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Your guide to become a tourist in your own neighborhood.We list these short adventures in the order of longest to shortest. 60 Minutes from homeWhere: Georges Island, Boston Harbor Why go: Because there's an awesome fort. Because it's farther out than Spectacle Island, and farther out is better. Because you'll feel the Atlantic breeze on your face. Because all summer long there are fun activities: music, plays, puppet bands, Civil War lawn games and more. Because there's a ghost. Because you'll feel you're somewhere else entirely. What to do: Pack a lunch. Get on the Red Line at Davis Square and take it to Downtown Crossing. From there, walk 15 …
Somerville has nearly as many restaurants as there are countries in the world. Oh, how wonderful it would be to visit every country in the world, save a few. Likewise with Somerville restaurants: If only we could eat at all of them, save a few. To make your globetrotting culinary experience simpler, we've broken things down by continent. Here, we offer a few places to eat, with food from each of the world's seven continents. One caveat: We have a stand-in restaurant for both Antarctica and Australia, but we think you'll be pleased. South AmericaChurrasco Buffet & GrillIn America, as in Brazil…
When Grand owners Wendy Friedman and John O'Toole opened the boutique in January 2008, they sold "uber-hip and expensive" home decor, clothing and accessories. But six months later, they revamped the store to cater to customers who desired low-priced, locally-made, fashionable gifts. Now the store and its website sell t-shirts printed with designs by Somerville artists, wallets and tote bags embellished with bicycles, sturdy plastic plates adored with trees and knots and a medley of other wares. Prices vary but lean toward the inexpensive. A porcelain mug decorated with drawings of the …
Whether you're getting a basic facial, or something more elaborate, like a Super-C facial, with customized vitamin C treatment, or a hydrating facial, with its deep moisturizing mask, Skin & Body Works is the place to go for pampering and relaxation. One of the greatest assets this spa provides its customers is time. Many "spas" throw a mask on your face, set an egg timer for 10 minutes, then kick you out the door. At Skin & Body Works, facials can take up to an hour, and they include a thorough massage. Like most things in Somerville, the atmosphere is relaxed. And that's the point. In …
No one who's driven around or walked across Powderhouse Circle can say honestly, with a straight face, that he or she has never resorted to salty language: "Some neanderthal in an SUV nearly hit me! That 89 bus just ran four cars off the road while a pedestrian talking on a cell phone pressed the walk button for no good reason, causing a back-up halfway to Ball Square. And now there's a funeral procession at rush hour! Fudge!" Only you don't say "fudge;" you say something a wee bit stronger. Powderhouse Circle, in fact, is one of the worst motor-vehicle crash sites in Somerville, according to…
Somerville is full of families with young children, and fortunately there are numerous organizations that put on programs year-round to keep everyone engaged. Two of the most popular and most active kid-friendly groups are the Somerville Growing Center and Parts and Crafts Collective. The Somerville Growing Center Throughout the year, the Somerville Growing Center puts on events for families, many of which are organized by Groundwork Somerville, such as the winter Maple Syrup Boil-Down. This year's festival drew several dozen families with young children, who tasted tree sap tapped from …
Next time you're at the movies at Somerville Theatre, check out The Museum of Bad Art, which is downstairs. What's that, you ask? Well, it's exactly what it sounds like. A real museum that celebrates the worst of the worst. And some of it's been done by professionals. Not convinced it's worth the trip? Let us explain: 1) You might not be a painter, but you know if you were, you definitely wouldn't be that bad. Confidence boost! 2) $5 beers on tap and $6 glasses of wine. 3) The MOBA has a large collection spread out over three galleries (the other two are in Dedham and Brookline) and is always…
Patch will help be your guide as you become a tourist in your town. Whether you're new to town or want to explore the city you've loved for years, we're here to show you what there is to see. Check back to Somerville Patch daily to see what excursion is next. We will feature stories, photos and videos showing off the best of Somerville. And you can tell us what you love about Somerville, and we'll include it as part of our project. We hope this project encourages you to shop local, eat local and be local. Patch wants to show you how much your own town has to offer. And although everything …
