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Phoebe Sinclair Writes

Phoebe Sinclair Writes

Tag Archives: jamaica-plain

What Is It: Plush Car Mustasche

04 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in What Is It

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Tags

friday-favorite, jamaica-plain, transportation

Brown plush mustache on car

Although I’ve since learned what these are, I react with curiosity and amusement whenever I see one. Particularly the pink mustaches.

Mustache car

What Is It: Fuzzy Orb at Jamaica Pond

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in What Is It

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jamaica-plain

And this thing is . . . ?

Wierd fuzzy thing at Jamaica Pond

Size of a large stone. Spotted on the beach at Jamaica Pond where community members often fish wearing waders. We had some guesses, but you tell me!

Hiking Madame Sherri Forest

01 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

jamaica-plain, spring, trees

IMG_5900

You know how they say books open doors to new worlds? It’s true.

Walking the ruins

Two different socks - sitting on top of the ruins

My partner and I frequent our local branch of the Boston Public Library, twice having borrowed a copy of The New Hiking the Monadnock Region: 44 Nature Walks and Day-Hikes in the Heart of New England and renewed it generously. Long title, many trails at various levels of difficulty.

David through the arch

Consulting the gude to hikes
Following our guide (what? you don’t travel out-of-state with library books?), we visited the stone ruins of a mansion built in the early 1920s by an eccentric theater costume designer, several beaver lodges (sadly, none of the occupants sighted) and many chewed trees that hadn’t toppled in the desired direction, and delicate amphibians decked out in bright orange or careful, mottled brown.

Beaver lodge

Orange amphibian

Mottled leaf floats on the water

Our hike was easy-level and included many reaches into the giant-bag-o-trailmix, so I didn’t work up the level of appetite I might have. Still, I was happy to chow at Putney Diner, a spot famous for its homestyle pies.

Finally, we stopped by Brattleboro, where I introduced David to the one area of Vermont I know fairly well, having visited with my mother and on numerous occasions with friends.

Welcome sign in pocket park

Gardens on the Main Street

Brattleboro Food Co-op outdoor eating area

Boston Pride Parade 2013

24 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Boston Moments, Community

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

color, community, events, jamaica-plain, photography, spring

Man in leather underpants

My first Boston Pride Parade was a revelation. Leather clad ladies on motorcycles. Gyrating men in their underpants dancing to club beats. A politician or two shaking hands while proclaiming progressive platforms. Local health and advocacy groups tossing beads and colorfully packaged condoms, littering the streets with flyers and candy.

I was mesmerized. I was amazed. I’ve gone back again and again.

"Dyke" on rainbow pedal bike

Pride street signs

"Queen" wearing ladybug hat

In the decade or so that I’ve attended (and once, marched with Greater Boston NOW,) the parade has changed. Perhaps matured? Strong in its themes of inclusivity, celebration, activism, and pride, there have been -over the years- a noticeable reduction in near-nude men festooning flatbed trucks and an increase in religious communities, families, politicians, and corporate allies.

Fish-man in tractor with pride wheel

I don’t know. You tell me.

Boy on unicycle handing out fans

Weekly DIG newsletter box monkey costume

Even though I don’t identify as gay, lesbian, queer, or transgender, I’m never the odd person out at Pride, whatever it’s current styling. Which is more than I can say for a certain high school history class where I slumped, hot-faced and confused, as my teacher rattled on about how gays couldn’t serve in the military because they were too limp-wristed and lisping. (Way to disrespect our service members, Mr. Name-I-Can’t-Recall.)

Roller derby lady

Boston Ballet represents at Pride

I’m so grateful to my alma mater for helping to release me from the tight hold of an inherited prejudice. My four years at an arts and communication college in Boston were a key folding back a metal lid, out from which exploded a beautiful confetti.

Walkers appreciating out-going Mayor Thomas Menino

Walkers appreciate out-going Mayor Thomas Menino, long-time a friend to Boston Pride

Blessed are the fabulous car

Pride Asian fans

And thank goodness.

What Is It: Fat Frog Ice Cream

14 Friday Jun 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Boston Moments, What Is It

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

jamaica-plain

Spotted this near the Johnson Playground in Jamaica Plain. Our first thought: Fat Frog Ice Cream.

Fat frog ice cream

What do you think?

JP Spring Roll Bike Ride

22 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Bike Life

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bike-love, events, jamaica-plain

Annually since we’ve lived in Jamaica Plain, my partner and I have enjoyed taking part in the JP Spring Roll bike ride organized by our local culture and advocacy group, JP Bikes.

Littles getting ready to ride

This year, it rained pre-ride so a lot of folks didn’t come out. David and I had the curious experience of being outnumbered by family groups, toting or accompanied by little ‘uns.

Police officer provides the "cork" for JP Spring Roll

We stood out: kidless in the community bike parade. I was also without a bike bell with which to ring in cheers from spectators along the route. Next year I will have to address one of those issues! ;^) (And by that I mean, the bell.)

Post bike jaunt around the tennis court

Over exposed shot of young riders

Overexposed, but I kind of like it!

Welcoming Spring at Wake Up The Earth

13 Monday May 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Community, With Friends

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community, events, jamaica-plain, spring

I appreciate how, when taking part in something annually, you can be awarded opportunities to meet that activity/event anew.

Friends carry a float at Wake Up The Earth

This year, we watched the Wake Up the Earth parade from what we thought was the middle of the route (later, we learned differently.) My partner sipped his coffee and I fiddled with my camera, trying to appear invisible to an intensely compelling group of children-on-stilts and their cheerful parents. The tall crew had gathered and were waiting to join the parade from the end of Paul Gore Street, right in front of the Connelly Branch of the Boston Public Library.

Kids on stilts wait for the parade

Stilt walker boy practices with pink flamingo puppet

We heard the drums first. Then the kids, most of whom had been walking in place so as to be prepared to join mid-stride, struck out.

Participants announce the parade with Wake Up The Earth signs

Kids on stilts join the parade!

My partner and I didn’t see it, but apparently this was repeated further along the route as three separate parades -each originating from and representing different neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain and Roxbury– merged into one then continued together down Lamartine Street, landing finally at the festival.

Woman and man hoola-hoop in parade

Baby dressed as flower with her dad

The Dudley Square contingent hoist banners

Littlest cheerleeders

Young martial artists demonstrate their form

Littlest stilt-walker with his mom

{This Moment} Wooly Bear Hair Day

10 Friday May 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Boston Moments

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

jamaica-plain, spring, this-moment

Wooly bear hair day

With Soulemama.

Dispatches from Ladies Rock Camp Boston – April 2013

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Boston Moments, Community, Learnin'

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

arts, community, events, family, jamaica-plain

Some stories are so good, a person trips over herself trying to tell them. How to begin?

Hilken and Nora kick off Lady's Rock Camp

With my mother and her newly acquired electric keyboard? How she surprised me with an affirmative to my inquiry, asked slightly in jest: hey, Ma, want to do Ladies Rock Camp with me this spring?

With the brief essays we wrote for our applications, mining our memories for favorite musicians and artistic influences (me: Stevie Wonder; mom: Yanni.)

Sly Juice on the keys during dress rehearsal

With my learned love of alternate learning opportunities? Like libraries. Like volunteering. Like skillshare.

With forty-plus women, in support of girls, signed up for a three-day rock and roll bootcamp? With Girls Rock Campaign Boston, bursting on the scene in 2010, educating girls ages eight to seventeen in the ways of music and self-empowerment.

Lady's Rock Camp opening circle

The story, on paper or on screen, holds more than I can give words to. More nerve. More verve. More vulnerabilities. More inspiration. More risk-taking. More generosity. More skill. More dancing. More surprises. More support.

Disco ball

Song writing workshop

Guitars

Dance party - first night

Dance party with DJ Sit N Spin

Band coaches

Screen printing band t-shirts

Maids of Mayhem in band practice

First time on stage

Phoebe on vocals, Tonya on guitar

Getting prepared for band photo shoot

So I’m not going to attempt to tell this tale linear. Here are some impressions. Here are some photos. Here is a challenge for you to sign yourself up (or your daughter, your sister, your mother, your friend), and find out. Tell your own story.

Maids of Mayhem on stage at T.T. the Bears Cambridge

However this thing begins, you can be sure it ends with gratitude.

Oh. And a video. Rocking out to Maids of Mayhem!

LRC Maids of Mayhem 4-2013 from Phoebe Sinclair on Vimeo.

{This Moment} Early Signs of Spring

29 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Boston Moments

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Tags

jamaica-plain, spring, this-moment, trees

IMG_4622

-With Soulemama–

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