Somerville Wire

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THE LACK OF ON-CAMPUS HOUSING CREATES TENSIONS AND INSTABILITY IN SOMERVILLE

“Shortages and insecurity in on-campus housing continue to push students to look for housing elsewhere—in surrounding communities.” Housing instability within Somerville continues to worsen as universities struggle to accommodate their rising student populations. Meanwhile, rental prices in surrounding communities increase. The growing divide between students and the community puts pressure on city officials, universities, and […]

BOSTON’S BOOMING LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY MOVES TO SOMERVILLE

Image by Boynton Yards “The more we can encourage developers to build commercial properties, ironically, I think the more affordable housing that’s likely to result in.” The largest life sciences cluster in the nation, Cambridge’s Kendall Square, is reaching a saturation point. The industry, on the other hand, has no signs of slowing down and […]

SOMERVILLE MURALISTS REFLECT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ART IN THE COMMUNITY

“You don’t need to go to a museum to appreciate art.” If you visit Somerville, murals are plastered on every street corner and on business walls. Sidewalks are painted with vibrant colors and patterns. Art has played a pivotal role in the city for many years. The Somerville Arts Council created the Street Art Project […]

SHOULD SOMERVILLE IMPLEMENT MORE PROTECTED BIKE LANES?

“The thing that keeps people from biking is just being scared of doing it.” Commuting comes in many forms. The greater Boston area is accessible through personal vehicles, buses, trains, rideshare apps and even ferries. However, biking stands out among many residents as a reliable, economic and sustainable way to get around. But in Somerville, […]

SOMERVILLE WIRE: January 11, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

A Nave Gallery exhibit, the Somerville Arts Space Risk Assessment, and a show at The Museum of Bad Art   Articles MEMBERS QUESTION ARTISAN’S ASYLUM RELOCATION FROM SOMERVILLE Believe there were unspoken reasons for the move to Harvard’s Allston-Brighton campus BUSINESS PROFILE: WAIKIKI A new poke bar comes to Davis Square Shorts From the Inside […]

BUSINESS PROFILE: WAIKIKI

A new poke bar comes to Davis Square (Somerville Wire) – Waikiki opened very recently in Davis Square, bringing poke, sushi, and raw juice to the space formerly occupied by the iconic Johnny D’s club. While it will be joining many other seafood options in the area, Waikiki is also particularly known for its flavorful […]

MEMBERS QUESTION ARTISAN’S ASYLUM RELOCATION FROM SOMERVILLE

Believe there were unspoken reasons for the move to Harvard’s Allston-Brighton campus (Somerville Wire) – Jacob LaRocca is a prop engineer who had been a member of Somerville’s Artisan’s Asylum for over eight years. He volunteered that whole time and managed two separate shops at various points; he even created a new shop and taught […]

THE NEW CRYSTAL BALLROOM IS KEEPING SOMERVILLE THEATER ALIVE

Catching up with Somerville’s new, much-needed live performance venue and function space On September 17, the Somerville Theatre reopened after a 17-month-long closure brought on by the pandemic. Customers of the 107-year-old theater, some who have been catching flicks there for years, walked into a completely madeover venue with an improved lobby and a glitzy […]

SOMERVILLE WIRE: January 4, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Katjana Ballantyne sworn in as mayor, Somerville recognized as a Global Climate-Action Leader, and the Co-Incidence Festival takes off Articles BOARD OF HEALTH TO VOTE ON PROOF OF VACCINATION POLICY While facing questions about the fate of small businesses, the Board postponed the vote to mid-January BUSINESS PROFILE: DOÑA ESTELA How a chef from Mexico […]

OPINION: SOME HOPES AND WISHES FOR 2022 AND BEYOND

Photo by Eric Kilby, Flickr “I hope and trust that our city will continue to thrive as it has for the last 18 years.” May the coming year (or two) be the last ones in which this damn pandemic hangs over the entire world like a never-ending plague. I hope that in the next few […]