Fight for Air Stair Climb

Climbing stairs is often seen as a difficult chore. Elevators and escalators have turned stairs into something for “emergency use only.” The elevation of stairs makes people feel more out of breath than usual, and climbing them really gives the lungs a workout. The American Lung Association, Northeast Region, will be giving people an excuse to take the stairs, even if it’s just for one day.

Rhode Island’s 10th annual Fight for Air Climb will take place at the Omni Hotel in Providence on March 24, 2018. The Omni Hotel is one of the tallest buildings in Rhode Island, at 329 feet high and with 25 floors. Brave climbers will be running (or walking) up 22 floors (44 flights) for a total of 348 steps. The event has grown each year, since starting at 1 Financial Plaza, raising more money and attracting more runners, with last year having more than 700 (their goal this year is 900). In addition to raising money that goes toward research, education and advocacy (they have raised well over $1,000,000 since its inception), Cori Dubie-O’Connor, development coordinator, hopes to raise awareness about lung cancer and other lung diseases.

People truly get an understanding for what it’s like to have lung disease and realize how many people are struggling,” Dubie-O’Connor stated. “Our goal always is to raise awareness and emphasize the fact that anyone can get lung disease and that we are all breathing the same air.”

People of all abilities are encouraged to tackle this challenging event. People have the option of running or walking up the stairs, with elite runners going first. The climb itself takes about 5 to 6 minutes for the average climber, with an elevator ride back down to the registration room. There are volunteers at every floor who offer encouragement or assistance if needed. The event is especially unique with the firefighter division, where firefighters climb in full gear (weighing approximately 80 pounds).

We have our Firefighter Division because firefighters are at a higher risk of getting lung cancer due to their line of work,” Dubie-O’Connor said. Because the event is a fundraiser, climbers are all required to raise a minimum of $100, in addition to the registration fee. Climbers are encouraged to make a $33 donation toward their own goal, which signifies the 33 million people suffering from lung disease. Climbers can raise funds online or collect donations to bring to the event. Eighty-seven cents of every dollar raised at the event will go toward education, research and advocacy.

The registration room is where climbers check in, register (day of registration fee is $50 in addition to the required $100 fundraising goal) and give any donations collected. It is full of excited and nervous climbers preparing for their trek up the stairs. There are also tables set up from corporate sponsors, with plenty of swag and information for everyone.

An after party will take place at Union Station Brewery, just down the street from the Omni Hotel. They will be opening at 9am on Climb Day and will have discounted drink and food menu for climbers, volunteers, friends and family. There will be raffle items donated by local businesses, DJ Valentina spinning music, and an awards ceremony, which includes awards for individuals, teams and fundraisers.

While the climb itself is relatively quick, it is fun and eye opening. The elevation impacts the lungs, which could lead to shortness of breath and trouble breathing for the rest of the day, giving an inside look at what someone with lung disease may suffer with on a regular basis.

“This event is for people of any athletic ability and any age!” Dubie-O’Connor said passionately. “We’ve had climbers as young as 10 and as old as 80 overcome the Omni Providence Hotel. It’s a challenging event, but very exhilarating at the same time, and it definitely feels good once you cross the finish line. Not only is the climb a personal accomplishment, but it gives you such a great sense of how you are changing the lives of those who are suffering daily from lung disease.”

The Fight for Air Climb: Providence will take place on Saturday, March 24. Registration starts at 8am. Call 401-533-5177 or Email [email protected] for more information. Register online here: http://action.lung.org/site/TR?fr_id=16330&pg=entry. Registration fee is $35 with a $100 fundraising minimum. Day of registration is $50 with a $100 fundraising minimum.

Top 5 Fun Things To Do: March 14 – March 20

THU 15

Public Hearing: No Utility Rate Hikes: Open forum for the public to let National Grid and the Public Utilities Commission get public feedback on the new rate hikes. 6pm, Public Utilities Commission – Hearing Room A, 89 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick. georgewileycenter.org

SAT 17

Arcade Asylum Author Series: Hosting the latest talent in horror, macabre and weird fiction. 6pm, Lovecraft Arts & Sciences Council, The Arcade, 65 Weybosset St, Unit 105, PVD. SUN 18

Steamship Supper: This turn-of-the-century dinner is inspired by the menu of the RMS Lusitania. You know, the one you remember from history class that got torpedoed by the Germans in 1917. 6pm, Blithewold Mansions, 101 Ferry Rd, Bristol. blithewold.org

Polar Plunge: If you’re an aspiring polar bear, but you missed the big dip on New Year’s, here’s your chance to dive into the ocean on Block Island. Time TBA, Fred Benson Town Beach, 7 Corn Neck Rd, New Shoreham. blockislandinfo.com

MON 19

Nevertheless She Persisted: A discussion forum of women fighting discrimination of all forms. Speakers include Toby Ayers, executive director of Rhode Island for Community & Justice; Lucy Rios, director of prevention and communication for the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Cheryl Burrell, associate director of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Opportunity at the RI Department of Administration and Dr. Paola Prado, associate professor of communication at Roger Williams University. Plus, cookies and punch and Senator Jack Reed! Providence Public Library, 150 Empire St, PVD. provlib.org

A Night at the Death Café

A death cafe may sound like an Agatha Christie novel or a long-lost Edgar Allen Poe poem, but it is something real and can be found right here in Rhode Island. I was brought to my first one by a dear friend, and she said it would be right up my alley. Nothing could prepare me for what I was to experience.

Not as grim and gloomy as one would perceive, a death café is a gathering of people from various beliefs and backgrounds to have an open discussion over food and drink about the last great social taboo: death. As DeathCafe.com best describes the goal, it is “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.” The idea, started by Swiss sociologist and anthropologist Bernard Crettaz in 2004, was to discuss the subject that led to great fears and anxiety in a majority of people around the world for centuries. This led to the first Death Café founded by Jon Underwood in 2011 and quickly spread to more than 55 countries.

My first café was in Panera Bread in Providence Place Mall this past December. There I was joined by several others in ages ranging from their early 20s to mid-70s. The conversation was kicked off by the host, Ainsley Rousseau. Throughout the two hours together, complete strangers became friends. We shared stories of our own mortalities, theories on ghosts, out-of-body experiences and how a loss of a loved one could inspire life changes.

For the purposes of anonymity, I won’t share names, but I can share a moment of electricity that jolted through me. One individual was talking about how a very young cousin had suddenly passed away. When describing his tattoo, the person sitting across from her jumped out of her seat – it was a dear friend of hers. The two embraced and cried, finding comfort that they didn’t realize they still needed. I didn’t know this person they lost, but even I felt sense of relief. As I made my exit toward the end, I felt energized and optimistic after being given the opportunity to discuss death with so many people. It was probably the most effective free therapy session I’ve ever had. Now I eagerly await the next!

The next Death Café is to be held Wed, March 14 at the Panera Bread in Providence Place Mall. Stay tuned to deathcafe.com to see when and where the next local café awaits your mortal company.

The Benefits of Benny’s Unfortunate Fate

The Empire Revue is a home-grown cabaret, with a long track record of bringing RI-based humor and song to its regular attendees. With Benny’s the Musical, the ER has transcended its usual format as a collection of loosely connected skits and bits, both musical and comedic.

The Empire Revue enters new territory by tying it all together with a central plot, thematically consistent subplots and a number of fun, quirky characters who have their own arcs. You root for the lovebirds, laugh at the mishaps that befall the “local prop comedian” who relies on Benny’s for the tools of his trade, and feel sympathy for the obsessive regular so familiar with the landscape the store lets him help customers.

This musical is uniquely Rhode Island, peppered with accent humor and only-in-RI references to everything from Rocky Point to Almacs. By itself, the nostalgic attachment to a retail operation like Benny’s requires a uniquely RI perspective on change and the value of neighborhoods. It sold out almost as soon as it was announced, creating high expectations.

And this Bennyificient event doesn’t disappoint, capturing both in-jokes and a small-city, small-business sensibility in an entertaining wrapper.

Revue director Keith Munslow opened the first performance with a disclaimer – the entire production was conceived, staged, rehearsed and performed in just over a month; most of that happened after the show sold out (no pressure on the cast to come up with something good after that). And everything we witnessed was created by the same folks performing it.

The performers absolutely rose to the occasion with a piece that has pacing, throughlines, themes and pathos. Audience reaction was right there with the characters, as they passed from idealistic glee over their retail paradise, through tragedy, denial and ultimately acceptance and resilience.

The songs are catchy, lyrically sophisticated and melodically memorable – and they play into each other and call back as the narrative moves along. Highlights include “Everything you Need (is behind these automatic doors),” which literally sings the praises of the little retail outlet that could, “I Never Saw It Coming,” a thumping ballad of regret, and a tongue-twister of a tune by the resident economics professor explaining the capriciousness of market forces.

The story focuses on the front-line employees and their neighborhood super-regulars; the central office and their decision-making are but unheard voices on the other end of a prop phone. Each performance is solid and stands out in its own way – and unlike most Revue performances, each actor inhabits a single character for the duration. Stuart Wilson, Kate Teichman, Brian Elliot, Jimmy Sorel, Rachel Frieden, Kate Sayles, Nicky Mariani, Tom Vale and emotional center/store manager Kelly Seigh are musically supported by the Superchief Trio.

The result is a story that resonates emotionally, even with people who may not get all the RI references. For locals, it will hit a sweet nostalgic note and perhaps bring some closure to those suffering Benny’s withdrawal (can you be nostalgic for something that was around two months ago?). But even if you’re not a superfan, there’s a fun story anchored by great performances here. It received a standing ovation from its opening night audience, and you’re likely to leave smiling and humming.

Benny’s the Musical will be performed again on Sunday, Mar 11 at 8pm at AS220, 115 Empire St, PVD. Future performances are being planned, although they’re not yet scheduled – we’ll update this article as they’re announced.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Routes

UPDATE: The Newport route drawing is incorrect. The parade does kick off from Newport City Hall, but then runs through Washington Square, down Thames Street and ends at St. Augustine’s Church.

Grab your green and stake out a spot along one of RI’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade routes. If you don’t get a prime spot, don’t worry. You’ll be able to hear the bagpipes from miles away.

Pawtucket route: Sat, Mar 3, intersection of Columbus & Division St, noon – 2pm

Providence route: Sat, Mar 10, intersection of Hilltop and Smith, 9am

West Warwick route: Sat, Mar 11, starts at Elks Lodge, 60 Clyde St, 1 – 3pm

Newport route: Sat, Mar 17, starting at Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway, 11am

St. Paddy’s Themed Events:

SAT, MAR 3 St. Patrick’s Day Luck O’ the Irish Vendor Event: Gifts, beauty products and nutrition, presumably all shamrock-based, boost this shopping event. Wear green for a free raffle ticket – we hope it comes with the luck of the Irish. Noon – 3pm. Roma, 310 Atwells Ave, PVD. romaprov.net

FRI, MAR 16 St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn: Brian O’Donovan brings traditional instrumentalists, dancers and singers to this WGBH tradition. Zeiterion, 684 Purchase St, New Bedford, Mass. wgbh.org/celtic

3rd Annual Midtown St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: Crafted to follow the Newport parade, this features pipes music, singing and beer from Newport Storm. Midtown Oyster Bar, 345 Thames St, Newport.

SAT, MAR 17 Newport’s Biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parade Party at Waites Wharf: While its bigness is self-proclaimed, this party sounds like a rainbow of fun, with music all day long from Never in Vegas, 7 Day Weekend, DJ FACE (The Face Show), DJ 4 Hundo ( Drew Girard), and DJ TEAL. Newport is the place to day-drink on St. Patty’s, so get to it! Dockside, 1 Waites Wharf, Newport. waiteswharf.com

St. Patrick’s Day Bash at Newport Blues Café: All day music and drinking featuring Felix Brown, Dirty Deeds AC/DC Experience, Fast Times 80’s Music and Darik and the Funbags. Newport Blues Café, 286 Thames St, Newport. newportblues.com

St. Patrick’s Day at George’s of Galilee: Live music with The Islanders, plus boiled food and, of course, green beer. George’s of Galilee, 250 Sand Hill Cove Rd, Narragansett. georgesofgalilee.com

St. Patrick’s Day at King Philip Yacht Club: Corned beef sandwiches from Noon to 7pm. Reservations required. One Club St, Fall River, Mass. Search FB

Shriner’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Rhodes: The Tom Lanigan band will perform while you scour an Irish buffet. 5 – 9pm. 1 Rhodes Pl, Cranston. rishriners.com

St. Patrick’s Day West Coast Swing: Workshop to teach you “magically delicious” moves, then dance time to practice and see if you can swing like a leprechaun. 85 Industrial Cir, Ste 4102, Lincoln. studiooneri.com St. Patrick’s Day Party with The Drama Kings: Dance, sing along and rock out till morning. Thirsty Beaver, 45 Cedar Swamp Rd, Smithfield. thirstybeaverri.com

Come Talk to the BOEM

At the behest of the head-in-the-sand Orange Haired Monster and his band of enablers, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will be hosting a public meeting in Providence, as well as many other places around the country, to give us a dog and pony show on how good it is to drill for oil through the outer Continental Shelf. This is part of the total energy dominance strategy of “me first and what can I do for my friends” that the narcissist in chief seems to think makes sense.

The BOEM is one of the remnants of the implosion of the Minerals Management Service that was renamed as a result of the sex for oil drilling contracts scandal (government officials handling oil royalties engaged in sex with energy company employees in 2008) as well as the Deepwater Horizon disaster. In other words, despite past efforts to use good science to decide what to do, the agency has always been tasked with catering to the needs of the fossil fuel drillers. In the past, the agency was at least expected to use actual science to figure out where not to drill and to maintain safety standards. It may have totally let us down, but that was the standard and there were repercussions when the mania got out of control. Hence the BOEM.

Most of the employees at the BOEM are career civil servants, often people with advanced degrees and special knowledge of the work they were doing, though they are always overseen by political minders. Now it is a totally political tool of mass destruction.

Nevertheless, it is more than likely that at least a goodly number of the professional scientific staff of the BOEM knows just how much of a problem we are having with greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and the likelihood of ever more damage and destruction as the planet warms. And on February 28, it is time to remind them again with press conferences, rallies and a strong turn-out at the hearing.

I regularly talk with many environmental activists and professionals as part of my job, so I have a pretty good idea what various colleagues will say to the BOEM when it comes to Providence on February 28 at 3pm at the Providence Marriott for a public meeting (Hint: Come pay the BOEM a visit and let them know what you think). Rhode Islanders will talk about how oil drilling will damage the ecosystems and biodiversity of the outer continental shelf, and how valuable the shelf is as habitat and as a source of food and recreation. How the canyons at the edge of the shelf have incredible ecosystems based on cold water deep water corals that shelter all manner of life.

Others will talk of beaches, tourism, the bay as an economic asset, fishing and how Rhode Island is a place we want to be and how what is proposed is a major threat (especially the inevitable oil spills) to much of what we hold dear. Others will point out how this will further concentrate the pollution in lower income communities that are already subject to an overload of petrochemicals and fossil fuels. All things the BOEM needs to hear.

A few will mention how totally political this operation is with Florida getting an exemption simply because its Republican governor needs some environmental cover in his next campaign, and that if it is not political then every governor who wants an exemption should get one for their state. As far as I know, only the screwball Paul LePage in Maine has asked to be drilled.

Many will speak of climate change and how if we burn all of the fossil fuels on the planet, we shall be in really big doo-doo and it will be hot as hell with fires, floods, droughts and storms ever more destructive, and the economy, ecosystems and food supply collapsing as our cities go underwater. I hope the BOEM is really listening and that the important truths that they hear are properly recorded and reported, and really influence the decision as to whether this is a good idea. But I sort of doubt it.

Finally some will mention that the proposal to drill has brought on a slew of bills in legislatures from coast to coast as states contemplate banning the creation/siting of infrastructure to service the offshore oil drilling. I really want to cheer this idea. About two years ago, I started talking and writing about the idea of building no new fossil fuel infrastructure ever again. I base it on a simple idea: If we are to get to zero emissions by 2035, something that is absolutely necessary if we are to avoid the worst problems of climate change, then essentially we have to stop building any fossil fuel infrastructure right now. If we build new infrastructure that lasts for 40 years, we either go broke paying for stranded assets when we close them next year, or we crash through 450 ppm of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (we are at 404 ppm now) and sea levels rise, hurricanes get stronger, fires more destructive and refugees become ever more numerous.

I believe that the climate crisis is the existential crisis of our time, and that how we react to what is happening with carbon pollution will be a key component of what civilization does in the next century and will determine whether western industrial civilization thrives or crashes and burns.

I also see many people dying unnecessarily due to climate change that could be prevented and mitigated, and I believe that climate denial and the ramping up of the fossil fuel industries are crimes against humanity. My definition is simple. What they are doing is already killing people in large numbers and creating refugees in the untold millions.

The BOEM meeting is not structured like a hearing; we do not get to speak to each other, only to the BOEM employees, and they are mostly there to answer questions. So come with questions for them. The questions I have include: How do you live with yourself knowing how much of the policy is based on lies, on climate denial and on the willingness of the president to allow crimes against humanity? Allowing this project to go forward will result in more people dying unnecessarily and much sooner than if we had followed policies and practices that were actually based on facts and science. How do you feel to be part of a charade, a game to pull one over on the American people and kill many of them? Does it stifle you as a human being to have to take orders from a monster with its head in the sand? Do you feel you are serving the American people by promulgating policy based on lies that you know will harm people and planet?

Of course I do not really expect to get answers.

We face a crisis, and the people of Rhode Island are united. What the Orange Haired Monster in Chief offers is insane. Come let his minions know and hope that they are so overwhelmed that the truth actually reaches the swamp in DC.

Ryan Montbleau at the Knickerbocker, Feb 9

Ryan Montbleau

Peabody, MA, singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau has a knack for leaving a lasting impression through melody. The way his lyrics bounce off the chords and strums is astounding and guarantees a wonderful listening experience. His stellar talent has catapulted him to the upper echelon of New England musical acts, and it looks like he’ll be staying there for the time being. He also has achieved a dedicated following over the years with loyal fans coming out to see him perform wherever he goes. On Feb 9, Montbleau will be making his presence felt at the Knickerbocker Café in Westerly.

We had a chat ahead of the show about planning gigs, a new duo that he’s a part of, who he’d like to share the stage with someday and what the future holds.

Rob Duguay (Motif): As a full-time musician, what do you find to be the most challenging and the most gratifying when it comes to thriving as an artist?

Ryan Montbleau: I find it challenging to constantly plan out my life three or four months in advance. I spent so many years trying to get gigs that it’s sort of ingrained in me to take them. It’s a blessing to get opportunities but I get into trouble if I take on too much. Finding a balance of a home life and creative time along with all the gigging and touring is a constant challenge. Beyond that, having a broader vision of where I want to go can be difficult when I’m in the trenches too much of the time. You tend to get opportunities based on what you’ve done in the past. It takes strong will to bend that towards where you want to go. Thriving as an artist in and of itself is gratifying, through, feeling like you’re getting better at your craft and doing the work. I also get a boost when people tell me how the music has affected them. You’d like to think that as an artist you don’t need that, but it really helps me to keep going. Knowing and hearing that you’re affecting someone with what you do is more important than any numbers or all the other crap.

RD: Recently you and fellow Massachusetts musician Hayley Jane (who opens the Feb 9 Knickerbocker show) started a duo titled Yes Darling. What are the dynamics that you and Hayley have artistically that’s different than other musicians you’ve collaborated with?

RM: Hayley and I really clicked as writers right off the bat. I’ve had some successful co-writing sessions before, but this was just very quickly and clearly a project on another level than I had experienced before. Plus, she’s a great harmonizer and we sing beautifully together. To me, the writing is really where it’s at. We can take our own experiences together, draw on past experiences, add in some general themes about men and women and it all seems to click together. We fight in the songs, we fight in real life, we love, we make up, it all finds its way into the music and the dynamic can be exaggerated, but at the end of the day it’s real.

RD: During your career you’ve gotten to share the stage with the likes of Ani DiFranco and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Is there any musician currently alive that you’d love to open for? What kind of effect have they had on you as a musician?

RM: I’d love to open some shows for the Wood Brothers. I sat in with them once, and they are so gracious and so profoundly great at what they do. I think they set the bar these days for writing songs that are both powerful and simple. It’s the hardest thing to do. I also got to open for Tedeschi Trucks Band before and their soundcheck made me cry, so that would be fun again.

RD: After your upcoming show in Westerly, what does the rest of the year have in store for you?

RM: The Yes Darling album is getting released officially on Feb 14, and we’re already getting a lot of offers and buzz about that project. We’re sort of waiting to see how that blossoms and I think we’ll plan the year accordingly. I’m running a few songwriter retreats in June up in Vermont, where I now live, and I will be continuing with my own band and solo shows. I have a great group of players around me and I’d like to dig in with them, see where the music can take us.

Tickets: knickmusic.com/events/2018/2/9/ryan-montbleau

Web site: ryanmontbleau.com

Facebook: facebook.com/Montbleau Event: facebook.com/events/1643039932415514 Top 5 Fun Things To Do: February 7 – February 13

FRI 9 – SUN 11

Northeast International Auto Show: New cars, trucks and SUVs will fill the RI Convention Center for the 2018 Northeast International Auto Show. Fri: 12pm – 10pm, Sat: 10am – 10pm, Sun 10 – 6pm. 1 Sabin St, PVD. providenceautoshow.com

SAT 10

Cajun & Zydeco Mardi Gras Ball 2018: At this annual fest in the 1920s-style Rhodes on the Pawtuxet performers include Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, and the Knickerbocker All Stars. The ball features a costume contest with cash prizes in a variety of categories. 6:30pm. Rhodes on-the-Pawtuxet. 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. rhodesonthepawtuxet.com

SUN 11

Love, Heartbreak & Rage: This studio class will cover the raw emotions that are often the impetus for beginning a draft or longer writing project. 9am. Ada Books, 717 Westminster Street, PVD. ada- books.com

MON 12

Crash Pawtucket: Meet government officials, entrepreneurs, and small business owners showcasing talent, ambition, and resources available for collaboration in the city. 5:30 – 8pm. Red DWG Library Co- Working Space, 413 Central Ave #300, Pawtucket. reddwglibrary.com/events/crash-pawtucket

Easy Entertaining Valentine’s Day Cooking Class: Learn through demonstrations to make a three course dinner for two that can be made in about one hour, while chatting about wine options. 6 – 7pm. Easy Entertaining, 166 Valley St #10, PVD. easyentertainingri.com

Top 5 Fun Things To Do: January 31 – February 6

THU 1

Art After Dark at Newport Art Museum: Visitors are invited to play and experiment as instructors assist students with oil painting, printmaking, clay, stop-motion animation and watercolors. 5pm, Coleman Center for Creative Studies, 26 Liberty Street, Newport. newportartmuseum.org Carpe Diem: The Moth In New Bedford: Stories that honor the diversity and commonality of human experience. Since its inception, The Moth Mainstage has presented more than 26,000 true stories to crowds worldwide. The curated event features five storytellers; some recognized, others from communities whose stories often go unheard. Simple, old-fashioned storytelling unfolds in unexpected ways. 7:30pm The Zeiterion Theatre 684 Purchase St, New Bedford, MA. zeiterion.org

FRI 2

Misquamicut Beach Aloha Luau: 13th annual Luau, featuring food from over a dozen local restaurants. Silent Auction, which will feature many fabulous items to bid on including dinners, Casino Packages, day trips, vacation destinations, concert tickets, artwork, radio advertising packages, and gift baskets. The Hit Play Band will keep you moving through the night on the dance floor. Tickets $25 at the door. Venice Ballroom, 165 Shore Rd, Westerly. misquamicut.org

Live Bait: True Stories From Real People: Tell your true “Lifeline” story, however you interpret the theme, and listen to others’ interpretations in this storytelling open mic. AS220 Black Box Theater. 95 Empire Street, PVD. Feb 2. as220.org

SAT 3

Unveiling film premiere: Locally produced short about a 49 year-old adoptee discovering his birth family… which just might include John Lennon. Musicians Duke Robillard and Sunny Crownover will perform live. 7-10pm. Columbus Theatre, 270 Broadway, PVD. unveilingthefilm.com

NELA’s Milestone Winter Fetish Fair Fleamarket

The weekend of February 16 – 18, the Winter Fetish Fair Fleamarket is holding its 50th event at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. For the New England Leather Alliance (NELA), it’s a milestone. For the 3,000-plus attendees who travel to shop from vendors and take part in workshops ranging from “Not Tonight, Dear – Chastity Play” to “Interrogation and Military Scenes,” it’s a chance to let their hair down. (Or get their hair pulled.)

“The whole point of doing this is for people to have an opportunity to go into a safe space with absolutely no judgment,” says Vivienne Kramer. Kramer has been involved with the Flea and NELA since the mid ’90s. Along the way, she served as treasurer and chair of NELA and director of the Flea, before relocating to California in 2012.

“In the 25 years of running the event, NELA created a place where everybody is truly welcome,” says Kramer. “You have people running the gamut in age from 18 to 88. You see people from every walk of life. The most straight looking, preppy, Dockers-wearing, looks like your cousin from Kennebunkport to crossdressers to guys who dress up like sissy maids. Just every possible representative, from every walk of life. Everybody is kind, polite, nice and so happy to be in the space.” The Flea has expanded in size through the years and certainly in scope since Kramer’s first Flea, where she worked the door in 1995. Admission was between $2 and $5 per ticket, she recalls, with roughly 30 vendors and 500 attendees. “We had a huge range of toys, books and paraphernalia covering a huge spectrum of the kink community, which covers so many broad and — specific — interests,” she says of that first event. “I was hooked.”

Today, tickets are priced at $20 per day, though there are additional fees associated with some of the Flea’s events. The event is one of the longest running events in the BDSM community, and the price point marks it as among the most affordable.

The philosophy behind NELA’s pricepoint is that, when they aren’t busy planning hypnosis lounges in hotel ballrooms (one of the Flea’s all-day scenario events for Sunday), they’re first and foremost an education and advocacy organization for the kink and fetish community. By capping ticket prices at $20, they limit the chances that anyone in need of their programming is locked out.

We may be living in a post 50 Shades world (“50 Shades of Stupid,” Kramer twice quips), but a high profile awareness that neckties are multipurpose hasn’t translated to a general awareness, acceptance or understanding of all sexual preferences. Just last year the Flea made unexpected news locally when, in its 24th year, a Warwick citizen who preferred to identify herself to news outlets only as “just a regular mom” e-mailed press expressing her concern that hosting the event would turn Warwick into the “Las Vegas of the Northeast.”

The baffling and temporary outrage was swiftly disputed by advocates online, and the Flea ran smoothly the weekend it was held. Despite any preconceptions about Fleagoers, Kramer insists they’re model guests — particularly when compared to other groups who may take over a hotel. “Kinksters tip really well,” she says. “They clean up after themselves. They treat everybody with the utmost respect because, of course, they want to be treated with such.”

Part of NELA’s education and advocacy work can, accordingly, include liaising with police departments and local district attorneys who may have questions about the “legality, morality and ethical sides of the kink community,” Kramer says. “There’s still a lot of really archaic laws in the books.”

She references a past Flea, held in a metrowest suburb of Boston. “The town line literally went down the middle of the hotel we were in,” she says. “At a Flea we have fashion shows, art exhibitions, erotic art, something for every possible interest. In this hotel, the room with the art show happened to be down the middle — one side in each municipality. And one municipality didn’t allow nudity. Half the pieces in the room had to have tape over the private parts and the other half did not.”

In the interest of trying to cater to all interests, programming for the 50th Flea reflects the desires of attendees. There’s expanded programming for all levels. “The majority of attendees are kind of ‘new’ to things and just putting their toes out and exploring,” Kramer says. “But there are plenty of people who have been actively involved in sexual expression for a long time. They want something more advanced than ‘Introduction to Sensation Play.’”

Multiple events through the weekend also address the issue of consent. Kramer cites a correlation between the decision to delve into the topic and what’s happening with the #MeToo movement. “In general, this community is very big on consent,” she says. “It’s the be-all / end-all of everything to BDSM. This year, there’s even more attention than ever paid to having consent and what happens if consent is violated. What are your options and how does the community support you if consent has been violated by a fellow member? That’s on the top of everyone’s list.”

You don’t have to identify as part of the active kink community to go to the Fetish Fair. Chances are, if you’re Flea-curious, there’s at least one vendor or workshop or meet-up designed for whatever your particular proclivity may be. And if you don’t know what that proclivity is, that’s okay, too.

“It doesn’t matter if you never do anything kinky, ever, in your life,” Kramer says. “When I say ‘kinky,’ I mean, put a blindfold on yourself or a partner. Use a silk scarf and tie someone’s arm to a bed. Anything you might’ve fantasized about. It doesn’t matter if you ever do it. This is a place where, for $20, you can go in, spend a day looking, and thinking, ‘How does this fit into my life and my sexuality?’”

For tickets and event listings, visit fetishflea.com.