Eat Cheap

This months Improper Bostonian has an article on meals under ten bucks. Talk of the small plates at Z-Squared are of particular interest to me, I love that place.

>> Boston On The Go - Cheaper Eats

Snow Emergency!

So it's snowing and there is a snow emergency, nothing exciting.

But this, this is kind of exciting.




>> Davis Square Live Journal - From my secret agent friend

Porter BostonNow Hawker - hot or not?

Apparently the BostonNow Hawker at Porter is getting rave reviews. Now I rush by this man everyday and I'll admit he does a nice job at what he does, but my opinion is it's a little annoying.

Jomilkman says

he operates with the rapid-fire style of salesmanship of an olde tyme newsboy, belting out, but not quite hollering, his pitches in the general direction of every commuter as each enters the station. he projects with gusto. it's as though he's offering up free cups of crucial coffee, not these cheapo rags that'll be used later to soak up spills on the seats of the trains.... he's kind of awesome

Random commenter

The only difference between BostonNow/Metro Hawkers and the guys who sell Spare Change is that one of them smells less like piss during the day. They are all just as annoying.

What do you think? Is this guy hot or not?

>> Here You Go
>> Universal Hub

Somerville Tea Party

I have been drinking more tea recently and have been having trouble living up to the delicious brew I get while out eating Chinese food. Even though i walk past the Tea Zone all the time, I've never been in. I'm kicking myself, cuz it looks awesome.

>> If you can’t find good tea, start your own store: Tea Zone offers 150 flavors

Love the Geek Way

I so need a Science is Sexy shirt.

>> Going to the heart of science

Child Labor laws violated

Attorney General issued a press release citing child labor violations. Somerville and Cambridge stores included.
Read Press Release
Note at the bottom someone comments on how having these kids work past 10 is completely acceptable because they are keeping kids off streets. Most of the citations were in places such as Burlington, Hyannis, Newton and Taunton. Also for stores such as Hollister, Things Remembered, KB toys, and The Children's Place. (hehe).
Lets be realistic. Working is awesome for teenagers. Allows social experience they may not be getting elsewhere, allows them to create their own work ethic, as well as earn money they can selfishly spend. I think teenagers should be working. It is super, but i don't think saying working past 10 is going to stop them from getting into trouble. Laws are there for a reason, and if you think working in the mall is what cures your kid of peer pressure, and a whole list of other things that leads to drugs/violence etc. You are wrong. It may help a little, but having a child work till 5am is definitely not the answer.

All Frills Comedy Hour

Live laugh love oh yeah and eat! Thats my motto, this comedy night has the best of it all.

Come out for the inaugural night of the soon to be hottest comedy show in the Boston metro area! Join host Jeff Ferguson and an all star line up including Late Night with Conan Obrien feature Shane Mauss, Brian Moote, Kris Earle, Joe Wong, Doug Chagnon, Scotty Lombardo, Chris Penne, Mike Pincus, and Josh Gondelman, as they make your belly ache after a great meal!!

Here's the thing, i am unable to find any other details about this event, so I am still wondering about the free meal, but if it is in fact so-how can this get any better! Either way, it's free and laughter will definitely be involved.

All Frills Comedy Hour
Bocellis Ristorante
374 Main St. Medford
Thursday 1/17
8:00pm
FREE!

>>Official website

Kids Play Indoors

There is almost nothing worse than winter activities when the kids are sick of them. They just want to go outside and play, run around build snow men., play on the playgrounds. But all the playgrounds are covered in snow, and when the snow melts they are muddy and gross. Well the YMCA is opening its doors for kids to run around for $1. Parents/caregiver must supervise their kids constantly, but it will give you a chance to meet up with other parents while your children run out some of that pre-nap energy. The YMCA is right next to the library. Run off some energy, and go check out the library for story time.
The program is funded by the Somerville Children's Network and is run on Wednesday's 9a-11a. Eligible ages are 0-5years.

Children's indoor play space
YMCA
101 Highland Ave. Somerville
Cost: Every child is $1.
Every Wednesday
9am-11am.

Playspace will be closed the week of school vacations. (Wed. 2/20)

Free Chowder!

In honor of soup month and Chowder day, Legal Seafoods will be giving away free chowder on Jan 15th.

Legal Seafoods restaurants will be serving free cups of clam chowder to anyone who comes to their take out counter between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

I'm gonna be honest its not my favorite chowder, but it is free food...

Camberville Legal Locations

Harvard Square
20 University Rd
Cambridge, MA 02138

Kendall Square
5 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA 02142

>> Free Chowda for All

2 for 1 culture deal

This week many Boston area museums are offering a 2 for 1 entrance fee. With the college kids getting ready to go back to school in a few weeks (hopefully) nothing better to get them prepared.
Well, not true, but it was a nice line.

Museums
Cape Ann Historical Museum
DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park
Fuller Craft Museum
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Harvard University Art Museums
The Institute of Contemporary Art
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Larz Anderson Auto Museum
MASS MoCA
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
New Bedford Whaling Museum
Peabody Essex Museum

2 for 1 museum fee
Monday Jan. 7th-Sunday Jan. 13th.

New Year...new leaf

I just wanted to apologize for our lack of posts. There was definitely not a lack of interest or love for our reader(s). But it has been an insane month. As December usually is. So...I attempted to find something for you guys today, and I am sad to say there is very little happening in the world of Cambridge/Somerville this weekend.
This is my promise to not forget you, and January will be a much better month in terms of Camberville. New Year equals maybe a new look? Hmmm! Camberville will thrive this year! As always, anything you would like posted, or questions/concerns can be sent via comments or email.

Somerville in the News

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.

>> Somerville 2007: The year in news

What is a plow?

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.

Midnight Madness

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.

Nave Gallery Salon

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

A little Perspective

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

Davis Square Caroling

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!

Free cupcakes

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.
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.

Free Cupcakes
Monday December 3rd
Lyndell's
720 Broadway
Somerville

Au Bon Pain robbery attempt

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.

Do some good this season

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