Youth sports leagues:  They are taken for granted when you are younger and playing in them, but sorely missed as your get older and your waistline expands.  The South Coast area has all sorts of these leagues, like Mariner Youth Soccer, Little League, and M.Y.A.A. basketball.  Those are the leagues I am familiar with from growing up in Rochester.  Kids today are a bit luckier than I was in that they now have more choice: namely, i9 Sports.

i9 Sports is a sports provider that offers a variety of sports to kids from the ages of 4 to 14.  The leagues are open to anyone, and everyone is welcome.  There are absolutely no tryouts or drafts in i9 Sports leagues, and each child receives 50% or more of playing time every game.   With i9, every child gets the benefit of playing on a team, regardless of size, gender, or ability.  By providing an outlet where kids can have a great time, make new friends, and get some exercise in a safe environment, it will ultimately help them throughout their life.

Peter Pacheco is the Program Director for i9 Sports New Bedford/Dartmouth.  He was born and raised in the New Bedford area, and had always felt that the community could use a different type of sports league, and that’s where i9 Sports fits in. Peter and his wife Rachel are on the field every week that the leagues are running, so you can always find them and talk to them. The leagues are run in New Bedford, but children from any town are always welcome!

The first league started locally was Flag Football in October of 2009, and it had a great turnout.  Since the beginning, i9 has offered Flag Football and Soccer in the Spring and Fall at Buttonwood Park, and Basketball in the Winter.  They will be offering a variety of more sports in the coming  months, starting this July with their Summer Camp (see below), which includes sports like Kickball, Wiffle Ball, and Ultimate Frisbee!

You may have thought about registering your child to play in a sports league, but why should you choose i9?  What makes them different?

There are many things that make i9 stand out above the rest:  Mainly their focus being on fun, safety, and convenience.  i9’s primary goal is making sure that every child is having a great time when participating in their leagues, and that they are building confidence, making new friends, and learning what good sportsmanship is all about!

Of course, they haven’t forgotten about the parents and their very busy schedules!  One of i9’s main goals is to make their leagues as easy and convenient as possible!  They do this by holding practices and games all on the same day; same time, same place.  You will only have to give an hour and ½ to two hours of your time once a week!  And if for any reason you cannot make it for practice, your child will still be able to participate in the game with absolutely no penalties.

Though they appreciate help from parents that want to volunteer and participate by coaching or being a team helper, volunteering is never mandatory.  Best of all – you will never be asked to raise any money: you pay the registration fee, and will never be asked to do any fundraisers.  We all know that half the time you end up buying the entire box of chocolates yourself anyway!!!

One other benefit of being a part of the i9 experience is that every week of the entire season there is always on-site staff.  There is a canopy setup at each location where if you have a question or an issue, you can simply walk up to the desk and ask!

i9 strives to provide the best possible youth sports leagues:  Fun for the kids, and convenience for the parents – and a whole lot of memories for all!

If you haven’t already registered as a member for FREE, do so today and get up to date information on all of our upcoming leagues, and any discounts that they may be offering.

Please contact Rachel or Peter at 508-998-2868, or ppacheco@i9sports.com, with any questions or comments.

Upcoming Sports

Summer Camp: $55.00

i9’s Summer Camp will be running every Saturday from July 16^th – August 6^th from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (2 hours for each division).  They’ll be playing sports like KICKBALL!  WIFFLE BALL!  SPUD!  and ULTIMATE FRISBEE!  For our last day of camp they will be having a fun day filled with exciting games like Sack Races, Three-Legged Races, Wheel Barrow Races, and more!

Flag Football and Soccer: $115.00 by 7/11;  $125.00 by 8/8;  $140 after 8/8
Offering Flag Football and Soccer this Fall in the West End of New Bedford at ButtonWood Park, running every Saturday from September 10th through October 29^th (Flag Football times will range from 9a.m. – 1p.m, and Soccer from 2pm – 6pm).  Your start time depends on your child’s age; the younger children start earlier, and the older children finish up the day

Basketball: $100 by 9/12;  $115.00 by 10/10;  $125.00 by 11/7;  $140.00  by 11/7

i9 will be offering Basketball this Winter in the North End of New Bedford at Normandin Junior High School, running every Saturday from December 3rd through Febuary 4th, with times ranging from 9a.m. – 1p.m.

2012 Firework details here: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/new-bedford-4th-july-fireworks-2012/2012/06/27

Through the generous support and co-sponsorship of Hawthorn Medical Associates, LLC and DeMoulas Market Basket, fireworks will be launched at 9:15pm on Monday, July 4^th from a barge located in New Bedford Harbor.

“I sincerely appreciate Hawthorn Medical and Market Basket co-sponsoring New Bedford’s 4^th of July celebration,” said Mayor Scott W. Lang. In addition, Conrad Roy from Tucker-Roy Marine Towing & Salvage will supply the barge from which the fireworks will be launched. “New Bedford families will have a great time celebrating Independence Day and will enjoy Summerfest and all of the Cape Verdean Recognition Week events.”

The public will have a clear view of the fireworks presentation from almost every point around New Bedford Harbor. The rain date is set for Monday, July 11, 2011 at 9:15PM. The fireworks display will coincide with citywide Independence Day celebrations, Cape Verdean Recognition Week events, and Greater New Bedford Summerfest.

As part of the Cape Verdean Recognition Week events, the 39^th Annual Cape Verdean Recognition Parade will take place on Saturday, July 2^nd, stepping off at 11am from Buttonwood Park (corner of Rockdale Avenue and Union Street). The parade will proceed East on Union Street, South on Acushnet Avenue, West on Grinnell Street, North onto Pleasant Street. For more information visit www.cvrc.org.

Summerfest has gained an outstanding reputation as an international folk music and arts festival in New Bedford’s Downtown Historic District. The event begins will be held on Saturday, July 2, and Sunday, July 3 from 11:00AM through 9:00PM. Visit www.newbedfordsummerfest.com for more details.

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Only two years after it opened full-time to the public, New Bedford’s Ocean Explorium is expanding—and its newest marine animal residents are about to make a resounding splash.

Some 20 stingrays and sharks arrived from Florida on June 21st—not by sea, but by air.  The animals have made their new home in a large, custom-built touch tank (Read NBG’s article, by Mike McCarthy, on the Explorium and its new touch tank). “We expect this will be our most exciting and popular live exhibit yet,” says shark expert and Ocean Explorium director Mark Smith. “Visitors to the Explorium will be able to see these extraordinary animals up close, and they’ll be able to touch them, to reach out and stroke them. This will be a rare and wonderful hands-on experience for children and adults alike.”

Rays and Sharks Travel First-Class

The rays and sharks came to New Bedford packed in specially constructed boxes equipped with sufficient salt water and oxygen for their long plane journey from Florida. The animals were supplied by Dynasty Marine, a specialist collector known the world over for their quality, knowledge and sustainable practices.

Before they reached the Explorium, Mr. Smith had this to say: “These animals are extremely delicate and transporting them requires carefully controlled water quality. Temperature, oxygen and pH levels must be maintained throughout their journey to the Ocean Explorium. Our role as caretakers of these beautiful animals is to ensure they are as healthy as possible, so they will be traveling first class all the way!”

Several different species of rays and sharks will be the stars of the new touch tank at the Explorium, including Cownose Rays, Atlantic Stingrays and White Spotted Bamboo Sharks. Explorium curator Warren Gibbons says they are gentle species, which will not pose a risk to visitors.

Gentle by Nature

“Despite their reputation, most rays and sharks are actually quite small and docile, and we have chosen species which are gentle by nature and comfortable with being touched,” says Mr. Gibbons.

“Cownose rays, for example, are very social and engaging animals in a touch tank like this.  They’re related to eagle and manta rays and have the same familiar winged shape as the large rays. It’s mesmerizing to watch them glide through the water. All the rays have had their barbs painlessly clipped so they can be touched safely by our visitors.”

Sharks and rays’ life support system on display

Mr. Gibbons has been working for months with a team of Ocean Explorium staff and other volunteers to install the ray and shark tank, which is 18 feet long and holds 3,000 gallons of water. He’s also been building the tank’s complex water filtration system—a life support system for the rays and sharks—which will be an integral part of the new exhibit.

“Our mission at the Ocean Explorium is education, and we believe it’s important for people to understand that these animals live in a delicately balanced ecosystem, which we need to respect and preserve,” he says. ” It’s an enormous challenge for us to try to replicate that environment here in the Explorium so the animals remain healthy. We’re very excited about showing people how we can do that.”

The new touch tank and life support systems are already up and running and the animals moved into the new tank immediately after arriving at the Ocean Explorium. An official opening for the tank is scheduled for July 1.

The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford (corner of Union and Purchase Streets) and offers disabled access through the rear entrance. Call 508.994.5400 or visit the website for more information.

A few months ago we did a story on local photographer Frank C. Grace and his beautiful photographs of New Bedford.  Last month we had a great article by Amanda Lawrence on New Bedford’s Orpheum.  This week comes word that those two topics have come together in the form of a photo contest.

One of Frank’s photos of the Orpheum was chosen as a finalist for Project Imagin8ion, the first user-generated photo contest in history to inspire a Hollywood short film.  Ron Howard, with the help of Canon and the Project Imagin8ion community, selected 8 imaginative photos to set the stage for his next production. These 8 winning photos will inspire the 8 movie themes for this film: Setting, Time, Character, Mood, Relationship, Goal, Obstacle and The Unknown.

The photo, called “Desperation in Restoration,” was entered in the “Goal” category of the contest.  It is one of the 30 semi-finalists for that category out of many, many thousands.  “I cannot believe that out of thousands of photographs, one of my New Bedford Orpheum pictures has been selected as one of 30 semi-finalists for the Canon Project Imagin8ion,” Frank said.  “It’s even more special because the contest is being judged by Ron Howard himself!”

Winning this photo contest would not only be great for Frank personally, but also for the Orpheum itself.  An organization called O.R.P.H, Inc. (Orpheum Rising Project Helpers) is trying to raise money and awareness to help restore the Orpheum, and winning a national photo contest with a picture of the Orpheum would go a long way to spreading the word.  Frank, the organization’s vice president, said “We are O.R.P.H. are hoping that the photo does well in the contest, to hopefully get some nation-wide recognition for the group and our goal to restore the Orpheum.  To do this we need as many votes as we can get.”

To vote please click HERE.  You don’t need to register to be able to vote, and there is nothing to fill out at all.  You just have to click the “Share/Vote” button, and then “Vote for this Image.” I encourage others to share the link on their Facebook page (there is a link for that within the link).  Even getting into the finals would be pretty big news for O.R.P.H., Inc. and New Bedford in general!

The popular vote is taking place right now and ends at this Thursday, June 23rd, at 11:59PM.  That’s tomorrow night so make sure to vote! It literally takes less than 30 seconds to place your vote.  Let’s help Frank win this contest and help O.R.P.H., Inc. get some national exposure for their cause.  Restoring the Orpheum will help the restoration of New Bedford!

Today is the final day of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, an annual trade show used by video game developers  to showcase their upcoming games and hardware.  More commonly known as E3, this three day event is the Super Bowl of video gaming exhibitions.  Large companies like Microsoft, Sony, and and Nintendo use E3 to make huge presentations as they put the future of gaming on display.

Already this week Nintendo has announced a new Wii system (Wii U), which is not only an HD version of the Wii, but utilizes a tablet as a controller. Sony has presented its new handheld system called Vita, and Microsoft has been busy pushing the boundaries of motion-controlled gaming with games like Star Wars Kinect.

Yet for all the news made by the big names in the video game industry, the smaller studios and independents have just as much of an opportunity to make a splash with the games they produce.  In today’s video game market, indie games, arcade games, and phone applications are providing smaller developers a legitimate chance at striking the right chord with gamers and producing a popular game.

This happened last year with a game called Chu’s Dynasty.  Made available for download on Xbox Live near the end of 2010, the game received great reviews and garnered high praise from gamers.  Developed and released by TribeToy, one of the creators of the game is Rochester native Camille Chu.  I had a chance to talk with Camille about how she got into the gaming industry, about Chu’s Dynasty, and about how producing a successful indie game has opened many doors for her and her partners.

First of all, what is Tribetoy?
Tribetoy is an independent game studio was co-founded in 2009 by Matthew Hoesterey, Tara Rueping and myself. Chu’s Dynasty began as a pet project between myself and Matthew Hoesterey as a gift to my family, (hence the game title shares my last name). We thought it would be funny to beat the stuffing out of each other digitally, so all the characters in the game were made to be members of my family. When Tara saw the game for the first time she was inspired to join us. Together between the three of us, the game grew in scope and expectations until it was a full blown production involving over ten more people giving us assistance in sound, modeling, voice acting, coding, marketing, writing, and other aspects of the game. It was a wonderful experience in collaboration and creativity that has inspired us all, and we loved working with each other so much that we decided to corporate Tribetoy.

Tell us about Chu’s Dynasty.
Chu’s Dynasty is a fighting game that mixes the strategic fighting of Street Fighter(a personal favorite of the team) with the multi-tiered, 4-player fighting mayhem of Super Smash Bros.

It has four characters (Noah, Heta, Viotale, and Dr. Chu), each with their own back-story that is revealed as you play the single player campaign. Each character, besides having their own suite of moves, also has a unique Time Power to aid you in your battle.

You describe Chu’s Dynasty as a mix between Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros. Was this the way you envisioned the game turning out, or was it something that evolved over development?

Yes and no. As I mentioned, the game started out as a joke gift for my family because we needed the laughs.  We were spending a lot of time in the hospital with my Mom who was battling with a form of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme. The game was literally birthed on a hospital floor in Saint Luke’s.

We continued to work on it on our laptops during the many treatments and emergency visits to the hospital, as well as during our off-hours after work. Once Tara Rueping got on board to rework the art we decided to make it a real game…Of course, we have kept the original craptastic first version of Chu’s Dynasty for ourselves, complete with cut-outs of my family and battling block people.

Once we had decided to make a “real” game our designer, Matthew Hoesterey, decided on the direction. He wanted to make a 4-player party game like Super Smash Bros. with simplified controls, but wanted to add a little more of the depth found in Street Fighter. In the end we tried to mix in elements from both games as well as others like Guilty Gear. Finally, to give our game a bit of a twist we added in the “Time Powers,” giving people that really got into the game something to sink their teeth into.

Almost all the reviews of Chu’s Dynasty mention the impressive visuals of the game. What is the process like when you are creating video game art?
Making art for our game was a highly collaborative process driven by Tara Rueping. We knew we wanted the characters of the game to be based on my family, but with a fantasy twist. We would always start by brainstorming together on ideas and directions, then Tara would draw up a bunch of thumbnails. From there we would have further discussions and when a direction was decided upon, Tara would go into a full concept or rendering. One of the character thumbnails actually gave us the idea to have the characters fight on a creature, which ended up becoming the umbrella board.

Once we had strong concepts we started building all the actual game assets in both 2d and 3d. The base mesh for the 3d characters were started in 3DStudio Max, then taken into Mudbox for high detail, and them transferred back into 3DSMAX for optimization.

After UV’s where laid out they where taken into Photoshop for texture work. Then they would be transferred back into 3DStudio Max for “rigging” (basically giving the character a skeleton so I can animate the bones), and I would animate the character. Finally, the character animations would be rendered into 2D images and imported into the game for Matt to code and design. Level’s were painted directly in Photoshop and then ported into the engine.

In the end, game art is a lot about tradeoffs and iteration. Once things were built we had to work to make it all come together, with everyone working in unison to make the game look good and also play well.

What inspired the visual style of the game?
Tara Rueping was the mastermind behind the visuals of the game. The characters themselves were modeled and animated in 3d before being rendered to 2d, but practically everything else was hand painted by Tara herself, and everything came under the direction of her creative eye. Sources she took inspiration from and that the team referenced were: Hayao Miyazaki, for his overall creative directions, wahacan art painting styles, as well as the bold styles of Capcom (makers of Street Fighter) and the color pallet of the Kung Fu Panda, among other things.

Where can people download the game?
The easiest way to get the game it to go directly to the Microsoft website.  You can go HERE to purchase Chu’s Dynasty.  You can also find this link by going to www.chusdynasty.com and clicking the “Buy Now” button.  From there, just sign in with your Xbox Live ID and it will automatically download to your Xbox.  Chu’s Dynasty can be found in the XBL Marketplace under Indie fight games.

What was involved with getting your game onto Xbox Live?
Getting the game onto Xbox Live Arcade requires that you pass a peer review and to come into compliance with many of Microsoft’s regulations. In order to get through the review your game had to do obvious things, like not crash, but it must also handle other, smaller issues, like controller disconnects and a host of other Microsoft set requirements. Getting the game ready for peer review required many sleepless nights working on code.

As an indie game, there were restrictions a regular game wouldn’t have to deal with. Was there anything more you wanted to do with the game that you didn’t get a chance to do?
So much! Our biggest restrictions were time and money. Fighting games are normally made with budgets of $8 million dollars or more and have teams of 40 or more people working on them. We had three core team members and about $3,000 dollars. Some of the many things we would have added include more levels, more characters, a training mode, a practice mode (which may be coming out in a free update soon!), online play, an animated cinematic story, a boss fight, etc…the list goes on and on.

Will there be a sequel of Chu’s Dynasty? Or perhaps a full-blown game release from a game studio?
We would like to make another game in the Chu’s universe, and may someday even do a sequel, though it’s not something currently in the works though. We are planning on doing a big technology move soon, so a smaller first project to get our toes in the water will probably be the first thing we do before we continue on to something bigger.

What is the future of Tribetoy?
We are taking a short break before starting a new project but you will absolutely see more from us! All of us have always had 9-5’s, but that has never stopped us from pushing ourselves creatively on the side, and it will not in the future!

Now that you’ve been a major part of a great indie game, is there a project or type of game you really want to work on? What is your dream job, and does it lie in the video game field, or elsewhere?
My dream job and project would be one that allowed me to be creative and challenged and left powerful and lasting impressions on the people who played it.

I would love to be part of a project that effected people the way games effected me as a child. I still remember playing Final Fantasy and bawling in the basement with my brother when the twins turned themselves to stone to stop the walls and saved the party. The completely inane sense of accomplishment on finishing a level of Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts after throwing yourself into the same spot of death water repeatedly for the millionth time. And what gamer DIDN’T rack up a phone bill that gave their parents a heart attack when the gaming industry temporary lost its soul and started charging for help lines?

Oh, just me?  Well, whatever…I have the internet now.

Camille and her partners at Tribetoy are now starting to see some of the benefits of the hard work they put into making their vision a reality with Chu’s Dynasty.  They have all received recognition from the gaming industry, and almost more importantly, have earned a ton of credibility from their peers.  There are many individuals and small studios in the gaming industry who start their own projects and never get them done, but the success of Chu’s has established Tribetoy as a team who finishes what they start, and ships titles. However small this may seem, it is very important thing for a studio to establish in order to gain confidence from fans, investors, and future team members.

In the months following the release of the game, both Camille and Matt have moved to Washington state.  They each got new jobs, based in no small part on their success with Chu’s Dynasty.  Matt is now working for Microsoft on a new project involving Disney, and in a few weeks Camille will be starting her new job at Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.  Tara was, and still is, happily working for Lucas Arts on the Star Wars franchise.

YouTryOut is hosting its first ever live competition this Saturday (June 11) when Shred Fest 2011 takes place at the Mattapoisett Skatepark (64 County Road, Mattapoisett, MA 02739).

The event begins at noon and is made up of four competitions: Game of Skate, Best Trick Jam, High Ollie, and the YouTryOut Spot Challenge.

All proceeds from the event will go toward maintaining the Mattapoisett Skate Park.  Everyone is invited to compete and watch the events.

Here’s how the YouTryOut Spot Challenge works:

The goal is to advance to the video competition at YouTryOut.com by winning Best Trick in the Spot Challenge.  Here are the details:

1. The YouTryOut crew has chosen four spots throughout the skatepark where boarders compete to win best trick. Those four spots are rail, spine, fun box, and Manny board.

2. Each spot is open for 10 minutes at a time.

3. After 10 minutes the judges pick the two skateboarders that landed the best trick at that spot.

4. Two winners are chosen at each spot, resulting in eight boarders who will move on to the Spot Challenge Video Competition!

5. The event will be filmed so we will put together edits of the eight boarders highlighting their best tricks in the Spot Challenge.

6. The eight boarders will be randomly matched up head-to-head against one other.  Boarders with the most votes move on to the next round so make sure to get all your friends to vote for you.

Round 1= 8 boarders
Round 2= 4 boarders
Round 3= 2 boarders. The championship is winner takes all!

7. Winner will have their video featured on YouTryOUt.com with a chance to get a sponsorship, as well as receiving YouTryOut merchandise and a gift certificate to Solstice Skateboarding.

YouTryOut.com is where athletes compete in online video tournaments. We take the best, most entertaining sports highlight videos and enter them into bracket-style tournaments! The top 8 highlight videos in each tournament go head-to-head against each other and the viewers decide who wins! Get more votes than the opponent and move on to the next round. Tournament champion takes home the prize!

Founder, Troy Ferguson heads the day-to-day duties and is running the YouTryOut Spot Challenge at Shred Fest on Saturday. All competitions take place on the blog right now with a new website and better features to come soon. Ferguson says, “The goal for YouTryOut is to create video tournaments for all sporting events. Whether it’s a skateboard, snowboard, or surf competition or a baseball, football, and basketball game; video tournaments are going to be everywhere.

Like us on Facebook at the YouTryOut Fan Page
And follow us on Twitter @YouTryOut

It’s fitting that the Airport Grille isn’t too close to downtown New Bedford, because it certainly isn’t your typical downtown establishment.

The Airport Grille is located right off the tarmac at the New Bedford Regional Airport. Frequented by area residents and aviators alike, this bar/restaurant is the place to go for a change from the downtown scene.

The main thing to remember is that the Airport Grille is an experience that cannot be had anywhere else in New Bedford. As the sun goes down outside, the lights come up inside, illuminating the restaurant and bar in a way that reminds you of New York or Miami, not New Bedford.

Let’s start with the interior. ‘Striking’ would be the first word that comes to mind. As you enter through the glass doors, the bar is on your left. The main dining area is framed by the bar on the left, the airport on the right, and another dining area in the back.  That area used to be more of an outdoor dining section, but now there is a roof and heating and fans out there to allow for dining at any time of day, at any time of year.

The bar top is a beautiful, dark granite bordered by a thin strip of ice. The ice needs to be shaved down daily because it frosts up so much, but it works beautifully with the cobra tabs behind the bar. The taps give the impression that your beer is being pumped through a glacier before it reaches your glass, and the truth isn’t that far off. They have six beers flowing through these taps, delivering the coldest draft brew in town including Samuel Adams newest, Latitude 48 IPA.  They also have an extensive and carefully selected wine list which compliments every dish to make your dining experience more enjoyable and memorable.

Immediately after sitting down at the bar I found out that if you want to order your usual drinks or food, maybe Airport Grille isn’t the place for you. That’s not to say you can’t get exactly what you want here; I just mean you are selling yourself short if you don’t explore a little bit.

I suggest visiting the Airport Grille with no particular thought in mind of what you want to drink. Don’t sit down and order the usual! My bartender, Jared, was a bastion of alcohol-related knowledge and drink-making know-how. I told him right away that he could prepare me any drink he chose, so long as it contained no gin or tequila.

He responded to this by quietly going about his business of mixing three drinks; one with vegetable-infused vodka, one with gin, and one with tequila. My aversion to both gin and tequila  goes back to a couple of college-related experiences, and I usually stand firm in my decision to forgo both. However, not only did Jared mix me a gin drink devoid of that distinct gin flavor I can’t usually get past; he created a drink that was so good I will order it again the next time I visit the Airport Grille.  In fact, I may even make a special trip there just to have another Gin Blossom.

So the bar experience is top-notch, but what about the food? Almost everything served here is made from ingredients purchased locally. From the individual components of each dish all the way down to the sour mix and lime juice used in the drinks, using local products enables Chef Rob Cassi to create dishes bursting with flavor, and you can definitely taste the freshness. Not only does this result in great food, but by buying from local growers, the Airport Grille also supports the local economy. Even their ice cream is house-made with dairy from Arruda’s Dairy and created using dry ice!

While there I was treated to three very delicious appetizers which were paired with three drinks, each made to perfectly compliment the food it was served with.  The first appetizer was the Buttermilk Fried Oysters. Soaked in buttermilk for 12 hours and then dusted with rice flour and corn meal, these oysters were served with a spicy tarter sauce, house-pickled jalapenos, and house-made mayonnaise. It was paired with a Bloody Mary made with vegetable-infused vodka.  Both the Bloody Mary mix and the vegetable-infused vodka were made in house.  The resulting drink had a very distinct flavor that went perfectly with the oysters.

Although I had never eaten oysters before, I enjoyed the combination of food and drink. The flavor of the drink echoed the flavor of the food, and I really don’t think any drink could be paired better with any dish. It says a lot about Airport Grille that, while my personal preferences and prejudices wouldn’t normally have allowed for me to order either drink or appetizer, I still was able to enjoy both immensely.

Too often when we go out we order the same drinks and the same food. Its comfortable, safe, and takes little thought or effort. Airport Grille challenges these notions in a way that makes you want to try new things.

My next drink was a Gin Blossom-Bombay Sapphire, St. Germain, and some orange peel. I do my best to avoid gin, but this drink was amazing. Not only will I order it again, I’m thinking of having a go at creating it at home. The smooth flavor of the St. Germain (made from handpicked Elderflowers in the French Alps, the bottle has a shelf-life of 6 months) masked the gin flavor that turns me off so much, and the drink perfectly complemented our next appetizer, Grilled Artichokes.

Most of us are familiar with artichoke hearts, sitting there in their sad little container of brine. Those little bites pack a lot of flavor-sometimes too much. That is nowhere near what I was served at Airport Grille. Chef Rob (who hosts a cooking show on WBSM, 1420am, at 8:30 am each morning for people who want to learn how to cook restaurant style food) presented us with artichokes that were steamed and then grilled with a smokey sea salt and butter and served with a spicy remoulade consisting of house-made blacken seasoning and house-made mayo.  He made a point to emphasize the traditional mayo he had created- egg yolks, salt, white pepper, vinegar and good oil; no stabilizers, no gums, no fake stuff.

Even though my rookie-level artichoke eating skills were on full display as I tried to chew it leaf-by-leaf, I was quickly informed on how to eat it correctly. I learned that you have to drag the leaf over your teeth, so you can eat the artichoke but not the leaf itself, which is hard to chew (trust me). The flavor that came out of this dish was very enjoyable, and by the time I finished eating that and drinking the Gin Blossom, I was truly impressed by Airport Grille.

The final appetizer I was served was the Venison Flat Bread: venison sausage, fennel marmalade (house-made with fennel bulbs, a touch of vinegar and sugar) & ricotta salata made from sheep’s milk ricotta, which is firmer and sweeter than normal ricotta. I truly enjoy venison but have difficulty finding it on local menus, so I usually only have it once or twice a year when I visit New Hampshire or Maine. This plate was my favorite because the venison was so delicious. When it was mixed with the marmalade and ricotta salata it created a truly unique dish that you would have trouble finding anywhere in the area, and even if you did, I wager it wouldn’t be nearly as tasty.

For desert we were served ice cream, but it was ice cream unlike anything else you’re likely to find in the area. It was Chai and Cayenne spiced ‘Dry’ ice cream. It’s made from dairy purchased from Arruda’s Dairy Farm (Tiverton, RI), and it employs dry ice to create this truly delicious desert.  That was served together with a drink made from Patron XO Cafe, among other things.  I would normally never order a drink with tequila, but after the first sip I learned a fast lesson: I should be more open-minded.  The drink was like a liquid desert, and went better with the ice cream than any other drink you may prefer with your ice cream.

The Airport Grille is truly an unique place. Where else can you get amazing food (the chowder may be the best in the area), made almost entirely of local ingredients, while watching small planes come and go? The bar is unlike any you’ll find in the area, and the level of commitment that Front-of-House Manager Shawn Moniz, Chef Rob, and the rest of the the staff has made to making Airport Grille more than your average restaurant is unparalleled.

You can visit any restaurant in town for a meal, but for a dining and drinking experience unlike no other, there is only one choice: The Airport Grille. 

Click HERE for their new, updated menu.

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Living in the South Coast area, we are lucky enough to have many choices when it comes to fresh seafood.  One of my favorite seafood markets is the Salty Cod Fish Market, located at 1500 Cove Road in New Bedford.  The Salty Cod is your one-stop place for fresh, affordable fish and friendly customer service.

Salty Cod is a fish market that has recently opened in the South End of New Bedford.  After witnessing the success Kyler’s Seafood and The Fishermen’s Market has had, Salty Cod decided to get in on the action, and they were certainly up for the challenge.

My taste buds warmed up quickly to my first catch, something as simple as salmon fillets. The richness and bold flavor of the fish was to die for.  The staff  there is very congenial, and they happily advised me on the best ways to cook and serve the fish. The man who assisted me commented on salmon’s “dessert-like effect,” and told me how one can efficiently buy the correct amount of fish to satisfy guests’ pallets.

Since learning about this homey market, on subsequent visits I have gone back to the salmon, and experimented with a Portuguese fish called Boca Head. This white fish was presented in its own skin, so-to-speak; the fish was cleaned, cut, and packaged at the counter, googly eyes and all! The quality and freshness of Salty Cod’s fish was established right then and there.

Most recently I purchased one of their stuffed quahogs. The balance of spice and richness in their hearty stuffing was enough to satisfy my empty stomach and my quest for a satisfying taste.  The stuffing was unique, especially when compared to the typical quahog that can be found in local supermarkets. The whole pieces of seafood in the quahogs were a special treat that created a more filling appetizer. They are priced at $2.50 a piece, but their size and taste justify the expense.

You may be heading into these summer months looking for some healthy, light meals that can be created in little time, with little heat and little fuss! Here is a tip that might answer your call: For about $5 per pound, Salty Cod offers basic white fish, such as haddock, cod, and tilapia that you can easily cook at home.

Since the grill is the favored cooking tool at this time of year, grill the fish for a summer-type taco. Fish tacos have a light-yet-bold enough flavor that results in a delicious meal. Add in some lime, shredded cabbage or iceberg lettuce, with some onions, and fresh-diced tomatoes.

To add a fruit flavor to your corn or flour tortillas, add freshly sliced mango and/or pineapple to create a fresh salsa. Spritz the open-faced taco with some lime juice from a fresh lime and serve with simple sides to create a fun patio dinner for friends and family, or treat yourself to a solo night of dining under the stars.

If you are not one to stare a fish in the eyes, then perhaps you may be interested in trying this local flavor next door at the Salty Cod Restaurant. Their menu is rather simple, yet they meet the demand of being served fresh seafood. They have a well-balanced menu that incorporates chicken, as well as some vegetarian choices. I can speak for their Seafood Chowder. This basic dish brings forth a crisp flavor in its spicy array of seafood, potatoes, cooked tomatoes, and celery in a clear broth. Try this one for yourself and stand up to the test of New Bedford’s finest fishing port in the nation.  We are lucky to live in an area where we have a choice of seafood, and The Salty Cod is a great one!

Bon Apetite, or as the Portuguese might say: “Divirta se!”

The 108^th Annual Meeting of the Old Dartmouth Historical Society – New Bedford Whaling Museum will take place Friday, May 20 at 4:00 pm. in the Cook Memorial Theater, followed at 6:00 p.m. by the opening of a new exhibit titled Sitting in New Bedford.

At 2:00 p.m. a Volunteer and Trustee Remembrance at the Seamen’s Bethel will precede the annual meeting. Family, friends and associates are invited to join the volunteer council and the board of trustees as they gather in fond remembrance of departed members.  At 4:00 p.m. the trustees and membership of the Old Dartmouth Historical Society will convene in the Museum’s Cook Memorial Theater for their 108^th Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting is followed at 6:00 p.m. by the opening of the Museum’s latest exhibit, Sitting in New Bedford. Located in the Gratia Houghton Rinehart Gallery, Sitting in New Bedford whimsically uses eclectic collections to show the many faces, everyday and unique objects, and surprising aspects of this city’s present and past. Furniture, workbenches and unique places people “sat” are just some of the diverse mix of art and artifacts included, some never seen before.

Curator Dr. Greg Galer, drawing upon pop-culture terminology, suggests the exhibit as a three dimensional “mash up.” By bringing together diverse materials, both complimentary and seemingly dissonant, one finds a fascinating and fun resonance, a perfect take for the summer.  Come see and join the many ways of “sitting in New Bedford.”  The exhibit even offers opportunities to sit for your own portrait and add your face to the many in the gallery.

The day concludes with After Hours featuring live music, refreshments and cash bar from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Jacobs Family Gallery sponsored by Fiber Optic Center, Inc., Whaling City Sound, and Perfect Pour LLC.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum is the world’s most comprehensive museum devoted to the global story of whales, whaling, and the cultural history of the region. The cornerstone of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the Museum is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill in the heart of the city’s historic downtown and is open daily. Wheelchair accessible. For a complete calendar of events, visit the Whaling Museum online at www.whalingmuseum.org. Join the Museum’s online community on Flickr , Facebook, Twitter , and the Whaling Museum blog.

Sully Erna, lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Godsmack, is set to kick off a tour in support of his solo debut album Avalon. The show will hit the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center on Saturday, May 21, with an eclectic ensemble of seven musicians who will help share his new blend of seductive voodoo with fans.

Erna said he is “super-stoked” for the tour, which will feature a massive drum explosion. “Wait until you see this,” he said. “There’s this piece called ‘Cast Out,’ with a long chord that just rings out about halfway through it and everybody puts down their instruments and eight people go at it drumming at the same time. It’s sick. Some people are on hand drums, some on shakers; one guy is on a drum set. It’s like a ritual.”

He also said the performance will include “amazing” cinematic visuals and scenery. In that aspect, Erna hopes to emulate some of the bands he favored when growing up. “Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac just took you into this zone and through this real musical journey through visuals,” he said. “We really want to pull people into the music here.”

The set list includes updated versions of Godsmack songs and will highlight Erna’s new material as well, which consists of mystical world music with an alternative spin. He wrote a few tracks within the last few years but knew the style wasn’t quite right for Godsmack because it was too mellow and peaceful.

“It’s got a different vibe to it,” said Erna. “It’s very emotional. I love that I’m a part of this project that moves people on a musical level and isn’t so much about all the pyro and that kind of stuff. I put my heart and soul into it and it’s really meaningful to me. So far, people are embracing it the way I hoped they would and I hope they spread the word. I can’t wait to get out there and just enjoy playing and traveling again.”

Erna began the project with longtime friend Lisa Guyer, a blues singer with a four-octave range. She has opened for artists such as Pat Benatar and Ted Nugent, and recorded with guitarist Barry Goudreau of Ernie and the Automatics.

“I talked to (Guyer) first and said, ‘I think the dynamics of our voices work well together,’ and that was the nucleus of it,” said Erna. “From there we met Niall Gregory, a percussionist from Ireland, and then it was us three.”

Shortly thereafter, Guyer invited a few more people to join the mix and Erna asked classically trained cellist Irina Chirkova of Bulgeria to become a member. It wasn’t long before the band completed their line-up, adding guitarist and vocalist Tim Theriault; keyboardist, vocalist and midi player Chris Decato; bassist and acoustic guitarist Chris Lester; and David Stefanelli on drums and percussion.

“Everything just kind of fell into place and little by little this thing became what it is,” Erna said. “I’m very grateful to have everybody. They are just phenomenal musicians from all over the world.”

All of the band members are multi-instrumentalists and are featured on his new album. He said they each bring their unique abilities to the group, ultimately creating a powerhouse of performers.

“They’ve all brought in their own influences and that’s why I think this whole thing became so special,” said Erna. “If we didn’t have a show prepared, which we do, it’s neat to see multiple people up on the stage play all these different instruments and jamming. It’s pretty cool to see everybody shifting around doing different things. I’m excited and everyone involved is excited because as a musician you want to play everything.”

In addition to being a vocalist, Erna is a guitarist, pianist, and drummer. He was three and half when he took his first drum lesson, and he gradually started singing and playing guitar over the years. However, he recently developed a fond relationship with the piano. He believes is has a soothing, meditative affect.

“There’s just something calming about playing the piano,” Erna said. “Sometimes, it’s the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning. It grounds me and I feel very centered. I’ve definitely connected with the piano the last few years more than ever.”

He feels the piano is often under-appreciated at times, and thinks of it as one of the most important instruments ever created.  “It has every note,” he said. “You don’t need a full band and you can really make it sound full with all the bass notes, lead notes, and harmonies. You can play by yourself and it can move you to tears at times if you play the right kind of melodies.”
Erna said those types of deep experiences also occur during live performances at small venues. Because stages and audiences are closer together, he is able to see just how much his music impacts his fans.

“I was doing an acoustic, Story Tellers-type of evening, and I looked out at the crowd and see people in tears,” he said.  “When you’re writing a song, you’re not always thinking about how it’s going to affect someone. But when you bring it live and you see the emotion, when you touch people through your own experiences, it’s the most rewarding part of playing in front of a live audience.”

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center’s box office is located at 684 Purchase Street in downtown New Bedford. Tickets for Sully Erna’s concert are priced at $40 and $35, and can be purchased online. Box Office Hours: M-F 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and one hour before each performance. Parking is free in an adjacent parking garage. For more information, visit www.zeiterion.org or call the box office at 508-994-2900.