Stuff Boston : Style

Wannabe Wishlists

Erin Souza — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:51:00 GMT

>>Click here for the Wannabe Wishlists slideshow<<

What to get for the guy who wishes he was in a rock band? How about the girl who wants to be the next Rachel Zoe? We've taken the guesswork out of your holiday shopping by compiling some ideas for what to buy the aspiring jetsetter, fashionista, musician, chef, and domestic diva on your list.

Text by Erin Souza
Illustrations by Kevin Banks

Street Seen

Erica Corsano — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:06:00 GMT

Who we spotted. What they were wearing.

<<Click here for the Street Seen slideshow>>

Rainbow Bright

Erica Corsano — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:35:00 GMT

Over-the-top glamour lights up the night

Photographed by Michael Diskin
Produced and styled by Erica Corsano
Models: Evelyn and Genevieve Of Maggie Inc.
Hair: Lisa Proulx of James Joseph Salon
Makeup: Airline
Production Assistants: Kristina Weljkovic and Arianna Ankarcrona
Location: The Intercontinental Boston

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Style Guides

Erin Souza — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:02:00 GMT

It’s officially fall. In addition to the slight but noticeable chill in the air, we can sense the shift in seasons by the dictionary-size fashion magazines that have been hitting our doorstep lately. Splashed across their pages are lists of the best-dressed and most stylish people around. But style isn’t only about clothes; it extends to all aspects of our lives — and it’s something many of us would like to better develop. So we chatted with five of Boston’s style makers to get their advice on just how to do it.

>>Click here for slideshow.

Go Ahead, Break The Bank

Erin Souza — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:02:00 GMT

Style staples worth the investment

We’ve pretty much had it with all the times-are-tough talk. We know the economy is in the shitter; it doesn’t help to keep bringing it up. But we also understand that sky-high gas prices, tanking real-estate values, and stagnant salaries mean that shopping trips are fewer and farther between these days. Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean your look has to suffer. We’ve compiled a list of the must-have style staples for your home and wardrobe that offer a lot of bang for their buck — pieces that are timeless, well-made, and able to weather any economic storm. Instead of buying a bunch of throw-away items just because they’re inexpensive, drop some cash on the stuff worth investing in. It’ll be money well spent.

>>Click here for the slideshow.

Public Displays of Affection

Erica Corsano — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:09:00 GMT

Who’s behind your favorite store window or that enticingly styled array of products? Meet the retail artists who create merchandising magic.

Ever walk into a store and find yourself completely drawn to a certain area or product? Clearly our personal taste dictates what captures our attention, but often we’re also pulled to an object by the visually stimulating setting in which it resides. Obviously there’s someone behind the scenes who created the retail art that drew us in, but rarely do the creators of such enticing displays get acclaim for their work — work that goes way beyond dressing mannequins.

These retail artists are responsible for creating an experience, a miniworld for the store’s merchandise. Their mission is clear (though not always simple): to enhance the products without straying too far from the store’s end goal: making the sale.

In Boston, two department stores stand out for their encouragement of creativity and recognition of the value of retail art: Louis Boston and Barneys New York. Meet the creative masters behind this pair of stores’ lowbudget, highimpact visual displays. After all, they’ve more than likely already captured your attention.

>>Click here for the slideshow.

FashionWeek Blog: Latest Coverage!

Erica Corsano — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:43:00 GMT

Avanti, September 19. Photo Credit: Bill Downey

Stuffatnight.com Style Editor Erica Corsano is burning up the runways, backrooms, and afterparties of Fashion Week Boston 2008. Check back for her daily reports, along with updated party photos, video, gossip, and more. And if you're out and about during Fashion Week, don't forget to join us each night, as stuffatnight.com hosts the official Fashion Week afterparties!

NEW: CLICK HERE FOR LATEST BOSTON FASHION WEEK COVERAGE

Living La Vida Moda with Daniela Corte at Sel de la Terre NEW!
Photos: Stilettos and Smiles at Gypsy Bar NEW!
Photos: Living La Via Moda with Daniela Corte NEW!
Photos: Liberty Hotel After-Party NEW!
Video: Sam Mendoza 2008 Collection at Liberty Hotel NEW!
Fashion Exhibition at Avanti Salon
Photos: Fashion Exhibition at Avanti
Fashionista Night at Macy's
Photos: Fashionista after-party at Ruth's Chris
Photos: Fashionista Night at Macy's
Frette sneak peak
Photos: Stix afterparty
Sam Mendoza at the Liberty Hotel
Photos: Sam Mendoza collection
A Night Out with Mary Alice Stephenson
Photos: Mary Alice Stephenson at Saks
Photos: Vintage Lounge afterparty
VIDEO: La Perla 2008 Runway show
La Perla at Intercontinental: Wrap-Up

Photos: La Perla runway show
Photos: YourBeautyIndustry.com launch party and runway show

Fashion Week Friday: Achilles After-Party

Fashion Boston Anniversary Party

Boston Fashion Week: From Fenway to the Runway

Coming out of the closet

Liza Weisstuch — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:14:00 GMT

A writer’s wardrobe gets a makeover

come from a long line of hoarders. My grandmother still has every scarf and change purse she’s bought since World War II ended — not to mention every picture I drew as a child. My father has every book and briefing he’s ever read. I have tops I haven’t touched since college, and probably a few pairs of jeans — or, worse, corduroys — that I grew out of before most people in the United States knew the difference between Shiites and Sunnis. I warned Pam Santorelli about this before she came to my apartment to help me get my life — er, I mean, my closets in order. She told me not to worry about it. Worrying is one of my fortes.

I have two closets, both about two-and-a-half-feet wide and both a bit, well, let’s be euphemistic and call them “well-occupied.” Closet organizing — though Santorelli tends to use the term “editing” — is often a personal stylist’s first step when meeting with a new client who’s ready to revamp her image. For the record, I haven’t committed to an entire rewrite, just a bit of tweaking — for the sake of research, of course. Santorelli stands, arms akimbo, and casts a gimlet eye over my stuff. “It’s not that bad,” she says, in a way that reminds me of my dentist when she looks at my xrays.

“First thing I would do is get rid of any lingerie. It doesn’t belong here,” Santorelli says, pointing to unmentionables that are stuffed in a middle compartment of a hanging canvas shelf. “Then I’d get rid of this,” she adds, fingering a hanger-shaped hook contraption from which necklaces and belts dangle. She warns of snagging and demonstrates how a belt buckle can be to an innocent sweater what a fishhook is to a hungry flounder. There are a few other cardinal rules I’ve apparently been breaking on a daily basis: black-tie event dresses are in plastic cleaner bags (the fabric needs to breathe); skirts are jammed together in two separate areas on the rack (complete categories of clothing should be kept in the same place); and delicate tops are hung up like regular shirts (they should be turned inside-out so the lining is exposed and the gauzy fabric won’t catch on anything).

Next, Santorelli quizzes me on whether I know what’s where. She seems genuinely impressed that I can identify locations without looking. Then she digs in. I’m overcome by a strange mix of anxiety, embarrassment, appreciation, and astonishment as I watch her remove most of the items from hangers and lay them out on my bed. In part I’m astonished by her assuredness.

This is her first time at my apartment, but it’s as if she’s seen this closet before. Then I realize it’s just a type: the pack rat’s vessel. She knows how to handle it. The astonishment is, in part, a reaction to what she’s pulling out. There’s a pink cardigan with a sewn-on flower à la 1944 that Santorelli suggests could be worn with jeans or dressed up with a necklace. We exhume a discolored sweater that gets tossed, and a J.Crew number that I can’t remember ever wearing (I can’t remember the last time I was in a J.Crew, in fact); into the Goodwill pile it goes.

As Santorelli sorts, she dispenses tips: get decorative boxes to store stuff in visible spaces, put black tops between colors and prints so you can see everything better.

When I’m visibly torn over what pile in which to place something, she never instructs, just suggests. “It may be something you love, but it’s not fitting. That’s why you have me here — to push you along,” Santorelli says. “I’m not here to take away your clothing. I’m here to work with the best pieces you have so when you wake up in the morning, you feel like you have something to wear."

Say anything: More straight talk from the DJ roundtable

Heather Bouzan — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:59:00 GMT

DJ Melee: The better the party, the better the vibe, right?

***

Eli: I think most of us here probably use some aspects of the new technology in everything we’re doing now. But it’s really to try to push new things and open up new doors.

***

DJ Knife: I know that Adidas has embraced DJ culture; they have DJs there every weekend. So, it works for us — I mean, obviously they give us clothes and that’s a good thing. But it is crazy to think that within the last six months we’ve seen five or six specialty sneaker stores pop up in the area. I just don’t know if DJing has anything to do with it, to be honest with you.

***
DJ Die Young: DJs are always flashy. Or, some of them, you know? You want to look good; you want to get noticed.

***

Eli: I feel like that connection between fashion and DJing has gotten stronger and stronger, and that retail stores want to have DJs because it helps increase the atmosphere, it helps make their branding more exciting, and for us it’s exciting because we can match our music with whatever style the store is trying to go for.

***

DJ Die Young: We had a party at Make It New; this guy was coming up asking us to play “Texas House.” I don’t know what Texas House is. He was so mad at us, and then I was like, “Dude, if you don’t like what’s playing, just leave.” I see him a half an hour later standing on a chair, like, “Yeah!” We didn’t play Texas house; we didn’t play anything Texas. But we just kept him there.

***

DJ Bruno: When I first started, if I were to play a single hip-hop song, I would’ve been fired, okay? Because being black here is like, people have a stigma. You are going to play hip-hop only. Me, I love everything. I play hip-hop, reggae, R&B, house, rock, ’80s, ’70s, the whole nine. If it works, I will play it. But, it’s just that now, the big thing is hip-hop.

***

DJ Bruno: I will say this: everything now is starting to change. Everyone is tired of just hearing rap. Everyone is tired of just hearing house. They want to hear everything now, you know? So I think it’s slowly starting to change, but it’s going to take a while.

***

DJ Bruno: I just think that ever since the Euro students showed up, that changed everything. That changed the whole scene. Because, then, it was just about money. ’Cause they would come in and buy the magnum bottles of Champagne, you know?

***

Eli: Before there were blogs and Internet message boards, it was like, there were e-mail lists that you could be invited to or sign up for and basically talk to each other. Boston Parties was an old one. And it was just shit-talking all the time. But that hadn’t happened for years. So now I feel like people care a lot again.

***

DJ Bruno: Boston doesn’t have its own sound, but, at the same time, Boston is such a small city. Everybody knows everybody; everybody knows everyone’s business. I remember guys fighting over guys handing out flyers in front of clubs. It’s such a small scene. Everybody just needs to work together. Here, I just don’t see everybody working for the same goals.

***

DJ Knife: I think that this is probably an obvious statement, but where the DJ culture is heading in Boston is dependent on technology and the music industry, and I think that basically, within five or six years, CDs might be obsolete, and technology will change. Ultimately we’ll see the death of vinyl — not that we haven’t already seen it, limping into its grave right now.

***

Charlie: I’ve got something to get off my chest. I want to go on record as saying: raves, raving, rave party, raves, let’s go to a rave, let’s throw a rave, raving, nouveau rave, raving.

***

DJ Bruno: I stopped drinking, but I never did drugs. I was just vibing off of the music. I never smoked or did anything.

***

Eli: Yes, it’s impossible to deny that drugs are a part of dance music culture, but you know, there’s a lot of people that go out because they want to dance.

From the turntable to the roundtable: One room. Eight local DJs. Countless opinions.

Heather Bouzan — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:02:00 GMT

REPEAT AFTER us: a DJ is not a jukebox. If there’s anything that echoes in our head on a recent Friday afternoon, as we sip beers around a table in the back room of the Boston Billiard Club, it’s those six words. At the table with us: eight of the city’s finest DJs, for a discussion covering everything from their pure, infectious enthusiasm for their craft to persistent problems in the industry. Our panel features Charlie and Eli of DJ duo Soul Clap; veteran DJ Bruno, who runs UtopiaBoston.com and has been spinning in Boston for more than two decades; DJ Melee, who describes his sound as “breaks, beats, and basslines”; DJ Knife of Fresh Produce at the Good Life and Marinate at the Milky Way; Ms. Thang, who spins hip-hop, reggae, funk, soul, and house; and DJs Die Young and Baltimoroder, both known for their work at hipster parties like Make It New and Thunderdome.

Q: I’ve never met a DJ who wasn’t absolutely passionate about the craft. Why is that?
Eli: I just love music, first and foremost. I love to dance, so DJing allows me to bring both of them together, and actually share that music and dancing with other people. That feeling, when you play a song and everyone goes crazy, even if it’s just one person that you connect with and they can get down to it, then it’s perfect. That’s what I love.
Die Young: When I was, like, 16 years old, I started seeing videos of DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, those guys, and I didn’t have good enough turntables to do the stuff that I wanted to do. You see the videos of them and you see how hyped their crowds get, and you just want to be a part of that and be the catalyst for making something like that happen. There’s nothing more exciting than playing a track and
people pop off. There’s nothing
better in the world.

Q: What do you consider the biggest misconception about DJs?
Bruno: That we’re prima donnas. That we’re divas. That we don’t care about the music; we just do it for the fame. I think a lot of DJs do. They do do it for the fame, but those guys last about a year. But we just do it strictly for the love. Like, I have spun for free, [for] 25 bucks. I’ve spun for food, you know? A lot of guys say, “Well, I’m not going to spin unless I get paid.” [But] I’ll do it strictly for the love.
Eli: I just have a quick one on that: that we’re jukeboxes. The point of having a DJ is because you don’t want a jukebox, ’cause you want that dynamic.

Q: What’s the biggest problem that DJs in Boston face?
Charlie: I think our toughest problem is the radio. I think that it’s warped people’s perception of what’s good music and what you should expect to hear when you get out. That’s been a problem here for a long time. It makes our job very difficult, because we like to play things that you don’t usually hear on the radio.
Knife: I think that one of the things is the competition for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, especially for good venues. And then the other thing is, requests and people being super, super pushy about them.
Die Young: I think a big problem right now is getting people out. You go to New York and there’s a huge crowd for every niche genre there is. Two-step, speed polka, whatever. And you come here, and you’re playing great house music or whatever, and people are like, “Eh, I’ve gotta take the T... .” There’s a lot of problems in terms of public transportation, getting people out, and just general malaise of the Boston crowd. But I think that’s turning around in a big way, absolutely. The fact that we’re all sitting here and talking about this means it’s all turning around in a big, big way.
Ms. Thang: I definitely think there’s a lack of venues and a general narrow-mindedness with a lot of the crowds that go out. There’s definitely groups of people that go, but there’s only a couple of places for them to go out, and you know where they are. I mean, the Middlesex, and how many people can you fit there?
Baltimoroder: I believe the reason why there are a lack of venues is there’s this really sort of weird liquor licensing thing that’s unique to Boston. There’s only a certain number of licenses, they don’t increase them, and they’re all doled out in this weird sort of backroom way that none of us really understand. So it’s not so cut and dry to just open a space as it would be somewhere else.

Q: How did things change for you when the city cracked down on 18-plus nights?
Eli: I think that the biggest thing is that there’s not younger kids coming out as much. Sure, there’s a few 18-plus nights like Paper, but that’s one very specific message these kids are getting. There’s one thing that they can get, and they’ll take what they can get. When I was growing up, I was going out when I was 16 with a fake ID that said I was 18. I got all these different experiences. It’s a lot harder when you’re 16 to pretend you’re 21, you know? So kids can’t go to clubs. I don’t know what they’re doing, but it means we have this huge void of a generation of people who would be into our music. And that’s a big reason why people don’t go out, is they don’t know. They were never educated.
Melee: It made things weird because [Mayor Tom] Menino had said that the reason why, or, from what I understand, the reason why is because of the violence that was happening outside of clubs on particular nights in particular areas of Boston. For them to do that and make it 21-plus, it just seemed really stupid in my opinion. What that did was it took all the college kids who were going into a controlled crowd where there was bouncers and protection and people being checked at the doors, and now they’re in the streets or at house parties where there’s probably more sexual abuse going on, more over-drinking, more people being hurt, more ODs, more fights, whatever.
Eli: I’m really curious on Bruno’s perspective on this one, since you were established before any of this happened. When I was growing up and you were DJing, I could go to the clubs that you were playing at, whereas now kids can’t go to the clubs that I’m playing at.
Bruno: The club scene, now, I think is dead. Especially in terms of the bigger venues. I think that the bigger venues attracted a lot of the 18-plus crowds. Smaller venues, the lounges now, I think attract more of an older crowd. The 18-plus crowd only has the radio to basically learn [from] in terms of music.
Baltimoroder: And the Internet, and TV, and friends.

Q: What will it take to bring the club scene back? Or is it even something that can be brought back?
Bruno: I think they would have to start up the 18-plus nights again, personally.
Melee: It’s weird because when I look at it from when I was 17, 18, I used to go see Bruno play back when I was that age. [Now] most of those kids who are 18 can’t go hear Bruno or hear any of us play. So it changes things a lot. Like, if I didn’t hear Bruno when I was that age,
that’d be kind of weird now. [I] would’ve never been exposed to it.
Eli: Or a list of, you know, a hundred other DJs that were so influential here that we would have completely missed.
Melee: Exactly! Whoever’s got the most blingiest MySpace page would be really what they’re exposed to now, right?
Die Young: For what it’s worth, I think that 18-year-old kid is going to find a way, no matter what. He’ll just become friends with somebody. You’ll get in, if you’re that devoted. It’ll happen. Maybe it’s just the DJ in me talking, but I did anything and everything I could to get into where I wanted, because it was do or die.

Q: How do you feel about the rise of the “amateur DJ”? You know, the kind of guy who comes armed with an iTunes playlist and thinks he’s a pro.
Knife: We all probably look at it differently depending on our age groups. You kind of have to accept that technology is going to change and that you have to change along with it, and if people are passionate about it, you have to accept the fact that they’re going to possibly be the next generation. The only thing that I can’t stand is when they have serious attitude problems. But other than that, I think it’s a good thing.
Charlie: I just wanted to say something that kind of bridges the last question and this one. The other thing that’s missing from the picture — being young, not being able to go into a club, or the young iTunes DJ —where does the record store fit into all of this? Because that’s a place, if you’re underage and can’t get into a club, that you can go and soak up the culture. You hear all the music, you meet all the DJs, there’s social interactions going on there. And with no vinyl and no record stores except for LAB, then you talk about the kid who thinks he’s a DJ because he has an iTunes playlist but never had any of this. It’s like a ritual to go through these experiences, learn from that, meet everybody, and then become a DJ because you’ve gone through [these] rites of passage. Then if you’re standing in a DJ booth and commanding a crowd, you get the respect that you deserve.
Knife: People, back in the day, would dig for years and years and years to get their record collections; now a kid can come along and download that entire record collection in one day. So a part of it is lost. For myself personally, I’m trying to preserve some of the traditional aspects of hip-hop DJ culture in the city; I feel like that’s pretty much our mission right now.
Die Young: Yeah, I went to Satellite Records before I came to college at BU, and then all during it, and I don’t know what I would’ve done without it. Because when I was in high school, I liked Mixmag. I would buy Mixmag, or I would buy any of the European DJ mags. They would always have free CDs in them, and I would pick out my favorite tracks and I would go to Satellite and I would try to find them, or someone would hand me a stack of records and be like, “I know you personally, you’re going to like these.” And there’s nothing like that anymore.
Eli: I mean, you can go to a blog and get someone’s certain perspective, but it’s different. They don’t know you. Maybe you can find blogs or websites that have new music [and] you know you like most of the stuff so you can trust them, but it’s different than when you get a whole stack that’s handed to you by someone who knows what you’re into. And then also, on the technology thing, yeah, I think it’s really powerful and you can do a lot of stuff with all the new technologies, but if you don’t understand how to mix a record, how to mix two things together, you can’t really DJ the same way as somebody who understands that. It’s a totally different thing.
Die Young: Then you’re just a jukebox.
Bruno: That’s a very good point, too. Also, technology, it kind of forces you to stay home. Like, all day you are just sitting, downloading music all day. You’ve got to go out into a scene, into a club, and see how a certain song makes the crowd scream or see how the song works, you know? A lot of guys just think it’s all about mixing — it’s not. It’s all about setting up a tone, setting up a vibe. And a lot of these guys coming up now, they just think, “Oh, this song just goes good with this.” It’s not. You’ve just got to set a mood. And that is how I think it’s about spinning.

Q: There’s also a flip side to the whole technology issue — you can get your music out to infinitely more people. And with that change, a whole new kind of DJ has evolved, the one who sort of made himself or herself on the Internet as opposed to in clubs. What’s your reaction to that?
Baltimoroder: The same revolution in desktop publishing that occurred with people being able to Photoshop and all those things has come to music production. It’s really come into fruition within the last five, 10 years. The ability to set up studio-produced tracks, make a mix while you’re waiting for your rice to boil, is just kind of amazing. And it’s led to a lot of production, and it’s led to a lot of crap. The things that I think computers do are actually very easy — you can teach someone to beat match fairly easily if they sit down and learn, but the things that you talked about, Bruno, like sequencing, and selection, and pacing, those things come with time. And so you actually have to get out there and talk to people, learn what they like, and then play that at the right time just as they’re putting on their coat, and they’re, “Oh, shit, I have to throw off my coat and run back to the dance floor.” So I think ultimately a DJ is a diplomat of sorts, and technology doesn’t really help with that, at least in the live performance space. But online distribution, being able to connect to people, ultimately it’s a net positive for any and everything I do.
Eli: It’s hard not to embrace the technology on some level because it helps in so many ways like [Baltimoroder] said. I think the problem is, it gets frustrating when people don’t actually take it and then use it to push things to the next level.

Q: Ms. Thang, I want you to address this first: why do you think DJing is such a male-dominated industry?
Ms. Thang: Well, for one thing, it’s Boston, because in other cities, there’s a lot more females doing this — if you go to New York, or LA, or San Francisco, Montreal, wherever, there’s a lot of females. Boston is just a traditional city in so many ways, and it’s so hard to break out of the mold. But you know what? There’s not really much of a difference. The only difference that I can think of is that I might get booked just because I’m a female, but I won’t get asked back unless I’m good. People are curious; I’m a novelty here. But I still have to prove myself, because people are listening to my blends and they want to know if I can actually spin, and rock a party ... and I can. Guys never hit on me when I’m DJing, ever ever. Which is really nice. And definitely people, guys in particular, like to try to tell me what to do and offer their suggestions. Sometimes they’re helpful, and sometimes it’s totally not necessary and they don’t know what they’re talking about. But I’m the same as everyone else.
Die Young: It’s so perfect what you said — you’ll get in the door, but you won’t get asked back. We’ve got Volvox; she is an amazing DJ. I think, in a year, she’s going to be killing every party, and she puts her heart and soul into her craft. And I think if you show that you can hang, who cares what gender you are? If you’re a good DJ, that’s all that matters.

Q: How do you reconcile playing what you want with playing what the crowd wants to hear? You’ve already talked about how requests can be so frustrating.
Knife: For me, personally, once I get into the groove of things, I play songs really, really fast. I try to play maybe about seven or eight different genres of music throughout a night. So I’ll probably play something from the early ’90s and then play a commercial song and then play like a mash-up. I generally try to go in an ascending tempo that just keeps getting faster and faster so I can move into other genres of music like house music and stuff like that. It’s just all about having a lot of music at your disposal and really listening to how things work with each other.
Die Young: It used to be that you would carry a crate, maybe two crates with you at most. You would have maybe hip-hop or a little bit of house music. When I used to go to house parties, it was that; it was like a hip-hop crate and a house music crate. Now, you have Serato and you have indie, ’80s, you have your dance, you have your classic dance, you have your disco, you have anything at your disposal, so [when] you have someone coming up to you and making a kind of left-field request, I feel like I’m more apt to play it now, just because it’s there. As long as it fits with the vibe of the party. Unless it’s something outrageous and you’re really being a jerk. I mean, it’s nice to play some requests sometimes.
Charlie: I hate requests. Eli and I, there’s two sides of us. There’s when we play to a crowd that will eat up whatever it is that we play, and then there’s … we’ll play a gig in a place that’s maybe a retail setting or a hospitality setting or something like that, and then you’re going to get people that aren’t really exposed to DJs, thinking that they can ask for anything. I can’t stand it; it makes me angry. I learned from DJ Kon how to deal with people who make requests, and how to just be stone-cold, just a real asshole to them …
Die Young: Can you send me those tips?
Charlie: ...so they feel like they don’t want to make any requests, ever. DJ Kon, and I’m going to throw him in here because he’s not here ...
Baltimoroder: I’ve never seen him talk to anyone [for more than], like, 10 seconds.
Charlie: The most drop-dead gorgeous girl in the club, when she is making requests, he won’t tell her the time of day and will send her packing. And it’s a beautiful thing. I hate requests, and I hate people who make requests. There was a time and a place where the DJ set the tone of the night, and he was in charge of what’s going on. And that’s why you’re there, ’cause you trust the DJ.
Bruno: I just say, “Yes, it is coming up soon.” And never play it.
Die Young: What do you do when they come back, though? Because they do. And they will.
Bruno: Then I say, “Oh, shoot. I’m sorry. It’s coming up next. I promise, it’s coming up next.” And by that time, they’re too drunk and they’re like, “Oh, you’re so great, I love you.”

Q: Do you think that Boston is attracting higher caliber DJs than we have in the past?
Bruno: I think we are bringing in the same people. I mean, how many times are you going to bring down [Paul] Oakenfold, you know? It’s the same people over and over again.
Eli: But it’s just the big clubs. I mean, Knife with Fresh Produce — they’re bringing a ton of great hip-hop acts that have never played here, hip-hop DJs who have never played here. Plus innovative new ones. If you look at Hearthrob, they’re bringing people who are doing totally new stuff. Make It New is bringing people who are doing techno. [Melee] has always been pushing to bring in breakbeat DJs that no one hears. We’re trying to bring in techno and house DJs that are innovating and creating new stuff and also bringing in people that have been doing it forever and have really established sounds but that maybe have never been to Boston before. And also Utopia, bringing in new deep house acts and new deep house DJs. I feel like we’re all working really hard. And we all have to live these two lives: first as DJs, and then as booking agents and promoters for our events. So we have to be thinking about it all the time.
Knife: I moved here in 1998, and the last four years in Boston have been amazing. There is something to do every night of the week; there really is. I mean, they’re not all great, but there literally is a ton of options out there, and I think that there are a lot more good nights and a lot more things to look forward to than there ever have been.

Q: You’ve all been saying that the club scene in Boston has died off, but do you see it more as a continual deterioration or as an opportunity for you to do something that’s truly innovative?
Bruno: I think it’s died off for the 18-plus scene. But for us, I think it’s slowly getting better. ’Cause I think a lot of us are starting to work harder.
Eli: Everything’s going back underground; that’s what I’ve been seeing. It’s all little venues, little bars, warehouses, loft parties. Wherever you can do something that’s different and that’s exciting to you musically.
Melee: We’re taking it back!
Eli: So it’s back underground, which is what it was like in the ’90s.
Knife: For DJs in the past, I think that there was this mindset that you start off in these little clubs and that someday you’re going to make it to [bigger venues]. But I think this is better now. I mean, I think that we all kind of have our own spots, and we can really take those nights and run with them. It’s good for the bars, it’s good for us, and we have more of a sense of ownership in small, intimate venues.

Q: What’s it like playing in Boston versus other cities around the country or around the world?
Charlie: Eli and I went to Europe last summer, and we got a chance to play in Monte Carlo, and when we were there, people were just standing, awestruck. Like, “This is amazing.” Maybe this was a very unique situation, but they couldn’t understand; it was just, like, mind-blowing for them.
Eli: Obviously, electronic music, techno music is bigger there, but I think we all, especially being from Boston, we all work that much harder because there are so many fewer opportunities here to be so good at what we do. I feel like the experience we’ve gotten here, being forced to work that much harder, has really helped going to other cities and really taking it to the next level for them.

Q: So why stay in Boston?
Die Young: Because we love everybody.
Eli: There’s something to be said for being successful here, because it’s so hard. There’s so many people who I know who have been trying to do it or have done it and stop doing it who are so jaded, but if you can stay positive and doing things in Boston, that’s, like, a really a huge accomplishment.
Charlie: It’s a perpetual attempt to put Boston on the map, and it’s, like, almost about to happen, always.

Q: Are DJs from different cities viewed differently within the industry because of what they’ve been through, because of the differences in competition?
Bruno: Boston, we are not known as a club city. I have spun out of here; I have spun in New York and New Jersey. Those are big house towns. And they are shocked, or were shocked, that Boston has played house. And I was like, “What did you guys think?” They’re like, “Rock.” Boston was just known as a rock town. College rock. And that’s it.
Melee: We’re like the suburbs of New York, that’s what everybody thinks of us.
Knife: On the flip side of that, the one thing that stands out is that we kind of get to be the kings and queens, so to speak, of this city. I mean, if we went to New York, I think a lot of us would be small fish in a big pond. I think everybody here kind of has a solid name or a solid product that people know them by, and I don’t know if that would transfer as well in a place like Los Angeles, a place like New York, San Francisco. That’s one of the positive things about it.
Eli: It’s a great home base. There is so much talent here. There’s so many people, we all have relationships with each other on some levels, and there’s another group of another 20, 30 DJs that we all can work with on a regular basis that are super-talented and will teach us something and we can learn from all the time. The DJ group is so tight-knit here. Sure, many people have problems with one other, but in general, everyone knows one other and there’s chances to interact, whereas, if you’re in a bigger city, it’s not going to happen as much.
Bruno: When you think of Boston, you think of the Celtics, the Patriots, the Red Sox. When you think of music, Aerosmith, New Kids on the Block. You really don’t think of a dance scene, like a dance culture. And I think a lot of us are trying to change that. I’m telling you, everywhere I go, I mention Boston. I’m like, “Yeah, the scene here, blah blah, so on and so forth,” and they’re like, “Yeah, have another drink.” I mean, throw us some love.

Q: So what’s next for Boston? What do you see as the future for DJs and nightlife here?
Melee: I can tell you what I’d like to see. Collaboration — I’ve always really been about all that. I think working with other people is key. Boston is tight-knit, so why have tension between different crowds and people and promotional groups and DJs? Rather than being sharks fighting over the same food, people actually working to push towards one goal? I had started up recently a Sunday meeting for DJs and producers to get together. The first thing that one person said to me was, “Wow, Satellite left, but now we have a spot to meet up, and everybody talk, and everybody kind of get together.”
Charlie: One way that we can all have a unified sound is a record label. More record labels in Boston would allow that particular sound that everyone can understand culturally.
Ms. Thang: I think everything’s kind of mixing together. There’s not, like, set genre DJs the same way there used to be. People expanded, and I think they’re doing a lot of things that the crowds, for the most part, seem to like. I think they’re open to a little more variety. But what I would like to see is, yeah, more communication, but also more venues, better venues, and more places to go do our thing, whatever it is. And yeah, no more hating on whoever is doing what. Who cares?
Baltimoroder: I see more people jumping in, not through DJing, but through production. Like, they’re not actually starting with records and not actually starting by getting up in front of people, they’re cutting EPs and their own mixes and putting them up online before the kids down the hall know what they’re doing. So they’re developing a fan base that’s distributed and wide and varied before people locally know what’s going on, and by the time we catch up, they already have these aspirations beyond just DJing, or other things. I don’t know what that means; I’m not going to lay a value judgment on it. I think it’s actually really cool that more people are producing.
Bruno: Technology is making it easier for you to learn things like how to make a track.
Baltimoroder: I would also say, we need more venues desperately. I can count the number of places I enjoy playing on one hand. And I can probably cut off a few fingers, too. So I’d like to see more venues, more liquor licenses, more moneymen taking a chance. I would love to see bigger venues come back. I think there is the talent and the promotional capability for any of us to be able to pull off bigger nights than what we already have. But the options simply aren’t there.
Eli: I want to shout out to people who have money and want to fund culture and want to be doing stuff. Boston is stuck with this old culture. We have the MFA, which is a great museum; we have Boston Ballet, which is amazing; the Wang Center. All these places where you can go and see old culture. But it’s new, young culture that’s being completely forsaken here. And sure, the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the city government’s doing it a little bit, trying to bring in movies and video games, but what’s up, where’s music and where’s young and cutting-edge art here? We need people to fund this stuff and to give us a space, pay for a space that we can rent and throw a big party all together.
Bruno: My final word: fight the power.
Die Young: Whatever that may be. @

[Photos by Michael Diskin]

A makeover story: Local band Baker gets a whole new look

Heather Bouzan — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:30:00 GMT

(From left) Conan Skyrme, Steve Lord, James Tracey, Nicole Boudreau, and Andy Casey

TO MAKE IT in the music business, the essentials are — like it or not — simple: the sound, the skills, and the look. Sure, there are exceptions, but the band that rolls onstage every night in wrinkled T-shirts and mussed hair probably isn’t making it big any time soon. So when we discovered emerging local band Baker, we knew we had the perfect subjects for our band makeover feature. The group has been playing venues around New England for more than two years, peddling a poppy sound infused with an irreverent, experimental edge. We called in hair gurus Lisa Lindey Evans and Dayna Gamba of Shag Salon; makeup artist Kerri Herlihy; and Stuff@night’s resident style maven, Erica Corsano, to give the band members a polished, pulled-together look that pushes their jeans-and-Ts limits, while staying true to their individual styles.

Conan Skyrme, vocals/guitar
Conan on his style: “I think I’m the only one in the band who doesn’t really have a style — I just pick up whatever’s on the floor. Or in a drawer, if I feel like I need to dress up.”
Erica Corsano on Conan: “Conan’s got a really casual look. He looks like a hiker to me; he’s got a sporty, outdoorsy look. What I want to do with him is keep the casual aspect to his look, but rock it up a bit. He’s got a laid-back thing happening, so we want to maintain that.”
Lisa Lindey Evans and Dayna Gamba on Conan: “He went from mountain man to GQ. I didn’t realize that he was so cute until we cleaned him up a little bit. His hair was easy; he just needed a little bit of a haircut, a little bit of cleaning up. And we flat-ironed his hair.”
Kerri Herlihy on Conan: “I tweezed him; he didn’t need as much tweezing as the others, though. And [I] just put a little bit of concealer under his eyes to get the red out. That was really it with him; he was easy.”
Conan on his new look: “It was fun. It definitely wasn’t something that’s ever happened with us before. It’s fun to get outside your comfort zone a little bit. We’ve done photo shoots before, but they’ve been as is, so this is pretty unique for us. I’m not sure if it’s something I'd make a point of doing, styling my hair down and straightening, [but] it is cool. The clothes aren’t a million miles away from something I’d wear ordinarily. A little trendier, I suppose.”

Nicole Boudreau, keyboard/vocals
Nicole on her style: “I don’t really think about it at all. I don’t really see myself as well put together. I like to be comfortable.”
EC on Nicole: “She definitely walked in with a bit more of a tomboy look, with her plaid shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. But she mentioned that she likes girly looks, and I think she looks great in them. We’re going to put her in something girly and then motorcycle-inspired leather boots, which will give it a little bit more of a rocker, hard edge.”
LLE and DG on Nicole: “She just seemed very no-fuss, and I wanted to do something completely different on her, give her big hair, like very ’60s-inspired, completely the opposite of what she came in with.”
KH on Nicole: “Smoked her eyes out, used some crazy long lashes, liquid liner to give her a little more rocker look. And pink, glossy lips.”
Nicole on her new look: “This is a little extreme for me, although I do love pink.”

James Tracy, bass/vocals
James on his style: “Rock and roll, through and through. Jeans, sweaters. I wear button-down shirts and sweaters and jeans and corduroy.”
EC on James: “He walked in with a preppy look; I called it geek-chic-preppy-rocker. I decided to take a fun spin on the whole preppy thing and paired a Lacoste cardigan with a funky T.”
LLE and DG on James: “I had to cut him a little bit. He had more of an older kind of bowl cut, [a] real heavy haircut. But it was mostly styled. Instead of just having his hair lay down with no product, we styled it. Just gave him more of a short, funky look.”
KH on James: “He was really shiny, so I used translucent loose powder to get rid of his shine and a little bit of concealer on his razor bumps.”
Jame on his new look: “The clothes are fine; I might even wear something like this. I personally hate guys who spend time on their hair; I’m not into haircuts. This was a lot of fun, and interesting, and different.”

Steve Lord, drums
Steve on his style: “I’m a T-shirt-and-jeans guy. Novelty Ts, that’s my style.”
EC on Steve: “I actually love his look as is, but I think he wanted to try something new. So we’re taking him from an alternative-looking kid and giving him a more polished, sleeker look that’s still rock-inspired.”
LLE and DG on Steve: “We straightened his hair, and he was so excited about it. His eyes lit up. Since they’ve all been cutting their hair themselves, it was a nightmare. So I really had to spend a lot more time cutting it than straightening it.”
KH on Steve: “Lots of tweezing on Steve — got rid of his uni[brow]. And just evened out his skin tone with a little bit of foundation.”
Steve on his new look: “The experience overall was extremely different from anything else I’ve done, but it was amazing. It was fun to see, because I’m so used to having curly hair every day of my life, and not so much caring about hairstyle, to having it completely straight and cut to angles. I usually wear secondhand clothes to begin with, so [the clothes] were nothing out of the ordinary. I’d purchase them if I was in the store and I had money.”

Andy Casey, vocals/guitar
Andy on his style: “I wear the same clothes every day. I wear black corduroy pants and a flannel shirt, and sometimes I switch the sweatshirt I wear over it. I also have these really tight brown pants that I wear when we play shows; my butt looks good in them.”
EC on Andy: “He almost reminds me of [a] dirty rocker with punk inspiration. He also has an alternative tendency. I wanted to embrace his alternative nature, but polish it up a bit as well.”
LLE and DG on Andy: “He’s been cutting his own hair for a while, so I just shortened up his sides, cleaned them up, and I mohawked the back because he already had a really long piece over there. I made it fun so he can go to his gigs and look the part of the musician, and then in the front, if you were to look at him face-on, it would be more of a conservative cut so he can get away with it during the day.”
KH on Andy: “He would barely let me touch him. I managed to get rid of his unibrow, and [got] a little bit of concealer around his scruff.”
Andy on his new look: “The experience was fun. I don’t know if the look’s for me. I’m glad I got a free haircut — that was cool. I probably won’t cut it again for another year. And I’m really looking forward to putting back on my black corduroy pants that I wear every day.” @

Clothing provided by Macy's.

[Photos by Tim Gray]

What do you want? Stuff@Night readers share their favorite splurges

Heather Bouzan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:11:00 GMT

THE IPHONE. Super-fancy underpants. The triple-chocolate-orgasm-fudge-explosion ice cream that’s forever leering at us from inside its frost-bitten glass case. What do they have in common? All three rank on our list of must-have splurges. But what about the rest of you? We checked in with some enthusiastic bar patrons at Vox Populi to find out.

Julie Dunn
Age: 27
Occupation: medical researcher
From: Quincy
What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever splurged on?
It was probably a gown for a gala I went to a few years ago. It was at the Four Seasons for the March of Dimes, so I had to go all out. It’s charity, so it gives you an excuse to splurge.
What’s your favorite place in Boston to splurge?
Either the Coach store in the Pru or someplace great to go out with friends, like Excelsior for cocktails and appetizers. More than a material thing, I’d rather spend money on creating a great experience with friends.
What’s your favorite thing to splurge on?
Makeup at Sephora and really good wine and chocolate. Those are my three big things.
What’s your biggest “dream splurge”?
Trip around the world, hands down — with all my friends.
What’s your most recent big purchase?
My condo.
What are you saving for right now?
I am saving up for a really great European vacation that will include a lot of wine and chocolate tasting.

Kevin Loughlin
Age: 26
Occupation: sales
From: Newburyport
What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever splurged on?
I just went to the Bahamas. I spent about nine grand down there, so …
What’s your favorite place in Boston to splurge?
Abe & Louie’s.
What’s your favorite thing to splurge on?
Sporting events.
What’s your biggest “dream splurge”?
A boat. I really want a boat.
What’s your most recent big purchase?
I bought a Lexus.
What are you saving for right now?
A beach house.

Lisa Del Toro
Age: 30
Occupation: flight attendant
From: Winthrop
What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever splurged on?
I went to San Diego for mussels. And fish tacos. I’m a flight attendant, so it’s not a huge splurge, but it was just go there, have dinner, come back.
What’s your favorite place in Boston to splurge?
I like Fleming’s, as far as a restaurant goes. Oh, and Nordstrom.
What’s your favorite thing to splurge on?
I like to splurge on myself. I like massages, I like pedicures, I like manicures. I think it’s important that if you’re going to splurge on something, you should splurge on yourself.
What’s your biggest “dream splurge”?
If money’s not an object, Bali. I would like a cabana on the water. I’d like someone bringing fresh seafood and fruit daily. I’d like to hike up a volcano — which I’ve done, actually. And deep-sea fishing.
What’s your most recent big purchase?
My car.
What are you saving for right now?
A house.

Chris Scully
Age: 32
Occupation: antique dealer
From: Winthrop
What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever splurged on?
Rims.
What’s your favorite place in Boston to splurge?
I’d say Urban Outfitters.
What’s your favorite thing to splurge on?
Clothes.
What’s your biggest “dream splurge”?
A ski house. Or a helicopter — that would be even better.
What’s your most recent big purchase?
An antique chest of drawers.
What are you saving for right now?
A ring. And a house.

Kara Henson
Age: 29
Occupation: sales coordinator
From: Back Bay
What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever splurged on?
A couture gown; it was a Valentino.
What’s your favorite place in Boston to splurge?
It would be Louis Vuitton.
What’s your favorite thing to splurge on?
I would say travel.
What’s your biggest “dream splurge”?
I guess jewelry.
What’s your most recent big purchase?
A bag — Fendi.
What are you saving for right now?
Real estate.

Chip Flowers
Age: 33
Occupation: attorney
From: Back Bay
What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever splurged on?
Probably an unplanned date with a former girlfriend of mine. I surprised her with a trip to this wonderful resort in Mexico.
What’s your favorite place in Boston to splurge?
The Gucci store. If you can’t spoil yourself there, where can you? And Saks, too.
What’s your favorite thing to splurge on?
A suit. There’s nothing better than a quality Armani suit.
What’s your biggest “dream splurge”?
The biggest dream splurge would be a villa on the French Riviera. And then, of course, in the back yard would be a vineyard. If money wasn’t an object, that would be the first thing I would buy.
What’s your most recent big purchase?
A Gucci trench coat. That was nice.
What are you saving for right now?
I am saving up for a nice, expensive Parisian vacation. A nice two-month vacation in Paris.

Carolyn Schwartz
Age: 26
Occupation: sales manager
From: Back Bay
What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever splurged on?
A dress from Saks — it was Diane von Furstenberg. And I never wear it. That’s what makes it outrageous.
What’s your favorite place in Boston to splurge?
Urban Outfitters.
What’s your favorite thing to splurge on?
Definitely clothes.
What’s your biggest “dream splurge”?
A house in Miami or the Greek islands.
What’s your most recent big purchase?
Diane von Furstenberg luggage — but I got it for a really good deal. I’m a splurger, but I try to find really good deals.
What are you saving for right now?
To buy a condo.

[Photos by Melissa Ostrow]

Bodies by Boston: Our second annual list of the city's finest physiques

Heather Bouzan — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:20:00 GMT

NO ONE SAID the journalism business was easy. When everyone else is all bundled up to fight Mother Nature’s harsh winter chill, we’re peeling away the layers of fleece, down, and flannel to expose some of the city’s most well-sculpted physiques. And it’s not just the folks who are paid to stay in shape — besides personal trainers and Pilates instructors, within these pages you’ll also meet the people making you laugh, mixing your drinks, and managing your money. It’s been a tough assignment, but we think you’ll agree that the results are worth it.

A special thanks to everyone who submitted photos for our online bodies contest. Click on the links below to view the full shoots.

MP3: Tamara Wieder talks to FNX about Boston's best bodies

Chad Jackson, wide receiver for the New England Patriots
How much do you work out? Pretty much every day. In the off-season, I probably work out like, four times a week.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally?
I watch what I eat sometimes, but most of the time, if it looks good, I’m going to eat it.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? Wendy’s — chicken nuggets, Wendy’s Double Classic, or something like that.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? Hell, yeah. Middle school, high school. I was a skinny little thing, but I’ve come a long way.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? One of the guys out of [the movie] 300.
Favorite exercise? Single leg squats.
Least favorite exercise? Bench.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? Fans, people in general call me Milk Dud, Hershey Bar … anything that deals with chocolate.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? I’D PROBABLY SAY MY ASS.

Albana Zeqolli, stylist at Shag
How much do you work out? I don’t really work out at the gym. Whenever I can, I jog, but my real exercise is running around the salon and the blow dryer for my arms.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? Part of it comes naturally, but I am also very careful in what I eat. I avoid junk food. I eat a lot of yogurt, cheese, milk, and healthy homemade Albanian food.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? I love sweets, especially Lindt chocolate, chocolate-chip cookies, and, of course, ice cream. It is a little treat on weekends and holidays.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? Not really.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Gisele Bündchen.
Favorite exercise? Spinning.
Least favorite exercise? Push-ups.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? [A compliment about] my stomach.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? MY LEGS.

Luis Sanchez, model and co-owner of the Savant Project
How much do you work out? I’m very committed to maintaining my body, so I work out a lot. At least two to three days before any important event like a Stuff shoot or vacation to Florida.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? I own a restaurant, so I have to watch and try everything on the menu purely for quality control.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? I crush a pint of Ben & Jerry’s every Sunday — but mostly for the calcium, vitamin D, and health benefits of dark chocolate.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? Awkward? I would say I went through a “Stay Puft Marshmallow Man” phase in high school when I was tipping the scale at 260 pounds. Mom went a little crazy with the rice and beans.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Hugh Hefner’s. Need I say more?
Favorite exercise? Sex.
Least favorite exercise? Work.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? “Hey, nice ass,” but I think they were talking to my girlfriend.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? MY MIND.

DeAnna Pellecchia, dancer/aerialist, choreographer, and part-time personal trainer
How much do you work out? Basically, I “work out” for a living. Between rehearsals, performances, clients, and personal gym time, it ends up being about eight to 10 hours a day. And then I have to go home and walk my dog! Wait, correction: she’s a pitbull, so really I’m the one being walked — sometimes it’s the hardest workout of my day!
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? The muscles are genetic — I can build muscle definition without much effort. A lot of athletes in my family, on both sides: hockey players, football players, and my grandfather was a boxer. But I have to watch everything I eat.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? The portobello pie at Figs (accompanied by some Coronas) and chocolate-chip cookies. (Any kind! But of course I love my mom’s the best!)
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? Awkward, no, but I used to be painfully shy!
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Angelina Jolie (as Lara Croft). There is no one else on the planet who can pull off a white shiny spandex unitard. Period.
Favorite exercise? I perform on a grid of ropes (a/k/a/ “The Net”), 20 feet tall by 26 feet wide, that suspends vertically in the air. The dance piece is 22 minutes long with no breaks, and I’m pretty much flying by my arms the whole time, so it’s intense cardio and upper-body all at once. I actually performed it for 4000 people at the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert this past summer — in 110-degree heat!
Least favorite exercise? Chin-ups. I try to do 25 every day.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? How about the funniest? I live in Charlestown, and I was walking my pit bull, Doris, down Main Street (it was about 90 degrees, so I was wearing a pair of gym shorts and a sports bra), and a townie said to me, “Who’s more jacked? You or the pitbull?” I had a good laugh.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? BESIDES MY BRAIN, MY ARMS. I’VE GOT A NASTY LEFT HOOK. GRAMPY WOULDA BEEN WICKED PROUD.

Ramiro Torres, “The Freakin Puerto Rican,” co-host of the Ramiro and Pebbles Morning Show on JAM’N 94.5
How much do you work out? I wake up at 3 [a.m.] and work out at my house every morning before I get into the station. Plus I’ll train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu a few times a week with UFC fighter Kenny Florian, and I’ll “Burn with Kearns” with my friend and trainer Kevin Kearns whenever I get a chance, too.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? I watch what I eat. I eat a lot of chicken, fish, veggies, and fruit. I try not to do the fast-food thing, but if I do, I’ll get the cleanest crap on the menu (like a grilled chicken sandwich with no mayo).
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? I don’t really have a guilty-pleasure food that I can’t resist, but when I do decide to eat crap, I’m all about the cheesy appetizers and desserts.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? All the time! I feel awkward now, and I used to be heavier. I was never the “round” type of heavy, though. I would gain all of my weight in my face and belly, so I resembled a mosquito that just got finished sucking blood.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Beyoncé, all day! Then I would just spend the entire day naked staring at myself in the mirror and … wait, did you mean a guy?
Favorite exercise? I love doing bodyweight stuff like push-ups. There’s a million ways to do them and you can do them anywhere, anytime.
Least favorite exercise? I’m not a big fan of running. It’s just boring. I’d rather do something like jump rope.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? “You’re not fat!” This was from a listener who claimed that I sounded fat on air. How do you “sound” fat?
What do you consider your best body part? Wow, how can I choose? There’s my chest, my butt, my triceps … I guess if I had to choose, I’d say my left nipple. It’s so cute. I’ll put it up against anybody’s any day!

Jessica Shepard, bartender at Vox Populi
How much do you work out? At this moment in my life, I do not work out at all. As far as the past, I used to dance in a company and work out on the regular. Guess I’m lucky!
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? I do eat pretty healthy, but because I don’t eat a lot of meats.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? My downfall is cheese and chocolate. Mmm!
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? My weight fluctuates five to eight pounds all the time. But I’m just small!
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? If I could have anyone’s body it would be Jessica Biel. She is so amazing, and natural. I like that!
Favorite exercise? When I do exercise, I’m a cardio freak! The elliptical machine is probably my favorite; I could do it for hours!
Least favorite exercise? My least favorite exercise is doing any kind of weights.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? It’s so easy to compliment someone’s body; my favorite is getting a compliment on my smile!
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? DEFINITELY MY DERRIÈRE!

Tony Allen, guard for the Boston Celtics
How much do you work out? I work out every day when I don’t have a game.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? Sometimes I watch what I eat — I try not to eat too late — but for the most part I’m eating some of everything.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? Cheeseburger with grilled onions.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? No, not that I can remember. I always wanted to be like one of the action figures, one of the WWF wrestlers, so I did a lot of sit-ups, push-ups.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Me.
Favorite exercise? I love doing bench press and leg squats.
Least favorite exercise? I hate doing oblique bridges.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? When I go swimming, all the old women tell me I have nice legs.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? MY CALF MUSCLES.

Taylor Abbey, head bartender at Haru
How much do you work out? I never work out … I just work! A lot.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? I’m a vegetarian, so I don’t do meat, and I try to avoid deep-fried anything when I eat out, but I think the key is that I really don’t like ice cream or chocolate or other sweets, which are dangerous indulgences. Nightly access to superior sushi at Haru has been a dream come true.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? Spicy curly fries dipped in a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? Awkward may not be the right word, but when I was a college student in New York, I was a total couch potato and gained about 15 pounds. Awkward for my clothing, certainly.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Angelina Jolie. She’s got the whole package, doesn’t she?
Favorite exercise? Running.
Least favorite exercise? Yoga; the pace is way too slow for my personality.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? Are you kidding? Winning this competition! Nothing else comes close.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? FRANKLY, MY BRIGHT BLUE EYES.

Andrew Ference, defenseman for the Boston Bruins
How much do you work out? In the off-season, a ton. Probably six days a week, about an hour in the gym and two to three hours doing biking, running, kayaking. And then during the season, we’re playing, practicing, working.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? I eat healthy, but I definitely have indulgences. As a general diet, I eat organic and eat healthy, but I’m all about stopping at Bova’s for pastry.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? Lemon turnovers from Bova’s — so good.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? I was always active — I always played sports all the time. I never worked out to have a good body; that was never the point of my workouts. The point was to be in good shape for the sports that I play.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Jarome Iginla. He was a teammate of mine in Calgary before I got traded to Boston.
Favorite exercise? Doing sprints on the stairs. It’s the most effective one.
Least favorite exercise? Bench press, by far.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? My wife usually pumps my tires. Maybe getting asked to do this — that’s a pretty good one, I guess.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? I’LL GO BACK TO MY WIFE — SHE SAID, BEFORE I CAME HERE, “MAKE SURE YOU SHOW YOUR VS, BETWEEN YOUR HIP AND YOUR OBLIQUE.”

Gordon Bither, senior vice president of integrated network services at State Street Bank
How much do you work out? I work out five to six times a week for an hour per session; I lift with my trainer, Brandon W. Kolar, at Equilibrium on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and he and I lift at the Sports Club/LA on the weekend. I have worked with Brandon for three-plus years; his knowledge and focused attention have been key to the results that I have achieved. Working with a trainer/training partner keeps me motivated and helps me ensure that I use proper form on each exercise. On the days that I don’t lift, I do a quick 20 minutes of cardio and 40 or so minutes of stretching and foam rolling. I generally take one day a week off.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? If you were to ask my friends or co-workers, they would say that eating is a religion with me! I watch what I eat very carefully because you can’t be successful unless you manage both diet and exercise. Willingness to change your diet is absolutely critical. You can exercise every day of the week, but if you don’t change your diet, you won’t see positive changes to your body. I eat four to five small meals a day, keep fats low, avoid all sugars including alcohol, and manage daily totals of carbohydrates and protein, depending upon my goals at a given time.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? That’s an easy question to answer! It is the full-belly fried-clam platter, French fries, a side of onion rings, and a Sam Adams draft (or two) at Woodman’s in Essex.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? I can honestly say that I went through that “awkward” stage for too many years! There was a long period in my life where I didn’t really think a lot about my health or long-term consequences. It’s great to have physically accomplished what I have at this stage of my life. I am extremely proud of the level of physical conditioning that I have achieved and the size of the weights that I can lift. I have never felt better!
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? That is a very difficult question because I can’t think of anyone my age that I would swap with, at least anyone that someone reading this would know. If I have to pick someone, I would say Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, but he’s 21 years younger than I am!
Favorite exercise? Barbell squat or any other exercise on a heavy leg-training day.
Least favorite exercise? Bicep curl. Be it with dumbbells, barbells, cables, or bands, it’s just boring.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? I am most proud of the number of compliments that I have received by people who are totally surprised by my real age. They generally guess mid to late 40s, sometimes early 50s.
What do you consider your best body part? Best is relative. I would have to say my chest, but quite honestly all of my body parts are the best that they have ever been.

Melissa Hough, soloist with the Boston Ballet
How much do you work out? I’m a professional ballet dancer, so I dance about six days a week from four to six hours a day. I consider that a lot of “working out.”
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? I try to watch what I eat, but I don’t like to. Honestly, it depends on how much I’m working at the time. I eat more “junk” food when I’m dancing more and “healthier” food when I’m dancing less.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? Pickles, popcorn, and Bloody Marys from Tremont 647.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? I guess you could say I was a bit awkward when I was 15 and 16, at least as a dancer I was.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? I try not to think about that. There are many dancers who were born with better “dancer” facilities than I, so I’ve spent most of my ballet career trying to accept what I have. It’s quite a struggle when you have to look at yourself in a mirror every day for six hours.
Favorite exercise? Tendus at barre (ballet exercise where you start in fifth position and brush your foot to full pointe, keeping it on the floor while doing the movement and holding onto the ballet barre).
Least favorite exercise? Riding the exercise bike. I only do it when I feel like I look “out of shape.” I hate it.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? Maybe being chosen to do this issue of Stuff.
What do you consider your best body part? I’m too critical of my body to answer this question. Dancers are crazy about this sort of thing, and I’m one of them.

Nancy Civetta, long-distance open-water butterfly swimmer and owner of PR agency Civetta Comunicazioni
How much do you work out? Right now, I am working out four to five times a week. I try to balance masters swimming with yoga and weight training. When I am working up to my swim events, I’ll work out six to seven times per week, and I’ll focus on swimming in Cape Cod Bay at least three times per week, so I can make it the 1.4 miles across Provincetown Harbor all butterfly. I’ve done it two years in a row now.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? I am one of the lucky ones who never has to watch what I eat, but I do eat well and healthy. I cook a lot, pay attention to where my food comes from, and love eating Italian. I also do not have a sweet tooth, so that helps, but I make up for it in pasta consumption!
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? The Brazilian “bombs,” as we call them in my office, from Modelo Bakery in Somerville. They are savory pastries shaped like a pear, filled with chicken and cream cheese, rolled in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried. They are amazing!
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? Just in my head.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Madonna’s!
Favorite exercise? Swimming the ’fly.
Least favorite exercise? Breaststroke.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? That my arms looked like Madonna’s! I suggested an eye exam: I’m not there yet, but I am working on it.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? MY BACK.

Alvin May, resident in general surgery
How much do you work out? I have to settle with just working out when I can. With my crazy busy schedule in the hospital, I am usually limited to a half-hour or 45 minutes here and there — maybe late in the evening or after an overnight on call. I can usually squeeze in a little something of a workout about three days a week. I have a power tower at home, which has become my all-in-one workout.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? Honestly, I have to thank my parents for giving me great genes. I think I find myself working out much less than other guys I know, and I’m still able to maintain myself. But by the same token, I don’t really indulge myself too much when it comes to food. I tend to eat pretty moderate portions of food, often splitting a meal with someone, even at 6’ 3,” 200 pounds. I like to eat and eat what I like, but I rarely “pig out.” And every couple days, I like to throw in a salad for lunch or dinner to balance out my disregard for my diet. Other than that, I don’t find myself watching what I eat too much.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? There are two. Number one, Cold Stone ice cream. I love that Founder’s Favorite! When they started selling it in the carton, I knew it could be a problem. Fortunately, cold Boston winters curb my craving for ice cream. Number two is the Betty Crocker Warm Delights. You pop them in the microwave for 45 seconds. So good. The Chocolate-Chip Cookie is awesome!
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? Always having been tall for my age, I was “the skinny kid.” I came to hate the word skinny. I would always correct people and refer to my build as “slim.” As I got older, though, I was able to fill out the frame a bit — with good results, I think.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? I would probably have to say a young Michael Jordan. I would love to have his body dynamics and feel what it’s like to [do] all the things he could do with his body.
Favorite exercise? I am a huge advocate for resistance exercises: push-ups, pull-ups, dips, running, etc. I like the idea of using my own body to build my body. For most of my workouts, I use a power tower in my house. It allows me to work the big upper-body muscle groups nicely. With that, I’ll throw in some traditional push-ups and some handstand push-ups. I have found, for me, that working in this way, I can continue to build on a natural-looking physique that is balanced. In addition, I’ve found that the results of my workout last longer between workouts. My guess is that I’m not isolating individual muscles, but rather building muscle groups that I would otherwise use in natural movements and activity.
Least favorite exercise? Running! I have to run alone with personal-playlist music blaring in my ears. It is so hard for me to distract myself from how far I’ve run and how tired I am when I run that I need to escape completely. So when I run, I make an iPod playlist that is sure to get my mind off running and in a fun and energetic place.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? I got up the nerve to be in a fashion show in college in my senior year. During one of the scenes, [I] had to take off my shirt. When I did that, the women in the crowd went crazy. It changed the entire way I looked at my body.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? SMILE. SHOULDERS. I THINK THOSE TWO CAPTURE BOTH MY PRESENCE AND PERSONALITY.

Aaron Crutchfield, dramatic-arts instructor and improvisational actor with ImprovBoston
How much do you work out? I usually go to the gym about once and a half per week; when I train for Ultimate Frisbee, then maybe two and a half.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? I have just started to stop eating when I get full, so I am a “many small plates from the buffet line” kinda guy.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? Pot brownies! Just kidding. I guess either Cherry Garcia [ice cream] or chocolate-chip cookie dough that is all melty.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? Do you mean when I played Dungeons and Dragons until 2 a.m. during high school? Or do you mean how could a guy with total asthma discover playing frisbee?
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Barry Sanders, a wicked cool, totally strong guy, or Michael Jordan, who is a master of dexterity. Since I wish I could dunk, I guess I would choose Jordan.
Favorite exercise? Just plain old playing catch with friends on a beach, or a plush green field, with a little wind to really send the frisbee — but in a gym, I would say dumbbell presses followed by crunches.
Least favorite exercise? Rush-hour traffic! Just sitting, ugh! But really, maybe upright rows, because you need good form and it never looks like I am lifting much!
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? One time my buddy’s little sister said I had killer calves.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? THAT WOULD BE EITHER MY ARM, OR MY PASSIONATE HEART, AND I USED TO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD LIVER.

Danielle DiGiorgio, special events manager at Felt
How much do you work out? Four to five days a week.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? I would have to say that I don’t really watch what I eat, but I enjoy healthy food, which is probably why I have a healthy diet. I eat pretty much anything I want; I just try to do it in moderation. That is the key!
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? Buffalo wings with blue cheese washed down with a Stella draft beer, and anything with chocolate, of course!
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? I would say freshman year of college. Awkward is a nice way to put it; I like to call it the freshman 20! But that was probably due to pledging a sorority and having the typical college diet: Bud Light, pizza, and whatever else is available after 2 a.m.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. I just think she is the most beautiful woman all around.
Favorite exercise? Arms.
Least favorite exercise? Legs. I have to psychologically pump myself up to get through it.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? I would have to say being nominated for this issue! I would have never thought to enter myself!
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? I WOULD HAVE TO SAY MY WAIST, THANKS TO ALL THE CURVACEOUS WOMAN IN MY ARMENIAN/ITALIAN FAMILY.

Jonathan Cardoza, cardiac nurse at Tufts-New England Medical Center and gross human anatomy lecturer at Boston University
How much do you work out? My workout schedule varies greatly from week to week. Some weeks I work out just one day, others six. In an ideal week, I would lift four days, cardio five days, with something else thrown in the mix, like yoga.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? I have found that diet is the biggest component to how my body looks. I don’t do anything crazy, never too much protein — I follow the food-guide pyramid: low fat, high fiber. Just like your grandparents.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? Ice cream. I’ll always consume the entire container regardless of size, or until I am so full that I’m winded.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? I’ve had about 20 years of “that awkward phase,” or rather a series of them. By the time I graduated high school I was about 210, no muscle. Then in college I dropped down to 160, still no muscle. Now I am 185, never been bigger, never been leaner.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? I don’t know; I’ve never made ideals like that. Pat Sajak, is that hot?
Favorite exercise? I love to run outside at night. When I started running, I hated it for the first six months. Now it’s peaceful to go run for an hour at 1 a.m. — it’s really peaceful and quiet in Boston.
Least favorite exercise? I hate doing abs. Even when I force myself to do it, it’s still half-assed.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? My favorite compliment came from a patient’s granddaughter who was around seven. We were discussing cardiac arrhythmias when she interrupted to ask if I was a dentist. When I asked why she would think that, she said, “Because your teeth are so white and shiny.” I totally melt for kids, and my patients who are from the 80-80 club. Eighty years old, eighty pounds.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? MY BEST BODY PART IS MY LEGS; I NEVER MISS A WEEK OF DOING LEGS.

Christine Streeter, Pilates instructor at Studio Elle Pilates
How much do you work out? I do Pilates and spinning at least three times a week. In addition to that, I participate in a lot of seasonal activities: snowboarding, cross-country skiing, kayaking, hiking, and walking my dogs.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body just come naturally? Definitely watch what I eat. I mainly stick to a healthy diet and try to let my body tell me what it needs, but I have my moments. I love sweets, so I try to restrict myself so that I don’t overdo it.
What’s your favorite guilty-pleasure food? Hmmm, there are so many! I’d have to say frozen custard from Abbott’s in Rochester, New York, which fortunately you can’t get around here.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? From 18 to 25, I couldn’t get it together; I struggled with my weight. I finally figured it out in my mid-20s and am very happy to have it behind me!
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Heidi Klum; longer legs would be great.
Favorite exercise? Pilates; it completely changed my body.
Least favorite exercise? Running, crunches, aerobic classes.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? I get compliments on my arms and calves a lot, but the best one was from a woman I was talking to at the beach. She said that I was the only person on the beach who should be in a bikini. I’ve worked really hard on my body, so it was nice to have someone recognize it.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? MY ARMS, BUT I’M REALLY PROUD OF MY ABS; THEY TAKE A LOT MORE WORK.

WE ASKED, YOU … DROOLED: READERS’ PICKS FOR BEST BODIES BY BOSTON

Wynne Corazzelli, project manager
How much do you work out? Almost every day.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body come naturally? I try to eat well. I have been a vegetarian since I was 12.
What’s your guilty-pleasure food? Cheez-Its and Oreo cookies.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? Freshman 15 in college was probably my most awkward stage.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Eva Longoria.
Favorite exercise? Running.
Least favorite exercise? Squats.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? Some of my friends have said they wished they had a body like mine.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? MY TUMMY.

George Hatzikostantis, nutrition management
How much do you work out? Six days a week, two to three hours a day.
Do you watch what you eat, or does this body come naturally? Very strict diet, high protein, well-balanced nutrition. I had to work very hard to look the way I do!
What’s your guilty-pleasure food? I don’t cheat often, but blueberry pie is [my] weakness.
You have a great body now, but did you ever go through that “awkward” stage? I was pretty skinny growing up, and I was 6’2”. Thank God I eventually grew into my height.
If you could have anyone else’s body, whose would it be? Nobody’s. I’m happy the way I am.
Favorite exercise? Squats, shoulders, chest, arms.
Least favorite exercise? None. I love them all.
What’s the best body compliment you’ve ever received? “Oh my God, what’s that, a 20-pack?”
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BEST BODY PART? ABS.

[Photos by Tim Gray
Directed by Michael Diskin
Hair Services provided by Leon Liu, Talia Wildes, and Antonio Pagano of Vidal Sassoon Salon]

A look ahead: Futuristic fashion for the new year

Michael Diskin — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:07:00 GMT

SLIDESHOW: Click here to view photos from the "A look ahead" slideshow.

In Recovery: The holidays are finally over. Here’s how to unwind and chill out, stat.

Heather Bouzan — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:54:00 GMT

ALL THE THINGS we love about the holidays - the expensive bottles of wine, the multi-course meals, the fancy soirées that end with breakfast - are also the things that leave us bleary-eyed, pudgy, and hating ourselves come the season's proverbial "morning after." As much as it pains us to admit it, even we find ourselves craving a few nights in, a simple salad ... in a word, a little detox. So here's a roundup of nightspots, spa treatments, classes, and cultural activities that give our puffy lids time to shrink and our livers a chance to regenerate. Trust us, after a few calm days and quiet nights, you'll be yanking your Louboutins out of the back of your closet rejuvenated and ready to make your re-entry onto the social scene.

raising the bar on relaxing
Yes, we said we wanted to chill out - but we never purported to swear off drinking entirely. Instead of heading to the city's latest hotspot only to endure long lines, cramped bars, and far too many air kisses, we recommend a low-key hangout where you can disappear into a corner with a well-mixed drink and - if you're feeling social - a chatty friend. We love the way the low-lit, bookish Washington Square Tavern (714 Washington Street, Brookline, 617.232.8989) quiets us upon entering; once the bartender slides us a glass of wine from a well-chosen list, we've all but melted into our stool. There aren't many bars in this city where we'd hang solo, but this is one of them. A quick cab or T ride down Beacon Street is Audubon Circle (838 Beacon Street, Boston, 617.421.1910), where we can't help but feel as relaxed and casual as the clientele - no buttoned-up business types here. Cambridge Common (1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.547.1228) has always been a comforting spot to grab a post-work beer without the nuisance of eager, chatty singles, and we've always felt at home at Clery's cousin Brownstone (111 Dartmouth Street, Boston, 617.867.4142), with its slightly older, slightly more sober crowd. Another option? Hit your favorite nightspots when it's - the horror! - still light out. Alibi (Liberty Hotel, 215 Charles Street, Boston, 617.224.4000), still new and hot enough to be mobbed at peak hours, envelops us in its basement calm on off nights, and 28 Degrees (One Appleton Street, Boston, 617.728.0728) is an early-evening treat.

lose the booze
If your holiday revelries have left you unable look at another alcoholic beverage without needing to hightail it to the restroom, plenty of local bartenders have created mocktails with you - and your hard-drinking reputation - in mind. Want to enjoy Sushi Teq (InterContinental, 510 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, 617.747.1000) without indulging in the latter half of the restaurant's moniker? Pair your spicy tuna rolls and salmon sashimi with booze-free margaritas offered in lush, fruity flavors, including Blackberry Mango ($6) and Blood Orange Strawberry ($6). Meanwhile, the doting bartenders at Eastern Standard (528 Comm Ave, Boston, 617.532.9100) have devoted a whole section of their cocktail list to non-alcoholic tipples. The Stormy Monday ($5), a ginger-beer-based beverage, can assuage even the queasiest of stomachs, and the Sophisticated Lady ($5), which melds cranberry and cucumber, is just that. And we love the connotations of the Lemmy Tum Tum ($5), described as a "cure for what ails you." If even those are too close to the real stuff for comfort, find solace in a pot of peppermint tea - or another of more than 25 varieties - offered at the 1369 Coffee House (1369 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, 617.576.1369; 757 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.576.4600), with locations in Inman and Central squares. They're open later than most coffee shops, too, boasting hours until 10 or 11 p.m. nightly.

weighty issues
If it's sustenance you desire, we can only assume that it's the light, low-fat stuff you're looking for after the gluttony that is December. Forgo rich, creamy dishes for tastes from the raw bar at Neptune Oyster (63 Salem Street, Boston, 617.742.3474) or East Coast Grill (1271 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, 617.491.6568), and sate your sweet tooth with the super-fresh Watermelon and Feta Tidbit appetizer ($7.95) at Vlora (545 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.638.9699). Eateries like Harvest (44 Brattle Street, Cambridge, 617.868.2255), Garden at the Cellar (991 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.230.5880), and Craigie Street Bistrot (5 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, 617.497.5511) are known for their natural, wholesome takes on fresh, simple foods with big flavors, and we've long admired the merits of the salad selection at the Metropolitan Club (1210 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, 617.731.0600). And as we reported earlier in this issue, keep an eye out for the ultimate in detoxifying dishes with the opening of Alissa Cohen's new raw restaurant, Grezzo (69 Prince Street, Boston).

gym dandies
We've always subscribed to the idea that the best way to cure a hangover (no matter that this one has lasted weeks) is to sweat it out. We all have our favorite trainer - or the neighborhood gym to which we've vowed to devote our lives come January 1 - but there are other ways to supplement those hours on the elliptical machine. To get the booze oozing out of your pores quickly, turn up the heat, literally, with a Bikram yoga class. With the average temperature cranked up to 105 degrees and 40 percent humidity, you won't leave the class dry - but you will emerge incredibly clear-headed and cleansed. A number of classes are offered daily at Bikram Yoga Boston (108 Lincoln Street, Loft 1A, Boston, 617.556.9926) and Bikram Yoga Harvard Square (30 JFK Street, Second Floor, Cambridge, 617.54.SWEAT). If you're in need of a little extra oomph (i.e., you'll talk yourself out of that workout with the slightest provocation), we suggest plunging in headfirst with a session at Ultimate Bootcamp (www.ultimatebootcamp.com; 617.787.1224). The program kicks off '08 with a six-week class held outdoors on Boston Common Monday through Thursday mornings beginning on January 7. For less hardy folk, indoor sessions begin on January 7 and February 25. After a few workouts, you won't even think about sleeping through that early-morning wake-up call. Finally, mixing things up with your gym's group fitness classes is always beneficial. Not only will you work muscles you likely never knew you had, you'll also be less inclined to allow yourself an out when the going gets tough - especially when the post-menopausal woman with Madonna arms next to you is crunching her abs double-time. Each gym has its own roster of offerings, some more creative than others (think stripper-pole workouts, samba dancing, ass-class); one of the more innovative and imaginative of the bunch is Equinox (131 Dartmouth Street, Boston, 617.578.8918), which debuts new classes including "Hardbody Meltdown" (exaggerated step-training), "Red Carpet Ready" (covering cardio and toning, plus confidence, poise, and grace), and "Temple Dance" (sexy, exotic moves to world music) in January.

spaaah!
If your definition of "sweating it out" involves a stint in the steam room after a spa treatment, we have some less active (yet still rejuvenating) options worth exploring. Heat up with a 75-minute Hot Stone Massage ($100) at Inman Oasis (243 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, 617.491.0176) - the rocks work wonders on a fatigued body - followed by a soothing soak in one of the wellness center's hot tubs. If you'd rather scrub away your demons, try the Urban Renewal Exfoliating Facial ($125) at G Spa (35 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.267.4772), which incorporates cleansing enzymes; exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids; and hydrating cranberry, pomegranate, and green-tea moisturizers. If your eyelids are puffy from too many carbs, too much booze, and too little sleep, head to Pyara (104 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge, 617.497.9300) for the Revitalizing Eye Treatment ($35; $25 as a spa enhancement), while people looking for a full-body experience might do well to invest in the Sea Foam Head-to-Toe Body Ritual ($265) at Bella Santé (38 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.424.9930), featuring two hours of re-mineralizing, oxygenizing masques, scrubs, and creams.

it's academic
Don't be afraid to get studious about your detoxing. The Cambridge Center for Adult Education (42 Brattle Street, Cambridge, 617.547.6789) offers evening and weekend classes in subjects as diverse as "Introduction to Decoupage" (beginning January 15) and "Greek Philosophy" (beginning January 16); visit www.ccae.org to browse the winter course catalog. If you've been itching to put pen to paper and engage in more literary pursuits, enliven your prose with one of the themed writing workshops at Grub Street (160 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.695.0075). Updated listings are posted at www.grubstreet.org. Food and wine education more your speed? The latest addition to the Barbara Lynch empire, Stir (102 Waltham Street, Boston, 617.423.STIR), offers classes with a sophisticated take on both, including an introduction to chenin blanc on January 7 and, on January 8 and 9, instruction on how to assemble Lynch's "No. 9 Classics" such as prune-stuffed gnocchi and steak tartare. And the Boston Wine School (1354 Comm Ave, Boston, 617.784.7150) leaves no bottle uncorked in its quest for vino wisdom.

art attack
If you crave culture's more social side, Boston has a wealth of opportunities. The ICA (100 Northern Avenue, Boston, 617.478.3100) offers date-worthy programming that swaps late nights at the bar for lectures, films, and performance pieces that inspire discussion. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (280 The Fenway, Boston, 617.566.1401) appeals to a young, savvy crowd with its "Gardner After Hours" events every third Thursday of the month; on January 17, attend "People and Portraits," which includes a drawing session, tours of the museum's portrait collection, and, for an additional fee, the Boston debut performance of the International Contemporary Ensemble in "Composer Portraits: Music of Magnus Lindberg." And cultural veterans like the Museum of Fine Arts (465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617.267.9300) and the Museum of Science (Science Park, Boston, 617.723.2500) have also stepped it up in an attempt to appeal to more than just big-name donors and grade-school field trippers. The MFA has made a name for itself as an edgy live music venue, and it also sponsors mfafirstfridays cocktail events and "Winesday" wine tastings on the last Wednesday of every month; the scientifically minded can find romance in the Museum of Science's planetarium or rock out to Zeppelin, U2, the Beatles, and Metallica at a laser show. And there's always the cool, dark, hangover-dulling sanctuary of a movie theater: the Somerville Theatre (55 Davis Square, Somerville, 617.625.5700), the Coolidge Corner Theatre (290 Harvard Street, Brookline, 617.734.2500), the Harvard Film Archive (24 Quincy Street, Cambridge, 617.495.4700), and the Brattle Theatre (40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, 617.876.6838) all have eclectic offerings. @

[Photos by Kelly Davidson]