Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 12:42 p.m.

Kids use buttercream to decorate their cupcakes.

Bunnie Studios

In February 2013, Mariana Cortez opened Miamis first vegan bakery, Bunnie Cakes. Now she continues her love of dairy-free sweets with the debut of Bunnie Cakes Studio, where customers can design their own desserts.

The studio, located behind the bakery in Wynwood, is a whimsical place where guests decorate cakes and cupcakes to their hearts' content. They can design their own creations or receive instruction on how to make classic Bunnie designs such as the unicorn cake in VIP decorating sessions. "We provide everything you need to make your own masterpiece, including the icing, rolling pin, and all sorts of decorations," Cortez says.

Sticking to her vegan baking philosophy, Cortez assures that everything in the studio is kosher and vegan. Gluten-free options are also available.

Customers decorate cupcakes.

Bunnie Studios

The classes are mainly geared toward children but are also open to anyone who's a kid at heart. "I have four kids, and this is a great way to keep them occupied and allow them to get creative, Cortez says.

The one-hour sessions vary in price. Decorating six large vegan cupcakes costs $25; add $3 for the gluten-free option.Decorating a five-inch triple-layer cake runs $34 if vegan and $38 if also gluten-free. There's an additional $10 studio fee for either option and a maximum of two guests per package.

In July, the studio will also begin to hold birthday parties, where hosts can choose from ten themes. "Kids will be able to come in with up to 20 friends, and we will teach them how to decorate their cakes as well as provide the food and decorations for the party,"Cortez says. Bunnie Cakes Studio will also offer a full catering menu for the in-house events.

Cupcake design in progress.

Bunnie Studios

Cortez says she hopes to expand the studio by offering workshops to teach baking basics as well as crafts, such as how to make her sought-after piatas. Participants will even be able to earn badges on their aprons as they continue taking classes.

Bunnie Cakes Studio 180 NE 24th St., Miami; 305-364-5082. Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Bunnie Cakes Studio Lets You Decorate Your Own Cupcakes - Miami New Times

More and more studies are showing thatindustrial animal agricultureis one of the largest drivers for some pretty seriousenvironmental issuestoday. Saying nothing about thecruelties of the industryand the disastrous effects these food items can wreak on ourpersonal health, consuming meat in the quantities that we do is impacting the environment on a global scale.

But there is good news. People are waking up to the disastrous effects of the animal agricultural industry. For the past few decades, meat consumption in the U.S. has seen a steady decline. According to recent studies,30 percent of Americans are not only leaving meat off their plates but also seeking out plant-based meat alternatives.

Whats more, according to some estimates, the plant-based meat market is set to reach$5.2 billion by 2020 and could make up one-third of the market by 2050.Not only is the popularity of plant-based meat on the rise, pea protein,a high source of clean, plant-based protein, is emerging as a new contender in the global protein market. And now we have yet another sign that the future of food is plant-based

In 2016, there was a 90 percent increase in the amount of Google searches for the word vegan, so the increase is people choosing to identify as such seems to be rising as well. Sounds like people are eager to learn more about theimpact of meat consumption on the environment,animals, and themselves and more importantly, theyre making a shift in their diets.

The Top Trends report identifiedsix key trends impacting innovation in prepared foods and abstaining from meat was ranked number one. According to the report, this is due to Rising veganism and awareness of the impact of meat consumption are driving demand for meat-free products substitutes. The report also teases that a tech team is promising that cruelty-free cultured chicken will be available by 2022. The fact is people want products that are better for them and better for the environmentand were ecstatically clapping our hands in support!

As the leading organization at the forefront of the conscious consumerism movement, it is One Green Planets view that our food choices have the power to heal our broken food system, give species a fighting chance for survival, and pave the way for a truly sustainable future.

You can start eating for the planet by doing nothing more than choosing a delicious plant-based meal over one laden with animal products. If you look at it from a personal perspective, you can cut your own carbon footprint in half just by leaving meat off your plate for one year. (Plus save a lot of water, redirect grain for people to eat, and help protect endangered species)

1.Moderate: Limit consumption of your favorite meats like beef, lamb, pork, etc.

2.Replace: Try to swap animal-based products in your daily diet with vegan alternatives (milk, butter, mayo, cheese, grilled chicken, beef crumbles, sausages, cold cuts, etc.)

3.Embrace: Add plant-based whole foods (local and organic when possible) to your diet like greens, fresh fruits, and vegetables, whole grains, plant proteins like lentils, nuts/seeds, beans, tofu, etc.

As Nil Zacharias, the co-founder of One Green Planet says, Eat in a way that nourishes you without starving the planet.

We all have the power to create a better future for our children, and the countless animals we share the planet with, by making one easy swap. If youre ready to start doing this in your own life, check out One Green Planets #EatForThePlanet campaign.

Lead image source: jill111/Pixabay

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6 Percent of Americans Now Identify as Vegan Why This Is a Huge Deal for the Planet - One Green Planet

By Alastair Cairns

If youre of the mindset that vegan ice cream is a contradiction in terms, I suppose youve never seen a rainbow-maned unicorn eating ice cream either. Youll meet both on Ives Street at Karen Krinskys Like No Udder. Karen settled down to her brick-and-mortar location just a year ago, leaving her purple truck days behind her and slotting right into the burgeoning food scene in Fox Point. Karens store aims to be an ice cream store for everyone, bringing in omnivores and vegans alike, as well as a fun neighborhood ice cream shop for those who can only look longingly at lactose. We talked community building, Cherry Seinfeld and framed cat portraits. How do you pick the flavors? We do a couple I wouldnt say exotic flavors, but we have Thai Ice Tea and Almond Joyful, which is almond-flavored ice cream with toasted almonds and toasted coconut, but most of our flavors are closer to the mainstream rather than out-there, like Cookies and Cream or Mint Chip. Youve got to have coffee in Rhode Island and always something with chocolate. Sometimes you go to a place that offers just one or two things and they give you strange flavors, like Rosewater Basil. Some people feel excluded by that. It doesnt have to be exotic and vegan; it can be vegan and traditional.

Do you take requests? I make things that I want to try, or that people have suggested. I did a Lemon Ginger that was very summery and light with a coconut base, and I color it with turmeric so its this bright yellow, and its just delicious. I made a Chocolate Orange and added marshmallows it tastes just like one of those balls that you used to crack and that has almost sold out in two days. Customers have been asking for cherry stuff, so we just added a new flavor called Cherry Seinfeld thats a coconut base with cherry and chocolate bits.

Is selling vegan ice cream an uphill battle? In this day and age, theres no reason to be scared of trying vegan products. Times have definitely changed and our goal is to make delicious treats that just happen to be vegan. Its only happened on a couple of occasions, but weve had adults come to the shop that have this fear in their eyes, and they dont even want to try it. I dont really get that. My hope is that people will give it a chance, because pretty much everyone who tries it loves it. I want people to see that [eating vegan food is] not sacrificing anything; it can be delicious.

Also, a lot of our clientele arent vegan. Some are lactose intolerant and they have either found out as adults that they can no longer experience their local ice cream shop, or they have kids that have never been to an ice cream shop because they worry about cross contamination. Theres no one type of person coming in; its fascinating.

Whats with the cats? Our window tells you what we have: hot and cold drinks, dairy-free and gluten-free options and cat videos. When you come in, you find that its true: We play loops of cat videos, or live streams of cats in other countries or other parts of the country. Really, it just comes down to the fact that my husband and I love cats. We have pictures of our cats on our napkin dispensers, and we have an animatronic cat that the kids love.

Is the framed portrait one of your cats? No, I got that for five dollars on a road trip in St. Louis, and I trucked that back. Its a treasure. Really, though, my and my husbands number-one priority is doing things to benefit animals and people who help animals.

What are you looking forward to this summer? We plan on bringing back our series of charity nights, as well as some social nights where like-minded people (vegans, for example) can meet and we can start building the community more. We definitely see the business as a vessel for fostering that aspect of the community; weve always wanted to be part of its growth in Rhode Island.

Like No Udder 170 Ives Street 288-3880

Original post:

We All Scream for (Vegan) Ice Cream - Providence Media

Plastic is one of the most ubiquitous materials of our time. From to-go cups for iced coffee, prepackaged meals, frozen food, packaged grains and more, it seems like plastic is everywhere. While plastic has made our lives convenient, it has had an adverse effect on our planet. Globally, weproduce 300 million tons of plastic each year, but78 percentis never recycled or reclaimed. Instead, the plastic trash that we chuck in the garbage bin ends up in landfills. There, it can leach harmful chemicals that eventually spread into groundwater, but thats not all the bad news. Every year, around 8.8 million tons of plastic is dumped in our oceans, where itwreaks havoc on marine life.Unfortunately, once plastic is made, its here forever. Lets put it this way there is so much plastic in the ocean that in a few years time, there will literally be more of this trash than fish in our waters.

While we can always reduce the amount of plastic we let into our lives by purchasing reusable options for coffee cups, water bottles, and more, cutting all ties with plastic is a feat that not many can accomplish. Thats why its so important for the companies who rely on plastic packaging to take make a commitment to recycle their materials and reduce their waste. Recently, one company, Earth Island (themanufacturer of Follow Your Heart products), achieved something that no other vegan food manufacturing facility in the United States has done: they were awarded the Gold Level Zero Waste certification from Green Business Certification Incorporated.

According to The Vegetarian Resource Group, Earth Islands Gold Level Zero Waste certification means that the manufacturing facility for Follow Your Heart products now diverts 97 percent of its waste from landfills. They do so through strategic purchasing, material reuse, composting, increased recycling, and employee education. Over the past 12 months, the company has diverted nearly 100 tons to recycling, composted 136 tons, and re-purposed 228 tons of materials. How awesome!

We certainly hope that more companies will see this trend and start to incorporate more waste-reduction programs into their own facilities! As individuals, we dont have to wait for this to happen, however, each one of us has the power to stop plastic at the source by choosing to DIY meals or beauty products, using low-cost recycled glass or tin containers to store our goods. For more tips on how you can lead a plastic-free lifestyle from someone who does it themselves, click here.If youre looking for more ideas to get plastic out of the picture, check out One Green Planets #CrushPlastic campaign.

Lead image source: Follow Your Heart

Link:

This Vegan Food Company Has Found a Way to Keep 97 Percent of Its Waste Out of Landfills - One Green Planet

In the U.S., were a little spoiled when it comes to vegan cheese especially if you live near, say, a Whole Foods or alternative supermarket that specializes in a lot of health products. Looking for some vegan mozzarella for your next homemade pizza? Do you want Daiya, Follow Your Heart, Miyokos Creamery, MozzaRisella, or Cheezehound with that? You get it. Were a nation who unabashedly loves their cheese but were not the only country. France, for example, is famous for its love of cheese, from creamyCamembert, soft, spreadable brie, comt, and more. And like Miyoko Schinner and others have pioneered the artisanal cheese movement in the United States, one woman in France is introducing Paris to the world of fancy vegan cheese.

Situated in the XItharrondissement of Paris is Jay&Joy, Frances first all-vegan cheese shop. Although the shops founder, Venezuelan-born Mary Iriarte Jhnke, has been making vegan cheese for years with her husband, the shop was originally unplanned.

According to Jhnke, tourists make up a large portion of her customer base as well: The products are made in France and tourists appreciate this very much. They are happy to find small shops in Paris. Although shes made her mark in Paris, Jhnke does not plan to stay there. She plans on moving elsewhere in order to continue to grow her business and eventually, export her product well be waiting for that day.

Love vegan cheese? Us, too and its amazing that we live at a time when we have so much choice when it comes to finding vegan cheese in stores. But did you know that its easy to make vegan cheese at home, too? We highly recommend checking out the Food Monster app, a food and recipe app available for both Android and iPhone. Not only will you find plant-based versions of artisanal cheeses such as Gouda, Bleucheese, and gorgonzola, youll also find American cheese, cream cheese, and more. Not to mention, the app has 8,000+ vegan recipes with 10+ recipes added daily, vegan cooking tips, how-tos, a meal plan feature, and more! What are you waiting for? Give it a try!

All image source: Unbound Project/Facebook

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This Amazing Woman is Bringing Vegan Cheese to France - One Green Planet

Evening Bell will perform from 7-8:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 at Mercerdale Park as part of the Mercer Island Arts Councils annual summer concert series Mostly Music in the Park. Photo courtesy of eveningbellmusic.com

It seems that the ear plays an important role in the awareness of the world around us. With the negativity that we have been hearing lately, it might be wise to treat our auditory senses to some entertaining and relaxing music. One way to maintain mind-soothing harmony this summer would be to enjoy selections of comforting music.

What if these musical opportunities were free and outdoors? The answer to that question is easier than you might think. Communities on the Eastside of Lake Washington offer the opportunity to enjoy music without cost at a variety of venues.

These free summer concerts offer an assortment of musical styles, including singer-songwriters, cover groups and symphonies. They are family friendly with opportunities to picnic, dance and meet others who enjoy music. Some sites have refreshments available for purchase.

Even though the concerts are free, sometimes there is an opportunity to put some money or bread in the performers jar, basket or a repurposed guitar case. If you truly enjoyed the show, often the performers have CDs for sale usually at a reasonable price.

The following is a list of the various shows to enjoy this summer. Each venue has a website that you can visit to check locations, dates, times and whos performing.

In Mercer Island, there is Mostly Music in the Park, from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays nights July 20-Aug. 24 at Mercerdale Park.

In Sammamish, Concerts in the Park take place Thursday evenings at Pine Lake Park. The weekly outdoor concerts happen from 6:30-8 p.m. between July 13-Aug. 31. Bring your own picnic or purchase dinner on-site. Parking for this event is available at Pine Lake Park, Discovery Elementary School and South Sammamish Park and Ride. Note that parking at the Pine Lake Park is extremely limited and fills up early in the day. There is a free shuttle that runs between the South Sammamish Park and Ride and Pine Lake Park before and after the concert.

In Issaquah, there are two weekly events: Tuesdays Concerts on the Green are held at the Issaquah Community Center lawn. This series runs from 7-8:30 p.m. July 11-Aug. 28. Spectators often start gathering as early as 6 p.m. for community picnicking. On Thursday nights, the Downtown Issaquah Association, in partnership with the Washington Blues Society, presents the Gas Station Blues at the Historic Shell Station on Front Street from 7-9 p.m. July 13-Aug. 24.

A very ambitious offering is presented by the Bellevue Downtown Association through its Live at Lunch concert series. These performances take place at various downtown Bellevue venues every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 12-1:30 p.m. July 11-Sept. 14.

Redmond has Thursday Nights Rockin on the River Concerts (6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) at the Redmond Senior Center Garden Plaza, July 13-Aug. 10.

Newcastles concert series happens at Lake Boren Park from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday evenings July 19-Aug. 9.

Kirklands Summer Concert Series are held from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday nights, July 6-Aug. 17 at Marina Park.

A special shout goes out to the sound crews who keep the music clear and properly amplified. Most importantly, the opportunity to hear free music this summer is made possible by sponsors as well as different city organizations that provide funding and staffing.

Look for the opportunity locally to allow your acoustic perception to provide you with some free and fun relaxation. It has been stated that many times we do not hear the melody or the lyrics until we need the song. This may just be the chance to tune in and enjoy music and put your troubles aside.

Sammamish resident Larry Crandall is a retired educator and serves on the citys Planning Commission.

Read more:

Maintain mind-soothing harmony with summer music concerts | My Turn - Mercer Island Reporter (subscription)

Recently, I have been seeing social media chatter about Spositos Cuban and Italian Cuisine in Temecula, and since its a stones throw from the office I decided to give it a go last week.

The heat wave was in full bloom and the open and airy dining room was a nice respite from the sun.

I was greeted by a friendly server and immediately seated next to a window with a nice view of the restaurant. Ceiling fans whirled and gentle music created a relaxing vibe.

The menu is an interesting collaboration of Italian and Cuban dishes, and I was committed to trying a bit of both.

Based on the recommendation from the server, I went with the empanadas ($7.50) to start. Other appetizer options included tostones rellenos stuffed green plantains ($10.50), caprese salad ($9.95) and cioppino ($17.95). Yes, its an appetizer.

The empanadas arrived and were larger than I expected. I broke one open and liberally dipped the golden crust into the house-made chimichurri sauce. The meat was perfectly seasoned with a slight kick while the crust was crisp on the outside yet soft on the inside.

Typically I have a dining companion but on this outing I flew solo. Still, I ordered two main dishes. Dont judge.

I selected the penne arrabbiata ($12.50) and the ropa vieja ($16.50).

The server first brought the pasta dish, which was steaming hot and smelled delicious. I sprinkled Parmesan cheese on top and dug in. The level of spice was just right and lingered which I loved. Its a simple and tasty dish with marinara sauce, garlic, crushed red pepper and parsley.

Other pasta choices include lasagna ($14.95), spaghetti with mussels and tomatoes ($16.95) and linguine with mussels, clams, shrimp and calamari ($21.95).

Next up was the ropa vieja, slow-cooked shredded beef with onion, red peppers and Cuban spices. White steamed rice and a small bowl of black beans adorned the plate as well.

Although the pasta was great, I preferred the Cuban selection. The meat melted in my mouth while the beans and rice complimented the big savory flavors.

Next time I want to try the Cuban roast pork ($14.50) and of course the classic Cuban sandwich ($11.95).

I was too full for dessert but took a peek at the case filled with scrumptious looking sweets such as tarts, cakes and custard.

I left very satisfied and with plenty of leftovers, which my daughter devoured.

Spositos Cuban and Italian Cuisine Where: 28120 Jefferson Ave., Temecula Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Sundays Entrees: $7.50-$29.95 Beverages: Beer, wine and specialty coffees Reservations: Accepted Information: 951-676-1629, spositos.com

Read more from the original source:

Sposito's Cuban and Italian Cuisine offers a variety of tasty dishes in Temecula - Press-Enterprise

YourTango has some helpful tips on ways you can naturally get better sleep, straight from sleep expert Katrin Schubert, M.D.

Good sleep takes practice.

You need more sleep.

We all do. As a society, we don't value the benefits of sleep enough, even though recent research has argued that sleep deprivation might be our next major public health crisis.

The hard part is, even when we KNOW that we need more rest, it isn't always easy to get it.

We might finally accomplish the impossible and find ourselves in bed at 10 p.m. one night, but then we just lay there. We're exhausted, we're so desperate to sleep, but it never comes.

Instead, we sit there, unable to switch our brains off and watching old episodes of Veep on our phones until 3 a.m. It feels like the cruelest trick our body can play on us we know it needs sleep, and yet it keeps that rejuvenating rest just out of our reach.

Fortunately, you can do something about that. You can actually TEACH yourself to sleep better . . . without using pills.

And the best place to start is a fascinating new book by Katrin Schubert M.D. (which I can't recommend enough) titled Improve Sleep: 20 Quick Techniques.

In the book, Schubert validates our need for sleep it really is the healthiest thing you can do for your body and walks us through various tips, techniques, and strategies that make it so, SO much easier to fall asleep.

Not to be hyperbolic, but I've been trying the techniques laid out in the book for about a month now, and I've had some of the best sleep of my life. I actually fall asleep when I get into bed now, rather than browsing YouTube and worrying about work all night.

(Schubert also has books on how to Relieve Stress and Reduce Cravings, which are just as pragmatic and actionable.)

Improve Sleep has a ton of fantastic advice, but, to give you an idea of what you can do to feel significantly more rested in the meantime, here are SIX of Schubert's top tips for getting a really, really amazing night's sleep. (The full book has a LOT more.)

If you want to stop feeling desperate and exhausted every night at bedtime, THIS is what you need to do to start falling asleep faster.

1. Get at least 20 minutes of natural sunlight each day.

Light exposure during the day helps your body follow a normal sleep-and-wake cycle. Natural sunlight regulates your body's production and release of melatonin, the hormone that is excreted at night to induce the natural sleep cycle.

2. Reduce the amount of fluids you drink in the evening.

Drinking water throughout the day is important for your body's health. Consuming liquids later in the evening can disrupt your sleep. You will feel more rested in the morning if you do not have to get up at night to answer nature's call.

Everyone hears that they should drink more water throughout the day and you should. But be mindful of when you are drinking that water.

If you are consuming liquids late in the day and you find yourself unable to sleep through the night because you are regularly getting up to empty your bladder, then you might have found an easy way to improve the quality of your sleep.

3. Reduce your exposure to any light source with a white or blue hue at least two hours before bedtime.

This means that for the best night's sleep, when it is getting close to bedtime, you need to trade in the time you spend in front of a screen for something like time spent with a good, old-fashioned book.

Screens on TVs, laptops, and smartphones emit the types of light that will keep you up. Instead of staring at a screen, try unwinding with relaxation or breathing exercises, soft and relaxing music, or just by spending time with your loved ones.

Bright white-blue lights keep us wired! So avoid them close to bedtime.

4. Take magnesium!

Magnesium can help you sleep in so many ways. It helps relax your muscles and your brain. While adding a magnesium supplement to your routine can be very helpful, so is just mindfully adding some magnesium-rich foods to your diet.

Almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, leafy green vegetables, avocados, and bananas all contain high levels of this vital mineral. Another great way to expose your body to magnesium late in the day and get ready for rest is by adding Epsom salts to your bath . . .

5. Keep cortisol levels low.

Your body makes a stress hormone called cortisol. High stress levels elevate our cortisol levels. High levels of cortisol in our bodies keep us awake because cortisol's release is a way our bodies enable alertness.

As night approaches, keep your cortisol levels managed by reducing your overall stress levels. Maybe that means not listening to the news, watching thrillers, or tackling disagreements toward the end of the day. You can't drift off into dreamland if your body is full of cortisol.

6. Catch a catnap.

Fatigue will stop you from sleeping well at night. A short rest or nap will rejuvenate you and give you enough energy to finish your day. Researchers and nap aficionados recommend naps of no longer than 20 minutes; otherwise, you may feel groggy afterward.

This is just a taste of the awesome advice you can get Improve Sleep: 20 Quick Techniques. If you want to know more about how you can completely revolutionize the way you sleep, you should seek it out.

Created in partnership with Hazelden Publishing.

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6 Techniques That Will Give You the Best Sleep of Your Life (With No Pills!) - POPSUGAR

Local seniors and teacher Ed Sorrentino have a joyful conversation in the Drumming Circle at the Pembroke Council on Aging.

PEMBROKE They start out with tentative pats on their drums waiting to see how it sounds, how fast the others go and how hard they all hit.

Urged on by Ed Sorrentino, their leader, these adventuresome seniors pick up the tempo, getting into their own rhythms and smiling. Sorrentino has told them that music is a conversation and taking risks is good. By the end of the hour, they are laughing and carrying on in style on a half dozen percussion instruments.

We only give you clean goats toenails, Sorrentino kids Benita Pemberton as he hands her more than two dozen processed toenails on a ring. She gamely gives them a shake.

I am at a Drumming Circle at the Pembroke Senior Center with 11 seniors from Pembroke, Hanover and Duxbury.

An educator/performer from the South Shore Conservatory in Hingham, Sorrentino is a Braintree resident who has led two drumming programs this year in Pembroke.

Funded through state and local grants, the drumming was started as an activity for people with memory loss but expanded to the wider community.

It builds community, Sorrentino says.

At the start of the first circle several months earlier, seniors asked, Why are we here? and What am I doing?

Lets wait and come back to that at the end, he replied. After an hour of rhythm exercises and drumming, they had 20 different answers.

Music is all about laughing, making connections with people, creating music without rehearsal -- recreational music, he says.

They begin the second session with some exercises, keeping their own beats on an eight count. Then Sorrentino tells them, Now I want you to use these (pointing to his ears) and see where your drum sound fits into the bigger picture.

You can add whatever you want to the conversation, whenever you want, when you see it is a comfortable place to put it in there.

Nothing is going to happen. Let the music take over and see what happens.

Stella McCauley, 78, of Pembroke doesnt think of herself as being gifted musically (I play the radio, she says) but has enjoyed the group. It is relaxing and a nice way to socialize. Plus he makes it so easy. It does call for concentration.

The group also includes Merry Foxworth of Pembroke, Paul and Betty Mizzoni of Pembroke, Donna Burke of Pembroke, Joan Stockwood, Maura Griffiths, Mary Seamon of Duxbury, and Tom and Ruth Grono of Hanover.

During the session, Grono points out the bongo drums should be tipped slightly, because some of the sound comes out of the bottom.

After more than an hour, everyone plays together and Sorrentino finishes up with a Wow!

We come here and play music, we have fun, we laugh and we look at other people, he says. Not to worry about mistakes.

Before they leave, the drummers talk about the disconnection in society today how people are absorbed in their computers, smart phones and social media devices and just missing one another. You see it in restaurants, one of the women says. Young people sitting together, all looking at their phones.

Now that the state grant has ended, Anna Seery, director of the Pembroke Council on Aging, hopes to find other funding to offer the drumming circle again.

That would be good, McCauley says. The ladies want to go once a week.

MILLIE NAUN of Hingham celebrated her 101st birthday yesterday and on Sunday, her friends at the Liberty Grille on North Street in Hingham had a party.

Shirley Kehoe, 82, of Cohasset, used to drive the van for Cohasset Elder Affairs and gave Millie rides. She still walks to the train and takes it into Boston during the week. She's an amazing woman and arrives at the grille a couple times a week to sit at the bar and have a hotdog and a beer, Shirley said.

Congratulations Millie and heres to 102!

Reach Sue Scheible at scheible@ledger.com, 617-786-7044, or The Patriot Ledger, P.O. Box 699159, Quincy 02269-9159. Read her Good Age blog on our website. Follow her on Twitter @ sues_ledger.

More:

A GOOD AGE: joyful conversation in the drumming circle - The Patriot Ledger

In its third year, Mamby on the Beach once again boasted some of the best city views offered at a Chicago music festival alongside a thoughtfully curated lineup Saturday and Sunday at Oakwood Beach. An eclectic cast of bands, electronic-based musicians and hip-hop artists from homegrown artists including Saba, Sir the Baptist and Green Velvet to album-charting acts including MGMT and Walk the Moon complemented the fest's theme of chill, danceable vibes.

According to organizers, an estimated 30,000 fans attended over the weekend. Conceived as a boutique festival, Mamby included beachfront stages and free activities including yoga sessions and wellness workshops. Each day, the musical lineup generally progressed with relaxing grooves that melded into more anthemic fare. "I kind of look at it as providing a soundtrack for a person's day," React Presents' Matt Rucins, one of the three Mamby bookers, said of the programming philosophy.

The sonic landscape also showcased a bevy of strong Chicago talent. Saturday's lineup included recent high school graduate Ravyn Lenae's sultry, old-soul vocals mingled with romantic yearning on her jazz-tipped numbers such as "Blossom Dearie."

Rapper Saba's fiery set spanned his collaborative efforts including performing Chance the Rapper's "Angels," which Saba is featured on, and he brought out his brother and fellow Pivot Gang member Joseph Chilliams for turns at the mic for songs including "Westside Bound 3." Saba also dedicated his moving "Church/Liquor Store" to his late cousin and Pivot Gang member John Walt, who was stabbed to death in February.

Rapper Smino was a guest during both Lenae and Saba's sets, and Joey Purp made a surprise appearance during producer oddCouple's slot. BJ the Chicago Kid injected his smooth R&B, which included "Roses," into the afternoon during an abbreviated performance.

The city was well-represented Sunday, too. A couple of dozen-strong Dexter Walker & Zion Movement gospel choir members ushered in events with "Oh Happy Day," and Sir the Baptist took the crowd to an alternative church where playful swearing in songs and onstage was forgiven. His rousing set included "Heaven," and "Creflo Almighty Dollar." Gospel great Donald Lawrence joined in a cameo as Sir the Baptist and his talented artist congregation ventured into the audience for a reprise of "Raise Hell" for the set's finale. Later, Green Velvet brought the worship of house to the fore with a dance party that closed out the DJ tent.

Danceable grooves dominated both nights' programming. On Saturday, Miike Snow kicked the dance party into full gear with "Genghis Khan" and "Animal" before headliner MGMT delivered hits such as "Kids" alongside new songs including "James."

On Sunday, Cut Copy's buoyant set had beach dwellers kicking up sand for "Lights and Music," and the band gave a shoutout to Chicago Pride weekend before delivering "Meet Me in a House of Love."

Thundercat thrilled fans with his awe-inspiring bass-and-falsetto-buoyed, funkified R&B jams, which included "Friend Zone."

Mamby culminated with Walk the Moon, Green Velvet and Flying Lotus. Those looking for singalong hits seemed to migrate to the former and the club crowd to Green Velvet's overflowing tent. Flying Lotus displayed the most intriguing visuals of the weekend. Flanked by two video screens displaying trippy visuals and lights, he delivered a vibrant, experimental mix, which included him live rapping on songs such as "Dead Man's Tetris."

Althea Legaspi is a freelance critic.

ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @chitribent

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Mamby on the Beach a winning mix of mood, tunes and Chicago vibe - Chicago Tribune