A thousand newly engaged women and their helpers burst through the doors of Boston’s semi-annual Running of the Brides on Friday, February 20, 2009 hoping to snag the wedding gown of their dreams.

The event was held at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. It officially started at 8:00am. However, some brides-to-be and their teams spent the night before with sleeping bags and tents to be onesfirst in line.

Over 3000 gowns, sizes 2 to 26, from famous bridal houses were priced at $249, $499 and $699. These same gowns would go for $900 to $10,000 at bridal salons. "We usually sell 400 dresses at the Boston event. We hope to do the same today," said Patricia Boudrot, Filene Basement's PR person.

Courtesy: Flickr


Behind the scenes



I met Mrs. Kennedy, director of Howard Thurman Center and Pulitzer Prize Winner by chance at a panel discussion. One week later, I was sitting at her office among inauguration memorabilia, letters, books and old paper cups of coffee. Mrs. Kennedy was the only journalist who covered the desegregation of Boston schools from the inside back in 1975. She rode a bus full of African American while they were stoned and called "niggers". Her story won the Pulitzer Prize for the Boston Globe, she gained respect in the newsroom and she was accepted to Columbia University Journalism School. However "change: was not yet in America. "Racism existed and still exists, she said. She and her Divas fight racism through wine for almost a decade. While we chat, she goes away and comes back with a bottle of wine. She asks me to look at the label: "Divas uncorked".

All started after a meeting of 10 African-American women, wine aficionados at Martha's vineyard in 1999. Since then the group has produced its own wine tradition. Their site is excellent! They have sections for wine tastings and events and even wine tasting 101. (What is a Wine Varietal?, How to Open a Bottle!,Navigating a Wine List!,Grapes to Glass Process,
Expanded Wine Varietals List,Wine Glossary,Start Your Own Wine Group).

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