Somerville Neighborhood Works to Claim Tuesdays

Tuesday may be the least exciting day of the week. It's not on the weekend. It's not Hump Day. It doesn't have the going-out possibilities of a Thursday, which benefits from being the evening before TGIF. And it can't claim the depressing realities of a Monday.

It's that nonchalant quality that attracts East Somerville Main Streets to Tuesday.

This summer, and for the past year or two, the East Somerville group has been working to make Tuesday East Somerville's day, precisely because Tuesday isn't a such a big deal.

Over the summer, it's been running a series of events called "It's Tuesday: East Somerville's Community Night." Reading the words, "It's Tuesday," doesn't fully capture the proper attitude. Carrie Dancy, executive director of East Somerville Main Streets, said the event series began with the thought that, "Hey, it's Tuesday, come out with your family, grab something to eat."

The group would love to have people from other neighborhoods visit East Somerville on Tuesdays, but it's real purpose is to encourage East Somerville residents to step outside for the night, Dancy said.

"A weeknight is really a community night," she said, adding Tuesday is a night to "relax and spend time with your family."

Before "It's Tuesday," East Somerville Main Streets ran "Two for Tuesdays," featuring deals at local restaurants. It also organizes the annual Foodie Crawl, which also takes place on Tuesdays. The third annual Foodie Crawl is scheduled for Sept. 10.

The "It's Tuesday" series ends on July 30, but Dancy said there will likely be more Tuesday events in the future.

The events "are really a catalyst for community and street life," she said. "Sometimes people need a reason to get out onto the street."

So far, "It's Tuesday" has featured puppet shows, family portrait nights and live music. July 23 will be "Piñatas & Pupusas" night, and July 30 is "Salsa & Salsa," featuring a free salsa class. Many of the Tuesday events promote East Somerville's Latin American culture.

Meanwhile, the city has begun an $8 million two-year reconstruction of Broadway in East Somerville. The reconstruction will make sidewalks wider, providing more pedestrian space in the neighborhood. On July 15, a new park opened at Broadway and Cross Street. It attracted a large crowd.

"You can see the pent-up energy people have in this community," Dancy said.

"There's a vibrant community, and people are looking for reasons to come together," she said.

Perhaps that reason will be Tuesday.