East Cambridge

ECPT Meeting Tonight Feb 22 at East End House

2012-02-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in hearing from the developers that submitted bids on the Edward J Sullivan Court House, 5 of the 7 bidders will be at the East Cambridge Planning Team meeting tonight starting at 7pm at the East End House 105 Spring St.

East Side Bar and Grill on Phantom Gourmet

2012-02-22T11:49:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it, here is East Side Bar & Grille on Phantom Gourmet.

Congrats to Chris and East Side and thanks for the Smoke This Rib Fest plug .... Stanley Cup of BBQ competitions indeed

Clover Brings CSA Farm Shares to East Cambridge

2012-02-06T08:39:00.000-08:00

What if picking up your CSA farm share meant stopping by a retail location on

your own schedule instead of meeting a truc in a parking lot during a 3-hour pick-up window?

That’s the idea behind a new experiment in “CSA retail” launched today by Clover Food Lab

(www.cloverfoodlab.com), a chain of fast-food restaurants and food trucks in Boston and

Cambridge founded by MIT alum Ayr Muir.

In community-supported agriculture (CSA), customers subscribe to a farm and pay a sum of money

(usually $500-$600) in the winter; farmers use the cash to plan, buy seeds, hire employees, and

grow food. As the harvest comes in from June to October, farmers divide up the produce weekly

among their shareholders.

“The problem with CSAs in urban areas is that they’re sort of hard to find out about and

inconvenient to pick up,” Clover president Ayr Muir says. CSA members in the Boston area often

need to drive to the farms or pick up their shares from the back of a delivery truck in parking lots or

behind grocery stores during very limited time windows (for example, Wednesdays from 4-6pm).

Muir wants to use Clover to spotlight CSAs front and center. He believes that if successful this pilot

program could pave the way for CSAs to enter the mainstream. Clover believes the market for CSA

membership could number in the tens of thousands in the Boston area providing vital support to

area farms.

This February, Clover HUB, the 7,000-square-foot facility at 1075 Cambridge Street, will be

transformed into a pop-up CSA sign-up space. Customers can read information about five different

CSAs and sign up for whichever farm appeals to them the most or fits into their schedule best. The

pilot program will include Marshall Farm, The Food Project, Lindentree Farm, Drumlin Farm, and

Red Fire Farm, each dropping off on a different day of the week.

Once the growing season starts in June, shareholders will return to Clover HUB on a specific day

each week to pick up their box of vegetables.

Clover will host a public CSA Night at Clover HUB, 1075 Cambridge Street, from 7pm-9pm on

Friday, February 24. At the event, which is open to the public, customers can talk to the CSA

farmers, sign up for any remaining shares, and tour the area of Clover HUB where CSAs will be

picked up come harvest time.

Muir sees several benefits to customers who sign up. Customers will be able to stop by during

normal store hours, so they won’t lose out on their share because traffic or bad weather made

them a few minutes late to a pickup. Muir believes farmers will benefit from the increased visibility

and ease of drop-off. An indoor pickup area means that farmers will not have to wait around after

they drop off the shares. Clover will offer the service free to farms.

Clover expects customers to consider a variety of factors when picking their farm. Some customers

might pick a CSA with a Monday drop-off to have food for the week, or Fridays to have food for the

weekend. Others might select a CSA because they’ve seen the farm at a neighborhood farmers’

market (Drumlin Farm), because it is certified organic (Lindentree Farm, Red Fire Farm),

empowers local teens (The Food Project), or provides little gifts throughout the season (Marshall

Farm).

Shares are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Some farms have many shares available;

others have sliding scales for payment from low-income customers; and one, Lindentree Farm, is

launching its first-ever Boston drop-off, creating 10 special shares just for Clover customers.

The CSA program fits into Clover’s long-term goals: to improve customers’ health over time; bring

money to local farmers, and make fresh food accessible to many people. On a busy day, Clover

serves nearly 20,000 people at two restaurants and four food trucks parked at MIT, Longwood

Medical Area, Boston University, and South Station. “If this experiment works, in a few years, we

could introduce CSAs to thousands of new customers and funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars

to local farmers,” Muir says. “The hardest part for us is going to be waiting for the crops to grow.”

CSA Night

Friday, February 24, 7pm-9pm

Clover HUB (1075 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA)

Open to the public

Schedule and Location of Clover CSA Pickups (June—October)

Clover HUB (1075 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA)

Monday: Marshall’s Farm (Gloucester, Mass)

Tuesday: The Food Project (Lincoln, Mass)

Wednesday: Lindentree Farm (Lincoln, Mass)

Thursday: Drumlin Farm (Lincoln, Mass)

Friday: Red Fire Farm (Granby, Mass)

More information:

http://www.cloverfoodlab.com/?p=8750

http://www.cloverfoodlab.com/?p=7727

http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml

PopUp Cafe Info Session

2012-01-23T17:12:00.000-08:00

Pop-up Café

Information Session

Date: Tuesday February 7^th

Time: 9:00 am

Location: License Commission

831 Mass. Ave., Cambridge

Since being introduced in Cambridge (2006), outdoor dining has been successful in increasing street life, creating a vibrant street atmosphere, making the sidewalk more interesting for pedestrians, supporting local businesses and enhancing sidewalk plantings. Annually 42 establishments participate in the program; 18 serving alcohol.

Pop-up Cafés are an opportunity to build on the success of the outdoor dining program by using on-street parking spaces for additional café space. This space can be combined with sidewalk seating to provide a larger seating area than previously permitted, or may allow outdoor dining in areas not previously permitted, due to limited sidewalk width. Pop-up Cafés have been popular in Europe and have recently been established in California, Pennsylvania, Canada and New York City.

East Cambridge Planning Team meeting at 7pm

2012-01-11T13:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight at 7pm the Division of Capital and Asset Management (DCAM) will be at the East Cambridge Planning Team meeting at the East End House.

DCAM will be briefing residents on the process of putting the Edward J. Sullivan Court house out to bid and how the building could be reused.

The future use of the building will certainly have an impact on the neighborhood so do take some time to tell them what you would like to see happen there.

DCAM was very responsive to some ECBA suggestions after our meeting and did respond to the requests to better maintain the vegetation and clean up the trash that seems to collect in the area.

The Little Engine That Could! - Cambridge Symphony Orchestra

2012-01-07T06:15:00.000-08:00

Cynthia Woods, Music Director

presents

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD!

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 4:00 PM
Somerville Theatre
55 Davis Square
Somerville, MA

Internet Symphony No. 1 (Eroica) ... Tan Dun
The Little Engine that Could ... Allen Feinstein (book by Watty Piper)
Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major ... Joseph Haydn

Tickets are:
Adults: $10 (advance), $15 (door)
Seniors/Students: $8 (advance), $12 (door)
Children Under 12: $5 (all times)

Tickets can be purchased online through http://www.cambridgesymphony.org/

January Monthly Meeting Update

2012-01-04T10:46:00.000-08:00

At the January 3rd ECBA monthly meeting hosted by Vinfen, ECBA members were joined by John Pelletier of the City of Cambridge's CitySmart Program and representatives from the State's Division of Capital and Asset Management (DCAM).

CitySmart is a program designed to encourage the use of more sustainable transportation for all kinds of trips. It was a three year grant funded program and just finished up in East Cambridge. John shared the results of the surveys and the information gathered during his time working within the East Cambridge neighborhood. This is the third year of the program and by far showed the most successful results. The survey reached 17% of East Cambridge households and showed that residents are very in tune with the transportation options around us. John will be posting the full report on their web page in the coming days.

Some interesting information for ECBA to consider is that the most popular events participants would most likely attend in their neighborhood are; themed walks (63%), support local business events (47%), Park/neighborhood cleanups (44%), community meeting on neighborhood improvements (39%) or transportation improvements (38%), and general neighborhood walks or themed bike rides (both 34%). We have already hosted many of the mentioned events, so its encouraging to see a strong desire to have the continue and hopefully evolve into larger neighborhood events.

The Division of Capital and Asset Management (DCAM) approached the ECBA in order to reach the business community and solicit feedback on the future of the Sullivan Courthouse. We were joined by Commissioner Carole Cornelison and Acting Deputy Commissioner Dana Harrell who explained the process currently underway. Having no interest in reuse of the building in state or local government , DCAM is seeking requests for proposals for the property. They stated that world wide interest has been shown in the building due to the proximity to Kendall Square. DCAM has hosted three tours of the building and a full list of interested parties having taken a tour is posted on their website.

Many ECBA members expressed concerns about how the building will blend in with the surrounding neighborhood, how parking would be handled by new owners, and overall building appearance. DCAM felt that an active ground floor use could be achieved through the sale process and by working with the City and city's zoning process. It was also noted that a complimentary use to that of the nearby Multicultural Arts Center may be beneficial as well as a desire to see the building's outer skin upgraded to something more attractive.

RFP's are due at the beginning of February and a proposal should be selected some time in June.

ECBA will continue to monitor this project and hopes to communicate concerns and ideas with DCAM. We encourage you to share your thoughts and comments with us as we can relay them to DCAM for consideration.

I [heart} East Cambridge Tshirts - Just in time for the holidays

2011-12-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

Looking for a last minute gift or stocking stuffer? The oh so popular "I [heart] East Cambridge" Tshirts are here to save the day and save you some shopping time and stress

Very conveniently for sale at the Multicultural Arts Center at 41 Second St. for $15. It's the perfect gift.

Stop by the Multicultural Art Center and visit their bizarre on the first floor for a number of unique gifts for the holidays.

As always, your support goes a long way in helping the ECBA help East Cambridge.

Happy Holidays!

Welcome to the new ECBA Board of Directors and Officers

2011-12-12T17:36:00.000-08:00

November brings the yearly elections for ECBA and this year we had some changes in both the board and officer positions. Firstly, the board, in an effort to foster more involvement from members voted to expand the number of board positions from 7 to 9.

Elected to the 2 new spots were Mark Rogers (3 year term) of Rogers Funeral Home and Stephen LaMaster (2 year term) of Vinfen.
Re-elected to the board for another 3 year term were Teodora Silva of Alegria Dental and Andrew Montone of Cambridge Art and Frame.
Diane Swierczynski was elected to finish the term of Bob Salines who has stepped down after the sale of Pug's Bar and Grill
Bob has played a significant role in establishing the ECBA and keeping things moving during the first three years. Bob is also responsible for the original Rib Fest, which was an annually June BBQ on Fulkerson Street. Bob was also the first to bring outdoor seating to Cambridge St. at Pug's Bar and Grill. A big thanks to Bob for the work that he has done with the ECBA and for always putting the East Cambridge neighborhood at the forefront of many business decisions.

Finally, Carl Fantasia of New Deal Fish Market has stepped down as president (don't worry, we made him the treasurer so he is still around). The work that Carl has put into the ECBA has been immeasurable. Carl has always recognized the positve impact the business communtiy can play in making a neighbohood great and the things we have accomplished working together has exceeded all expectation.
So thanks to Carl for his service, and ...
..c ongratualtion to Patrick Magee of Atwood's Tavern who has been elected to take over the reigns as president and is eager to keep ECBA moving in a positve direction.

Shop Inman by Moonlight

2011-12-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

Thursday, December 8th ENJOY LOCAL holiday shopping for a change! Escape the malls and journey to Inman Square to buy holiday gifts from our unique and locally-owned shops. In addition, shoppers may see holiday carolers, live mannequins, take part in a scavenger hunt, experience art and music, or relax and enjoy a meal at one of the Square’s twenty-plus restaurants.
For event updates, visit www.InmanSquare.com or check out the event on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/inman-on-fb

Grand Junction Commuter Rail Feasibility Study -- Public Meeting

2011-11-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

This is a notice from MassDOT on an upcoming public meeting regarding the Grand Junction Railroad. The results of this study could have significant impact on the East Cambridge Community and Business Cooridor. Hope to see you there.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is pleased to announce a community meeting to discuss progress on the Grand Junction Commuter Rail Feasibility Study.

This meeting will be held:

Thursday, December 8, 6:30pm-8:00pm

Kennedy-Longfellow School – Auditorium

158 Spring Street, Cambridge

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss an ongoing study of the potential use of the Grand Junction Railroad for supplemental MBTA Commuter Rail service to Cambridge and North Station. At this meeting, MassDOT staff members will discuss results of a ridership analysis and traffic impact analysis, as well as overall study findings, and next steps. This meeting follows up on a community meeting held last June. For more information on prior meetings, see out study website at: http://massdot.state.ma.us/planning/GrandJunctionTransportationStudy.aspx.

All are welcome at the meeting, and please feel free to share this notice. For more information, or to request alternative language or other special accommodations, please contact Matthew Ciborowski at matthew.ciborowski@state.ma.us, or (617) 973-7180.

Please join us on December 8^th!

Matthew Ciborowski | Office of Transportation Planning

Massachusetts Department of Transportation

10 Park Plaza, Room 4150, Boston, MA 02116

phone 617.973.7180 | email matthew.ciborowski@state.ma.us

New East Cambridge Bike Parking on Cambridge St

2011-11-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Dear East Cambridge Business/Resident/Property Owner:

The City of Cambridge is planning for the installation of one or more bicycle racks on the public sidewalk in the vicinity of your building. You will notice white spray-paint markings on the pavement at each of the proposed locations. Here is a link to a google map with the proposed locations:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=214587193481545390469.0004b0219d38ae127340f&msa=0&ll=42.372166,-71.089488&spn=0.021211,0.043645

If you have any questions about proposed locations, or suggestions for new locations, please feel free to contact me. A version of this letter has been mailed to each abutting property owner and business or residential occupant.

The type of rack installed is the city standard “post and ring” rack (sample photo pasted below). The racks will be installed this fall.

The City of Cambridge Bicycle Parking Program provides bicycle racks throughout the city in order to support and encourage the use of bicycles as a mode of transportation. There are presently over 800 bicycle parking racks on the public right of way throughout the city, about 90% of which are located in commercial districts.

The number of cycling trips in Cambridge has increased by almost 150% between 2002 and 2010, accompanied by an increase in the demand for bicycle parking.

Over the past 5 years, over 350 new bicycle parking racks have been installed on public sidewalks, funded in part by an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, a component of the Federal Stimulus Package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009). Funding for the racks themselves comes from the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program, and is being administered by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

More information, you can visit our webpage visit our webpage:

http://www2.cambridgema.gov/cdd/et/bike/bike_park.html

If you have any questions about these installations, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jeff Rosenblum

Transportation Planner

jrosenblum@cambridgema.gov

617-349-4615

Community Meeting for Police Update On Recent Street Robberies

2011-10-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

You are invited to a

Community Meeting

hosted by

City Councillor Tim Toomey

and the

Cambridge Police Department

Wednesday November 2^nd

6:00pm

The First Floor Community Room of the Police Station (125 Sixth Street)

In light of the recent armed robberies in the East Cambridge and Wellington Harrington area, Councillor Toomey and the Cambridge Police Department are hosting a community meeting to update residents on the incidents.

Please join us on Wednesday November 2^nd @ 6pm in the First Floor Community Room at the Police Station.

Feel free to contact Tim at timtoomey@aol.com with any questions

Green Line Extension Mock Groundbreaking

2011-10-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Rib Fest was Awesome ... Don't believe me? Check out this video!

2011-10-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

The smoke has cleared and the champs have been crowned.
Congrats to East Side Bar and Grille who defended their title and took home the Peoples Choice Award.
Congrats to Bosphorus was awared the Best Ribs Award by our guest judges Tony Maws of Craigie On Main, Barry Maiden of Hungry Mother, and Nick Iverson of Americas Test Kitchen.

Thanks to all the restuarants who took time out of their schedules to help us create a great event for East Cambridge. Thanks to the volunteers who came out and supported the event, we couldnt have pulled it off without your help. Of course thanks to our sponsors for all your support.

Thanks to how2heroes for this awesome video.

Phillip Tang: Rib Fest Primer

2011-10-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

Phillip Tang is the chef and owner of East By Northeast here in Cambridge and he is going to be preparing cured pork belly for his cooking demo at the how2heroes demo tent at Rib Fest this Sunday.

Take a look at the how2heroes video featuring Phil and his pork belly. Consider your appetite ...wetted.

Crime Prevention Boat Cruise

2011-10-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

The Cambridge Police Department and East End House invite you to a
Crime Prevention Boat Cruise

October 4th, 2011
6 pm
The boat will depart from the CambridgeSide Galleria.
Sponsored by the Charles Riverboat Company
Come meet your local police officers and neighbors and enjoy a lovely boat cruise! Sergeants Maureen Ford and Edward Frammartino will share information about recent crimes and crime prevention efforts. Strategies and trends will be discussed.
The cruise is provided free of charge.
Please contact East End House at 617-876-4444
with any questions.

We hope to see you there!

Sign Up for the New Cambridge Alert Network

2011-09-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

Receive Emergency and Other Community Alerts via Email, Text and Phone

The City of Cambridge is excited to announce the launch of the Cambridge Alert Network, a new and improved notification system aimed at sharing information with community members in an effective and timely manner via phone, text and email.

“I strongly encourage our residents, businesses and all members of the community interested in receiving Cambridge alerts to sign up for this new notification system,” said City Manager Robert W. Healy. “It will be extremely helpful in communicating information directly to the community during natural disasters, snow parking bans and other types of emergencies.”

The Cambridge Alert Network currently consists of three services: CodeRED, CitizenObserver and Cambridge E-Line.

CodeRED is an emergency notification system that allows the City to send emergency notifications to subscribers via email, text and phone calls. Cambridge land lines will automatically receive emergency notifications by phone, but all are encouraged to sign up with their cell phone number and email addresses as well. This service will be used in the event of emergencies affecting the City, such as snow emergencies, evacuations, large-scale water outages or other significant service disruptions.

CitizenObserver is used by the Cambridge Police Department to send email and text alerts relating to crime. All are encouraged to subscribe to receive neighborhood–specific alerts about emerging crime patterns, announcements about neighborhood meetings and crime-prevention tips.

Cambridge E-Line is a source for general information and communications from the City of Cambridge via email and text. Anyone can sign up for street cleaning reminders, trash and recycling pickup, City news and departmental information.

Please visit www.CambridgeMA.gov/AlertNetwork and sign up today. Questions, concerns or help with registration should be directed to 617-349-9490.

Spotlight on Sponsors: Clark, Hunt, Ahern & Embry

2011-09-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Cambridge law firm of Clark, Hunt, Ahern & Embry has existed for over 25 years. Over the years, despite minor changes in the name of the firm, our commitment to providing personal service and fighting for favorable outcomes on behalf of our clients has remained constant.
As a full-service law firm, we represent clients' interests in a variety of forums, including state and federal courts, governmental and regulatory agency hearings, zoning boards of appeal, probate courts, and at mediation and arbitration. Our clients have the assurance that an experienced and attentive attorney is working on their behalf to achieve the best possible outcome.

A Reputation Built on Client Appreciation

We are large enough to provide sophisticated services while retaining the family atmosphere of a smaller firm. Many new clients come to us after hearing about our law firm from their friends, colleagues and neighbors. Our firm has been fortunate in being able to avoid advertising; referrals and recommendations from existing clients are largely responsible for our healthy and diverse client base.

Accomplished Attorneys

Our attorneys have received numerous awards and accolades, including selection for inclusion in Massachusetts Super Lawyers, the Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum, the American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Society of Barristers. Several have received AV-peer ratings, the highest rating available through Martindale-Hubbell.* Others lecture, teach and publish articles on a wide range of legal topics. Each of our attorneys is active in both the profession and in the wider community as a whole.

Specialty Practice Areas

Although we provide legal services in a wide range of practice areas, from business law to residential real estate, our firm is known for its focus on several specialty practices. These include special education law and disability law. In fact, a number of our lawyers have related experience in these areas, providing our clients with a unique understanding of their issues. For example, prior to becoming an attorney, partner Janine Brown-Smith was COO of the Cotting School. Another partner of the firm, Henry Clark, served for thirteen years as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Chapter 766 Approved Private Schools ("MAAPS"). It is this industry experience that sets CHA&E apart

Spotlight on Sponsors: EF

2011-09-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

EF stands for “Education First.” With a mission to break down barriers in language, culture and geography, EF has helped more than 15 million people of all ages and nationalities become citizens of the world. Cultural exchanges, educational travel, language training and degree programs — we put education first
EF was founded on the simple idea that to really learn, you need to experience. Immersion learning and cultural exchange are at the core of what we do. From bringing American teachers and their students to see Europe’s wonders, to bringing Chinese teens to London to learn English, to running a top-ranked MBA program in San Francisco, EF believes in the global classroom.

Go to http://www.ef.com/ for more info about EF

Spotlight on Sponsors: Forest City

2011-09-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

In operation since 1984, Forest City Boston is committed to developing high-quality urban projects that — through careful consideration of architectural design, construction, and operating systems — provide enduring value and capital appreciation for our company and our partners. The buildings we create must enhance the urban environment, be respectful of historic context, and enliven the pedestrian experience. In addition, we strive to respect local community objectives, valuing and incorporating input from neighborhood groups and adjacent stakeholders.

Boston is home to Forest City’s University Park at MIT, an award-winning campus environment of 2.3 million square feet, just steps from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and minutes from the renowned research and academic institutions of Boston. A vibrant 27-acre development, the project successfully integrates 1.5 million square feet of scientific research facilities with more than 670 residential units, a hotel and conference center, retail amenities and more

City Hearings

2011-09-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

We had a great suggestion by one of our members and we are going to do our best to use this blog to act on it. Very frequently businesses in our neighborhood will have to head over to City Hall to get permission for this or that in their business. Following the Hearing Schedules is the best way to get the scoop on whats moving in ... but it can be a hassle to always be checking out. When we come across something that we think might interest people we'll try to post it here. IF ECBA has a stance we'll let you know.

Here are a few up coming License Hearings Sept 20

Application Pugliese Restaurant, Inc. d/b/a Pugs Bar and Grill, Robert Salines, Manager, holder of an all alcoholic beverages as a restaurant license at 635 Cambridge Street has applied for a change of manager from Robert Salines to Joshua Velazquez. Applicant is also applying for a change of d/b/a from Pugs Bar and Grill to Lizzy’s

Pug's is in the process of being transfered to new owners

Application Kafofo Indistries, LLC d/b/a Kafofo, Rosangela Santiago, Manager, has applied for a common victualer license to be exercised at 594 Cambridge Street. Said license if granted would allow food and non-alcoholic beverages to be sold, served, and consumed on said premises with a seating capacity of 20. The hours of operation will be 7:00am to 7:00pm seven days per week.
Approval of Kafofo will being a much need coffee shop to Cambridge St in the old Nespresso space

Application Clover Fast Food, Inc., Ayr Muir, Manager, has applied for a common victualer license to be exercised at 302 Elm Street. Said license if granted would allow food and non-alcoholic beverages to be sold, served, and consumed on said premises with a seating capacity of 66. The proposed hours of operation are 6:00am to 11:00pm seven days per week.

ECBA worked with the owners to help bring Clover Food Labs to East Cambridge. Hope to see them do well in the area.

Spotlight on Sponsors: Alexandria Real Estate Equities

2011-09-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Smoke This Rib Fest would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. These companies demonstrate a true commitment to not only the small business community, but to the East Cambridge community at large. Spotlight on Sponsors, will introduce you to the companies that are making Rib Fest possible.

Landlord of Choice to the Life Science Industry®, Alexandria Real Estate Equities is the largest owner and preeminent real estate investment trust (“REIT”) focused principally on cluster development through the ownership, operation, management, selective redevelopment, development, and acquisition of properties containing life science laboratory space. Alexandria is the leading provider of high-quality, environmentally sustainable real estate, technical infrastructure, and services to the broad and diverse life science industry. Client tenants include institutional (universities and independent not-for-profit institutions), pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, product, service, and translational entities, as well as government agencies. Alexandria’s operating platform is based on the principle of “clustering,” with assets and operations located in key life science markets

Alexandria Real Estate Equities has been a great partner with the ECBA, and has also shown a great commitment to the East Cambridge neighborhood. ARE will soon start construction on new projects in the Kendall Square area, and as part of the build out East Cambridge will see a new 2.5 acre park. ARE has also committed funds to an East Cambridge Open Space fund for future aquisition of open space opportunities within the neighborhood. Thanks to ARE for their commitment to East Cambridge and helping ECBA fullfill our mission.

Smoke This: Jay Silva of Bambara

2011-09-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

A new feature we are adding to Rib Fest this year is the how2heroes demonstration stage. If you arent familiar with how2heroes its a great site that has instructional videos hosted by local chefs and food "heroes".

We will be featuring some of their best videos hosted by by our Rib Fest participants.

Hopefully this will help keep your appetite up for the big day ... Oct 9th

Spotlight on Sponsors: CPCU Credit Union

2011-09-08T09:21:00.000-07:00

With a motto of "Saving Together to Lend to Each Other," CPCU has had a rich history of helping its' members with financial needs and providing quick and easy access to a wide range of services.
CPCU Credit Union is an independent, cooperative financial institution owned by its members and oriented toward its members. CPCU provides a broad range of financial products and services to local communities. The membership is often made up of people who do not have access to quality financial services and products in an environment in which they are comfortable and can speak their language. The multi-lingual staff allows CPCU to provide such an environment for our members.CPCU Credit Union is committed to improving the communities they serve via strategic partnerships with local non-profits and organizations that bring value to the community. Their goal is to assist these organizations in achieving their community development objectives and therefore improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. CPCU's efforts have been recognized for two consecutive years by the Somerville News’ Reader’s Poll as the “Best Bank.”

Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damien

2011-09-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

This weekend is the 85th Annual Celebration of the Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damien.
The Feast is a great East Cambridge tradition that celebrates not only the Feast of the Twin Saints, but also celebrates the history and tradition of our neighbrohood.

EC was shaped by the many immigrant cultures that were welcomed over many generations. The Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damien is a celebration of the those who immigrated here from Gaeta and made East Cambridge their home.

This years celebration features Boby Rydell and Ayla Brown, who will perform on Cambridge St. on Saturday night. Lots of food and fun and games for all. Be sure to come down to Warren Street and enjoy the festival this weekend.

For more information http://cosmas-and-damian.com/home.htm

Spotlight on Sponsors: East Cambridge Savings Bank

2011-09-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

East Cambridge Savings Bank is committed to being the bank of choice in its market area, recognized for exceptional service to individuals and small businesses and committed to the community.

Founded in 1854 on the principles of stability, security, and peace of mind,
East Cambridge Savings Bank will continue to focus on its core strengths and values to differentiate its business practices and to better serve the communities it calls home.

ECSB's involvement in community activities has grown almost too expansive to list but covers a wide range of human services, civic, and charitable endeavors. Through the East Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation, they have provided support and encouragement to literally thousands of area residents. ECSB treasures this unique opportunity to give back to their community in such a meaningful way.

The ECSB has played a vital role with the ECBA since we offically formed. It has been through ECSB's support that the ECBA has been able to make significant steps in establishing ourselves as Stewards of Cambridge Street. Their early support gave us the ability to take on East Cambridge In Bloom and they provided support as we formulated the concept of the first Rib Fest. ECSB is commited to making East Cambridge the best neigborhood in Cambridge.

The Taste Ticket

2011-09-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Taste Tickets are officially on sale. Things have slightly changed this year, so we wanted to give a quick explaination on how things will work this year.

As of this posting, the event has expanded to include 19 restaurants from East Cambridge, Kendall Square and Inman Square. Each Taste Ticket will ensure that you can try 10 samples of Ribs from the restaurant of your choice on a first come first serve basis. So just like last year, the Taste Ticket gets you 10 samples, but this year you'll have to choose the 10 out of the 19 retaurants to try. Each Restaurant has a limited number of samples, so if they run out, Ticket holders simply have to get a sample from a different participant. Everyone will get their 10 samples, but come early to make sure you get to try the restaurants you have your heart set on.

Just like last year, The Taste Ticket doubles as the ballot for the People Choice Award. try your 10 samples and let us know which restaurant you liked the best. The People's Choice will be awarded at the end of the event along with a new Best Rib Award decided by a judged panel.

Smoke This Rib Fest 2011

2011-08-31T08:24:00.001-07:00

The East Cambridge Business Association (ECBA) is proud to present The East Cambridge Business Association “Smoke This” Rib Fest 2011, on Sunday October 9, 2011 from 12:00 noon – 4:00pm. The Rib Fest and Street Fair will take place on Cambridge Street in East Cambridge, between Fulkerson Street and Fifth Street.

The Rib Fest is a culinary showdown pitting pit master against pit master for the title of the best ribs in town. The event is for all ages so come and enjoy some BBQ. There will be plenty of food and fun to be had, but for the best chance to sample a variety of ribs and to cast your vote, you’ll need a Taste Ticket which will get you 10 rib samples from the restaurants of your choice at a first come first serve basis. Taste Tickets go on sale September 1^st. Additionally, each restaurants will be selling a dish of their own, showcasing their own menu.

Join Abigail's, Area Four, ARTBAR, Atasca, Atwood's Tavern, Bambara, Bosphorus, CRLS Culinary School, East Side Bar and Grille, Lord Hobo, Midwest Grill, Muqueca, New Deal Fish Market, Portugalia, Lizzy’s, Redbones, Think Tank, Trina's Starlight Lounge, and Tupelo as they compete for their chance at BBQ glory!

Enjoy cooking demonstrations from local chefs, brought to you by how2heroes, while the kids enjoy fun and games with The East End House. Local favorites Hayride, and The Atwood’s Monday Night Bluegrass Band will get you moving with their Bluegrass and Americana rhythms.

Rib Fest is a perfect opportunity to get a taste of the local fare in and near East Cambridge and

is sponsored by the East Cambridge Savings Bank, Alexandria Real Estate Equities,

Forest City, HYM Investments, Education First, Clark Hunt Ahern and Embry,

The Royal Sonesta, CPCU Credit Union, Gentle Giant, New England Tango Academy, McKinnon Company, Kroner Design, Royal Hospitality, M.I.T., City Retail, Vinfen, and SVNGR. See http://www.eastcambridgeba.com/ for further event and Taste Ticket info.

Hurricane Irene Hates East Cambridge Flower Baskets ... but Galleria Loves Them

2011-08-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

Earlier this afternon we received a phone call from the DPW alerting us that they will be taking down the flower baskets in anticipation of the bad weather heading our way. Its rather unfortunate, since the baskets are really looking great and have alot of life left to them, but understandable. Last thing we want is for a flower basket to crash through someones store or car window.
Unfortunately DPW doesnt really have the capacity to store them, espcially since they are battening down the hatches of the entire City right now. So it was looking like the flowers were going to be done for the year unless we could find someplace to keep them safe for the next week or so.

We sent out an email to our members to see if anyone had any suggestions. Within 20 minutes 2 of our members came up big. Both the Galleria Mall and Mayflower Poulty offered some space. So cross your fingers that we can work something out and get those pots back up after the storm passes.

Thanks to Galleria and Mayflower for stepping up and proving our theory: People Love Flowers.

INMAN UNDER THE STARS MOVIE NIGHT & NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL!

2011-08-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

Tonight From 6-11 is the ever so popular Inman Under the Stars Movie Night

Starting at 6pm swing by to pick up your golden ticket which will guide you to many wonderous deals all in Inman Square!

Events in East Cambridge Savings Bank Parking Lot at Inman Square:

· 7:00 PM – A Visit from Brett Silvia’s Op the Cyclops!

· 7:30 PM – FREE Jungle Jim’s “Wild About Balloons Show”

· 8:15 PM – FREE Movie Extravaganza – Oompa Loompas are welcome!

Visit CambridgeArtsCouncil.org or InmanSquare.com for more information about Summer in the City Programs or Inman Square. Assistance provided by Cambridge Community Development Department and Cambridge Department of Public Works.

· 1369 Coffee House -1369 Cambridge Street - www.1369coffeehouse.com -“Golden Ticket” Latte Special; FREE Iced Tea at Movie

· Boutique Fabulous - 1309 Cambridge Street - www.boutiquefabulous.com - 10% OFF merchandise in store w/ Golden Ticket. (excludes furniture) - 6-10 PM - FREE Refreshments in Store

· Bukowski Tavern - 1281 Cambridge Street - www.bukowskitavern.net - $1 Hot Dog in Tavern w/ Golden Ticket

· Cambridge Portuguese Credit Union - 251 Hampshire Street - www.cpcu.org - FREE Pretzels & Goldfish at Movie

· Cambridge Savings Bank - 1378 Cambridge Street - www.cambridgesavings.com - FREE Bottled Water and Glow-bands; Enter to win Gift Baskets at Movie

· East Cambridge Savings Bank - 1310 Cambridge Street - www.ecsb.com - FREE popcorn at Movie

· Inman Oasis - 243 Hampshire Street - www.inmanoasis.com - 10% OFF Gift Certs. w/ Golden Ticket

· Ole Mexican Grill & Olecito - 11-12 Springfield Street - www.olegrill.com - FREE Churros and Hot Chocolate
at Movie

· Taza Chocolate - www.tazachocolate.com - FREE Samples at Movie

and much more!

Community Meeting Tuesday August 16th @ 6pm - Police Station (125 Sixth St)

2011-08-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

As a follow up to the last post:

Coucillor Toomey and the Cambridge Police Department are holding a community meeting this Tuesday August 16 at 6:00pm in the first floor community room of the Cambridge Police Station (125 Sixth St).

There will be an update on the recent uptick in housebreaks in the East Cambridge area as well as some tips to keeping your home safe.

ADVISORY: From the Cambridge Police Department

2011-08-11T05:58:00.000-07:00

Housebreaks in East Cambridge
– The Cambridge Police Department has recently identified an uptick in residential burglaries in the East Cambridge neighborhood.

August 5, 2011 – The Cambridge Police Department has recently identified an uptick in residential burglaries in your neighborhood.
Housebreaks were one of the primary topics at the Cambridge Police Department BridgeStat meeting this week, and CPD will be deploying additional resources to help prevent this pattern.
Residents can find more detailed information in the next edition of BridgeStat, to be released later today at www.CambridgePolice.org/BridgeStat.
To help combat these crimes, and to avoid becoming a victim, please

 Try "casing" your own home, at night and during the day. Attempt to gain access to your home when the doors and windows are locked and "secure." Make sure you have some identification on you in case your neighbors call the police.  ALWAYS lock your doors and windows. Doors should be made from strong wood or metal and should be locked with a deadbolt. Install guards on windows that prevent them from being raised more than a few inches.  Leave a light on (perhaps on a timer) when you go away, even for the evening. Leave a television or radio on as well.  Install motion sensor lights outside your home and out of reach so burglars cannot unscrew the light. Also, buy variable light timers to activate lights in your home.  NEVER prop open the door or let someone in behind you if you live in an apartment building. If the building has a main entryway, make sure that security is enforced at the main door. Report residents who do this to your landlord.  Be vigilant. If you suspect suspicious activity around your home, your neighbors’ homes, or in your neighborhood, please report it to the police immediately by calling 617-349-3300.  Document serial numbers of all electronics and take pictures of all valuables. Keep this in a safe place to provide to the police in the event you are burglarized.
Housebreaks were one of the primary topics at the Cambridge Police Department BridgeStat meeting this week, and CPD will be deploying additional resources to help prevent this pattern.
Residents can find more detailed information in the next edition of BridgeStat, to be released later today at www.CambridgePolice.org/BridgeStat.

To help combat these crimes, and to avoid becoming a victim, please remember to follow these simple tips to protect your residence and your belongings:

Cambridge Discovery Days: Exploring East Cambridge

2011-08-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Historic Cambridge Collaborative is hosting the 13th annual Cambridge Discovery Days is comeing to East Cambridge on Saturday August 13. This is your chance to discover new parts of East Cambridge history. The tour begins at the History Station, corner of Cambridge and Third streets, by the Registry of Deeds at 10:00am.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, East Cambridge was virtually an island isolated from the rest of Cambridge, surrounded by salt marsh and the Charles River. Only after land speculator Andrew Craigie built a bridge (now the site of the Museum of Science) to Boston in 1809 and, in 1814, maneuvered to relocate the county courthouse from Harvard Square to East Cambridge did the area begin to develop. By 1880 most of the house lots were filled, and East Cambridge had become the industrial center of the city. The industries are now gone, but many 19th century houses remain. The tour will begin at Craigie’s courthouse complex and explore the area’s rich residential and industrial history

Guide: Susan Maycock, Architectural Historian, Cambridge Historical Commission
More information: Cambridge Historical Commission, 617 349 4683

East End House Annual Summer Block Party -FREE EVENT

2011-08-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

Wednesday August 17

6:30 - 8:30 pm

in front of the East End House

105 Spring St

All are welcome to attend this free community event!!

Join us for a BBQ, Ice Cream sundaes, games, face painting, balloon animals, live music, a moonbounce and more!

for more information visit http://www.eastendhouse.org/ or contact Katie Gerard at 617-876-4444 or katie@eastendhouse.org

INMAN SQUARE FUNCH!

2011-08-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

Fun. Lunch. Music. Wellness.

Every Thursday in August, 12:00 – 2:00 pm

Vellucci Plaza (intersection of Hampshire and Cambridge Streets in Inman Square)

Presented by the Inman Square Business Association in collaboration with the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Arts Council, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge Department of Public Works and Cambridge Community Development Department.

Treat yourself to a terrific mid-day break in Inman Square Thursdays in August from 12:00 – 2:00 at INMAN SQUARE FUNCH, a series of programs featuring great music, wellness activities and brown bag lunch specials from area restaurants.

Tomorrow’s schedule includes:

· Melodeego/pedal-powered soul and rock - http://www.melodeego.com/ – this group needs help from the audience to pedal the bicycle-powered sound system.

· Personal training tips from Fitness Together (12:45 – 1:15 pm) www.fitnesstogether.com/cambridge

Music and wellness events are free. Bring a co-worker, friend or family member – what better way to spend your lunch hour this summer! For updates and the schedule of future Funch performances, visit http://www.inmansquare.com/

Stop by these Inman Square restaurants for brown bag lunch specials to take along with you to Vellucci Plaza each Thursday in August:

1369 Coffee House – 1369 Cambridge Street – www.1369coffeehouse.com

$9 for any sandwich, a piece of fruit, and a cookie (while supplies last).

City Girl Café – 204 Hampshire Street – www.citygirlcafe.com

$10 for sandwich, chips, cookie and drink.

Olecito – 12 Springfield Street – www.olecito.net

Free fountain soda with lunch purchase. (Must show coupon distributed at Vellucci Plaza during event.)

Inman Square Restaurants that wish to offer a take-out special for this musical series can send me their information or contact Renee Farster at 617-491-0176.

Activities will be cancelled in the event of rain.

Let me know if you have any questions.

BOOMTOWN!

2011-07-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

The full BOOMTOWN schedule has been released and its a great line up of fun activities and performances for the whole family.

Whether you are crafting an artsy hat to shade you from the summer sun, or soothing your soul with the music of Bob Marley, BOOMTOWN is fun for the whole family.

For two weeks in July the Centanni Court Yard (btwn Second and Third) is taken over by the Multicultural Arts Center and turned into a showcase for local artists and performers.

Check out their full schedule

EC Storywalk

2011-07-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

Enjoy a stroll down Cambridge St. with your children and read the pages of a favorite children's book along the way. Start at New Deal Fish and head towards Lechmere Square.

Participate on July 11 and 18 at 1:00pm and follow the pages to The Multicultural Arts Center for special kids events and book giveaways. Check the BOOMTOWN schedule for more details.

Storywalk is a project of the Agenda For Children and Childrens Literacy Initiative

Thanks to New Deal Fish, Boston Bed, DM Inc, Tim Toomey, Threla, Foley Fiore Architecture, Cambridge Street Cleaners, Courthouse Seafood and Restaurant, Susan's Salon, Roger's Funeral Home, and East Cambridge Savings Bank for participating.

First Street Garage Improvements on the Way

2011-07-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

First Street is going to receive a bit of a face lift thanks to the City of Cambridge. For a long time now, the ground floor of the First Street Garage has been a bit of an eyesore.

According to the City Manager the boarded up windows will soon be replaced with artistic murals. This will certainly be a nice improvement for the area and we look forward to the project

K-Lo Spring Fling

2011-07-08T19:44:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Kennedy Longfellow Community School for once again hosting a very successful Spring Fling event.

The ECBA had a great presence there as well. Thanks to Bob Salines of Pug's Bar and Grill for donating his popcorn and snow cone machines once again for the neighborhood event.

Hope to see even more ECBA members involved next year. Congrats to K-Lo Community School

Run and Ride @ Cambridgeside

2011-07-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, July 31, 2011 children ages 5 to 15 years will be running and biking as part of Run & Ride @ CambridgeSide duathlon event. Children are invited to compete in the second annual, kids only Cambridge duathlon taking place in and around CambridgeSide Galleria.

In February, Cambridge signed on to the First Lady’s Let’s Move! campaign, which aims to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. Run & Ride at CambridgeSide promotes active health and fitness for children. This event is an innovative community collaboration between CambridgeSide Galleria, City of Cambridge, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge Police Department, Cambridge Fire Department, baystateparent magazine and Endurance Coaching. The event features prizes, race t-shirts, giveaways, entertainment and fun for the whole family. The race is free for all participants.

For more information, please email csginfo@nedevelopment.com or call 617.621.8668.