Month: December 2014

Christmas Surprise Traffic Stop

by

With all the negative news about the police lately, it’s nice to see something positive. Although I probably shouldn’t have looked at the comments below the video. I guess I could be cynical about it too. But I’ve written my fair share of blog posts about racism in this country recently. I need a break. Especially during the Christmas season.

For my own mental health, maybe yours too, I’d like to believe that there are some good police out there who genuinely are trying to do something nice. This is a heartwarming video. For now, I think I’ll leave it at that.

New England Dessert Showcase + Gift Guide

by

Dessert Showcase cakeToday is a special day on this blog. It’s three full months that I’ve been blogging here!

In my opinion, anniversaries always warrant cake. Although to be perfectly honest, I believe that most everything good should include cake. So it seems like a good day to catch up on a post that is long overdue, which includes cake. By the way, the cake pictured above was amazing!

So back in October, my friend Karen, aka Fussy Eater and I went to the New England Dessert Showcase. When you get invited to eat dessert all day, it’s kind of hard to resist.

So we made our way over to the Westin Boston Waterfront and got to work. Admiring, eating and learning about the variety of desserts and more being offered in the Boston area.

The New England Dessert Showcase unites exhibitors from the gourmet dining, pastry, ice cream, baking, chocolate, catering, and liquor industries. Each exhibitor has the opportunity to connect with target consumers and those consumers have a chance to sample the best creations and experience all things dessert like never before!

There was even a s’mores table with piles of chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. People were gathered all around and were able to make their own s’mores!  Again, my pictures aren’t great, but take a look here and at some video that I took.

Below are some of my favorites from the Dessert Showcase. Since this is the season of parties and presents, any of these items would be nice to serve at a party or to give as a gift. Buying specialty foods is a great way to support local business and buy items that are Made in America.

* * *

Cold Fusion Gelato

We spent a fair amount of time, though not enough time, sampling delicious flavors of gelato and sorbet from Cold Fusion Gelato.  There was a line and we had to keep it moving unfortunately. Cold Fusion Gelato is based in Walpole, Massachusetts and they have a seasonal shop in Newport, Rhode Island. The coconut gelato was my favorite! If you’re in Newport during the summer, I’d try to squeeze in some time to visit them.

 Plymouth Bay Winery

As we moved table to table for the samplings, some tables were a bit more unique, generating a great deal of interest. Plymouth Bay Winery was one of them. Their wines are “produced from locally grown, native grapes and berries” from Plymouth, Massachusetts.  They also sell wine dips. This table was busy and people were buying and tasting like crazy. I tried the wine dips and really enjoyed them too. Sadly my pictures didn’t turn out too well. Wine dips can be used to marinade meats and vegetables or use as a condiment on a sandwich or a piece of toast. A very versatile and tasty item! The flavors have fun and locally inspired names too like, Wicked Pissah and Crangasm.

Queen Cupcake Creations

Lisa Daniel is the owner of Queen Cupcake Creations. Hands down, she had the most amazing cake in the whole place. And there was a lot of cake. I must say that it was such a delight to find her, because besides the cake for the event shown above, some of the cakes and cupcakes by exhibitors looked great, but the taste was not wonderful and they were easy to resist. When we found her, the samples were small and exquisitely delicious. It was almost cruel; so we went back for more! The cake was almond flavored and so moist. If you’re looking to order some cakes for the holidays or a special event, let her know.

Charles River Bistro

As we were about to leave the showcase, the table that had the most hospitality and comfort was Charles River Bistro. It was a cold day outside and the Executive Chef was friendly and welcomed us with hot cider and a warm apple crisp. So good! Charles River Bistro is more of a seasonal place, so they are closed for the winter. However, they are located near the Esplanade and Hatch Shell, so in the warmer months, they are a great place to pick up some food for a picnic before or after an event. Or even if there isn’t an event. Something to look forward to as we dive deeper into the winter months. Spring 2015 will be here before we know it!

+ + +

Disclosure: Two tickets to the New England Dessert Showcase were provided compliments of The Anthem Group. Thank you!

Recently Watched: The Best Man Holiday

by

The Best Man HolidayIf you were a fan of The Best Man movie back in 1999, you”ll probably love The Best Man Holiday, which came out last year. Even if you didn’t see the first movie, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

I’m all about sentimental Christmas movies this time a year, so I decided to get the DVD from the library. Surprisingly there was no wait!

After seeing The Best Man Holiday last night with G, I wish that I had seen it when it first came out in the theaters. We both really enjoyed it. They captured all the fun and spark from the first movie and put it into the holidays.

The ending left no doubt in my mind that there would be another movie coming soon. Apparently we have to wait until 2016 to see it. Looking forward to it!

+ + +
Screenshot: The Best Man Holiday – Official Trailer

The Audacity of Mark Wahlberg

by 2 Comments

#CriminWhileWhite trendSome don’t like the hashtag #CrimingWhileWhite. But I think it’s a good way to shine a light on the disparity in treatment by the justice system between white people and people of color.

This hashtag immediately came to mind as I read The Week’s article stating that Mark Wahlberg should not receive a pardon from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Wahlberg filed a pardon petition last month. The audacity.

The article gives details of the events that resulted in a criminal conviction. I was surprised, because it seemed like a hate crime to me. His Wikipedia page discusses more and it is all rather disturbing.

I won’t write the details here; you can take a look at both articles on your own and decide whether to believe them or not. However, beating two Asian men severely while shouting racial epithets at them is horrifying to say the least. Whether Wahlberg was drunk or on drugs is not an excuse.  One of the men lost sight in one eye. Wahlberg spent 45 days in jail.

Part of the reason reading about this has upset me so much is the timing of it. The racial climate in this country at the current moment is tense to say the least. Not that there are no injustices happening to other people, but foremost on my mind are the recent grand jury decisions and the differences in treatment in this country based on race. I recently read an article about a black man who spent decades in prison for a crime that he did not commit. That was just one article, but it is story that has been repeated over and over.

The law is so harsh to people of color where it can often be quite kind to white people. Thus #CrimingWhileWhite. The stories are being told tweet by tweet.

Apparently Wahlberg thinks it was perfectly fair that he only served 45 days in jail for his crimes. The audacity. If he had been black would he have received that kind of sentence? I really don’t think so.

While Wikipedia cannot always be believed, the entry about him says the following.

“I did a lot of things that I regret, and I have certainly paid for my mistakes.” He said the right thing to do would be to try to find the blinded man and make amends, and admitted he has not done so, but added that he was no longer burdened by guilt: “You have to go and ask for forgiveness and it wasn’t until I really started doing good and doing right by other people, as well as myself, that I really started to feel that guilt go away. So I don’t have a problem going to sleep at night. I feel good when I wake up in the morning.”

I do believe that we have to move past our mistakes and go forward with our lives, but wow…. Why hasn’t he found the blinded man and tried to make amends? Has he been compensated? I would think that given all the money that he has made and how his mindset has changed that he would want to apologize and give the man some money. Maybe he has and the article did not include that. I sure hope so.

To ask for a pardon seems like a lot for me. He basically got a pardon with just 45 days in jail. Others would have served years, maybe decades or life. Wahlberg was able to enjoy his youth, his freedom and become the best version of himself. He received a valuable gift.

As much as I detest his crimes, I admire what Wahlberg has done with his life. He has made the most out of it and is doing more good with his foundation. He is giving back. He has brought great joy to many with his music. Including me. Who hasn’t found themselves bobbing their head to Good Vibrations?

With his Massachusetts restaurants Alma Nove and Wahlburgers, he is bringing jobs and good food to the local economy. I’m certainly not against any of that.

But how do you balance so much good with the atrocities? Maybe the balance is leaving the conviction on his record.

I think the world is probably a better place having Wahlberg as he is now rather than being behind bars. He got a second chance. Many others deserve to as well, but never get it. Refusing the pardon, might make sure that Wahlberg never forgets just how truly lucky he is.

+ + +

*Updated 12/11/2014* This story is developing. A Daily Mail article says that the man who was attacked, Johnny Trinh, forgives Wahlberg and has just now learned of his fame. Also Trinh says that he lost his eye before he was beaten by Wahlberg. The initial injury took place during the Vietnam War. It’s quite an in-depth article and worth reading.

*Updated 12/17/2014* Here are two more articles with information: Back In The Day: Marky Marks Rap Sheet  and Reminder That Mark Wahlberg Allegedly Threw Rocks, Slurs, At 4th Grade Class in 1986

*Updated 1/14/2015* An interesting article on Boston.com: Ex-Prosecutor: Don’t Pardon Mark Wahlberg for Racist Attacks

*Updated 9/15/2016* Was happy to learn that Wahlberg now regrets asking for a pardon and the pardon request has been closed. Also, he did meet with Trinh and apologized to him in person.

Save