The next meeting of the Central Square Advisory Committee:2011 will be held on

Wednesday, May 9

6:00 – 8:30 PM

Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Avenue

Topics:  Understanding development economics; Urban Design & Public Space

Central Square & Beyond: Layers of History and Cultures

Please join us for a free walking tour to explore, observe, and share stories about Central Square, Cambridge’s traditional commercial center, and the historic neighborhood just to the north, once commonly called “The Port” and now part of Area 4. Come see where the first Civil War unit drilled and learn about Lafayette Square, Margaret Fuller’s house, Greek revival architecture, and old and new churches. Freelance writer Michael Kenney and Cambridge Historical Commission’s Charles Sullivan will offer historic background. Participants and chance encounters with residents will provide observations and information.

Date: Saturday, May 5th

Event Start: Holmes Plaza, the park-like area on the southeast corner of Mass. Ave. and Prospect St., near the Central Square T station and #1 Bus.

Event End: End at the Tavern in the Square, where those who wish may continue conversation and purchase lunch.

Registration: RSVP appreciated but not required to: glennalang@earthlink.net.

Accessibility: This event is accessible and welcoming to wheelchairs, bicycles, seniors, children, and dogs.

“Nick’s Comedy Stop, one of Boston’s longest running comedy clubs, is coming to Cambridge, MA! Nick’s will take up residence inside Central Square’s Moksa Restaurant at 450 Massachusetts Avenue every Friday and Saturday night. Shows begin at 8:00 PM (with doors opening at 7:00 PM) and run for an hour and a half. A full drink menu is available, as well as Moksa’s signature menu of creative dishes. Our opening weekend is May 4th and 5th and will feature nationally known act Joe Wong, as well as Lamont Price and Ryan Clauson. Tickets to our opening weekend can be purchased here: http://joewongnickscambridge-Csquare.eventbrite.com ”

Nicks Comedy Stop will have  a seating capacity of 175, the additional venue will no doubt be a top live-comedy destination for comedians and fans alike. Parking is available on-street or in multiple public lots within walking distance, or take the Red Line to Central Square station if using public transportation.  All shows are 18+, and half-price tickets are available with student and military ID.

The board will conduct CSBA business and have a brief presentation by Iram Farooq on the K2-C2 Advisory Process. Morris Naggar will also make a presentation on his property development.

It will be Estella’s last CSBA Board Meeting and the board will bid her a fond farewell!

“For a more upscale meal, head across the Charles River to Cambridge, which is home not only to Harvard and MIT but also some of the smartest, most inventive food in the area.  (The Boston Globe made waves last year when it said the best food in Boston … was in Cambridge.  Chef Tony Maws won a James Beard Award in 2011 for his creative nose-to-tail offerings at Craigie on Main — all the more reason to cast decisions aside and let him choose the six or eight courses for your tasting menu, which may offer dishes such as beet and pig’s ear saldad, and celery and green apple sorbet.

Other Cambridge standouts include East by Northeast’s modern Chinese menu, with its hand-rolled noodles and pork ragout and duck dumplings.  Area Four’s wood-fired pizzas are topped with surprising combinations such as pancetta, potato and mascarpone.  “I covet their oven,” says Joanne Chang, the owner of the always packed Flour Bakery, whose roasted lamb sandwiches and homemade toaster pastries fuel Cambridge’s agile minds.

Chang adds:  “Go to Toscanini’s for the best ice cream in the world.”  Try its more unusual flavors such as burnt caramel or goat cheese brownie.

Mark your calendar: Tuesday, June 12th from 5:30 until 8:30 for a great evening!

2012 Taste of Cambridge Beneficiaries:

• Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House:

The KEEP IT KOOL program is a new initiative to encourage young teens to be mentors and leaders in addressing issues of drugs and drinking in the Area IV Community of Cambridge. The target populations are young teens (13 to 16 years) and youth (8-12). Teens will participate in a series of workshops and peer discussions focusing on the realities of drinking and drugs. “Reality checks” will include learning about the power to choose for oneself and the power of peer pressure. Teens will share their discoveries and conclusions with younger youth through skits, presentations, and discussions that they will lead. Parents and the community will share in a celebration and commitment to take a stand against drugs and alcohol. KEEP IT KOOL will involve 30 to 40 Area IV youth over 26 weeks during the summer and fall of 2012. Workshops/discussions will be held bi-monthly and will be an integral part of our Young Leaders in Training Project. It is anticipated that there will be 12 workshops, and 2 to 3 “sharing and teaching sessions” with the younger children. Parents and others will be encouraged to participate as the project closes. The new curriculum will be shared, and we the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House will provide support and encouragement to other Cambridge Youth and School Age Programs that would like to implement KEEP IT KOOL.

Cambridge Community Television (CCTV):

Teens Making Media that Matters: Exploring the Alcohol-Related Issues Faced by Teens. A diverse group of Cambridge teens will work together to produce television programming for their peers, focused on alcohol education. The programs will be shared with the broader Cambridge community on CCTV’s cable channels, featured at a public screening, and shown at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. The programs will also be uploaded to the CCTV website, and shared using social media outlets.

Caspar:

First Step Community Outreach program team provides person-to-person contact with unsheltered homeless people on the streets, in the parks, in doorways, on benches, in the subway, in the business district, by the river, on the railroad tracks – wherever homeless individuals tend to hang out or hide out – in order to engage them into any of the alcohol and substance abuse services available in the city of Cambridge and “bringing them out” of the elements into a safer environment.

Institute for Health and Recovery, Inc. (IHR):

Outpatient Services target families, youth and young adults who have experienced a disruption to their family, housing and work stability or personal safety as a result of their alcohol/drug use and/or mental health disorders.

On The Rise (OTR):

Substance abuse is a major cause and consequence of homelessness, and often co-exists with other conditions, especially trauma. Of the 390 women whom OTR worked with last year, over 44% self report substance abuse and/or addiction as a major challenge. OTR knows that this number is an understatement, as many women need time to build trusting relationships before addressing or sharing challenges like substance abuse/addiction. OTR specializes in trauma informed care. All 6 community advocates on staff, led by a Program Director and supported by three interns, work with homeless and recently housed women to overcome many challenges, including substance abuse and addiction within a Safe Haven and out in the community six days a week, all year long.

www.tasteofcambridge.com 

written & directed by Wesley Savick
April 12 – May 13, 2012

Talk-in-the-Box Events!
Pre & Post Performance Conversations with Scientists, Humanists, & Scholars

At the age of 27, Henry Molaison became frozen in time. After experimental brain surgery, H.M. (as he was known to the scientific community) was unable to form new memories. His personal tragedy became neuroscience’s golden opportunity, contributing more to our understanding of the brain than had been learned in the previous 100 years. A scientific detective story, Yesterday Happened: Remembering H.M. explores the mysteries of his moving story, expanding on them and helping us understand ourselves. This World Premiere is being created in conversation between scientists who studied H.M. and artists: playwright Wesley Savick (Einstein’s Dreams, Tru Grace), composer Tod Machover, and designer Justin Townsend.

Running time: 85 minutes with no intermission.

Produced by Catalyst Collaborative@MIT, a science theater collaboration between Underground Railway Theater & MIT.