The Third Decade

Old Fashioned Roxbury Apple Festival

Just want to pass on information about this event happening tomorrow.

Eat, drink, and be merry at a free apple-themed festival evoking the spirit of a country fair. Take part in interactive cooking classes, enjoy drumming, and drink fresh cider from an old-fashioned cider press. Participate in a variety of workshops, including one by the Garden Girl on how to prepare your garden for the winter.

Bring the kids for an environmental scavenger hunt, face painting, henna tattoos, and a tour of Paige Academy that includes live chickens and a garden. Fresh chili, cornbread, and assorted baked goods will also be for sale. A live jazz band will will also perform. This event will run rain or shine.

*Workshops/Tours*
1:30-2:00 Tour of main building
2:15-3:00 Garden Girl's workshop (Umoja room)
3:15-4:00 Cooking class with Chef Nadine Nelson (Umoja room kitchen)
3:30-3:45 Tour of animals

*Please note that Paige Academy requires the removal of shoes INSIDE the facility. Please wear a comfortable pair of socks for indoor events.

Co-presented by Discover Roxbury, Earthworks, Epicurean Studio, Garden Girl, and Paige Academy. Live jazz band courtesy of Wally's Jazz Cafe.

Saturday, November 7, 1pm-4pm
Paige Academy, 28 Highland Ave, Roxbury
MBTA: Roxbury Crossing

ArtROX! kick off

If there's one thing I'm learning to appreciate, Roxbury's artists know how to do a lot more than just create works of art. Last night the collective artists of Roxbury kicked off a series of events, leading up to Roxbury Open Studios, with our first fundraiser dance party at Slades. I'm happy to say, however, that this wasn't just any night at a club, the artists (and our supporters) were tearing up the dance floor! The DJ played the music of the soulful 60's, disco 70's, one-hit-wonder 80's, nostalgic 90's (at least they're nostalgic for me), and the present day. I had never been to Slades before, but I felt that it was just the right venue to give the event a cool "uptown" vibe, especially given the dance floor's embedded lights and retro 70's look. Some artists had their artwork mounted around the club and we were joined by filmmakers from this weekend's Roxbury Film Festival, further adding to the energy of the event. The was so good that some people are already talking about doing it again next year and making it a regular part of the film festival schedule.

Anyway, this party was just the kick off to a series of arts events happening throughout the summer and leading to ROS. Artists and local organizations are working together to introduce and expose the public to a range of activities, most of which are free. Below is a short calendar of events, so start saving the dates:

Aug 11, 5:30pm-6pm: Free talk by E. Barry Gaither, Director of the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, at the old Playhouse in the Park. The talk will focus on the history of the playhouse and Mr. Gaither's work with Elma Lewis, the Playhouse and Museum's founder, and will be immediately be followed by the smooth jazz of Andre Ward. The Playhouse in the Park series is currently run by the Franklin Park Coalition.

Aug 15, 10am-12pm: Free tour of the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, led by E. Barry Gaither. RSVP for the tour by emailing Discover Roxbury at [email protected].

Aug 27, 6:30pm-8pm: Join Roxbury artist Ekua Holmes on a free evening art walk around the Highland Park/Fort Hill area. The tour, organized by Discover Roxbury, will visit some of the area's public art and stop by the home studios of artists Bobby Stevens, Lee Farrow, and Wendy Ellertson. If you'd like a preview of what's to come at ROS and/or are interested in touring one of Roxbury's most historic areas, this is a must attend.

Oct 2, 5:30pm-9:30pm: Celebrate the arrival of Roxbury Open Studios at a reception inside the Museum of Fine Arts. This reception is being organized in conjunction with the MFA's Multicultural Audience Development Committee, as a way of bridging the gap between the institution and the community and bringing new life and energy into the museum. A juried exhibition of art from Roxbury artists will be on display and a cash bar will be available. This ArtROX! reception is part of the MFA's First Fridays series (entry is free for museum members and free for non-members with museum admission).

Oct 3-4, 11am-5pm daily: ArtROX!, the 11th annual Roxbury Open Studios, takes place at artist studios and group shows across the neighborhood. Like all open studios, the event is free (but the art is not). Wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes, bring your checkbooks, and show your support for local artists. Maps and directories of ArtROX! will be available in early autumn. Discover Roxbury is also planning to offer a walking tour. Visit their website a few weeks prior to ROS for details on times and areas.

So, there you go. See you around Roxbury!

United Colors of Obama

Has there ever been a candidate in modern American politics who has inspired such a diverse following as Obama? I'm not saying that because I support him, I'm saying that because I don't ever remember seeing the variety of cultures who have taken a politician and "rebranded" him to become part of who they are. 

Below are videos with South Asian, Latin, and Louisiana Zydeco flavors, as well as the will.i.am video that helped start it all.

Video Voting Inspiration

Only a month until the general election. If you haven't registered to vote yet, the deadline is October 15.

Roxbury On Air

I recorded my first radio ad today. Damn that was fun! I want to do moooore! Listen at the Discover Roxbury website.

Thanks again to Touch 106.1 FM for donating the production and air time.

Touch 106.1 FM

I had no idea that Touch 106.1 FM wasn't a licensed radio station; I just figured that it was a low wattage station. I listen to the station everyday and hear a lot of businesses in Roxbury and Dorchester advertising on it. Even if it isn't 100% legit, hopefully the fine won't result in closing it down. That would be a huge blow to a lot of people in the inner city. I don't think the station is heard much beyond Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan anyway, and that is definitely an under-served market which lost its voice and an important service when WILD-FM was sold.

A Taste of Neo Soul

Ahhh...I just got back from the Raheem Devaughn/Jill Scott concert and I feel revived! I know I'm gonna sound old for writing this, but it was so nice to hear some grown folks' music! I know that all these kids from Chris Brown to Rhianna are singing about the same things - love, anger, betrayal, and life in general - but it's just not the same. The way Raheem, Jill, and others like John Legend and Erykah Badu sing about these themes changes them into more than mere words put to music. The strength of their vocals and the passion in their performances brings the songs to life in a way that their younger contemporaries just can't match. Best of all, unlike some of the younger singers, there wasn't any crotch-grabbin', booty-shakin', over over-the-top background dancing. It was just hours and hours of good live music (with barely a synthesized sound) and food for the mind and soul.

Torture Radio

I pity anyone who misses their Orange Line connection at North Station. I had that misfortune this evening and was forced to listen to T Radio. It's frustrating enough to stand on the platform as the train rolls away. What made my wait worse was listening to the station after the music cycle ended. I was serenaded to three minutes of commercial jingles - the same jingles I ignore when they play on TV - thanked by some guy for listening, and then "treated" to the Kingston Trio's hokey Charley on the MTA song. Are shivers running down your spine yet?

Anyway, I tried to escape into the tunes on my iPod, but resistance was futile! The music played too loudly and the speakers in the station are set evenly apart, meaning there's no where to run. In essence, I'm paying to be part of a captive audience for a service I'd rather not listen to. What's unfortunate is that when the station returns to its playlist the music is fairly bland. It's as though the T is attempting to pacify its ridership and keep us from noticing service delays and the general condition of the system. But, if the Boston Metro is correct in stating that the T will create blackout zones with no radio service, I know where I'll be waiting for the train from now on.

Add A Slice of Orange and Mix

Riding on the Orange Line continues to amuse me. On the commute home the other day I saw a man whom I'll call the Mixmaster. Anyone who's rides the Orange Line regularly between Jamaica Plain and downtown has probably seen him at some point: about 6 feet tall, older, heavyset guy. He wears glasses, usually has a gay pride pin or ribbon on his shirt, and always, always, always has headphones over his ears.

Obviously this wasn't the first time I've seen the Mixmaster on the train, but this most recent time was different. This time instead of just one pin or ribbon, he was decked out in matching 6-inch pride flags on each side of his backpack, rainbow rings around his belt, and at least one CD walkman hanging from his side. Visually, he was his own Pride Parade. But, what really caught everyone's attention was the music. Unlike the previous sightings, this time the Mixmaster used a speaker (or maybe a boombox) in his backpack. So, instead of grooving in solitude, we were all treated to the deep thumping beat of house music. The Mixmaster still had the headphones on despite broadcasting his music to the entire car, but he was so oblivious to everything - including the reactions of his fellow passengers- that I don't think he cared. He kept right on dancing and moved his hands around as though he were at a turntable in a club mixing CDs. At one point he even spoke and said "sounds like Chaps (a long gone gay club downtown)."

For the most part, the crowd in the car enjoyed the show. I can't remember the last time I've seen so many adults smile unashamedly at each other during the evening commute. With teenagers, however, it was a different story. They gawked and shooked their heads disapprovingly in a sudden shift of generational roles. It was a fun time, though...and one I wished happened more often. Riding the MBTA would be more fun if there were music pumped on the trains during the commutes, although top 40, pop, or disco would probably be better choices for the masses. It'd be pretty sweet to have music to look forward to and see everyone cheer up just a bit more while traveling between work and home. Yes, iPods are the prevailing trend in music these days, but there's just something nice about actually communing with others in a shared public space, especially when it's with the same people at the same time everyday. In the meantime, I'll look forward to seeing - and perhaps listening - to the Mixmaster more often.

More Reaction on WILD-FM

Just when I thought last week's Banner had the final say on the WILD-FM sale, Adrian Walker chimes in with a piece in today's Globe. The Banner's article included a statement from Radio One and an analysis of the company's financial health. Apparently they're not doing very well and as a result its assets are being sold:

In Radio One’s first public comments about its sale of WILD-FM last week, President and CEO Alfred C. Liggins III said in an investor news release that while Boston was a “wonderful” radio market, “it is not of great strategic importance to us.”

Saddled with adjustable interest rates on $364.5 million worth of debt, Radio One has embarked on what Liggins described as an “asset disposition process.” He said the sale of its Boston property was “a very good start.”

The paper goes on to write that:

Radio One’s stock prices have also taken a hit over the years. In 2000, Radio One stock sold for about $25 per share. A year ago, that number was down to $14 per share. It was trading for $5.76 earlier this year and is now trading at $6.04.

“Historically, when Radio One encountered a [bump], they were able to recover pretty swiftly and grow through it,” Stuart Kagel, an equity research analyst at Janco Partners Inc. in Greenwood Village, Colo. told the Washington Times. “This time, investors are concerned about their ability to grow through it.”

Unfortunately, all of this is cold comfort to those of us who relied upon the station to inform and entertain us. As Walker writes:

The sale of the station has sparked a flurry of under-the-radar activity. Some activists are organizing a letter-writing drive to the Federal Communications Commission, while others are hoping that if the AM station is for sale, a local group will be in position to buy it. There is a 90-day review period before the FM station's sale goes through officially. That is generally a formality, though, and there probably isn't any reason to think that the sale is anything other than a done deal.

I've even heard that some DJs on Jam'n 94.5 miss having WILD-FM around, all of which brings me back to my original conclusion that Radio One was the wrong fit for the Boston area. We need investors with local ties to provide us with the quality and content we want. Now I understand where h2otown is coming from.