So tune in….

Well..you might not find a magic lamp here (or atleast one with a genie)…but you will find just about everything else….hand-crafted accessories….original art….indie designer clothing….a fresh loaf of bread…..painters…..sculptors……photographers…..jewelry designers…..milliners…….handbag designers……house wares…..florists…..bakers……local farmer’s produce and more (it changes every week). You might even spot celebrities like John Malkovich if your lucky. The SoWa team says he loves it!

Located at 460 Harrison Ave, Boston, every Sunday from 10-4pm…

And new this season are the parade of gourmet food trucks that rotate from the cupcake truck (where Lisa Azizian will be hanging out!) to a veggie truck.  Apparently all the hip restos have food trucks. Who knew?

Check them out online at http://www.sowaopenmarket.com and in person! I’ll be there this Sunday rain or shine.

We spoke with Pam Tand, the owner of Stambry’s Crescent Moon Soap Company, started because her daughter had allergies to most commercial soap products. “They call me the mad scientist!” she laughed because I’m always cooking up a new recipe (of soap).”

And it’s true. If you don’t see it, but can imagine it, she’ll cook it up in her magical lab and increase the intensity until you’re dreaming about a hot bath!

Of course there’s much more than just soaps. How about oils, lotions, butters, salves, eye cream, hair products, lip balm. We loved trying out the lotion stick…shaped like a mini deodorant dispenser but full of awesome smelling lotion to rub on any spot without getting your hands greasy. It might have started as an oops (she was trying to make a hair formula) but it turned out to be an ooolala!

You’ll also find large and small Quincy postcards (stunning photographs and she’s been told they are the only Quincy postcards around!), plus aprons, baby bibs and gifts, locally made art and jewelry.  They haven’t hung their sign yet 9that’s how new they are) but you’ll find Stambry’s Crescent Moon Soap Company right around the corner from the Stop&Shop headquarters and Signal Graphics on Hancock Street in Quincy.

You can also find them online at http://www.scmsoaps.com

Thank you Pam for all the goodies you brought us. We’re feeling very luxurious!

It’s Chef Paul Wahlberg who opened his new restaurant Alma Nove in the Hingham Launch (where the boats launches!) this summer. http://www.almanovehingham.com/

Alma is his mom’s name. Nove means nine; which just happens to be the same number of kids in the Wahlberg family.  Mom’s signature is the logo.  His brothers Mark and Donnie are investors and everyone friends and family turned out for the under-the-tent opening last month including a premier of Marks’ new movie The Other Guys.

And Lisa and I were honored (okay…blushing…) that Chef Paul took time away from the hot kitchen to chat with us this Monday.

His favorite on the menu? Handmade cod cakes with smoked tomato salsa, black olive oil. “I love when my parents had fish cakes. Our parents would keep cooking until we were no longer  hungry,” he says…..clearly a contributing factor to his love of food and cooking.

Other family favorites…Mark loves the Local baby arugula with gorgonzola, san Daniela prosciutto, port soaked figs and Donnie loves the pork chop. mom loves the Garganelli with Ragu’ Bolognese.  We loved reading about the Homemade gnocchi with wild mushrooms, white truffles and Black olive Linguini w/ clams, mussels, lobster, tomato, braised fennel, olive oil.

Or you could just come for coffee and dessert…with 7 to choose from including Mixed Nut Tart w/pistachio nut crust, candied walnuts, dark
chocolate bourbon mousse and Fresh macerated berries with lemon mascarpone, brown butter cake, red wine reduction. Mmmmmmm.

We’re coming with our forks Paul!

They’re open for lunch too! And an extensive wine, microbrew, and cocktail list. The atmo is stylish, yet casually comfortable with awesome views of the waterfront.  I wonder…can I smell the wood burning grill?  That, plus fresh ingredients will make this just what Chef/Owner Paul Wahlberg has set out to do…make this the new hotspot on Boston’s South Shore.

Thanks for joining us Paul.

sulphur blue smeck, 2005 by michelle stitzlein

True facts. And the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA is proving me right with their current exhibit called Trash Menagerie which exhibits over 30 works of art from…recycled trash. The very cool exhibit includes this fancy moth made from piano keys, light fixtures and forks – among other things!

Tonight we’re diving into all things green from solar panels to slow food. We’ll talk about recycling and resources for living a more green lifestyle here on the south shore. Check back this week for highlights from our interviews and tune in tonight @ 8 on 95.9 WATD or right here at southshorelive.com.

So what’s in this season?

- Plaid is in this season – check out this hot Nutcracker-esque vest

- Studs and tassels – don’t be shy!

- Leg warmers are back! Pair em with shorty boots and leggings

- The big shirt and the big belt are hot. The big belt with a shirt dress, also hot.

- Mixing and matching lots of jewelry and jewels is the way to go. As Nayri said, “Too much is not enough when it comes to jewelry.” And there are no rules – mix those golds and silvers together! The boutique has a lot of fun jewelry too.

Visit Nayri and Arthur at BO LINE for the hottest clothing trends and all of your tailoring needs!

We’re working hard behind the scenes to come up with great new shows for 2010! So have a safe and healthy new year’s eve and we’ll see you next year!

We all have our own hibernation rituals. And here’s a few more ideas for the hibernators in all of us.

1.  HIDE AT HOME & SHOP ONLINE. Of course you might visit the usual suspects this xmas like ebay.com and overstock.com.  or you might want to try these deal-at-home sites:

> woot.com who bills themselves as cool stuff cheap! (woot gets over 2 million hits according to compete.com)

> biglots.com claiming to be the nation’s largest broadline closeout retailer

> midnights steals. love these guys. they only sell 1 item at a time until it’s sold out and then they start all over again with another item.

> graveyard mall says it’s the place where high prices come to die. No idea about the quality but the prices were shockingly low. wow!

2. PRESERVE YOUR FOOD. can it. freeze it. dry it. Here’s a few sites to get you started: The Canning Pantry and Canning USA which shows some good how-to videos.

Finally…if you are  curious about real hibernators…. Animals that hibernate include bats, some species of ground squirrels and other rodents, mouse lemurs, the European Hedgehog and other insectivores, monotremes and marsupials.  Check out more in wikipedia.

3. WARM YOUR WORLD. You’ll be suprised what you can by that’s heated or heatable:

• a warm mouse, keyboard and mousepad
• A warm buddy you can microwave and cuddle with
• heated Jackets from Brookstone
• heated slippers you can microwave
• heated cat bed. Wow…hope it doesn’t get too hot
• heated snow removal mats. Comes up to 12 feet long
• battery powered heated gloves.

We  spoke with Chey Ottoson, founder of Double Dog Rescue, to learn more about the process of adopting a dog through a rescue group like Double Dog. Double Doggies typically come from southern states like TN and are transported north with the help of dozens of volunteers. Chey and her sister Laurie started the group in December 2006 (Happy 3 year anniversary, gals!) after Chey had her first experience adopting a dog from the south. When they learned of the overpopulation, the fact that not many dog owners spay or neuter their pets  and there are so many dogs in southern communities that it’s common for dogs to be euthanized they knew they had to do something.

Double Dog tries to help as many dogs as they can, but they couldn’t do it without the generosity of their many volunteers who pick up, transport and vet the animals. One job Chey is always looking to fill are volunteers to help foster the dog before they are moved to their permanent home. If you’re interested in fostering a dog please contact Chey through Double Dog’s Facebook Fan Page. You don’t have to be a dog owner and it’s ok that you work full time. You’re giving a warm, loving home to a dog that might not otherwise be alive.

Keep up the great work, Chey & Laurie!

Here’s our favorite animal-related sites:

• Pet recipes. Because it’s not enough to cook for your spouse, yourself and your brood of kids. You can cook up a batch of feline potatoes au gratin or pawfict dog biscuits. Or Rhode Island dog chowder.
• rescue an animal at petfinder.com or adopt a pet. Search this database of over 100,000 dogs and cats. It’s got 558,000 visitors a month (stats from compete.com)
• MSPCA.org. The 2nd oldest humane society in the US. founded in 1868. They provide animal protection and adoption, advocacy, humane education, law enforcement and veterinary care. Download free animal ring tones and wallpaper.
• check your pet’s health. You’ve heard of webmd for humans. How there’s petmd.com. 225,000 visitors (stats from compete.com)
• strange animal facts. Like a snail can sleep for 3 years? Now that’s a nap!
• weird things animals swallow. One word – ouch!
• 10 bizarre defense mechanisms. Two words – say what?