Provincetown: Photo Tour

The Red Balloon takes on Provincetown. Below take a photo tour of the art, monument, and history on the tip of Cape Cod. The best part: you don't have to leave your front door for this tour!

 Follow along and take a trip abroad as The Red Balloon takes over Europe: coming soon!

The Red Balloon: Retrospective

There's no better time than now to look back at just some of the stories that The Red Balloon has had the privilege to cover. Here is The Red Balloon's Retrospective:

January 2012: Fenway Park celebrates 100 Years

Vericon March 2012: Author R.L. Stine

August 2012: Bruce Springsteen at Fenway Park (in the pouring rain): The Boss doesn't let anything stop him and neither does The Red Balloon

August 2012: Lenny Kravitz Tour

August 2012: Seinfeld Soup Nazi

Harvard Arts Medal Ceremony April 2013: Recipient Matt Damon with John Lithgow

May 2013: Rhianna Tour

November 2013: Red Sox World Series Parade

June 2014: Pedro Martinez  

August 2014: Swan Lake on the Swan Boats

August 2014: The stars of the film The Giver

August 2014: Michael David Rosenberg, better known as Passenger at the House of Blues

October 2014: Jake Gyllenhaal exclusive

May 2015: Natalie La Rose

May 2015: Ella Henderson

May 2016: Taste of Back Bay

July 4th: Boston Pops

August: Boston Seafood Festival

September 2016: Taste of Downtown Boston

2017 Highlights:
Boston Wine Expo
New England Food Show
Flower and Garden Show
Taste of Downtown Crossing
Perks Convention
TechJam

2018 Highlights:
Cirque du Soleil: Luzia
King Richard's Faire
Hasty Pudding Man of the Year
Taste of Back Bay
Dirty Dancing
Diner en Blanc

2019 Highlights: 
City Winery
Ice Castles
Cape Cod
Cirque du Soleil: Corteo
Travel and Adventure Show: Boston
New England Auto Show

Where will The Red Balloon be next in 2020? Follow along and find out!

TechJam 2018

TechJam invaded Boston's historic Government Center bringing with it a tech block party like no other. Now in its 6th year, TechJam allowed participants to explore all aspects of technology along with music, food trucks, and interactive art experiences. The event showcases new ideas and innovations. One company brought a "Back to the 80's" theme along with neon colors, scrunchies, and....(you may have already guessed it) fanny packs!  Robots and mechanical bull riding were also included in the festivities this year.

Boston TechJam 2018

Boston TechJam 2018 to Celebrate Region’s Tech Culture & Innovation

Largest Regional Technology Festival Back for its 6^th Year

BOSTON, March 28, 2018 -- On June 14, 2018, City Hall Plaza will again be home to the annual Boston TechJam, a celebration of the technology ecosystem and culture of New England- and Boston-area entrepreneurs, startups, established tech companies, venture capitalists, non-profit organizations and higher learning institutions. The event, now in its sixth year, uniquely combines a tech block party, innovation showcase and live music to connect the community and celebrate the local startup economy.

"Boston TechJam has grown beyond anything we could have imagined when launching, in large part due to the amazing partners who’ve returned year after year to bring this celebration to the community,” said Christine Nolan, co-founder of Boston TechJam and Sr. Director of Communities at MassTLC. “It has become a massive gathering for anyone who loves technology and wants to see and be part of the vibrancy of our local ecosystem. For 2018, we’re taking over the entire City Hall Plaza space to allow for additional attendees and offer even more entertainment and engaging content like a Robotics/IoT Village.”

The event, which drew over 7,000 attendees last year, is made possible by the visionary thought leadership and financial support of underwriting sponsors Autodesk, Cengage, Chewy, Everbridge, Kronos Incorporated, Liberty Mutual, MathWorks, PTC and The Predictive Index. Additional sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities are still available.

"The pace at which technology impacts our lives accelerates every day, and events like these are needed to harness new ideas and inspire people to continue to innovate,” said Jack Little, CEO of MathWorks, developers of the MATLAB technical computing software. “We’re excited to partner with Boston TechJam to showcase and celebrate the culture of innovation, collaboration and creativity this region has to offer organizations and individuals alike.”

Boston TechJam will feature live bands, appearances from entrepreneurial leaders, local craft beer, food truck fare and “street-festival”-type games and giveaways from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.

New in 2018 is an area dedicated to robots and the Internet of Things, as well as a “theater-in-the-round” – a central stage showcasing a mash-up of amazing talents of our local techies. From juggling to slam poetry to pitching the next big idea in tech, if you think you’ve got what it takes to make it onto the stage, apply to perform. 

The event is led by co-founders Christine Nolan of MassTLC and Mark Lorion of Arxan Technologies along with founding team members Dave Polcaro from East Coast Catalyst, Ben Maitland-Lewis from Pretty Instant, Dave Cutler from Influence Central and Sarah Babbitt from SHIFT Communications. 

How to Get Involved

• To register to attend and get the most up-to-date information on the schedule of events, visit www.bostontechjam.com and follow @bostontechjam (#btj2018).
• To exhibit or sponsor, contact exhibit@bostontechjam.org.
• To be considered for the “theater-in-the-round,” contact ruth@masstlc.org or complete the form here www.masstlc.org/apply-to-perform-at-boston-techjam/.
• To attend as a member of the press, contact btj@shiftcomm.com.

###

About Boston TechJamBoston TechJam is a showcase and accelerator for new ideas and world-class innovations coming out of the Boston region. The event brings together early stage companies, entrepreneurs, students, established enterprises, venture capitalists and artists to celebrate the region’s technology, entrepreneurship and culture. Equal parts idea exchange and celebration, Boston TechJam is an unconventional meeting ground for local innovators, visionaries and up-and-comers. The 18+ event will take place June 14, 2018 on Boston City Hall Plaza.

Boston TechJam is supported by Autodesk, Cengage, Chewy, Everbridge, Kronos Incorporated, Liberty Mutual, MathWorks, The Predictive Index and PTC. Founding collaborators include Arxan Technologies, MassTLC, East Coast Catalyst, Pretty Instant, Influence Central and SHIFT Communications.

Media Contact:

SHIFT Communications

btj@shiftcomm.com

Taste of Downtown Crossing

The 2nd Annual Taste of Downtown Crossing takes place this Sunday, September 24th from 12 to 3 pm.

Boston's Avenue de Lafayette will be transformed to feature tastes from the best of downtown crossing restaurants paired with chef demonstrations.

This year's Taste will feature delectable dishes from:  Artisan Bistro, Avenue One, Back Deck, Boston Chops, Chicken & Rice Guys, Cultivar, Explorateur, Fajitas & 'Ritas, Gordon's Fine Wines & Liquors, jm Curley, Legal Crossing, Marliave, The Merchant, Omni Parker House, Pabu, Papagayo, Roche Bros., Ruka, Ruth's Chris Steak House, SA PA, Salvatore's, Serafina, Shed's BBQ, Sip Wine Bar and Kitchen, Taste Wine Bar & Cafe, and Yvonne's to name just a few!

Chef demonstrations throughout the day include: Chef Kelly Armetta (Avenue One), Chef Ben Steigers (Pabu), Chef Brian Young (Cultivar), and more.

For more information visit: http://tasteofdtx.com/

To view photos from last year's Taste of Downtown Crossing: https://theredballoonreport.blogspot.com/2016/11/taste-of-downtown-boston.html

To buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-downtown-crossing-tickets-36692415001?aff=redballoon

Happy Tasting Boston!

Diner en Blanc: Boston

This year's Diner en Blanc Boston left curious onlookers asking the same question: Who's getting married?

Of course, the answer was obvious to those taking part: that this was no wedding but a tradition which dates back nearly 3 decades to the very first "diner en France."

What began in Paris in 1988 by Francois Pasquier has launched an international following. This year's Diner en Blanc Boston's top secret location kept with tradition and was not revealed until the very last minute. It was just before the clock struck 6 pm that the grand location was announced. Keeping with the color theme, the beautiful "green"way served as the posh location for this year's invite only all white picnic du jour! From the waving of the white napkins to signal the start of the diner to the dancing in the greenway fountain after dark, the diner was from start to end an iconic event in Boston.

Pictures from this year's Diner en Blanc Boston:

Until next time: Au Revoir Boston!

Taste of Downtown Crossing

This Sunday, the very first Taste of Downtown Crossing will take place.

Please see an excerpt from the official Press Release:

The Downtown Boston Business Improvement District to Host The Inaugural Taste of Downtown Crossing 

A celebration of diverse food, culture and entertainment Boston, MA-

The Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (BID) is hosting the inaugural Taste of Downtown Crossing, a celebration of diverse food, culture and entertainment. On Sunday, September 25, 2016 between noon and 4:00 pm Avenue de Lafayette will be transformed into a lovely street side café. Event attendees will enjoy the sounds of violinist Lewis Flores, opera singer Marshall Richard and piano player Brian John. The event will also feature a wine and beer garden, culinary demonstrations and food tastings from over 20 restaurants offering their distinctive cuisines. The Taste of Downtown Crossing will showcase many of the restaurants that have made Downtown Crossing a foodie hotspot. Since the formation of the Downtown Boston BID in 2011, thousands of Boston residents, employees, students and visitors have flocked to Downtown Crossing to enjoy the best food and shopping Boston has to offer.

“Taste of Downtown Crossing is a new destination event that will allow the BID to continue promoting the Downtown Crossing area as an active and welcoming neighborhood, and we are excited to celebrate the many restaurants of Downtown,” said Rosemarie Sansone, President & CEO of the Downtown Boston BID. Downtown Crossing restaurants to be featured in the tasting portion of the festival include:

Artisan Bistro,
Avenue One at Hyatt Regency,
Back Deck,
Boston Chops,
Central Bistro,
David’s Tea,
Fajitas & ‘Ritas,
Gordon’s Fine Wine & Liquors,
 JM Curley,
Kingston Grille & Bar,
Legal Crossing,
Marliave,
Mast,
The Merchant,
Oceanaire,
Papagayo,
Roche Bros.,
Ruth’s Chris Steak House,
SA PA,
Serafina,
Sip Wine Bar and Kitchen, and
Yvonne’s

Happy Tasting!

Salem: Sights & Sounds

Get ready for a special edition of Sights and Sounds. Today we look at the city of Salem. Best known for it's connection to the Salem Witch Trials, the city has quite a bit to offer in terms of culture, art, and more.

Here's a look at some highlights from The Red Balloon's recent travels in the city of Salem.

First, we start with the Salem Witch Museum, established in 1692. Any visit to Salem is not complete with a trip to this place.

Next, the Peabody Essex Museum offers an array of art including the Yin Yu Tang Ancestral Home, pictured below.

The House of Seven Gables is not to be missed. The secret stairway is one that a visitor who had not been to the house in nearly 50 years still remembered while taking another tour of the house. 

Artwork is in the center of the city.

A replica of the schooner Fame from the War of 1812 is another must see while in the city.

Happy Travels!