Better Beaches Blog

The Treasures of Spectacle Island

2010-09-28T13:52:00.008-04:00

Starting off as a cloudy morning, Saturday turned into a beautiful day! On Saturday, 25^th 2010 me and other friends of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay went on an adventure to Spectacle Island. We started the day off gathering around the dock where Bruce Berman, one of the original founders of Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay gave an brief speech about the trip and soon after we were off!

With the help of AC cruise lines we reached our destination in no time and all the families were off exploring! I was surprised at how much there was to do at the Island. While I was on the beach I met one family who were keeping themselves entertained by burying each other! As I walked around I met another family, The Bee’s that were enjoying running around and playing ball. It was also a perfect day to fly kites which many families were doing. It was so nice to see families and especially the kids enjoy themselves and just having fun

This was my very first time at Spectacle Island and I fell in love with it! The island is so beautiful and well maintained. After taking time to grab a quick snack from the summer shack, me and some of the Save the Harbor crew went on a hike to the top of the island. No being an avid hiker, I was worried I would not make it to the top! To my surprise the hike was not difficult but very relaxing. On the way to the top, it was fascinating to learn about the history and facts about the island. The view of the city line from the top of the island was AMAZING! Can you believe that this island was once a trash dump?

Despite only being less then a 20 minute boat ride from Boston Spectacle Island is truly a hidden gem. For those who do not know any thing about Spectacle Island here is a brief history: It is believed that Native Americans used the island for fishing starting around 600 A.D. In the 1600s Europeans used the island as a source for firewood along with making it a smallpox quarantine. In 1857 a horse rendering plant was built which was followed by a city trash incinerator that was active till 1935. The island then became a trash dumb till the 1990s. It was when the infamous big dig started that things started to change for this smelly island. The dirt that was excavated from the dig was shipped off to Spectacle Island which was used to resurface the island. With thousands of trees planted and paths created the island opened up to the public in 2006. You can find all sorts of treasures on the two beaches located on the island left over from its days of being a trash dump. I found all this information on the island from the national park service's website so check it out!

Now that it is starting to get cold I am not sure I will get out to Spectacle Island until next spring but am so thankful I had the opportunity to explore the island on what can only be described as a perfect fall day. Spectacle Island was truly captivating and I cannot wait to get a chance to explore all the Boston Harbor Islands! To find out about other great events like this check out our Boston Harbor events and activities facebook page!

-Ariel

SUMMER ISN'T OVER AT NANTASKET BEACH

2010-09-01T16:42:00.001-04:00

The Endless Summer Waterfront Festival Down in Hull we try our hardest to keep summer rolling along on Nantasket Beach until our big festival Saturday September 25th from noon-6pm. With help from SHSB we were able to produce our tv commercial with hopes that it will bring you all to Nantasket for a final summer party.

Endless Summer Commercial for Nantasket Beach

2010-08-26T11:12:00.002-04:00

Thank you to Save the Harbor Save the Bay for helping support our television commercial for the Endless Summer Waterfront Festival on Sat Sept 25th.

New Endless Summer Website

2010-08-05T14:31:00.003-04:00

Greetings: The Endless Summer Waterfront Festival has a new website and is actively seeking new sponsors. This is a unique festival that trys to keep the summer alive for a few more weeks each season. Enjoy our website and contact us if you would like to sponsor this great event.

http://www.endlesssummerhull.com/

Family Fun Night!

2010-07-23T12:14:00.004-04:00

Last night, July 22nd at Carson Beach, there was first Family Fun Night held by the South Boston Neighborhood House. Save the Harbor staff Dan, Carolyn, and Tom Reagan went to teach the youth with the touch tank. Earlier in the day Dan and Carolyn had been lucky enough to catch two lobsters! The kids eyes widened as saw the massive lobsters come out of the tank.

The weather was gorgeous. They really enjoyed the beautiful weather and had a great time. The organizers did a fantastic job. The families even signed a poster thanking Save the Harbor/Save the Bay!

Cassie

Winthrop Sand Castle Day!

2010-07-20T16:14:00.006-04:00

Winthrop Beach Sand Castle Day was a great success July 10^th weekend at Yirrell Beach! The day began very hot. It was so hot that fellow staffer BJ and I couldn’t even walk on the beach barefoot. But the sun was out so we were happy! We went to check the All Access Boston Harbor lobster traps and there was a lobster! Now we had a lobster for our touch tank. Winthrop Parks and Recreation announced our fortunate grab to the crowd! Lots of kids came to touch and learn about the lobster. While I helped the kids, BJ explained about the different programs Save the Harbor/Save the Bay offers. It was even low tide so we, the educators, and the kids went to look on the beach for interesting crabs and other sea creatures for the touch tank. Around three o’clock, around the end of the event, the wind picked up and the sky opened. Luckily the day was over and extremely successful!

Michelle

Saturday Afternoon Children's Concert

2010-07-19T14:07:00.008-04:00

The Friends of Lynn & Nahant Beach will host its first ever Children's Concert this Saturday, July 24 from 1-3 p.m. at Red Rock Park on the beach. Activities begin at 1 p.m., including the Northeastern University. Marine Science Center's Traveling Aquarium, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's Marine Touch Tank, balloon animals by Drew's Balloons and face painting. The Toe Jam Puppet Band will perform with interactive songs and activities. Spread the news, bring your children, grandchildren, any other children to Red Rock Park this Saturday, July 24!

- Friends of Lynn & Nahant Beach

South Boston Neighborhood House Presents..

2010-07-14T08:25:00.005-04:00

South Boston Neighborhood House

Family Fun Night on the Beach Events...

Thursday, July 22nd - Ready, Set, SCHOOL!

Thursday, August 12th - Adventures at Sea

Time: 6:00 pm -7:30 pm

Where: Carson Beach @ The McCormack Bathhouse

Join us for a Night of Family Fun!

A book to take home for families, refreshments for all participants, fun family activities

T-shirts for children, music and dancing for all.

If you require accommodations to participate fully

in our events or would like more information

contact Chris Kane at (617) 268-1619 x503, Kathy Lafferty x201 or Cheryl Itri x205

Sponsored by: Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and South Boston Hope & Recovery

Special Thanks to:

Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), South Boston Child Care Cluster, Read Boston, Boston Children’s Museum, Boston Public Schools, Countdown to Kindergarten and Welcome Services

Friends of Lynn & Nahant Beach Summer Concert Series

2010-07-07T16:06:00.005-04:00

MEET YOU AT RED ROCK

Summer isn’t summer without popular concert series

It’s hot. The kids need a diversion and you could use some relaxation after a long day. What you need is a family activity that’s not too active but something outdoors, preferably somewhere cool. For a fun event that’s just right for a warm summer night, the beach is the place to go.

Each Thursday evening from July 8 through August 19, the Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach will once again co-sponsor with the state Department of Conservation and Recreation their popular concert series at Red Rock Park on Lynn Shore Drive.

This year’s concert series is sponsored by the Mayor Judith Kennedy, the Lynn City Council, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, the Boston Foundation, the Daily Evening Item, the Lynn Journal, Christopher’s Café, Lynn Economic Development Industrial Corporation, the Tides Restaurant and Pub and Kelly Honda of Lynn.

Now in its 15th year, the Summer Concert Series takes place every Thursday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. until August 19. The bands are chosen to represent a wide range of music, from rock to blues to Celtic favorites and island tunes.

July 8 the well-known Classmates will perform a variety of well know selections especially from the 70’s and 80’s. White Lightnin’ returns again this year on July 15 combining elements of rock, pop, fun rhythm and blues.

Well known and popular Brian Maes Band returns to play all his tunes on July 22. Listen to Irish music by Curragh’s Fancy playing rousing renditions of Celtic favorites and old sea chanteys on July 29. Get up and dance with the Shuffle Mode Band on August 5.

Larry Power & the 12:01 Blues Band returns by popular demand on August 12. Our last concert on August 19 will feature well know local singer Mary Beth Maes.

A special Kid’s Concert will be held on July 24 from 1-3 pm featuring the Toe Jam Puppet Band. Special activities will be held for the children, so bring the kid’s down to Red Rock on Saturday, July 24.

All shows are free and audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. The air can be a bit cooler on the waterfront, especially as the sun begins to set earlier. Coffee, soda, water, home made bakery items, and Friends T-Shirts, sweatshirts, hats and Tote Bags will be available for purchase. All proceeds go toward the cost of the concerts.

The Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach, a non-profit organization, was organized in 1990 to protect and promote the wise use of our beaches and waterfront. The organization has worked with local and state elected officials along with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to form a partnership to promote Lynn and Nahant beaches.

Besides the concert series, the Friends hold beach clean-ups each year. For more information about the Friends and how to join visit their website at www.lynn-nahantbeach.org.

Here's a link to the full concert schedule www.lynn-nahantbeach.org/concerts.html. Hope to see you there!

Folk Festival at Lynn Heritage State Park this Saturday, July 3

2010-06-28T15:51:00.004-04:00

Hello all,
You're invited to our 2nd annual folk festival, featuring 13 acts.
Musicians playing music from Italy, Greece, Cambodia, Haiti, Russia, Span. America.
Brazilian capoiera, and Japanese calligraphy, story-telling, dancing lessons.
This Saturday, July 3 from 2-7 PM at Heritage State Park, off the Lynnway.

2010-06-21T15:47:00.004-04:00

EAST BOSTON YMCA SUMMER KICK-OFF
BEACH DAY 2010

East Boston YMCA packed Constitution Beach on Bunker Hill Day for a fun-filled Summer Kick-off celebration. The event featured free lunch, games, information tables and plenty of splashing around on the water's edge.

Jen from Save the Harbor brought along a touch tank that was a big hit with all the kids - especially the lobster, razor clam and other critters.

The event gave over 400 kids from East Boston and their parents a great way to spend the day off from school and an opportunity to connect with the East Boston YMCA and their summer free lunch program.

We look forward to more great family events at Constitution Beach later in the summer, including a movie night and campfire - all thanks to the folks at East Boston YMCA.

Check back here for more on events throughout the summer!

More good news for the beaches of Boston!

2010-06-14T13:10:00.006-04:00

For the third year running Save the Harbor/Save the Bay has given valuable assets to fund events around the Boston beaches area.

At a press conference on the Boston Fish Pier on Saturday, June 12th, the non-profit organization Save the Harbor / Save the Bay awarded $30,500 in grants to 11 groups to support 35 free public events in nine Boston Harbor region beachfront communities from Nahant to Nantasket.

In addition, Save the Harbor announced that in the fall they will introduce the “Best of the Beaches” awards of up to $2,000 to organizations that deliver outstanding events on our region’s public beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull this summer.

This year’s "Better Beaches" events will include beachfront concert series, kite festivals, sand sculpting competitions, beachside art shows, environmental education programs, family fun nights and reading programs, volleyball tournaments and several beach festivals.

The program is made possible by a $25,000 grant from the Boston Foundation, $25,000 of in-kind support from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and the financial support of Save the Harbor’s corporate partners at National Grid, Comcast Massachusetts, and JetBlue Airways.

"I love our beaches. I love all these groups and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay for making them work even better," said State Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein who co-chairs Metropolitan Beaches Commission.

“There is so much we can do to make environmental initiatives a priority,” said Ronda Ivy-McLeod, manager of regional marketing for JetBlue Airways. “We are taking action by supporting Save the Harbor / Save the Bay and their local partners, and invite the community to join us. Every one of us, whether an individual or a corporation, one contribution at a time, can do much to help protect our environment and strengthen our communities.”
In addition to the grants, local Friends groups will raise an additional $160,000 in direct and in-kind support for their events and capacity-building initiatives, resulting in a total investment of more than $190,000 in free events and activities on the region’s public beaches.

“From the start of the Boston Harbor Clean-up it was clear that Boston's restored harbor and renewed waterfront would be an economic engine as well as a major community resource,” said Paul S. Grogan, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation, an early funder of Save the Harbor / Save the Bay. “That vision has been born out by the success of organizations and business in communities across the region that have drawn thousands of local residents to these clean and accessible public beaches.”

With the Better Beaches program in its third year, Save the Harbor called on local beach groups to submit proposals that strengthen their organizations and allow them to sustain beach programming in the longer term. Groups responded with creative revenue-generating ideas for merchandising kites, T-shirts, totes, and hats as well as developing corporate partnerships, membership drives, raffles, fundraising events, marketing and media strategies.

“All these groups share a love for their beaches,” said Patricia Foley, President of Save the Harbor / Save the Bay. "These great programs would simply not be possible without the hard work and enthusiasm of these Friends groups.”

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay introduced the Better Beaches Small Grants Program in 2008 in response to a key finding of Metropolitan Beaches Commission’s report which called for increased programming on the area beaches. In the program’s first two years Save the Harbor / Save the Bay funded events designed to jumpstart public activities and programming on public beaches. Through 2009, the program leveraged a total of over $180,000 investment in free events and programs on the region's public beach.

Be sure to frequent these events and get the most out of the Boston beaches this summer!

Good News From the Beach!

2010-06-11T07:39:00.004-04:00

At 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 12th, at our office on Boston’s Fish Pier, Save the Harbor / Save the Bay will award $30,500 in "Better Beaches" grants to 11 groups to support 35 free public events in nine beachfront communities from Nahant to Nantasket.

This year’s events include beachfront concert series, kite festivals, sand sculpting competitions, beachside art shows, environmental education programs, family fun nights and beach based reading programs, as well as volleyball tournaments and beach festivals.

In addition, Save the Harbor will announce a new initiative, the “Best of the Beaches” awards, with cash prizes of up to $2,000 to be awarded later this year to organizations that deliver outstanding events on our region’s public beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull this summer.

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's "Better Beaches" program grew out of the recommendations made by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission in their 2007 report “Beaches We Can Be Proud Of.” It is made possible by a generous grant from the Boston Foundation, in-kind support from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and the support of Save the Harbor’s corporate partners at National Grid, Comcast, and Jet Blue Airways.

This year local beaches friends groups will invest an additional $160,000 in direct and in-kind support for their events themselves, resulting in a total investment of more than $190,000 in free events and activities on the region’s public beaches in 2010!

We expect Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chairs Senator Jack Hart and Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein to attend, as well as other commissioners, elected officials and representatives of our foundation, corporate and beach community partners.

For more information about the "Better Beaches" program or Saturday's announcement, contact Save the Harbor / Save the Bay’s Director of Strategy and Communications Bruce Berman directly on his cell at 617-293-6243.

2010-06-02T11:32:00.041-04:00

Building on Better Beaches

At Save the Harbor/Save the Bay we love this time of year because people up and down the coast are excited to clean up their beaches and show them off to new visitors – and we get to help.

Thanks to generous contributions from The Boston Foundation, National Grid and Comcast, we anticipate that we will have dozens of fun and free events in every beach community from Nahant to Nantasket, so wherever you call home, there should be an event on a nearby beach.

Our president Patty Foley reflected last spring that “It’s remarkable what people who love their beach and their community can accomplish with just a little bit of help.”

After spending some time working with people who love their beaches, I couldn’t agree more. Most everyone that we work with fell in love with “the beach” (whichever it may have been) early and has given back often.

Especially now that we have heard the ideas for the summer from our friends groups on our Metropolitan Beaches from Nahant to Nantasket, these words resonate once again.

The Better Beaches project – bringing people back to our beaches – is never-ending and sometimes challenging but it can also be a great deal of fun. This year, with a little bit of encouragement, we are hearing from people from all of our beach communities about how they plan to take their beach stewardship to the next level through media partnerships, advertising, outreach, fundraising, merchandising, and membership initiatives.

Together, in 2010, these friends will create and sell thousands of T-shirts and other items, develop an online store, produce a TV ad, and work hard to bake several other fresh ideas into working models for financial sustainability.

Strengthened by these strategies, we are confident our friends groups will put together an impressive slate of events from Constitution Beach’s kickoff Beach Party to Nantasket Beach’s Endless Summer that will give people throughout the region plenty of reasons to stretch their summer season and find new things to love about our beaches.

Aside from fulfilling our goal of bringing more people out to the beaches, this year’s series of events will generate a lot of great images and press, stories – and most importantly – memories.

We really hope you are able to make it out to some of this year’s events and buy some kites, totes and T’s. We will use the Better Beaches Blog and our Boston Harbor Facebook Page to keep you posted about beach happenings and events and the great groups that host them.

2010-04-23T11:03:00.015-04:00

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is thrilled to ring in the beach season with some great news!

We are delighted to announce that we will be awarding a third round of Better Beaches Small Grants to local organizations in beachfront communities and waterfront neighborhoods from Nahant to Nantasket thanks again to the generous support of The Boston Foundation.

We launched "Better Beaches" in 2008, in partnership with the Metropolitan Beaches Commission and the Department of Conservation and Recreation to help jumpstart public activities and free events on our region's public beaches. By all accounts we have done just that, helping groups on nine communities put their beaches to work for all the residents of our region.

Last year, with the support of all of our great partners, Save the Harbor supported 31 free events in 9 communities that brought hundreds of thousands of the region's residents to their public beaches. Among the many notable events and programs we supported in 2009 were concerts and sand castle competitions, family reading nights and neighborhood beach festivals that attracted hundreds of thousands of regional residents to the cleaner waters of Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay.

The 2010 Better Beaches program looks to build on this success by seeking proposals that will support and promote beach programming in 2010, and strengthen local beach groups so that they can survive - and thrive - in the longer term. This year we will look forward to funding creative proposals that include plans that will help sustain beach programs in the long term through media partnerships, advertising or other outreach efforts, the creation of materials such as posters, t-shirts, or other items for resale, or support for other innovative (or tried and true!) fundraising, membership or marketing efforts.

Of course, beyond financial support, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay will also continue to offer technical and operating assistance to empower all beaches groups to better advocate on behalf of their beaches and their programs.

Save the Harbor will hold a Grant Workshop on Monday May 3rd from 5:30-7:30 at our office on Boston Fish Pier, to discuss new ideas with applications. We are accepting requests ranging from $500 to $5,000. Proposals are due Monday, May 10th. Grants will be awarded on Saturday, June 5th at our offices on Boston Fish Pier.

Click here for more information about how to apply.

We are looking forward to another great summer of events and activities on our region's public beaches and hope you are too!

Better Beaches

2010-01-01T07:32:00.000-05:00

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's “Better Beaches” program grew out of the recommendations made by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission in their 2008 report “Beaches We Can be Proud Of” and was (and still is) made possible by a generous $25,000.00 grant from The Boston Foundation, a similar amount of in-kind support from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and contributions from our corporate and philanthropic partners.

In 2008 we made grants totaling $28,000 to 11 community groups who in turn organized 27 free events and programs on the region’s public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. Those funds were partially matched by the local organizations, and by in-kind contributions, for a total leveraged investment of $68,000.00

In the first year we funded activities designed to jumpstart public activities and events on public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket including beachfront concert series, kite festivals, sandcastle competitions, beachside art shows, swimming lessons, family fun nights and reading programs and neighborhood beach parties.

These events and programs have generated new enthusiasm for, and attracted new people to, our region’s public beaches. They have been important successes in other ways as well, helping to strengthen local community organizations and beach friends groups – encouraging them to create new partnerships with local government and area businesses, and strengthening their relationships with the DCR.

In 2009, despite the tough economic climate, we have been able to bring more resources to the table. These include another generous grant of $25,000 from The Boston Foundation, and a similar amount of in-kind support from the DCR. They also include another grant of $3,000 from National Grid, and $2,500 from Comcast Massachusetts to support the program, enabling us to make grants totaling $30,500 this year – up nearly 10% from 2008!

In addition, as they grow stronger, the local groups ability to bring resources to the table has grown as well. This year the local groups have secured more than $57,000 in sponsorships, donations, and in-kind contributions in support of these programs. Together we have invested more than $112,000 in these free events and activities this year, nearly twice what we secured last year!

I hope you will take a few minutes to check out the blog posts about each of this year's events and activities that we supported on the beach in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

See you on the Beach!

Around the World in 5 Hours - The World Folk Fest!

2009-10-10T12:23:00.027-04:00

Lynn:
October 10, 2009:
Lynn Heritage State Park was one loud and busy place yesterday, as the Friends of Lynn Heritage State Park put on the World Folk Fest. Postponed from last Saturday because of bad weather, the Friends made up for it this weekend with a show featuring music from all over the world.

From Russian to Spanish, Cajun to Mamadou, performances featured musicians and dancers who really brought each culture to life for their audiences. It was awesome to see people celebrating so many different cultures!

Click here for more info on Lynn Heritage State Park

Friends with Feathers

2009-09-22T15:41:00.011-04:00

East Boston/Winthrop:
September 21, 2009: This Monday the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh introduced the public to the region's "Birds on the Beach" in an open forum. The bird-news is good: Two endangered species, the Piping Plover and the Least Tern, have nested in the area!

Everybody's coming back to the beaches...

To learn more about the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh, click here.

Endless Summer in Hull

2009-09-13T13:57:00.008-04:00

Hull:
September 13, 2009: I wish summer could go on forever, and apparently, so does the town of Hull.

The Endless Summer Waterfront Festival by the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce might not actually stretch out summer to December, but at least proves that the Beach Season doesn't end on August 31.

Nantasket Beach offered a warm, summery day, and the Festival featured Live Music, Hot Dog Eating Contests and Sand Sculpture Competitions.

Clearly, summer isn't over yet!

Click here for the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce website and here for their Facebook group!

Summer Reading Nights

2009-08-31T13:44:00.002-04:00

Dorchester:
August 30, 2009: The reading events in South Boston last year were so popular that other communities wanted to share them, too.
The Tenean Beach Association made a start with their reading event Books on the Beach on Tenean Beach.

I think these programs are a great way for kids to enjoy the beach and have an educational experience at the same time!

Learn more about the Tenean Beach Association on their Facebook page!

Boys and Girls and Family Fun

2009-08-29T13:21:00.014-04:00

Dorchester:
August 28, 2009: Like the first event in June, the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester's second Family Fun event on Malibu Beach was a real blast for the kids!

The event featured Moonwalks, face painting, refreshments and blubble machines.
Especially face painting and the bubble machines were a big hit.

The beach was alive with all the colors from the kids' face paintings.

What a great sight!

Learn more about the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester by clicking here!

Treasure Hunting at Winthrop Beach

2009-08-28T15:23:00.013-04:00

Winthrop:
August 27, 2009:

Thanks to the Parks and Recreation Departmen t and the Girl Scouts of Winthrop, kids of all ages made their way to Winthrop Beach last night to hunt for treasure with their parents and friends. The Harbor Islands-themed hunt was part of the Winthrop Collaborative's Expanded Summer Activities, and everyone got active and followed their maps from the Union Congregational Church to Winthrop Beach, looking for "X" marks. Every team celebrated when they reached their goal on the map and claimed their prize for finding the buried treasure! A sense of adventure and dedication really pay off when hunting for treasure!

Click here to learn more about Winthrop Beach

Dancing in the Sand

2009-08-22T23:00:00.004-04:00

East Boston:
August 22, 2009: The weather could have been better, but enough guests attended the East Boston YMCA's "Beach Dance" to keep Constitution Beach bustling!

Aside from the dance, beach explorations for kids, arts and crafts and a Wiffle Ball Tournament made this day another great day at the beach!

Want to learn more about the East Boston YMCA? Visit their website and Facebook page!

Arts on the Shore - Beach Fest!

2009-08-17T12:50:00.014-04:00

Quincy:
August 16, 2009: Friends of Wollaston Beach

Yesterday's "Arts on the Shore" brought close to 1,000 people out in droves to Wollaston Beach to do some arts and crafts projects and have a fun time with their friends and families. Artists were lined up along the beach, painting pictures of the scenery as spectators passed by. Some families built sand castles, while others made sidewalk chalk drawings. The kids also went crazy over the clown show, balloon animals, moon bounce and face painting.

And of course a beach event wouldn't be complete without beach games, courtesy of DJ K9 from Radio Disney!

Click here to learn more about the Friends of Wollaston Beach and their Facebook page

Go, Dorchester Beach Festival!

2009-08-09T12:08:00.003-04:00

Dorchester:
August 8, 2009: The Dorchester Beach Festival has it all:

Canoeing, sailing, beach volleyball, a scavenger hunt, games, a kite flying demo, bands...

And all for free! Savin Hill and Malibu Beach are really great for a Beach Party, and I hope next year the Festival's hosts Friends of Savin Hill Shores, lots of Volunteers and sponsors will make this fun event happen again!

Visit the Dorchester Beach Festival website and Facebook page to learn more about this fun event.

Little Mermaids on Winthrop Beach

2009-08-07T13:42:00.007-04:00

Winthrop:
August 6, 2009:

Thanks to the Winthrop Collaborative's "Extended Summer Activities," lots of kids and their families enjoyed a free puppet show on Winthrop Beach on Tuesday evening. The puppeteer put on an interactive, family oriented show for the kids, who all watched in fascination as mermaids and sailors came to life before their very eyes!

Click here to learn more about Winthrop Beach

Fun Nights on the Beach, Part 2

2009-08-07T11:41:00.015-04:00

South Boston:
August 6, 2009: The second Family Fun Night on Carson Beach by the South Boston Neighborhood House had a "Make Way for Ducklings" theme, and the beach was yellow from all the kids dressed up as baby ducks.

Like the first event in July, this event featured games, reading performances and free books.

The little ducklings had big fun with reading performances, games like Duck races on the sand - even a ride on the SuperDuck!

For more information on the South Boston Neighborhood House and their programs, visit their website and Facebook page.

!!!SOUNDWAVES!!!

2009-08-02T16:00:00.005-04:00

Boston Harbor, Peddock's Island:
August 1, 2009: What a party! Everybody's out on their boats, in their swimsuits, partying to free live music from the band boat! If the party gets too hot, you just take a plunge into the cold water.
Awesome!!!

SoundWaves is part of AquaPalooza, the world's biggest boating party. On Boston Harbor, SoundWaves/AquaPalooza took place at Perry Cove on Peddock's Island, and the Harbor was packed with lots of boats and even more party people.

Can't get enough of parties like that!

Want to be part of the party next year? Visit the AquaPalooza website and Facebook page!

Tot Lot Tuesdays Begin!

2009-07-29T10:15:00.010-04:00

Quincy:
July 28, 2009:

The Friends of Wollaston Beach hosted their first "Tot Lot Tuesday" last night on Quincy Shore Drive, beginning the summer program with an underwater themed puppet show! Parents brought chairs and blankets to relax on the beach, while their kids watched in fascination, munching on their free ice cream, as Rosalita's underwater puppets came to life!

The Friends also ran a kite festival this spring, where kids of all ages learned how to fly kites and showed off their new skills to all their friends!

The Friends have some cool events planned for later in the summer, including a Sing Along with Jeff Jam on August 18 and a Story Night/Book Swap on September 1.

Be sure to check out their Facebook page and stay updated on their Tot Lot and other summer events! Based on last night, the rest of their events are going to be pretty awesome, don't miss them!

Be sure to visit their website and Facebook page

Tons of Fun on Tenean Beach Day!

2009-07-26T11:21:00.007-04:00

Dorchester:
July 25, 2009: Tenean Beach Day is the big annual Beach Party on Tenean Beach, hosted by the Tenean Beach Association.

This year's party saw gorgeous weather, and everyone enjoyed a great day at the beach with music and ice cream!

You could rent canoes and participate in water races, and the younger kids got their faces painted.

It was a fun day at Tenean!

Don't miss the 2010 Tenean Beach Day! To stay up-to-date, visit the Tenean Beach Association's Facebook page!

Not so blue on the BluesBoat

2009-07-25T22:09:00.006-04:00

Boston Harbor:
July 25, 2009: The Blues Festival SoundWaves takes place on the water!

The "Blues Boat" departed the wharf in front of the Boston Harbor Hotel to Spectacle Island, where it docked for a couple of hours so people could go for a walk or a swim before returning "home."
All this time while the bands were playing, I was rocked by SoundWaves and actual waves alike!

Summer Concert Series Featuring the Renowns!

2009-07-20T10:55:00.015-04:00

Lynn:
July 19, 2009: Friends of Lynn Heritage State Park

Local residents and youth groups took advantage of the nice weather yesterday afternoon to help kick off the Summer Concert Series at Lynn Heritage State Park. Everyone brought their lawn chairs to see the Renowns, Boston's premiere vocal group, perform some of their favorite hits and songs. Some even brought their dancing shoes, grooving to the beat of the music with their friends and family members!

Click here to learn more about Lynn Heritage State Park

2009-07-19T12:07:00.006-04:00

Revere:
July 18, 2009: You just can't take your eyes off the stunning sculptures - all made out of nothing but sand.

It's the New England Sand Sculpting Festival, an annual event on Revere Beach hosted by the Revere Beach Partnership, and it's the world biggest sand sculpting event!

People from all over the country come to Revere to turn sand into art, hoping to win the $5,000 for the first place in the competition.

The Festival, is definitely one of the highlights on Revere Beach. Visit the Festival's website to see the winning sculpture "Mirror" from this year's competition and
check out all the photos from the Festival to pick your own winner!

You can learn more about the Revere Beach Partnership and their events by clicking here.

Art at the Beach

2009-07-11T12:00:00.014-04:00

Winthrop:
July 11, 2009:

The Winthrop Collaborative started their "Extended Summer Activities" today with the Winthrop Art Association's "Art at the Beach." As people walked along Shore Drive, they saw local artists create some mini-masterpieces on the spot, and even got to create some artwork of their own!

Some artists were painting seascapes and pictures of birds, others were decorating bird houses and chairs. But no matter what canvas the artists were using, all the observers had a great time watching them and seeing the finished masterpieces!

Click here to learn more about Winthrop Beach. Click here for information about the Winthrop Art Association.

On the Beach with Books and Beans

2009-07-10T15:45:00.009-04:00

South Boston:
July 9, 2009: Beans on the Beach? Yes, please!

Over a hundred families had lots of fun with the Boston Baked Bean theme of the first of two Family Fun Nights on Carson Beach, South Boston.

The Family Fun Nights are an early books reading program by the South Boston Neighborhood House that features reading performances and free books for all kids.
At the Boston Baked Bean event, the kids also enjoyed guessing "how many beans are in the jar" and making their own Boston Baked Bean.

The South Boston Neighborhood House launched the Fun Nights last year, and they turned out to be a hit, which is no surprise to me: I am looking forward to the next Fun Night in August, and I'm sure so are the kids!

For more information on the South Boston Neighborhood House and their programs, visit their website and Facebook page.

Fireworks on the Beach!

2009-07-04T14:56:00.008-04:00

Lynn/Nahant:
It's the night before the 4th of July, the band is playing and the beach at Lynn Shoredrive is illuminated by fireworks.

So begins the Red Rock Summer Concert Series, a series of free summer concerts by the Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beaches. Over 1,000 people have come to Red Rock Park to be part of this event, to enjoy the music and the amazing view overlooking Lynn Beach.

After the initial celebration, 7 more free concerts will rock Red Rock Park for the 14th year.

It's going to be a great summer!

To learn more about the Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beaches and their Concert Series, visit their website here.

Celebration Time

2009-06-24T14:20:00.004-04:00

Dorchester:
On June 23, 2009, the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester celebrated the first of two Family Fun Events on Dorchester's Malibu Beach with a special parade.
To prepare the little ones for Kindergarden, every child got a free T-shirt, a Booster seat and school supplies.

Check out the great face paintings on the kids!

Click here for the the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester website.

The Season Begins

2009-06-17T21:13:00.015-04:00

East Boston:
On June 17, 2009, the East Boston YMCA started the Beach Season with their "Summer Kick-off Day" on Constitution Beach.

The party featured sand castle contests, sports, games with prizes and free lunches for everyone 18 and under. Kids could get their face painted while their parents enjoyed arts and crafts on the beach. A DJ made the party complete.

Turns out 600 guests agreed that that's just the perfect way to "kick-off" summer!

Want to learn more about the East Boston YMCA? Visit their website and Facebook page!