Cheers to a Month of $5 Mai Tais at Sumiao Hunan Kitchen

During the month of September, Kendall Square’s Sumiao Hunan Kitchen will be shaking up its specialty Mai Tai cocktail for only $5. Perfect for students on a budget or for an after-work outing with a group of colleagues.

Sumiao’s Hunan-style Mai Tai is an interpretation of the spirit-forward worldwide classic, paying homage to the original cocktail recipe from Trader Vic Bergeron but with subtle changes to complement its signature Hunan cuisine. Located in the bustling and tech-driven Kendall Square, Sumiao Hunan Kitchen is a contemporary Chinese restaurant & bar introducing authentic Hunan Cuisine. “Sumiao,” Chinese for “sketch,” stays true to its namesake by creatively melding tradition with modernity to bring forth an unmatched dining and social experience that is complemented by a stunning design draped in sentimental works of art. Sumiao Hunan Kitchen serves lunch, dinner, small plates as well as the seasonal weekend authentic specials for the most adventurous appetites. Their menu also features a wide selection of Asian-inspired spirits, cocktails and wine.

Because Hunan cuisine employs many spicy elements, Sumiao has increased the sweetness of its Mai Tai without adding the abundance of fruit juice that’s often found in a traditional Mai Tai. Complex flavors such as clove, cinnamon, citrus and molasses come with each sip as a result of the decadent Chairman’s Spiced Reserve Rum. And the best part? They're only $5!

Get to Sumiao Hunan Kitchen and cheers to September as you devour the details of good food and even better Mai Tais!

Wedding Wednesdays: 5 Legal Benefits of Marriage You Might Not Know

Aside from scoring some pretty awesome monogrammed towels and sparkly new rings, there are even more benefits to marriage than you may have thought. Seriously, did you know that getting married means you could have a leg up in receiving benefits, rights and privileges under Social Security and estate laws, government benefits and eligibility for joint health insurance policies and family discounts from employers? Simply put, the perks of marriage are many and can simplify plenty of legal issues. Here are five benefits from The Knot you may not even know you have after you say "I do".

Tax Benefits of Marriage

Marital Tax Deduction
Unlimited marital tax deduction is the biggest tax benefit a married couple can receive, Blank Rome LLP matrimonial lawyer and partner Dylan S. Mitchell says. "You can transfer an unlimited amount of assets to your spouse at any time, free from tax. That also includes leaving assets in your estate to your spouse without estate or gift tax subjection."

And just to clarify, gift tax, as defined by the IRS, is a tax on the transfer of property by one individual to another while receiving nothing, or less than full value, in return. So, basically, a gift is giving property or money without expecting to receive equal value in return.

Financial Benefits of Marriage

Social Security Benefits
If either you or your spouse don't qualify for your own Social Security benefits, you can receive the other spouse's benefits. The payoff isn't immediate, though—you have to either be at least 62 years old or be any age but caring for a child who can receive benefits and is younger than 16 years old or disabled. You can also potentially receive Medicare, disability, veterans, military and pension plan benefits through your spouse.

(And although this is a bit of a buzzkill statement, knowledge is power. If your marriage ends but lasted at least 10 years, you may still be able to receive Social Security benefits on your former spouse's record. Aside from that, you'd also have entitlement to spousal support.)

IRA Benefits
An Individual Retirement Account can be used a few ways in the course of a marriage, including rolling over a deceased spouse's IRA to your own, or you can contribute to a spousal IRA, which is an account that lets an employed spouse contribute to an unemployed spouse's retirement account. There's one caveat, though: You must file a joint tax return to do this.

Legal Benefits of Marriage

Legal Decision-Making Benefits
If you're married, you can have the status as next-of-kin for hospital visits, which grants you the ability to make medical decisions in the event your spouse becomes sick or disabled. "You also have the legal right to sue for wrongful death of a spouse and have decision-making power with respect to whether a deceased partner will be cremated or not and where to bury him or her," Schpoont & Cavallo LLP family and matrimonial lawyer and partner Sandra L. Schpoont says.

Inheritance Benefits
A spouse can inherit an entire estate without tax consequences. "If the couple is not married, there will be taxes," Rower says. And if there's no will, a spouse still has inheritance rights when the other spouse dies intestate—meaning a person passed away without making a legal will.

Since some of these topics can be pretty heavy and may require legal guidance, we recommend you consult an attorney and/or accountant in your area for more elaboration. Prepare for your future together by devouring the details of these legal benefits to marriage.

Trend Alert: Two Tone Nail Colors for Fall

We’ll be the first to say that we’re not opposed to revisiting some of the fashion and beauty trends from our younger years (hi, overalls, crop tops and scrunchies), and we always love seeing the ways those trends manifest themselves here and now. That said, did anyone else have a pre-teen phase where choosing a single nail color felt like the hardest decision in the world? Let’s just say we know the feeling (it's something we still struggle with now). Back then, it usually resulted in some sort of rainbow display on our nails, or our teenage favorite—the alternating color mani. While we may have grown out of those particular trends a decade or two ago, we can’t shake our love for a colorful manicure!

Turning this into a trend alert for fall, we've decided to mix it up a bit and try two tone warm neutral colors—keeping the multi-colors but ditching the brights and neons. Check out the results!

Deep Purple and Light Pink

The combination of dark and light really draws your eyes from the cuticle to the tip of your nail.

Keep It Neutral

Perfect for the end of summer/start of fall! Splitting the colors on a diagonal adds a fun element to the two tone design.

Darken the Tips

Doing the opposite of the first design, this nail art draws your eyes from the tip to the cuticle.

Sunset Effect

Create that gorgeous sunset effect by using a deep maroon for majority of the nail and a neutral color for the rounded cuticle.

Mix In Metalics

We love the combination of neutrals and metallics. The use of gold really plays off of the colors of fall!

Get your fingers ready for fall and devour the details of this two tone nail trend this autumn!

Monday Mashups: Come to the Hoppiest Place On Earth

Beer taps in the bedrooms, beer fridges in the showers, a museum to the art of brewing on site – it seems that the city of Columbus, Ohio is now officially the “hoppiest place on Earth.” Can you guess why? Because the world’s first hotel to offer guests a night’s stay inside a brewery has officially opened! And it's called the DogHouse. Very fitting for anyone who may have to spend the night away from home for one reason or another!

Details released so far point to a suitably beer-soaked experience. Guests first enter a lobby dominated by a bar rather than a reception desk, with a bartender to handle check-in while also serving new arrivals with a welcome beer. Each of the 32 bedrooms (including eight suites) features beer on tap, minibars stocked with BrewDog’s craft brews, and views of the facility’s large wooden foeders. Aside from the aforementioned in-shower beer fridges, bathrooms are stocked with hop-infused toiletries.

Other facilities at the DogHouse include an interactive museum detailing the brewing process and providing a history of craft beer, a media room, a fitness centre and a coffee bar in the lobby. And while the specifics aren't yet clear, a menu of beer-based spa treatments is also apparently in the works. BrewDog co-founder, James Watt, who launched the company in 2007 in partnership with Martin Dickie, has given thanks to the company's fans who, through a crowdfunding campaign, played a vital part in funding the new hotel.

Watt and Dickie first floated plans for a beer hotel in March 2017, at the same time appealing for donations to their cause with the aim of raising $75,000. Since receiving more than $300,000 – four times the original target – from eager beer enthusiasts, the company plans to launch a second hotel at its headquarters in Aberdeenshire, which is slated to open in 2019. Dreams to come true for great brews!

Pack your bags, you're heading straight for the DogHouse! Grab a brew or two and devour the details of a great night's sleep at this craft hotel!

Arnie's March Boston this Saturday

Golf fans are invited to participate in the second Arnie’s March Boston to benefit MassGeneral Hospital for Children Cancer Center on Saturday, August 25 from 9:30AM to noon at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts. In honor of late golfing legend Arnold Palmer, Arnie’s March is a three-mile walk around the front 9 holes of TPC Boston that officially kicks-off the Dell Technologies Championship. Participants will have the unique opportunity to experience TPC Boston while supporting a great cause!

Funds raised through Arnie’s March Boston will benefit the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) Cancer Center in advancing innovative research projects aimed at better understanding and treating childhood cancers.

The Dell Technologies Championship has been the premier professional sports event on Labor Day weekend in the greater Boston area for 15 years. Since 2003, the championship has generated more than $27 million for local & national charities. The Dell Technologies Championship will take place August 31 – September 3. Tournament and ticket information are available on the PGA Tour website.

Guests can register online for the march here! The walk will conclude with a celebratory lunch provided by Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream as well as activities for the whole family. Did we mention? Registration is free for all ages!

Have fun in the sun this Saturday and experience the Dell Technologies Championship while you devour the details of a great cause marching for Arnie & MGH!

Wedding Wednesdays: 3 Floral Arrangements Perfect for Your Upcoming Celebrations

Save hiring a florist for your big day and take our advice on these fun and festive floral arrangements for your upcoming engagement party and wedding shower! From fruit to soup cans, these blooms will certainly brighten up any bodega and add to your decor. Take your local flower market florals to the next level with these 3 easy arrangements!

Citrus Shine

You'll Need: 
Smaller vase, pint glass or plastic storage container
Medium cylinder vase
6 lemons
knife
1 bunch of orange tulips or yellow/orange parrot tulips
1 bunch of yellow tulips
1 bunch of orange spray roses or 8 to 10 stems of regular roses
Thick green floral tape or rubber bands
Scissors
3 stems of lemon leaves

Directions: 
1. Fill the smaller vase, pint glass or plastic container three-quarters full with water. Place it inside the medium vase.

2. Slice the lemons about 1⁄8" to 1⁄4" thick, depending on how much space there is between the two vases.

3. Place the lemon slices in between the two vases, until the space is entirely lined with lemon slices. The slices will overlap. You can cut the lemon slices in half to better fit at the top of the vase.

4. Prep all the flowers.

5. Spiral the tulips together so that the orange and yellow flowers are evenly mixed. Secure the bouquet with floral tape or a rubber band and set aside.

6. Spiral the roses together. Secure with floral tape or a rubber band.

7. Cut the stems of each bouquet so the flowers rest on the edge of the vase.

8. Place the bouquets side by side inside the inner vase. If the arrangement doesn't look full or round enough, fluff or tug gently at the flower heads to create a fuller, more domed look.

9. Cut the lemon leaves to 3" to 4" long. Create a collar of leaves around the flowers by placing the stems inside the inner vase, so the leaves drape over the entire circumference of the outer vase.

Design Tip: 
You can really use anything to line the vase—berries, seeds, legumes or candy, which is especially colorful for the holidays—although be mindful of the temperature to make sure the candy doesn't melt. It's also fun to match the flowers to what you're using to line the vase. So if you use orange slices, use some orange flowers. If you use limes, use a bright green flower like a spider mum or button mum to tie it all together.

Tomato Can Flowers

You'll Need: 
Empty tomato can
Water
Clear floral tape
2 handfuls of mixed flowers cut from the backyard (bougainvillea, asters, lantana, greenery) or 1 premade wildflower bouquet with a mix of flowers
Scissors
1 bunch of orange ranunculus
3 to 4 very firm tomatoes on the vine
Optional: floral pick or kebab stick, thick green floral tape

Directions: 
1. Fill the can halfway with water. With the clear floral tape, make a 3 x 3 grid over the opening of the can.

2. Remove any leaves from the bottom half of the backyard (or bouquet) flowers and cut them to about 6" to 8" long. Place the mix of flowers evenly throughout the can. Pull up any stems that fall down. The blooms should extend out from the can an inch or two on each side.

3. Prep and cut the ranunculus to about 7" to 8" long. For the ranunculus that have multiple small buds on thinner, secondary stems, cut them off where they meet the base of the main stem and set aside.

4. Place the ranunculus evenly throughout the arrangement, clustering 2 to 3 stems together in some areas for impact.

5. Pull the ranunculus up and out toward the edge of the arrangement so they are slightly higher than the backyard flowers. The design can be slightly asymmetrical.

6. If the tomatoes are small, about 2" in diameter, you can place their attached vine inside the can as described below. If it feels like the tomatoes are too heavy or the vine won't stay in the can, secure the vine to a floral pick or kebab stick with thick green floral tape. Cut the stick to the same height as the can. Place the vine (whether on a stick or not), in the front left portion of the can, and rest the tomatoes on the can's rim or allow them to hang over the side.

Design tip: 
As an alternative, you could spray-paint the can gold or copper for an inexpensive yet beautiful look. If you do so, I'd recommend sticking with white and cream flowers, adding in touches of buttery yellows and peaches or simple greens.

Glitter Fest

You'll Need: 
3 stems of hot pink roses
1 bunch of green button mums (or 3 to 4 stems)
1 bunch of yellow freesia
1 bunch of pink tulips (or 3 to 4 stems)
Scissors
Thermos
Clear glue or egg whites
Paper plates
Silver glitter

Directions: 
1. Prep the flowers and cut all the stems to about 6" long. Fill the thermos three-quarters full with water.

2. Spread clear glue or egg whites on a paper plate. Put a pile of glitter on another paper plate.

3. Dip each rose head lightly into the glue, and then into the glitter, as if you're breading chicken. Lightly shake off any excess glitter.

4. Set the roses on a clean paper plate so that the blooms hang off the edge. Dry for 10 minutes.

5. Place the mums in clusters evenly throughout the outer edges of the thermos, so the flowers are leaning against the edge.

6. Place 2 roses in the middle of the ar­rangement and have the third rose resting on the rim of the vase. Each rose should have room around it so it can breathe.

7. Insert the freesia in clusters of 2 to 3 stems, evenly balanced throughout the arrangement.

8. Fill in any empty spaces with the tu­lips, angling them outward.

Design tip: 
Experiment to discover the color combinations you like best. Some of my favorites are: yellow/pink, plum/light green, bright red/burnt orange, and bright yellow/light green.

Enjoy arranging your blooms and devour the details of some beautiful decor at your upcoming celebrations!

Tasty Tuesday: BLT Stuffed Sweet Potato

We're a big fan of BLTs. Breakfast, lunch or dinner - a BLT never disappoints. BUT we have never tried it stuffed in a sweet potato. Until now! Check out this mouthwatering recipe. You'll be glad you did!

BLT Stuffed Sweet Potato

Ingredients: 
1 sweet potato
shredded cheddar cheese
4 cherry tomatoes, sliced
iceberg lettuce, shredded
2 strips of bacon

Instructions: 
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Using a fork or knife, poke a few holes into your sweet potato while it cooks to allow the steam to escape.

2. Place directly on the oven rack to bake for 45 minutes to an hour.

3. While your sweet potato is baking, make your bacon on the stovetop (If you’ve never made bacon before, it’s easy! Simply take it out of the package, place it directly on a saucepan, and heat to a medium heat until fully cooked. Then place on a paper towel to cool.) You can also shred your lettuce and cut your cherry tomatoes while your potato bakes.

4. Once ready, take your potato out of the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. Slice the center of the potato open, then fill with your bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheese and enjoy! Note: we like to eat ours just like this but if you need a little extra something, a light drizzle of ranch dressing goes well on top.

You really can't go wrong when you stuff a sweet potato! Get to baking and devour the details of this perfect dinner accompaniment. Yum!

Monday Mashup: L.L. Bean Encourages People to Be An Outsider at Work

What exactly do we mean by this? It's not what you think! It's better. For most office dwellers, their only connection to the outdoors during a workday is a view from a window or, at best, a lunch break spent in a park. This summer, along with the coworking space Industrious, L.L. Bean created a functioning outdoor workplace—complete with conference rooms, electrical outlets, and ergonomic furniture—that debuted in New York in June and then traveled to Boston, Philadelphia, and Madison, Wisconsin to encourage people to take their work outside. We love this idea!

The debut at New York's Madison Square Park featured modern office furniture set up in conference rooms, single desk areas, residential-style soft seating, and picnic benches, as well as an area for teambuilding activities. For a more quirky option, there was a pod of cycling desks. Anyone could book workspaces in advance online—the group spaces filled quickly—but walk-ups could check in with event staff to see if there was room for them.

Jack Morton Worldwide designed and produced the activation, which included fabricating the custom workspace pods in its Princeton, New Jersey, facility. Another partner on the campaign was workplace strategy expert Lee Stringer, who was brought on to help with research and lend her credibility to the notion that working outside does have positive benefits for both workers and their employers. In a national research study commissioned for the campaign, people who work traditional 9-to-5 jobs were asked whether they wanted to work outdoors (an overwhelming yes) and what was inhibiting them. The activation was designed to meet those needs, offering a place to plug laptops in or charge phones, as well as different seating areas.

At many consumer activations, the host brand's own employees don't get to experience the activities themselves. But in this case, they did. The set had a test run at L.L. Bean's headquarters in Freeport, Maine, where employees used their internal conference room booking program to reserve space.

Also in support of the campaign, on the day of the New York activation's debut, Jack Morton employees at offices in New York, Dubai, Hong Kong, Australia, and elsewhere shared images of themselves working outdoors.

We love the idea of integrating work with the outdoors! Take a lesson or two from L.L. Bean...get your employees to be outsiders while we still have a few weeks of summer left and devour the details of this creative movement!

Be Statewide Against the Tide this Saturday

Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) will be holding its annual, statewide Against the Tide multi-sport events again this Saturday, August 18. Set against the backdrop of a beautiful state park, Against the Tide offers something for all outdoor enthusiasts. Participants can enjoy pristine beaches and water locales for the half-mile paddleboard, competitive and recreational 1-mile swims, and 2-mile kayak events, as well as tree-lined rolling paved courses for both the USATF certified 5K and 10K runs, and the 3-mile fitness walk.

All ages and abilities are welcome to choose from 1, 2, or 3 of these exciting activities. The event also offers an Aquathon “Splash and Dash” component, where participants “splash” in the competitive 1-mile swim and immediately “dash” in 5K or 10K run (chosen by the participant). All swim, run, and Aquathon components are timed using chip timing systems.

Participants may register as an individual or as part of a team. Registration is $40 per adult per event activity and $25 per student per event activity. Participants are encouraged to fundraise beyond these suggested minimums, as all proceeds support Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition’s unique goal towards breast cancer prevention. Prizes will be awarded to the fastest swim, run, and Aquathon athletes and top fundraisers.

Held for the 19th year at DCR's Nickerson State Park on the Cape, Against the Tide is a day full of fun starting at 7:00 am and ending at 12:00 noon. Register online today and visit the MBCC website for more information. Join in the fight against breast cancer and devour the details of giving back the best way you can - Against the Tide!

Wedding Wednesdays: Longing for Lingerie

If the newlyweds-to-be are all set with kitchenware and bath towels, skip the traditional bridal shower for a gathering of "intimates" instead. Yes, we're talking about those nighttime negligees! For a lingerie shower—aka lingerie party—guests are explicitly asked to gift the bride with sexy or sweet undergarments, slinky robes, massage oils or other romantic accessories. The lingerie party allows the bride to be pampered with beautiful pieces for her wedding night, honeymoon and after!

This can be a more laid back affair than a traditional shower, and it only works if the bride is game for the idea—and if her guests wouldn't turn their noses up at or be embarrassed by  a party with a sexy theme.

Where Should the Lingerie Party Be Hosted?
When planning festivities focused on unmentionables, location is key. That may mean hosting the party in the bride's or a friend's home, but maybe not at her future mother-in-law's. Another venue option is to bring the party to the intimates. Teddies for Bettys hosts private lingerie parties where the girls pick out lingerie for the bride to try on while everyone sips on bubbly. After she's picked out the winning sets, the party comes together to splurge on the bride!

Lingerie She'll Love
A couple's bedroom is a lot like Vegas—what happens there, stays there—making it difficult for guests to know the right gifts to give. As the event hostess, it's up to you to help set the tone and provide guests with the info they need. Consider taking a trip with the bride to a lingerie store in advance of the party.

While you're browsing with her, note if she's more into classic underthings or items that are a bit steamier. This will help you pass on shopping tips, along with her sizes, to guests. To save the bride from having to return gifts or a drawer full of lingerie she'll never wear, buying an everyday lacy bra and panty set never fails. For the budget friendly purchase, one size fits all thongs or a massage stone and candle are great. Again, something we all need and want!

Take the nontraditional route and devour the details of spoiling your bride-to-be with some luxurious lingerie!

Treat Yourself Tuesday: DIY Himalayan Salt and Lavender Oil Bath Soak

Are you or someone you know in need of some well-deserved rest and relaxation? Look no further! We've got the perfect treat for you. This recipe for a Himalayan salt and lavender oil bath soak will put the "me" back in "me time". It's quite easy to make and even easier to enjoy. Check it out!

Ingredients:
epsom salt (about ½ cup for 1 small jar)
Himalayan salt (about ½ cup for 1 small jar)
lavender essential oil
fresh lavender sprigs
small mason jars

Instructions:
1. Pour Epsom salt and Himalayan salt into a small mixing bowl. Then sprinkle 5-6 drops of lavender essential oil into the salt mixture.
2. Crush the fresh lavender and sprinkle it into the mixing bowl. Mix ingredients well.
3. Pour mixture into mason jar and seal.

How simple is that? If you’re feeling crafty, the lavender oil in this recipe can be substituted with plenty of other pretty scents. Try whipping up a batch with rose oil instead (it's equally as heavenly)! Enjoy some "me time" and devour the details of pure bliss with these relaxing bath soaks.

Monday Mashups: Virtual Venue Site Visits

With better technology, meeting and event venues are now offering informative and interactive virtual tours for planners. These virtual tours cover all areas, from the front door to the meeting space and everything in between, captured via a 360-degree camera rig atop a remote-control rover. Venue sales managers are able to virtually walk planners through an entire hotel or convention center just by sharing their computer screens. It helps event planners visualize the flow from floor to floor and meeting room to meeting room while saving them the trip out to the venue.

Making a Virtual Impression
Thanks to virtual-reality technology and 360-degree photography, hotels and convention centers are finding ways to immerse event planners in a space—without them ever setting foot in the building. BizBash has found that some hotels offer a virtual tour app from technology company YouVisit that is available in four languages and can be used on a laptop or a phone.

Not only is the app on trend but it also solves a problem: Unlike a photo gallery, it conveys that even though a hotel may be a block from the beach, rooms still boast gorgeous ocean views. Beyond being informative, interactive virtual tours can make a big impression on prospective planners too.

Saving Planners Time
Obviously, for event planners located in another city, interactive virtual tours are incredibly helpful. A venue's prospective clients from all over the world can hop on a virtual tour as soon as possible and see the space. They are able to zoom into the finer details and see everything the space has to offer.

Virtual tours are also a powerful tool after an event is on the books. It can help planners create custom space layouts for their events. Using an app powered by SketchUp, planners can receive an interactive floor plan so they’re able to walk around on their own time and assess the venue.

Working Around the Limitations
Depiction of views and missing out on the sights, sounds and smells you get while walking through a venue can be a limitation. Hotels and convention centers are working around that by providing a video to accompany the virtual tour and by sending a shipment of kitchen goodies to the prospective client. Another way to immerse planners!

Next time you need to go on a site visit, make it virtual and devour the details of a walk-through from the comforts of your own home or office! We can't wait to see what other advanced technology venues add to make the planning process even easier.

Rosies Invade the Yard

Thousands of women worked at the Charlestown Navy Yard during World War II. The Yard's newspaper called them SWONs: the Shipbuilding Women of the Navy. They fulfilled roles from painters to welders, and riveters to sheet metal workers. Their efforts played a critical role in the outcome of the war and left a lasting mark on American history. Come join us in remembering and celebrating the work of these Shipbuilding Women of the Navy this Saturday and Sunday, August 11th and 12th at the Charlestown Navy Yard!

The program for this two-day extravaganza is as follows:

Swing, Music, & Dance
SWING THE NIGHT AWAY!
Saturday, 6:30 - 9:30 pm- Music & Dance Tent
As the sun begins to set on the Charlestown Navy Yard, join Boston Swing Central and The Easy Winners to swing the night away!

THE MOOD SWINGS ORCHESTRA
Sunday, 1:00 and 2:30 pm - Music & Dance Tent
Enjoy the swinging tunes of The Mood Swings Orchestra, an all female big band. Since 2003 the Mood Swings have been delighting audiences with their repertoire of swing music from the 1930s and beyond.

ACCIDENTAL CHARM
Saturday, 12 and 1:30 pm - Music & Dance Tent
Accidental Charm is a women's vocal quartet singing contemporary 4-part a capella harmony in the barbershop style!

SOUNDSCAPE
Saturday, 12 and 1:30 pm - Music & Dance Tent
Sharing the magic of 4-part a capella harmony since 2007.

Hands-on History:
HANDS ON HISTORY TENT
Saturday & Sunday - 1 pm - 5 pm
Do you think you would have made a good Navy Yard employee in World War II? Try your hand making a worker badge, twisting rope, riveting, and more! Explore activities and games for little hands and the young at heart!

Ships & SWONs:
ROSIE ROLL CALL
Saturday and Sunday, 9 am - 6 pm
Navy Yard Visitor Center
A new exhibit that shares the role, accomplishments, and personal memories of the over 8,000 women who lent a hand in the national war effort here at the Navy Yard during World War II.

ROSIE’S NAVY YARD
Saturday and Sunday, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 pm - 60 minute ranger-led tours. Tours begin at the flag pole on Pier 1. Over 8,000 women joined the workforce at the Boston Naval Shipyard to help win World War II. Join this free walking tour to explore their stories.

VEHICLES FOR VICTORY
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am - 4 pm - Pier 1 and 1st Avenue Come explore the different kinds of vehicles that were transported by Landing Ship, Tanks (LSTs). The men and women at this Navy Yard built 44 LSTs during World War II.

VISIT USS CASSIN YOUNG
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Explore the main deck of this World War II Fletcher-class Destroyer! Look for SWON stations and learn about the vital role women played in building these ships. During World War II, over 80 destroyers and destroyer escorts were built by this Navy Yard.

USS CASSIN YOUNG GUIDED TOURS
Times to be announced - 45 minute ranger-led tour.
See how these ships were built and learn about the men who served on board. FREE tickets are available first-come, first-served, aboard the ship. Visitors must be over 42” in height to participate in this tour. *Note: Ship activities may be canceled or modified due to weather and/or tidal conditions.

Celebrate the Rosies all weekend long and devour the details of a little bit of history right in Charlestown's Navy Yard!

Wedding Wednesdays: Obsessing Over Ovals

Looking for an engagement ring that's the perfect blend of timeless and trendy? Oval-cut diamonds are a chic alternative to the more classic round cut. They are an engagement ring win-win for the bride-to-be! Their elongated shape instantly slims your fingers while giving the appearance of a larger center stone. A show stopper! It's no wonder why celebs like Blake Lively, Whitney Port and Hailey Baldwin can't get enough of this gorgeous gem shape. And we can't either! Take a look for yourself.

Kwiat Oval Diamond Engagement Ring

Vrai & Oro The Oval Bezel Engagement Ring

Mark Broumand Oval-Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

Diamond Nexus East-West Accented Oval-Cut Engagement Ring

Uneek Seven-Carat Oval Diamond Halo Engagement Ring with Pavé Double Shank

These oval diamonds surely shine bright! Get this perfect cut and devour the details of a stunning engagement ring!

Tasty Tuesday: Cauliflower Crust BBQ Chicken Pizza

We know, we know - the crust is a big component of what qualifies a pizza as good - but trust us, this cauliflower crust recipe is next level! Flaky, flavorful and full of veggie-goodness (and fiber you're normally missing out on), you'll want to eat it all up. Add BBQ sauce and chicken and you'll even want seconds! Try this recipe once and we can guarantee you'll make it again and again.

Cauliflower Crust BBQ Chicken Pizza

Ingredients:

For the cauliflower crust: 
1 medium head of cauliflower, riced in a food processor (or, one bag of cauliflower rice)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon crushed garlic
½ teaspoon garlic salt
olive oil (optional)

For the toppings:
½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 chicken breast
barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, torn
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:

For the cauliflower crust: 
1. If you don’t have pre-riced cauliflower, rice your florets in a food processor. Then, place in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 8 minutes until cooked.

2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.

3. In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir.

4. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9″ round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.

5. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, or until a light golden brown. Remove from oven.

For the toppings:
1. Bake your chicken breast in the oven ahead of time at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes. One cooked throughout, remove, let cook, then shred chicken with a fork. Toss in barbecue sauce until evenly coated.

2. Thinly slice ½ red onion and tear off cilantro leaves.

3. Spread 1 tbsp of barbecue sauce on cauliflower pizza crust, leaving about ½ inch without sauce around the edge for the crust.

4. Top with mozzarella, shredded chicken, red onion and cilantro, then pop back into the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

5. Remove from oven, sprinkle a bit of grated parmesan cheese on top (optional), then slice and enjoy!

Nothing beats this crust substitute! Get the ingredients and devour the details of this recipe yourself. You'll be happy you did!

Monday Mashups: The Slow Food Movement

Slow Food Nations returned to Denver for its second weekend-long festival, attracting more than 20,000 attendees, from July 13 through 15. With a mission to build bridges through connection, community, and advocacy, the sustainable food festival left a lasting imprint, but a minimal footprint on the city.

Inspired by the original Slow Food gathering, Terra Madre, which takes place annually in Turin, Italy, the U.S. version showcased the principles of the movement, which are to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions and to create interest around the food folks eat, including how their choices affect the world.

In addition to its unique landscape, Denver was chosen as the group’s home base because it’s not the typical choice for such a large-scale operation. It's also an attractive host because of the leadership, the collaborative spirit, the fact that it is accessible to all of North America. BizBash shares the story of how Denver has really rallied around food as a tool to build community and commerce with this movement.

The nonprofit, which is comprised of six members in the U.S., translated the Slow Food fest idea to a smaller stage with help from its international colleagues. Program offerings ranged from ticketed events and seminars to sit-down dinners with chefs to free, open-to-the-public events, including summits on biodiversity, the #MeToo movement, the effects of natural disasters, regenerative agriculture, and more. Hands-on seminars featured oyster tasting, local salumi production, slow wine, and endangered honey. “Our mission is good, clean food for all, and it is always a challenge when working with white-tablecloth restaurants or ticketed events that cost a lot of money. To balance that with free events is a challenge that requires creativity and strong partners,” McCarthy said.

Symbiotic Event Services handled the eco-friendly production, event company Two Parts curated the food and beverage programming, and Larimer Square partnered with restaurants to host seminars and demos. Plus, more than 24 tastemakers banded together to form the “Kitchen Cabinet,” an advisory board of ambassadors, including chefs, marketing professionals, and organizations, who helped festival organizers. This year’s theme, “Food for Change,” also spoke loudly to brands, like Danone North America, which sponsored the livestreaming of various talks throughout the weekend.

Throughout the festival, Slow Food Nations adhered to its core value: waste elimination—an issue that McCarthy and Roberts say is a huge problem with food festivals of this size and larger. In addition to filling stations, monitored trash, composting, recycling receptacles, and branded tumblers and totes for reuse, the fest concluded with its Zero Waste Family Meal.

At the event, ticketed patrons gathered at unassigned picnic tables to consume all of the food waste produced by the seminars, demos, and tastings in an effort to illustrate the power of cooking and community. “We got a group of chefs on board to capture food throughout the festival, which would have otherwise gone to waste, and then on Sunday, we arranged a family-style meal to celebrate the end of the festival and food with dignity, bringing people around the table together,” Roberts said. “Our hope is that people will see this, and that maybe this will become a trend.”

The Slow Food Movement is a testament to bettering our communities through education and collaboration. It is something we can all learn from! For more information, check out the Slow Food Movement website and devour the details of connecting with your community through food.

Get Your Deep Stretch On (in a Hammock) at Swet Studio This Weekend

Do you sit at a desk all day? Are you a runner, cyclist, golfer, athlete of any kind? Sore, tight muscles? Then this class is for you! Swet Studio, Boston’s Aerial Yoga, Row and Guided Meditation and Fitness Studio, located at 480 Tremont Street in the South End, is proud to launch Deep Stretch in a Hammock class this weekend! You can get into your first class on Saturday at 8:50AM.

Swet works the body differently while incorporating meditation for a complete mind and body practice through strength, length, and balance. The studio’s practice transcends a variety of philosophies, beliefs and modalities. It's time to reduce anxiety, sleep better and feel happier. Leave expectations at the door, and attend your first Swet class starting with some deep stretching in a hammock!

A slower paced class with focus on releasing and lengthening the tight muscles. You will start and end your class with a Relaxing Inversion to decompress the spine, feel longer, taller & allow all of your stresses to melt away. No flips and tricks. Just pure stretching!

Some of the alternative classes range from Swet Full Body, a HIIT workout, to Swet Row, which captures the elements of competitive on water rowing, where groups of people utilize water filled rowing machines. Swet Studio also offers Boston’s only licensed AntiGravity® Aerial Yoga classes, offered by certified instructors versed in the principles, technique, and philosophy of the exciting aerial program.

Don't delay, devour the details of a deep stretch today! Join us Saturday at Swet Studio and start your weekend the most relaxing way. See you there!