anesthetic properties too.  I added turmeric mostly because I love the flavor.  I guess we'll focus on it's mood-lifting properties, because that's always nice,  I don't think I need to go into the benefits of honey and lemon, as I think they're staples in most people's diets.  Hope they are anyway.  Combine all that with a little alcohol, which acts as a decongestant and delivery system and you've got a cold-fighter that will also help put you to sleep.

I poured a little bit of Four Roses into my biggest glass.  Four Roses is Kentucky bourbon made with 100% non gmo corn.  That's great!  I don't know anything about liquors, but I know this is non gmo, not a bad flavor and cheap.  Alcohol can be a great delivery system, in small quantities and can also help clear heat from the liver.  I squeezed a quarter of a lemon into the glass and dropped it in.  I poured the tea over, adding about a half a tablespoon of raw honey and a cinnamon stick.  I don't think it's ceylon, but it's a nice effect.  I don't usually like adding honey to hot things, but I do enjoy this hotter rather than colder.  I want to break a sweat.

I had pulled out a few options to add, but only went through with the colloidal silver.  The lemon essential oil can be strong, and the turmeric extract, while great, can be tough to work with.  Colloidal silver is great for a number of reasons.  It's antiviral and antibacterial.  Why do you think people originally made silverware.  If you're not eating off silver, I highly recommend it.

Sorry if this post is disorganized, I had a hot toddy while I wrote it.

Millennium Tower Photos

Here's my photo album of Millennium Tower.  Let me know what you think!

"New Years" is almost as big of a joke as "Columbus Day"

My New Year's resolutions this year are:

1. Set up my own yurt
2. Release a product
3. Never fly commercial again

So this yurt thing.  I love Montana.  I’ve been here 8 times in the last 8 years.  Can’t get enough of the place.  And because I’m always a houseguest, I’m always pushing the mooching/overtsaying limits.  My solution is to buy some land and throw a yurt on it.  I really don’t know what this entails, but I think that it can all be done for under $100,000.00.  The biggest expense is the land.  I built a yurt on Pacific Yurts, and figure it would cost me about $12,000 including a cement foundation and basic necessities like a stove.  I haven’t looked into power or water sources yet.  Ideally I’d find land with a spring.  Power I’m not too concerned about.  I feel like it would be pretty straightforward this day in age to get some solar panels and a battery.  And a generator for emergencies.  The only thing I'm concerned about is where the Aga Cooker will go.

If you’re reading this, you probably know that I sell a few products on this site.  However, they’re not really mine.  The chocolate bars are, but I’ve only had one order and it’s difficult for me to make them on a larger scale.  I have, however, been working on T shirts.  If you’ve been following my blog, you might have seen the write ups for National Reconnaissance Office Mission Launches.  Well, I have several of those patches and have attached them to organic cotton shirts.  As of now, they’ll be very limited and unique.  No two are the same.  Stay tuned.

When I accomplish goal number 3, I will feel so much more relaxed.  That’s how I try to look at my goals.  Not necessarily the thing itself, but how I’ll feel with the thing.  I love traveling, but hate flying commercially.  It’s always on the airlines schedule, they’re bound to fuck something up, and it’s such a waste of time.  And time is all you really got so don’t waste it.  I’m very lucky to have grown up with grandparents that had a plane, shared amongst family members.  I’m not trying to brag.  It was a hand-me-down from Ted Turner.  The seats are made of bison leather and the cup holders have “Ted’s Montana Grill” coasters in them.  Thankfully, there’s no wifi.  And let me tell you, it is nice.  You’re on your own schedule, there’s no Totalitarian Subjugation Acclimators (TSA), and you can bring bombs!  I mean liquids, you can bring liquids.  Like spring water for brewing gynostemma tea for a relaxing tonic while night flying across the Caucasus.  Some of you may bitch at me for environmental reasons.  Feel free, but I’ll save that argument for a different venue.

Bombardier Challenger 350

These are three of my goals, and are not necessarily in any order or represent everything I want to accomplish.  They also have nothing to do with “New Years.”  Every day is the beginning of a new year.  If you want to accomplish something, as my old economics teacher in high school used to say, “get after it.”  Do things as they come, in the capacity that you can work towards them at that moment.  Don’t wait for an arbitrary date.  If you do, to me, that means it’s not really a goal.  January 1st is just an excuse for us to look at a new beginning.  And there’s nothing wrong with that, but there’s no reason to wait 365 days begin anew.  Everyday is new.  I saw my friend Robin put something on Instagram that said something like “Happy New Now.”  She hit the nail on the head.  It’s all now.  Happy New Year!

How to Drive a Stick

Success by Osmosis

So I’m in Montana visiting my friend Frannie at the Yellowstone Club.  If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a private residential community in Big Sky.  It has an interesting history, but from what I can tell is the premier private community for those with higher standards.  And it’s not cheap.  Which means that the membership is left to a small, very successful few.  Members include Eric Schmidt, Tom Brady and Peter Berg.  And what better way to learn how to be successful than putting yourself around successful people!  You’re the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with, so choose wisely.

Yesterday we went to a mentor panel.  Five successful businessmen and businesswomen were asked to share a little bit about what they thought got them where they were.  Here, I’d like to share with you my takeaway.

First up was my friend Neale Attenborough!  A fellow east-coaster.  Neale is an operating executive at Golden Gate Capital, and has a history of selling “lady’s dresses” as he puts it.  Neale’s main point was that every connection matters.  He says that something along the lines of 85% of jobs are found through networking.  And you never know what a person you meet today will be doing a year from now.  And when networking, Neale stresses the importance of listening and asking questions.  If you really engage and try to learn about the person you’re connecting with, you’re going to walk away with more than you left.  Then there’s the part I didn’t like hearing so much.  “There’s no substitute for hard work.”  Shit.  But then I realized, if you’re doing what you love, it’s not really work.  Like writing this.  It could be seen as work, but I’m enjoying organizing and sharing my notes!  Neale went on to say that effort and hard work will always be noticed.  Neale ended with something that I thought was really important.  Especially because successful people often get a bad wrap as being sharks, or cut throat and only out for themselves (Recent Relevant Article).  He stressed that it’s important to always be kind, and that the majority of the business leaders he’s met with, were also some of the kindest people he’s met.

Next up was Nancy Domaille.  She and her husband founded a precision engineering and manufacturing company, Domaille Engineering.  She began working at IBM after college, working on AS400.  Her husband had a thing for fiber optics.  So when they began to feel stagnant in their jobs, they took out a loan to start their own business.  The most important takeaway from her, was that it should be your goal to make your clients successful.  A successful business has to constantly focus on how they can develop a better product and service.  I think a lot of people forget that.  Without clients, there is no business.  I think this ties into something else she talked about, getting satisfaction out of your work.  Her take is that as long as you’re doing something meaningful, that satisfaction has to come.  I got the impression that she implied satisfaction “will come,” meaning that at first you have to do something meaningful without getting any satisfaction.  She and her husband have an interesting story, in that they sold their company, turned around a few years later and bought it back.  And then sold it again!  “We sold our business twice, and I highly recommend it.”

The third speaker is President and CEO of Arctic Cat, Chris Metz.  He took a more personal approach to success.  For your business to be successful, you need to be successful.  A business is an extension of the owner/operator.  And any person’s foundation is their integrity and character, according to Chris.  It’s much more important to be respected than liked.  I don’t think he means that you should be an asshole and have people respect you out of fear.  I think he means it’s more important to make the right decision than to cave to the wants of others.  One of his big pieces of advice was to stay humble.  It’s far better to let others recognize your strengths on their own.  I think that has to do with being respectable.  Respectable people don’t go around boasting about how good they are at what they do.  Chris also pointed out that you can’t go anywhere without taking risks.  He said “take risks early and often.”  He finished with a recommendation to find 1-2 good mentors, and eventually a good partner.

The next guy was Gary Rochelle.  I’m not sure how to spell his name, but he gave some great advice.  His number one piece of advice was learn how to respect, manage and work with people.  And an integral part of that is being comfortable with yourself.  Gary says that you need to know what you’re willing to risk, and what you’re not before you set out on any endeavor.  Another key point of his was “you’re not that special.”  I think what he meant, is that anyone can be successful.  It’s about finding and using your strengths efficiently.  Just because you’re not that special doesn’t mean you aren’t unique.  Part of separating yourself to stand out is highlighting your uniqueness.  Gary also brought up hard work.  He said you can have a good life by working hard, but to have a great life you have to work hard, but also recognize and seize opportunities as they present themselves.  

The last woman that spoke didn’t introduce herself, so I don’t know her name.  But she works in both the semiconductor and fashion industries.  She also touted the importance of making connections, but also “serendipity.”  She relayed a story where she was supposed to have dinner with friends in France, but they stood her up.  She ended up meeting a french businessman, who ended up becoming her business partner.  Aside from networking, she drilled in the significance of taking risks.  She says that risk taking is a lifestyle and one that should be adopted sooner rather than later.  “If you don’t take risks in your 20s, you’re not going to take risks in your 30s.”

TL;DR:

Be nice, be personable, listen, take risks, learn from others who are doing what you want.

I hope you found this as interesting and helpful as I found the panel!

Cordyceps: My Mountain Savior

It’s my own premade mix (with corcydeps!) in the jar!

Cordyceps traditionally grows at high altitudes, so what better place to eat it than at a high altitude!  Cordyceps is a mushroom that’s been used since the beginning of time, about 12,000 ago.  Just kidding.  It’s been around for a while, I mean it’s a mushroom so it’s probably been around in some form since before Earth.  It contains hypoxanthine, which according to NASA, originally formed extraterrestrially.

Anyway,  it became more widely known in the 18th century, and modern science has allowed us to research how and why cordyceps does what it does.  There’s a lot out there on cordyceps, so buckle up.

What does cordyceps do?  Depends who you ask.  If you ask someone in Chinese Medicine they’d say it nourishes yin and yang jing, strengthens kidneys and tonifies qi.  If you ask a caterpillar it would probably say it’s a killer. If you asked an Olympic athlete they’d tell you it’s that little suttin suttin that puts them over the edge into the winners circle.  If you asked an Olympic athlete they’d tell you it’s that little suttin suttin that puts them over the edge into the winners circle. 

It’s probably most famous as a lung tonic.  It helps your body use oxygen more efficiently.  That makes sense to me.  It grows in a lower oxygen environment, and can help us thrive in a lower oxygen environment.  For example, 8500 feet above sea level like I am right now.  I’m writing this article now because I want to highlight how cordyceps helps me adapt to the thinner air.

Di Tao cordyceps comes from regions of China even farther from the sea than that.  Like 12,000 feet above the sea!  However, cordyceps is much more than a lung tonic.  It’s great for your heart, containing adenosine, which is actually prescribed for arrhythmia.  That also helps with ATP synthesis and energy production.  It’s been shown to help the liver, which in turn normalizes hormone levels and cholesterol.  It’s also been shown to help fight cancer, specifically reducing leukemia and lung cancer tumor sizes.

For this trip, I premade a mix.  But I made sure it's cordyceps heavy.  There's also some astragalus in there, another great lung tonic.  It's so dry out here, qi flow can be more easily upset.  There's also some reishi, he shou wu and mucuna because you can't really go wrong with that trio.  And also some eucommia bark, to keep my knees strong and flexible on this ski trip.

I’ll expand on this more later, I gotta hit the new urban booter.  There’s a fresh foot of powpkapow, can’t let it go to waste!

Big Willy's Christmas Waffles

What most people don’t realize, is that it’s easy to turn traditional recipes into healthy ones! At least healthier ones.  Today’s Christmas morning, and my dad is the breakfast-maker of the house.  He loves waffles.  So he made waffles!  They’re really simple to make, and his own recipe.  Here it goes.  This will make 3 large waffles.  You might notice his hands are dirty.  He just replaced the muffler on his car.  When I asked him, he said he’s working on building up his immunity.  I think we may just need better soap.

You’ll need:

1 Cup Sprouted Spelt Flour

1 Cup Whole Milk, get the best you can.  He used Jersey Cow milk from the Berkshires

1 Egg, pastured

2 tsp Baking Powder-Aluminum Free

1 tsp Ceylon Cinnamon

1 Dash of Salt

Additionally:

Cultured Grass Fed Butter (or Kerrygold in this case) + Maple Syrup

Combine the dry ingredients

Beat the egg and add it to the mixture along with the milk.  My dad didn’t beat the egg.

While not my first choice, my dad prefers to use the electric waffle maker with a non-stick surface.  I’d make them with the cast iron waffle maker on the stove, but I was hungry and beggars can’t be choosers.

They took about 3 and a half minutes at the 4.5 out of 6 setting.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!  I love them.  I’m eating as I type this.

Christmas 2016 Jams

Hey Guys,

Here's a Christmas playlist I've been working on.  It's filled with some old standbys as well as Chuck Berry.  It's heavily influenced by my childhood.  As I'm making this playlist I'm thinking of the Sword Dance.  Anyway, check it out on Spotify!  Feel free to make any suggestions,  I'll keep adding to the playlist.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

The Original Motorcycle Jacket

The biker jacket is such a strong symbol in fashion today.  Every major brand offers a motorcycle jacket or similar style.  But not many people know that the biker jacket and be traced back to one original jacket.  The Schott Perfecto.  And I’m lucky enough to have one.

Irving Schott produced the first Perfecto in 1928.  It was the first jacket designed specifically for bikers.  From the diagonal zipper that doesn’t bunch up when you hunch over, to the collar that snaps down so you don’t get hit in the face.  The arms are jointed in a specific way to allow for mobility.  I believe they’re called “underarm footballs.”  It also has a bi-swing back which also improves arm movement.  Essentially, that means there are pleats opening up towards the shoulders.  A piece of elastic in the back pulls the jacket when you’re no longer in a riding position.  

Even better, it’s made entirely by hand in the United States!  Even the cowhide is American.  Makes sense that it’s an iconic piece of Americana.  It really first broke on the scene with Marlon Brando in The Wild One.  Great movie.  

My Perfecto is a hand me down.  It was my mom’s.  I’ve had it forever, but I haven’t worn it too much in the past.  I wore it once in 7th grade, and then I don’t think again until senior year of high school.  I recently broke it out of the closet and have been wearing it more.  I can’t say I’m an expert in styling it, but I find it’s more comfortable with longer shirts underneath.  The jacket is cut a little short.  But that’s by design!

Because it’s a tighter fit, I like to pair it with something looser fitting.  Usually loose pants, but sometimes a loose shirt underneath will do.

Then Coffee

I'm a huge coffee fan.  I love it, but I am sensitive to it.  I only drink coffee in the morning, and never more than 2 cups.  Otherwise I can get over-stimulated.

I usually make a huge tonic elixir in the morning,  Not today.  I need to re-order!  So here's a recipe for a minimal Herbal Bulletproof Coffee.  Here's how I do it:

When I get home, or a few hours before I go to bed, I'll take my pot, and light it.

Just kidding, I'll take my pot and add about a tablespoon of chaga dust and a tablespoon of prepared he shou wu chips.  Then I'll add 2-3 cups of water.

I like to let it sit for a little before turning the heat on.  I think it's important not to immediately put it on high heat.  After sitting for 15 minutes or so, I'll turn the heat on.

I bring the water to a boil or there about, and then turn the heat off.  Done for the night.

Next morning, I'll wake up and bring the water to a boil.  While that's happening, I'll grind beans.  

Ground beans go into the French Press.  I try to pour the decoction, leaving the plant material in the pot.

I'll have it sit until it's cool enough to drink.

I put a tablespoon of ghee, a tablespoon of coconut oil, a pinch of salt and like half a tablespoon of honey in the blender.  Coffee goes in, lid goes on, blending occurs.

And BAM! you're good to go!

Thanks for reading!

But First, Not Coffee

Lemon water is a great way to start the day.  It helps to get things moving and hydrates you from all the water you breathed out the night before.  The electrolytes aren’t bad either, especially if you’re like me and drink a lot of distilled water.  

A quick and easy upgrade to turn your morning into a science experiment, is to add baking soda!  Among other things, it’s great at keeping you alkaline.  No, I’m not talking about that alkaline diet fad where everyone was like “but your blood, man.”  If the alkalinity of your blood deviates, you deviate, if you know what I mean.  This is great for intracellular alkalinity.  Just that in itself can have a host of benefits.  The benefits for you may be different for someone else.  Acidosis can present itself in many different ways.  I also want to be vague so the FDA doesn’t shut me down.  I’m saying this as a nearly blanket statement because the majority of people are overly acidic.  For more information on this topic, my friend Matt Blackburn of Divine Superconductor TV has a video of the benefits.  Check it out here!

Activated charcoal is something else that’s all the rage these days.  It’s been around forever.  Heck, I remember when the only place to get it was Walmart in Torrington, and they only sold tablets!  My mom used to have me suck on the lozenges when I had a sore throat.  Activated charcoal has been around forever and, to me, is similar to geophagy.  It’s highly porous and can absorb 100 times its weight.

TL;DR: I find a great way to start the day is downing a handful of charcoal and washing it down with water, lemon juice and bicarbonate.

NROL-32, Mentor 5

NROL-32, Mentor 5 "He Approves"

Satellite Designation: USA-223

Launch Date: November 21, 2010

Launch Site:  Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Space Launch Site 37B 

Rocket:  United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy

Orbit:  Geosynchronous

Project:  Classified, suspected Orion, Mentor, Advanced Orion

Function:  SIGINT, ELINT

Notes:  According to DNRO Bruce Carlson, this is the largest satellite in the world. 

Kick-Ass Sweet Potato Fries

My favorite foods include sweet potatoes, butter, salt and cheese.  So why not throw them all together into kick-ass cheese fries.  I know you’re thinking “Oh my God, fries, cheese, that doesn’t sound healthy!”  Well, I get that a lot and you’re wrong.  

First of all, you doubt what I would share?!  Whatever, I’m over it.  Sweet potatoes have numerous health benefits from being a great source of energy, to providing beta-carotene and anti-viral properties.  Ghee is amazing.  It’s the best fat, helps protect your neurons and is just so satisfying.  It’s also a necessary component for optimal digestion of the sweet potatoes.  You want some fat with those sweet potatoes.  And just in case, I didn’t use enough ghee, I like to melt some cheese on top.  Always grass fed, always raw.  I know it won’t be raw at the end.  But I think there’s a difference between putting some raw cheese in an oven for 5 minutes versus pasteurizing.  

In conclusion, these are easy to make.  There’s virtually no prep time.  Especially if you’re like me and didn’t wash the potatoes.  They’re good for you.  And they taste impeccable.  My only issue in making these is that I have to wait for them to cool.  Let me know what you guys think and if you have any tricks you’d like to share on creating the best mother fuckin’ cheese fries.

Use your handy dandy french fry cutter to cut the potato.  The smaller the fries, the crunchier they’ll get.  Preheat the oven to 450.

Place the fries on a baking sheet with ghee.  I like to set them on the oven to melt the ghee.  Total ghee coverage is crucial.  Add salt.

Spread the fries as far away from each other as you can.  No touching!

Place in the oven, bottom rack

After 7 minutes, take them out and flip.  Put them back in the oven.

Seven more minutes, and flip.  Turn the oven down to 400.

Seven and flip, and then 7 more minutes and you’re done!  Now’s the time to slice the cheese.

Turn off the oven.  Remove fries.  Place cheese on fries, focusing on High Impact Areas.  That’s where the fries cross.

Place the fries back in the off oven for 5 minutes or so.  Until the cheese is melted.

NROL-49, Betty

NROL-49, Betty “Better The Devil You Know” 

Satellite Designation: USA-224

Launch Date: January 20, 2011

Launch Site:  Vandenberg Air Force Base, Launch Complex 6 

Rocket:  United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy

Orbit:  Classified (Suspected Low Earth)

Project:  KH-11 Kennen, CRYSTAL, Evolved Enhanced CRYSTAL (EEC), 1010, Key Hole

Function:  Optical imaging.  Data is collected and sent through the Data Satellite System.  Images processed at Area 58 (Aerospace Data Facility-East, ADF-E), formerly Defense Communications Electronics Evaluations and Testing Activity (DCEETA) and Fort Belvior.

Notes:  This launch came completed $2,000,000,000.00 under budget, costing a total of $4,400,000,000.00.

Further reading

Boston's Hidden Gem: Eastie

Jesse Greenstein

If East Boston was good enough for the Kennedy’s back in the 1900s, then it is definitely good enough for you and me! 

I live in a neighborhood that does not get a lot of attention from the average Bostonian, and for that I am grateful. Traffic is minimal, real estate is affordable, goods and services are less expensive, and the people are hardworking and humble.  If you’re from Boston and have only been to East Boston to utilize the airport, then come back and let me be your guide, and let me show you around. To most people who live in the greater Boston area, East Boston is just where the airport is, or where Santarpio’s is…. If you feel that way, then you are in for a pleasant surprise! 

 There is a hell of a lot more than just an airport out here…

 We have libraries, schools, marinas, breweries, post offices, police and fire departments, parks, banks, smoke shops, bars, gyms, pool halls, bowling alleys, playgrounds, soccer fields, basketball courts, and greenways. We have some of the best authentic and interesting restaurants in town. We have mom and pop shops, yacht clubs, waterfront views, medical and legal offices, small businesses, big businesses, and families. The Eastie community is very strong – whether you come from Back Bay or El Salvador, you can make this quaint part of Boston your new home with ease.  There are busses, trains, and boats to take you all around town, and beyond, if you don’t want to walk or drive to other parts of the city.

 I love it here -- we love it here -- and as soon as I have enough money saved up, I am going to invest it in this neighborhood’s real estate market. Currently I am renting in Maverick Square/ Jeffries Point – a 4 minute walk to the Maverick Blue Line T Station.  However, I am a value investor – I always have been – and I am a real estate agent and entrepreneur. Every day I think to myself how important it is to invest early before it is too late. This time next year, or even by the time the summer rolls around, it might be too late to invest in East Boston – at least in the Jeffries Point and Maverick Square regions. The fact that people are already talking about Eastie makes me think the rush has already begun, but Rome was not built in a day, and neither was East Boston.  Get in early and get in often! 

The two attributes that shine through every time I am in East Boston are LOCATION and VALUE. Other neighborhoods are contenders regarding value, like Allston, Brighton and JP, but those neighborhoods certainly do not share the LOCATION factor that East Boston has, and that is evident when you go make the trip from Eastie to Downtown in less than 10 minutes. 

In the residential real estate market we talk a lot about Back Bay, Downtown/Midtown, The North and South Ends, Seaport, Waterfront, and occasionally the Fenway. We do not discuss East Boston, and I plan on being the man to change that – even though I like my quiet, pleasant, fulfilling neighborhood the way it is, I know that this is the new land of opportunity – the new frontier – and I want to share that with you, your friends, and your family. 

The average price of Single Family, Condo, and Multi-Family in East Boston (11/28/2016):

• Single Family Home: $459,267.00  3 on the market ranging from $338,000 - $649,900
  • Avg Price/Square Foot: $309
• Condominium: $463,934.00  32 on the market ranging from $299,900 - $850,000
  • Avg Price/Square Foot: $475
• Multi-Family Home: $1,172,213.00  8 on the market ranging from $549,900 - $3,300,000
  • Avg Price/Square Foot: $310

The Average price of a 1, 2, and 3 Bedroom Rental in East Boston (11/28/2016):

1 Bedroom: $1,839  10 active listings, ranging from $1,500 - $2,300

2 Bedroom: $2,281  16 active listings, ranging from $1,500 - $3,800

3 Bedroom: $2,325  7 active listings, ranging from $1,950 - $3,025

BELOW you will find a list of great things to do in EAST BOSTON

Restaurants:

• Top 5

1. Rino’s Place
2. Mehak Halal
3. Italian Express
4. Cactus Mexican Grill
5. Saigon Hut

• Italian
  • Rino’s Place
  • Meridian Food Market
  • Italian Express
  • Santarpio’s
  • D’Parma
• Middle Eastern
  • Mehak Halal
• American
  • Roy’s Cold Cuts
  • Kelley Square Pub
  • Maverick Marketplace 
• Latin
  • Cactus Mexican Grill
  • Angela’s Café
  • La Hacienda
  • Rincon Limeno
• Asian
  • Saigon Hut
  • Little Asia
  • Hong Kong Harbor
• Other
  • KO Pies (Australian – like chicken pot pies, but more exciting etc.)
  • Donna’s Restaurant (Breakfast + Lunch, Orient Heights)

Nightlife/Bars/Entertainment

• Eddie C’s
• Kelley Square Pub
• Maverick Marketplace
• Ecco Lounge Boston
• Jeveli’s
• Central Park Lanes BOWLING CENTER
• El Diamante – billiards/pool hall
• Trivia, Karaoke, Sports – Maverick Marketplace
• Tufts Tobacco Smoke Shop and Lounge (very rare these days, Orient Heights)
• Parks, Soccer Fields, Walks, Boats
• Brewery Tour at Downeast Cider 
• Pockets Billiard Club (Orient Heights)
• East Boston Yacht Club + Jeffries Point Yacht Club 
• Food, Food, Food
• Beaches

TRANSPORTATION 

Water Taxis

• MBTA Harbor Express: 617-222-6999or 617-222-3200 
  • www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/boats
• Boston Water Taxi – Boston Harbor Cruises: 617-227-4320
  • www.bostonharborcruises.com/water-taxi
• Rowes Wharf Water Transport: 617-406-8584
  • www.roweswharfwatertransport.com    

The T

• Maverick Station
• Airport Station
• Wood Island Station
• Orient Heights Station
• Suffolk Downs Station

The Bus

• 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 117, 120, 712, 713

Jesse Greenstein

jgreenstein@otisahearn.com

@nightstandmanagement

NROL-39

NROL-39

Satellite Designation: USA-247

Launch Date: December 6, 2013

Launch Site:  Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3E 

Rocket:  United Launch Alliance Atlas V 501

Orbit:  Low Earth 

Project: Topaz, Future Imagine Architecture (FIA)

Function:  Mostly Classified.  Boeing Radar Imaging

Notes:  NRO Director Bruce Carlson described FIA (of which NROL-39 was a part) as being “Seven hundred percent over in schedule and 300 percent over in budget.”  The total cost is beyond $25,000,000,000.00.

Further reading on The Octopus, Danny Casolaro

My Summer Essentials 2016

I was just texting my friend who’s going to the beach.  I said “Have fun! Don’t wear too much sunscreen!”  He said, “why not?”  So I thought to myself, well this is too much to text.  I decided I want to put together a presentation for him.  Then I realized I could turn it into a blog post.  Then I remembered I covered sunscreen briefly in a post last year!  

I pulled up the article, My Summer Essentials, and found what I was looking for.  I also found that my summer essentials are essentially the same.  Still all about juice and berries for the same reasons:

“I like to prepare for summer with juice. I find juice to be very cooling, and really cut it back in winter. Now that summer’s quickly approaching, I’ve been adding more green juices. It’s been slightly chilly recently, but I know it’s going to be beach weather soon so I’m incorporating more colored juices like carrot and beet. Eating more colors, I believe, helps protect you from burning.* *not approved by the FDA, or whatever.


Once summer arrives, I love to indulge in berries. Berries are my favorite fruit. One thing to note about berries, it’s good to eat them with a fat, and really important they are well chewed. Try to break up the seeds. If you put them in a smoothie, blend to grind up the seeds, and chew it before you swallow it. This prepares your body to receive food. I generally use frozen fruit for convenience, but don’t like cold food, so blending for longer also helps warm it up a little. Berries are also a good source of nutrition! Full of colors, fibers. Did you know strawberries are the only fruit with their seeds on the outside? It’s a very unique fiber that glues them on, that’s great for your intestinal tract!”

The post about the sun will follow.  Here's my updated summer post.  I’m still wearing the same Sandals, Shorts and Long Sleeve Shirt.  The shorts have a hole, the sandals I had to repair with key rings, and a button broke on the long sleeve shirt.  What can I say, it was an active year!

The speakers are still going strong, can’t recommend them enough.  Although, I did see that Bang & Olufsen came out with a new bluetooth speaker, the A1.  I have yet to see it in person.

One thing that has changed, is the playlist.  I’m going into this summer with a much more “chill” attitude.  When I was in Los Angeles, I didn’t have my desktop with all of my music.  Coming back and putting 12,000 songs on shuffle has been very exciting.  I’m rediscovering so much.  

Here’s a link to my playlist on Spotify.

Something new thing I’m really digging this summer, is Sweetgreen.  I don’t think the Back Bay is really known for it’s food.  There are a handful of good spots, but on the whole it’s a lot of touristy stuff.  Sweet green saved my life.  I get lunch there often enough I’m a gold member, working my way up to black, because I want to throw a party on Boylston.

I always make my own, and get the same thing:

Arugula, Quinoa, Avocado, Onions, Carrots, Tomatoes, Parmasean, Parmasean Crisps with Pesto Vinaigrette

I’m going to finish this off with a recipe.  Last Summer Essential recipe was for a pink lemonade.  This year’s recipe is also a drink, and pink.  Strawberries and Cream Smoothie.  Really easy to make, tastes great.  Probiotic Strawberries and Cream!

2 cups of water (the good stuff)

1 hefty handful of frozen strawberries

1/4-1/3 cup of coconut butter

1/4 cup coconut kefir

1 tbsp raw honey

pinch of sea salt

pinch of vanilla

Throw everything into the Vitamix, water last.  That’s incase you make a mistake, the whole thing isn’t awash.  Blend!

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!

ZeroEnergy Design's Net Positive Farmhouse

“I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.”

— Frank Lloyd Wright

So yesterday, just like any other day, I found myself perusing the World Wide Web.  I like to just search things, browse, read, listen, shop.  Well yesterday I was searching for sustainable buildings made by Boston based architects.  I don’t know if you know this, but Boston is a hub for Architects.  They’re everywhere!  In fact, I was almost one of them.  I moved to Boston in 2008 to start my college education at Boston Architectural College.  Didn’t work out.

In my browsing, I came across ZeroEnergy Design’s Net Positive Energy Lincoln Farmhouse.  Not only does this house look great, it is great.  Great for everyone inside and out.  To me, it has this Scandinavian minimalist thing going on.  Remember, I’m coming from an antique and cluttered American perspective.  Rugs on rugs on rugs, but not here.

Ok, there are a couple rugs.  But they're not layered!

Let’s get down to brass tacks.  Let me pin up why this place is so cool (or not!).  The first thing that caught my attention, is that the house is totally electric.  I read that and was like, “wait what that’s so dirty and chaotic.”  But I got over it quickly.  Throw a couple Tachyon Disks over the fuse box and you should be good to go!  

Being 100% electric isn’t really an issue, because this house uses 70% less energy than a new home built to standard code.  Have you yet deduced why this house is called the “Net Positive Energy” farmhouse?  Because it produces 42% more electricity than it consumes!  I’m wondering if feeding back into the grid, how long this house will take to pay for itself.

One of the reasons this house is so efficient, is that it’s sealed.  You could probably submerge this thing.  Now that I think about it, this place could be the next Noah’s Ark.  Sealed and self sufficient.  I’m not going to get into the details of testing how air tight a building is, but it’s called the Blower Door method and is measured in ACH50, Air Changed per Hour at 50 Pascals.  The 2012 International Conservation Code set 3 ACH50 as the a good target.  This house is one of the tightest in the country at .27 ACH50.  In the case of losing power in the winter, and therefore heat, the house is so well insulated that it will take several days for the house to dip to 60 degrees.  There is one part of this house that’s outside the insulated envelope.  The root cellar!  Yeah, you heard me.  This place has a root cellar!

HVAC is not my area of expertise.  But this place has an “air source heat pump and energy recovery ventilator” and a “heat pump hot water heater.”  The kitchen appliances are conventional electric and Energy Star rated.  A monitoring system is in place, so the me owners can monitor their energy consumption.  The roof is covered with solar panels producing 13.8kW of power.  This house is even equipped to charge an electric car!

Since this is a farmhouse, it’s obligated to at least have a garden.  Well this place collects rain water for later use on landscaping and vegetable gardens!  On the whole, this house uses 60% less water than the federal standard.  I just hope this house isn’t connected to municipal water.  

I’m a huge fan of this house.  There was a lot of thought and attention put into it, as well as great craftsmanship with an eye for sustainability.  I think this is a great example of what we can do.  Let’s give credit where credit is due!

Architecture and Mechanical Design: ZeroEnergy Design

Construction:  Thoughtforms

Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Studio

Lighting Design: Lucia Lighting Design

Troy Boston - A Step Towards Sustainable Luxury

“I feel more confident than ever that the power to save the planet rests with the individual consumer.”

— Denis Hayes

In my opinion, Troy Boston is the future of high rise luxury living.  It’s at least a huge step in the right direction.  Troy Boston was completed in 2014 by Gerding Edlen, one of the country’s largest property development firms.  Gerding Edlen is know for their green properties.  They currently have assets totaling $5,000,000,000.00, including 13 LEED Platinum, 45 LEED Gold and 5 LEED Silver rated buildings.  They clearly have the experience necessary to bring sustainability to the luxury market.  After all, sustainability is the best luxury.

You know that they’re doing something right when they’ve reached nearly 90% occupancy within the first year of opening its doors.  In fact, it’s the only building to reach 80% occupancy in such a short time in the city of Boston for the last 6 years.

Top floor deck. Those cement pillars on the left are heated!

The views are great.  Depending on your floor, you get a full panoramic of the Boston sky line.  Even if your apartment doesn’t have the greatest view, all you need to do is take the elevator up to one of the common outdoor spaces.  

Salt water pool with a view of Prudential

The outdoor spaces are to die for.  The first one is right off a lounge with a small kitchen.  There’s some seating, heat lamps and a salt water pool!  I only know of 1 other building in Boston with a salt water pool.  You could take the elevator on up to the next common area, which houses a larger kitchen area.  In fact, the FoodNetwork is using the space to film a show, and allowing residents to watch and taste the food.  Right off of this is an expansive patio, with cabanas and grills.  

Cabanas overlooking the city.

On top of all that, the apartments themselves are very cool.  Troy Boston’s apartments range from studio to 2 bedroom.  Although, there are no studios currently available.  Studios start are $2,395/mo, with rents going up to $4,600 for a 2 bedroom.  They’re very clean and modern looking.  One thing I really like about this place, is that microwaves are not built in to the cabinets.  They do offer one, but they just sit it in a cabinet under the counter.  That means you can just take it out and give it back!  Not that these spaces are lacking storage.  They actually have pretty good storage.  Along with walk-in closets and plenty of cabinet space, the large windows and high ceilings contribute to a clean, airy feel.

Another nice feature of this building are the services offered.  There are trainers, nutritionists, chefs and life coaches available for tenants.  In house stylists and tailors are available.  If style really is an issue for you, you can also call on Troy Boston’s interior design team to help furnish your apartment.  Doggy day care is offered, as well as pet supply delivery.  An out door self cleaning dog walk is accompanied by a washing station.  There are also regularly community events, including a recent cocktail making class, and adult halloween party.  The more I find out about this place, the more it seems like a city based rental version of the Yellowstone Club.  

Dog walk, with grooming station at the end.

On top of all that, Troy Boston is more environmentally friendly than your average luxury high rise:

• 1,616,551 kwh energy saved (147 homes powered)

• 2,789,620 gallons water saved. (139,481 showers saved)

• 1,132 Metric Tons CO2 saved (241 cars off the road)

• designed to operate 25% more efficiently than a code-compliant building

• 82% post-industrial recycled content flooring

• electricity co-generator also produces 100% of the building's hot water and 54% of its heat.

• all plantings are local non-invasive species

If this building tickles your fancy, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  I’d love to schedule a visit!

Piano Craft Guild - Historic South End Living

Built in 1854 by Chickering and Sons as a piano factory, Piano Craft Guild is now the site of 177 unique loft apartments.  Piano Craft Guild was turned into apartments in the late 1970s and still has some original residents!  As a full service apartment building, there’s a concierge, a community area, conference room and soon-to-be indoor pool and fitness area.  Historically, this has been an artist’s haven.  Many artists still live in the building and there’s actually a gallery on the first floor that’s open to the public.  Something I found very interesting, is that tenants are encouraged to paint their doors in any way they see fit.  Some were covered with bumper stickers, landscapes and geometric patterns.

It’s located in the South End, right off Mass Ave at 791 Tremont St.  Being off Mass Ave, it’s relatively close to the green line and the orange line.  The South End in general is more accessible by bus, but I do not know how the buses work.  The South End is the newest up and coming neighborhood in Boston.  It’s my go-to place for good food.  Toro, Coppa, Stella, Kitchen, and Picco are a few of my favorite spots.  You didn’t hear it from me, but word on the street is Jamie Bissonette, co-owner of Toro and Coppa, used to live in Piano Craft Guild.

The apartments range from studio, to three bedrooms up to 1900 square feet.  There’s a lot of variety at this place.  The first apartment I saw was not my favorite, and I sighed in relief when the woman showing me around said every apartment was unique.  Here’s my warning: avoid the ground floor.  Ground floor units, or units that include a ground floor level have wall to wall carpet, and potentially limited light.  The first unit was considered a studio, because neither bedroom had a door.  Neither bedroom had a door because there were no windows.  Although, one bedroom did have a sink.

The interesting thing here is that the next studio we looked at was the complete opposite.  Very high ceilings, lacquered original wood floor, expansive windows letting in a great deal of natural light.  The kitchen was pretty good too.  A standard galley kitchen with lots of storage.  It could’ve done with an island, but that can always be added.  There is an actual loft above the updated bathroom.  Outside the bathroom was a rack for hanging clothes and there were 2 large armoires on wheels.

On the whole, there are some great apartments.  The building is pretty cool, it could do with some updating.  Luckily, that’s happening now.  Unfortunately, they’re not done yet.  

The parking here is not ideal, but it is better than nothing.  There are 55 unassigned spaces.  That sounds good, but there are 177 units to split those between.  Cars need to be moved every 3 days.  

There’s a concierge on site from 7am to 11pm.  They deal with packages and maintenance for the most part.

There is a communal laundry room on site, however I believe most of the 3 bedroom units come with the washer/dryer hook-ups.  

All utilities are included, with the exception of cable and internet.  There is no central air, however if you purchase an air conditioner, maintenance will install it.  There’s a one time fee to set up an air conditioner.

This apartment is currently being offered at $2,800/month.  Fees and rent are subject to change.