The Somerville News has posted its take on the best news stories of the year: Somerville 2007: The year in news
From alleged death threats to unpaid parking tickets, Somerville had a busy and quirky news year in 2007.Gotta love Somerville.
What is a plow? I feel as if the city of Somerville is asking themselves that question every day. Here is an interesting letter to the editor "Next year I will ask for a snowplow on my wheelchair"
I feel as if the City of Somerville was completely unresponsive to residents pleas. This last snowstorm left a complete mess on the roads.
I live on the line of Somerville/Cambridge near Harvard. It is night and day outside my door, one side of the street is nicely shoveled and cars are able to park on the street. The Somerville side? Piles of snow and ice in the roads as well as on the sidewalks. SUV's were trying to throw themselves into the ice, but as you look down the street, there was not a car in sight. There couldn't be, the piles of snow in the street were to high to even think to park a car on it. It was gosh darn RIDICULOUS!! Thank goodness for this rain/temps. Otherwise it would still be a huge mess. I keep seeing landlords/residents need to shovel off sidewalks in front of properties, then why doesn't the city have to take care of the roads?
Dilemma: Too much snow on the even side of the street, due to a snow emergency not being declared by the city.
Easy Solution: Declare a snow emergency directly after the storm. A ticket 2 weeks later doesn't help the parking in an already over populated area.
A strongly worded letter is necessary. HA. I laugh because they were sent, and nothing was done.
As I have mentioned before, the Saturday before Christmas is the busiest shopping day of the year. What about the Saturday before the Saturday? And will it still be bad around 11pm? Who is open until 11? ALOT! But more specifically to you, the shops on Mass Ave. between Harvard and Porter. This Saturday night, do some last minute shopping-late. It can't be too busy on that street so late, avoid the stress of crowds, and purchase some unique items. There are no chains like Target or Home Depot. More of along the lines of Rosie's bakery and Paper Source. There are several other shops, but i can honestly say, i have no idea what they are called.
But check them all out tomorrow night!
Midnight Madness.
Between Porter Square and Harvard Square
8pm-1:00am
Saturday 12/15/07
Random trivia fact: That area is called Avon Hill.
One weekend left to start or add to your art collection. Over 50 artists are on exhibit at the Nave Gallery. Proceeds benefit the guest curator.
Artist include: Leika Akiyama, Karen Aqua, Marcia Ahern, Shelley Barandes, Laurinda Bedingfield, Peter Belford, Adriana Prat, Christina Renfer, Susan Rice, Margaret Ryan, Ellen Schön, Tova Speter, Johanna Sprague, and many more.
December Salon
Friday 12/14 5p-8p
Sat/Sun 1p-5p.
Nave Gallery
Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church
155 Powderhouse Blvd., Somerville, MA
>>Nave Information
We tend to get a little wrapped up in materialism and stress this time of year. Even though i try to keep it simple, I find myself freaking out over a busy party schedule and growing shopping list. This morning I ran across a blog, On the Streets of Cambridge, which chronicles the life of a homeless man in Harvard Square. Snap, back to reality, I need to chill out and keep in mind what is really important this time of year.
If you are in a need of a little perspective, give it a read.
>> On the Streets of Cambridge
Somerville Arts Council, Somerville Chorus and Shape up Somerville encourage community members to join in a night of singing. Singing will be led by Somerville resident Yani Batteau.
Meet in Statue Park (next to Store 24) at 6:45pm. Bring flashlights and festive hats. Lyrics will be provided. Caroling will then begin throughout Davis.
Tuesday Dec. 11. I personally would be the one carrying a singing Christmas card, but I wouldn't mind listening!
Sadly-the following event passed. It was today, and i failed you devoted readers. I wrote this post 2 weeks ago, and meant to publish it last week. Between work, and the holiday season right here, right now, it slipped mine. As did the whole blog in general. Sorry for the lack of updates, I will try to be better this week. I am going to post this cupcake write up anyway. I know you aren't getting free cupcakes anymore, but now you can see how they tried, and remember Lyndell's is awesome! You should go to Ball Square and buy their baked good all the time.
Lyndell's Bakery in Ball Square is celebrating 120 years of business. To show their appreciation, they will give a free cupcake to anyone that visits the bakery. Before heading over here is some history.
Established in 1887, just 15 years after Somerville was incorporated as a city and before the Boston Red Sox were playing baseball, Lyndell’s has served generations of families with freshly made breads, pastries, cakes, and cookies.Free Cupcakes
Today, Lyndell’s is New England’s oldest “scratch” retail bakery, Greater Boston’s favorite place for half-moons, and one of Somerville’s greatest institutions.
Their amazing success and longevity is attributed to the bakery’s commitment to quality and freshness saidBill Galatis, the fourth and current owner of the sweetspot.
He estimates that more than 10 million people were served over Lyndell's history. People have purchased 18 million cupcakes, 15 million danish pastries, 10 millions loaves of bread, and 2 million birthday cakes.
Giving away a cupcake is our way of paying tribute and saying thanks to the previous owners, our past and present workers, and the thousands of customers that visit us each and every year, Galatis said.
It is never good news when you see three people running through an alley way stripping off an outer layer of clothes. That's what I would think anyway if I were the security guard who witnessed Au Bon Pain robbers flee the scene.
Three men stormed through the back door as the shop was closing and employees were trying to leave for the night. One man had a knife. The employees were tied up, and the manager was told to open the safe. The manager got so nervous he forgot the combination and asked to sit down. He then bolted out the front door. Suspects had no idea what to do at that point so they also left, but through the back door. A security guard in Harvard Square saw these three men running and was able to give the police vague descriptions.
The suspects are described as one white man in his 20s with a medium build and two black males in their early 20s and taller than six feet. One black man is described as heavy set, while the other man has a medium build.No one is safe anymore. I feel as if Harvard has become particularly scary.
There are unlimited needy families and this is the season it usually hurts them the most. Innocent children not understanding the joy of Christmas due to some tragedy or another. Whether it be poverty, abuse, alcoholism, loss of parent(s).
There are unlimited trees in banks, BJ's, places of work, these trees are filled with children who would love to open a brand new pair of socks, or a sweater, something so simple would fill them with joy.
Help a family out this season, pick up a name off a tree. Tis the season to be giving. If you would like to help out some families, but are unsure of what I am talking about, here is a wish list for three different families.
Each of these families are receiving services from Respond Inc. a Somerville shelter for women and their children who are leaving abusive relationships. Unity Church of God is organizing/supplying these items.
To claim an item you can call the church: 617-623-1212 OR you can also pick up a wish list tag in the foyer of the church.
After purchasing items please mark them with Family number 42, 43, or 44 and drop off unwrapped gifts at the Church by December 16th.
If you live further away, but would still like to help, you can mail a check to the church. Make it out to UCG and add Respond in the Memo line. The donations will be sent to the mother's who will then be able to shop for their own gifts.
Since you may not receive a personal thank you. I will thank you. Even for taking the time to read this and understand that we may think we have it rough, but we have our homes, our happy holiday memories, and our safety.
Unity Church of God
6 Williams St.
Somerville
With all the breaking news stories, I feel like nothing is safe anymore. Do you question if your kids toys contain a dangerous amount of lead? Now that the boxes are gone, you see the "made in china label" and get a little nervous. Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen, state Rep. Denise Provost, and the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow is trying to help the Somerville community shop with ease by hosting a day of lead testing.
The testing will be done with a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) meter. The meter is held against the product, and an X-ray beam analyzes and reports the elements in the product within 30 seconds.
Things to have tested include:
Anything made of vinyl such as children’s toys, shoes, raincoats, lunch bags, handbags, backpacks (for lead, cadmium).
Children’s jewelry (for lead).
Pillows, foam cushions, children’s pajamas (for brominated flame retardants).
Brightly-colored ceramics such as flower pots or old dishes (for lead, cadmium).
Office products with soft plastic parts such as staplers, binders, etc.
Electronics: computer parts, video game controllers, etc. (for lead and brominated flame retardants).
Other products can be tested as well.
Lead testing
Saturday December 1st.
Central Library
79 highland ave.
For more information call: Jehlen’s office at 617-722-1578.
I went to the mall Friday, that's right. Black Friday. There were not as many sales as I had hoped. But then again, I didn't get out to the stores until 6ish. Lame in the eyes of serious shoppers i guess. So, I didn't get nearly as much shopping as done as I had hoped. Something that will be helpful to me as well as people who hate malls this time of year: Union Square Main Streets' Annual Craft Fair.
A press release from Union Square Main Streets said four craft markets and open studios at the fair will feature gifts including sculpture, jewelry, knitwear, photography, handbags, electronics, greeting cards, wreaths, and more. The Sherman Café and Bloc 11 will be on the scene if you get hungry. Local bands The Doctors Faux and Chris Mancini and the Pretty Pennies are set to headline live performances throughout the day.Something else I always think about it to hit up artist co-ops. Family members usually enjoy home made gifts. It doesn't say anything about you needing to be the one to make them anymore. What are we third graders? I kid I kid.
Drove past the old Benjapon location and noticed that Joey's Thai Cafe is now open. Seemed like it was a really quick transition to the new place. Will have to check it out soon.
>> Bye Bye Benjapon
We have seen the seasons first snow (even if it was just flurries) which means snowboarding is right around the corner. If you are looking for some new people to shred with there is a Somerville Snowboaring Meetup Group getting together this weekend to catch a bad.
Saturday, November 24, 10:00 PM
Atwoods
Inman Sq.
>> The Somerville Snowboarding Meetup Group
Like many others I cut through the alley next to Central Kitchen quite frequently, of course I have noticed the artwork, thought it was cool, but it wasn't until I ran across this article that I knew what it was about.
What's even more dope is how the grafitti-like art is public, lacks a corporate sponsor and is wholly legal. Supine's piece is part of a huge project on the wall outside Central Kitchen (567 Mass. Ave., Cambridge) and in fact, the entire 81-foot wall is covered from top to bottom in a poster-painted 3-D graffiti-stenciled pastiche. The last week in October, Supine and 19 other artists met in Cambridge to create a public display of cutting-edge street art that defies description. More than a simple wall, the entire southeast-facing facade, from HVAC ducts to window sills (up to and including parts of the roof) are plastered and splattered with characters, words and colors. The art will remain there for all to see until the weather, or something else, washes it away."The wall is true in spirit," says contributor Celso (of the Endless Love Crew), "
but the best work to me is the stuff that people are willing to go to jail for. It's more of a rush when you are painting in the dark, watching your back and trying to finish a work before the cops arrive."
Hargo admits that something may be lost from a "legitimate" mural of street art, "But," he says, "we tried to put it together in such a way that it wasn't quite as tidy as a gallery. Many decisions were made by the artists on the spot based on space constraints, some guys went over others -- like what happens on the street -- and in some cases feathers were ruffled. But in the end everybody realized that's the way it goes with street art."
Next time you are in Central, swing by its pretty cool.
The day after Thanksgiving. One of two scenarios:
1. You hosted Thanksgiving and you have guests coming out of every nook and cranny, and you are unsure of what to do with them.
2. You went elsewhere for dinner, and now it is the next day, and your kids are bored and activities need to be planned.
I have the answer! Zoo Day! Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo are opening their gates for a Get in the Zoo Free Day. I mean the only other thing to do is shop, or go to the movies. Huge events, but shopping is not ideal for kids, and movies are not ideal for parents. This is definitely a win/win. What better way to work off that pound of turkey and extra piece of pumpkin pie.
FREE ZOO DAY
Friday November 23rd
10:00a-4:00p
Franklin Park Zoo
1 Franklin Park Road
Dorchester
Stone Zoo
149 Pond St.
Stoneham
Artists utilize some child like items as inspiration in this exhibit.
Pieces in the exhibit may be handmade toys or games artists had given to their own children, or artwork inspired by toys, games and the concept of "play."A partial lists of involved artists are: Jen Fries, Robert Goss, Pauline Lim, Gina Kamentsky, Charlotte Kaplan, David Kessler, Mark Luiggi, Rosamond Purcell, Randy Regier, Craig Robertson, Annie Silverman, Jessica Straus, M.L. Van Nice, and Ellen Weinberg.
I could always use more shady in my life, as well as a good down to earth place to grab dinner and a beer. Just came across this review of La Hacienda in Somerville and it looks right up my alley.
But while it indeed is seen by many as simply a dive bar, it really is more of an Italian-American restaurant that serves a wide variety of dishes. The surprisingly extensive menu includes such familiar dishes as ravioli, lasagna, veal marsala, chicken piccata, shrimp scampi and the like.Added to my list of places to go - Check.
While diners often come to La Hacienda to order full dinner entrees, what many others come here for is one thing, and one thing only: Bar pizza. The bar pies at La Hacienda are simply tremendous.
Looking for a night of dancing and burning all those calories before eating all day? Booty Vortex is at Johnny D's Wednesday night. Back in the day, this was the night everyone went out and about to hang out with old buddies from high school. Now that I am old and gray, I go to sleep. But I am not trying to stop you youngin's!
Booty Vortex
Johnny D's
Davis Square
Wednesday 11/21
8:00pm
$10.00
>>Booty Vortex
Last chance to catch Donnie Darko on stage this weekend.
During the presidential election of 1988, Donnie Darko, a troubled teenager, encounters a six-foot rabbit named Frank, who tells him the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. Donnie returns home to discover that a jet engine has crashed through his bedroom – and so begins one of the strangest and most haunting stories ever told.Through Sunday Nov. 18th
A new adaptation of the 2001 cult film (which featured Drew Barrymore and shot Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal to fame), Donnie Darko is a mind-bending work of science fiction with a rollercoaster plot that leaps from metaphysics to time travel. Marcus Stern, director of The Onion Cellar returns to Zero Arrow Theatre to create this stage version of one of the most talked-about films of the past decade.
I recently posted about Ball Square Cafe and Breakfast. In it I mentioned I had plans to go to Sound Bites next door, but was drawn away due to the line outside in the rain. My review was pretty great, so I find it only fair to now add Sound Bites point of view.
I went to Sound Bites on a Sunday morning. 9:30am in hopes to beat a rush. Surprisingly went well. As we were being seated I looked out and the line had formed down the building. There was only two groups ahead of us. Point! for being seated as a group of 6 in a timely fashion.
Point! When you are in line, you can take turns with your fellow breakfast eaters, to run in and grab a coffee from the self serve station and go back outside with it. They also have some pretty delicious flavors. Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Raspberry, Pumpkin Spice, as well as all the usual suspects.
NEGATIVE! They make your hot chocolate for you, which is completely acceptable, EXCEPT, they make it taste like hot water. I was so disappointed. I had to in addition get a coffee.
The food was delicious, I don't know if I can make it a point though because it was the same chef who started both.
NEGATIVE! They are quick to get you out. I like to linger and chat and take my time. Luckily the owner did not snap at us, they were just quick to take plates, but they asked every time if we were done before grabbing them. I had expected so much worse. What I think was funny was an obvious regular commented to the owner when he came to get their plates "You are not yourself today"
Which would I go to? It is hard because i got VERY different things each time. Once i got stuffed french toast. Another: an omelet with sausage. So both places have great food, I think I would alternate. The atmosphere is definitely chicer at Ball Square Cafe. Thats my two cents, now everyone else can decide which they prefer.
Here is the fun part, there is rumor to be feud between the two. The chef left to go next door and now they hate each other. I need facts people-who has them! Comment, please let me know.
>>My Ball Square Cafe review.
