Photography Exhibition – West Newton Cinema, May 6 – June 29

 

I have two photographs on display at West Newton Cinema, an art-house international and indie film movie theater.  Stop by the cinema if you’re in the area or read my artist statement below, explaining what’s behind the photographs.

In Dreams Glass Portrait, Metal Print

This portrait is part of my photographic series, “Glass Portraits,” which analyzes the intricacies of personality.  What we see on the outside may not be what is on the inside.  Personality is complex: it can be shaped by one’s environment or deeply ingrained by our genes.

The photographs in the series are an amalgam of natural glass filters, such as vases, and portraits.  Together, these components reflect the convolution of personality.  Color gives way to show internal emotions.  An eerie blue-green hue, commonly used in science fiction films, gives an other-worldly feel.  Certain facial features are made more prominent by the use of light, color, and shadows.

The glass serves as a barrier: representing disconnectedness.  Bubbles and imperfections in the glass disrupt the portrait by literally poking holes, thereby pointing out gaps or changes in character.  Overall, personality has layers—just like the portraits in this series—and is malleable, like glass.

Palm Abstract, Inkjet Print

In my artwork, I like to push past reality, into another realm, so that the outcome is symbolic. Instead of showing a true representation of what I saw in the moment, I like to enhance a feeling. The palm tree leaves in this photograph represent a power struggle through bold color juxtaposition, texture, and the interplay of shapes.

Jutting out across the photograph, the leaves point you in a particular direction.  However, there is tension because one’s eye is also forced to look in the opposite direction due to a palm in the background, which goes against the grain. It drips down to the ground, almost as if it were taking on the human emotion of crying.

Below are photographs from the reception, courtesy of Erik Gehring, a BCC member and former President.

The photographs are on display on the second floor of West Newton Cinema from May 6 until June 29.  Take in a unique film while also enjoying a variety of photographs of places from around the world.

Quintana Roo, Mexico

The palm tree shadows showed as designs on my legs. The dry sandy path leading me to the cenote left white specs of sand on my sandal-laden feet. The surrounding area was a swamp-like forest.

Our destination was a cenote, a natural pool of water that is caused by collapsed bedrock thereby exposing ground water from beneath.

My friend and I were told the cenote was closed. It was our last day in Mexico so that wouldn’t do. We convinced the gatekeepers to let us in early so we could meet back up with our fellow bachelorette-celebrating friends to catch out flight.

As we reached the mangrove-surrounded cenote, we saw we were not alone. Three locals, two men and a woman, were also enjoying an early morning swim. The men sat on a low hanging tree branch, surrounding a cooler of beer.

My eyes fell on the woman who was fully submerged in the water. She seemed out of place, fully clothed in jeans and a long sleeve shirt instead of a bathing suit.

She looked on curiously as we debated whether to jump in.

Our question was whether there was anything in the depths of the dark water that might try to eat us. The woman appeared carefree. I put my trust in her confidence and followed suit by jumping in.

A few joint cannonball sessions and we were taking photographs together.

Cannonballing into the mangrove-surrounded cenote.

The gatekeeper joined…

Five days earlier, seven of us had met at the Cancun airport to celebrate our friend’s last days of singledom. It was my first time in Mexico and a much-anticipated trip after another New England winter.

Our first stop was Playa del Carmen, a seaside city in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately thirty minutes from the Cancun airport. The stretch of beach is lined with restaurants and hotels. The city has lots of nightlife options.

A pathway from the beach to downtown.

On our second day, we took a ferry to the island of Cozumel for an active day of snorkeling and exploring the beaches on the far side of the island.

On a rooftop, looking out at the colorful and palm tree-lined main street in Cozumel.

Waves crashing on the far-side of the island.

Lifeguard stand surrounded by rock and greenery.

Beach bug.

Snorkel session.

After experiencing the nightlife, and surviving a barefoot walk on the cracked pavement, we headed to Tulum, a yoga retreat town. This laid back beach town provides words of wisdom from street signs to inviting beach signs.

Self-explanatory.

Tulum also offers Mayan ruins, which are strategically placed on a dramatic cliff that plunges into the ocean.

View from the ruins.

The essentials: hydration, transportation, and readiness for the beach.

We rented bicycles to explore the ins and outs of Tulum.

Beach bungalow.

Overall, the coastal Mexican towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum make for a fun tropical getaway. With warm turquoise waters, fantastic tacos, historic ruins, and colorfully sewn fabrics you can’t go wrong. These areas are touristy for good reason.

The Real Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is a coastal city situated among hills in southwestern Cambodia. It boasts miles of continuous beach and large volcanic rock to climb on. The turquoise water is warm enough to swim in the entire day. Looking out into the vast Gulf of Thailand, tropical islands dot the horizon.

The city is named after King Norodom Sihanouk. Read or listen to this NPR article to learn more about him.

Cambodia is full of natural and manmade treasures. A natural example is the wild fruit that grows everywhere. An example of a manmade masterpiece is the temples that were erected during the Khmer Empire, which ruled for over 600 years and who had immense power, wealth, and stunning artistic and architectural achievements.

However, it is also a country still recovering from a horrific genocide that took place from 1975-1979. It has widespread poverty and is rife with corruption.

Beyond the beautiful white sand beaches and luxury hotels of Sihanoukville lies a fishing village. This is the real Sihanoukville.

On our second day in the resort city, my friends and I went for a walk. We climbed volcanic rock, dug our feet into the hot sand, and bought bags full of chopped pineapple with long toothpicks to help us select pieces without a mess. I adhered the bag to my purse and trekked the beach.

The landscape began to change from luxury hotels to natural palm trees. Little boys flew their kites and curiously followed us. Finally we came upon a small town that showed a drastically different picture from the area we were staying in.

Rust covers the side of homes and trash wastes away on the walking path through the town. A friendly dog joined us on our journey.

Fish drying on a rack outside.

And yet, the residents’ have a spectacular view.

Above are girls I met who were preparing fish for a stew.

Boats returned to a pier from a fishing expedition.

Seeing this town was actually one of my favorite days. It was eye-opening to view a way of life I was unaccustomed to.

Somehow, I felt inspired seeing everyone working with their hands. A little ways past the village, my friend found some coconuts. Hungry and without a knife, I decided to attempt opening my coconut on rocks. I began striking the coconut on the jagged edge. Slowly but surely, I was able to peel back the outer skin and crack it open.

Naturally, this led to a yoga/workout session on the rocks…

Namaste.

 

 

Architectural Edition: Inside Boston Public Library

With lavish masonry work and notable murals by well-known artists, Boston Public Library is an example of Beaux-Arts Renaissance architecture. The gorgeous architectural elements were planned by architect Charles McKim.

Beaux-Arts refers to the American renaissance period from 1890 to 1920 which incorporated French and Italian renaissance and neoclassical revivals. Renaissance style consists of heavy ornamentation, sculptural decoration, and large-scale compositions.

Bates Hall: a reading room.

Bates Hall is a reading room of grand stature. The lavish classical style helped secure the library’s place among National Historic Landmarks. The reading room has fifteen arched and grilled windows. The ceiling soars 50 feet high in barrel vault style, lending to the semi-cylindrical appearance. The room is 218 feet long and 42.5 feet wide.

Entrance at Dartmouth Street

Boston Public Library describes itself as being the first free publicly supported large municipal library in the world and, amazingly, the first to allow people to take books out on loan. The library’s collection is significant with 23 million items which includes rare books, maps, and musical scores.

The entrance of the McKim building at Dartmouth Street has a luxurious marble staircase, several large murals, and two lion statues leading to the second floor.

Lion sculpture at Dartmouth street entrance

At the center of the library is a courtyard where patrons can inhale fresh air and sit by a fountain. Looking up, one can see nearby skyscrapers. The arches, columns, and balustraded sill add a dramatic touch.

Fountain in courtyard

Courtyard

The McKim building at Boston Public Library is worth a stop to view extravagant rooms, skillful masonry, and decadent murals by artist John Singer Sargent. The Beaux-Arts architecture is grandiose in scale and detail. If you find yourself shopping on Newbury Street, walk over to Copley Square and take retreat in the courtyard for a quiet moment.

 

Khmer Food

Cambodian food is indicative of a country with expansive rice fields, a plethora of fruit trees, and shores bursting with fish. There are delicious soups with shrimp, coconut-based waffles, and curried chicken. Fresh fish caught straight from rivers and oceans are in the market day of catch. On occasion, fish is biked to your front door by a local fisherman, looking to sell.

Just-purchased fish hangs in a bag on a tree.

I am in Longvek, a small town north of Phnom Penh that was once the capital of Cambodia after the downfall of Angkor in 1431. As I walk in the back yard of the home my friend grew up in, her family points out mango trees, aloe plants, and coconut trees. When ripe, the family walks up to the tree and snatches a mango to slice up.

Unripened mango.

Often thought of as a topical only plant, superfood aloe vera can actually be ingested.

Many kitchens in Cambodia are separate from the house. The large concrete structures to the right and in the foreground are to catch rain water for washing hands and dishes.

En route to other areas of the country, I am greeted by many food possibilities. There is freshly cut pineapple and grapefruit. I find spiked fruit, whose taste resembles a plum. Bus stops have stalls selling fried grasshopper and tarantula.

Grapefruit is larger, more grainy, and has less juice so you can eat it without making a mess.

Deep fried bugs!

Spider.

On another occasion, I get on a boat departing from Phnom Penh and travel to an island in the Mekong river. Unaware that the party I am attending consists of an entire day of cooking, I think the meal is done after the first course. To my surprise, at the end of the day, I find my belly full of meals five times over. There was an appetizer, first wave of lunch, second wave of lunch, beer, several servings of fruit, another lunch, and finally dinner. But wait; there’s still dessert! Next a whole fish is on my plate!

We laugh and joke about how full I am, and someone taunts me with a chicken foot.

Chicken foot.

Cooking chicken curry below a house on stilts. Many Khmer homes have stilts, which allows for a cool sun-shaded area to hang out under.

Course number 3!

Lemongrass is a palatable flavor to add when cooking meat and vegetables. We ate this meal, sitting on a multi-colored mat, on the floor in Longvek.

Cambodian markets are full of fresh organic produce. I spot a few products that you wouldn’t typically see in a U.S. market, such as snake and turtle eggs. I try sweet palm juice and rice paper desserts, full of soybean with sugar and spices mixed together to sprinkle on top.

Russian Market in Phnom Penh, which also has goods, such as clothing and jewelry. The market gets its name from foreigners because the large expat Russian population shopped there in the 1980’s.

Turtle eggs and meat resting on whole turtles.

Snake at the Russian Market.

Market in Longvek, Cambodia.

Fresh greens.

Pineapple in a bag makes for a healthy snack on a beach walk.

I picked this coconut off the ground around the corner from a fishing village in Sihanoukville. With no knife, I sought out sharp rocks and began striking the coconut on the jagged edge. Slowly but surely, I was able to peel back the outer skin and eventually crack it open.

Unique fruit on a beach in the Gulf of Thailand.

I made a new friend at Preah Khan temple in Siem Reap. The food-mustached little man was ready to enjoy his snack while playing in the sand.

Prior to entering Ta Som temple, I watched this woman as she cut open palm fruit and then I sampled the sugary fruit.

When traveling in Cambodia, get out and try new foods. There is something for every taste bud. Keep your eye out for roadside fruit trees. Some great fruits to try are mangosteen, lychee, jackfruit, longan, and rambutan.

Take time to watch as fruit is being cut in front of you. I was shocked at how much work went into cutting some of the fruit. It reaped little reward for the work put in. By taking time to interact with locals you may gain a better understanding of Cambodian daily life.

With fertile land, you can find a variety of tropical plants to incorporate into your travel diet in Cambodia. Rice is a staple food at most meals. If you’re dining at a restaurant, try Khmer speciality dishes, such as rice porridge, Amok trey, and Lok Lak. Top off the meal with Kampot pepper, derived from Kampot province, which has been grown in Cambodia since at least the 13th century.

What’s your favorite Southeast Asian meal?

 

 

 

 

20 Things You Should Know Before Traveling To Phnom Penh

After 26 hours of flying, I arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. One piece of luggage was missing. Four days later, I succumbed to the fact that it was probably gone for good.

The reason I hoped the luggage would arrive wasn’t because of the clothing and accessories inside (I had been combing my hair with my fingers instead of a real brush), but rather to access a gift I had brought for my friend’s mother.

I asked my friend what a good replacement gift would be. Her answer: a slab of beef.

In Cambodia, beef is very expensive. Chicken and fish are more affordable. We stopped off on the side of the road after a two-day excursion in Longvek, a countryside village about an hour north of the capital.

There was a meat stand located at an outdoor food market. A woman sat on the table with the meat, slicing fat away. Next to her were various animal parts. I could make out a hoof, ear, and liver. The rest was to be determined. Her colleague took on the duty of weighing the meat, bagging it, and handling the money.

I took my bag of meat into the vehicle driving us back to Phnom Penh. The car had obviously been transported from another country, as the steering wheel was on the right side, rather than the left.

Cambodians drive on the same side of the road as we do in the United States, however, there aren’t many regulations when it comes to vehicles. If there are, no one follows them. You can buy a car made in Australia or the UK, like our driver had. However, the drawback for him was the inconvenience of having to lean across the car to pay tolls.

Crossing the street in Cambodia is a death-defying challenge. If you ever have to drive yourself, remember to think and act like a Cambodian driver. This requires ignoring the lines separating lanes and expecting to be cut off. Also, if you have more than one person in your group, no need to all purchase vehicles. Look around and you will see entire families riding on a motorcycle. If they can do it, you can too. Although, I wouldn’t recommend driving at all. On another note, if you are Cambodian and own a car, it is to be parked inside your living room at night for safe keeping.

When we arrived back in Phnom Penh, I learned my luggage had been found! An hour later, her mother had a framed photo of her daughter, which she placed inside the expertly carved wooden bookcase.

Woodcarvings are gorgeous in Cambodia. If you are planning on purchasing an expensive gift, you might consider one of the intricately carved pieces of furniture.

Chronologically speaking, my first day actually began with a trip to a maternity hospital. My friend’s sister had just had her first baby the day before our arrival. I felt lucky to experience this event. Over the next few days, I had a crash course in Cambodian culture.

Overall, within the first week, I learned:

1. Driving rules are to ignore driving rules; except red lights.

2. You can eat a large meal for under $1.00, or 4,000 riel, if you buy it from a street vendor.

3. Cambodian weddings typically last three days.

4. Weddings venues are always set up in front of the bride’s home.

5. If you only need a small amount of gas for your motorcycle, look for Pepsi, Fanta, or Coca Cola bottles on the side of the road.

6. Massages are $6.00-12.00. (a.k.a get one everyday.)

7. Angkor beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in the country.

8. When walking across the street, step into the road, and make your presence known. Vehicles will slow down for you, but never stop. You should stop in the middle of the road to let fast cars pass by and then continue on your journey to the other side.

9. Cambodians carve beautiful wood furniture.

10. Meat, especially beef, is a good gift.

11. Always negotiate prices; what often starts at 5 becomes 3.

12. Apsara dance is a slow Khmer classical dance with sinuous hand gestures that tell mythical or religious stories.

13. Water is not drinkable. Cambodians boil water, refrigerate, then drink. You can buy bottled water. Make sure the cap is sealed.

14. If you want to clean your clothes, you can throw them in a large bucket, add water and soap, and let it sit. Then, as if making wine and stomping on grapes, get inside the bucket and start stomping. Proceed to rub clothing against each other, squeeze, and let hang dry.

15. Chicken and fish are more affordable.

16. Breakfast=soup. For example, congee, or rice porridge, mixed with fish and blood pudding is a common choice. Another is beef noodle soup with hot chili peppers, vegetables, and banana blossom shavings.

17. Iced coffee is made with condensed milk and comes with an handy plastic carrier you can place around your wrist.

18. You can pay in US dollars, riel, or a combination of the two.

19. Take your hat off as a sign of respect when in the presence of a monk.

20. Use and eat every part of an animal. Eyeballs and all.

My first week was filled with learning Cambodian phrases, a trip to the maternity ward, and a new diet of noodle soup, rice, and meat. I learned that crossing the street is never a casual thing. I attended an engagement party that was set up as a mock wedding. I was advised that price negotiation is expected. Upon closer inspection of soda bottles, I realized it was gasoline. Overall, it was a week of new experiences!

 

21 Activities To Try on the Charles River

The Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts is eighty miles long and flows through twenty-three communities. It is recognized around the country for it’s fantastic Independence Day celebration at the Hatch Shell, which features the Boston Pop’s concert and a fireworks display.

There are several ways to explore this beautiful river. Below is a list of twenty-one activities to try when visiting the Charles River. Whether you are living in the city or are traveling from afar, this list can help you discover fantastic views of the city. A monthly list of events follows to aid in planning for upcoming events.

Evening Sets in Over Boston

21 Activities To Try On The Charles

1) Running

2) Rowing

3) Cycling

4) Slacklining

5) Group Exercise Classes (Free Zumba, CrossFit, yoga, and running)

Peering from Behind a Weeping Willow

6) Kayaking

7) Sailing

8) Boating

9) Duck Tour

10) Stand Up Paddling (SUP)

Boston Sunset

11) Dragon Boat

12) Gondola Tour

13) Lounging on the Docks

14) Picnic

15) Ice Cream Stroll

Lily pads on the Esplanade

16) Roller Blading

17) Skateboarding

18) Skulling

19) Festival-going

20) Swimming (At own risk! For the first time in over fifty years public swimming was permitted in 2013.)

21) Hatch Shell Concert

Sunset From Cambridge

List of Events By Month

April

• Earth Day: Charles River Cleanup
• Charles River Watershed Association’s Run of the Charles
• Recreation Sundays (Memorial Drive closes the road for recreation.)

May

• March of Dimes March for Babies
• Esplanade 5k Dash
• Recreation Sundays

Lying on the Esplanade

June

• Charles River Annual Swim
• Hong Kong Boston Dragon Boat Festival
• AIDS Walk & 5K Run
• Children’s Hospital Walk
• Recreation Sundays

Dragon Boat Festival

July

• Fourth of July Concert
• WBZ Free Friday Flicks
• Earthfest
• Free Zumba
• Recreation Sundays
• Free Sunset Yoga
• Free CrossFit
• Free Run Club

City Lights Reflecting on the River

August

• Recreation Sundays

Sailing

September

• Boston Heart Walk
• Recreation Sundays

MIT Sailing Pavilion

October

• Head of the Charles
• 5k Walk for Diabetes
• Breast Cancer Walk
• Recreation Sundays
• Walk for Hunger

Towers along Memorial Drive

November

• Recreation Sundays

The Charles River has a plethora of fun activities to take advantage of, especially in warmer months. Whatever your favorite activity, use this guide to try something new, such as joining a walk for a good cause or slacklining on the esplanade. If there is an activity or event I missed, please comment below!

Happy New Year!

 

 

Gastronomies & Graffiti-Your Self-Guided Graffiti and Restaurant Walking Tour Around Cambridge

Cambridge is a hub of learning with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and Leslie College among others. It has a plethora of unique coffee shops, boutique stores, bars, and music venues. Several museums and art galleries offer art and science exhibitions.

If you’re planning a trip to Cambridge, a great way to orient yourself to the city is with a self-guided graffiti walking tour. This walking tour allows you to view public art, take in the architecture of top universities, and sample some uniquely decorated restaurants along the way.

As perspectives change so does public art. Street art is fleeting; it might be there one day and gone the next. It is an expression of its creator in that moment. Sometimes it may be commissioned by a city to enhance beauty. It might also be strategically placed in order to hide ugly, yet vital components of the city.

Graffiti has gone from being viewed as vandalism, to sometimes activism, and often art. Over the years, street art has become mainstream. Museums have commissioned urban artists. Large companies have used it as means for guerrilla marketing. Cities have begun giving tours of graffitiscapes.

I find graffiti most pleasing when the artist makes a conscious choice to incorporate the surrounding environment into their designs. Strategic placement in public spaces makes for smart art. Utilizing tree branches, bodies of water, or shadows are a few ways an artist might incorporate already existing environmental elements into their art. In these cases, the artist’s thought process can truly be seen.

The Route

190 Massachusetts Ave.>Right on Windsor St.>Left on State St.>State St. and Mass. Ave. merge>Continue on Mass. Ave.>Mass. Ave. & Norfolk St.>Mass Ave. & Pearl St.>Right on Modica Way>Left on Bishop Allen Dr.>Left on Prospect St.>Right on Mass. Ave.

Cambridge is in no shortage of interesting public art installations. Start your morning on Massachusetts Ave., the main drag through Cambridge, by enjoying coffee at Flour Bakery in Central Sq. Everything is baked in-house. It draws students, morning commuters, and nearby working professionals. Notice the interesting architecture of the building across the street. If you’re a wine aficionado, stop next door at Central Bottle.

Proceed to view your first graffiti artwork. Walking left out of the coffee shop, cross Massachusetts Ave. and take a right down Windsor Street. Turn left on State Street. You will find graffiti on a loading dock door to the left, as pictured below.

Several feet ahead, the street merges back with Mass. Ave. Where the two roads meet, look to the right. There are three loading dock doors filled with colorful shapes and spiraling graffiti. Take note that MIT Museum is a few feet up the road should you wish to visit on another day.

Continue walking on Mass. Ave. You are headed away from the Charles River and MIT, going toward the center of Central Sq. There is a good chance you will stumble upon musicians playing or a festival happening in Lafayette Sq. Here, you will also see a small, yet wildly popular breakfast and lunch spot, Café Luna. On weekends, this café is busting out onto the sidewalk with an overflow of people waiting for brunch.

When you reach Norfolk Street, admire the painted mural.

Once, you are finished marveling at this piece, cross the street, and walk to the colorful corner nightclub and restaurant, the Middle East. This can be found at the intersection of Mass. Ave. and Pearl St. Take a look at the Middle East’s mural, located on the side of the building. If you like live music, check out the line-up for ZuZu and the Middle East’s upstairs and downstairs music venues.

Prepare yourself for the pinnacle of graffiti viewing. Cross Mass. Ave. once more and dodge down the alley to the right of Central Kitchen, Modica Way. Take your time walking through the ever-changing artwork. Keep in mind that next to Central Kitchen is a bar without a sign. I recommend this bar, Brick & Mortar, as a good place to start your evening. It has a moody vibe created from lighting and interior design.

Modica Way leads to a parking lot with, you guessed it, more graffiti. Look to your left to view two excellent artscapes of Asian women on Bao Nation’s building. One woman is in traditional Asian dress with a dramatic red backdrop. The other lures you into Bao Nation. Look up to the rooftop, which is covered in an interesting assortment of graffiti. Walk directly in the parking lot and look at the side of H Mart, an Asian grocery store. You will find a community mural.

The parking lot exits onto Bishop Allen Dr. Turn left and swing around to the other side of H Mart to find another painting. Continue on Bishop Allen Dr. Turn left on Prospect St. Take note of The Field, a pub you may want to visit later. This bar has a laid back vibe and a back patio open on warm nights.

Prospect St. leads you back to Mass. Ave., where you will find a four-way intersection. The Central Square T Stop, or subway, is located here should you need it at a later date. Turn right on Mass. Ave.

If you are ready for some more food, stop in 1369 Coffee Shop. Awarded Best of Boston in 2013, this coffee shop has rotating art on the walls and an inviting atmosphere full of creatives typing away on their laptops. The delicious coffee, fresh baked cookies, and homemade soups don’t hurt either.

If it’s lunchtime, and you are a health food fanatic, go to Life Alive. Life Alive is my favorite lunchtime spot because of the unique food combinations, amazing smoothies, and earthy interior décor. The self-described “urban oasis & organic café” has won many Best of Boston awards. They have music on Thursdays and Fridays.

After an energizing shot of wheatgrass, you will be raring to go. Take a right when exiting either 1369 or Life Alive. You are headed to Harvard Sq.

Continue your trek up Mass. Ave., stopping in boutiques and taking in the mix of characters in this area. You will soon pass by a local bar, the People’s Republic. You are now in between Central and Harvard Squares. Note the Plow & Stars bar as well, which offers local bands up close and personal. If you duck in here, you just might find my brother’s band, Crooked Mirror, playing.

You will soon approach colorful graffiti splashed with words summing up the area: “technology,” “family, and “community.”

About one block up, on the opposite side of the street, is a mural, which brings a bit of nature into the city with black and white tree branches.

Continue walking straight to locate great boutique shops. You are now in Harvard Square. You may want to check to see if there are any interesting seminars going on, shop, and wander through Harvard Yard to look at the architecture.

Overall, this walking tour allows you to become better oriented to the city. You can slow down and appreciate the nuances and explore the creativity of the city’s residents. Harvard is full of shopping and beautiful architecture. Central Square keeps things real, adding a bit of grit and has a great music scene. MIT leads into the technology hub of Kendall Sq.

Be sure to share any updated artwork you come across on your walk by posting below!

 

Free Entry To U.S. National Parks

Today is one of the few days during the year that U.S. National Parks are free. For a complete list of no-fee entry days, click here. In the spirit of exploring parks, I thought it appropriate to review my recent hiking trip to the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

Granite Cliff in the White Mountains.

Overview

Location: Woodstock, Lincoln, and Sanbornton, New Hampshire

What: Hiking

Accommodations: Grandma’s House (a.k.a Airbnb) or, if you’re in the mood for luxury, Omni Mount Washington Resort

Season: Fall

Transportation: Car

Lesson Learned: It is possible to make pancakes without oil and not burn them. This makes them a little healthier, yet still delicious. We stumbled upon this cooking method out of necessity when we realized we did not buy cooking oil. We went with it, and hoped for the best.

Looking up at the colorful canopy.

I was traveling with an international group of friends. It was a girls’ weekend made up of two friends from the Netherlands, one from Norway, and another from the U.S.

We piled bags full of hiking gear into my car on a Friday evening in late October and headed toward our Airbnb house in Woodstock, NH.

View from Mt. Pemigewasset Trail.

The town of Woodstock is filled with forests with great hiking trails. Hiking areas include a section of The Appalachian Trail, a portion of the White Mountains, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, and Lost River Reservation.

The fact that Hubbard Brook is an “experimental forest” caught my interest. What exactly makes a forest “experimental”? It turns out this forest is an outdoor laboratory for ecological studies. Some areas of research at the experimental forest are hydrology, tree growth, acid rain, the effects of pollution on minerals, deforestation, and reproductive health in birds in relation to environmental changes.

Prior to arriving, we made a pit stop at the famous NH State Liquor Store (tax free, people!). We purchased red wine. My favorite was Casillero del Diablo, a cabernet sauvignon from Chile. Read a 2014 review of this wine in the Telegraph here.

Upon seeing our Airbnb, we dubbed it “Grandma’s House” because it was like stepping into the 1950’s. Flowered curtains hung from every window, light wood-paneled cabinets made up the kitchen, and the TV and radio were extremely large. The TV would have required an army of people to help move it to a different location.

The house was laid out in an open air format, yet it felt cozy at the same time. It also had a ski lodge theme to it with paintings of snow-covered mountains dotted with skiers. While the décor needed updating, it was a perfect fit for the five of us.

Backyard of “Grandma’s House”.

We opted for a day exploring two trails: Mt. Pemigewasset Trail and Artist’s Bluff. For my review on hiking the nearby Falling Waters Trail, read “When in New Hampshire…”.

Falling Waters Trail.

Mt. Pemigewasset Trail was the longer of the two trails, which took about 2 hours to complete. The hike had little foot traffic, giving us free reign over the trail. In preparation for winter, the leaves were in colorful transition due to their chlorophyll breaking down. The hike was moderately difficult. We had to navigate our footing around large roots.

Mt. Pemigewasset Trail.

The pinnacle of this hike is reaching a granite cliff overlook. If you walk to the edge, do not lose your balance because you will fall to your death. We watched as two people posed for photos with scary proximity to the edge.

Overlook at Mt. Pemigewasset Trail.

The second hike at Artist’s Bluff was a short drive from the first trail. It was a tiny distance in comparison to our first hike, however it provided beautiful views of Lake Echo and the surrounding mountains.

View of Lake Echo from Artist’s Bluff.

A day of two hikes did not tire us out, so we continued to Mt. Washington. The top was closed due to inclement weather. Instead, we enjoyed hot chocolate and view from the Omni Mount Washington Resort. The Omni is quite a luxurious hotel in comparison to “Grandma’s House”. Then again, Grandma has more character and is arguable more interesting.

We topped off our leaf peeping trip with a stop in Sanbornton at Surowiec Farm to purchase in-season produce. We enjoyed hot apple cider donuts, a view behind a horse stall, and admired the interesting shapes of gourds and pumpkins.

Surowiec Farm

Take your pick.

Warts and all.

Pumpkins and gourds galore.

Overall, I recommend Woodstock as a basecamp for hiking the White Mountains. Falling Waters trail is a must if you are in good health and love waterfalls. Mt. Pemigewasset trail is a good half-day hike with an excellent view. Artist’s Bluff is an easy add-on to any trip as you can quickly reach a pleasing view of Lake Echo. Surowiec Farm is a great pit stop to grab healthy ingredients and is very picturesque. We had a wonderful weekend in the White Mountains full of friendship and nature.

Now, get out there and create your own adventure! Save money by planning your next trip in coordination with free entry to U.S. National Parks.

Gritty Chic: A Non-Traditional Family Vacation at CMJ Music Marathon

My father, brother, and I have an annual vacation to New York City every October. My brother, Executive Director by day and musician by night, suggested one year we go see a band play. That night we found out the band was playing as part of a weeklong music festival that takes place at several music venues across the city. Since then, we plan our trip around CMJ Music Marathon.

CMJ Music Marathon, a music festival and convention, is run by CMJ Holdings Corp., a music events and online media company. Besides organizing the festival, they run CMJ.com. They also publish a weekly online magazine CMJ New Music Report, which features interviews and reviews of well-established musicians and unsigned bands.

Methyl Ethel’s Saturday set at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn.

I am drawn to bands just gaining traction because shows are more intimate. Also, at five foot two, I have a better chance of actually seeing the the stage at smaller shows. Somehow at large venues six-foot tall people always find their way in front of me. Another bonus of smaller shows is room to dance!

Even though the festival spans over the course of a week, we always catch the tail end from Friday to Sunday. Over the years we have stayed in several areas of the city. Each year we have moved closer to the music. The majority of the shows are at venues in the Lower East Side (LES) and in Brooklyn. This year we chose to be right in the thick of it; walking distance to music venues that usually have great CMJ showcases each year.

Artwork on a building on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side.

The Lower East Side is a gritty chic neighborhood—a little sketchy but artistic, trendy, and historic with a great bar and restaurant scene. It might be described as a hipster party area. Located in southeast Manhattan, the boundaries run from Canal to Houston Streets and the East River to Bowery St. Main drags include Bowery, Delancey, Ludlow, and East Houston Streets.

LES is bordered by Chinatown, NoLita, and the East Village. It is historically a working-class immigrant neighborhood filled with Irish, Italians, Polish, Ukranians, and Germans. It was once known as Little Germany because of the sheer number of Germans living in the area outnumbered other ethnic groups. The area is also well known for having a large Jewish population.

In the 2000’s gentrification spread from the East Village into the Lower East Side. The area is now lined with uniquely decorated boutiques, coffee shops, several art galleries, and trendy bars.

If you like live music and are visiting LES, I suggest checking who is playing the following venues:

• Pianos
• Arlene’s Grocery
• Cake Shop
• Bowery Ballroom
• Mercury Lounge
• The Delancey
• Bowery Electric
• The Living Room
• Rockwood Music Hall 

We stayed on Rivington Street in the thick of it all. The first morning I set out on my own before my family woke up. I found a great coffee shop, Black Cat LES, where I could read TIME magazine’s latest issue while lingering over coffee. It had eclectic décor with old clocks, mismatched couches and chairs, and lots of artwork on the walls. It doubles as a comedy club and serves beer. I opted to try their homemade oatmeal, which did not disappoint with its creamy consistency topped with fresh fruit. As I read, there was a group of people filming what appeared to be a documentary.

Leisure morning at Black Cat LES, a coffee shop on Rivington Street with great homemade oatmeal.

Later that morning my family and I grabbed coffee at an Italian-style coffee shop, Café Vita. In true Italian form, there were no chairs and everyone stood to drink their coffee.

We walked down to the East River and looked out past the Williamsburg Bridge toward our next destination, Brooklyn. Baby’s All Right was having a day party chock full of great bands with free everything: entry, beer (first keg, at least), sunglasses, and lip balm.

View of the Williamsburg Bridge on the East River.

On our first night, we also went over the bridge to The Wick in Bushwick. This music venue is fantastic—open space, high ceilings, and $4 beer.

Below I have compiled links to songs from bands we liked at CMJ.

• Methyl Ethel

https://soundcloud.com/methylethel/lagotto-romagnolo

https://soundcloud.com/methylethel/rogues

https://soundcloud.com/methylethel/twilight-driving

• Michael Rault

https://soundcloud.com/michael-rault/lost-something

https://soundcloud.com/michael-rault/sets/ma-me-o

https://soundcloud.com/michael-rault/i-dont-need-no-help-gettin

https://soundcloud.com/michael-rault/the-things-you-said

• Mothers

https://soundcloud.com/mothers-1/no-crying-in-baseball

https://soundcloud.com/mothers-1/it-hurts-until-it-doesnt-2

https://soundcloud.com/mothers-1/fat-chance-live

https://soundcloud.com/mothers-1/nothing-live

https://soundcloud.com/mothers-1/mother-and-wife

• Sam Cohen

https://soundcloud.com/easysoundrecordingco/sam-cohen-kepler62

https://soundcloud.com/easysoundrecordingco/sets/sam-cohen-cool-it

https://soundcloud.com/easysoundrecordingco/01-let-the-mountain-come-to

• The Albumn Leaf

https://soundcloud.com/the-album-leaf/descent

• Gramma’s Boyfriend

https://soundcloud.com/graveface/i-live-my-broken-dreams

https://soundcloud.com/graveface/forget-the-stones

Check out my brother’s band, Crooked Mirror.

On our way back to Boston we stopped off in New Haven, CT for lunch. We took the advice of a friend and ate at a hybrid bookstore/cafe called Atticus. Yale University Art Gallery is across the street. Entry is free. The modern and contemporary section was great.

Who is your favorite band listed above?

What is your favorite music venue in New York City?

Is there an area of the city you find yourself going to over and over again?