Katrina Ballard: video

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Friday, October 29, 2010

Celtics star Ray Allen shoots hoops with fans

Published by The Boston Globe

Boston Celtics All-Star guard Ray Allen took on five fans today in a game of knock-out at Dunkin' Donuts in Waltham.

The fans were selected for being "caught cold" with Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee as part of a new promotion the coffee franchise has started with the Celtics. For more photos, go here.

All five contestants received free tickets to tomorrow's opening game against the Miami Heat. They will also all have the chance to be in a commercial with Allen for the promotion.

Click to see photo gallery and video

"Playing shoot-out is always fun," said Allen. "It's like going back to your childhood. It's a great way to stay in shape."

Mike Gesualdi, 30, of Lowell, Donald Hill, 45, of Delaware, Kendra Bannister, 20, of Virginia, Anthony Barnardo, 25, of Dracut, and Diana Cincotta, 21, of Plymouth, all signed up for the contest at the Dunkin Donuts on Lexington Street in Waltham.

The competition started off light, said Allen. He didn't play his full game at first to give everyone a chance. He realized he had to step it up, however, when Bannister, a junior guard for Newbury College, and Cincotta, a junior guard for Brandeis University, showed off their skills.

The two college athletes were the remaining contestants, until Bannister finally knocked out Cincotta. She only lost to Allen.

"He knocked a lot of people out for me; he did most of the work," said Bannister. "I didn't get nervous until it was just me and him. Then he tapped me on the shoulder, and I just chucked it up there and lost."

Dunkin' Donuts said its new promotion, which corresponds with their renewed sponsorship for the team this season, gives away tickets to people across the state “caught cold” drinking iced coffee near Dunkin’ Donuts locations or in other public places every Thursday this season. The contest was the kick-off event.

“Both the Celtics and Dunkin’ Donuts are local icons in Boston,” said Tom Manchester, field marketing manager for Dunkin’ Donuts. “We’re trying to give our customers access to see the Celtics.”

Allen said with the current economy, the Celtics want to do everything they can to get people to their games.

"It's awesome," said Allen. "I’d be out here if I was 12 or 13 years old, trying to get tickets any way I can.”

After the game, Allen talked about the importance of winning every game this season.

“Roles start as the season takes shape,” said Allen. “We have to make sure we set a precedent.”

He also said Shaquille O'Neal, who joined the team this season, is "like a big kid."

"You've got to be on your toes with him," Allen said.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Regent Theater hosts ukulele summit

Published by The Boston Globe

Two ukuleles, a squeeze box and a mouth trumpet were all the instruments necessary for last night's "Ukulele Summit" featuring a touring duo at the Regent Theater in Arlington.

Victoria Vox, who graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, and Brittni Paiva from Hawaii played original songs and covers before an audience of about 50 people. They performed separately and then together, amusing the audience with the unique sounds of their instruments and anecdotes that inspired their songwriting.

“I wrote this song for my husband to tell him that I loved him. That didn’t last long,” said Paiva, prefacing “Made for Me,” an original. She plucked the strings of her ukulele, which stretched over sparkly letters reading “Brittni” on the frets. “Just kidding.”

Paiva, 22, said she started playing at 11 years old when her grandfather passed down his mother’s ukulele to her. From then on, she couldn’t stop. In Hawaii, the instrument is known as a place to experiment with songwriting, she said.

“When you strum it, it makes everyone happy,” she said. “Everyone smiles.”

Vox, who also sings, said she was given her first ukulele by a musician in her hometown of Green Bay, Wis. seven years ago. She likes the instrument for its portability and versatility.

“I’m challenged by its limitations,” she said. “The simplicity aided my songwriting; less is more.”

And her songs are versatile—she played two numbers in French, a poignant breakup song, one with a squeeze box (a type of accordion) and “Tug Boat,” a song about “a sexually frustrated tug boat.” '

She recently raised $21,000 from her fans to make her latest record, “Exact Change.”

Vox, now 30, said she started playing guitar when she was 16 and got a songwriting degree from Berklee. Now, she records and tours around the country, jamming at ukulele festivals and playing the mouth trumpet—she likes to fool her audience by accompanying her strumming with her mouth as they search for the source of the trumpet sounds.

“Like most college kids, I’m not doing what I went to college for,” she said.
Vox said she thinks the ukulele is growing in popularity for its economy—a good ukulele can cost about $100, she said. When she asked the crowd how many players were present, about 15 raised their hands. Some even brought their instruments with them.

“People’s compliments drive me to continue,” she said. “The music keeps me feeling young.”