Don’t touch

What is it: “Thorny Bowl.” Bronze bowl with a base of porcupine quills. 5 in. wide, 3 in. tall. Price: $395.

Who makes it: Joy Raskin, Concord, New Hampshire. “I’m fascinated by porcupines,” says Raskin, “and their quills are quite challenging. Making the porcupine bowl was a different step for me. The longer quills add drama, which is what I was going for.”

Why we love it: The play between the lustrous, new-penny glow of the copper bowl and the organic wreath of spikes it’s nestled in. Use it to present something with the same unexpected dichotomy, like cayenne chocolates or fleur de sel caramels.

Metro Pendant. Photo courtesy of Vermont Modern

Hang it up

What is it: Metro pendant. Adjustable from 37.5 to 42.4 in. long. Available in several finishes. Price: $1,050.

Who makes it: Vermont Modern, Castleton, Vermont. “It delivers a design impact that doesn’t overpower a space,” says Sean Ruck of Hubbardton Forge, the company behind the VM lighting line. “Depending on how the tubes of the pendant are adjusted, it’s possible to have a very visually intriguing piece that still allows for open lines of sight within a space.”

Why we love it: The chic, urban styling and mass-transit-map inspiration created in the land of green mountains and covered bridges. The ability to change up the look with a twist here, a turn there, or a different bulb style assuages our design commitment issues.

Schon DSGN Pens. Photo by John Polak

Write tastefully

What is it: Schon DSGN Pens, Classic Collection. 4 in. long when closed, 5.75 in. long with cap posted on the back. Price: $58–$178.

Who makes it: Ian Schon of Schon DSGN, Boston, Massachusetts. “Materials like leather wear in, rather than out,” says Schon. “I think the raw metals used in these pens have a similar effect of wearing in, making them reflect the amount of use and care that one would have for an object that travels with you all the time.”

Why we love it: A sleek, modern addition to our bordering-on-obsessive collection of beautiful writing supplies. The varying weights of the metals—from 1 oz. for aluminum to 3.3 oz. for bronze—create different writing experiences for the user.

Joy Raskin – Silversmith
Concord, New Hampshire
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Vermont Modern – Lighting
Castleton, Vermont
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Schon DSGN – Pen Makers
Boston, Massachusetts
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Top Image: Thorny Bowl by Joy Raskin | Photo by John Polak

The post Take It Home: Sleek, Spiny, Shiny appeared first on Take Magazine.

Self-described literary wet nurse Miette Gillette is one of our belletristic crushes. Whiskey Tit publishes books no-one else will, with titles like, Kinderrinder, I, No Other, and The Man Who Can’t Die, which we can’t get enough of. When we decided to do a Five Questions With…, our series on interesting New Englanders, Miette was an immediate, must-involve choice.

Take: When did you know you were a New Englander?
Miette Gillette: Transplant from NYC. I’m still not sure I’m a New Englander, though last summer I was attempting to inseminate our sow, and couldn’t get the cap off of the bag of pig semen. I didn’t have a free hand, and the pig was getting excited, so in a pinch I used my teeth to remove the cap, and got more of a taste than I’d ever like to admit. Is that a New England thing?

T: What one word would you use to describe New Englanders?
MG: Subarued

T: Favorite New England-based artists?
MG: Yannick Murphy and Carolyn Chute are both doing vital, astonishing work in American letters. Stylistically they’re diametric opposites: the literary equivalent of working in NYC interactive agencies, then retiring to inseminate pigs in Vermont. But both women capture very thin slices of New England culture in ways that nobody else in the country is capable of.

T: What’s your favorite bizarre, historical, or quirky piece of New England trivia?
MG: There’s a law against bringing elephants into the state of Vermont. Given the current collection of beasts roaming on my land, this is a law that’s definitely looking out for my interests.

T: What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen while driving in New England?
MG: I’ve seen about all the things one might see on Vermont Driving Bingo: skunks chasing moose, naked families happily hitchhiking, ducks stopping to drop an egg. When we first moved to the area, we were renting the last house on a dead-end road. The road apparently had not always been a dead-end; a bridge had gotten washed out years prior, and the town had decided not to fix it. But GPS systems still had the road intact on their maps, and had that road marked as the fastest route from Sugarbush ski resort to Boston. Every Sunday night in the wintertime, without fail, a car would be barreling down the road and smash directly into the snow bank in front of our house. So the funniest thing many weekend skiers had probably seen in Vermont were two beleaguered city transplants, hopping out of bed at midnight often in boots and coats but nothing underneath, patiently towing them out of the snow bank and turning them around. Notice: Heed the Dead End signs!

Bonus Questions:

T: What’s pissing you off today?
MG: The same thing that’s been pissing me off pervasively since January 20.

T: Dog or cat?
MG: Well, just today the Dog gave my daughter’s favorite stuffy a rhinectomy, and the cat vomited mouse guts all over the proof of a new book I’m debuting in two weeks’ time. So, both?

The post 5 Questions with. . .Miette Gillette appeared first on Take Magazine.

Take friends and neighbors Boon and Caro Sheridan invited us to a unique house party the other night. The couple’s 19th-century church in Holyoke, Massachusetts has been their home for a couple of years but this week they hosted their first house concert. As expected, it was not just any concert. They went all in with one of their all-time favorites, David J of Bauhaus and Love and Rockets fame. “Great music, amazing company, and one hell of a night,” Boon summed up.

The interior of the Sheridans’ space is configured so that a small landing towards the original pulpit area can be seen from almost anywhere in the building. No longer a traditional nave, it had enough seating for the crowd of 20 or so invited guests. Folks were also encouraged to watch from the lofted areas and stairs. And the sound? Just amazing. The high ceilings and expansive space make this an ideal spot to play music.

David J is out and about on tour now in support of his latest release, the double LP, Vagabond Songs. While he has booked traditional venues, David is enamored with the living room shows. “About five years ago, it was the star prize in a kick-starter campaign to raise funds to produce an album and we ended up in a kitchenette in Los Angeles,” he says of these intimate gatherings. “There were about 20 people and I had such a great night and something clicked that night with me and I just thought, ‘This is a new model, this is great,’” he says. ‘I love this sense of community and it’s familial and connected and intimate and focused. So that was the start.”

David J brought along musician Ali Jafri from the band Ariel out of Canada, who added percussion, vocals, and a little sitar to a few of the songs. The set included a number of new works with a smattering of covers and earlier pieces. A standout was “The Day that David Bowie Died,” an intimate and relatable tribute. “That’s a deep one,” says David. “For me that’s very deep.” Vagabond will soon be released digitally. For now it’s only available as an LP. “Vinyl release only,” says Davis. “The label, Last Hurrah Records based in San Diego, they’re kinda purists about it. They do really high-quality vinyl and high-quality art work. Once you’ve sold out the vinyl, I’m at liberty to make it available as a download.”

Boon and Caro are looking forward to hosting more artists. They were inspired to host by the building itself. “We’re living in a church. We have a space that can accommodate 25-40 people without even blinking,” says Boon. “The sound is perfect, the space is perfect.” The performer was also perfect. Connecting with the charming, talented, and gracious David J with his gothic background and his current Vagabond stories to ramble through and sing in the sanctuary was a stroke of genius. Do we end with a poignant and beautifully executed Knocking on Heaven‘s door? Of course we do.

David J – singer/songwriter
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Images by Ali Jafri

The post The Sheridans’ Sermon Series appeared first on Take Magazine.

Rob ‘REACT’ Larsen is a graffiti expert. He’s been doing graffiti himself since the ’80s with his works regularly featured alongside some of the biggest names in the genre. He’s also taught it, written about it, and photographed it—all over the world.

Larsen also takes people on public and private graffiti walking tours in and around Boston. “Public tours started last year, around this time. I had been developing some private tours, different itineraries, and I realized I could probably handle a few people so I decided to just list it on Eventbrite and see how it went,” he says. “I’ve been doing it every couple of weeks every since.” The tours kick off nearly every week and Larsen keeps the routes fresh and ever-changing, like the nature of the work itself. “I switch it up now that I have a couple of different itineraries,” he says. “I try and do the main street art and graffiti tour every couple of weeks.”

Trackside, uploaded by Rob Larsen on June 18, 2017

The street art and graffiti tour is a three-mile walk that takes three hours and focuses on street art for the first half and graffiti in the second half. The groups range in size from 12-16 people. Larsen also offers something more along the lines of a discovery tour. “I do a tour that replicates what I do when I go out and take photographs, just looking at what is up,” he says. “A straight graffiti tour, we walk through JP (Jamaica Plain), I just focus on whatever’s out there. Half of that includes a bunch of illegal stuff that can change from week to week, which is actually pretty interesting for me and people get to see me be surprised. The second half is legal walls, commissioned pieces with the owner’s permission.” This tour is usually two hours.

E-Violence, uploaded by Rob Larsen on July 11, 2017

Larsen puts his itineraries together about a month before the actual tour dates and is constantly thinking of new ideas and areas to share with people. He’s working on a short run for Somerville due to debut at the end of August. “It’s around Union Square because there’s some interesting stuff around there.” He also hopes to launch a public art tour this fall, that would focus on public art around the Boston Common, Public Garden, and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

This past winter, Larsen completed his book, You Can’t Win, which documents his eye for graffiti, tags, and murals with an international collection of his own photographic images. Larsen’s commentary on each of the images is an ode to the form he so loves. And the title? “It’s an open-ended phrase, it’s a little bit about the fact that this is all ephemeral,” he says. “It’s also just a nihilistic graffiti sort of attitude—you’re up against society, and you can’t win but you might as well try because what else are you going to do.”

Rob Larsen–graffiti/street art tour guide, illustrator
Boston, Massachusetts
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Images courtesy of Rob Larsen

The post Boston’s Graffiti Tour Guide appeared first on Take Magazine.

An impressive lineup of vintage gear and raw talent thrusts this western Massachusetts band’s third album, Let’s Do Lunch, into the 21st century. Comprised entirely of songs tracked with vintage equipment on a Tascam 4-Track cassette recorder (remember those?!), they manage to sound new and familiar at the same time—but there’s no denying the modern, indie-pop DNA. “This record is different for us,” explains keyboardist Gabe Bernini, “because while recording we used such limited technology that we were able to be much more productive. Without the luxury of having endless recording options, we found that we really like the sound that comes out of us just playing together as a band. Most of the record is made up of second and third takes that were recorded in the same sitting as the writing.” With no place to hide amidst an analog backbone, their expertly performed musicianship is front and center. “I Love You I Love You” is a standout, as is “Scrapsy.”

LuxDeluxe imports many of music’s most popular roots and those influences are interpreted cleanly. Far from sounding dated, the warm sound has a contemporary, catchy vibe and rock quality. The drums are a real standout, crashing and crunching along the rich vocals, spot-on harmonies, and smart lyrics, all woven through some serious musical talent. A bright sounding Clavinet keyed by Gabe Bernini pings fluidly alongside solid guitar chops by Caleb Rosazza, and a steadfast bass line courtesy of Jacob Rosazza.

LuxDeluxe live

The your-in-the-room feel to the album is replicated in energetic live performances; this band puts on an extraordinarily fun show. “New England is a great place to be a touring band,” says Bernini. “Our touring strategy for the past year has been to stop touring all the way to Colorado and back and instead keep hitting cool music cities that are closer to us, more often. We’ve been playing Boston, New York City, Burlington, Philly, Washington DC, and other close-by cities over and over to build our audience, which has been a really great way to make fans and keep them busy!” Fronted by dynamic showman Ned King, LuxDeluxe is engaged and polished like only a band that’s played together for ages can be. Come prepared to participate and dance your ass off, because this is a band having a good time. Catch them on their upcoming tour with a swing through some of New York’s finest joints, finally landing in New England with a Massachusetts gig at Festival at the Farm in Canton.

LuxDeluxe is: Ned King – vocals, Jacob Rosazza – bass, Caleb Rosazza – guitar, Gabe Bernini – keys, Jake Edwards – drums
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The post LuxDeluxe Delivers appeared first on Take Magazine.

It seems as if podcasts are having yet another moment with the staggering success of S-Town, another home-run from the Serial and This American Life crew (hosted by Connecticut’s own Brian Reed). With that in mind, we decided to take a look in our backyard for podcast stories and discussions made right here in New England. We’re sure you won’t be surprised that they lean cerebral, a little off-kilter, and often outright hilarious. Perfect for that morning commute or afternoon run, podcasts are a great way to deep-dive into a topic or theme, as they are usually more intimate and deliberate than the usual radio show.

Connecticut Podcasts:
Literary Disco
Writers and readers Rider Strong and Tod Goldberg of Southern California, and Connecticut’s Julia Pistell, join up from their respective coasts to rehash and review works from long ago and today. Shrewd and funny, they tackle literature that ranges from Sweet Valley High to Ayn Rand. Their summer reading list and “best of” shows are a don’t-miss.
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Massachusetts Podcasts:
Lore
Aaron Mahnke is the creator behind the huge hit Lore, and this two-years-and-counting, insanely popular podcast of everything terrifying, creepy, and supernatural continues to grow. Expect solidly produced, researched, and riveting tales of fact-based myth-origin pieces exploring topics such as where werewolves come from. Sometime later this year, Lore is coming a screen near you with help from the producers of The Walking Dead.
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Judge John Hodgman
This is a weekly podcast where John Hodgman, yes that John Hodgman, listens to real life disputes on sometimes insignificant issues. It’s where your internal shower thoughts get discussed with signature brilliant nuance and deadpan delivery. We’re all a little judgy; Hodgman owns it. Tune in to find out if chili is a soup or a stew.
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The Rap Scholars
This recently launched ‘cast, produced and hosted by “black-ademic/rap-ademic” Nasir Marumo and DJ Alfred Kimani, delves in the culture of contemporary rap and its influence on culture around us. Listen for ‘caviar’ rap explanations and the intersection of black culture, trends, and criticism.
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15 Minutes
Host Jamie Berger conducts short, sharp interviews with artists, musicians, and writers in his Massachusetts circle of friends about what fame means to them. Listen for an authentic and intimate quick-shot of meaningful conversation.
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Maine Podcasts:
What’s with You? Scooby Doo!
Host ‘nic’ brings his eclectic group of Maine friends and fans to the studio and the stage to discuss life, drinking, and pop culture—all facilitated by a viewing of that crime fighting dog and his meddling kids’ crew. It’s as off the wall as it sounds. Gives good ear.
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New Hampshire Podcasts:
Sci-Fi Saturday Night
An out-of-this-world group of friends and nerds gather around the microphone to discuss—and argue—the finer points of science fiction media. Horror, time travel, aliens, and the undead are all on the agenda. The news of the day about the latest books, movies, television, upcoming cons, and graphic novels are discussed as well as other stuff these super nerds are into. They seem to have a connection to everything, and their finger on the pulse—if zombies had pulses.
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Rhode Island Podcasts:
Terrifyingly Beautiful
David Robert and Kevin O’Connell drink and discuss their anxieties, and instead of rolling your eyes, you’ll find yourself screaming, “same!” and “me too!” Food, unearthly travel, your favorite childhood toys—everything is treated with extreme suspicion, to hilarious effect.
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Vermont Podcasts:
Rumble Strip
Host Erica Heilman meets and gets to know Vermonters and Vermonty places, and wrangles poignant stories of everyday life that are unique and infinitely relatable from her subjects. Her in-depth profiles have garnered her fans around the world.
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The post Thanks for Listening: Quirky New England Podcasts We Think You’ll Love appeared first on Take Magazine.

Curious about what it might be like to live in a smart home? Fascinated by wearable art? Interested in architecture and the future of design? Boston Design Week 2017 has something for everyone interested in exploring how design infuses our lives.

Actually 12 days long, Boston Design Week 2017 is in year four. Last year’s event had more than 70 participants, in 84 different events, in nine Boston neighborhoods, and 10 cities and towns in the greater Boston area. The intent of the “week”—March 29th-April 9th this year—is to explore and illustrate the vital role design plays in our lives.

Image from Coded Couture | Curated by Judith Hoos Fox

Tony Fusco, whose company, Fusco & Four/Ventures, LLC  Boston, is co-producing the event, says New England offers a unique design perspective. “I think there is a very interesting dichotomy going on in the world of design in New England,” he says. “On the one hand, we see an increasing number of artisans and craftspeople who are focused on creating individual works, fashion, furniture, and other design and decorative arts with a handmade aesthetic. Not only are we seeing a strong increase in custom-made design, but also, increasingly, that design is being done fully cognizant of the impact on the environment, sustainable or renewable resources, and the desire to create and do no harm.”

The well-conceived schedule of Boston Design Week 2017 is in keeping with the theme of form and function. The daily calendar makes planning your visit(s) easy. A few events that caught our eye include the four Kick-Off events on March 29th, one each in Back Bay, Fort Point, South End, and Metro West. The Fort Point Channel kick-off event features the non-profit Artists for Humanity hosting an open studio, showcasing the works of art and design by the teenagers hired to work in the design profession in their much-lauded organization.

10th Anniversary AD20/21: Art & Design of the 20th and 21st Centuries and the Boston Print Fair

The design-intensive week sticks the landing with AD20/21: Art & Design of the 20th & 21st Centuries and The Boston Print Fair held at The Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts, a ticketed gala to celebrate Boston Design Week and benefit Design Museum Boston. This curated show will feature nearly 50 vanguards in the fields of modern to contemporary fine art and design. Jonathan Leo Fairbanks, director of the contemporary Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts, will be honored as the 2017 Lifetime Achievement recipient. Down in Rockland at the Roomscapes Cabinetry and Design Center’s massive showroom, you can pair wine with chocolate as you cruise their high-quality interiors and dream about the perfect kitchen on April 3rd, 4:00-7:30 PM. They’ve also partnered with Brenda Taylor, art curator and consultant for Liquid Art House, with a gallery of her picks. Event is free, but an RSVP is requested.

Boston Design Week – art and design show and events
Boston, Massachusetts
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Top image – Builder: FBN Construction | Architect: David Mullen

The post Boston Design Week 2017: Living by Design appeared first on Take Magazine.

“We focus on one thing, and always keep our eye on it: people who like stuff that tastes good.” It’s such a simple statement from Drink Craft Beer co-founder Jeff Wharton, but it sums up the company’s ethos perfectly. Fort Point tech workers and family guys Wharton and Devon Regan started the company in 2006, “as a blog to provide more accessible access to craft beer culture and knowledge for the folks that didn’t want to use a forum. It’s more for the craft beer curious, versus the uber enthusiast.”

Boston Beer & Cheese Fest, 2016 | Image courtesy Drink Craft Beer

The website created was, and still is, an active and informative place to find some of their favorite beer-of-the-month clubs, beer-centric savory recipes, homebrewing tips, and local craft beer news and events. The word ‘pairings’ is used in many ways: with beer, with friends, with food, and with a great vibe. “Sharing great beer and great food with great friends, you can’t help but have a good time,” says Wharton. “But we’ve always wanted to make the point that friends and being social should come ahead of the beer and food.” It was the focus on the social aspect that led them to create their first pairing event with Taza Chocolate in 2008;  it was, to put it mildly, wildly successful. “We expected 50 people to show up,” explains Wharton, “and 300 waited in line for a couple samples of beer and chocolate paired together.”

Fast-forward a few years, and the two now produce three popular beer festivals in Boston annually: Boston Beer & Cheese, Boston Beer & BBQ, and Boston Beer & Sweets. Coming up on March 10th & 11th at the Cyclorama in the South End (you may be able to snag one of a handful of tickets still available, if you’re lucky) is the Cheese companion event: over 80 New England craft beers and ciders from 25 different breweries, with unlimited samples of cheese from 10 New England creameries. Savor your oatmeal stout with a sharp Vermont cheddar, try a hopped-up IPA to cut through gorgonzola, pair a yeasty Hefeweizen with some soft, tangy goat cheese, or customize your own combo—no food rules apply. You’ll even come across some non-cheesy nibbles while you’re there to test out as well. The self-explanatory Boston Beer & BBQ is coming up in July, and the Boston Beer & Sweets Fest, featuring fancy truffles, specialty donuts, cookies, and ice cream for beer floats, will be scheduled for later this year.

Boston Beer & Cheese Fest, 2016 | Image courtesy Drink Craft Bee

It’s an excellent environment for tasty food and drink, knowledgeable vendors, and a fun crowd. “We saw a lot of the hyper-enthusiasts creating spaces on these internet forums that turned off casual beer drinkers,” states Wharton. “We wanted to be the opposite. So, from the beginning, we focused on tasting experiences, recommendations versus reviews, locality, and food. Brewers tell us they see increased sales and traffic to their tap rooms after our events, and people tell them they discovered their beer at a Drink Craft Beer event. This all means so much to us, because the goal has always been to help people learn about great food and drink in their backyards, get them out socially to learn this stuff, and help to bolster local companies. And it seems like it’s working.”

Drink Craft Beer – co-founders, Devon Regan and Jeff Wharton
Boston, Massachusetts
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Top image Boston Beer & Cheese Fest, 2016 | Image courtesy Drink Craft Beer

The post Quite a Pair: Boston Beer & Cheese Fest appeared first on Take Magazine.

The J Schatz studio, listed on the national register of historic places, was originally the dye house for the Weybosset Mills in Olneyville, Rhode Island—a neighborhood of Providence mentioned over and over again in conjunction with things that are new, interesting, and just plain cool happening in PVD. Jim Schatz and Peter Souza of the J Schatz design and ceramics studio are major contributing representatives.

The two met in Florida three years ago, and later moved Schatz’s studio from Upstate NY to Los Angeles. But, as Souza remarks, “We felt really isolated in the city, so we took a trek last October and we scoured New England and the Berkshires looking for a community to be a part of. We fell in love with Providence; we found this gorgeous building that we were able to work and live in.” It is an ideal spot for them, with the roots they’ve put down, and are expanding upon, exhibiting their commitment to the area. The 160-foot long tunnel of a brick building houses two live-in suites on one end, their production studio in the middle, and their own apartment in the back. A continuous line of dormer windows along the top stream in natural light.

“We found a really great community here of artists and designers and folks that really welcomed us,” affirms Schatz. “We found a nice place to be.”

J Schatz studio | Photo by J Schatz

All work happens on site. Schatz started his ceramics career with the Star Egg Nightlights that project astral spots of light into a room, and then kept moving that ovoid shape forward through his work. It shows up in the company’s outdoor products of polished, modern, and colorful bird houses and feeders. The lighting line features table lamps, pendants, and uplights, all made of high-quality materials: glossy, brightly colored ceramics and rough, metallic, urban stoneware. The Porcelana Uplights are a standout, translucent porcelain cylinders with a glossy interior that throws the warmest tones of pink or orange.

Form following function is evident in all of the J Schatz products. Everything is beautiful to look at and touch, but these are real usable products, down to the brutalist coffee maker. “That happened because there was a Chemex coffee maker in our studio that kept breaking,” says Schatz of the origin of that design. “This is before I met Peter. His first visit to the studio he’s like, ‘What’s that?’, and I said, ‘It’s this coffee maker that I made because I was so frustrated with the Chemex breaking.’ And he said, ‘This is something we should be making.’ It looks crudely made, but it’s actually very ergonomic and nice to use. It’s now a production piece.” The dark, craggy look of the set is precisely what everyone’s morning cup of coffee should look like.

Brutal Coffeemaker | Photo by J Schatz

The two have recently purchased yet more property in the neighborhood for their Airbnb stock: a cottage with a terrific view and outside space. It will get the full J Schatz makeover, everything from tableware to room dividers, to vases and bird baths. “We’re putting the finishing touches on two more rooms and we’ve outfitted it completely in J Schatz custom work and new pieces,” explains Schatz. “And we’re going to have a yard and a garden, too.” Expect more outdoor work and housewares from them in the coming season. “Peter and I have a vision that complements each other,” Schatz says. Souza agrees. “We’ve integrated our products into environments that other people can share.” It’s a real treat to be able to live among a design team’s work, and the environments that J Schatz creates are a treat indeed.

Porcelana Uplights | Photo by J Schatz

J Schatz – James Schatz and Peter Souza, principals
Providence, Rhode Island
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Top photo J Schatz exterior | Photo by J Schatz

The post Community of Design appeared first on Take Magazine.

Artist and sculptor Sally B. Moore held a large, glorious, kinetic white bird high above the crowd. Its sign read, “When they go low, we go high,” and was a natural leader and point of reference, with throngs of people following it to the main stage—its wings gracefully arcing up and down and moving everyone forward.

Anya Vedmid and Scott Murry caught our eye as well, their yellow yelling tiger signs urging us to “Grab Back.” The group had spent the night before supporting women’s rights organizations by planning a fundraising art show at the Hatch Fenway. Vedmid and Murry’s signs were a standout; they’d also made some t-shirts and buttons. We talked about how people are getting excited about organizing, and finding creative ways to speak out. There will be more to come from The Grab Back as they start to #TakeAction.

Women’s March for America 2017, Boston | The Grab Back | Photograph by Henry Amistadi

It got crowded quickly. A press of people, but never oppressive or scary. Photographer Henry Amistadi and I positioned ourselves near the march’s Charles Street entrance, where he scrambled onto a granite post for a better view. We could see people pouring into the Common from all directions. Small talk came naturally and easily. Two older women had worn their mother’s coats along with their pussy hats. There was music—a New Orleans-style jazz band and an out-of-time tambourine—and many, many compliments in the air about people’s signs, pins, hats, and t-shirts. A tremendous feeling of camaraderie. I heard the words “This is amazing” over and over again.

Women’s March for America 2017, Boston | Photograph by Henry Amistadi

At some point a huge, homemade, multicolored balloon with the words “Rise Up” was bounced atop the crowd—a big hit on that unseasonably warm and cloudless day. Most agreed that we were ready to continue to be fired up, to protest and speak out about our “new normal.” I did see one unhappy group: inexplicably, four people with grumpy faces squirmed their way through the crowd in the opposite direction, mumbling “Freedom Trail” as they squeezed by. Tourists. I still don’t understand how they managed to do that.

There was lots of friendly banter, talk of this being the most hopeful we’d felt in weeks. Lots of chatter about us just getting started. By 2pm, people were ready to march, needed to get moving; we stood up against the iron fence and watched sign after magnificent, hilarious, poignant, emotional sign walk by and down the street. The public garden was especially beautiful, with groups of protesters dotted across the grass.

Women’s March for America 2017, Boston | Photograph by Henry Amistadi

The fight is on, the struggle is real. But with this crew, we’ll win. It felt like a perfect amount of people coming together, like all of my friends were there.

And they’re all your friends, too.

Photos by Henry Amistadi

The post #TakeAction – Come Together appeared first on Take Magazine.