Who doesn’t like food?!? Explore foods and recipes of the 1850s on Thursday, June 13, for AHA! (Art, History & Architecture) night, as Ruth and Abby, the national park’s 1850s ladies, chat about their favorite dishes and family recipes. This month’s theme is City Views. The event will take place from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Seamen’s Bethel, 15 Johnny Cake Hill in downtown New Bedford. As always, admission is free.

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling industry. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only National Park Service area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social, and environmental history of the United States.

The National Park visitor center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. It is open seven days a week, from 9 AM-5 PM, and offers information, exhibits, and a free orientation movie every hour on the hour from 10 AM-4 PM. The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible, and is free of charge. For more information, call the visitor center at 508-996-4095, go to www.nps.gov, or visit the park’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NBWNHP.

It’s the second Thursday of the month and that means it’s AHA (Art, History & Architecture) time in downtown New Bedford starting at 5 p.m. this evening. There are dozens of events with most businesses downtown providing entertainment and extended shopping hours. With only 12 days left until Christmas, today is a perfect day to knock out some Christmas shopping while supporting some local businesses. If you decide to come downtown early, don’t forget that you get 2 hours of free parking at the meters, the Custom House Square parking lot, and at the Elm Street and Zeiterion Theatre parking garages. While there are dozens of events scheduled for this AHA!, here are seven events that I recommend attending.

1. “Peace & Joy” Postcards From New Bedford at Artworks! (384 Acushnet Avenue)

Swing by Artworks! and participate in the latest Postcards From New Bedford Project. Here’s your chance to “write and send holiday greetings by postcard from New Bedford to those we love all over the world.” Be a New Bedford ambassador and support a great local project! There will also be a special live music performance by “Jesus Andujar & Grupo Sazon” and Salsa dancing.

2. Craft-O-Rama at the UGLY Gallery (246 Union Street)

Looking for a locally produced gift for that special someone? Swing by the UGLY gallery and puck up some locally produced art, craft and design.

3. Card Readings and Tattoos at MUSE Studio (516 Pleasant Street)

Are you going to find the love of your life in 2013? Going to get hit by a car next week? Stop by MUSE Studio to get your fortune told or to get a removable platinum henna tattoo. Don’t forget to pick up a unique gift in the store!

4. Wine Tasting at Travessia (760 Purchase Street)

AHA! is simply more enjoyable after a few glasses of wine!  Stop by Travessia for a complimentary barrel tasting of 2012 Riesling and Pinot Noir Rosé, both made in our winery here in New Bedford with 100% locally grown grapes.

5. Listen to Some Christmas Carols 

Throughout the evening, the New Bedford High School Drama Club will be caroling for the season along William Street and at Custom House Square. You can also stop by the Pilgrim United Church (634 Purchase Street) from 7-8 p.m. to enjoy some old-fashioned Christmas caroling with John Nicolaci at the piano.

6. Make Your Own Chrismas Present

Are there better gifts than the ones you make? Head over to the Buzzards Bay Coalition (114 Front Street) to make your own New Bedford seashell Christmas ornament. You can also join Ruth & Abby, the 19th Century Ladies, at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (33 William Street) and make some holiday pins.

7. Open Mic at Cafe Arpeggio (800 Purchase Street)

Warm yourself with some hot chocolate, coffee or tea, and enjoy some fresh made snacks while enjoying some great local musicians. Thursday evening from 7-10 p.m., Cafe Arpeggio hosts the best open mic in the area. Drink some liquid courage at Travessia and show off your musical talent. Today’s the day you become a star!

What would a home look like in the 1850s? Ruth and Abby, the national park’s 1850s ladies, describe their homes and furnishings. Take a look at a few of their favorite treasures on AHA! night, Thursday, November 8, from 6:00-8:00 PM. This month’s AHA! theme is “Take A Seat! ” The event takes place at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s visitor center, downtown New Bedford. As always, admission is free.

The theme for this Thursday’s AHA! (Art • History • Architecture for the newbies) is Naughty and Notorious. The weather is expected to be clear and in the mid-50s. There are TONS of events scheduled for today, but here are my recommended events/places to visit. The full AHA! event calendar can be found here: http://www.ahanewbedford.org/calendar.html. Also, be sure to check out the event calendar for other things to do this week: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/calendar.

Rose Alley Ale House Pumpkin Carving Contest (12-8 p.m.)

Bring your Naughty and/or Notorious pumpkin creations to Rose Alley between 12-5 p.m. and then swing by between 6-8 p.m. to vote for your favorite. I recommend partaking in a tasty beverage with each visit as Rose Alley has some of the best craft beers on tap.

Kids with Cameras – Junior Photography Series (5-9 p.m.)

Here’s a great way to support our youth. Stop by Artworks! on 384 Acushnet Avenue and check out the Postcards From New Bedford: Kids with Cameras Project. From the organizer: “The postcards project is a collective body of work by novice and professional photographers that aims to tell a visual story of the modern day whaling city from different points of view, in positive, engaging and thought-provoking ways. The project is the brainchild of Beatriz Oliveira who partnered with fellow photographer John Hodgson and the ArtWorks! organization to bring the concept to life.”

Carlin Tripp and Open Mic at Cafe Arpeggio (6 p.m.)

I always enjoy discovering new local musical talent. Carlin Tripp (http://www.reverbnation.com/carlintripp) brings his Neil Young sound to Cafe Arpeggio from 6-7 p.m. The music continues at 7 p.m. with one of the more popular open mics in the south coast. Catch some great local music, or bring your guitar and participate!

Naughty & Notorious Comedy Club at Cork (9-11 p.m.)

Grab some wine and laughs as Cork (90 Front Street) & V1 Vodka present a comedy night on their second floor lounge. On the way upstairs, be sure to check out the new art in the dining area by local artist Alison Wells.

Weld Square Live at Pizan’s Pizzeria (9:30 – 11:30 p.m.)

Self described as “Dirty Rock and Roll,” Weld Square is perfect for some late night naughty and notorious behavior with some fast paced music and tasty pizza. Watch out though, Kevin Nunes may snap a picture of you and put you on his popular new #peopleofnewbedford Facebook page!

“What!?” you are thinking. “How could you POSSIBLY make a promise to me like that, Stephan Rose??? I believe what Mark Twain said ‘The only two certainties in life are death and taxes’!”

Well, although Mr. Twain said many wise things in his time, stop being such a Negative Nancy. I CAN virtually guarantee you will have a great time at ANY AHA! Night, with a little planning, forethought and my general good advice. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Let’s start from the beginning: You can’t enjoy AHA! Night, if you miss it. I, myself, didn’t begin to attend AHA for years, simply because I forgot WHEN it occurred. It’s a good idea to circle the date on your calendar, program a reminder in your phone, etc. so you can be notified when the second Thursday of the month rolls around. Ahanewbedford.org has a mailing list that gives you plenty of notice before the night arrives; as well as informing you of the specific events that will take place! You can also find AHA Night on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

Figure out exactly what you like being part of. What do you enjoy doing? Live music? Viewing art? Learning history? AHA stands for “art, history and architecture”, so that will be a part of every night. By knowing what your interests (or the interests of the group you are with) are, you can make informed choices ahead of time and see things you know you will enjoy.

AHA goes from 5 to 9, be early. That may not always be possible, but it is better to be there when things start, grab a schedule (available at the downtown library, and most AHA participating locations), and decide what your group would like to see and when it is.

Eat before or after. Good news! Downtown has quite a variety of good restaurants. BUT! Waiting for your food to arrive and then eating it can be quite time-consuming, especially if the restaurant is packed with other AHA-goers. If you eat DURING AHA, you’ll probably miss something enjoyable. My advice would be to eat before AHA, whether at home or downtown (please make it downtown..NB needs your money!). Quite a few establishments close before AHA ends, so before is better. If you see the schedule and nothing appeals to you at say, 7p.m., that would be the time to eat up and chow down.

Your enjoyment level is directly proportional to WHO you are with!  Okay, it’s sad I have to say this but, if you haven’t learned during childhood this lesson, I’ll teach it to you NOW: if you are hanging out with killjoys, don’t expect AHA! Night to MAGICALLY make your night fun. Think of who you spend most of your free time with: what words would you use to describe them? Carefree? In love with life? Childlike in wonder? A joy to be around? Miserable? Chronic complainers? NEVER satisfied? Always expecting things to go wrong?

Personally, I have a better time alone at AHA then with…well, whiny little bitches (Can I say that here? Is this guide family-friendly? Whoops.) Of course, the BEST time is had when you are with people up for adventure, new experiences, and are fun to be with. Discuss with your friends what activities you will all like,and go forth and enjoy, my son.

I hope this has been very informative for you (as if it could be anything BUT that.) See you downtown next 2^nd Thursday of the month for a night to remember. September’s AHA! is this Thursday, September 13th, 2012. Full list of events here: http://www.ahanewbedford.org/calendar.html

Special thanks to Josh Souza for use of his cover photo!

The theme for July’s AHA! is “Kids Rule” and the weather will be in the mid-to-high 80s. The full AHA! schedule can be found here. As an AHA! seasoned veteran, here are the 10 AHA! events (5 kids and 5 adult events) that I recommend you attend this AHA!

Let’s start with 5 fun events for the kids.

1. Yoga for Kids

Tim Donohue will be hosting Yoga for kids starting at 6:30 p.m. on the lawn of the amazing Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum on 396 County Street. There will also be lawn games and old fashion lemonade for sale starting at 5 p.m.

2. Lego Engineering for Kids

Bristol Community College is hosting Lego Engineering for Kids on 188 Union Street. Here’s your chance to trick your kids into learning while they have fun learning engineering principles with legos!

3. Open Mic for Kids

Wings Court recently received a make over and the First Unitarian Church “Way Cool Sunday School” will be breaking it in with Open Mic for Kids from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

4. Summer Science Street Fair

The New Bedford Ocean Explorium is hosting a Summer Science Steert Fair from 5-8 p.m. on Purchase Street (between Union and Spring Streets). This is another great way into tricking the kids into learning and having fun!

5. Kids Events at Custom House Square

The center of the AHA! universe during the summer time is the Custom House Square parking lot across from Freestone’s Restaurant. It’s where Summerfest, Taste of Southcoast and tons of other major New Bedford events are hosted. Starting at 5 p.m. there will be plenty of events for the kids to include Soltice Skate Jam, the New Bedford Art Museum ARTmobile (5-7 p.m.), the New Bedford Public Library’s Bookmobile (5-7 p.m.) a Play in the Park Open house presented by New Bedford Parks, Recreation and Beaches, a mobile climbing wall by Carabiner’s Climbing and a blood drive.

Here are 5 fun events for adults.

1. Downtown Farmers Market

The downtown New Bedford Farmers Market runs each Thursday from 2-6 p.m. Pick up some fresh produce and support your local farmers. Check out our list of other New Bedford or southcoast, Massachusetts farmers markets.

2. Open Mic at Cafe Arpeggio

Every Thursday Cafe Arpeggio (800 Purchase Street) hosts the area’s best open mic event. Join dozens of local musicians as they show off their talents from 7-10 p.m. Cafe Arpeggio is also hosting amazingly talented and local musicians Molly O’Leary & Valrie Paynton from 6-7 p.m. Grab a refreshing drink, a Lombahdi Biscotti and enjoy the FREE music.

3. Enjoy Some Poetry!

The Bartleby Scrivener Poets Group is hosting an evening of poetry at The Celtic Coffee House on 42 North Water Street from 6-8 p.m. Join in or simply enjoy a coffee and listen to some local poets.

 4. Ticket “Stick It” 

Did you get a $10 parking ticket in New Bedford recently? Bring it to Rose Alley Ale House (94 Front Street) and get half off your entree. Full details and limitations can be found on Rose Alley’s Facebook page.

5. Learn About Rowing

The New Bedford Community Rowers will be in front of the Downtown YMCA on Union Street to demonstrate rowing. Check out the boats, racing gear and get information on what it takes to row the New Bedford harbor.

We at New Bedford Guide love AHA! No … really, we love AHA! and even wrote an article about how much we love AHA! If you are new to the AHA! experience we recommend you read that article to get up to speed.

This month’s AHA! is Thursday, June 14th with the “Walking Tours” theme (full schedule here.) There are eight walking tours scheduled, at least nine art galleries displaying art, lots of live music and tons of other programming that kicks off at 5 p.m. We recommend ALL of June’s AHA! programming, but realize visitors can’t always experience every AHA! event. As a seasoned AHA! veteran, I feel that I have enough experience to recommend the gems and help you maximize your experience. Here are my top seven June AHA! events.

1. 19th Century Neighborhood Architectural Walking Tour (6 p.m.)

Did I mention that this month’s AHA! theme is Walking Tours? Unless you have a time machine, there is no better way to experience the history of New Bedford than this 19th Century Walking Tour. The tour kicks off from the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum (396 County Street) at 6 p.m. sharp and will be led by Bruce Barnes of the Preservation Society. Visitors are welcome to stop by the at 5 p.m. to check out the inside of the museum and the gardens in full bloom.

2. Underground Rail Road Walking Tour (6 p.m.)

The Underground Railroad is an important part of New Bedford’s history. Check out my article on the “Most Notable New Bedford African Americans” to learn more about some of the most famous African Americans to come out of our city. The tour will be led by the New Bedford Historical Society and steps off from Custom House Square (Fountain Side, across the street from Freestone’s) at 6 p.m.

3. A Lantern Tour with the 1850s ladies (7 p.m.)

After soaking up some history with Bruce Barnes or learning about the Underground railroad, hustle over to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor’s Center (33 William Street) where Ruth and Abby will “dish the dirt” on their lives and times.

4. 100 Hiking Trails (5-9 p.m.)

Looking to add some hiking to your summer activities? The Buzzards Bay Coalition has information on over 100 hiking trails throughout the region. Visit their center (114 Front Street) to view our new interactive web map of trails and get information from conservation groups across the region.

5. Tarot Readings, Henna Tatts, Pottery and Paintings (5-8 p.m.)

MUSE Studio (516 Pleasant Street) is providing a wide assortment of entertainment to include Tarot Readings by Karen Allen, Henna Tats by Eric Grab, and Pottery and paintings by several artists. You may want to stop here first and ask Karen Allen if you are in for a good night and where to go next!

6. Q@X IV: Do Ask, Do Tell (5-9 p.m.)

Gallery X is hosting their 4th, “Do Ask, Do Tell” gallery to support lesbian and gay service members. From their website: “With the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy allowing lesbian and gay service members to serve openly in the military and same-sex marriage continuing to be hot political topics nation-wide, now more than ever, it’s important to make the visions, experiences and opinions of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning artists & their straight allies known in the community.”

7. Neal McCarthy Problem Live at the Pour Farm Tavern (9 p.m.)

Neal Mccarthy is one of my favorite musicians and is one of the best blues guitarists in the world. The Neal Mccarthy Problem brings together some of the best musicians the south coast has to offer. Swing by The Pour Farm Tavern (780 Purchase Street) for an amazing selection of craft beers and the best music in town!

New Bedford’s Abraham Lincoln Elementary School was recognized along with five other schools in the Commonwealth for its sustainable “green” design elements.  The school was one of five schools in the Commonwealth honored by the “Green Schools Organization” as a green learning environment.  Mayor Mitchell presented the award to the Lincoln School today and spoke about the building’s energy efficient design features as well as efficiency measures implemented in other school buildings throughout the district.

“This project proves that while there are many costs that government incurs that are beyond our ability to control, with just a little bit of effort, we can sharply reduce the cost of heat and electricity that we consume,” said Mayor Mitchell.

The City of New Bedford worked with Daedalus Projects Inc., MVG Architects and their consultant team to design and develop a school that provides students with a 21^st Century learning environment.  The 93,833 square foot elementary school serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade.  It features an auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria, library/media center, classroom spaces, and a recreation area which includes a synthetic turf field and resilient track.  The facility contains high efficiency systems and meets or exceeds all Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools requirements.

The Lincoln School’s green design features include:

• Light colored membrane on roof surfaces to reduce the heat island effect.
• School is sited in a central location within close proximity to public transportation basic services, pedestrian and bike access.
• Synthetic playfield for student and public use eliminates potable water irrigation.
• Contains on-site alternative energy sources for electricity production through installation of a 80kwh Photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof.
• High efficient mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems which exceed the MA Building Energy code by 30%; the majority of the classrooms are designed without air conditioning.
• Recycles 90% of the waste generated by the school Diverted 90% of construction and demolition waste to recycling plant in lieu of a landfill.
• Environmentally-friendly materials including recycled content, salvaged and certified wood materials were utilized.
• Classrooms are designed with access to views and natural day lighting.
• Protects students and staff health during occupancy by specifying walk-off mats, low-emitting materials, and high efficiency HVAC filters.
• Created a school maintenance plan of all equipment for preventive and maintenance needs and adopt the Anti-Idling policy to reduce emissions.
• The new school was built on the existing school site. The reuse of this site, promotes “Smart Growth” which protects undeveloped land and allows for the re-use of existing infrastructure, including: site utilities and roads.

The Abraham Lincoln School has also been designated a Model School by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Model School Program. The designation allows other communities to re-use the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School design as a model for their own school buildings.  Model school buildings are chosen by the MSBA for their optimal classroom space, efficiency, ease of maintenance, capacity, and their incorporation of sustainable “green” design elements.

In addition to the Lincoln School, the City maintains close to one-hundred buildings, including nearly thirty schools, and major water and wastewater facilities.  Many of the municipal buildings are antiquated and are costly to heat and cool.  Mayor Mitchell’s Fiscal Year 2013 City Budget includes funding for an Office of Energy Efficiency at the Department of Public Infrastructure.

The City has already implemented energy efficiency measures at several school buildings including Alfred J. Gomes Elementary, Hayden McFadden Elementary, Casmir Pulaski Elementary, Carney Academy, and Roosevelt Middle School. Such efficiency measures include:

• Upgraded lighting
• Hot water circulation pumps
• Variable frequency drives (power electronics conversion device used to control air conditioner motor)
  • Motors
  • Upgrades to existing energy management systems (EMS)
  • Occupancy sensors
  • De-stratification fans (helps equalize building’s internal temperature)
  • Demand control ventilation (ventilation based on occupancy and actual activity)
  • Controls on exhaust fans, air handlers, unit ventilators and zones
  • Conversion from oil natural gas for heat

New Bedford’s Energy Director, Scott Durkee, estimates that efficiency measures adopted in school buildings to date have resulted in savings totaling over $400,000.00.

Mayor Mitchell added, “Being energy conscious is not just environmentally friendly, it is financially imperative.  New energy conservation measures implemented by DPI’s Energy Efficiency Office when put in place today will help us hold down our property tax bills tomorrow.”

AHA! is always a good time, and this Thursday evening in Downtown New Bedford should be no different. There’s always a lot going on, so I’ve tried to condense that list into the top five things to do to celebrate “art, history and architecture” in our fine city. A full schedule of events for this evening can be found here.

5) Artists come in all shapes, sizes and ages, and there are two very different art exhibitions that help prove this statement. Check out the artwork of various members of the New Bedford Police Department (572 Pleasant St.) at their open house from 5-8pm. The work of Lt. Scott Corola, Officer Elvin Ramos, and Officer Luis Sud-Martinez, as well as the poetry of Officer Charles Perry Jr. will be showcased.

4) Right up the street from the Police Station, you’ll find artwork from a more youthful generation, as the New Bedford Public Schools introduces the District Wide Art Show at the Paul Roderigues Administration Building (455 County Street). It’s a collection of artwork from students around the city. Over 3,000 pieces will be shown, and an awards ceremony begins at 6pm. The event goes from 4:30 to 7:30pm.

3) Percussionist royal hartigan will lead the Kekeli African Music and Dance Ensemble in live performance on Purchase St. from 5:30 to 7pm. Over 80 members of the ensemble that “draws from African American/jazz musical traditions, integrating rhythms, songs, and approaches from West Africa, Asia, Native America, West Asia, and Europe,” according to hartigan’s website.

2) Cork (90 Front St.) will feature “Soapbox Social: The Uncorked Edition,” which is an opportunity for local storytellers to get up and talk about their own personal experiences. The theme they’ll be waxing on is “May Day.” I’ve heard plenty of storytellers in my time spent around Downtown, so I’d imagine that there should be some interesting stories spun this Thursday evening.

1) UGLYgallery presents an exhibit called “Stuck-Up,” which is a traveling show featuring the sticker collection of DB Burkeman. He has been collecting these stickers for over 40 years, and it shows. UGLY will attempt to squeeze in nineteen other panels of stickers that were formerly at the New Bedford Art Museum over the past two weeks or so, so it’s your last and only chance to see the exhibit locally and all within one building.

There may be a number of reasons why you haven’t gotten to experience AHA! New Bedford yet.  Your excuses may vary from very practical (such as,  I work Thursday nights) to very lame (such as, it’s not my scene).  If you’re worried about not enjoying AHA!, I can assure you that it has something for people of all ages, dispositions, and budgets.

For those of you who don’t already know, here’s a little background on AHA!, which stands for Arts, History and Architecture.  AHA! was started in July of 1999, and has taken place on every second Thursday of the month since.  AHA! is dedicated to creating free cultural events for locals to join in, and it pulls in local restaurants and businesses in the effort to offer exciting opportunities each month.  AHA! not only highlights the unique culture of New Bedford and its rich history, it also contributes to stimulating the City’s Creative Economy initiatives.

Each month, AHA! focuses on a different theme.  For example, April’s focus was on Sustainability and included an Earth Day celebration parade at Custom Square.  For more details on the sort of events that AHA! features, or to see their schedule for next month, go to www.ahanewbedford.org.  You will also find that the New Bedford Guide regularly reports on some of the highlights you can hope to see at the upcoming AHA! night.  For this article however, I am going to give you 5 general reasons that make AHA! great, and why you should visit AHA! this evening.

1. Music

Music is a central aspect of AHA! and can be found just about anywhere you go.  For those who are into the bar scene, you are sure to find some great bands at Pour Farm Tavern, Rose Alley Ale House, Cork or No Problemos most weeks.  If you aren’t a big fan of bars, or if you’re too young, no worries!  There are often featured performers and an open mic at Cafe Arpeggio, and the First Unitarian Church was featuring organ music.  The J. Kelley Band acoustic show was at Celtic Coffee House from 6-7:30pm.

The music styles vary; I have had the pleasure of hearing some great jazz music at AHA! as well as some very talented rock and blues bands, and even local choruses.  If you’re planning out your AHA! night and hope to take in some music, go check out the site and see who is playing where.

2. Food

It almost goes without saying, but Downtown New Bedford has some great restaurants.  If you’re going to be out for AHA!, you might as well plan to grab dinner.  No matter what budget you are on, you are likely to find something to suit your taste.  No Problemo’s has great Mexican food at an affordable cost, and Rose Alley Ale House is one of the best places around for wings.  Pour Farm Tavern also has quite a tasty menu out now.  However, if you’re looking for something unique and have a bit more money to spend, try out Cork, which is a tapas bar, or Pier 37 which has a one-of-a-kind menu that blends southern cuisine with south coast.

3. Unique Events

If you’re tired of doing the same old thing, AHA! offers some one-of-a-kind experiences that you aren’t likely to soon forget.  For kids there is always some sort of art or craft project to engage in, or even a science events.  For example, this past AHA! featured SEEAL’s 5th Annual Shrink Your Footprint Fair, which was held at the Ocean Explorium and brought together vendors, non-profits, and others to host demonstrations on sustainability.

Of course, I would be remiss not to mention the prevalence of visual art throughout every AHA! night.  There are numerous galleries downtown that open their doors to AHA! and often host special events.  On an evening when there is good weather, New Bedford is art lovers dream as you can follow the walking map from gallery to gallery.

If you are like me and have a group of friends who are always looking for something new to do, AHA! offers a lot of other very unique (and very free) events to consider.  In March the theme was “Hear Me Roar” and focused on women’s history and empowering women.  I got to watch roller derby girls demonstrate in the middle of the street, and I ended up participating in an all-girl arm wrestling competition at Rose Alley Ale House (which I did not win).  Needless to say my friends and I were talking about what a great time we had for quite a while!

4. AHA! After Hours

AHA! After Hours starts at 9pm, when the other AHA! events come to an end.  AHA! After Hours is usually the best time to catch bands playing at the various bars.  This past AHA! I went to Pour Farm Tavern for After Hours and heard the Neil McCarthy Problem jam out, and I also got to sample some delicious microbrews.  In my opinion, AHA! After Hours is mainly a perfect opportunity to bar hop with friends since there are always a lot of people out enjoying themselves.

5. Community

The community aspect of AHA! is my favorite part.  I feel like these days it’s hard to connect with the community because there are so few events that bring people together (besides shopping at Market Basket of course).  But AHA! brings a diverse crowd together to engage in fun and informative activities.  Every time I go to AHA! I run into someone I know, but even more importantly, I meet new people as well.

This past AHA! was called “Sustainable SouthCoast” and as previously mentioned, it kicked off with really cool “people powered” parade.  The parade featured floats that were carried or pulled by UMass students, and students from New Bedford schools who had partnered together.  There were many unique costumes and memorable creations, all of which promoted sustainability and keeping the Earth clean.  There were many organizations that also walked in the parade to show their unity with the cause, and there was even two marching bands.  Additionally, the parade was kicked off by awarding “Mother Earth” and “Father Sea” to two members of the community who have taken great efforts in fighting for environmental causes in the area.  This year’s “Father Sea” was none other than former Mayor Scott Lang, and the parade start was announced by current Mayor Jon Mitchell.  Seeing residents from all over the SouthCoast pull together for such a fun and important purpose was great, and members of the community had lined the streets.  This sort of quality community building is what truly makes AHA! great.

Photos from April’s AHA!

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