July is hot-hot-hot at the Community Growing Center. With concerts, movies and lectures, this gorgeous garden setting on the edge of Union Square is Somerville's own Esplande.

On Wednesdays, enjoy free Concerts in the Garden. Pack a picnic or pick up take-out in Union Square for an easy-going summer evening. SO+SO performs on Wednesday, July 11 from 7 to 9 pm. The Somerville- based three-piece band plays a variety of originals and covers. Wednesday, July 25 at 7:30 it's the annual performance of the Willow Flute Ensemble.

Thursdays are movie night with a series of short films by female directors presented by Women in Film and Video New England. On July 12 check out movies by Patricia Rozema, Lana Z. Kaplan, Jennifer Matotek, Carly Short, and C.C. Webster. Starts at about 8:20 or when it gets dark enough and will last about 1 ½ hours. The event is free.

Three lectures hit on engaging topics for Somerville folks. On Saturday, July 14 at 11 am Samantha Witman of Earthwise Healing Arts asks if "Sugar's Got a Hold on You"? The Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor shares her own misguided love story with the carbohydrate and how changing your relationship with sugar can dramatically improve health.

Think just because you don't have access to a plot of land think you can't be a farmer? At the Apartment Agriculture Workshop learn about sprouting and micro- green cultivation, container gardening and worm composting. Co-sponsored by Do-It Ourselves: Radical Urban Sustainability Skillshare Network. The event is free and participants receive free pots to get started on their own urban garden. Takes place Sunday, July 15 from 3-5pm.

Somerville's Marla Rhodes trained with Al Gore himself and she'll present the Global Warming Slide Show made famous in Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." Join her on Tuesday, July 31 at 7:30 pm. The event is co- sponsored by Somerville Climate Action and is free.

On Saturday, July 14 a benefit concert will support the Community Growing Center's educational programming for youth. Enjoy an eclectic mix of vibrant music featuring the energetic funk and reflective pop-rock of Ian Franklin & Infin ite Frequency, the lyrical and spirited world fusion and jazz of Esthema, and the passionate storytelling of two wondrous singer/songwriters, Chad Verbeck and Porter. All donations are cheerfully accepted with a suggested amount of $5.

Want a little quiet time in this urban oasis? Every Saturday morning the garden is open from 9 am to noon.

It's all over the world -- from Tokyo to Turkmenistan, Cairo to Katmandu. And after a hiatus it's back in Union Square too. Of course, it's the ever entertaining karaoke.

Toast Lounge hosts ROCKSTAR Karaoke every Sunday from 8 pm to midnight. Belt out one of the selection of more than 30,000 songs. Presented by DJ Summer's Eve (Peter Hallisey) and singing bartender Elizabeth Kelleher, there's no cover charge to serenade friends and strangers with "Sweet Caroline," "Margaritaville" or "Bohemian Rhapsody." All are welcome but guests must be over the age of twenty-one to attend.

Were you in Union Square on Saturday, June 16? If so, you likely were wrapped up by the Chhabeel Celebration. Members of the Sikh Sangat Society Boston gave away 12,000 cold drinks to passersby in Union Square. Yes, twelve thousand bottles and cans of chilled water, soda and juice were given away to people in stopped cars, passing on the sidewalk and at the Farmers Market.

Some people were incredulous, more were pleasantly surprised, and most not understanding what was going on. If you missed the arti cle in Boston Globe, here's the scoop.

The Sikh Sangat Society Boston was marking the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of the fifth of the ten Gurus of Sikhism, Guru Arjun Dev Ji, with the tradition of giving away cold drinks. Guru Ji was marytred by being forced to sit on a hot plate as hot sand was poured over his body. In honor of the Guru and his bravery Sikhs all over the world serve free cold drinks on the anniversary to everyone, irrespective of caste and religion, through a Chhabeel. While Sikh's mark the anniversary every year, this 400th milestone was significant.

The Sikh religion was founded 500 years ago in the Indian subcontinent and is followed by over 20 million people worldwide. There are an estimated 500 Sikh families in the Boston area. According to Sikhs.org "Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind, social justice and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib."

Why was the Chhabeel held in Union Square? Most likely because one of the major Sikh community spaces in Massachusetts, the Somerville Gurdwara, is on Windsor Street at Boynton Yards, just across the Prospect Street bridge from Union Square.

Check out the Community Wellness Clinic on July 15 at Union Square Acupuncture. Held every third Sunday of the month, you can receive a 15 minute Reiki treatment for just $10, a 20 minute massage for $15 or 30 min acupuncture treatment for $20. Contact Union Square Acupuncture to book an appointment.

There's a whole array of classes at Third Life Studio including Tai Chi and yoga. Just down Somerville Ave there's also Tree of Life Tai Chi Center. A new set of classes begins there the week of July 9.

The new Farmers Market t-shirts, aprons and bags are a hit. Bede Bidlack of Still Mountain Tai Chi , his wife,,Felicitas, and their new daughter, Gela, traveled with their to see family in Europe this past June. They gave one of the Union Square shirts to their nephew, budding farmer Johannes. He lives in Deutenhausen, Germany, a little village (about 500 people) founded along a stream about 1,000 years ago. They sent on a photo and here, from left to right is Grandpa, Felicitas, Gela, and Johannes showing off the funky carrot.