This weekend is the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, and what better way to explore Chinese culture than a visit to Chinatown in Boston?

First, some history: The Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated since 3,000 years ago during the Western Zhou Dynasty. This year’s festival falls on Sunday, September 30th, but because ancient China used the lunar calendar, the exact date changes from year to year on our solar calendar. Celebrations include gathering with family for a meal, carrying colorful lanterns, and eating moon cakes.

Legend also has it that moon cakes were used in overthrowing Mongolian rule in China during the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). Rebels distributed moon cakes that secretly contained slips of paper spreading the word to “revolt on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.” The successful rebellion resulted in the dawn of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Moon cakes are pastries made with a sweet lotus seed paste and can be found all over Chinatown this time of year. You can spot them in every pastry shop window in a variety of sizes. They are commonly filled with sweet red bean paste or large salted egg yolks representative of the moon. Moon cakes are pretty dense and are usually cut into small slices and shared with friends, so bring a couple of your buddies for a fun day in Boston’s Chinatown!

Recommended restaurants:

Gourmet Dumpling House (52 Beach Street)

It is rare to see Gourmet Dumpling House without a line out the door because it is so delicious! The restaurant specializes in Northern Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine, which emphasize noodles and dumplings. Their best dishes include (of course) dumplings of any kind, home style braised eggplant, kung pao chicken, and beef noodle soup.

Peach Farm Seafood (4 Tyler Street)

You’ve had fish and chips, and lobster rolls. Now get ready for seafood Chinese style!  Peach Farm serves some great clams in black bean sauce, salt and pepper shrimp, lobster with ginger and scallion, and any kind of fish (which they will bring live in a bucket to the table for you to inspect before throwing it in the pan).

Hong Kong Eatery (79 Harrison Avenue)

You can’t miss Hong Kong Eatery, because they’ve got whole roasted ducks hanging out in the window! If you’re lucky, you’ll spot a whole roast pig there as well. Hong Kong Eatery’s menu is typical of Cantonese casual dining, which is usually a hit with young, old, rich, and poor alike. The roast duck is great, and you can order it paired with Chinese BBQ pork (a must) and/or crispy roast pork (if available). Their fried rice and wonton noodle soups are also always great.

China Pearl (9 Tyler Street)

For a real dining adventure, head to China Pearl where you can have a traditional dim-sum brunch. At a dim-sum restaurant, servers push around carts of food to each table, where you can pick and choose dishes to be shared with the rest of the table. Typically, each dish is small so that you can sample a large variety of foods. Favorite dim-sum foods include pork buns, shrimp dumplings, turnip cakes, sticky rice, and egg tarts (a close cousin of the Portuguese custard pastry).

The best part of eating in Chinatown is that meals come relatively cheap. Just remember to bring cash, because a lot of places don’t take plastic. Chinatown is conveniently located next to several T stops and is also right next to the Boston Common, where you can enjoy a nice stroll in the park after stuffing yourself with Chinese treats and wandering through Chinatown’s many novelty shops.

New Bedford High School teachers and students began the 2012-2013 school year with access to new educational technology tools in the classroom.  Twenty classrooms at New Bedford High School were outfitted with interactive white boards (Promethean boards) as well as laptop computers and interactive slate boards with the ability to communicate with the interactive boards. Teachers received training on the new technology and will use the tools to engage students in a more interactive classroom environment.

The New Bedford Public School District was able to purchase the technology after the City Council agreed to Mayor Mitchell’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Proposal to invest $1 million in additional funds for the school department which was facing a budget crisis.

The City’s unprecedented investment in the school district was used to enable the schools to purchase adequate textbooks and other education technology tools to help students succeed.  The school department’s textbook accounts had previously suffered drastic cuts in order to plug deficits in other areas.

Mayor Jon Mitchell said, “We used a mixture of new revenue and spending cuts to close the school budget gap and I am pleased that as a direct result of the cooperation of the City Council and School Committee our students will have access to new textbooks and innovative, interactive technology in the classroom.”

New Bedford City Council President Steven Martins said, “The City Council believes in providing the right tools and technology necessary to help our New Bedford students succeed.  Supporting the budget proposal, we knew it would better help our children learn and succeed. We strongly believe that in shaping the future, our children and our schools must come first.”

On August 26th, the Zeiterion Theatre had the honor of hosting R&B/Soul legend Al Green. The Reverend Al Green is one of those guys that you know more songs from than you think you do. The big hit was “Let’s Stay Together”, but he had THIRTEEN Billboard Top 40 hits! “Let’s Get Married”, “Love and Happiness”, “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)”, “Take Me to the River” (no, that was NOT a Talking Heads original!), and many more.

Your Intrepid Reporter arrived at the concert 15 minutes late (I had to attend a goodbye party for a friend moving to China, is THAT a good enough excuse for you???), so I missed half of Al’s opening act, Jesse Dee. This was a good thing. Although the Boston Globe described him as “A mix of John Legend, James Hunter and Al Green”, I beg to differ. I found his music to be blandly Adult-Contemporary, his band soulless, and I was happy when he left the stage. (In his defense, I stumbled upon a performance he did at the Regetta Bar in Cambridge on YouTube, and it was pretty damn good. Perhaps he was having an off night?)

Al came on to much applause and genuine love, looking very dapper in a black suit and sunglasses. He was not afraid to feature members of his nine-piece band, including his guitarist, keyboardist and horn section, giving all their names and letting them solo. Especially his second keyboardist, who was from Boston (this got thunderous applause, and screams of pride). His four-piece back-up singers featured three women…all of whom were his daughters! The Reverend showcased them on a version of “Amazing Grace”, having them sing this classic very quietly and then loudly, which they did in effortless beauty.

An ordained reverend since 1976, spirituality did play a part in his performance. Especially when he informed us, “I’m a child of God, I can make you dance!” (If all Men of God were like him, you’d be in church every Sunday, wouldn’t you?) Al thanked the Lord for letting him perform music for FOUR decades, and counting.

At 67 years old, age had not diminished him, just lessened him, slightly. He EFFORTLESSLY hit all the high notes in his hits. After holding one note for awhile, he informed us, “See? You have to still hold it!” He did stop twice, putting his head down and his hands on his knees, catching his breath before the next onslaught. Nevertheless, the show ran an extra 15 minutes. “As you can see, we like to rock”, he said, after turning “Love and Happiness” into an extended jam, bringing the horn section to the front of the stage.

The audience, although not at capacity, loved him. Many people left their seats to come to the front right side, to snap pictures and dance (maybe I was with them….for most of the concert). I’ll never forget the older lady in the wheelchair, jamming in her chair and loving Al even more than the rest of us. Al proved to be the consummate gentlemen, hanging out long-stemmed roses to the ladies in an unlimited supply. He asked “May I come back again?” and we screamed “Yes!” and women threw their underwear on stage (I might be remembering this wrong).

After multiple shouted requests, Al finally got to “Let’s Stay Together”, encouraging the audience to “sing along.” Although Al didn’t have the energy to move like the old days, he had two backup dancers to keep the energy up, as well as the audience.

Some of the more mind-blowing parts of his performance were covers. From his left-field version of Roy Orbison’s “(Oh) Pretty Woman” (one of my favorite artists), to his wonderful medley of Motown classics: “Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch”, “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”, “Can’t Get Next to You” and others.

After missing James Brown a few years ago, (and only a few months before he died), my New Year’s resolution this year was to see as many of the all-time greats as I could before they passed on. With recent guests like B.B. King, Al Green, Buddy Guy and Joan Rivers (I missed her winter performance, regretfully), the Zeiterion Theatre makes it EASY. Any chance we can get the Isley Brothers, Z?

Once upon a time, or in the 1820s to be exact, there was a brothel run out of the shell of a whaling vessel right here in New Bedford. This city has been a chameleon of sorts over the centuries being famous or infamous for a variety of commodities, industries, and shall we say activities of the constructive and base kind.

New Bedford’s Early History and Crime
As with any city that is economically sound, money will attract both good and bad elements and it was certainly the case in the 1820s. New Bedford had its share of gambling halls, brothels, saloons, ruffians and rogues of varying degrees. At many points throughout the city’s history these bad elements got so bad that people resorted to mob violence to fill in the void due to the police department’s lack of manpower, ability or in rare cases desire. Surely corruption played at some level.

By 1826, the time this tale takes place, New Bedford’s population reached approximately 6,000 people. For comparison, Boston had approximately 50,000 people and New York City around 150,000 people. New Bedford at this time was entering one of what would be many stages where it was infamous for this bad element. One could cynically say that this character trait has always been a part of New Bedford and the two have never been separated.

It was during this time that one neighborhood in particular stood out for these exact characteristics. The neighborhood was called the “Hard Dig” and centered where Kempton Street would meet the waterfront, if Route 18 and Route 6 weren’t there. Water Street, and the streets called High Street and Charles street that are no longer present, were also streets that were part of the “Hard Dig.” High Street met at the foot of today’s Fairhaven/New Bedford Bridge. While High Street and Charles street have separate names, High Street was technically an extension of Charles Street. This street ran parallel and south of Kempton Street.

The Camillus on Ark Lane
At the foot of Water Street and High Street was a peculiar building. This building was odd enough that the street it laid on and that Water and High street abutted, was called Ark Lane. The name hints at this odd structure. The building was called the “Ark” because this residence, unlike any other in the city was a sea vessel called “The Ark” that became too old and unsound to be considered seaworthy. The Ark was broken up and it’s stern or rear portion was merged with an old whaling hulk, called “The Camillus.”

Atop this odd structure a house was built, with a four foot wide walkway circling it. One set of stairs permitted egress. The ship/building rested on the shore at the water’s edge, was kept upright by keel blocks and high enough so that when high tide arrived it would not set it afloat.

Originally, it was said the unnamed occupants were “…decent people of moderate means.” However, the city had other plans. “Progress” could not be halted. It’s not stated how or exactly when the building made the leap from residence to brothel, but considering the neighborhood that it was in, it was seemingly inevitable. The general populace who considered themselves morally upright and decent folk, found this brothel (and neighborhood) objectionable and abhorrent. A one Jake Peterson was said to be “…the leader of the place.” implying his status as a local crime lord or kingpin and he figures into the story a bit later.

The Hard Dig Neighborhood
It wasn’t uncommon in the “Hard Dig” for people to turn up missing and so the story of a ship’s carpenter having disappeared didn’t stand out as particularly disturbing news. On one of the hot August summer days of 1826, a number of boys were out harvesting Huckleberries, a fruit very similar to a blueberry, in the woods near the “Hard Dig” neighborhood. While doing this, echoing Stephen King’s novel “The Body” or the movie “Stand By Me”, they came across the body of a dead, adult male – our missing ship’s carpenter. This sent the boys into a tizzy and they raced back into town to inform the officials of their morbid discovery.

In the few short minutes, it took the boys to run into town, inform the authorities and for the group to arrive, the body had been removed. However, the offender or offenders that carried the body away knew that they were pressed for time and in their haste, they left enough evidence behind to remove any doubt that there was indeed a body.

Apparently, the police department was either unequipped or uninterested in following up on this crime. Perhaps they felt it was yet, just another crime in a crime-riddled area that no one particularly cared about. Perhaps, they didn’t work at a frantic enough pace to the populace’s liking. Either way, a number of people were fed up and were determined to take action and do something. That evening a mob formed on Kempton street in spite of attempts by others to “read the Riot Act” or stem the growing mob. This mob took up stones, pick axes, ladders, crowbars, and anything else they could get their hands on.

An Attempt to burn down the Ark; Mob Justice
The first thing they took their angst out upon was Jake Peterson’s residence. Using sheer manual manpower, they smashed the building until it collapsed. Fueled by their quick success they continued on to other buildings owned by less reputable citizens and within two hours had been responsible for substantial damage in the “Hard Dig.” Records indicate that fires were allowed to burn freely and that the fire department was present, but only took action to save surrounding residents. We know this since a Capt. Joseph Wilcox, Jr. from the fire department had said as much.

Wanting a coup de grace to cap off the night, some proposed destroying the Ark. However, having been a night filled with arduous work, with fatigue settling in, and out of respect for of the death of a baby of one of the prostitutes, they decided to take action the following evening.

This gave those who “worked” the Ark fair warning of the mob’s intentions and allowed them to prepare to defend themselves. They took up anything that could be thrown and prepared a sufficient amount of scalding hot water to dump on anyone. A Timothy Griffin tried to disperse the crowd with another failed attempt to read the Riot Act. The mob continued where they left off from the evening before and began to smash, burn, and demolish.

After a give and take battle, the mob brought forth a cannon, loaded a cartridge and threatened the occupants. However, this was a bluffing maneuver since the cannon was a “Quaker’s” cannon or a cannon that did not actually fire anything in compliance with their tenet of non-violence. Their tactic worked and the occupants abandoned “ship” and the mob immediately seized upon the “Ark” with the same fervor they had the previous evening. They made short work of the Ark with their crowbars, ladders, axes, and other tools and the Ark was utterly destroyed.

These actions resulted in a few score individuals being summoned to give account at court in Taunton. However, everyone involved claimed to have seen and heard nothing.

The Ark Reborn
As mentioned earlier, New Bedford has never really shrugged off its darker side and it always has been and always will be part of its flavor. A physical structure was destroyed, but the darker elements did not dissolve and it didn’t take long for a second Ark to pop-up.

And it didn’t take long for a second riot to crop up.

The incarnation of the Ark was up and running in by 1829. This structure was the old hull of the merchant brig “The Indian Chief.” and was located just a little north-west of where the first ark sat. This “business” was run by a fellow named Titus Peck, and he was described as “…a bully and desperado,” and his cohorts were said to terrorize the entire town, including the officials.

That spring a mysterious fire erupted and burnt down the Elm Street Methodist Episcopal Church. It was a common belief, in spite of the lack of evidence, that those responsible were Peck and his crew. It didn’t take long for the rumor to spread like the church’s fire and for a town meeting to be held to come up with ways to remedy the matter. Over 200 citizens showed up and town officials did their level best to quell the uprising, including many very influential personages and iconic historical figures like Zachariah Hillman, Jethro Hillman, Francis Taber, Samuel Rodman, Thomas Mandell, J.A. Parker, and Barney Taber.

This had little to no effect since a plan was derived to rid the town of the Ark once and for all and the folks were determined to stick with it. To complete what the first mob did not. At 9:00 p.m. that evening a mob formed. Part of the mob consisted of fire department officials as evidenced by the presence of a hook and ladder truck and the eyewitness report that stated “…25 men, distinguished by their uniform coats turned inside out, trousers covered in white canvas at the knees, and slouch hats.”

The fire department was not there to save the Ark, but protect the surrounding residences and business and nothing more. With the ringing of a local church’s bells and the cry of “Jerry is in town!!! Hurrah for the Ark!!!” the mob descended down Ark Lane and began to manually smash the Ark and battle with Peck and his crew. At midnight, the mob was in a frenzy and torched the ark and by morning nothing but embers remained. The fire department was commended for what it didn’t do even though the fire did spread and destroy many surrounding buildings.

The Start of the Protecting Society
On July 30th, 1830 a town meeting was held to try to prevent the public from rioting and a group consisting of 110 men called the Protecting Society was created and became part of the New Bedford Fire Department. These men were assigned to the task of preventing mob violence in the future.

Regardless, riots broke out in 1856 because of poor conditions on Howland and South Water streets which were full of dance halls (Oh my!), saloons, gambling houses, hotels and there were frequent fights, robberies, and other crimes. When there were indications of a mob rising, Mayor George Howland Jr. began to prepare to quell yet another similar riot, but he was too late. Saturday, April, 19 the Howland Street Riots broke out. 17 Howland Street was torn down and burned and when the fire department showed up to put the fire out, the mobsters cut the hose. There were too many mobsters for even the police to have an effect and little could be done until the men dispersed around midnight.

In 1836 William W. Swain erected a stone building at the site where the Ark stood at 160 North Water Street at the lawn in front of the current Standard-Times building. It was almost as if it was erected there to prevent any future arks from being started! This building eventually was taken over by Charles S. Paisler who had two businesses on the site and who the building would be named after.

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#1: Apparently there was a surplus of sea vessel hulls and it wasn’t that uncommon to build a house atop them! (Whaling Museum Photo)
#2: The first Ark built by Asa Smith by the Whaling Museum
#3: This Whaling Museum photo shows a view down North Water Street from Ark Lane, where the first ark stood.
#4: The Charles Paisler building at 160 North Water Street by Spinner Publications.
#5: Perhaps the most common painting of the ark in circulation.
#6: A realistic and probably most accurate depiction of the ark that uniquely captures a building in the background. Whalin Museum.
#7: Another depiction of the Ark by the Whaling Museum.

How are the Hawaiian Islands and New Bedford connected?  What is our shared history?  Did Hawaiians come to live here in our community?   Discover the connection between Hawaii and New Bedford at Our Pacific Cousins event on Saturday, October 6, from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm with New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The day will be filled with activities for children and adults, including crafts, games, and a talk given by rangers Lucy Bly and Judy Roderiques entitled, “What we discovered on our trip to Hawaii.” Bly and Roderiques travelled to Hawaii last year on an Albright-Wirth grant, and will share the results of their research at this talk. The event is free and will take place at the park visitor center, located at 33 William Street, downtown New Bedford.

Activities are as scheduled:

10:00 AM-12:00 noon

• Craft activities, including make a lei, get a “tattoo,” create a fish mobile, and more.  Games include Hawaiian bowling, hula hoop and “pig hunting”.
• Film on historical and present day Hawaii.
• Exhibits include King Kalakaua and his visit toNew Bedford, our shared history and the meaning and tradition of tattoo, leis, kapa cloth and other customs.

1:00 p.m.

• Overview of Research with Lucy Bly and Judy Roderiques:   What they discovered on their journey to Hawaii.

2:00-3:00 p.m.

• Continuation of exhibits, crafts and games.

3:00 p.m.

• The women’s perspective:  Ruth and Abby talk about Hawaii.  Light refreshments served.

This is a public service announcement for three hazardous waste and paper drop-off events scheduled in October for New Bedford and Dartmouth residents.

Sharps Drop-off Day for the safe disposal of needles, syringes and lancets will take place on October 13th from 9 a.m. to noon at the Shawmut Avenue Transfer Station, 1103 Shawmut Avenue. Sharps will only be accepted in red biohazard containers. Proof of New Bedford or Dartmouth residency required.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day will be held on October 20th from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Crapo Hill Landfill, 300 Samuel Barnet Boulevard. Proof of New Bedford or Dartmouth residency required.

Paper Shred Day will take place on October 27th from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot across from City Hall on the corner of William Street and North 6th Street. Open to residents and businesses of New Bedford and the surrounding communities. There is a $5 fee per box.

It’s hard to imagine that if you live in Greater New Bedford you haven’t heard of Rebecca Correia.  An incredibly talented singer, songwriter, and musician Rebecca is a featured artist at many of top music spots not just in this area, but nationally.  If you’re already a Rebecca Correia fan, here’s some great news: she is on the verge of releasing a new album and this article has all the details!  If you have yet to hear this triple threat talent, this is the perfect time to learn more about her.

Rebecca Correia was raised in Rochester, MA which makes her a local girl by all accounts, but her talent has taken her all across the nation and she has performed with many great artists including Natasha Bedingfield, Livingston Taylor, Tracy Bonham, Reel Big Fish, Black Eyed Peas, and Ryan Cabrera (to name a few).  Correia divides her time between the South Coast and Nashville and also performs everywhere in between; from NYC to LA.

I met with Rebecca Correia earlier this week at the ever wonderful Mirasol’s Cafe and I was excited to learn more about her new album, but also to get a better definition on how I should describe her to those who have never heard her play.  You see, Rebecca Correia doesn’t fall tidily into most radio categories; her music is emotionally charged and certainly has some country influence but also touches upon numerous other inspirations.

Thus, when I asked Rebecca that critical question “how would you describe your musical style?” she had an interesting answer; the singer/songwriter category.  You may not often hear a radio DJ say “and now, for the best of singer/songwriter hits…” but actually, some great musicians fall into this genre such as John Mayer and Torie Amos.  Rebecca told me that she usually describes her music as being most like Sheryl Crow, and I can definitely hear that when listening some samples on her website; www.rebeccacorreia.com.

Now to get to the details you have been waiting for; her new album.  Titled “Each and Every Detail” the album is a fan funded project that is only months away from release once it hits its nearby funding goal.  “It’s been overwhelming to have this response” Correia told me in regards to the number of fans who have donated to see this project come to reality, “The fans have made this possible.”

If you haven’t yet donated, it’s easy to see why others have.  The album will be what Rebecca Correia’s called her first “full band adventure” since 5 or 6 years ago.  “Full band adventure” seems like the best possible term when you hear about the collaborations she engineered for this album.  “I tried to pull as many of my favorite musicians together as I could to be a part of this… I made sure everyone was included.”  One of the highlights includes a duet with Matt Cusson, a singer/songwriter who has performed with big names like Brian McKnight and Christina Aguilera and was awarded the John Lennon Songwriting Award for Best Jazz Song in 2009.

Another highlight of the album includes tracks with Reggie and Jenny Lynn Young, a couple with amazing credentials and musical talent.  Reggie Young is a guitarist of legendary status as he had played on recordings for such names as Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.  His wife, Jenny Lynn, is a cellist and Rebecca Correia was excited to discuss the new dynamic this collaboration brought to her album.

Overall, the new CD promises to be varied in its sound and style and have lots of surprises for new and old fans alike.  She said the tracks will range from an indie vibe, to a guitar driven sound, to rock n’ roll and even a touch of R&B.  Needless to say, it’s a very musically inspired album.

According to Rebecca Correia, the music has been recorded and all that is left is for it to be mixed, mastered and printed.  In order for it to see the final stages of production, she is hoping for a last drive in fan funding. If you are hoping to be able to groove out to “Each and Every Detail” sooner than later, you can donate by following this link.  “Each and Every Detail” was so named after a lyric in one of her songs, and due to the fact that so many people were included in the making of it.  Hopefully you can become part of the vision by donating today!

Follow Rebecca on Facebook and Twitter for updates and future shows.

The warmth of summer is quickly disappearing, but the good news is that the fall event schedule kicks off this weekend with some major events in New Bedford. The weather this weekend looks to be in the high 60s/low 70s with a chance of rain on Sunday. Most of the events were pulled from our event calendar where you can find hundreds of local area events each month: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/calendar. Know of another event this weekend? Post a reply!

Friday, September 22nd

WHALE’s Annual Wine Festival (5:30 – 9 p.m.) 

The Waterfront Historic Area League is hosting their 22nd Annual Wine Festival at the Custom House Square across the street from Freestone’s Restaurant. It is truly an international wine festival with more than 150 wines, champagnes, ports, and beers from around the world. Tickets are $70 for WHALE members and $85 for non-members and at the door. For those that don’t know, WHALE uses the funds to refurbish historic New Bedford buildings. You can see a list of their past work here.

Truly Terrible Summer Poetry Soiree (6-8 p.m.)

The Standard Times will announce the winners of the summer poetry contest with a gathering at their building on 25 Elm Street. There will be poetry readings, live music and light refreshments. Admission is FREE, but they are accepting donations that will go directly to the Neediest Family Fund.

Play: Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs (21-23 September)

The final three showings of Brighton Beach Memoirs presented by Your Theatre Inc (136 Rivet Street, New Bedford) are from 21-23 September. From Wikipedia.org: “Set in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, New York in September 1937, this coming-of-age comedy focuses on Eugene Morris Jerome, a Polish-Jewish American teenager who experiences puberty, sexual awakening, and a search for identity as he tries to deal with his family, including his older brother Stanley, his parents Kate and Jack, and Kate’s sister Blanche and her two daughters, Nora and Laurie, who come to live there after their father’s death.” The Friday and Saturday showings start at 8 p.m. and the Sunday showing starts at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15, or $13 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 508-993-0772 or on the web at www.yourtheatre.org.

The 43rd Annual Bourne Scallop Fest (21-23 September)

If you love scallops, this is the event you’ve been waiting for. Hosted at Buzzards Bay Park, Main Street in Buzzards Bay, the Bourne Scallop Festival brings in over 50,000 visitors over the three day weekend. Besides the scallops, there will be a craft show, entertainment, rides and much more. Full details: http://www.bournescallopfest.com/

Saturday, September 22nd

Chase Rowing Race Around the New Bedford Harbor (8:30 – 11:30 a.m.)

The Chase will be on around New Bedford Harbor this Saturday, September 22, as the city and New Bedford Community Rowing host a 2½-mile rowing race for youth, collegiate, and adult rowers. Beginning on the New Bedford side of the southern end of the harbor, the course heads north through the Route 6 swing bridge, takes a sharp turn around a big buoy south of Route 95, proceeds south under Route 6 on the Fairhaven side, and ends at Pope’s Island. Full details: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/chase-race-new-bedford-harbor/2012/09/20

Downtown New Bedford Historic Walking Tour (10:30 am and 2:30 pm, every Saturday and Sunday)

New Bedford has a long and fascinating history, filled with stories of whalemen going to sea for years a time, wives left to run businesses, escaped slaves seeking freedom, and a connection to the sea that spans centuries. The public is invited to explore this history through free guided tours, offered weekends (Saturday and Sunday) at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM. Tours leave from New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s visitor center, at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. More details:http://www.newbedfordguide.com/historic-park-walking-tours-2/2012/09/07

Carabiner’s Fall Bouldering Festival (1-7 p.m.)

Looking for something unique to do this weekend? Head over to Carabiner’s Indoor Climbing (328 Parker Street, New Bedford) from 1-7 p.m. for their Fall Bouldering Festival. There will be climbing competitions, live music, a fashion show, a vendors market and more. General admission is FREE!

New Bedford Oktoberfest (3-11 p.m.)

The New Bedford Oktoberfest will be kicking off its 7th year of drinking brews and dancing to tunes on Saturday, September 22nd.  The fest takes place at Custom House Square in historic Downtown New Bedford and goes from 3-10 p.m.  Oktoberfest is not only a great time to try out some unique beers with your friends, it is also a major fundraiser for a great cause.  This year, proceeds will go to benefiting Star Kids and The Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County.  A fundraiser that involves drinking beer and listening to great music can’t be a bad time! Full details: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/new-bedford-oktoberfest-2012/2012/09/14.

Sunday, September 23rd

Tour the Museum of Fairhaven History (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Sundays are great days to soak up some local history. Located on the west lawn of Fairhaven High School (12 Huttleston Ave.), the Museum of Fairhaven History is operated by the Fairhaven Historical Society, and is a collection of artifacts and art related to Fairhaven’s history housed in an 1798 schoolhouse. Ongoing exhibition of photos of the summer mansion of Henry H. Rogers. Donation requested. Parking available in Fairhaven High School lot.

Fairhaven Farmers Market (1-4 p.m.)

The Fairhaven Farmers Market is located on the Fairhaven High School lawn and is held every Sunday afternoon through October 14th. Access the parking lot off Main Street to the rear of the Academy Building.

Enjoy a FREE Martial Arts Class (2-3:30 p.m.)

The New Bedford Fitness and Martial Arts Center (665 Orchard Street, New Bedford) offers a FREE week to all new students. Work off those scallops and beer from the weekend festivals while learning some useful self defense techniques. No experience required and you can bring a friend to workout with. Can’t attend Sunday? Full schedule of classes here: http://www.kagekontrol.com/?page_id=10

The Chase will be on around New Bedford Harbor this Saturday, September 22, as the city and New Bedford Community Rowing host a 2½-mile rowing race for youth, collegiate, and adult rowers.

Beginning on the New Bedford side of the southern end of the harbor, the course heads north through the Route 6 swing bridge, takes a sharp turn around a big buoy south of Route 95, proceeds south under Route 6 on the Fairhaven side, and ends at Pope’s Island.

With crews launching from and returning to a Pope’s Island dock, the island will also be the best place for spectators to see the race in two different spots.

Among those competing will be crews from Roger Williams University, Merrimack College, Bryant University; East Bay Rowing in Rhode Island, Style Driven Rowing and Community Rowing in Boston and, of course, New Bedford Community Rowing.

The oarsmen and women will be variously competing in singles (one-person boats), doubles, fours and eights.

Racing begins at 8:30 a.m. and is scheduled to conclude by 11:30 a.m.

All racing will be “head style:” Boats are sent across the start line at 20-second intervals and timed over the course. Racers work to catch up to boats that started ahead of them and to hold off those that started behind.

While that itself might explain the name “Chase,” it has a second meaning in New Bedford. “The Chase” is the name of the final section of “Moby Dick” in which Captain Ahab and crew chase Moby Dick.

The race is a collaborative effort of New Bedford Community Rowing, the Harbor Development Commission and the City of New Bedford – with Fairhaven officials assisting with provisions for course safety.

Main Card (Pay-per-view):
205#: Jon Jones (17-1) vs. Vitor Belfort (21-10) wins by Top Wrist Lock/Americana in RD 4!
125#: Joseph Benavidez (16-3) vs. Demetrious Johnson (16-2-1) wins by Split Decision!
185#: Michael Bisping (24-4) vs. Brian Stann (12-5) wins by Unanimous Decision!
205#: Matt Hamill (12-4) vs. Roger Hollett (13-4) wins by Unanimous Decision!
155#: Cub Swanson (18-5) vs. Charles Oliveira (16-2 1NC) wins by KO in RD1!

Preliminary Card (FX Channel):
205#: Igor Pokrajac (25-8) vs. Vinny Magalhaes (11-5 1NC) wins by Armbar in RD2!
155#: TJ Grant (19-5) vs. Evan Dunham (13-3) wins by Unanimous Decision!
170#: Sean Pierson (13-6) vs. Lance Benoist (6-2) wins by Unanimous Decision!
145#: Jimy Hettes (10-1) vs. Marcus Brimage (6-1) wins by Unanimous Decision!

Preliminary Card (Facebook):
170#: Seth Baczynski (17-6) vs. Simeon Thoresen (17-3-1) wins by Knock-Out in RD1!
135#: Mitch Gagnon (9-2) vs. Walel Watson (9-5) wins by Rear Naked Choke in RD1!
170#: Kyle Noke (20-6-1) vs. Charlie Brenneman (15-5) wins by Technical Knock-Out in RD1!

Ultimate Fighting Championship 152 takes place on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Facebook Prelims start at 7 p.m. EST before switching to FX Channel for the rest of the prelims at 8 p.m. EST. PPV begins at 10 p.m. EST. To watch the FREE prelims on Facebook simply visit their Facebook page and “like.”

Jon Jones vs Vitor Belfort
I’ll skip all the drama and hoopla that led to this specific match-up. It’s been hashed and re-hashed a thousand times. The betting lines have been as steep as -925, or a 9 to 1 favorite for Jon Jones. This alludes to the fact that Vitor Belfort has been fighting in the UFC for as long as anyone. He is an “old” fighter, who’s greatest recent accomplishment was beating Rich Franklin almost exactly 3 years ago. Outside of this major win, almost every time he has stepped up to fight a top opponent he has lost. Many point out that he lacks mental fortitude. He comes out explosive, dangerous and exciting and when things don’t go his way within the first few minutes he simply fades. He stepped up twice against Couture and lost, stepped up to Sakuraba, Liddell, Ortiz, Overeem, Dan Henderson, and Anderson Silva and lost. This is not to place harsh criticism, but point out the reasoning behind the betting line. He has a track record of fading after a few minutes and losing his big fights. It’s not something that is a given fact, as there are exceptions, but it is reliable enough that Vegas has placed odds at -925.

Talk about big fights – does it get bigger than fighting perhaps one of the greatest fighters in the sport’s history? One that has an 81% finish rate? Jones 6′ 4″ frame in a 205# body presents a serious problem for everyone. While “only” a JUCO wrestler he has proven that he has adapted his wrestling to MMA, almost more than any other wrestler, including those who are more accomplished. German Suplexes, Saltos, back arch throws, backstep tosses, and pretty much anything he wants, he does. He has demonstrated and improved striking with standing elbows, paying more attention to distance and measure, and has been vocal about wanting to get more KOs standing. He is young, motivated, and sees clearly he is on the path to becoming the sport’s greatest fighter.

This is a fight where Vitor needs to do what Vitor does: come out with all cannons firing, be fast, explosive, and get the fight over with as early as possible. Power never leaves and Belfort has it in spades. He can KO anyone in any weight class. If he fades in 3 round fights, he’ll never make it 5 rounds. He needs to end this fight ASAP. For Jones to win, he simply needs to not get pompous and arrogant and try to get flashy and fancy. Just execute his gameplan and he’ll have a finish in the second or third round. NBG Pick: Jones.

Joseph Benavidez vs Demetrious Johnson
The little guys are ALWAYS fun to watch and these two are exemplar examples of why. They are both busy, fast-paced, fighters who always put on an exciting show. Benavidez who has only ever lost to Dominick Cruz (2x) has string together four wins in a row. While a finisher early on in his career, at the top of the heap it gets more difficult to finish the best. He has finished 2 of his last four fights. He will have a very difficult time finishing “Might Mouse” Johnson and will need to be in the best shape of his life and execute the gameplan to a “T” to get one. His wrestling credentials will get plenty of use and should be part of his gameplan. While it won’t be easy, he needs to take Mighty Mouse down, keep him down, work to pass his guard to a superior position and work for a finish.

Demetrious Johnson moves so fast and at such a hectic pace that he looks like sped up film footage. He may be the fastest person in the sport today. Since moving down to Flyweight he has a draw and a win over the same fighter “Ian McCall.” He’ll be super motivated to get that championship belt. While not as accomplished of a wrestler, DJ did wrestle in high school. He will be giving up size and wrestling experience so his gameplan needs to revolve around keeping the fight standing and avoiding being taken down or kept down. This fight comes down to the wrestling factor: Can Benavidez take DJ down and keep him there? This is a championship fight, so as the fight goes on longer DJ will have a harder time fending off the takedowns. For this reason the NBG pick is: Benavidez.

Michael Bisping vs Brian Stann
In spite of having 16 fights in the UFC, Bisping has cemented his cash cow status by not only never having challenged for the belt, but has only fought a top ten fighter ONCE. The UFC built the British market on his shoulders and do not want him to go away. The one time he stepped up and fought a top ten opponent was Dan Henderson and his KO was one that is still discussed today. Bisping is slowly becoming aware that he is being protected by the UFC brass and knowing the brash, confident fighter he is, I don’t think it’s sitting well with him. Fighting Brian Stann is just the 17th fight where he is not fighting for the belt and not fighting a top ten opponent. It has gone past the point of being absurd now. The UFC needs to make him face top ten opponents IMMEDIATELY after this fight and point him towards a title shot.

Brian Stann is a big, strong, powerful fighter. He has one method or way to win: KO. He is new to wrestling and BJJ and it’s no secret that he will try to use his power and striking as he does in every fight. The problem is he will need to get near Bisping. One thing Bisping does well is utilize footwork and distance. Stann is going to have a hell of a time trying to catch Bisping, but what he needs to do to win is take a page from the Hendo fight and land a huge right hand….especially if Bisping stubbornly moves in the wrong direction into that right hand as he did in the Hendo fight. For Bisping to win, he’ll need to keep on his bicycle for a round or two, turn up the heat when the opportunities arise and he’ll be en route to winning a decision or even a TKO. Stann needs to come out super aggressive, let his hands go, wade through Bisping’s light punches, take a few to land just ONE. NBG pick: Bisping.

Matt Hamill vs Roger Hollett
Matt Hamill is coming out of retirement for this fight. He is also coming off of two losses…against Rampage Jackson and Alexander Gustafsson. The NCAA Div. III champ is young enough that a short retirement shouldn’t affect him too much. There are fighters who have taken longer injury time between fights. However, what will be questioned is his motivation. Does he have a passion for the sport? This is a TOUGH sport and if you lack the desire, you will fall by the wayside. Hamill is in a sense getting a “tune-up” fight. He should count his blessings, because while tune-up fights are a common gift in boxing they are extremely rare in MMA. Little is known of his opponent Roger Hollett. While he has an 85% finish rate he has not fought the best fighters in the world. This will either be a coming out fight for him or he will slide back into the ranks of the lesser known. Even with retirement and rust, Hamill has faced only top competition, and has the wrestling credentials therefore the NBG pick is: Hamill.

Cub Swanson vs Charles Oliveira
Cub Swanson has come a long way from his WEC days. Back then he lost the fights that mattered and he needed to: Jens Pulver, Jose Aldo, and Chad Mendes. When he came to the UFC and lost his first bought by Arm Triangle to Ricardo Lamas, things did not look good for Cub. They looked desperate. Cub dug down deep, made some changes, found his motivation and put together two very impressive TKO wins over George Roop and Ross Pearson. He certainly made a statement that he is back and fired up. He will need to not only maintain that fire, but stoke it against his opponent Charles Oliveira.

While Oliveira started out as a strike and strung together TKO wins, he then seemed to switch gears and put together nine submissions throughout subsequent bouts. Charles does everything, but wrestle, very well. He can KO you or submit you in a flash. Have any doubt? Only ONE person he has beaten has gone to a decision and he has a 94% finish rate. His two most notable wins are a Rear Naked Choke over Efrain Escudero and a Guillotine Choke on Jonathan Brookins. Having said these things, Cub has faced far better opposition and has far more experience in the big leagues.

This fight is really a toss-up. Does Cub’s experience win the day or does Oliveira bring his finish rate up to the big leagues. Cub would be better suited to avoid the ground to win this fight. I am not sure Oliveira’s wrestling is good enough to take Cub down and keep him there. I expect a barnburner of a striking match where the first one to unleash his power first wins. Tough pick: Oliveira.

Come back for the results, updates and animated gifs. What are your picks for the headline fight between Jones and Belfort? Does Stann get the KO? Who wins the bonuses?