You just gotta ignite the light

Daily Skimm

theSkimm With

Matt Shea

Ready for the big bang? Tomorrow night, dazzling fireworks displays will light up skies across the US, both in tiny towns and big cities. That includes Boston, where the team at Pyrotecnico produces the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. To learn more about the booming business, we spoke with Matt Shea, Pyrotecnico's northeast regional manager.

Q: How long does it take to plan Boston's Fourth of July fireworks? What does that process look like?

We pretty much start planning the following year's show on July 5. We talk about what we liked and what we'd like to do differently. Two weeks later, we have a meeting where we talk about what to do next. Then we go on our merry way and work on all our other shows ... This year, we'll produce about 600 shows just in the Northeast … Then, around February, we start working on music, and in April, we get into the weeds of it ... This show is shot off five floating platforms, or barges, so you have to plan things like equipment allocation and you have to make sure we have enough quality product that a show like this requires ... My final show design was done about two weeks ago, but I'll keep tweaking up until the day of the show. It's a project you keep coming back to, like when you're writing a book. You're not just sitting in front of a typewriter for a long time — you're coming and going.

Q: What's the key to a successful show?

For a show like this, you want to produce it in 10- to 15-second scenes. So you want to make sure that the choreography design is clean, the packing of all the shells into the boxes is clean, and the day of the show, plugging all the electric matches is also clean. Because if we have a shoot where most go off — there's always some that just don't fire — that's success. When I see some of the photographs that are taken and if it looks like what I had envisioned in my head when I designed the show, I'm super happy ... Also, there's nothing more amazing than hearing the audience cheering loudly at the end of a show. It's something you don't experience often and to that degree.

Q: Was there ever a time when a fireworks display didn't go according to plan?

The famous one was around 2014. We shot the fireworks show on July 3rd because a hurricane was coming in on the Fourth of July. But the hurricane actually ended up coming in on the evening of July 3rd, so we shot it not only one day early, but also 45 minutes early. We were ready, but we got a lot of wind and rain right after the show. When you're given those conditions, it does become difficult to make a perfect show. But we got it off and we did our best.

Q: Why are fireworks so integral to big celebrations like the Fourth of July?

They bring out something that is very deep in our soul. Something primitive. It's explosive, it's loud, it's colorful, it's hitting a lot of your senses. And when done right, you're putting it to music, which almost gives it feeling. That combination is what makes fireworks amazing — and really does bring out the little child in all of us.

Psst, this interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Grill & Chill

One of the easiest ways to turn up the heat at your Fourth of July cookout? Tasty twists on some of the classics. Here are a few ideas to get you started — all of which are guaranteed to make sparks fly.

Hot dogs. To be perfectly frank, you can't go wrong with ketchup and mustard. But for top dog status, consider your city's — or another city's — signature style. A Chicago dog has nearly all the toppings, held together in a poppy seed bun. While a Cincinnati chili dog includes diced onion, shredded cheddar cheese, and yes, chili. Or, maybe you'd enjoy a Kansas City dog, which is a cross between a Reuben sandwich and a hot dog.
Hamburgers. Take your burger to new heights with a recipe inspired by your fave fast-food restaurant, like Shake Shack or In-N-Out. Or, get creative with your patty and swap beef for lamb or Italian sausage. You could also top it off with some adventurous add-ons, like pineapple, potato chips, or pimento cheese.
Pasta salad. Some have already declared this to be "pasta salad summer," so the pastabilities are endless. You could make a splash with lobster roll pasta salad. Or, you could spice things up with grilled chicken cajun pasta salad. You could even get your greens with green goddess pasta salad.
Corn. All ears? Great. Consider adding some fresh flavor to your corn on the cob with bang bang sauce or Flamin' Hot Cheetos crumbs. Or, if you prefer your corn off the cob, use your kernels to add some oomph to pastas, salads, and puddings. Of course, you could also make some perfectly golden cornbread.
Ice cream. If you want to make it from scratch, consider a sweet surprise like labneh with lime or strawberry honey balsamic. Then, use that — or your fave store-bought pint — as the base for the ultimate ice cream sundae. Or, as the filling for a creamy, dreamy ice cream sandwich. For something a little more festive, you could also consider this ice cream cake.

Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life…

1. Helpful, no-BS advice to help you navigate your fertility journey.

Certified nurse and fertility coach Connie Stark shares options for people struggling to conceive, when it's time to see a specialist, and what she wishes aspiring parents knew in our latest vid.*

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