Audissey Guides

5 Addicting Alternative uses for your iPod

Wed, 5 Dec 2007 09:50:00 CST

I knew the iPod was capable of some useful stuff - like notes, photo storage, etc... But I did not realize how much I could really do with my iPod until I recently saw someone on the Subway fidgeting with their iPod in a way that was clearly not an attempt at finding their favorite play list. It inspired me to investigate and the following is a list of things I found that just sound way too addicting:

5. Point out really important things.

4. Tip - Hard to believe that parting with money could become addicting, but this makes me want to galivant around town leaving large tips.

3. Audit a Quantum Mechanics Course from Stanford. - Did I say addicting? I may have meant intellectually stimulating.

2. Brain Challenge Game - Just released this week, $4.99 seems a small price to pay for wit, creativity and intelligence.

1. iKaraoke - This is just totally sweet.

Walking Through Boston: 1st Snow

Tue, 4 Dec 2007 15:09:00 CST

Yes. The Audissey Guides office has received our first snow. We have the joy (or curse depending on which school of thought you're in) of having seasons. And while we enjoyed a warm fall, the warmth is officially gone and we received our first snow yesterday!

I wouldn't have even considered spending hours outside walking around in this weather if I didn't love my job. But I really do love exploring the nooks and crannies of a city so I spent the afternoon working on a new (soon to be launched) project and I got to see the city in a completely new light. A very muted, gray light. Yeah- it was monotone - but it was really cool. Everything seemed muffled and mysterious.

As I walked through Boston Common, The North End and The Financial District I got a new appreciation for the seasons. This wasn't the Boston bustling with toursits and Duck Tours. This was the quiet, subdued authentic Boston. It made me think about traveling in off-peak seasons. Sure, it may be more uncomfortable but it is more real. And as a traveler (not a tourist) real is what I love.

Fort Point iPod Tour - The Swanky Launch Party

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 07:42:00 CDT

Thank you to everyone who came out to RumBa at the InterContinental Hotel for the Fort Point iPod Audio Tour Launch Party. We had a great time! With the Mayor of Boston, 150 guests, cocktails, foodies and excellent live music the event was (dare I say?) downright swanky.

In case you weren't there... Audissey Guides Founder and Chief Vagabond, Rob, emcee'd the event, summoning his vast arsenal of wit and wisdom (though only a small portion of it is fit for public occassions). Rob then introduced Mayor Menino -- and proceeded to hassle him about trying to steal an iPod in his coat pocket. Fortunately, the Mayor has a good sense of humor (and didn't have security escort Rob from the event).

The new Fort Point Audio Tour has received great reviews so far. Thanks to all of the artists and residents of Fort Point who contributed to it.

We would also like to send a huge thanks to Mayor Menino, the City of Boston, and the Boston Redevelopment Authority -- who not only organized the entire event and gave away a bunch of iPods to the young and sexy residents of Boston, but also hired Audissey Guides to produce the tour in the first place! Who knew a city government could be cool?

New Harborwalk Tour for City of Boston Launched

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 07:20:00 CDT

The second tour of the Boston Harborwalk is now complete! The City of Boston hired Audissey Guides to create a new iPod walking tour of Boston's "next great place" -- the Fort Point Channel.

This tour takes you along a 1.5 mile section of waterfront you probably never knew existed. You'll meet artists, architects, and other avante-garde thinkers. And thanks to the City of Boston, it's completely free. Give it a listen.

Special Invite: Mayor Menino and the City of Boston are hosting a launch party for the Harborwalk tour this Thursday from 5 - 7pm. Come have a drink with us! Click here for event details.

Claudia Verela for Maxim's Hometown Hottie!

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:58:00 CDT

Look who's making sexy headlines in Maxim! It is our very own Claudia Verela - the smile and voice behind The Miami Beach Audissey. Claudia is a finalist in Maxim's Hometown Hottie Competition. Check it out and give her your vote of support! And if you haven't had the opportunity to walk around Miami Beach with one of the hottest Latinas in the city you can still get to know Claudia by checking out the new audio samples on the Audissey Guides web page.

My Favorite Things about New Orleans

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:29:00 CDT

After having spent the final week in New Orleans working on the New Orleans Audissey Guide I have the spirit of New Orleans floating through my soul and what an amazing city it is. I think it is truly a unique American city. Actually I think that's one of the unique things about it - it doesn't feel like being in America at all. It is such an intersection of cultures, eras, music, food and people. So in no particular order here is a list of some of my favorite things about New Orleans:

1. The colors. From the buildings, to the flowers, to the food, to the drinks, to the way locals dress. The colors are so alive. They aren't traditional colors one sees paired together. The colors create a style all of its own and after coming home to Boston I can't help but miss those bold colors.

2. The Food. So, you may have noticed that I have already mentioned New Orleans food a number of times. Yes. I love it. I can't get enough of it. And as a 100 pound "eater" I tried my best to take advantage of the local fare. I think at the end of the day, Red Beans and rice is my favorite. And the best place to get it? Here.

3. The Way Absinthe looks when it is on fire.

4. Brent Baudean - He is young. He's witty. He knows a lot of funny stories. He is New Orleans. He is not only the voice of the New Orleans Audissey, he became a good friend and co-conspirator during our time in New Orleans.

5. The Clover Street Grill. This place served up quite possibly the BEST hamburger I have had in my life. I think we ate here about 5 times – mostly breakfast and we were never disappointed. It’s not sexy looking, but it is oh so sexy tasting.

6. Frenchmen Street. – I love this street – it is now called the “locals’ French quarter” and that sounds cool enough, but when you walk down this street, hear the jazz floating out of the clubs, smell the meat smoking on the grills on the street, see young and old New Orleans having a smoke and tapping their feet together on the sidewalk there is no doubt in your mind that this is New Orleans. We tried to capture this on the New Orleans Audissey – if you do the tour, let us know what you think.

7. The History – what other city has the influence of the French, Spanish, Caribbean, blood-sucking Vampires, blood-sucking politicians, voodoo, pirates, writers, alcoholics and Catholics? This city has some serious stories.

The list could go on forever. If you’ve been there you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, you should go.

New Orleans Audissey is Done!

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:58:00 CDT

Yes. It is the City of Ghosts. The City of Strong Drink. And we are pumped to say that it is the city of the latest Audissey tour.

We launched the New Orleans Audissey last week -- the first local's eye-view iPod audio tour of New Orleans, complete with original soundtrack, sound design, and a 100% Cajun Creole narrator named Brent Baudean. If you ever wanted to get off Bourbon Stree and explore the soul of one of the most amazing cities in the world... this is a pretty cool way to do it.. It's much better than this.

It was a blast working with Brent to produce the tour. He's a cool kid who knows the city inside-out. He's a self-professed "Quarter Rat" - a little name for those who live, work and play in the French Quarter. He brought some real Southern charm, mixed in with some intellectualism, drunkenness, and good humor. He's a guy who's in love with New Orleans. And although I feel a little funny saying this, his love is infectious. Ha ha ha...

Brent would kill me for saying that, although he loves a good double entendre as much as anyone.

It was an honor to spend time down in New Orleans and to attempt to capture the city in this hour-long production. We hope it inspires people to see it with new eyes.

Boston Harborwalk MP3 Tour Party

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 12:42:00 CST

We just finished production of the new Harborwalk Audio Tour - and the City of Boston is kicking it off with a launch party this Saturday. Free food, cash bar, and super cool live music (plus you might win a free iPod). If you want to download the tour (yep, it's free, too), go to: http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/

We're excited about this project that we just finished for the City. Come celebrate with us! (see info below)

And we promise if you do the tour, you'll learn some crazy stuff about the Harbor. Hope you can swing by and have a beer with us!

WHAT: Launch of FREE Audio Tour of Boston's Harborwalk and enter to win a NEW iPOD Shuffle!

WHERE: Joe's American Bar and Grill - 100 Atlantic Avenue, North End waterfront

WHEN: Saturday, NOVEMBER 4th, 2006, 1 PM - 3 PM

Mayor Menino will be hosting a party to launch the Audio Tour! Come enjoy FREE appetizers, cash bar, music by Technicolor Lounge and enter to win a FREE iPOD Shuffle!

What's the Harborwalk Audio Tour? It's an audio walking tour of Boston's waterfront - that you download to your iPod or mp3 player. It's a 60-minute walk along the water - set to an original soundtrack of aquatic beats and rhythms.

The tour begins at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End, winds along the wharves and over the Old Northern Avenue Bridge to the South Boston Waterfront. Learn about everything from shipwrecks to lobster rolls - all with amazing music, sound effects and local narrators.

Cool Boston Book: Easter Rising

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:42:00 CDT

At long last, South Boston native Michael Patrick MacDonald has released his second book - "Easter Rising: An Irish-American Coming Up From Under".

It's his first book since he wrote "All Souls: a Family Story from Southie" - one of our favorite Boston books. Ever.

Mike appeared as one of the narrators in The Boston Audissey. He's a good guy and we hope you check out his book.

iPod better than Beer?

Fri, 9 Jun 2006 08:10:00 CDT

A study released by Student Monitor today found that 73% of college students surveyed said iPods were cool, while only 71% stated that drinking beer was cool. I'm just happy I wasn't asked to make a choice between the two.