It has been an unusually busy summer!
Inventory levels continued to be low, which kept buyers active throughout the summer, without the usual lulls in July and August. Right now, it feels as if the active summer market will transition to an active fall market without interruption. CONGRATULATIONS to our own Team Jen & Lynn, who won Best Real Estate Agents from Scout Magazine, and to everyone in the office for winning Best Real Estate Agency! We feel honored and will do our best to keep up the good work. Best Real Estate Agent
Best Real Estate Agency
New Listings
1 Summer Street #4, Somerville $1,495,000
50 Trull Street, Somerville $899,000
Chic 4-level townhouse in a renovated Gothic Revival church in the heart of Union Square. Features spacious, open living area with 45’ ceiling, and above it, a mezzanine master bedroom suite with spa bath and lofted study/yoga space. Below the living level are 2 bedrooms and another full bath on bathrooms. In-unit laundry, central air, elevator, and 2 garage spaces.
Magoun Square 2-family owned and occupied by the same family for many years. Paved driveway with 2-3 bay garage. Yard and porches. Large unfinished basement.
33 Summer Street #2, Somerville $549,000
429 Norfolk Street #18, Somerville $495,000
Loft-style Union Square 2-bedroom unit with exposed brick walls, oversized windows, oak floors, and in-unit laundry. Sleek, contemporary kitchen has grey cabinets, stainless appliances, and white quartz counters. Tiled full bath. Pet friendly. Common roofdeck to be rebuilt.
Between Inman and Union Squares, this contemporary, lovely 2-level condo has 1 bedroom and 1.5 baths in David Aposhian’s Union Place development. In-unit laundry, stainless steel appliances, lofted storage area in bedroom. Garage parking available.
Commercial
34 Allen Street, Somerville ~ $1,800,000 Masonry building on one level with 16’ ceiling height. The 62’ wide x 42’ deep structure was constructed in 1985 of 12” thick concrete block with poured concrete, brick face, and flat steel roof with rubber membrane. Paved parking for 7+ vehicles. Currently used for martial arts classes by an Aikido dojo. Steps to future Union Sq. Green Line Extension station. Building is currently in RB zone with a legal, non-conforming use (recreational/health club) approved by ZBA in 2008. Previous use as a factory was also legal and non-conforming.
Coming Soon
Thalia Tringo
President, Realtor ® 617.513.1967 cell/text Thalia@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
Niké Damaskos
Residential Sales and Commercial Sales and Leasing 617.875.5276 Nike@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
254 Summer Street #3, Somerville ~ $TBD
Between Porter and Davis Squares, this lovely, bright, top-floor condo has 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, central air , exclusive covered parking space, and lovely common yard.
55 Willow Avenue #2, Somerville ~ $TBD
Amazing location and space! Roughly equidistant to Davis and Porter Squares. This two-level condo on a corner lot has 4 bedrooms, 1 bath, private porch, lovely shared yard, and exclusive parking for 2 cars in driveway off side street.
Jennifer Rose
Residential Sales Specialist, Realtor ® 617.943.9581 cell/text Jennifer@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
East Somerville Two Family ~ $TBD
Rare side-by-side layout, great location near East Broadway restaurants, two Orange Line T stops, several bus lines, and Charlestown.
Free Classes
Lynn C. Graham
Residential Sales Specialist, Realtor ® 617.216.5244 cell/text Lynn@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
First Time Home Buyers:
an overview of the buying process
Wednesday, September 13th or Monday, October 2nd
6:30-7:45 pm
If you’re considering buying your first home and want to understand what’s in store, this is a quick and helpful overview. Led by our agents and a loan officer from a local bank, it includes a 45-minute presentation and 1/2 hour Q&A session. Handouts and refreshments provided.
How to Buy and Sell at the Same Time
Brendon Edwards
Residential Sales Specialist, Realtor ® 617.895.6267 cell/text Brendon@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
for homeowners contemplating a move Tuesday, September 19th or Wednesday, October 11th
6:30-7:45 pm
If trying to figure out the logistics of selling your home and buying a new one makes your head spin, this workshop will help make the process understandable. This workshop, led by our agents and a loan officer from a local bank, includes a 45-minute presentation and 1/2 hour Q&A session. Handouts and refreshments provided.
Eco-Friendly/Green Homes
Adaria Brooks
Executive Assistant to the President, Realtor ® 617.308.0064 cell/text Adaria@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
two-part series
Join us for this two-part series on “Eco-Friendly/Green Homes” presented by a local Architect/ Designer, Tagore Hernandez with Group Design Build. One hour presentation and 20 minutes Q&A for each session. People are not required to attend both sessions, but for anyone learning about this different residential home design for the first time, Part 1 is a good primer. Part 1 Monday, September 18th
6:30-8:00 pm
If you’re dreaming of a home that’s the ultimate in energy efficiency, join us for a presentation about green homes, also known as passive homes. Part 1 of the 2-part series will discuss the lingo associated with this technology, show various examples of homes that use the passive home design/standards, and the various programs currently available to retrofit your home. Handouts and refreshments provided. Part 2 Thursday, October 19th
6:30-8:00 pm
Passive homes are praised for their efficiency due to their high level of insulation and their airtight design. Part 2 of the 2-part series will discuss the specifics of how the technology is applied to design when retrofitting a home or building from scratch. Handouts and refreshments provided. To reserve space in any class, please email Adaria@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com. Admission is free, but we appreciate donations of canned goods for the Somerville Homeless Coalition.
About our company... We are dedicated to representing our buyer and seller clients with integrity and professionalism. We are also commi ed to giving back to our community. Our agents donate $250 to a non-profit in honor of each transaction and Thalia Tringo & Associates Real Estate Inc. also gives $250 to a pre-selected group of local charities for each transaction. Visit our office, 128 Willow Avenue, on the bike path in Davis Square, Somerville.
DON’T BACKTRACK,
VOTE FOR JACK
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017 Jack Connolly has served the City of Somerville previously as a Ward Alderman (Ward Six), and now as an Alderman at Large for over thirty years: the only candidate with that dual distinction of experience and service to Somerville. He has helped Somerville to evolve into the accessible city that it is today through his work with the MBTA Red Line reconstruction, opening of the Orange Line Assembly Square and the most recent, Green Line Extension. His next accomplishment? Allowing young adults the opportunity to start their lives here in Somerville alongside the working families that have called this city “home” for years past. Together working with YOU, we can improve the amount of affordable housing to make Somerville truly a place to call home for all – including new, future, and long-time loyal residents of the City of Somerville.
I’M JACK CONNOLLY, I’M LISTENING AND I’M WORKING FOR YOU. @AldJackConnolly @AldermanJConnolly
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Jack Connolly
www.aldermanjackconnolly.com
SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2017 ::: VOLUME 47 ::: SCOUTSOMERVILLE.COM
Scout’s Honored 2017
SCOUT’S HONORED 20 // SCOUT’S HONORED You voted, we reported. Here are your 2017 Scout’s Honored winners! 26 // MEET THE WINNER: RAZORS BARBERSHOP With “Anthony Shaves the World,” the Razors owner takes the show—and his shears—on the road.
20 42 // MEET THE WINNER: MAGPIE AND MAGPIE KIDS These local favorites are more than just gift shops; they’re a home for a community of local makers.
contents 8 // EDITOR’S NOTE 10 // WINNERS & LOSERS Lots of national recognition for Somerville this summer. 12 // WHAT’S NEW? Union Square’s Bow Market will have a brand-new brewery, a comedy theater and more. 16 // NEWS: STORAGE WARS A stormwater management project that would close Nunziato Field for three years is getting some pretty severe pushback from residents. 18 // EDUCATION: LAB REPORT Students get a helping hand—or, more accurately, a supportive paw—from these furry faculty members.
52 // SCOUT OUT: THE ALLEY WALKIN’ DAN BLAKESLEE COMES HOME TO SOMERVILLE The troubadour is back at the Burren this October. 54 // SCOUT OUT: COULD A TANK FULL OF SALTWATER HELP YOU GET CENTERED? We check out Float in Magoun Square and learn a little about the benefits of sensory deprivation. 58 // SCOUT OUT: SHE SNUGGLES HARD FOR THE MONEY Talk about odd jobs— Somerville’s Samantha Varnerin is a professional snuggler. 60 // CALENDAR 61 // MARKETPLACE 62 // SCOUT YOU
52
48 // MEET THE WINNER: SAV-MOR SPIRITS We tracked down the guy behind everyone’s favorite sassy sign.
Photo, top: Climbers scale the walls at Brooklyn Boulders, this year’s “Best Gym” winner. Photo by Joseph Lee. Photo, bottom: Folk artist Dan Blakeslee, photographed last year in his Somerville home. Photo by Jess Benjamin. On the cover: Just a few of the 60-plus winners you’ll find on the following pages.
There was something magical and comical and just a little peculiar about these characters.”
Elio LoRusso VESTED IN WARD 1
A
s a life-long resident of East Somerville, I have a true and unwavering sense of appreciation and loyalty to this city and my fellow residents. Growing up here, I watched my parents, both immigrants seeking new opportunities in America, realize their potential in Somerville as small business owners. My father’s company, Somerville Ornamental Iron Work, opened in 1969 and is still thriving at its original East Somerville location. I attended and graduated from three great schools in the area: Little Flower School in East Somerville, Malden Catholic High School and Suffolk University. After earning my B.A. in Criminal Justice from Suffolk University, I entered into the family business with my father and today I successfully run the nineperson company.
Living, working and raising our daughter, Mariagabriella here, my wife, Juscelia and I had the privilege of watching our neighborhoods and city rapidly evolve. As we grow as a city, our constituent services must grow, as well. So many issues simply must be addressed: smart economic development, affordable housing, rodents, public safety, elder services, traffic and veteran care to name a few. I have the management experience, analytical mind and integrity necessary to fight for the best interests of each and every resident. I know that it is the people who live in this city who make it so special. You deserve an Alderman who will represent you and your best interests. You deserve an Alderman who will work tirelessly to make
Please Vote Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Somerville the best place to live, work and raise a family. As your Alderman I will deliver a transparent and effective government for all because I love this city and I love Ward 1. It would be an honor and a privilege to receive your vote on election day!
www.eliolorusso.com
EDITOR’S NOTE
I
t’s simultaneously thrilling and agonizing, watching Scout’s Honored votes come in every year. I know our readers will choose awesome businesses to receive awards—it’s not that. It’s almost the opposite: it’s so hard not to want everyone to win. Because while I bought my beloved bike at Ace Wheelworks, the guys at Somervelo have always fixed my flat tires in a pinch, and Bike Boom’s $50 tuneups are a godsend. My morning latte comes from 3 Little Figs; I order each afternoon’s “there’s no way you’re getting to sleep tonight” espresso at Diesel. The live music at Aeronaut is incredible, but sometimes I just want to Photo by Adrianne Mathiowetz. sidle up to the Winter Hill Brewing Co. bar and hang out with Bert. And how can anyone choose between Trina’s and Highland Kitchen? This is the third year I’ve been editing the magazine during awards season, and looking back over my editor’s notes from 2015 and 2016, I’ve traditionally used these editions as a call to get out and support the local businesses you love. Why change anything now? Judging by the number of votes that came in this year (and how hotly contested many of these categories were), you all felt passionately about the city’s best bartenders, baristas, tattoo artists and takeout joints. Flipping through the issue, you’ll likely see that some of your favorites took home the top spots. If you have the means, I hope you’ll support them with your dollars in addition to showing your support online. I’ve said it before, but we’re so lucky to live in a community with this many independently owned restaurants and retailers. Buying stuff on Amazon just isn’t the same as browsing the beautiful gifts at Magpie; no online ordering experience satisfies quite like looking through the curated selection at Loyal Supply Co. And if you need additional recommendations for places to eat, drink and shop here in Somerville? I’m more than happy to provide them. Just know that I’ll have trouble choosing favorites.
Emily Cassel, Editor in Chief ecassel@scoutmagazines.com
PUBLISHER Holli Banks Allien | hbanks@scoutmagazines.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Emily Cassel | ecassel@scoutmagazines.com emilycassel.me ART DIRECTOR Nicolle Renick | design@scoutmagazines.com renickdesign.com PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Jess Benjamin | jbenjamin@scoutmagazines.com jsbenjamin.com CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jerry Allien | jallien@scoutmagazines.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rachel Leah Blumenthal, Tim Gagnon, Kristofer Jenson, Adrianne Mathiowetz, Hannah Walters CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Adrianne Mathiowetz | adriannemathiowetz.com COPY EDITOR Amanda Kersey BANKS PUBLICATIONS 519 Somerville Ave., #314 Somerville, MA 02143 FIND US ONLINE
scoutsomerville.com somervillescout
scoutsomerville scoutmags
Office Phone: 617-996-2283 Advertising inquiries? Please contact hbanks@scoutmagazines.com. CIRCULATION 30,000 copies of Scout Somerville are printed bimonthly and are available for free at more than 220 drop spots throughout the city (and just beyond its borders). You can find a map of our pickup locations at scoutsomerville.com/pick-up-spots or sign up for home delivery by visiting scoutsomerville.com/shop.
Come in as a customer “That first trip to John was in the 1980s. I have honestly lost count of how many cars I’ve bought from him since, but I haven’t bought from anybody else in that time. I buy two at a time. Just in the last year I bought a 2000 VolksWagon Beatle and a 2001 PT Cruiser within six months of one another.” – Roberta Ferrara
, leave as a friend.
“Within two days, John set me up with three pre-owned vans to choose among, all in my price range. The van I chose has been fantastic. The way it’s handling, I expect it to last quite a few years. I’ve told my friends and family that I’ll never buy “brand new” again. I’d buy another car from John tomorrow, and I’d tell all my friends to go there too.” – Suzanne Fontano “You know how it feels when a friend just lands himself in a great situation? You see what your friend has, and you think, man, I wish that were me. For the first time in my life, thanks to John’s Auto, I’m that guy! I’m so proud of the car John found me.” – Alan Kinbell 181 Somerville Ave (across from Target)
johnsautosales.com
QUALITY USED CARS BOUGHT AND SOLD FOR 40 YEARS
YOUR FUN, NEIGHBORHOOD PUB A few of your neighbors have taken over the space formerly known as On the Hill Tavern. We’ve updated the menu, brushed up the look and welcome you to come by and hang with us.
4 9 9 B R O A D WAY, S O M E R V I L L E
W&L WINNERS
LOSERS
COMICAZI Our very own Davis Square heroes received an incredible accolade at San Diego Comic-Con’s Eisner Awards: The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, for which Comicazi was one of 19 nominees around the world. “When the award came out, my wife was asleep, I sat on the couch, and my two business partners and Jill, our manager, were all texting in a group text: ‘Is it coming up? Is it coming up?’” owner David Lockwood told us in July, laughing. “When, finally, someone tweeted it, I was like, ‘Oh my effing something-or-other. I was stunned for a minute.” That isn’t the only Eisner that came back to Somerville; local artist Erica Henderson took home not one but two, for her work on Jughead and The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.
ARTFARM FANS “Hold the pitchforks and knives for one more meeting,” Mayor Curtatone said in July as he addressed a group of concerned residents with developments regarding the ArtFarm plan. It’s been three years since the city won a $415,000 grant to turn a waste transfer site outside Union Square into a shared community space, and there hasn’t been a lot of action on the land since. Now, the city is saying the site may have to house other projects—including, possibly, a police station—instead. It has some residents, including one woman who spoke at the July meeting, feeling like the proposal was a “bait and switch.”
THE SOMERVILLE MUSEUM AND CHARAN DEVEREAUX We’ve long been fans of photographer Charan Devereaux’s “Union Square at Work,” a portrait series celebrating the people who make Somerville’s oldest cultural district the vibrant, one-of-a-kind place it is. Now, the series has national acclaim thanks to an American Association for State and Local History Leadership in History Award of Merit. These awards are the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. DANIEL THE LION CHEF Somerville’s Daniel Pontes-Macedo is a lot of things: a substitute teacher, a father, a musician—oh, and an amateur chef. That’s what got him a slot on this season of MasterChef, where he wowed the judges— even Gordon Ramsay—week after week. The show was “definitely one of the more difficult things I have ever done,” Pontes-Macedo told us in August. “The other chefs never made it easy. I feel that as a musician, I was prepared to perform at the highest level when it mattered.” At press, he was still in the running, one of the competition’s top nine chefs.
CASH Cash or credit? Try plastic or silicon. As we increasingly move toward a paperless future, the MBTA is getting ready, announcing in July that it would move forward with plans to ban cash and switch instead to apps and digital payment systems. Don’t worry, you have some time to use actual dollars at Davis Square—the Boston Globe reports that the new infrastructure won’t be deployed until the second half of 2020. FAKE NEWS The staff over at DigBoston are by no means Joe Curtatone apologists; they’ve taken the mayor to task for cronyism and shady conflicts of interest before. But even they took issue with an August Somerville News Weekly story by publisher William Tauro which alleged that, according to its headline, “FBI Racketeering/Extortion Probe Being Sought Against Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone.” “Read carefully… all this says is that Tauro contacted and complained to the FBI,” Dig staffers noted at one point. “Which is different than an FBI investigation, or so we thought.” Nonetheless, the story was shared hundreds of times.
Someone rustle your jimmies or tickle your fancy?
Let us know at scoutsomerville.com/contact-us, and we just might crown them a winner or loser. 10 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
SCOUT TO THE SOUTH Here’s just some of what you’ll find in the September/October edition of our sibling publication, Scout Cambridge.
SCOUT’S HONORED, CAMBRIDGE EDITION You have more winners to check out when you’re finished with this mag.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS VAN? A colorful truck is bringing art and healing to the streets.
WEIGHTLIFTING, PERCEPTION SHIFTING Catching up with the nonprofit gym that wants to reduce recidivism. Scout Cambridge is available at Brass Union, Aeronaut and hundreds of other places throughout Somerville and Cambridge. Head to scoutcambridge.com/pick-up-spots for a full list of locations!
A
lifelong Somerville resident, I’ve spent decades keeping the people of my hometown healthy.
Hi—I’m Nancy Landry, RN. Today, I’m the owner of Somerville Family Practice. I’ve been at SFP for 20 years, providing highquality, patient centered, compassionate care. That commitment to compassion will always be integral to my mission— and it informs everything we do at SFP. From infants to the elderly, our team offers top-of-the-line health services for you and your entire family. We don’t just treat your medical conditions here; we practice preventive care, and our goal is to keep them from happening in the first place. Across the board—whether you’re here for a minor surgical procedure or trust us with your chronic disease care—we’re applying state-of-the-art technology and communication capabilities that enable us to electronically track your health records, stay in touch via email, and schedule appointments and refill prescriptions online. We have a medical doctor on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we work with you to help achieve your wellness goals, from family planning to weight loss. We love Somerville, and at SFP, our vision is to enhance the health of our community by providing medical services with a focus on patients, quality care and efficiency.
Somerville Family Practice is proud to welcome Dr. Daniel Wemple, M.D.
Leora Fishman, M.D.
Maggie Satterfield, F.N.P.
Anna LeMahieu, F.N.P.
Christopher Woll, F.N.P.
Somerville Family Practice N E W PA T I E N T S W E LC O M E • 1 0 2 0 B r o a d w a y • S o m e r v i l l e , M A 617.628.2160 • somervillefamilypractice.net
WHAT’S NEW?
SHOP TALK
UNION SQUARE
QUEEN OF SWORDS
E
rin Heath and Rose Mattos— the talentedCOMING team behind MOVED SOON Forêt Design Studio— celebrated the grand opening of their downright gorgeous brick-andmortar boutique at 17 Hawkins St. in August. The bright, white-walled space, decorated with tons of plants and beautiful wooden shelving, is an oasis in Union Square, the ideal space to stop in for stylish shirts and scarves, thoughtfully designed home goods and all things natural. It’s the kind of relaxing space where you can come in, browse, catch your breath and unwind for a sec, and the QOS team is also hosting pop-up events and classes in the shop. WINTER HILL
NEIGHBORHOOD PRODUCE
COMING SOON
Neighborhood Produce is plugging right along with the renovations to its space, the former home of Somerville Bread Company (415 Medford St.). Founder Matt Gray tells us he received zoning approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals in July, and now he and the team are in the process of cleaning and painting the space, filling it out with refrigeration units, produce displays and a bulk food section. ASSEMBLY ROW
TRADER JOE’S
Great news for your Assembly shopping runs: Trader Joe’s is now open at 145 COMING MOVED Middlesex Ave., inSOON the former Sports Authority building. What are you waiting for? Go get your two-buck Chuck (or, you know, other groceries) today. UNION SQUARE
UNION SQUARE BEER AND WINE
No more speedy sandwiches from the Subway in Union Square; in August, signage went up that promised a liquor store called Union Square Beer and Wine was on its way. 12 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
Photo, left, by Henry and Mac. Photo, top right, courtesy of Studio Fresh.
MOVE
EAT IT
learn
ASSEMBLY ROW
SABROSO TAQUERIA
COMING SOON
Looks like opening day is drawing near for Sabroso Taqueria’s Somerville outpost (475 Revolution Dr.), which will join its Financial District location and food truck in serving up tasty tacos and burritos. The taqueria’s website still features a vague promise that it’s “coming soon,” but a pair of murals by Studio Fresh went up in mid-August. Eater Boston reports that the new Sabroso will only be open for weekday lunch, 11 a.m. through 3 p.m., Monday to Friday. ASSEMBLY ROW
SMOKE SHOP
COMING SOON
Is Somerville getting a Smoke Shop? Seems like it—in August, Boston Restaurant Talk keenly reported that the website for Federal Realty Investment Trust listed the Kendall Square BBQ hotspot from chef Andy Husbands as one of the tenants that would soon make its way to Assembly. Makes sense; a nowdeleted Facebook post from chef
Steve Brady said another Smoke Shop was in the works back in MOVED early August. DAVIS SQUARE
KOR TOR MOR
COMING SOON
According to some window signage, it looks like the former Golden Light space (24 College Ave.) will eventually house Kor Tor Mor Bangkok Street Foods. No word on whether it’s associated with the Thai place Kor Tor Mor in Brooklyn.
MOVED
www.somervillemedia.org
DAVIS SQUARE
DAVIS SQUARE HANDCRAFTED DONUTS AND BAGELS MOVED
Two years, one ownership change COMING MOVED and lots of will-they-won’t-they SOON later, Davis Square Handcrafted Donuts and Bagels (377 Summer St.) made its debut on August 3. Clearly, folks were hungry for scratch-made doughy delights; the neighborhood greeted the cafe with a line that stretched out the door.
create
share
scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017 13
WHAT’S NEW?
THE MORE YOU BOW
FOR YOUR HEALTH
ASSEMBLY ROW
FITROW
D
etails are emerging on some of the vendors, restaurants and event spaces that will inhabit Bow Market when the converted Union Square warehouse at 337–341 Somerville Ave. throws open its doors—and boy, are we stoked. In July, the Boston Globe reported that Bow Market will house Remnant Brewing, a brand-new brewery from alums of John Harvard’s, Lord Hobo and Mystic Brewing. It’s gonna be big, with 3,000 square feet of space inside and an additional 1,000 square feet outside. Its founders tell the Globe that much like other local beer newcomers—Winter Hill Brewing Co., Lamplighter in Cambridge—the dual-concept brewery will be a cafe by day and a taproom by night. You’ll also spend your nights laughing it up at
GETTING AROUND UNION SQUARE
TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGES
It made for a somewhat tense few weeks of traffic, but the longawaited lane changes in Union Square went into effect at the end of July, and Prospect Street and Webster Avenue are now twoway streets. WINTER HILL
TEMPLE B’NAI BRITH
In “a major milestone in achieving true inclusivity,” according to Temple B’Nai 14 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
Union Comedy, a long-form improv theater from some of the regular talent at ImprovBoston. “We saw an opportunity,” Ben Gibb, one of the theater’s six co-founders, told us in August. “There’s an independent community that does this sort of improv but doesn’t have a home to do it in yet. We’re trying to build that home.” On the food side, Bow Market will welcome the handmade Polish pierogi purveyors behind the Gloucester-based Jaju Pierogi. Jaju will continue selling its wares in local stores and pop-ups around town, but is debuting a designated shop where you can get those dough-and-potato pillows all year round, made to order or frozen to take home. More info on these, and the other dozens of places that will populate the market, as we have it!
Brith executive director Lisa Gregerman, the synagogue (201 Central St.) has embarked on its long-awaited handicapped accessibility project. Construction on an elevator began this summer—a $1.25 million undertaking that came to fruition thanks to the help of 280 individual donors and $450,945 in City of Somerville Community Preservation Act funding.
A NEW NEIGHBORWAY Somerville has another Neighborway! The new
street mural at Dimick & Waldo Streets—a weird, wide intersection that cars have a tendency to speed through—is intended to serve as a traffic calming measure. You can find another Neighborway on Willoughby Street in Spring Hill, which was painted back in 2015.
The five-in-one fitness destination FITRow (Revolution Drive) is now open, giving you a whole arsenal of ways to get in shape. There’s TITLE Boxing Club if you want to throw some punches and Club Pilates if you’re ready to strengthen that core. Check out Orangetheory Fitness for highintensity interval training, or step up to the barre with Barre N9ne Studio. Post-workout, you can always pop by Squeeze Juice Co. and get an acai bowl, smoothie or nitro cold brew coffee. SPRING HILL
HEALTH CLUB BY 3 LITTLE FIGS
One of Somerville’s most charming cafes is about to debut something new! In August, 3 Little Figs co-owner Kate Rooney told us 3LF will extend its existing kitchen at 278 Highland Ave. into the unit next door. That space will allow them to present a brand-new concept they’re calling “Health Club” by 3 Little Figs, with a takeout menu made up of organic whole food smoothies, salads, bowls and vegetable-led clean foods. “I like to describe the style as ‘fast-superfoods,’” Rooney said, adding that there will be lots of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. “It’ll be clean, nutritious food that we hope everyone will enjoy.” She and team Figs are shooting for a late fall opening.
Photo, top left, by Christian Gilbert. Photo, top right, courtesy of Mr. Crepe.
now carrying seed-to-shelf vermont grown cbd oil from Green mountain cbd!
MOVING OUT
A handful of Somerville’s best businesses have already set up shop or are soon expanding elsewhere over the coming months, and we’re definitely not mad about being able to visit them even when we’re not in town. Here are just a few of the places you’ll be able to check out on the other side of the Charles (and beyond!).
MR. CREPE WILL SLIDE INTO SALEM
You know that Salem’s a little creepy, but it’s about to get a little… crepe-y. (We’re so sorry.) Mr. Crepe manager Leo Souza tells us that the European-style creperie will take its sweet and savory plates north (83 Washington St., Salem) sometime this fall, making it the second location for this Davis Square delight. Follow the progress on Instagram: @mrcrepe.
EBI SUSHI ROLLS INTO FENWAY
COMING SOON
Sushi Kappo, a sibling to Somerville standout Ebi Sushi, will be bringing some of the dishes you love to Fenway (86 Peterborough St., Boston) this fall. Owner Jose Garcia told Eater Boston that they’ll be using the same distributors, so we expect
this little sib—which will only seat 16 and will likely be slinging a ton of takeout—won’t be too different from the Union Square staple. Also, great news for those who work in the area: “We will have good deals on lunch combos,” Garcia told Eater.
SOMERVELO WHEELS TOWARD ALLSTON
COMING SOON
Not long after bringing their baller bike skills to Union Square, Somervelo’s J.T. Hargrove and Tom Estrada are setting up in Allston (442 Cambridge St.). Hargrove tells us Allstonvelo will likely say hello to its new neighborhood in mid-October.
MOVED
L O C A L LY O W N E D , L O C A L LY R O A S T E D
DAVE’S FRESH PASTA DEBUTS IN MEDFORD
Following a soft opening in midJuly, Semolina Kitchen and Bar— COMING MOVED MOVED which comes from the talented SOON folks behind Dave’s Fresh Pasta in Davis Square—is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Stop by 572 Boston Ave. in Medford for a cinnamon roll or an Iggy’s bagel in the a.m., or grab a local brew at the bar in the p.m.—whatever strikes your fancy!
Think there’s news we missed? Hey, we can’t fit it all here. Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, the Scout Dispatch, to get top headlines from around Somerville delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Learn more at scoutsomerville.com/e-newsletter.
1 0 0 K I R K L A N D S T, C A M B R I D G E W W W. B R O A D S H E E T C O F F E E . C O M scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017 15
NEWS
STORAGE WARS A stormwater management project slated for Nunziato Field is on hold amid a flood of neighborhood criticism.
BY HANNAH WALTERS | PHOTO BY JESS BENJAMIN
I
n Somerville, torrential summer rain and the accompanying anxiety are all too familiar. The handwringing over whether you did or didn’t smell any moisture as you descended downstairs. The startling sight of your belongings bobbing like buoys next to the washer and dryer as water floods into your basement. In the November/December 2015 edition of Scout Somerville, residents like Cedar Street’s Suzahne Riendeau recalled losing roughly $50,000 in possessions to flooding. She told us she still gets nervous every time it rains. Just this summer, a handful of heavy rainstorms flooded the downstairs of Buffalo Exchange in Davis Square, causing the secondhand shop to shutter for several weeks. Flooding has been a chronic 16 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
problem, thanks in part to the city’s silt- and clay-heavy soil, which absorbs rainwater slowly, and the fact that much of Somerville is covered by impermeable surfaces. So late last year, the city made public a plan to help mitigate the issue. In November, officials held the first in a series of community meetings, where they proposed an infrastructure project at Union Square’s Nunziato Field that would consist of installing a major stormwater storage tank beneath the park green and dog park. (Nunziato is situated on the block along Summer Street between Vinal and Putnam Avenues, not far from the Community Growing Center.) In many ways, the location of the storage tank would be a good one. It’s on a city-owned parcel
in an area especially susceptible to floods, and it’s a step toward alleviating the problem, which will only grow more dire as infrastructure continues to age, sea levels rise and precipitation patterns become more volatile. But not everyone is on board with the plan. For one, there’s the price tag. It’s a $12 million project with an additional $1 million allotted for a redesign of the new field and dog park after installation. And, more irksome to many, Nunziato Field and the adjoining dog park would be decommissioned and torn up to install the underground tank, rendering the area completely unusable for the duration of the three-year project. Even with the knowledge that the park would reopen with improvements, abutting neighbors
and those who regularly enjoy Nunziato find that information tough to swallow. Jacob Kramer is one Union Square resident who’s not on board with the idea. He says the sudden and definite nature in which the city announced its plans was problematic to him and to other residents who heard about and attended the most recent public meeting in April, the fourth and final meeting on the proposal. “I had misgivings about [the project],” Kramer says. “The city presented it as a done deal … It really felt like the city wasn’t listening to us.” Kramer also expresses concern about the effectiveness of the system overall. He was curious about what he saw as more modern and creative
Photo: Pups play at the Nunziato Field dog park. Were a proposal from the city to move forward, the park and adjacent playing fields would close for three years during construction.
infrastructure solutions like the artificial wetland that’s been put in place near the Alewife MBTA station to help control flooding. In Scout’s 2015 coverage on the city’s runoff issue, researchers talked about how low impact design projects—more trees, pervious pavement, green roofs—could work more effectively to mitigate flood water in Somerville, versus large-scale projects like the one proposed for Nunziato Field. “What could be done to treat wastewater as a resource, instead of a nuisance?” Kramer ventures. He and partner Penny Taylor started a Google group called “Friends of Nunziato” almost immediately after the April meeting, at which they had circulated a sign-in sheet for those interested in organizing more discussions to critique the current project. Another layer in the unveiling of this project is that it coincides with a contested Ward 3 Alderman seat. Nunziato is situated in this ward’s jurisdiction. “There was some turbulence at the earlier meetings, but there was major opposition at the last meeting,” explains
Even with the knowledge that Nunziato would reopen with improvements, those who regularly enjoy the park find its proposed three-year closure unacceptable. Ward 3 Alderman Robert “Bob” McWatters, who was present for the public meetings. The board’s support is necessary for construction to move forward. McWatters is serious about working on floodwater infrastructure, and soon. He lost his own car in a flash flood on the corner of Hall and Cedar streets about eight or nine years ago. He worries about how much worse the flooding will become without infrastructure updates, saying,
“You could get raw sewage in your basement.” But McWatters will not support the Nunziato stormwater project at this time. Residents in Ward 3 have complained that they hadn’t heard about the project with enough notice to attend meetings—if they heard about it at all. “I wish [the city] had public meetings sooner, maybe six to nine months earlier, so that people had more time to digest,” McWatters says. “[Residents] didn’t feel empowered,” he adds. “It’s about the process. I hear them loud and clear.” Thus, the project will be subject to more public working sessions. According to city officials, additional meetings will be announced on the City of Somerville website and will likely occur in the fall, after engineers have completed additional studies. “The stakes are high. This is the only park in the neighborhood,” adds Ben EwenCampen, who is challenging McWatters for the Ward 3 seat. While Ewen-Campen also notes the need for flood mitigation, he explains that it’s crucial for the city to take in more feedback from the neighborhood. “The disruptive projects that succeed are the ones that come from the community.” While Ewen-Campen says he doesn’t doubt the Planning Department’s hard work in developing a project that would benefit infrastructure, he wants to know more about whether this particular option would be most effective in the long term. Like Kramer, he’s curious if a more robust public conversation could direct the project in new ways. “Is this the best strategy? Is [the city] actually looking at other options?” Ewen-Campen asks. Kramer speculates that the sudden emergence of this stormwater project is connected to the a $1 billion development project in Union Square, which will be overseen by US2 Novus group, a major real estate investment firm that’ll be overseeing 2.3 million square feet of new development in the square. “Who benefits most from this infrastructure‚ and who pays for it?” Kramer asks.
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amortondesign.com 617.894.0285 info@aMortonDesign.com scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017
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EDUCATION
LAB REPORT Step into the classroom with some of the Somerville School District’s four-pawed volunteers. BY EMILY CASSEL | PHOTO BY JESS BENJAMIN
T
he door is hardly open when the chorus of young voices starts up: “Ripley!” “Yes—Monty!” “They’re here!” We’ve only just arrived inside the John F. Kennedy Elementary School on Cherry Street, so we’re not yet entirely primed on who the popular kids and teachers are at this particular educational institution. But it seems pretty safe to say that Ripley and Monty are two of the most well-liked beings in the building. And of course they are—they’re a pair of 18 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
furry, jovial labrador retrievers. Ripley and his owner, Kate Castle, head to the front of the room to ask the students what they’ve been doing this summer. Their answers—swimming, chucking water balloons, playing in Conway Park—sound like an awful lot of fun, although it’s hard to imagine that anything could bring a smile to their faces that’s any broader than the ones they’re sporting now. And that’s exactly the point. After they’ve answered Castle’s questions, they’re allowed out of their seats to play with the
dogs. Immediately, Ripley is encircled by a group of seven eager students. The therapy dog program is fairly new to Somerville’s public schools; in October of 2013, Candace Shostak and her dogs Teo and Tribble became the first team to work in the district. Castle and Ripley were the second, joining a class at the East Somerville Community School in January of 2015. Monty— who is also certified through the American Kennel Club as “Therapy Dog Excellent” with 200 visits completed—came on
board in March of that year. Ripley and Monty are both certified through Dog Bones, a Medford-based organization that trains teams of therapy dogs. Every week, the group sends out a list of people and organizations requesting services from their grads, which is when Castle came across one from a special needs teacher in the Somerville School District. A Somerville resident, she thought it was a great fit, so she and Ripley came on board in her combined first-, second- and third-grade classroom. That caught the eye of
Kirsten Spence, another teacher in the building. “Soon after we started, Kirsten … was like, ‘Oh my god, I want a dog too,’” Castle laughs. “She had come down and seen and thought this was amazing.’” It was the beginning of an ongoing relationship; it’s Spence’s summer school students at JFK that Monty and Ripley are visiting today. Here in her class, energetic kids say, “Speak!” and give out treats when Ripley barks on command. That’s not Monty’s trick of choice, but she’s great at giving high fives; a student named Dante says that’s his favorite part. The pair of pups have been pulled into other schools throughout the district, too. Following a recent fire that
claimed homes in East Somerville, four students who had escaped the traumatizing blaze weren’t communicating or talking after. The district thought Monty and Ripley might help. “As they’re petting the dogs, they started crying and talking about being in that situation for the first time,” Castle recalls. “It was pretty incredible.” Often, the change is much more incremental. One student, Vladimir, has been visiting with Ripley and Monty for years. He wasn’t always keen on reading
aloud, but he would read to the dogs. Eventually, he and his classmates even wrote a book about Ripley that they later read to him. (Students have also put together a bulletin board celebrating what the dogs mean to them.) “To see his relationship has grown and changed with the dogs, and his comfort level … he’s almost proud. ‘I know this, I know Monty,’” Monty’s owner, Kim McLanahan, explains. “They tell you this, and you see all the studies, but to see it—if you get a dog and give a kid a book and put them next to each other, the kid will read the book to the dog, and they’ll read better, because there’s zero judgement,” Castle says. That’s probably why the program continues to grow. Last year, nine teams were working at seven different Somerville schools. At this point, it’s gotten almost too popular; there are 32 requests from staff members for weekly therapy dog team visits next year, according to volunteer coordinator Jennifer Capuano. Volunteering isn’t for every dog, but when pups have a sweet temperament like Monty or Ripley, they’re a great fit for this sort of work. The dogs do more than help reluctant readers— McLanahan says there are students with sensory issues who won’t let anyone touch them, but who will lie down on top of the dogs, no problem. During one visit, just days after the 2016 presidential election, she recalls the reaction the dogs instilled in concerned immigrant students: “The kids were literally bursting into tears hugging Monty and Ripley.” And she says the visits can be vital for staff as well, who interact with the dogs and get a “reset” for the students that can help get everyone back on track. “You’re helping the entire team, if you will, from the children to the staff members.” The students seem to agree. “She’s doing a good job,” Dante adds after a high-five, giving Monty an approving pat.
AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE LIVE MARIACHI!
SOMERVILLE • MALDEN • LOWELL
ELPOTROMEXICANGRILL.COM
This summer, we lost a great man—my mentor, my idol, the man I wish I could’ve been half of. Maybe you know my dad, Inacio, as the “Jerry” who oversaw our shop for so many years and who did so much for this community, for his wife, and for his six grandchildren, who will never get tired of hearing all the great things he did in this life. I’m proud to call you dad. Love you. Rest in peace.
Inacio, with two of his grandchildren.
liquors 329 Somerville Ave, Somerville (617) 666-5410
scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017 19
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SHOPPING
GOURMET OR SPECIALTY FOODS
DAVE’S FRESH PASTA 81 HOLLAND ST. (617) 623-0867, DFP.WEBSITE
It’s hard for us to find fault with a place where the motto is “eat pasta every day.” But should you decide you’re done carboloading, DFP also boasts some of Somerville’s best sandwiches–we’re partial to the Brazilian Hangover Helper–and an unrivaled selection of cheese, olive oil, vinegar, beer and wine. (One last little tip from us to you? They’re super generous when it comes to samples.)
WINE SHOP
BALL SQUARE FINE WINES 716 BROADWAY, (617) 623-9500 BALLSQUAREFINEWINES.COM
There’s always something new at Ball Square Fine Wines, where the breadth of the selection is rivaled only by the knowledge of the staff. If your cellar’s stocked, they’ll help you find something new to enjoy; if you’re an aspiring somm, they know just where to get you started. BIKESHOP
ACE WHEELWORKS 145 ELM ST., (617) 776-2100 WHEELWORKS.COM
With the Beacon Street cycle track well on its way, there’s never been a better time to travel by bike here in the ’Ville. New to two wheels? Doesn’t matter! The folks at Ace will have you hitting the road in Photos by Jess Benjamin.
no time—the spacious shop has a great inventory with lots of cool accessories, and tuneups and repairs are done by mechanics who really care. THRIFT OR VINTAGE
THE GOODWILL STORE, DAVIS SQUARE
PET SUPPLIES
RIVERDOG DAYCARE
321 SOMERVILLE AVE. (857) 998-3343, RIVERDOGDAYCARE.COM
It’s more than just a doggie daycare; RiverDog has all the toys
and treats your companion needs. That means cats and canines, by the way. In fact, it’s a tabby named Dennis who oversees operations at the shop, making sure the shelves stay stocked with leashes and litter alike.
230 ELM ST., (617) 628-3618
What does your heart desire? A sweater? A blazer? Patriots juice jars? Funky folk art? VHS tapes? They’ve got it all at the Goodwill Store in Davis Square, where the price is always right and both floors are brimming with stellar secondhand wares— from necessities like pants and furniture to things you decidedly don’t need but will walk out with anyway (kitschy salt and pepper shakers, souvenir mugs from places you’ve never been).
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SCOUT’S HONORED
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
COMMUNITY CLASSES
ARTISAN’S ASYLUM
10 TYLER ST., (617) 284-6878 ARTISANSASYLUM.COM
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On any given day, Artisan’s Asylum courses include welding, tool training, computer making and bike building. There’s just no better place around to create something than this, where you’ll find the tools, the space (4,000 square feet of it!) and, most importantly, the incredible instructors who can make your vision come to life.
Artisan’s Asylum photo by Jess Benjamin. ONCE photo by Adrianne Mathiowetz.
EVENT SPACE
of families milling about as they wait for their screening to start—we’ll truly never tire of it.
191 HIGHLAND AVE., (617) 718-2191 ARTSATTHEARMORY.ORG
JEWELRY DESIGN
THE CENTER FOR ARTS AT THE ARMORY
E. SCOTT ORIGINALS
Live music. Poetry readings. Craft markets. Even wrestling! This big ol’ building has seen it all. It’s home to the ever-popular Winter Farmers Market, and it welcomes festivals like Herbstalk back year after year. Plus, the quaint little cafe is a godsend for the work-from-home set— great sandwiches, satisfying smoothies, free WiFi!
SOMERVILLE JOURNAL
SOMERVILLE THEATRE
@VILLEJOURNAL, SOMERVILLE. WICKEDLOCAL.COM
55 DAVIS SQ., (617) 625-5700 SOMERVILLETHEATRE.COM
It’s a special sort of ritual, watching folks from all over descend upon the Somerville Theatre on a Saturday night, drawn to the light of its glowing, green and red marquee like so many movie moths. The savory smell of popcorn drifting through the square, the chatter
ONCE SOMERVILLE
156 HIGHLAND AVE. (617) 285-0167 ONCESOMERVILLE.COM
Every new piece that comes out of this tiny Highland Avenue shop has us grabbing for our wallets. There’s just a natural beauty that radiates through Emily Scott’s handcrafted, creations; each gem glistens, every bit of silver shines. LOCAL MEDIA
OLD FAVORITE
MUSIC VENUE
199B HIGHLAND AVE. (617) 776-2814, ESCOTTORIGINALS.COM
When you need to know what’s going on in the ’Ville, turn to this outstanding paper, which— in spite of its small staff— manages to cover a good deal of ground, reporting from all the community meetings, festivals, rallies and sporting events you might’ve missed.
We just love ONCE. We love the staff, who are quick with a joke and quick with your drink. We love the vibe; somehow shows here feel familial. We love the bands they’ve been booking... both the endless local acts and can’t-miss national tours, which more and more seem to be eschewing Boston for this little Spring Hill hangout. And why shouldn’t they? Because we also love the sound— seriously, this room sounds good.
Weekly Tastings Custom Gift Baskets Event & Corporate Support Six for $66 Wine Sampler Program Custom Cheese Platters Free Local Delivery Club Membership CLUB MEMBERS RECEIVE: • Discounts on wines & beers of the month • 20% off solid case of wine
716 BROADWAY, SOMERVILLE (617) 623-9500 WWW.BALLSQUAREFINEWINESCOM
Best Wine Shop
103 GREAT PLAIN AVE, NEEDHAM (781) 400-1769 WWW.NEEDHAMCENTERFINEWINES.COM
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SCOUT’S HONORED
SERVICES
FLORIST
NELLIE’S WILDFLOWERS 72 HOLLAND ST., (617) 625-9453 NELLIESWILDFLOWERS.COM
If you want gorgeous, bright, big bouquets, then you want to go with Nellie’s Wildflowers. The arrangements are always original and reliably beautiful, and you won’t believe how full and fresh even a five-dollar bouquet is—which makes Nellie’s perfect for special occasions or even just a random, mid-week floral pick-me-up.
FURNITURE OR HOME DECOR
PHOTOGRAPHY OR VIDEOGRAPHY
HAIR SALON
MANICURE
21 UNION SQ., (617) 996-6930 LOYALSUPPLYCO.COM
50 TERMINAL ST., BOSTON (617) 319-0533, STARLABRECORDINGCO.COM
HAIRCOLOR AND HAIRCUT
249 ELM ST., (617) 629-3850 JULIESNAILSSOMERVILLE.COM
LOYAL SUPPLY CO.
It’s impossible to enter this Union Square shop without wanting to buy it all: the planters, the coasters, the ceramics, the kitchen gadgets. Everything here—from salt and pepper grinders to bottle openers—is the most beautiful, timeless version of that object. I mean, have you ever had to have a pencil pouch? Or a tape dispenser? Or a certain sponge? Walk into Loyal, and you’ll find one so stylish that you fiercely need it. 24 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
STARLAB STUDIOS
We’re sad to say that Starlab has moved out of Somerville, but thrilled to report they’ve found a new home in Charlestown— thanks, in part, to fundraising efforts from the community. That groundswell of support is no surprise given the way Starlab in turn bolsters area artists, especially with each year’s Starlab Fest, which will return to Somerville for its eighth year on September 9.
HAIR BY CHRISTINE & CO. ASHLEY
217 HIGHLAND AVE., (617) 776-6470 HAIRBYCHRISTINEANDCO.COM
A trip to Hair by Christine & Co. is just plain fun. Maybe you walk in feeling a little tired, like you need a boost. Your hair’s a little dull. Whether you’re looking for a complete transformation thanks to bold colors or just some layers and a little bit of a lift, you’ll walk out of the salon feeling energized—from root to tip, heart and soul.
JULIE’S NAILS
Don’t come here looking for Julie; this hidden gem is actually owned by a gal named Tea. Do come here if you’re looking for unbeatably good acrylics and spa-quality care, all at a reasonable price and conveniently located steps from the Davis Square MBTA station. Plus, you’ll notice Tea is constantly, quietly improving the salon with each visit; new lights and chairs just went in this summer. CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 Photo by Jess Benjamin.
FAMILY RECIPES WITH MODERN TWISTS.
SERVING SOMERVILLE HAND-CRAFTED LATIN AMERICAN CUISINE MADE WITH THE FRESHEST INGREDIENTS.
Best Tacos
L
La Posada is Somerville’s spot for delicious, hand-crafted Latin American cuisine. Chef Johe Posada and his family crew develop and prepare original meals with the freshest ingredients daily. The menu is filled with unique family recipes and classic Latin American dishes. From perfectly crafted pupusas to tacos with distinctive garnishes, the menu is full of innovative and delicious offerings. Come in to get the La Posada experience, or get their delicious dishes delivered directly to your door.
505 Medford St. Somerville • 617-776-2049 • www.laposadasomerville.com
SCOUT’S HONORED
Best Barborshop
308 HIGHLAND AVE. (617) 625-4444 RAZORSBARBERSHOP.COM
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MEET THE WINNER:
RAZORS BARBERSHOP & SHAVE PARLOR
W
ho among us hasn’t been there—it’s 10 p.m., and you’re browsing Instagram when you spy a friend’s photo from a recent trip to Prague in your feed. Suddenly, it’s midnight, and you’re hundreds of photos deep in the #travelgram or #travelersnotebook tag, eyeing your suitcase and wondering how much paid time off you have left this year. For most people, the fantasy starts and stops with the scrolling. But not for Anthony Berriola. The Razors Barbershop owner is
as guilty as anyone of getting caught up in that late-night Instagram loop. One minute he’s checking out a fire fade from a local barber, the next, he’s double-tapping his way through shops in Sorrento, checking out tricks and techniques that might work here in Somerville. “I’m in my shop all day, every day, and all I see is my shop and what we built over there,” Berriola says. “I want to see what the culture’s like in other shops as well.” “It got to a point where I was like, ‘Okay, enough’s enough. Let’s get some plane tickets, let’s go see these
places,’” he laughs. So about a year ago, he did. And he’s channeling his social media obsession into a new online video series: “Anthony Shaves the World.” Because he records and edits all the video and audio himself, Berriola started local, working out the production kinks close to home with trips to Wilfred’s Barbershop in Nashua, New Hampshire, and Urban Fellow Barbershop in Rhode Island. He took a trip to Brooklyn to check out Cotter Barber. And then, the series really took flight. He’s since jetted off to Italy and Amsterdam (episodes
Photos courtesy of Razors Barbershop & Shave Parlor.
CHRISTOPHER CHRISTIAN Favorite Sushi: Aki Unagi
Favorite Sushi: Ika Wasabi
JOSE
Favorite Sushi: Torched Salmon Belly
ROBBIN
Favorite Sushi: Smoky Lemon Hamachi
JUAN
Favorite Sushi: Honey Hotate Pecorino
That’s How They Roll Best Sushi four and five), and is just now editing episode six, from a visit to Greece. Each installment in the series gives viewers a little window into the shaving culture of the shop and the city, and the trends are surprisingly different from place to place. At Cotter Barber in New York, Berriola and his trusty GoPros introduce you to a team that’s combined cuts and caffeine “in the coolest hipster way.” The shop has a full-service espresso bar in the front, and if you come in for an a.m. cut, the coffee and pastries are on the house. (“Only Brooklyn would be able to make a good mashup of that.”) In Amsterdam, the staff at a place called Barber explain how shave shops only began popping up in Holland about four years ago. Today, they’re one of only a handful in the municipality, where a shave involves a massage, hot towels—the works. Berriola describes Gentlemen’s Barbershop, another Amsterdam outpost he visited, as “a men’s spa,” an old-fashioned joint where you nonetheless leave feeling pampered. And Anthony Shaves the World’s bite-sized, five- to seven-minute videos have more going on than just cuts and shaves—each installment
features a musician performing a live set inside Razors, which acts as the sonic backdrop for the episode. “Not everybody is as excited about barbering as I am,” he admits with a chuckle. “I thought I could use the music to fill in the blanks in the episodes, and also get people going, ‘Oh, that’s a cool band, that’s a cool song.’” The backing tracks are meant to match the mood of each episode, and the lineup has been pretty starstudded thus far. Reggae artist Mighty Mystic strums through an acoustic version of “Solid as a Rock” that backs Berriola’s sojourn to Amsterdam; Eli Paperboy Reed brings the blues that compliment his trip to Brooklyn. For Berriola, filming the series has been an incredible and humbling experience. While he’s spent 16 years in the industry, he nonetheless learns a lot during each trip. In fact—while the plans are still in their early stages—he’s got some big stuff in the works back home at Razors inspired by the journey.
Check out the first five episodes of Anthony Shaves the World at anthonyshaves.com.
“I
f you’re new to Somerville or new to Ebi Sushi, I recommend you sit at the bar,” suggests chef-owner Jose Garcia from behind his restaurant’s counter. “The chefs will recommend the best items for you, customized to your preferences.” Because he’s originally from Guatemala, it might seem unusual that Jose exudes such passion for Japanese fare. But he’s serious about his craft—Garcia was trained in the traditional Japanese style at Porter Square’s now-closed Blue Fin sushi
bar and can understand Japanese. On Ebi’s varied, creative menu, you’ll find both sushi and other dishes that are unique yet distinctly Japanese. “Many places are fusion, with Chinese food and other Asian cuisines mixed in,” Jose explains. “But Ebi is only Japanese.” Jose was just 16 when he visited his older brother, who was working at Blue Fin, and got his first taste of sushi. Shortly thereafter, he moved to the area and trained with the Blue Fin chefs. Together with his uncle Adolfo, they opened Ebi Sushi in Union Square in 2011. Garcia’s hired people from many countries: Japan, Thailand, China, El Salvador, Peru, Guatemala. What ties everyone together is their shared passion for quality Japanese food.
617-764-5556 • EBISUSHI.COM 290 SOMERVILLE AVE, SOMERVILLE
FREE PARKING AT MIKE’S AUTO AFTER 6 P.M.
MON–THUR: 11:30AM-3:30PM, 5-10PM FRI: 11:30AM–3:30PM, 5–10:30PM SAT: 11:30AM–10:30PM • SUN: 11:30AM–10PM
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SCOUT’S HONORED
DOG WALKING
PAWS IN THE ‘VILLE PAWSINTHEVILLE.COM (413) 530-4780 PAWSINTHEVILLE@GMAIL.COM
Dogs in the park, dogs on the path. Grinning dogs, panting dogs, dogs carrying sticks and dogs rolling around in the grass. Dogs chasing tennis balls and dogs chasing each other. That’s just a little bit of what you’ll see if you follow @pawsintheville on Instagram— which you absolutely should do— and it’s a good representation of their services, which have their canine clients full of joy and their human ones confident in the knowledge that pups are having fun, full days (that’ll conveniently leave ’em pretty tuckered out). FRAME SHOP
STANHOPE FRAMERS 55 BOW ST., (617) 666.2000 STANHOPEFRAMERS.COM
Put down the thumbtacks and step away from the weird, blue putty— if it’s worth putting on your walls, it’s worth having it framed. And no one does the job like Stanhope Framers, where the frames are as artfully crafted as the works they’ll contain. When they say their work is museum-quality, they mean it; Stanhope clients include the Museum of Fine Arts, the Art Institute of Boston, the John F. Kennedy Library, the Somerville Museum—and even the Red Sox and Celtics. INSURANCE AGENCY
WEDGWOOD-CRANE & CONNOLLY 19 COLLEGE AVE., (617) 625-0781 WCCINS.COM
MOVING COMPANY
GENTLE GIANT
29 HARDING ST. (800) 442-6863 GENTLEGIANT.COM
Let’s be honest: moving is not fun. But if we can suggest one way to make it bearable, it’s hiring the good folks at Gentle Giant Moving Company. Not only do they cover the basics (punctuality, speed, professionalism), but they meet a lot of intangible requirements too (fun, friendliness, positivity). Watching their grinning staff bound up and down three flights of stairs, you’ll berate yourself for all the times you and your scrawny friends spent moving day fighting with too-heavy furniture and overly-full boxes (and sometimes, each other).
28 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
The year is 1886. Grover Cleveland dedicates the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. A pharmacist events a fizzy beverage that would eventually be called Coca-Cola. And, oh yeah: Wedgwood-Crane & Connolly Insurance Agency is founded, in the very same building the agency occupies today. You can’t beat that kind of experience or community commitment, nor can you top the level of personalized care and expert advice that come with it. Photo by Jess Benjamin.
BEST DENTIST Best Dentist
2017 WINNER
2016 WINNER
2015 NOMINEE
2014 WINNER
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES, SOMERVILLE! • FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY • TEETH WHITENING • CROWN AND BRIDGE WORK • RESTORATION OF DENTAL IMPLANTS • VENEERS • CLEAR ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS
DR . KAT I E TALMO , D .M. D . • 6 1 7 . 8 6 4 . 6 1 1 1 • 1 8 0 HI G HL A ND AV E N U E
SCOUT’S HONORED
Photo courtesy of Green City Growers.
ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESS LANDSCAPING
GREEN CITY GROWERS
600 WINDSOR PL. (617) 776-1400 GREENCITYGROWERS.COM It’s not just the plants that are growing over at Green City Growers. Now in its ninth year of business here in Somerville, the organization itself is getting bigger, with 22 staff members and 150 different garden locations in the area. (Did you know they oversee the rooftop farm at Fenway Park? How cool is that?) And the biz is just as committed to our city as ever, providing access to fresh produce locally and creating spaces for engagement and education as well as hosting the Urban Agriculture Ambassador program for the City of Somerville.
MECHANIC
CHICKEN & SHAKES AUTOMOTIVE 6 BEACH AVE., (617) 628-6622
Yeah, we know, it sounds like a southern-style fast food restaurant—that’s because two guys who go by the names Chicken and Shakes work here. And while they don’t sell any fried food, what they offer is something that can be much harder to find: quality auto care from a group of trustworthy mechanics who can quickly identify—and fix— whatever weird whirring and clunking your car is doing. DENTIST
KATIE TALMO
180 HIGHLAND AVE., (617) 864-6111
Tooth be told, we love Katie Talmo. At her family-run practice, cleanings are fast, affordable and top-notch; plus, she’ll happily squeeze you in for an appointment in a pinch. (And can we talk about the magazine
selection in the waiting room? There are dozens to choose from.) It all makes for a trip to the dentist that’s totally painless.
MASSAGE WELLNESS SERVICE
MASSAGE THERAPY WORKS
255 ELM ST., (617) 684-4000 MASSAGETHERAPYWORKS.COM
Step inside Massage Therapy Works and breathe a sigh of relief—this is a place meant for relaxation and recovery. The building itself is as warm and welcoming as the staff; the people and place are equally peaceful. Whether your need for healing is physical, spiritual or both, MTW will help you work out the kinks.
PRINT SERVICES
THE UPS STORE, SOMERVILLE AVENUE
519 SOMERVILLE AVE. (617) 591-0199, SOMERVILLE-MA-4978. THEUPSSTORELOCAL.COM
It doesn’t matter if it’s the smallest business card or the biggest banner, the UPS Store, Somerville Avenue will print it up perfectly. This place is a real one-stop shop for the small business owner, too—with a simple online order, new brochures, flyers, menus and more can be yours, and quickly. BANK OR CREDIT UNION
EAST CAMBRIDGE SAVINGS BANK (617) 354-7700, ECSB.COM
Whether you’re looking to buy your first home or just need a place to stash the cash from your part-time waitressing job, choosing a bank takes a certain level of trust. That’s the great thing about East Cambridge Savings Bank; not only have they been
SCOUT’S HONORED
around for 180 years, they’re also committed community partners— supporting local nonprofits, supplying scholarships for public high school students and funding grants through the Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation, which has awarded $4.2 million since 2003. You sure can feel good about investing or saving with a place like that. TATTOO OR PIERCING STUDIO
BOSTON TATTOO COMPANY
260 ELM ST. SUITE 102 (617) 625-8282 THEBOSTONTATTOOCOMPANY.COM
If it’s gonna be on your body forever, it’s gotta be good. Luckily, you have the talented team of artists at this spacious Davis Square shop, where the linework is bold, the colors are killer and the tattoos—whether they’re flash or custom, walk-ins or not—are just plain excellent.
SHIPPING
THE UPS STORE, DAVIS SQUARE
411A HIGHLAND AVE. (617) 776-4949, SOMERVILLE-MA-2668. THEUPSSTORELOCAL.COM
Email is great, but even in 2017, you can’t deliver everything in a handy .zip file. Enter the UPS Store, Davis Square, where they’ll help you pack and ship your stuff in a way that might even be more safe and secure than sending mail through the interwebs. VET
PORTER SQUARE VETERINARIAN
360 SUMMER ST. (617) 628-5588, PORTERSQUAREVET.COM
REAL ESTATE AGENCY
THALIA TRINGO
REAL ESTATE AGENT
TEAM JEN AND LYNN
128 WILLOW AVE. (617) 616-5091, THALIAREALTOR.COM
Here’s a staggering stat: more than 90 percent of Thalia Tringo clients say they reached out thanks to a recommendation from a past client or the agency’s reputation in the community. But perhaps that’s not so surprising after all, given that this is an agency where client and community care go hand-in-hand—one where every agent donates $250 from each transaction to a nonprofit of their choice. And Thalia herself is on the board of directors of the Somerville Homeless Coalition, East Somerville Main Streets and the Davis Area Resident/Business Initiative, so you know you’re working with someone who’s as invested in the neighborhood as she is in you. 32 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
It would be so cool if our pets could talk. For, like, a number of reasons. But one practical one: they could tell us what was wrong when they were sick or injured. It takes a special vet to quickly figure out what’s going on with Fido— and keep you feeling informed and secure while they do it—but for the staff at Porter Square Veterinarian, it’s second nature. YOGA STUDIO
O2 YOGA
288 HIGHLAND AVE., (617) 625-0267, O2YOGA.COM
It’s no stretch to say that O2 Yoga is the area’s most beloved studio. The classes are fun, the movements are fluid and the instructors are phenomenal when it comes to flow. Plus, the motto—“Up dogs, down dogs, no dogma,”—is more than just a clever turn of phrase. At O2, both the people taking classes and the ones leading them are passionate and excited about their practice.
Photo by Simone Schiess.
GYM
BROOKLYN BOULDERS
12A TYLER ST. (617) 623-6700 BROOKLYNBOULDERS.COM/SOMERVILLE
Sure, Brooklyn Boulders is a climbing gym—it’s also much more than a climbing gym. They’ve got the requisite rock walls, plus free weights, cardio equipment, jump ropes, parkour, yoga classes and more. Done working out? Unwind in one of the lounges or head to a shared workspace to answer emails or take a call. They even have video games! And with snacks and drinks in the lobby, plus a public napping pod from the Somerville startup Sleepbox... I mean, you could pretty much live here.
scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017 33
SCOUT’S HONORED
FOOD & DRINK
NEW BUSINESS
NU CAFE AND JUICE BAR
195 WASHINGTON ST. (617) 764-2482, NUCAFE.COM
34 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
Best new business? More like best nu business. Just nine months in, Nu Cafe and Juice Bar is right at home in Union Square, where its warm vibe makes you want to be a regular. Come grab a hearty lunch—we’re digging the chipotle avocado and lime super grain bowl—or kick back with cold one; Nu Cafe just upped its beer game by adding Night Shift Brewery and Maine Beer Company brews to the menu.
Photo courtesy of Nu Cafe.
regardless of where your finger lands—on the feta cheese gnocchi or the crab and red lentil kibbeh; the pork belly biscuits or, oh my god, the steak tartare—you can rest assured it’ll blow you away. Believe the hype, folks. Best Gift Shop
RESTAURANT IN EAST SOMERVILLE
LA BRASA
124 BROADWAY, (617) 764-1412 LABRASASOMERVILLE.COM
The flavors forged in the wood fire of La Brasa’s kitchen— Peruvian, Middle Eastern, Mexican—are as much a part of its chefs’ heritage as they are a reflection of the East Somerville community the restaurant calls home. Perhaps that’s why, whether you’re eating duck heart kebabs or tuna crudo or chicken wings, it all tastes like comfort food. Damn good comfort food.
RESTAURANT OVERALL RESTAURANT IN WINTER HILL DATE NIGHT SPOT PLACE TO SPLURGE CHEF, CASSIE PIUMA
RESTAURANT IN TEELE SQUARE
SARMA
416 Highland Ave 617-623-3330 www.magpie-store.com
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Best Kids Shop
RUDY’S
249 PEARL ST., (617) 764-4464 SARMARESTAURANT.COM
248 HOLLAND ST., (617) 623-9201 RUDYSCAFE.COM
Nestled in a largely residential Winter Hill neighborhood, you’ll find the best Middle Eastern food in the region. Yes, it’s time to talk about Sarma, the pride and joy of Somerville. How can we single out a single dish? Close your eyes and point at the menu, and
You may not be great at math, but if there’s one formula that’s always true, it’s tequila + Tex-Mex = happy customers. Rudy’s delivers on both fronts, with fresh guac, fiery fajitas and a chili con queso we’ve been known to dream about. (It’s not weird!)
95 Elm St, Somerville 617-764-4110 www.magpiekids.com
ca
Bec
Andy
Katie
Thank You Somerville! Love, Katie & Andy
Becca! Best Coffeeshop
RESTAURANT IN ASSEMBLY SQUARE
RIVER BAR
661 ASSEMBLY ROW (617) 616-5561 RIVER-BAR.COM
Say you want to eat outside, but it’s just a little chilly and/ or rainy. No problem! River Bar has you covered—literally—with their fireplace and the awning over their downstairs bar. On sunny days, though? Head straight for the rooftop and kick back with a Kick ‘Em Jenny.
Sarma photo courtesy of Sarma. River Bar photo by Brian Samuels.
Best Barista
278 HIGHLAND AVE • 3LITTLEFIGS.COM • (617) 623-3447
scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017 35
SCOUT’S HONORED
BURGERS, BULGOGI AND BOWLS OF POKE
Eater’s editor on where to find some of the most delicious dishes in Somerville.
You know her as the editor of Eater Boston, where she’s constantly scouring the city for breaking food news and tracking down the very best bites. But Rachel Leah Blumenthal is also a Somerville resident, which means she’s especially attuned to the current can’tmiss dining experiences here in our own city. We asked Rachel to round up some of her favorites for us here. Hope you’re hungry! WOR DS AN D PHOT OS B Y R ACHE L L E AH B L U M E NT H AL | I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y C H E L S E A ZO NA
Daddy Jones is a lively little spot in Magoun Square. The burgers (two options) are among the best in town, and the pita wraps (pictured here with spicy pork), stuffed full of fries and more, are always a good option. And when weather permits, take advantage of the excellent patio! Oh, beloved Neighborhood. The secret’s been out for years that this is one of the best brunches in town, and of all things, the cream of wheat is the truly iconic dish. It’s one of two appetizer choices with every brunch entree (but really, who chooses the fruit?). And file away this important tip for those days when you’re craving the cream of wheat but just can’t face the sheer gluttony of a full meal there: the servers won’t look at you askance if you order just the cream of wheat, no entree. Plus, it’s even available for takeout.
36 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
I’ve always been a fan of Casa B thanks to its excellent tapas and cocktails, not to mention the ultra-romantic vibe, although the tiny downstairs bar made it an unlikely destination when out drinking in groups larger than two. Recently, the team made the brilliant decision to revamp the street-level dining room into a rum bar, much roomier than the bar downstairs. It’s a regular stop in my Union Square booze rotation, and I hope more people discover— or rediscover—it. Sure, Reliable Market is, well, a reliable market for countless Japanese and Korean products, basic groceries and a lot more, including an increasingly excellent beer selection, but did you know that it recently started serving hot entrees for takeout or dining in? (There are a few small tables if you’d like to stay.) Bibimbap, bulgogi (pictured here), sundubu jjigae and lots more.
I’d probably passed by P & K Delicatessen on Beacon Street hundreds of times before finally venturing into the tiny old convenience store that serves up sliced-toorder deli meats and more at a counter in the back. Now my days are consumed with thoughts of the meatball sub and when I’ll eat my next one. (The Italian sub is a solid option as well.)
Important weekday lunch intel: Capone Foods, the Italian shop in Union Square, serves lunch Monday through Friday. It’s just one sandwich a day, available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or when it runs out), served on Clear Flour rustic Italian bread. My top picks are the minute steak (pictured here), served on Thursdays, and the meatball, served on Tuesdays.
Hawaiian-style poke is everywhere all of a sudden. Fine by me; I could eat raw fish at every meal. My favorite of the rapidly expanding Boston-area poke scene is the locally owned, extraordinarily friendly Manoa Poke Shop. Its menu is a bit shorter than some of the other shops in town, but that’s to Manoa’s advantage; it feels less like a Chipotle-style chain than the others by keeping things focused on a few great dishes and toppings.
Buk Kyung perhaps gets overshadowed by all its newer neighbors in Union Square, but it’s been quietly serving up excellent Korean cuisine for years, and it’s certainly worth a visit. On a cold day, I always opt for one of the rich, spicy soups—usually the kimchi chigae—but in warmer weather, I satisfy that same kimchi-and-rice-cake craving with the tofu kimchi jaeyook, pictured here: pan-fried kimchi, rice cakes, and pork loin in a spicy red pepper sauce with steamed tofu and rice.
Genuine Greek. Made in Massachusetts.
T
he flavors of Greece can be found in Davis Square at Opa Greek Yeeros. Traditional dishes are served up daily by George and his crew with ingredients imported straight from Greece to ensure the authenticity and quality of every item on the menu. It’s not only the menu that is steeped in tradition; Opa is a family affair. George’s mother has owned and run Sophia’s Greek Pantry for over 15 years and now she keeps Opa stocked with homemade fresh Greek yogurt, delicious desserts and pastries. Even though yeeros are in the name, Opa offers so much more. The menu is a curated selection of Greek favorites from traditional Greek salads to spanakopita and “the best Greek yogurt” you’ll find outside of the Mediterranean. George will greet you with a smile, a friendly chat and delicious food that will keep you coming back for more.
378 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA | 617-718-2900 | www.opayeeros.com
We Deliver: Give us a call or find us on Foodler and Yelp Eat24
Best Greek Food
SCOUT’S HONORED
RESTAURANT IN BALL SQUARE
SOUND BITES
704 BROADWAY, (617) 623-8338 SOUNDBITESCAFE.COM
RESTAURANT IN MAGOUN SQUARE
OLDE MAGOUN’S SALOON 518 MEDFORD ST., (617) 776-2600 MAGOUNSSALOON.COM
Olde Magoun’s might just be our favorite neighborhood watering hole, a great place to catch a game or catch up with friends over a few rounds of drinks. The food rules, too—the massive, inventive burgers, creative signature sandwiches and brick oven pizza all make for a menu that’s a few steps ahead of your standard pub fare. 38 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
Take one part no-frills diner, one part gourmet Middle Eastern fare, a pinch of outstanding hospitality and a dash of Somerville pride and you get Sound Bites, the little-bitof-everything Ball Square staple where you can feel just as confident ordering a coffee and pancakes as a mai tai and muhammara.
RESTAURANT NOT IN A SQUARE BRUNCH SERVICE STAFF SERVER (PATRICK)
of the week, but it’s good enough to have our readers voting it in as the city’s best.
150 HIGHLAND AVE., (617) 625-1131 HIGHLANDKITCHEN.COM
WINTER HILL BREWING COMPANY
HIGHLAND KITCHEN
BREWERY OR DISTILLERY COMEDY SHOW (BEER ME COMEDY)
The flavor-packed comfort food at Highland Kitchen will have you coming back for more on its own—and then, there are the clever cocktails and the lovely staff and the perfectly curated jukebox. And brunch? It’s only served for three hours, one day
328 BROADWAY, @WINTERHILLBREW WINTERHILLBREWING.COM
summer, you can find Darlin’s IPA on draft at Publick House in Brookline, Hugh O’Neill’s in Malden and Flatbread in Davis Square. And don’t worry, there’s more great stuff afoot on Broadway, too; the brewery just began releasing its new “Transitory Series” of single hop beers.
The brews from this Winter Hill hangout are just too good, so maybe we should’ve known they wouldn’t stay confined to the neighborhood for long! As of this Sound Bites photo by Jess Benjamin. Winter Hill Brewing Company photo by Mary Schwalm.
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r Store Best Liquo
EVENT, BIRTHDAY PARTY, WEDDING, BRIS, BAR MITZVAH,
QUINCEAÑERA, RETIREMENT PARTY, BOOK CLUB, BBQ, GRADUATION,
WE DELIVER THROUGH THE DRIZLY APP! NO PANTS REQUIRED! 15 MCGRATH HIGHWAY, SOMERVILLE 233 ALEWIFE BROOK PARKWAY, CAMBRIDGE 2153 MYSTIC VALLEY PARKWAY, MEDFORD 48 BROADWAY, MALDEN
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HOMECOMING, ANNIVERSARY, GOING AWAY PARTY,
PROMOTION, HOLIDAY PARTY, WEEKEND GETAWAY NEW BABY,
Make a good impression on your friends, family, & co-workers.... ...not your couch. NEW TO IMPROV? Check out our 100% FREE Intro-to-Improv drop-in Every Saturday from 1-230PM. Find out more at improvboston.com
Best Comedy Show or Club
IMPROVBOSTON • 40 PROSPECT ST. CAMBRIDGE - IMPROV, SKETCH & STANDUP COMEDY + BEGINNER AND ADVANCED CLASSES, YOUTH PROGRAMS AND MORE!
SCOUT’S HONORED
A-WARD WINNERS MARYANN HEUSTON: WARD 2
“Where do I begin? This is Ward 2! For a sublime dining experience, Bergamot and the Tasting Table are internationally recognized for interesting, unique and delicious dishes, and must be tried at least once. Kirkland Tap and Trotter has great sliders, and Wednesday oysters are tops. For your basic Chinese food, China Delight can’t be beat, and the Mai Tais do the trick. On the run? Try PK Deli on Beacon Street for fresh-made sandwiches—say hi to the owner, Mark—and Whole Foods for prepared foods, especially pizza slices. There’s Aeronaut for interesting brews and community events— and, finally, I cannot live without my coffee from The Biscuit, or without their incredible bakery items, soups and sandwiches. It’s a real neighborhood gem.”
Looking for the best spots right in your own neighborhood? A few Somerville aldermen tell us where they go when they don’t want to go too far. MARK NIEDERGANG: WARD 5
“Next time you’re headed to Davis Square to hang out, why not try Magoun Square instead? It’s a lot less crowded, and there are some terrific eating and drinking establishments. You might start at Olde Magoun’s Saloon, Daddy Jones or Dark Horse Public House for a drink, and then move on to one of the many excellent small, authentic, uncrowded ethnic restaurants, such as La Posada, Tasty Mo Mo or others. And when you’re done eating, take in a baseball game under the lights at nearby Trum Field. Unlike a Sox game, it won’t cost you hundreds of dollars to get a front row seat; in fact, the price is right to watch Somerville’s local hardball and softball talent: $0.”
MATT MCLAUGHLIN: WARD 1
East Somerville has some of the best—yet least promoted— restaurants and bars in the city. I rarely have to cross McGrath Highway for anything. Rincon stands out as a great Mexican restaurant in a city with great Mexican. Casey’s is the best Somerville bar, and their food is surprisingly good. Vinny’s is the best Italian restaurant in the Greater Boston area. Fasika is an authentic Ethiopian restaurant with a very involved owner, and Lotus has a standard Chinese menu that feels more fresh and tasty than a typical delivery service. If I ever get off Broadway, I’ll be at American Fresh Brewery in Assembly Row. This local, family-owned business is moving into a new building, where I look forward to having a local pint.
BAKERY
LYNDELL’S BAKERY
720 BROADWAY, (617) 625-1793, LYNDELLSBAKERY.COM
42,115 days. That’s how long Lyndell’s has been open—and by the time you hold this magazine in your hands, it’ll have been even longer. Lyndell’s isn’t just one of the oldest scratch bakeries in Somerville, it’s one of the oldest in the country. And that 130 years of experience shows in every pastry, pie, cupcake and cookie that come out of the oven. CATERING
REDBONES
55 CHESTER ST., (617) 628-2200, REDBONES.COM
RESTAURANT IN DAVIS SQUARE
PAINTED BURRO
219 ELM ST. (617) 776-0005 PAINTEDBURRO.COM
40 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
Trot—don’t walk—to the Painted Burro, where the wide front windows welcome passersby to step inside, sidle up to the bar and order at least a few excellently crafted margaritas. The food is outstanding across the board, but we’ve gotta give it up to the nachos, which are some of the best you’ll find anywhere in town.
So you want to have a southernstyle barbecue, but you’re stuck up here in the northeast. That’s literally not a problem at all thanks to the Redbones pitmasters; they’ll bring the down-home flavor to you with their grills and heavy-duty smokers. All you have to do is grab a few dozen of your hungriest friends.
Photo courtesy of Painted Burro.
Thank you for voting Ashley and HAIR by Christine & Co.! Best Hair Salon
Best Haircut
Best Hair Color
BEST HAIR SALON: 2013–2017 BEST HAIR COLOR: 2016, 2017 BEST HAIRCUT: 2016, 2017
217 HIGHLAND AVENUE, SOMERVILLE • 617-776-6470 WWW.HAIRBYCHRISTINEANDCO.COM
Best Insurance Agency
More than 45 years of the best Sicilian style Italian food! Come taste for yourself.
Best Italian Food
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST INSURANCE AGENCY. Proudly serving the Somerville community for over 100 years. WEDGWOOD - CRANE & CONNOLLY INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 617-625-0781 | www.WCCINS.com 19 College Ave, Somerville (next to Davis Sq T)
Zagat rated “extraordinary to perfection”
www.vinnysatnight.com
76 Broadway, Somerville
617.628.1921
HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS • AUTO • RENTERS
SCOUT’S HONORED
Best Gift Shop
MAGPIE 416 HIGHLAND AVE. (617) 623-3330 MAGPIE-STORE.COM MAGPIE KIDS 95 ELM ST. (617) 764-4110 MAGPIEKIDS.COM
42 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
Best Kids Shop
I
f you’re a Somerville crafter or creative type, you might just remember a long-running market called the Bizarre Bazaar. It existed in a pre-SOWA era—and in fact, it predated today’s craft fair explosion entirely. At a time when these events traded in candles and potpourri, the Bazaar was the weird, punk-rock cousin, with live music and drinks and unusual, handmade goods for a slightly, uh, hipper set. “The slogan of the BB was, ‘Not your grandma’s craft fair,’” chuckles David Sakowski. Sakowski helped organize the
MEET THE WINNERS:
MAGPIE & MAGPIE KIDS Bazaar for many years, but eventually, as it grew, it became clear that there were enough makers and shoppers that this kind of thing could work year-round. “We thought, there should be a store to sell this kind of stuff,” he says. So, along with four other Bazaar organizers, he made one: Magpie, which opened its doors in 2004. It’s a small shop, not much larger than some Somerville living rooms (which you’ll realize is saying something, if you rent here). But every square inch of space is packed with beautiful things. Air plants dangle from the ceiling; handcrafted glassware and
ceramic dishes glint on a table. Thirteen years (and one weathered recession) later, Sakowski is Magpie’s only remaining owner, but the store is flourishing. In fact, its little sibling, Magpie Kids, which stocks similarly unique and offbeat items for the smaller set, opened four years ago in Porter Square. Sakowski largely credits Magpie’s specific aesthetic (and its success) to employees like manager Emily Wensberg and assistant manager Alina MacLean. The store’s energy—a bit naturalistic, somewhat bookish, quite cozy, a little witchy—is due to the fact that they’re admittedly selective. Photos by Adrianne Mathiowetz.
MAGPIE PICKS “One of the things I like is finding people to make Somerville-themed stuff for us. We carry a fair amount of stuff that’s proprietary just for us. We’ll talk to someone and say, ‘Can you make this design?’ Some of the prints, the bag we have up there—you can’t get that anywhere else.” — David
And they really do track down the best stuff, things you wouldn’t find anywhere else—at least, not without dedicating hours and hours to browsing Etsy and Instagram. “I think one of the things we like best is finding people who are just starting out,” Wensberg says. “We have a lot of makers who have never sold in a store before.” She and MacLean often find themselves working with artists-turned-vendors— figuring out a fair way to structure their pricing, helping them scale sales up and down. They find people at craft fairs or online, and frequently work with local makers who simply stroll into the store and ask about selling their wares. “We’re also really lucky to have a lot of awesome, artsy people who work here,” MacLean adds. “All of us tend to work together to come in and be like, ‘Have you seen this person on Instagram? Her work is amazing, and she’s based out of Cambridge’ ... we love finding makers that we’re passionate about.” Maybe it makes sense, then, that just about all of Magpie’s employees are makers themselves. You’ll regularly find MacLean, an illustrator, selling her prints at Boston Hassle’s Black Market—today’s punk-rock equivalent of SoWa. That’s a great way to meet new artisans, too; one
recent discovery is Boston’s Blood Moon, which just started selling bone and crystal rings through the shop. “It’s awesome when it comes full-circle like that, and it reinforces what’s so great about the local people here,” Wensberg says. “It turns into such a community place. So many people come in and they’re like, ‘Oh, I know this girl, this is my old roommate who makes these.’ That’s the point!” “One of the things I really like about the store is the relationships you have with the artists,” Sakowski affirms. “I’m at the kids’ store most of the time now ... but there’s some artists who we’ve been selling for a decade.” He points to the colorful faux-taxidermy by Horrible Adorables, or Shara Porter’s handprinted wallets, or Bread and Badger’s sandblasted glass mugs. Local artists who move out of town stay in touch; visiting artists make a point to stop by the shop when they roll through town. “You feel like you know these people in a way,” he adds. “It’s just nice.” All of which makes Magpie feel like the Cheers or Central Perk of the artistic set. It’s comfortable; it’s a community hub. It’s a place where everybody knows your name... or if they don’t, they at least know your work.
“Masnu is another really fun one, she does the wooden hairpins. Those are just beautifully crafted and incredible.” — Alina
“I think some of my favorite selections of products are the jewelry and ceramics. And pretty much all of those categories are local artists—Kristina Kosinski, Jenn Erickson, Aeo ... Maeve Mueller does these really unique porcelain pieces, which are so fun. She’s quickly become one of our bestsellers.” — Emily
“I have to mention Sylvia from Middle Dune. She does stationery and works here.” — Emily
scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017 43
SCOUT’S HONORED
BAR EATS
FIVE HORSES TAVERN
400 HIGHLAND AVE., (617) 764-1655 FIVEHORSESTAVERN.COM
BEER PROGRAM
BRONWYN
255 WASHINGTON ST., (617) 776-9900 BRONWYNRESTAURANT.COM
Let’s be frank: Bronwyn is the schnitzel, and so are the beers here. (No surprise, given that it’s a German-style tavern and all.) Grab a pal and split a two-liter boot of haus bier anytime, or spend a Saturday afternoon drinking Eastern European brews on the patio chowing down on Brondogs—specialty 44 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
We’ll take one of everything from the Five Horses starters menu, thanks! Seriously though: cast iron cornbread, spicy shakshuka, and, man, those Chinese BBQ wings... so good. Need something besides beer to go with those bar bites? Five Horses just launched whiskey, scotch and bourbon flights—more than 150 bottles to suit every palate and wallet.
hot dogs with haus sausage on a soft pretzel bun served straight from the grille. And don’t forget: Oktoberfest is coming up, and at Bronwyn, that means a monthlong celebration. Prost! SWEET TOOTH SATISFIER
uh, didn’t. They were gone in less than 24 hours. But when the donuts are this good—soft, pillowy and decadent without being cloying, can you blame us? MOBILE EATS VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN
UNION SQUARE DONUTS
TACO PARTY
Here’s a true story: once, an editor who shall remain nameless brought a dozen Union Square Donuts to a friend’s lake house, thinking they would easily last four people the weekend. They,
Look, we promise: you don’t even have to be a vegan or a vegetarian to fall in love with Taco Party. Order your favorite meat-loving pal the soy ginger marinated jackfruit, or the cornmeal crusted
20 BOW ST., (617) 209-2257 UNIONSQUAREDONUTS.COM
mushrooms, or the especially good chorizo seitan, and watch with satisfaction as they see how utterly delicious plant-based meals can be.
711 BROADWAY, (617) 764-0683 TACOPARTYTRUCK.COM
Five Horses Tavern photo courtesy of Five Horses Tavern. Taco Party photo by Jess Benjamin.
COCKTAILS
BACKBAR
7 SANBORN CT. (617) 718-0249 BACKBARUNION.COM
BREAKFAST OUTDOOR DINING
THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT
25 BOW ST., (617) 623-9710 THENEIGHBORHOODRESTAURANT.COM
What can we say about the Neighborhood that hasn’t been said already? There’s a reason the line so often stretches down the street, after all: it’s simply good food done just right— ample portions of homestyle fare prepared with love and reasonably priced.
Bless the Backbar bartenders—beautiful souls, all of them, who know how to make a drink you’re gonna love, whether you prefer bright, refreshing citrus or smoky bourbon or have a hankering for something you can’t quite articulate. And if you haven’t been to the tucked-away Union Square speakeasy in a bit, you’re due for a repeat visit; this summer, they went ahead and introduced an entirely revamped, rotating food menu from the folks at Field & Vine, which will open in the adjacent space this fall.
BUTCHER
MCKINNON’S MEAT MARKET
school shop a blessing during barbecue season and beyond. KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT
239 ELM ST., (617) 666-0888 MCKINNONSMEATMARKET.COM
FLATBREAD
Were Ron Swanson a resident of Somerville rather than Pawnee, Indiana, we’ve no doubt that the red-blooded, steak- and burger-loving Parks & Rec director would make McKinnon’s his second home. The meats here really are a cut above, and they’re sliced up by staff members who know what they’re doing, making the old-
One look at the menu—they’re all decorated with crayon art from young Flatbread fans—and you’ll realize coming here with the kids in tow was the best choice you could’ve made. Even if you can’t land a candlepin lane, the outstanding pizza here is well worth a trip, whether you’re eight or 80.
45 DAY ST., (617) 776-0552 FLATBREADCOMPANY.COM
Backbar photo by Jess Benjamin.
CHEAP EATS
ANNA’S TAQUERIA 236 ELM ST., (617) 666-3900 ANNASTAQUERIA.COM
Munchin’ on a budget? Look no further than Anna’s, where a “super burrito” is just $7.55 and comes absolutely stuffed with fixins, whether you want to keep it vegetarian, feel like going in on some savory, slow-cooked beef tongue or are daring enough to give the ultra-fiery chile verde braised pork a go. CONTINUED ON PAGE 50 scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017 45
SCOUT’S HONORED
SCOUT PICKS
BY SCOUT STAFF
Scout Pick
WE LOVE LETTING READERS VOTE FOR THE WINNERS—BUT THAT MEANS YOU GUYS GET TO HAVE ALL THE FUN, AND WE WANT TO GET IN ON THE ACTION TOO! HERE’S WHAT OUR STAFF IS SNACKING ON WHEN WE’RE NOT HARD AT WORK PUTTING THE MAGAZINE TOGETHER. rose to the occasion, showing off their skills with the tastiest items they could muster. But it was the student chefs at Somerville High’s own Highlander Cafe who really wowed us; their sweet contribution, a flourless chocolate cake with cardamom cream, walnut tuile, chocolate ganache and spun sugar had us coming back for seconds (and thirds). BURGER
SALOON
255 ELM ST., (617) 628-4444 SALOONDAVIS.COM
SUSHI
EBI SUSHI
290 SOMERVILLE AVE. (617) 764-5556, EBISUSHI.COM
The only problem you might have at Ebi Sushi is not knowing where on the extensive menu you should start. It’s all good—the Blizzard Rolls, the Somerville Rolls, the Ali Unagi—so what’s a sushi lover to do? We recommend going with the Chef’s Choice Nigiri: five or 10 pieces, all of them incredible. ITALIAN
VINNY’S RISTORANTE
(617) 628-1921 , VINNYSATNIGHT.COM
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the North End’s got nothin’ on this East Somerville staple. Whether it’s a sub or sandwich from the lunch counter up front or a simple, hearty plate of pasta from the restaurant in the rear, at Vinny’s, you’re eating food that’ll have you feeling like you’re actually in Italy. CHINESE
WANG’S FAST FOOD (617) 623-2982, WANGSCHINESECUISINE.COM
Everything about Wang’s Fast Food is understated: the location, the
46 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
signage—hell, even the name. But step inside, and you’ll find unexpected offerings like jellyfish in garlic sauce alongside takeout joint staples like chow mein and moo shi pork, plus handmade dumplings that are (quite rightfully) often shouted out as being the best in Greater Boston. GREEK
OPA GREEK YEEROS
378 HIGHLAND AVE., (617) 718-2900, FACEBOOK.COM/OPAGREEKYEEROS
With ingredients imported from the Mediterranean, next-level-good tzatziki sauce and thick, tangy, homemade yogurt, Opa is the go-to spot for authentic Greek fare. The meats are amazing, but don’t let the spits fool ya—just about everything here can be prepared vegetarian. And don’t forget to save room for loukoumades. TASTE OF SOMERVILLE TRIUMPH
SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL’S HIGHLANDER CAFE
81 HIGHLAND AVE., (617) 625-6600
We ate a lot of great stuff this year at Taste of Somerville in the Park. As always, the event brought together the best of the best, and city chefs
There are plenty of great burgers in the city, but our current favorite is the Rodeo Burger at Saloon—a brisket, chuck and short rib blend topped with maple smoked cheddar and crispy shallots with whiskey barbecue sauce. The thing is pure, gluttonous heaven sandwiched between a brioche bun. TACOS
LA POSADA
505 MEDFORD ST., (617) 776-2049 LAPOSADASOMERVILLE.COM
La Posada is one of the best-kept secrets in Somerville, and the tacos… oh, the tacos. They’re simply the best in town. Unexpected elements like coleslaw, beet and watercress elevate
the chicken tacos; radishes provide a spot-on complimentary crunch to carne asada; pineapple salsa with carnitas is a perfect pairing. You’ll want one (or more) of each. PIZZA
LEONE’S SUB & PIZZA 292 BROADWAY, (617) 776-2511 SUB.LEONESSUBANDPIZZA.COM
Leone’s feels untouched by time; it’s hardly changed in the 40 years it’s been in business. And to be clear, that’s a really, really good thing. We predict there’d be riots if the shop’s doughy, gooey and perfectly greasy Sicilian slices were any different. OMELET
JULIET
257 WASHINGTON ST., (617) 718-0958 JULIETSOMERVILLE.COM
“Okay,” you’re saying to yourself, “I get shouting out the best sushi and tacos in the ‘Ville. Pizza, of course. But omelets?” Yes, omelets. Have you had one at Juliet? There, you can get a perfect, satiny French omelet, with parmigiano-reggiano and toasted bread crumbs, or with gruyere and wild mushrooms. Or, try the rose petal dessert omelette pictured here.
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Best Liquor Store
15 MCGRATH HIGHWAY (617) 628-6444 SAVMORSPIRITS.COM
48 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
MEET THE WINNER:
SAV-MOR SPIRITS
B
y now, you’re familiar with the Sav-Mor signs— both the salty, sentient one that towers over McGrath Highway and its smaller but equally sassy sibling on Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford. They’re known for making deadpan proclamations like, “Ask us about our baby shower registry,” “Free receipt with any purchase,” and, last fall, “We
sell lots of pumpkin crap.” They’re not afraid to pick a fight; one holiday season, they banned Blitzen from the store. (“He knows why.”) And their legacy reaches far beyond Somerville. Thanks to a war with the McDonald’s sign on McGrath that made national headlines last year, the duo eventually landed everywhere from Fast Company to USA Today.
So perhaps we should’ve realized that if we asked the guy behind the slogans to tell us about the sign’s history, we were going to get a joke. “Well, in Civil War times, the Confederacy... no, that’s not true,” a grinning Robbie Weiner admits. Here’s the real story: Weiner’s grandfather bought the Medford shop in the late ’60s. His dad and uncle Photo, top, by Adrianne Mathiowetz.
eventually took over the business and oversee all four locations today. Weiner’s been at Sav-Mor for a little over a decade. And the sign? Well... it just came with the business. “I never really thought about the sign,” Weiner says. But one day, when whatever promotion stopped running and the sale came down, he just kind of went for it. “I’m not 100 percent sure what [the first one] was. I think it was, ‘Holidays mean family, we sell liquor.’” (That one’s a recurring holiday classic, along with “Valentine’s Day, blah blah blah, drink.”) It’s a bit ironic, because Sav-Mor is still very much a family business today. Weiner runs the show alongside his dad, uncle and cousin. “I think that’s the best part of the job, working with my family,” he says. He actually came back to the area after spending some time on the West Coast because he wanted to be around his neices and nephews, and he says the stores treat employees—some of whom have been around for 15 years—like family, too. But people loved that first slogan, so Sav-Mor has pretty much stopped using its sign to advertise sales and new items altogether and
exclusively promotes with jokes. Which is just fine by Weiner, who has an improv background and was a member of LA Theatresports—whose alums include Wayne Brady, Brad Sherwood and Mike McShane of Who’s Line is it Anyway fame—when he lived out on the left coast. “I love comedy, I love the philosophy of it, the ... sort of science of it, although I guess it’s not a science,” he says. “The meta version of it—where it comes from, what makes people laugh, the history of it.” He’s always trying to think of new sign gags, though occasionally there’s a repeat. Weiner laughs that he’s really a little more of a head-down, behindthe-scenes guy. He’s much happier out of the spotlight, and during the day, you’ll mostly find him at his computer in an upstairs office. Yes, that’s right—Sav Mor’s loudest voice comes from one of its quietest workers. But hey, who knows? Maybe someday he can parlay that slogan writing into a full-time gig and ditch the desktop forever. “Yeah,” he says, characteristically sarcastic, “I keep waiting for someone to just send me a giant check.” scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017 49
SCOUT’S HONORED
TAKEOUT
MACHU CHICKEN
25 UNION SQ., (617) 623-7972 MACHUCHICKENBOSTON.COM
If you’ve never had Machu’s Peruvian charcoal chicken—or anything from their grill, really— just set down the magazine and go get yourself some right now. Here, heaping portions, wonderfully seasoned, make for a truly unrivaled takeout experience. LATE NIGHT HAUNT
TRINA’S STARLITE LOUNGE
3 BEACON ST., (617) 576-0006 TRINASTARLITELOUNGE.COM
COFFEESHOP OR CAFE BARISTA, BECCA
3 LITTLE FIGS 278 HIGHLAND AVE. (617) 623-3447 3LITTLEFIGS.COM
This tiny, bright Highland Avenue coffeeshop just warms our hearts, and we couldn’t be more pleased to hear that they’re growing, extending their kitchen into the next-door unit and debuting a new menu concept called “Health Club” by 3 Little Figs. This fall, Health Club will see the shop adding organic smoothies, salads, bowls and more clean foods to the already excellent menu of sandwiches, pastries and coffee drinks. Which is a relief, because while they’re probably not the healthiest, you can have our goat cheese scones when you pry them from our cold, dead hands.
Okay, yes, closing time is, by law, 2 a.m., which makes “late night haunt” something of a misnomer. But if the staff at Trina’s would let us, we’d be here all night long, sipping craft cocktails (or, more often, Miller High Life) and slamming down gussied-up hot dogs until the sun rose. PLACE TO PEOPLE WATCH
MIKE’S FOOD AND SPIRITS
9 DAVIS SQ., (617) 628-2379 MIKESONDAVIS.COM
The time of day doesn’t matter; a lunchtime sub stop is as good as a late-night pizza run when it comes to people watching out the wide, street-spanning windows at Mike’s in Davis Square. There’s always something going on, and you can take it all in from the comfort of these cozy booths. BARTENDER
KRISTEN CALLAN, BRASS UNION 70 UNION SQ., (617) 623-9211 BRASSUNION.COM
RESTAURANT IN UNION SQUARE
THE INDEPENDENT
75 UNION SQ., (617) 440-6022 THEINDO.COM
50 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
August was a tough month, and let us tell you why: we had to go without the Indo for a few weeks. That’s right—after celebrating its Sweet 16 earlier this year, the beloved restaurant closed for renovations, leaving us in the lurch. (What, are we gonna go somewhere else for fish and chips?) But absence makes the stomach grow fonder, and we’re happy to report that this Union Square mainstay is on track to reopen in mid-September, better than ever.
When bartender and manager Kristen Callan is behind the stick at Brass Union, you’re in for a good night. The longtime ’tender—she’s been at this chic Union Square lounge for six years—is a pro at mixing you a mean drink and someone you can enjoy spending hours across the bar from.
3 Little Figs photo by Jess Benjamin. The Independent photo courtesy of The Independent.
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10 T YL ER ST, SO MERV IL L E • TO U RS EV E RY DAY
SCOUT OUT!
THE ALLEY WALKIN’ DAN BLAKESLEE
STROLLS HOME TO SOMERVILLE BY TIM GAGNON | PHOTO BY JESS BENJAMIN
W
hether you know him from his decade-spanning career spent making warmly rambling folk music or as one of his many alter egos—the ghoulish, Halloweenloving “Doctor Gasp,” the psychedelic face on Alchemist Brewery’s famed Heady Topper IPA, or, in the case of a 2015 Boston Magazine headline, “The Toothless Troubadour of a Gentrifying Somerville”—Dan Blakeslee is pretty comfortable with his myriad reputations. Still, he’s happy to clarify a few things… namely, that most of his teeth are still in his skull. “It was weird, because that was the smallest piece of the actual interview,” Blakeslee says of his BoMag fame via phone. “I was having struggles to pay dental issues I had from an old bike accident. A tooth fell out and 52 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
I was trying to figure out how to come up with five-grand to put another one back in my head.” But there’s no frustration in Blakeslee’s voice when he discusses his dental situation, nor when he acknowledges the rising rent in Somerville that finally did, at least in part, lead to his move from the city three months ago. In fact, Blakeslee is nothing but a jovial conversationalist about life’s twists and turns and the characters he’s met along the way, a feeling that permeates his upcoming seventh album, The Alley Walker.
“I
do artwork and music for a living,” Blakeslee begins when asked about the move. “I don’t take many days off, and I don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs, so I didn’t understand how, come the end of the month,
it was still a struggle to get rent.” Originally from Maine, Blakeslee rooted himself (as much as a touring artist can root themselves) across a few neighborhoods in Boston over the years, but Somerville remained his home for the last decade. That his lifestyle was “next to impossible” to sustain while affordable housing dwindled certainly factored into his decision to move to Providence earlier this year, but the Rhode Island capital has long resembled a second home for the musician. He played his first Providence show 23 years ago, and it’s where he forged some of his strongest connections, both musically and personally. The city—with its pop-up art festivals and “weird little vintage-thriftclothing-store-slash-recordstore-slash-café things”—always appealed to him.
But the pull towards his new home arguably began on his last record, 2014’s Owed To The Tanglin’ Wind, which was recorded with friends from Providence-based folk act The Low Anthem in their newly acquired Columbus Theatre studio. “The Low Anthem wanted to record their albums in unique spaces; they recorded their previous one in an old pasta sauce factory or something,” he explains. “So they were like, ‘Hey, how about this theater that hasn’t been used in over a decade and is just sitting there?’” The owner said yes, so long as rent was paid on time and nobody messed anything up. Blakeslee was there for the birth of the studio, which has only grown since. Columbus Theatre’s rustic, somewhat offbeat location suited
Blakeslee’s ageless storytelling Cash that have been brewing on Wind. But the musician had in Blakeslee’s brain since their grown particularly attached to deaths in 2003. He says that song his backing band from the album was always missing a few lines, preceding it, 2011’s Tatnic Tales. “I until tour took him through had first seen these guys backing Arkansas, where he decided to up a couple different people in take an off day for a four-hour New Hampshire,” he recalls. He drive north along dirt roads that had gone to see the performer led to Johnny Cash’s hometown. they were backing up, of course, “I ended up passing a sign that but they blew him away. “When said ‘end of county-maintained we set up to rehearse for the first road,’” he says. “I immediately got time [eight years ago], it was a stuck in the mud, so I thought, really early morning rehearsal ‘You know what? I should because they teach music lessons probably finish that song.’” in the afternoons. So they arrived Unique circumstances in bathrobes and and serendipitous scally caps, smoking interventions not “I don’t take pipes. There was only guide Blakeslee’s something magical many days off, songwriting process, and comical and just but somehow also and I don’t a little peculiar about extend to his touring these characters.” plans. Look no drink, smoke, When it came further than Newport or do drugs, time to record The Folk Festival, “one Alley Walker, it of the dreamiest so I didn’t only made sense to weekends of the understand reunite the fouryear,” according to piece at a similarly Blakeslee, and one how, come unique studio under always wanted the end of the he a new band name: to play. He first did The Calabash Club. back in 2015—with month, it was Blakeslee than 48 hours’ still a struggle less brought the newly notice—and then did christened Calabash it again this year on to get rent.” Club up to 1130ft only a day’s notice. Studio, a warehouse n the spirit of his can-do, space in bucolic Rollinsford, unstoppably creative attitude, NH situated at the foot of a Blakeslee was better prepared waterfall. Taking breaks just off in 2017, bringing with him some the train tracks near the studio last minute, hand-drawn posters to watch the waterfall brought outlining his upcoming shows— a “really, really euphoric vibe” one of which is his return to to recording, but Blakeslee’s Somerville on October 6. insistence on capturing their But regarding whether cohesion live proved most the show should be called a transformative to the making of homecoming for the one-time The Alley Walker. ‘Somerville troubadour’ of lore, “Originally, we were going Blakeslee is quick to set the to record at the same time in record straight. different rooms, but I was really “Well, I still kind of am… adamant with the sound engineer I’m one of many [Somerville that I wanted to be in the same troubadours],” he concludes. room with this band creating this “That was a really great, long music,” Blakeslee says. “It just period of my life. I feel like it was gives it more life and sections a huge building block in defining where the songs can breathe.” who I am and where I get my The Alley Walker’s live inspiration from.” recording only further enhances the honky-tonk-tinged tales of Dan Blakeslee and The Calabash lonesome travelers and tattooed Club play The Burren (247 Elm saviors (“Lone Star”), slowSt.) on Friday, October 6 at 7 p.m. burning admissions of guilt that Tickets are on sale now and the left him “paralyzed and bleeding” show is 21+. (“The Somerville Line”) and tributes to Johnny and June
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scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017 53
SCOUT OUT Could a Tank Full of Saltwater Help You Get Centered?
COULD A TANK FULL OF SALTWATER HELP YOU GET CENTERED? SCOUT GIVES “FLOATING” A TRY. 54 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
BY KRISTOFER JENSON ILLUSTRATION BY CHELSEA ZONA
A
t first, it seems sort of strange that there would be so many terms to describe the experience of floating in salt water in the dark: sensory deprivation, isolation tank therapy, REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy)—or even just “floating.” The reason, I recently learned, for the many monikers, is that while some describe either the method or the result, almost none capture the totality of the experience. It’s a therapy full of apparent contradictions—to be enclosed in total darkness and silence that feels completely secure, supported by liquid that does not feel wet, emerging energized by 60-plus minutes of total stillness. But somehow, it works. I had my first experience with floating at Float Boston in Magoun Square. I booked my session after hearing several friends and colleagues swear by it, saying that it inspired artistic creativity, helped with everything from
stiff joints to fatigue and is a better wake-up than a hot cup of coffee. The first time it was suggested, I replied with a quick Altered States quip about how a little genetic regression sounded nice, and we laughed. The second time, the reference seemed inappropriate given the sincerity of the recommendation. I realized I had to take the idea seriously the third time, when my normal wakeup and self-maintenance routines had become just another part of a noisy, stressful life. Coffee is fine, and exercise is important, but what do you do when the things that are supposed to make you feel better just end up being part of the problem? The answer, as it turns out, is to take a break from literally everything—even your own physiology. Modern floating was pioneered by John C. Lilly, a neuroscientist and philosopher who carried out his research on himself and others. This was the cutting edge of science in the 1950s and ’60s, conducted with little idea what
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SCOUT OUT Could a Tank Full of Saltwater Help You Get Centered?
Famous Floaters 1. TOM BRADY
The Patriots QB reportedly has a float tank in his home, and plenty of other Pats—including wide receiver Julian Edelman and linebacker Dont’a Hightower—are regular floaters thanks to the two tanks the team has at Gillette Stadium.
2. JIM CARREY
Maybe it’s hard to picture the manic funnyman of The Mask and Ace Ventura fame taking it easy and chilling out, but it’s true—he apparently uses floating for a creative kick.
3. JEFF BRIDGES
The Dude was actually a friend of isolation tank inventor John Lilly; in 2009 he told the L.A. Times that he even served as a test subject for prototype tanks.
4. JOHN LENNON
According to a 1988 biography, 90-minute sensory deprivation sessions helped Lennon get off heroin back in the ’70s. 56 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
the brain would do when key senses were restricted. Interestingly, many found the process soothing, and it wasn’t long before the view of floating as an effective therapy technique took hold. There was a boom of float centers in the 1970s and ’80s, though its popularity took a nosedive during the HIV-AIDS scare and ignorance of how the virus spread. Still, it’s remained popular in areas like California, Canada and Europe. Recently, various spas and treatment centers have been adding float tanks as annexes, though Float Boston is the only complex dedicated exclusively to floatation tanks in New England. There’s been a great deal of research into the benefits of floating, often with the same conclusion: it works, we just don’t know exactly why or how. And the spectrum of possible physical and psychological outcomes people report from floating are incredibly divergent. While the most immediate benefit is muscle relaxation, some users reach a meditative state. Others achieve the most relaxing sleep of their life. Author and screenwriter Michael Crichton—you know him as the guy who penned Jurassic Park— famously owned his own personal tank to fight writer’s block, and professional athletes (the Patriots have two float tanks at Gillette) have become public devotees. While certain aspects and effects of the treatment are still not wholly understood, there’s no doubting that it works for many people in many different ways, and Float Boston is prepared to accommodate every possible reaction. The facility is immediately welcoming and spacious, with an array of amenities—towels, earplugs, shampoo and body wash. Every conceivable question is answered, both by the staff and the friendly, informative poster forms in the rooms themselves. The exhaustive FAQ on the Float website leaves no stone unturned, no potential insecurity unaddressed. I booked my session for 9 in the morning after a long night. Going in, I was expecting some version of the world’s greatest waterbed, and my plan was to just fall asleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Almost immediately after closing the hatch, I was hyperaware of every inch of myself, inside and out. All I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat and breathing, their rhythmic interplay. Unburdened by outside stimulation, I was able to trace the air’s pathway through my skull and into my lungs. Phosphenes—the sensation of stars and colors when you close your eyes—were all around while my eyes were still open. Free from distraction, it was just me and the background radiation of my own existence. After a few minutes, I felt myself rotating clockwise, a sensation I found more fascinating than unsettling. I later asked Float Boston co-founder and
co-owner Sara Garvin about this. “Proprioception is your brain’s perception of where you are in space,” Garvin says. “Proprioception takes a lot of input—from your eyes, from your sight, your inner ear, everything.” “In the float tank, that’s one of the first things that goes away,” she adds, “because, all of a sudden ... the water’s at your skin temperature, there’s no light, you can’t see a horizon line.” She recommends reaching out to the sides of the tank to find your bearings until the feeling passes. Once I found my equilibrium, I opened my eyes and found that whether they were open or closed, I would see those phosphenes. As I breathed, I found a sync between my breath and my heartbeat, and entered a state as close to meditating I’ve ever experienced. It wasn’t until about 40 minutes later—I think—that I remembered I was inside of a physical tank with actual dimensions as I reentered reality. I tell you, I’m the furthest possible thing from a morning person. Left to my own circadian rhythm, I would wake up at 11 every day. But one morning in that flotation tank, and I was unstoppable for the rest of the weekend. Every person is different, every brain and body unique, so your results may vary. A follow-up session at 9 at night did not have the same effect on me, I imagine because of my aforementioned nocturnalism, though when I emerged there were still rooms occupied by clients in the midst of a full 90-minute session. My advice is to try it at least twice, and make the effort to endure past any initial discomfort (though do not endanger yourself). Garvin, a massage therapist by training, believes very strongly in the power of floating as recreation, as well as therapy. Though she cautions against making or believing scientifically unverified claims or taking medical advice without first consulting your doctor, she describes the benefit to people with conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic pain and others, and is optimistic about the future of float treatment “There’s a lot of exciting research going on right now about how the brain actually responds to the float experience ... I think it might open up some real possibilities for being able to guide people in certain ways, people who might be really suffering from things like PTSD, intrusive thoughts, and anxiety, things like that. I think what we’ll see is an ability to help people just improve their quality of life, through floating, in a very targeted way.” As for the findings of Dr. Edward Jessup of Altered States, who was partially based on Dr. Lilly, she quips: “Only a very small percentage of our customers turn into proto-humans.”
Coffee is fine, and exercise is important, but what do you do when the things that are supposed to make you feel better just end up being part of the problem? The answer, as it turns out, is to take a break from literally everything— even your own physiology.
Float is located at 515 Medford St. in Magoun Square. More info is available at floatboston.com.
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Cynthia knows who she wants to be. Do you? With a great faculty, flexible programs, affordable tuition, and campuses across the state – and online – Cambridge College is the right place to become who you really are. CambridgeCollege.edu 1.800.829.4723
CELEBRATE HIGH HOLIDAYS TEMPLE B’NAI BRITH Rosh Hashanah Services: September 20, 21, 22
Free Family and Tot Services
Yom Kippur Services: September 29, 30
RSVP templebnaibrithRSVP@gmail.com
Ticket information and a complete High Holiday schedule at www.templebnaibrith.org
Welcoming • Inclusive • Egalitarian
Rosh HaShanah: Thursday, Sept. 21 Yom Kippur: Saturday, Sept. 30 Family Service from 9:30-10:45am Tots (2-5) from 10:00-10:45am
Registering now for: Children’s Sunday School & Adult Education 201 Central Street 02145 | 617-625-0333 | www.templebnaibrith.org | tbb@templebnaibrith.org
SCOUT OUT She Snuggles Hard for the Money
s e l g g u S h e Sn or Meet Samantha Varnerin, Professional Snuggler WORDS AND PHOTOS BY ADRIANNE MATHIOWETZ, @ADRIANNELACY
S
ome of Samantha Varnerin’s clients travel a lot for business. Some have trouble sleeping, or are on the autism spectrum, or have a vast circle of friends but are stressed from being the go-to support person. Sometimes there’s been a hard breakup, or a close family member has moved away. And sometimes a person just needs a hug—who hasn’t had a day
58 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
f
like that? Varnerin’s got you, no matter the reason: she’s a fulltime, professional snuggler. Wait… a what? “My introduction to professional snuggling was sheer accident,” Varnerin says. “I was a construction engineer. Somebody I was following on a sales website mentioned it, and I said, ‘There’s no way this exists.’ So I Googled around and found a national agency that works across the country, with business going on in Boston.” The business isn’t all about loneliness: multiple studies have shown that even just a few minutes of cuddling will cue your brain to release a lovely cocktail of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin and reduce your adrenal glands’ production of cortisol, immediately lowering your stress levels and boosting your mood and immune system.
d ey r Ha on M e h t
Oxytocin is pretty magical (you may have heard it referred to as “the feel-good hormone”), with the power to lower blood pressure, decrease physical pain, help you sleep and even reduce your risk of heart disease. Varnerin didn’t quit her day job immediately; for almost two years, she worked with the agency around her usual 9-to-5. In February, she left both, and took to snuggling full-time with her own company: Snuggle With Sam. “I feel like a lot of people have to fit themselves into a box that someone else makes for them,” she says. “And instead, this is something that is genuinely me.” How does a typical professional snuggling session even begin? First, potential clients get in touch through a contact form on her website to establish a place, time and session length. Varnerin can
do house calls all around New England, or clients can visit her own shared apartment, just a short bus ride from Davis Square. Once these details are squared away, Varnerin sends an email with location directions, clothing requirements to ensure a comfortable platonic session (she suggests the “newspaper test”—would you go out on your front steps wearing it?), a basic hygiene request (shower at least 12 hours before a session) and a waiver for them to sign. Upon arrival, Sam does a check-in with the safety supervisor she’s hired. Then payment is exchanged and a timer is set, and the session officially begins. Many people like to start with conversation, and what they need to talk about can guide Sam on how she can help. But reading body language is key, too. Empathy, Varnerin says, is a huge
part of what sets her business apart from other professional snugglers, who tend to either be more clinical or retail-based. Varnerin has been trained in reiki (she’s currently working to level two) as well as “circling” (a meditative group exercise focusing on remaining present and developing connection with one another). She’s always looking to match her energy to what a person needs in the moment, even while many of us have difficulty articulating what that may be. “Certain people are looking where to direct their affection, and as a snuggler I’m trying to figure out if they’re looking to give, receive, or both.” Once the client is ready, she asks them to lay down comfortably. Most first-timers, Varnerin says with a smile, tend to “plank,” or lay on their backs
request I would like to not do.” Sounds like the kind of language that might have a bigger impact on our culture over time, no? “If we hold people to a higher standard for things that are not sexual situations such as a snuggling session,” Varnerin adds, “then we can play a part in creating a world where people are asking us what our boundaries are and being able to express them back and expecting them to be honored as a default.” Resting a hand on an arm or collarbone is one way Varnerin establishes touch with someone new. “Once I get the okay, I might put my hand on their arm and just stroke them a little bit,” she says. “I try to do some kind of motion with my other free hand just because it helps them get grounded and recognize that ‘this is a person, I’m not just a doll that’s here to be moved back and forth, I’m here with you.’” She’s actually familiar with a whole “Cuddle Sutra” of 50 platonic cuddly positions. That may seem
with their arms stiffly at their sides, suddenly self-conscious and uncertain about what “lay down comfortably” looks like. But Sam is quick to let them know that they can always ask for something else. In a blog post she published recently about the importance of boundary-setting in her work, Sam writes:“I give permission to ask for a different position, even if they’re unsure what else they would like to try, I thank them when they voice wanting to try a different cuddle position, I ask them if I can touch their hair or if a position is comfortable with them to encourage them to ask questions as well, I say ‘no’ or ‘I’d prefer not to’ if they make a
like a lot, but she has a top five of go-tos for her sessions that most of us, even the cuddleuneducated, would be familiar with. Sessions can last from one hour to twelve, but generally Sam recommends an hour and a half: just enough time for a good talk without sacrificing cuddle time, or getting too sleepy. Afterwards, clients are encouraged to take their time to prepare to face the day again, full of happy cuddle brain chemicals. “It’s almost immediate satisfaction to see people being helped in real time,” Sam says. “It’s such a basic thing, to be able to give somebody a hug and make them feel better.”
We serve Beer & Wine!
www.mixitrestaurant.com 617.547.0212 1678 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge scoutsomerville.com September | October 2017 59
CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 15
| COMMUNITY
SEPTEMBER 16
| COMICS
PARKING DAY 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Free Citywide, Cambridge What if a parking spot… wasn’t a parking spot? Find out with PARKing day, which finds hundreds of spaces throughout the city transformed into separated bike lanes, mini parks, art installations and just about anything else you can imagine.
LADIESCON 2017 12 p.m.–5 p.m., Free Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville Not all heroes wear capes—take the Ladies of Comicazi, for example, who are bringing back LadiesCon for the second year. Come check out a panel, buy a book and support local artists and illustrators at this inclusive afternoon of fun.
SEPTEMBER 23 Photo by Elise Amendola
| LOCAL FLAVOR
WHAT THE FLUFF? FESTIVAL 3–7 p.m., Free Union Square, Somerville This year marks the 100th birthday of Fluff, the sticky sweet Union Square creation that might just be Somerville’s most famous export, so you know the sugary shenanigans are going to be even wilder this year.
SEPTEMBER 26
| FOOD & DRINK
FOODIE CRAWL 6–11 p.m., $5–$37 Broadway, Somerville Every year, the East Somerville Main Streets Foodie Crawl gives you the opportunity to sample flavors from around the neighborhood—and the globe!—in just one night. Take a stroll along Broadway and chow down on delightful dishes from Ethiopia, El Salvador, Italy and beyond.
SEPTEMBER 20-23
| COMEDY
BOSTON COMEDY FESTIVAL $100–$250 Somerville If laughter is the best medicine, we’re all about to be in very good health: the funniest folks around descend upon Somerville in September for the Boston Comedy Festival. Catch standup sets at the Rockwell, the Burren and the Somerville Theatre, and get ready to giggle.
60 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
SEPTEMBER 20–OCTOBER 1
| FILM
70MM AND WIDESCREEN FILM FESTIVAL Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq., Somerville Our humble little town of Somerville continues establishing itself as one of the world’s premier cities for vintage film with events like the 70mm and Widescreen Film Festival. After a successful inaugural run in 2016, the festival returns this year with an incredible lineup that includes Top Gun, Wonder Woman and The Agony and the Ecstasy.
SEPTEMBER 24 AND OCTOBER 29 | SHOPPING
CENTRAL FLEA 11 a.m., Free 95 Prospect St., Cambridge Dozens of area artists and vintage vendors, 10 food trucks, live music and graffiti art—there’s something for everyone at the Central Flea. The market’s June debut was so successful that four more installments were added.
SEPTEMBER 28–30
| MUSIC
BOSTON FUZZSTIVAL $15 a day, $30 for a three-day pass Halfsour. Ovlov. Dirty Dishes. Gravel. Kal Marks. Dent. The Kominas. Ava Luna. Could Illegally Blind have booked a more perfect collection of local bands for the fifth-annual Fuzzstival? (That’s not even close to all of them!) With shows at the Cambridge Elks Lodge, ONCE Somerville and the Somerville ARTFarm.
OCTOBER 6–8
| ACTIVISM
HONK! FESTIVAL Free Davis and Porter Squares A progressive parade like no other, Honk! brings the brass in a big way, welcoming bands from all over the world to the city for a three-day music and social justice celebration. Just try not to dance through the streets during Sunday’s parade along Mass. Ave.
OCTOBER 20–31
| HALLOWEEN
HAUNTED SOMERVILLE Times Vary, Cost TBA ARTFarm, 10 Poplar St., Somerville Everyone’s favorite spooky celebration is bigger and better than ever this year, with a second haunted maze, axe throwing, acrobatics and more. Grab your family, call your friends and prepare to have the pants scared off of ya at the asylum.
DiscoveVrILLE
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Leone’s Sub and Pizza Pizza and Subs fit for a king!
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Infant - Toddlers - Preschool - Pre-K - After School - Drop In
Kiddie Academy® of Cambridge 617.945.0021 299 Prospect Street Cambridge, MA 02139
- New facility with indoor gym - Certi ied, compassionate teachers - Webcam & Kindermusik program - Hot & nutritious family-style meals - Pumpkin Painting Party: Sat, Oct 7, 10am-noon
T R U S T. KNOWLEDGE. EXPERIENCE. VA L U E . JOANNA KIRYLO Joanna@VisitGriffin.com 55a Elm Street
www.VisitGriffin.com
Thank you Scout Readers! Best Restaurant in Ball Square
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SCOUT YOU
Photos by Adrianne Mathiowetz
A class of yoga enthusiasts at ONCE, where Tina Moroney of Black Widow Yoga teaches a class set to black metal and doom music. Class is followed by more music and drinks upstairs.
Lanya Butler on the aerial silks at “17 Words: A Circus Theater Show Presented by the Students of Esh Circus Arts” at Arts at the Armory.
2016 Boston Music Award Photo of the Year winner Jonathan Beckley edits photos in Diesel on a muggy September afternoon, using his unique Super Nintendo to Lightroom system.
Danny Drake takes to the trapeze at “17 Words.”
Ayesha Nishtar of Cambridge embroiders for the first time, at the opening for the Feminist Fiber Art exhibit at Washington Street Art. Her work reads: “I want a dyke for president.” Linnea Kirby performs at “17 Words.” 62 September | October 2017 scoutsomerville.com
Oepktoberfest S t 6thO
ct 31st
Wednesday, September 6th
TRADITIONAL CEREMONIAL KEG TAPPING TO KICK OFF THE 9-WEEK CELEBRATION
Saturday, September 30th
• GERMAN FOOD SERVED ALL DAY STARTING AT NOON • CEREMONIAL KEG TAPPING AT 12:30PM – PAULANER WEISN • LIVE MUSIC – TRADITIONAL GERMAN MUSIC FROM 1-4PM: OKTOBERFEST GERMAN BAND AS ALWAYS THERE IS NO COVER.
Every Wednesday
GERMAN-INSPIRED MENU, 5-11PM
Every Sunday
TRADITIONAL GERMAN ROAST Each Beer Chosen will have a Promotional Event Each Beer Chosen will be available in .5LTR and Full Liter Mugs
12 DIFFERENT GERMAN OKTOBERFEST BIERS Best Restaurant in Magoun Square
ONE FREE APPETIZER OF YOUR CHOICE WITH THIS COUPON. DUPLICATES NOT ACCEPTED. 1 PER TABLE. UP TO $13 VALUE. 518 Medford St. • Somerville, MA 02145 • (617) 776-2600 • www.magounssaloon.com
518 MEDFORD STREET, SOMERVILLE • 617.776.2600 • MAGOUNSSALOON.COM
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New Look, Same Great Education For over 40 years, Cambridge School of Culinary Arts (CSCA) has been a leader in culinary education, offering a multitude of options for career builders and hobbyists. Whether you wish to pursue a culinary career or master your craft for home entertaining, our extensive programs in culinary and pastry arts will provide the springboard for your culinary ambitions.
PROFESSIONAL CHEF’S AND PASTRY PROGRAMS
• At CSCA, we work with our students to create an exceptional and customizable experience. • Talented instructors share their diverse experiences and knowledge during intimate classroom settings with no more than 12 students per instructor. • Four commercial-grade, fully-stocked kitchens host our classroom laboratories and seminars, providing you with ample space to work and learn in a comfortable setting • Lifelong placement services provide career guidance and support for all graduates within our expansive and ever growing CSCA network.
RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
From technique-driven series to more social date nights, our Recreational Programs offer something for everyone. Find a class on our online calendar and sign up for a culinary adventure!
PRIVATE AND CORPORATE EVENTS
In addition to the classes listed on our calendar, we host private, personalized events in our professional kitchens. Planning a birthday party, bachelor or bachelorette outing, family reunion, or staff outing? Make it one for the books with a private cooking event!
Give us a call. Send us an email. Stop by. It’s time to get cooking!
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