This Weekend in Somerville: Hyper-Local Craft Brewfest, Squeezbox Slam

Also, some films and markets.

Hyper-Local Craft Brewfest Beer lovers, nearly 20 local brewers will be at this year's Hyper-Local Craft Brewfest, along with some meaderies and cideries and local food. There are sessions on Friday and Saturday. It takes place at The Center for Arts at the Armory. Somerville Squeezbox Slam Called "accordion anarchy," Somerville Squeezbox Slam begins with accordion players of all levels—and button box players and players of other free-standing reed instruments—marching through the streets and playing on street corners. Then it converts into a concert at Seven Hills Park in Davis Square, where accomplished accordian players will entertain. The anarchy part begins Saturday at 1 p.m. Players, work your way toward Davis Square so you can be …

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Tonight: Jonathan Richman at Somerville Theatre

The proto-punk rocker will be joined by drummer Tommy Larkins.

Musician Jonathan Richman, who helped spawn punk music with his band The Modern Lovers, is playing the Somerville Theatre Thursday night. Recently, Richman has been in the news due to a movement to make one of The Modern Lovers' songs, "Roadrunner," the official rock song of Massachusetts. You might also recognize Richman from his musical-interlude appearances in the movie "There's Something About Mary." As of Thursday morning there were still a few tickets available for the show. Doors open at 7 p.m.

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Fiddling Gets Respect in Hands of Somerville Resident

Matt Glaser joins the ranks of string musicians such as Isaac Stern and Pablo Casals, with a key difference.

Somerville resident Matt Glaser, a violinist who's taught at Berklee College of Music for 32 years, has been at the forefront of an emerging interest in fiddling—using the violin to play folk, blues, Celtic, swing and other non-classical styles of music. Recently, Glaser received the Artist Teacher Award from the American String Teachers Association. String musicians like Isaac Stern and Pablo Casals have previously won the award, but Glaser is the first non-classical teacher to receive it. The Spring Hill resident said he was honored to receive the prestigious award, and he said there's been an "explosion" of interest in "fiddling and jazz and vernacular music." It's an explosion of interest we see right here in Somerville at events like …

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This Weekend in Somerville: Herbstalk, Garden Tour

Things to do in Somerville this weekend.

Herbstalk 2013 "Herbstal," says the listing, "is an educational event devoted to inspiring and empowering urban communities about the common and safe use of medicinal herbs." There's a market, workshops, kids activities, plant walks and more. It takes place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Center for Arts at the Armory. Backyard Havens of the Somerville Garden Club: A Self-Guided Tour Top Somerville gardeners are opening up their "backyard havens" to the public. Twenty gardens are part of the tour, which is organized by the Somerville Garden Club. The gardens range "from the charmingly petite to the astonishingly spacious [and] reflect the diverse interests of this dedicated club." The self-guided tour starts at 11 a.m. …

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Summer Events in Somerville

A look at some things to do in Somerville this summer

Summer in Somerville is filled with festivals, musical events and arts series. Below is a list of events, provided by the city. It includes things like the Squeezbox Slam (an accordian festival), an outdoor movie series and the ever popular ArtBeat, an outdoor weekend festival in Davis Square. Also, check out the Somerville Summer Guide. Somerville Squeezebox Slam Saturday, June 15, 1-6 p.m.: Seven Hills Park, Davis Square (www.somervilleartscouncil.org) Joe’s Jazz and Blues Fest Saturday, June 22, noon-6 p.m.: (Powderhouse Park kickoff; series all week long. See www.somervilleartscouncil.org) Fireworks at Trum Field Thursday, June 27, 6-10 p.m. (rain date June 28) Sunsetters Performances Concerts by the City’s youth performance troupe …

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'Puppet Palooza' Hits East Somerville in June

Children (and adults) will see puppet stories from Berlin, Mexico City and New England.

East Somerville will play host to puppets throughout in June and July. "Puppet Palooza" will bring three performances to the neighborhood, and puppeteers from as far away as Berlin and Mexico City will be participating, according to an announcement from the Somerville Arts Council, which is organizing the event with East Somerville Main Streets. Here's what you'll see: June 11 – The Puppeteers' Cooperative Presents: A Giant Puppet Romp The Puppeteers' Cooperative creates giant puppet parades and has worked on First Night Boston and First Night International, according to the announcement. On June 11, three Egyptian gods will come to the East Somerville Library courtyard to dance and play with the public. It's at 6:30 p.m. June 25 – Puppet …

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Massive Equestrian Circus Coming to Somerville

Cavalia's Odysseo, with its huge tent, stage that floods and hordes of human and equestrian performers, will come to Somerville's Assembly Square.

The world's "largest touring big top" tent, a 10-story structure with room for 67 horses, 45 performers, 2,000 spectators and a stage that's flooded with 80,000 gallons of water, is set make Somerville home later this summer. The show, Cavalia's Odysseo, created by a Cirque du Soleil founder, is like Cirque du Soleil on steroids, with tons of horses, death-defying acrobatics and—nerd alert—performers who look like Dothraki warriors from Game of Thrones. According to the show's website, it's "a theatrical experience, an ode to horse and man that marries the equestrian arts, awe inspiring acrobatics and high-tech theatrical effects." The equestrian spectacle announced on May 29 it was coming to Somerville's Assembly Square, and on Friday the…

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J

8:52 pm on Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Actually, Somerville has a pitifully small commercial tax base. But this show does not bring in any more than (potential) additional sales at local businesses if audience members choose to buy things while they are in town. (the taxes on those potential purchases go to the state, not the city.) Unclear what the hidden costs are to the city - lots of traffic? extra clean up by city crews and …   more ›

Sunday: Carnaval in East Somerville

Dancing, a parade, food, live music and colorful costumes are part of East Somerville's annual Carnaval.

This Weekend in Somerville: Union Square Farmers Market, Carnaval, Davis Flea

It's summer! Lots of open-air markets begin the season this weekend. A look at things to do in Somerville this weekend.

Union Square Farmers Market Yes, it's finally here. The Union Square Farmers Market—everyone's favorite reason to wait in line at the Bank of America ATM for 15 minutes—opens for the season this Saturday. It runs through Nov. 23. The market features fresh produce, meats, fish, local wines and other tasty stuff. Often there's live music. It's from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and it accepts SNAP EBT cards, credit and debit cards, and senior farmers market coupons, so, actually, there's really no reason to wait in line at the ATM. Relish: Center for Urban Agriculture Speaking of the farmers market, which features locally grown food, urban agriculture is taking off in Somerville. Relish is a new program that teaches people about things like beekeeping, …

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