Holy Cow!
Thanks to the support of the Boston restaurant community, our sponsors, and you – the BCAE successfully threw our first annual “What’s Your Beef” fundraiser on April 19th to a sold out crowd, and A-list chef attendance. With over 250 people in the building and 9 celebrity chefs sizzling beef – the event was a mouthwatering success. In case you missed it, here were a few highlights to get you excited for next year:
* NECN’s Jenny Johnson commanding the live auction and reeling in over $2,000 for a private cooking class with Will Gilson along with a 4-course dinner at his highly anticipated new restaurant, bridgestreet.
* Over 400 shucked oysters to enjoy thanks to our friends at Island Creek Oysters
* Clear Channel Outdoor President, Steve Ross throwing in a last minute VIP Celtics ticket package in the middle of the live auction (did I mention he also put up 2 “What’s Your Beef?” billboards on 93 North and South? Yes, he is our favorite)
* English Bill’s fresh squeezed Beefeater punch (dangerously delicious!), Peak Organics own Rob Lucente serving up his finest brew and Vino di Vino keeping everyone’s wine glasses filled
* Over 500 hand cut cow hoofprints guiding guests to the various chef stations
* The BEST VIP bags ever (not to toot our own horn, but it’s true). A few of the items, you ask? How about Wusthof kitchen shears, Flippio Berio Olive Oil, Peak Organic pint glasses, Muir Glen Organic tomatoes…and that’s just naming a few. Not to mention, the incredible beef branded burlap bags all the treats came in!
Thank you everyone for your support and generosity. It was more than we could ever hope for. See you next year!
Who said the BCAE didn’t like to party?! Who? Really, I want to know!
Hot off the heels of our first annual “What’s Your Beef?” fundraiser, the staff here at the BCAE is busy planning an event in celebration of fellow nonprofit The History Project and Boston’s thriving GLBTQ community.
“Sip the Rainbow” will mark the opening of the exhibition, Pride: 40 Years of Protest & Celebration, a joint project between the BCAE and The History Project. Drawn from The History Project’s archive, the exhibition traces the development of Pride in Boston from a sparsely attended protest to a massive celebration drawing hundreds of thousands of participants each June. The pieces displayed in the exhibition showcase the immense cultural and political changes that have affected New England’s LGBTQ communities over the decades. Accompanying Pride: 40 Years of Protest & Celebration will be Fierce Pride: 1992, an exhibition of portraits taken during the 1992 Pride Celebration by Photographer Joel Benjamin. These never-before-exhibited portraits reflect the rich diversity of LGBTQ communities and the role of Pride in creating a safe space for self-expression.
Each mixologist participating in “Sip the Rainbow” will choose a color from the Gay Pride Flag (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple) and will be tasked with creating a unique Grey Goose cocktail. Registration is required; $10 donation.
“Sip the Rainbow” and Pride: 40 Years of Protest & Celebration would not have been made possible without the support of our generous sponsors:
* Boston Pride
* Fenway Health
* GLAAD
* Northern Trust
* Grey Goose
* Hunt’s Photo and Video
* The Ki Bar
* Boston Guerrilla Queer Bar
Write on!
Ladies and gentlemen, sharpen your pencils. For one day only, the BCAE is turning into a magazine office, and we’re counting on YOU to staff it! Writers of all styles will gather together and learn how to craft columns worthy of publication. Your instructors are some of the best in the business, and will range from a fabulous fashionista, to an entertainment and culture junkie, to one of the city’s most popular pundits. With their guidance you’ll crank you your best work and then submit it via email for your teacher’s consideration. If they like it, you’ll be published right alongside them and a few of your classmates in the inaugural issue of 122.
If all of this sounds exhausting, don’t worry, we’ve got lunch covered. Boloco is generously serving up all sorts of burritos as a perfect way to wrap up your first session and Chris Cox’s keynote address. Once you’ve had your fill, you’ll head back upstairs and try your hand at crafting an entirely new column.
Now is an exciting time to be a member of the media. Don’t miss your chance to show us your chops, add a line to a resume, and possibly make a connection that could change your life. No experience is required, just a little creativity and a lot of curiosity to see what a writer’s life is like between the bylines!
*Register today and take 30% off with our Early Bird discount! Enter code "EARLY30" at check-out or call us at (617) 267-4430. See you on May 5th!
Spring has sprung in the city and so has the spring term of the BCAE's English as a Second Language program. In March, when we had a brief week of summer, all four intensive English morning classes took a break from the classroom and hit Revere Beach. We practiced navigating public transportation and then had a 4 team scavenger hunt on the beach followed by a picnic lunch. Now that the weather has cooled down, we are back in the classroom for our April term.
This Saturday, the Saturday classes, beginner, intermediate, and advanced will go to the JFK Library and Museum for an experiential learning excursion. After studying about the Bill of Rights and the American political system, the advanced class has been researching JFK’s life and his legacy; this legacy will come to life this Saturday.
On April 30th, a new 8 week beginner and intermediate night class will begin. We are looking forward to some of our students transitioning levels and continuing to pursue their goals.
Also, on May 3rd, the ESL program is pleased to introduce a new class: Beyond Basics: Writing for non-native English speakers. This class will be taught by Tania Zamora, an advanced level ESL teacher, publishing graduate students, and working copy editor. Tania has designed an amazing curriculum which will help students get the special writing and editing attention they need to improve their grammar, style, syntax, and allow them to select an appropriate voice for various types of writing.
On a final note, the TOEFL preparation classes, run by Teodora Dimova, will now run in 8 week sessions both in the afternoon and in the evenings. This 8 week session will allow students to build more skills and more confidence to ensure success when taking the dreaded TOEFL test. Congratulations to our students and our teachers for the continued success of the BCAE's English as a Second Language Program- we couldn’t do it without all of you!
There is no better way to “eat local” fish than to catch your own. And, when you eat local you have the satisfaction of knowing fewer fossils fuels were burned in getting your meal to the table. The BCAE is very excited to announce the 3rd annual “Go Fish! with Jason Bond and Captain Paul” fishing and cooking experience.
This two day course starts aboard Captain Paul from Reel Pursuit vessel and ends in the BCAE kitchens with Chef Jason Bond of Bondir to show you how to cook what you've hooked! With the help from a pro, students get a hands on lesson on how to skin, bone, fillet and cook your catch. Don’t worry, if the worm is still on your line we'll throw a fish your way to make sure no one is left out. It’s time to awaken your inner angler and experience a few fish tails to be shared for years to come!
There are only 12 seats available so sign up early. Last year the class caught enough stripers to feed a small army. Don’t miss out!
{Photos taken in last year's class by Brian Samuels of A Thought for Food}
Here at the BCAE, we’re constantly searching for one-of-a-kind experiences to offer our students. Whether it’s hands on cooking with the nation’s most talked about chefs, or teaching the latest art and design trends, our staff is always working to bring the best of the best to the Center. With that said, every once in a while, something really remarkable comes along that leaves even our most senior staff screaming, “Sign me up!” This is one of those times.
“Inside Fenway Park” is an exclusive opportunity (open to BCAE students ONLY) to tour and photograph one of the nation’s most historic and iconic landmarks. BCAE instructor Chris Padgett will give a crash course introduction to architectural photography as Red Sox Nation celebrates the 100th anniversary of “America’s most beloved ballpark” and prepares for the 2012 home opener. A not to be missed day for lovers of Fenway, photography, or both!
Spring is just around the corner and here at the BCAE we’re gearing up for our first annual “What’s Your Beef?” fundraiser. Nine of Boston’s premier chefs will be breaking down and serving up designated cuts of the highest quality local beef provided by John Crow Farm, Northeast Family Farms and Hardwick Beef. We can’t wait to see how Ming Tsai prepares loin and taste the Beefeater 24 cocktails mixed by “English Bill” Codman.
The night will directly support the BCAE and our tuition voucher program which offers free and discounted classes to our partnered social service agencies. Through our tuition voucher program we are able to provide educational opportunities to those who need them most. You can make a difference by joining us for a fantastic night of raising forks and funds!
We are excited and overwhelmed to have so many sponsors on board for the event (check the list below!) This is one not to be missed. See you on Thursday, April 19th! More information here.
Edible Boston
John Crow Farm
Northeast Family Farms
Hardwick Beef
Beefeater 24
Peak Organic Brewing Company
Vinodivino
Boston Organics
Verterra
Vegware
Island Creek Oysters
Cabot
Nashoba Brook Bakery
Wusthof
Espresso Plus
Mozarella House
Go against the grain this St. Patrick’s Day, and forego the green beer. Join us on Friday, March 16th for a good ole’ fashioned Irish Whiskey Tasting from 7:30pm – 8:30pm. Instructor, and Master of Scotch, Brad Jarvis will take you through the contrasting flavors of Northern Irish styles and Southern Irish styles, as well as introduce you to blended, pot still style, peated and in-peated single malt style. This class will get your taste buds primed and ready for the main “seisiún” on Saturday, March 17th!
After St.Patrick’s Day, feel free to come back and expand your Wine and Spirits knowledge at the BCAE with a host of great libations classes. Learn more about Scotch and Whiskey with “How Taxes & Laws Created Whiskey Flavors” on April 13th or “Scotch Tasting” on April 20th.
If you prefer a cocktail, we have Jackson Cannon from The Hawthorne coming in to teach “Classic Cocktails” on April 24th. As one of the country’s most acclaimed mixologists, this throw back to classic cocktails will be a testament to the craft cocktail movement.
Or if it is wine you are looking to learn more about, we have several wine tastings through out March and April. Learn about the difference between French and Italian wines in “Between the Vines: Italyvs France” on March 22nd.
Whatever your fancy, you will find it here. Browse all of our Wine & Spirits classes now!
Spring cleaning!
For many of us, spring cleaning means sweeping, scouring and scrubbing our house to perfection to welcome the warm weather. These days though, spring cleaning is not just for houses! Health experts and nutritionists across the country are touting the beautifying benefits of detoxing and cleaning your body from the inside out, and we’ve got a crop of classes that will teach you to do just that.
First, learn the basics with Naturopathic Medicine: 7 Pillars to Optimize Your Health. Once that’s done, see what you should be putting in your body with Positive Pill Popping: Vitamins & Minerals for Health. Finally, rev things up with Your Metabolism: From Sluggish to Speed Demon.
If spiritual renewal is more your style, check out Stress Less: Creating a Place for Peace and Stress Free, Naturally.
By the time you’re done with your spiritual and physical cleansing you’ll be feeling good enough to make bold choices. Possibly even a career change! Insider’s Guide to the Modeling Industry, anyone?
Looking for another class to boost your spring? Browse all of our Self & Work classes online now!
Winter may be drawing to a close, but that doesn’t mean the fun is over! The BCAE’s ESL (English as a Second Language) community will be heading on a second ski trip for the season to Wachusett Mountain. The first trip took place in January, and the student and instructors alike had a great time bonding over learning English and learning to ski or snowboard. This month’s trip will be taking place on Sunday, February 26th!
This winter, we are also excited to introduce a new ESL program at the BCAE on Saturdays. Starting on March 10th, the BCAE will offer a beginner morning class, 10:00am-1:00pm, and an afternoon intermediate class, 2:00pm-5:00pm
And last, but certainly not least, members of the BCAE’s advanced English classes have begun to give back to the community by volunteering at various locations around the city. It is an opportunity for them to practice their English skills while helping those who need basic ESL services and math skills. Check back soon for updates on how this new volunteer program impacts both BCAE ESL students and the groups they are helping.