The Miss New Bedford Scholarship Program is now seeking contestants for their 60th annual Miss New Bedford Pageant!  In honor of the program’s 60^th anniversary, Miss New Bedford will receive a $6,000 scholarship! Since the very first crowning of Miss New Bedford, Judith Drake, in 1954, the pageant has defined a legacy of success.  Over the past 59 years, the program has awarded more than $120,000 to winners and pageant participants.  Even more impressive is that Miss New Bedford participates tirelessly in community engagements and charitable events throughout her year.  Because the program provides a foundation for future success, Miss New Bedford titleholders have gone on to accomplish great things in all aspects of their lives from business to family, and community.  Now, it’s another young woman’s turn to win the opportunity of a lifetime….

The What and Why: A life-changing opportunity. Have fun, make new friends, win scholarship money, and earn the chance to stand beside elected officials, network with professionals, brush up on public speaking skills, and enhance your resume.  Titleholders and past contestants alike attribute their confidence, drive, and ambition to the skills they learned from competing.  Most say that the Interview phase of competition prepared them later in life to excel in professional interviews and achieve their career goals.

The Who: The pageant is open to young women, 17 to 24 years of age, living, working, or attending school in Acushnet, Assonet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Marion, New Bedford and Rochester.  The current reigning Miss New Bedford is Marlena Johnson.  A resident of New Bedford, she is an accomplished vocalist and an honors graduate of New Bedford High School.   She is employed by New Bedford Public Schools working for McKinney Vento as the Homeless Education Support and Data Specialist.  As Miss New Bedford, Marlena has worked closely with New Bedford Public School’s initiative “Where are YOU Headed?” drop-out prevention campaign.  Marlena received a $3,000 scholarship, in addition to another $1,800 from her placement as the 3^rd runner-up at this year’s Miss Massachusetts pageant.

The ‘Say What’?! The perks of being Miss New Bedford are endless.  Not only is there scholarship money at stake, but an outstanding prize package.  Local donors and sponsors contribute all the essentials for Miss New Bedford’s use throughout the year including wardrobe allowances, gift certificates, massages, hair and nail care, tanning, personal training and a gym membership, personal  make-up artistry, custom jewelry and more.  Then, there are the appearances!  Many requests are truly incredible!  This year’s Miss New Bedford received an all-inclusive trip to Florida to emcee a major event!

The How and NOW!:  Anyone interested should attend the upcoming informational meeting and orientation on Thursday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Cheryl McCormack Academy of Dance, 731 Tarkiln Hill Road, New Bedford (behind the King’s Highway Stop&Shop.)  Attendance creates no obligation to compete.  This is simply an information session, so please attend!  (The pageant will be held on Sunday, September 23rd.)  You must notify the facilitator of your attendance in advance.  You may do this by filling out the Contestant Registration Form at www.missnewbedford.org or email info@missnewbedford.org or call the Contestant Coordinator at 508-525-9972.

Welcome to our fourth installment of New Bedford Streets; A Piece of Americana. I invite you to read up on the history behind William Street, Kempton Street and Ashley Boulevard. As usual, I’d like to re-iterate the importance of reader feedback, correction, and contributions. In the process of exploring these streets, I try to confirm or validate statements and dates by finding multiple sources. Unfortunately, if all those sources are making their statement based on an older, incorrect source, and there isn’t any dissenting information available, there’s no way to know otherwise. So by all means, please join in.

In addition, when trying to validate some statements, often there is very little to no information available. I haven’t decided which is worse – finding one source, or finding multiple sources, but not knowing if they were all based on an inaccuracy. So help from local historians, those who remember, oral histories and anecdotes handed down through the generations, people with private collections, and even know-it-alls help!

In this installment, we are going to explore a street steeped in history and importance. Not only is it one of the oldest streets in the city, it was at one time the lifeblood of the the city and a connector between Bedford Village and Oxford Village (Fairhaven): Middle Street.

Middle street wasn’t always named so. It was originally called Bridge Street, since it connected to the New Bedford/Fairhaven bridge. If you were to fly low – in let’s say a helicopter – straight along Middle street in New Bedford, you would arrive on Bridge Street in Fairhaven, the original name of Middle Street! Today where Middle street in New Bedford would have connected to the bridge is cut off by the Elm Street parking garage and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway or Route 18. After you pass the current bridge and over the causeway, this street turns into Huttleston Avenue. However, if you were to bear right before that at the Pope Island Marina and somehow drove across the water, you would eventually be driving on Bridge Street in Fairhaven.

Fairhaven/New Bedford Bridge; A slight Diversion
Today’s bridge seems to serve more as an interruption to traffic, so let’s stick with that theme and take a slight diversion at the monster responsible for the dubbing of Middle Street. The original bridge was was built under William Rotch’s direction (and assisted by many others) in 1796 and served as a toll bridge. The fare for crossing the bridge in 1800 is known since we not only have quite a few mentions of it in historical documents, but tickets can still be found. Here is what it cost in 1800 to cross the bridge:

• 4 cents for each foot passenger.
• 6 cents for a foot passenger pushing a wheelbarrow or hand cart.
• 6 additional cents for a dozen head of cattle, swine, horses, or sheep.
• 12 cents for each person and a horse.
• 18 cents for each sleigh drawn by one horse, and 6 cents for each additional horse.
• 36 cents for each coach, wagon or sled or other carriage of burden.

Keep in mind at this time, Fairhaven was still part of New Bedford. Fairhaven wouldn’t incorporate until later in 1812. In 1807, a great tide came in and swept the bridge away. Of course being a major thoroughfare a new bridge replaced the old. Alas, it lasted only 8 years before heavy winds blew it down.

On September 29, 1815 a massive storm slammed into the region and raised tides by over 10 feet. The devastation and damage was catastrophic. Hundreds of homes and businesses were wiped away, ships including the Lagoda were stove in, damaged or destroyed. The storm coincided with high tide and came in so quickly that people had to abandon their stations. This did irreparable damage in terms of the loss of historical documents, account books, logbooks, city and town records, and more. The flooding waters were said to reach all the way to County Street.

New Englanders, known for their stubbornness, thrift and industriousness licked their wounds and got to rebuilding, and simply put up a third bridge in 1819. The curse seemed to lift and the bridge got to it’s 50th birthday in 1869, before nature reared her mighty head and another gale blew the bridge down yet a fourth time! In the bridge’s fifth reincarnation it was no longer a toll bridge and it was free for all to pass.

In 1899, construction began on the bridge to modernize it, place a swivel in it’s center, and shift it slightly to the north where it connected to Fairhaven. This construction was completed in 1902. That’s the bridge we all “love” and sits there today. I know there are more than a few people who would love for a gale or epic storm to come and wash this bridge away a final time. However, keeping with the aforementioned New Englander attributes, it would simply rise from the ashes like some evil Phoenix, waiting for the moment you are pressed for time, late for an appointment, or felt like relying on the warning sign.

A new street is born out of necessity
On the New Bedford side of the Acushnet River, Bridge Street abutted the farm owned by the Kemptons. In 1788 Ephraim Kempton, son of William Kempton was the current owner of the farm. His farm lay smack dab in the middle of physical and economic progress of the two cities. After people would cross Bridge Street and enter New Bedford they typically would go north or south along the waterfront or the many markets and businesses that lay on streets like Front, Water, Rodman and Centre. It was only a matter of time before people would, out of necessity need to get to other parts of the city in a more direct manner.

Ephraim decided to build a street going through the middle of his farm that connected to Bridge Street so as to maintain the progress of the city. Eventually the name Middle Street came into common parlance and replaced the Bridge Street name. The foresight that Ephraim had was born out as within that year Middle Street would undergo two extensions. Within 10 years it would reach County Street.

Middle Street Timeline
c1759: Granddaughter of Joseph Russel mentions an Indian Wigwam sat in the woods in what would eventually be Bridge and Middle Street.
1788: John Howland purchases property on the south side of Middle street and extends a wharf from it. Throughout the year the street would be extended two more times. First extended to meet Water Street, then to 2nd Street.
1792: Matthew Howland builds Samuel Rodman’s first house on the southwest corner of Middle and Water Streets.
1798: Middle Street is extended to County Road (now County Street.)
1799: McPherson-Bullock house built.
1804: John Avery Parker builds his first of many homes on the southeast corner of Purchase and Middle Streets.
1806: Post Office is moved to a site on Middle Street.
c1813: John Howland builds stone building for an oil manufacturing company on the corner of Middle and Water. It stood where is now the front of the Standard-Times Building on the JKF Memorial Highway.
1832: Post Office vacates it’s spot on Middle Street and locates to a small wooden building on Union Street.
1833: John Avery Parker purchases property at the foot of Middle Street and it’s called Parker Block.
1833: Sixth Street was extended from Elm Street to Middle Street. North Christian Church, designed by Russell Warren in a Greek Revival Style.
1836: The Post Office-Customs House is built.
1837: Middle Street is extended from County Street to Summer Street.
1844: Middle Street School is built.
1845: New Bedford High School built on the corner of Summer and Middle Street.
1852: Portions of Middle Street receive public sewer works.
1859: Vessel the John & Edward, 20 buildings, and 8,000 barrels of oil are burned in a fire that destroys sections of Middle Street.
1869: Possible first use of Macadam roads at Bridge Square.
1881: New Bedford Co-Operative Bank opens at 125 Middle Street.
1889: The New Bedford Co-Operative Bank becomes the Acushnet Co-Operative Bank.
1901: Main Building at Parker Block/Bridge Square torn down.
1902: The New Bedford Home for the Aged is incorporated at 396 Middle Street.
1922: North Christian Church is demolished and replaced with Sear’s Roebuck Store on corner of Middle and Purchase Streets.
1970: Explosion at 2:30 a.m. at 209 Middle Street, Sully’s Inn and Italian Spaghetti House.
1973: Urban renewal leads to the demolition of many houses.
1976: Middle Street becomes one of the boundaries for the County Street Historic District.
1980: Middle Street becomes one of the boundaries for the Central New Bedford Historic District, which includes City Hall.
2011: Hurricane Irene sends 4 boats crashing into the New Bedford/Fairhaven Bridge.

If you have any corrections, additions, advice or anecdotes to share please comment below or e-mail us at ngbarts@gmail.com.

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#01: Otis A. Sisson’s Soap Factory, 1869. Corner of N. Water and Middle Streets. By N.B. Whaling Museum.
#02: Elm Baptist Church circa 1920, Middle Street East of County. Photo by Joseph S. Martin.
#03: Christian Church circa 1870. Middle and 6th Streets with 2 children in foreground. By Stephen F. Adams.
#04: Old New Bedford Custom House Corner – Water and Middle Streets. Photo by Gifford R. Swain.
#05: Corner of Middle and Purchase Streets. Photo by N.B. Whaling Museum.
#06: New Bedford High School circa 1905 on Middle & Summer Streets. By N.B. Whaling Museum.
#07: McPherson-Bullock House on corner of Middle and North Second Streets circa 1905. By Fred W. Palmer.
#08: Parker Block/Bridge Square at the end of junction of Bridge and Middle Streets. By N.B. Whaling Museum
#09: Parker Block/Bridge Square rounding Middle Street to Front Street. By N.B. Whaling Museum.
#10: Health department – 116 Middle Street. By Spinner Publications.
#11: Looking down Middle Street 1934. By Spinner Publications.
#12: School at Middle and Summer Streets. By Spinner Publications.
#13: Northwest corner of Purchase and Middle Streets. By Spinner Publications.
#14: Purchase and Middle Street circa 1940s.

If you would like more photos like those in the gallery, both Spinner Publications and the New Bedford Whaling Museum have Flickr accounts with thousands of images.

Quakers. For some, this religious group is associated with the past. And while it’s true that Quakers were instrumental in the founding of “Old Dartmouth” (the greater New Bedford area), Quakers are still very much alive, present, and steeped in strong religious conviction on the South Coast. Explore the Quaker way with Quaker Heritage Day on Sunday, September 2, from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm with New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The National Park, in collaboration with the Seamen’s Bethel and the New Bedford Friends Meeting House. The day will be filled with activities for children and adults, including crafts, games, lectures, a picnic lunch, dress-up activities, and dance. The event is free and will take place at several locations in downtown New Bedford, including the park visitor center, located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford, the Seamen’s Bethel at 15 Johnny Cake Hill, and the Friends Meeting House at 83 Spring Street.

In a press conference today New Bedford Police Chief David A. Provencher and Mayor Jon Mitchell announced the recovery of a police-issue AR-15 assault rifle and thirty rounds of ammunition which were recently stolen from the trunk of a unmarked police vehicle that was parked in the driveway of an officer’s home. Full details on the theft here.

The recovery comes after an intense two-week search in which New Bedford Police enlisted assistance from a range of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The additional supported proved crucial as the Fairhaven Police Department received key information which lead to the recovery.

“I promised that we’d leave no stone left unturned, and that’s exactly what the men and women of this Department did. We also owe a debt of gratitude to our law enforcement partners in Fairhaven, Acushnet, and at other agencies. Without them we might not have achieved such a positive outcome.”

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell praised the Police Department’s professionalism, “Residents of New Bedford can breathe a lot easier knowing, not only that this weapon is off the streets, but that we have a talented police force that reacts effectively when it finds itself in difficult circumstances and rises to the occasion. The recovery of this dangerous weapon is the product of good old-fashioned police work.”

“Over the last 2 weeks New Bedford Detectives had been following leads and tips from the public regarding a stolen AR-15 patrol rifle from an unmarked detectives vehicle.  Last night Fairhaven and Acushnet Police received information about a rifle that was being moved about in the streets. This led to a wooded area on Pembroke Avenue in Acushnet, MA.  After searching for several hours the rifle was recovered wrapped in a canvas bag and slightly buried. Also recovered were two loaded feeding devices, one with 20 rounds and one with 30 rounds. All the rounds are accounted for.

UPDATE

Two males have been arrested and will be arraigned this morning in New Bedford District Court.  The investigation is quite active and more arrests are anticipated.

Brandon Pierce, 8/12/90 of 1 Main St. Acushnet, Ma

Joshua Amaral, 11/2/90 of 115 John St. Acushnet Ma.

Charges:

• Receiving Stolen Property in excess of $250.
• Possession of a Firearm without a license
• Possession of a large capacity firearm
• Possession of a large capacity feeding device (2 counts)
• Unlawful Possession of Ammunition
• Possession with intent to sell an Assault Weapon and/or feeding device (3 counts)
• Conspiracy

After the 2010 Census, Massachusetts will lose the 10th Congressional District due to our state’s low population growth. This forced the district maps to be redrawn. In 2013, New Bedford will be represented in the Massachusetts’ 9th District that will include:

• All of Barnstable County, Dukes County, and Nantucket County.
• The following areas in Bristol County: New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport and much of Fall River.
• The following areas in Plymouth County: Carver, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, and Wareham.

Massachusetts 9th Congressional District Candidates

There are five candidates running for the 9th Congressional seat; two Democrats, two Republicans and one independent. Here is the Massachusetts’ 9th District candidate list with links to their websites and social media sites.

Democrat:

• William Keating: 10th Congressional District Incumbent. (Website – Facebook – Twitter)
• Sam Sutter: District Attorney for Bristol County. (Website – Facebook – Twitter)

Republican:

• Christopher Sheldon – Business consultant. (Website – Facebook – Twitter)
• Adam Chaprales – (Website – Facebook – Twitter)

Independent

• Daniel Botelho – Senior Operations Analyst in the Global Financial Operations (GFO) group. (Website – Facebook – Twitter)

The state primaries, used to narrow down the field, will be held on September 6th, 2012 with the final election day on November 6th, 2012.

Here is a basic timeline for voters:

• August 17th –  Last day to register to vote and to change party enrollment for the State Primaries.
• September 6th – State Primary Elections.
• November 6th – State Elections.

A more details timeline can be found here.

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This is what the 9th District will look like in 2013.

This is what the current 10th District looks like.

The New Bedford Fitness & Martial Arts Center is located at 665 Orchard Street in the south end of New Bedford. The facility currently offers Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Kenpo Karate and kickboxing. Members have several training options; to train like a fighter (full contact sparring), train for self defense (learn to defend yourself with light or no sparring) or train for fitness (get in shape like a UFC fighter). Students can train in a class environment or schedule personal private (1 on 1) or semi-private (small group) sessions. Here are the details on each program and membership costs. A full calendar of classes can be found here.

CLASSES

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)

2nd degree black belt Daymon Smith leads the BJJ program. BJJ focuses primarily on grappling/ground fighting with no striking. If you are looking to progress though the best submission system in the world, BJJ is for you. The BJJ classes are on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 – 8pm.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Joe Silvia leads the MMA program that combines boxing, kick boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other martial arts into one class. If you are looking to be well rounded in striking, clinch, and ground fighting, MMA is the class for you. Beginner’s are welcome! The MMA classes are Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-7:30 p.m., and on Sundays from 2-3:30 p.m. This class will be expanded to other days soon.

Karate/Kickbooxing

Kempo Karate black belt Joe Botelho leads the karate/kick boxing class. This class is perfect for all levels. Want to train for a kickboxing class? Want to get in shape and learn self defense at the same time? This class is for you. The Kickboxing class is every Wednesday from 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Bully Prevention

This class is geared towards teaching kids martial arts techniques to help them with their confidence and discipline while giving them a cardiovascular workout at the same time. Classes are every Tuesday from 4:30 – 6 p.m., Wednesday from 5 – 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 – 11 a.m.

Full month schedule of classes here.

Private Sessions

Members and non-members can schedule individual or group privates with any of the instructors. Contact 774-202-2297 or kagekontrolmma@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.

MEMBERSHIP RATES

There are four different memberships available. There are no annual commitments and all new students get the first week free to try out any of our martial arts classes.

• Bronze ($25/month) – One class per week. Perfect for those with a limited schedule or for those who simply want martial arts to supplement their existing work out program.
• Silver ($40/month) – Two classes per week.
• Gold ($60/month) – Three classes per week.
• Platinum ($100/month) – Unlimited classes per week. Platinum members also get discounts beverages, retail items, seminars and privates.

Anyone is welcome to drop into any class at anytime unless they are full. A $10 drop in fee applies for non-members, or a $5 for members.

OTHER PROGRAMS

The New Bedford Fitness and Martial Arts Center will be adding boxing and wrestling (for kids also) to our martial arts programs soon. We will also be leasing out our facility to yoga, Zumba and other fitness professionals to host their classes. Contact kagekontrolmma@gmail.com if you are interested in using our facility to host your classes. Stay tuned to our website and Facebook page for news and information, or contact 774-202-2297 or kagekontrolmma@gmail.com.

FACILITY

The facility has two workout areas that are fully matted with a UFC-style octagon in the center. There are five heavy bags available for training. There are two bathrooms with showers and a locker room. Gatorade, water, recovery drinks and some gear are available for sale.

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Instructor Daymon Smith is a 2nd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Tim Burrill.

Instructor Radhames Familia is a purple belt under Tim Burrill.

Instructor Jeff Karam is a purple belt under Tim Burrill.

Joseph Botelho has his black belt under Tony Cogliandro and Dan D’Onfro.

Instructor Joe Silvia has over 15 years of Mixed Martial Arts experience.

The Facility has its own Octagon for realistic training and sparring.

Training in the BJJ class.

Students sparring.

Training in the BJJ class.

The bully prevention program teaches kids martial arts, and builds confidence and discipline.

The bully prevention program teaches kids martial arts, and builds confidence and discipline.

Training in the BJJ class.

The facility has five heavy bags.

The facility has five heavy bags.

The facility has two bathrooms and a locker room.

The Facility has its own Octagon for realistic training and sparring.

The Facility has its own Octagon for realistic training and sparring.

The training area is covered with mats.

The facility has five heavy bags.

It’s been a busy weekend in theaters all across the country thanks to one of America’s favorite masked superheroes; Batman.  Few film franchises have gotten such attention and acclaim as Christopher Nolan’s series which came to its thrilling conclusion with the release of The Dark Knight Rises this past Friday.  There were high expectations for this third installment of a trilogy that has wiped out box office records in the past few years and brought a whole new level of darkness to a comic book legend.

Batman has been my favorite superhero since childhood, and to this day a framed poster from the classic Batman comic hangs on my wall.  I was thrilled with Nolan’s direction of taking the Batman movies into a direction of darkness, because frankly, those were by far the best comic books (especially the Frank Miller comics).  Thus, I was there amongst the crowds on opening night for The Dark Knight Rises, feeling very hopeful that it would live up to my expectations.

I would say that for the most part, The Dark Knight Rises delivered with 2 hours and 45 minutes of thrilling action scenes, complex villain development and plenty of angsty Bruce Wayne brooding.  There were a number of plot twists, some more clever than others, but overall it had me on the edge of my seat and earned a round of applause from the audience when the credits rolled.

As with the previous two films, there are many curve balls thrown into The Dark Knight Rises, plot and I certainly don’t want to spoil any of them for you.  As you’ve surely seen in the trailers, this movie starts eight years after Batman defeats The Joker but is framed for the murder of Harvey Dent.  Bruce Wayne has retired from his crime fighting night job, and in fact has retired from society as a whole, living as a recluse in a closed off wing of Wayne Manor.  A new enemy rises and threatens Gotham, the infamous gargantuan Bane and Batman is pulled from his den of self loathing.  Oh, and Catwoman starts to appear as well.

I think the number one question on most moviegoers’ minds is how cool Bane is in the movie.  Tom Hardy does a great job playing Bane and actually packed on 30 pounds of muscle to measure up to the comic book behemoth who could physically take Batman on any day of the week.  They clearly made some changes to Bane from the comic books, most for the better in my opinion, giving him a well developed back story and a mask that seems a lot less ridiculous than the wrestling mask depicted in old drawings.  As usual, The Dark Knight Rises strove to create a believable villain.  The only downside to that was that they never explained his clearly beyond human strength, leaving us only to conclude he was just naturally, absurdly strong.

The next question brewing on my mind when I entered the theater was how Anne Hathaway would do as Catwoman.  For me, Catwoman was one of the only cool female characters in comic books for many years (sorry Superwoman).  Catwoman always had a very dynamic relationship with Batman, sometimes as nemesis and sometimes as ally, but always doing what was most self serving and willing to use whatever tools at her disposal to win.  This made her a very interesting character in both comic book and movie interpretations as she is primarily a survivor and often a heartless seductress.  Initially I was concerned about the casting of Hathway for such an edgy roll.  I can never seem to stop thinking her as being the awkward teenager from The Princess Diaries.  I was pleasantly surprised by her portrayal however; confident, graceful, poised and manipulative. Everything a Catwoman should be, and with a few surprises that I will save for your viewing pleasure.

As with its predecessors, the production quality of The Dark Knight Rises was top notch, with plenty of heart stopping action and emotionally captivating imagery.  The attention to detail and industry changing special effects are part of what have made this trilogy so great in the first place.  The other part has been the acting, with incredible performances from great actors like Michael Caine and Gary Oldman, as well as Heath Ledger’s unforgettable portrayal of The Joker.  And of course, it would be unfair not to mention that Christian Bale has created a new generation of Batman fans with his moody portrayal of the Dark Knight.  In my mind, the new cast additions for The Dark Knight Rises lived up to this standard of quality filmmaking.

As always, there are some things that stick out in my mind as being less than ideal about the movie.  To be fair though, this is mostly because we all have our own vision of what should happen in a highly anticipated finale and it can’t match every individual expectation.  There were a few questions I was left hanging on to by the end, and a few plot developments I felt were subpar.  I won’t go into any of these because they may spoil the plot, and also because it is unnecessary.  Overall, The Dark Knight Rises hit all the big check marks for me; awesome action, quality acting, well developed villains, a high adrenaline plot and abundant darkness.

On the note of darkness, The Dark Knight Rises is by far the most grim movie of the the trilogy, holding back nothing to create a vision of hopelessness for Gotham’s future.  I say kudos to the filmmakers for not wimping out on really creating a dire situation for Batman and the entire city and for really going out with a bang.  This movie is rated PG-13, but the level of violence and despair makes it quite unsuitable for young children.  If you’ve seen the other two Batman movies, you doubtless know that they can be downright scary, and this is no exception.

Overall, The Dark Knight Rises is definitely worth the price of admission and is film worthy of ending a great trilogy.

The Dark Knight Rises Movie Trailer (Official)

It’s safe to say that we all look forward to the weekends, but sometimes routines can get a bit monotonous.  Going to the same bar with the same crowd every Friday night provides a sense of comfort but it can get old fast.  If you’re looking for something new to do in Greater New Bedford area, consider checking out one of these five locations for live local music.  Each of these venues varies in atmosphere and music style, so you are bound to find something that fits your interests the next time you have a free weekend to plan for. Make sure you check out the New Bedford Guide Event Calendar for music and other events in the New Bedford area.

1. Rose Alley Ale House (Spotlight – Review)
94 Front Street
New Bedford, MA

RAAH ranks as one of the most popular place to catch local bands because it has live music almost every day of the week.  That and the fact that it is one of the most popular local bars for its vibrant atmosphere, great pub food and variety of draft beers.  Still, Rose Alley definitely tops the list in terms of providing regularly booked live entertainment, and frequently features some of the most popular local acts such as Rebecca Correia or blues/funk band Shipyard Wreck.

I have definitely seen some good musical performances at Rose Alley over the past few years from both original performers and cover bands.  However, there is one downside to this venue and that is size.  Rose Alley has a pretty cozy set up which makes it ideal for catching up with friends, but it can get a bit cramped when there’s a good band taking the floor for the night.  This isn’t to dissuade you from getting your groove on at RAAH; just be prepared to stand (or get there nice and early.)

A full event schedule can be found at Rose Alley Ale House’s website: http://www.drinkrosealley.com/

2. Bayside Lounge
125 Sconticut Neck Road
Fairhaven, MA

Bayside Lounge is probably a name that is less familiar to most people than Rose Alley, but it is sort of a gem.  Located on Sconticut Neck Road this bar has a very laid back atmosphere to it and as they say on their website, “You can easily find three generations of family members at ‘The Bayside’ at any given time.”  It has a working class, fishermen’s bar sort of appeal complete with pool tables and plenty of space to sit.

Bayside Lounge makes this list because it has live music at least 2-3 nights out of the week, and every time I have gotten to catch a performance there I have had a blast.  The bands I’ve seen play at Bayside are usually classic rock or blues cover bands, and they really get the place rocking.  Since Bayside has a lot more space than your typical bar, there is plenty of room for an impromptu dance floor to be formed.

A calendar of events can be found on their website at: www.baysidelounge.com.

3. The Pour Farm Tavern and Grill
780 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA

The Pour Farm needs no introduction to any Downtown New Bedford regular.  Thanks to its impressive list of beers on tap and its trendy atmosphere, The Pour Farm Tavern and Grill is a major attraction to beer connoisseurs from throughout the region.  However, it isn’t just having an appreciation of finely crafted brews that makes the Pour Farm special; they also have a great focus on live music.

At The Pour Farm, local musicians can be seen taking the stage nearly every night of the week, whether it be on Open Mic Mondays or when the Neal McCarthy Problem Band performs on Thursdays.  As with RAAH, The Pour Farm is a small venue, and the band plays in the front corner, so in order to really watch them play the crowd sort of ends up blocking the front door.  It’s a little inconvenient, but not so terrible when you consider that the sound really fills the whole place, so front row is not necessarily a priority.

For more information on live entertainment at The Pour Farm, go to: http://www.pourfarm.com/.

4. The Candleworks Restaurant
72 North Water Street
New Bedford, MA

I have never been to The Candleworks Restaurant, but it has come highly recommended to me for both the food, the atmosphere, and now the live music.  The Candleworks is yet another fixture of downtown New Bedford, however, unlike the previously mentioned downtown bars, The Candleworks is not a tavern but more of a fine dining place.

Located in a 200 year old historic landmark, The Candleworks has a lot of character to its design, and a lot of flavor in its menu.  With the tagline “Indulge in Excellence” it seems to be this restaurants top priority to create a dining experience that will be memorable, and that includes live entertainment every week.  Based on images of the venue, The Candleworks seems like an ideal place to be serenaded by live music on a romantic dinner, not necessarily a place for beers and rock music.

For more information on The Candleworks Restaurant’s entertainment schedule, go to: http://www.thecandleworksrestaurant.com/.

With summer in full swing, vacationers are enjoying their days at resorts, amusement parks, and beaches. The money saving population are staying in their backyards in what are known as “staycations”. The recession isn’t over and people are still hesitant to spend large sums of money on a vacation. I was thinking of something to do with the family that won’t break the bank, when I recalled spending time camping down at Bourne Scenic Park. What a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family on a friendly budget. Each year about a third of the population goes camping, or about 13 million people in the US.

The smell of a burning campfire, crickets chirping, warm breezes, the sweet taste of roasted marshmallows, and the beauty of the outdoors. Nothing is more relaxing and serene than being outdoors in the summer. Campgrounds are located in every state, just pick an area, pack up your tents or RV and drive to your desired location. There are quite a few campgrounds in our own backyard. Most of the campgrounds now offer amenities to make your stay that much better – it’s like staying at a resort. From swimming pools, to arcades, small stores with candy and goodies, playgrounds, dance halls etc., camping isn’t the same as it use to be.

We live in a wonderful region that offers something for everyone. Located in Westport, Mass. are the Westport Camping Grounds. The grounds are minutes from Horseneck Beach and offer nights for as low as $30.00. They suggest a visit to Everett Cove and also offer whitewater paddling, hiking, fishing and biking. Horseneck Beach is wonderful for waves, walking along the shore finding shells, playing beach volleyball, or getting a snack at the snack shack. In the area also is ‘The Back Eddy’ and ‘The Bayside’ – both restaurants are close by, offer ocean views with delicious fresh seafood.

Head down towards Cape Cod and in Rochester, Mass is Outdoor World Gateway to Cape Cod campground. If you don’t have a tent or camper you can rent a cabin or a trailer. Membership gives you a discounted rate, and there is an arcade, wi-fi, a pool, snack bar, and much more. In case you forget to pack something, there is also a store with supplies. This location is more in the woods with dirt roads, really keeping it natural.

Both of these campgrounds are in our local area, which means less fuel, still being close to home but getting you away for a few days on pennies. Camping is an opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. Some of the best times are spent around the campfire, enjoying stories from the past, planning adventures that are waiting for tomorrow. Maybe there is a book you have wanted to read, take a nap under the shady trees, hike through trails, or bike around. These activities are usually put on the back burner because of everyday life. Out in nature allows you to skip the everyday routine, like work, paying bills, yard work, social events and you don’t need to watch television, surf the web or be attached to the phone. This is what camping allows us to do, by going back to the basics, and enjoying each other’s company. Catch up on what is going on in your children’s lives, reconnect with your spouse, be adventurous, make lasting memories.

There is a website, www.campmass.com. This website gives a list of all campgrounds in Massachusetts by region. Our region is called the Pilgrim region which includes towns from Westport, Middleboro, Wareham and Plymouth. The site then breaks down each campground letting you know price, dates of operation, contact information, nearby attractions, and all the amenities they have to offer a camper. The site is easy to use, they have wonderful pictures of the campgrounds which may help you make a better decision on where to stay and it’s free to browse and download the brochure.

Popular South Coast Massachusetts Camp Ground Locations

The New Bedford Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, a.k.a. the Portuguese Feast, a.k.a. Madeira Feast is the largest event the city has every year.  More than that, it is the largest Portuguese feast in the world and the largest ethnic festival in New England.  The feast was founded in 1915 by four Madeiran immigrants who wanted to recreate the festivities of their home island.

Between my own experience with the feast, some careful research and some very helpful guidance from Ed Camara, the Director of Media and Public Relations for Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento I have come up with an overview of the feast which has become a major attraction for visitors from all over who come to celebrate the Portuguese culture through food, drink and entertainment.

For this year’s 2012 feast, over 100,000 attendees are being anticipated.  If you are considering being one of them, here are some things you should know about the feast:

1. Time and Location

If you have never been to the feast it naturally makes sense to let you know where to go and when to be there. The feast is a four day event, officially kicking off at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 2nd and end Sunday, August 5th.  The grounds close at 11:30 p.m. each night.

On Friday the grounds re-open from 6 p.m to 11:30 p.m.  The weekend hours start a bit earlier with Saturday festivities beginning at 10 a.m with the 13^th annual 5K Road Race followed by Kid’s Day. The last day of the feast is Sunday which starts off with a parade at 2:00 p.m on Acushnet Avenue.  For more information on when and where events will be taking place, go to the Portuguese Feast Entertainment Schedule (http://portuguesefeast.com/page/entertainment-schedule).

Most of the events take place at Madeira Field, which is permanent location in New Bedford’s north end which comes to life one weekend a year for the festivities.  The address of Madeira Field is 50 Madeira Avenue, New Bedford, MA.  Parking can be a bit tricky, you may have to plan to search a bit to find a spot and walk a few blocks, or pay to park in a nearby lot.

2. Costs

The festival allows free admission and free entertainment thanks to the hard work of the committee members who comprise the 2012 Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Committee.  While admission is free there are also many vendors at the grounds selling everything from handmade Madeiran souvenirs to cigars.

Tickets may also be purchased to buy authentic Portuguese cuisine or, if you’re over 21, an impressive selection of alcoholic beverages.  Tickets cost a dollar each and can be purchased at ten machines located throughout the grounds by placing a five, ten or twenty dollar bill inside.  Tickets are non-refundable.  There are also stands with employees who sell the tickets.

Prices of food are kept reasonable, and I was informed by the Mr. Camara (who has been a part of the feast’s organization since 1982) that prices on some items are actually lowered and no prices have been increased in the past few years.  To give you a general idea of the prices of items at the feast, a full meal is 12 tickets (which equates to 12 dollars), most sandwiches are around four tickets, and a soda or a water goes for one ticket.

3. Food

One of the greatest features of the feast is the delicious Portuguese fare.  There are many food stands located throughout Madeira Field that serve your favorites from the simple delights of linguica and cacoila sandwiches to full on Portuguese cuisine plates of chicken, beef, goat or tuna with potatoes, rice and vegetables.

Another major culinary draw is the Carne de Espeto, a massive, 40 foot barbecue pit where beef sirloin cubes can be cooked over an open flame on massive skewers.  This is hard to miss since the aroma is absolutely mouth watering.  Visitors are able to buy the meat for eight tickets a pound and a delicious aromatic salt is provided to cook with.  Visitors are then able to roast their own dinner over the gas-fired lava rock grill.  Mr. Camara advised me that if someone tells you to pour Madeira wine on the meat it is not advisable (it does not help the flavor and causes the meat to burn faster!)

In case you are not accustomed to the flavorful cooking style of Portuguese cuisine, go to the Food & Drink page of the Portuguese Feast website for definitions of some of the food you might expect to see (http://portuguesefeast.com/page/food-drink).

4. Drink

One of the great draws of the feast is the consumption of Madeira wine, which is a central part of the festivities as it is part of a long tradition.  Madeira wine is a sweet, fortified red wine. Genuine Madeira wine is made on the island of Madeira, and exportation of actual barrels are restricted due to regulations.  However, thanks to a special agreement made between feast officials and the President of Madeira, casks are able to be delivered to New Bedford and served for the weekend, making this a very rare treat for those who attend.

For those who don’t find the taste of Madeira wine suits their pallet, there are a great variety of additional options including a full liquor bar for mix drinks.  Alcohol stands also serve sangria and white wine and Budweiser beer is on tap.

5. Entertainment

There is a great deal of quality free entertainment at the feast each year from Portuguese and American cultures. There are three stages throughout Madeira field, and each host a variety of performance types throughout the weekend.  In addition, the Museum of Madeiran Heritage will be featuring musical performances each night of the feast from 8- 11:30 PM.  These performances will be featuring fado music, a Portuguese genre of music that can be traced back to the 1820s but is believed to be even older than that.  For a schedule of who will be performing go here (http://portuguesefeast.com/page/museum-cafe-entertainment).

One of the cultural acts that you may see take the stage at Madeira field is Groupo Folclorico Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento.  This group of dancers present traditional dancing performances to authentic Madeiran music dressed in traditional clothing.  Folclorico performances are always very spirited and interesting to see.

There will be dozens of bands on the smaller stages during the feast.  The small stages feature varying music styles, from Portuguese rock groups to some really fun cover bands, and even local sensations like J Kelly Band, Rebecca Correia and Craig DeMello.  The small stages provide a fun environment as you walk around the feast grounds earlier in the evening, but the largest stage is reserved for a special performance at 10:00 each night. Thursday night the band Fuel will take the stage as this year’s national headliner.  Originally formed in 1989, Fuel reformed their band in 2010. They are known for several hit songs including “Hemorrhage”, “Shimmer”, “Bad Day” and “Falls on Me”.

Friday night will feature Entrain, a band from Martha’s Vineyard that specializes in “infectious rhythms” according to their website. Entrain features an impressive resume of musicians that play a variety of styles. On Saturday a Portuguese rock band from Massachustts called Eratoxica will be the main stage highlight to cap off the evening, and Dirty Deeds will be playing AC/DC tribute music for the final night of the feast.

6. Families

Since Madeira feast involves alcohol consumption, some readers may be wondering if it is a family appropriate event.  You will be glad to know that family values are integral to the foundation of the feast.  While it is probably not advisable to bring young children later in the night due to large crowds and loud music, it should be mentioned that there are many features of the feast that children will love.  Also, the feast takes great measures to prohibit underage drinking.  All who wish to consume alcoholic beverages are required to undergo a license verification process in order to receive a specially printed wrist band.

An interesting part of the feast is that it features carnival rides and games all weekend.  Saturday is probably the best day for families with young kids thanks to Kids Day Afternoon which follows the annual road race.  Kids Day kicks off at noon and involves local children’s music and clowns.  There are also carnival games and rides that are sure to make any child’s day.

Saturday afternoon is also typically dedicated to senior citizens in the community as well, offering half priced meals from noon to four which means only $6 for a full plate of food.

7. History

The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament gains its roots from the island of Madeira which is located 390 miles off the coast of Morocco.  Traditionally, each Roman Catholic parish in Madeira would observe a festival to celebrate their patron saint.  A committee of four men called festeiros would be responsible for preparing the village for the celebration by decorating the streets, contracting entertainment (often in the form of a brass band and fireworks) and holding a ceremonial meal after mass on Sunday.

There are many versions of the tale of why the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament was first begun in New Bedford 97 years ago.  What is certain however, is that the feast was initiated as a means of preserving basic values of the Madeiran culture.  Of course, since it was first begun the feast has changed in many ways to accommodate thousands of eager participants and modern elements of celebration.

While there have been many changes in the feast, there are traditional aspects which still remain central to the celebration.  The tradition of Madeira wine is a very old one, dating back to the 15th Century when the Malvasia vine was planted on the island of Madeira to see it would yield an alternative supply of wine for England.  When growth was successful Madeira wine quickly took to the market, but did not become a major export until many years later.  It wasn’t until the 16th Century that the taste we know of today was created when they discovered that the flavor of the wine was actually improved by being repeatedly heated up.  Follow the link for more information on the history of Madeira wine (http://portuguesefeast.com/page/madeira-wine-history).

The religious aspect of the feast also remains a part of proceedings.  As it did in 1915, the feast still takes place near Our Lady of Immaculate Conception which is located on the corner of Earle and Madeira Street in New Bedford.  The Portuguese feast pays homage to its religious traditions with a special High Mass at 10 AM on Sunday, August 1^st.  The Festeiros and their wives or significant others participate in a procession to the church where Father Daniel O. Reis gives a Benediction to the Blessed Sacrament. Throughout the weekend the church also usually hosts organ music and vocalists in the evening.

8. Madeira Field

The grounds on which the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament takes place are quite expansive and easy to lose people in.  Be sure you have a plan for finding lost party members whether it be by cell phone or a designated area to meet up at.

When entering the feast you will need to get in line for a wrist band if you wish to purchase alcoholic beverages. One of the most prominent features you will notice upon entering the festival grounds is the Santana House.  The house is designed after the colorful architectural styles of the homes in the village Santana, Madeira and is where the Madeira wine is served from.

Across from the Santana House is Stage One, which is massive and where the main attractions will be hosted throughout the weekend.  There are also two other smaller stages, one that is inside the gates and the other which is outside and amongst the souvenir vendors. You will also see several food and drink stands throughout the grounds, and towards the back you will find the barbecue pits for Carne de Espeto (or just follow your nose).