Rob Vassegh’s day job might account for his financial savvy ‘- he’s a number-crunching analyst at a local Sovereign Bank. Lucky for cash-strapped Bostonians, 38-year-old Vassegh also fuels the bargain blog Cheap Thrills (cheapthrillsboston.blogspot.com):’ a guide to upcoming events that cost $10 or less. Vassegh caught up with The News to share his top-10 obsessions ‘- aside from a good deal.
1. Narragansett Beer
In honor of being a cut above the standard, Vassegh opts for Narragansett over Bud or Pabst Blue Ribbon when he’s budgeting at the bar. Extra points for its strong New England roots ‘- it’s brewed in Providence, R.I.
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2. Church of Boston
Despite recent noise complaints, Vassegh says that Church, a Fenway bar at 69 Kilmarnock St., pays divine attention to its sound quality while hosting some of the best local bands.
3. MeandJoanCollins
Staying on the local tip, Vassegh said he can’t stop listening to pop-rock trio MeandJoanCollins, fronted by the male-female vocal duo Bo Barringer and Jen Grygiel. ‘The real beauty is that they make smart, original, fresh, feral sounds without hiding their influences,’ he said.
4. Bicycling
Lately, Vassegh rides his bike more than ever ‘- the mark of a true bargain disciple. Fringe benefits include improved cardiovascular health, though Vassegh hasn’t written off the subway altogether:’ ‘I still commute to the office to stay connected with foul aromas and rude people,’ he said.
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5. Sea urchin
For Vassegh, the concept of transcendent inner beauty extends to everyday Echinoidea, too. Served raw, that is. Despite its gooey, orange outsides, Vassegh says that uni’s delectable richness makes it his favorite sushi, though he struggles to make converts. All the more for him.
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6. Frugality
It’s no surprise that Vassegh lauds the virtue of financial prudence. But anyone making frequent visits to Cheap Thrills has another party to thank for inspiring his astute finds: ‘My grandmother lived through the Great Depression to teach me conservation before I ever heard a sandal-wearing stoner tell me ‘Reduce, reuse and recycle,’ he said.
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7. Talking Points Memo
When it comes to fellow members of the blogosphere, Vassegh said he admires the writers at talkingpointsmemo.com. They assert their political values without producing biased work, he said. It doesn’t hurt that ‘corrupt or moronic’ politicians find their feet dangling about the fire on Talking Points Memo either.
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8. Utne Reader
‘If I sound articulately enlightened about a subject, it was probably an Utne theme of the month,’ Vassegh said about the bi-monthly magazine that aggregates articles from alternative media like zines, weeklies and journals. Vassegh particularly praises the editorial acumen that keeps the collage of ideas from feeling disjointed.
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9. Thomas Pynchon
If novelist Thomas Pynchon were a jazz artist, he’d be John Coltrane, Vassegh said. If he were a painter, he’d be Picasso:’ a master of the wild and complex who doesn’t compromise literary quality. His latest installment, called ‘Inherent Vice,’ hits shelves Aug. 4.
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10. ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’
Vassegh calls it ‘hallucinogenic chaos.’ He digs the iconic Gonzo book and its late ’90s film adaptation starring an adeptly adrift Johnny Depp as protagonist Raoul Duke. And despite his conservative financial tendencies, Vassegh blithely nods to the book as ‘a blueprint for a successful Vegas adventure.’
‘- Danielle Capalbo, News Staff
