The Silverbrook Farm in Acushnet is a traditional farm with one eye proudly looking towards the future. In addition to fulfilling old world farm duties, Silverbrook Farm has community events, a visit from Santa Claus, Christmas Trees, an animal display, hayrides, and even movie nights! The common conception of a farm is a tract of land where vegetables are grown, harvested and sold to the public. Perhaps some livestock or fruit somewhere in the mix. If you think Silverbrook is one of these old-fashioned farms, you would be right, but you will also be pleasantly surprised!

Owner J.J. Pereira and business partner Nick Ciaccio take their role in the community seriously. They don’t want to be a place for you to simply get produce, pay up and then move along. They remember faces and names. They live right here in Acushnet, are part of the community and have chosen to play an active role in offering many fun events and family oriented activities. They want a relationship. Indeed, their motto is “Start a New Family Tradition at Silverbrook Farm!” They want to provide services that are not ordinarily found in such a rural community like Acushnet. Typically you have to head to the more developed areas of Fairhaven, Dartmouth and New Bedford for some of their offerings.

Silverbrook Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture Program
Are you concerned about your family’s health? Of course! If given a choice would you like to put the freshest, nutrient rich food on the family’s plate or food coated in unpronounceable pesticides? Did you know that the produce that you select at the supermarket is often picked before it has fully ripened, and the nutrients have peaked, so that it survives the trip across country? Even if the produce was to cost the same or a bit more, the fact that you are feeding your family a much nutrient richer food source without poisons that have to be rinsed off is a benefit that has no price. You can taste the difference in food that has been picked that day not a week earlier; when it has naturally ripened and it’s vitamins and nutrients have reached its peak.

Silverbrook Farm as many farms do these days offers a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) in addition to its foodstand or country store. You purchase a “share” which means you pay them ahead of time for their harvest. They do the work for you in planting, nurturing, growing and harvesting the vegetables and fruits. They then package them with other offerings for weekly pick-up.

In essence, it’s like having a farm yourself, without all the labor….and manure. By purchasing a share, you provide funding and capital for the farmer and insure that year’s harvest. This is also a contribution to local business which has obvious economical benefits. Often you will come across produce that you have never had or wouldn’t typically purchase and this means your palate gets to go on an adventure and your body will thank you! Need help with recipes? J.J. and Nick have that covered too!

What are some of these fruits and vegetables? Green and yellow beans, collard greens, green peppers, cucumbers, blueberries, basil, apples, beets, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, eggplant, summer squash, sweet corn, potatoes and more! Unlike many CSA’s that solely offer fruits and vegetables, The Silverbrook Farm has other offerings that it places within the weekly pick-up. The Livestock CSA features grass fed beef, and free range pork, poultry and eggs.

Silverbrook Farm offers a variety of CSAs. The one thing they all have in common is offering 17 weeks of fresh, nutrient rich produce, their newsletter, recipes, pick up in five separate locations, your SILVERBROOKer card, guidebook, private access to the farm animals and garden, and two complimentary admissions to the July 18th or August 15th family movie nights. NOT just fruits and vegetables. You can upgrade to the Standard CSA which will get you some baked goods, a fresh eggs option, 3 complimentary admission to the fall events, and a coupon book. Not enough? Then you can take the best package of all the MASTER CSA, which gets you everything in the standard CSA and membership in the Livestock CSA (Farm Fresh Beef/ Free Range Chicken), a Thanksgiving Turkey, and a Christmas Tree.

Silverbrook Country Store
Taking another step into the future, instead of a simple farmstand, Silverbrook has what they call a country store. This place is incredible and they have expansion already planned. Freshly baked pies, Emack and Bolios ice cream, jams, and flying under the Pereira Bread Co. label they have six varieties of bread to choose from, cookies, muffins, apple cakes, and even cheesecake! The store also has potpourri items, candles, Amish pasta sauce (not a misprint!) and a variety of other surprising items. I can’t imagine you’d actually need to continue on to Shaw’s or Stop & Shop after you’ve been to Silverbrook. You don’t even need to leave Acushnet! Silverbrook Farm also has a card that each “Silverbrooker” gets which will earn you discounts each week at the Silverbrook Country Store and at all Silverbrook Events including the family movie nights and many fall events.

A Variety of FUN Activities & Cooking Classes
Reflecting the aforementioned old world values and sense of community, J.J. and Nick have other services and a variety of activities for the whole family virtually year round. Pony rides, Mother Goose Story-times, Hayrides (campfire, twilight and other), Kid’s Corn Maze, animal displays, face painting, pumpkin painting, barrel ride, movie night in the barn, freshly cut Christmas trees, and MORE. They offer some great discounts and deals for groups including Campfire Hayrides, Field Trip Packages, and a Birthday Package to make your little one’s special day unforgettable.

One of the most exciting offerings they have, is the cooking classes, where you learn to not only replicate the mouth watering dishes taught to you buy a local chef, but you can also learn to pickle and preserve! Preserving, canning and pickling will be taught by chef Rose Galleno – it’s a fantastic way to make use of fruits and vegetables before they go bad. It also stretched your wallet; instead of wastefully tossing away food that you can’t get to, you can preserve and pickle it all!

The newest events added for 2015 are the farm yoga and the nutrition and fitness educational classes led by Kristen Throop Boucher.

To top all of this off, Silverbrook Farm has some major events including a Mother/Daughter Brunch, a Harvest Festival, a Great Pumpkin Festival (with donations to charity), and the Annual Santa’s Farm Follies which features Grinch hayrides, a face painting elf, pony rides, hot chocolate, Smores, all the farm animals, and visits with Mrs. and Santa Claus! Be sure to check out their event page or Facebook page often for updates.

The Silverbrook Farm in Acushnet may be able to trace its roots as far back as the 17th century as we detailed in an earlier article. There is an incredible amount of history and tradition in this farm and J.J. and Nick are not only carrying that on but creating new moments with their innovative ideas, sense of community, and values. They really have something special going on and genuinely want you to be a part of it.

If you would like to know more about Silverbrook Farm you can check out their website, Facebook, e-mail them at thesilverbrookfarm@gmail.com, call (774) 202-1027 or (617) 834-5567 after hours or better yet, stop in for yourself at 934 Main Street, Acushnet!

For more images of their country store and some of the delicious items offered, take a peek at this photo album.

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Our pets are family. They get treated like our sons and daughters – we feed and bathe them, take care of their medical bills, lavish them with love and spend tons of time with them. Heck, some of us even clothe them!

And just like our kids, we want them to live healthy, happy lifestyles. When all of the above things are missing, problems and conflicts arise. Without exercise, they gain weight and health issues develop. Without mental exercise they can be aggressive and angry. Without instruction and nurturing they don’t develop manners and social skills.

Fortunately for our pets, there is a place that they can get exercise, develop social skills, remove anxiety, aggressiveness, and nervousness, and just be happy little campers.

That place is MJ’s Pet Training Academy – a fun, family environment that is a home away from home for our furry friends, owned and run (she does the grooming too!) by Acushnet native, Melissa Viera. Keep in mind, that Pet Training doesn’t necessarily mean that you are preparing your dog for competition – though if you want to, Melissa is more than qualified – you can simply want to provide fun opportunities for enriching and exercising your pets.

More importantly, MJ’s is a place where you can strengthen the human-animal bond with Rex, Fido, or Shadow. It’s a facility that hosts a number of accredited, effective programs that will positively impact your pet’s health and well-being – both physical and mental.

Melissa’s inspiration for MJ’s Pet Academy is rooted in a deep passion and love for all animals since she was a child. For as long as she can remember, she has been surrounded by animals – dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and everything else in between. She can’t recall a time she didn’t have a bunch of pets, or performing in dog shows, competitive obedience training or grooming.

When it was time for high school, attending an agricultural high school where she studied small animal science seemed a natural, obvious step. Still hungry for more, she continued to work with mentors outside of her high school education. After graduation, Melissa went on to earn her Degree in Dog Obedience Training and Instruction, and became a Certified Trick Dog Instructor.

What separates her from many other facilities is her positive-based methods – marker words, clickers, sounds, and gestures. These have proven time and again to be incredibly potent ways to for dogs to learn real life skills like leash walking, coming when called, manners and so on. By reinforcing positive traits, the dogs abandon the aforementioned social and behavioral aberrations like nervousness, re-activity, shyness and excitability. Aberrations that can lead to problems with humans and other pets – aggressive posturing and even attacks.

Of course, new puppy owners can take a pro-active stance and enroll their dogs in training before any of these negative traits develop.

Melissa has a variety of services and programs – all of which can be customized to meet your individual pet’s needs. She has a staff of experts whose dedication and passion equal her own: scent work instructor and trainer Barbara Paczosa, and official photographer providing pet portraits during select appointments and classes Beth J. Cormier.

The popular group instruction classes are available for basic skills and activities as well as developing social skills through fun games, activities, and challenges, including skate boarding, basketball, painting, scent work, and canine freestyle. There is private instruction for addressing common behavioral concerns like leash pulling, jumping on people, nervousness, and so on.

To compliment these classes, MJ’s also offers a day-time enrichment and training program where your dog will stay with one of the professional trainers all day.

At the end of the day, when you pick up your dog you will receive a progress report to see what gains have been made. Further complimenting the group & private classes and the day-time program, there are a variety of workshops and events are held throughout the year. Finally, she offers a course in scentwork which would be of obvious value for anyone who enjoys hunting.

Regardless of age or handicap, Melissa has likely experience working with a dog similar to yours. If you have a very old dog, one with a persistent injury or handicap, is blind or deaf, it is nothing Melissa hasn’t already seen and worked with. Same goes for dogs with “backgrounds” – dogs with aggression issues or taken from homes where dogs have been utilized for fighting.

Melissa’s life is consumed by this passion of hers. When she is not at MJ’s Pet Training Academy, she is writing about it on her blog, or various publications. She is perpetually contributing to the industry through education, and getting information out there about positive training.

She will even be participating in this year’s 27th Annual Home Show featuring a seminar called “Dogs With Manners.” If you attend the Home Show, be sure to stop in and see what Melissa does!

And if Fido needs a haircut and wash, MJ’s has a full grooming salon on site, which includes a basic bath, Paw Pad treatment, hand stripping, sugar scrub and even specialty scissoring. Her positive method applies to the grooming as well – for those dogs that get nervous or anxious once they hear the buzzing. You can watch a “before and after” video of Wally and Gidgette here.

Melissa has her eye on the future and has big things planned for MJ’s and the industry. She is looking to introduce new classes, workshops and events, continue promoting the positive training method throughout the industry through articles, online videos and even online courses. She recently started writing her first book which looks at training from a new perspective, sharing her discoveries, experience and effective methods.

MJ’s Pet Training Academy is dedicated to helping dogs, and helping dogs and owners connect. The experience is always transformative and beneficial to all. It is so rewarding that Melissa feels it is she that is grateful and provided with an opportunity to work with the dogs. Seeing the improvements in a dog’s personality and look on the faces of their owners is one she looks forward to. She is so eager to meet a new dog and owner that she offers FREE consultations to best determine your goals and needs and provide customized solutions. Spend a few moments at MJ’s and you will see how inspired and knowledgeable Melissa is. Something that is backed up by her impeccable review on Facebook which is a perfect 5 stars out of 5 stars and the testimonials.

MJ’s Pet Academy is located behind Kam’s Cuisine off of South Main Street. There is plenty of parking in the parking lot. Head there and see the magic!

MJ’s Pet Training Academy
132 S Main St Suite C6
Acushnet, Massachusetts
Phone: (774) 992-6929
EMail: mjsdogtraining@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/MJsPetTrainingAcademy
Website: mjspettrainingacademy.com/

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Tattoos and tattooing have been around since Neolithic times – at least 5,000 years. This is evidenced by the famous Ötzi the Iceman discovered in the Austrian Alps in 1991. Ötzi was roaming the earth sometime in the 4th millennium B.C.E. and had a minimum of 60 tattoos. In all likelihood, tattooing goes back much further in time, but this is the oldest known historical case of tattooing. Of course, it is part and parcel of many cultures that came after Ötzi – Teutons, Picts, Goths, Vikings, Rus, Celts, ancient Chinese, Egypt and so on. Virtually the world over.

Tattoos were a part of early man’s culture for a variety of reasons. Most of which are the same reasons people ink themselves today: a rite of passage, tribute, homage, self-expression, tradition or identifying with a certain sub-culture. However, unlike yesterday, today’s collector has greater access to artists, a variety of styles outside their culture, and may get tattoos for no other reason than that of pride or vanity. Have a favorite show, beer, or celebrity? You can make them permanent.

And unlike in pre-historic times, tattooing is no longer relegated to an elite few – soccer moms, grandmas, lawyers, doctors and teenagers have the opportunity. Tattoos and tattooing has come a long way since its modern inception and it was reintroduced to America in the mid-19th century by a German immigrant living in Boston, Martin Hildebrandt. That makes Massachusetts the place where American tattooing got its start. So it should come as no surprise that there are quite a few tattoo shops in Massachusetts, particularly the South Coast.

One of the newest shops to open recently is North Atlantic Tattoo. While the shop may be new, the artists are not. Proprietors and partners, Jae Audette and Andrew Pequita are salty dogs – veterans who have been professionally tattooing in the U.S. and Canada (Jae did a foray to our neighbors up North) for 12 and 15 years respectively. That’s full-time, 40-70 hours per week. This work ethic has been carried over to North Atlantic Tattoo and the shop is the only full-time shop in New Bedford.

As I mention in many articles, passion is a crucial aspect to talent and success, particularly when it is combined with dedication and experience. Jae and Andrew became two of the best tattooists in the area through immersing themselves in their work and surrounding themselves with some of the industry’s best talent.

This not only motivates and inspires them, but keeps them always learning and improving. It keeps their fingers on the pulse of the latest art techniques and sterility. All true professionals in the industry are always striving to improve their artwork and the hygienic conditions of their tools and shop.

The two forces behind North Atlantic proudly display the thousands of pieces they have done on the walls, excepting some proudly displayed tall ship and whaling ship oil paintings that Andrew’s grandfather did in the 1980s and Jae’s signed Horiyoshi III painting. While you will find flash on the walls, both relish the chance to do custom work. While both artists have a desire to create timeless work and are adept in virtually all styles of tattooing, Jae favors and excels at classic American and Japanese traditional.

He is a student of American and Japanese history and when he is not tattooing he is typically engrossed in a history book – in fact his Instagram account has the tag “1776.” He knows the deeper meanings and nuances of the artwork he does and eagerly shares this knowledge with anyone who wants to understand the permanent piece of art they are getting. While the collector may be getting a tattoo because it’s “cool,” they can also understand the deeper symbolism and tradition behind it, making the it all the more meaningful.

A New Bedford resident, Andrew enjoys tattooing in a very illustrative way and has a more modern hue to his artwork. He has a passion for anything organic or nature-based – animals, skulls, snakes, demons and the ilk. He has a wide range in that department, from aggressive, masculine tattoos to things more feminine. He is also fond of historical subjects like mythology. Opening up shop on Acushnet Avenue had meaning for him: he’s overjoyed to be working in the very block his parents and grandparents ran a business on for 33 years.

When I asked Andrew what he felt one of the biggest misconceptions about tattoos were he said “…that it has to have deep significant meaning. If someone wants a tattoo with meaning, that is fine too. However, first and foremost, the tattoo should be aesthetically pleasing. I think the way the tattoo flows and how flattering it looks on the body is far more important than the overall meaning. Do not be afraid to get large work. Try and have a game plan if you want to be frequently tattooed. That way the tattoos can eventually all flow together.”

In addition to these, on a weekly basis North Atlantic Tattoo produces American traditional, Japanese, portraits, lettering, smooth black and grey, religious iconography, and bio-mech. Regardless of what custom art you bring in, you can tap into Jae and Andrew’s vast experience. They have likely done something similar. The other benefit that comes from this much experience is how they handle customers. They’ve seen everything from tattoo virgins to collectors with very little room left. It’s difficult enough to come across tattoo artist’s with amazing talent that run a clean shop, let alone find a shop that also thinks that making customers comfortable is just as important. In a day and age, where there are shops everywhere, covering all these bases is one of the things that separates North Atlantic from the others.

Their service to customers goes far beyond coming in and getting a piece done. There is a process from the time you enter, until the time you come back. They will suggest you browse the portfolios and ask them questions. They respect and value that you will be wearing this forever and want you to make the most informed decision. Many shops will be content to put a horrendous tattoo that just isn’t right, as long as you are paying. That thought doesn’t sit well with Jae or Andrew.

They will then ask you questions about the art you have chosen, where it goes, and then share suggestions. Andrew and Jae are both friendly, likable guys who put out a relaxed vibe. Anyone who spends 5 minutes with them will vouch for them. You will already be comfortable before you even sit and turn on your music or watch TV – yes, they have Netflix.

After you have finished, you will discuss the product while checking it in the mirror and provide feedback. As Jae or Andrew are bandaging the tattoo they will share aftercare protocol and remind you make sure you call in the next few days if you have any other questions or concerns. They certainly don’t want you to ride off into the sunset. Both Jae and Andrew are looking for a relationship with collectors. Both are pretty proud of the fact that they have made hundreds of lasting friendships.

If you’re looking for a local shop that combines world-class artistry, experience, affordability and customer comfort, your search is over.

North Atlantic Tattoo
1881 Acushnet Ave
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Phone: (774) 202-1973
EMail: northatlantictattoo@gmail.com

Mon-Tues: 10:00am-9:00pm
Wed-Thur: 12:00pm-9:00pm
Fri-Sat: 10:00am-9:00pm
Sun: By appointment only

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/North-Atlantic-Tattoo/674524539310849
Website: northatlantictattoo.com
Shop Instagram: instagram.com/northatlantictattoo/
Jae’s Instagram: instagram.com/jaeaudette1776/
Andrew’s Instagram: instagram.com/panzzerfaust/

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Thinking about investing in your child through the rewarding experience of music? In the bouquet of life, there are many experiences available that are rich in their reward and highly fulfilling. One of these experiences is that of music. As a musician of three decades, I can’t think of many more mediums that have allowed me to have a veritable cornucopia of experiences and emotions – high and low and everything in between. There is joy, melancholy, frustration, sympathy, longing, pining, contentment, and more.

Learning to continue on in the face of frustration while traveling the musical path, teaches one to develop extended focus, patience, zeal, and tenacity. One must be creative to solve many of the physical and mental barriers to learning. These become parts of your personality. Just think of the personalities of your musical friends.

Of course, being a musician doesn’t happen in a vacuum and serves a base purpose when only done in isolation. In addition to the variety of personal experiences, the people I have met and shared a multitude of experiences with are some of the best I’ve had in life. The aforementioned character traits are generally found in abundance in all musicians – for you can’t excel within music without having these traits to a high degree. It helps connect people across languages, cultures, classes, you name it.

Having said all that, there is another practical benefit beyond the metaphysical and spiritual: the ability to play darn good music. There are quite a few places in the South Coast to choose from, but if you are looking for world class instruction, high quality instruments, and an effective curriculum, you really don’t need to look beyond my personal favorite, Double Bar Music in Westport.

Double Bar offers private lessons, group classes, ensembles/bands, instrument accessory sales, special order sound equipment, instrument repair, and orchestra/band instrument rentals for students – a serious, full service music center. There are even online lessons!

You may be asking “Why way out in Westport?” Owners and Westport natives Marcelle Gauvin, and her daughters Kelsey Jacobsen and Kimber-lee Jacobsen were born and raised in Westport and have been lifelong residents. Their sense of loyalty goes beyond their favorite town, but they have seen the struggle that the Westport school system has gone through to maintain their music programs through the years. They felt it would be a way to bring music to the community of students who need it and that their presence would be a boon – they were more correct than they thought, as word-of-mouth about Double Bar spread like wildfire and their reach with clientele now extends to Dartmouth, Fall River, and of course, New Bedford and beyond.

One of the places their reach has extended to, is the Berklee College of Music, where Marcelle is an associate professor of voice. She is also the head of the UMass Dartmouth jazz voice studio

What separates Double Bar Music from many of the other music shops in the region, besides the talent, service and friendly staff? Their strong Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) voice studio: they are certified to train healthy vocal technique for pop, rock, R&B, country, music theater, jazz, and alternative singers. They also offer classical technique so all of the students learn to sound stylistically appropriate.

There are ensemble and band programs, such as: a Capella groups, rock bands, string ensembles, songwriting classes, improvisation classes, etc. and regular performance opportunities for the students. The students can collaborate with other students or work with Double Bar instructors. So the instruction there is not the “walk in, get taught, walk off into the sunset until the next lesson.” The instructors have a genuine interest in seeing students translate their skill into the public arena – I’d say it’s a passion.

One fun example of this is the very popular “Summer of Rock” program: an 8-week summer session that takes place every June. Kelsey and crew organize the musicians into bands based on age and skill level. Rehearsals take place 2-4 times per week and they work on songs that THEY want to do. At the end of the session they put on a 2 hour concert! These kids will be playing at venues that you visit soon enough!

The first “Summer of Rock” performed at St. Theresa’s Feast in Tiverton, RI for over 1,000 people and the subsequent event was at the Battleship Brewhouse (video) in Fall River for a packed house. By the reports from the kids and audience members, the shows were smashing successes. Here is a video of the Summer of Rock at St. Theresa’s Feast featuring an 8 year old drummer:

The ensemble programs come in two categories: educational which focuses on music theory, the industry or technology, and performance which prepares the student for the stage – from communicating with other musicians and the audience or developing a presence. Each lasts anywhere from 6-12 weeks, but can be as short as one week in length. It’s a focused, powerful way to impart a substantial amount of knowledge through experience.

A great way to see some of what Double Bar does, is to stop in and see one of their Hump Day Cabarets, which take place at the Heron Dance, Yoga, and Meditation Studio and open to the public. Many musicians, beginners and professionals, come together to make music purely for the love of it. Adults and kids that had never had the courage or opportunity to perform take the stage to share their art. Kelsey mentioned that these Hump Day Cabarets are by far and away the most rewarding and favorite moments by the staff.

So, what age should a child begin his or her venture into music? Kelsey suggest 7-8 years old as a prime age to begin. Of course, it is entirely dependent up the maturity level of a student and she does have some as young as 4 years of age. On the flip side, if you are an adult, don’t think you can’t partake in this whole experience. You are never too old to start and think of what kind of experiences you can have by taking up music with your son or daughter? Can you say impromptu jam session?! You’ll get to share some of your favorite bands growing up as I do with my daughter. Conversation comes easy and you may actually come across as “hip” and “cool” and not square!

The people at Double Bar understand that musical instruments can sometimes be expensive, and no one wants to spend hundreds of dollars on one to find out it will turn into a fancy coat rack. Or like clothes, they are outgrown and made obsolete. With that in mind, they offer a variety of affordable musical instrument rentals: clarinet, flute, percussion kits, trombone, trumpet, viola/violin, saxophones, cello, oboe, and horns.

Double Bar even has a “Rent To Own” program whereby your rental fee is applied to the purchase of that instrument. If the moment comes, where you have fallen in love with your instrument, you can buy it at any time at a discounted price!

So whether you are looking to rent an instrument, learn to jam, want to expand your horizons, be a bedroom jammer or become a famous rockstar you’ll find a warm welcome at Double Bar Music. You’ve nothing to lose, by simply heading to Double Bar and browsing around and soaking up some of the positive energy that comes from everyone there. Tell them that Joe sent you and that you want the special treatment!

Double Bar Music
1093 State Rd
Westport, Massachusetts
Phone: (774) 319-5554
Email: DoubleBarWestport@gmail.com

Monday-Thursday: 12pm-8pm
Friday: 12pm-7pm
Saturday: 9am-5pm
Sunday: CLOSED

Facebook: facebook.com/DoubleBarMusic
Website: doublebarmusic.com
Twitter: twitter.com/doublebarmusic
Instagram: instagram.com/doublebarmusic/
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCVL67DDrWY79aLDv1Skp4bQ

Teachers/Instructors

Kimber-lee Jacobsen – voice lessons.
Steve Breese – piano
Patrick Cardeiro – guitar/bass/ukulele/banjo/mandolin
Matthew Cavanaugh – drums & percussion
Michael Corriea – guitar
John Fernandes – guitar
Bill Ferri – piano & bass
Linsey Govoni – trumpet
Tyler Kingsland – guitar/bass/sax/trombone – Tyler also handles repairs for stringed instruments (guitar, bass, violin, viola, cello, etc)
Timothy Mason – upright & electric bass
Tom O’Leary – drumset & percussion
Cory Silva – sax/flute/clarinet
Brianne Vieira – classical voice/violin/viola/cello

You can read more detail about each here.

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ClubFit at the Dartmouth Mall is packed with superstars. I’m not only talking about the coaching line-up, but the friendly and considerate clientele. As a person that used to frequent a “hardcore” gym chain, I started to believe that going to the gym meant you had to deal with a whole variety of meatheads. Those that soak machines and walk away without wiping down, those that protein fart crop-dust with great delight, or bark, scram, cry or let out some other bloodcurdling, distractedly odd noise while lifting.

But that was the 80s and 90s. Those types of gyms have virtually died out everywhere, except in major metropolitan areas. They been replaced, by the less elitist, better atmosphere having fitness center. These are places where you can pick things up and put them down, but you also have a one-stop destination where you can get your yoga, Zumba, cycling, body sculpting, spin class, kickboxing, etc. “on.” Best of all they are no longer populated with “meatheads,” but have become female and family friendly. In fact, there are 2 Women Only areas (one with a cardio theater) and ClubFit welcomes all health and fitness enthusiasts from the age of 12 on up. There’s even a day care for the little ones, so you have no excuses!

Anyone who has ever read even a cursory amount of material on health and fitness, knows that changing things up and approaching your fitness regimen with spontaneity is one of the most efficient methods for growth and improvement. And anyone who has ever tried any of the umpteen ways to get in shape, knows that things can get boring FAST. Variety is not only great for health, muscle and cardiovascular gains, but it keeps one’s interest. Getting bored of spin class? Try the Body Sculpting class. Feel that learning how to throw a punch and kick wouldn’t hurt when it comes to defending yourself? Take some kickboxing for a few months. Have an injury and need to slow down, but don’t want to take a step back and gain weight again? There’s yoga. Whatever it is that you are looking for – weight management, health, fitness, etc. – it’s there.

You can see a full list of classes here.

That’s the brilliance of the fitness center concept and what ClubFit has in spades. The variety is astounding – so large in fact, that they need a whopping 25,000 sq.ft. to contain it. You will never find yourself bored and you can always find new challenges. Of course, there are many fitness centers that utilize this method, so what separates one from the other? Why should a person come to ClubFit as opposed to many of the other fitness centers and gyms?

The coaches, staff and the clientele. ClubFit has a world class, accredited coaches and some of the friendliest staff in any business on the South Coast. No one likes to feel unwelcome and often when we are just starting out with a fitness routine, we beat ourselves up: we look in the mirror and see every extra pound of fat. Every wimpy muscle. Every sagging spot. So, the last thing we want with our deflated pride is to be made to feel unwelcome and discouraged. We need a little encouragement and a little morale boost – something you get in abundance from ClubFit’s coaches and staff from the moment you walk in the door.

I discuss passion in many of these spotlight articles. In fact, I bring it up often. This isn’t a default position and lip service. Passion moves people and keeps them moving. A business run by passionate individuals is contagious and they want to infect everyone. So they either reach out to us to share their message or when we are visiting these places, we mention sharing their story and they eagerly leap at the opportunity.

ClubFit is filled with coaches who as passionate about the program they are hosting and the students in their classes. You’ll be asked a lot of questions about your objectives and goals. You’ll be evaluated (FREE). There is a two way discussion – you are not talked at, you are conversed with. You’ll be inspired and motivated. Meeting goals has to start with those two things. Everything else is built upon them.

Once you are involved, your are motivated, your interest kept, and your questions answered there’s no stopping you from plowing through your goals. It’s easy to commit with coaches like Hani Friedman (Circuit Training for Women), Derrel Hollins (Kickboxing), and Karyn Clements (Yoga).

If group classes aren’t your cup of tea, you are welcome to use the center’s machines, treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals on your own or with your favorite training partner. If you are comfortable yet using any of these, or need an extra kick in the pants, you can have personal training.

When you add the juice bar, sauna and steam room you get a well-rounded facility with all the amenities you could ask for. You can even rent a room and have a Zumba birthday party, corporate outting, private Yoga, Zumba or boot camp.

The website is not just for eye candy, but is very practical. There is a ticker feed that lets you know that day’s classes, a color coded calendar with the week’s schedule, a blog, and of course, a place to contact them. One of the fun elements that the site has is the photo gallery section and the funnest one is the Sunz Out Gunz Out selfie gallery where enthusiasts can flex their “guns” and show off the product of their hard work.

The folks at ClubFit are so confident that they have something special, that they offer a 7 day pass which can be printed out here. Most places I’ve been to will give you a day pass or allow a current member to hand you a guest pass. A week pass is generous. They know that after a week of experiencing ClubFit, you’ll be hooked.

If you are looking for an affordable, fun, immaculately kept gym with an energetic, motivating coaching staff, and friendly staff look no further than ClubFit. With membership starting at $10 down and $10 a month, you have nothing to lose but weight and baggage!

ClubFit Fitness Center
200 N Dartmouth Mall
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
Phone: (508) 992-0094
Email: info@clubfitdartmouth.com

HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday-Thursday: 5:00am-11:00pm
Friday: 5:00am-10:00pm
Saturday: 6:00am-8:00pm
Sunday: 6:00am-6:00pm

DAY CARE HOURS:
Monday- Thursday: 8:30am-11:00am, 4:00pm-8:30pm
Friday: 8:30am-11:00am,, 5:00pm-8:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am-Noon

Facebook: facebook.com/escape.tofitness
Website: clubfitdartmouth.com/

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The Butcher Shop on Dartmouth Street is a well-known icon in the city of New Bedford and beyond, and one of my favorite places on earth. Opened, owned and operated by the Pinaretta family, the Butcher Shop has been supplying the Portuguese-American (and non-Portuguese-American, of course) community for decades. Some would even call it one of the best kept secrets in the city amongst the Portuguese. One visit and you’ll see why the place is constantly busy, and always packed with people.

If you are not Portuguese-American, it may be hard to wrap your head around the concept of a Salchicharia. It’s one part butcher shop, deli, convenient store, take-out restaurant – a sort of “Mom & Pop” supermarket. If you are from Portugal or have frequented one because you grew up in New Bedford, it seems a completely normal and regular concept. One that I often wonder why hasn’t caught on – perhaps places like this died out with the advent of supermarket chains.

The Butcher Shop is a sort of one-stop shopping center that has a very local-yokel vibe to it. Everyone knows each other, the Pinarretas know virtually everyone that walks in, on a first name basis. Father Jose, and son Eric are often working behind the counter together and enjoy friendly banter with the customers. They not only know everyone’s names, but they already know the likely reason you’ve come in and how you want it. This is an intimacy that you will be hard-pressed to find with supermarket chains.

Produce, Meat & Seafood
The produce and meats are all sourced locally – ribs, steaks, veal, lamb shanks, goat and more. One of the benefits of frequenting a genuine butcher shop is that the offerings go beyond the same old cuts. Sure you can get your ground chuck, steaks, ribs, and cutlets, but if you are the type, like me, that enjoys liver, heart, tongue, tripe etc. you have a new home!

You can rest assured that the vegetables were picked within a day or two of arriving as opposed to being picked before they have ripened and become their most nutritious – to survive the transport across the country. The meat (if you are a vegetarian, skip to the next paragraph) is sourced from livestock that was just breathing a few hours ago. I know this first hand, because I have seen local farmers and hunters arrive to alert Eric that they have something fresh.

There is plenty of seafood available, including fresh sea scallops, a variety of fish, bacalhau, and even a live lobster tank, so you can pick the lobster of your choice. In addition, the deli section has a large variety of your favorite cold cuts, from bologna to salami, provolone to mozzarella and even artisan cheeses. There is just made chourico and linguica hanging to dry on racks, and a ham begging to you slice and sample.

Hot plates and rotisserie
The highlight – at least for me – of The Butcher Shop are the daily hot plate offerings. The wafting aroma from the score of Portuguese specialty dishes will set you to salivating from the moment you open the door. Wait until you lay eyes up on them. The rotisserie always has some chicken, ribs, or other meat slowly turning all with a crispy crust and the perfect amount of caramelization. This seals the juices and locks them in. You’ll find the classics like Shrimp and chicken, Mozambique, codfish cakes, pork alentejana, codfish bacalhau gome da sa, and of course, cacoila. Everyone says that they make the best cacoila, and I don’t want to step on any toes, but The Butcher Shop is rather proud of their cacoila and many will agree with their declaration that Talho Portugues/The Butcher Shop is the “Home of the best cacoila.”

Market & Bakery Items
There are a number of aisles, stocked with packaged products, canned goods, daily made breads, cookies, etc. including items imported from Portugal. Jars of olives, sardines, pickles, sauces, and on and on. Name a Portuguese product and I’m willing to bet that it’s here. Hanging from hooks along rafters there are a number of types of pots, pans and cookware – in case you are one of those that likes cooking for large gatherings…or just like to cook mass amounts. Perfect for paelha, clam boils, or stews for special occasions, events or family gatherings.

Liquor & Wine Cellar
One wall within the first floor is dedicated to refrigerated units storing all manner of beer and liquor. Stacked in aisles are cases of beer in case you prefer it warm or like to store some away for….ahem…a rainy day. An entire floor is dedicated to a wine cellar. A wine cellar, mind you which is as good as any dedicated liquor store in the area. Stored below ground level, unlike many liquor stores in the area.

Being a history buff, the way The Butcher Shop is run has always reminded me of those vintage photos from the 19th century that I am always poring over. Going into the Butcher Shop is like time traveling – the store’s wares and products are setup in similar fashion. New Bedford was a smaller community and everyone knew each another’s names. And like the 19th century, a person’s word and handshake was bond – you’ll come away with the same sense of community, and all the old world values that were commonplace back then.

All of what the Butcher Shop offers can be served to fit your needs. Just want some lunch for yourself? Stop in and be out in 5 minutes with a plate of hot food. Have a birthday party, game or wedding and need a party platter? You get to pick the amount and variety instead of having those picked for you and prepackaged. Want to give your favorite Portuguese dish a whirl and cook it from scratch? Stop in and ask Jose or Eric what you need and they’ll point you in the right direction and maybe even give your pointers.

The Butcher Shop
123 Dartmouth St, New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: (508) 994-4942
Email: epinarreta74@icloud.com

Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express gladly accepted. EBT/SNAP accepted.

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Who doesn’t love a local-yokel story? A tale about a person everyone in town likes, knows, and trusts. A simple fellow whose word and handshake is enough for a deal? Someone with old-world ideals and business practices? Who should be offering products and services at a higher price, but is just a good guy and can’t help himself?

Cliff Rose, born and raised on Long Pond, is a veritable one-man show: the owner, repairman, technician, salesman, and all-around loved local-yokel of C&R Appliances Unlimited – a new, used and Scratch and Dent Appliances shop located in the Old Goodhue Lumber Building. You know, one of those places where there is a dent – sometimes a scratch that can barely be seen – causes the big stores to junk it as unsaleable?

Sounds crazy, but the big chains actually “throw” these items away and folks like Cliff grab them for incredibly cheap – which is great news for regular people like you and I, or people who are frugal and thrifty.

Two decades ago, Cliff was working for a recycling company and was downright shocked when he saw what was being thrown away. Some of the appliances he was coming across that were to be tossed were better than what he had in his own house! So with this in mind, C&R Appliances was born. Cliff is usually so busy in the backroom, unloading new inventory or repairing something, that locals like Betsy will come in, put some wood in the wood stove, brew some coffee and “hang out.” By hang out, I mean manage the shop! He has no permanent employees – family and friends, stop in to chat and just help out. In fact, Betsy puts in some solid hours, so she has a place to sew.

That’s a small town business model, that you rarely if at all see any more. Locals pulling together to help one another out, because…well, that’s what people do, right?

Finding a perfectly new refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, etc. for 50% or more off the regular price is pretty common at C&R. And if steep discounts like that aren’t enough for you, there are appliances that are used, broken and thrown away that Cliff reconditions. Since he paid very little for the used items and only invested a few hours of labor and some parts, you get solid appliances backed by Cliff’s know-how – which he backs up with a 90 day guarantee. So whether new or used, it’s affordable.

On top of that, if Cliff doesn’t have something you are looking for – he’ll find it. He is out looking for new stock daily, and can often find you what you are looking for within a day, and sometimes the same day! He offers the same service whether you are the owner of rental properties and need a twenty dishwashers or just a regular joe looking for a microwave.

Not only does C&R Appliances offer appliances, but Cliff repairs them as well. However, Cliff is so busy and as I mentioned, he is a one-man show, you will have to deal with repairs at a small-town speed. Having said that, if you want to save an arm and a leg and have patience – you can wait a day or two – then, it’s a no-brainer. Go with the small town!

I asked Cliff why he would be way out in the “boonies” instead of places with high traffic like Dartmouth and New Bedford and his reply was a simple, practical one “I was born and raised here. I’m raising my son Tylah here. Besides, the shop is close to the pond – I can do some jet skiing or speed boating.”

So what kind of things will you come across on a visit? How about a 4 piece kitchen set – Bisque electric stove, 15 cu.ft. refrigerator, a dishwasher and microwave for $600? Not a misprint! $600! Best of all, since Cliff dismantles, cleans, and repairs every single item before it goes on the showroom floor you get the 90-day guarantee. He knows the appliance inside and out and is confident enough to back it up. “Nothing goes out on the floor unless I would put it in my home.” That’s a darn good measuring stick. Simple business maxims like that are why C&R has been so successful for twenty years, solely on word of mouth and no advertising.

This is why in that twenty year time frame, Cliff’s customer’s children grow up to become new customers.

So if you want affordable prices on appliances and repairs by people like you and I, with no sales pitches, by a local, small business then there is no better place than C&R. In a small town like East Freetown, word gets around fast – there’s no hiding from reputation built on honesty and quality service or dishonesty and poor service. Your neighbors are your customers. You’re in a boatload of trouble if you do the wrong things, and inversely if you are doing the right thing, everyone will know about it. Luckily for those of us in the South Coast, Cliff has been doing the right thing for twenty years.

Just ask around – or head in and warm yourself near the wood stove. Ask for Betsy, Cliff or whomever is brewing the coffee that day.

Here’s a fine example of one of the deals C&R Appliances offers on a set:

C&R Appliances Unlimited
182 Middleboro Rd
East Freetown, Massachusetts 02717
Phone: 508.876.3772 or 774.849.4888
Open weekdays from 9-5 and Saturday from 8-2.
Facebook: facebook.com/Co130631

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Being a foodie – OK, foodie junkie – one of my favorite aspects of writing is sharing some of the best eateries in the south coast, Massachusetts area. Nay, the planet – because we DO have some of the best restaurants on earth. I’m not talking about the “personal waitstaff a half dozen strong, you are served 18 thimble sized courses, and take out a small bank loan to pay for it. Oh, yeah – what was the food even like?” kind of place. I’m talking about places where food is the central focus and everything else revolves around it in a complimentary fashion.

Those fancy-schmancy places may be fabulous, but I was raised in this blue-collar city and don’t want that type of unnecessary flair. I’m a Yankee at heart. It’s not about the fireworks, bells and whistles. Let’s focus. It’s about the food in terms of something unique or original. The knowledge and personality of your waiter: efficient, attentive, knowledgeable…friendly, but not overbearing.

Cork Wine and Tapas is an easy place for me to write about. It’s a place I frequent often. It’s a place I go to for the food, the atmosphere, the locals. To blow off steam and unwind. Besides, it’s the only place around that you can get tapas or small plates of food served while drinking.

Tapas is of Spanish origin and is a sort of lifestyle in Spain. Everyone does it. The concept is this: you want to head out with the special someone or a group of good folks. Your objective? Great conversation and fun. You need fuel for this, but you don’t want to eat heavy. You don’t want to eat in the standard fashion of appetizer, entree and dessert. Small plates of food mean that you can pace yourself while enjoying wine and company. You don’t want that stuffed feeling or any of the drowsiness that comes with being stuffed – if you are..ahem…wiser in age, like I am.

Small plates don’t mean thimbles. Read appetizer sized, not entree sized. In Spain, they are very tiny portions – but as always, America is a melting pot of cultures. We have no problem adopting someone else’s idea, but we always make it our own. Cork serves more generous portions than you will find in Spain – their way. They take the basic concept of portions, but match the ingredients with the concept of terroir – the French culinary concept of using the local geography, geology and climate in your ingredients. Chef John Bentley has batted it – smashed it – out of the park, by perfectly marrying the Spanish import with America and the element of terroir.

Cork breaks their tapas down into two types: cold and hot. Some of the cold tapas: there is a variety of salads, tuna tartare, crostinis, marinated peppers, and even a yet to try panko-encrusted goat cheese.

My two favorites that cure my daily ails: the Cheese Platter – the chef’s selection of local and international cheeses; served with grilled crostini, infused honey, and fresh fruits and the Ceviche – Shrimp and scallop marinated with jalapeno, tomato, cucumber, and citrus juices; served with tortilla crisps.

I’ll be honest. When Mike and I get the cheese platter, I’m counting. Did he just take three extra protons worth of cheese and slather his cracker with them? Does he think I’m not watching? Well, let’s see how he likes it when I eat an extra crostini! Uh-oh – they gave us an odd number of figs and grapes? Did we not tip properly when we were last here? Maybe he didn’t notice. Do I take the extra or will I get German Suplexed?

The warm tapas menu is a bit larger in terms of offerings, standard and original: pan seared New Bedford scallops, littlenecks, Philly cheesesteak spring rolls, empanadas, truffled fritas, nori rolls and one that Mike and I get every single time we go, without exception: grilled flatbread. The flatbread changes from day to day and the server will announce that days selection when you are seated. Whatever the choice is, is irrelevant. Cut her/him off and say “I don’t care what the flatbread is today. Put it in my belly.”

Of course, there are many more tapas offerings on the menu which changes with the seasons, than I can mention. There are, of course, soup and desserts. Sticking with the theme of originality and terroir there is clam & corn chowder, wild mushroom & roasted garlic bisque (insanely good) and the delectable chorizo & sweet potato soup. In terms of dessert there is a flourless chocolate cake, Crème Brulee, sorbet and house-made cheesecake.

Earlier I mentioned that the idea was to focus on the fare and no taparia worth its salt would be without wine, beer and spirits. Cork excels in this area. They have one of the most attractive bars I’ve ever been in. The stone and timber backdrop makes me feel like I am in the 19th century – one of my favorite time periods. What a great atmosphere and tone it sets. One of the many subtle touches that the people at Cork have worked hard on to perfect.

Cork is one of the premier destinations on the South Coast that has a staff that is clearly trained to be as knowledgeable as they are with the wine and pairing it. I wouldn’t say that I am a wine oenophile, but wine is my choice of libation over beer and spirits. I’ve been drinking wine for two decades and am not a wine snob by any stretch of the imagination, but I am particular about what I like. I like bitter, heavy red wines. I like loads of tannins. I prefer complexity and intense mouthfeel. There is nothing more disappointing than poring over a wine list, unfamiliar with some of the offerings, and getting a stunned look on a waitperson face when you begin to inquire.

Even more frustrating is the waitperson that “wings it.” Either poorly with a “Oh, that’s really delicious!” or craftily with “It’s a red wine with lots of tannins.” – only to get a sweet wine with no tannins.” Grrr. In the four years that I have been going to Cork, I have never had a waitperson stumped about the wine or give me a dishonest answer. I consistently get solid descriptions of the wine I am asking about. Every glass of wine I’ve ever gotten has matched their descriptions to a “t” and the only way that can happen is for the waitstaff to be tasting the wines on a regular basis. I’m a big fan of the abundancy philosophy when it comes to business and this clearly comes from the top from someone that practices this. Well done.

Don’t take my word for it, give your waiter or waitress a go!

Lastly, one of the aspects of Cork Wine and Tapas that brought me in the door initially was the live entertainment – original Spanish classical and neo-Flamenco music. The only place I know of anywhere, but Boston. You want to talk about ambiance! The music is a perfect setting for a romantic dinner. It compliments your experience, but being quiet enough to be there, but not force you to yell to converse with company. Yet, another thoughtful subtlety that is a theme at Cork. If you don’t particularly care for this style of music, don’t fret, there are plenty of other styles of music and local acts. Subscribe to their social media accounts to get updates on future entertainment.

Cork’s Facebook is frequently updated with glorious images of tasty additions that will draw you in. You’ll also find out about the entertainment, specials and any events. The YouTube channel gives you a visual sneak peek and the website lets you make reservations online, supplies the seasonal menu, and information on the entertainment, directions, promotions and private parties.

Worried about parking downtown? Cork has a parking valet – simply pull up, hand the keys over and enjoy.

Cork has recently undergone rather large renovations, so if you haven’t been in a while, you should revisit and see what they’ve done. If you have never been, you are missing out on something unique, original and special.

Cork Wine and Tapas
90 Front St.
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Phone: 508-994-WINE (9463)
Open 7 days a week 11:30am-2am
Facebook: facebook.com/CorkNewBedford
Website: corkwineandtapas.com/
Videos: youtube.com/user/corkwineandtapas

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Interested in turning your house into a home? Have an interior design project on the horizon? Opening a new business? The North End’s family owned and operated Regal House Furniture has been the South Coast’s experts in designing and installing comfortable, quality living spaces for almost 3 decades!

Started by father Albino, mother Delores, Debra and brother Steven in 1988, Regal House Furniture quickly cemented themselves as the “go to” furniture store in the region. When Debra’s father retired in 2010, she took over. Now husband Bruce does the marketing and media, and her cousin Peg is the head bookkeeper. When I say family owned and operated, I mean it!

What Regal House Furniture brings to the table – pardon the pun – is the perfect combination of small town business with a large chain professionalism. Here is one of the last furniture stores in New England where people actually know your name and they remember all your past projects and know where you are going with you projects. This is born out by the fact that they are thriving in spite of the presence of large furniture stores and chains.

Regal House Furniture has a contemporary approach to traditional design and offer a a large diversity when it comes to styles and approaches. Best of all is that their service and furniture is affordable for all budgets – a byproduct of the combined buying power of a 1,500 store buying group. You reap the savings. They also do that little extra that you won’t see from chains. For example, if you order a mattress or mattress set over $399, they will deliver it AND assemble it when they arrive.

Since the staff of twenty is comprised of friendly, specialists that have decades of experience, they can really cut down on cost and time when it comes to your projects or needs. If you can imagine Google and Wikipedia personified, you’ll get an idea of what it’s like to interact with someone on the staff. Difference is you get instant answers and great advice without having to cull through pages and pages of websites. They will assist you with floor plans, paint colors, fabric selection and anything else and get this: at no extra charge.

If you visit their Facebook Page you will see that they interact with each and every customer – a nice touche since Facebook is a leisure and many businesses don’t bother. They are very accessible. So you can communicate by phone in, email, or Facebook before, during and after the purchase. There’s no riding off into the sunset – Regal House is after a relationship.

Having said that, the singular best method to see what Regal House Furniture is about is to visit the show-room. You will be amazed at how massive it is inside. Being a small, family business does not mean they can’t compete with the chains!

The comfortable, welcoming showroom is positively jam-packed with far more than just furniture: window treatments, furnishings, accessories, flooring (including sustainable cork flooring), mattresses, bedding, and much more. Regal House keeps up with the latest fashions, by updating the showroom on a regular basis: changing displays, paintings, new bedding and accessories. There are paint chips and thousands of fabric samples to browse through and a catalog room with hundreds of books – that means if you don’t see something you like in the showroom, it can be ordered for you.

Regal House Furniture is simply one of the best resources in the area for high quality furniture, accessories, flooring, advice, and design help for projects as small as painting a few walls to a complete home renovation. They will quickly help you make your project a reality. The website is another valuable resource which allows you to browse all the top name brands that you will encounter – dozens of name brand furniture, home accent, mattress and even outdoor/law & garden companies. One of the most helpful is the “Room Planner” which is an easy to use online program that allows you to drag and drop furniture, colors, and accessories in a virtual room. Very neat!

The website also hosts a FAQ, info on financing, some videos and a link to the clearance center where you can browse specials and deals at mind-boggling low prices. There’s no need to head to Seekonk, Natick or to a large outlet store when there’s a solid name backed by experience right here in New Bedford.

Regal House Furniture
965 Church St
New Bedford, Massachusetts, 02745.
Phone: (508) 998-3017 (Main Store) 800-664-5242 (Toll Free)
Email: orders@regalhouse.com, Sales@RegalHouse.com or debra@regalhouse.com

Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Facebook: facebook.com/RegalHouse
Website: regalhouse.com/
Photo Album: facebook.com/RegalHouse/photos_stream

Cash, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover are accepted. For those who qualify, No Interest financing options are available through Synchrony Financing. Layaway is also available. Details: http://www.regalhouse.com/faq.html.

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There is no more powerful way to get a flood of memories than poring over pictures. Who hasn’t cracked open a photo album and had old memories flood in? These awoken memories evoke a smile, laugh or intense emotions – happiness, anger, melancholy or longing for days gone by. Life without pictures would be flat. Something would seem to be missing!

These days with the advent of smart-phones we eagerly capture important life events. We take scores of photos of newborns, an anniversary, birth or other milestones. We also love capturing “minor” events like dinner with besties, a colorful sunset, or foliage. Images are threaded throughout our day and rarely a day goes by that we don’t see an image whether physical or digital shots on the web or social media.

While capturing fun, light daily events doesn’t require any talent – especially with apps and software that can remove red eye, crop and resize – it isn’t fun to get home after taking score of pictures of family visiting a newborn to find out that we forgot to include someone. Or that the image is blurry, unfocused, or the lighting is poor. Or that we should have used a genuine camera instead of the phone. You have such a limited time with a newborn – you don’t want to miss out on capturing those early moments in the proper fashion.

Besides, it’s easy to get so lost in the taking of pictures that we miss the event.

It is prudent and practical to leave capturing photographs of the most important milestones in our lives to the experts. To those who have years of experience with lighting, focus, and other technical aspects. These images will be glanced at over and again through our entire lives and even passed down from generation to generation. Having poor images of these great moments is something one could regret. Having fantastic, professional images of these events is a much better alternative!

Miss Z Photography is a fully licensed and insured New Bedford based business specializing in maternity, birth, newborn, babies, children, families, head shots, boudoir, functions and more. Owner and photographer extraordinaire Abrah Zion was emphatic that her primary goal is to “…create family memories that will last a lifetime.”

Having had multiple discussions with Abrah and spent hours poring over her work, I can vouch for her energy, enthusiasm, passion and ability. Passion is the ingredient that is always lacking in inferior work in any field. Lots of passion is a key ingredient to success and driving force to learn, improve and excel. Abrah has this in abundance as anyone who has spent any time listening to her discuss her work or has had actually experienced it.

This love for photography started at an early age as she looked over old black and whites of her parents and grandparents. Studying the story behind each family snapshot and yearbook taught her the power of images and she began to develop an interest in photography as an art and science. Her first camera was “…one of those dinky ones in the 1980’s that took a 110 cartridge for film. But I loved it and took it everywhere and took pictures of everyone and everything!”

Born at St. Lukes Hospital, Abrah has deep roots in the city she loves. When she was laid off from her job in corporate America, she had difficulty finding work, so felt perhaps it was the time to take a chance with her love of photography. Opening a studio here in New Bedford was an obvious choice for her. She is a big supporter of the local economy and feels that New Bedford has a ton of character and history. Four years later, she hasn’t looked back.

Abrah takes photography and her customers very seriously. As talented as she is, she is constantly seeking out new skills and spending time with some of the powerhouses in photography like renowned newborn and maternity photographer to the stars Ana Brandt. She is fully licensed with city, state and with federal governments and is also fully insured. In addition, she belongs to the Professional Photographer’s of America.

What Abrah discovered to be particularly rewarding was that her love for photography was matched by the powerful affect her images have had on family, friends and customers. She eagerly looks forward to seeing the expressions on people’s faces and hearing the responses.

These connections are important for her as she has an old-world outlook on her business. Relationship is of the utmost importantance for her. She wants and needs to know her customers leading up to a session. She feels that knowing who they are and what they are hoping to get out of the session is integral to a successful photo shoot or what she calls an investment. She feels that her customers are investing in their future, so she wants to make sure she meets their high demands and expectations by doing the best possible job that she can.

Having said that her sessions are very laid back and lots of fun!

Her products themselves, are very high end – the prints come from top professional printers that only professional photographers utilize. When you see and touch one of her prints, you instantly realize the superior quality and know it’s something that is going to last. She won’t waste all that time, effort and energy to place the images on anything but the best – you can proudly display your family as true artwork on framed photos and heirloom quality canvases.

All of her photographs are also redundantly backed up to three different places – computer, external drive and cloud. This is a direct result of some horror stories that she has heard about people spending money on a session only to find out the images have been wiped. It’s a regret neither the photographer or the customer wants to experience – that captured opportunity and accompanying memories are lost forever. You won’t have to worry about that with Miss Z Photography.

When asked about some helpful pointers for amateurs like me who have ten thumbs, she said “I think a lot of people don’t get in close enough when taking photos of their family and pets. They take it from far away. You really want to get up close and personal and catch those expressions. Don’t be afraid to zoom in and frame the face(s). Utilize natural light! It looks so much better than flash and you’ll avoid red eye!”

In addition to the fine photography that Abrah offers, she is a proud supporter and volunteer for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a non-profit organization of professional photographers who offer their services for free to parents who have lost a baby. She also volunteers for Capturing Hopes Photography another group of professionals who specifically photograph babies in the NICU (Neo Intensive Care Unit).

Miss Z Photography has made hundreds of people in the greater New Bedford area and beyond happy, happy. Her website has real world stories as does her Facebook reviews page which is currently at a stellar 4.8 stars out of 5 stars. Gift certificates can be purchased directly online as is the pricing for her sessions or investments.

If you would like to see more of Abrah’s talent, you can check out more photos on her Facebook, website portfolio or any of the links provided below. She also frequently has some great promotions so be sure to check back every now and then.

Miss Z Photography
227 Union St #412
New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740
Always open!
Phone: (508) 663-6544
Email: info@misszphotography.com
Facebook: facebook.com/MissZPhoto
Website: misszphotography.com/
Twitter: twitter.com/MissZPhoto

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