Photoshoot locations

[purple-purin.livejournal.com]

Hi,

My friends and I want to photograph some costumes they've made. We usually do our photo shoots in Nathan Tufts park, but we'd like to mix it up. Does anyone have suggestions for interesting locations within walking distance of Davis Square where we could take photographs without getting in the way of other people?

Thanks :)

Hotels in the area?

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

Hello all,

I am looking for advice. When my family comes to visit from out of town, they normally stay at the Homewood Suites (previously Hawthorn Suites) on Mass Ave just over the Alrington border. It's an easy walk from our house, on the bus line, and includes breakfast. But the price has gone up considerably in the past few years. Just a few years ago, they could stay for around $160/night (which adds up when you stay a week or more!). Now it's $270/night! I feel like that is getting pretty close to Boston-proper rates. Does anybody recommend any other nearby hotels that might be comparable or cheaper in price? They won't have a car, so walking or T distance is a plus. I'll do my own research too, of course, but wanted to see what others suggest. I have already looked at and passed on the suggestions of Morrison House and A Cambridge Inn.

Thanks!

NSTAR certified mail

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

Did anyone else receive a certified mail notice from NSTAR?    Requires a signature in person.  I'm sure it is something of the nature "we are doing work in your area"  blah blah and I don't want to waste my time going to the post office which is of course only open during the times that I have to work.   I wish they would just mail a normal letter.

Anyway just wanted to see anyone actually got the letter and read it and could share the contents. 

Book Shop (in Ball Square) now has a proper web presence

[ron_newman]

The Book Shop, at 694 Broadway in Ball Square, now has a website: BookShopSomerville.com. They're also on Facebook and on Twitter.

A few days ago, I brought in 33 books that I had salvaged from my apartment building's recycling bin. The store's owner happily bought 26 of them, giving me $25.50 in store credit. I donated the other 7 books to the Somerville Public Library for their upcoming fall sale.

(One of the books I salvaged and sold is titled: A Splendor of Letters: The Permanence of Books in an Impermanent World)

They're nice people. Visit them, support them, keep them in business.

Great Moments in Serendipity

[tom-champion.livejournal.com]

Early this afternoon I was walking down Highland Ave near City Hall, when I saw an adolescent, frolicsome German Shepard run into the street, where he was nearly struck by a passing car.  (The driver would not have been at fault, and deserves credit for quick braking.)  By the time I got to the spot of the near-accident, a bystander (pizza delivery guy) was holding the dog's collar and trying to figure out what to do next.

Since we were right in front of City Hall, I offered to take the dog inside, where I tried to reach Animal Control by phone.  When that effort failed, and when I also didn't get through on the Police non-emergency line, the dog and I went downstairs to the 311 office, where I was confident they'd be able to give me additional phone numbers.  As I stood in the 311 office explaining the situation to my former colleagues, I heard one of the service reps say the following words into his headset: "Actually, ma'am, I'm looking at the dog right now.  Yes, ma'am, the dog is sitting right in front of me.  Why don't you come by City Hall to pick him up?"

A few minutes later,  "Max" was reunited with Denise.  (It was obvious they were already well-acquainted.)

I give Denise a lot of points for having the presence of mind to call 311 to report her dog as missing.  But what are the odds of that precise sequence  of events playing out in that order?  Max is a very lucky pooch.  Also charming -- but charm will take you only so far. 

Saturday Update:  Thank you for all the generous comments, but – truly – there’s no heroism involved.  Except perhaps, on the part of Mayor Curtatone, who campaigned in 2003 to make Somerville the first community of its size (and the first city in Massachusetts) to implement a 311 constituent service program – and then turned that promise into a cost-effective reality.

Not a week goes by that April Terrio, our Animal Control Officer, and the City’s 311/website staff don’t team up to effect the same type of owner-pet reunion that occurred yesterday.  Lots of people now know what to do if they lose a pet or find a lost one (call Animal Control and/or 311) – and they do it all the time.  The difference yesterday is that the process was short-circuited by a number of unlikely, but fortuitous, coincidences.  I cannot take credit for this one.  It was, however, such a happy little story that I couldn’t resist posting it here.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend, everybody – and don’t forget that Theatre@First’s production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It is playing Sept. 8 -11 in Seven Hills Park.  It’s free and (I can say this because my part is such a modest one) it’s going to be fast, funny and immensely entertaining.  I will hope to see you there. 

"Soon" has finally arrived!

[kapara19.livejournal.com]

After at least nine months of "coming soon", Masala has finally opened in Teele Square. If you've been, let us know if it is worth a visit.