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| Ring in the New Year Union Square Style |
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Appropriate for our eclectic Square there's three totally different ways to celebrate 2009.
On December 31, Cantina La Mexicana is hosting a party. For just $20 from 9 pm to 1 am you can enjoy a buffet of award-winning Mexican food and music. The bar will serve up an array of libations able to compete with the finest bubbly including some wicked awesome white sangria.
The New Year's Eve party is the start of regular series of events at the Cantina. Beginning on January 17 there will be regular salsa dancing at the restaurant with live music.
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New Year's Day at noon is a time of patriotism with the 233rd annual "Grand Union" flag raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park. The event begins at City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, with a procession to Prospect Hill led by "General Washington" on horseback. At Prospect Hill, join in song, hear the muskets fire and watch the flag unfurl as neighbors gather with coffee, hot cider and donuts in hand. Presented by Somerville Historic Preservation and The Somerville Historical Society, the event commemorates that cold, rainy day, January 1, 1776 when the colonists flew this first truly American flag.
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The evening of New Year's Day enter into reflection and get a jump-start on that resolution to care for body and soul. Shobu Aikido at 34 Allen Street is turning out the lights this winter evening to host a candlelight yoga class. Absolutely free and starting at 6 pm, it's a beginner level class so no experience is necessary. Smooth out any lingering tensions and begin 2009 in complete peace and serenity.
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| Are You Ready to Rock (Paper Scissors)? |
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For the January Second Wednesdays event sponsored by Union Square Main Streets, take part in the first annual Rock Paper Scissors Tournament at PA's Lounge.
Maybe you'll clobber with an avalanche (rock-rock- rock), slay with a bureaucrat (paper-paper-paper) or take 'em down like Edward Scissorhands (scissors- scissors-scissors)? Perhaps you're a sly paper- clipper (holding back your throw so the opponent makes a false move)? Will the referees allow you to bring in your dynamite?
During the Fluff festival we played the game as Fluff- Bread-Knife. This time we're playing it straight and serious.
With a $4 battle fee match wits and skill with other valiant competitors or just come and watch as the argument is settled once and for all. Registration begins at 7 pm and the battles begin at 8 pm with extra fun throughout the night and a chance at fame, glory and fabulous prizes.
All the action takes place Wednesday, January 14 at PAs Lounge, 345 Somerville Avenue.
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| Another Light To Shine in the East |
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ArtsUnion, the project led by the Somerville Arts Council with partners including Union Square Main Streets, is looking to make a permanent mark on Union Square. The funky artist-made benches, trash barrels and kiosks are lovely - for this new effort we're seeking an even bigger splash.
A key landmark in Union Square is the old firehouse where SCAT currently makes its home. The clock in the tower is long dead, the cupola destroyed generations ago, the only life emerging from up there has been the families of pigeons swooping in and out. A new sculptural addition that includes light will be a beacon to gather those far and wide in Union Square.
Can you help us make that happen? Artists and fabricators are called to submit proposals for the ArtsUnion Beacon Project. The deadline is March 3. Get the application here.
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| Ain't Life Grand? |
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Grand has been the media a lot recently. You may have seen store owner Jon O'Toole in Boston Magazine sharing the cool presents he's giving to friends from his shop stock.
Grand has partnered with a number of area businesses and making the store even more interesting in the process. On a recent visit I saw the fabulous new cocktails section presented by The Boston Shaker. Need some exotic bitters, a silver swizzle stick or a recipe book for party cocktails? They've got 'em.
Now, coming up on January 14 Grand is hosting with Shobu Aikido an aikido and yoga demo right there in the store along with a sake tasting. The event is free and takes place from 7 to 9 pm.
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| Expand Your Web Presence |
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You may have seen on the Union Square Main Streets website our section where you can find a business right here in the Square so you can buy local.
Boston-based Citysquares does something similar for neighborhoods all over the nation as it arranges listings by geography. Check out their section for Union Square. While their premium listings for businesses are paid advertising, they offer artists and non-profits a free presence on the site. The look and functions depend on how you choose to set it up so there's room for individuality. And while USMS gets a decent amount of web traffic, Citysquares boasts one million visitors each month so it's worth getting in there.
To add your non-profit or artist profile visit CitySquares to register. The staff will follow up with a phone call or email with details.
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| Become a Member of Union Square Main Streets |
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| Union Square Main Streets, a non-profit organization, is a partnership of local businesses, residents and the City of Somerville to enhance the Union Square business district through active community collaboration. Become involved in making Union Square a more vibrant neighborhood. Join us for an upcoming event, participate in one of our committees and become a member.
Memberships are $50 for Union Square businesses and $25 for residents and general supporters.
Become a Member On-Line! |
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Open Space Planning
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| The City of Somerville's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development has completed a draft of the Union Square-specific chapter of the city-wide 2008- 2013 Open Space and Recreation Plan. The final plan will be submitted to the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services in spring 2009.
You can read the entire big draft yourself at the City's website. To give you the gist, the plan notes that the only sizable parcels of open space in Union Square are city owned with 15 acres of open and green space. At just 1.5 acres per 1,000 residents this is significantly less than Cambridge (4.9 acres per 1,000), Boston (8.3 acres per 1,000) and even dense Somerville's city-wide average (1.7 acres per 1,000). In recent years, significant improvements to open space have been completed such as the playing fields at Lincoln Park, the Allen Street Community Garden and Stone Place Park. The Open Space plan identifies several community needs that remain including:
- additional open space
- public gathering space
- active open space for children
- green open space/contemplation open space
- street trees and streetscape
- bicycle and pedestrian open space and connectivity
- water features (a reminder of the Miller's River and marshland that once bubbled here in Union Square)
- public art
The plan recommends seven new policies specific to Union Square. These focus on the potential new public open space mandated in the proposed zoning package currently before the Board of Aldermen that would faciliate the creation of new public open space either on private property or in new city-owned parks funded through the development. The policies outlined in the plan seek to address the provision, design and types of open space, preserving and enhancing key vistas and gateways in the neighborhood, and the creation of a branch of the community path to parallel the anticipated Green Line spur.
The plan's five-year action plan sets forward the following eight goals:
- renovate parks and open space, particularly Union Square plaza, Milk Row cemetery, 111 South Street, Central Hill Park
- Acquire additional land for open space, particularly within the TOD districts of the proposed zoning
- Analyze and improve access to public open space, especially to ensure ADA compliance
- increase tree canopy and green spaces
- increase off leash recreational areas and create a new skate park
- raise the bar for sustainable practices (green design and management)
- reduce brownfields (polluted and abandoned parcels)
- set vision through strategic planning documents
A public meeting is scheduled to discuss this proposed plan on Tuesday, January 6th at 6:30pm in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue. |
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