An affordable-homes apartment building proposed for North Cambridge is bringing its developers a by now familiar kind of whiplash.
Concerns about parking and traffic dominate meeting on adding 92 affordable homes in Cambridge
Summer Festival Preview
Music festivals, from one-day local affairs to multiday out-of-towners, that are worth getting off the couch for.
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Lucky break? The Clover restaurant chain says it returns to operation Tuesday out of public demand
A public outcry about the closing of the Clover healthy fast food chain has led to its rescue, according to a company email Wednesday. The chain’s 11 locations will stay...
Curiosities: Vida and Third Time Together innovate culinary quirk around Kendall Square
Two curious cafes are at home in a neighborhood full of people whose curiosity has led to Nobel prizes, scientific discoveries and long-sought cures.
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H Mart baked sweet potato
The skin of H Mart’s baked sweet potato is crispy and slightly charred; the inside tastes of caramel and umami, and is so soft it’s nearly mashed.
Flip-flops are back (and they have opinions now)
Once dismissed as “post-gym resignation footwear,” the modern flip-flop has evolved.
In a rematch of Decker and MacKay, her challenger from 2024, good government remains the theme
Opening remarks addressed government transparency, and the candidates sparred – but mostly drifted from questions to follow rehearsed remarks.
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Vigil brings family, friends and strangers together for man who died alone in Davis T station escalator
A candlelight vigil outside the Davis Square T station mourned Steven McCluskey, who died because people ignored him.
A second vote against ShotSpotter leaves no room for pushback, and over a member’s complaint
Councillors voted May 18 to turn off the system and remove its microphones within 90 days, and now again to ensure zero wiggle room for noncompliance.
Somerville police begin test of ‘co-response,’ bringing health professionals to some crises
The co-responders are on duty to during two four-hour blocks each week, but Somerville officials say they hope to expand the program.
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Translator Ken Kronenberg has disturbing things to say about America in 2026, and they’re from Germany in the 1930s
Kronenberg is translating toxic German propaganda from the fascist era of eugenics, racism and slaughter as it seeps through U.S. political speech.
Tax tip of the week: GoFundMe can help in a crunch, and donations are usually just ‘gifts’
Crowdfunding has become a meaningful way to bring together community support at difficult moments. It is not a complete financial plan.
Somerville meetings, May 31-June 8: Ending waste outfall in public waters and razing the city’s ‘First Pizzeria’
Take part in meetings on Combined Sewer Overflows, homes at the Florentine Gardens and a fix for temperature issues at the Edgerly school.
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Cambridge meetings, May 31-June 8: New homes, stopping the sewage and a gun buyback
Take part in meetings on changes that can reshape Cambridge Street, 92 homes for Rindge Avenue and ending sewage outflow into public waters.
After an explosion and shaking felt regionwide, some point to boom from a meteor
Calls began flooding into 911 at around 2:20 p.m. about an explosion, with first responders also exchanging confused reports about the cause.
Whatever process was promised, Cambridge plans to sink a giant stormwater tank on Sherman Street
Neighbors got an apology, but no sign that a 2.1 million-gallon tank wouldn't be installed. What goes above it may still be open to debate.
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Work at Somerville’s Foss Park began without warning to residents … or to the state (updated)
A pile of asphalt and presence of heavy machinery at Foss Park alarmed Somervillians this week and led to a rebuke by state representative Mike Connolly.
Somerville needs to brace for years of surging water and sewer bills
The year of bills that starts July 1 could have been worse, but the causes of the rate increases coming up are largely out of city control.
Six positions are filled in a round of hirings by Cambridge school district, including at CRLS and Fletcher Maynard
Several hires were announced by Cambridge Public Schools, including making Allan Gately Gehant principal of CRLS, where he has been interim principal.
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Clover shuts down, third Hong Kong Festival is Sunday and J.P. Licks does the World Cup
The Clover chain was in its final hours Thursday, the New England Hong Kong Festival returns and there are seven new flavors at an ice cream chain.
Apartment buildings with 79 units will be transitioned to affordable housing after purchase
Spokespeople with the Cambridge Housing Authority and city said they would work with current residents to convert the homes to affordable.
Nine years later, empty Vail Court is headed again toward becoming affordable housing
The long and narrow lot seized by the city in 2016 is again due to get a developer and be shaped into homes, though no time too soon.
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Le Grand Prix Elmendorf du Pain street fest promises more of everything this year, including actual French people
The festival and competition – inspired by a Paris baguette-baking contest – will pack onto Cambridge Street on June 14 before a French World Cup match.
Keezer’s has a next home and Simon’s Coffee Shop is looking as an apartment project speeds toward construction
The apartment project at 1740 Massachusetts Ave. is on track for a permit submission in June and demolition in the months that follow.
How much is that coffee in the window?
Why are some local cups of coffee just under $2 and some as much as $24? A look at cost, worth and value.
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Classic Three Cheese at Roxy’s Grilled Cheese
Roxy’s delivered a solid grilled cheese, and why wouldn’t it? it's been Roxy's bread and butter since it launched as a food truck in 2011.
A ‘super El Niño’ will make summer hotter and more dangerous. These climate groups are getting us ready.
A roundtable talks about how Greater Boston prepares for a boiling change in climate, including from an oncoming “super El Niño” season.
First uprooted from Harvard Square shelter, unhoused at Medford camp face eviction after alleged arson
Transit Police have given until Friday to clear a camp just weeks after a fire threatened its homeless occupants. Some hope to return to Cambridge’s Y2Y shelter.
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Police union says it is ‘deeply disappointed’ in council quitting ShotSpotter tech, reiterates points from losing vote
The organization spoke to fears that ShotSpotter audio could be used by federal agencies for surveillance but not a cited false-positive rate of 82 percent.
Tax tip of the week: Find out if you missed deductions that could have lowered your income taxes
Many taxpayers overlook valuable deductions because they focus only on itemized deductions. They should dig into schedules 1 and 1A.
Cambridge meetings, May 25-June 1: A family-friendly Memorial Day and future-friendly waste plan
Take part in a Memorial Day ceremony and meetings on the Zero Waste Master Plan and the future of 135 Sherman St., formerly known as Bellis Circle.
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Somerville meetings, May 25-June 1: Memorial Day, a better Broadway and water and sewer rates
Take part in a Memorial Day ceremony and meetings on remaking Broadway and a hike in rates tied to water and sewer use.
Somerville cuts 29 positions, putting 13 people out of work as City Hall faces budget $5.4M in the red (updated)
The city first tried to raise revenues, pay down debt with reserves and make strategic cuts to nonpersonnel costs. It wasn't enough, the mayor said.
It’s picnic time, and we have tips for fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw and dunking watermelon in the ocean
Everyone has their own idea of a picnic. We look at cooking and presenting four classics of outdoor dining as melon (and yellow jacket wasp) season nears.
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Cambridge’s first social housing project may already be identified, and a task force hasn’t even met
The task force is meant to explore how to make a social housing project possible, but a Cambridge agency may already have an answer.
The three sisters: Diesel, Forge and Bloc
There’s no need for rivalry among Somerville sibling cafés Diesel, Forge and Bloc, which draw character from the buildings they inhabit.
Egg and cheese empanada at Zaruma Gold Coffee
The counter of Zaruma Gold Coffee hosts a sight to set even the fullest of stomachs to rumbling: row upon row of puffy, golden-brown empanadas.
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With the biggest questions about May 11 violence unanswerable, officials address a better alert system
In a timeline of a public gun battle and its aftermath, residents encounter questions about illegal guns, an illicit halfway house and mental health funding cuts.
Fire officials don’t like customers grilling alone at the Gen Korean BBQ proposed for Harvard Square (updated)
The wait will be a little longer for the Gen Korean BBQ House looking to take over the long-empty Dickson Bros. hardware store space in Harvard Square.
Cambridge vote calls for ShotSpotter gunfire detection to be turned off and dismantled within 90 days
Supporters made emotional pleas and tried a variety of ploys, but five councillors said they saw no evidence that the system keeps anyone safe.
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Another abrupt shutdown at Davis Square’s iconic Rosebud Diner leaves diners in the dark (updated)
It would be easy to think The Rosebud diner is closed again. It’s dark inside, lifeless. There’s no sign on the door, and no information online.
Tax tip of the week: Spring cleaning can improve finances too
Cash and tax benefits can come with a spring cleaning. And even when items aren’t highly valuable, clearing them out has benefits.
At Stronger Together, mayor links City Hall with nonprofits and Somerville and Cambridge foundations bond
A powerhouse assortment of public officials, charitable leaders and financial donors learned a new way The Somerville Foundation plans to invest in its city.
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Somerville meetings, May 18-25: Reforms to ‘cottage’ zoning and condos replacing a Union Square blight
Take part in meetings on a rental registry and stronger city civil rights, “backyard cottage” zoning and Union Square condos replacing a wreck.
Cambridge meetings, May 18-25: We’re buying land in Lincoln and learning more about Memorial Drive attack
Take part in meetings on a land buy to protect city water, a hotel expansion with a coffee and cocktail lounge and filling school district roles.
Dickson Bros. site in Harvard Square is proposed to be four stories of Korean barbecue, including a deck
The long-empty Dickson Bros. hardware store in Harvard Square is about to become a glitzy, multistory Korean barbecue restaurant open late.
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‘For sale’ signs are popping up and even a price reduction or two, but the home-sale season has just started
Nationally, home sales are in a slump from war-induced interest rate hikes and consumer uncertainty. Are Cambridge and Somerville exempt?
Somerville is looking at bringing back an armed high school resource officer
Just two years after a unanimous vote for police to be removed permanently from public schools, the administration is exploring their return.
The Mushroom Shop announces a move to East Cambridge
After four years in Somerville, Tyler Akabane’s Mushroom Shop moves this year to East Cambridge, to where the Courthouse Fish Market operated for 112 years.
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Officials host a gathering Friday and debriefing Tuesday to help after a Memorial Drive shootout (updated)
Elected officials and health experts will be on hand at each event, and police will take questions Tuesday about a gun battle in Cambridge.
Police investigate a stabbing outside Davis Square’s 7-Eleven
The injuries to a person stabbed in Somerville on Thursday were not life-threatening, officials said. No arrest has been reported.
We Thieves vintage closes its Inman Square location Sunday with a final Eats & Crafts street fair sale
A Porter Square location sells on, but this tin-ceiling store in Inman lasted longer than expected after opening during Covid, owner Sandra Rossi said.
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Somerville Foundation throws a party Sunday to celebrate a turnaround in fortunes and brightening future
Stronger Together is a four-hour party with food, live music, arts and crafts, the year’s Steph Aman Award – and pay-what-you-want entry.
1369 times two
Cambridge has one “double café” – that is, one café with stores in two neighborhoods. This is the 1369, special “third spaces” with character and sense of place.
Chorizo taco at Los Tacos Hermanos
I’ve loved the idea of chorizo more than a lot of the chorizo I’ve eaten. This perfect taco goes its own way with a chorizo so mild it was shocking.
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Planning Board members love a 1740 Mass. Ave. project, its mural idea and learning how to say ‘Linnaean’
The developer of 1740 Massachusetts Ave. at Linnaean Street got its flowers from Cambridge’s Planning Board. It's “grown on me,” a member said.
There’s worry that the more-liked plan for Somerville’s 90 Washington St. land will be impossible to build
The rules to develop land at 90 Washington St. say two plans must go forward – and since there are only two plans to choose from, both were advanced.
Direct election of mayors and rethinking senior parking permit fees get bumped by a week in Cambridge
Two legislative replays of sorts got delays Monday in Cambridge and will reappear on next week’s City Council agenda: reviewing ways voters might elect a mayor directly,...
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City councillor wields race to oppose an antisurveillance order about devices that listen for gunfire
Harsh remarks toward fellow city councillors sidelined a vote on whether Cambridge keeps the gunfire-detection technology known as ShotSpotter.
Police were hunting for shooter when he opened fire with an assault rifle, leaving two with critical injuries
A gunman in emotional crisis left two people with life-threatening injuries as he roved Memorial Drive in Cambridge with a rifle.
Three victims reported in Memorial Drive shooting
Police are massed in Cambridge for a 1:30 p.m. shooting with two victims. Police are diverting traffic but saying there is no ongoing danger to the public.
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Tax tip of the week: PBS’ ‘Two Cents’ is the free financial resource you’re overlooking
“Two Cents” has hundreds of short, engaging episodes – often just a few minutes long – designed to make money topics easier to understand.
Cambridge meetings, May 11-18: Putting mayoral elections in voters’ hands and senior parking permits
Take part in meetings on direct election of mayors, a project near Porter Square to add 71 homes and setting the city’s next annual budget.
Next for the site of the demolished Riverview Condominiums: What gets built to replace its homes
The empty lot once known as the 66-home Riverview Condominiums is expected to be returned to its owners within two to four weeks.
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Somerville needs more households to try free curbside food waste collection
This past fall, newcomers joined the trash day lineup in East Somerville: Bright green, top-latching bins, perched on curbs next to the trash, recycling and yard waste...
‘Lights, Camera, Joe Curtatone!’ stars former Somerville mayor in a true-to-life role: Media champion
Former 18-year Somerville mayor Joe Curtatone is set to be honored June 4 with a Public Service Award by the Somerville Media Center.
When building a cheese board, start with a river and let it spill
There is nothing wrong with eating a couple of perfect cheeses plonked onto a plate, but don’t you think everything tastes best when it is pretty?
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The long red line
The two universities that dominate Cambridge seem to foster café sitting. We will follow the rumble of the MBTA red line, felt in three Harvard and MIT coffee seats.
Lemon blueberry scone at Vinal Bakery
American scones can be dry and crumbly, a clumsy exaggeration of the savory British version of this cousin to the biscuit. Vinal dodges the dry.
Persian influence on fashion: Clothing as resistance, memory and political language
Persian influence in fashion exists across multiple layers, and a scarf, pattern or silhouette holds personal expression and ancestral memory.
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Electric and cargo bike pioneer Bicycle Belle closes Aug. 1, leaving others to peddle pedals
Founder and owner, Carice Reddien Pingenot, announced the closing on Tuesday, saying she needed a break and time to focus on her family.
Frustration is rising before a multifamily project does at 88 Ellery St.
A six-story condo project was continued again by the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission. It’s been before the NCD since January.
On the way to a housing goal set for 2030, officials agree to check if Cambridge is on the right path
After passing a series of zoning changes to meet Cambridge housing needs projected in 2017, the City Council is asking whether the goals have changed.
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Cambridge Common House opens, a boutique flagship for a Harvard Square stay
A 16-room lodging house called Cambridge Common House is opened on Garden Street, updating an 1880 “gathering place for students, artists and intellectuals.”
Tax tip of the week: Go to the backdoor Roth IRA when there are limits at the front
Here’s a way to build tax-free retirement income and reduce future required minimum distribution concerns with create greater financial flexibility.
Healthpeak gets first approvals for 42 acres, but hears calls to speed up building a bridge to Alewife
With 42 acres of a new neighborhood expected to be developed over what may be decades, Planning Board were keen to hear about a bridge over train tracks.
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Cambridge meetings, May 4-11: Budget season hearings begin and officials talk AI in schools
Take part in meetings on an Ellery Street multifamily plan, artificial intelligence in school, redesigned bus routes and Cambridge‘s next annual budget.
Somerville meetings, May 4-11: Building a school and moving council meetings to Tuesdays (in 2028)
Take part in meetings on building a replacement school, filling crossing guard shortages, changes to meeting schedules and much more.
ShotSpotter gunshot-detection technology takes fire as surveillance that may not make Cambridge safer
The gunfire-detection technology used by Cambridge police is surveillance that has a high false alarm rate, residents and experts say.
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Owner plans to close S&S Restaurant in Inman this summer
S&S Restaurant owner Gary Mitchell hints at “other things” coming after the deli ends its 107-year run in Inman Square.
A developer’s ‘monolith’ and giant parking garage concept took an advisory group by surprise
“Admittedly, it’s probably too much parking,” a development company representative said. Another company proposed a large grass field instead.
No immediate change in leadership is signaled at Graham & Parks, now the site of a discrimination lawsuit
A principal has seen two investigations into workplace toxicity and two discrimination lawsuits between two public school districts.
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Taste of Cambridge, nearing end of early bird sales, adds six more sources of samples and sips
Surfside, Caffe Nero, Boston Burger Co., McCarthy’s and Toad, and Patco Brands join the June 17 endless-samples event.
Yay! It’s time for spring produce: Asparagus, sunchokes, fiddleheads, ramps and rhubarb
We have only a few months of seriously good growing time here, so we need to come out of the gate running.
Fringe benefits: Coffee with something extra, somewhere else
This week, the journey began near Porter Square, thence near Union Square and finally to East Cambridge. Each had something off my radar to recommend it!
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Prepare for Nostalgia, where coffee and vintage clothing mix, and learn what happened to Nine Winters Bakery
Somerville welcomes a hybrid cafe and vintage clothing store called Nostalgia while the taste fades from the celebrated Nine Winters Bakery in Cambridge.
Shrimp hand pie at Chatty Patty
These Caribbean-style patties come out sizzling, with the kind of grease sheen that signals you’re about to enjoy yourself.
Two-day educator strike begins at Lesley University
Demands include livable wages, manageable workloads and a “successorship clause” to keep their contract if the school is sold.
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Alternative Davis Square apartment designs are online from Copper Mill
The original design for the 500 units was a 26-story tower that found significant opposition in the community even among housing advocates.
Cambridge will see a budget bigger than $1B, spending that may land hard on residential taxpayers within two years
The next annual budget for the city of Cambridge will surpass $1 billion despite City Hall staff holding year-over-year growth to an austere 4.1 percent.
Cambridge’s Garden Street will stay one-way for car traffic
Several blocks of Garden Street will stay one-way for car traffic toward Harvard Square, city councillors in Cambridge decided Monday in a 5-4 vote.
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Copper Mill now says its alternative tower designs will be available Tuesday
There will be four options for a building at varying heights, reflecting controversy over the original 502-unit, 26-story version in a design many disliked.
It’s DeRATification Week in Somerville, because rodents are springing back into action
A week of rat fighting began Monday in Somerville with a display of the city’s latest weapon: BurrowRx, which pumps carbon monoxide into burrows.
Tax tip of the week: Missing the tax filing deadline isn’t cause for panic
To start with, if you’re owed a refund, there’s no penalty for filing late. Even if you owe, missing a deadline shouldn't be fatal.
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Cambridge meetings, April 27-May 4: Healthpeak shows its giant project in the Highlands
Take part in meetings on Healthpeak's plan for a new neighborhood in the Alewife Quadrangle, new homes on Ellery Street and big city projects.
Somerville meetings, April 27-May 4: Developers vie for 90 Washington St. project
Take part in meetings on remaking 90 Washington St., surveillance technology, a teen center at Cummings School and Davis Square issues.
Somerville Housing’s special officers are under the authority of city’s police chief in new home rule petition
Special police officers also won’t be excluded from union activities or civil service rules, city councilors were assured.
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Gilligan-Corsetti organizes a run for Somerville state rep; Azeem breaks for his wedding and a party
“I understand the struggles of working class people,” said Olivia Gilligan-Corsetti, eyeing a 27th Middlesex seat. Also: A “big South Asian dance party” calls.
The Garment District, where the old becomes new again, hits 40
The beloved thrift megastore finds surprising ways to reinvent itself in the age of influencers.
President of Lesley University says she is leaving June 30
The president of Lesley University is stepping down after seven years, leaving the role at the end of June as her contract term expires, according to a university email...
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Korean fried chicken and two new Brazilian restaurants for Somerville; a cafe for Cambridge
On the Menu this week: A few announced and expected openings, from cafe fare to Korean and Brazilian grill and pães de queijo, and goodbye to the ArtBar.
More than half of Riverbend Park won’t open this year, except to drivers
It’s closing Memorial Drive in Cambridge to car traffic that creates Riverbend Park every Sunday, yet this year much of the park closes to all uses except cars.
Dining safely with allergies or celiac disease takes a village. Also: Where to start eating the rainbow
For the people trying to eat only “the good things,” there's no superfood waiting to swoop in. But we can help ourselves by going back the basics.
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Somerville is letting restaurants, bars and clubs expand their hours for the World Cup
For the coming summer weeks of World Cup soccer, businesses with alcoholic beverage licenses can opt in for 9 a.m. openings and 3 a.m. closings.
Coffee in the great outdoors: Sidewalks are for sipping
The three outdoor places I review here are not like the Parisian café in the Jardin du Luxembourg, but they are what we have and we are happy to have them.
Early morning driver crashes into empty Davis Square dental office
A driver reportedly experiencing a medical emergency crashed a car into the Davis Square Dental offices at around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.
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Body-worn cameras for Somerville police come with an annual cost near a half-million dollars
With budget cuts looming, some city councilors argued it wasn’t the time for police to get body-worn cameras costing around $450,000 annually.
Grilled cheese at Juicy Jay’s
This is the grilled cheese you’re thinking of: American and cheddar between slices of buttered brioche bread, right in an affordable comfort food sweet spot.
Company gets pushback in proposing to build Union Square homes instead of expected lab space
Up to 200 new homes with a park, library branch and other community benefits for Union Square made for a sweet pitch, but not all were convinced.
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A neighborhood group is forming to fill a gap in North Cambridge
Former city councillor Paul Toner joins a wave of organizing in West Cambridge, Neighborhood 9, Somerville’s Davis Square and by businesses around Porter Square.
Cambridge meetings, April 20-27: William Dawes rides again at a Patriots’ Day observance
Take part in a meeting with a new election commissioner and attend a Patriots’ Day observance.
Somerville meetings, April 20-27: Police cameras and staying out late for World Cup games
Take part in meetings on water, sewage and cop cameras; plans for a month of World Cup; and remaking 90 Washington St.
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Somerville Plant-Based Restaurant Week has dishes and deals to help savor saving the Earth
There are bargains and special dishes at 19 restaurants for Plant-Based Restaurant Week, from new specialty pizzas to buy-one, get-one deals.
Cambridge Redevelopment Authority makes real estate moves in North and East Cambridge
The most prominent builder in North Cambridge may now be the quasi-governmental agency the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority. Its board voted Thursday to put up six...
Renovated outbound Kendall/MIT headhouse reopens Monday
Access to red line trains for the past year and 10 months has been through 325 Main St., access that ends as the new headhouse opens for use.
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Developers are putting backyard cottages ‘on steroids’ to turn them into triple-deckers, former officials say
Developers are abusing the ability to create “backyard cottages” in Somerville, bringing crammed-in but unaffordable condos.
Lesley University faculty say they are ready to strike, and they want protection if the school shuts or sells
Faculty say they are fighting for fair compensation, manageable workloads and contract retention in the event of an acquisition or shutdown.
Cambridge Police Department sees an abrupt turnover as Christine Elow retires as commissioner
Cambridge Police Department commissioner Christine Elow has announced her retirement after 30 years with the city. Her last day is Friday.
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Cambridge and Somerville 2026 spring style
Expect a touch of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy minimalism as well as breathable cotton poplin, linen blends and lightweight knits.
Inman Eats & Crafts street fair May 17 is the start of a powerful event rotation for the all-local square
Inman Eats & Crafts is a celebration of everything Inman Square – “eclectic retailers, fabulous makers, our casual eats and culinary treats.”
Cambridge city councillor McGovern urges a boycott of Citizens Bank over its support of ICE
Pressure against Citizens Bank for its political investments has grown to include Cambridge city councillor Marc McGovern.
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Three squares, three worlds of coffee: Yego in Teele, Bom Dough in Inman and Maprang in Union
These cafés, one Rwandan, one Brazilian and one Thai, speak different taste languages.
These foods could be made from a can or box, but you’re going to want to DIY instead
What’s something you insist on making more or less from scratch that the rest of us might just break out a box or can for?
Herb roasted potatoes at Veggie Grill
A visit that started off poorly, with an $8 burger that was secretly a $12 burger. Things got better when searching the menu for side dishes.
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Get a peek at the new Urban Hearth; Bon Me has a meal subscription; Assembly Row adds farmers market
See the new Urban Hearth and get a last meal at the location that’s closing; meals by chef Ali Fong at home; a new June-to-October farmers market.
Political notes: Get to a Barber campaign kickoff, meet new candidates, see endorsements and fundraising
There’s a campaign kickoff in Medford for state representative Christine Barber and news about Burhan Azeem, Daniel Lander, Evan MacKay and more.
Calls to keep real grass on Ahern Field were ignored, East Cambridge residents say
Decisions made months ago about Ahern Field in East Cambridge are causing upset among residents realizing the intent of city staff: Part of the $7.5 million appropriated...
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Vote on keeping Cambridge’s Garden Street one-way for cars hits a red light amid call of ‘bad public policy’
Whether Cambridge city councillors will vote to keep Garden Street as it is or bring back two-way car traffic will have to wait until a April 27 meeting.
Somervillians can see proposals for 90 Washington St. on Friday and give opinions on them April 22
Redevelopment plans for a 4-acre Cobble Hill site owned by the city will be viewed and talked about at meeting held online April 22.
The MBTA is taking ideas for improvements through 2050, but no local listening sessions are set yet (updated)
A “fiscally constrained” Capital Investment Plan already includes more than 600 projects, but the MBTA says it's seeking more input.
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Demolition detours end Friday so traffic can return to normal around the site of former Riverview condos
With teardown complete at 221 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge is about to reopen the surrounding Sparks and Mount Auburn streets after 272 days.
Tax tip of the week: Your employer can contribute to a kid’s Trump Account starting July 4
Unlike your contributions, which are after-tax, employer contributions come pretax, similar to how a company might contribute to a retirement plan.
Order around appointing special police in Somerville, including at Housing Authority, paused for questions
Legislators warn that time is running out to make sure of passage on Beacon Hill, putting pressure on action when an order returns April 23.
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Cambridge meetings, April 13-20: Another zigzag on Garden Street and multi-income housing
Take part in meetings on a massive energy project, social housing, traffic changes (or not) on Garden Street and Gold Star Mothers park.
Somerville meetings, April 13-20: Displacement and affordability, a change of use in Union Square
Take part in meetings on finances for the school district, displaced people and creation of affordable homes and a wish not to build Union Square offices.
Somerville is beefing up its Welcoming Community Ordinance against Trump policies
A law that spells out Somerville’s resistance to federal oppression is being strengthened, including protections for First Amendment expression.
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Deal offers a chance for Somerville to own instead of rent at its months-old Assembly Square fire station
With a sudden $7 million bond appropriation by the City Council, Somerville can go from renter to owner at its Assembly Square fire station.
Where to gorge with all-you-can-eat and buffets in Cambridge and Somerville
One appeal of the buffet is not having to make hard choices. The wealth of Cambridge and Somerville buffet options perform that role on a broader scale.
March’s rain and snow helps Northeast leave significant drought, but it’s still important to conserve
The region has been downgraded to a mild drought from significant drought. Dry conditions have persisted since August and could worsen again.
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Approval to tear down an Ellery Street home followed the process correctly, commissioners say
An early 1900s home assessed as being in “excellent condition” continues on a path to demolition after a neighbors’ appeal was rejected.
Somerville Plant-Based Restaurant Week could encourage new menu items but has a bigger purpose
A Plant-Based Restaurant Week set for April 18-25 follows City Council endorsement of changes to Somerville policies about meat.
The innovators of Kendall Square are going to war or escaping to Europe: A conversation
The average resident might be shocked at where things are headed in the gleaming towers of our innovation district.
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In preparing for World Cup soccer, goals range from moneymaking to surviving a hooligan siege
Public safety officials are bracing for the World Cup – first an onslaught of licensing needs and then a possible invasion of hooligans.
Edible flowers: Beautiful and, naturally, delicious (so long as you choose the safe ones)
Nasturtiums are edible, and popular, as you might have noticed, in fancy salads. There are lots of flowers that are edible and easy to come by here.
Three cafes as diverse as Central Square
Today’s Central Square is truly the center, the convergence point for Cambridge’s diverse cultures and lively commerce.
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Sweet frank roll at H Mart
Of course the cultish Korean grocery store has plused the impulse buys before you get to the checkouts – sweet, savory or both, like this.
Affordable housing and space for Public Works are priorities at six Cambridge-owned properties
Affordable housing and room for a squeezed Department of Public Works was top of mind at a Monday roundtable in Cambridge.
Homeless shelter at church is approved by a judge, found to be part of a ‘broader religious project’ (updated)
Some neighbors worried about the effects on the area and property values from crime, drug use and noise from a 26-bed shelter near Davis Square.
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Ellery Street building design is still in flux in a changing Mid-Cambridge
A project to put up a six-story building with more than 30 condos at 88 Ellery St. was continued to a future meeting despite better-liked designs.
June brings Taste of Somerville and Taste of Cambridge, seemingly endless nibbles from around cities
Early bird sales to the Taste of Somerville are live through April 14, the Somerville Chamber of Commerce said Monday. The discounts means 15 percent off access to the...
Tax tip of the week: Trump Accounts aren’t tax free, but some kids can get $1,000 to start
The advantage to these new financial tools comes from tax-deferred growth, early investing and a $1,000 government contribution.
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No one likes the state’s first attempts at a Reid Overpass redesign
More than a dozen organizations have nearly identical conclusions about redesigns of a nearly 90-year-old Cambridgeport traffic overpass.
Somerville meetings, April 6-13: Police cameras and a new two-school campus
Take part in meetings on progress toward a new school, police body camera funding and bike lanes at the Elm-Beacon Connector project.
Cambridge meetings, April 6-13: Ellery Street projects put multifamily housing under a microscope
Two projects on one street are among those shaped by multifamily housing zoning the City Council passed last year, and the experts are watching.
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Like and subscribe: Cambridge School Committee prepares to push publish on a newsletter (but endorses a podcast)
There’s caution about overwhelming Cambridge families who already get too much information about the goings-on in their school district.
‘Shocked’ by low assessed value at 90 Washington, agency members head off the map
Members of the Somerville Redevelopment Authority were dismayed to find a $3.8 million assessment at a lot that’s cost the city around $35.3 million.
Tufts has chosen its commencement speaker in venture capital health head Ken Frazier
Commencement at Tufts University is 9 a.m. May 17 on the academic quad of Tufts’ Medford-Somerville campus.
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Porter Square Shopping Center makes space for a business between Cafe Zing and Cambridge Naturals
“Cafe Zing 2.0” is expected to open in three months in Porter Square, but what opens in the remaining space won't be Cambridge Naturals.
Three destination cafes where no compromise is needed between high-quality food and coffee
There's not always a need to pair prized coffee with a generic muffin or croissant or wash down a to-die-for pastry or bagel with a lesser brew.
Napoli pastry at Yafa Bakery & Café
At Yafa, the pistachio is a major food group that appears on or in many of the treats. With the cone-shaped, chocolatey Napoli, it’s both.
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Spice, spice, baby: Racking up some jarring insights about what gives life flavor
For starters, how often do you throw out spices? If you are my mother, the answer is never.
Azeem’s ads have exciting news for riders of the MBTA (in the 1940s)
Those ads about a giant expansion of the MBTA – the red line into Lexington, the green line to Woburn and so on – are accurate. In a way.
Clover restaurant chain may shut down without a buyer
Less than two years after exiting bankruptcy protection, the Clover chain of restaurants is seeking a buyer and may lay off 182 workers.
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Davis Square Neighborhood Plan could be done by fall, becoming a factor in tower decision
Work on a Davis Square Neighborhood Plan will ramp up in early May and finish within three to six months, extending into fall as needed.
Your next cookbook can be found April 11 at a Curio-hosted benefit for World Central Kitchen
The World Central Kitchen, which goes to the front lines of crises to provide fresh meals, gets a little boost April 11 from a sale of used cookbooks.
Worry sets in about new tech’s toll on Cambridge in power and water
AI has begun its creep into municipal business and data centers are coming that can’t be regulated because the new tech isn't in the city’s table of uses.
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Resident parking permits in Cambridge will be $75 next time, unless the driver cites a hardship
Most Cambridge drivers could be asked to pay $75 for their next resident parking permit, up from $25, under a policy order passed Monday after four weeks awaiting action...
Get a $5 burger at Cambridge Common like it’s 1996 again
Also on the Menu this week: The Big Papi Burrito helps fund a charity at Anna's and Wonder says to wonder no longer about its 500 options.
Tax tip of the week: Maybe this is the year you should itemize deductions
With the cap rising it $40,000, more taxpayers may now find that itemizing results in a larger deduction than taking the standard deduction.
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Cambridge has surpassed its 1950s population peak, with housing, wealth and race effects
The Human Rights Commission heard findings on age and sex; households and families; race and ethnicity; immigration; income and poverty.
Somerville meetings, March 30-April 6: Affordable homes overlay zoning … and doughnuts
Take part in meetings on 90 Washington and new school plans, affordable homes overlay zoning and hours a Winter Hill Dunkin’.
Cambridge meetings, March 30-April 6: The city is using AI and talking data centers and turning 400
Take part in meetings on changes to community benefits, tech, events and tourism issues and the future of city-owned properties.
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Protect Act passes in state House of Representatives ahead of weekend Trump protests
An Act Protecting Access to Justice comes “in response to the ongoing fascist ICE crackdown,” state representative Mike Connolly said.
A moment of silence honors Olympian Reavis, who set records at Somerville High and nationally
Olympian Phil Reavis was mourned Thursday in Somerville, where he lived and is honored as the namesake of a high school athletic field.
Plan for affordable homes on Porter Street is a capstone as Johnston retires from CHA
Amid speeches, work got done, including moves toward developing land at 16-28 Porter St., Wellington-Harrington, near the Somerville city line.
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In Brownsberger-Lander race for senate, incumbent touts governor’s endorsement
The reelection campaign of state senator Will Brownsberger was endorsed Thursday by governor Maura Healey as “crucial” to state initiatives.
Friendly Toast menu makes some moves under a CEO brought over from Tatte
The menu is getting a minor update at The Friendly Toast, an all-day brunch and bar spot in Cambridge’s Harvard Square.
Cheesecake as an act of meditation with Duly Lee of Korean Momma
To indulge in the custom Basque cheesecakes of Korean Momma, a customer can expect to wait. And maybe to engage in five minutes of “therapy.”
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Entering a budget cycle $5.9M in the red, Somerville city councilors are united on priorities
Somerville city councilors know their wish lists for the city might not happen, but the shared themes were deemed “really striking.”
Crispy pie: Secrets for homemade pizza, including the gluten-free kind
Very strong opinions from a former pizzamaking instructor who never mastered a perfectly round crust (because it doesn't matter).
Scallion biscuit at Phinista Cafe
$4.25 A group of us set out to find the best banh mi in Cambridge and Somerville and discovered along the way another treat everyone loved – a savory, sweet and...
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After a ‘particularly brutal winter,’ Somerville urges pothole reports and prepares road repairs
The repaving of streets and other road improvements are mentioned as budget priorities in memos filed with mayor Jake Wilson by five city councilors.
Water and sewer bills, drought, ‘forever chemicals’ and a Charles River footbridge get council action
A bike lane and footpath bridge across the Charles River got a thumbs up from Cambridge city councillors, while concern greeted water issues.
Looking at this winter convinces a councillor that Cambridge needs a snow corps to call in for help
A wild winter with extreme outcomes for city workers and finances leads to exploration of a volunteer “snow corps”; another idea emerges from Somerville.
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City gains confidence about finding money for a bridge over train tracks to Danehy Park
Staff are confident that money to pay for a bridge over Fitchburg Line train tracks will be found after designs are in place, which could be in around 18 months.
Cambridge Housing Authority, now a regional force in affordable homes, appoints a chief executive
Clara Fraden, a Cambridge resident who has been at the Cambridge Housing Authority eight years, is the agency’s new chief executive.
Tax tip of the week: The IRS sends refunds before it finishes checking what you file
A refund isn’t the finish line. Your return is generally “closed” only once the IRS statute period expires.
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Somerville meetings, March 23-30: Public school upkeep and budget priorities
Take part in meetings on setting budget priorities, maintaining public schools, Mystic River sewage and affordable-unit rent collection.
Cambridge meetings, March 23-30: Designing a train tracks bridge, adding Twin Cities affordable housing
Take part in meetings on a bridge over rail tracks; snow season's costs; Central Square planning; and affordable homes in two parts of the city.
Nicotine users will have even fewer choices by May after a Somerville clampdown
Somerville is taking more aggressive action against tobacco products that have sneaked onto store shelves without explicit government approval.
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Options for East Cambridge’s closed school will be seen in May; better busing brings changes
Three to six options for the future of 158 Spring St. are expected to be presented to Cambridge Public Schools families in May, district superintendent David Murphy told...
Democratic Socialists seek more state seats but fell short of endorsing Uyterhoeven, its sole incumbent
The DSA fell a few votes short of endorsing Erika Uyterhoeven, who is running without its field team, and the issue was largely not about policy.
Mourning Dove: No lease renewal offered by shopping center, Sign of the Dove artists need a new home
“For people in the community who are looking to support local artists and purchase local artwork, losing these spaces makes it harder for them to do that.”
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Vegetarian chili you can make for 10 after learning how to scale recipes up, up, up
How do you cook for a lot of people in a home kitchen? A little math, some careful measuring, savvy and splitting and the right storage.
How a ‘420 friendly’ club hopes to light up Union Square without social-consumption laws in place
A pot-friendly, no-alcohol comedy and music club got licensing to open in Somerville’s Union Square but must walk a very fine line.
We tried Cambridge and Somerville banh mi and found our favorite (for tofu, anyway)
Five Vietnamese restaurants sell banh mi in Cambridge and Somerville, and on a recent Sunday a group of us tried them all to help direct diners to the best. The sandwich...
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Man used violence, stalking and fraud to force women into sex, U.S. Attorney’s Office says
Daniel Rodriguez, 36, was arrested on state charges in January after leading the police on a high-speed chase in Randolph.
Fried mozzarella at Si Cara
This is a very firm layer of panko over the smoothest, mildest, most innocuous of mozzarellas all but rescued by the choice of sauce.
Derrick Neal is out as head of Cambridge Public Health
Neal was appointed during the Covid pandemic after withdrawing from a job in California and spent a little over four years with the department.
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Unhappy over a confusing process, Somerville officials embrace a future with a 925-seat school
A combined campus on Winter Hill means closing the Benjamin G. Brown School on Willow Avenue and less walkability in West Somerville.
Streamlining the permitting process? Cambridge did this in 2024
Getting projects into construction is urgent, especially for housing, so staff expects to report as soon as mid-June on how to speed that up.
Tax tip of the week: Four reasons to file taxes with low income, some that put money in your pocket
In many cases, filing a tax return can put money back in your pocket even when income is relatively low – including from prior years.
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Somerville meetings, March 16-23: Lessons from winter’s snowfall and affordable-housing zoning
Take part in meetings on building school campuses and maintaining current educational facilities and a postmortem on winter snow clearing.
Cambridge meetings, March 16-23: Cutting student screen time, and the future of the K-Lo campus
Take part in meetings on student screen time, busing and the K-Lo school campus, and city finances and micromobility.
To broil or not to broil? Here’s a dry rubbed pork tenderloin for when the heat is on
When you use the broiler setting on an oven, do you leave the door ajar? This question opens up a lot having to do with this high-heat cooking.
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Cambridge looks to MBTA and mall owner to take lead in updating the Alewife area
What wasn’t on the list of Cambridge housing and zoning priorities presented this week to city councillors: A few untouched parts of Alewife .
Bill stopping ICE’s courthouse seizures wins support in Somerville as a Cambridge family mourns
Somerville city councilors became the first in the state to vote in support of a bill on Beacon Hill that protects courtgoers from seizure by ICE.
Somerville YMCA project has a friendly neighborhood meeting, getting swole without breaking a sweat
After another year of permitting and two years of construction, a project of 130,000-plus square feet will add affordable housing and amenities.
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Veggie mini mandu at K-Bok Korean Fried Chicken
While it’s the wings that are most exciting about this restaurant in the former Cantina Mexicana space, these dumplings have a lot going for them.
Copper Mill promises alternative designs within 30 days for its Davis Square tower proposal
Renderings of a 26-story, 502-apartment building drew scoffs even from project supporters, and the developer agreed it missed the mark.
Nagomi Bento’s expansion into Cambridge means more snacks, bowls, drinks and happiness
Less than two years after opening in Somerville’s Bow Market, Nagomi Bento is expanding to Cambridge. The Japanese restaurant, between Harvard and Porter squares, is...
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Police budget in Cambridge draws attention to overlap with social services and unarmed response team
There were no “defund the police” calls, but overlaps in services were examined critically in a Finance Committee hearing.
Political climate change pushes Ig Nobel Prize ceremony to Europe after 35 years
The Ig Nobel Prize ceremony is moving to Europe, and its Sept. 3 awards – the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony – take place in Zurich.
Cambridge will pay $400,000 over a gun discharge rather than risk paying more after a trial
Cambridge plans to settle a settle a lawsuit filed by retired police lieutenant, who said his weapon fired because of a manufacturing flaw.
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Tax tip of the week: The IRS has three years on its audit clock. Get it started by filing on time.
The IRS has a limited time to review and challenge a tax return. Filing a return promptly helps ensure this clock begins running as early as possible.
There’s already debate, over the Legislature’s work ethic, as Miller challenges Connolly in the 26th
A seat encompassing East Cambridge and East Somerville is getting its first Democratic political primary – and race of any kind – since 2016.
As weather warms, cities wait to see how long until their biggest snow piles melt away
Somerville city staff compare this year with 2015, when “the snow piles lasted until May,” and a Cambridge spokesperson eyed early summer.
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Somerville meetings, March 9-16: Merged schools, Davis Square tower and a new YMCA
Take part in meetings on a merged school campus, a proposed apartment tower, a YMCA on Highland Avenue and Elm-Beacon road plan.
Cambridge meetings, March 9-16: A consolidated housing department and police budgeting
Take part in meetings on combining housing and homeless services into one department; the police budget; disability services and planning; and more.
Space, time and coffee
An occasional feature mapping our sipping in visits to cafes in Somerville and Cambridge – this time Imagine, Forge and Three Little Figs.
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Assembly Row hotel promises its new rooftop deck won’t be open late
If someone wants to party on a rooftop deck, ”there are plenty of options in The Seaport,” the developer of Assembly Row told the Planning Board.
Belief in the success of the Black Lives Matter movement fell by 31% at a formal debate
As Black History Month came to a close, a civic organization reflected on one of the most defining and divisive movements of the digital era.
First tomato soup, and gluten-free tricks for a béchamel sauce
This week we're faking things: tomato soup when neither tomatoes nor basil are in season, and a flour-based sauce without flour, for those avoiding gluten.
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These walking sleeping bags are our cocoons when we can’t nest
The new outerwear mood on the streets this winter is hard to miss: the ankle-length puffer coat, a full-on down cocoon reaching nearly to the ground.
Veggie Galaxy, maker of comfort food in Cambridge, is called Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurant in America
Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge has been named the best vegan-friendly restaurant in America in a VegNews reader survey.
Union Square developer, struggling to fill lab space, is open to speeding up hotel or homebuilding
USQ, master developer of a 20-acre, $2 billion project in Union Square, has been wooing AI, life sciences, robotics and other sectors.
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Designs for a merged Winter Hill-Brown school on Sycamore Street are presented in Somerville
Students and educators are expected to return to 115 Sycamore St., with a merged Winter Hill and Brown schools set for a 2031 move-in.
Pita and hummus at Life Alive
There’s a delicious base of creamy hummus complemented by cucumber slices, crispy dried chickpeas and tangy olives. Is there enough pita, though?
Somerville’s seller of environmentally friendly stuff is expanding with a crowdfunding campaign
Somerville’s eco-friendly housewares and bath and body shop, Green Tiger & Co., is expanding at Somerville’s Bow Market.
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Ewen-Campen declares for Uyterhoeven’s state rep district after Uyterhoeven announces a Senate run
Ewen-Campen said his goals as a state representative will be familiar from his work as a councilor, including housing, safe streets and immigrant protections.
Rise in parking permit fees to $75 stalls in Cambridge with misunderstanding about seniors
A proposal to raise the cost of most Cambridge resident parking permits was paused Monday amid a misunderstanding that the change affects every senior.
Tax tip of the week: Life is easier with electronic filing
Technology doesn’t just make tax filing easier – it makes it safer. A few simple digital tools can dramatically reduce fraud, delays and costly surprises.
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An 8-year-old lawsuit against Cambridge from former business owners may be headed for trial
Linnane vs. City of Cambridge springs from former practices of the License Commission, including telling businesses to buy licenses they could get for free.
Second day of protest is planned against Citizens Bank over support of for-profit ICE prisons
Four local branches of Citizens Bank are due for protests Saturday over the bank’s involvement with for-profit prison companies working with ICE.
Circle’s local bankruptcy auction is March 10, another loss to Cambridge’s furniture history
Shoppers can still pick up deals at Circle, even though the bankrupt chain closed abruptly in December after nearly 74 years in business.
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Somerville meetings, March 2-9: Winter Hill and Brown schools, 90 Washington
Take part in a week of plenty of meetings about replacing Somerville’s two oldest schools and a mixed-use project on Cobble Hill.
Cambridge meetings, March 2-9: Clearing snow, setting standards for third graders (and principals)
Take part in meetings on clearing snow from sidewalks and declaring school snow days, standard for students and school leaders and more.
Rise of the expressive puffer coat
This winter, the puffer isn’t just a coat, it’s a mood, and Cambridge and Somerville have been deep in it.
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Bus changes starting April 5 gives more access to Arlington and Burlington
Six bus routes see changes starting April 5, including the CT2, 85 and 87 that are serving riders in Cambridge and Somerville.
Adding mass timber tech to zoning means more affordable housing for Somerville, councilor says
A zoning change to allow mass timber and all-affordable buildings to go to eight stories from seven goes to a Land Use Committee in March.
J. August reopens Friday in Harvard Square with its familiar university merch
J. August opened in 1891 in a building owned by an all-male Porcellian Club at what was then an all-male Harvard. Its mission is different now.
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Thai chili lemonade at Saigon Tiger
All weather is ice cream weather, and why not the same for lemonade? This one has a bright flavor, not too sweet or acidic, and a surprise spiciness.
Eye-tricking viral pastries at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts Cafe now include the Strawberry
The Mango is not a mango. The Lemon is not a lemon. Starting this week, the Strawberry is not a strawberry. Here's how a cafe does it.
Lab market and the economy complicate Healthpeak’s vision for a new Cambridge Highlands neighborhood
A campus of 20 buildings is planned for parcels assembled by the company Healthpeak and due for a formal application in March.
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My roast chicken recipe, and how to make spinach soufflé for a sandwich spread
It started with an idea for a sandwich and how it might be executed. But first I feel I must start with roasting a chicken.
We have Tuesday office hours, and tonight they’re in Central Square
As part of its mission of community, The Independent plans weekly “office hours” at two convenient locations, and the hours start this week.
Developer is back talking with the public about its Davis Square tower proposal
The developer proposing a tower with hundreds of apartments in Somerville’s Davis Square plans a meeting in March with updates and answers.
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Mass transit is slowed by snowstorm and cleanup, MBTA warns
The MBTA warned that extreme snowfall and a massive cleanup effort will result in “a number of service changes” for travel through Tuesday.
Somerville’s Michette bakery is opening in Cambridge near Inman Square and adding lunch
After three years serving French breads and pastries to East Somerville, Thomas Ferté will take advantage of added square footage in Cambridge.
Tax tip of the week: Don’t leave your side hustle off when you file with the IRS
Q: Should I include “side hustle” income and expenses on my tax return? A: Yes, absolutely. Reporting your side hustle isn’t just a rule – it often gives you clarity and...
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Somerville meetings, Feb. 23-March 2: Kennedy yard improvements and new school ideas
Take part in meetings about the McGrath Boulevard project, school improvement plans and funding for school and playing field projects.
Cambridge meetings, Feb. 22-March 1: CambridgeSide project sees delays, Healthpeak advances
Take part in meetings on school district budgeting, bike lanes on part of Broadway and developments in East Cambridge and the Alewife Quad.
What you need to know about the Sunday snowstorm in Cambridge and Somerville
A blizzard may dump between 1 and 2 feet of snow between 4 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. Tuesday, with gusts of up to 60 mph and whiteout conditions.
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Survey notes rise in anti-Zionism among Jews in the area, now home to a non-Zionist synagogue
There’s been an 8 percent increase in area Jewish households since 2015 – and among them, 38 percent of their inhabitants identify as anti-Zionist.
When Donald Trump shut down Snap benefits, it ended talks for a new Central Square grocery store
Opening a city-run grocery store was part of Ayah Al-Zubi’s successful run last year for Cambridge City Council. While she campaigned, a group that included Cambridge...
Immigration attorney Diann Slavit Baylis wants Governor’s Council seat to appoint better judges
While most immigration proceedings are federal, a path to citizenship for unaccompanied minors is determined at the state level, the candidate notes.
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After around a decade of construction, the Beacon Suites Hotel is expected to open this spring
A city-line hotel under construction for around a decade is accepting reservations for mid-April after a sale by the initial developer.
Wintry mix, the seasonal coffee of choice
An occasional feature mapping our sipping in visits to cafes in Somerville and Cambridge, including Simon’s, Pepita and Cicada Coffee Bar.
Kupel’s will bring its ‘god-tier bagels’ to a long-empty Somerville space
Kupel’s Bagels is expanding to Somerville from Brookline, creating just its second location since opening nearly five decades ago.
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Tequeños at Carolicious
You get five of these breadsticks with a center of queso blanco, a semifirm white cheese, served hot from the air fryer like hearty pigs-in-a-blanket.
Somerville meetings, Feb. 17-23: Surveillance technologies and McGrath changes
Take part in these meetings on surveillance technologies, later serving hours and new eateries, McGrath Highway changes and more.
Cambridge meetings, Feb. 17-24: Traffic infrastructure and school budgets
Take part in these meetings on Reid Overpass reconstruction, Mount Auburn Street changes, school district budgeting and more.
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We have Tuesday office hours, and they launch in Davis Square
As part of its mission of community, The Independent plans weekly “office hours” at two convenient locations, and the hours start this week.
Tax tip of the week: Why you got a 1099, and what it really means
Over time, 1099s have expanded to cover nearly every type of income the IRS wants to track, including gig work or eBay sales.
Somerville Arts Council leader Jenkins is asked to leave by mayor
The longtime leader of the Somerville Arts Council said he is leaving at the request of new mayor Jake Wilson after nearly 25 years.
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In a giant-cookie battle of Chip City vs. Crumbl, Harvard Square wins big, even a little too big
Two over-the-top chain cookie sellers came to Cambridge a couple of years ago to compete from neighboring squares. Which is for you?
Last-minute (and thoughtful) Valentine’s Day gifts in Cambridge and Somerville
Because love shouldn’t feel like a CVS candle aisle panic.
How to love your Valentine’s Day in Cambridge and Somerville
A list of restaurants and experiences that couples, throuples, singles who seek or the self-satisfied can enjoy all weekend long for Valentine’s Day.
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Valentine’s, Galentine’s, as long as it’s chocolate: An anthropologist’s quick history of a holiday
Anthropologists love to say “Bet you didn’t know this!” about cultural history and the origins of things in human use – including for Valentine’s Day.
Egg salad sandwiches at 7-Eleven
The company that owns 7-Eleven is trying to change its culinary reputation. It’s started that work with egg salad sandwiches.
Cambridge gets its first gunfire incident of the year, followed by an arrest
Two vehicles exchanged gunfire and drove off in opposite directions, witnesses told police in recounting a Cambridge gunfire incident.
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Homeland Security searches a Lesley University residence hall
A federal search of a Cambridge building ignites debate over police cooperation and transparency.
Massive file from J6 insurrection trials goes live on the Internet Archive
Nearly 3 terabytes of material being uploaded, so much material that it may take days for it all to go live.
Fried delicata squash at La Brasa
When french fry fatigue and onion ring ennui sets in, find relief at La Brasa, with its fried delicata squash in thinly sliced rounds with a lime crema dipping sauce.
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Artist Spotlight: Joyer
The Indie interviews the Saturday headliner Joyer ahead of Someday Fest, June 6 and 7 at Warehouse XI.
‘Tuner’ is a thrilling heist movie with pitch-perfect characterization
A hearing-impaired piano tuner discovers a knack for safecracking which leads him into a life of crime in Daniel Roher’s latest film.
Here’s Somerville’s budget book, as a new mayor perplexes and the council steps back
Even a cursory skim of the budget book raises questions. Because of all the changes, it’s difficult to tell if investment are increased, steady or reduced.
A not-so-lovable loser squanders your time and attention in ‘The Breadwinner’
An aloof man-child must take care of his three daughters alone while his wife pursues a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in this missable relic.
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‘Now Is Still Here’ is still here now (for a limited time only)
Fourth time is the charm as the eco-minded production performs its final rain date this Friday at Somerville Community Growing Center.
‘Michael’ is a sanitized biopic for superfans who don’t care they’re being lied to
Michael Jackson’s songs remain bangers, but the connecting material here is bland and problematic.
Land/Mark Symposium examines an 18th century murder case with Cambridge ties
How we remember a slaver murder case, and the role of enslavement and resistance in the Revolution, is discussed at a June 13 event.
Correcting the record about the impact of Cambridge’s Multifamily Housing ordinance
Discussions toward addressing a housing shortage are going to be more difficult if there is misinformation being circulated
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A chat with Emma Picht, star of ‘The Aria of Julie d’Aubigny’
The actor dishes on the wild life of Mademoiselle de Maupin, coffee spots and unrequited dreams of roller skating on the esplanade.
Cambridge needs a stormwater charge to pay for sewer improvements
Cambridge will be on the hook for between $257 million and $2.4 billion in costs to fix sewer overflows. Residential water bills will rise significantly.
The server took back my fries and threw them away
It’s hard to open a restaurant, especially one with three all-day phases. But what kind of “dining concept” takes back an accidentally delivered side?
The banality is the evil in the atmospheric nightmare, ‘Backrooms’
Director Kane Parsons' makes the mundane mysterious, the commonplace creepy and the humdrum horrifying.
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Summer Festival Preview
Music festivals, from one-day local affairs to multiday out-of-towners, that are worth getting off the couch for.
‘I Love Boosters’ is a heist movie that’s off the rails and loving it
Boots Riley's absurdist romp is less about "working class values" than valuing the working class.
The Gill Aharon Trio delivers
Everything jazz aspires to be without the pretense and pandering it often exhibits.
Cole Pulice and Pat Horigan explore new horizons at Deep Cuts
Follow the breadcrumbs of devotional music, New Age, and ambient to a new kind of jazz.
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Online safety shouldn’t come at the cost of access
Recent efforts by the House and the governor to create online protections for our state’s youth risk serious unintended consequences.
‘A friend to Cambridge’: Barney Frank’s life and legacy
Although the 4th Massachusetts Congressional District does not include Cambridge, representative Barney Frank spent a considerable amount of time addressing the city’s...
Let Iran be the last war without a declaration
If American service members are going to fight and die in our name, we should at least make our elected officials vote on it.
Social housing makes economic sense
The city has a path to sustainably offer homes for people of all income levels, on its own terms – but it must be planned properly.
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Be careful what you wish for in ‘Obsession’
A desperate loser makes a wish for his crush to fall in love with him, only for it to come true with violent, horrific consequences.
The many shades of female dancers’ experiences in ‘Black Swan’
It's not all black and white in the American Repertory Theater's adaptation of the Darren Aronofsky film.
The 9 Wyman Road project is not a fluke, it’s a sign of successful multifamily zoning
The project at 9 Wyman Road is not displacing renters or gentrifying a neighborhood. It is creating 55 additional homes for current and future Cantabrigians.
There’s a pit at the center of Harvard Square, but not the one we pine for
Gentrification killed "the Pit" and we're going to spend another summer staring at a fenced-up hole in the ground.
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Eugene Mirman doesn’t remember the crash that might have killed him. But he does have a new comedy special.
Comedian Eugene Mirman talks about the dramatic car crash and amazing rescue that hospitalized him – and how little he remembered of any of it.
Davis Square Plaza owner agrees to let it be filled through October with musicians and other buskers
An agreement is in place to fill the unused Davis Square Plaza with musicians and other buskers, part of a bigger effort to reclaim the area.
As America held down or kept out Asian immigrants, Harvard hired a Chinese professor in 1879
The presence in Cambridge was a curiosity and a sign of Harvard’s increasing awareness of the place China was to occupy on the world stage.
You say you want a revolution
A documentary about the early days of radio station WBCN triggers fond memories and a general airing of political grievances.
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Should we become San Francisco
Refusing to change doesn’t mean that we will preserve our way of life.
There will be an impact from the lack of parking at 1740 Mass. Ave.
The developer offers no resident parking, and more cars seeking street parking affects neighbors and local business.
Solidarity through sound
The "Which Side?" protest music series returns with a diverse lineup to the Burren Back Room on May 19.
Somerville Porchfest: wet, wild and ready to party
A little rain and long portajohn lines (still) couldn't dampen the excitement for the biggest Porchfest around.
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The art of gathering in public spaces
Collage, community and a secret door await you at Harvard Art Museums at Night.
Fringe festival is bigger in its second year, adding drama, dance, magic and music to the clowning and comedy
The second annual Fringe runs through Sunday at three venues in Somerville, allowing the festival of unpredictable and often oddball acts to double in size.
Save Dana Park turns a public space into a game board May 30
The game is designed to bring players into the story of Dana Park past and present, stopping a phony deed scam before the villain takes the land away.
Helping music survive is about more than just Porchfest
The band couldn’t afford to play its monthly jam sessions. What? These guys could fill a room on a weeknight, sell alcohol and not break even?
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When WBCN rocked the airwaves (and politics too)
Filmmaker Bill Lichtenstein talks about “The Airwaves Belonged to the People: WBCN and The American Revolution," screening May 10 at Somerville Theater.
A music lover’s music club called Altar may finally have found its home in Cambridge’s Central Square (corrected)
Central Square could be within a few weeks of knowing the address of Altar, its next nightclub. But founder John Kearney doesn’t want to get ahead of himself.
Central Square’s nightlife options, from the venerable Middle East to the transforming Smoot
Even without the music-focused, minimalist Altar yet on the nightclub scene there are plenty of places to go around Central Square for a drink and dance.
Armory board members are named, including leaders at Esh Circus Arts, Arlington International Film Festival
Names of board members came in a press release filled with buzzwordy terms (“cultural strategist”) and unexplained references to unknown businesses.
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Fidelity, Vanguard and Schwab block SPLC donations. The Cambridge Community Foundation does not.
It’s not only megafinancial institutions that host donor-advised funds. We have an alternative in our own backyard in the Cambridge Community Foundation.
Tuesday office hour in Central Square (Toscanini’s, 5:30-6:30 p.m.)
Bring story ideas, questions, concerns or complaints to one of our convenient locations – or, even better, come with proposals to become part of a team.
Reeling from a president’s assassination, we said political violence was not the answer to the country’s struggles
Cantabrigians channeled their anger over Lincoln's killing, many seeing it as a symbol of a larger struggle between the forces of good and evil.
Tatte no way
Young professionals on this side of the river don’t talk about it, but none of us really go to Tatte. It’s a bit like going to a Hard Rock Cafe in New York.
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Where are consuls as immigrants get seized for deportation? Not where they should be.
Why so little consular activity reported for thousands of people detained by ICE? It may be that the locations of consulates do not map the needs of the moment.
Groups align on reclaiming Davis Square as a home for everyday art, starting Friday with a concert series
Two efforts to revive the square as a community gathering place are at critical stages, starting with a Down in Davis concert series launching Friday.
Two theater projects promote transformative climate justice
“Now Is Still Here” to be staged outdoors at the Somerville Community Growing Center in late May.
Jonny Tex: ‘Mustard Seeds’
Hear First discovers a more 'intentional' sound on the Cambridge musician's latest single.
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What’s up with Down in Davis?
A new Friday concert series debuts to give the community a fun, family-friendly place to gather.
The Indie Somerville Porchfest Preview
Your guide to all the noise you want and none you don't at the biggest Porchfest around.
MOZZ: ‘Breadt’
Hear First spotlights the yin and yang of Mozz's latest EP 'Breadt.'
Tuesday office hour in Davis Square (Diesel, 5:30-6:30 p.m.)
Bring story ideas, questions, concerns or complaints – or, even better, come with proposals about how you can become part of the team.
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‘Taking it easy’ at the Wilbur Theater with a night of song
Charismatic Canadian songwriter Alan Doyle brings the NYC-based folk trio Bandits On The Run along for the ride.
Guess who was left out of the speeches in 1905 celebrating Cambridge’s 275th anniversary
“We cannot help but look forward with some anxiety to the future,” the president of Harvard said. “The Puritans no longer control Cambridge.”
New data privacy laws will have unintended consequences that hurt mom-and-pops and nonprofits
The bills gaining traction on Beacon Hill are well-intentioned but threaten to create unintended consequences for small businesses and nonprofits.
Author David Szalay in the flesh
The 2025 Booker Prize winner talks autonomy, audiobooks and Dua Lipa's book club in Harvard Square.
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Call it improvements, call it planning, delaying a development is a way to make it not happen
It’s doubtful any more meetings, planning, input, commentary, essays or shouting will facilitate a better decision about the Copper Mill project.
Something about the design of this food hall was bothering me.
CanalSide looks toward a boisterous future of 600 people warming a giant space, forgetting the lessons from ghosted storefronts.
Indie bookstores have a day
Crawl, walk, run to your local bookstore on April 25 for Independent Bookstore Day.
Life Drawing Boston draws love from its community along with an entertainment license
Life Drawing Boston is drawing life to Somerville’s Inner Belt and plans to add regular entertainment such as performances, dances and variety shows.
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‘Rhinoceros’ brings Paul Giamatti, Tatiana Maslany and John Turturro to the Harvard Square stage
Hollywood comes to Cambridge this summer to star in “Rhinoceros” at the American Repertory Theater. One actor has even played a rhino before.
Making mushrooms magic again
Bay Staters celebrate the fifth anniversary of Somerville's decriminalization of psilocybin mushrooms.
Applications open May 4 as Cambridge cautiously expands for its second year of Porchfest
Cambridge is preparing to take applications for its second Porchfest, set for July 11-12 primarily in the Cambridgeport, The Port and Riverside neighborhoods.
Who won comedy last night: Addy Goldstein, whose mom died
At a College Comedy Showcase at The Comedy Studio, one comic got to the point quickly: “Try to keep it together,” she told the audience. “My mom just died.”
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Tuesday office hour in Central Square (Toscanini’s, 5:30-6:30 p.m.) (corrected)
We have Tuesday office hours to hear story ideas, questions, concerns or complaints, and tonight they’re in Central Square.
Cambridge’s Humane Society changed its mission, then quit, as Cambridge changed
As the demographics of the poor community in Cambridge shifted, so too did the Cambridge Female Humane Society’s approach to meeting their needs.
Letter to a traffic engineer
Even entities such as the City of Cambridge, which in theory should have been consulted in a Reid Overpass design process, are relegated to the inbox.
Counter intuitive
There’s a special kind of pain in seeing projects go up thoughtlessly with flaws that will confront people for years or decades.
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How to save the planet for the 99%
Philosopher Nancy Fraser critiques the capitalist underbelly of environmentalism at Harvard University lecture.
‘Your Light Is Central’ is an evolving LED art installation that makes a colorful square even more vivid
Art is meant to illuminate, and a series of installations called “Your Light Is Central” went live in Cambridge’s Central Square this week to make that literal.
Vinyl Heads, Rejoice
A roundup of our favorite records stores to visit on Record Store Day this April 18.
The last three A.R.T. plays in Harvard Square share a theme for Trump’s America
Eugène Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros,” a rock opera about the abortion network called The Janes and an underground railroad tale called “Mexodus.”
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MWRA was created to solve a regional problem, and we need to push it to do so now
Now is the last time that Cambridge and Somerville are able to use MWRA funding to cover the cost of sewer infrastructure upgrades.
This spring, History Cambridge takes ‘History Hangs’ on the road
Walk, talk and learn more about West Cambridge, first the Brattle Street area and then Lowell Park and Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Step into the unknown with ‘The Flowers of Evil’
A course examining French poet Charles Baudelaire's seminal collection is coming to the Cambridge Community Center.
It’s time for police oversight in Somerville
It is past time for the City Council to act on its 2020 commitment and create a police commission and a community police review agency.
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You can live without your creepy doorbell camera
By owning one of these doorbell surveillance cameras, you are not making yourself safer. You are making yourself useful.
Closure overexposure
Psychologically, we warm up to things more when we encounter them a lot – as long as we don’t already dislike them. Like the misuse of words.
Prewn’s Izzy Hagerup delivers serious star power in a visit from Northampton
Izzy Hagerup, at the head of a four-musician Prewn, effortlessly commanded the attention of the room at Deep Cuts.
Dancing through a cemetery and poems for a Vodou spirit are coming in Mount Auburn residencies
Four artists and organizations are named as Mount Auburn Cemetery’s new artists-in-residence for its record-breaking 11th year.
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‘Breaking the Code’ is not to be missed at Central Square Theater
Many of us have heard the name Alan Turing, but few know much more about him than his legacy as the father of computer science.
Tuesday office hour in Central Square (Toscanini’s, 5:30-6:30 p.m.)
We have Tuesday office hours to hear story ideas, questions, concerns or complaints, and tonight they’re in Central Square.
Spring Festival Preview
A preview of the most exciting spring music festivals, from one-day local affairs to multiday out-of-towners.
Debate over Fugitive Slave Act raises questions of ‘lawful authority’
The federal mandate for Northern states to enforce the proslavery agenda of Southern states fueled the fires of division before the Civil War.
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‘Starting From Scratch’ shares success secrets from self-made artists, including one venturing into software
It’s not easy making art for a living, but three self-taught creators in Somerville share stories in April about how they bootstrapped their way to a breakthrough.
Why doesn’t Phil Eng know how batteries work?
Everyone warned us, but the T switched systems anyway. No U.S. transit professional believes there's anything to learn from systems around the globe.
Political pundits can’t talk about Democratic wins without addressing Republican lies
It matters as Democrats enter a phase of beating Republican candidates and the losers have shown how far to hang onto power.
Apocalyptic satire makes an encore with Bread & Puppet’s song, dance and papier-mâché
A third apocalypse-themed show inspired by modern political culture arrives: The Bread & Puppet Theater’s “The End of the World Never Minding Show.”
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Independent Film Festival Boston ready for the spotlight
Boots Riley, over 100 films, and a small army of volunteers make the magic happen.
Comedian Eugene Mirman is recovering after single-car crash in New Hampshire
Somerville comedian Eugene Mirman was pulled from a burning car after crashing into tolls on a a New Hampshire turnpike on Tuesday.
We have Tuesday office hours, and tonight they’re in Davis Square
Bring story ideas, questions, concerns or complaints – or, even better, come with proposals about how you can become part of the team.
Indie Bookstore Crawl offers a passport to 25 shops with prizes along the way
If you love books, why not prove it with an act of enormous physical prowess?
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Old friends, public service and a campaign for the community
I believe my perspective is needed on Beacon Hill, where the voices of the vulnerable are too often drowned out by special interests and bureaucracy.
They talk about politeness when they mean compliance
The idea of politeness as “professionalism” is a societal delusion, and too frequently the enforcing of a gracious response to malicious policy.
What’s really in Cambridge’s tap water?
A look at what cities do and don’t test when determining that their tap water is safe.
Mount Auburn Cemetery opens its gates at 6 a.m. for early morning strolls and bird-watching
Mount Auburn Cemetery brings back its Early-Bird Hours starting Wednesday and reopens its Washington Tower for the season.
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Sado-Domestics can be your soundtrack
The alt-Americana band Sado-Domestics is one of countless acts bringing life to our stages and soundtracking our nightly revels.
Gypsy punk takes the crown at Royale
Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hütz jumps into the photo pit on a raucous Wednesday night.
‘Breaking the Code’ unravels the mysteries of a brilliant mathematician’s inner life
Actors Eddie Shields and Josephine Moshiri Elwood talk about the challenge of bringing Alan Turing's life to the stage.
Hear First: ‘Bell Biv Barclay’
ET and Haasan Barclay's love letter to Boston and homage to the New Jack Swing era.
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The music runs all April 5 as McCarthy’s and Toad celebrate their first year in Porter Square
The McCarthy’s restaurant and attached Toad nightclub celebrate their year anniversary April 5 with a party featuring a day of live music.
No Kings rallies pop up regionwide Saturday, with sign-making parties ahead of time
No Kings, a series of protests against the politics of president Donald Trump, returns Saturday to Cambridge, Somerville and Boston.
We have Tuesday office hours, and tonight they’re in Central Square
Bring story ideas, questions, concerns or complaints – or, even better, come with proposals about how you can become part of the team.
Repairs to ‘Gift of the Wind,’ the Porter Square T stop sculpture, could be budgeted this year
The first step is determine the cost of reviving the art. Estimates heard at a Porter Square Neighbors Association meeting ranged up to $600,000.
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Pop-up booksellers, poetry on demand, and literary drag trivia make March a less cruel month
A sunny Saturday welcomed the 7th annual Bow Market Book Fair.
Hear First: ‘Foggy Mountain Mental Breakdown’
Hear First premieres the debut album from DIY folk rock pickers Sweet Petunia.
A memorial for Charles Coe is planned for April 11 in Boston
The late Cambridge author, poet and musician Charles Coe is honored by the literary and arts community on April 11 across the river in Boston.
Near possibly the most important election in U.S. history, The New York Times is in a state of quantum news
By deciding which stories to cover and how, our greatest newspaper in content and readership has the power to set the agenda. That’s a concern.
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The end is nigh for ‘The End is Nigh,’ a raucous and rollicking riot of a romp
When questions posed by the plot become too thorny, the ensemble stabs or punches someone or simply runs in circles to explode the tension.
Multicultural Arts Center showcases works by high schoolers
The show tends toward up-close, pensive portraits of youth and the surreal, part of the center’s mission to show the bold and new.
Boston Bitdown redux: dinosaurs on Saturday and a Sunday scare
A final afternoon of chiptune music saved by a barcade that came to the rescue in downtown Salem.
The date is set for Porchfest’s 15th year in Somerville
Porchfest returns to Somerville on May 9, and residents can apply through April 21 to host a band.
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Anne Fadiman gets personal with her latest essay collection, ‘Frog’
The would-be love child of John McPhee and Virginia Woolf shares a few amphibian-related regrets.
With Metacom’s Resistance, colonists set Indigenous nations at war with each other
Metacom’s Resistance is a lesser-known, three-year war that is part of 350 years of conflict, coexistence and Indigenous presence.
Oscars 2026 results include a rare tie
The annual film awards were held last night in Hollywood. Did The Brattle have a premonition about a rare Oscars tie?
The Renty daguerreotypes find a home, but Harvard’s legal fight lingers
Harvard chose to explore its legacy as an enslaver of 70 or more people at the same time it fought claims by a descendant of slavery.
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Somerville could have skipped these police grants that come with strings attached
The Somerville City Council accepted nearly $200,000 for police over two meetings filled with fractious debate. Is this money worth what it costs?
Booksellers and librarians gather Wednesday to talk about ‘Getting the Story Out’ to new readers
A couple of decades ago, some 400 newspapers published book reviews in arts and culture sections. Now it may be as few as 40.
Boston Bitdown redux: the chiptune spectacle spans three cities on Friday
A visual spectacle engulfs the interior of Capital Theatre while Boston Bitdown artists take to the stage in Arlington, Medford and Somerville.
Somerville gives an extra week to get through a 117-page application to be an Armory tenant
Somerville has extended its submission deadline by a week for artists, makers and creative organizations to lease space in its Armory building.
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Boston Bitdown redux: Thursday
Relive what went down Thursday night at the world's largest chiptune festival, Boston Bitdown 2.
Tracking The Monster and his Bride through the many versions of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’
Right now cinemagoers can double their Frankenstein pleasure with “The Bride!” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” up for the Best Picture Oscar this Sunday. Sure,...
We have Tuesday office hours, and tonight they’re in Central Square
As part of its mission of community, The Independent plans weekly “office hours” at two convenient locations in Cambridge and Somerville.
Decriminalization of sex work is explored with experts in a Thursday conversation
A film screening and panel of experts grows a collective understanding of the experience of sex workers amid an erosion of freedom and democracy.
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Why Somerville still doesn’t have public toilets
The company that makes the Portland Loo is not licensed by Massachusetts, so its structures are not allowed (except in several neighboring cities).
To save the creative, arts advocates say to get real about housing, planning and the Legislature
Along with calling on residents to push for the creation of cultural trusts, arts advocates talked about increasingly regional efforts to save the arts. That included a...
In Rebecca Kopycinski’s ‘Thotbot,’ obsolete tech rewinds into a dark future that predicts our present
The “ThotBot Implantation Center,” an immersive art installation and multimedia concert rounds out its latest run of sold-out shows at Bow Market.
Andrew Della Volpe’s sitcom is limned before a live studio audience
It’s what audiences can expect Friday during Della Volpe’s new hour at The Rockwell in Somerville.
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Middle East co-founder Joseph Sater is mourned
The death of Joseph Sater, the co-founder of Cambridge’s Middle East nightclub and other arts venues, was confirmed Tuesday by brother Nabil Sater. The cause was...
A Fuzzstival reunion of sorts comes together to celebrate an LP release by Landowner
The icy claw of winter didn’t deter a near sellout crowd for Landowner, a postpunk band out of Western Massachusetts celebrating an LP release.
Hear First: ‘Lane Says’
Hear First spotlights Lane's nod to Jane's Addiction, “Lane Says.”
Women’s History Month in Cambridge is a restoration project of scattered and missing stories
The work is meticulous and often challenging. Many women left few written records, and their contributions were not always preserved in traditional archives.
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Hearing could be decisive for the Out of the Blue art gallery, a fixture in Somerville’s Armory
The owner of the Out of the Blue art gallery in Somerville has won a City Council hearing for her attempts to stay in the city-owned Armory arts building or get a new...
Between a Foot Locker and TJ Maxx, a mall hosts Michelangelo
The exhibit “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel” displays 34 of 60-odd Vatican frescoes, life-sized reproductions visible “like no pope has ever seen them.”
Protest surveillance: What State Police saw from the sky as we spoke against killings by federal agents
I asked State Police for helicopter flight and mission plans, reports and photographic, video or biometric records captured from protests I went to Jan. 10.
Boston Bitdown music festival expands because its organizers never unplug
Boston Bitdown respawns March 5-8, expanding its fun to four days and welcoming more than 50 musicians and artists from Salem to Somerville.
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Say She She’s disco revival is disconcerting only if you stop dancing long enough to think
Disco is back! The NYC-based outfit Say She She, fronted by three sashaying vocalists, made the argument Saturday at The Sinclair.
Somerville Democrats gather Sunday to prepare for convention weighing in on Markey seat
Registered Democrats in Somerville vote Sunday to elect delegates to attend May’s Democratic State Convention.
How clown troupe Liars and Believers created the apocalyptic death match of ‘The End is Nigh’
A play that’s “Animaniacs” meets “The Hunger Games” has creative and philosophical concerns behind its clowning, brightness and physical comedy.
Somerville gets a cabinet-level arts czar in addition to a new leader for Arts Council in mayor’s plan
Reassurances came Tuesday for people worried about the direction of creative culture in Somerville, where longtime Arts Council executive director Greg Jenkins steps...
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Who’s in the tour van to rep us at the New Colossus Festival
A handful of local musicians head to New York City for the seventh edition of the New Colossus Festival, running March 3-8.
Letter-writers worry there won’t be an open process when Somerville replaces Arts Council director
An abrupt departure by a longtime champion has artists wondering who will lead the Somerville Arts Council and how they will be chosen.
Biribá Union mixes Bach with beatboxing and bass at a Club Passim tour launch
Biribá Union’s nimble parade of genre mashery delivered more rap to Passim’s folkhead patrons than they have probably listened to in the past year.
Stunning ‘The Moderate’ unleashes the Internet’s good, bad and ugliest in Central Square
“The Moderate” is not for everyone. Kudos to Central Square Theater for its excellent job of warning that the play contains mature themes, including images, video and...
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A new tone at Somerville City Hall
The first few meetings Somerville City Council of 2026 have been called “chummy,” but budget season seems likely to strain the cordiality.
Jesse Jackson, a defender for LGBTQ+ rights
Jesse Jackson, who died Tuesday, advocated for the LGBTQ+ community – especially Black LGBTQ+ people – at a time we had no one.
Boston Underground Film Festival is March 18-22, with Bob Odenkirk bringing his ‘Normal’
Badges go on sale at noon Wednesday for The Boston Underground Film Festival's 26th year of horror, fantasy, sci-fi and quirky indies.
Arts Council changes are opaque despite campaign rhetoric, but rock renaissance seems real
Can we reflect for a moment on what a hackneyed PR maneuver it is to drop big news at 4:54 p.m. on a Friday before a long weekend?
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A stripped-down Katzù Oso comes to The Sinclair on Saturday
In advance of his show Saturday at The Sinclair touring with Say She She, Paul Hernandez (Katzù Oso) talked with me about coming up in the Los Angeles music scene,...
Who won comedy last week: Caden Adrien and Iris Kessler
Caden Adrien channels Mitch Hedberg and Steven Wright. Iris Kessler, doing comedy for only three months, brought a great joke and needled her show’s judges.
Eight stories of all kinds of love for your Valentine’s Day
Stories from people about their first encounters of love of all kinds – romantic, platonic, familial and even spiritual – with future spouses, friends and pets.
Artificial intelligence is coming for us, clearly. Not in the smartest way.
Problems with the technologies lumped together as artificial intelligence are worsened by the lumping.
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Black Cantabrigians may be a dwindling tribe, but will not be forgotten
The resiliency of a tribe and its complicated relationship with Cambridge was on display at “Lift Every Voice: Saving Our Stories, Sharing Our History.”
Black History Month celebrates a century, and so does its backlash
On the eve of America’s 250th anniversary, Black History Month is a necessary corrective to revisionist history, selective memory and deliberate attempts at erasure.
Will the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble happen in 2026? It skipped last year for a ‘reset’
No news is good news – except when it comes to the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. The long-running battle of the bands, established in 1979, signed off after the 2024 competition...
Black Lives Matter exhibit accepts the debate and stages it
“A critical reflection” runs through Black History Month with an Oxford-style debate toward the end on whether “The Black Lives Matter Movement was successful.”
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Stormy weather shakes a lineup, but should settle down before the We Black Folks Showcase
Your average band preps weeks, if not months, to take the stage on a specific date. It all goes out the window when there's bad weather.
Comedy Studio hosts Hump! Festival in April, much more than homemade porn
The annual touring fest brings five-minute flicks to shock, amuse and arouse.