For 16 years federal agents searched for the whereabouts of James "Whitey" Bulger. Last night, at an apartment complex in Santa Monica, CA, he and his girlfriend Catherine Greig were apprehended after a nationwide campaign launched earlier in the week asking the public's help to find Greig in the hopes Bulger would be nearby. The notorious crime boss left his mark on Boston history and the Bay State. Patch takes a pictorial look at locations throughout the city and neighboring communities which played a part in Bulger’s crime spree. Do you have photos of other locations in and around Boston …
If you think about it, a front porch is shaped like a miniature stage. However, there was nothing miniature about Saturday's PorchFest. In a city-wide event sponsored by the Somerville Arts Council, approximately 75 musicians from around the city staged a series of concerts from their porches. As the musicians played and sang, listeners sat on stoops and children danced in lawns. The sun was out, and we sent a photographer to capture the vibe.
The Somerville Growing Center welcomed spring last Saturday by showcasing several traditional English dance teams from the region, possible long-term plans for the garden and its mint and strawberry seedlings. Dancers wore colorful costumes and bells on their legs; some swung handkerchiefs and other beat wooden sticks as they sang and shouted. After their performances, they invited the audience to dance around the maypole. Meanwhile, students from the Boston Architectural College presented their preliminary plans to restructure the garden to make it a more open-aired, user-friendly space. …
During last weekend's Somerville Open Studios, Union Square artist collective Fringe opened its doors to the public. It was a featured stop on the citywide tour of more than 100 studios. Inside, several of its artists, designers and engineers talked about their work on display.
Filmmakers and industry professional early-birds packed Orleans Restaurant last night for a laid-back gathering honoring opening night of the Independent Film Festival of Boston. Introductions and talks of upcoming features kicked-off what will be a busy week of films, discussion panels, and after-parties. The Somerville Theater, only a few blocks from Orleans, showcased "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" - the first film of the event. Features will run all week at the Somerville, Brattle, and Coolidge Corner Theatre's and industry parties will take place at various locations including the …
Locals waited in long lines and then poured into the The Center for Arts at the Armory to attend the CupcakeCamp Boston in Somerville on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. CupcakeCamp Boston attendees enjoyed free cupcakes from over 20 bakeries representing Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and more.
As the kickoff for National Public Health Week in Somerville, the Mayor's Fitness Challenge took place on Saturday, April 2 at the Somerville High School.
Seven Somerville-area pizzerias competed for the title of Best Pizza in Somerville during the Peabody House Pizza Challenge held at the Elizabeth Peabody House in Somerville on Saturday, April 2, 2011. All proceeds will go to feeding the more than 175 families that visit the food pantry every month to receive emergency food relief. Leone's took home the prize.
Supporters of Groundwork Somerville came in droves to assist with the organization's fundraising effort, the "Greening The City Gala." The event was held on Friday, March 25, 2011 at The Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville .
Call it facial hair, call it beards and moustaches or--as the Somerville Arts Council sees it--call it “art on your face.” The All-American Beard and Moustache Competition sponsored by the Arts Council on Saturday at Precinct drew all manner of the facially hirsute: the downright hairy, the “follicle challenged” who donned fake beards and those who know how to deftly braid the hair growing from their chins. Patch photographer Byron Smith caught the unabashed preening on film. See who was there in this photo gallery.
Six thousand runners turned out to run the Race of Ireland on Sunday. As crowds cheered them on, runners clad and painted in green--as well as a few leprechaun impersonators--ran the 5k route through Davis, Teele and Ball Squares. Shamrocks were everywhere and good cheer was had by many afterward as area pubs opened their doors for a good Irish welcome of all. (This race comes both with a map of the race route and a map of all the pubs hosting the crowd afterward.) Named for its sister race in Ireland, Ras na hEireann, the race is in its seventh year. Organizers sum it up this way on the race…
Scores of Somerville families gathered at the Somerville Community Growing Center on Saturday to sample maple sap, watch it boil down to syrup and play in the warm weather for the annual Maple Boil Down Festival. "Clearly everybody with a pre-school-aged child is out today," said Sarah Miller, who brought her four-year-old son to the event. "We're dying to recreate outside.” Part of Groundwork Somerville's Maple Syrup Project, the festival is staffed by volunteers who explained how they tapped 10 sugar maple syrup trees in Somerville and collected 260 gallons of sap. Most of the trees were …
There were no coaches, no pit crews, and no aerodynamically designed lycra athletic outfits, but the more than 30 competitors at last week’s Third Annual Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament battled like true Olympians until the bitter paper-beats-rock-crushes-scissors-cuts-paper end. Sponsored by Union Square Main Streets and held at P.A.’s Lounge, the event drew the quick-handed, the sly--and at least one competitor named Owen “Flaming Bag Head” Wartella, whose battle gear included, yes, a paper bag with a paper flame strategically worn over his head. Click the photo gallery to the right for a …
Patch photographer Byron Smith stopped by the free public skating session Saturday at Veterans Memorial Ice Rink. See who was there, who can skate backwards--and who took a very cute spill. Public skating hours through March are usually Monday to Friday, but also occasionally on weekends. And while it may cost you your pride (if you’re a little wobbly on the ice); it won’t cost you a cent (unless you need a $6 skate rental). Hours can change so always check before you go. Details here. Please note, hours are subject to change! Monday: 1:00pm - 3:50pm Tuesday: 1:00pm - 2:50pm * Wednesday: 1:…
Laughter makes you feel better for a reason: among other benefits, research shows it lowers blood pressure and levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol, while releasing pleasure-inducing endorphins in the body. That’s why the laughter for good health movement is drawing giggle-seekers worldwide. Patch visited our local Somerville Laughter Club to see what all the guffawing is about. Check out the club, led by certified laughter leader Walter Ness, in this audio slideshow by Multimedia Reporters Caitlin Stier and Shweta Krishnan. Club members featured in the slideshow include Jon Hindmarsh, …
On Saturday, residents turned out to celebrate that Somerville was once again named one of the nation’s “100 Best Communities for Young People” by the America’s Promise Alliance, the largest partnership organization dedicated to youth and children in the United States. In 2010, Somerville was selected by the Alliance for the third year in a row. The family-friendly event served up plenty of games and entertainment. Take a look at our photo gallery shot by photographer Byron Smith to see who was there.
