Not many events make their second year, let alone their tenth year, but that’s exactly what the SCBA and the New Bedford Oktoberfest has accomplish in 2015. With over $500,000 raised for at-risk youth & educational based charities along the Southcoast, Oktoberfest not only brings you incredible brews, but does incredible things for the community.

With that being said, there is one thing that can be a bit overwhelming when you step into Oktoberfest and that is what tasty beverage to pick. We decided to simplify things for you this year and create a beer guide for all the beers. We scoured the internet and pulled in all the information you’ll need to plan your beer choices for next Saturday. We know many of you, including myself, might not know what an ABV or IBU’s is, so we turned to resident beer expert Beer Advocate for the definition of ABV and About.com for the definition for IBU’s. They both explain it way better than I can in my limited knowledge of the much used beer acronyms.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV) – “Alcohol by volume (ABV) simply represents what portion of the total volume of liquid is alcohol. Our liquid of choice is, of course, beer. And to determine the ABV of a beer, a brewer typically uses what’s called a hydrometer, which is an instrument that aids in measuring the density of liquid in relation to water (it essentially free-floats in a cylinder or liquid). The hydrometer will be calibrated to read 1.000 in water (at 60°F), and the denser the liquid (example: add sugar to the liquid), the higher the hydrometer reading.

Okay, so how does this relate to beer? Well, before yeast cells are introduced to ferment beer, the liquid is called “wort (pronounced wert),” and it’s full of all kinds of sugars that were previously extracted from the grain. A brewer will take a hydrometer measurement of the wort (at 60°F) to determine what’s called the original gravity (OG). Then yeast is pitched into the wort, and fermentation begins. As the yeast cells eat the sugar in the wort, they create two wonderful by-products: carbonation (CO2) and alcohol. And once the brewer has determined that our hungry yeast have had enough (could be days, weeks or months), s/he’ll go ahead and pull another hydrometer reading (at 60°F) and record what’s called the final gravity (FG).

Notice that all measurements were taken at 60°F. That’s because the temperature of the liquid will impact the hydrometers’ measurement of the liquid, and the hydrometer was calibrated with water at 60°F. So in order to maintain controlled calculations … you get it. Otherwise you’d need to make adjustments in calculations, and we don’t want to worry about that.”

You can find the original ABV article here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/articles/518/

International Bittering Units (IBU’s) – “This is a measure of the actual bitterness of a beer as contributed by the alpha acid from hops. Because the apparent bitterness of a beer is subjective to the taste of the drinker and the balancing malt sweetness of the beer this is not always an accurate measure of the “hoppiness” of a beer. But, generally speaking, beers with IBUs of less than 20 have little to no apparent hops presence.

Beers with IBUs from 20 to 45 are the most common and have mild to pronounced hops presence. Beers with IBUs greater than 45 are heavily hopped and can be quite bitter.”

You can find the original IBU article here: http://beer.about.com/od/glossary/g/ibudefined.htm

With those very important definitions out of the way, lets get to the beer!

Buzzards Bay Brewing

IPA

“Our American grown version of this classic ale. Using 2 caramel malts, victory malt and wheat malt along with a complex blend of hops (including: warrior, cascades, palisades, ahtanum, zythos, simcoe) and dry-hopped with several of these.”

6.1% ABV     44 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

Moby D

“Inspired by the clean, crisp Altbiers of Germany, our Moby D is a year round favorite. Brewed with 3 different caramel malts and bittering hops.”

5% ABV     21 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://buzzardsbrew.com 

Narragansett Brewing Company

Town Beach IPA

“We brew our Town Beach IPA with Pale, Cara Pils and Wheat malts along with an assortment of three of the finest hops (Hallertau, Nugget, and EKG). It is then dry hopped with Citra at the finish to deliver a well-rounded and balanced hop profile. Crisp, clean and just the right amount of bite from our distinct blend of hops make the Town Beach IPA a thoroughly enjoyable beer that offers tremendous drinkability. Golden amber in color, with a sweet aroma this beer is perfect for late summer or early fall drinking refreshment.”

4.7% ABV     55 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

Porter

“It is brewed with chinook hops for bitterness, simcoe hops for aroma, black malt, pale malt, chocolate malt, munich malt, crystal malt, roasted barley, and ale yeast. Giving it an imperial taste. ansett Porter offers an extremely approachable craft experience that, unlike many of the other porters on the market, is not overly smoky or bitter. The Narragansett Porter has a deliciously mild chocolate flavor with just a hint of smokiness and hops to balance out the finish.”

7% ABV     28 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.narragansettbeer.com/beer

Berkley Beer Company

Harvest Ale

“The perfect blend of sweet and savory is the distinctive feature of Berkley’s Harvest Ale. It’s rich, malty flavor, makes this Oktoberfest-style ale not only very drinkable, but also the ideal autumn treat.”

6% ABV     20 IBU’s

Untappd Review(s)

Golden Ale

Berkley’s Golden Ale is a drinkable, well-balanced ale that features a smooth, crisp taste paired with a slight malty finish making it gloriously golden and pleasantly refreshing.

5% ABV     15 IBU’s

Untappd Review(s)

Hog Oiler Double IPA

8% ABV

Untappd Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.berkleybeer.com

Naukabout Beer Company

White Cap IPA

“Whether you’re unwinding after a long day at work, tinkering in the garage on the weekends or gearing up for the big game, Naukabout IPA is the perfect brew for all those once-in-a-lifetime Naukabout moments.”

6.25% ABV     47 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

Lighthouse Blonde Ale

“Lighthouse Blonde Ale is the perfect brew for playing backyard games with your friends, kicking back and relaxing on the beach with your family, or stocking up for that long weekend in the mountains. Whatever your passion, Naukabout Lighthouse Blonde Ale is a tasty year-round choice for inspiring those once-in-a-lifetime Naukabout memories.”

4.0% ABV

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.naukabout.com

Mayflower Brewing

IPA

“Mayflower IPA balances a powerful hop profile with full malt flavor to create a smooth brew with well-rounded bitterness. Four varieties of American hops lend a delightful piney flavor and fruity aroma.”

6.1% ABV     77 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

Porter

“Mayflower Porter is a rich, complex brew that is smooth and full-flavored. Five varieties of malted barley provide notes of roasted coffee beans and bittersweet chocolate with a hint of smokiness.”

5.2% ABV     34 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

Autumn Wheat Ale

“Mayflower Autumn Wheat Ale is a dark wheat beer. Flavorful and medium-bodied, it combines the fruity aroma and bready character of traditional wheat beers with the malty richness of dark ales.”

4.8% ABV     22 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.mayflowerbrewing.com/

Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier

“Ever since 1818 we have brewed our bottom-fermented Oktoberfest Bier during Oktoberfest – Germany’s favourite Oktoberfest beer and a true institution in Munich. The glass is full of October sunshine, strong and golden. The perfect balance of a light taste of hops and a strong note of malt. A feast of a beer, which always goes down well. This beer is only brewed for the Oktoberfest. That’s where it belongs, along with all the fun of the fair like the Ferris wheel and roasted almonds.”

5.8% ABV

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.paulaner.com

Shipyard Pumpkinhead

“Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale is a crisp and refreshing wheat ale with delightful aromatics and subtle spiced flavor.”

4.5% ABV     18 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of https://www.shipyard.com

Weihenstephan Oktoberfestbier

“A full rich bodied, hoppy, seasonal lager. Especially brewed for the Festbier season. This beer truly represents the Bavarian way of celebrating. Deep gold color, great mouth-feel and lots of flavor.”

5.8% ABV

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://us.weihenstephaner.com

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

“Our version of this classic style blends hearty malts for a deep, smooth flavor with notes of caramel creating a brew that’s perfect for the season, or whatever you’re celebrating.”

5.3% ABV     16 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of https://www.samueladams.com

Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy

“Jack-O Traveler is an alluring wheat beer illuminated by the tastes of fall. He strikes a perfect balance between bright refreshment and seasonal spice. Jack is brewed with fresh pumpkin, for a delicious dark-hued, Shandy-inspired beer.”

4.4% ABV     7 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.travelerbeer.com

Brooklyn Oktoberfest

“Brewed from the finest German malt and hops, Brooklyn Oktoberfest is true to the original style, fullbodied and malty, with a bready aroma and light, brisk hop bitterness.”

5.5% ABV     25 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.brooklynbrewery.com

Wachusett Octoberfest

“Draft Magazine called it one of the Top 10 Octoberfest’s Available in North America. Using traditional Octoberfest specialty malts and hops, we’ve handcrafted an interpretation of the style that has both a balanced bitterness and a beautiful copper coloring.”

5.2% ABV     21 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.wachusettbrew.com

Cisco Brewers

Sankaty Light Lager

“A light American Golden Lager. This delicious creation is light-bodied with tremendous balance and distinct hop character. At 3.8% alcohol and 126 calories this light beer has true flavor and body while being easy to drink and easier on the waistline. It is named after the famous lighthouse that has stood on a bluff on the southeastern side of Nantucket Island since 1849.”

3.8% ABV

Beer Advocate Review(s)

Pumple Drumkin

6% ABV

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.ciscobrewers.com/brewery

Tröegs Hop Knife Harvest Ale

“Hop Knife Harvest Ale recognizes the meticulous, time-honored tradition of hand-harvesting hops at the peak of maturity. Our HopCyclone process creates an inward spiral of hop dispersal during fermentation, releasing a bounty of citrus, resin and tropical aromas.”

6.2% ABV     87 IBU’s

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.troegs.com

Foolproof Augtoberfest

“This festbier is a celebration of Foolproof’s annual Augtoberfest festival, which we host at our brewery in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Augtoberfest is brewed with caramel and Munich malt as well as American hops and is fermented cool to produce a clean, refreshing flavor.”

6% ABV

Beer Advocate Review(s)

All information courtesy of http://www.foolproofbrewing.com

This year’s New Bedford Oktoberfest is certainly a beer drinker’s delight. However, if beer isn’t your thing, they will also have wine, sangria and cider available!

Is there a beer that you want to see at Oktoberfest and it’s NOT listed? Comment below and we’ll pass along the list to the New Bedford Oktoberfest event staff.

 

An unexpected blend of hip hop, Bach, and blue grass is coming to the Zeiterion Theater this Friday, May 29th at 8pm

Come prepared for a party and see what all the hype is about as musical sensation Black Violin graces the stage of our Zeiterion Theater here in New Bedford. When they are not collaborating with the likes of Kanye West or Aretha Franklin, longtime friends Wil B and Kev Marcus are working together to break boundaries not only in musical composition but also in raising awareness of the importance of musical education.

The classically trained string instrumentalists display a mastery of their craft through their adaptations of rhythm and beats to better reflect their own signature style. The result is an inexplicable and unparalleled experience that is not to be missed.

After performing with Alicia Keys at the Billboard music awards in 2004 and winning Top 5 New Artists at the world-famous South by Southwest music festival in 2013, the duo has skyrocketed into musical acclaim for their incredible talent and extraordinary creativity. Opportunities to see them in such an intimate, local venue will soon become far and inbetween. Don’t miss Black Violin this Friday evening at the Zeiterion Theater at 8 pm.

For tickets, visit https://ticketing.zeiterion.org/public/

For more about Black Violin, visit http://blackviolin.net

Hip-Hop Violin Due to Come to New Bedford for One Show Only

Black Violin will perform at the Zeiterion Theater Friday May 29, 8PM

A decade since its inception, Black Violin has been named Top 5 New Artists at the popular South by Southwest music festival, performed at President Obama’s inaugural ball, and sold out a 16-night run on Broadway.

The pair stands out for their genre-bending style, evident in their eclectic assortment of collaborations. Black Violin has written and performed with Hip-Hop stand outs Kanye West, Wu-Tang, and Nas as evergreen music legends Aretha Franklin, The Eagles, and Tom Petty.

Classical influences from Bach’s concertos and Puccini’s operas meld with contemporary hip-hop and rock, alongside mid-century R&B and early bluegrass.

Not only do the pair put on an incredible show, as evident by their overnight success, but they are activists for keeping musical education in our schools. The two see their collaboration as a way of overcoming obstacles, the temptation of the street, and staying strong.

Check out “A Flat” (2012) and you’ll be hooked.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/gEIVzWCRSg8

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind performance by the up-coming genre-breaking music moguls Black Violin.

For tickets, please visit https://ticketing.zeiterion.org/public/

For more about Black Violin, please visit http://blackviolin.net/

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo blow the roof off of New Bedford’s Zeiterion Theater

The red carpeted aisles are nearly invisible beneath the wall-to-wall crowd dancing on its feet and singing along all night long. Hoards of people clad in everything from leather jackets to pink tutus flood New Bedford’s Union Street, and slam the Z bar before the show. Fans discuss their first times seeing Benatar on stage–and the next four times they saw her as well. It is clear from the get-go that much like our very own Zeiterion Theater, Pat Benatar is a fixture that transcends generations.

Benatar and her husband, long-time guitar player, and writing partner “spyder” Giraldo, flood the stage with an energy and presence that few young, fresh artists can muster, and they’ve been doing it for over 35 years.

The concert was not just a throwback to glory days, reliving good memories and great songs, but it was an entirely new experience on its own, completely alive and thriving–barely contained within the Z’s historic four walls.

Every single song was greeted by audience members leaping to their feet, singing along to every word and chanting every chorus. The night was lively and upbeat, even the security guards were dancing. The duo took a moment to recognize their own relationship with an anecdote of the first song they ever wrote about their experiences together in love, introducing “Promises in the Dark”.

The two are far from behind the times, inviting the audience to reach out to them on facebook the next day to tell them how they enjoyed the show. “I hope you’re having as much fun as we are,” Giraldo tells the audience with a grin. Before playing another karaoke night favorite, “We Belong to the Light,” Benatar gives her congratulations to a couple in the audience married just a few days before, who reached out to her on social media to let her know they would be in attendance tonight.

“We hadn’t anticipated what [this song] would become to you, our fans were happy that someone had finally brought this issue into the light and had given them a voice. We hope that someday we won’t have to play it any more,” Benatar says on a somber note before transitioning into “Hell is for Children.” The tone took on a more serious note, but fans were rapt in the power of the moment, and what a monumental song it was then and still is today.

Pat Benatar has been a force to be reckoned with since before MTV, then conquered the new platform and continues to do so today even after it has aged into obscurity. It is not enough to say that she is a voice of a generation, because she has proven herself to be truly timeless. The audience, with chills down their spines from the sheer intensity of her performance are a testament to her power.

Not a single person onstage, backstage, or in the audience wanted to leave the theater that night. It was a party that the Zeiterion, New Bedford, and Benatar herself are sure to never forget.

“There’s some bad stuff going on in the rest of the world, so we are going to put our hands together and send them some good cheer,” Benatar preached, closing out the night on a flawless note.

For upcoming shows at the Zeiterion theater, please visit http://www.zeiterion.org/

Colin and Brad of Whose Line is it Anyway? bring an evening of interactive humor to New Bedford’s Zeiterion Theater

Yes, its really all made up on the spot. Improvisation is the key factor in the show, a form of live theater where everything from the plot to the characters is made up in the moment, from suggestions by the audience.

The hilarious hit EMMY-nominated TV series Whose Line is it Anyway? originated in Britain, spread to Hollywood and launched the careers of these two comedians, all the while providing endless laughter for us all at home. While this may be the most recognized example of improv theater, it is an incredible feat of comedic strength, practiced by many actors, but conquered by few. These two are certainly a part of the latter category.

Colin Mochrie, a regular on the show, is a familiar face, with familiar voices and quirks to match. Brad Sherwood also made appearances on the show, and has toured internationally.

After touring with the larger cast of the TV series, these two have come together to put on a show of truly epic proportions. With the help of audience members, the two will act out game after game of improv gold. Come ready to shout out suggestions, move the two around the stage like puppets, and laugh until you cry.

The two-hour show culminates in what Colin and Brad like to call “The World’s Most Dangerous Improv Game” in which the two play the Alphabet Game, all the while tip toeing around 250 mousetraps littered across the stage. Between back-to-back lines beginning in successive letters, there are yelps of pain and, of course, offensive, as well as defensive, action.

The show is appropriate for ages 10 and up, although the show cannot be held accountable for the content of audience suggestions.

If you enjoyed Whose Line is it Anyway? or have never seen the show, but are looking for a laugh, this is the event for you.

 

For tickets, please visit https://ticketing.zeiterion.org

For more about the show, please visit http://www.colinandbradshow.com

Pinkalicious the Musical is coming from NYC to New Bedford’s Zeiterion Theater this Sunday, April 26th

Predictions are calling for a sea of pink swarming downtown’s cobblestone streets this coming Sunday afternoon. Grab your pinkest, sparkliest duds, a cupcake towering with frosting, and a ticket to Pinkalicious for an unforgettable outing.

Based on the popular New York Times best-selling children’s picture book Pinkalicious by sisters Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann and music, lyrics and orchestration by John Gregor of WITH GLEE , this light hearted musical is sure to mesmerize children and parents alike. Perfect for a day with the family, this whimsical tale of a girl who loves pink, pink, pink-everything pink-teaches us not only to eat our greens, but the best thing to do is always be you.

Pinkalicious Pinkerton has a bit of a sweet tooth-if by a bit we mean that she’s eaten so many cupcakes that her skin turns a beautiful shade of pink. The doctor prescribes a dose of green-vegetables, that is. But can she hold out on the pink cupcakes? Or will she have to sneak one-just one?

The silliest stories seem to always be the most memorable. Written for children ages 4-8, the heartwarming story is a sweet confection for people of all ages. Not only does it entertain, but reminds us of the importance of childrens theater and awakening the imagination.

This is the perfect show for sharing, so grab a ticket for you and your family, and your friends too!

For tickets visit www.ticketing.zeiterion.org

For more information about Pinkalicious the Musical visit  www.pinkaliciousthemusical.com

 

Rhythm, Blues, and Appalachian Murder Ballads

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn coming to the Zeiterion Theater this Sunday, April 12th, 7PM

Fifteen-time GRAMMY winner, Béla Fleck, and his wife Abigail Washburn have teamed up for an incredible example of the versatility and musicality of the banjo. Stringing together influences from jazz to appalachian murder ballads, the unique result is entirely captivating and a true feat of art. Both industry giants on their own, this partnership has proved to be one of talent, creativity, and ingenuity. The culmination of their eclectic relationship is a moment in music history that is not to be missed. For tickets please visit http://www.zeiterion.org/

I had the pleasure of interviewing Béla, where he revealed his love for the Massachusetts Southcoast, the trifles of being a couple in a group, and what we can hope to see from the duo in the future.

Mia Germain – Have either of you been to this area before? If so, what are your favorite things about the south coast of Massachusetts?Béla Fleck – I have had the good fortune to play New Bedford at least 3 times that I can remember and possibly 4!I’ve played there with The Flecktones, with the African Project, and in duet with Chick Corea. I’m so happy to get to play there again, with my wife Abigail Washburn.Also I used to live in Boston – way back – and I spent a lot of time in the area. I love it. Mia Germain – Both of your careers have taken you to incredible places around the world, how does place and setting influence your music? Béla Fleck – I feel like a great experience can happen anywhere, and some of the best are outside of the major cities. Audiences really appreciate your visit, and you also don’t compete with as many shows for attention. That said, it’s fun to play ‘destination gigs’ like Telluride Bluegrass Festival, or Newport Folk/Jazz Fests, where the location is part of the draw. Give me a funky old theatre though, and I get comfy and tend to play at my best. Mia Germain – You have done some informal collaborations before this album, but what is the musical dynamic between you like when it is all off the record-before this album and now? Béla Fleck – Abby and I have been playing together since we became a couple, music is a part of our couplehood. And when we formalized that natural collaboration, and started taking it on the road, it was an unexpectedly smooth transition. We are very comfortable with each other, and there is a lot of trust, so sometimes it means we push each other into unfamiliar waters, and take more risks that we might in a less safe environment. But mostly it just flows and we have a lot of fun playing our banjos together. Mia Germain – On this album, how was the collaboration and songwriting process as a couple different-or not-from both of your experiences previous? Béla Fleck – This is the first one where it was just the two of us. That felt really good. In the past, I have helped Abby to produce her albums occasionally, and we worked together with the Sparrow Quartet, a wonderful group featuring Casey Driessen and Ben Sollee. But being a couple in a group is a trifle awkward. This is a very direct interaction with no one in between. Mia Germain – How has this experience been, of touring as a family? Béla Fleck – It’s truly ‘living the dream’, as so many people say to us. So many of our musician friends have had to spend a lot of time away from their kids and partners in order to make the family bacon. In this situation we get to do it together, and be with our son Juno most of the time. He’s acclimated well to the touring life, and we have a very special touring team who take care of him when we get busy. It’s very sweet. Mia Germain – Obviously, the birth of your son was instrumental in the timing of this long-awaited collaboration, but how has he influenced your own musicality, and what effect can we hope to see in the future from his presence in your lives? Béla Fleck – Having a child makes a lot of things instantly clear – and what’s important becomes very obvious very fast. So as a couple – it’s no longer just about us, and we have embraced that. He also changed me from someone who really couldn’t relate to kids that well to someone who really enjoys them. As far as the music, my music has benefited from becoming less important in the scheme of things. I think I was overly obsessed with music sometimes, and it didn’t always make the music better – it just made me edgy and nervous. Playing music feels very joyful and complete now. And also I’ve written a few things that I just wouldn’t have written before I became a father. But Abigail is a huge influence on me too, and playing with her has brought out the more sensitive and melodic parts of my playing. I love it…

For more about Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, their self-titled album, and future performance dates, please visit http://mediakits.concordmusicgroup.com/p/bla-fleck–abigail-washburn/index.html

Golf is an interesting sport. It is the only activity that is universally heralded as a great getaway, a relaxing 3-4 hours away from the daily grind and a chance to catch up with friends or co-workers, yet somehow always ends in shattered confidence and frustration. Well, that is, if you’re a bogie + golfer like me. If you’re a scratch golfer then the above may be true and you can add laughing at people like me on the golf course to the list.

I have always loved playing golf but could never quite put all the pieces together. Which is why you can often find me fishing golf balls out of shallow creeks and from behind thick hedges. I get very excited when I find a muddy Titleist that was left for dead last spring. I just cant justify spending $50-$60 dollars on top-of-the-line golf balls when I’m quite certain they are going to end up in my accountants back yard just off of the 4^th tee box.

We all know that using better equipment will improver your game regardless of the level you are playing at.  A few years back I finally caved in and upgraded my driver and 3 wood. It instantly improved my score and I was very pleased. It just gets too expensive and at a certain point we make sacrifices that set us back. I have always known that using a better golf ball will improve my game but, again, they are just too expensive. So I have to wait for Christmas when I will undoubtedly find some in my stocking. Then a friend of mine told me about Dean Snell and his new line of top tier golf balls made explicitly for armature golfers looking to boost their game and save some money in the process.

Dean Snell

If you don’t know already, Dean Snell has been in the golf ball game for 25 years. He worked for both Titleist and TaylorMade during his tenure. Dean worked on the team that created the Titleist Pro V1, which started in the mid 90’s and was released in 2000. The Pro V1 revolutionized the golf ball industry and set the standard in golf ball technology. This ball continues to be a best seller but sells for $62 a dozen on their website, too rich for my blood. Dean was also contracted to make the very first Taylor Made golf ball. He used his expertise and knowledge to develop some of the games finest products and is still named on 38 of the industries top patents.

Snell Golf

As you can imagine Dean is a golf enthusiast. Over the years he has noticed a down turn in the armature golf community. He attributes this to the average golfer just not having the financial means to continuously shell out exorbitant amounts of money for golf balls, green fees, range balls, new clubs, and all the costs that come along with playing this great sport. So he decided to leave the corporate giants and start Snell Golf. Dean brings his industry knowledge and expertise to Snell Golf balls but cuts out all of the middlemen. No corporate mark-ups, sales teams or marketing cost. His overhead is very low so the price is too. According to Dean his golf balls are “a low investment for a great product”. These golf balls are sold only online at www.snellgolf.com and all orders ship free right to your door.

Snell Golf has two golf balls to choose from.

The “My Tour Ball”: This ball uses the thin cast urethane cover technology that has been successful on tour. It is a multi-layered cast urethane covered tour caliber ball that has total tee to green performance for golfers of all skill levels. The ball also features a low compression high velocity core allowing lower driver spin rates and faster ball speeds for all swing speeds for longer and straighter drives. The mantle, or inner layer, works with the core and the cover to control the spin rates on the irons. The cast urethane cover is a tour proven technology that allows excellent short game spin and control while delivering soft feel and outstanding durability.

This is a top tier golf ball and sells for only $31.99 per dozen on the web site and ships for FREE.

The “Get Sum”: this is a high performance 2-piece golf ball that is designed for soft feel and lower spin rates. These lower spin rates help players reduce hooks and slices, and allows the ball to fly straighter and longer. A large, oversized core allows us to keep driver spin rates low, and create extraordinarily fastball speeds for all swing speeds. The soft, Surlyn® cover technology creates great feel and excellent durability. This 2-piece design allows the ball to fly straighter and make it easier to get the ball up in the air.  This is an outstanding all-around ball for players of all skill levels and sells for only $20.99 per dozen and, again, ships for FREE.

If your not sure which one is best for you Snell Golf offers a Testing Pack which comes with 6 of each for only $26.99 and, you guessed it, ships for FREE.

Dean was recently recognized in a Golf Digest article for his amazing resume in the golf ball technology industry and commended for his eagerness to produce great golf balls at affordable prices.  You can read the full article here: Golf Digest- Snell Golf.

I’ll let Dean close this one out with a great quote that has already motivated me to order some Snell Golf balls and book my next tee time:

“The motivation I have to start this company is to try to help grow the game. If I can help in any way, I can help with the cost of the golf ball. I can give you the performance and the technology that you’re looking for at an affordable price to help you go out and play more.” –Dean Snell

Now go to Snell Golf and get back on the course!

 

Note – Winners of New Bedford Guide’s Facebook giveaway will be notified via Facebook message on Wednesday, April 8. Prizes can be picked up at Spectrum Marketing Group at 651 Orchard Street in New Bedford or can be shipped, free of charge.

Five time Tony Award-winning Peter and the Starcatcher captures the imaginations of children and adults at the Zeiterion Theater.

Once upon a time in a land far, far away three bright red caravans rolled down the cobblestone streets of a sleepy whaling town. Little did the townspeople know, a miracle was just beginning to unfold.

“Shut the f–aucet,” an exuberant young actress playing Molly, yells across the Zeiterion stage. Muffled giggles bubble up from younger audience members.

The evening was not all make believe and happy endings, “everything ends…and so our story begins.” An underlying tone of seriousness and openly existential musings tell the story of how a boy never grew up, creating an impactful depth to the light as a feather story of flight and fancy that is Peter Pan.

A company of just 12 actors armed with household rope, paper boats, and a ladder use traditional storytelling techniques manage to transcend their means with the ingenuity of Donyale Werle (Scenic Design) and Steven Hoggett (Movement).

“And use your thoughts to hoist the sails and deck the ships awaiting us this early, gray,and misty dawn in 1885…”

There is a sense of trust the actors invest into the audience, to take their word that this rope is a glimpse into Molly and her Nanny’s cabin aboard the S.S. Neverland, or that these paper triangles are the jaws of a ravenous Tic Toc the Croc. The simplicity in this mode of storytelling, as it was long done before actors commonly flew across Broadway stages above complex pyrotechnics and elaborate costumes, truly invites the imagination to be an active participant rather an a passive observer left in the dark beneath the stage.

 

Adolescent humor infuses the performance with levity and laughs. Fart jokes, a chorus line of men dressed as mermaids and endless puns whip the audience into a hysterical joy shared by the youngest and oldest members alike.

The audience that evening was comprised of many parents with reluctant teenagers in tow, some children as young as five years old, and several of the Zeiterion Theater’s regular attendees. While it may have taken time to gain momentum, by the end of the night the entire theater was on its feet for three rounds of applause.

This re-imagining of the origins of Peter Pan is truly inventive in its approach as well as its execution. The humor is spot on, the plot enticing, and its characters perhaps even more memorable than before. The evening transported guests to another time and place, where the Zeiterion Theater transcended our own historic Union Street and truly became a fixture in each of our own versions of neverland, where we suspend disbelief and live in a present without constraints of our own realities.

Adults left with a sense of understanding of a long-treasured story, and children with a sparked curiosity for what happens to The Boy next, begging to dust off the packed away VHS copy of Disney’s Peter Pan their older siblings left behind. A sleepy little girl mutters, “this was the best bed-time story ever” as her father carries her out of the theater in his arms.

Performances like this are few and far between, and not to be missed. Check out the upcoming schedule of other magical performances coming to the Zeiterion Theater at www.zeiterion.org

While the S.S. Neverland has embarked upon the rest of its national tour, for more of Peter and the Starcatcher visit www.peterandthestarcatcher.com and keep an eye out for developing news of Disney’s upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical play to be directed by Gary Ross of The Hunger Games films.

An Awfully Big Adventure: Five-time Tony Award(R)-winning musical play “Peter and the Star Catcher” is coming to New Bedford’s Zeiterion theater this Friday, March 20th.

“The most exhilarating Broadway storytelling in decades! You must experience it for yourself.” -Ben Brantley The New York Times

The captivating stage performance tells a grown-up story of how Peter Pan became the boy who never grew up and celebrates the wisdom of childrens’ imaginations. A company of twelve talented actors will soar across the Zeiterion stage to portray over 100 characters in telling the captivating origin story. Based on The New York Times best-selling novel, “Peter and the Star Catchers” by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the two-hour and fifteen minute show (with one intermission) is an experience in storytelling at its best.

The enchanted story of angst-ridden adolescence, and the mysterious, almost universal desire to fly will charm adults and children alike with its off-beat schoolboy humor and incredible ability to pull on the heart strings, resounding with our collective desire for inventive bedtime stories.

An action-packed plot welcomes us aboard the S.S. Neverland we have all treasured, where we meet a 13 year-old orphan known only as The Boy with a glimmer in his eye and sadness in his heart. The eclectic crew and a cargo of “starstuff” embark on a troubled ocean journey, which teaches us not only how Peter learned to fly and Captain Hook lost his hand, but how to abandon ourselves to the will to believe.

Take up residence in Peter’s treasured imagination again and re-live this classic tale, retold and re-imagined for adults who never wanted to grow in the first place.

The magical story is told without tricks or gimmicks, a true example of simple,traditional stage-play at its finest, made possible by scenery, music, and directorial excellence. “Peter and the Starcatcher” received the 2012 Tony Award(R) for Donyale Werle’s set design, which is comprised of simple elements, many re-purposed from recycled material. Music for the play, created by Wayne Barker, has received a Tony Award nomination and Drama Desk award. Directors Tony Award(R)-winning actor Roger Rees and Tony Award(R) nominee Alex Timbers tied all of the magical elements together to make “Peter and the Starcatcher” one of the top 10 shows of 2012, as named by the New York Times, New York Magazine, and the New Yorker.

“Peter and the Starcatcher” will be at the Zeiterion Theater for one show only, Friday March 20th at 8 PM. Tickets range from $39 to $55.

To purchase tickets to this Friday’s performance, please visit https://ticketing.zeiterion.org/

To learn more about the production, please visit their own website at http://peterandthestarcatcher.com/