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The start of March is chock-full of events -- from caviar to maple syrup, from cool lighting to fancy shoes, from looking at the sidewalks to looking to the future.
| Pearls on the Soles of Her Shoes |
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Paul Simon never would have thought of this one. For one special evening pearls are the perfect accessory to clogs. On Wednesday, March 7, starting at 6 pm, stop by Union Boot for their “secret sale” and taste some American caviar from Somerville’s own The Little Pearl.
If your only taste of caviar has been those tiny jars of black goo from beside the tuna at the mega-mart you don’t know caviar. One morsel of fresh caviar will open your taste buds to the unknown, fabulous world of luxury. Leave the Cristal to the pop stars. Watch, learn and sample as Rich Bauman of The Little Pearl uses the dainiest of spoons to scoop tiny pearls of salmon, paddlefish or sturgeon and sets them -- oh so sweetly -- upon a blini. Move over Sean Jean.
Had enough fish eggs? You can shop for quality footwear, socks and stockings with the vivacious Elizabeth LaFavour and Seth Lamoreaux. Who knows how good this secret sale will be?
Pearls on the Soles of her Shoes Event, Wednesday, March 7 starting at 6 pm at Union Boot, 253 Washington Street.
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| Does Union Square Turn You On? |
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As part of the ArtsUnion project, the Somerville Arts Council presents three light installations in Union Square. At Ricky’s Flower Market, Jonathan Bachrach displays “Protochoice,” in which light sparks travel through a sculpture in an ever- changing pattern. Judith Leemann’s images of pigeons, dancers and soldiers shine onto the plaza. “LightCycle,” a work utilizing a pattern of 3M reflective tape by Geneva Wirth, Justin Scherma and Jerome Chou, is situated throughout the square and comes alive when illuminated by car headlights and street lamps. The pieces will be on display through April.
On Thursday, March 8th take a tour of the pieces. Gather at 7:30 pm in front of The Independent at 75 Union Square. The reception starts at 8 pm at P.A.s Lounge at 345 Somerville Avenue. The event is free.
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| Boil on Down! It's Somerville Maple Syrup |
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Sure sign of spring is the sap flowing in the trees and the folks at the Community Growing Center have been collecting that sap all over town. Turning the gallons of maple drips they’ve collected will take a whole weekend and you can watch and learn as the juice of local trees becomes Somerville’s own pure maple syrup. Be a part of the Big Boil Down at the Somerville Community Growing Center March 9th and 10th. The event is free and open to the public.
The Somerville Maple Syrup Project is an educational program bringing together the Community Growing Center, Tufts University and Somerville Public Schools. For the past several weeks Tufts students have taught an arts and sciences curriculum to second and third graders in several Somerville public schools. The syrup produced tops pancake breakfasts for the participating public school students and is shared with local food assistance programs and project partners. The annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser held by the Friends of the Community Growing Center is your chance to taste the sweetness and support continuation of the project.
For more information contact Claire Kozower (ckozower@earthlink.net 617-776-0518) or Maisie Ganz (farmermaisie@gmail.com).
The Big Boil-Down, Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10, 9 am to 4 pm at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Avenue. Between Highland and Summer Streets on the edge of Union Square.
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| Take Back the Sidewalks |
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Was your mailbox empty on Valentine’s Day? Blame it on the traffic. Yep, studies have shown that more traffic and a less pleasing pedestrian environment wrecks havoc on your social life.
As traffic increases social connections decrease. Most famous of the studies on this fact is by Donald Appleyard. He studied three residential streets in San Francisco, comparable in most ways except in the volume of traffic. His research showed that those who lived on the light traffic street had three times more friends and twice as many acquaintances as those who lived on the heavy traffic street. His research showed that as traffic volume increases the space people considered to be their territory shrank. With less space to interact socially they didn’t have the tight knit community of those with friendly sidewalks.
Let's take back the sidewalks! For the sake of romance and more!
Union Square Main Streets is teaming up with WalkBoston and members of the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities to conduct an analysis of the pedestrian spaces of Union Square. Halting the trucks and diverting the pass- through cars is a long term project, but we can make improvements today.
On Saturday, March 8 staff from WalkBoston will give a brief presentation on the elements of a safe and accessible sidewalk. Armed with a check-list, new knowledge of what to look for, and maps we’ll break into teams to survey Union Square block by block. Are the crosswalks painted? Are missing bricks threatening to trip passersby? Are streets clearly marked for those new to the neighborhood? The Design Committee of Union Square Main Streets will compile this information. We’ll seek the help of City departments to make the repairs that are their responsibility and will determine ways in which we can respond with planters, better wayfinding signage or something unexpected.
Join us! Ped101 Survey of Union Square. Saturday, March 10 at 10 am at the SCAT Conference Room. Please RSVP to usms@unionsquaremain.org
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| ArtsUnion Seeks Project Coordinator for this Season |
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Be a part of the hot happenings in Union Square. ArtsUnion is hiring a Project Coordinator to coordinate elements of the program led by the Somerville Arts Council.
Coordinate 4 signature markets and 10 performance events. Create a new ArtsUnion TV show with SCAT. Recruit talent and vendors and meet their technical needs. Promote the happenings with press releases and postcards and posters. And more.
For such a fun job you'd do it for free but there is financial compensation for the 450 hour contracted position. Must have a flexible schedule and be able to work March through October.
Send your resume and cover letter to Somerville Arts Council, 55 Evergreen Avenue, Somerville 02145. Hurry because the deadline to apply is March 7. Get more information from the Somerville Arts Council at 617-625-6600 x2985.
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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. Members receive: Free "Attracting Attention" Discount Card providing discounts with Union Square businesses; Tokens to spend at the Union Square Farmers market; Invitations to Special Events and Reduced Costs for USMS Programs; Recognition for Business Members in USMS materials.
Become a Member On-Line! |
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Bash was a Smash
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| With special guests Doug Foy and Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Union Square Main Streets celebrated its second year on Tuesday, February 27 at The Independent Restaurant. The photo above shows Karyn Coughlin of Sherman Cafe and the USMS Promotion Committee and Susan Crandall, chair of the Economic Restructuring Committee welcoming guests.
Doug Foy, former head of the Conservation Law Foundation and a champion of smart growth, talked of how transit-oriented cities are the most energy efficient choice for America's future. Neighborhoods like Union Square that are fostering transit-oriented development can make significant economic as well as environmental impacts. "Wow, made me proud to live in the city," said Sheryl Sarokas of Union Square Acupuncture after hearing Foy's talk. "I'm actually helping the environment living and working in Union Square!"
Union Square Main Streets presented its 2006 Annual Report at the meeting. It is now available on-line and in hard-copy upon request. The report highlighted the work of ArtsUnion, the collaborative project spear- headed by the Somerville Arts Council.
ArtsUnion was funded in 2005 and 2006 by a grant by Massachusetts Cultural Council with matching funds from the City of Somerville. The goal is to boost the economic vitality of Union Square by leveraging our cultural and artistic resources. The Somerville Arts Council commissioned The Center for Policy Analysis at UMass Darmouth to conduct an economic analysis of the program.
If you attended the craft markets or festivals in Union Square you likely were asked to complete a survey. That data was compiled to create a report that is chock full of impressive news. The craft markets and festivals alone fostered an ecomomic impact of over $352,470. This doesn't include other ArtsUnion efforts such as the new artist-made street furniture, the winter light displays, and the zoning proposal currently before the Aldermen to create an arts overlay district and PUD (Planned Unit Development) in Union Square.
Together with the Union Square Farmers Market these promotional efforts and events are producing positive results for area businesses. Some Union Square entrepeneurs reported a 20%+ increase in sales for 2006.
The coming year promises continued success. The Massachusetts Cultural Council has awarded ArtsUnion a renewal of its competitive Adams grant to again sponsor festivals, craft events and more. The Union Square Farmers Market is slated to re-open Saturday, June 9 with another summer of farm-fresh produce, music, mini- events and neighborly gathering. Stay tuned!
Photos from the event |
Scenes from our Second Birthday Bash
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