Star Brian Tee says, in a lot of ways, the show helped prepare him for the world we’re living in right now.

 “I think it prepared us for what the first responders may have had to go through prior to the pandemic”, says Tee.

“I think it made us really look at a particular mirror and coming into the next season and how to deal with this particular pandemic, but also [it] raised the stakes for us as actors and artists to rise up to the level that our first responders had to over the course of the year. I mean, there’s a sense of responsibility and this sense of authenticity that we wanted to create through our show.”

The show is produced by Dick Wolf of Law and Order fame. And for those on the crew, they say the experiences we’ve all lived through this last year have raised the expectations of what Chicago Med is truly about.

This year has also been one of great racial unrest, including an increase in hate crimes against those in the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander community.

Tee, who is of Asian descent, is stepping up to combat the increase in hate. He tells Colton Bradford he feels that his role and Chicago Med, as a whole, are critical conduits for education and conversation to bridge the gaps and correct misunderstandings that create fear that lead to hate. For more, watch the full interview above.

Chicago Med can be seen on NBC10 Boston on Wednesdays at 8:00.

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Fitness instructor Emma Lovewell is known for her incredible Peloton sessions as well as her sessions on the mat. The Martha’s Vineyard native says, “Creating a sense of community is super important. We need each other. And right now, a lot of us are feeling isolated.”

Lovewell talked with Hannah Donnelly and shared four tips for helping her participants feel connected, supported, and staying accountable.

Watch the full interview above.

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Over the years, that has included Julie Krone. If you don’t know her name, you should. She made history as the first female jockey to win the Belmont Stakes and holds the honor as the most-winning female jockey.

She has been the first to do a lot of things in her career. “You know, it’s fun to move individually forward to see your name, but it’s way more fun to see, like, other things happening to, you know, see other women do firsts,” says Krone.

Her near twenty-year career began in Florida where she had to fight her way in to get a job at a racetrack. From there, she gained her way in to be trained by a jockey, and from there she was off.

“No matter what was bothering me or what adversities I had to come up against as a female athlete in a male-dominated sport, I realized once the gate opened that was just pure and it was just so easy to compete.

“And I felt like I even had an advantage, almost, because I had already collectively focused and funneled everything down. You know, what was important?,” she explains.

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At first, she was the only female competing, and jockeys’ quarters weren’t set up for women. She didn’t complain, though, because she wanted to compete, period.

“But then what happened is once there was three and four of us and five of us and six of us, then, you know … then changes were made and stuff became different,” she says.

The difference became real on June 5, 1993, when Krone won the Belmont Stakes.

“You know, in the old days, it’d be like a girl jockey would never be able to have enough strength for that or, you know, like that, just like silliness, you know. So it’s kind of fun to win the biggest and longest of the Triple Crown races as well.”

For more on Krone, including what she’s up to now, watch the full interview here.

So, we thought we’d give you some ideas. We checked in with our HUB Today correspondents to find out what they’re listening to and loving these days.

MAKING

Colton Bradford’s go-to is called MAKING and it’s produced by NPR.

Colton says, “It takes a different celebrity or politician or public figure and they go back in time and interview the people who have helped them become who they are in today’s society.

“Now my favorite season is the season they interviewed Oprah. They go back in time and interviewed her first manager who gave her her first break in TV.”

It’s recommended by 10/10 and can be found anywhere you listen to your podcasts.

EVERYTHING ICONIC

Maria Sansone can’t get enough of anything pop culture or reality TV and calls Danny Pellegrino’s EVERYTHING ICONIC her guilty pleasure.

He makes me laugh so hard. I’m secretly really into The Real Housewives, don’t tell anyone, and he happens to be a Bravo historian! He recaps all the episodes, he knows everything about all the reality shows and he’s obsessed with a pop culture. Always a good time and he drops two new episodes a week,” that Maria always looks forward to.

UNLOCKING US

“Strong back, soft front, wild heart”. That’s an affirmation Anna Rossi learned while listening to the incomparable Brene Brown’s UNLOCKING US podcast.

“She explores courage and vulnerability in her podcasts, just like in her books, storytelling and lectures,” says Anna.

Brown interviews everyone from Barack Obama to Dolly Parton.

“I actually just listened to a really great one recently with Priya Parker. She wrote the Art of Gathering about intention-setting and how we can find deeper connection, even with simple connecting points like Zoom these days,” that Anna loves listening to while sitting with her dog in her office.

Watch Colton, Maria, and Anna on The HUB Today daily at 12:30 on NBC10 Boston.

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Founder Rhiannon Menn says, “Lasagna Love started actually is a giant accident” when she say moms struggling as they lost jobs or daycare not to mention needing to figure out homeschooling and COVID protocols.   

She wanted to help her community and “I love to cook. It’s my happy place…and so one day we just got a huge grocery delivery and I just said, ‘I’m going to make meals and see who needs them.’ and so, I posted to a few moms’ groups on Facebook just saying, ‘Hey, if you want a home-cooked meal delivered, my toddler and I are making extra lasagnas. I’m happy to drop one off to your contact list. No questions asked. Just message me if you need help.’”

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It started small but has exploded!!

Now, we have 20,000 new chefs cooking in every single state. I’m just, I love how many people really just wanted to jump in and help people in their communities during a really difficult time,” Rhiannon says.

She says “Lasagna communicates ‘I put effort into this. I care about you. I’m here for you.’ I wanted to deliver that warmth and that love because I think those feelings are a lot of what’s missing during the pandemic.”

If you don’t have time to cook but want to help, donations are accepted to help the movement continue to grow.

If you’re struggling for whatever reasons and would like to receive a lasagna, head to the website and provide your name and address to be matched with someone in your community.

If you want to get involved, visit lasagnalove.org.

To help us navigate this new world of wedding planning is Pearl Farquharson, founder of “Designed by Delsie.” 

For couples determined to keep their 2021 dates regardless of some COVID restrictions still in place, she says, “I would say that if the original date is so essential and not negotiable, you absolutely must keep that, keep it.

“And I think that there are two really great options here. The first option would be to host the most remarkable intimate gathering.

“Or the second option is, thank goodness that we live in a world of technology because you can have an exceptional virtual experience and have all of your guests invited.”

If you open your mind to some out-of-the-box ideas such as elopement or staycation destinations, Pearl says you can expand your venue options to places you wouldn’t have thought of for a larger affair.

“We live in New England, which is that’s really home to so many amazing destinations and locations. You can really get married almost anywhere… This can be a magical rooftop in the middle of downtown Boston, perhaps wine cellar,” she says. 

If you go virtual, there are ways to make the wedding special and not feel like a meeting for work.

 Pearl says, “The virtual component should be an extension of your day. So, a couple of things I recommend and how to make your virtual experience as spectacular as the wedding day itself: The first thing is great audio and visuals. This is so essential. I would really suggest hiring a professional live-stream service that is able to provide excellent audio and excellent visuals. 

“Another thing that I would suggest doing is thinking about having some sort of package to be mailed to your wedding guests before just to create a feeling of togetherness.” 

And, if you’re newly engaged and just starting the planning process, first BREATHE. And then? 

 “What we’re seeing now is that with all the postponements from 2020 dates are filling up very quickly. So I would suggest being proactive with booking your vendors,” Pearl suggests.

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Editorial Comments

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“Inclusive fitness is sort of a first of its kind,” says founder Greg Austin. He adds, “It is not really what we call an adaptive gym. It is actually a combination of three things: the right people, the right programming, and the right place where your diverse people, that is people who are autistic or have Down’s syndrome or other types of neurological conditions, do get really high-quality exercise consistently.”

The whole concept was inspired by the Austins’ 15-year-old son Lucas.

Lucas’ mom Kristina says, “We’ve always just been a really active family. And we just found that when we’re active, we’re better people, partners, and parents to Lucas. And we found that other families with children with autism or Down’s syndrome also felt the same way.”

It wasn’t always easy to find access to gyms or sports activities, but Lucas enjoyed being active.  

Kristina insists activities are about more than just physical exercise. “After his first triathlon and kids’ triathlon, he was packing up his things and going to the car. And he paused and he said, ‘I can do anything.’ And he just felt such a great sense of pride, of accomplishment and just a sense of, you know, ‘This, the world is open to me. I can do so many different things.’”

Inclusive Fitness has since changed the lives of many other athletes including 24-year-old Jordan.

Greg says, “She had never worked out and now she is an absolute machine when it comes to working out. You can’t stop her.”

Her mom agrees. “We spent most of our lives shaving the square for her to fit in that round hole. And then you come across the place like I.F. where there isn’t a matter of IF she can fit in there is a matter of WHERE because it’s everywhere.”

The Austins say they plan to open up other centers in the Boston area in the next two to three years.

And Inclusive Fitness isn’t just a place where neurodiverse people can workout.

“I don’t know if you know this, but the unemployment rate among people like our son Lucas is 90% or greater. And we want it to be a place where people can work and make a great living,” says Greg.

To learn more about Inclusive Fitness, head to inclusivefit.net.

One of them, Catherine Smart, says, “I met my co-founder (Jacqueline Grady Smith) when we were teaching cooking classes together and we would always commiserate, like, we are professional cooks and we still can’t get dinner (done). So, we made this line of plant-based, really delicious, clean-labeled pantry staples to just help make everything.”

She offers some simple tricks for us to help us get dinner on the table on busy nights.

Outsource

“Check the guilt and feeling like you should do everything and outsource some of your labor to the grocery store, whether that means a rotisserie chicken or some precut squash or just buying those frozen grains like quinoa or rice and keeping those in the freezer,” says Catherine.

Give leftovers a lift

Smart says one way to jazz up yesterday’s food is to change the flavor profile. “For instance, we had Italian (last) night. You want to take that leftover pasta and toss it with our ‘Not Just Salad Dressing’ or something with a different meat and veg, whether it’s Asian or Mediterranean. Another just great tip is I always love to make fried rice. Add eggs and sesame oil, a little soy sauce” and you’ve got a new meal, she says.

Spice things up

Catherine says condiments and spices are having a moment during the pandemic. It’s all about a little prep. “Whether it’s a chili crisp or a vinaigrette, stock your pantry and then whatever you have in the fridge, the freezer, you can turn it into dinner that actually is really delicious.”

Catherine cooked up a quick and easy miso soba noodle salad with our own Maria Sansone. Watch above for the easy recipe.

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TogetHER is hosting their 4th annual Women’s Day event with the support of NBC Boston at the Showcase Cinema de Lux at Legacy Place in Dedham. It will have plenty of nourishments, networking opportunities, and a panel with female leaders hosted by our very own Hannah Donnelly.

Donnelly sat down with Natalie Metzgar, the marketing manager for Legacy Place, on the Hub Today to go over what attendees can expect. 

“It is such a special evening of celebrating female empowerment in commemoration of International Women’s Day,” Metzgar said.

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Donnelly will moderate the panel discussion under the theme, “Inspire Inclusion.” The diverse selection of panelists includes Nia Grace, Taniya Nayak, Kristina Tsipouras, and Natanja Craig Oquendo– all female industry leaders in the Boston Area.

Before the panel, there will be plenty of time to chat with other eventgoers.

Sip on a signature cocktail or mocktail, try plenty of delicious bites, and stop by some of the interactive tables by different businesses at Legacy Place. MiniLuxe, SalonCapri, Bluemercury, Kendra Scott, and SPARK by Simone will all participate. There will also be a live DJ.

The event does require prior registration, which you can complete on Eventbrite. Tickets are $25 per person, which includes admission to the event and one drink voucher. 

All proceeds from the event will go to the Boston Women’s Fund, which supports women, girls, and gender-expansive and was Massachusetts’ first women’s foundation.

“It is a cannot-miss event.” Metzgar said.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around Boston. (You might even find a few freebies!)

BEACHES:

The island has a necklace of gorgeous shorelines with beautiful beaches. The sand will surprise you: some beaches are light pink, almost salmon colored, and others have rich clay or brick color. The Prince Edward Island National Park and P.E.I. provincial parks have lifeguards, which makes it great for a family beach day. 

GOLF: 

Anna says, “If you love to golf, you need to visit PEI”. They have over 400 fairways and 25 courses, accommodating any skill level. Crowbush Cove golf course is one of the premier courses on the island, featuring an oceanfront location and sweeping views of rolling hills – it truly is a golfer’s paradise. 

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ON THE WATER:

Seafood is a huge part of the Prince Edward Island story. There are boats you can charter whether you just want to have some fun on the water or a fishing charter. Try your hand at fishing, lobstering, or even a little crabbing, but watch out for snapping claws!

WELLNESS:

Many people who visit P.E.I. are looking for a relaxing wellness experience and Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort meaning hygge or cozy in Swedish, has answered that call, rain or shine! Anna says it’s unlike any spa she’s ever been to. The concept is simple. It’s about giving your body a hot, cold, and rest experience. She starts with the thermal tub, takes a plunge in the ice-cold Nordic bath, and then settles into a comfy bean bag chair overlooking the ocean for a little R&R. They even help you replenish with a healthy and nourishing culinary program. Anna sips on their green smoothie, which tastes as good as it looks (and it looks amazing)!

THE ISLAND WALK:

There are plenty of places to get some exercise in, too. The Island Walk covers over 400 miles and beautiful trails across the island, boasting multiple different surroundings. Its circular shape makes it easy to navigate, as well, since there’s no singular entrance or exit. If a walk or jog isn’t your style, you don’t have to go on foot, either:

Bryson Guptill, creator of The Island Walk, says they’re “getting a lot more bikers wanting to do it. And the other thing that’s happening is people are doing it on e-bikes.” The best part? It’s free! 

Ride a bicycle, rent a car, and enjoy the beautiful, quaint fishing villages and a walk back in time to come find your island.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around Boston. (You might even find a few freebies!)

March 22nd through March 26th catch a duo night of opera with “Bluebeard’s Castle” and “Four Songs.” The BLO’s site says “‘Bluebeard’s Castle’ transports you into the world of a classic tale, with Mahler’s ‘Four Songs’ deepening the dimensions of Judith as she uncovers the horrors of her bridegroom.”

You may also catch The Boston Lyric Opera throughout the city with their B-L-O street stage, bringing live music to neighborhoods across the city.

To learn more about the latest happenings in the city, visit MeetBoston.com.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around Boston. (You might even find a few freebies!)

From the stately rooms to the pool to the delicious food at Grana, there is so much to enjoy and experience.

Visit MeetBoston.com to learn more about all the wonderful things to do and see when you stay in Boston.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around Boston. (You might even find a few freebies!)

That’s right, Broadway In Boston just announced its 2023-24 season with can’t-miss shows like “Chicago,” “The Book of Mormon” and “Clue.”

You can make a whole night of it with dinner at an amazing restaurant followed by a luxurious stay at one of the city’s beautiful hotels.

For more about the theater scene and things to do and see in Boston, visit MeetBoston.com.

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Their diverse lineup of performances invites communities and artists to engage in live music, experience the arts and leave feeling inspired and enriched. This includes free and low-cost concerts in the greater Boston area.

For more information about the sights and scenes in the city, visit MeetBoston.com.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around Boston. (You might even find a few freebies!)

Elaine has touched the lives of countless families, too. Throughout the years she has helped adopt countless cats, helped with feral colonies, works with pet supply stores, and donated items to the shelter and people in need.

She has gone out of her way to make sure that families and their pets are able to stay together, even when times are tough.

Elaine volunteers to take pets to vet appointments and bring families pet food. “One of the things I do is pick up pet food at some of the pet stores that give us pet food that’s almost expired that’s not expired or bags that are broken”, she says, and she brings them to area families.

It was during her selfless acts of kindness that she met a woman who was so moved she donated tens of thousands of dollars to the shelter.

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Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton says Elaine is truly one of the most influential volunteers the shelter has ever had.

She is not only a friend to the animals but to the people in the surrounding communities and beyond.

Elaine’s actions got her nominated for a PAWSitively Good award, a program run by NBC-owned and Telemundo stations across the county as part of the Clear the Shelters campaign.

PAWSitively Good Awards feature inspiring and powerful stories of individuals, groups, and nonprofit organizations that go above and beyond to help shelter animals find forever homes.

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“The Bowery Presents – The Roadrunner Boston” is one of the hottest new venues in town with a convenient location in Brighton.

It’s standing room only and general admission, meaning everyone is up on their feet ready to dance and party.

Visit, MeetBoston.com to learn about the other amazing ways to experience live music in and around the city of Boston.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around Boston. (You might even find a few freebies!)