Saturdays are for...BluesCruises!

A New Orleans River Boat Party Cruise sets sail from Newburyport this Saturday August 31st featuring New Orleans’ legendary performing artists Henri Smith, Amadee Castenell, and the band “Friends and Flavours”.

A native of New Orleans, Henri Smith frequently appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with artists such as Allen Toussaint, The Neville Brothers, Ellis Marsalis and Kermit Ruffins. It was Ruffins who first invited Smith to perform at the Jazz Fest, bringing the singer exposure to an enthusiastic audience. With his sophisticated swing and dramatic delivery of jazz, blues, and Cajun-flavored music, Smith’s career blossomed.

After losing his home to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Smith moved to New England. Here he reconnected with fellow New Orleans musicians including lifelong friend, trumpeter and composer, Stanton Davis, the legendary Amadee Castenell, percussionist Charles Burchell Grammy and award-winning saxophonist Charles Neville (who passed away in 2018) and created the band “Friends and Flavours”

“Friends and Flavours” performs a variety of styles including swing, funk, brass band-second line, R&B, latin, cajun, calypso and blues. Veteran saxophonist Amadee Castenell has recorded and toured with an impressive list of major stars including Paul McCartney, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Etta James, Ruth Brown, Dolly Parton, Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, James Cotton, Albert King and Linda Ronstadt. Also appearing are New England favorites percussionist Charles Burchell, “Ben S.” on keyboards, Zwe Bell LePere on upright bass and J. Laite on lead and slide guitar.

This cruise honors the life and legacy of Shirley Lewis, The “Regal Queen of the Blues” without whose inspiration and selflessness, these annual music events would not have been successful.

A full cash bar is available featuring products from Newburyport Brewing Company and other local brewers, and snacks are served. This sunset cruise departs at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $48 in advance and $55 on the day of the event (processing fees may apply) and can be purchased online here. Capacity of the boat is limited so be sure to get your tickets today!

Get ready to party New Orleans style and devour the details of a blues-filled night honoring the late, great Shirley Lewis! See you there!

Wedding Wednesdays: This Is How Much Couples Spend on Wedding Favors

Are wedding favors required? Technically not. But do we love them? Obviously—and your guests will too. If you have the budget, and want to send your guests home with a fun token of love, favors are the way to go. And good news: You don’t need to spend a fortune on them.

The average cost of wedding favors, according to The Knot, is $245. With the average headcount at 136 guests, that makes the average spend on favors per wedding guest roughly $2. We can work with that!

Sure, favors could be one of those expenses that sneaks up on you if you’re not prepared, but generally speaking, that’s a pretty reasonable cost per favor to get behind—just make sure you factor favors into your budget from the start. Plus, $245 total for favors is an average—in no way do you need to spend even that much on favors. (Likewise, if you want to put a little more behind your favors, do you.)

Seriously, you won’t believe how many cute options you have for favors under $1. You can find anything from custom candles and matchbooks to bottle openers and moscow mule mugs. You could also get your hands dirty making DIY wedding favors or semi-homemade favors. Try picking up your favorite fudge from a local sweet shop (or another delicious edible favor), then doing the tagging and packaging yourself with simple cellophane bags, clear boxes or mini jars. As long as you offer something personal, easy to carry and memorable, your guests will go home happy.

Take The Knot's advice and devour the details of finding favors that fit your budget!

Take Us to the Florida Keys...in Quincy!

Ribs, brisket, pulled pork….gators?

Bonez Brothers BBQ, a catering company and farmers market regular, will bring its alligator-laden menu to the masses in a few weeks when the company opens its first brick-and-mortar in Quincy, a take-out only location launching in a former Papa John’s pizzeria. Owner Todd Noon told Boston.com that many of Bonez’s market favorites will be available — brisket cooked for 19 hours, ribs cooked for 12, and plenty of gator delicacies like sausages, fritters, and tails. The shop will also serve fan favorite Love in a Cup: a 13-layer “sundae” made with pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, and collard greens.

Also notable: Noon’s deep-fried key lime cheesecake. The decadent dessert is made by scooping up balls of chilled cheesecake and then freeze blasting them on a sheet pan. The scoops are then rolled in graham cracker crumbs, brushed with an egg wash, rolled into cornflakes, and deep fried. A key lime drizzle serves as the proverbial icing on the cake.

Noon, who spends his winters in Florida, isn’t a stranger to the catering business (or the gator business, for that matter). Prior to launching Bonez Brothers BBQ, Noon served as a chef and dietary director in Florida before jumping into competitive barbecuing. He’s also an experienced gator hunter; some of his taxidermied alligators will be on display at the new shop.

When Bonez Brothers BBQ opens in Quincy — Noon said it should debut mid-September — it will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., or when the meat runs out. Once the farmers markets close for the season, Noon anticipates the shop opening five to six days a week — “but never on Sundays,” he said.

Until then, grab a couple gator links from Bonez Brothers BBQ at its usual haunts: the Quincy Farmers Market on Fridays, and the Attleboro Farmers Market on Saturdays and join us at their opening day in September to devour the details of some gator and cheesecake!

Monday Mashups: We're Digging the Smithsonian's Prehistoric Party Vibes

The "Nation’s T. rex" is back on display in Washington! According to BizBash, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's beloved fossil hall reopened this June after a five-year, $110 million renovation. Before museum-goers lined up to see the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils—Deep Time, the Smithsonian hosted two evenings of celebrations for the big opening. Check it out!

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's rotunda transformed into a jungle for a private donor dinner for 135 guests and then a grand opening cocktail reception for 600 guests, complete with tropical greenery and projections with swooping pterodactyls. There was a gigantic printed piece of fabric that featured one of the murals from the actual fossil hall that shows a carboniferous forest. The idea was to try to make you feel like you were in that forest on both of the nights.

What to serve at a dino-theme party? Occasions Caterers found a way to play with the prehistoric theme in an elegant way. Example: dishes like bone marrow and cauliflower and white truffle pots de crème in a buffet station called "Ancient Grains, Bones and Skeletons." The caterer and the event team at the Natural History Museum worked closely together to avoid clichés and focus on science and education; creating a sophisticated experience for guests.

Before the curtain opened to reveal the fossil hall, guests at the cocktail reception explored the first floor of the museum in stations that played with extinct creatures' diets. A lot of researching and careful crafting went into the dining experience. Having herbivore and carnivore stations seemed a natural. The seated dinner's menu reflected that research too. The plated first course reflected the grazing diet of forest-dwelling dinosaurs!

Occasions Caterers' creativity inspired desserts like a "Woolly Mammoth Shaved Ice Station" and a "La Brea Tar Pit" with a vat of molten bittersweet Belgian chocolate and brownie bites for dipping. Another interactive dessert wowed during the seated dinner. The interactive dessert allowed guests to play the role of an archeologist and 'discover' an ammonite fossil. Guests were amazed and delighted.

We can't imagine an event like this ever going extinct! Take tips from the Smithsonian and devour the details of a gala unlike any other!

A Swell Cruise Sets Sail This Friday

Let's set sail and drink a pale ale! Night Shift Brewing is super stoked to be hitting the water with their friends at Mahi Mahi Cruises to bring you a beer release like no other!

Join Night Shift this Friday, August 23 in Salem to celebrate the release of Swell, the brewing company's double India pale ale while rocking out and eating some delicious bites. Tickets are required to be purchased in advanced and are available online here.

Ticket includes access to:

• Live music from Littlefoot (7:15-8:00pm) 
• Live music from GA-20 (8:00-9:00pm) 
• Catering from Night Shift Lovejoy Wharf 

Menu items include:

• Mahi Mahi Tacos
• Shrimp Ceviche
• Salad
• Soft Pretzels with Nite Lite Beer Cheese 

After the cruise, come hang with Night Shift at Longboards Restaurant & Bar located right off the dock! They'll be pouring Swell and a few other Night Shift beers until 1AM. Don't miss your chance to set sail with Swell and devour the details of the newest addition to the Night Shift fam. See you there!

Wedding Wednesday: 5 Ways to Prep for Your Hair and Makeup Trial

Hair and makeup may be one of the last things you think of when planning your wedding, but it can also be one of the most nerve wracking (you definitely want love your look). According to The Knot, it’s best to have your trial about six months prior to your wedding day so you have time to get used to it and make changes if you need. To make sure you get the most out of your trial, give these five steps a try:

1. Bring Your Makeup Bag
If there's a foundation that sits well on your skin or a certain product you wear every single day, show it to your makeup artist. The artist may do a beautiful job with their products, but if you don't feel like yourself, you won’t be 100 percent comfortable with your look. For the day of, share this tip with any bridesmaids who are nervous about getting their makeup done or have sensitive skin.

2. Find Inspirational Photos of Hair and Makeup
It may be hard to figure out the exact look you want for your special day so The Knot suggests creating an inspiration board of hair and makeup. Do you gravitate toward whimsical, textured looks or more chic, structured up-dos? By showing your stylists what you like about each photo, they’ll be able to understand your preferences without your needing to know all the terminology. This is one instance when showing is probably easier than telling. Just keep in mind that if you like something in photos, but don't like it on yourself, that's totally fine (and what your trial is for).

3. Take Note of What You Didn’t Like About Past Looks
Another helpful way for you to communicate what you’re looking for is to describe what you don’t want. Have you been in a wedding party where you disliked how you looked? Tell the stylists why you felt that way. If your stylists know what to stay away from, your trial will be so much more efficient—you won’t need to wait until each look is finished to figure out what you don't like.

4. Arrive With a Clean Face and Hair
This one’s simple—in order to find that perfect look, get to your appointment with clean hair and no makeup so your pros can start with a blank canvas.

5. Purchase Accessories and Hair Extensions Beforehand
Take a look at the hair and makeup photos you like. Inspired by photos of hairstyles with long, thick hair? If your hair is thin, short or doesn't hold curls well, consider investing in clip-in extensions. These easily blend into your own hair and help create a fuller look. If there’s a certain hair accessory you plan to incorporate, definitely bring that along. If not, once you decide on the look during your trial, you can easily pick up a hair piece afterward—just let your hairstylist know if you plan to wear a hair accessory so they can think about how to incorporate it into your style.

Don't stress! Follow these steps by The Knot and devour the details of your hair and makeup trial like a pro. You'll be happy you did!

Tasty Tuesday: The Porridge Pop-Up Taking Over Your Tastebuds

Travel to any number of countries in Asia and you may come across a dish that resembles a bowl of thick, soup-like rice. According to Boston.com, it goes by different names — juk, lugaw, chok — depending on which country you are in, but in China, rice porridge is called congee, and it has served as a comfort food staple for centuries. It’s also the driving force behind one of Boston’s newest pop-ups: Congee & Me, which recently started offering breakfast congee at Chinese-American restaurant Mei Mei.

Founded by Brookline native Arielle Chernin, Congee & Me is both for diners who grew up eating the porridge and who have never tried a spoonful of it in their life. Chernin’s bowls of congee are a nuanced mash-up between Chinese and American flavor profiles, like the “everything bagel congee,” which uses smoked tofu, furikaki, a lazy egg, and scallion oil. Or the “bacon, egg, and cheese congee,” which comes with pork belly, a lazy egg, smoked gouda, and tomato oil. There’s also the option to create your own bowl, starting with a base and adding proteins, vegetables, and extras like fried peanuts and fried anchovies. Our mouth is watering!

Chernin, who graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, founded Congee & Me in San Francisco after experiencing a serious case of burnout. She had served as the general manager at chef Nancy Silverton’s Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles for three years, followed by four years in San Francisco working at Delfina, another acclaimed pizza destination. Meanwhile, the congee concept had been bouncing around in the back of her mind, and in 2018 she teamed up with her aunt to host Congee & Me pop-ups.

Chernin has produced three Congee & Me events at Mei Mei since moving back here in February, this time with the help of two Connecticut-based chef friends, Wes Barrington and Angeline Chiang. The pop-ups are held in the morning when Mei Mei is closed, though Chernin isn’t ruling out trying lunch or dinner versions in the future. Her main goal — aside from her life-long dream of opening a restaurant — is to share the experience of eating congee and to educate the non-Asian world about what congee is, what it used to be, and what it could be.

The next Congee & Me series will be held at Mei Mei over Labor Day weekend from August 31 to September 2. Dishes are individually priced, but tickets can be reserved here. To keep up with Congee & Me’s future events, follow the pop-up’s Instagram and Facebook pages. Join us Labor Day weekend as we devour the details of this perfect porridge pop-up, Congee & Me!

Monday Mashups: How Fila is Fueling Fashion for City Dwellers

It’s not easy for most city dwellers to regularly hike in the mountains or walk through a forest, but this summer, Fila is bringing its fashion-fueled interpretation of exploring nature to 11 major cities around the world according to BizBash. To celebrate the launch of the new Fila Explore collection and introduce products to consumers, the Italian sportswear brand has launched a multi-market retail pop-up tour, highlighted by four experiences that evoke outdoor environments.

The limited-edition collection features apparel, footwear, and accessories inspired by four categories: Canyon, Woods, Mountain, and Elements. To bring these categories to life in an interactive way, the brand tapped experiential marketing agency MKG to produce and design the pop-ups, the first of which launched in New York after a scaled-down preview at ComplexCon in Chicago. Pop-ups have also opened in Los Angeles, Mumbai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tokyo, and Santorini; others are slated to open in London, Sao Paolo, and Seoul this summer.

The Fila Explore collection offers another glimpse at the company's ability to tap into iconic brand moments, while offering a fresh, contemporary, on-trend approach to design. With pop-up shops opening worldwide, Fila has created an opportunity to engage consumers with a one-of-a-kind experience with their authentic approach to storytelling.

Johan Gerdin, associate creative director at MKG, said conversations with Fila began at the end of last year, with the initial concept presented as pop-ups that would bring nature-theme sensorial experiences to life in the concrete environment of a city.

“We thought of designing an overall store environment that was almost like our neutral canvas,” said Gerdin. “We landed on the idea of taking inspiration from topographical shapes like you might find on a map. That’s what consumers see when they first step inside.”

Gerdin explained that each pop-up will have the same topographical aesthetic, while the designs of the four Explore installations will differ slightly in each city.

"We created a ‘trail’ within the store where people could find themselves in these drastically changing environments. You’ll notice how Canyon is aesthetically different from Mountain, which is aesthetically different from Woods.” said Gerdin. “That was a deliberate design choice on our end. Just like you can find yourself in different environments in actual nature, we wanted to translate that on an experiential level.”

In New York, the Canyon installation offers a geometric photo op; the Mountain installation features photographs of snowy mountains that surround a four-sided mirror; Woods offers a photo booth where guests can surround themselves in greenery; and Elements features a psychedelic painting inspired by images in Fila’s lookbook.

This is Fila's second year collaborating with MKG on a pop-up; in spring 2018, they created a pop-up in New York that celebrated the re-launch of the Mindblower sneaker. We predict a bright future for these two companies.

Get your feet ready and run to devour the details of Fila's pop-up so you can explore this new collection yourself!

Peach Perfect!

Cider Hill Farm is bringing back their Peach & Truck Festival this Saturday, August 17! Located in Amesbury, MA, this stunning farm has been in operation since 1978 and produces peach August through September. A perfect spot for some potential engagement photos? (Sorry, we know it's not Wednesday!)

Anyways, join us at the farm and enjoy a day full of peach picking in the orchards, hayrides, live music, lunch, peachy treats and lawn games. Bonus! What peach festival is complete without an entire Touch-A-Truck area with vintage cars and local fire and police vehicles for the kiddos to check out. For those 21+, a hard cider bar featuring Peach Cider Sangria is not to be missed! So fun!

For more information, visit the Cider Hill Farm website. Prepare to pick the perfect peach and devour the details of some family fun this Saturday at the farm!

Wedding Wednesdays: 5 Tips for Including Your Dog in Your Engagement Photos

As someone with a new puppy that is also newly engaged, I've been thinking about this topic a lot! We've got the photographer and are in the process of setting up our engagement photos. But does Pinot get to go? We're thinking yes! And these 5 tips from The Knot are helping us make this thought a reality!

1. Notify your photographer.
Don't go into your engagement session without letting your photographer know about a pet appearance. It'll help your pro prep for the shoot (as well as plan for any unexpected incidents!) and get them thinking about creative ways to include your pup. It's also common courtesy to inform them and any additional shooters in case they suffer from pet allergies or are uncomfortable around dogs.

2. Confirm that pets are allowed at your shoot location.
While most public parks will allow pets, you might have trouble including your pup at a shoot at the botanical gardens or on the manicured lawn of a historic estate, as well as at any indoor facility. Always call ahead of time to confirm that your four-legged ones are welcome.

3. Make sure the location will be comfortable.
While a summer shoot in the city may seem like the perfect weather to showcase your little white dress, hot pavement streets might prove uncomfortable for you pet's naked paws after some time. Similarly, a winter wonderland shoot in the snow could prove less than scenic for dogs unaccustomed to the cold, and even painful for those sensitive to the salt sprinkled on icy streets.

4. Bring treats.
This is crucial, particularly when you'll need your pet to sit still or lay down to pose for a photo. Give them treats to incentivize good behavior or when they're looking like they need a pick-me-up. You think you're the only one who's exhausted by all this picture taking?

5. Enlist help.
Unless you're shooting the engagement session at or close to home, hire a pet sitter or enlist help of a friend to watch your dog or take them home when they're done with their shot. This way, you won't have to worry about them getting restless, feeding them or giving them water, and you can focus all your attention on getting the perfect photos of just the two of you.

Can't prep for the wedding without your pup! After all, dogs are a couple's best friend! Stick with these 5 tips and devour the details of the most pup perfect engagement shoot!

FYI: Five Women Owned Brands That Give Back

From starting out on Etsy to creating their own empires, these women are unstoppable. In besides being boss babes and getting that dough, these ladies are also finding ways to give back. Take their passion as inspiration to do the same and check out these five women owned brands that put their communities on their back.

Inkwell Press
No one knows the importance of planning better than a teacher. And we've got a lot of teacher friends that can confirm that! In addition to creating a large array of daily, weekly, yearly, goal setting and specialty needs planners, Inkwell donates Academic Year Planners to teachers at the start of each school year. Founder Tonya Dalton says, “our goal is to help alleviate the added financial stress teachers and home school parents feel at the beginning of the year as they begin to ready their classrooms.” Last year, they donated over $100,000 in planners to teachers. Amazing!

ThirdLove
ThirdLove makes some of the best bras out there that fit every body type! Not only are they made out of high-end materials, they are also extremely comfortable. ThirdLove sells a wide variety of bras and you can find your perfect match by utilizing their Fit Finder quiz which makes shopping a breeze. On top of making amazing bras, ThirdLove has partnered with I Support the Girls to donate bras to women in need. So far they’ve donated 10 million dollars in bras in 2018 alone! I Support the Girls states, “whether they be homeless, refugees, in transitional housing, or fleeing domestic violence, women and girls should never have to compromise on dignity.” We truly believe everyone deserves to look and feel good, and a proper foundation is where it all begins.

The Little Market
We're constantly inspired by Lauren Conrad so it's no surprise The Little Market is on this list! We really love their mission to “build sustainable partnerships with artisans from around the world, by connecting them with customers through [their] fair trade shop.” It’s easy to shop their beautiful bags, home goods and accessories knowing you’re helping give back. With The Little Market, you can literally see in an item’s description who made it, where it came from, and how exactly your purchase is helping that artisan. There are so many beautiful handmade items! Every time you add a new piece to your collection, you'll know your purchases through The Little Market will help empower others!

Wild Fang
Wild Fang is a clothing brand founded by women and continues to be run by women. They carry gender neutral apparel, suiting, cool feminist accessories and basics. Supporting our LGBTQAI+ community is so very important to us.Wild Fang makes a donation to select charities with every single purchase, and have given back over $400,000 this year. In 2017 alone, they helped raise over $75,000 for charities including Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, Joyful Heart, and the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and in June 2018 they raised over $250,000 for RAICES.

Thinx Underwear
Thinx is an innovative brand that makes underwear which acts like a pad during a person’s period to absorb menstrual blood. The awesome thing about Thinx underwear is that can replace tampons and pads altogether or supplement them, depending on the person’s flow. Growing up, menstruation products were—and let’s be honest, still are—changing constantly to suit the needs of every person’s body. More and more we are becoming aware not only of our menstruation needs, but safer and healthier alternatives. The most important thing to us about Thinx is that they donate menstrual products to people and tweens in need, including underprivileged communities and the homeless. Thinx also leads an education initiative called The EveryBody program, which helps schools, after-school programs, and nonprofits empower young people with medically accurate and inclusive information about their changing bodies. As sex education is also changing, this is a cause we really stand behind. A truly incredible effort!

We're feeling inspired and hope you are too! Join the movement and devour the details of building your brand and giving back as often as you can. Together, we can do so much more good!

Monday Mashups: 3 Reasons Why Your Event Space Needs All-Gender Restrooms

In this day and age, events should provide a sense of security and comfort for all attendees - no matter your race, gender, or age. Accommodating improves your overall event experience. This even applies to something like the restrooms. It's true! Check out these 3 reasons from BizBash as to why your event needs all-gender restrooms.

1. Every attendee of your event deserves to feel safe.
Safety for transgender or gender-nonconforming people should be the highest priority when thinking about all-gendered restrooms for your events. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, transgender folks experience high rates of violence and victimization in their day-to-day. This risk can become even higher in gendered spaces like restrooms where, according to the largest survey taken of transgender people in the United States, “almost 60 percent of transgender Americans have avoided using public restrooms for fear of confrontation, saying they have been harassed and assaulted.” - New York Reuters (study conducted by National Center for Transgender Equality)

2. All-gender bathrooms are family-friendly!
They not only foster equality for trans-identified people they also make care-taking easier, allowing parents to more easily take care of children that may be of a different gender. For individuals with disabilities, caretakers of a different gender would be able to more freely attend to their needs. These facilities promote greater equality for families and caretakers who aren't limited to gender-conforming roles while ensuring the safety of those who may be at risk.

3. Time efficiency.
We've all been there. Scrambling out of a two-hour-long session or workshop to use the restroom only to find an unreasonably long line. A study of all-gender restrooms points to statistics showing the different average restroom visit times for men and women. The move to all-gender restrooms would essentially have minimal impact on men and decrease women's waiting time substantially. In regard to event spaces, the effects are dramatic—less congestion in event hallways, greater comfort for women-identifying attendees who have less of a wait in line, and greater access to restrooms.

On a logistical level, all-gender restrooms are also more time-efficient. Particularly in spaces where temporary restrooms are being added, such as outdoor festivals, one would no longer have to make available more restrooms than necessary. The time it would take to design two binary gender spaces is cut in half—and time is money.

According to California law AB 1732, every single-occupancy restroom (even the one in your own home) is an all-gender restroom. The safety and ease of your attendees could be dramatically increased with the introduction of all-gender restrooms. Think about that the next time you plan an event and devour the details of a successful guest experience!

Did Someone Say, Field Trip?

Trillium Brewing Company is bringing back the Trillium Field Trip for another year featuring a line-up of breweries that will be sure to please. Grab your sunscreen and tag along for great beer and fun, just don’t forget to bring your signed permission slip!

Join Trillium and friends this Saturday, August 10th at 100 Royall Street in Canton, MA for a two-session invitational. Expect pours of an all-star lineup of beers. And don't worry about packing your lunch, they'll have a variety of stellar food trucks to hit every craving!

Only 300 VIP tickets and 1,200 General Admission tickets are available per session, up to 4 per person (plus kids!) Tickets for both sessions will be sold on a first come first served basis and can be purchased online here. A portion of the proceeds from Field Trip will be donated to one of Trillium's incredible charity partners.

Session 1 
VIP: $100/ticket (plus fees and tax) 11:00 – 4:00 p.m.
(1) Hour Early Entry Access to the Festival
(1) Commemorative Trillium Field Trip 6.5 oz Glass
(5) Beer Tickets
Pours of world-class beers, live entertainment, games and more!
General Admission: $50.00 (plus fees and tax) 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

(1) Commemorative Trillium Field Trip 6.5 oz Glass
(5) Beer Tickets
Pours of world-class beers, live entertainment, games and more!
Kids Ticket: $10.00 (plus fees and tax)

Session 2 
VIP: $100/ticket (plus fees and tax) 5:00 – 10:00 p.m.
(1) Hour Early Entry Access to the Festival
(1) Commemorative Trillium Field Trip 6.5 oz Glass
(5) Beer Tickets
Pours of world-class beers, live entertainment, games and more!
General Admission: $50.00 (plus fees and tax) 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

(1) Commemorative Trillium Field Trip 6.5 oz Glass
(5) Beer Tickets
Pours of world-class beers, live entertainment, games and more!

For more information, visit Trillium's website. Otherwise, get the permission slip signed and join us in devouring the details of this ultimate field trip. Cheers!

Wedding Wednesdays: The Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Band or DJ

Let's be honest here: music can make or break a party, which means the band or DJ is one of the most important factors of your reception. And you definitely don't want to hire someone without thoroughly vetting them first. Ask the below questions posed by The Knot when you meet with any potential musicians to find the right fit for you. You'll be glad you did!

1. How would you describe your style?
You need to figure out if their style will work with the vibe you're going for. If you want an elegant cocktail party with lots of casual conversation, a band that describes itself as "rock and roll with a whole lotta edge" is a music mismatch.

2. Can we come listen to you perform?
Seeing them perform live will give you the best idea about what your wedding entertainment would actually sound and feel like. While most musicians and the couples that hire them mutually agree in advance that the wedding is closed to prospective clients, some will have mini "concerts" for the public to attend and see whether they're a good fit or not.

3. Do you know our reception space and its acoustic, power and amplification requirements? If not, will you check it out beforehand?
Your musicians may need an extension cord, backup generator or other supplies, and it's important to know this beforehand. If they don't want to check out your venue, cross them off your list.

4. Can you play the songs that are important to us (such as a traditional Jewish hora tune or a favorite pop hit)?
The band or DJ should be able to play, learn or download any tune you'd like. If a band says "yes," but they'll need to learn and/or arrange it, ask them if they'll charge for that.

5. How many musicians are in the band, and available? How many vocalists? Are there different options as far as how many musicians/instruments we can hire?
If you're interviewing a DJ, you want to know if they work with a partner, and if it's a band, who exactly would be there on the day of. Note: Hiring only a portion of an amazing band is a smart way to stick to a strict budget.

6. Would we need to rent any instruments (a piano, for example) or equipment (extra speakers or a stage)?
Find out exactly what equipment they bring, and what you need to rent (or borrow from the venue). You'll also want to know if you'll have to hide equipment if it's particularly unsightly (with draping, for instance). You want your wedding to be a beautiful event, not look like an electronics store.

7. Do you plan to use lighting or any other special effects?
Beyond music, some pros may bring special lighting and/or effects, like a fog machine, while others will stick to the tunes. If your pro does amp up his performance with specific effects, they may be standard or they may cost extra, so ask and get all prices written into your contract.

8. Who will do the setup?
The day of the wedding, someone needs to set up the sound system—usually a person from the company supplying the music. You'll need to give the name of the person to the venue coordinator and arrange a time that works for everyone.

9. How do you ensure a comfortable sound level for all the guests?
You want to have a plan for dealing with volume control and sound-sensitive guests. Here's the deal: What your 14-year-old cousin thinks is the perfect volume is different from what your 89-year-old grandma is willing to put up with. If you have a fun dance-off going, you don't want people who aren't participating to have to shout like they're at a crowded bar.

10. What do you typically wear?
A potential band or DJ will usually have several professional choices for you to pick from, such as a tuxedo or simple coordinated outfits, like black shirts and slacks.

It doesn't hurt to ask! Be prepared and devour the details of the best music for your wedding day by asking these top 10 questions from The Knot.

August Tap Takeovers at City Tap

In August, City Tap House will team up with three of their favorite breweries for a series of summertime tap takeovers.

Collective Arts Brewing’s “Painting on the Patio Pop-Up” – August 6 from 7-10pm:
Collective Arts Brewing, the Ontario-based grassroots beer company fusing the craft of brewing with the inspired talents of emerging artists & musicians, will be in the house for a night of brews, live music and an appreciation for the arts. While Joe Marino from Summer Sunsets play a live set and East Longmeadow’s own Dan McKeever live paints on the patio, sip on Collective Arts’ liquid masterpieces including Ransack the Universe IPA, Hazy State, Surround Sound, Guava Gose and Circle the Sun, an apple-cherry cider.

“Getaway to Our House” with Cisco Brewers – August 21 from 5-7pm:
Cape Cod Oysters and Cisco Brewers will be crossing the bridge to the mainland for a reverse summer getaway. With complimentary oysters, beer tastings and live music on City Tap’s fire pit-lined patio, sunset seekers will sip on Shark Tracker and Cisco’s newest IPA – the namesake of the event – Getaway on draught ($7 each) with Gripah and Whale’s Tale available by the can ($5 each). In addition to swag giveaways, Cisco Brewers also will be showcasing its vodka brand, Triple Eight Distillery, with specialty cocktails.

Captain Lawrence Tap Takeover – August 28 from 5-9pm:
Straight out of New York, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company will traveling to #RedSoxNation for a tap takeover with some of their most sought-after creations that had limited availability in Massachusetts. With live vocals by Please Respond, the Hudson Valley craft brewery will tap Galactic Dog, Tears of Green, American Funk, Hylo and their dessert-laced collaboration with Carvel, Cookie O’Puss.

We can't wait to tap into these brews! Join us throughout August at City Tap and devour the details of these awesome takeovers!

Monday Mashups: How VidCon Attracts the Most Media-Savvy Audience

In 2018, VidCon general manager Jim Louderback according to BizBash proclaimed that VidCon attracts “the most media-savvy audience in the world.” How you ask? Let's find out!

This idea once again reign true on display at the 10th edition of the convention, its second since being acquired by Viacom. The four-day event, which ran from July 10 to 13 at the Anaheim Convention Center, drew 75,000 fans, video creators, social media influencers, and other industry attendees.

This year, the convention—which was named to BizBash’s list of Southern California’s top 100 events again this year—tested out some formatting changes, most notably with the addition of six-minute case studies, a series of rapid-fire presentations from the likes of Netflix, Microsoft, Chipotle, and Electronic Arts.

The convention also featured the inaugural pet programming zone this year, co-hosted by animal-focused YouTube channel The Dodo. The area offered panels on how to turn your pets into social media stars and featured meet-and-greets with famous animals including Sunglasses Cat, Escobar the Bearded Dragon, and dog and pig duo Pickles and Dill.

In another shift from previous years, TikTok was arguably the biggest winner of the weekend: The short-form video platform—which has 1.2 billion monthly users and was the third most-installed app worldwide so far this year—had a presence at VidCon for the first time. While popular YouTube creators were given extra security and private transportation after massive crowding in previous years, TikTok stars were still largely accessible to fans, generating the weekend's biggest buzz.

One place that TikTok stars were not accessible, though, was the platform's ultra-exclusive—and ultra-buzzy—after-party at Bowlmor Lanes. The guest list was strict: Only creators could enter, meaning fans and marketers were stuck following the festivities from afar.

One thing stayed the same, though: Brands such as YouTube, Facebook, MTV, Adobe, NBCUniversal, and more asked the Gen Z-focused crowd to embrace their creative sides at colorful, interactive booths, lounges, and activations.

With activations such as these, it's not surprise VidCon attracts the most media-savvy audience. Take some tips from these amazing creators and devour the details of attracting the right guests to your next event!

The Roaring Twenties Lawn Party is Back & Better Than Ever

Presented by Boston Swing Central and The Trustees, The Roaring Twenties Lawn Party is a true celebration of vintage culture! Attracting thousands of guests in Gatsby-esque apparel, this retro picnic features live music and dancing, performances, lawn games, a vintage faire and more.

Come this Saturday or Sunday or make it a weekend and come both days! Throughout the weekend you’ll find swing dance and Charleston lessons; special performances by Boston dance groups; and amazing jazz bands performing on two stages. Full lineup of music and performances can be viewed here.

Pre-order a picnic supper from Ferreira Foods by July 29 and pick it up on-site. Ferreira Foods, Kelly's Roast Beef, Amigos Locos, Down River Ice Cream, & Q's Nuts will be on-site throughout the weekend. Picnics from home are welcome, but please no outside alcohol. Mill River Winery, Ipswich Ale Brewery, and Far From the Tree Cider will sell beverages in the Bootleggers Garden.

Castle Hill is part of The Crane Estate, encompassing more than 2,100 acres overlooking Crane Beach, Crane Wildlife Refuge, and winding salt marshes. Guests will enjoy the extraordinary atmosphere and breathtaking views along the half-mile-long manicured lawn: The Grand Allée. The Great House, perched high above beautiful Crane Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, was finished in 1928, and has the opulent feeling of the 1920s. Schedule a 1929 tour of the Great House mansion on the half hour $15 non-member & $5 member.

New for 2019:
Afternoon Tea in the Italian Garden 
It's afternoon tea time. And there's no better place to enjoy a relaxing cup of tea than in the beautiful Italian Garden. Catch up with your friends and luxuriate in the serenity of the garden. Or just drink in the sun, enjoy a biscuit, and watch your milk swirl into your Earl Grey. Seating is limited to 48 people per day. Service will begin at 4 pm sharp. Tables will accommodate 4 guests each. Parties of less than 4 will be seated with other guests.

Tickets can be purchased online here. Don't miss your chance to party like the Great Gatsby! Find your Old Sport and devour the details of this roaring twenties themed event on the beautiful Crane Estate lawn!