New Listings
Best Real Estate Agency
17 Conwell Street Unit 2, Somerville
17 Diane’s View Unit 17, Malden
A pet friendly 1-bedroom condo (has been used as 2 bedrooms) on a one-way side street between Porter and Davis Squares. With in-unit laundry, private front deck, and bay windows—just around the corner from 3 Little Figs.
This pet-friendly 3-story townhouse offers amazing treetop views of the area. It has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, garage parking, and 3 outdoor parking spots.
$479,000
34 Camp Street Unit 1, Cambridge $625,000
This sweet, inviting first floor 2-bedroom, 1-bath condo is steps to the bike path, Mass. Ave., and Davis Square subway. Private back porch and lovely shared yard. Private storage and laundry in basement.
Best Real Estate Agent
17 Laurel Street Unit 1, Somerville $589,000
$558,888
Adorable 2-bedroom, 1-bath condo with parking and private back porch. Private storage and laundry in basement.
104 Woodstock Street Unit 3, Somerville
35 Curtis Avenue, Somerville $1,195,000
$679,000
Bright and spacious 2 bedroom, 2.5 baths, central air, gas fireplace, 2-level condo with in-unit laundry, basement storage, and exclusive garage. Walk to Teele and Davis Squares, Alewife, and East Arlington.
Large Teele Square single family home with a mature wild flower garden and a 4 bay garage. It has 6 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and many original features including French doors and a warming cupboard tucked into the chimney breast.
348 Norfolk Street, Cambridge $2,000,000
Beautifully renovated, condo-quality, owner occupied 3-family between Inman Square and East Cambridge. First floor unit has open concept living, 1 bedroom, and 1 bath on the first level and finished lower level with study, media room, and laundry room. Second floor has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, private w/d hook-ups in basement. Top floor has 3 beds, 1 bath, private w/d in basement and is rented for $3,000 through 5/31/20. Rear patio and small front yard. Units 1 and 2 delivered vacant. Residents with cars registered at this address are entitled to free parking in City-owned lot across the street.
156 Ivy Street, Brookline $5,995,000
This stunning historic Early Gothic Revival (c. 1851) single family sits on 8/10 acre and abuts conservation land in the Cottage Farm neighborhood, yet it is within walking distance of Fenway Park and Cambridge. The house offers 5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, 3 studies, library, dining room, living room, 5 fireplaces, finished basement with media room, high ceilings, central air, beautiful architectural details, and 3-car garage with electric car outlet. Walk to Green Line B, C, and D trains as well as major hospitals and BU campus.
Coming Soon
Thalia Tringo
5 Granite Street #2, Somerville Bright Spring Hill 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo on 2 upper levels. Private deck off kitchen and shared yard space. Notable features include gas fireplace, central air, and vaulted ceiling in master bedroom suite. Pet friendly. Quick walk to Union, Porter, and Inman Squares.
President, Realtor ® 617.513.1967 cell/text Thalia@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
Jennifer Rose
East Arlington Condo
Beautiful 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom condo with in-unit laundry, 2 parking spaces, private yard, central air, and large basement storage area. Walk to the shops, cinema, and eateries on Mass. Ave. as well as the bike path and the Red Line station at Alewife.
Free Classes
Residential Sales Specialist, Realtor ® 617.943.9581 cell/text Jennifer@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
Lynn C. Graham
First Time Home Buyers:
an overview of the buying process Monday, August 26TH or Wednesday, September 11TH
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-min presentation and 1/2 hour Q&A session. Handouts and refreshments provided.
How to Buy and Sell at the Same Time: for homeowners contemplating a move Wednesday, August 21ST or Monday, September 16TH
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 & your choices understandable. This workshop, led by our agents and a loan officer from a local bank, includes a 45-min presentation and 1/2 hour Q&A session. Handouts and refreshments provided.
Reading the Clues:
recognizing the history of your old house
Residential Sales Specialist, Realtor ® 617.216.5244 cell/text Lynn@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
Brendon Edwards
Residential Sales Specialist, Realtor ® 617.895.6267 cell/text Brendon@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
Seth Kangley
Residential Sales Specialist, Realtor ® 315.382.2507 cell/text Seth@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
With Architectural Historian, Sally Zimmerman Tuesday, September 17TH
6:30 – 7:45 pm
If you are a new owner of an old house, you may be wondering about how it’s changed over time and how you might go about bringing back some of its better attributes. Learn to read the clues about how old houses are frequently modified and how to uncover the history of your old house to reveal its best features in an illustrated 45-minute lecture on understanding how old houses evolve and why preserving them matters with architectural historian Sally Zimmerman, followed by Q&A on your old house projects.
Sarasvati Lynn
Residential Sales Specialist, Realtor ® 617.702.4751 cell/text Sarasvati@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
How to Research Your Old House With Architectural Historian, Sally Zimmerman Wednesday, September 18TH
Adaria Brooks
6:30 – 7:45 pm
You don’t have to go to the Registry of Deeds to find out a lot about your old house. Learn how to shortcut your way to great information about the history and occupants of your house in an illustrated 45-minute lecture by Sally Zimmerman, Senior Preservation Services Manager at Historic New England. Submit a photo of your house ahead of time and we will share what we have learned in a Q&A session to follow the talk.
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.
Our Current Art Show:
Viktor Butko, Recent Paintings
This show will be up through July. Feel free to drop in to see it anytime we are in the office.
Executive Assistant to the President, Realtor ® 617.308.0064 cell/text Adaria@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
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.
JULY 8 - SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 ::: VOLUME 39 ::: SCOUTCAMBRIDGE.COM
contents 6 // EDITOR’S NOTE 7 // VOTE IN SCOUT’S HONORED 2019! 9 // WINNERS & LOSERS Bluebikes hit a ridership record, but Uber and Lyft rides are still through the roof.
TECHNOLOGY & TRANSPORTATION 14 // VENTURE CAFÉ OFFERS GUIDANCE FOR NEW ENTREPRENEURS If you’re thinking of starting a business, you might want to head to Kendall Square next Thursday. 16 // FOR LIVABLESTREETS, TRANSPORTATION IS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE LivableStreets works with Cambridge and Boston officials to push projects forward.
26 // DO-GOODERS, KEY PLAYERS, AND GAME CHANGERS: PROJECT CITIZENSHIP The organization, which helps immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship, is expanding its work in Cambridge.
10 // WHAT’S NEW? The city hopes to clean up the area around Jerry’s Pond and rename streets and buildings that commemorate slavery.
28 // SOMETHING VENTURED: CENTRAL SQUARE FLORIST The voice of the small, colorful shop has evolved in recent years as ownership has passed down to the family’s youngest generation.
24 // MEET THE SCOUT TEAM
30 // CALENDAR
18 26
18 // TIPS FOR BIKING IN THE CITY The city’s Urban Cycling Basics workshop helps people get roadready. 20 // ‘POCKET MUSIC MACHINE’ PUTS INSTRUMENTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS What if you could fit a drum kit in your pocket? 22 // FROM PUBLIC TO PERSONALIZED: ALTERSPACE TURNS LIBRARIES INTO ROOMS OF REQUIREMENT Alterspace is a pop-up, customizable library environment.
Photo, top: Urban biking. Photo by Stefan Malner. Photo, bottom: Project Citizenship’s Melanie Torres. Photo by Sasha Pedro. On the cover: Alterspace (left) and LivableStreets Alliance (right). Photos by Sasha Pedro.
Citizenship gives people a certain level of confidence with their security in this country, and that certainly creates community.”
SEND US YOUR STORIES Scout is now accepting short story submissions! If you live in Somerville or Cambridge or are writing about one of the cities, we’d love to give your work a read and consider publishing it on our websites. To submit a short story, email scout@scoutmagazines.com.
VOTE LOCAL. VOTE NOW. SHOW YOUR LOVE. WIN $200. SEE PAGES 7-8 FOR YOUR 2019 SCOUT’S HONORED FINALISTS. VOTE AT SCOUTCAMBRIDGE.COM/VOTE
scoutcambridge.com | Technology & Transportation
5
EDITOR’S NOTE
I
n this issue, we tackle two topics that touch everyone’s lives: technology and transportation. From startup founders to transportation advocates, from technology users to public transit riders, most of us engage with these themes on a daily basis. We started by looking at ways technology lets you take things into your own hands. There’s Bitty, a pocket drum machine that helps people make music anytime, anywhere, with one small device (p.20). We also learned about Alterspace, a Harvard-born pop-up, customizable library experience that has boundless potential (p.22), and tools for hopeful entrepreneurs from the Cambridge Photo by Jenna Friedman. Innovation Center (p.14). For transportation, we learned about the city’s main tips for urban biking (p.18) and how the LivableStreets Alliance fights for social justice (p.16). We also have several stories outside of this issue’s theme, including a profile on an organization that helps immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship (p.26) and Central Square Florist, which is celebrating its 90th birthday this year (p.28). So sit back during your T ride, or as you listen to music from your phone, and dig into the Technology & Transportation Issue. We hope you enjoy it!
Reena Karasin
PUBLISHER Holli Banks hbanks@scoutmagazines.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reena Karasin rkarasin@scoutmagazines.com ART DIRECTOR Nicolle Renick design@scoutmagazines.com renickdesign.com CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jerry Allien jallien@scoutmagazines.com SCOUT FELLOW Abbie Gruskin agruskin@scoutmagazines.com STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Sasha Pedro EDITORIAL INTERN Jessica Blough CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JM Lindsay, Sarah Robbins COPY EDITOR Joe Palandrani BANKS PUBLICATIONS 519 Somerville Ave, #314 Somerville, MA 02143
Reena Karasin, Editor-in-Chief rkarasin@scoutmagazines.com
FIND US ONLINE scoutcambridge.com scoutcambridge
www.somervilleartscouncil.org
ArtBeat Festival July 13, 11am-10pm, Davis Square Support the Festival: Buy a $3 dogtag! B.Y.O.W.B. Bring your own water bottle!
6 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
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Wellness
Beauty
DENTIST o Dental Restorative Group o Harvard Street Dental o Cambridgeside Dental Associates
BARBERSHOP o East Coast Barbershop o Fast Phil’s o Floyd’s Barbershop
JEWELRY o Rebekah Brooks Jewelry o Leo Carroll Jewelers o Zinnia Jewelry
WOMEN’S CLOTHING o LOOKS o Susanna o Forty Winks
HOLISTIC HEALTH SERVICE o Central Square Health and Wellness o Om Namo Center o Inman Oasis
HAIR COLOR o Judy Jetson Hair - Judy o Salon Luna - Kayla o Salon Michael Domenic - Miranda
EYEWEAR SHOP o General Optical Company o SEE o Warby Parker
MEN’S CLOTHING o The Andover Shop o Drinkwater’s o Keezer’s Classic Clothing
ACUPUNCTURE o Acupuncture Together o Cambridge Health Associates o Middle Path Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine
HAIRCUT o Judy Jetson Hair - Judy o Salon Michael Domenic - Michael o Salon Michael Domenic - Miranda
BOOKSTORE o Harvard Book Store o Porter Square Books o Raven Used Books
THRIFT OR VINTAGE o Raspberry Beret o The Garment District o Great Eastern Trading Co.
HAIR SALON o Judy Jetson Hair o Salon Luna o Salon Michael Domenic
RECORD SHOP o Cheapo Records o Stereo Jack’s o Blue Bag Records
BIKE SHOP o Broadway Bicycle o Cambridge Bicycle o CrimsonBikes
FACIAL o Beauty Spa Cambridge o Sasha Salon and Spa o La Moon Thai Spa
GIFT SHOP o Black Ink o Salt & Olive o Joie de Vivre
HARDWARE STORE o Dickson Bros. Hardware Co. o TAGS Hardware o Inman Square Hardware
MANICURE o Beauty Spa Cambridge o Le’s Beauty & Nail o Super Nails
HOME DECOR o Abodeon o NOMAD o Pod
GARDEN SUPPLIES o Pemberton Farms o TAGS Hardware o Grow Your Own
TATTOO OR PIERCING o Chameleon Tattoo & Body Piercing o Pino Bros Ink o Redemption Tattoo
KIDS SHOP o Henry Bear’s Park o Magic Beans o Diaper Lab
KITCHEN SUPPLIES o Elmendorf Baking Supplies o China Fair o TAGS Hardware
MASSAGE o Inman Oasis o La Moon Thai Spa o Qi Foot Spa FITNESS o Healthworks o Orangetheory Fitness o VIM Fitness YOGA o YogaWorks o Down Under School of Yoga o Barre & Soul PHYSICAL THERAPY o Back On Track Physical Therapy o Spaulding Cambridge o Joint Ventures Physical Therapy
Shopping
Services MECHANIC o Good News Garage o Foreign Auto Center o Sunoco MOVING COMPANY o Big Foot Moving & Storage o Gentle Giant Moving Company o Intelligent Labor & Moving ARCHITECTURE FIRM o The Galante Architecture Studio o LABhaus o Prellwitz Chilinski Associates
INTERIOR DESIGN o The Little Details o Prellwitz Chilinski Associates o Pinney Designs FLORIST o Brattle Square Florist o Central Square Florist o Petali Flowers FRAMING o A Street Frames o Big Picture Framing o Cambridge Art & Frame
COMMUNITY CLASSES o Cambridge Center for Adult Education o Cambridge School of Culinary Arts o The Little Details PRESCHOOL OR DAYCARE o Bright Horizons o Garden Nursery School o Two Little Owls Schoolhouse PET GROOMING o Elliot’s House o Jeana’s Dirty Dog Salon o LaundroMutt
DOG WALKING o Boston Dog Company o Elliot’s House Pet Care o Quadrupeds BANK OR CREDIT UNION o Naveo Credit Union o Eastern Bank o Rockland Trust REAL ESTATE AGENCY o Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage o Compass o Griffin Properties
INSURANCE AGENCY o WTPhelan Insurance Agency o Ralph J. Galante Insurance Agency o Fucillo & Sasso Associates Insurance Agency CO-WORKING SPACE o Industry Lab o NGIN Workplace o Workbar
Continued on next page
Food
Drinks
BAKERY o Flour Bakery o Tatte Bakery and Cafe o Hi-Rise Bread Company
PIZZA o All Star Pizza Bar o Pinocchio’s Pizza & Subs o Area Four
BUTCHER o Mayflower Poultry o Savenor’s Market o Fresh Pond Market
SUSHI o Fuji at Kendall o Cafe Sushi o The Mad Monkfish
COFFEE SHOP OR CAFE o 1369 Coffee House o Broadsheet Coffee Roasters o Simon’s Coffee Shop
TACOS o Lone Star Taco Bar o Olé o Felipe’s Taqueria
GOURMET OR SPECIALTY FOOD o Curio Spice Co. o Formaggio Kitchen o Salt & Olive BREAKFAST o Bagelsaurus o The Friendly Toast o Mass Ave Diner BRUNCH o City Girl Cafe o Henrietta’s Table o Russell House Tavern BAR EATS o State Park o Temple Bar o Roxy’s Grilled Cheese CHEAP EATS o Naco Taco o Skampa o Charlie’s Kitchen PLACE TO SPLURGE o Craigie On Main o Giulia o Puritan & Company SWEET TOOTH SATISFIER o EHChocolatier o New City Microcreamery o Zinneken’s VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN o Bartleby’s Seitan Stand o Veggie Galaxy o Whole Heart Provisions GLUTEN-FREE o Life Alive o The Friendly Toast o Violette Gluten-free Bakery
CATERING o City Girl Cafe o Season To Taste o S&S Deli and Restaurant KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT o Border Cafe o Full Moon o Veggie Galaxy OUTDOOR DINING o Oleana o Daedalus o Felipe’s Taqueria CHEF o Alden & Harlow Michael Scelfo o Oleana - Ana Sortun o The Table at Season to Taste - Carl Dooley SERVICE STAFF o The Abbey o Oleana o Broadsheet Coffee Roasters
RESTAURANT IN CENTRAL SQUARE o The Mad Monkfish o Little Donkey o Pammy’s
BARISTA o 1369 Coffee House - Lip o Broadsheet Coffee Roasters - Will Buchanan
RESTAURANT IN EAST CAMBRIDGE o Lone Star Taco Bar o Loyal Nine o Atwood’s Tavern
BARTENDER o Grafton Street Morgan Carney o Highland Fried Maceo Gilleece
RESTAURANT IN HARVARD SQUARE o The Hourly Oyster House o Cafe Sushi o Alden & Harlow
COCKTAILS o Grafton Street o Brick & Mortar o Cafe ArtScience
RESTAURANT IN HURON VILLAGE o The Village Kitchen o Full Moon o Trattoria Pulcinella RESTAURANT IN INMAN SQUARE o Moona o Oleana o Puritan & Company RESTAURANT IN KENDALL SQUARE o Mamaleh’s Delicatessen o The Friendly Toast o The Smoke Shop BBQ RESTAURANT IN NORTH CAMBRIDGE o The Table at Season to Taste o Greek Corner o Frank’s Steak House
BEER PROGRAM o Bukowski’s Tavern o Beat Brew Hall o Meadhall
NEW BUSINESS o Gustazo Cuban Cafe o The Longfellow Bar o VESTER ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESS o Broadsheet Coffee Roasters o NOCA Provisions o Pemberton Farms Marketplace DATE NIGHT SPOT o Oleana o Russell House Tavern o Cambridge School for Culinary Arts
RESTAURANT IN PORTER SQUARE o Giulia o Gustazo Cuban Cafe o Yume Wo Katare
ASIAN o The Mad Monkfish o Sugar & Spice o Yume Wo Katare
RESTAURANT OVERALL o Oleana o Pammy’s o Alden & Harlow
LATIN AMERICAN o Orinoco o Gustazo Cuban Cafe o Muqueca Restaurant
Arts & Entertainment MOVIE THEATER o Apple Cinemas o Brattle Theatre o Kendall Square Cinema
TAKEOUT o Punjabi Dhaba o Chick Chick Boom! o Le’s
GREEK o Desfina Restaurant o Greek Corner Restaurant o Saloniki Greek
MUSIC VENUE o The Lilypad o The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub o The Sinclair
FOOD TRUCK o Bartleby’s Seitan Stand o Bon Me o Roxy’s Grilled Cheese
ITALIAN o Giulia o Pammy’s o Benedetto
ART GALLERY o Gallery 263 o Gallery 344 o Le Laboratoire Cambridge
BURGER o Craigie On Main o Grafton Street Pub & Grill o Flat Patties
RESTAURANT IN AREA FOUR o PAGU o Area Four o Roxy’s Grilled Cheese
LIQUOR STORE o Cambridge Wine & Spirits o City Liquors o Inman Square Wine & Spirits WINE SHOP o Central Bottle o Inman Square Wine & Spirits o University Wine Shop
Wild Cards
AMERICAN o Highland Fried o BISq o PARK Restaurant & Bar
MIDDLE EASTERN o Moona o Oleana o Cafe Barada
BREWERY o Cambridge Brewing Co. o Lamplighter Brewing Co. o Lord Hobo
LATE-NIGHT HAUNT o Charlie’s Kitchen o The Cantab Lounge o Green Street OLD FAVORITE o S&S Deli and Restaurant o ImprovBoston o Harvard Book Store
EVENTS SPACE o The Cambridge Masonic Hall o Multicultural Arts Center o The Sinclair PERFORMING ARTS o American Repertory Theater o ImprovBoston o José Mateo Ballet Theatre
PLACE TO PEOPLE WATCH o Cafe Zing at Porter Square Books o Life Alive o Bukowski Tavern NEIGHBORHOOD TO DINE o Harvard Square o Central Square o Inman Square NEIGHBORHOOD TO RESIDE o Inman Square o North Cambridge o East Cambridge NEIGHBORHOOD TO SHOP o Harvard Square o Central Square o Porter Square NEIGHBORHOOD TO WORK o Kendall Square o Harvard Square o Central Square
LOCAL TOUR o Mapping Out Utopia Walking Tour o Cambridge Historical Tours o Off the Beaten Path Food Tours KID-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT o North Cambridge Family Opera o Maud Morgan Arts o Imagine Playspace
VOT E O N L I N E AT S C O U TC A M B R I D G E . C O M
W&L
WINNERS
LOSERS
FORMAGGIO KITCHEN Potato chips made the cut on Amy Sedaris’s list of 50 things she can’t live without, which also included an odd assortment of tube socks, pom poms, and self-adhesive laminating sheets. But Sedaris’s favorites aren’t just any chips—the actress, comedian, and writer specifically praised Formaggio Kitchen’s exclusively imported Bonilla a la Vista potato chips, according to a press release from the shop. Formaggio Kitchen owners discovered the special snack while traveling in Barcelona and brought a shipment to the United States, anticipating the “perfect balance of sugars and starch” would become a local hit. If that doesn’t make your mouth water, what will?
THE ‘MAY’ IN ‘MAYFAIR’ Dreary weather this spring forced the Harvard Square Business Association (HSBA) to reschedule the MayFair for the second time in four years, the Cambridge Chronicle reports. But the doom and gloom doesn’t end there—the Harvard Square Business Association is considering permanently moving the outdoor festival to late May or even June if unfavorable weather patterns continue, which could mean a change in the name of the event. “The weather has really shifted, and we need to figure out if this is our new normal,” HSBA Executive Director Denise Jillson told the Chronicle.
CELESTE NG Cambridge resident and author Celeste Ng is in the spotlight. The Harvard graduate took to Twitter to announce the success of her second and latest novel, “Little Fires Everywhere,” which garnered a coveted spot as a New York Times #1 Bestseller this May. Ng is no stranger to fame—her first novel, “Everything I Never Told You,” also topped the New York Times’ bestseller list and became Amazon’s #1 Best Book of 2014. The fiction author’s latest bestseller will be brought to life by Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon in a highly anticipated 2020 Hulu miniseries, Harper’s Bazaar reports. BIKING Local bike sharing has never been more popular. Bluebikes riders across Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, and Brookline totaled a record of 10,035 trips in a single sunny day in June, pedalling past 10,000 rides in a day for the first time in Bluebikes history, according to a press release from the bikeshare program. Riders traversed over 13,000 miles and burned more than 877,000 calories on the record-breaking day. The numbers might keep growing, too, as Bluebikes and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts team up to add 50 new stations and 1,000 new bikes this year. The program recently expanded to Everett as well.
TAXIS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND WALKING Uber and Lyft rides are up by a whopping 25 percent in Massachusetts, with a total of 81.3 million trips in 2018, CommonWealth Magazine reports. Cambridge residents are the most frequent Uber and Lyft customers in the state, averaging 74.4 trips per person in a year. All this means bad news for other forms of transportation: Studies show that TNC users would be more likely to use public transportation or walk to their destination if ride apps were off the table, according to CommonWealth Magazine. City Council members recently voted in favor of drafting state legislation that would regulate TNCs in the city, the Cambridge Chronicle reports. COLLEGE ADMISSION Harvard rescinded its admissions offer to Kyle Kashuv, a Parkland shooting survivor known for his gun rights activism, after learning of racist remarks he allegedly made in high school, the Harvard Crimson reports. The now-activist took to Twitter earlier this year to publicly apologize after former classmates criticized his use of racial slurs in text messages with peers as a 16-year-old, drawing Harvard’s attention. After submitting a written explanation of his conduct to the university and still losing his spot in next year’s incoming class, Kashuv denounced the decision, claiming that Harvard failed to appreciate his ability to change.
NEWS FROM THE NORTH Here’s just some of what you’ll find in the Technology & Transportation Issue of our sibling publication, Scout Somerville.
THIS TECH FIRM WANTS TO ENSURE THE NEXT U.S. PRESIDENT IS A DEMOCRAT NGP VAN provides crucial tools to the Democratic Party and its affiliated campaigns.
THE GLX EFFECT: PAIN BEFORE GAIN FOR SOMERVILLE’S SMALL BUSINESSES Businesses are feeling the growing pains of the Green Line Extension.
DO-GOODERS, KEY PLAYERS, AND GAME CHANGERS: DEBORAH MASON Deborah Mason uses dance to tackle tough topics and transform people’s lives.
Someone rustle your jimmies or tickle your fancy?
Let us know at scoutcambridge.com/contact-us, and we just might crown them a winner or loser.
—BY ABBIE GRUSKIN scoutcambridge.com | Technology & Transportation
9
WHAT’S NEW
BY ABBIE GRUSKIN
COMINGS & GOINGS supplies, grooming, and daycare for pets, according to the report. HARVARD SQUARE
JOHN HARVARD’S ALE HOUSE
John Harvard’s Ale House shut its doors at the end of May after COMING over 25 years in Harvard Square, SOON Boston Magazine reports. Once a popular joint for Harvard students, faculty, and families, John Harvard’s recently struggled with maintenance upkeep and decreasing crowds before deciding to close, according to the magazine. The ale house will live on, however, in four other locations in the northeast.
MOVE
CENTRAL SQUARE
REWILD PLANT FOOD + DRINK
EAST CAMBRIDGE
PURITAN & CO. CHEF/OWNER TO OPEN NEW EATERY IN 2020
W
ill Gilson, the chef and owner of Puritan & Co., has big plans for an all-in-one cafe, restaurant, and cocktail bar, according to a press release. An anticipated retail building in Cambridge Crossing known as The Shed, which is currently under construction, will house Gilson’s upcoming project. The eatery is scheduled to open in early 2020.
KENDALL SQUARE
CULTUREHOUSE
Where can you find space to work, relax, play ping pong, and COMING jump on trampolines MOVED SOON(all for free)? CultureHouse, a pop-up that aims to make all of these and more accessible to anyone in the city, will be open in Kendall Square from July through October, according to a press
10 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
release. The new space, named K2 Cafe, has revitalized 500 Kendall St., which had been vacant for over a year. EAST CAMBRIDGE
LOYAL COMPANION PET STORE
COMING SOON
You won’t find any furry friends at this new pet store, but you will find everything they need (or want). Loyal Companion
recently signed a lease with real estate development company Urban Spaces for a spot in the highly anticipated First Street Corridor shopping center set to open this year, the Boston Real Estate Times reports. After a city MOVED ordinance barred the retail sale of commercially bred animals, Petco chose not to renew its lease and Loyal Companion stepped in to fill the void, offering food,
COMING SOON
This vegan beer hall needs your help. Rewild Plant Food + Drink is looking to open its first permanent location in Central Square after a several-month stint in Quincy Center and has launched a Kickstarter campaign to get the ball rolling, Boston Magazine reports. Co-founder Pat McAuley estimates the project will cost nearly $2 million, and the company is offering T-shirts, vegan cheese-making classes, and more as an incentive to prospective donors. The pop-up menu included the Impossible Burger, soy and cashew cheese pizzas, and lots of beer. THE PORT
LONGFELLOWS CLOSES, NEW COFFEE SPOT OPENS SHOP
Sadly, Longfellows is no more. The coffee shop grew immensely from its humble beginnings two and a half years ago, when it opened inside Lamplighter Brewing Co. with only four items on its cafe menu, and quickly became a neighborhood mainstay. But fear not: Pepita Coffee opened in the space in early June, complete with a new menu specializing in breakfast tacos and the same well-loved staff, now overseen by Lamplighter co-founders Cayla Marvil and AC Jones.
Photo, top left, by Adrianne Mathiowetz. Photo, top right, courtesy of the Cambridge Mayor’s Office.
MOVE
STUDY UP
We understand an hour never feels long enough. Schedule an hour therapeutic massage for a Tuesday between 9 and 2 and receive an extra 15 min FREE (75 min total)! Call our office to schedule. Limited availability. Promotion ends 8/31/2019.
CAMBRIDGEPORT
COMMUNITY CELEBRATES NEWLY REDESIGNED MORSE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND
The Morse School playground reopened in June after undergoing significant renovations to reflect the city’s Healthy Parks and Playgrounds policy. The play space now includes more movementoriented amenities like swings and climbing stations, a freshly renovated basketball court, and a shed to house toys at the end of the day. The upgraded playground is meant to “provide challenging and engaging play opportunities for families and children of all ages and abilities,” according to a statement from the city. HARVARD SQUARE
CRLS WORKS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN HONORS AND LOWER-TIER CLASSES Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School (CRLS) is working to correct a glaring racial divide in its honors classes and lowertier classes known as “college prep,” the Boston Globe reports: While white students often fill honors classes, black and Latino students tend to end up in the lower-tier alternatives. English and history are now only offered as honors classes for ninth and 10th grade students, with the hope of integrating the classroom and fostering a “more enriching learning environment for all students.” The achievement gap at CRLS is apparent: While 55 percent of white high school students and 60 percent of Asian students went on to complete college within six years, less than
40 percent of black and Latino students from the school did the same, the Globe reports. KENDALL SQUARE
MIT AND AIR FORCE COLLABORATE ON AI PROJECT MIT launched a new program in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force in May to explore possible advances in artificial intelligence technology, the Boston Globe reports. “Our objective is to advance the underlying science behind AI and facilitate societal applications, including helping create solutions in fields like disaster relief and medical preparedness that are of interest to the Air Force,” the Director of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory told the Globe. With a hefty $15 million investment from the Air Force, the project will become a part of MIT’s Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing, which is opening this fall.
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CAR TALK HOST TOM MAGLIOZZI MEMORIALIZED
The beloved MIT alumnus, auto mechanic, and comedian co-host of hit NPR show “Car Talk” Tom Magliozzi, who died in 2014, will live on in the city with a new memorial, the Cambridge Chronicle reports. Born and bred in the city, Tom and his younger brother Ray incorporated their local surroundings—“Hahvahd Squayah”—into the show frequently and with great humor. NPR’s most popular entertainment bit to date, “Car Talk” is still on air.
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11
WHAT’S NEW
CITY BEAT
CITY ASKS FOR PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IDEAS
I
t’s time to speak up if you have big dreams of sprucing up the city. Cambridge has allotted $1,000,000 to spend on “capital projects to improve the community” in the sixth annual Participatory Budgeting cycle and is asking residents to propose project ideas, according to a press release. Proposals are due July 31, and then volunteer budget delegates will winnow them down to a list of finalists before the community votes on winners in December.
CITY PLANS TO RENAME STREETS AND BUILDINGS THAT COMMEMORATE SLAVERY
Think those historic street and building names scrawled across the city are harmless? Think again. Locals who played a role in the slave trade have been memorialized on street signs and building names, the Cambridge Chronicle reports, but City Council members are determined to make a change. The council tasked the Civic Unity Committee with investigating site names with ties to slavery and eventually renaming the landmarks. “Why, in 2019, are we continuing to enshrine the names of people who made their fortune off selling people into slavery?” City Councilor Denise Simmons asked, according to the Chronicle.
OFFICIALS OUTLINE GOALS THROUGH 2030
After three years of planning, city officials have published an extensive outline of goals for the city’s future, the Cambridge Chronicle reports. “Envision Cambridge” spans 214 pages and serves as a “roadmap” through the year 2030. The plan includes dozens of 12 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
recommended strategies aimed at goals including environmental awareness, “community wellbeing,” and economic growth. One of the most notable goals of “Envision Cambridge” is reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
composting efforts to include residential buildings with at least 13 units this fall, according to the city. Citywide composting is a key
COMMUNITY WELLNESS
… which is why we’re offering a safe space to exercise for free and spend time with their friends all summer long,” Planet Fitness CEO Chris Rondeau told the Patch.
CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS CHANGING STATE FLAG
Following concerns from residents, the City Council voted in favor of a state bill that would form a commission to redesign the state flag, the Cambridge Patch reports. The image on the flag of Myles Standish—known for his role in the foundation of Plymouth Colony and his “brutality toward the native peoples”—brandishing his sword over a Native American is making many people uncomfortable. “It is an expired declaration of war,” Cambridge resident Joaquin told the Patch regarding the state flag and seal. A redesign of the state seal has been endorsed by 30 municipalities, WBUR reports.
CITY EXPANDS CURBSIDE COMPOST
After composting 1,900 tons of food remains and reducing trash in the city by seven percent, the city will expand its curbside
element of the Zero Waste Master Plan, which aims to reduce 30 percent of citywide trash by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.
CITY AIMS TO CLEAN UP LAND SURROUNDING JERRY’S POND PORTER SQUARE
PLANET FITNESS OFFERS FREE SUMMER MEMBERSHIPS TO TEENS
Even though gym class may be over for the year, now is a better time than ever for teens to break a sweat. From May 15 through Sept. 1, the Planet Fitness gym in Porter Square—along with 68 other Massachusetts locations and Planet Fitness gyms across the country—will offer free access to teenagers through its “Teen Summer Challenge,” the Cambridge Patch reports. “We want to give teens the chance to stay active when school is out
Local officials are getting creative with their efforts to clean up the city this summer. Determined to find a bright side after learning that Jerry’s Pond was ineligible for a grant that could have helped with restoration efforts, City Council members voted in favor of investigating the possibility of upgrading the land at the perimeter of the pond, the Cambridge Chronicle reports. Additions to the site—such as benches, new trees, and signs and kiosks identifying the site and providing historical information—would complement other city initiatives that have aimed to improve the cleanliness of the area, Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui told the Chronicle.
Photo, top right, courtesy of Cambridge Artists’ Coop.
GETTING CREATIVE Muckykids will move to the new space in August.
HARVARD STUDENT’S FINE JEWELRY COMPANY ATTRACTS FAMOUS CLIENTELE
HARVARD SQUARE
CAMBRIDGE ARTISTS’ COOPERATIVE MOVES OUT OF HARVARD
Multiple construction projects in Harvard Square—along with a decrease in foot traffic and ever-rising rents—have sent the Cambridge Artists’ Cooperative searching for new digs. “We just feel like we need to be in a new space so that we can get the customers back and not pay such a high rate,” President Beverley Coniglio told Scout. “We’re really sad to leave—we really don’t want to leave.” The shop, which has been in the square for over 30 years and is largely volunteer-run, started a GoFundMe to alleviate the cost of relocating and hopes to reopen the shop in Central or Porter Square. NORTH CAMBRIDGE
MUCKYKIDS ART STUDIO MOVES TO NEW LOCATION
After nine years in its space on Massachusetts Avenue in Porter Square, Muckykids Art Studio is moving a mile away into North Cambridge. The larger space will allow for a wider range of programs, including drop-in studio classes six days a week, birthday party events on Sundays, and an array of classes for older kids and adults, according to a press release.
Shilpa Yarlagadda’s company had humble beginnings. Working with high-tech 3-D printers at MIT, Harvard rising junior Shilpa Yarlagadda started the innovative jewelry brand Shiffon in her first-year college dorm room, the Wall Street Journal reports. But the real sparkle behind Yarlagadda’s company is the philanthropic side to her work: Half of the profits from each piece help fund other budding female-run businesses. The business has garnered the support and loyalty of some famous clientele, including Emma Watson, Nicole Kidman, and Michelle Obama.
CAMBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECEIVES GRANT FOR ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
The Cambridge Historical Society is poised for a new creative undertaking with a $7,500 grant from Mass Humanities, according to a press release. The oral history project, entitled “Sweet Souls, Voices from the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House in Cambridge,” will include under-documented narratives to explore the impact of the 112 yearold Margaret Fuller settlement house on the surrounding community. The project is projected to be finished in early 2020, at which point audio and transcripts of the included interviews will become available on the Society’s website.
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scoutcambridge.com | Technology & Transportation 13
TECHNOLOGY & TRANSPORTATION
Ten Years In,
VENTURE CAFÉ
Offers Guidance for
NEW ENTREPRENEURS Every Thursday BY JM LINDSAY
I
f you’re thinking of starting a business, or you have a great new concept you want to get in front of potential investors, you might want to head down to Kendall Square next Thursday. That’s where Venture Café, a nonprofit offshoot of the co-working space Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), has hosted weekly seminars for the past 10 years. The topics cover everything from robotics and artificial intelligence to energy and clean technology, according to Janice Dru, senior marketing director at the CIC. A decade after founding CIC, CEO Timothy Rowe and his team “came up with the concept of building an open door environment for entrepreneurs to connect with each other and for innovators to find great new ideas,” according to Dru. It was clear to them that CIC was effectively supporting firms that had business plans and some financial backing. But, according to the organization’s website, “Money and a plan are important steps in the entrepreneurial process, but in reality they are more like Step 2 or Step 3. What was missing were Step 0 and 14 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
Step 1—honing ideas, raising money, mentorship, connection to deep knowledge, and general collaboration opportunities.” So to fill that void, CIC started the Venture Café program in 2009. “Venture Café events are open to the public as a resource for all entrepreneurs, innovators, and those interested in entrepreneurship or innovation,” says Dru. She adds that locals and visitors from around the world come to the program’s events, which are held at 1 Broadway in Kendall Square, the first of three CIC locations in Kendall Square. And these are not your runof-the-mill networking events, but fun gatherings where people can let loose and spitball their business ideas in a casual setting. “Participants may spend the entire evening in the networking area, which includes up to three free beverages for each participant, or meander around the space to attend sessions that may be held at different times throughout the evening,” says Dru. The networking furthers a major part of Venture Café’s mission: to get hopeful business leaders in front of potential investors and mentors who can
make their dreams into a reality. To that end, Venture Café offers 30-minute mentoring sessions—also for free and open to the public—with what Dru calls “volunteer experts.” These sessions can be booked online and begin at 3 p.m. every Thursday and go into the evening. The weekly events also include “pitch sessions,” during which potential start-up founders can put their ideas in front of people looking to invest in the next big thing. Venture Café aims to knock down other barriers to entry as well. Take large overhead equipment costs, for example: The Innovation Center has teamed with Cambridge’s LabCentral and Boston’s MassRobotics to create shared laboratory space and hi-tech equipment. This way, a new company that works at CIC can simply rent the high-end hardware and space it needs to experiment instead of needing a multi-million dollar investment just to get an idea off the ground. Venture Café also hopes to shrink gender and racial gaps. The organization has tracked its events’ attendance and participation over the past Photos courtesy of Venture Café.
What was missing were Step 0 and Step 1—honing ideas, raising money, mentorship, connection to deep knowledge, and general collaboration opportunities.
10 years, and, according to its latest impact report, the effort has been paying off. The share of white or Caucasian Venture Café participants has decreased from a clear majority to just around half between 2010 and 2018, while the share of attendees identifying as men has gone from 77 to 58 percent in the same time frame. (These statistics are from all Venture Café event locations— while they started in Cambridge, they’ve grown to almost a dozen cities around the world). “There isn’t specific information around how many companies started through interactions at VC and how many investor meetings resulted in funding,” Dru concedes, “although there are anecdotal stories to share and an overwhelming positive response from the entrepreneurs who participate in the events.” One of the program’s selling points is its location. Housed within the CIC’s first building, the weekly gatherings take place in the center of the Boston area’s technological and entrepreneurial activity. The co-working space functions as the primary office for everyone from independent consultants and lawyers to remote
employees of larger firms with over a hundred employees. The proximity to Harvard and MIT doesn’t hurt, either. The program has proven quite popular, with Dru estimating almost 500 people attending the gatherings each week, and some events attracting crowds up to 800.
Venture Café events run from 3 to 8 p.m. every Thursday at 1 Broadway. For more information about Venture Café: venturecafecambridge.org. For a list of CIC Events, check cic.com/events.
scoutcambridge.com | Technology & Transportation 15
TECHNOLOGY & TRANSPORTATION
For LivableStreets, Transportation is a Social Justice Issue BY SARAH ROBBINS PHOTO BY SASHA PEDRO
“S
treets are for people, and for all people, whether they’re walking or biking, [or] taking public transit,” says Louisa Gag, sitting across from me at a large wood conference table in an office that 16 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
houses a total of five desks, two bikes, and one bathroom. It’s hard to imagine that so many projects across Cambridge and Boston are run out of this one room, and Gag realizes that. “We often hear people who are surprised to know, ‘Wait, you only have five staff?’ she says with a laugh. The office we’re sitting in is
home to LivableStreets Alliance, a transportation advocacy nonprofit that serves Cambridge and Boston. The organization was founded in 2004 by Cambridge resident Jeff Rosenblum, who saw a gap in transportation advocacy efforts and a need for safe and equitable streets. “We were the first multimodal transportation advocacy
organization in the Boston area,” Gag, LivableStreets’ program coordinator, tells me. “Multimodal” means that LivableStreets doesn’t limit itself to just one project or cause. “Jeff Rosenblum, our cofounder, was speaking with advocacy organizations across the country and hearing … that being pigeon-holed by a mode
Kristiana Lachiusa (left) and Louisa Gag (right)
restricted being able to work across transportation, or across streets,” Gag explains. Instead of being restricted, LivableStreets is well-connected within its communities. They work with officials across the cities, advocate to push projects forward, and of course, train volunteers. “We call them Street
Ambassadors,” Gag says, “and the idea is [about] training folks from their community to go out on the street and meet people where they are.” These volunteers make it possible for the five people to accomplish hundreds of projects. Like the name suggests, these volunteers act as conduits between the city and its people, educating
passersby about ongoing projects, advertising community meetings, and collecting people’s stories about their experiences with their city streets. Encouragingly, these stories promote real change. Kristiana Lachiusa, the community engagement coordinator, mentions a recent transportation success between Union Square and Packard’s Corner in Boston. “A shared bus/bike lane is coming to that section of Brighton Ave. So it’ll help the 57 and 66 buses move more quickly and more reliably, but also provide a 12-foot-wide bike lane for cyclists,” Lachiusa says. The project was propelled by volunteers. Street Ambassadors collected over 230 stories of people’s experiences with buses on Brighton Ave. in 2018, according to LivableStreet’s website. This project was a part of a larger initiative that Lachiusa oversees called “Better Buses,” which is aimed at improving bus efficiency. Slow, unreliable busing hits certain neighborhoods harder than others, and can take an unjust toll on the people who live there. “Black bus riders spend 64 more hours per year on a bus as compared to their white counterparts,” Lachuisa explains, quoting a recent equity report by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Aside from powering three projects (Better Buses, the Emerald Network, and GoBoston 2030) and many individual volunteers, LivableStreets supports Vision Zero, an international standard for street safety and reducing traffic fatalities. Cambridge has joined Somerville and Boston in a VisionZero Coalition. Of the many improvements outlined, LivableStreets is particularly interested in street design. LivableStreets is advocating for design changes like decreased speed limits, added speed humps, and narrower lanes. “You can change the behavior and make the streets safer, if you design them differently,” Gag explains. Part of LivableStreets’ ability to promote these changes comes from holding people, specifically
city officials, accountable. “Sometimes you’re really supporting a partnership, and sometimes you are holding their feet to the fire,” Gag explains. An example of this “holding feet to the fire” is the progress reports LivableStreets creates about how well the City of Cambridge is implementing the premises of VisionZero. “Two years ago, our partnership was really focused on wanting to see more resources and staffing for transportation, and we did end up winning that,” Gag says. In fact, the city funded 20 new staff positions for transportation. Gag says it’s useful to be in direct communication with the officials who are charged with upholding these initiatives. “One of the great things about doing this progress report or status update evaluation in partnership with them is that rather than just providing recommendations, we’re working with them to determine next steps.” As LivableStreets continues to support projects and communicate with city officials, the team is excited for a new initiative: candidate questionnaires for city council races in Cambridge, Somerville, and Allston that are centered on transportation. These questionnaires can then be used as accountability tools for whoever gets elected. “It’s just a cool way to kind of make sure that folks are educated about what candidates support these issues,” Gag says. In addition to its other projects, LivableStreets hosts an advocacy committee, made up of volunteers who may see problems within their neighborhoods. Rather than organizing tasks for these volunteers, Livable Streets prefers to uplift volunteers’ own agendas. “We try and ... provide them resources so that they can advocate in their communities and gather groups of their own neighbors to move projects that they see, so that they can do the work themselves,” Lachiusa explains. These projects could be anything from fixing a pothole to adding a speed bump. “The end goal is quality of life,” Gag says. “Transportation is a tool to get there.” scoutcambridge.com | Technology & Transportation
17
TECHNOLOGY & TRANSPORTATION
TIPS FOR BIKING IN THE CITY BY REENA KARASIN | PHOTO BY STEFAN MALNER
T
he Community Development Department hosts a slew of bicycle workshops throughout the year, from Rules of the Road to Bicycle Maintenance Basics to Riding with Families. Workshops are free to attend and include free helmets. The Urban Cycling Basics workshop focuses on getting people road-ready for the special set of challenges biking in a hectic city presents. Here’s what you need to know.
1
Watch drivers’ behavior, not just their blinkers
Cars don’t always use their blinkers— as anyone who’s walked, biked, or driven these streets knows. But there are other signs you can pick up on to predict whether a car is going to turn. If the vehicle slows down, Sustainability Planner Jennifer Lawrence recommends slowing down also and getting behind the vehicle. This tactic can help save you from the treacherous right hook, where a car turning right hits a cyclist in a bike lane.
2
Helmets expire
Got a helmet that’s covered in cobwebs? Check the expiration date printed on the inside. Helmets are made of styrofoam, which deteriorates over time. It also cracks to protect you, so if you’ve fallen in your current helmet you should get a new one. Here’s how to tell if your helmet fits correctly, according to Lawrence: “You want to look up and be able to see the edge of it. That means it’s covering the front part of your forehead, the brain part, so it’s really 18 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
important. And then you want it to be tight enough so that you can bite an apple but it doesn’t hurt while you’re doing that, and not loose enough that it can just fall off if there’s a big bump. And you want the straps to be around your ears.”
3
“You’re not a pedestrian”
People are so used to walking their neighborhood streets that sometimes they forget that the rules of cycling are much closer to the rules of driving, Lawrence explains. That means stopping at red lights, making sure you’re not going the wrong way down a one-way street (unless there are contraflow lanes), and yielding to pedestrians.
4
Stay away from doors if you can
Dooring is another major safety issue for bicyclists, as bike lanes are often on either side of a parking lane. While there are campaigns to get drivers and passengers to watch out for cyclists before opening their doors (like the “Dutch Reach,” which asks
people to use their opposite hand to open car doors), Lawrence recommends cyclists stay three feet away from car doors whenever possible to help stay safe.
5
Try out your route on a weekend
6
Dress comfortably
If you’re new to biking to work, don’t try it for the first time during rush hour. Give it a test run on a weekend when traffic will be calmer—that way you’ll get comfortable biking the roads and your route will feel more familiar when you try it at 8 a.m.
The misconception that you need special biking clothes can be a barrier to getting started, Lawrence explains, but she bikes in whatever she plans to wear for the day, even if it’s a dress. If you’re biking at night, though, be sure to wear light colors so others can see you. To find a schedule of upcoming workshops, visit cambridgema.gov/bikeworkshops.
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TECHNOLOGY & TRANSPORTATION
‘POCKET MUSIC MACHINE’ PUTS INSTRUMENTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS BY REENA KARASIN
W
hat if you could fit a drum kit in your pocket? Smaller than an iPhone, Bitty is easy to hold and easy to take with you. But don’t be fooled—its size has no bearing on the sounds it can make. Nickolas Peter Chelyapov was inspired by a keychain soundmaker that was popular when he was growing up in the ’80s. “I liked that keychain as a kid,” he says. “When you’re little, being loud helps you feel bigger. The second reason it was memorable was because it was like a key fob, which made you feel like a fancy adult. Just 20 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
because I had that in my pop culture mentality, I decided to see if I could open it up and tinker with it and make it playable.” He taught himself to code, and eventually Bitty was born. Chelyapov has created several types of Bitty (named for its “itty bitty” size) so far, including drum, melody, and noise. But anyone can change and develop the software, opening up many programming possibilities. That approach is a departure from the many companies that sell different versions with different software, he says. “If someone gets bored of playing the drums, they hook it up to their computer, they
press a button, and it becomes a different one,” Chelyapov says. “This is, theoretically, infinitely expandable. I already have like a dozen different things that it does. You basically get a new instrument every time.” Chelyapov launched a Kickstarter for Bitty on April 30 after the crowdfunding platform offered to promote the project as part of its 10th anniversary. Bitty reached its goal of $50,000 by May 3, which means Chelyapov will be able to send out the first run of the machines by February 2020. They’re being built in Houston, Texas. Chelyapov says he never would’ve created Bitty if he
hadn’t come to Cambridge. Born in Moscow, from age 8 he grew up in Los Angeles and went to art school there. He became a graphic designer for movie posters, but switched tracks when, after his move to Cambridge, he started working out of a coworking makerspace in Somerville. With the right tools at his fingertips, he dove headfirst into combining sound, technology, and art. “I got nerdy about hardware,” says Chelyapov, who now works out of another maker-heavy coworking space, Industry Lab, in Cambridge. “It was out of circumstance. The density of the creative nerdery here is amazing.
Photo, left, by Reena Karasin. Photo, right, courtesy of Bitty.
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I was always nerdy, I just didn’t know anyone that messed around with hardware.” As for a target audience, Chelyapov thinks Bitty knows no bounds. For both amateur and experienced musicians, it’s a portable instrument that has the eventual potential to mimic an endless variety of sounds. He loves that it can be loud, and hopes it will bring people together. He keeps coming back to a vision of outdoor jamming sessions. “The idea for it is to be loud enough that you can play outside with other people,” he explains. “A lot of music gear is meant to be used in your studio or in your bedroom or something. This thing, if a friend is playing guitar, I can play drums, or someone else can freestyle over it.”
For kids and teens, it can be a music toy that doesn’t require music experience. Plus it offers educational opportunities for coding, as editing its software is simple enough that people with no programming experience can experiment with it. “It’s really straightforward,” Chelyapov says. “All of a sudden you’re programming. I’ve never seen such a low barrier to entry.” “Because I had to learn how to code it, I made it pretty simple,” he adds. “I think it has a lot of potential to be educational, but it’s because the fundamental directive was to make it fun and expressive and usable.” CodeChangers, which teaches technology to kids ages 8 to 18, has bought Bitties for its programs in California and Utah, according to Chelyapov.
Creating form and functional art which is contextual and expresses your unique individuality and design goals.
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TECHNOLOGY & TRANSPORTATION
FROM PUBLIC TO PERSONALIZED: Alterspace Turns Libraries Into Rooms of Requirement BY REENA KARASIN | PHOTOS BY SASHA PEDRO
22 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
W
ant to relax? Try blue and purple lighting, and maybe some nature sounds. More in the mood to get creative? Opt for red tones. Or just want to “be weird”? The rainbow’s at your fingertips. People come to libraries for all kinds of reasons, and libraries have adapted to offering technology, classes, and a variety of programming in addition to books. But there’s still more to be done to make these third spaces into Harry Potter-esque Rooms of Requirement, Clare Stanton argues. “The one thing that’s really standardized and not malleable in a library is its physical environment,” says Stanton, who does outreach and communications for Harvard’s Library Innovation Lab. “When you go into the reading room, there’s fluorescent lights, the tables are set up the way they’re set up, you kind of need to contain your noise to yourself and it needs to be pretty regulated.” Alterspace changes all that. The pop-up, customizable library environment lets people adjust the room’s lights and sounds to match whatever they need the library to be. Walk into the latest Alterspace location—inside the public part of Harvard’s Langdell Hall—and you’ll find a tablet that asks what you’d like to do today. There are six options: focus, meditate, read, relax, create, W3!Rd. Each preset adjusts the lighting and sounds, but you can personalize it from there. Tweak the programmable LEDs’ intensity, change the color, or overlay additional sounds. Alterspace is a project from the Library Innovation Lab and the metaLAB at Harvard. Stanton describes their common ground
“[We] think about what kinds of areas of exploration in libraries we can poke at with technology.” as where “libraries, technology, and space” overlap. “What we do a lot of the time is think about what kinds of areas of exploration in libraries we can poke at with technology, with installations, with research and ideas,” she says of the Library Innovation Lab. Some of the Library Innovation Lab’s other projects include Perma.cc, which creates archives of websites used in scholarly research, and the Caselaw Access Project, which has digitized over 6.7 million cases. Alterspace’s code is open source, so the project is intended to be replicable by libraries across the country and tailorable to their individual needs. That means Alterspace’s personalization could go beyond light and sound if a library wants to develop its own code to
advance the project. Libraries can find the code at alterspace.github.io. “The end goal of this is that, like patrons needing autonomy in their space and the ability to have levers to change things, we know libraries are like that as well,” Stanton says. “One library’s needs are not the same as another’s.” The Alterspace team worked with a sound artist to develop the audio options and a Harvard undergraduate who has a background in color theory to tailor the lighting options. They’ve learned from each of their pop-ups as well. One comment that stuck with them was that adults appreciate light-hearted, fun programs like Alterspace from their libraries in addition to the skill development and research tools that libraries typically offer, according to Stanton.
Stanton can envision two additional ways Alterspace could be applied. The first is for children’s storytime, where librarians could create settings to shift the space’s mood. “There could be a preset for the storytime that you could change each week to reflect what book you’re reading—like if it’s kind of creepy, you can make the thunderstorm sounds and darker lights,” she explains. Another route could be improving libraries’ accessibility, particularly for people who are sensitive to certain lights or sounds. “That has become part of the larger library conversation,” Stanton says. “We have been really inspired by the idea that this could be a room for both people who do have a diagnosed issue and the rest of us. That’s been really inspirational, to try to push the boundaries of what kinds of lights and interventions we can put into this space.” The Langdell Hall location, which will run through the end of the summer, is the third iteration following stints at the Cambridge Public Library and the Somerville Public Library this spring. This will be the last pop-up, according to Stanton—afterward, the hope will be that individual libraries take up the torch. “At the end of the day, it’s a pretty simple intervention, but we’ve discovered that there definitely is something powerful about just having a little bit of control over your space,” Stanton says. You can find Alterspace at Harvard’s Langdell Hall through the end of the summer. Langdell Hall is located at 1545 Massachusetts Ave. scoutcambridge.com | Technology & Transportation 23
MEET THE SCOUT TEAM
MEET THE SCOUT TEAM
ADRIANNE MATHIOWETZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A
drianne grew up outside of Minneapolis in a home that was covered wall-to-wall with her father’s photography. She moved to the Boston area for a job in public radio, but found herself gravitating toward photography. “I feel like it gives me a sixth sense—when I’m photographing something, I feel like time passes very differently,” she says. “It’s like I have eyes all over my head. I feel very tuned in to multiple things happening at once, and even kind of a sense of the future, you’re always trying to be five seconds ahead of what’s about to happen so that you can run to the right spot and be there.” Adrianne found out about Scout a few years
ago when she walked by one of our outdoor boxes. She started by shooting our old Scout You sections, and now is the staff photographer who’s in charge of our Somerville edition. “I love that I feel so much more connected to the area by photographing for the Scout,” she says. “Scout has me directly meeting people and talking to them and creating portraits of them or documenting what they’re doing. It’s made me feel really positively about the area that I live in.” In addition to Scout, Adrianne does portrait photography out of Vernon Street Studios and works on her Home Portraiture project, where she makes photo books of people’s homes for them before they move. She and her husband, Janaka, have an infant son named Eli. She likes doing yoga and makes gluten-free baked goods every few days.
Top left: Adrianne and Eli in the Fells (photo by Janaka Stucky). Mid left: Self Portrait, 2019. Lower left: Home Portraiture books. Right: Janaka greets Eli after work.
24 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
INTRODUCING...
131 SHERMAN ST., CAMBRIDGE 617-354-0335 • JOSESMEX.COM
793 MASS AVE., ARLINGTON 781-316-0138 • JOSESTORTA.COM
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scoutcambridge.com | Technology & Transportation 25
DO-GOODERS, KEY PLAYERS & GAME CHANGERS
DO-GOODERS, KEY PLAYERS, AND GAME CHANGERS
PROJECT CITIZENSHIP BY ABBIE GRUSKIN
P
roject Citizenship has helped over 5,000 Massachusetts immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship since its start as a small family foundation initiative five years ago. The nonprofit is now the largest organization of its kind in New England. Project Citizenship volunteers offer Green Card holders advice about citizenship eligibility and help them fill out the necessary paperwork for a citizenship application. Beyond technical assistance, Project Citizenship aims to help immigrants feel more at home and have a greater impact within their communities. “Citizenship gives people a certain level of confidence with their security in this country, and that certainly creates community,” Director of Programs and Operations Melanie Torres says. “It also really encourages a sense of civic engagement that a lot of our clients are interested in that they really can’t do when they’re not citizens. Obviously voting, but also running for political office, or even just feeling comfortable voicing opinions.” The Boston-based organization has a strong relationship with Cambridge, serving almost 500 immigrants from the city and engaging nearly 100 residents in volunteer work since it began. In December, Project Citizenship received a grant from the Cambridge Community Foundation to continue its work in the city, which bolstered plans to expand outreach events and services. Torres says Project Citizenship hopes to strengthen relationships with Rep. Katherine Clark and Rep. Ayanna Pressley to further promote access to free, 26 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
reliable citizenship services. The organization runs on volunteers from the city and Greater Boston who share a passion for helping Green Card holders obtain U.S. citizenship. Project Citizenship volunteers include practicing lawyers and law students, but also those without any legal background— bilingual community members, politically minded undergraduate students, and even clients who have been through the process themselves. “Post 2016 election, there’s been a spike in volunteer interest,” Torres says. “It’s a great opportunity to connect community members who may not otherwise interact with immigrants, to connect with immigrants and hear their stories and elevate the empathy that people feel for immigrants. Volunteers are really motivated to get involved.” In addition to offering free legal services for over 1,600 clients each year, Project Citizenship works with other organizations in Massachusetts to provide citizenship classes and additional application assistance. The organization will also take part in the 2020 census and does outreach aimed to prevent Green Card holders from accepting legal assistance from untrustworthy sources. “We’re really, really committed to making sure that people have access to reputable services and combatting this unauthorized practice of law that we see so rampant in the immigrant community,” Torres says. “Especially now, things are just a lot more dangerous.” Project Citizenship has recently engaged more intensively with Muslim communities after
MELANIE TORRES President Donald Trump’s travel ban was proposed, but generally focuses on broader outreach to all immigrant populations. “We’re not serving a specific ethnicity, we’re serving everyone,” Torres says. “There’s people from hundreds of different countries sometimes coming together and seeing that they’re all kind of in the same position and they’re all being served in the same way, and that’s a really uniting experience, and it creates a sense of community.” Project Citizenship’s cause has been supported by people from all along the political spectrum, according to Torres. “It’s been a really positive response, people really do see the value in this,” Torres explains. “Citizenship is one of those benefits that is apolitical in a lot of ways. There’s a legal process by which you become a Green Card holder, and then you become a citizen, and you’re just following the rules that have
been laid out by the government. That’s been an interesting way to engage people that may have traditionally not supported immigration.” Beyond the sense of pride that comes from helping immigrants on their path to citizenship, Torres says that volunteers and staff members enjoy seeing unexpected communities form within the organization. “Our last workshop was two weeks ago, and there was a woman there applying for citizenship for herself, and there was a woman there with her two children who were applying for citizenship, and we just saw them scream and hug, and they had gone to high school together 25 years ago and hadn’t seen each other since,” Torres explains. “It reconnects people to each other.” For more information about Project Citizenship, call 617-694-5949 or visit projectcitizenship.org.
Photo by Sasha Pedro.
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906 Massachusetts Ave • Central Square www.massavediner.com • (617) 864-5301
Where tech meets art and fabrication meets innovation.
scoutcambridge.com | Technology & Transportation 27
SOMETHING VENTURED
CENTRAL SQUARE FLORIST BY ABBIE GRUSKIN | PHOTOS COURTESY OF CENTRAL SQUARE FLORIST
F
amily-owned Central Square Florist has been a cornerstone of the square for decades, catering to the local community since 1929. But the voice of the small, colorful shop has evolved in recent years as ownership has been passed down to a member of the family’s youngest generation, Jackie Levine. Central Square Florist, which Levine’s grandfather’s uncle originally opened down the road at the intersection of Pearl and Massachusetts Ave., is now a fourth-generation family business. Levine has worked alongside her grandparents, father, and sister from a young age, lending a hand with packaging during the holidays and making deliveries around town when she was old enough to drive. Levine always aspired to put her own spin on the shop one day. “When you’re younger, in school, you draw what you want to be when you grow up,” Levine says. “When I was 5 years old, I drew a flower shop with me with flowers. What 5-year-old is a florist? Everyone else wanted to 28 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
be a firefighter, or a singer, or a teacher. Mine was very specific. I’ve always held the business really close to my heart.” Now, Levine co-owns the shop with her father, David Levine. Each new generation of the family has ushered in updates in technology, she explains. “In the late ’80s, my dad was like, ‘We’re getting a computer,’ and grandma was like, ‘What, no we’re not,’” Levine says. “She does like change [though], so she was like, ‘This better be good,’ and it completely transformed our business.” “My dad always prides himself as the one who created the Twitter and Facebook pages for us, because I was younger when that came out,” Levine, 25, continues. “He made those, but I kind of took over those roles from him. My role is very much on the social side and on the web side.” During her time at Central Square Florist, Levine has focused most on further integrating the shop with its community by catering more weddings and events, welcoming new
small business neighbors, and networking at the local events to which Central Square Florist donates floral arrangements. “We’ve always been very passionate about supporting the community around us, the Cambridge community,” Levine explains. “We’re also really into going to those events or making sure that we participate physically. Having a face to our name too is really special and important.” Levine also started the “name game” at Central Square Florist, a daily rose giveaway for the lucky individual whose name is written at random on a chalkboard that sits outside of the shop. Central Square Florist has always offered a wide variety of flowers sourced from locations in New England and around the globe year round. Levine’s fresh perspective, though, is apparent in the selection of plants that complement these timeless floral arrangements: Leafy monstera, desert cacti, and colorful croton plants attract a younger crowd of customers to the world of flowers. “We’ve always had a good
amount of plants, but I’m really into bringing in the trendy, hot plants,” Levine says. “I kind of know what’s in, making sure we’re up to trend and staying relatable. If there’s a really cool plant out there, I will find a way to get it, and I get excited about it.” And over the years, Levine has noticed more and more customers coming in without a special occasion in mind, wanting just to treat their friends or themselves to something to brighten the day. Levine says she feels lucky to have her family business grow alongside Central Square. “Just like Cambridge is diverse, our customers are very diverse as well,” Levine explains, “which makes Cambridge really special, the neighborhood really special, and just our business very special, that we have all kinds of people that shop here. We want to support people who also support us.” Central Square Florist is located at 653 Massachusetts Ave. For more information, call (617) 354-7553 or visit centralsquareflorist.com.
Please consider shopping with these and other Scout sponsors.
HEALTH & WELLNESS DIRECTORY
RESTAURANT DIRECTORY
DR. KATIE TALMO, D.M.D.
JOSE’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
131 Sherman St., Cambridge 617-354-0335, josesmex.com Authentic, homemade, Central Mexican Cuisine. Patio, private party room and full bar. Catering also available.
LEONE’S SUB AND PIZZA
180 Highland Ave., Somerville 617-864-6111 Dr. Talmo provides a personalize approach to dental care. Come enjoy a comfortable dental experience in her newly renovated office space.
292 Broadway, Somerville 617-776-2511, leonessubandpizza.com Pizza and subs fit for a king since 1954. Now being delivered by Dash!
TACO PARTY
711 Broadway, Somerville 617-764-0683, tacopartytruck.com Building tacos from the ground up.
MIKE’S FOOD & SPIRITS
MASSAGE THERAPY WORKS
9 Davis Square, Somerville 617-628-2379, mikesondavis.com Pizza, Pasta, Seafood, Burgers and more! Dine in our casual dining room open to Davis Square or watch a game at the bar!
255 Elm St #302, Somerville 617-684-4000 Leader in clinical bodywork and therapeutic massage since 1997.
O2 YOGA
LA POSADA RESTAURANT
505 Medford St., Somerville 617-776-2049, laposadasomerville.com Somerville’s spot for delicious, hand-crafted Latin American cuisine.
OPA GREEK YEEROS
1001 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge 288 Highland Ave., Somerville o2yoga.com Athletic, empowering, energizing practice improving body, mind and spirit.
378 Highland Ave., Somerville 617-718-2900, opayeeros.com Authentic Greek cuisine and a lively atmosphere. Expanding soon!
MASS AVE DINER
906 Mass. Ave., Cambridge 617-864-5301, massavediner.com Since 2010 Serving Killer Brunch and Diner Fare. Now Open Late and Serving Craft Beer and Wine!
Prices are already up quite a bit over 2013, which was the strongest market in years. More inventory has started to appear, but it is still not enough to satisfy demand. Consequently, prices should continue to rise in 2014.
BLISS BRAIN
64 Union Square, Somerville 617-821-5560, bliss-brain.com Learn how to utilize your brain’s natural neuroplastic abilities to create the life you strive for through NeuroSculpting and meditation.
REAL ESTATE DIRECTORY Our New Listings
Please call us for more information on the market, or to get a sense of the current value of your home. ~Thalia, Todd, Niké, Jennifer, and Lynn
~ $1,495,000
This is a very rare opportunity to own a single family home with garage on one of the largest lots in Davis Square . The Victorian-era house has 4 bedrooms and one and a half baths on two levels. The detached garage
TEAM JEN & LYNN
Thalia Tringo & Associates Real Estate Lynn 617-216-5244, Jen 617-943-9581
the Morrison Ave. and Grove St., is the very large, open, level yard. Owned by the same family since 1955, this unspoiled home is ready for a new family to make their own updates and memories.
~ $519,000
Jennifer Rose
Residential Sales Specialist, ealtor R ® cell/text Jennifer@ThaliaTringoRe alEstate .com
TeamJenandLynn@ThaliaTringoRealEstate.com
Lovely Agassiz 2 bedroom/2 bath condo with private porch on a pleasant side street between Harvard and Porter Squares. Near great shops, restaurants, and Harvard campus.
SHOPPING DIRECTORY
Bringing our expertise and good ~ $349,000 humor to help you find a perfect home or say good-bye to your old one. ~ $229,000
Roomy Ten Hills 2 bedroom/1 bath condo with charming details, reonvated kitchen, parking, and storage.
Lynn C. Gr aham
Residential Sales Specialist, ealtor R ® cell/text Lynn@ThaliaTringoRe alEstate .com
CHARLES CHERNEY REALTOR AT COMPASS
CambridgeRealEstate.com 617-733-8937, cc@compass.com Helping You Buy the Right Home and Sell for the Best Price in Cambridge and Somerville, MA.
Near Medford Sq., this 1 bedroom/ 1 1/2 bath condo is in an elevator building with parking.
PORTER SQUARE BOOKS
25 White St., Cambridge 617-491-2220, portersquarebooks.com Porter Square Books is your fiercely independent source for great books, magazines, fun gifts and more.
Coming Soon
IRENE BREMIS THE IBREMIS TEAM
In the heart of Davis Sq., this 2 bedroom/1 bath condo in a brick building has a parking space.
617-905-5232, irenebremis.com irenebremis@gmail.com Renovated 1 bedroom/1 bath near Prospect Hill with central air, in-unit laundry, private porch, and shared yard. Real Estate Consulting, Listing, Marketing, Sales & Rental Specialist. iBremis Realty, Inc. powered by LAER. Equidistant from Davis and Porter Squares, this 3 bedroom/1.5 bath condo on two levels has in-unit laundry, 2 porches, private yard, and exclusive driveway for 3 cars.
THALIA TRINGO & ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE
617-616-5091, thaliatringorealestate.com
Our agents strive to make your experience of buying and selling as smooth as possible. From start to finish, we are here to help you. Free classes.
S U P P O RT LO CA L M E DIA. ADVE RTIS E WITH S CO U T. Contact Holli at hbanks@scoutmagazines.com
CALENDAR
SATURDAYS | FITNESS
JULY 22 | CONVERSATION
YOGA IN THE PARK 9 a.m., Free 355 Artisan Way, Somerville Some.Yoga.Studio is teaching free yoga on the Mystic River each Saturday morning. There are 100 spots available, and registration opens the day before at 12 p.m.
BOSS BABES SERIES – LAMPLIGHTER BREWING 6:30 to 8 p.m., Free Lamplighter Brewing Co. 284 Broadway, Cambridge Boston Girls Pints Out organizes talks with local women who are involved with beer, and this July three women from Lamplighter will be featured: Bri Grealish (director of sales and distribution), Megan Knetemann (head bartender), and Jess Alexander (lab manager and microbiologist).
JULY 11 | FOOD & DRINKS
Photo courtesy of Assembly Row.
BAR STARS AT ASSEMBLY ROW 6 to 8 p.m., $25 355 Artisan Way, Somerville Assembly Row is asking for your help to answer one question: Which restaurant in the neighborhood makes the best cocktails? Your ticket gets you samples of drinks from 10 Assembly Row spots, small bites, and a vote for your favorite drink. The event benefits Groundwork Somerville.
JULY 13 | ART
Image by giraffesandrobots.com.
ARTBEAT 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Free Davis Square, Somerville “Consumed” is the theme of this year’s ArtBeat, the annual art festival that shuts down Davis Square. The arts council is taking “Consumed” both literally and figuratively, and is focusing on how the topic affects the environment. ArtBeat will offer up music, dance performances, food, and activities.
JULY 16 | FOOD
TASTE OF CAMBRIDGE FOOD FESTIVAL 5 to 8 p.m., $65 65 Sidney St., Cambridge Sample some of the best of Cambridge’s food scene at this outdoor event featuring Craigie On Main, Curio Coffee, Formaggio Kitchen, and dozens of others. Ticket sales benefit local nonprofits.
JULY 25 & AUG. 22 | COMEDY
Photo by Reena Karasin.
JULY 31 & AUG. 28 FOOD & DRINKS
Photo by Adrianne Mathiowetz.
Photo courtesy of Patty Chen’s Dumpling Room.
30 Technology & Transportation | scoutcambridge.com
VEGAN DRINKS 6 to 8 p.m. True Bistro—1153 Broadway, Somerville This chance to try vegan drinks also includes tastes of food, mocktails, and giveaways. The event is a collaboration among The Humane League-Boston, True Bistro, and Veganizer Boston.
AUG. 24 | ART
JULY 18 | FOOD
DUMPLING MAKING PARTY 6 to 8:30 p.m., $79 85 Windsor St., Cambridge Chef Patty Chen of Patty Chen’s Dumpling Room will teach how to make TaiwaneseAmerican dumplings at home. Attendees will make pork and vegetable dumplings in five different shapes.
AFFIRMATIVE REACTION: AN ASIAN & ASIAN AMERICAN COMEDY SHOW! 9:30 p.m., $15 40 Prospect St., Cambridge This comedy series highlights experienced and new Asian and Asian American comedians. “This show aims to create an inclusive and inviting space for members and allies of the Asian and American communities to gather and laugh,” the Facebook event reads.
Photo by Sasha Pedro.
BLACK, BROWN & QUEER FESTIVAL Union Square Plaza, Somerville Oompa and the Somerville Arts Council are partnering up for this festival, which will highlight queer artists of color across multiple disciplines.
AUG. 29 | FOOD & DRINK
TWILIGHT WINE TASTING 5:30 to 7 p.m., $12 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge For good wine at a beautiful time of day, head to Mount Auburn Cemetery’s Asa Gray Garden for samples from the Magnolia Wine Company.
WAIT!
Did you remember to vote? VOTE LOCAL. VOTE NOW. SHOW YOUR LOVE. WIN $200. SEE PAGES 7-8 FOR YOUR 2019 SCOUT’S HONORED FINALISTS. VOTE AT SCOUTCAMBRIDGE.COM/VOTE
Professional Culinary & Pastry Training • 16-Week Certificate Programs • 37-Week Professional Programs *Now accepting applications for September*
Recreational Cooking Workshops & Series • • • •
Cooking & baking workshops Multi-week techniques series Cooking couples date nights Regional cooking classes
Best Night DS ate pot
Sign up online: www.CambridgeCulinary.com
The only missing ingredient is YOU! 2020 Massachusetts Avenue | Porter Square | Cambridge, MA 02140
KEEP IT REAL. KEEP IT GREEK.
KEEP IT REAL GREEK. at OPA GREEK YEEROS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS! Best Greek Food
BEST GREEK FOOD BEST CHEAP EATS
Vote for us at scoutsomerville.com/vote! Follow us on Instagram @opa_greek_yeeros for quick-fire specials.
378 Highland Ave Somerville, MA 617-718-2900 www.opayeeros.com hours 11-9 daily
Delivery available through Grub Hub and UBER Eats
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.