a bit of Bruins pic spam

is posting just one image pic spam? I always have to look up these internet terms to be sure I'm using them right. anyway, there's really no reason to post this, but there's no reason NOT to post it. this was on the Bruins site when I checked it 1/1; still there 1/2. I thought I should preserve it here...

oh, the Winter Classic

since I'm failing at much Blackhawks blogging this week (but I was one of the first? only? to post a photo of the new Patrick Kane bobblehead, surely that counts for something?), let's just give Boston even MORE attention and post a little on the Winter Classic vs. the Flyers, just over 2 weeks away. for much, much, okay, possibly TOO much more, there's a lot at NHL.com, but you knew that already.

this screenshot is a thing of beauty:

"Hockey," it almost brings tears to my eyes

today Puck Daddy speculated on future Classics: who and where? I'm guessing Capitals get to play next, if not in D.C. they're also running a Winter Classic Parade Float Contest and these are some of the (silly, of course) first entries.

meanwhile, a Flyers blog posted A Flyers Fan's Guide to Surviving the Winter Classic. I skimmed through it and it looks like decent advice, but even I, who haven't spent that much time in Boston, knows that South End isn't a bad neighborhood. what I saw this year was the gentrified dog parks/dessert boutiques/art galleries kind of neighborhood. either they're confusing it with how it was circa Common Ground, or confusing it with South Boston. and even what I saw when I wandered around Southie--an Amtrak yard, a dumping ground for MBTA bus shelters, the infamous Old Colony housing project--didn't seem too bad. I have strict standards for "bad" neighborhoods, and so far I haven't seen places in Boston (or Denver, or Minneapolis, though all these cities definitely have lots of sketchy people around their Greyhound stations) that are remotely close to what I've seen in St. Louis, Detroit, or...well, Chicago.

I'd say some stuff about the Winter Classic in Chicago but I'm in a hurry today...

my obsession with Boston Pizza, revealed

so I meant to post this during the Blackhawks' recent trip through Canada, where they defeated the Oilers, Flames, and Canucks (after wins at home against the Canadiens and Maple Leafs, both of which I attended). then I got lazy, but now I see Scotty Wazz has a bit about how the Winter Classic could be the battle of the Philly cheesesteak vs. the Boston cheesesteak, except the Boston one is from the Canadian chain Boston Pizza and as such might not have to do with the city of Boston.

this came up when I mentioned my obsession with BP previously and there was a comment about Boston vs. Chicago pizza and if I was betraying Chicago...my opinion of pizza in Boston? well, I've been to the original Pizzeria Regina in the North End, and I can tell you it was fantastically delicious and easily the equal or better of any pizza in Chicago pretty good. but Boston Pizza I only know from ads inside Canadian ice rinks, seen while watching online feeds of hockey games. and sometimes commercials during the show. I wanted to know what this chain was and looked up their website...AND FOUND THIS.

it's called "The Pepper Pizza." bell peppers are great on pizza, sure, but guacamole? and sour cream? ON A PIZZA? why? THIS IS WHY YOU CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS, Canada, like wins against the Blackhawks. I like guacamole and sour cream, but not on pizza.

now, they do also have some sort of pizza with pierogi ingredients on it, and that could be interesting. but I am baffled by this chain, and would welcome any explanation from Canadian readers. also, what's Mr. Sub like? Tim Horton's I know at least, I've been to stores in Providence and Buffalo.

re: Scotty Wazz's piece again, I think the Chicago vs. Detroit Winter Classic could have been the battle of hot dogs. Chicagoans are kind of fanatical about hot dogs (here's one I had) and the outrage of putting ketchup on them (whatever), and Detroit loves their coney dogs (and here's one I had) (and it's where all food in Detroit should be consumed for optimum enjoyment, inside an abandoned skyscraper you snuck into).