Fall 2008: A Retrospective

Saint Anthony's Feast, North End

Winchendon, Mass

Harvard Square/Central Square 

Annual S.L.U.T draws large crowds

At Kells an orgy of twenty-somethings converge on the dance floor like some wild version of a junior prom dance. In the background two girls dressed as buckeye hunters arrive and a rowdy group starts a pizza fight. The drunks roar around us as people continue to pour in. Offically its nuts.

This past Saturday was the 11^th annual Sparhawk Liquid Urban Tour pub crawl and S.L.U.T (as it is affectionately called) is one of the most notorious-and completely unadvertised- events in Allston, Mass. With an atmosphere of an intense mating ritual, the Sparhawk pub crawl boasts of a thousand participants all rocking the rainy weather with straw hats, grass skirts and shell bras.

To those that have never experienced such drunken debautury, a normal pub crawl consists of one or more persons taking a tour of bars in a single night, often consuming one drink for each destination. The Sparhawk takes it one further by introducing a full itinerary of bars from 2-8p.m with DJs, balloon artists and free pizza at Kells. Jim Lawler says of this years event, “There’s always a theme. [This year] its like Brady Bunch Hawaii."

The people behind Sparhawk Liquid Urban Tour are seven friends who named the crawl after their Sparhawk Street apartment building they shared after college. David Smith-Hause says of their history, “It all started off as all friends and kept growing."

In fact this year, the pub crawl boasts one thousand participants. Their pub crawl success is all pre-internet world of mouth. The majority of participants are friends of friends of the original crew, often resulting in a hilarious serendipity of random meet-ups.

Chris Eicher, one of the crowd at Silhouette says “Every year I have a crazy story from the pub crawl. This year I met up with this kid, I haven’t seen him since high school. Last year I hung out with a different high school friend and her mom.”

Dave Smith-Hause, one of the participants says“One rule is if you meet your future wife or husband at pub crawl you have to give Kevin a bottle of Wild Turkey. He’s gotten eight bottles so far."

Despite numerous interactions with drunk folk, I don't find a love connection. Instead I get a couple rounds of free beer from perfect strangers. In the slew of random interviews one guy snatches my pad and pen away and starts reading my observations about the pub crawl.

“What does that mean?” he asks pointing to my chicken scratch. “I have no idea, I’m drunk.” I say and he writes down my quote on the piece of paper with a laugh. “That’s got to go in the article” he says handing the pad of paper back to me and he’s right, because that really sums up the night; everyone’s night at the Sparhawk pub crawl.

Day of the Dead: Photo Retrospective

Election Day!

The Dead Come Alive at Forest Hills Cemetery

Except for colored lanterns, Forest Park Cemetery is pitch black, figures in mass walking down the road, their shadows complementing the surrounding tombstones like living-dead ghosts. Ahead of us is a giant bonfire and the wafting of incense. Around us, the church bell tomes in the dark.

November 2ed is the Annual Day of the Dead Ritual at Forest Park Cemetery. For 19 years, surrounding families have come to replicate the Mexican and South American ceremony and the numbers of participants has grown.

“It used to be five families and now it is fifty. Some come from curiosity, some to honor the dead. They come through word of mouth.” says one participant Frezza Herrera. She is handing out cups of hot chocolate and popcorn as offering for the dead and living alike.

“My grandmother loved chocolate and corn. I bring it for the memory of her.” Says Herrera

The Day of the Dead Ritual in its basic form has been celebrated in Mexico for perhaps 2,500-3,000 years, although in its modern incantations was created with the Aztec calendar. Typically the festival lasts for two days, November 1^st for deceased children and November 2ed as the Day of the Dead. During this time, people bring pictures, food and flowers for the dead to enjoy.

“We are inviting our dead relatives to come.” Says Juan Gonzdez, head of the fire ceremony.

Great wafting incense emits from pots and surrounds us with its sweet smell. Apples, candles, popcorn, dried and fresh flowers decorate each of the four corner tables.

Every detail of the Day of the Dead is enriched in symbolism. From the incense that represents the transformation from physical to spiritual to the bouquets of flowers that represent the short lifespan of mankind.

We have been working since 8:30 this morning-just to have this moment,” says the organizer Rosaba Soies. “It all has to do with math, everything here has a reason.”

At the Alter, atop of which is a glowing blue skull, Pan de muertos, bread of the dead, has been left for the departed, the thought being that the soul of the bread is eaten by the deceased that visit. People come to stand in front of the alter in awe, others to pray.

Most crowd around the bonfire, the mood solemn. One man closes his eyes in prayer while Juan Gonzdez begins to burn photographs of the dead.

“Listen to the fire and you may have some communication with the dead” He says.

Juan Gonzdez has been doing these fire ceremonies for twenty plus years, but he has been learning these ceremonies since he was a boy.

“It is our way of life, this is how we relate to creation.” Says Gonzdez.

Frezza Herrera comes to the fire and bows down before it. Taking incense sticks she makes the sign of the cross and meditates in front of the fire. Everyone breathes in deep as Gonzdez burns sage and other herbs into the fire, surrounding us in a giant cloud of humid smoke that chokes out the frigid air.

“We are creating an experience. An experience different than your everyday life." Says Gonzdez.

The fire dies slowly as the bell tomes again, the embers spilling out thick gray clouds of smoke into the dark. The sweet smell of incense and hot chocolate follow me back on the train home.

Shoot Like a Militia Man: A Photo Retrospective

Shoot Like a Militia Man

More than two dozen people lay out on their bellies to the marked line, guns ready for the signal to load and fire. The signal given, a stream of pops and booms resonated from the rifles to the target: a redcoat. After 13 rounds the instructor barked out, “Cease Fire! Cease Fire! Cease Fire!”

We are at the Appleseed project in Winchendon Massachusetts, a weekend retreat at the local Rod and Gun club. Sponsored by the Revolutionary War Veterans, the Appleseed Program aims to teach both history of the American militia and marksmanship skills. No muzzle loaders here, but a parade of modern riflry.

In my hands is a Ruger 10/22, a so-called Liberty Training Rifle with a sight, altered trigger, bolt release and magazine. We are firing thirteen, twenty, forty rounds into these targets.

At one point an instructor takes out a revolutionary style baronet and holds it high as an example. “You got to protect your family, the red coats are coming and if you don’t get them now, they’re going to be rushing at you with one of these. And the red coats move fast.” Says Nickel, an instructor.

Despite the intensity of these moments, the weekend Appleseed course is novice friendly and free for women. And yet, despite these incentives it is still a predominately male crowd. A fatigue wearing, rough neck, testosterone man’s man with some Boston city-kins to add to the mix.

Before we start shooting, me, the men’s men and the city-kins stand in a circle and sing out of tune, “SAFETY RULES: Keep your FIN-ger off the TRI-gger until your target has been sighted.”

“We make them sing it back because it imprints in their subconscious” Says Nickel.

Garrison, one of the most enthusiastic instructors adds, “I tell my nine, ten year old kids ‘keep your booger hook off the bang switch.”

Nickel, Garrison, Schnider and the rest of the Revolutionary War Veterans are volunteers, all unpaid, running the program on a shoestring budget.

They symbolize the new wave of gun enthusiasts, those that use the Internet and gun forums to arrange marksmanship training in large magnitudes, up and down the New England countryside.

Despite these technological advancements, The American Veterans are delightfully old school. ‘April 19, 1775, militiamen defended the area against the redcoats. Two thousand people mobilized without email, cell phones. How many could you rally if your life depended on it?” asks Nickel.

The Revolutionary War Veterans are adamant about putting guns in civilian hands. For them, this is the best way that a citizenship can control the government. [Project Appleseed] reminds people of their rights. That the government is put in place for US.” Says Ross Schacher.

The Revolutionary War Veterans are not a militia per se, as one member Rob Schacher says, “You got these survivalist nuts in the woods giving militias a bad name. The militia is the people. Because of Women’s liberation, you and I, 16-60 are part of the militia.”

However part of the national milita I may be, I experience real troubles when I stand up to shoot. “Too tense, you’re leaning way off balance” Says Schacher. Have you ever played a sport?

“I ride the subway.” I offer.

"Yes, exactly!" Says Schacher. "It’s exactly like riding the subway! You need to absorb the shock.”

Taking the advice, the next round my accuracy increases. The instructors come to look at the target and nod their heads in encouragement.

“By the end of the day you’ll be shooting good and you’ll be signing up for your license,” says Schacher.

One of the younger women who have already gotten her license, Laura Leland says, “I’ve been going 2-3 times a week. Since I got my license I’ve been kind of obsessed.”

Perhaps the most alluring thing about the weekend is the possibility of buying a discounted gun. Buying a gun through the Veterans, scores many gun lovers a rifle worth double the price. One that could fetch for thousands of dollars at gun shows. This deal is one of the ways Revolutionary War Veterans hope that they can put inexpensive rifles in civilian hands. Their program works through a government sponsored program called the Department of Civilian Marksmanship.

Of course, there are two conditions to get one of these coveted discount guns, participate in a marksmanship course and be part of an affiliate club. The guns that are sold are WWII and Korean War relics often with the arsenal rebuilt.

John Mudy, one instructor, says about his own rifle, “ I do wonder what theaters my gun has played in.”

The sun setting at last, we fire our last thirteen rounds. This is the last Appleseed in the Boston area until spring but they are hopeful about the growth of their program.

“We are trying to double our events every year.” Says Nickel.

As for me, come April for the next Appleseed gun course, I’ll be there.

For more information on future Appleseed events go to : www.appleseedinfo.org/