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Archived Articles: What's Happening on Main Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Happy New Year - Barry Twomey Editor In this issue -- A Few Words from the New Executive Director Greetings! The Mission Hill Main Streets board of directors search committee has selected Christine Rose as the new Executive Director of the organization. The committee spent 3 months in its search to replace Maggie Cohn. Maggie was the was the first ED of MHMS( for over 10 years) and who is now Executive Director of the The Boston Collaborative For Food and Fitness based at the Medical Foundation program at the Medical Foundation. Christine has served as President of the Board of Directors of MHMS for the last three years. She currently manages Liz's Hair Care on Tremont St Mission Hill, which is owned by her sister Elizabeth Rose. She has held that position for the last 6 years. Prior to that Christine was employed at Mellon Bank for ten years and her position was that of a Portfolio Adminstrator in the Private Wealth Management Division. She resides in Brookline. Christine will join Project Coordinator Barry Twomey and Events Coordinator Kate Sullivan as head of a new team working with small businesses, community organizations, local institutions and citizens working to make Mission Hill a better place to live, work,dine and do bussiness. Mission Hill is one of the most interesting and culturally diverse neighborhoods in the city. We welcome Christine to her new position and wish her well in all her future endeavors with the organization. A Few Words from the New Executive Director ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Happy New Year! I am very excited to be starting the year off as the new executive director of MHMS! I have been a volunteer during the last six years and a board member for five years. I have seen how the organization has grown in its revenues to programs and events to the number of new volunteers. I hope to continue some of the programs that Maggie Cohn has implemented such as the Red Sox Raffle and the Elder Friendly Certification Program. As well I plan to work with our board to develop some new programs in 2008. If you have any suggestions or ideas that you would like to share with me, please email me at christine@missionhillmainstreets.org Annual Celebrations ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mass College of Pharmacy Holiday Party. The President of MCPHS opened up his elegant townhouse on Huntington Avenue to community leaders and and local residents to celebrate the holidays on December 5th. The home is the official residence of the President of the college Charlie Monahan who was a gracious and amusing host. President Monahan told me that the first two floors of the home are for entertaining. Guests were greeted on the first floor and escorted to the second floor for Hors D'oeuvres and drinks. The home was beautifully decorated and furnished and there were several working fireplaces. Charlie showed us pictures of his plane and said," I'm still flying at my age". At the end of the evening he took a small group of guests on a tour of his private digs on the third floor. His personal residence is a completly furnished suite with a gourmet kitchen and a Jacuzzi in the master bath. He then opened a double door that led to a lobby and two impeccably furnished hotel rooms for visiting dignitaries.We rode back down to the main floor via elevator. It was a wonderful party with great people and a most interesting host. An Affair To Remember at HSPH. Harvard School of Public Health held its annual dinner/ Dance for seniors " An Affair To Remember" on December 7th hosted by Bruce Smith. Guests were treated to dinner ,music, dancing and were served by attentive Harvard employees and students of the school. The band "Four Guys in Tuxes"(there were five ) was excellent and played popular and jazz selections. They played their anthem from the swing era "In The Mood ". Elijah Starr an employee of the school and a professional performer sang a wonderful version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Employees of the school, students and guests danced away together in what truly was an "Affair to Remember". Restaurant Beat ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cafe Italia The rustic Italian-Mediterranean Cafe Italia has finally opened at Brigham Circle becoming Mission Hills only Italian Restaurant. The menu features a wide array of Italian- Mediterranean dishes, soups, salads and Panini's. There is a lunch and dinner menu that includes featured specials and the prices are very reasonable. The warm and cozy atmosphere is accentuated by its personable host / owner Tony Oliveri and his staff. Tony owns restaurants in East Boston (a favorite of the Mayor) and Marblehead. Instead of a trek to the expensive North End, now you can walk to the new Cafe Italia. Cafe Italia will be hosting a grand opening in the very near future and will offer free samplings with special guest Mayor Menino. Savant Project On Chronicle Savant Project with its unique Asian-Latin Tapas menu and signature drinks created by their own mixologist, was recently on the long standing and award winning show Chronicle. The restaurant was also rated one of the best restaurants in the Boston area. Fine dinning right here on Mission Hill. Watch for founders Benny and Loui's grand reopening and ribbon cutting with half price Tapas and a visit from the mayor (sometime after the State of the City Address Tuesday January 14th).
April 2006 Congratulations, Denise Curtin! The Mission Hill Main Streets Red Sox Raffle was won by Denise Curtin, whose husband Steve bought her the ticket from Finbarr Murray less than an hour before the drawing took place on Monday April 10. Denise and the companion of her choice will go to four home games, thanks to the generosity of the Red Sox Foundation (and her husband.) Additional prizes were collected by Kevin Cooper of Hyde Park (a baseball autographed by Jim Rice, donated by Blue Sky Collaborative) and Peter Muise of Mission Hill (a Red Sox gift bag filled with Red Sox goodies, donated by Beantown Collectibles). Lynne Benoit of Mission Hill and Karen O’Connell and Jay Burke, both of Hyde Park, won historic Red Sox photos, also donated by Beantown Collectibles.
Making Mission Hill “Elder Friendly” This spring, MHMS and the steering committee of the Elder Friendly Business District initiative will be working with local businesses to help them be more “elder friendly.” Participating businesses will be evaluated by senior volunteers. Those which meet established criteria will be certified as “elder friendly” and will be identified as such with a window decal, on the MHMS web site and through other marketing efforts. Businesses which do not meet the criteria will be assisted in becoming elder friendly so that they too will be certified. Working with a team from Wentworth Institute of Technology, MHMS has completed an assessment of access issues at many local stores, and plans to be able to offer businesses easy and inexpensive solutions to problems that may cause difficulties for older adults or people with disabilities who wish to patronize their businesses.
Local Main Street Awards On May 8th, Boston Main Streets will honor outstanding Main Street volunteers and businesses. Mission Hill honorees are Christine Rose, president of the Board of Directors, and Mission Bar & Grill. Christine is in her second term as President of the MHMS Board; she is an active member of both the Promotions and Organization Committees and also a representative to the board of the Boston Main Streets Foundation. For her “day job” she manages Liz’s Hair Care, a salon owned by her sister, Liz Rose. Harry Walsh and Michel Soltani, the owners of Mission Bar & Grill, are being recognized for the major investment they have made in their business and in the community. Their financial investment in the renovation of their space was substantial, but of at least equal value is the contribution they make to local community groups and individuals, hosting numerous fundraisers as well as the monthly Main Streets Networking Breakfasts.
Arbor Day and Boston Shines On Saturday, April 29th, the citywide cleanup and beautification known as Boston Shines will take place. In Mission Hill, neighbors and other volunteers will start out from One Brigham Circle at 9:00 am. As in past years, MHMS is collaborating with Boston 4H Urban Stewards to incorporate the care of street trees into the day’s activities. Volunteers are invited to help aerate and mulch tree pits (improving the health of the trees and hopefully contributing to a longer life). Invited guests include Mayor Menino, Parks Commissioner Antonia Pollak, and representatives from the National Arbor Day Foundation, which is donating 25 trees to be planted in the community. Refreshments will be provided at the close of the event.
Networking Breakfasts Mission Hill Main Streets plans to continue holding monthly networking breakfasts throughout the summer, meeting on the third Thursday of the month from 7:30 – 9:00 am at the Mission Bar & Grill. On May 18, Wentworth volunteers will bring laptop computers, and breakfast participants will review an assortment of local business web sites that function well. How can a web site drive new customers to a business? What makes a web site work well, or work poorly? Business owners and web designers alike are encouraged to join in this discussion. March 2006 SummerWorks 2006 Believe it or not summer is right around the corner! Along with summer comes summer vacation, a time when many local youth are job-hunting. From now until June ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway Neighborhood Service Center is distributing SummerWorks applications to local youth. The program is scheduled to begin after the Fourth of July. Youth who are ages 14-21 and live in the Mission Hill or Fenway neighborhoods are coming into ABCD daily to pick up their summer jobs application, in order to have something constructive to do this summer. Last year the agency collected over 600 applications from local youth but only 116 of them were able to be hired through ABCD and local private institutions. This year the number of applications is expected to rise to at least 800 and the minimum goal for youth placed is 100. The agency is asking all local businesses to consider putting a youth on their payroll for the summer. ABCD will recruit the youth for participating businesses and will provide follow up to ensure the placement is successful. As a participant in SummerWorks, businesses will provide valuable work and life skills to eager youth who want to work hard, learn, and earn their own money. Businesses will also gain extra help during busy summer days and earn the recognition of participating in a well-respected program designed to empower local youth. To learn more about how you can participate in SummerWorks, contact Special Projects Coordinator, Tejwattie Balgobin at 617-445-6000 ext. 228 or via email at balgobin@bostonabcd.org.
Local Recycling Expertise In July 2006, Massachusetts will ban disposal of wood, metal, asphalt, brick, concrete, and cardboard from residential construction. This will effectively mandate recycling on nearly all residential projects. Fortunately, recycling can be integrated seamlessly into residential construction, and generally costs much less than waste disposal. Matthew St. Onge, Executive Director of the Boston Building Materials Coop, will be on a panel at this spring’s Build Boston trade show on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., in a session providing details about the new regulations as well as practical recycling information including details on recyclable materials, planning and setting up to recycle, costs of recycling vs. disposal, and common barriers to recycling (and how to address them). Panel participants include St. Onge, Mark Lennon (Institution Recycling Network, Concord, N.H) and Jim McQuade (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection). To learn more, stop by the BBMC at 100 Terrace Street, call the BBMC at 617-442-2262, or visit Build Boston on line at www.buildboston.com.
Ready for the Red Sox? To raise funds for their ongoing revitalization work, Mission Hill Main Streets is raffling off a package of tickets to four home games. The Red Sox Foundation has generously donated 4 pairs of tickets to Red Sox games to Mission Hill Main Streets, including, of course, a game against the NY Yankees. No more that 200 tickets will be sold; the price is $50 and the winner will receive 8 tickets, money for the purchase of hot dogs and popcorn, subway tokens for travel to and from the park, and 2 baseball caps. Runner up prizes will also be offered. The drawing will be held on April 10 at Flann O’Brien’s, at 6:30 pm, and all present at the drawing will have the chance to bid on an autographed baseball! Tickets are available at the MHMS office (1530 Tremont Street), at Flann O’Brien’s and from the MHMS web site (www.missionhillmainstreets.org.) February 2006 Mardi Gras in Mission Hill! From 7 – 10 pm on Saturday, February 25, a little bit of Mardi Gras comes to Brigham Circle. Restaurants, pizzerias, and pubs will offer New Orleans-style foods and beverages; one location will offer mask-making, while another will crown the Queen of the Mardi Gras. Music will be performed at various locations, by Muse Stew, Robert Gastelum & Downtown Fever, and more! As a Mardi Gras special, Liz’s Hair Care will be offering $5 of any service. In conjunction with this New Orleans focused celebration, MHMS will be collecting contributions to help the residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Look for collection cans in participating businesses, and give generously.
A New Orchard in Mission Hill The Orchard, at 1562 Tremont Street, opened for business on Saturday, February 11, and was promptly snowed in on Sunday. But they’re shoveled out now, and are well worth a visit. The store carries skateboards, skateboarding shoes and apparel, and a small line of men’s and women’s clothing. When we stopped by we noticed some nicely patterned Vans on display! They also have unique artist-designed apparel, and plan to regularly hold art shows featuring local artists. The Orchard is open Monday – Saturday from 11 am – 7 pm, and Sunday from noon to 6 pm. For more information, call them at 617-730-5700.
Elder Friendly Business District Wins Award… At the Annual Meeting of the Boston Partnership for Older Adults, held on Thursday, February 16, both Mission Hill Main Streets and Boston Main Streets were honored for their work in developing an Elder Friendly Business District. This initiative addresses both the need for physical improvements throughout the business district and the need for changes in business practices at some of our local shops, to make the neighborhood as well as individual businesses be more “elder friendly.”
…and Makes Tremont Street Brighter We recently found out that a request we submitted to Frank O’Brien at the Department of Public Works has been fulfilled. One comment we heard frequently was that Tremont Street is dark, and darker to an older person with limited vision; this made older residents reluctant to go out after sunset – which at this time of year means people were staying home after 4 or 5 pm. On behalf of the Elder Friendly Business District Initiative Steering Committee, MHMS asked the Street Lighting Department of the City of Boston if it would be possible to replace or clean the glass lenses, and install new bulbs, on the streetlights along Tremont Street. Joe Banks of Lighting informed Frank O’Brien that the street lights on Tremont Street, from Huntington—Columbus in Mission Hill were all serviced with new glass/refractors and bulbs. This involves between 70-80 poles on this stretch. The work was completed approximately 3 weeks ago.
New Show at Sparring Partners Now on view at Sparring Partners: “Conversation Starters: A Collaborative Book Project Between School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Alumni and Students.” Last fall, students in Julie Graham’s Material Meaning course created a work of art on one side of a page, leaving the opposite free for an alumni “response” during the SMFA Reunion. “Conversation Starters” was curated by Museum School Post-Baccalaureate student Alexia Mellor. A collaboration of Mission Hill Main Streets, the Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts College of Art, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) has resulted in the establishment of this rotating exhibition space at 635 Huntington Avenue. “Sparring Partners” uses the windows of the former Sparr’s Drug Store and Sparific Soda Fountain to show art by residents, children and students of both art institutions in exhibits that will change every 2 – 3 months.
Business Shorts New Signage at Solstice First, he put together a schedule of live music; then he reinvigorated the concept of changing art on the restaurant walls. Now, over the last few months, Cole Ruwet has been working to improve the look of Solstice Café with a new paint job, and new signage and lighting. For increased visibility, the blade sign has been moved to one side of the storefront, and lit directly. A new sign extends over the windows, and, again, lighting has been added to illuminate the sign and the sidewalk in front of the store. The food is still carefully prepared by Oscar, so stop in for a bite!
Three Mission Hill Streets to be Made One Way In cooperation with local residents and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, the Boston Transportation Department is making three streets in Mission Hill one-ways. The streets are quite narrow and making them one-ways will improve public safety by eliminating the conflict created by two lanes of traffic traveling in opposite directions. The three streets in question are Bucknam/Lawn Streets, to be one-way from Fisher Avenue to Heath Street; Wensley Street, to be one-way from Bucknam Street to Heath Street; and Bickford Avenue, to be one-way from Wensley Street to Heath Street. Acting Boston Transportation Commissioner Thomas J. Tinlin said, “At a recent Mission Hill community meeting that I attended along with staff from the BTD's Engineering Division, local residents expressed concern with traffic and pedestrian safety on these streets due to traffic traveling in both directions. We are always pleased to work together with residents on issues such as these where we can authorize changes that will impact and improve the quality of life in Boston's neighborhoods." "We expect that making these streets one-ways will decrease the possibility of traffic accidents. "However," he continued, "BTD will monitor the situation and implement additional adjustments as necessary.” BTD is in the process of making final arrangements with neighborhood representatives. The one-way changes are expected to go into effect in late February. Local drivers are urged to watch carefully for signage changes in the area. Residents with questions or comments are encouraged to call the Boston Transportation Department hotline at #617-635-4-BTD.
January 2006 Wentworth Assesses Access Presents at 555 Huntington Ave and at Hyde Park Networking Breakfast Students from Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT), working with Mission Hill Main Streets’ Elder Friendly Business District initiative, evaluated various businesses in the community to learn what problems are encountered by older customers as they patronize each store. Once they identified specific issues, the students worked to develop creative and generally inexpensive solutions. They then presented their findings to several WIT staff, MHMS, and other interested Main Street directors. Several of the problems they discovered have to do with entering and leaving the business: solid doors mean that a person who is entering a store is not able to see someone who is leaving the store at the same time, possibly resulting in a collision; doors that swing out onto a stoop force the customer to step back and down to avoid being hit by the door. The students, who are studying different disciplines (including architecture, interior design and facilities management) came up with simple solutions, such as installing automatic door openers that allow the customer to stand back from the door as it opens. The group will be presenting their findings at the Hyde Park Main Streets Networking breakfast on January 19, and to the Mission Hill Main Street Networking Breakfast in March or April.
Networking Breakfasts Open to all business owners – whether in a storefront or operating from home – Mission Hill Main Streets has begun a series of Networking Breakfasts. The breakfasts are held the third Thursday of each month, from 7:30 – 9:00 am, at Mission Bar & Grill, and are co-sponsored by Wentworth Institute of Technology. A full complementary breakfast is provided, catered by Mississippi’s. On January 19th, Jesse Baer-Kahn spoke briefly on the topic of marketing, and participants shared experiences and ideas. The discussion was wide-ranging, covering the issues of both community-wide marketing and marketing by individual businesses, identifying customers, “branding” the Mission Hill neighborhood, and increasing outreach to institutions. The next breakfast will take place on Thursday, February 16.
JP Licks Builds Event Calendar Friday, January 13, inaugurated a new collaboration between JP Licks and the Parker Hill Library. Building on successful events in the store last December – a waffle brunch in conjunction with MHMS and a wreath-making workshop in conjunction with Tiny’s Flowers – the manager, Jen Moyer, is partnering with the Parker Hill Library to offer Friday morning storytelling and crafts for children. The weekly series started off with stories and crafts about food (and ice cream!); on January 20th the theme was teddy bears. The series will continue through January and February, and longer, if it proves to be popular. JP Licks has embarked on an ambitious calendar of activities, promoting their Brigham Circle location as a community space that does a lot more than sell ice cream. Poetry slams are being planned, and a weekly trivia night is set to begin on January 29th – call the store for more details (617-566-6676.) The store has also been exhibiting local artists’ work. Currently on exhibit are Jack Osgood’s large format photographs of Boston scenes.
Red Sox Raffle Returns The Red Sox Foundation has made a generous donation to MHMS of tickets to four Red Sox games this season; MHMS will be selling no more than 200 raffle tickets at $50 each for this prize. Runner-up prizes will be offered as well. The drawing will take place on April 10, 2006 – keep an eye out for posters with additional details! Click here for information posted on this web site.
Mardi Gras in Mission Hill A little bit of New Orleans comes to Mission Hill on Saturday February 25th. Restaurants and pubs will join in the celebration from 7 – 10 pm, with special foods and live music. Mardi Gras is a New Orleans tradition, yet New Orleans is still very much in need of assistance for rebuilding. During February, leading up to Mardi Gras, MHMS will be placing collection cans in local businesses, with all donations going to the National Trust’s Hurricane Relief Fund. Gulf Coast communities are now dealing with the daunting task of assessing damage, repairing infrastructure and making plans for the future. Donations to the National Trust support assessment teams, assist small businesses through the National Main Street Center and disperse critical grant monies to organizations on the ground in affected communities.
Restaurant Watch Brunch Options Some say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. On weekends, there is now a selection of breakfasts available in Mission Hill! When Cole Ruwet took over Solstice Café at 1625 Tremont Street, one of his first moves was to institute Sunday brunch. Butterfly Café (1420 Tremont Street by the Roxbury Crossing T station) began serving Sunday brunch in November 2005, and Mission Bar & Grill (724 Huntington Avenue) has now joined the Sunday scene. The Squealing Pig (134 Smith Street) has been serving brunch for years now, and of course Brigham Circle Diner (737 Huntington Avenue) serves breakfast every day.
Renovations at Kwik-E Subs We walked by Kwik-E Subs the other day and did a double take! New tiles now cover the walls up to the chair rail as well as the front of the counter. There are new tables and chairs, including high-tops by the window. We are impressed with how clean and sharp it looks, and commend the business for maintaining high standards.
Join us at Mission Bar & Grill A local resident will be participating in a run to raise money for, and awareness of, cases of domestic violence. Join us at the Mission on January 31, from 6:30 – 9:30 as we support this cause. Family Van Back On Mission Hill Free Health Care Screening and Testing for local residents In honor of its fourteenth anniversary, the Family Van returned to Mission Hill, once again dispensing free health and social services to local residents. The 35-foot long Winnebago–a staple in Boston communities since 1992–originally served the neighborhood in the days of Osco and the Calumet Market. Once construction started on One Brigham Circle, the site was forced to shut down. Starting January 18th, the Van’s free and anonymous services are available and open to all every Wednesday afternoon at the Van’s Mission Hill headquarters at 1542 Tremont STreet. For more information, call 617-442-3200. December 2005 Art at Sparr’s A collaboration of Mission Hill Main Streets, the Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts College of Art and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts has resulted in the establishment of a rotating exhibit space at 635 Huntington Avenue. “Sparring Partners” uses the windows of the former Sparr’s Drug Store and Sparific Soda Fountain to show art by residents, children and students of both art institutions in exhibits that will change every 2 – 3 months. The first exhibit is A Room of Your Own, jointly sponsored by the Mission Hill Artists Collective and the Parker Hill branch of the Boston Public Library. A Room of Your Own was first created by Ellen Wilt in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2002 to allow “everyday women” the chance to create a world of their own in a standard issued cardboard box (14 inches square and 7 inches deep). To participate in the show, the only criteria was to be a woman. Joanne McCracken initiated the project in Boston in 2003, with the help of Becky Manos (Parker Hill Library) and Carol Barry (Mission Hill Artists Collective). Boxes were created by library workers and patrons, by adults and by children. A Room of Your Own, Boston showed in various venues in Cambridge and Boston, including a show in Roslindale and shows during Mission Hill Open Studios in both 2003 and 2004. The current exhibit includes some more newly created boxes along with some boxes from the original effort.
Santa Returns
Holiday events are upon us! On Saturday, December 3, Tiny’s Flower Shop (1528 Tremont Street) and JP Licks collaborated on a wreath decorating workshop. (Above left, Carol Barry enjoys her wreath making experience.) Tiny provided wreaths, decorations, and know-how; eager participants provided creativity. A wreath produced at this event was offered as door prizes on December 11, at the Main Streets Holiday Waffle Brunch and Trolley Ride to the South End Holiday Marketplace (see below). (Above center, Albert Pigeon of Mission Park displays the wreath he won at the waffle brunch.) The Brigham Circle Tree Lighting took place on December 7, hosted by Santa Claus and Mayor Thomas M. Menino. Participants enjoyed caroling by the Northeastern Bassix (above, right, singing with Santa) and by Steven Tassone’s Tobin School students. Sponsors included MHMS, MHNHS, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, New England Baptist Hospital, Penguin Pizza, the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, the Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events, the Department of Public Works, and Boston Police Department Area B-2. Main Streets supports small businesses across the city. To provide easy access to a number of small businesses and artisans from the South End, on Sunday, December 11, Mission Hill Main Streets offered a waffle brunch at JP Licks in Brigham Circle and trolley rides to the South End Holiday Marketplace in the Washington Gateway Main Streets district, where more than 130 artisans and business owners from that neighborhood were selling a wide range of items. (For more information, visit the Marketplace web site at http://southendholidaymarket.com.) Brunch was served at JP Licks from 10:30 – 12:00. Beginning at 11:30, a City Views trolley travelled from One Brigham Circle to the Holiday Marketplace, with the last trip returning to Mission Hill at 4:00 pm.
From left to right, Anna Adams of Mission Park, Karen O'Connell (the Executive Director of Hyde Park Main Streets), and Peter Muise (MHMS Board member) enjoy their waffles. On Thursday, December 15, MHMS will lead carolers from Butterfly Café at the Roxbury Crossing T station to the tree in Brigham Circle, beginning at 5 pm. And on Wednesday, December 21, everyone is invited to celebrate the Winter Solstice with a special dinner at Solstice Café. Happy Holidays!
Networking Breakfasts On Thursday, December 15, MHMS will host the third in a series of monthly Networking Breakfasts for local business owners. These breakfasts will be a forum in which the varied entrepreneurs of Mission Hill can become acquainted; those who own and operate businesses from their homes are encouraged to come, as are those with storefront businesses. The doors open at 7:30 am, and a full breakfast will be served, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Wentworth Institute of Technology.
Business Shorts Lane’s Moves Lane’s Deliveries was for many years housed at 2 Carmel Street. The business briefly shared space with the florist’s at the corner of Carmel and Tremont Streets, and is now located just down the street in the rear of 1518 Tremont Street, behind Cut It Up.
November 2005
October 2005 Halloween Walk 2 On October 31st, local businesses will be offering treats to costumed trick-or-treaters. Last year, nineteen businesses participated in the Mission Hill Main Streets Halloween Walk. In an encore performance this year, crafts activities will be held on the plaza at One Brigham Circle from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., coordinated by MHMS and MissionSafe. Mission Hill NHS is planning a return of the witch who greeted Halloween celebrants at One Brigham Circle last year. Also from 4:30 – 6:30, children (accompanied by their parents) are welcome to trick-or-treat in the business district. Participating businesses will be identified.
Eighth Annual Meeting State Senator Dianne Wilkerson will be the keynote speaker at the MHMS Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 18. The meeting will be held at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts renovated building (a.k.a. the Donnelly Building) at 160 St. Alphonsus Street. This is the eighth annual meeting of the Mission Hill Main Streets program. Board members will be elected. All residents and business people are welcome. Refreshments will be provided by restaurants located in Brigham Circle. Including JP Licks with coffee and dessert
Neighborhood Clean-up Plans are being laid by the Community Alliance of Mission Hill, MHMS, and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services for a Mission Hill Clean-up, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, October 29, from 9 am to noon. Once details have been finalized, flyers will be posted throughout the neighborhood. CAMH organizer Harrison Lee is looking forward to an opportunity to clear the sidewalks of litter before the snow flies. He says that the event will take place “rain or shine, so dress appropriately!”
Networking Breakfasts On Thursday, October 20, MHMS will host the first in a series of monthly Networking Breakfasts for local business owners. These breakfasts will provide an opportunity for merchants to get to know each other and share knowledge and information. A special invitation is being proffered to those who run businesses from their homes. Many at-home businesses offer services that are useful to other small businesses, just as storefront businesses carry products needed by at-home businesses; these breakfasts will be a forum in which the varied entrepreneurs of Mission Hill can become acquainted. A full breakfast will be served, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Wentworth Institute of Technology. MHMS has been working with the Service Learning program at Wentworth to develop ways in which the Institute may be able to offer direct services and resources to Mission Hill businesses. As this plan evolves, information will be presented at a future Networking Breakfast.
Business Shorts November 2: ribbon cuttings and grand opening There are two new restaurants on the block of Huntington Avenue between Calumet Street and Wait Street. Flames opened in the spring of this year, and has enjoyed consistent crowds. This is the second location for restaurateur Jonathan Chambers, who established the first Flames on Morton Street in Dorchester. Mission Bar & Grill opened in August and already seems to have established itself as a “place to be seen” in Brigham Circle, combining a neighborhood pub feel with a quality menu. Both Flames and Mission Bar & Grill utilized MHMS Storefront Improvement grants as well as resources made available by the City of Boston’s Office of Business Development through its Restaurant Initiative. There are five businesses located on Huntington Avenue between Flames and Mission Bar & Grill: Hollywood Cleaners, Kwik-E Subs, Brigham Liquors, Brigham Circle Chinese Food, and an additional location for Chi Wellness (actually their third!), which opened the first clinic, Chi Wellness Longwood Clinic, on Tremont Street several years ago. These five businesses are getting new signs and lighting through design assistance and a Storefront Improvement grant by MHMS. On Wednesday, November 2, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and other elected officials will join business owners, local residents, and MHMS to celebrate these new signs and new businesses. The traveling event begins at 5:15 pm with a celebration at Flames, moves on to Chi Wellness, and concludes at a Grand Opening at Mission Bar & Grill.
BBMC and Local Artist Create New Entry Last spring, the Boston Building Materials Coop decided that they wanted to make it possible for pedestrians to enter the store at 100 Terrace Street without having to walk through the parking lot. With design assistance from MHMS, they created a plan for a new entry. A gate was cut into the fencing close to the base of the steps at the Coop entrance, pillars were constructed to define the gateway, and pavers were laid to fill in the area between the base of the steps, the new gateway and the parking lot. Now the beds edging this area have been planted, and an arch mounted on the pillars. The arch is a metal sculpture by neighborhood artist Morris Norvin and incorporates a variety of actual tools donated by Newton native Bunny Shuman, whose late father, Sidney Shuman, worked in masonry for more than 50 years. A press release issued by BBMC staffer Deb Beatty Mel says that the “unique front gate that reflects both the Co-op’s mission of helping people improve their homes and the neighborhood’s thriving arts community.”
BBMC and WIT Partnering On November 12, the BBMC in conjunction with WIT is offering a Weatherization Open House, to be held on a site on the Wentworth campus. Contact the BBMC at 617-442-2262 for more information.
Butterfly’s Brunch Butterfly Café still plans to serve Sunday brunch, but the inception has been delayed from the beginning of October until mid-month. A new stove is being installed, and chef Richard Fredericks plans to be building omelets by the time you read these words.
Two New Businesses At 142 Smith Street, “Psychic - Tarot Card Readings by Gucci” has replaced Bangkok Video. Call 617-459-8747 to find out more or to make an appointment. And the former site of Feranti-Dege at 712 Huntington Avenue has a new tenant as well: Nails Spa by Time (617-277-7773) is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.
SEPTEMBER 2005 A Big Thank You! Mission Hill Main Streets wants to thank all those who made the 7th Annual Community Picnic and Countdown to Kindergarten Parade successful events. The Countdown to Kindergarten Parade could not have happened without the physical, emotional and financial support of Kate Weldon and Christine Locke and Children’s Hospital Boston. The assistance of Mission Hill NHS and New Boston Fund at One Brigham Circle, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Stop & Shop, Carmen Rosado and Zulma and the Roberto Clemente 21 Baton Twirlers, and the many businesses who offered gifts to the starting kindergarteners was crucial. Thanks also to parade Grand Marshal Jeffrey Sanchez, the Story Mobile and City of Boston’s Fire Department, who brought a fire truck to the Community Picnic for the children to explore. The 7th Annual Community Picnic was supported by the Boston Building Materials Coop, Butterfly Café, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, New England Baptist Hospital, Izze Sparkling Juice, Children’s Hospital Boston, and Sociedad Latina. Thanks to Wentworth Institute and Northeastern University who pledged financial support for these events, and to Mission Church for the loan of tables and chairs. And many, many thanks to Seth Burns, Myrtle Ho-Sang and friends Norma Hylton, Monica White, and Christine McFarlane, Gloria Murray, Marcia Reardon, Christine Rose and her nephew Marquise Jones, Joel Samuels, and Anne Sasser, stalwart volunteers without whom the picnic would have staggered to a halt. And finally, thanks are due to Richard Giordano and our local police officer John Ridge, and others who stayed around to help clean up.
Countdown to Kindergarten Children’s Hospital Boston partnered with Mission Hill Main Streets for a Countdown to Kindergarten Parade, held on Saturday, September 10. Children and their parents gathered at the plaza at One Brigham Circle, where they enjoyed the City of Boston’s Story Mobile and collected backpacks donated by Children’s Hospital. The parade, led by Grand Marshal Jeffrey Sanchez, and then by his deputy, Main Streets Board of Directors member Joel Samuels, wound its way to local businesses, each of which added an item to the children’s backpacks. These local kindergarteners start school well-prepared with pencil cases and erasers, bubbles and slinkies, and ice cream coupons!
7th Annual Community Picnic in the Park The 7th Annual Community Picnic attracted well over 100 people – including participants of the Countdown to Kindergarten Parade – to Sheehy Park on Saturday, September 10. Seth Burns, assisted by Anne Sasser, Christine Rose, and Eve Piza, turned out an endless stream of hot dogs, hamburgers, and sausages, as other volunteers served cookies, salad and beverages. As community members lined up by the grill, across the park a church group from Hyde Park arrived unexpectedly to set up for a service. After negotiations, and a phone conversation with Paul McCaffrey of the Parks Department, the church group agreed to move down to the basketball hoop area in the playground and to shorten their service. Background music for the first hour of the picnic was provided courtesy of the church. Then the crowd enjoyed the drumming of Richie Goldstein. Goldstein’s rain barrels, old tools and joint compound bucket percussion set-up captured the attention and participation of a wide range of residents. Joe Pagliuca also captured the imaginations of children and adults alike with his stories. The crafts and flea marketers did a brisk business, including some swapping of items. As the light faded, participants packed up their supplies. By 8:00 pm, the grill had been stored away, trash barrels emptied, and empty cardboard boxes carted away. Memories of an enjoyable afternoon in the neighborhood remained.
BNN Features Local Entrepreneurs Boston Main Streets hosts a weekly show on BNN channel 9, “Making Your Neighborhood Work,” which is filmed live on Wednesdays at 2:00. Every week the show is hosted by a different Main Streets district, or by staff from the Boston Main Streets office. A recent show featured Mission Hill entrepreneurs Dermot Doyne (Penguin Pizza), Michel Soltani (Mission Bar & Grill), and Mash Abdirahman (Butterfly Café) in conversation with MHMS executive director Maggie Cohn. Mr. Doyne was raised in London and is of Irish ancestry; Mr. Abdirahman is Somali and has been in Boston since his student days; Mr. Soltani is Iranian, raised in France. All share an experience of adjusting to a new culture, and learning how to work within that culture to open their own businesses. All three businessmen said that the international nature of Mission Hill was an attraction for them, as was of the openness of the community in welcoming people from foreign lands. They shared stories of the difficulties of opening a small business. All consider it a huge education. Soltani said “I could write a book on what not to do.” Yet all feel that they are in rewarding businesses and would, no doubt, do it again.
Annual Meeting – Save the Date! State Senator Dianne Wilkerson will be the keynote speaker at the MHMS Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 18. The meeting will be held at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts renovated building (a.k.a. the Donnelly Building) at 160 St. Alphonsus Street.
Business Shorts Networking Breakfasts Start This Fall Thursday, October 20, from 7:30 – 9:00 am, MHMS will hold the first of an ongoing series of Networking Breakfasts for local business owners. The breakfasts will be hosted by Mission Bar and Grill, and sponsored by Wentworth Institute.
Restaurant Initiative 2 Based on a successful initiative in 2004, the City of Boston’s Office of Business Development has announced a 2005 Neighborhood Restaurant Initiative aimed at helping existing restaurants expand and new restaurants start up. The primary focus is creating new sit-down, family-style restaurants owned and operated by local entrepreneurs. Existing restaurants (expansion project) and locally owned franchises are also eligible. Projects will receive assistance in the form of: Technical assistance (business plans, marketing, etc); Permitting and licensing (ISD); Design Assistance; Façade improvement grants; Liaison to other City departments, and Financing. Financing will be available only to those projects that create 10 or more jobs, with a $100K maximum loan amount. For more information, contact Andre Porter (617-635-0615) or Keith Hunt (617-635-0418) at the Office of Business Development.
Butterfly Café Beginning on October 2, Butterfly Café will be serving Sunday brunch. It looks like other additions are in store as well – the counter is being extended, and new menu items are under consideration.
Lane’s Flowers and more… Lane’s Flowers is now managed by Tinyma Noble, and has expanded to carry incense and scented oils, cards, and other gift items.
AUGUST 2005 Countdown to Kindergarten For the past several years the City of Boston has sponsored activities across the city to celebrate the start of school for new kindergarteners. In the beginning of September, children wearing yellow T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “I’m going to Kindergarten!” appear in our neighborhoods. In Mission Hill, several businesses have annually offered gifts to children who come into their stores wearing these shirts. This year, MHMS, working with Children’s Hospital Boston, is coordinating a Kindergarteners Parade, with Grand Marshal Jeffrey Sanchez. Children who are newly registered for Kindergarten, and their parents, are invited to gather at 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 10, in the plaza at One Brigham Circle. The kindergarteners should wear their “I’m going to Kindergarten!” T-shirts. These can be collected at any Boston Public Library, and will also be available on the day of the parade at One Brigham Circle. (Parents are asked to bring proof of BPS registration.) The parade will pass through the Mission Hill business district; merchants and community groups will dispense gifts designed to start the children off well in their school careers. The parade will culminate at the Community Picnic in Sheehy Park, where there will be children’s activities, free refreshments, and more…
7th Annual Community Picnic in the Park MHMS is coordinating the 7th Annual Community Picnic, which will also take place on Saturday, September 10th, from 4 – 8 pm. Children’s Hospital Boston and Sociedad Latina are co-sponsoring this event; and have been meeting regularly with MHMS to plan both the picnic and the Kindergarten Parade. The picnic will feature free refreshments, provided by Brigham and Women’s Hospital, New England Baptist Hospital, and Children’s Hospital Boston; the grillmaster will be, as always, Fenwood Road resident Seth Burns. As we go to press, details of the event are still being finalized. There will be a variety of activities for children, organized by Sociedad Latina, as well as a storyteller and a fire truck for children to explore. Local non-profits, community groups and educational institutions will be present with informational tables, there will be crafts and “yard sale” items for sale, and Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez and Councilor Mike Ross will coordinate a pick-up softball game. Organizations or individuals interested in participating in the information fair or the “yard sale” should contact Eve Piza at Mission Hill Main Streets (617-427-7399).
Elder Friendly Business Survey Using a survey designed by epidemiologist Suzanne Leveille, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, volunteers with the Elder Friendly Business District initiative are surveying seniors who live and/or shop in Mission Hill. The survey asks about seniors’ mobility issues and their ability to get around the neighborhood as well as about their use of local businesses. Surveys are being conducted at buildings where seniors live and at various stores in the neighborhood.
Business Shorts Chi Wellness and Women’s Health Chi Wellness has opened a second clinic on Huntington Avenue, with a focus on women’s health issues and fertility issues. Hours vary, so call for more information or to make an appointment: 617-989-8658.
The Mission The former site of the Choppin’ Block has gone through several name changes and is now – and finally – The Mission Bar and Grill. The Mission began serving on August 23, and we are planning a Grand Opening and ribbon cutting planned for the early fall. JULY 2005 Art in Sheehy Park Once again, ParkArts will be offering summer workshops for children in Sheehy Park. Every Wednesday from 9 am to noon, artist Anne Sheridan will be in the park (between the Library and Mission Church) providing crafts workshops for children ages 3 to 10. The first day of the program was July 13th and it runs through August 17th. For more information can 617-635-4505, ext. 3021.
Local Resident Wins Red Sox Tix Fenwood Road resident Ellen Saucier (the younger) was the thrilled winner of the Mission Hill Main Streets Red Sox Raffle. On June 20, City Councilor Mike Ross, with an assist from State Rep Jeff Sanchez, drew the winning ticket before a crowd of envious neighbors. Ms. Saucier had purchased her ticket earlier that evening and was present at the drawing, although that was not required.
What is the MHMS Façade Program? Mission Hill Main Streets, like all the Main Street programs in neighborhoods across the city, has a Façade Improvement Program that can provide free design assistance and grants to business owners or to the owners of commercial property. The purpose of this program is both to improve storefronts and make the business more attractive to customers, and to make the commercial district overall more attractive, store by store. Some business owners prefer to hire their own designers, while others are happy to take advantage of the free design services Main Streets provides. (Actually, these “free” services are paid for by the City of Boston’s Main Street program.) Grant limits may change from year to year as the grant program is dependent on the city budget. In 2005, Main Streets offered $5,000 matching grants for façade improvements (although grants can be higher for multiple storefronts) or $2,500 outright grants for simple signage projects. Citywide this has been one of Main Streets most successful programs, and certainly the most visible. Not infrequently, one storefront improvement inspires others – both through the program and independent of it. Over the years, Mission Hill Main Streets has awarded grants to AC Hardware, Brigham Circle Diner, Brigham Circle Realty, Butterfly Coffee, Curtin’s Roadside Tavern, Eleo Real Estate, Flann O’Brien’s, Fuentes Market, JP Licks, Michel’s Wine & Spirits, Mini Mart Deli, Oops Salon (now Liz’s Hair Care), and Subway. Many others have received design assistance but have chosen to defer improvements or have simply not yet moved into the construction phase.
MHFNT Grant Awarded to MHMS For continuing work in developing an Elder Friendly Business District, Mission Hill Main Streets has been awarded a grant of $5,000 by the Mission Hill / Fenway Neighborhood Trust. Executive Director Maggie Cohn received the check at the Trust’s Annual Meeting on June 22. The Trust has been an ongoing supporter of the Mission Hill Main Streets program, providing essential financial support.
Farmers' Markets: Good for the Towns, Good for the Farms Farmers and consumers especially benefit from "producer-only" farmers' markets, where vendors grow the food they sell. These markets are a place for exchanging more than just cash and food. Farmers can learn what their customers are looking for and - equally important - they have the chance to let customers know what's happening on the farm. When consumers understand what growers are up against, they become valuable allies. (From the Newsletter of the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agricultural Information Service: A project of the National Center for Appropriate Technology). At the Brigham Circle Farmers Market, shoppers are finding not only fresh vegetables but plants and flowers from MacArthur Farms in Holliston, and organically-grown fresh vegetables from Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, a Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. New to the market this year is Lorraine Johnson, offering sewn, knitted and crocheted items. By early August, a third farmer will join the market, with locally farmed Asian vegetables. The Brigham Circle Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm in the park next to Sovereign Bank.
Business Shorts Need Tiling? Mission Hill’s John Dawkins has started his own company: Tile Marble Brick Systems. Mr. Dawkins is a member of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Local #3, and has worked as a tilesetter, as well as doing marble work, brick paving, and cement masonry. If you can use his services, he can be reached at 617-372-4387.
Music at Solstice We’ve seen flyers around the neighborhood indicating that, on occasion, music can be heard at Solstice. Keep an eye open, or call the restaurant for more information (617-566-5859), and catch some tunes.
Flann’s New Look If you haven’t been in Flann O’Brien’s lately, stop by to see the new look. The rear wall is down, the pool table is gone, and the room is spacious |
On a balmy November evening, a small crowd gathered on Huntington Avenue, to join Mayor Menino in cutting ribbons at three new businesses: Flames, at 746 Huntington Avenue, Chi Wellness (a second Mission Hill location!) at 736 Huntington Avenue, and Mission Bar and Grill at 724 Huntington Avenue. 
Customers of the Boston Building Materials Co-op, Mission Hill’s cooperative home improvement center, can now pass through a unique front gate that reflects both the Co-op’s mission of helping people improve their homes and the neighborhood’s thriving arts community.
The Mission Hill Neighborhood Clean-up on October 29 narrowly missed the first snow of the year. About twenty people turned out to improve the neighborhoods streets, and a few hours after everyone went home the snow started in earnest. The Parks Department dropped off tools at 9 am, and volunteer crews cleared litter from Tremont Street, side streets, and Sheehy 
