Skip to main content

Flash!



Flash Number One:

If you were at Savage Mill on Sunday you may have enjoyed a pop-up community parranda by Cultura Plenera. 


Photo from Cultura Plenera social media 


A parranda is a Puerto Rican holiday musical tradition that involves visiting the homes of friends and family and singing traditional holiday music. It's the Puerto Rican version of caroling, but parrandas are generally considered secular events enjoyed by all Puerto Rican regardless of their religious beliefs.

They are an opportunity to visit and celebrate the end of the year with friends and family. Visitors can participate in this Puerto Rican version of caroling right here at Savage Mill! - - event page

Although they billed it as a Flash Mob of sorts, the good folks of Cultura Plenera acknowledged the ways in which their parrranda would differ from the typical Flash Mob.  

A flash mob is a group of people who suddenly perform an unexpected act in a public space for a short time, and then quickly disperse. Flash mobs are known for their element of surprise and are often used for artistic expression or social engagement.

Cultura Plenera will apply the flash mob model to our parranda tradition in order to invite our entire community to our very first Flash Mob Parranda which we will perform as an expression of our culture and traditions, and to engage with our community.

We have permission from Savage Mill to do this celebration so feel free to bring your entire family and all your friends. Also bring your instruments and voices...this is a community parranda!! - - Cultura Plenera Facebook Page 

If you didn’t happen to be there on Sunday you should definitely visit the Cultura Plenera Facebook page to see photos and video from the event. 


Photo credit Myriam Montañez Comito


Here’s a comment from someone who was there:

About last night.... Cultura Plenera

The pride of being part of the Puerto Rican diaspora was deeply felt last night at the flash mob parranda. In a season when traditions often bridge the distance between home and the heart, this spontaneous celebration became a powerful reminder of our collective spirit. … This parranda was more than a flash mob. It was a declaration of unity, a celebration of identity, and an inspiring reminder that our traditions and culture are a beacon of joy, no matter how far from home we may be. 

If I may be so bold, if you have never experienced Cultura Plenera, make a mental note to attend one of their events in the new year. 

*****


Flash Number Two:

When I was laid low with diverticulitis recently, I received an unexpected package in the mail. It was a gift box from YOLO Health and Wellness along with a sweet get-well card. The box contained a Grapefruit Granite Cleaner with a soft reusable cleaning cloth, a Passionfruit Lavender Shower Steamer, and an adorable jar of bath salts which had been crafted to read: Feel better soon.

As you might imagine, this surprise gift truly lifted my spirits on a rough day.


I discovered Recha Bullock’s all natural body and home products business at an event at The Third back in 2021. I’ve been a fan and fairly steady customer ever since. 

Well here’s an extra bit of flash for your day. YOLO Health and Wellness is having a Flash Sale today only on body butters, balms, and paw balm for your pets, too.


Photo from YOLO Health and Wellness 


Our first ever one day flash sale! Dry and distressed winter skin can make your skin feel rough and cracked. Unlock the secret to moisturized and radiant skin with our organic shea body butters and balms. Buy 2 Shea body butters or balms and get 1 free on our business site only. Use code SKINLOVE to get your free body butter or balm. Head over to our website to stock up now www.yolohealthwellness.org.

P.S. You can also add our pet paw balm for this flash sale!

**Sale ends 11:59 pm on December 17

You may find just what you want ti make a perfect gift for someone on your list or you just might realize, as I have, how thrilling it is to give something to yourself.


Village Green/Town² Comments 


Today in Local HoCo: who are your local, go-to artisans/makers/entrepreneurs for gift giving? Fill me in in the Comments

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Getting Fresh

One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else.  Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not  chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...

What Kids Are Thinking

  It’s a Monday in February, and if you guessed that a lot of Howard County students have the new cell phone policy on their minds, you’d be right. It will mean big changes and it will be stressful, no matter how much good we hope it will do in the long run. But on this particular Monday cell phones might not be top of mind, as amazing as that seems. Some kids will go to school wondering if they or family members will be seized by ICE. Some will fear that their parents’ employment will be purged by the ongoing rampage of Elon Musk and his cronies through Federal Government. Some fear heightened and renewed racism as programs that supprted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are vilified and destroyed.  Some worry that it soon won’t be safe for them to use the bathroom in school anymore. It goes without saying that some kids fear going to school every day because of the prevalence of school shootings.  And look! Here’s something new to fear. That old hate group, Libs of TikTo...