AROUND TOWN

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Boston has been easily accessible to Tufts students through the Davis Square station since December 8, 1984. Fast forward to 2022, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has almost completed the Green Line Extension, which extends the northern end of Lechmere Station to College Avenue in Medford— right by Tufts’ new Joyce Cummings Center! Now, students can explore more of East Somerville and its various “squares”—neighborhood centers with businesses, restaurants, shops, and other services. Though Tufts’ proximity to Boston is convenient and exciting, there are many places to explore and things to do in Tufts’ host communities of Somerville and Medford. Here is a list of places Jumbos should visit on the new Green Line Extension.

BY VALERIA VELASQUEZ ’23

UNION SQUARE DONUTS, UNION SQUARE: Union Square Donuts is an award-winning donut company that specializes in creating unique, exciting flavors and experimental donuts that are made with high-quality ingredients. The donuts are made with a brioche-inspired dough base, making them airy and light. Exciting flavors include Vietnamese coffee donuts, guava and cream cheese donuts, and a golden milk latte donut. They also specialize in more traditional donut fare, including a classic Boston cream and a “sugar raised” donut meant to highlight the bakery’s signature dough.

SOMERVILLE ARMORY, GILMAN SQUARE: The Center for Arts at the Armory is a nonprofit organization that resides in the Somerville Armory building. It provides a community arts center for Somerville residents and hosts various events ranging from music performances, dance classes, fitness classes, and open mic sessions. Some noteworthy dance classes include Queer Tango and Forró, a regional Brazilian dance. The Armory also has its own coffee shop, ROOTED Cafe, which hosts various events such as Songwriters in the Round, where songwriters take the stage, trade songs, and engage with the audience. Getting involved with Armory events is a great opportunity to engage with the local community and take advantage of the local arts scene!

OLIVEIRA’S STEAKHOUSE, EAST SOMERVILLE STATION: Oliveira’s Steakhouse is the perfect restaurant for meat lovers: vegetarians beware. This restaurant specializes in Brazilian BBQ (think different cuts of meat paired with hearty sides and vibrant salads) and has an all-you-can-eat option as well as by-the-pound takeout! Now easily accessible, Oliveira’s is the perfect place for a date night or a celebratory dinner with friends.