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Check Patch every Thursday for Patch Picks, a weekly roundup of reader and editor tips for the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to shoe repairs. Want to suggest a list? Submit your idea in the comment box!Earlier this week, Somerville Patch reporter Amanda Kersey outlined some Great Escape ideas about how you can keep your children occupied during the upcoming April vacation. But what about for yourself—what would make a memorable staycation? After all, one of the best aspects of the Greater Boston area is that you can hop cities (with noticeably different characters) by just traveling between Boston, Cambridge and Somerville. So, to expand the list of suggestions we looked no further than central Boston. Patch writer Stacey Leasca noted that several of her Twitter compatriots agreed – why go …
Facials, massages, nails, waxing... the word 'Spa' has come to mean so many different things to us over the last twenty years. For this week's Patch Picks we asked for unusual (or unusually good) local spa options. Somerville's Skin & Body Works is designed especially for mothers with young children and expectant mothers-to-be. With ten years of thriving business in Davis Square, the spa has earned a solid reputation. Chose from four 55-minute facials (basic, purifying, hydrating or vitamin C-infused) and leave your cares at the door... or, if your 'cares' are in a stroller, there's plenty of…
Pubs around here take St. Patrick’s day seriously, opening their doors (and taps) as early as 6 a.m. for all-day, corned-beef-fueled parties filled with live music and good Irish cheer. Here are five picks. Feel free to add your own to the comments. St. Paddy’s Party at Precinct—Order up a pint a Guinness and some fish n’ chips and take in the St. Paddy’s Day lineup: New England Americana All Stars, Comanchero and Three Day Threshold. Doors at 5 p.m., show ~6-9 p.m., when you start seeing leprechauns, up to you. Party All Day at The Burren—The taps started flowing at 6 a.m., the kitchen is …
Green beer, frothy pints of Guinness, a live ceilidh band, sticky beer-soaked floors--whatever you use as your litmus test for the best place to spend St. Paddy’s Day here in Somerville, we want to know your picks. Post them to the comments or e-mail Patch editor Denise Taylor at deniset@patch.com, and we’ll run the list on Thursday.
City of Somerville Sports Camps: Somerville’s Recreation and Youth Dept. offers a smorgasbord of very affordable one- and two-week sports camps throughout the summer. Most camps cost $50 per week, though some two-week soccer camps are just $10 per week. Sports offered include basketball, lacrosse, soccer, golf, baseball and softball. A brochure will be posted with all the details on the Dept. webpage in April. Or call 617-625-6600 ext. 2980. SomerTime Day Camp: This day camp run by the Somerville Recreation and Youth Dept. hops through numerous fun activities including swimming, gymnastics, …
We asked five Somerville librarians for their latest book recommendations for kids and adults. You’ll find all ten of their picks at the library. Ron Castile, Head of Reference at the Central Library, recommends: The Given Day by Dennis Lehane. Set in 1918 Boston, this novel captures the turbulent wave of social change that swept the nation after WWI--and some Boston Red Sox history too. “It’s a very good book,” said Castile. The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Written more than 2,000-years ago, Tzu’s book remains a must-read for anyone interested in military strategy. “It’s fascinating to read,” said…
We are lucky to have many organizations and groups engaged in making our lives and our city (and, in some cases, the world) a better place—right from their offices here in Somerville. So when we asked for reader tips on who’s making a difference, we knew more suggestions than we could print would come in. From international outfits including Amnesty International, Kiwanis and Hostelling International to national groups like Youthbuild, which all have offices or chapters here, and on to Somerville-only organizations like Union Square Main Streets or East Somerville Main Streets, every day …
For this week’s Patch Picks, we asked for your tips on where to go for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner in Somerville--and you delivered like a pack of helpful, arrow-shooting cupids. Lil’ Vinny’s has a clear following for its great, classic Italian cooking and vibe. Suggestions also came in for everything from a gourmand’s treat for the senses at Journeyman or Bergamot or a candlelight meal at Gargoyle’s or Sabur to a fun, easygoing romantic night at Mike’s over hearty food and cheap beer. So whether you can still snag a table for Valentine’s Day or if you just want to pocket these tips for…
The Super Bowl is almost here. If you’re looking for a place to watch the big game that has the biggest screens, a free buffet or a 64-oz beer served oh-so-elegantly in a giant rubber tube, Patch readers can guide you on your way. Check out their tips for the best places to watch the Super Bowl in “Greater” Somerville. Olde Magoun’s Saloon Why? Monica says, "Magoun's! Great beer selection, good vibe, plenty of huge TVs.” Coutney O’Keefe and Steve Mac give a thumbs up too. And John Alan Roderick adds, "The food is great there." Screens: Six 9-foot projectors and two plasmas Eats: Pre-game …
