50%- Stingray Bodyart $30 for $60
50% off - Diversify Your Palate: $5 for $10 Worth of Food and Drink at Azama Grill!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
CoupMe: Stingray Body Art & Azama Grill!
50%- Stingray Bodyart $30 for $60
50% off - Diversify Your Palate: $5 for $10 Worth of Food and Drink at Azama Grill!
50% off - Showcase Yourself This Holiday Season with Body Art: $30 for $60 Worth of Services at Stingray Bodyart!
50% off - Showcase Yourself This Holiday Season with Body Art: $30 for $60 Worth of Services at Stingray Bodyart!
Limits: Piercing and tattoo only. Not combined with other offers, 1 CoupMe per customer. No cash value.
Questions: Call 1.866.249.8387
Legal: CoupMe purchase subject to Terms and Conditions
Deal Details
The CompanyStingray Bodyart |  | The Short Story
|
The Terms
This CoupMe expires on: 12/22/11; thereafter, redeemable for purchase price.Limits: Piercing and tattoo only. Not combined with other offers, 1 CoupMe per customer. No cash value.
Questions: Call 1.866.249.8387
Legal: CoupMe purchase subject to Terms and Conditions
Description
During the holidays, the same imagery comes to mind: snow-capped houses, wreathes, decorated trees, tons of presents and obviously, tattoos! What would Christmas or New Year's Eve without a brand-new, shining tattoo to show off to your loved ones? And what would the holiday season be without savings? So, today, take advantage of our deal with Stingray Bodyart, where you'll get $60 worth of services for just $30!
Located on Cambridge Street in Allston, Stingray Bodyart is Boston's first full-service body shop, featuring some of the region's finest custom tattoo artists and pierciers in the biggest, cleanest shop anywhere. Open 7 days a week from 10am to 10pm, there's a reason Stingray has taken home many awards from local publications, such as a "Best of Boston" designation from The Improper Bostonian twice! If you're in the market for an illuminating tattoo, check out Stingray's page here; you can even work with their staff closely to design your own custom tattoo as well.
So give yourself a present this holiday season and take advantage of our deal with Stingray Bodyart. With $60 worth of body shop services, you'll look and feel great and you'll want to show your new art off immediately!
Reviews
"Josh at Stingray did a great job on my tattoo. Having looked at quite a few portfolios to find someone who could draw lifelike animals, I was really pleased to watch him sketch at my first meeting with him. He was able to turn my vague ideas into a line drawing, and then suggest ways to improve/change it to fit the site I picked (top of my foot). The final drawing was exactly what I wanted. When I showed up to actually get the tattoo, I was a little nervous, and Josh did a great job of talking me through the whole process. In the end, it didn't hurt much at all, so I felt a bit silly, but he was really nice about everything. Excellent aftercare advice, too. Definitely recommended." ~ Emily H., Yelp
"Still absolutely 5 stars! I can in to repierce my nose this weekend and it was, as always, a great experience. The guy at the desk was super-friendly and we talked for a bit since there were a few people ahead of me. Abbie was awesome about the piercing, they were out of the clear stud gem like I wanted, but she helped me pick out a cute pink gem instead. The whole thing was basically painless and really quick. She went over all the aftercare and was really friendly. I love that they give student discounts! I was in and out really fast and I'm really happy with the work. I will definitely be back!" ~ Amanda M., Yelp
Friday, October 22, 2010
VOTE FOR STINGRAY!
VOTE FOR STINGRAY on the Weekly Dig's website for the DIG THIS (BEST OF) award TATTOO SHOP!!!!
(Go to www.digboston.com and click on the logo on the top right hand corner and go to the "Best places to shop" category and scroll down to "tattoo shop")
Voting ends on November 5th, so get on the site and vote for us!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Press Release: Quiet Desperation to air on MyTV New England
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
METROPOLITAN PICTURES NEW TV SHOW “QUIET DESPERATION”
September 7, 2010 – Metropolitan Pictures, LLC is very proud to announce the airing of its new TV show, “QUIET DESPERATION” – the ONLY locally-produced television series filmed in Boston; on Friday evenings at 11pm into 2.8M homes on the MyTV New England network, beginning Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24th 2010.
QUIET DESPERATION, written and directed by Allston comedian/musician Rob Potylo, blends together a hilarious and cutting-edge mixture of near-Reality TV and improvised comedy (think of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” meets “Jersey Shore”) as it follows a cast of Allston-area musicians, artists and comics living, working and trying to “make it” in the entertainment business in Boston.
Many of the stars of the show are already well on their way, including Rob Potylo himself, who was the 2nd place winner of the 2010 Andy Kaufman Awards plus Joe Wong, 2-time David Letterman guest and headlining host of the “Radio & Television Correspondents Dinner” with President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden; Tom Dustin, the only American ever to win the Canadian “Yuck Yuck Comedy Laugh Off” and Friday night host at Mottley’s Comedy Club; and a supporting cast of nearly 200 local musicians, actors and comics with numerous appearances on “Last Comic Standing” on NBC and “Live At Gotham” on Comedy Central among many other accolades.
QUIET DESPERATION will enjoy a 9-month run of 18 half-hour episodes, aired every Friday evening at 11pm with a new episode being premiered two times per month (and a repeat of the current episode on the off weeks.) This expanded schedule enables Rob Potylo and Metropolitan Pictures to incorporate current events and developments in the artists’ lives into the scripts, similar to the running-production approach of “South Park,” “Family Guy” and others; as well as to integrate feedback received from viewers and fans through the extensive Web presence of the show on its www.quietd.com website, Facebook, Youtube and Twitter social networks.
The “running production” approach also enables QUIET DESPERATION to be the ONLY show that offers local and regional sponsor/advertisers the ability to seamlessly embed products and promotions directly into the show itself. Metropolitan Pictures president and co-founder Scott Matalon says, “Embedded advertising is four times more likely to reach a consumer than traditional commercials” and adds that “Rob and Quiet Desperation are so smart and cutting-edge, we’re going to reach a lot of teens and young adults with this show and they’re going to just love it.”
MyTV New England General Manager Doug Finck agrees and adds, “To me Quiet Desperation represents the new model of locally-produced television; aggressive, highly creative and offering new ways of advertising into the mix. It’s a powerful combination when creative talent is properly supported by appropriate levels of production, broadcast accessibility and internet-based social networking. MyTV New England is very excited about bringing Quiet Desperation to New England. ”
Rob Potylo, who is the creative eye of the tornado that is QUIET DESPERATION says, “We’re trying to make a “Saturday Night Live” for Boston-area comics, and we think people from all over the country are going to want to watch it. The talent here is incredible, and I’m on Cloud 9 working with all of these people I love.” When asked about working with sponsors and advertisers, Rob adds, “People won’t TIVO past the embedded parts or the commercials that we make, they’re really fun parts of the show and we’re having a great time making them. We’re very excited about receiving the kind of positive support our sponsors are showing us.”
Metropolitan Pictures (16 Farrington Ave., Allston, MA) is a local filmed entertainment production studio in Allston, MA and is currently in production of season two of its 7-episode reality-sports “Boston Boxing” series which is broadcast on New England Sports Network (NESN), is currently releasing the feature-length crime-drama movie “Cricket Snapper,” and in 2005 released the feature-length cult-comedy movie “Pony Trouble,” which is available at Blockbuster and Netflix.com. Both releases are distributed domestically and Internationally by leading underground film distributor Brain Damage Films of Tempe, AZ. www.metropolitanzone.com
MyTV New England (11 A Street, Derry, NH) is the My Network TV affiliate for the Boston-Manchester market. It reaches 2.4M households in the New England region including MA, NH, ME, VT and Cape Cod. MyTV New England is available on all cable systems (Comcast, RCN, Charter, MetroCast, etc.), both satellite systems (DirecTV and Dish Network), Verizon FiOS and over-the-air terrestrial broadcast.
For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact:
Scott Matalon, Metropolitan Pictures
scott@metropolitanzone.com or 617-901-3418
Doug Finck, MyTV New England
dfinck@ourmaine.com or 207-774-0051 x155
METROPOLITAN PICTURES NEW TV SHOW “QUIET DESPERATION”
September 7, 2010 – Metropolitan Pictures, LLC is very proud to announce the airing of its new TV show, “QUIET DESPERATION” – the ONLY locally-produced television series filmed in Boston; on Friday evenings at 11pm into 2.8M homes on the MyTV New England network, beginning Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24th 2010.
QUIET DESPERATION, written and directed by Allston comedian/musician Rob Potylo, blends together a hilarious and cutting-edge mixture of near-Reality TV and improvised comedy (think of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” meets “Jersey Shore”) as it follows a cast of Allston-area musicians, artists and comics living, working and trying to “make it” in the entertainment business in Boston.
Many of the stars of the show are already well on their way, including Rob Potylo himself, who was the 2nd place winner of the 2010 Andy Kaufman Awards plus Joe Wong, 2-time David Letterman guest and headlining host of the “Radio & Television Correspondents Dinner” with President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden; Tom Dustin, the only American ever to win the Canadian “Yuck Yuck Comedy Laugh Off” and Friday night host at Mottley’s Comedy Club; and a supporting cast of nearly 200 local musicians, actors and comics with numerous appearances on “Last Comic Standing” on NBC and “Live At Gotham” on Comedy Central among many other accolades.
QUIET DESPERATION will enjoy a 9-month run of 18 half-hour episodes, aired every Friday evening at 11pm with a new episode being premiered two times per month (and a repeat of the current episode on the off weeks.) This expanded schedule enables Rob Potylo and Metropolitan Pictures to incorporate current events and developments in the artists’ lives into the scripts, similar to the running-production approach of “South Park,” “Family Guy” and others; as well as to integrate feedback received from viewers and fans through the extensive Web presence of the show on its www.quietd.com website, Facebook, Youtube and Twitter social networks.
The “running production” approach also enables QUIET DESPERATION to be the ONLY show that offers local and regional sponsor/advertisers the ability to seamlessly embed products and promotions directly into the show itself. Metropolitan Pictures president and co-founder Scott Matalon says, “Embedded advertising is four times more likely to reach a consumer than traditional commercials” and adds that “Rob and Quiet Desperation are so smart and cutting-edge, we’re going to reach a lot of teens and young adults with this show and they’re going to just love it.”
MyTV New England General Manager Doug Finck agrees and adds, “To me Quiet Desperation represents the new model of locally-produced television; aggressive, highly creative and offering new ways of advertising into the mix. It’s a powerful combination when creative talent is properly supported by appropriate levels of production, broadcast accessibility and internet-based social networking. MyTV New England is very excited about bringing Quiet Desperation to New England. ”
Rob Potylo, who is the creative eye of the tornado that is QUIET DESPERATION says, “We’re trying to make a “Saturday Night Live” for Boston-area comics, and we think people from all over the country are going to want to watch it. The talent here is incredible, and I’m on Cloud 9 working with all of these people I love.” When asked about working with sponsors and advertisers, Rob adds, “People won’t TIVO past the embedded parts or the commercials that we make, they’re really fun parts of the show and we’re having a great time making them. We’re very excited about receiving the kind of positive support our sponsors are showing us.”
Metropolitan Pictures (16 Farrington Ave., Allston, MA) is a local filmed entertainment production studio in Allston, MA and is currently in production of season two of its 7-episode reality-sports “Boston Boxing” series which is broadcast on New England Sports Network (NESN), is currently releasing the feature-length crime-drama movie “Cricket Snapper,” and in 2005 released the feature-length cult-comedy movie “Pony Trouble,” which is available at Blockbuster and Netflix.com. Both releases are distributed domestically and Internationally by leading underground film distributor Brain Damage Films of Tempe, AZ. www.metropolitanzone.com
MyTV New England (11 A Street, Derry, NH) is the My Network TV affiliate for the Boston-Manchester market. It reaches 2.4M households in the New England region including MA, NH, ME, VT and Cape Cod. MyTV New England is available on all cable systems (Comcast, RCN, Charter, MetroCast, etc.), both satellite systems (DirecTV and Dish Network), Verizon FiOS and over-the-air terrestrial broadcast.
For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact:
Scott Matalon, Metropolitan Pictures
scott@metropolitanzone.com or 617-901-3418
Doug Finck, MyTV New England
dfinck@ourmaine.com or 207-774-0051 x155
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Stingray 5th Anniversary Party!
Stingray Body Art is Celebrating it's 5th anniversary on August 19th at Harper's Ferry with a BLOW OUT Punk Rock n' Roll Fashion Party!!Headlining the event is Boston's owns celtic punk rockers, The Welch Boys, along with Stingray bands, Old Crow & the 45's, Matalon, and 100th Monkey Effect!!!
There will be food, custom art and limited edition t-shirts from our own Stingray tattoo artists, fashion, prizes and more!!!
8pm doors/18+/$10
Come down to Harper's Ferry and bring your friends on Aug. 19th to celebrate 5 awesome years with us!!! click HERE to see the Facebook event!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
CRASH!!!
Yup, that's right! A taxi cab crashed through our front door early Monday morning! Do not worry, no one was hurt and the damage was minimal. We're fully open for business, so come on down and make an appointment
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Nate Dizzle Tattooing
Here's a little video that one of our loyal customers edited and sent in to us of Nate Dizzle rippin out a tattoo!
Vote 4 Mike Helz Snowboard Video
Hey everyone!!! Help out Tattoo Artist MIke Helz and go online and vote for Flow Snowboard video: Rubbish Heap Super Park Showdown!!! Vote as many times as you can!
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Taste of Allston features food from an international array of Allston Village eateries, a silent auction, and live music.
It is happening this year on Sunday, June 27th from 12pm - 3pm at Harvard Stadium rain or shine.
It is a fun family oriented event with delicious foods from restaurants and merchants all across Allston!
All of the proceeds benefit Allston Village Main Streets which is part of the country's first city-wide, multi-district Main Street revitalization program, a non-profit, public-private partnership between the city of Boston, the National Main Street Center and neighborhood stakeholders. The program relies on volunteer community involvement with staff support.
We hope to see you for the Taste of Allston, June 27th at Harvard Stadium!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Boston vs. The World
Remember, Boston vs. the World premieres this Saturday, June 19th at 9pm following Red Sox Post Game on NESN! Make sure to tune in to catch all the excitement as Boston Boxing assembles the team that will take on New York on September 11th!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Stingray now on Twitter!
Follow Stingray Body Art on Twitter! Get up to date information on events, tattoos, piercings, and more!! http://twitter.com/StingrayBodyArt
Battle for the Rally FINALS June 11th!!!!!
This Friday at the Middle East Rock Club Downstairs, Stingray Body Art and 420Mass.com present the Battle for the Rally Finals! Bands include, Doctors of Flight, The Force, The Woodland Creatures, and Planetoid, with appearances by Age Against the Machine and Quiet Desperation's Rob Potylo! Doors open at 8pm, 18+ This Friday. June 11th Downstairs at the MIddle East! BATTLE FOR THE RALLY FINALS!!!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Green Light for “Boston vs. The World” TV Show
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
April 28, 2010 – Metropolitan Pictures, in partnership with Stingray Body Art, Boston Boxing & Fitness and 21 Nickels Grille & Tap, are pleased to announce a “Green Light” for their new original boxing TV series “Boston vs. The World” to be aired on the New England Sports Network (NESN.)
Following the success of the 7-episode reality-TV show “Boston Boxing: Team Training,” which began airing in December 2009, this new series will first build a “New England All-Stars Team” from among the best amateur boxers in the region, who will then compete, in later events and episodes, against teams and boxers from all over the US and the world.
Each episode will be one hour long, and will feature interviews with the competitors, close-up coverage of the fights and corner-action, interviews with VIP guests, and will feature commentary and more by renowned local boxing trainer and competition promoter Ed LaVache, owner of the Boston Boxing & Fitness Club in Allston, MA.
Episode 1 will be filmed on May 1, 2010 at the Club Royale (formerly The Roxy) 279 Tremont St., Boston, and will feature the selection competition for the New England All-Stars team. Episode 2 will be filmed on September 11, 2010 at the Club Royale, and will feature the New England All-Stars competing against select teams and boxers from New York State. Additional events and episodes will be announced as the series progresses and traveling schedules are secured.
The goal of the show is to bring regional and national attention to the highly-competitive and often-overlooked amateur boxing talent in New England - and across the world - and to also provide one of the most exciting annual amateur boxing event series in the country.
Each episode will begin airing one month after filming on the New England Sports Network (NESN) in prime –time slots (to be announced) with multiple prime-time and weekend repeats. NESN is “the goto network for sports” in the New England region and reaches nearly 4 million viewers within Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire Connecticut, Rhode Island and Cape Cod, and nearly another 2 million via satellite.
For more information please contact:
Scott Matalon
President, Metropolitan Pictures
617-901-3418
scott@stingraybodyart.com
April 28, 2010 – Metropolitan Pictures, in partnership with Stingray Body Art, Boston Boxing & Fitness and 21 Nickels Grille & Tap, are pleased to announce a “Green Light” for their new original boxing TV series “Boston vs. The World” to be aired on the New England Sports Network (NESN.)
Following the success of the 7-episode reality-TV show “Boston Boxing: Team Training,” which began airing in December 2009, this new series will first build a “New England All-Stars Team” from among the best amateur boxers in the region, who will then compete, in later events and episodes, against teams and boxers from all over the US and the world.
Each episode will be one hour long, and will feature interviews with the competitors, close-up coverage of the fights and corner-action, interviews with VIP guests, and will feature commentary and more by renowned local boxing trainer and competition promoter Ed LaVache, owner of the Boston Boxing & Fitness Club in Allston, MA.
Episode 1 will be filmed on May 1, 2010 at the Club Royale (formerly The Roxy) 279 Tremont St., Boston, and will feature the selection competition for the New England All-Stars team. Episode 2 will be filmed on September 11, 2010 at the Club Royale, and will feature the New England All-Stars competing against select teams and boxers from New York State. Additional events and episodes will be announced as the series progresses and traveling schedules are secured.
The goal of the show is to bring regional and national attention to the highly-competitive and often-overlooked amateur boxing talent in New England - and across the world - and to also provide one of the most exciting annual amateur boxing event series in the country.
Each episode will begin airing one month after filming on the New England Sports Network (NESN) in prime –time slots (to be announced) with multiple prime-time and weekend repeats. NESN is “the goto network for sports” in the New England region and reaches nearly 4 million viewers within Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire Connecticut, Rhode Island and Cape Cod, and nearly another 2 million via satellite.
For more information please contact:
Scott Matalon
President, Metropolitan Pictures
617-901-3418
scott@stingraybodyart.com
Scott Matalon of Stingray comments on war over restaurant closing hours
McDonald's says it will close Allston restaurant if city doesn't grant later closing time
Scott Matalon, owner of Stingray Body Art and vice president of Allston Village Main Streets, said inconsistent hours are "causing great problems" for local business groups trying to attract news businesses to the area. "We would like to see some consistency in closing hours," partly because of fairness, partly because people are simply safe inside a well lit restaurant or cafe than walking down a dark street. He didn't buy the argument that if every place shut at the same time, the result would be chaos in the streets of Allston, because Allston's the sort of place where that would have happened long ago no matter what, and it hasn't.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
7th Annual Rock the Village Music and Style Show!
Thursday, April 15th, 2010
The 7th Annual Rock the Village Music & Style Show!
Harpers Ferry, Allston, MA. with an All-Allston Fashion Show.
plus Planetoid, The Organ Beats, Build A Machine, and Matalon
8pm, 18+, $10
Hosted by Adam from Stingray and Dave Tree!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Stingray Body Art's Scott Matalon in news story on marijuana legalization hearing
Thu, 11 Mar 2009
2010 Daily Collegian
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1401
Author: Rachel Tumin
Marijuana legalization bill with origins in the Pioneer Valley has hearing on Beacon Hill
On March 2, the Massachusetts state legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on Senate bill no. 1801, “An Act to Regulate and Tax the Cannabis Industry.” This was the second time in less than six months the legislature heard testimony on the subject, with the Joint Committee on Revenue having held a hearing on an identical House bill in early October 2009. The bill was written and brought forth by Richard M. Evans, of Northampton, Mass.
When asked about the likelihood of the bill passing into law, Evans said he feels his legislation is a long-shot.
“[It] doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell,” he said, since “no legislator would touch it with a ten foot pole.”
He explained that his primary goal in petitioning this bill was to facilitate discourse on the prospect of legalizing.
He said he wants to “stimulate discussion on how to [decriminalize and regulate marijuana], not whether-or-not it should happen.”
He went on to note that the current bill only represents a “prototype,” just a suggested outline for how the process could happen.
Steven Epstein, treasurer of MassCann – the Massachusetts chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) – helped explain the goals of the legislation itself.
Regulation and taxation of the cannabis industry would have several effects. Licensing and regulations would enact safeguards for all those involved from production through consumption. Evans calculates that taxing the cannabis industry could garner at least half a billion dollars in revenue annually in the state of Massachusetts alone.
Epstein added that passing such legislation would also allow for the reallocation of funds currently used for investigating, prosecuting and incarcerating individuals for marijuana offenses.
Decriminalization would end what supporters consider an “unconstitutional restriction,” that, as Epstein said, “creates crime where there is no moral culpability.”
During the March 2 hearing, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony from a diverse group of advocates. Bill Downing of Reading, Mass., a self-described small-business owner and elected town meeting member, argued that marijuana prohibition is an obvious failure, given its continued presence and use in our culture. Downing also said that in criminalizing what he sees as a matter of “privacy and personal liberty,” the government “weakens the moral impact of the term ‘illegal.’”
Following Downing, the committee heard testimony from Jack Cole, the Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). Cole retired as a detective lieutenant from the New Jersey State Police after 26 years of service, including 14 years of undercover narcotics work. In his testimony, Cole cited that of the 39 million nonviolent arrests in the War on Drugs since the Reagan administration, nearly half have been for marijuana-related charges. He believes this “misappropriation of resources” is a leading factor in police departments’ inability to “solve significant crimes” such as rape and murder.
The legislature also heard testimony from a grandmother seeking custody of her own grandson. She described herself as a college-educated computer technician with no criminal record, who has raised four children, the oldest of whom recently graduated from college with honors and is now a teacher in Boston Public Schools. Although she no longer uses marijuana, she says she has been denied guardianship of the child based on earlier admitted recreational use.
Student leaders from Suffolk University and Emerson College also gave testimony, with one student asking the committee, “When before have the people come to you practically begging to be taxed?”
Testimony was also offered by Scott Matalon, owner of Sting Ray Body Art in Boston and a community leader in the city. Matalon cited the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the U.S. Department of Health Reports in arguing that growing marijuana in the U.S. alone in a $24 billion larger industry than corn – which, according to Business Week, is the largest crop in the United States, valued at $48.6 billion in 2009.
In addition to noted cannabis activist Epstein, the legislators heard testimony from the bill’s author, Evans. Evans began by contending that marijuana use is “inextricably embedded in our culture. It is ubiquitous,” he said. He continued to point out that in the past eight years, all 45 pro-cannabis reform policy questions presented to Massachusetts voters “have passed by substantial margins.” Even without a solid chance of becoming law, Evans reiterated the importance of opening a dialogue on how the state of Massachusetts could move to decriminalize, tax, and regulate the cannabis industry.
Video of testimony from the March 2 hearing can be found on the MassCann website, and more information on cannabis taxation and regulation can be found on Evans’ website http://www.cantaxreg.com.
Rachel Tumin can be reached at rtumin@student.umass.edu.
2010 Daily Collegian
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1401
Author: Rachel Tumin
Marijuana legalization bill with origins in the Pioneer Valley has hearing on Beacon Hill
On March 2, the Massachusetts state legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on Senate bill no. 1801, “An Act to Regulate and Tax the Cannabis Industry.” This was the second time in less than six months the legislature heard testimony on the subject, with the Joint Committee on Revenue having held a hearing on an identical House bill in early October 2009. The bill was written and brought forth by Richard M. Evans, of Northampton, Mass.
When asked about the likelihood of the bill passing into law, Evans said he feels his legislation is a long-shot.
“[It] doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell,” he said, since “no legislator would touch it with a ten foot pole.”
He explained that his primary goal in petitioning this bill was to facilitate discourse on the prospect of legalizing.
He said he wants to “stimulate discussion on how to [decriminalize and regulate marijuana], not whether-or-not it should happen.”
He went on to note that the current bill only represents a “prototype,” just a suggested outline for how the process could happen.
Steven Epstein, treasurer of MassCann – the Massachusetts chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) – helped explain the goals of the legislation itself.
Regulation and taxation of the cannabis industry would have several effects. Licensing and regulations would enact safeguards for all those involved from production through consumption. Evans calculates that taxing the cannabis industry could garner at least half a billion dollars in revenue annually in the state of Massachusetts alone.
Epstein added that passing such legislation would also allow for the reallocation of funds currently used for investigating, prosecuting and incarcerating individuals for marijuana offenses.
Decriminalization would end what supporters consider an “unconstitutional restriction,” that, as Epstein said, “creates crime where there is no moral culpability.”
During the March 2 hearing, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony from a diverse group of advocates. Bill Downing of Reading, Mass., a self-described small-business owner and elected town meeting member, argued that marijuana prohibition is an obvious failure, given its continued presence and use in our culture. Downing also said that in criminalizing what he sees as a matter of “privacy and personal liberty,” the government “weakens the moral impact of the term ‘illegal.’”
Following Downing, the committee heard testimony from Jack Cole, the Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). Cole retired as a detective lieutenant from the New Jersey State Police after 26 years of service, including 14 years of undercover narcotics work. In his testimony, Cole cited that of the 39 million nonviolent arrests in the War on Drugs since the Reagan administration, nearly half have been for marijuana-related charges. He believes this “misappropriation of resources” is a leading factor in police departments’ inability to “solve significant crimes” such as rape and murder.
The legislature also heard testimony from a grandmother seeking custody of her own grandson. She described herself as a college-educated computer technician with no criminal record, who has raised four children, the oldest of whom recently graduated from college with honors and is now a teacher in Boston Public Schools. Although she no longer uses marijuana, she says she has been denied guardianship of the child based on earlier admitted recreational use.
Student leaders from Suffolk University and Emerson College also gave testimony, with one student asking the committee, “When before have the people come to you practically begging to be taxed?”
Testimony was also offered by Scott Matalon, owner of Sting Ray Body Art in Boston and a community leader in the city. Matalon cited the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the U.S. Department of Health Reports in arguing that growing marijuana in the U.S. alone in a $24 billion larger industry than corn – which, according to Business Week, is the largest crop in the United States, valued at $48.6 billion in 2009.
In addition to noted cannabis activist Epstein, the legislators heard testimony from the bill’s author, Evans. Evans began by contending that marijuana use is “inextricably embedded in our culture. It is ubiquitous,” he said. He continued to point out that in the past eight years, all 45 pro-cannabis reform policy questions presented to Massachusetts voters “have passed by substantial margins.” Even without a solid chance of becoming law, Evans reiterated the importance of opening a dialogue on how the state of Massachusetts could move to decriminalize, tax, and regulate the cannabis industry.
Video of testimony from the March 2 hearing can be found on the MassCann website, and more information on cannabis taxation and regulation can be found on Evans’ website http://www.cantaxreg.com.
Rachel Tumin can be reached at rtumin@student.umass.edu.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Free Event, Ice Skating with Stingray on Sunday!
Stingray giving out free temporary tattoos supporting Allston Village Day" at Harvard Ice Skating Rink, Western Ave, Sunday, March 14th, 2-4pm, FREE!!
See you there.
See you there.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Scott Matalon, Stingray Body Art and community leader, marijuana legalization, State House
Scott Matalon, Stingray Body Art & community leader, marijuana legalization, State House
Scott Matalon, owner of Stingray Body Art, tv producer of "Boston Boxing" airing on NESN, community leader, Allston Board of Trade, VP of Allston Village Main Streets speaks out for marijuana legalization at the State House before the MA Joint Judiciary Committee.
Monday, February 22, 2010
New NESN "Boston Boxing" Marathon Announced, Tuesday, March 16th!
Another marathon day on NESN all seven episodes of "Boston Boxing" back to back, from 1-5PM!
Youtube: NESN "Boston Boxing" Promo
Photo: Ed LaVache with boxer. Photo by Scott Matalon.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
"Cricket Snapper" movie signs distribution deal
***** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *****
Cricket Snapper -“When the blood flows hot in a cold New
England town, its blackest secrets are finally revealed…”
February 17, 2010 – Allston, MA – Phoenix Rising Films and Metropolitan Pictures are proud to announce the release into distribution of the new feature-length movie, Cricket Snapper written and directed by local filmmaker Lawson Welles and filmed entirely in New England.
Cricket Snapper is a 92-minute work of fiction initially inspired by true events, and follows Detective Allan McDermott of the “River Falls” police department as he investigates a quadruple homicide among the S&M/Bondage subculture of his quiet New England town. The movie has been described as “a cross between 8mm and a Charles Bronson film.”
Cricket Snapper is being released by Brain Damage Films of Tempe AZ, the worldwide leader in indie horror, Goth and shock movies and DVD’s, and will be distributed online and in the US through Netflix and Blockbuster and internationally in the UK, Russia and more. Cricket Snapper is Metropolitan Picture’s 2nd full-length movie released under the Brain Damage Films imprint.
Cricket Snapper is an independently-financed production written and directed by Lawson Welles, with Directors of Photography Jerry Bagdasarian and Stephen Sandberg, and features an outstanding local cast including Jon Saphire, Nancy Sadsad and Kelly Cook, among others.
Cricket Snapper has bone-chilling soundtrack music provided by Church Of Satan founder and author of The Satanic Bible, Dr. Anton S. LaVey (1930-1997) and his successor as High Priest of the Church of Satan, Peter H. Gilmore (both courtesy of Reptilian Records of Baltimore, MD) as well as local musicians Phoenix Rising, Jose Ramos, Device Cycle, Don Hammontree and more.
Cricket Snapper was edited and mastered at Metropolitan Pictures Studios of Allston, MA by Warren Lynch (Pony Trouble, 2005) and Scott A. Matalon (Boston Boxing, 2010, also founder of Stingray Body Art tattoo, piercing and permanent makeup emporium in Boston, MA). Additional scenes filmed by Metropolitan Pictures feature local rock hangout O’Briens Pub and civic leader/philanthropist Bob Webber of Model Hardware as “Police Chief Ferguson.”
Scott Matalon of Metropolitan Pictures says: “Cricket Snapper, like Apocalypse Now, is a journey into the heart of darkness not only for the audience, but also for the Director. Filmed over a 5 year period at tremendous personal, financial and emotional cost, Cricket Snapper is a riveting, often times gut-wrenching journey from its opening moments to the final climax.”
Director Lawson Welles agrees, and adds that: “Without the love and support of such an excellent and professional local cast and crew, I probably would have died making this movie. There are scenes in here that were incredibly difficult for everyone, especially the actors, and I salute the dedication and commitment of everyone who was involved.”
16 Farrington Ave., Allston MA 02134 • www.metropolitanzone.com • 617-901-3418
Metropolitan Pictures is a local independent movie studio in Allston, MA and in 2010 produced a 7-episode reality TV show “BOSTON BOXING” aired in prime-time on New England Sports Network (NESN), and in 2005 released the feature-length movie “Pony Trouble,” (Directed by Warren Lynch) which is available at Blockbuster and Netflix.com and is distributed domestically and Internationally by leading underground film distributor Brain Damage Films of Tempe, AZ.
www.metropolitanzone.com
Phoenix Rising Films is currently in production on a series of documentaries entitled Why We Fought honoring American and Canadian World War Two Veterans. Traversing three continents and with interviews from nearly 100 veterans from the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Poland and Germany – including Rochus Misch, Adolf Hitler’s bodyguard and eyewitness to that dictator’s famous last days. Director Welles is featured in Bram Stoker Award-winning author, Jonathan Maberry’s new book, THEY BITE!, regarding his overnight stay in Castle Dracula while researching for best-selling Dracula author, Dr. Raymond T. McNally of Boston College.
www.cricketsnapper.com
Brain Damage Films is an independent film distribution company dedicated to servicing and selling high-quality niche Horror, Goth and Shock VHS & DVD movies. Darrin G. Ramage, with twelve years of domestic US video distribution, founded Brain Damage Films in 2000 to continue the powerful distribution of independent films to video stores in the USA and the licensing & distribution of film rights on the world market.
www.braindamagefilms.com
The producers would like to gratefully acknowledge and thank the New England S&M/Bondage community at large for their generous support and assistance in making this movie, and remind everyone that although this movie was inspired by true events, it is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental and unintentional.
For more information please contact either Scott Stets of Phoenix Rising Films at
scottstets@aol.com or 508-674-8790, or Scott Matalon of Metropolitan Pictures at
scott@metropolitanzone.com / 617-901-3418.
16 Farrington Ave., Allston MA 02134 • www.metropolitanzone.com • 617-901-3418
Cricket Snapper -“When the blood flows hot in a cold New
England town, its blackest secrets are finally revealed…”
February 17, 2010 – Allston, MA – Phoenix Rising Films and Metropolitan Pictures are proud to announce the release into distribution of the new feature-length movie, Cricket Snapper written and directed by local filmmaker Lawson Welles and filmed entirely in New England.
Cricket Snapper is a 92-minute work of fiction initially inspired by true events, and follows Detective Allan McDermott of the “River Falls” police department as he investigates a quadruple homicide among the S&M/Bondage subculture of his quiet New England town. The movie has been described as “a cross between 8mm and a Charles Bronson film.”
Cricket Snapper is being released by Brain Damage Films of Tempe AZ, the worldwide leader in indie horror, Goth and shock movies and DVD’s, and will be distributed online and in the US through Netflix and Blockbuster and internationally in the UK, Russia and more. Cricket Snapper is Metropolitan Picture’s 2nd full-length movie released under the Brain Damage Films imprint.
Cricket Snapper is an independently-financed production written and directed by Lawson Welles, with Directors of Photography Jerry Bagdasarian and Stephen Sandberg, and features an outstanding local cast including Jon Saphire, Nancy Sadsad and Kelly Cook, among others.
Cricket Snapper has bone-chilling soundtrack music provided by Church Of Satan founder and author of The Satanic Bible, Dr. Anton S. LaVey (1930-1997) and his successor as High Priest of the Church of Satan, Peter H. Gilmore (both courtesy of Reptilian Records of Baltimore, MD) as well as local musicians Phoenix Rising, Jose Ramos, Device Cycle, Don Hammontree and more.
Cricket Snapper was edited and mastered at Metropolitan Pictures Studios of Allston, MA by Warren Lynch (Pony Trouble, 2005) and Scott A. Matalon (Boston Boxing, 2010, also founder of Stingray Body Art tattoo, piercing and permanent makeup emporium in Boston, MA). Additional scenes filmed by Metropolitan Pictures feature local rock hangout O’Briens Pub and civic leader/philanthropist Bob Webber of Model Hardware as “Police Chief Ferguson.”
Scott Matalon of Metropolitan Pictures says: “Cricket Snapper, like Apocalypse Now, is a journey into the heart of darkness not only for the audience, but also for the Director. Filmed over a 5 year period at tremendous personal, financial and emotional cost, Cricket Snapper is a riveting, often times gut-wrenching journey from its opening moments to the final climax.”
Director Lawson Welles agrees, and adds that: “Without the love and support of such an excellent and professional local cast and crew, I probably would have died making this movie. There are scenes in here that were incredibly difficult for everyone, especially the actors, and I salute the dedication and commitment of everyone who was involved.”
16 Farrington Ave., Allston MA 02134 • www.metropolitanzone.com • 617-901-3418
Metropolitan Pictures is a local independent movie studio in Allston, MA and in 2010 produced a 7-episode reality TV show “BOSTON BOXING” aired in prime-time on New England Sports Network (NESN), and in 2005 released the feature-length movie “Pony Trouble,” (Directed by Warren Lynch) which is available at Blockbuster and Netflix.com and is distributed domestically and Internationally by leading underground film distributor Brain Damage Films of Tempe, AZ.
www.metropolitanzone.com
Phoenix Rising Films is currently in production on a series of documentaries entitled Why We Fought honoring American and Canadian World War Two Veterans. Traversing three continents and with interviews from nearly 100 veterans from the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Poland and Germany – including Rochus Misch, Adolf Hitler’s bodyguard and eyewitness to that dictator’s famous last days. Director Welles is featured in Bram Stoker Award-winning author, Jonathan Maberry’s new book, THEY BITE!, regarding his overnight stay in Castle Dracula while researching for best-selling Dracula author, Dr. Raymond T. McNally of Boston College.
www.cricketsnapper.com
Brain Damage Films is an independent film distribution company dedicated to servicing and selling high-quality niche Horror, Goth and Shock VHS & DVD movies. Darrin G. Ramage, with twelve years of domestic US video distribution, founded Brain Damage Films in 2000 to continue the powerful distribution of independent films to video stores in the USA and the licensing & distribution of film rights on the world market.
www.braindamagefilms.com
The producers would like to gratefully acknowledge and thank the New England S&M/Bondage community at large for their generous support and assistance in making this movie, and remind everyone that although this movie was inspired by true events, it is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental and unintentional.
For more information please contact either Scott Stets of Phoenix Rising Films at
scottstets@aol.com or 508-674-8790, or Scott Matalon of Metropolitan Pictures at
scott@metropolitanzone.com / 617-901-3418.
16 Farrington Ave., Allston MA 02134 • www.metropolitanzone.com • 617-901-3418
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Video: Stingray Body Art at Boston Boxing Exhibition
Stingray Body Art at Boston Boxing Exhibition
NESN's "Boston Boxing: Team Training" One hour Finale; Wednesday night, airing all 7 episodes on Thursday, this week!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Stingray Body Art at Boston Boxing Open House Exihibition with a tough update from Hector
The next big Open House after the end of official taping for NESN's "Boston Boxing: Team Training" with the finale episode and marathon day this Wednesday night and re-runs of the whole 7 episode series, all day Thursday. NESN. The dramatic conclusion.
Wish our friend Hector well.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Stingray Body Art Photos from Boston Boxing, 2/6/2010
Supporting Boston Boxing with free Stingray Body Art temporary tattoos.
Video from the event to be posted here very soon, check back.
Azama, across the street from O'briens, a quarter block down, tell him Handy Andy sent you and he'll hook you up. Yum.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Paper Tongues Radio 92.9 FM Acoustic at Stingray Body Art
Paper Tongues-Trinity
Paper Tongues 92.9 FM Radio Boston Acoustic at Stingray Body Art
Radio 92.9 FM acoustic performance at Stingray Body Art, Allston, MA, 1/31/2010.
Don't miss the next free, Stingray Body Art customer appreciation event!
Sign up for the Stingray email list at http://stingraybodyart.com and/or subscribe to this blog to get the scoop on the next event!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Vote: Stingray Body Art Best Tattoo Studio, Phoenix Poll Nomination
Vote for Stingray Body Art for best tattoo and The 379 Club!
Vote for Boston Phoenix Best of, MassCann/NORML "Best Cause"
but that one's tough because there are some good causes, vote on it if you can and weigh in, if you vote for dogs or any of those causes, I understand and support that, too.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Battle For The Rally! offers media buys for sponsorship dollars
2010 Battle For The Rally!
Sponsorship Includes:
1) Logos on flyers, posters
2) Logos on print ads (Weekly Dig)
3) Mentions in Radio Ads (WBOS, CBS SportsHub, WZLX)
4) Logo inclusion on all Internet, Facebook, Emails and other online promotions nearly 100,000 users and subscribers
5) OnSite: Banners, Table, Products
6) Videos of event posted on YouTube, Stingray, WBOS, MassCann, MikeCann.net and other Freedom Rally related web sites
7) Seen in the Documentary in production about the 2010 Boston Freedom Rally (Metropolitan Pictures)
8) September Rally: Preferential Pricing: 50% cash donation now against any booth/sponsor costs
Raising money for MassCann/NORML.
Contact: michaelc_100@yahoo.com for rates.
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