MUSH LOVE
Shrooms spice up the bedroom
STORIES THAT STICK
Excerpts from a new memoir
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A TOUCH OF SUMMER Botanical gardens to green up your snow days
SWEET RELEAF
Debut album from Sensi Presents
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FEATURES
28
Home Baked
The story of Meridy Volz, founder of San Francisco’s Sticky Fingers Brownies
DEPARTMENTS
9 EDITOR’S NOTE 18 THE LIFE Contributing to your health and happiness 10 THE BUZZ MUSH LOVE Spice up News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop WALKING THROUGH HISTORY Discover the
Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.
HOT IN PROVIDENCE
The Center for Sexual Pleasure & Health GRAB YOUR SKATES
Take a spin at an outdoor rink.
the bedroom with aphrodisiac mushrooms. IT’S A WRAP Valentine’s Day gift guide HOROSCOPE See what the stars hold.
36 THE SCENE Hot happenings and hip hangouts around town A TOUCH OF SUMMER
Sustainable clothing from Maine
Local botanical gardens provide a respite from winter.
SWEET TREAT THC
CULTURAL CALENDAR
Hot cocoa to go SENSI PRESENTS The debut album from our new record label benefits the community.
Live and virtual events to warm up your February days
SLOW FASHION
ON THE COVER
Step into summer at these beautiful botanical gardens. ORIGINAL PHOTO COURTESY OF TOWER HILL BOTANIC GARDEN PHOTO EDITS BY JOSH CLARK
48 THE END The lost town of Glastenbury, Vermont
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e r a u q S l a tr n e C IT’S GREAT TO BE PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Revolutionary Clinics is thrilled to be serving patients at 541 Massachusetts Avenue. Situated in the heart of the Central Square cultural district, this spacious shop features the highest quality cannabis along with a team of people who are passionate about connecting you with the products and delivery methods best suited for your needs. So stop by, say hello and enjoy the convenience of Central’s Square’s first and only cannabis clinic.
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MURAL BY FELIPE ORTIZ Please Consume Responsibly. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of edible marijuana may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.
ADVISORY BOARD
The Botanist Cannabis Education Corners Packaging Packaging Curaleaf Veterans Cannabis Project Flourish Software Seed to Sale Green Goddess Supply Personal Homegrown Biochamber Green Matters LLC/MariMed Inc. Supply Chain GreenHouse Payment Solutions Payment Processing The Holistic Center Medical Marijuana Evaluations The Leaf Collaborative Education Mayflower Medicinals Online Reservations PotGuide Travel & Tourism Revolutionary Clinics Medical Dispensary Royal Gold Soil Tess Woods Public Relations Public Relations MEDIA PARTNERS
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EXECUTIVE
Ron Kolb Founder, CEO ron@sensimag.com Stephanie Wilson Co-Founder, Editor in Chief stephanie@sensimag.com Mike Mansbridge President mike@sensimag.com Fran Heitkamp Chief Operating Officer fran@sensimag.com Lou Ferris VP of Global Revenue lou@sensimag.com Chris Foltz Director of Global Reach chris@sensimag.com Amanda Patrizi Deputy Director of Global Reach amanda.patrizi@sensimag.com Jade Kolb Director of Project Management jade.kolb@sensimag.com Kristan Toth Head of People kristan.toth@sensimag.com EDITORIAL
Doug Schnitzspahn Executive Editor doug.schnitzspahn@sensimag.com Emilie-Noelle Provost Managing Editor emilie.provost@sensimag.com Robyn Griggs Lawrence Editor at Large robyn.lawrence@sensimag.com Helen Olsson Copy Chief Tracy Ross, Mona Van Joseph, Alia Volz Contributing Writers DESIGN/PRODUCTION
Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com Rheya Tanner Art Director Wendy Mak, Josh Clark Designers Neil Willis Production Director neil.willis@sensimag.com PUBLISHING
Richard Guerra Market Director richard.guerra@sensimag.com Jenna Scandone Media Sales Executive jenna.scandone@sensimag.com Jake Boynton Media Sales Executive jake.boynton@sensimag.com
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Magazine published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC.
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By February, even the hardiest New Englanders have
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had enough of winter. It usually isn’t until the end of the month, when the days start getting noticeably longer, that I start thinking about spring. The increased daylight and slightly warmer temperatures always serve as a reminder of more carefree days. It’s no wonder that February has historically been one of the more popular months for people in the northeast to take winter vacations to places with friendlier climates. This year, COVID-19 has made traveling all but impossible for most of us. So, if you’ve got the winter blues, take a look at our feature on New England’s indoor botanical gardens. Even during the pandemic, several of these small-scale tropical paradises—bursting with exotic ferns, citrus trees, and flowers—are open. Indulge in a healthy dose of lush green foliage or make it a summery backdrop for a surprise Valentine’s Day date. If you’re looking for something unique to give to your favorite somebody on February 14, you’ll want to take a look at our Valentine’s Day gift guide. And if you’re feeling especially amorous, our article on aphrodisiac mushrooms should also be on your reading list. We’re also excited to announce Releaf: The Compilation Album, our first release from the new Sensi Presents record label. All proceeds will benefit the Last Prisoner Project. February is also Black History Month. While New England is generally known for the role it played in the Underground Railroad and for famous abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Harriet Beecher Stowe, many people don’t realize that slavery was legal in some parts of New England until the 1840s. In The Buzz, you’ll find out about the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. This series of historic sites, which is open to visitors, has been preserved in an effort to promote awareness of the region’s African American past in the hope of creating a more inclusive future.
It’s no wonder that February has historically been one of the more popular months for people in the northeast to take winter vacations to places with friendlier climates.
Best,
Emilie-Noelle Provost @Emilie_Noelle
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Walking Through History Most people don’t realize that slavery was once fairly common in New England, especially in port cities like Portsmouth, New Hampshire. As far back as the mid17th century, free and enslaved Africans and African Americans lived, worked, and raised families in northern cities and towns. Although slavery was legal in some parts of New England into the 1840s, the region also provided a refuge for escaped slaves from the South. Ona Judge, a slave belonging to first lady Martha Washington, was among the most notable. Judge made her way to New Hampshire by ship 10
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in the late 1700s, evading all attempts by President Washington to recapture her. She eventually married and raised a family in Portsmouth. You can learn about Judge and other remarkable Black Americans by taking a self-guided walking tour of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire in Portsmouth. A printable map and guide including 24 important sites can be downloaded for free. The guide and map are also available in book form, complete with color photographs, for $15. blackheritagetrailnh.org
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Take a self-guided tour along the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.
CONTRIBUTORS
Emilie-Noelle Provost, Doug Schnitzspahn, Stephanie Wilson
Grab Your Skates Bundle up and head over to one of New England’s slick outdoor rinks.
BY THE NUMBERS
$101
The average cost of a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for two at a Boston restaurant SOURCE: WalletHub
PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) COURTESY OF AMC, EXPLORE MASSACHUSETTS, CSPH
114 By the time February rolls around, we all need to get out of the house. Ice skating is a fun, healthy activity that just about anyone can do, and when it’s done outside, skating can comply with social distancing requirements too. While natural ice is often unreliable due to warming weather patterns, several artificial outdoor rinks are open for business in all six New England states. Check out this online guide at newengland.com to find an outdoor skating rink near you. Be sure to take a look at each rink’s website before you go for updates on COVID-19 rules and business hours.
MILLION CARDS
The approximate number of Valentines sent out in the US each year SOURCE: Reader’s Digest
-12ºF
Record low Valentine’s Day temperature recorded in Hartford, Connecticut, in 2016
SEXUAL HEALING
Discover a Rhode Island resource for all things related to sex and sexuality. Most people associate New Englanders with our buttoned-up Puritan forebears, but The Center for Sexual Pleasure & Health (CSPH) in Providence is on a mission to change this perception. The nonprofit aims to provide “culturally inclusive, medically accurate, and pleasure-informed sexuality education, therapy, and professional training” with the goal of helping adults engage in open dialogue about sex and sexuality, and helping parents and caregivers teach young people about their bodies, sexuality, and consent. Although CSPH normally offers a number of in-person workshops, classes are currently being held virtually, some costing as little as $3. Visit the organization’s website for a schedule and more information. thecsph.org
SOURCE: New England Cable News
1866
The year conversation hearts were first created by the New England Confectionary Company (NECCO)
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” —Dr. Mae Jemison, the first Black American woman to travel in space
SOURCE: CNN.com
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THE BUZZ
VOX POPULI
Question: What is your ideal Valentine’s Day date during the COVID-19 pandemic?
SUZANNE PERRY
NATALIE PETRUCCI
TOM PERRY
Medical Technologist Londonderry, NH
Registered Nurse Ashby, MA
Project Manager Londonderry, NH
___________________
___________________
___________________
I’d love to take the day off and go on a romantic winter hike with my sweetheart.
It would be great to be able to take a long drive by ourselves without the kids or the dogs.
My ideal date: a delicious dinner at home, maybe by candlelight, an awesome bottle of wine, and chocolate.
MADELAINE HAMILTON
MORGAN LINDEMAYER
Art Teacher Somerville, MA
Marine Biologist Boston, MA
___________________
___________________
A long walk someplace where we could look at public art would be nice. Maybe we could even get some hot drinks to go.
At this point, just being able to get a babysitter and do anything that adults normally do outside the house would be a real treat.
Slow Fashion
PHOTOS COURTESY OF RAMBLERS WAY
Cheap sweatshop-made duds may soon be a thing of the past. Being isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way lots of folks think about the things they buy and use. Many people have discovered they don’t need a closet full of inexpensive sweaters when two or three sustainably made pullovers fit and look better, last longer, and take up less space. Ramblers Way, a sustainable clothing company based in Maine, has become a leader in the “slow fashion” movement by taking a holistic approach to manufacturing clothing. The company, founded by Tom and Kate Chappell of Tom’s of Maine toothpaste fame, sources organic wool and cotton from the US when possible, makes its own fabric, and manufactures all its clothing in America. ramblersway.com
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www.iresinate.com | 508 476-6290 | info@iresinate.com | Follow us:
PLEASE CONSUME RESPONSIBLY. IF YOU FEEL DIFFERENT YOU DRIVE DIFFERENT
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@resinatewithus
This product has not been analyzed or approved by the FDA. There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast- feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The intoxicating effects of edible products may be delayed by 2 hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 OR 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.
THE BUZZ
BILITIES BY STEPHANIE WILSON, EDITOR IN CHIEF
1 AIR TIME Don’t let the “aqua” in the name of the 11th astrological sign in the zodiac fool you—Aquarius is a visionary air sign represented by the water bearer. The 10th largest constellation in the zodiac, Aquarius is also one of the oldest, first documented in the second century by a Greek astrologer.
Sweet Treats
These little taste explosions are perfect for cold February nights.
2 FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH Greek mythology links the constellation Aquarius with Ganymede, who, as the story goes, was the hottest dude like ever—so hot that Zeus, the god of thunder himself, just had to have him. The details vary depending on which ancient text you’re reading, but basically Zeus abducted Gany and brought him to Mount Olympus to serve as a cup-bearer and quench his thirst. (The original thirst trap?) Ganymede was rewarded with eternal youth, which explains why I, an Aquarius, don’t look a day over 39 when by the end of this month I will be 28 days over it.
3 THE AGE OF AQUARIUS But who cares? Age is just a number. Lying about your age just perpetuates the idea that whatever age you are is somehow bad, that by being that age you are worse than you were before. The Aquarian in me finds this to be bullshit. Don’t buy into the labels, don’t let anyone put you in a box, just be yourself …
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW ENGLAND RESERVE
4 THIS END UP Oops, I got distracted. That happens to Aquarians. We’re a bit all over the place because we’re interested in everything. But we don’t like to label ourselves as out-of-the-box thinkers, because we despise labels, we question assumptions, and we do not like being told what to do. Besides, we didn’t see the box anyway; we were lost in our thoughts, which are always flitting from one topic to another as we move through life with an aloof detachment that can come across as cold. 5 LET THE SUN SHINE IN We are cold; we’ve always been cold. We came into this world in the middle of the winter when the planet couldn’t be farther from the sun. We’ve been chasing that sun ever since. It’s fun; you should come with. 6 DON'T CHA HEAR ME CALLIN' TO YA? Think of your most free-spirited, eccentric friend—the person you call when you’re in the mood for an adventure but avoid when you’ve gotta be up early the next day: they’re probably an Aquarius. You should call and wish them a happy birthday.
Whether you want to surprise your Valentine or indulge your inner chocoholic, a THC-infused hot chocolate bomb from New England Reserve, a cannabis dispensary in Old Town, Maine, might be just the thing. Each bomb contains just the right combination of hot cocoa mix and marshmallows, as well as 50 milligrams of THC. Place the bomb in your favorite mug, pour hot milk over it, and in a few minutes you’ll be enjoying a delicious treat with a kick. $15 per bomb / newenglandreserve.com
LOVE IS A FRIENDSHIP SET TO MUSIC.”
—Joseph Campbell, 20th-century professor of literature and folklore scholar
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Cannabis + Staying In + Game Night =
SHOP NOW
939 Boston Turnpike | Shrewsbury Open 7 days a week | 9am–9pm Order online Pick up in store shop.verilife.com
Please Consume Responsibly. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older or persons holding a patient registration card. Keep out of the reach of children. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of edible marijuana may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact the poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA. ©2020 PharmaCann Inc. All rights reserved.
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THE BUZZ
David Starfire
SWEET RELEAF
PHOTO COURTESY DAVID STARFIRE
The first compilation album from Sensi’s new record label drops with a mission to bring justice to those incarcerated for cannabis offenses. Sensi has always been more than just a magazine—it’s a concept and a community. And now it’s a record label, Sensi Presents. The initial offering will not just provide the soundtrack for everything from cooking at home to Zoom dance parties to ski trips, it will make a difference. Fifty percent of the proceeds for the sale of the first album, Sensi Releaf ($22, available through April at sensimag.com/presents), will go to the Last Prisoner Project (lastprisonerproject.org), a nonprofit working to reform cannabis criminal justice and fight inequity when it comes to those serving time for activities that are no longer crimes. A version of the album to be released in April will include commentary from Last Prisoner Project’s Andrew and Steve DeAngelo. “The main goal of Last Prisoner Project in 2021 is to build on the momentum of 2020,” Andrew DeAngelo
says. “We want to get more cannabis prisoners out and home. We want their records expunged. We want them re-entered into society with good paying jobs, housing, health care, etc.” Andrew is hopeful that new leadership in DC will work with the nonprofit toward that end. “LPP and many others in the cannabis social justice movement are hopeful of partnering with the Biden administration. It remains to be seen if that partnership meets our expectations, but there is optimism right now.” All the artists on Sensi Releaf are on board with the cause. “I think the Last Prisoner Project is an amazing organization. I’m a firm believer in social justice, and I think it’s wrong to incarcerate people for drug crimes,” says California-based multi-instrumentalist and producer David Starfire, who remixed Dub FX’s track “Fire Every
Day” for this project. “I hope that with this album project that there is more awareness about this issue.” Releaf will deliver positive vibes as soon as you press play. A wide range of cuts—from Tubby Love and Amber Lily (with Trevor Hall) channeling classic reggae beats in “Chant Up Zion” to transpersonal psychologist AshEL SeaAll SeaSunz dropping mindful funk on “Lady Justice”—keep this compilation moving. “Sensi Releaf raises money for the cause, and that money goes to get people out of prison,” Andrew says. “That’s the transactional benefit. The music itself also has many beneficial messages regarding justice that are done in a way that inspires and rejuvenates the soul. It’s a great album to play in the background while working. It’s also a spectacular cannabis session album for after work.” F E B R UA RY 2021
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Mush Love Fungus could fun up your Valentine’s Day.
PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) BY KICHIGIN19, ADOBE STOCK; ANDERSPHOTO, ADOBE STOCK
TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE
In the South Pacific, legend tells of women writhing in sexual ecstasy after eating mushrooms they found growing wild in the forest. Normans fed grooms a dish made from a pound of mushrooms to prepare them for their wedding night, and Mataco Indians in Chiapas, Mexico, rubbed the red underside of bracket fungus on their faces to boost their sex appeal. In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church banned highly sought-after cardoncello mushrooms for the unforgiveable sin of making parishioners horny. When it comes to sexy time, shrooms have a history. Flesh colored and globular, they come by their reputation naturally. But not all the 14,000 species of mushrooms have the
the skirt-wearing sex and erotic and lustful memories among the beard-wearing sex,” European gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote in 1825. “This honorable parallelism comes not only from the fact that this esteemed tuber is delicious, but also because it is still believed to bring about potenTruffles cy, the exercise of which Ancient Greeks believed brings sweet pleasure.” truffles were created Also known as white when lightning impregdiamonds, truffles are nated the earth with its seed, and they’ve been one of the most coveted called the earth’s testicles. foods in the world, and They have been legendary their price tag—anysince ancient Rome, when where from $1,500 to $4,000 per pound—rePliny offered six ways to flects that. Like caviar prepare the delicacies in and fine champagne, they his compendium of aphseduce by being elusive rodisiacs. Napoleon was and expensive. A fungus said to be a fan. that lives symbiotically “Truffles. As soon with tree roots, truffles as the word is spoken, it awakens lustful and can be found in only a erotic memories among few places on earth. They power of sexual persuasion. Only a handful have stood as aphrodisiac champions down through the centuries. Here’s a rundown of the naughty mushrooms and a little bit about how to eat them, something to chew on when planning your Valentine’s Day.
emit a chemical called androstenol, which is nearly identical to a male pig sex hormone and also found in men’s underarm sweat (there’s no accounting for what turns us humans on). While we swoon for the smell of truffles after they’ve been harvested, human noses don’t have what it takes to find them underground. Pigs and dogs can be trained to root them out for us, but that’s not cheap. In Brillat-Savarin’s day, the upper classes showed off by stuffing hens with truffles. That’s not the best way to enjoy them. To get the most out of truffles, serve them raw, grated or sliced with a truffle slicer (yes, there’s such a thing) over fresh pasta, sauces, soups, risotto, or scrambled eggs. You can also make truffle butter—use
MAKE YOUR OWN
TRUFFLE HONEY INGREDIENTS
½ ounce fresh black or white truffles, cleaned 8 ounces raw organic honey INSTRUCTIONS
• Using a microplane grater, grate truffle into honey. Stir until well integrated. • Replace lid and refrigerate for 48 hours. Keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
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THE LIFE
it to sauté mushrooms for a real treat—or truffle honey, which is amazing when drizzled over gorgonzola crostini or baked brie. (You can also buy truffle butter and truffle honey in gourmet stores or online.)
PHOTO BY KATOBONSAI, ADOBE STOCK
Cordyceps In India and China, Cordyceps sinensis has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries. Also known as “Himalayan Viagra,” it’s a rare fungus that gets inside a ghost moth caterpillar burrowed in the soil for the winter, then slowly consumes and digests it from within. In the spring, the bright yellow, wormlike fungus blossoms up and out of the ill-fated cater-
pillar’s head. Legend has it that Tibetan yak herders were the first to notice their yaks had more energy and vitality when they ate cordyceps, and now it’s being touted as an alternative to pharmaceuticals for combating sexual dysfunction. Eating powdered cordyceps supports blood flow and oxygen supply, and clinical studies have found it supports healthy blood circulation in the penis and increases sperm count and quality. Wild cordyceps will run you $20,000 per pound and up, but you can buy much cheaper cultured Cordyceps militaris, which is vegan-grown on brown rice or soy (no caterpillars have to die). Eat them raw, cooked in food, or
made into tea. They can be sautéed or stewed with meat if you’re a carnivore. Cordyceps powder can be blended into coffee or chai or added to stir-fries, soups, salads, or pasta.
up your Valentine’s Day, be aware that reishi can also put you to sleep. Reishi powder and dried reishi are readily available at health food stores and online. When buying reishi powder, Reishi look for organic brands In Asia, reishi mushrooms that use hot-water exhave been known as the traction, which retains magic mushrooms of the the most nutrients. With bedroom for thousands a smoky, almost chocoof years. Reishi supports laty flavor, reishi is great the kidney and urinary in smoothies, teas, and as system, which is the seat a coffee alternative. of sexual power in traditional Chinese medicine. Shiitake Great for the brain, emo- Fleshy and juicy, shiitational well-being, and the ke mushrooms check all immune system, reishi the aphrodisiac boxes. can help the body become They’re full of zinc, which more resilient to stress— gets the blood flowing the No. 1 cock blocker— and boosts testosterone, over time. If you’re conand lentinan, which is besidering this one to spice lieved to enhance erectile
MAKE YOUR OWN
TRUFFLE BUTTER INGREDIENTS
1 pound quality unsalted butter, room temperature 1–3 teaspoons white truffle oil Sea salt, to taste INSTRUCTIONS
• Place butter in mixing bowl and add truffle oil 1 teaspoon at a time, tasting each time. Stir to combine. Add salt to taste. • Form into a 1-inch-thick log and wrap tightly with plastic. Keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Congregating Cordyceps The “caterpillar fungus” is said to be the world’s most valuable parasite.
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Psilly Cider Recipe by Kate Avruch / Servings: 2
INGREDIENTS
3 grams dried psilocybin mushrooms 3 ounces unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, or enough to cover the mushrooms Raw honey, to taste (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
• Make sure shrooms are thoroughly dry. Chop or grind them into small pieces or powder. • Loosely layer mushrooms into bottom of a clean half-gallon mason jar. Add the vinegar. Place a layer of parchment paper between EQ U I P M E N T the metal lid and the top of the jar so the acidic solution Coffee grinder, blender, doesn’t deteriorate the or knife metal rim of the lid. Seal the Two 32-ounce widejar, enclosing the parchment mouth glass jars paper underneath. Wax or parchment paper • Place the jar in a warm Fine mesh strainer location (but out of direct Cheesecloth or coffee filters sunlight) and allow the Funnel vinegar to infuse for a 22
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minimum of 7 days and a maximum of 4 weeks. Shake the jar daily. Line strainer with cheesecloth or coffee filter, place over funnel, and strain the liquid into the second jar. Firmly squeeze out the mushrooms through the cheesecloth or coffee filter. If honey is cold, place the honey jar in pot of simmering water to warm gently. Taste vinegar mixture and add warmed honey, 1 tablespoon at a time, to taste. Store in a glass jar in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.
You can step up this infusion’s potency by changing the ratio of mushrooms to liquid. Enjoy it as a solo shot, in a smoothie, or in your favorite tea. Avruch also suggests adding other beneficial ingredients, including reishi mushrooms, garlic cloves, horseradish root, grated ginger, rosemary, cayenne pepper, citrus, oregano, sage, echinacea, cinnamon, black peppercorns, or rose hips.
PHOTOS (FROM LEFT) BY KICHIGIN19, ADOBE STOCK; ALEXKICH, ADOBE STOCK; JAROSLAV MACHACEK, ADOBE STOCK
THE LIFE
THE LIFE
function. In a study of voles fed shiitake extract for three weeks, males with withering libido saw their sexual motivation restored with 1.5 times more ejaculations. Donko shiitake, which have white designs on their tops, are believed to pack the most punch. You can find shiitakes at your local grocer. Slice the meaty cap and sauté it in olive oil or duck fat. Shiitake pair well with onions, garlic, and gin-
Good Shiitake These powerful mushrooms have antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.
ger. They’re great in stirfries and soups (miso in particular).
increased male potency and opened up worlds of possibilities, like inventing languages and having Psilocybin group sex. “Everyone If you believe ethnobotwould get loaded around anist Terence McKenna’s the campfire and hump Stoned Ape theory of in an enormous writhing human evolution, the psi- heap,” McKenna is quotlocybin mushroom’s aph- ed as saying. These magic rodisiac qualities were mushroom–fueled orgies key to humans’ survivled to genetic diversifial as a species. McKencation, making humans na wrote that primitive more disease-resistant. humans’ experimenAnd with no way to trace tation with high doses who was whose daddy, of magic mushrooms communities formed to
raise children—another leap for humankind. That’s something to think about, though it’s admittedly a little academic for Valentine’s Day. Bottom line is that many people, including famous ethnobotanists, consider psilocybin an aphrodisiac even though it doesn’t in and of itself increase libido. It does open your mind and cause your brain to pump out the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. Your skin gets more sensitive, and touch feels more pleasurable. With the right person or persons, magic mushrooms can spark intense, intimate conversation, mind-blowing orgasms, and cosmic-level cuddling. Psilocybin mushrooms should be heated to at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit and preferably above 200 degrees Fahrenheit to release their nutrients, get rid of harmful pathogens and toxins, and soften the tissues to make them more digestible. You can eat them fresh, dried and ground, or made into tea. Pairing them with mint and lemon can help ward off any early nausea they might induce. Legality varies, so find out what you need to know based on where you live if you’re considering a Valentine’s Day trip.
MAKE YOUR OWN
VEGAN REISHI GOLDEN MILK
Servings: 2
INGREDIENTS
3 cups plant milk (almond, coconut, oat, cashew) 5 teaspoons maple syrup 1 teaspoon reishi powder 3 teaspoons ground turmeric ¼ teaspoon ground ginger 2 cinnamon sticks 1⁄8 teaspoon ground cardamom Ground pepper, to taste INSTRUCTIONS
• In a saucepan over low heat, whisk ingredients together until well combined. Pour into mugs and serve.
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THE LIFE GIFT GUIDE
HEART OF STONE Love in Bloom Porcelain Heart Vase $99 / shopatmatter.com
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THE LIFE GIFT GUIDE
Spread the Love
PUT ON A HAPPY FACE Not Pot CBD Glow Oil $50 / notpot.com
Check out these fun, sexy, cool products Sensi editors really, really want you to try.
Couples that play together stay together, but after almost a year of quarantining together in the same ole space, it can be a challenge to keep your flame burning eternal. Or if you’ve been riding solo all this time, you’re no doubt ready to mix things up a bit. Sensi editors to the rescue. We’ve rounded up some fresh ideas for gifts to bestow upon yourself, your pad, or your pod-partner so you can spice things up a bit. Have fun, and stay lit.
AS YOU WISH Urban Outfitters Get Naked Rainbow Shower Curtain $39 / urbanoutfitters.com
PEES IN A POD Sam Boyce Designs “I Just Wee’d” Art Print (8” x 8”) $19 / society6.com/shitandroses SECRET’S OUT Pink Coco Chill Bath Mat $25 / victoriassecret.com
SPARK OF FUN The Adventure Challenge: Couples Edition $40 / theadventurechallenge.com
HIPPIE AT HEART Face Mask Tie-Dye Kit $38 / uncommongoods.com
BAKED WITH LOVE Wood Envy Baked with Love cutting board $63 / etsy.com/market/ woodenvydotcom
STICK IT IN Love is Love DIY Embroidery Kit $32 / uncommongoods.com
PINK SLIP Nécessaire The Sex Gel $20 / nordstrom.com
RUB A DUB DUB Vertly Soothing Floral Soak Bath Salts with CBD $55 / nordstrom.com
PERMANENTLY BONDED Handpoke Tattoo Kit $49 / etsy.com/shop/manifestoworks
PUFF PIECE Summerland Chongo Bong $195 / welcometosummer.land
ROLLING IN THE DEEP Love is Art Kit—Custom Edition $70 / us.loveisartkit.com
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mona Van Joseph is a professionally licensed intuitive reader in Las Vegas since 2002. Author, radio host, and columnist, she created the Dice Wisdom app and is available for phone and in-person sessions. mona.vegas
HOROSCOPE
FEBRUARY HOROSCOPE What do the stars hold for you? TEXT MONA VAN JOSEPH
JAN. 20–FEB. 18
AQUARIUS
life. This will be the month where karma will reward you from all directions. Just be grateful; you’ve earned these marvelous gifts from the universe.
While you know you’ve worked diligently in the last two years, the reward and accolades are still a little bit of a surprise. There is an amazing offer coming to you APR. 20–MAY 20 in the next three months, TAURUS and it will be tempting. Forces are conspiring for you to pay attention to yourself FEB. 19–MAR. 20 and make sure you nurture PISCES your emotions, body, and viYou are no longer tolerant of tality. An opportunity presentserving other people just be- ed at the end of the month is cause you’re “nice.” Recent worth your consideration. news is compelling you to pay attention to your emoMAY 21–JUNE 20 tional and physical health. GEMINI Don’t sacrifice your well-be- If you would just sit still ing just to take care of some- long enough to tap into your one else’s lack of planning. creative abilities, the solution to a work issue will MAR. 21–APR. 19 present itself. Ask your highARIES er self for help. The best People have reincarnated to solution will allow you to be your co-creators in this follow your heart.
JUNE 21–JULY 22
CANCER
Avoid going down the rabbit hole and jumping to the worse possible conclusion. There is help from all the people you’ve helped in the past. Your intuition is trying to nudge you toward a better set of circumstances. JULY 23–AUG. 22
LEO
Acting on your ideas in the first seven days of the month will connect you with someone of like mind and energy. He or she could be a past work associate, and the reconnection may offer you a job or a worthwhile project. AUG. 23–SEPT. 22
VIRGO
Your “old life” has proven not to be as beneficial or enjoyable. You’ve had an eye-open-
AQUARIUS, THERE IS AN AMAZING OFFER COMING TO YOU IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, AND IT WILL BE TEMPTING.
ing event in recent weeks. has forgotten it). Act as though What you did last month has you are already a success. aided your renewed vision. Freedom from limits and pain NOV. 22–DEC. 21 is in your vibration. SAGITTARIUS One of the things you do really SEPT. 23–OCT. 22 well is looking for the best in all LIBRA the people around you. Publicly There’s super powerful vali- present the other things you do dation that the path you’ve well—cooking, sports, leaderchosen over the last two ship, innovation, connection, years will bring you the de- skill, and creativity. sired outcome. Your unique skill set will get the atten- DEC. 22–JAN. 19 tion it deserves. CAPRICORN You’ve been expecting a disOCT. 23–NOV. 21 ruption for the last several SCORPIO months. It may be your spirYou’re a star—no excuses, no it doesn’t want to be manipprocrastination, and no doubts. ulated into an uncomfortJump into the spotlight and let able situation. Your peace of the pain from the past be for- mind is more important, and gotten (because everyone else you initiate change. F E B R UA RY 2021
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Alia Volz grew up embedded deep in cannabis culture.
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H ME BAKED In the 1970s, a free-spirited woman whipped up and hand-delivered marijuana-laced brownies to hippies, artists, and activists in the Bay Area. Her daughter shares her story. INTRODUCTION TRACY ROSS, BOOK EXCERPT ALIA VOLZ
PHOTO BY DENNIS HEARNE
A
lia Volz grew up in San Francisco, the daughter of the cannabis connoisseur who founded Sticky Fingers Brownies. The company baked and distributed thousands of marijuana brownies per month and helped provide medical marijuana to AIDS patients in San Francisco. In her new memoir, Home Baked: My Mom, Marijuana, and the Stoning of San Francisco (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020), Volz gives a raucous account of women pioneering the cannabis industry and of a family at home on society’s fringe. What follows are excerpts from Home Baked: *** My mom, Meridy, was a cannabusiness pioneer, the driving force
behind San Francisco’s first high-volume edibles business. For more than 20 years—from the frothy 1970s through the AIDS crisis and the dawn of medical marijuana—Sticky Fingers Brownies produced up to 10,000 potent magic brownies per month in an underground bakery, long before it could be done legally. I grew up embedded in deep cannabis culture. Of all the stereotypes I’ve encountered, the one that bothers me the most is the notion that cannabusiness is a man’s world in which women are now beginning to claim space. At least here in northern California, the frontier has been female.
ing brownies was a casual way for my mom and her friends to make extra money. That quickly changed. The timing coincided with a breakthrough in the weed world. A new variety of pot was hitting the streets and sending shock waves throughout the country: California-grown sinsemilla. That summer, an executive editor at High Times dubbed it “superweed” and called its farmers “supergrowers.” Decades later, seedy weed has gone the way of VHS tapes; only people of a certain age will remember the tedium of deseeding compressed bricks of cannabis by hand—or how mediocre the buzz could be. Up to that point, the *** Sticky Fingers bakers had been Sticky Fingers started in 1976, a cooking with bricks of dusty Mexyear before I was born. At first, sell- ican gold bud. Meanwhile, one of F E B R UA RY 2021
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my mom’s partners, Donald, had a friend up in Humboldt who was growing tall, regal sinsemilla on a hidden sunbathed hillside. The flower was gooey, pert, and garnished with crystals. Like Christmas trees for psychedelic dollhouses. So, my mom and her partners squeezed into the cab of a beater pickup and headed north across the Golden Gate Bridge in search of fresh magic. Urban civilization gave way to gnarled oaks and butterflies. Clumps of sycamores wearing slowburn autumnal colors stood in toasted brown fields dotted with cows. KSAN fuzzed out, sticking them with two Christian stations and one playing country and western. After four hours in the truck, they blew across the Humboldt County line. At Garberville, a one-horse town with a population of around 800, a funky motel, and a redneck bar called the Branding Iron Saloon, they exited the highway onto an intricate maze of dirt roads. The collapse of the logging industry had flooded the market with large tracts of unwanted land, where rough, swooping hills discouraged people from living in close proximity. Between fragrant redwood groves and slick madrones with blood-colored skin curling away from the lime-green flesh underneath, there were ugly stretches of clear-cut land, scarred and eroded, barren but for stumps and weeds. Donald’s friend was a burly mountain lesbian who went by Mumser (a nickname taken from the Yiddish word for “bastard”). She worked with a partner, whom I’ll call “Betty,” in the secretive Garberville woods—part of a community of women growers. Betty came from tending their crop to meet with the Sticky
Fingers crew topless—wearing nothing but dirty jeans and muck books—and my mom was in awe. “They just completely owned the running-around-topless-with-saggy-boobs-and-pooping-in-an-outhouse thing,” she says, looking back. She had never met women so unconcerned with how society might judge them. My mom, who always struggled with her body image, thought they were fabulous: Amazons of Humboldt. *** “It was all for fun,” Mumser says now, reflecting on the early days. “We didn’t come up here to grow. We didn’t! We just wanted to be in the country.” She and Betty had left San Francisco for the woods in about 1972, enamored with the notion of living on the fat of the earth. Donald helped Mumser build her cabin using homesteading catalogs and how-to manuals. The result was rickety, full of chinks and corners that didn’t quite meet. This was during a rare moment in US history when the pace of urban migration slowed to a crawl. The once-flourishing Humboldt lumber industry was dying out from over-logging, and land was cheap. Back-to-the-landers erected cabins and outhouses, planted sustenance gardens, raised goats and chickens, and set about living rustically. But while you’re planting tomatoes—and buying weed from someone else— you might as well plant your own weed. Then, while you’re planting your own weed, you might as well plant extra to sell. Perhaps you’ll want to upgrade from an outhouse to a flushing toilet. And how are you going to pay for a septic tank on or-
ganic tomatoes and welfare checks? Volz with her mother, Back then, sinsemilla techniques Meridy. were new to California. One had to kill the male cannabis plants before they could pollinate the females, so that the females would ooze gooey psychoactive resin instead of producing seeds. But the differences between male and female plants are subtle and apparent only at certain stages. And you couldn’t take your questions to Google. Friends taught one another. The 1976 publication of Sinsemilla: Marijuana Flowers by Jim Richardson and Arik Woods was a turning point. It’s a handsome coffee-table book with more space dedicated to photographs than words. The sparse writing makes an impact. Part practical manual, part pot porn, it gives step-by-step instructions that one doesn’t have to be a horticulturist to understand. And the language is so suggestive that it’s tempting to read it aloud in a phone-sex voice: “The virgin blossoms swell with sexual energy eager for consummation. But the breeze brings no pollen and the rhythm continues to intensify.... As F E B R UA RY 2021
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the last pistils come into the tips, the clusters turn pure white. The pods swell and the resinous coating thickens. The true sweetness of the flowers comes forth and becomes so strong it is almost too much to bear.” Macrophotography shot with the same erotic sensibility accompanies the writing. Seed pods shaped like vulvas, pistils that look like erect penises. It’s over the top but also useful. Woods’s sensual photos taught new growers to identify the sex organs at various stages—when to kill males, when to wait, and when to harvest mature females. This book passed from hippie to hippie in the California backwoods. It made the delicate art of farming sinsemilla appear accessible, even fun. In reality, it was hard labor. Mumser and Betty built a hilltop water tank and ran lines to their patch, then lugged soil and fertilizer into the woods in 50-pound sacks. Rabbits, deer, caterpillars, molds, fungi, and human thieves posed constant threats. In late summer, when the females produced psychoactive resin, every day of sunshine made the product stronger. But an early frost could ruin everything. Timing was crucial. Once harvested, the plants hung to dry on hooks in the cabins, where the growers watched obsessively for signs of mildew. At any stage, local police or federal drug enforcement could seize everything—including their freedom at a time when growing a single plant was a felony. By the time Sticky Fingers came around, they had it down. Their farm was small but mighty, and their homegrown packed a punch.
All these years later, the aroma of our home bakery remains sharp in my mind. It was round and earthy: notes of crushed ponderosa pine needles, dusty manzanita, moss from the lazy Eel River, and backroad dirt.
In the ’70s, Meridy Volz was a cannabusiness pioneer.
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My mom and her crew crammed garbage bags of shake into ... the pickup and drove slowly, carefully home, crossing the Golden Gate with a profound sense of relief. *** As impressed as my mom was with the flower from Mumser’s farm, she was looking for something else. Their bud was too expensive—and too strong—to use in high-volume baking. Through experimenting, Sticky Fingers had discovered they could use sinsemilla “shake”—the leafy detritus left over from trimming—and still come out with brownies that were more potent than anything made with the bricks of Mexican gold they’d been buying. This benefitted everyone. The shake left over after trimming was a liability to the growers. Though it lacked street value, it would count the same as expensive bud in a bust. In the eyes of the law, a pound was a pound. The Garberville women had been mulching or burning
their shake to get rid of it. They sold it to Sticky Fingers for just $50 a pound—one sixth of what they paid for Mexican gold. This increased the bakery’s profit exponentially while also helping the growers. My mom and her crew crammed garbage bags of shake into an antique icebox in the back of the pickup and drove slowly, carefully home, crossing the Golden Gate with a profound sense of relief. The new extra-potent sinsemilla brownies caused a sensation in San Francisco, and the rest is history. *** Between 1976 and 1998, Sticky Fingers Brownies went through several iterations, growing or shrinking with the demands of each era. In the mid-80s, when HIV/AIDS was rampant in San Francisco, Sticky
Fingers became part of the medical-marijuana underground, getting soothing cannabis into the bodies of those who needed it most. Through all its changes, Sticky Fingers remained a woman-run business with close ties to the wholesome outdoor growing communities of Humboldt and Mendocino counties, and the nature-worshipping gardeners who made their homes among the redwoods. All these years later, the aroma of our home bakery remains sharp in my mind. In the days before hybridization brought us strains smelling of blueberry muffins and Girl Scout cookies, the odor was tied to the land. It was round and earthy: notes of crushed ponderosa pine needles, dusty manzanita, moss from the lazy Eel River, and backroad dirt. The scent of Northern California. F E B R UA RY 2021
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOWER HILL BOTANIC GARDEN
A Touch of Summer
Tower Hill Botanic Garden
Rockwell Orangerie, named for one of Tower Boylston, Massachusetts, Hill’s benefactors, is a towerhillbg.org light-filled, 4,000-squareFounded in 1986 by foot conservatory-style the Worcester County greenhouse bursting Horticultural Society on with fragrant potted former farmland, Tower plants that are moved New England’s indoor botanical Hill Botanic Garden is a outdoors during the gem hidden among the summer months. gardens provide a tropical sanctuary redbrick mill towns of The Limonaia, which for the winter-weary. central Massachusetts. opened in 2010, houses TEXT EMILIE-NOELLE PROVOST While the majority of a variety of lush citrus Tower Hill’s garden spaces trees and flowering caBy February, most New don’t have to give up are outdoors, its limonaia, mellias in a subtropical Englanders have had their dreams of visiting a or lemon house, and its environment. Both the enough of winter. The tropical paradise, at least orangerie, a temperate Limonaia and Orangerie COVID-19 pandemic has not entirely. New Enindoor space that houses are open to visitors from made once-common late gland is home to several nonhardy winter-bloomSeptember through May. winter trips to Florida indoor botanical gardens ing plants, are truly sights Tickets for Tower and the Caribbean out of that will make anyone to behold in winter. Hill Botanic Garden the question for many. feel as if they’ve been Opened in January must be reserved online But frostbitten Yankees transported to Eden. 1999, the Marjorie Doyle in advance. F E B R UA RY 2021
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THE SCENE
PHOTOS (FROM TOP) COURTESY OF LOGEE’S (2), ROGER WILLIAMS PARK CONSERVANCY (2)
open only Friday through Sunday, and tickets must be purchased in advance online. Check the website for updates.
The Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park Conservancy Providence, Rhode Island, rwpconservancy.org
With more than 12,000 square feet of greenhouse space, the Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park Conservancy in Providence is the largest indoor garden complex in New England. The main greenhouse, called the Conservatory, is 45 feet tall and home to a variety of exotic palm
six greenhouses chockfull of colorful orchids and lacy ferns; citrus, avocado, dragon fruit, fig, guava, and banana trees; and black pepper Logee’s plants (the spice not the Danielson, Connecticut, logees.com fruit). You’ll also fi nd Founded in 1892 by Wil- fragrant herbs, cacti, liam Logee as a cut flow- succulents, and tropical er retailer, Logee’s got flowers of every imaginto the rare and tropical inable shape and size. plant business in 1900 They even sell coffee when Logee purchased and tea plants. Whether a ponderosa lemon tree you’re looking to make a from a dealer in Philapurchase or not, a visit delphia. Planted in the to Logee’s is worth the ground in the store’s drive. original greenhouse, the lemon tree, which Blithewold Mansion, trees, a reflecting pool, produces individual fruit Gardens & Arboretum Bristol, Rhode Island, and a fountain. The weighing as much as Mediterranean Room five pounds each, is still blithewold.org greenhouse features growing and thriving in This 33-acre estate overlooking Narraganplants grown in a variety the same spot today. sett Bay, now a museum, of habitats, from cacti Among the first to was once the summer found in all the world’s propagate and sell home of Pennsylvania deserts to carnivorous tropical plants in the bog plants and tropical United States, including coal magnate Augustus Stout Van Wickle and orchids. The Botanical now-common varieties Center is also home to such as begonias and a number of edible and geraniums, Logee’s is food-producing plants, famous today as a source including banana trees, for uncommon and hard herbs, and spice-bearto find plant species. ing species like Ceylon The store is home to cinnamon trees. If you happen to visit the Botanical Center during the warmer months, you can also enjoy a stroll around the complex’s three outdoor garden areas. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park Conservancy is currently F E B R UA RY 2021
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PHOTOS (FROM TOP) COURTESY OF DOROTHY MCGEE GREENHOUSE (3), BLITHEWOLD MANSION (2)
THE SCENE
his family. The property is home to a 45-room Arts and Crafts–style mansion, several outdoor gardens, an arboretum,
and the magnificent Lord & Burnham Greenhouse Complex, restored and rebuilt in 2005 and 2015, which houses a wide
variety of tropical and rare plants, including salvias, begonias, and ferns. During the winter months, the greenhouses are also used to propagate plants for the estate’s outdoor gardens and serve as a home to less cold hardy outdoor garden species. Tickets include admission to the mansion and must be purchased online in advance. Face coverings are required. Check the website for updates on hours and COVID-19 restrictions. F E B R UA RY 2021
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THE SCENE
Dorothy McGee Greenhouse at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NEW ENGLAND BONSAI GARDENS
designed by legendary landscape architect Frederic Law Olmsted. True to the vision of Boston, Massachusetts, its founder, the Gardner gardnermuseum.org Museum is one of only a Tucked away in Boshandful of art museums ton’s fashionable Back today to have a landscape Bay neighborhood, the architecture department. Isabella Stewart Gardner The Dorothy McGee Museum harkens back to Greenhouse, situated in a time of grand estates, the museum’s atrium, black tie receptions, and permanently displays an ornate gardens. Gardner array of rare tropical flowis said to have chosen ers and plants. Many of the location of the muse- the plant varieties found um based on its proxin the greenhouse are imity to the then-new examples of species that Back Bay Fens park, part Gardner herself grew, of the famous Emerald including an unusual Necklace, a park system night-blooming cereus
cactus. Visitors to the museum are welcome to tour the greenhouse and talk to the resident horticulturalists.
New England Bonsai Gardens Bellingham, Massachusetts, nebonsai.com
With thousands of bonsai trees representing dozens of species, New England Bonsai Gardens (NEBG) is part retail shop, part education center, and part gardening club. NEBG also offers professional services including transplanting, pruning, wiring, and “babysitting” bonsai trees. Home to the largest bonsai collection on the East Coast as well as to some of the oldest examples of the living art form in the US, NEGB’s eight greenhouses are open to the public during business hours. Among the varieties of remarkable tiny trees on view are European olive, Alberta spruce, Japanese and trident maple, tropical flowering bougainvillea, and green island ficus. F E B R UA RY 2021
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THE SCENE CALENDAR
LEFT: EVENT NAME BELOW: EVENT NAME RIGHT: EVENT NAME
Winter is in full swing in February with frosty snowshoe hikes, fun cold-weather festivals, cooking classes, cozy wine tastings, and romantic Valentine’s Day dinners. TEXT EMILIE-NOELLE PROVOST
Whether you’re looking forward to warming up next to an outdoor firepit with your family and friends or enjoying a laugh at a local comedy club, you can make the most of February with these virtual and socially distanced live events happening across New England. 44
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Feb. 4 deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln, MA thetrustees.org
Outdoor & Unplugged: Winter Nature Walk or Snowshoe Feb. 4 Alnoba, Kensington, NH alnoba.org
Arctic Travel Photography Feb. 5 Virtual event massaudubon.org
1620 Winery, Plymouth, MA 1620winery.com
Hosted by winemaker Robert Mullaney, this socially distant tour and tasting event features a behind-the-scenes look at the 1620 Winery, where guests will sample several varieties of wine throughout the tour, learn how its award-winning wines are made, and get answers to wine-related
PHOTO COURTESY OF 1620 WINERY
Cultural Calendar
Black Utopia and The Vintner’s Visionary New Experience Feb. 5 & 19 England Art
THE SCENE CALENDAR
LEFT: THE VINTNER’S EXPERIENCE BELOW: WINTER BIRDING IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY RIGHT: PRIVATE FIREPITS AT FROZEN FRUITLANDS
questions. A full six-wine, sit-down tasting paired with charcuterie follows the tour. Attendees will be able to purchase wines at a 20 percent discount.
A Group Exhibit of Visual Art Feb. 5–28, weekends Richard Boyd Art Gallery, Portland, ME richardboydartgallery.com
PHOTOS (FROM TOP) COURTESY OF FRUITLANDS MUSEUM; NORTH BRANCH NATURE CENTER
Introduction to Coffee: An SCA Coffee Skills Course Feb. 6 Acoustic Java Roastery & Tasting Room, Worcester, MA Tickets on Eventbrite acousticjava.com
Unhinged Comedy Presents: Natalie Cuomo Feb. 6 Pinstripes, Norwalk, CT unhingedent.com
Dumplings for the Chinese New Year Cooking Class Feb. 11 Powisset Farm, Dover, MA thetrustees.org
Mica’s Groove Train: A Live Music Valentine Show Feb. 12 The Strand, Dover, NH Tickets on Eventbrite thestranddover.com
Blue Horse Comedy Show Feb. 13 Blue Horse, West Haven, CT Tickets on Eventbrite bluehorsect.net
Easthampton WinterFest: A Walk in the Woods Feb. 13 Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, Easthampton, MA nashawannuckpond.org
Winter Walk Wine & Bourbon Dinner with Old Forester Feb. 6 LaBelle Winery, Amherst, NH labellewinery.com
Feb. 13 The Polly Hill Arboretum, West Tisbury, MA pollyhillarboretum.org
Virtually Exploring the White Mountains with Mike Belinski Feb. 18 Virtual event Tickets on Eventbrite bluehourboston.com
Winter Birding in the Champlain Fourth Annual Valley What the Feb. 20 Hemp?! Panel North Branch Nature Center, Discussion Montpelier, VT northbranchnaturecenter.org
Feb. 25 Virtual event elevatene.org
The Champlain Valley is one of New England’s premier How to Take Better Pictures inland destinaand How to tions for winter bird watching. Join Make Them Last Feb. 25 expert birder Zac Virtual event Cota on a trip to historicnewengland.org explore the shores, fields, and forests of the Champlain Valley in search of eagles, waterfowl, raptors, owls, snow buntings, winter finches, and more. Join Historic New 42nd Annual England digital phoWebster Lake Ice tographer Neil DixFishing Derby on to learn how to Feb. 20–21 take better pictures Webster Lake, Franklin, NH and save them for websterlakenh.com posterity. With a focus on phone cameras, learn how to improve the quality and composition of photographs, save digital files, and preserve them for the future.
When Particles Collide Feb. 26 Cadenza, Freeport, ME cadenzafreeport.com
Private Firepits at Frozen Fruitlands Feb. 27 Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, MA thetrustees.org
Get outdoors this winter and warm up with a private firepit booking at the Fruitlands Museum. Firepits can be reserved by the hour. Fire, wood, and seating will be provided. Bring your own blanket and gather safely with family and friends. Book in advance to secure your spot.
10-Course PlantBased Dinner Feb. 28 Dunk’s Mushrooms, Brentwood, NH dahlianomadic.com
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P R O M OT I O N A L F E AT U R E VERILIFE
Where Wellness Meets Happiness Verilife combines compassion and a holistic approach to confidently guide you on your cannabis journey.
V
erilife, affiliated with one of the largest vertically integrated cannabis companies in the nation, offers a personalized customer experience and a variety of high-quality products to meet your cannabis needs. With conveniently located dispensaries in six states and plans for continued expansion, Verilife has two Massachusetts locations: a recreational dispensary in Shrewsbury and a recreational and medical dispensary in Wareham. “At Verilife, we are committed to educating and assisting patients and customers in selecting from our diverse menu of products to meet their cannabis needs,” says Stephanie Kiley,
listening as a means to understanding, providing consultation and education on the range of products available, and helping patients and customers make safe, informed decisions. Whatever your cannabis needs—seeking relief, relaxation, focus, or fun—Verilife dispensaries offer a welcoming experience with a team available to provide supportive guidance to help you confidently choose a product that fits those needs and supports your overall well-being.
Verilife’s district manager. “Our highly trained team is excited to provide an engaging, individualized experience and to serve as a resource promoting personal well-being and overall quality of life.” A top priority at Verilife is ensuring that each patient and customer has a superior experience the minute they walk through the door. A highly trained, on-site budtender is available in a private consultation setting to talk through your needs, be it flower, edible, concentrate, vape, or other, to help make selections from a wide-ranging product menu, including Verilife Verilife’s own Matter brand. Dispensary Group The Verilife team is focused on verilife.com/ma
“Our highly trained team is excited to provide an engaging, individualized experience and to serve as a resource promoting personal wellbeing and overall quality of life.” —Stephanie Kiley of Verilife
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THE END
Bricks from one of Glastenbury’s former charcoal kilns litter the forest floor.
Ghost Town
The Vermont town of Glastenbury disappeared sometime near the turn of the 20th century. Founded in 1761, Glastenbury sat among the peaks of the Green Mountains in southwestern Vermont. The town’s main industry was charcoal production, with several kilns turning the area’s abundant forest into fuel used to power blacksmith forges across 48
NEW ENGLAND
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the northeast. By the late 1800s, most of the region’s mature trees were gone, leading to the town’s rapid demise. At its height, Glastenbury was home to the steepest railroad in the US, which reportedly climbed 250 vertical feet per mile. Its remote loca-
tion also made Glastenbury a magnet for rough characters, gambling, and crime. Today, the area is known as a center of paranormal activity. Hikers on Vermont’s Long Trail, which passes through the former town, sometimes report
sightings of a Big Foot– like creature known to locals as the Glastenbury Wildman. Since 1945, several people have vanished from the area, including a local guide, a student from nearby Bennington College, and several hikers and hunters.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OBSCURE VERMONT
TEXT EMILIE-NOELLE PROVOST
Fighting for freedom is Join the revolution at norml.org
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Valentine’s Day gift guide
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IT’S SHREDDING SEASON Where to go and what to know on the slopes
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