Hosted by Tenaya and Mary Beth, join Jess Barzell, Pilates instructor, dancer, artist, and play guru, for an incredibly fun evening that will inspire us all to be more playful.
“Play is state of mind that one has when absorbed in an activity that provides enjoyment and a suspension of sense of time. And play is self-motivated so you want to do it again and again.”
- Dr. Brown, author of play
Jess Barzell, as a small child
Details
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024
Time: 6 - 8 pm, please arrive by 6 pm
Location: Belleflower Brewing Company, 66 Cove St, Portland, ME 04101
Fee: $40 per person for two drink tickets, candies & snacks
Cancellation policy: All sales are final and non-refundable. However, your tickets are transferable to an individual. If transferred to someone, please email us their name and email address at hello@heldportland.com.
What to expect
The concept - Human connection is at the heart of each held gathering. Our goals are always twofold: to spark meaningful connections that ultimately foster a deeply rooted community and to inspire women with a specific topic. For our next gathering, the topic is “play.” Remember when play was an everyday occurrence, and you were intrinsically motivated to do it simply because it was fun? As adults with our never-ending to-do list, play is no longer part of our vocabulary, let alone part of our day. Research says play has many benefits, including sparking creativity, relaxation, and mental acuity. It also provides a reprieve from self-consciousness and chaos. So, let’s not overthink it and spend the night being playful!
Introduction and bubble gum popping - As guests walk in, they’ll receive a prompt card and be encouraged to grab some bubble gum to start blowing bubbles. Mary Beth and Tenaya will provide opening remarks, a reminder of the held concept, their experiences with play, and their desire to incorporate it back into their lives. They will then introduce Jess Barzell who will share her background and why she believes in the importance of play in creativity, community building, and overall well-being.
The play activity - Jess will orchestrate improv activities to get us all in the playful mindset and more present. For some of the activities, folks will be divided randomly into groups. After 30-40 minutes of improv exercises, everyone will have the opportunity to mingle and be “creatively playful” at a craft table set up by Jess.
Last call and wrap-up - Tenaya and Mary Beth will remind attendees of Belleflower’s last call and share details for upcoming events. Attendees are welcome to continue mingling. The event will commence at 8 pm. when Belleflower closes for the night.
Read our Substack interview with Jess Barzell on why play is important and how she incorporates more play into her life.
Jess Barzell
Born in Canada, Jess embodies the Canadian approach to life with sensibility and a sense of humor. This attitude has helped her build a private and group Pilates business, starting in Washington, DC, New York City, Boston, and now Portland, Maine. In her movement classes, she creates a fun and supportive experience, combining compassion and spiritual practices with the latest in anatomy and biomechanics to reveal her students’ highest potential.
Jess is also a ceramic artist. Years of improv comedy prepared her for a medium that thrills her just as equally: ceramics. All her attention is needed on stage to stay close to what is unfolding so that she can make in-the-moment decisions. Jess brings this influence to her art creations. Rather than getting stuck in thought (an uncomfortable place to be on and off stage), she remains with her breath and body, letting the forms of pinch pots, nerikomi bowls, and porcelain jewelry reveal themselves.