The Back to School Blues (or the Back to School Jamboree?)

The Back to School Blues
If you had any doubt that the end of the summer was rapidly approaching, you could probably remove that doubt with a single look at the events for this weekend. In fact, with children heading back to school in the very near future, most places realize that it’s virtually impossible to get a large number of people at any event. As a result, a lot of event coordinators just seem to give up around this time of year, and there’s not a whole lot going on. However, regardless of whether you’re sad to see the summer go or you’re doing the childless cha-cha in honor of the new school year, there’s still time to have some fun this weekend.

First, if you’ve always wanted to go to Carnival, but you’ve never had the time, money, and/or the inclination to leave the country, you may want to check out the Boston Carnival Parade this weekend. The Boston Carnival Parade is a parade and street festival that is designed to give you the experience of what Carnival would be like in Trinidad without leaving the state of Massachusetts. The parade, which starts on Blue Hill Avenue in Boston, MA at 1:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, August 23, 2014) and ends near the Franklin Park Zoo, features a number of Caribbean musicians, dancers, and masqueraders in costumes that are sure to get your attention. The street festival and food court, which is located right in front of the Franklin Park Zoo, will feature arts and crafts, food (including both Caribbean and traditional American cuisines), music, and more. For more information on the Boston Carnival Parade, which is also known as the Caribbean Festival Parade, please visit the Boston Carnival Village website.

Secondly, if you’re longing for a time not so long ago and not so far away when people took wooden ships onto the open sea, the Antique & Classic Boat Festival in Salem, MA may have exactly what you’re looking for. The Antique & Classic Boat Festival, which runs from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday (August 23, 2014) and 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Sunday (August 24, 2014), will feature artists, a crafts fair, music, a touch tank, a variety of antique and classic ships ranging anywhere from 50 to approximately 200 years old, and more. For more information on the Antique & Classic Boat Festival in Salem, MA, please visit the Antique & Classic Boat Festival website.

Finally, if you’re looking for something to do with your kids and they’re just suckers for a good Disney movie, especially one with a particularly well-known ice queen, the Hatch Shell in Boston will definitely put a smile on their faces tonight. This is because the last movie in this summer’s Free Friday Flicks series, presented by WBZ, is a sing-a-long version of the popular Disney film, Frozen. For more information on this completely free showing of Frozen at the Hatch Shell, which begins at sundown tonight (August 22, 2014), please visit the CBS Boston website.

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Massachusetts Tax-Free Weekend

Taxes ($100 Bill)
It may have been Benjamin Franklin that once said that “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”, but he certainly wasn’t alone in the sentiment. In fact, Christopher Bullock, Daniel Defoe, Edward Ward, Mark Twain, Dorothy Parker, Margaret Mitchell, and a slew of other famous authors have expressed the same rather depressing idea that life may be uncertain, but you’re pretty much stuck paying taxes until you die (and many of them said it before Franklin.) However, if you’re in Massachusetts this weekend, where Franklin’s quote could be the state motto, you may be in luck because this weekend is actually Massachusetts’ Tax Free Weekend. As a result, you can now go out and enjoy all of the big box stores and all of the little shops that Massachusetts has to offer without giving 6.25% to the tax man. Even better still, there are a number of local festivals this weekend that will allow you to enjoy food, music, and more as you take full advantage of the lack of sales tax.

First, if you’ve been dying to spend some time by the water, Gloucester has a festival this weekend that you won’t want to miss. This is because the 33rd Annual Gloucester Waterfront Festival is this Saturday (August 16, 2014) and Sunday (August 17, 2014) from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. The Waterfront Festival, which is located at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, will feature a pancake breakfast, over 175 artists and craftsmen, food, music, an antique car show, and more. Best of all, the event is completely free (until you buy stuff from the vendors.) For more information on the 33rd Annual Gloucester Waterfront Festival, please visit the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce website or the Waterfront Festivals website.

Secondly, if you’ve always been a big fan of jazz, soul, and rock and roll, Salem, MA is definitely the place to be this weekend. This is because the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is this Saturday (August 16, 2014) and Sunday (August 17, 2014) from 11:00 A.M. to 7:15 P.M. This festival, which is scheduled to take place at the Salem Willows, will feature artists; a beer garden; a tent with activities and games for kids; music education classes; and, of course, live music from over 10 bands that are extremely skilled in jazz, soul, rock, funk, swing, and more. For more information on the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, which is completely free (again, until you buy stuff from the vendors), please visit the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival website.

Finally, if you have a young girl between the ages of 8 and 17 who loves music or you really just like seeing little girls rock out, you may want to check out the Girls Rock Campaign Boston performance at the Brighton Music Hall tomorrow (Saturday, August 16, 2014.) The Girls Rock Campaign Boston is a volunteer summer program that gives girls between the ages of 8 and 17 a chance to form their own band, write their own music, learn to rock their favorite instrument, and more. In fact, the girls not only form their own band and learn everything they need to strut their stuff, but also get the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience at the end of the program. The show tomorrow, as you might have guessed, is that opportunity and it can be a lot of fun to see what these kids and teens can really do. For more information on the Girls Rock Campaign Boston program, please visit the Girls Rock Boston website, and if you would like to order tickets to the performance, please visit Ticketmaster.

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Exploring Your Heritage

The Friendship
When someone mentions the word “heritage,” you probably think of a list of long-gone relatives and all of the places that they were originally from. In fact, you may even know a little bit about the history of some of your more famous or infamous ancestors (depending on how interested you are in your own family’s history.) However, when you stop and think about it, you may know a lot about your own family’s history, but how much do you really know about the history of the city that you’re living in? I mean if someone asked, would you know if your city had once been a major trading port? A breeding ground for smugglers and pirates? The site of a literal witch hunt? Or anything else about the major events that had an impact on the place that you live today?

Well, if you would like to learn more about a city that has been all of these things and more, there’s no better time than now to visit Salem. This is because Salem, MA is hosting its 53rd Annual Heritage Days Celebration, which is a 10-day festival that demonstrates just how much fun Salem can be. This festival, which runs from now until Sunday, August 10th, will feature an antique car show, a bike race, concerts, clowns, dance performances, ice cream samples as part of the Ice Scream Bowl, a kid’s night filled with rides and games, a pizza competition, a street fair, writing and book binding workshops, and a whole lot more. Best of all, most of the events during Heritage Days are completely free, and the events that do include a fee (usually $3 to $5 a person) will typically include food or rides. For more information on Salem’s Heritage Days, including a full schedule, please visit the Official Salem, MA Guide website.

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Adding Some Art to Your Summer

Twelfth Night

As the end of July approaches, the list of summer events often begins to dwindle. Unfortunately, I have to admit that I’m really not sure if the lack of scheduled events is a result of the fact that everyone is on vacation, that all of the kids seem to be going back to school earlier and earlier each year, or if it’s just that all of the event coordinators feel that if you can smell something cooking every time your bare feet hit the pavement, it is just too hot to do much of anything. However, regardless of the reasons behind the sudden decrease in the amount of things to do, there are still a couple of events that are sure to entertain you this weekend.

First, if you’ve always been a big fan of Shakespeare or it’s been your lifelong goal to figure out what the lines in a Shakespearean play actually mean, there are a series of performances on Boston Common from now until August 10th that may interest you. This is because the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is performing Twelfth Night every day for the next two weeks (except for Monday the 28th of July and Monday the 4th of August.) These performances, which are typically at 8:00 P.M. (7:00 P.M. on Sundays with a special 3:00 P.M. Matinee on this Saturday, July 26, 2014), will allow you and your friends and/or family to witness an extremely unusual love story told in a way that only a Shakespearean Comedy could pull off. Best of all, the entire performance won’t cost you a dime (unless you decide to go out and eat in which case it will probably cost you significantly more than a dime.) For more information on Twelfth Night and the Free Shakespeare on the Common series, please visit the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s website.

Secondly, if you would prefer to see a group of artists and performers that are a little more modern than a bunch of people who look like they just left the 17th century, you may want to check out the Rose Kennedy Greenway this weekend. This is because the Rose Kennedy Greenway is hosting Figment Boston from 11:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. on Saturday (July 26, 2014) and 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Sunday (July 27, 2014.) This event will allow you and anyone else you decide to bring along to see a variety of artwork while you enjoy street performances and dance to the music of a number of different musicians. For more information on Figment Boston, which is completely free (although donations are greatly appreciated), please visit the Boston Figment Project website.

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Wait! What Are the Dog Days of Summer?

Do any of these stars look like a dog to you?
Do any of these stars look like a dog to you?

Last week, I talked about the fact that the dog days of summer were officially upon us. However, after I wrote that post, I realized that most people are probably familiar with the expression and what it means, but there probably aren’t too many people that actually know where the expression comes from. As a result, I figured that if you were wondering why we refer to this particular section of the season as the dog days of summer, it would be a good time to let you know that you can blame the Romans (and no, it has nothing to do with the fact that the average dog looks like it would rather starve four inches from its food dish than move in this kind of weather.)

In fact, the reason that this particular section of the summer is known as the “Dog Days of Summer” is because the Romans believed that the extremely hot weather that we have during July and August was actually a result of the star, Sirius. Sirius, which is also known as the Dog Star, rose at approximately the same time each day as the sun during this part of the summer in Roman times. This led the Romans to refer to this period as the Dog Days because they were the days in which the Dog Star brought the sweltering heat and the evil that they typically associated with the heat to the lands. We, of course, still use the term today to describe the sweltering heat of this part of summer, but we have a number of ways to escape the evil heat and enjoy ourselves anyway.

First, if you’ve always been a fan of sand sculptures or you just like the feeling of the burning hot sand on your feet, Revere Beach is definitely the place to be this weekend. This is because Revere Beach is hosting the 2014 Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival from 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday and 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Sunday. This festival will feature 15 of the world’s best sand sculptors, music, food, sand sculpting lessons for children, fireworks, and a whole lot more. Best of all, it won’t cost you a dime to get into the event. For more information on the 2014 Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival, please visit the Revere Beach website or call 781-902-9742.

If, on the other hand, you’re one of those people that firmly believes the only place sand can end up is everywhere you don’t want it, you may want to consider heading to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, MA on Sunday (July 20, 2014.) This is because the Larz Anderson Auto Museum is hosting an American Car and Truck Day this Sunday from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. This car show will allow you and your family to see a variety of patriotic vehicles while you enjoy something to eat. For more information on the American Car and Truck Day at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, please visit the Larz Anderson Auto Museum Events page.

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Escaping the Dog Days of Summer

Salem Willows Park Sign
The dog days of summer have officially begun, and the heat that is associated with the season is definitely upon us. In fact, if you’ve been anywhere in the Northeast over the past couple of weeks, you’ve probably been watching your thermometer melt (if it hasn’t just quit on you in an outright act of defiance) as your next door neighbors attempt to cook their breakfast on the sidewalk. Fortunately, if the forecasts for this weekend are even remotely close to correct, the next few days should be a whole lot nicer. As a result, you may want to use this time to get out and enjoy the weather before your thermometer goes on strike again. And, if getting outside while it’s cool sounds like a good plan to you, you may want to check out one of the big summer festivals that is scheduled for this weekend.

First, if you’re a big fan of seafood or you just like hanging out by the ocean, you may want to head over to the Salem Willows this weekend. This is because the Salem Willows Seafood Festival begins today (July 11, 2014) at 12:00 P.M. This festival, which will run until 10:00 P.M. on Sunday, will give you and anyone you feel like bringing with you the opportunity to try some of the best seafood on the North Shore, to watch cooking demonstrations, to peruse a variety of items from local artists and merchants, listen to music from a variety of local bands, and entertain your kids with games and other activities. The festival will also feature fireworks, a lobster roll eating competition, and more. For more information on the Salem Willows Seafood Festival, please visit the Fest Events website.

Secondly, if you’re not really all that into seafood or you’re just a much bigger fan of the tried and true New England tradition of eating ice cream until you explode, WGBH may have the festival for you. This is because WGBH is hosting their annual FunFest tomorrow (Saturday, July 12, 2014) from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. This festival, which is definitely aimed at the younger crowd, will allow you and your children to choose from a wide assortment of ice cream favors while you listen to music, play games, and meet some well-known children’s characters like Arthur, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Curious George. For more information on the WGBH FunFest, please visit the WGBH website.

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A Rainy 4th of July

Peachtree Fourth of July Road Race

The word “independence” is a fascinating term because it has so many different uses. In fact, if you’re talking about a child’s independence, you may be talking about the increasing amount of freedom that the child has as he or she enters the world, grows in it, and takes a meaningful (or not-so-meaningful) place in our society. If you’re talking about a contractor or a company that is considered to be independent, you may be talking about the ability of that individual or company to work without the influence or assistance of a larger company or chain. If you’re talking about a political stance, you may be talking about a group of individuals that ultimately believe all of our politicians are insane and that there’s no reason to agree with any of them. However, regardless of how you’ve used the term in the past, there is one thing that always remains the same about the word “independence” and that is the fact that it means freedom. And freedom is what today is really about.

Unfortunately, no matter how free we are, there is one entity that is very hard for us to maintain our independence from and that entity is Mother Nature. As a result, if your 4th of July festivities have been rained out or at least dampened by the oncoming hurricane, here is a list of some of the places in the Boston area that have already scheduled or rescheduled their holiday celebrations for later on this weekend.

All times are approximate and dates/times are (not surprisingly) subject to change.

Acton: 7/5/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Amesbury: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Attleboro: 7/5/2014 as soon as the sun sets.
Auburn: 7/6/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Ayer: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Bellingham: 7/5/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Bridgewater: 7/5/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Brockton: 7/5/2014 at 10:45 P.M.
Canton: 7/6/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Danvers: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Eastham: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Edgartown: 7/5/2014 as soon as the sun sets.
Fall River: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Falmouth: 7/6/2014 as soon as the sun sets.
Fitchburg: 7/5/2014 at 10:00 P.M.
Freetown: 7/6/2014 at 8:00 P.M.
Greenfield: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Lawrence: 7/5/2014 at 6:00 P.M. (Fireworks at approximately 9:30 P.M.)
Lincoln: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Lowell: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Lynn: 7/6/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Manchester by the Sea: 7/6/2014 at 9:15 P.M.
Marblehead: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Marion: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Middleborough: 7/5/2014 at 10:00 P.M.
Milford: 7/5/2014 at 10:00 P.M.
Millbury: 7/5/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Nahant: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Nantucket: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
North Reading: 7/5/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Northbridge: 7/6/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Oakham: 7/5/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Onset: 7/5/2014 at 9:20 P.M.
Orleans: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Pepperall: 7/5/2014 as soon as the sun sets.
Plymouth: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Provincetown: 7/5/2014 as soon as the sun sets.
Rutland: 7/6/2014 at 9:20 P.M.
Salem: 7/6/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Salisbury: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Seekonk: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Spencer: 7/5/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Stoughton: 7/5/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Sturbridge Village: 7/5/2014 as soon as the sun sets.
Swampscott: 7/6/2014 as soon as the sun sets.
Walpole: 7/6/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Waltham: 7/6/2014 at 9:30 P.M.
Wareham: 7/5/2014 at 9:20 P.M.
Webster: 7/6/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Westfield: 7/5/2014 at 9:15 P.M.
Wilmington: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Winthrop: 7/5/2014 at 9:00 P.M.
Worcester: 7/5/2014 at 9:30 P.M.

Please Note: This list only includes towns and cities that officially scheduled or rescheduled their 4th of July festivities (specifically their fireworks) to the 5th or 6th prior to the time of this posting (approximately 10:00 A.M. EST on 7/4/2014.) Other cities may reschedule their fireworks at a later time or may have already rescheduled their celebrations to a future date beyond this weekend.

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Great Musicians Through the Ages

Flaming GuitarIf you read my post from last week, you may have noticed that there are a fair number of musical events around this time of year. In fact, this is really the concert season, so if you’re looking for a way to listen to some great music without giving all of your money to the online ticket sellers of the world, then you’ve come to the right place. The only thing to remember is that with no shortage of concerts comes no shortage of choices, so if you’re one of those people that has an awful time making up your mind, it may be a little tough to decide on what to do this weekend. However, there are a few concerts that stand out from the rest, not only for the skill of the musicians involved but also for the limited impact they will have on your wallet.

As a result, if you’re a big fan of guitars and you would love to see the next generation of guitarists before they become the next big thing, you may want to check out Boston GuitarFest. Boston GuitarFest, which is hosted by the New England Conservatory and Northeastern University, is a series of workshops, competitions, and most importantly, concerts that are designed for young guitarists. These concerts not only feature some of the best emerging guitarists (both with acoustic and electric guitars) currently out there but also feature some of the best dancers, drummers, flutists, pianists, violinists, and other performers that you will ever see. Best of all, the price for most of the concerts is pretty reasonable, as each concert will typically fall into the $10 to $40 range. For more information on Boston Guitarfest, which runs until this Sunday (June 29, 2014), please visit the Official Boston GuitarFest website.

If, on the other hand, you’re not really into guitars or you like your musicians to have a little more experience, you may want to check out Pops on the Lawn. Pops on the Lawn is a concert at Sennott Park in Cambridge that will feature the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra. This concert will allow you and your family to listen to classical music, marches, movie themes, patriotic songs, show tunes, and other similar music designed for the whole family. However, the best part of this particular concert is the fact that it is absolutely free. For more information on Pops on the Lawn, please visit the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra’s Event page.

Finally, if you’re one of those people that thinks of a medieval ballad every time someone mentions classical music, you may want to head over to the Waltham Farmer’s Market this weekend. This is because the Waltham Farmer’s Market is hosting a performance by the Solstice Sackbuts from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. tomorrow (June 28, 2014.) The Solstice Sackbuts are a trio of musicians that specialize in classical, medieval, and renaissance music with a little pop and jazz thrown in as well. These musicians, which have appeared at a number of different venues including King Richard’s Faire, will dazzle you with their musical talents while teaching you about composers throughout the ages. For more information on the Solstice Sackbuts Concert at the Waltham Farmer’s Market, which is absolutely free (unless you end up buying something at the market), please visit the Solstice Sackbuts website or the Waltham Farmer’s Market Concert page.

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Rock Out This Summer

 

Stormtrooper Rocking OutOne of the great things about summer is that there’s never a shortage of things to do. In fact, it doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for a BBQ, a concert, an entire music festival, or something completely different, there’s always something going on. The only problem is that with so many events, it can be tough to figure out which events are actually worth spending your time on and which events would be better left to somebody else. As a result, if you’re looking for a good way to spend your time without wasting it on something you hate, you may want to know a little more about some of the big concerts and festivals going on this weekend.

First, if you’re a fan of classical, folk, jazz, and/or other similar music from around the world, there is a program at the Boston Public Library that you may be interested in. This program, which is appropriately entitled “Concerts in the Courtyard”, is a series of hour-long concerts that run from 12:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. on Fridays and 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Wednesdays until the end of August. These concerts will feature performers that specialize in music from around the world, including music from countries such as Brazil, Columbia, Egypt, Ireland, Scotland, Venezuela, and New Jersey (I know, I know. New Jersey isn’t technically another country, but if you’ve ever been on the New Jersey Turnpike, you know that it can feel like you’re spending days traveling to a far away land.) For more information on the Boston Public Library’s Concerts in the Courtyard series, including more information on the performers, please visit the Boston Public Library’s Programs and Events page.

Secondly, if you’re more of a fan of rock and roll than you are of “worldly” music or you’re just in desperate need of a huge BBQ, you might want to check out City Hall Plaza in Boston this weekend. This is because City Hall Plaza is hosting the Phantom Gourmet BBQ & Music Festival from 12:00 P.M. today (June 20, 2014) to approximately 6:45 P.M. Sunday (with some occasional breaks in there for sleep.) This festival will feature some of the best BBQ teams from around the world, drinks, and an assortment of bands including the Mighty Mighty BossTones. For more information on the Phantom Gourmet BBQ & Music Festival, please visit The Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party website.

Finally, if you’re a fan of music in every form regardless of whether it’s rock, folk, or somewhere in between, Harvard Square is definitely the place to be this weekend. This is because the 7th Annual Make Music Harvard Square festival is tomorrow (Saturday, June 21, 2014) from 2:00 P.M. to approximately 10 P.M. This festival, which pretty much takes over the entire area around Harvard Square, will give you the chance to listen to alternative, blue grass, country, folk, funk, grunge, Goth, hip hop, jazz, pop, R&B, rock, world music, and more. For more information on the Make Music Harvard Square Festival, which is also known as the FĂȘte de la Musique, please visit the Official Harvard Square website.

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Find Your Inner Ninja

Your Inner Ninja
If you’ve ever seen the NBC show, American Ninja Warrior, you’ve probably already realized that it’s one of those shows that you don’t really know why you watch it, but you just can’t stop. In fact, it’s kind of like going to a casino and playing the slots in the sense that you know that it’s unlikely that anyone’s going to win, but you go anyway because it’s just kind of fun. However, if you’ve watched the show and thought to yourself “I want to know how these people do this stuff” instead of thinking to yourself “who would be crazy enough to do this to themselves,” there are a few events in the Boston area this weekend that will help you find your inner ninja.

First, if you’ve always wanted to see what it would be like to race across something, you may want to head over to Fenway Park this weekend. This is because Brigham and Women’s Hospital is hosting a ClimbAmerica fundraiser at Fenway Park this Saturday (June 7, 2014) from 9:00 A.M. on to raise money for heart disease treatment and research. This event will allow you and your friends or family to race up and down the stairs of Fenway park so that your other friends and family will sponsor your run and give money to charity (at least that’s the hope.) For more information on the ClimbAmerica event at Fenway Park and/or to register for the event, please visit the Brigham and Women’s Hospital ClimbAmerica page.

Secondly, if you really want to know how some of the best contestants on American Ninja Warrior learn the techniques that they use to get through the course, you may want to check out a Parkour class at the Cummings School in Somerville. This is because Parkour, which is the art of efficient movement, is one of the techniques that many of the top competitors on America Ninja Warrior use to get over and across the obstacles on the course. In fact, Parkour is not only a great way to bring out your inner ninja, but also a great way to get some exercise. As a result, if you would really love to build up your strength, speed, endurance, and ultimately learn how to move in a more fluid fashion, the Parkour class at the Cummings School may be exactly what you’re looking for. For more information on the Parkour Class at the Cummings School and other Parkour classes throughout the country, please visit the Parkour Generations Americas website.

Finally, if you want to explore the roots of the ninja and learn a little more about the culture of the people that actually came up with the idea for the show, Ninja Warrior, the Japan Festival in Boston is here to help. The Japan Festival in Boston, which runs from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Saturday (June 7, 2014) as part of the Cambridge Arts River Festival, is a cultural fair that features Japanese artwork, clothing, food, jewelry, toys, and more. For more information on the Japan Festival in Boston, please visit the Japan Festival in Boston website.

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