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3 episodes with Newbury Street
Celtics vs Knicks game 6 in New York tonight. Red Sox vs the Braves at Fenway all weekend. Both sides of the Karen Read trial are arguing over new evidence which could lead to a delay. Boston police are looking for a suspect who stole close to $20,000 worth of sunglasses from the Sunglass Hut on Newbury Street. For the first time since 1982 transit service in New Jersey is at a standstill, train engineers have walked off.
"I've tried to take on that mindset for the last few years at these races, of, 'How do I show up as authentically as possible, as the Ali I know I am and want to be, while having fun, while being professional… What does that look like?' And I feel like I kind of nailed it this time around." There's nowhere I'd rather be on the third Monday in April than at the Boston Marathon finish line! This year, I was honored to be asked back to perform a variety of roles in Boston. I was one of the announcers at the Boston 5K, I hosted two panels and one live show, I was one of the race announcers at the finish on Marathon Monday, and I was the finish line reporter for the world feed broadcast. It was a fun, rewarding weekend that included quality time with my favorite people, my biggest live event ever, a million finish line hugs, a few too many after-parties, and so much more. SPONSORS: THE AJC PEACHTREE ROAD RACE: The lottery for this year's most famous Fourth of July 10K is now open. Enter today for your chance to run Atlanta's iconic race. Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. In this episode: Friday: the press conference, the Emma & Jess live show, the Shokz show, dinner at Saltie Girl (get the lobster roll!), a finish line dance party, and a New Balance party at Sweeney's (1:50) Saturday: the 5K, the New Balance show with Heather MacLean, and the marathon relay at The Track (22:30) Sunday: a windy long run, bottle decorating, a Newbury Street stroll, sound check, and a broadcast meeting (41:40) Marathon Monday: all the stories from the finish line, including friends' finishes, pro finishes, Paul Revere, Des's final Boston, and the after parties (54:20) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!
This is an edited version of an interview that was first heard in episode 60 in May 2020. The guest is Dave Waller, the owner of Graves Light in Boston Harbor. This is part one of two parts. Graves Light in June 2001, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont Dave Waller The ledges in outer Boston Harbor called the Graves – about 10 acres in all – have been home to a lighthouse since 1905. The 113-foot tower is made of granite, and a first-order Fresnel lens was installed in the lantern. After the light's automation in 1976, weather and vandalism took its toll. Under the guidelines of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, the lighthouse was sold in a government auction in September 2013 to businessman David Waller. Another partner for the preservation of Graves Light is the well-known Boston philanthropist Bobby Sager. Dave Waller owns a video special effects company headquartered on Newbury Street in Boston, and he also collects and restores old neon signs. He and his wife, Lynn, a graphic designer, live in a restored fire station in the Boston suburb of Malden.
Vivant Vintage Clothing celebrated the grand opening of its Newbury Street location over the weekend. WBZ's Emma Friedman reports.
It's day one of a long-awaited ceasefire deal in Gaza, TikTok says it is in the process of restoring service to American users, and an iconic t-shirt shop on Newbury Street is closing its doors. Stay in "The Loop" with #iHeartRadio.
In this episode, Light Watkins sits down with Johnny Earle, better known as Johnny Cupcakes, the creator of one of the most unique T-shirt brands in the world. What started as a high school nickname turned into a global phenomenon, known for its bakery-themed stores and limited-edition designs that spark joy and curiosity.Johnny shares how his entrepreneurial spirit began as a child, starting 16 small businesses before he turned 16. From selling candy and performing magic tricks to DJing in a metal band, Johnny's journey is anything but conventional. You'll hear how he turned a joke into a brand, selling T-shirts from his car before opening his first store on Boston's Newbury Street—a leap of faith that paid off in a big way.Listeners will gain insight into Johnny's creative approach to business, including his love for surprise and delight, the importance of storytelling, and how he creates unforgettable customer experiences. Johnny also opens up about the challenges of entrepreneurship, including building a brand with no investors, navigating personal grief, and balancing business with fatherhood.Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a creative thinker, or someone looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with actionable advice and heartwarming stories. Johnny's mantra, “Do more of what makes you happy,” is a reminder to find joy in the process, create with purpose, and build something truly one of a kind.Tune in to discover how Johnny turned his love of making people smile into a thriving business that inspires fans worldwide!Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!
Since the 1980's, demand has been growing for the comprehensive assistance that Women's Lunch Place on Newbury Street in Boston offers women experiencing homelessness. As more and more women find themselves without a place to call home, the day shelter opens its doors to offer a warm meal, clean clothes, a fresh shower, and much more. They're now asking for help to get some critical repairs done so they can keep offering this help for decades more. CEO Jennifer Hanlon Wigon joins Nichole on the show this week to talk about their mission and need.
Mayor Michelle Wu discussed the election, open Newbury Street in December and more.Trenni Casey discussed Trump hosting the World Cup & Olympics in 2026 and 2028.Corby Kummer on the failure of Q5, the fate of the farm bill, and a rise in alcoholism since the pandemic.CNN's John King on his exit polling interviews after the election
One of my besties, this is Alexandra's 3rd appearance on Bold Like Her. I am proud to have her on to share her latest endeavor, the opening of Petaloúda Salon! Her interest in the beauty industry began in high school. She worked for 16 years at a salon on Newbury Street, building long-lasting relationships before taking the leap to open Petaloúda. We chat about what it took to get to this place, finding the perfect location and team! As a friend, it's been an honor to watch as she brings her dream to life with not just this location but the community, environment and vibe that is felt by both clients and her team alike. Alexandra also just dropped a new product, Metamorphasis Hair Serum. Check out the website to find out more! petaloúda - Brookline, MA | Hair Salon
King Arthur Baking Company was founded in Boston in 1790 but now headquarters in Vermont. On Thursday, they opened a new pop-up store on Newbury Street. For more, ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio.
Let us know what you think about the showIn this episode, we review a great real estate opportunity with us on Newbury Street in Boston. This location is a real winner. It's incredibly cool and irreplaceable. When you think about prime locations, this one stands out.We're diving into a 24-unit mixed-use property, chatting about cap rates, retail rents, and why this spot is so special in Boston's real estate scene. So tune in for a great episode.Advertise with us by clicking here Do you love Real Estate Anonymous and want to see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our Youtube channel. Do you enjoy our content? Rate our show! Follow us on Twitter @RealEstateAnon Learnings about small business acquisitions and operations. For inquiries or suggestions, email us at media@girdley.com
A category three hurricane is approaching the south-east Caribbean. One person was stabbed last night in Downtown Boston over an attempt to steal a scooter. Beginning today, no cars are allowed on Newbury Street. Stay in "The Loop" with #iHeartRadio.
Open Newbury Street is a back for its eighth summer in Back Bay for thousands of people to gather and enjoy food, shopping, and dining.For more, ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio.
Juliette engages with the visionary Shellee Mendes to uncover the secrets of resilience and success in this episode. From humble beginnings to owning two esteemed salons on Newbury Street, Shellee shares her inspiring journey of overcoming adversities and making remarkable strides in the business and beauty industry.They explore Shellee's transformative decisions, from venturing into cosmetology to handling the unique challenges faced during economic downturns like the 9/11 aftermath and the pandemic. With an unmatched passion for networking and community involvement, Shellee also delves into the pivotal role these elements have played in her sustained success and influence.Episode Highlights:06:08 - The pandemic slowed us down business wise. I actually started my business after 9/11, but I did work on Newbury Street for 9/11, and things like that really slowed down business.10:05 - When someone comes to my salon, it's not just the style. I examine their hair, their scalp. Probably after 10 years of being here, I really became intrigued with the scalp, the follicles, and the bulb that the hair grows out of. And I realized sulfate shampoos that we are washing our hair with are not just damaging our hair. They're damaging our hair from the root, the follicles.10:59 - My vision for the future is to instill a little bit more education into hair and cosmetology schools. I feel that's important. I learned it after cosmetology school, but it's the reason why so many women, men, and especially women of color are losing their hair. So, I would love to see a stronger education in cosmetology schools.12:31 - I really feel that mentoring is extremely important. Sometimes we can be selfish and not want other people to get ahead, but, honestly, it comes from my heart. And what I do, I do it from my heart. And half the things I do, I don't even remember when people tell me. I'm like, "Oh, wow. Yeah. Okay." But when you do it from the heart, you're not counting how many people you've helped in the past.ContactConnect with JulietteLinkedInWebsiteJuliette's BooksConnect with ShelleeWebsite Salon Monét InstagramContact Salon Monét
A major new shopping plaza set to open at the western end of Newbury Street this summer. Ted Landsmark, director of the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University, Catherine Carlock, reporter for the Boston Globe, and Jeff Speck, partner at the city planning firm Speck Dempsey, join Radio Boston to discuss.
Made a decision this morning that changed the trajectory of my day for the better. Sharing about how you can do the same, and answering a listener question about how to find motivation in the mundane of the day to day. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Nike Boston Girls' Night on 4/12 (password: startingline) Nike Shakeout Run 4/13 Nike Cheer Zone 4/15 OFFERS BANDIT | Head on over to banditrunning.com and use code HURDLER15 to take 15% off your first order! Also, check out their pop-up in Boston, at 119 Newbury Street! AG1 | Head to DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hurdle/message
Didn't expect to cry talking about this one, but here we are. Talking about how it feels to aim high, be proud of myself despite the hurdles, and push forward during tough moments of comparison. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Nike Boston Girls' Night on 4/12 (password: startingline) Nike Shakeout Run 4/13 Nike Cheer Zone 4/15 OFFERS BANDIT | Head on over to banditrunning.com and use code HURDLER15 to take 15% off your first order! Also, check out their pop-up in Boston next week, at 119 Newbury Street! AG1 | Head to DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hurdle/message
Joanne Keith is the co-founder of Rooted In – a beautiful boutique dispensary located on the historic Newbury Street in Boston. Along with her husband, Brian Keith, and co-founders, Rokeya and Solmon Chowdhury, they are creating an inclusive Boston boutique cannabis experience at an establishment that provides a “safe space” for the canna-curious, is a sensational destination for all those who enjoy cannabis, and of course provides patrons with great products and knowledgeable staff. Joanne is currently focused on the strategic objectives for Rooted In, which include launching delivery and creating a customer experience area for special events. In addition to her work in cannabis, she is an advocate for equity as it relates to Black Maternal health and prides herself in giving back to her community and hopes to leave the world better than she found it.Before launching her canna entrepreneurship, Joanne worked in hospital finance and at an investment firm. She shares with Joyce the story of her canna journey, her work supporting her community and how it feels to be a canna mom. The Hemp Guitar Giveaway– check it out and please enter!Joyce has always wanted to be the Terry Gross of Cannabis – or maybe TCMS to be the Fresh Air of cannabis podcasting!And if you support our mission of crushing cannabis stigma, we encourage you to show that support through our Hemp Guitar campaign. We are asking for a gift of $18 – in the Jewish tradition that is symbolic of Chai – life – and as a thank you for your support your name will be entered into the Lamkin Guitar giveaway.Topics Discussed(1:10) Welcome(1:42) The Hemp Guitar Campaign(2:30) Viral Instagram Video(4:20) Bandit Rest in Peace(4:37) Elevate Jane Cat Toy(5:10) The Great Dechurching(9:15) Joanne Keith Intro(10:41) Canna Life Prior to Rooted In(13:14) Entry in MA Canna Market(14:15) Audio Intro(14:39) Rokeya Chowdhury(15:35) Roxbury, MA(18:55) George McGovern Presidential Run(19:05) Emerge MA(20:40) Finding Their Storefront(24:58) Sankofa(27:12) Maternal Health Work(28:34) Fresh Air Interview with Dr. Uché Blackstock(29:44) Canna Momming(32:45) School Moms(34:35) Helping Grandma(35:20) How Cannabis Helps Her(36:33) Loud and Quiet Cannabis(37:50) NECANN Boston(38:42) Newbury Street Activations!(40:50) Hopes and Surprises(43:22) Connect with Joanne and Shop Rooted InThe Canna Mom Show wants to thank:Josh Lamkin and Bella Jaffe for writing and performing TCMS theme music and Fortuna Design for creating TCMS website and Sugar Leaf Creative for marketing and social media.
What the hex?! Enter The Season of the Witch, with Z.G. Burnett, author, editor, menswear merchant, tastemaker, New England enthusiast, professional Instagram user, and more to be revealed! We talk about antiquing, the ubiquity of L.L. Bean, liking the old fashioned stuff, the heyday of GQ , When Levi's came to Newbury Street, and a cauldron more! This week, on Apocalypse Duds!Photos by Annie Minicuci @annieminicuciphotography on IG . Taken at @ladyfingerstealounge in Newburyport, Massachusetts.#podcast #tailoredclothing #ivystyle #tradstyle #madeinusa #menswear #style ##guerrillaclothingshow #newengland #stamfordct #menswear #mensstyle #mensfashion #wiwt #ootd #apocalypseduds #boston #greenday #gq #aughts
Episode 137 is our 2nd and final installment of our Boston Tribute and it features the legendary Edo. G and Jon Anik. We've got music from Special Teams, Guru, 7L & Esoteric, Mr. Lif, Maspyke, Akrobatik, Ripshop, Reks, Insight, Big Shug, Termanology, K.T., Porn Theatre Ushers and more. Plus special guests Edo. G and Jon Anik stop by to discuss all things Boston. Grab yourself a cannoli from Mike's Pastry, some chowda from Union Oyster House or a Fenway Frank. Hit up Newbury Street for some comics and a fresh tee out the oven from Johnny Cupcakes. Hop in the whip and take a ride from Roxbury to the Natick Mall bumpin' Life of a Kid in the Ghetto cuz this one's gonna special. TIP rock knots and got props like Norm Peterson. www.takeitpersonalradio.com Follow us on Instagram @takeitpersonalradio Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TakeItPersonal
Episode 136 was originally scheduled to be just one episode, but in typical Take It Personal fashion, it's now become a 2-part Boston Tribute. We've got music from MC Keithy E, The Gang Starr Posse, Sir Jake, T.D.S. Mob, Joint Ventures, Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, 7L & Esoteric, Insight, Krumbsnatcha, Big Shug, Termanology, Reks, Scientifik, Almighty RSO, Top Choice Clique, T-Max, L Da Headtoucha, Skitzofreniks, Slaine, Statik, and a very special tribute to Ed OG. Plus special guests Dart Adams and Esoteric of Czarface stop by to discuss all things Boston. Grab yourself a cannoli from Mike's Pastry, some chowda from Union Oyster House or a Fenway Frank. Hit up Newbury Street for some comics and a fresh tee out the oven from Johnny Cupcakes. Hop in the whip and take a ride from Roxbury to the Natick Mall bumpin' Life of a Kid in the Ghetto cuz this one's special. We've covered a lot of different regions and cities on Take It Personal, but it was long overdue we showed love to Beantown. Part 2 drops early December with special guests Edo G. and Jon Anik. TIP rock knots and got props like Norm Peterson. www.takeitpersonalradio.com Follow us on Instagram @takeitpersonalradio Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TakeItPersonal
The "Friends" inspired Central Perk Coffeehouse has opened at 205 Newbury Street, located between Exeter and Fairfield Street and we got to talk with the man who designed it... Glen Coben of Glen & Co Architecture.
Former President Donald Trump testifying today in his civil fraud trial. More violence in Lewiston Maine after a fatal shooting and a stand off with police over the weekend. The battle over smartphones coming to Boston's Newbury Street. Five minutes of news to keep you in “The Loop.”
Riding Shotgun With Charlie #180 The DCP Gals & GOAL On August 27, Gun Owners Action League hosted an event called The 2A Freedom Celebration. They pulled in some names you've seen on RSWC. Amanda Suffecool (#009), Holly Sullivan (#036), Jared Yanis (#051). And some locals like Toby Leary, (#143) Kerrie Ann Auclair (#139). We were able to film a show with a few of the local DCP gals, Moe Palmer & Bonnie Marshall. Mike Harris, Director of Public Policy, also joined us. Yeah… it was a car full of teal shirts! There were several folks that sent some love GOAL's way. Todd Eccles from Patriot Defense Podcast, Nikki Goeser, Michael Sodini, David Coy, Klint Macro, John Petrolino, and the closing video was Cam Edwards. Of course Jim Wallace spoke, Jon Green (#030 & #034), Mike & Angi gave away a couple rifles. And Garet & Jeff from the GOAL Podcast (#177) were there as well. It was really a great time. Lots of fun catching up with everyone. I've said for a long time, these kinds of events are family get-togethers. We gave everyone the hot shotgun seat for today's show. Starting with Kerrie Ann, she doesn't get into Boston often so she was excited to see so much. We talked about the Gun Law Listening Tour and how it turned into HD.4420. But she talked about going to one of the stops and speaking with a woman who said she knew she would be dead if she tried to use a gun against her domestic abuser. Kerrie Ann helped her re-think if she had a gun and some training, the gun could have been an equalizer. Mike Harris talked about his time working in the State House in Boston and learning the ropes there. But he also acted as a tour guide. He does know a bit of Boston history and how to get around BeanTown. Holly Sullivan took the next spotlight. She brought up that the GOAL event is the kind of event where the states need to get together and have a conversation about what is working and what isn't. This is one of the things she really wants to work on and connect state groups so we can be just as organized as the antis. Bonnie Marshall has only been shooting for a few years. She's become a Range Safety Officer and started helping Kerrie Ann with her other group, The Well Armed Woman. It was great to have Bonnie break out of her shell and join us for the fun adventure. Moe Palmer is also a local Quincy MA gal. She's also an RSO working with some local instructors to run the shooting line at live fire courses. Moe reached out to me a few years ago. We took a road trip to SIG Academy in 2022 when they opened. She's also a regular on the Patriot Defense Podcast with Todd Eccles. And our closer is Amanda Suffecool. DC Project Advisor. NRA BOD member. Host of Eye On The Target Radio. Instructor. And my conscience. Amanda was great at the event. She talked about how GOAL is winning even though it feels like we may not be all the time. She had a busy week. She was in Nashville on Monday with the DCP. She met with Shelley Hill from The Complete Combatant in Georgia. Then she headed to Boston for the weekend. The following week, she headed to Dallas for NRA BOD meetings. We stopped for selfies, got sidetracked, and saw some sights in Boston. Like Cheers, The Granary Burial Ground, The Old State House & where the Boston Massacre started. Kenmore Square and drove next to Fenway Park, followed by going down Boylston Street, where the Marathon bombings happened and finally up Newbury Street. Yeah…it was an undertaking editing this beast with 6 cameras all together. Some of the batteries ran out, but we did the best we could. This is a long show, the longest I've done. But I wanted everyone to get some time Riding Shotgun. Favorite quotes: Kerrie Ann: “If you had a gun it creates an equalizer for someone that's 5'1”.” Mike: “The unintended consequences of that (covid) a lot of people were more activated so it's easier to get people focused on this bill (HD.4420)” Holly: “In such tiny states in New England, non-resident permits make life accessible.” Bonnie: “It's a bunch of like minded people, really fun.” Moe: “I didn't know there was a community out there. I didn't realize it was a passion.” Amanda: “It's great when your life comes together and you have a mission that will make a difference and leave a legacy.” The DC Project https://www.dcproject.info/ Gun Owners Action League https://goal.org/ Connecticut Citizens Defense League https://www.ccdl.us/ Eye On The Target Radio https://eyeonthetargetradio.com/ Sisters In Arms- A Firearms Story https://www.youtube.com/@SIA-AFirearmStory Armed Women of America https://armedwomen.org/ Second Amendment Foundation https://secure.anedot.com/saf/donate?sc=RidingShotgun Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters. Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/ Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/ Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/ Buy a Powertac Flashlight, use RSWC as the discount code and save 15% www.powertac.com/RSWC
In this episode, we're taking a walk down one of Boston's most iconic commercial corridors. Courtney Flynn is the second generation running Trident Booksellers & Cafe, which has been located on the "wrong side" of Newbury Street for almost 40 years. We chat about running a small business in a city notorious for red tape, Newbury Comics, and who you'd rather sit next to at a bar: a rabid Philly sports fan or a rabid Boston sports fan.Send us a Text Message.
“College Boy” Greg Harrington started working at Tower Records Burlington MA and did so well on his first day of register, they threw him back in receiving to do pricing. Not the usual path to working in the receiving department, but our guest this week didn't have a conventional career at Tower Records.Burlington MA, the big store on Boston's Newbury Street and the Cambridge store were all part of Greg Harrington's Tower journey. But in between all of that were stints at The Boston Phoenix, the Virgin Megastore and when Tower shut down, a considerable stint at FYE.Through it all Greg Harrington handled his Tower gigs with a positive outlook, a keen sense of humor and a pair of Oakley sunglasses wrapped around his head.On this week's episode of “2500 DelMonte Street” Greg Harrington, a Star Wars nerd, recalls ringing up Natalie Portman in Cambridge, an incident of a never solved, inside job robbery at the Newbury St. store, visits from New York Yankee coach Willie Randolph, regular visits to all three locations from Boston legend Peter Wolf, once with Van Morrison in tow and a whole lot more.Join us for a hilarious conversation with Greg Harrington on this week's episode of “2500 DelMonte Street: the Oral History of Tower Records”.
G2O Spa and Salon on Newbury Street is offering a limited-time whiskey facial for the ultimate Father's Day experience — or for those that enjoy the smell of whiskey and getting pampered. WBZ's Matt Shearer reports:
The body of a boy who vanished last night from Castle Island is recovered. Two congressional staffers are attacked in their Virginia office. One small item could help you navigate Newbury Street. 5 minutes of news that will keep you in The Loop.
WBZ's Matt Shearer reports:
"It felt like, I'm figuring out what these things look like for me. Not, what's everyone doing or what should I be doing or what's expected of me?" There's nowhere I'd rather be on the third Monday in April than at the Boston Marathon finish line! This year, I was honored to be asked back to perform a variety of roles in Boston. I was one of the start and finish line announcers at the B.A.A. 5K and invitational miles, I hosted a live show with Keira D'Amato at Glossier's new store on Newbury Street, I was one of the race announcers at the finish on Marathon Monday, and I was the finish line reporter for the world feed broadcast. (Big Papi!!!) It was a fun, rewarding weekend that included run-ins with Eliud Kipchoge (and his content team), a hair-braiding party with one of the best milers in the country, and so much more. SPONSORS: Tracksmith: New customers, use code ALINEW for $15 off your first Tracksmith order over $75. Returning customers, use code ALIGIVE for free shipping, plus a portion of the proceeds from your order will be donated to Moms Demand Action. Sidekick: Use code ONTHERUN for 15% off your next order. What you'll get on this episode: A big-picture recap from my weekend in Boston (3:00) Thursday, April 13: the arrival, the errands, and the first run-in with the NN content team (19:00) Friday, April 14: the run “with” Kipchoge, the press conference, the expo live show, and the welcome reception (26:05) Saturday, April 15: the 5K, the elite miles, and the Keira D'Amato live show (40:05) Sunday, April 16: the long run, the hair-braiding party, and the broadcast production meetings (57:30) Monday, April 17: Marathon Monday! (1:08:10) Tuesday, April 18: the last run (1:25:15) For more, check out: Ali on the Run Show Episode 591: The Life-Changing Date Night Episode, Five Years Later Ali on the Run Show Episode 632: LIVE at the Boston Marathon with Sara Hall, Aliphine Tuliamuk, & Sara Vaughn Ali on the Run Show Episode 633: Run Your Way with Emma Bates A Runner's Weekend - Boston Marathon 2023, via Kofuzi on YouTube Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!
Folks, I'm still on a high from that epic Boston Marathon. It did not disappoint. We had a Kenyan sweep with Evans Chebet and Helen Obiri emerging as the champions of the day, stunning their competitors and fans alike with their impressive performances. It was an unforgettable day. Thanks to the 30,000+ people who tuned in and watched along with us on the CITIUS MAG Boston Watch Party. You can read my full breakdown and analysis here: https://citiusmag.substack.com/p/boston-marathon-2023-results-full-report SUPPORT THE SPONSORS OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount) BROOKS RUNNING: The Brooks Hyperion House is coming back to Boston! Join us mere steps from the marathon finish line at 137 Newbury Street on April 14th - 18th for a five-day pop-up experience featuring group runs, free swag, and a chance to shop the all-new Brooks x Des Run Boston Collection. GARMIN: Introducing the Forerunner 965 from Garmin, the ultimate GPS running and triathlon smartwatch. With a bright uhmold touchscreen display and lightweight titanium bezel, this premium watch is designed for athletes who demand the very best. Learn more here: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/https://www.garmin.com/en-US/ SAYSKY: Are you a runner looking for high-performance and quality apparel that also embodies a relaxed and fun attitude? Look no further than SAYSKY. Established in Copenhagen in 2013, SAYSKY is on a mission to bring a fresh perspective to the running apparel industry. Use code CITIUS15 at checkout for 15% off all your orders. Applies worldwide at https://saysky.us/ HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
"I just love marathons so much...I know that I'm gonna reach new heights every single time I do it. (With) the consistency I've had in each race and the progress that I've had, I just feel a lot of momentum, especially going into the trials. It doesn't matter what I do here (in Boston) physically on paper. Mentally, this was a big day for me just because I know that I can run with some of the best in the world – not just in the U.S. I think I'm definitely someone to contend with now and somebody to not be messed with now." What you're about to listen to is an episode of Dana Giordano's “More Than Running” Podcast on The CITIUS MAG Podcast Network. She was able to rush over from our Boston Marathon watchalong and then kick it with Emma Bates just hours after she finished fifth at the 2023 Boston Marathon and clocked a personal best of 2:22:10. That was just a mere 8 seconds shy of Shalane Flanagan's American course record. I was blown away by Emma's confident pre-race statement that she was in the shape of her life. She said she views herself as a 2:18 or 2:19 woman right now. In the race, she backed it up and was not just mere talk. She proved it on the course by hanging with some of the best marathoners in the world into the final few miles. Emma's joyous demeanor during the race was infectious. She was waving to her friends and family members on the course. In this fantastic conversation with Dana, she discusses all of that, how she broke down the race and the significant step forward that now has her thinking of taking a shot at the American record this fall. Enjoy this episode of More Than Running, which I had to cross-promote on our feed. If you enjoy interviews like this, be sure to subscribe to More Than Running wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to MORE THAN RUNNING WITH DANA here >> https://apple.co/3vAzSR1 SUPPORT THE SPONSORS OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount) BROOKS RUNNING: The Brooks Hyperion House is coming back to Boston! Join us mere steps from the marathon finish line at 137 Newbury Street on April 14th - 18th for a five-day pop-up experience featuring group runs, free swag, and a chance to shop the all-new Brooks x Des Run Boston Collection. GARMIN: Introducing the Forerunner 965 from Garmin, the ultimate GPS running and triathlon smartwatch. With a bright uhmold touchscreen display and lightweight titanium bezel, this premium watch is designed for athletes who demand the very best. Learn more here: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/https://www.garmin.com/en-US/ SAYSKY: Are you a runner looking for high-performance and quality apparel that also embodies a relaxed and fun attitude? Look no further than SAYSKY. Established in Copenhagen in 2013, SAYSKY is on a mission to bring a fresh perspective to the running apparel industry. Use code CITIUS15 at checkout for 15% off all your orders. Applies worldwide at https://saysky.us/ HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
The oldest annual marathon in the world is almost here! The 127th Boston Marathon will welcome world record holders, first-time racers, and 30,000+ people in between to the starting line in Hopkinton, Massachusetts before they begin the 26-mile trek across eastern Massachusetts to the famous Boylston Street finish line. Both the men's and women's pro fields feature historic firsts and legendary talent, as well as an early preview of many of the major players in the hunt to represent Team USA at the 2024 Olympics. In this episode, Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber and Dana Giordano preview all of the elite race action and share their predictions. We are also joined by 2x U.S. Champion Erika Kemp, 2:10 marathoner CJ Albertson and Brooks double amputee runner Brian Reynolds. We also share our final predictions for the race. Most importantly, join us live on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel on Monday morning at 9 a.m. for our squad's expert race commentary. The race kicks off on Monday, April 17th with a 9:37 a.m. start for the pro men, 9:47 a.m. start for the pro women, and a 10:00 a.m. start for the open race (wheelchair pros kick off a little after 9 a.m.). You can follow the action by downloading the BAA Racing app or online (live tracking link not available yet). The race will be broadcast locally on WCVB (ABC) and around the U.S. on ESPN and the ESPN app. SUPPORT THE SPONSORS OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount) BROOKS RUNNING: The Brooks Hyperion House is coming back to Boston! Join us mere steps from the marathon finish line at 137 Newbury Street on April 14th - 18th for a five-day pop-up experience featuring group runs, free swag, and a chance to shop the all-new Brooks x Des Run Boston Collection. GARMIN: Introducing the Forerunner 965 from Garmin, the ultimate GPS running and triathlon smartwatch. With a bright uhmold touchscreen display and lightweight titanium bezel, this premium watch is designed for athletes who demand the very best. Learn more here: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/https://www.garmin.com/en-US/ SAYSKY: Are you a runner looking for high-performance and quality apparel that also embodies a relaxed and fun attitude? Look no further than SAYSKY. Established in Copenhagen in 2013, SAYSKY is on a mission to bring a fresh perspective to the running apparel industry. Use code CITIUS15 at checkout for 15% off all your orders. Applies worldwide at https://saysky.us/ HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
On this week's show, Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber and Katelyn Hutchison break down all of the U.S. sprinters who have set the tone early that 2023 is going to be a FAST one. We saw some big performances in Miramar and Baton Rouge from Sha'Carri Richardson (10.57 with a 4.1m/s wind reading) and Aleia Hobbs (10.87 with a legal 2.0m/s wind reading). 400m hurdles world championship silver medalist Rai Benjamin threw down a 44.21 for a 400m PR in California. Abby Steiner and Christian Coleman held off strong challenges from young stars to win the women's and men's 200m at the Miramar Invitational, respectfully. Plus our Buy and Sell segment features a discussion of the Arcadia Invitational, the BAA stopping DraftKings from betting on the Boston Marathon, the marathon race walk mixed relay addition to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Host: Chris Chavez | @Chris_J_Chavez on Instagram Host: Kyle Merber | @kylemerber on Instagram Host: Katelyn Hutchison | @_kxnaomi on Instagram SUPPORT THE SPONSORS OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount) BROOKS RUNNING: The Brooks Hyperion House is coming back to Boston! Join us mere steps from the marathon finish line at 137 Newbury Street on April 14th - 18th for a five-day pop-up experience featuring group runs, free swag, and a chance to shop the all-new Brooks x Des Run Boston Collection. GARMIN: Introducing the Forerunner 965 from Garmin, the ultimate GPS running and triathlon smartwatch. With a bright uhmold touchscreen display and lightweight titanium bezel, this premium watch is designed for athletes who demand the very best. Learn more here: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/https://www.garmin.com/en-US/ SAYSKY: Are you a runner looking for high-performance and quality apparel that also embodies a relaxed and fun attitude? Look no further than SAYSKY. Established in Copenhagen in 2013, SAYSKY is on a mission to bring a fresh perspective to the running apparel industry. Use code CITIUS15 at checkout for 15% off all your orders. Applies worldwide at https://saysky.us/ HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
"I think a lot of my running career has been running within my comfort zone...Among the lessons learned last year was that there are going to be a lot of times when we're not in control and when I'm around people who can just drop me. I just want to be able to go into those high-level meets and know that I belong there. (Millrose) gave me confidence for sure. I wouldn't say it was a bad day or a bad race by any means. I think executed the plan, I put myself in there and I just want to do that more often because I want it to stick." Elly Henes is a professional runner for Adidas who trains in Flagstaff, Arizona under coach Mike Smith. She was a star at NC State, where she won the NCAA 5000m title in 2021. It was a beautiful moment since the victory came 30 years after her mother and coach Laurie Henes won the same title for the same school. Last year was a breakout year for Elly as a pro, which was capped by a 14:52 personal best for 5000m. She's carried that momentum into 2023 and just ran a personal best of 30 minutes and 48 seconds for 10,000 meters, which puts her at No. 6 on the all-time list. We talk all about her rookie season, what it's been like being coached by Mike Smith, her hopes and expectations for her sophomore season, what it was like growing up in a running family – plus: a little Taylor Swift talk. Host: Chris Chavez | @Chris_J_Chavez on Instagram Guest: Elly Henes | @_ellyphant_ on Instagram SUPPORT THE SPONSORS OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount) BROOKS RUNNING: The Brooks Hyperion House is coming back to Boston! Join us mere steps from the marathon finish line at 137 Newbury Street on April 14th - 18th for a five-day pop-up experience featuring group runs, free swag, and a chance to shop the all-new Brooks x Des Run Boston Collection. GARMIN: Introducing the Forerunner 965 from Garmin, the ultimate GPS running and triathlon smartwatch. With a bright uhmold touchscreen display and lightweight titanium bezel, this premium watch is designed for athletes who demand the very best. Learn more here: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/https://www.garmin.com/en-US/ SAYSKY: Are you a runner looking for high-performance and quality apparel that also embodies a relaxed and fun attitude? Look no further than SAYSKY. Established in Copenhagen in 2013, SAYSKY is on a mission to bring a fresh perspective to the running apparel industry. Use code CITIUS15 at checkout for 15% off all your orders. Applies worldwide at https://saysky.us/ HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
“When Russ found out I was on the union side? He literally came up to me and went for my throat”Randi Morton Swindel was working at Columbus & Bay when that store took a union vote in the mid 1970's and the union lost. And despite being opposite Russ Solomon, Randi Morton Swindel proved to be one of Russ' all time favorite employees. This week on “2500 DelMonte Street: The Oral History of Tower Records” we talk with Randi, who was born in San Francisco and grew up in Oakland in a house filled with Classical Music. The Top 40 radio of KYA and KFRC got a hold of her and if that wasn't enough Beatlemania invaded her school and clique of friends causing Randi to cry (she wasn't a screamer) at the sight of The Beatles. In one five week period bridging 1965-1966 Randi caught The Rolling Stones at The San Jose Civic Auditorium and then Bob Dylan and The Hawks going electric at the San Francisco Masonic. James Brown, Otis Redding and a host of other concerts led to her eventually finding a job at Tower Records at Columbus & Bay. Randi was the second woman hired to work the cash register and the sales floor. From 1972-1984 Randi worked her way up between stints at Columbus & Bay, Mountain View, Fresno and then back to Mountain View. Along the way she met her husband Jim Swindel who held a music marketing job in Northern California. When Jim scored a Sales Management position in NYC, Randi went to be the Manager of the original Lincoln Center location and then to the Village Store while also holding the position of Northeast Regional Manager overseeing the opening of South Street Philadelphia, Washington DC and the Boston store on Newbury Street. Randi tells us about amazing in stores with REM, Violent Femmes, Tina Turner and a nightmare visit with a prickly Lou Reed, phone calls from Bud Martin about $75 plumbing paid outs, navigating NYC in the 80's, overseeing the opening of iconic Tower stores on the East Coast, the decision to step away from her career at Tower, her son Joey's Godfather Russ Solomon and a whole host of other subjects.
The Art of the Brick on Newbury Street is here in Boston through April 2023.
In this special episode, Connor and Jack discuss the 2022 National Book Awards — the long list, the finalists, and the winner "Punks: New and Selected Poems" by John Keene. They read and explore a marvelous poem from the collection, "Folks Are Right, My Nose Was Wide Open," which also appeared in BOMB Magazine. Listen to the National Book Awards Award Ceremony, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hNtsKasx5U&ab_channel=NationalBookFoundation Get Punks here: https://the-song-cave.com/products/punks-by-john-keene Folks Are Right, My Nose Was Wide Open By: John Keene Folks are right: my nose is wide open. I left one man and fell for this one, he's not the one, so what am I to do? I don't. Instead, I stand in the doorway of the New Age café on Newbury Street waiting for Kevin, because we're going to talk about poems. All the poems I haven't written, because I spend my waking hours talking about them, reading the work of others, trying to remake myself as Essex Hemphill or Neruda or Celan. For example, I can't write poems about this crazy dude I'm seeing, how he writhes in bed like a loose hose when he comes, how he stands for hours in front of the mirror admiring and caressing his muscles, saying nothing but “Looking good,” the yelps he serves up when I enter him. I don't write poems about how he silences me with certain looks, his lies about being from “Black money,” how he laughs at the serious things I say. How often when I'm with him I feel more alone than the hardest years of high school. Rather, I write down lines towards poems, abstract pronouncements about unhappiness and being scared and unknown and misunderstood and death, which makes me think I'm addressing the problem. Love is a dream where both of us are trying, at the same speed, without quitting. Then Kevin shows up, and I'm not so sure, because before I can get a word in about my plight, before I can pass today's halfstarts and failures across the table, he starts telling me about last night's fight with his girlfriend. Check out episodes of Close Talking on YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCCCSpjZcN1hIsG4aDrT3ouw Find us on Facebook at: facebook.com/closetalking Find us on Twitter at: twitter.com/closetalking Find us on Instagram: @closetalkingpoetry Find us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCCCSpjZcN1hIsG4aDrT3ouw You can always send us an email with thoughts on this or any of our previous podcasts, as well as suggestions for future shows, at closetalkingpoetry@gmail.com.
What you're about to listen to is the final segment in our seven part interview series we recorded this fall about an exhibition that is currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. This week's installment is with Jamaican born, Boston artist & professor, Bryan Mcfarlane who had work featured in the Touching Roots exhibition. Bryan is a very accomplished artist who is represented by the NAGA Gallery on Newbury Street in Boston. He has taught & lectured at colleges around the country. https://www.gallerynaga.com/artists-list/bryan-mcfarlane/https://bryanmcfarlane.net/artiststatement/
Guest Scott Ernst is an entrepreneur who's been at the intersection of market research, commerce and technology for three decades. He was building startups on Newbury Street in Boston long before this recent wave of VCs and startups began moving into the Back Bay area. After stints at multiple startups in the 1990s, Ernst was a founding management team member of Compete in the 2000s and helped the company grow to a $100 million revenue business resulting in the 2008 acquisition by MIllward Brown Digital/WPP's Kantar. In June 2022, he made headlines for his appointment as CEO of Boston-based Drift, a marketing technology trailblazer best known for single-handedly introducing conversational marketing to the market. Ernst joined his friend, company co-founder and long-time CEO, David Cancel, who stepped into the role of Executive Chairman. Ernst most recently served as CEO of Tubular Labs, a social video analytics company headquartered in San Francisco. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Macromill, a Tokyo-based global marketing research business, which he took through an IPO with an enterprise value of over $1 billion. In this episode, Ernst discusses the future of Drift, OG Boston tech, his time in Japan, taking a company from early stage to IPO, how San Francisco and Boston compare, the future of marketing and much more.
This week's guest has an extensive music retail resume. Prior to working at Tower Records Sharon Vitro worked for Record Town, a New England music retailer for six years. She ran stores in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts before quitting over a ridiculous corporate policy. The next day Sharon was working at Tower Records on 360 Newbury Street where she worked for 5 years, briefly with Greg Wallis and then with Robert Stapleton. Leaving Boston, she worked for Tower throughout the country with a who's who of some of Tower's best; The Southwest Regional Office where she was Kevin Cassidy's assistant , General Manager of Nanuet LI where Steve Harman was the regional and San Diego, Brea and the last General Manager of the fabled Sunset Store where she worked with Bob Feterl. Regarding Sunset, Sharon remember one particular morning when there were 3 staff members on the sales floor and the customers included Elton John, Elvis Costello, Diana Krall and 50Cent. These kind of shopping “drop ins” were so frequent, staff members and records reps first words were often “Who did I miss?” Sharon eventually put a sign up on the back room refrigerator listing what musicians and actors had shopped there that day and staff members would write what they were wearing, what they bought and other snarky comments. The biggest event Sharon oversaw was an “unsanctioned” Prince in store in March of 2006 for “3121” when they were asked qt 4:30pm if Prince could play at the store at Midnight. Realizing that it wasn't a joke and not having had the event approved with by city of West Hollywood, Sharon and the Sunset crew had an insane day they'd long remember.
Jeff Mason, is a "traditional values" guy with a lovely wife, and three children who loves to spend as much time as he can with them, doing outside activities. He and his wife, raise their children traditionally and institutes a value system for them. He runs a phenomenal business that is worldwide, bringing technology into the moving business, and seems to be well ahead of his peers in innovating the business. He is a very smart businessman, very humble, and great to talk to. He has used technology to increase other areas of profitability in his business, as he keeps the tradition of the moving business, but has been innovating is discovering more modern pockets of service. The one thing that sticks out with Jeff is that he puts values first, not only with his family, himself and also his employees. His biggest concern is to give value to the employees. He's quite a humble person, and the type of nice person you don't meet every day. Jeff is a version of Traders Joe, or Costco, in that building a home for his employees and treating like family. His culture works very well. I really enjoyed having him on our podcast, he was a breath of fresh air. You will love meeting Jeff. He's a fourth generation owner and purchased the business from his dad. Thee business was started in 1929 by his great grandfather. That's all you need to know about Jeff to know he is pure quality. Check his company out for your moving needs. Also, check Jeff's company out for the innovated areas he is serving people. 229 Newbury Street, Rte. 1, N.Peabody, MA 01960U.S. DOT No. 125550 | Atlas Van Lines, Inc. | MDPU No. 2795Toll Free: (866) 662-1979 Local: (978) 347-5400https://www.rcmasonmovers.com/about-us/
Taylor is the owner and founder of Little Miss Cupcape. Her Story began in the spring of 2014 when she graduated from Manhattan College with a degree in business marketing and a minor in communications. While in college for business, she catered birthdays, graduation events, parties, and much more, but always felt that she was missing out on her true aspirations as a baker and entrepreneur. Halfway through her senior year of college, she realized she couldn't wait any longer to pursue her cupcake dreams. In partnership with her business savvy mom and the help from her family, she was able to open her first Little Miss Cupcape on historic Main Street in Hyannis, Massachusetts in June 2014. Since then she's opened a second location on Newbury Street in Boston and brought lots of other exciting things to both locations. On this episode she shares the story along with the challenges, her love for her team and future goals for Little Miss Cupcape! Little Miss Cupcape | Cupcake Shop in Boston and Cape Cod
Damn Tall Buildings Independently Release Their 3rd Album, due out Sept 9 Brooklyn, NY — Acoustic Americana trio fed on bluegrass, roots rock, old time, and vintage swing, Damn Tall Buildings are excited to release their 3rd album, Sleeping Dogs, on September 9. Whether sharing lead vocals and instrumental solos or blending their voices into loose, joyous harmony, the three members of Damn Tall Buildings—multi-instrumentalist and primary lyricist Max Capistran (guitar and banjo), bassist Sasha Dubyk, and fiddler Avery Ballotta—delight in entertaining. Sleeping Dogs is a sensory treat that will have you smiling, dancing, and singing along. Sleeping Dogs is a bop about looking things smack-dab-right-in-the-face and is essentially about how it has become almost impossible to not be constantly influenced by current events, media, and all of the other things that surround you in your day-to-day life. “Snow Crash” by Neal Sephenson—a bizarre, mind-altering romp through the infocalypse— is high on the band's reading list. Damn Tall Buildings says, “The impact that things outside ourselves have on us, specifically, the rise of social media and all that comes with it, leads to an exponential increase of people's awareness of other people's lives, and how that affects them and how they feel about their life.”The trio is individually from all over the United States (New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Montana), but were born as a band while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA in 2013. They started as buskers on Newbury Street in Boston, started touring nationally, and then moved the band to Brooklyn in 2017.Connect with The Long Island Sound Podcast Intro/Outro song in this episode: “Fading out Fast” from Mike Nugent's album, Mike Nugent and the Blue Moon Band . Opening Narration by Faith Yusko All songs in this podcast episode have been used with prior permission by the artists. The growth of The Long Island Sound Podcast has been exponential. Help us grow the show!Subscribe to the GigDestiny.com Site here for bonus contentSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelCall the Listener Line & leave your comments: (631) 800-3579Remember to Rate & Review the show! Help us keep the conversation going with your donation - Click Right Here or go to GigDestiny.com The growth of The Long Island Sound Podcast has been exponential. Help us grow the show!Subscribe to the GigDestiny.com Site here for bonus contentSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelCall the Listener Line & leave your comments: (631) 800-3579 Remember to Rate & Review the show! Help us keep the conversation going with your donation - Click Right Here or go to GigDestiny.com Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE
Newbury Street's eight block stretch of restaurants, shops, salons, and local businesses will be pedestrian-only from Berkeley Street to Massachusetts Avenue. WBZ's Tina Gao reports:
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, a young man named Robert Stapleton applied for a job at Tower Records at the age of 15. He got the gig and he worked at the landmark Sunset Strip Store from 1970-1979. He was later store Manager of El Toro, CA and in the late 80's ran the store on Newbury Street in Boston, as well as being the New England Regional Manager. He ended his career in 2001 as National Director of Field Marketing. In his 31 years with Tower Records, Robert Stapleton saw and did a lot in his time with the company. Even before he worked for Tower, his father Buck Stapleton, the LA Promo Rep for Capitol Records was taking young Robert to pool parties with The Beatles and up to San Francisco to play a part in the signing of The Steve Miller Band to Capitol Records. Throughout this episode Stapleton tells story after story, tale after tale when he was, in his words, “in the right place at the right time”. Robert is effusive with the lore (riding on a double decker bus with Keith Moon up Sunset Boulevard, holding a suitcase (contents unknown) for a scared Sly Stone when the police showed up for a car crash, starting up the Tower Records Walk of Fame in Boston) and pulls no punches regarding the demise of Tower Records. You definitely want to listen to this episode.
Originally from Boston, MA where she got her start in fashion, Therez started designing clothes at the age of 12 and sold her first dress on the famed Newbury Street at the age of 15. This was quite an accomplishment at that age as Newbury Street was home to Giorgio Armani, Chanel, and Diane Von Furstenberg, just to name a few. Therez moved to New York to attend The Fashion Institute of Technology studying Fashion Design. She launched her fashion career designing Afrocentric attire under the PheZula Collection label where she sold to specialty boutiques throughout New York City, created custom designs for private clientele and designed for celebrities including EnVogue, Vanessa Williams, Angela Bassett, Queen Latifah, Yolanda Adams, Kim Fields, Sheri Headly, and Shanice. Listen to her story. Follow us on IG: @blackfashionhistorypodcast @taniquarudell And if you haven't done so already, please take a moment to rate and review the show. We love hearing your feedback! Guest Info www.therezfleetwood.com info@therezfleetwood.com www.facebook.com/therezfleetwood www.instagram.com/therezfleetwood #BlackFashionHistory
WBZ's Jordan Rich talks with French sommelier Alexandre Sojfer from La Voile restaurant about this French brasserie and catering on Newbury Street, Boston.
The rally began near the Boston Public Garden and made its way through several blocks of Newbury Street before looping back down Boylston Street. WBZ's Matt Shearer reports.
We travel back to Newbury Street in 1995, back when Ukraine was not invaded by Russians. The cocktails were plentiful and only whackos were woke. Find us at www.burnbarrelpodcast.com Email us: burnbarrelpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Parler: @burnbarrelpodcast On Gab: @burnbarrelpodcast Facebook: facebook.com/burnbarrelpodcast And Twitter: @burnbarrelpod Rumble: rumble.com/c/burnbarrelpodcast YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCWhLuhtutKdCmbHaWuGg_YQ Follow Tom on Twitter: @tomshattuck You can follow Alice too: @aliceshattuck More Tom stuff at www.tomshattuck.com Tom's "Insta" as the zoomers say: www.instagram.com/tomwshattuck/ Join us at Locals: burnbarrel.locals.com (subscriber based) Join us at Patreon: www.patreon.com/burnbarrel (subscriber based) The opening theme music is called Divine Intervention by Matthew Sweet. The closing theme music to this podcast C'est La Vie by Derek Clegg. Excelsior
We hear more from WBZ's Karyn Regal
On this episode of "takin a walk" join Buzz Knight and Vinny O 'Neill as they take in the sights and sounds of Newbury Street in Boston. Skinny Vinny is founder of VinCo Properties a real estate firm and Wicked Dog Apparel a merchandise brand based in Boston.
It's been a decade since Barbara and Teja have strolled the fancy Newbury Street, downtown Boston. They were supposed to have been at a play, but due to an unannounced change of address, ended up in a high energy, outdoor sidewalk Japanese restaurant for matcha highball and lychee martinis. Teja and Barbara have an announcement about the podcast.Instagram @ourdatenightFacebook: Date Night with Barbara and Teja
The famous street in Boston will be car-free for three Sundays in a row.WBZ's Matt Shearer reports:
Each week we talk about important travel topics to help you decide when, where, and how to explore the world in style. This week we are talking about how to prepare for traveling internationally this summer. And we interview Jana Rago, runway hairstylist, and owner of Jana Rago Studios located at 207 Newbury Street. She has styled top models including Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, Hailey Bieber amongst other it names and she shares her top hair care tips for traveling this summer with us! Also be sure to follow us on Instagram: @JQLouise @TravelWithJuliana @TravelBabies Check out our website https://thetravelbabies.com!
Happy Friday! Today on East to West, we cover Boston University’s plan to offer COVID-19 vaccines to students with two or more medical conditions, possible housing deposit refunds, a proposal to establish a recreational cannabis dispensary on Newbury Street, and more.FEATURING: Jackson Machesky, Sarah Wager, Mia Parker, Katrina LiuWRITTEN BY: Jackson Machesky, Mia Parker, Sarah Wager, Katrina Liu, Rani ThompsonEDITED BY: Mia ParkerBASED ON DFP PIECES BY: Aaron Velasco, Emily Stevenson, Taylor Brokesh, Vanessa Bartlett, Kylee Nguyen, Nick Kolev, Sam Trottenberg, Molly FarrarMUSIC:Acid Trumpet by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3340-acid-trumpet License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Backbay Lounge by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3408-backbay-lounge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5010-ultralounge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Happy Friday! Today on East to West, we cover Boston University’s plan to offer COVID-19 vaccines to students with two or more medical conditions, possible housing deposit refunds, a proposal to establish a recreational cannabis dispensary on Newbury Street, and more.FEATURING: Jackson Machesky, Sarah Wager, Mia Parker, Katrina LiuWRITTEN BY: Jackson Machesky, Mia Parker, Sarah Wager, Katrina Liu, Rani ThompsonEDITED BY: Mia ParkerBASED ON DFP PIECES BY: Aaron Velasco, Emily Stevenson, Taylor Brokesh, Vanessa Bartlett, Kylee Nguyen, Nick Kolev, Sam Trottenberg, Molly FarrarMUSIC:Acid Trumpet by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3340-acid-trumpet License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Backbay Lounge by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3408-backbay-lounge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5010-ultralounge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Food & Convo gang drive into Boston for a gallery viewing and dinner with visual artist Sam Fish. Fish's Exit Galleries sits nestled in a classic brownstone on Boston's historic Newbury Street. After a Vegetarian meal from Rhythm 'n Wraps, Clyde, Amy and Che discuss Sam Fish's relationship with Art, his creative space, the 2020 consumer experience, and what the future holds post the COVID 19 Pandemic.
Sarah Stewart, MSW, CPC is the owner of Sarah Stewart Consulting. After spending 25 years in healthcare, Sarah made the leap and opened her own business. As a life coach she helps women achieve their goals and make changes and as an author she entertains. Books: Broken in the Back Bay, published May, 2015 Strangers on Newbury Street, published January, 2016 Love Along the Esplanade, published April 2019 Social: Instagram - Sarahlifecoach_author Facebook - Sarah Stewart Consulting Twitter - @SarahStewartMSW
Recovery Recharged with Ellen Stewart: The Pushy Broad From The Bronx®
Sarah Stewart, MSW, CPC is the owner of Sarah Stewart Consulting. After spending 25 years in healthcare, Sarah made the leap and opened her own business. As a life coach she helps women achieve their goals and make changes and as an author she entertains. Books: Broken in the Back Bay, published May, 2015 Strangers on Newbury Street, published January, 2016 Love Along the Esplanade, published April 2019 Social: Instagram - Sarahlifecoach_author Facebook - Sarah Stewart Consulting Twitter - @SarahStewartMSW
Nicole Staple is the co-founder and CEO of Brideside. Nicole and her team reinvented the bridal shopping experience, and have raised more venture capital than any other female-led business out of Chicago. We discuss investor bias towards women, managing through rapid growth during her husband's cancer battle, and what rap lyrics have to do with ending meetings. Full episode transcript is below.Subscribe to our newsletter. We explore the intersection of media, technology, and commerce: sign-up linkLearn more about our market research and executive advisory: RockWater websiteFollow The Come Up on Twitter: @TCUpodEmail us: tcupod@wearerockwater.com--EPISODE TRANSCRIPTChris Erwin:Hi. I'm Chris Erwin. Welcome to The Come Up, a podcast that interviews entrepreneurs and leaders. Nicole Staple:I don't think they knew Sonali was pregnant and we never mention it. She was eight months pregnant. She was big. He came, he left and they told us they were passing because we were located in Chicago. You have to ask yourself is that really why they passed on the deal? Chris Erwin:This week's episode features my dear friend, Nicole Staple, the co-founder and CEO of Brideside. Brideside reinvented the bridal shopping experience, creating what they describe as an all-channel concierge service. And they've raised more venture capital than any other female-led business out of Chicago. That's super impressive. Yet Nicole, who I've known for nearly a decade, remains humble and is still very cautiously optimistic about her business. And just like when I knew her in business school, Nicole continues to work tirelessly to build Brideside. Chris Erwin:In our interview, you'll hear how Nicole always finds a way to overcome pretty big challenges like how she had to deal with investor bias towards women when first raising funding or leading Brideside through rapid growth during her husband's cancer battle. Despite all this, Nicole also knows how to add some fun into the mix like how her and her co-founder end meetings with rap lyrics. So I'm thrilled to bring you Nicole's story. It's such a good one. You'll hear wild stories and all along the way Nichole just exhibits such incredible courage and resolve. I have learned so much from her and she's a major inspiration for me. So this interview was an absolute delight. All right let's get into it. Chris Erwin:Quick heads up that my interview with Nicole was recorded back in February and prior to COVID. Yet her points about direct-to-consumer in 2020 are quite prescient, and Nicole's come-up story definitely stands the test of time. So Nicole, why don't we start out where'd you grow up, by the way. Remind me. Nicole Staple:That's a good question. Chris Erwin:I know you've told me, but I forget. Nicole Staple:A lot of different places. I was born in London. So my dad is British. My mom had moved to London and my dad followed her to get her PhD in economics from the London School of Economics. I was born there and my parents were also married there. Then my family moved to North Carolina to a small farm town outside of Durham and I lived there for the first 12 years of my life and then we moved to Princeton, New Jersey, which you know- Chris Erwin:Garden State. Nicole Staple:... because you're also from New Jersey. Chris Erwin:Much pride. Nicole Staple:And I went to middle school and high school in New Jersey and then my parents moved back to North Carolina. So now I'm sort of from nowhere. No one really lives in North Carolina anymore. My parents split. My family lives sort of all over. So I call Jackson Hole home now where my parents have a ski house and a place that I love. Chris Erwin:You have a pretty awesome geographical footprint in my opinion between Jackson Hole and Victor, Idaho and then Palm Springs where we went hiking a couple months ago. And then you also have an HQ in Chicago, and now you're based in New York City. You're all over and then I think you also- Nicole Staple:I'm a nomad. Chris Erwin:... spend time in North Carolina as well. So that's awesome. Nicole Staple:It's always feels a little freeing to be from nowhere, but it also can feel a little detached. I seriously don't know really where I would even call home now. So it's always been interesting to me. Chris Erwin:So I'm curious. Right now you are the co-founder and CEO of Brideside and we're going to help tell your story of how you got to where you are today. I'm curious, growing up, being born in London and then growing up in jersey and then you went to Lawrenceville and then to Wellesley College. What was your focus when you were at Wellesley. Why did you choose that school and what you focused on there? Nicole Staple:Wellesley was not a popular choice. It's an all-women's college outside of Boston. And no one in my class wanted to go there because it was all women. However, I had a lot of friends and school whose mothers had gone to Wellesley because it was maybe a bit more popular for that generation and I was particularly inspired by that actually and my mom and my grandmother are like amazing women and I really looked up to them and I thought like this was an opportunity to actually do something a little bit different. I actually think wanting to be different is something that's been a theme for me. Chris Erwin:Wanting to be different? Nicole Staple:Yes. Chris Erwin:Okay. Nicole Staple:I have this like fear of just living an ordinary life and blending in with everyone else and so I felt that it would be a unique experience, but I wasn't so sure I wanted to do it. Then I played lacrosse in college and so I was looking at schools where I could play sports and I knew I wanted to play division three. I got into some better lacrosse schools and then my dad told me he wouldn't pay for anywhere else that had a lower caliber of academics in Wellesley, and so the decision was sort of made. Chris Erwin:You said you have a fear of living an ordinary life. Where does that come from? Nicole Staple:So I think it's part of my DNA. I think it's like wanting things to feel exciting is very much a part of I think things I can't control and that's something I've learned over the years. But I grew up and my mom worked in public health internationally a lot and I had the great privilege of traveling with her to a lot of really interesting places. And my dad is a total adventure junkie and took us very rugged sort of backpacking and ski experiences growing up and I just think that really stuck with me. I actually believe it builds a lot of confidence to do that sort of stuff when you're younger and I think I've always sort of wanted to hold on to that because I think it was part of what like gave me confidence that I could do some of those things that other kids my age hadn't done or couldn't do. Chris Erwin:It's definitely a unique upbringing that you had between the adventures with your father and your mother in public health. So as you probably compared and contrasted your stories relative to peers of school, by just feeling of like, "Oh, mine's a bit different. Let's go with this. We got some momentum, and this feels right." Okay. So then you go to Wellesley where I think as you describe there's a lot of powerful women who had entrepreneurial ambitions or creating unique careers for themselves that, that really excited you and felt like that was part of this path and this vision that you had for your life. So while you're there, were there any entrepreneurial itches that you were scratching or was it, "Hey, I'm focused on a life on Wall Street," which we'll get into a little bit. What were you thinking there? Nicole Staple:No. I didn't really know. I was an economics major. I think part of that was again like what my parents did, but I think part of it was that, that made the world make sense to me I felt like when I was in my Econ 101 class, there was like an aha moment like, "Oh, okay. Got it. This is how the world worked and that just became my orientation." But certainly, there were things that were entrepreneurial in ways, but mostly like social justice oriented. Nicole Staple:Even when I was younger, I was really focused on the environment and conservation. So I would start little stupid organizations like sell baked goods at the farmers market to raise money for some conservation organization. Just little things. Chris Erwin:Yeah. Do what you can. Start local. Nicole Staple:Right, exactly. I was involved in some global health stuff in college in the same vein and worked with women in developing countries who were trying to get out of poverty. So that was sort of like where I was mostly focused and then investment banking became my path because that seemed to be what most econ majors did and it felt like a way to get training out of school and to make money, stand on my own two feet which both of those things, as you know, because you had a similar path, you can do when you do investment banking. But there was a very pivotal moment for me during my investment banking interviews where I met a very prolific entrepreneur and that very much changed my perspective of what I might want to do in the future. Chris Erwin:Oh, wow. Who was this prolific entrepreneur that you met? Nicole Staple:His name is Jeff Pulver he was the founder of Vonage. So he was the original inventor of voice over IP who ultimately became Skype. Chris Erwin:It's a pretty big industry. Nicole Staple:And as you know much more than that. So my girlfriend, actually a girl I didn't even know, but ultimately became a girlfriend at Wellesley and I were sitting next to each other on the Delta shuttle flight from Boston to New York for our investment banking interviews, and this guy sat next to us and asked us literally, "If you could do anything with your life, what would you do?" And we thought he was a little bit creepy. But we decided to entertain it. Chris Erwin:A little bit creepy. Nicole Staple:Then we ended up chatting with him and it was Jeff Pulver. As a result, both me and the woman sitting next to me actually talked about wanting to start companies one day and didn't really want to do investment banking, but we felt like we had to. We had a long conversation with him on the flight and ultimately we befriended each other and he ended up being in our lives actually for a good amount of time. Her and I ended up becoming pretty good friends and started working on some ideas at Wellesley together and that seed was sort of planted and ultimately led to me exploring that path later on. Chris Erwin:That is very interesting. I did not know that story at all. What did Jeff say on the plane that was like a catalyst or got you excited about entrepreneurship? And then my second question is clearly there was something inside you already and he was this spark that seemed to make it come to life. But what did he share that kind of got you thinking differently? Nicole Staple:I think it was more the questions he asked because when you're that age... And I don't know. I think it's different now. Starting companies is more of a thing. This was 2004, 2005. So it felt like something that was very isolated to Silicon Valley and I didn't even really know what Silicon Valley was. My dad was an entrepreneur and had started a few companies, but on the East Coast and it was a very different sort of situation. Chris Erwin:Not like today where there's HBO shows like literally called Silicon Valley. Nicole Staple:Exactly. Chris Erwin:And it's part of the media zeitgeist of everything. Nicole Staple:Yeah, I was totally clueless. So I think it was more really asking young people. Most young people I don't necessarily think get asked like what would you want to do if money were of no consequence, right? Chris Erwin:Yeah. Nicole Staple:You're really just thinking about how you get on your feet when you're that age. And so it was actually interesting to explore that. H was just very encouraging. He was very encouraging and positive about anything and ultimately this became like a longer-term relationship, but things that we would tell him he was just very enthusiastic about. I think when you are trying to put yourself out there just someone being encouraging of you can go a long way. Chris Erwin:I mean, this is me asserting some ideas, but maybe in your youth, when you're 2003, 2004 haven't even graduated college yet and someone is asking you questions and essentially they're thinking big. It seems like that was the impression that you got that Jeff was asking you some big questions, which is the assumption you're capable of a lot of things. And hearing that as a youth and then also as a woman probably at that time was maybe surprising. You weren't used to being thought of like that, particularly around your biggest ideas that maybe stray off the path. Nicole Staple:I mean, absolutely. And coming from Wellesley, our motto around campus is women who will. There were literally flags all across campus with the phrase women who will, women who will achieve, women who will change the world, women who will give back all over. We were very focused there on finding a path for ourselves and I think a lot of that looked like Hillary Clinton at the time, which was wearing a power suit and being in politics or finance. Chris Erwin:That was like kind of like the one image or female power definition that you had. Nicole Staple:Yes. Chris Erwin:Now, that's clearly changing a lot of ways and I think that you are helping to define what new vision is going forward. Nicole Staple:Yes. I've told myself if I am wearing a power suit in the future as I'm sitting here in like knee-high socks and a dress that I have done something wrong. So I think it looks different now. Chris Erwin:Yeah, I agree. Okay. So you're inspired from this conversation with Jeff. You want to understand how the world works, so that's why you like economics. Economically to investment banking and you commit to that path. So I think you did an internship at Goldman Sachs over summer and then afterwards you went to UBS. Was UBS the experience that you had hoped for. Was it what you expected? Nicole Staple:It was nothing like I expected. It was a wild ride. I ended up moving from equity research at Goldman to wanting to do investment banking and healthcare. UBS was a hot healthcare group at the time run by this sort of notorious banker who led a very interesting and intense culture. Chris Erwin:A lot is caught up in that definition. Interesting. Nicole Staple:Would not have flown in the era of MeToo. But at the end of the day when you have a coach that is incredibly difficult and works you into the ground, you tend to bond with the players around you and I think my experience in banking was like that. I think I learned a lot of really important skills that have helped me start a company. I made more money those two years than I have any years since. So it's only been downhill from there on the financial front. Chris Erwin:You're building lots of equity value right now, right? Nicole Staple:And I made really, really good friends. It turns out when you're trying to balance a balance sheet at four in the morning, you and your other like 22-year-old friends have a lot to talk about. Chris Erwin:Through trauma there is incredible camaraderie and companionship. It is true on the battlefield. I know that through my twin brother in the military. Nicole Staple:And I would never compare investment banking and financial modeling, just to be clear, to a battlefield. Chris Erwin:I hear you. I mean I was a banker when my brother was in combat abroad in Afghanistan and Iraq. Surprisingly there are some very interesting studies that were done that the highest stress level that a human can have is when you feel that you don't have control over your schedule and that there's incredible uncertainty. And in banking, there's incredible uncertainty because it's 9:00 pm. You think you're done for the night and then a managing director drops like a whole pitch you have to prepare by the next day on your desk. And that that level of stress... This is crazy. It's just what the article says is that that can be higher than those that are in combat and conflict. Chris Erwin:Okay. So you're at UBS. You meet this incredible group of people, this incredible network, which you've actually brought up with me in the past. You do that for I think a year or two and then you transition to SVB. What was SVB? Nicole Staple:So I did that for two years and then I became really interested actually through working healthcare, in earlier stage healthcare technologies and biotech, and I was deciding between going to work for a biotech company or going to Palo Alto to actually think about learning more about venture capital and made a last-minute decision to do that with Silicon Valley Bank that is deeply ingrained in the startup ecosystem as many of your listeners might know. So I went to work for SVB Capital which is the direct investment fund, essentially the venture capital fund of SVB, small team and that was my first introduction to startups. Chris Erwin:So your first introduction to startups, learning about startups and working with early stage founders, what was your initial reaction to that? Nicole Staple:My first reaction was there's a lot of people asking for money. I should have known better, but a lot of companies, a lot of ideas, a lot of brilliant people, things I could not understand, I could not for the life of me figure out what the cloud meant. Chris Erwin:So there's lots of "cloud conversations". Nicole Staple:And this was again, I'm dating myself, new terminology in that day. But I mean really, really inspiring and what I think was interesting is that you were taken seriously whether you were 22 or 52. I think it was really interesting for me, and this is a little bit nuanced but to learn about the life cycle of a company and how things can rise and how things can fall. By doing a lot of cap table analysis, I could actually start to understand like what it meant to own a company, who owned that company, how it all worked and how that evolved as the company grew. Chris Erwin:Yeah, that's actually really interesting because probably growing up watching the news media then going to Wellesley and then at UBS, you saw, "Hey, a lot of the founders of companies are our banking clients. They're older, right? They've gone through their careers. Now, they're more established. All of a sudden, you're at SVB. You have people that are maybe right out of college or haven't even gone to college pitching with these really big ideas. And then being empowered to do so, sometimes the bank would write checks. Chris Erwin:That's got to feel really exciting to you where, one, you're probably rooting for some of these people that are pitching, have these ideas but also thinking about, "Well, if they can do it, then I could also do that, right?" Nicole Staple:Yeah, a little bit. I mean, I felt that for sure. Everyone was smarter than I was, so maybe a little bit more inferiority complex than anything but I think that's something we all battle. That's actually been like I think you hear this a lot, but that's certainly been a big theme as well throughout all of this. I think being in awe of the just raw brain power out in the valley was it was pretty amazing and I could also start to explore like if this world is interesting to me and I do think I want to make an impact somewhere, what's something that I might orient myself towards that I could feel passionate about and understand and be good at. Chris Erwin:Interesting. So you do SVB for a couple years and then after that, you have a transition to business school, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern and Chicago. I think you did a couple pre-MBA internships in Chicago, but what sparked that transition? What caused you to leave SVB? Nicole Staple:I was really interested in potentially starting my own company. And again, much more socially oriented actually, I was really intrigued by social entrepreneurship again. I've had a sort of a theme around being interested in how women move up in sort of society economically. I was interested in that and I was thinking of doing a few different internships prior to business school but ultimately chose year up, which is an amazing national nonprofit that prepares really talented youth for college or really fortune 500 companies through this amazing training program. I thought that I would go to business school to start a social enterprise. Chris Erwin:So you thought you would go to business school to start a social enterprise. You'd do this pre-MBA internship at Europe and that further validated your interest in the space like yes, this is definitely what I want to do? Nicole Staple:Yes. Although, the one thing I noticed in the nonprofit world because this was a non-profit, but they have an interesting business model where Fortune 500 companies actually essentially fund the model they're not constantly fundraising for grants. But I think most non-profits, you're still particularly as the executive director or the CEO, a lot of your job is asking for money. So there was something that I was noticing there around personal wealth as well, and that was also starting to form in my mind what is the optionality I can build into myself if I think about something that could have financial upside in the near term whether it's starting my own thing or going to a startup or going to another type of job where I could continue to build maybe my own financial footholds, could that lead to more flexibility later on for the type of like social justice work I might want to do? Chris Erwin:Interesting. So it's hey, there's a chance you're looking at these early stage companies, founders with these big ideas, raise capital, work really hard, potentially have a liquidity event and exit. And then they are freed up both in time and money to give back and pursue altruistic initiatives. So that seemed like an interesting path for you to take. Nicole Staple:You're saying it probably much more eloquently than I would have thought at the time, but I think that's probably along the lines of where my head was at the time. Chris Erwin:Okay, interesting. Again, there's clearly a few different ways to do that. It's like you could go into investment banking or consulting, grind that out for 10, 20 years, and also give back. But you were leaning towards the entrepreneurial side. So you go to Kellogg. So that is your focus while you're at school? Are you on that path? Nicole Staple:Yeah. I was. I did a lot of work in social investing, social enterprise work and it was a tough industry at the time. It was hard to understand how to build either a fund or companies that were sustainable, double bottom line, sort of initiative. It was complicated. It was more complicated than I thought. Chris Erwin:I've never heard of double bottom line actually. Nicole Staple:Social return and economic and financial return. Chris Erwin:Yeah, I like that. Nicole Staple:So how do you balance the two and make them optimized for both. It can be challenging. It was around that time that I met my co-founder. She was doing something completely different, but I was ultimately intrigued by what she was working on as well. Chris Erwin:Tell us about that moment. So it seems like that you are working on a few different things at school, double bottom line companies and ideas, but as we know now, Brideside is what took off, but what were the origin days? This was not the first idea that you were working on. Nicole Staple:No. Well, this company wasn't the first idea. Well, it wasn't my idea, to put that out there. I was just along for the ride, but it was not the first. My brother and I actually pitched some ideas at Kellogg. We won a little pitch competition around our media idea, around bringing local music into... It was sort of like a pitchfork but more location based where you would merge like content and shows that were happening and content that musicians were putting out by major cities. We had some different ideas there. I had- Chris Erwin:So this is your brother, Justin. You're pitching ideas at Kellogg. How much younger is your brother? He wasn't in school with us? Nicole Staple:He was in college. Chris Erwin:He was in college. Nicole Staple:He was at University of Chicago, so just down the south side. Chris Erwin:Oh, he was nearby. Nicole Staple:Mm-hmm (affirmative). Chris Erwin:I did not realize that. Nicole Staple:Yep. So you were pitching ideas together and thinking that maybe that could be the thing doubling down on family. Chris Erwin:I just try to find people who are smarter than I am and attach myself to them and then pitch their ideas. It was a very smart strategy. It's worked very well for many people. Okay. So you were doing that with your brother and then was any of those ideas seemed like they were going to have legs? Nicole Staple:Yeah. I mean, he ended up being very successful in his own right, but Sonali, my co-founder and I were in the same business school section. So we met really day one of school and were friends first. She had been planning her wedding while applying to business school and had thought that the wedding industry was really, to not sound overly trite, ripe for disruption. I knew that she was working on this, but I didn't know much about it. We were in a class together and she said, "Do you want to join my business plan writing team?" I had a few friends on the team, so I thought, "Cool, this looks fun." Chris Erwin:Little did you know in that moment when she asked that question that it would literally transform the next nine years of your life. Nicole Staple:My entire life. Chris Erwin:And potentially many more. Nicole Staple:I think there's definitely a power in saying yes to a lot of things and just trying them out. I think I was unsure about whether the wedding industry was interesting to me at all, but I think I was open-minded enough to try to understand the opportunity in a really like detached sort of more like academic way. I immediately thought that it was an awesome opportunity and I could very quickly see where the growth scenario was. And I saw this really like terrible customer experience for women, shopping for bridesmaid dresses and bridal gowns. Nicole Staple:I was like, "Oh, yeah. David's Bridal seems like super outdated. Good point." And how these large groups of women were shopping and planning together. It was a huge social thing. I hadn't really been through it much myself, but ultimately would have become a bridesmaid like several times after starting to work on this idea, and I could just see like this is something that feels given where consumer tech is going, given how we're using the internet, how we're looking for inspiration, this just feels like an industry that has not caught up yet. So as we started working on the idea together, I became more and more excited about it. Chris Erwin:Wow. Did you feel that you and Sonali really clicked from the beginning? Was there like a special vibe between you? Nicole Staple:I did and I never would have started the company if it weren't for that. While we were both MBAs and I think that can sometimes be looked down upon. I felt that we were very different in so many ways, which was a good thing. She was incredibly creative and smart. She had a really interesting orientation towards systems and science. Again, finding people smarter than you are. I was sort of like more of a strategic thinker. I liked big ideas. I could put stories together. I understood again the life cycle of a startup. Nicole Staple:I felt that I could really add some direction and structure to some of the ideas that she was talking about with our original co-founder, Emily who's no longer with the company. So I felt we worked really well together. She also was like a self-proclaimed fashion junkie, I was not. I liked more the business side of things and she had a great passion for how to build relationships with designers. She had a great eye for the product. So I just felt that we really vibed. Chris Erwin:This might have been a bit premature, but did that complementary relationship also gets you excited where it's like, "Hey, this is a really good idea. And if this were to go somewhere, just sort of become a thing, this could be someone that I could actually work with. Not only just like I like her, but no, we actually work well together. We enhance one another." Was that flashing through your mind? Nicole Staple:For sure. And those early days, it's like dating for the first time, meeting someone you really like when you're in those like early days. Chris Erwin:Nicole just did a little like shoulder shimming that was part of that. I wish you guys could see it. Nicole Staple:Yeah. It's like all romantic and fun like pillow talk until three in the morning. You just you know the ideas are flowing. You're starting to realize, "Oh my god, there is definitely some chemistry here. Some founder chemistry." And those days are really exciting because the whole world is literally at your fingertips when you feel that way. Chris Erwin:Yeah. It's a really, really exciting moment. I mean, this is like ridiculous about MBAs, when you start talking through a new idea with someone, you're like, "Could this be the rest of my life? Is this my billion dollar exit?" We probably ask ourselves that question too often while in school. But it is a really exciting moment. That's the fun of it. Nicole Staple:Yeah. Our spring break, second year, we hiked Patagonia with some friends and we spent hours on the trail like beautiful landscape. So special to be able to do that and do that together and just talked about what the rest of our lives would sort of look like. Could we do this? Could we take the leap? I often think business-minded people and ambitious people over index for risk. I think a lot of MBAs do that. They think things are more risky than they actually are and that can create a lot of fear or inhibit you from exploring new opportunities like this. Nicole Staple:I was like really glad that she had decided to do this sort of irregardless of whether I was on board or not and I think that provided a lot of inspiration for me and comfort knowing that she was in, and we could be buddies in that and I could just take the leap. At the end of the day, we'd be in it together. If it failed, I'm sure we were employable. It was not going to be that big a risk. Chris Erwin:All right. So let's fast forward a little bit. So you guys commit. You want to do Brideside. This is what you're going to do after you graduate from Kellogg. Okay. So school is over. What does the team look like and what are you working on? Do you have financing? Nicole Staple:The team was our friend, Emily, Sonali and myself. We quickly got sort of a technology UX/UI co-founder. That summer after we graduated, we started the Monday after graduation working full-time at 1871, which now is a massive incubator and co-working space in Chicago. We are one of their first tenants and we just used the Kellogg room and started working on... Chris Erwin:There's a designated Kellogg room. Nicole Staple:There is a Kellogg room and there were only like us... Basically, it was just us using it at the time. This is again, startups weren't as sexy as they are now and we did a photo shoot. We were designing a homepage. I remember that we were coming up with the name. All really important things and we were applying to incubators. That's my memory. I was sleeping on Sonali's couch, me, her husband, all in her apartment for that summer and applying to an incubator became like the primary milestone because that's how we felt we could properly organize, incorporate launch, potentially get some early stage funding. Chris Erwin:Okay. Did you eventually join an incubator? Nicole Staple:We did. It was called Dream Adventures out of Philadelphia. One of the founders of David's Bridal was involved in the incubator and that was why we chose that one and he became our mentor during those three and a half months. Chris Erwin:Interesting. Okay. So you get into Dream Adventures. Helpful experience? Nicole Staple:It was really helpful. I think we realized the value more and more once we left. It created a discipline that I think can be hard to create yourself if you're a first-time founder, which is being held accountable to KPIs every single week even when you don't really have a business. It caused us to do things very, very quickly. It removed us from our friends and family. We were in the same apartments and pens campus. And I think it allowed us to focus- Chris Erwin:So you were down in Philadelphia. Nicole Staple:We were down in Philadelphia. It allowed us to focus. Chris Erwin:Okay. Nicole Staple:And we ultimately raised some capital after it, which was obviously pivotal to being able to launch the business. Chris Erwin:So was there a demo day at the end? Nicole Staple:There was. Chris Erwin:And you raised some money from that demo day? Nicole Staple:We raised around 250,000 I think out of the gates and I believe that year, we raised another 250. So maybe 500 came out of that initial demo day. Chris Erwin:Wow. So this is exciting. You meet Sonali in your MBA program. You have the idea. You commit to it after graduation. You're working on it. You get into the incubator like check, then you raise some seed capital check. So you guys must be feeling like, "All right. Here we go. We're on this path. Things are looking up." Is that what you were feeling at the time? Nicole Staple:I feel like we felt desperate all the time. A lot of things were happening though. Sonali found out she was pregnant the day our incubator started. The day we launched our first pop-up shop which was like our coming out party of the whole thing was the day she had her baby. Chris Erwin:Wow. Okay. Nicole Staple:So April 5th, 2013 was the day we essentially early sort of beta launched Brideside the day she had the baby. So nothing in our history has ever been smooth. In fact, our first investment that was actually going to truly allow us to pay ourselves like a little bit of money which we ultimately weren't able to do for a while was through a large angel group in Philadelphia and we thought we had the investment. One of the managing partners from the group was doing a final meet and greet in Chicago, flew in to meet us. I don't think they knew Sonali was pregnant and we never mention it. She was eight months pregnant. She was big. He came, he left and they told us they were passing because we were located in Chicago. You have to ask yourself is that really why they passed on the deal? It was very tough for both of us. Chris Erwin:Yeah. You thought that you had that investment like in the bag. It was all sorted. And then that just changes. That's interesting. So I mean, one, looking from outside, people think like wow, this is a team that's really checking the boxes. They're growing. They've raised money. Through the incubator, they're learning. They have a beta test. But on the inside, you guys felt like, "Oh, we're just like every day, we're struggling through this." Just barely getting through these milestones. It's exciting but there's just so much more to do. No guarantees of success. Nicole Staple:Yeah. When you're feeling broke, you have tons of student loans. You are trying to get something off the ground and nothing feels like it's working. I think it became very obvious at that moment that we were also women in this industry. Chris Erwin:Explain that. Nicole Staple:Well, Sonali being pregnant I think was the reason that we lost that investment. I think that was very obvious to us at the time. So the reality of how we were perceived by this investment community and by the startup community actually became like very real at that point and I think you know Sonali got a lot of questions, "How can you be a mom and a startup founder?" I think there was a lot of bias at the time there and that was just becoming very clear to us that that was a factor. Chris Erwin:You're being punished for who you are and your identity which is probably an accelerant to your business because you intimately understand the bridesmaid's journey and that investors are punishing you for that. That's got to be so frustrating. Nicole Staple:Yeah. I think, look. I think there's just biases that are out there and I think you can feel sometimes like you're being held to a different standard, but ultimately that came and went and that was a reality. There was like a triple whammy as we scaled our business that year around fundraising. It was very tough for us. One was, I think being women founders but having a women focused consumer business. A lot of early stage investors are investing based on passion or just something that they personally care about, which is understandable. It's usually their personal money of their high net worth. When men generally control 90 to 95% of that capital, they just don't orient towards a woman's consumer product. They don't understand. So that was one. Chris Erwin:I can't relate to it. Nicole Staple:I think the biases of being a new mom, having a co-founder, that new mom or being young women founders, there's probably unconscious bias there being in the Midwest, less than 5% of capital at the time was going towards Midwest companies. Being in weddings and being in consumer generally less than 5% of VC goes to consumer goods businesses. So I think there was just a lot working against us that I didn't even realize at the time. So you put a lot of pressure on yourself. I spent a lot of years just thinking that everything that didn't go our way was like directly my fault and I think now I have a little bit more perspective for just how hard it is for everyone. Chris Erwin:Yeah. But as you start to reflect on that, did that make you think like, "Hey, the odds are against us. This might just not be possible." Nicole Staple:There have been many moments in the business where we were unsure whether we would be able to move forward and some of that uncertainty was... A lot of times, it was capital related. Sometimes there were moments operationally where we were like is this growing as fast as it should? Is this working? Is it not working? But there was one of those moments that I think was fundraising related where Sonali and I were at a restaurant down the street from our co-working space and we were having the conversation, "Do we keep going?" Chris Erwin:Oh, wow. Nicole Staple:I was started getting really emotional and crying at the table. Chris Erwin:What year was this? Nicole Staple:This conversation was probably 2015 at that point. And we were eating Shishito peppers as an appetizer. Chris Erwin:Okay. Good memory. Nicole Staple:And the waitress came over and said, "Is everything okay over here?" Because I was visibly upset and I told her I got one of the really spicy ones. I just remember that so well because it was really funny in the moment and I sort of pulled it together. One thing Sonali and I have always been really proud of is that in those moments, we've always stayed true to some of the key metrics in our business that allowed us to make the decision. So while it definitely is our baby and our passion project on some level, I think we've always had a very practical approach to the business. Nicole Staple:That's important because you're managing investors money and you're also managing people who are relying on you for a job. I think it's very important to be clear headed in these decisions on whether how fast you scale up or down or whether you go on or not and we always had some very key metrics around how likely a customer was to buy from us if she had heard about us and signed up for the site and how much she was spending with us. That became sort of our tried and true barometer and we ultimately were always very strong on that and also actually Net Promoter Score customer satisfaction like how much people liked our product. We were, say, very, very close to those numbers from literally day one in the business and that allowed us to navigate those decisions. And if we felt that those numbers were exceptionally good, we would keep going. Chris Erwin:When did you feel that after that conversation, there was an inflection point where like, "Okay, we really have something here and you're like the investor interest is, it's really starting to gel and manifest. Real money is flowing our way." What was that next moment? Nicole Staple:I think when we moved to a real office that became a moment for us. We moved to this really cool refurbished warehouse in the west loop where we still have our headquarters. At the time, it was 4,200 square feet. And I say at the time, because we've now taken over like the whole building. And 4,200 square feet seemed like massive to us and we decided... We had experimented in our co-working space with showrooming having women come in and try on dresses in person and it was astonishing to us that groups of women would buzz up to an office and try on dresses in a 200 square foot space literally running around in their bras and underwears in the hallway to try on dresses with us when we were literally less than 10 minutes away from some of the nicest bridal salons in the city. Chris Erwin:Wow, yeah. Nicole Staple:So we decided something there was working. So we got this new office and we decided the front part was going to be this cool lofty showroom experience and the back part was going to be our office, but it felt massive. So we said, "Okay, we'll lease it out to other companies. We'll try to recoup some of our rent expense." Within a few weeks, we felt like we were already busting out of the seams on that space." Chris Erwin:Oh, wow. Exciting. Nicole Staple:So that really felt like exciting. I was so proud to show people our real office and the showroom experience, we outfitted it for like $3,000 and within a year, it was like doing over a million bucks with people coming to try on dresses there. Chris Erwin:What year is this? Nicole Staple:This was in 2016. Chris Erwin:Okay, wow. Nicole Staple:And so we felt that we were really tapping into something with the showrooming experience. That was also giving us more insight into the customer experience more generally, which was helping inform our technology experience and our digital styling as well, which has become a huge differentiator for Brideside. We never took our eye off the prize on delivering an exceptional customer experience and we continued to invest in that, and that's very much what we're known for today. So we felt that we were really carving out something different. And then the next summer I think in 2017, we had one of our largest wholesale partners, brands, designers, went bankrupt essentially overnight. Chris Erwin:Wow. Nicole Staple:That was a huge moment for us because a lot of things happened then. We could have totally lost our shirts as a business, but we made a lot of really good decisions at that moment that ultimately led to us creating a growth strategy that would involve us becoming more direct to consumer manufacturing our own product, expanding the showroom experience while continuing to expand the technology experience. And I think that gave us a really defensible business model for mass scale. Chris Erwin:So this is an interesting moment to pause on because I know from having known Nicole now from early days of business school, in her business journey that in the beginning challenging and raising capital. And there was other companies that had actually raised... Doing something similar to what you were doing direct to consumer in the wedding industry and in retail that raising multiples of what you had raised. I know that that was really challenging and frustrating for you. But something we always talked about was like Nicole, you guys are super sharp operators. You have good KPIs in place. You have something here. Stay lean and stay resilient, and you did. Then at this point. I think around 2017, 2018, there are some of these competitors that started to fall by the wayside, were no longer around. Tell us about that moment. Nicole Staple:When the competitive landscape started to really shift both big players and smaller players and venture back players were, as you sort of put it, falling to the wayside or going out of business or the businesses were being acquired, we definitely felt that there was an opportunity opening up for us and we wanted to very much go at it full force. I mentioned I think the opportunity was really this completely integrated model where we were manufacturing our own products, so higher margin structure. We were able to deliver product faster and a more competitive price point to our customers. We had more control over product design. Nicole Staple:We now knew how to do showrooms. We had done a partnership with Hudson's bay company and some Lord and Taylor stores to experiment with that. So we were sort of ready to scale that. We were still really well known for our service experience and just this like concierge stylist experience. We had seen what we believed were cracks in other business models out there, some of our competitors and we felt that, "Hey, we're still growing." We've been really lean from a capital perspective. We were always really disciplined about customer acquisition. We've always been profitable on customer acquisition and we felt that some of our competitors for whatever reason, probably a lot of venture capital pressure had maybe been forced to grow more quickly than the business could sustain. Nicole Staple:So we felt that it was really our time. We had to wait for the dust to settle a little bit because it was a very unfriendly environment for us to raise capital at that point because there had been so much negative press around the wed tech space, the wedding technology. Chris Erwin:Wed tech? Nicole Staple:Wed tech. That's what it was called at the time. So we waited it out a little bit and when we were ready to really scale actually our private label, we had actually already started to scale our private label. That's when we went out for a larger round. Chris Erwin:And when was this? Nicole Staple:That would have been the end of 2018. Chris Erwin:End of 2018? Nicole Staple:Yeah. So we had raised 6.2 million up until that point and we wanted to raise a 7 million series A. Chris Erwin:On top of that 6 million? Nicole Staple:Mm-hmm (affirmative). Chris Erwin:And did you feel at this point when your competitors are, as I said falling by the wayside, did this feel validating to you? Did it get you excited or was there another feeling that you had? Nicole Staple:I think on some level it was validating and that it's hard for everyone. I think there's a lot of FOMO or inferiority stuff going on in your head in this world particularly if you read like TechCrunch every day. You always feel like everyone's doing better than you are. But what I realized is that we were actually doing pretty well. We had generated quite a good amount of sales volume on a relatively small amount of capital. We had proven a lot out. We were acquiring customers profitably and we felt that we had a lot ahead of us. Nicole Staple:So in that sense I think it felt validating, but for me if anything, it's a constant reminder around being prudent operators and really responsible stewards of capital. I think you are always rooting for any other founder around you. I mean, you look up to them. You want to learn from people who are starting companies and scaling companies around you and you never want to see a company fail even if it is a competitor. I guess there's some pleasure in that, but at the end of the day you have to look at yourself in the mirror and say like, "Gosh, I better make sure that that's not me tomorrow." Chris Erwin:It's really interesting how you put that. I mean, essentially you're describing how you look at the world as positive some, because if this is all hard all around and if another entrepreneur is succeeding, then there's chance for me as well versus... I know being realistic and many of us will go on LinkedIn and we scroll through like look at them, they've raised all this money or they've gotten this new job promotion and it's hard not to be jealous. Chris Erwin:Now, we're talking about broader issues with comparison culture and social media. I think it's really thoughtful Nicole how you described it. This is hard for everybody and we all want to win. There is space for all of us to rise up together. Nicole Staple:Right, right. Absolutely. Chris Erwin:Just a little anecdote from this before we get on to the next area. With my consulting firm, I was actually advising one of the wed tech companies that was in Nicole's fear. I think I remember telling Nicole that I was going to... I was giving her a preview. I was going to take on this assignment. And I just know during this moment that you're probably thinking through a lot of things through the future of your business. How did it feel when I asked you about that? This might be an interesting reflection of the head space of an entrepreneur. Nicole Staple:Well, you asked me if it was okay and I said no. Chris Erwin:There's a little bit more nuances of the conversation. But okay, you didn't want me to take on the assignment. Nicole Staple:I didn't. Chris Erwin:And why was that? Nicole Staple:Well, everything felt personal. Chris Erwin:Because I'm very smart and I was just going to... Nicole Staple:Yeah. You were too smart and you were going to give them... Well, it was a few things. One, is that I think that as an entrepreneur I've tended to probably be, as I am being in this podcast right now, overly transparent and open. I think it's important to learn about the ups and downs of a startup and I confided in a lot of my business school friends mostly around the downs because the ups, you don't need help on the ups. Those are great. They happen all the time for us. Nicole Staple:I don't want to make it seem like it's all downs, but the downs are the really tough part in your job as a CEO or a founder is to constantly deal with the down. So I felt like I had been really transparent with you about those. So you going into another business knowing all my secrets, made me uncomfortable but then also like everything with the business at the time, it felt personal. I was saying I hold a personal grudge against every single friend or family member who got married or was in a wedding and didn't buy a Brideside dress. Chris Erwin:Yes, understood. To bring up this conversation not to debate whether proceeding was right or wrong or anything like that because my belief- Nicole Staple:It was fine ultimately. Chris Erwin:Yeah. My belief was it was a company with a bit of a different business model, but I think it was more like... What's interesting is just the emotional reaction that it was just, "Hey, I look to my peers for help and guidance." And this felt like just a personal saying, "Hey, maybe this person is not going to be more focused on helping another company." And I really need all the help and all the emotional support I can get. Nicole Staple:And sure. In retrospect, was that emotional reaction the right one? Probably not. Chris Erwin:I think it worked out for us. We're having a podcast right now. Nicole agreed to be on it. So we are not mortal enemies. Nicole Staple:We're good friends. We're still good friends. Chris Erwin:We are still good friends. It worked out. So we're going to talk about a big defining moment that happened in Nicole's personal and professional career I think between 2018 and 2019. Professionally, I think you raise your largest round of financing to date, I think around, I'll call it 6 to $7 million. In addition to this, your husband was also diagnosed with a very severe form of cancer, kind of concurrently all around the same time. Tell us about this moment. Nicole Staple:In early 2018, my husband and I were coming back from a Hawaiian vacation where he hadn't been feeling well and it ultimately led to a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma which is very rare cancer of the bile ducts. So around that time, we were forced for his medical treatment to move to Rochester, Minnesota where he received a liver transplant summer of 2018. Chris Erwin:From his twin brother. Nicole Staple:From his twin brother, which was essentially 75 to 80% of people have essentially long-term survival. It can be curative. The cancer they remove, the cancerous organ and after that, we spent several months in Jacksonville, Wyoming for his recovery, in LA with you to be in warmer weather. And throughout that time is when a lot of this competitive shake-up was happening. We were also preparing to raise that growth equity round. It was incredibly tough, obviously. We thought though things were sort of on the up and up. Chris Erwin:For Eric. Nicole Staple:For Eric. So it more became a matter of balancing, working remotely and I was his primary caretaker. He took on an incredibly anti-vegan, anti-cancer diet. So cooking became a big part of my life and spending time together and taking care of him, and also running the business. Chris Erwin:Running the business as the CEO of this... How big was your team at this point? Nicole Staple:We were probably nearing 50 or 60 people at this point and during that time, we went through a potential M&A. We almost got acquired. We almost acquired two other companies at that time. So there was a lot going on, balancing a lot of different things. And then very unfortunately as their financing round was picking up in May 2019, Eric became ill again just under a year after his transplant and they found that there was micro metastasis in the bottom of his bile duct in this one area they didn't remove and it ultimately became terminal at that point. Nicole Staple:So he was airlifted. I'm leaving out a lot of details, but airlifted back to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and as we were receiving that terminal diagnosis, I was literally finalizing disclosure agreements on a round. Chris Erwin:Geez. Nicole Staple:So it was taking phone calls from waiting rooms and hospital rooms sort of non-stop for several weeks. Chris Erwin:Okay. In this moment, this is like an unfathomable moment for pretty much 99.9% of the population. You have so much going on in your life. Did you feel that this was unsustainable? Did you feel that you were just going to crumble, but it was every day, just get through the next day or did you have this feeling at the moment of, "No, you got this. I'm an all-powerful CEO and wife, and I'm just going to power through"? What was going through your head? Nicole Staple:I think I felt a deep responsibility to the company. We needed the capital, we needed to close the round and it was really important for me to stay clear-headed and disciplined enough to make that happen. I also felt that a lot of the ways that we had handled my husband's illness was around really coming up with an action plan and an educated one as quickly as possible. That was sort of how we had handled the entire illness, and that became no different either. Nicole Staple:So I immediately pulled together a squad team. We came up with a plan to do as much research as possible around the new options that we had mobilized a lot of people on different parts of research and talking to new doctors because at this point the options became increasingly more limited and we had to think more out of the box more away from traditional medicine and he was also going through a lot medically at that time and he needed to be stabilized. Nicole Staple:So it was sort of just firing on all cylinders at that point to sort of get it done and obviously trying to be as optimistic about his outcomes as we could sort of like the time we could buy ourselves, whether it be options for us and clinical trials or things like that. Chris Erwin:You're taking essentially like a business approach of how you built Brideside to his cancer treatment. Nicole Staple:Yeah, absolutely. Chris Erwin:And just thinking like, "Hey, here's a problem. Let's come up with a solution. Let's do a research and figure out different ways going forward." In doing that, that it's a very smart approach, but was that also a way for you to just have comfort and how to deal with it which is we have a process, we get into it, power forward? Nicole Staple:Yeah, absolutely. And I think my husband was oriented towards that way too. I think it made having sort of hope, made a plan, made things feel better. So in that moment, that's what we were thinking, but I think the thing with cancer is you don't know where you are on the clock, ever. You don't know how far... At that point, he had no metastasis. We didn't know how long we had and we were still just adjusting to this reality. I mean, it was really unfathomable to us. We felt that he had done everything right and we had caught it early and that he was going to be fine. So we were really adjusting to this reality real time and so I think that was the reason we were just trying to get through it and he was just trying to get healthy. He was going through a lot medically. Nicole Staple:So this was May 2019. We closed around literally the exact same time he got diagnosed and then when we closed around, we had already lined up a lot of new hires. We were about to sign a bunch of leases for showrooms. So literally the day after the round closed, our head of people and culture came on, our CFO came on board. We signed several leases within that first several weeks. We started scaling up our sales team. A lot happened right then, and I think it was really over the next two or three months that it became sort of unimaginable to manage all of those things. Nicole Staple:But the one thing that I'm really proud of from that time is that I do think that I made the space to spend time with my husband. And I think overall, after his diagnosis while it sounds like I was managing a lot which I was and certainly probably worked too much, I do think that we... It was the first time I had truly prioritized something and someone else ahead of the business to be honest even though we had been married for almost five years at that point. Chris Erwin:Yeah. And I was at your beautiful wedding in Victor, Idaho. Nicole Staple:So I do think it was an important lesson around, I wasn't a mom. I think oftentimes people, or a dad, will find being a parent like forces you to do that, and we didn't have kids. So I think like this forced me to do that. Chris Erwin:Wow. So I mean, I just want to pause on this. You just have for the first time since you had graduated business school and working on Brideside, this was the first time that you would prioritized something else other than the business. Nicole Staple:Yes. Chris Erwin:That's a big statement. I mean, that's- Nicole Staple:It's really true. Chris Erwin:It's like eight years of your life. I mean, it clearly just shows your commitment to the Brideside and the team and the mission, the problem that you're solving in the industry. But I think it's also reflects on just entrepreneurs that can get lost in their business for better or for worse. So this is probably a unique moment where the business has needed you for many years and Eric, and the family also really needed you. Being as one of Eric's very close friends needed you as well. A good life lesson to think about too is balance going forward. Do you feel that that lesson is something you're applying going forward? Nicole Staple:Yeah, 100%. So your listeners know how this ended up. We were sort of like in May of that year, he passed away, August 12th of 2019. So I think now the reality is that I have a new life and that's a very important reality for me to sort of embrace and that it's never going to be like it was. Sonali, my co-founder who is also very good friends with Eric, we got together shortly after he passed away and we said Brideside has been this amazing journey that we've built. We were on our way to doubling the size of the team at this point. We're growing very fast and we said nothing that happened before is actually really relevant for what the future brings. Nothing is going to be the same in how we interacted as friends and as couple friends. Socially, the company is at an entirely new place and I think there's something incredibly liberating about that feeling. Chris Erwin:That is a powerful statement. I intimately witnessed you, Nicole during this period and you're an incredible pillar of strength for all of us around this. And just speaking to all of you investors and potential executive recruits for Nicole going forward, everything that I've seen her manage throughout every single aspect of her life is so impressive. So I would back this woman with anything, with any unlimited amounts of capital. That being said just, it's such an incredible story and appreciate you sharing that for everybody. Chris Erwin:So next up, this is the last segment before we get into our very exciting fire round, but Nicole, you're now in Brooklyn. You've moved to New York City. You're living here. You have a new flagship store on 20 East 20th. It's 2020, what's next up for Brideside? Nicole Staple:We just launched bridal gown. So as I mentioned before, we used to be just bridesmaid dresses, but now we are doing it all. So we have private label bridal gowns. We sell some top designers. We have these beautiful showrooms. We just launched a few new cities. So we launched a new big flagship in Chicago. We launched on Newbury Street in Boston. Chris Erwin:Wow. Nicole Staple:As you mentioned, we just launched bridal in New York and now we have a big store here. So we are really looking to take over the world at this point. That's pretty much what it comes down to. We have this tribe. We're now almost 130 teammates, predominantly women across all functions, all levels, operations technology. Chris Erwin:Predominantly women, is that like 60%? Nicole Staple:Like 96%. Chris Erwin:96% women. Okay, yeah. Global domination by women. Nicole Staple:Yep. We are a very diverse tribe in terms of some aspects of our makeup and others not so much, but we'll continue to build diversity into our culture. We are not only focused on the top-line growth story, but we are really focused on who we are as a company right now. I think that's something that is really, really hard to do when you're working on a lean budget and you're just trying to make it and continue to grow and prove yourself to the world, but we are super focused on who we are as a culture at how we create a company of belonging, how we're progressive and the types of policies that we're making for women and that has become a major focus for us as well. Chris Erwin:Got it. Wow. I'm just looking at Nicole's face light up during this conversation. So very exciting times ahead. What would you say is your favorite part of this job? Of all the many hats that you wear and everything that you do, what's your favorite part? Nicole Staple:It's a good question and like my co-founder said a long time ago, if it's not fun, it isn't worth it. It definitely always hasn't been fun, but I think now, I'm really working on embracing the fun and like the silly moments. In fact, Sonali and I now don't end a meeting without either singing a made-up rap lyric or recommending a song to one another. We're trying to bring in that playfulness into the day and that is really, I think what it's all about particularly around our people. So I have to say my favorite part is like getting to hang out with the amazing people that believe in us and believe in the mission and come to work every day. Chris Erwin:Wow. Can you share a recent rap lyric that you came up with Sonali? Nicole Staple:That is private founder business. Chris Erwin:There's an intimate relationship that's formed between Sonali and Nicole and I don't want to get in the way of that. Understood. Before I fully let you off on moving to some of the easier questions, let's talk about the direct-to-consumer industry as a whole, right? There's some challenges that are emerging in real time. Casper, one of the big name direct consumer brands has raised lots of capital, just went public. I think some people are looking at their IPO as... It's now trading at a discount to its IPO stock price. Chris Erwin:Recently, I think the CEO and founder of Outdoor Voices just stepped down. They're having some challenges with their user acquisition and their growth. I think a lot of people were talking about just growing saturation of user acquisition channels. It's becoming more expensive to run these businesses, and a few other factors. You hear about this in the industry in which you operate. How do you feel during all this? What's going through your mind? Nicole Staple:I mean, it's scary. I do think there's some softening. There's definitely some softening in the consumer markets across all industries for sure and we're seeing that in our industry too. For us, we are really dedicated to discipline an
Riots erupt in Boston after a peaceful protest gathered in from of the State House in Boston. After what was a peaceful gathering, some protesters took it upon themselves to start attacking local businesses in the Downtown Crossing area, Newbury Street, and others. There were 9 police officers who were transported to local hospitals and 53 civilians arrested. We discuss what is happening in Boston and whether these looters will be prosecuted. VB shares this thoughts on all of this and hears yours.
Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Ayanna Pressley discussed her recent appeal to Gov. Baker to rescind COVID-19 crisis guidelines in order to address racial disparities in communities impacted by the coronavirus. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem recapped her latest writing for The Atlantic on the “strange purgatory” awaiting Americans post-quarantine, and criticized President Trump’s calls to pull funding for the World Health Organization. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney recounted her bizarre experience walking down an empty Newbury Street in Boston, and read a Covid-themed list of fixations and fulminations. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the sexual assault allegation against former Vice President Joe Biden, and criticized the still-standing FDA restrictions on gay men donating blood. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed a new contract-tracing app from Google and Apple, and local privacy concerns over Chinese regulations on the video game Animal Crossing. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed polling on who Americans trust during the coronavirus pandemic, and whether recent comments from Surgeon General Jerome Adams were offensive to Americans of color. We opened our lines to ask listers: are you enjoying be anti-social while you social distance?
Shellee Mendes Bio – December 2019“Follow your dreams. There is nothing you can’t achieve if you dream big and work hard!”That is the advice Shellee Mendes imparts to young people and entrepreneurs in her speaking engagements and philanthropic appearances … and those are the words she lives by.Her inspirational approach to work and life – combined with outstanding entrepreneurial success - may be the reasons Shellee was asked to serve as a Director on the Boston Arts Academy Foundation Board. And why the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce honored her with the GBCOC Small Business “Main Street” Award. Top honors before audience of 14,000 at 2019 MA Conference for WomenIn 2019, Shellee was chosen for the coveted TARGET STORYTELLER AWARD at Massachusetts Conference for Women, with 14,000 attendees cheering her on! She received the award for her tireless work giving back to her community and lifting women up through her example and initiatives. Shellee also ran a conference round table on “Race, Hair & Working Women,” focusing on the challenges women of color face in regard to their hair and careers and in their everyday working environment. The sold-out program looked at questions Shellee says are raised every day in her salons: “Will I be judged for embracing my natural, ethnic hair texture and style? Is my hair keeping me from moving up the corporate ladder? Should I straighten my hair for that big interview?” Entrepreneur, businesswoman, philanthropist, role modelAs the founder/owner/stylist at Salon Monet on Newbury Street, Shellee serves a diverse, multicultural clientele. In December 2017, she opened her second Newbury Street salon with a celebration attended by Mayor Walsh, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and other VIPs.An inspirational speaker and active philanthropist, Shellee always finds time to support the many causes in which she believes. Her charitable giving includes donations, fundraisers and voluntary assistance to a host of organizations that help children, women and families. Shellee never stops! She is the recipient of multiple awards and honors, serves a host of celebrity clients, and last year was spotted chatting with Oprah on the Holland America Alaska Cruise! Shellee grew up in housing developments in Roslindale and Dorchester. As a single parent, she and her two small children lived in a Quincy shelter while she worked full-time and put herself through cosmetology school. Now she gives a hand up to those who are struggling. Read her inspirational story and check out recent achievements in the links below. https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/10/31/woman-makes-leap-ifrom-projects-newbury/X8NHL3VWtJ1gX52R4PVUPM/story.htmlhttps://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2018/06/24/salon-owner-mendes-receives-chamber-small-business-award/Nk5ExQ3X32VXLyj9kgHvWO/story.htmlhttp://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/inside_track/2017/12/sidetrack_marty_walsh_ayanna_pressley_and_more
Ever wonder what makes Bill Belichick smile? A nice custom tailored suit by Alan Rouleau on Newbury Street of Course! Did you know Alan's shop on Newbury Street is a one stop shop for men to relax, get custom attire, and a nice shave? Listen in below to find out how Patriots star, Edelman enjoys his beard being tamed. Add the BosBabes on all of our social media platforms. Visit www.primaryjane.com and use promo code BOSBABES15 at checkout for 15% off all of their premium CBD hemp products!
You can find the videos from this episode at our Discord RIGHT HERE! Just Got Back Home From Boston Jim: One of the most special part 2 guests shows up and sticks around for a while! 6 UNDERGROUND: Let’s get into the latest Bayhem! Also maybe someone knew someone that saw something. Cardi B: Only way to end the show is to listen to Cardi B shit and fart. FRAGGLE STICK CAR!, BAD SANTA!, ELTON JOHN!, STEP INTO CHRISTMAS!, BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE 2.0!, DUET!, UPDATED!, JUST GOT BACK HOME FROM BOSTON JIM!, SPECIAL GUEST!, TRIP REPORT!, SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON!, DAD!, PASSED AWAY!, CHRISTMAS!, AIRLINE MILES!, POINTS!, DELTA!, LIGHTS!, CHRISTMAS!, WEATHER!, CITY LIFE!, SUBURBS!, NEWBURY STREET!, THE T!, THE MIDDLE EAST!, BING TOWN!, ABINGTON!, BACK BAY!, NOSTALGIA!, RED EYE!, SNOW!, JFK LIBRARY AND MUSEUM!, HISTORY!, CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS!, NIXON!, SPACE RACE!, ACCENT!, ASSASSINATION!, SECRET SOCIETY!, FOREIGN GIFTS!, 9/11!, EATALY!, NORTH END!, ITALIAN FOOD!, SHAKE SHACK!, FIVE GUYS!, IN N OUT!, NEWBURY COMICS!, THE MOVIE CRYPT!, YORKIETHON!, ADAM GREEN!, JOE LYNCH!, ARWEN!, MARATHON!, CENTER SCHOOL!, MEMORY LANE!, BASTARDS!, TAG!, NEW HIGH SCHOOL!, MEDIA CLASS!, LEGACY!, DUNKIN DONUTS!, PLYMOUTH ROCK!, MAYFLOWER II!, APACHE!, KILL ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE!, TRUCCHI’S!, SHAWS!, STOP AND SHOP!, PAPA GINO’S!, COMFORT PLUS!, FIRST CLASS!, SECRET SCREENING!, WILL SMITH!, MARTIN LAWRENCE!, EARLY!, NDA!, PAPERWORK!, ACTION MOVIES!, STAR WARS!, R-RATED ACTION MOVIE!, TANGLED!, A GOOFY MOVIE!, MAX!, PRINCESS AND THE FROG!, ACTION!, NETFLIX!, CARDI B!, AIRPLANE!, CHEESES!, FART!, SHIT!, DIARRHEA!, REVENGE!, PROOF!, NASTY!, GROSS!, MESSED UP STOMACH!, DISGUSTING! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD JIM AND THEM #612 Part 2 RIGHT HERE!
In this episode, Greg talks with Maine developer David Bateman. David explains his entry into commercial real estate and discusses his various development projects, including Fisherman's Wharf and Newbury Street in Portland. We learn what David thinks should be the future of Portland's development.
Together over a lot of coffee, crazy ideas and a mutual love for making people's dreams come true, Moira & Natalie founded Whim Events in 2011. They have designed and planned hundreds of weddings throughout the New England, and were named Best Wedding Planner in Boston by Boston Magazine in 2018. With over ten years of experience, the two specialize in joyfully and thoughtfully guiding couples through every stage of the engagement, and believe planning should be as joyful and fun as the day itself. Moira is a New England native, and studied art and interior design at Suffolk University before starting her career in floral design. Before founding Whim, Moira worked in some of Boston's top floral shops including Winston Flowers, designed weekly florals for the Vera Wang boutique on Newbury Street, and created the floral set for the Boston-based movie "What's Your Number." Natalie moved to Boston in 2003 to receive her Masters in marketing at Emerson College. She began her career in working as the brand manager and event planner for the global alcohol brand Magners Irish Cider in Boston and Germany before co-founding Whim Events. In addition to planning and producing weddings all over New England, Moira and Natalie are also active in the Boston small business industry and are passionate about uniting other local creatives in the community to engage in collaboration over competition. You will hear ALL about their incredible services for both couples and creatives, as well as their insight and expert advice on ‘Essential Dynamics of a Successful Business Partnership.' We will finish up with what these ladies wish other vendors knew and their confetti hour confessions! Featured Guests: Natalie Pinney and Moira Thompson of Whim Events Instagram: @whimevents Website: www.whimevents.com
WBZ's Jordan Rich talks with Matt Robinson of matts-meals.com about Which Wich's new location on Newbury Street, Boston.
Live from Boston... I break it all down on how Marathon Monday will go down, including opening thoughts on how Boston racers might manage the potential weather. Listen in to get my predictions for the races as well as insights from the elite press conferences, including discussions I hold with almost all of the top Americans. Plus, follow along on Monday on Facebook live (www.facebook.com/roguerunning) as I do the live call from the Oofos pop-up at 344 Newbury Street, just a few blocks from the course.
Episode 43. Shoutout to Casey for his White Boy Hustle and starting up a popping apparel brand out of the city and building Encore to the point where he has prime real estate on Newbury Street. Casey runs Encore Apparel and started it up on a WHIM after a long career in corporate America and now has his hands DEEP in Boston Music (specifically rock, alternative, and country) at his store on 303 Newbury Street. He has been throwing intimate shows for local acts. Hector and Big Beach actually ran a couple episodes of the Golden Hours in the store months back. We chopped it up about entrepreneurship, Corporate America, building your own business, and mortality. This was a dope piece, shout out to Casey and check out his store at 303 Newbury Street. ----------- WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPMy3yuBRxc&feature=youtu.be ----------- The Official Theme SMASH of this season of the Golden Hours Podcast is: "Folgers" by Sir South (UNRELEASED) Follow South Here: IG- @sir_south, Soundcloud: @sirsouth Additional Beats from: @kieranbeats ----------- Follow Casey and Encore Apparel! Instagram: @encoreapparelco Website (To Book an Encore Hour): encoreapparel.com The Store is Located at: 303 Newbury Street, Boston MA ------ Recorded Live from Phoenix Down Recording IG: @phxdownstudios, @johnscottengineer Book Ya Session Right Here: phxdown.simplybook.me/sheduler/manage --------- Follow GDP! On Instagram: @goldendeerproductions (Coach): @godholway Subscribe On YouTube! www.youtube.com/channel/UCnDAGmoW…iew_as=subscriber On Twitter: (Coach): @BoachBonnie Facebook: Facebook.Com/GoldenDeerProductions Listen to Our Podcasts Here! iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-g…d1437829342?mt=2 Soundcloud: @goldendeerproductions Spotify: Search: "Golden Deer Productions" ------ Website: goldendeer.productions ------ The Golden Hours Podcast is the BIGGEST podcast in Boston, and is run by a great guy (@godholway over at @goldendeerproductions). We try to show love to anybody really hustling in the city, because I'm doing the same over on my end. Big Boston Hustle! Season 3 is NOW BIG Live. Nothing like the Holiday Season in the 617 so it only made sense to call this... "The Holiday Season". We're bopping out at least 2, probably 3, and maybe even 4 episodes a week for the city dawg. Hope you guys are liking the growth and running with us.
The Hempest was founded in 1995 with the conviction that bringing hemp back to the marketplace and into full view of the public was the best way to counter the misinformation and ignorance that has surrounded this plant for years. Owners, Mitch Rosenfield and Jon Napoli Says: We also believe the market is the best place create change, for as the demand for hemp increases so will the pressure to allow it to be freely grown around the world. We will continue to create and sell the finest and largest selection of hemp products found anywhere until that goal is achieved. Your purchase helps achieve that goal of a cleaner, greener future for all! We have sourced hemp fabrics and garments from all over the world, and have established great relationships with mills and factories in China, the world's largest producer of Industrial Hemp. You will find our clothing is a big step above the burlapy, thick fibers many envision when they hear Hemp clothing. We work directly with one of the world's most advanced, and eco-friendly hemp textile producers, who's stringent environmental quality standards and fair labor practices landed them as 2nd member to the Fair Wear Foundation. All dyes and fabrics we use are Oeko-Tex certified and meet the most stringent European standards in the industry. We have communicated with many state legislators and have been politically active in the US to try to re-establish Hemp farming practices right here in our back yard. Every dollar you spend on our product is a dollar spent on bringing us one step closer to that goal. The reality of Hemp's resurgence is upon us as in 2017, we have watched this movement grow into tangible Hemp crops now being cultivated in many US states with more to follow. Hemp is our past, present and future, and can still save the planet. Believe it! Mitch Rosenfield and Jon Napoli Website: Hempest.com Send us an e-mail: (sales@hempest.com) Call us at: 617-421-9944. Write to us at: The Hempest 207 Newbury Street, Boston MA 02116
This week, Stephen takes a stroll down Newbury Street with his friend Karin Yehoudian. They talk about the mixture of high fashion and oddball specificity that makes up the street. They also reminisce about the first times they hung out, compare Boston to Long Island, and celebrate the joys of a single room. Plus, Stephen complains about the T!
From creating experiences like Brunch & Burn to very recently winning Epicenter Community’s Accelerate Boston Pitch Contest, Heather has hit the ground running with the development of the Boston-based, boutique fitness startup, perfectly named Trillfit. Hosted by Alexis @ebadubadu @firstyearprj Production & editing by Alexis @ebadubadu @firstyearprj Intro music provided by @BadDecisionsCo Outro music provided by Dalvin. at https://soundcloud.com/dalvinbeats *Trillfit’s weekly collaboration with Athleta on Newbury Street happens weekly on Thursdays, and kicks off May 5th, 2016.
With humble beginnings in Boston's very own Newbury Street, Newbury Comics was founded in 1978 by two determined MIT students. Not very long after starting, Newbury Comics found its way to the forefront of Comics and music retail in New England with over 29 locations.
This week, over buffalo wings and bagels, John and I review the new Iron Man sequel, while still under its influence an hour after seeing it. Also, we discuss the unspeakably disgusting: a horror (?) film from the Netherlands entitled The Human Centipede: The First Sequence, which is now playing in limited release; plus the new DVDs Crazy Heart, Hong Kong Godfather, and the Iraq war documentary Severe Clear. This we recorded live at the Trident Booksellers & Cafe on Newbury Street in Boston.
In this show Steve and John review The Clash of the Titants in another Post Screening review at the Trident Cafe on Newbury Street in Boston. Also included are never before hearch stories of the valiant trials of the humble movie reviewer and confessions of pivotal horror movie experiences.
Steve and John review the new animation from Dreamworks, How to Train your Dragon and John Cusack's new comedy, Hot Tub Time Machine. There are lots of DVDs being released this week and you're invited to visit us and say hello Monday March 29 around 10pm at the Trident Booksellers Cafe on Newbury Street in Boston where we'll be recording next week's show following the screening of Clash of the Titans. And check out the blog to learn how to get free copies of Anime series like Naruto, Honey & Clover and Bleach, just by emailing and asking for them.
A CBC “Off the Beaten Track” episode in which I talk traveling to Boston for Prince Edward Islanders. Originally aired on August 18, 2000 on CBC Radio’s Mainstreet program in Prince Edward Island. As with all of these pieces, I prepared a script for host Matthew Rainnie and me; it went like this: Peter’s Boston Survival Guide Introduction: It’s easy for Islanders to get to Boston. We should do it more often. This is the six-minute guide to getting to Boston in one piece and having fun while there. Step One: Getting to Boston The best flight to Boston is the 6:15 a.m. Air Nova flight direct from Charlottetown, which arrives in Boston 2 hours later at 9:13 a.m. It costs a lot to stay in Boston – might as well maximize your time there by arriving early! The earlier you reserve this flight the better – it can range anywhere from $250 to $1200. There are usually seat sales three or four times a year. As usual, it’s cheaper to fly if you stay over a Saturday night. You only need 15,000 Aeroplan or Canadian Plus points to get to Boston. The flight takes about ½ an hour to get to Halifax, then you have a ½ hour wait, and then it’s about an hour to get to Boston. Step Two: In from the Airport Boston’s Logan Airport is located just across Boston Harbor from downtown Boston. You can take a taxi, a bus, a limousine – even a water taxi – but the best way to get to downtown Boston is by subway – known in Boston as “the T.” It costs only 85 cents, and it tales about ½ an hour to get downtown. Go out of the terminal building to the ground transportation area and look for the signs to “Logan Shuttle” – this is a free bus that takes you to the Airport subway station. Make sure you get on the right bus – not all of them stop at the subway station, but they’re all clearly marked. Once you get to the “T station” you pay your 85 cents and get on the subway – make sure you’re getting on the one going downtown – just ask the person in the toll booth. About 9 minutes later, you’re downtown! Step Three: Where to Stay? Boston is a really expensive place to stay! If you’re willing to stay in the suburbs you can find a good room for less than $100/night. In general, the closer you are to the heart of Boston, the more you’re going to pay and to stay downtown means paying $150 to $300 (or more!) a night. My picks for places to stay are: Susse Chalet Boston One of a chain of New England budget hotels Basic accommodations, but clean and well-located Make sure you stay at the Boston one, not the Cambridge one (Cambridge location is right on the highway, and very noisy!) Has a pool; is next door to a bowling center; has a restaurant; Burger King is around the corner. Not right on the subway, but they have a free shuttle that will take you there. About $100/night. Newbury Guest House and the Harborside Inn Sister properties – one located on Newbury Street (the chichi shopping district of Boston) and the other located just of Quincy Market right downtown. Small and friendly. Clean rooms, a step up from the Susse Chalet. Very nice continental breakfast is included. Can’t beat the location – both are located in the heart of very interesting neighbourhoods. $110 to $160/night, depending on the time of year. The College Club My personal favourite place to stay. Located in an historic building very near Boston Common, right in the heart of the city. Started life as a private club for college women; now invites the public to stay in its guest rooms. The rooms are small; sometimes you have to share a bath down the hall. Rooms have a lot of character – books and magazines, antique furnishings, large windows. But there’s a good breakfast included, you’re in the heart of the city and a block from the subway, and the building is beautiful. And the rooms go for $55 to $85/night, which is a great deal for Boston. Step Four: What to do? It’s easy to get around on foot or on the subway – there’s very little need for a car. You can get a free subway map from toll collectors. You could spend weeks in Boston and never run out of things to do. Here are some “must see” things: Go to the top of the John Hancock Tower. It’s a little expensive at $6 a person, but you get a great view of the entire city, and there’s an interesting presentation about the history of the city. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, right around the corner from the Museum of Fine Arts, is a fantastic building which houses the personal collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner, who was a wealthy patron of the arts. The building is in the style of a 15th century Venetian palace, and is as interesting as the art. The Nostalgia Factory in North Boston, which is the Italian district of the city, is a cramped little second-floor store, very hard to find. They have a collection of 30,000 historic movie posters, lobby cards, photographs, books, and magazines. While in North Boston, eat at Ida’s Restaurant. Like the Nostalgia Factory, it’s cramped and hard to find, but they serve wonderful homemade Italian food. Kendall Square Cinema over the Charles River in Cambridge is an “art house multiplex” and always has interesting movies playing. It’s kind of hard to get to: you go to the Kendall ‘T’ stop, and then take a free shuttle bus to the Galleria Mall. While you’re on the Cambridge side of the Charles River, you can try Fire & Ice, which is a weird sort of “make your own meal” restaurant, where you assemble a collection of meat and vegetables and spices and then have them cooked for you on a huge 8-foot diameter grill. Finally, my favourite place in Boston is Filene’s Basement, which sells a motley collection of seconds, overruns and liquidated clothing at prices that gradually go down to zero as time marches on. If you’re wily, you can buy an entire wardrobe for under $100. When you’re at Filene’s, be sure to eat at Chacarero, a small Chilean takeout stand in the same building that sells a most amazing sandwich the core ingredient of which is steamed green beans. Step Five: Coming back to PEI. There’s a 6:00 p.m. flight from Boston to Charlottetown every day, which lets you still a full day in Boston after checking out of your hotel. Many hotels, esp. smaller ones, have a luggage room where you can leave your things after you check out. Remember that you have a $50 exemption from duty if you’re gone for 24 hours or more, a $200 exemption if you’re gone for 48 hours or more, and a $750 exemption if you’re gone for more than a week.
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