Farebelle |
Guide for the traveling woman |
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Berklee BeanTown Jazz Fest - Sept 23-25
The Boston Jazz Fest is back, baby, so if you don’t know about it… learn about it. If you forgot about it, put on your sexy little memory cap and remember. If you made plans already, cancel them because you’ll be busy getting your Jazz on.
The Jazz Fest is one of my favorite things to do in Boston. The streets are flooded with people, food and of course music. Everybody’s happy and friendly… and why wouldn’t they be? It’s crazy fun!
Bring your girlies, bring your babies, bring your man. Shute if you don’t have anyone to bring, go by yourself and meet people there. It’s a great place to meet new people or even just people watch.
Just a few of the names that will be gracing the stages at this year’s BeanTown Jazz Fest are: Jeff Ramsey / Darcel Wilson, Oleta Adams, Andrea Capozzoli, Rajdulari, Shea Rose, Marcus Santos and Bloco AfroBrazil, Berklee P-Funk Ensemble and Berklee Global Jazz Institute Ensemble. For a complete schedule of artists and times, please visit the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival Schedule.
**The photos of last year’s Jazz Fest belong to Eric Chin. Please check him out on Flickr.com.
(Source: farebelle.com)
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"For I cannot think that GOD Almighty ever made them [women] so delicate, so glorious creatures; and furnished them with such charms, so agreeable and so delightful to mankind; with souls capable of the same accomplishments with men: and all, to be only Stewards of our Houses, Cooks, and Slaves."
DANIEL DEFOE, The Education of Women
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Roller Derby: Find your “inner sexy, sassy, aggressive superhero”
I believe it was sometime last year that I attended my first roller derby bout. If you’re ever looking to do something a little different with your lady friends… or your men, or your children, or your anybody for that matter, definitely check out roller derby. It was honestly like nothing else I’d ever been to… ever.
The crowd itself will be a healthy mix of kids and old folks, men and women, and they’re all… “fun.” People go dressed in everything from jeans to costumes, and oddly enough, everybody fits in. Check out Roller Girls – All Girl Roller Derby Leagues to find a bout close to you or your next travel destination.
Because I’m a newbie fan myself, I decided to go straight to the source and ask a former Boston Derby Dame herself about the sport. Please read what she has to say on the topic, because… well, she’s really cool… and I said “please.”
(These great photographs are ©Rob Klein.)
I’m looking for an insider opinion on why people (especially women) should go to and support Roller Derby. What’s exciting to me about derby is the combination of sport and entrepreneurship. Women’s flat-track derby, (which started in Austin, TX, in 2002 and got to Boston by 2005), had a punk rock aesthetic to it in the early days. As the sport matures, it’s gotten a bit more polished, but that DIY spirit is still very much there. The vast majority of the 400+ leagues that exist around the world now (there are leagues in the UK, in New Zealand and Australia, there’s even a nascent Abu Dhabi league started by ex-pat skaters from Scotland and Virginia) are owned and operated by skaters, which means that it’s entirely volunteer. We are our own coaches, PR firm, event planners, sponsorship coordinators, merch designers, etc. Flat-track derby has never existed before, so those of us who were original members of the league had to invent the entire framework for it.
We also skate a fine line between athleticism and spectacle. *Nothing* in modern roller derby is fake, and we train very hard, but lots of skaters really embrace the campy side of the sport’s history. Most skaters adopt tongue-in-cheek pseudonyms, some wear sassy uniforms with short shorts or do crazy make-up for bout day. I know that those things can undermine our feminist credibility to some observers, but I think it’s exciting to try to find a balance between performing as serious athletes and embracing one’s inner sexy, sassy, aggressive superhero. I think that most people who come to bouts start to understand that dichotomy.
Also what got you into derby? In a nutshell… I was bored, I was depressed, freelance work was really slow, I needed to get off my ass. This wasn’t something that my husband or friends were already good at–it was going to be *my* thing. I figured that no one had grown up playing roller derby, so we’d all be learning more or less from scratch. It was surprisingly unintimidating. (When I joined, anyone could walk on to the league. It’s become very competitive as it’s gotten more popular. This year we had 70 women try out for about 20 spots, When I joined, anyone could walk on to the league. It’s become very competitive as it’s gotten more popular. This year we had 70 women try out for about 20 spots, but veteran skaters are extremely supportive and we still encourage women with no sports experience to give it a shot. Prospective rollergirls need to do a lot more pre-tryout training on their own, but we have message boards and lots of resources to help..)
Is there anything you’d like to say to the virgin derby community? Just go. You usually get a lot of bang for your buck, and most leagues really, really want to make it an awesome experience because it’s like you’re coming to our party at our house..
Most major cities and metro areas have leagues, and the derby experience can vary greatly depending on how big and how organized the league is. Seattle, for example, plays in Key Arena–the old Sonics arena–and sells 5,000 tickets so it’s much more like a traditional sporting experience. Boston plays at Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington where there’s room for less than 1,500, and it’s a little bit more casual, with skaters running around the crowd and a public after-party on site. Some developing leagues or ones in smaller towns play at the local roller rink and have local bands at halftime. As leagues evolve and their skaters get more skilled, many of them realize that the sport itself can hold people’s attention so there doesn’t need to also be a circus and fireworks and unicorns and space ships.
It can be hard to get the hang of the rules at first, but don’t get hung up on that. Ask people sitting near you if you don’t get it–chances are you’ll be near a longtime fan who can explain it better. One of our refs wrote a great “how to watch a bout” article: http://bostonderbydames.com/index.cfm?cd=NAA&cdid=11449&pid=10224
How’d you choose your name? Ruby had been a nickname before roller derby, and I’m a big nerd, so I went with a historical reference. When Cesar crossed the river Rubicon in 49AD, it was regarded as an act of war. Skaters who crossed Ruby Khan were in for it.
What’s your favorite thing about derby? Oh man. Such a hard question. It’s such a big messy combination of playing an exhilarating contact sport; using your talents toward the success of a small, self-run business; and the unique bond you form with your teammates. It’s a weird mix of family, friend, and colleague that I’ve never found anywhere else. Now that I’m not skating, that’s what I miss the most. It’s been pretty wrenching not to have that in my life anymore but I’m really thankful that I experienced it.
Do you have friends on other derby teams or is that strictly forbidden? Absolutely. We all have to work together to run the league, so you have to leave rivalries on the track as much as possible. We encourage each other a lot, and even if someone lays you flat on your ass in front of 1,000 people, (as long as it was a legal hit) you’re likely to high five them afterward for pulling off such a great move. You’re never going to put 50 people in an organization and have them all be best friends, but there are far fewer conflicts than you might imagine.
Do you support other teams? Definitely. There are a lot of friendships with visiting skaters from around the country. Tournaments are like crazy class reunions. Locally, BDD is really close to Providence Roller Derby, whose skaters were a huge help as BDD was getting started. In turn, we’ve helped Maine and New Hampshire as those leagues started up, and now New Hampshire is working a lot with the new Worcester-based league.We volunteer at each others’ bouts and scrimmage each other often. At the end of the day, all of us want this sport to succeed, and that takes a lot of collaboration and support.
What is your life like post derby? I have entirely too much free time! I don’t get to eat second dinner after a three-hour practice anymore and my muscles are getting mushy. And all of a sudden it’s totally unacceptable to check block people. It’s been a hard transition to go from 3-4 practices a week to nothing, and I miss my teammates like crazy, but I’m so happy to see that the league I helped get on its feet is still going strong. My four years of roller derby were way better than college.
(Source: farebelle.com)
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Greenvale Vineyard – Feast in the Field
If you haven’t read my blog on Greenvale Vineyards, you obviously don’t know how much I love it. The scenery is beautiful and romantic. The staff members are kind and helpful. The wine is (in my opinion) the best in the Coastal Wine Trail.
If you haven’t visited yet, you should… and what better opportunity than the 4th annual Feast in the Field? This Friday, September 16, 2011, Greenvale Vineyards will be hosting a feast fit for foodies and wine lovers alike. Put that together with the lovely coastal backdrop and I’d say you’ve got yourself a pretty swell time.
The chefs that will be slaving away to invigorate your palates are: Chef Derek Jolie of Blackstone Caterers, Chef Casey Riley of Castle Hill Inn, Chef Steve Cory of Sweet Berry Farm, Chef Scott Amaral of Sweet Berry Farm, Chef Bruce Tillinghast of New Rivers Bistro, Chef Derek Wagner of Nick’s on Broadway and Chef Joe Simone of The Sunnyside.
Photo Credit: Al Weems
There will of course be wines from Greenvale Vineyards, as well as from Newport Vineyards and Sakonnet Vineyards.
Your evening will include tours of the vineyard, hor d’oeurves in the Chardonnay Vineyard by the Sakonnet River and a five course dinner paired with local libations under the tent in the vineyard.
Proceeds from the feast will go to benefit New England FarmWays, an initiative of the Rhode Island Center for Agricultural Promotion and Education (RICAPE.) They work hard to preserve and maintain farmland and educate people about the vital components of farmland that we all benefit from every day.
So whether you’re in it for the good time, the scrumptious food, the local wine, to support local farming, or all of the above, go get your tickets for the Feast in the Field this Friday!
(Source: farebelle.com)
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Temazcal Tequila Cantina
Boston’s Seaport just got a whole lot hotter. If you haven’t checked out Temazcal Tequila Cantina, or if you haven’t even heard of it, I beg your attention for just a moment.
I’m not even a big fan of Tequila (if you are, though, they boast a Tequila list of over 300 kinds,) but I am a fan of good food, a sensational atmosphere and good service. Most Mexican restaurants I’ve been to have been just like… well, every other Mexican restaurant I’ve ever been to. That’s not necessarily bad, but none of them really stand out to me. Temazcal Tequila Cantina changed all that for me.
Starting with the design of the doorway, I got excited. (Check out their website because their pictures of the restaurant are far superior to mine.) I love seeing creative interiors in restaurants; however, as we all know, sometimes a dope interior means less than spectacular cuisine. Not in this case. Check out this sexy pic of lobster guacamole.
Lobster + Guacamole = A REALLY good time
If you leave without trying this, you did it wrong. (Unless you’re allergic to lobster or avocado, of course.)
For dinner, I got the Filete Relleno de Salpicon, which I also recommend as you really can’t go wrong with this dish. The presentation, the consistency, the portion and taste all exceeded my expectation.
Filete Relleno de Salpicon
You want to know what else is kinda great? The menus are on iPads! This was the first time I’ve ever been to an establishment that had iPad menus and I have to say… I liked it! They’re very user-friendly, and the menu describes each dish exactly, as well as listing the ingredients, which is pretty handy. Also, for the 8-year-old in me, there’s a picture of each dish, which I think is crazy helpful. The awesome part is that the meals ACTUALLY look like the pictures.
iPad menu!
Our server was also really informative and kind. He talked us through the menu and was honest, and not pushy at all. Our table was great and the view of the water is really beautiful both in the daytime and after dark.
This place would make a great night out with the girls or very sexy date night. I’ll definitely be heading back for both.
Bonus: it’s only steps away from the Pavilion.
(Source: farebelle.com)
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tumblrbot asked: WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST HUMAN MEMORY?
Picking up snails in the driveway in Italy with my sister
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Voyage Privé – Luxury Travel at Bargain Prices
The older I get, the more I realize, it truly is not what you know, but whom you know. It’s lucky for you, that in this instance you “know” me.
If you haven’t heard of Voyage Privé yet, trust me, you want to keep reading. If you’ve heard of them and haven’t found anybody to invite you, also keep reading. If you’re alive right now, please keep reading.
Voyage Privé is a members-only website that offers high-end luxury travel at prices up to 75% off. These exclusive vacation packages are all carefully chosen by the very selective staff, which eliminates the hassle of spending hours comparing site after site trying to find something that’s affordable with good reviews. This time let somebody else do the heavy lifting.
Whether you’re looking to dig your toes in the sand on the luxurious beaches of Sardinia, become one with nature in the Galápagos Islands or experience the metropolis that is Bangkok, Voyage Privé has something to offer you. The Flash Sales are first come, first serve, so if you sign up and become a member, you’ll be among the first to know about their deals. Honestly, even if you’re not planning on traveling any time soon, subscribe anyway. I frequently catch myself drooling over their weekly emails.
Membership is free (woot woot) but you have to be invited. So as of now, I am formally inviting you. Just click on this link: http://www.voyageprive.com/invitation/Farebelle238749 and fill out your info.
Once you join and love this site as much as I do, you can then like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and download their travel app on iTunes.
Trust me. There’s no shame in being a travel groupie. And if being a Voyage Privé groupie is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
(Source: farebelle.com)
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"We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not be be?"
Marianne Williamson
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Restaurant Week in a City Near You
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Well I say the way to the heart of a city is through the restaurants. If you’re the type of person who visits new cities and only eats in chain restaurants, there’s a pretty big chance we’ll never travel together.
What started out as a goodwill gesture to the 15,000 reporters during the 1992 Democratic National Convention,* turned out to be a win-win for restaurants and consumers in cities all over the US and even abroad.
During Restaurant Week, restaurants will traditionally offer a prix-fixe menu (please don’t pronounce it “pricks fix” it’s pronounced prē’ fēks’) and sometimes includes wine pairings. It’s a great way for patrons to try some high-end restaurants for modest prices. It’s also a great way for restaurants to boost their sales without looking like they’re experiencing financial difficulties.
Here’s a list of some participating cities. As time goes on, the list will grow, so if there’s a city I missed, please let me know so I can add it to the list and share the foodie love. Mangia!
Stateside Restaurant Weeks
Washington, DC Restaurant Week
Restaurant Weeks Abroad
*Zagat, Tim. The Atlantic. 2010, “How Restaurant Week Became Restaurant Month”
[online]
http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/08/how-restaurant-week-became-restaurant-month/61215/
(Source: farebelle.com)
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“I have been in Milan one hour and have so far witnessed several of the best-dressed people I have seen in, oh, a decade.”—Mark Schatzker...
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breeze by -= Bruce Berrien =- on Flickr.
