Bowl And Board is now open in Davis Square, at 255 Elm (former home to McIntyre & Moore).

http://www.bowlandboard.com/aboutus.asp

Grand Prix Cafe, which was on Mass. Ave. between Day and Dover Streets, has closed. Their last day of business was Sunday, August 3rd, according to a sign posted in the window. They lasted two years and four months.

I'll miss this place, and I especially regret not having been there on their final day.

Just noticed a "store closing" sign in the Corners window at the Porter Mall. Gee...who saw that coming.


Oh - same edge of Davis: some odd/interesting sculpture garden going up in the front yard of one of the house on Elm. Anyone know what is up with that?

I've posted here before (a while back) about what kind of store is missing from Davis, what the community really needs and would utilize.  Well, I finally have saved some $$$ and really would like to get something going within the next 6 months (though, I'm really just starting this journey), so, the question raised again, what's missing?

Another question, since I'm just really starting on this, are there good resources on the web to find out where to lease / buy business space (preference is to buy).

Thanks,
Ron

The relocated Pemberton Market, at Mass. Ave. and Day Street, received its liquor license yesterday at 3 pm. They now sell beer, and they are busy building and stocking the wine department as I type this.

Surprised I hadn't heard about this sooner, but Pemberton Market has moved from its ancient storefront on Rindge and Mass Ave. to the former Bread & Butter Konvenience / former White Hen location on Mass Ave and Day Street (right next door to Pemberton Farms, amazingly enough, so it's clear someone at Pemberton had the foresight to grab that opening as soon as they saw it.)

So say goodbye to the Krazy K name, say goodbye to the gas station convenience store layout and those quaint and charming toy rose-in-tube crack pipes at the counter (helluva impulse buy, Joe) and say hello to a ... a return to the White Hen look, with the cash registers smack in the center of the store and everything. It was kinda weird walking by today and seeing the store as it Used To Be, back when you could go in at 3 in the morning, grab your ice cold beverage and be treated to a little show when the little guy at the counter confronted three very large Youts who had been trying to steal scratch tickets when he wasn't looking.

Those were the days. Anyway.

"Hey wow," I said to the new guy behind the counter, "You brought the cash registers back to the way they were when the White Hen was here. That's pretty cool."

"We're not White Hen," he replied wearily. "This is now Pemberton Market."

I decided to drop the subject.

The store's half stocked at this point, and some of the freezers aren't working, but they're getting things set up more or less. There was a laptop at a little coffee bar counter, so maybe they're putting in WiFi. I couldn't get much more information out of the counter guy, as he was too busy explaining to a customer that no, they didn't have any larger containers of ice cream for sale because not all the freezers were working.

I did, however, catch the statement that they're not going to be open 24 hours. In fact, my question about hours was met with a tone of surprised disgust, making it sound as if I'd just asked if they were going to be selling roast puppy with kitten sauce. So it looks like another all-nighter in the area bites the dust, which is quite disappointing for the night people.

On the other hand, hey. Center counter comeback.

Just wanted to post an update to this: http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/1323388.html

Metamorphisis is definitely closed and has now re-opened in Dedham. After contacting the owner she replied and explained what happened. She had a bad breakup with a boyfriend...the father manages the building and refused to allow her until at least the end of the month to notify clients with pending appointments, clients in general to explain the move and to remove her stuff. He only gave her 3 days to be out. I feel terrible as this woman is extremely nice and was always good to us when there. She offered us a complete refund of what we have paid and only asked us to wait until the end of July as she has had no income since May. I just wanted to post the story so people didn't think she was some shady business woman who disappeared.

I was wondering if anyone had any more info than what I have found out so far.

The Metamorphisis spa that was upstairs in the building next door to Starbucks is apparently closed according to their site. I was near there recently and I still saw their sign outside. Well I went to make an appt today since I had purchased a pretty expensive package for something and I still have 3 visits left..only to find out they are currently closed and looking for a new location. I sent an email to the contact us address but I was hoping someone could shed some light. Maybe the rent was too high? I wonder what happens to my money :(

Update:

(see new entry here: http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/1330732.html )

Metamorphisis is definitely closed and has now re-opened in Dedham. After contacting the owner she replied and explained what happened. She had a bad breakup with a boyfriend...the father manages the building and refused to allow her until at least the end of the month to notify clients with pending appointments, clients in general to explain the move and to remove her stuff. He only gave her 3 days to be out. I feel terrible as this woman is extremely nice and was always good to us when there. She offered us a complete refund of what we have paid and only asked us to wait until the end of July as she has had no income since May. I just wanted to post the story so people didn't think she was some shady business woman who disappeared.

Would anyone care to get a list going here about what local food businesses have special deals by day of the week for the budget conscious Davis Square-er? I'm happy to edit this post to include the options available.

For example:

Monday
--------------------
Mikes Restaurant: buy one large cheese pizza and get a second large cheese pizza for $2.99
9 Davis Square, Somerville (617) 628-2379


Tuesday
--------------------

Hmm... So I walked by the former McIntyre and Moore space and whoever's moving in there is being mysterious about it. There's a large photo of some wooden bowls in one window and a large photo of a wooden cutting board in the other window. But no company name anywhere. Anyone else thinking it's gonna be "Bowl & Board?"

(I apologize if this has been discussed already. I went a few pages back and didn't see anything.)

I noticed that the Davis Square Store 24's signs were taken down this morning and replaced with new Tedeschi Food Shop signage. Anyone know if this is just a token name change (since it's the same company) or if the Tedeschi stores are different than Store 24s?

Also noted: the long-defunct KFC on Mass Ave near the Square has posted menus for their new tenant, Banjos. Looks like their MO is to buy old KFCs and Burger Kings and convert them into Banjos restaurants, serving roast beef, fried seafood, and deli sandwiches. Here's an article about the one in Quincy.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a quality HVAC person/company? At the very least, I need to determine if splitting a 1-zone system into a 2-zone system is a cost-effective solution. At most, I'd like them to actually do the job, too. :)

If you have some useful information, leave a comment or email me at the address in my profile. Thanks in advance!

Hello Davis Square!
I am a Shiatsu Practitioner & Herbalist in your neighborhood & in JP.   I've been in private practice for over ten years but only recently have set-up an office in Teele Square.  Below is an upcoming workshop I'm offering.  Please feel free to contact me or visit my website for further info.

SPRING RENEWAL
GENTLE FASTING FOR HEALTH

THURS. JUNE 12th, 7:00-8:30

Learn about the practice of fasting, explore options and create a simple program that's right for you.

Workshop topics will include:
> Healing benefits of fasting and simplified diet
> When and when not to fast
> How to consider your constitutional energy in fasting program
> Example 3, 5 & 7 day fast
> Herbal & self care support
> Emotional & spiritual aspects of fasting

Workshop fee: $20.
Location: Teele Square, Somerville
The Therapy Center for Mind & Body
1236 Broadway
* Please call or email to reserve your spot *

Su Cousineau, Dipl. ABT
Taproot Healing ~ Shiatsu, Herbs & Self Care Consults
www.taproothealing.com
su@taproothealing.com
781.929.8677

The other day I got gas at Hillside Auto Repair, a little shop on Broadway just past Ball Square. It's near a Gulf and kind of across from the 7-Eleven.

Anyway, the very nice man who owns the shop gave me a handful of candy. I wanted to be sure he did it every time (and I wanted more candy) so I went back today and left with a hearty handful of candy. Full-service for the same price as pumping it yourself, plus candy and he washed my windshield. Now that's service!

Can anyone recommend a reputable and thorough place to get a car detailed for around $100-$150? Looking to get my car cleaned up like new - inside and out - with a good vacuuming, polishing, and steam cleaning if necessary. Does not have to be just in the Somerville area. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

Anyone have any suggestions for a 'local' electronics store where I can *purchase* a new tv?  As my economic stimulus $ was depositing into my bank account, my television died.  Conspiracy theory, perhaps?

Anyways, I have a car to get around if need be.  I'm curious what's out there besides the big chains.  Any info or personal experiences with these would be appreciated.

Thanks! 

*I clarified this to show that I'm hoping to purchase a TV, and curious what non-chain options are around

Good news! The dairy bar next to Kick*ss Cupcakes is now open. They have organic and regular milk from Shaw farm. Eggs from free-range New Hampshire chickens. Cow and goat cheeses and butter from farms in New Hampshire and Vermont.

I asked if she’d consider getting meat from grass-fed cows, and she said she’s thinking about it if demand is there. She also mentioned something about Vermont bacon, and produce and flowers from farmers’ markets, which would be great because the dairy bar is open until 10 seven days a week (if I remember correctly), and people wouldn’t have to schlep all over trying to find meat here, eggs there, milk somewhere else, and produce in still another location.

I think it would be terrific to have a local one-stop place to get healthy, locally grown food from nearby farms.

from the Porter Square Neighbors e-mail list:

Tom Saidnawey, proprietor of the food market and package liquor store at the corner of Mass. and Rindge Avenues, will discuss his plans to vacate the premises at the end of May, when his relatives who own the property are expected to begin long-needed renovations of the storefronts. Saidnawey, who also owns and operates Pemberton Farms & Garden Center at 2225 Mass. Ave., has negotiated a three-year initial lease and applied to transfer the market's wine-beer-and-liquor-sales license across the Avenue to the building currently occupied by the Bread & Butter drive-up convenience store, 2245 Mass. Ave. at the corner of Day Street.

If city officials okay the proposed liquor permit transfer, the relocated Pemberton Market would devote less than half of its floor space to packaged alcoholic beverages and the remainder to convenience and spa-type items, ( Read more... )

The Cambridge License Commission has scheduled a May 13 public hearing on the proposed transfer of Pemberton's all-alcoholic-beverages package store license from its longtime Rindge Ave. location to the free-standing building at Mass. Ave. and Day Street.

I saw a similar post on chowhound, but I thought I'd ask locally: Does anyone know a good place to get cafe con leche around these parts? I haven't had any since I've been back from Spain, and I really miss it! American coffee just won't do, and Starbucks isn't the same either.

Thanks!

Is it going away or is it getting a makeover in an attempt to actually open? Anyone know? Just wondering...

So, I'm at Boloco (hooray for telecommuting), and there's a big company-wide managers' meeting going on. I asked someone, and he said they've decided not to sell — they currently have a kitchen in Malden where they make their salsas and so on, and they're moving that here to make use of the basement space. So, the perilous situation of Davis Square's burrito-joint density decreasing has been averted.

It’s a slow, tiresome Monday, so as I approach my 9th year as a Davis Square resident I have some confessions. These are "confessions" because these things make me feel like the bitch I am! My list goes to 11.

Do you have any confessions? Perhaps later in the week I’ll feel perky and refreshed and post my top 11 loves -though it will be hard to think of only 11.

1. I’ve been secretly rooting for Kick Ass Cupcakes to fail, and I’m boggled that they still survive.
2. While I like McIntyre and Moore in theory, I never use them and won’t miss them.
3. I hate Mike’s, its terrible – even with the cheap beer, I don't get the popularity of this institution - I liked it better when they were crappier inside with the old signs.
4. Chipotle has won my burrito bowl dollars, I never would have seen that coming Anna’s! Anna Anna, please forgive me!
5. While I love Deisel, I’m going less and less now that the same 5 crazy people rotate ownership of the good chairs/couches and NEVER leave.
6. I don’t miss Someday Cafe, I liked it in theory, but it was a dirty filth hole.
7. I don’t miss the junkies in front of share group on Dover St (not that all of them were junkies), but I do miss the times they would interact with the Mormons.
8. I really don’t want to see Sacco’s close, but yet I never give them any business, and I was opposed to the Community Connections Center for no other reason than I thought it was a dumb name.
9. As fiercly opposed as I was to CVS opening, I now shop there all the time.
10. I want all bars except Joshua Tree to get a 2am permit!
11. Even though it’s a lame joke I still find it funny that Store 24 is not open 24 hours, and that Bread and Butter Konvience is, but has  a weird name.

Does anyone know anything about the "Dairy Bar" going in next to Kickass Cupcakes? I keep seeing the signs in the window but am wondering what the scoop is, when it will open up, etc.!

I got this e-mail today:

McIntyre and Moore Booksellers will be opening at 1971 Massachusetts Ave. in Porter Square, Cambridge, Thursday April 10. Our hours in Porter Square will be:
Monday through Wednesday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Sunday Noon to 8:00PM.
The phone number is 617-229-5644.

It'll be a "soft" opening, as ours always have been. Thursday we won't start with much more than a thousand books on the shelves, but we have many thousands pre-priced, so we should be able to add a thousand or so per day. For our customers for cookbooks and children's books, we have been able to restock those sections, and we'll get the books out as soon as we can.

Thanks for your interest in the move, and your patience with it, and we'll look forward to seeing you soon.

Hi All,

I just got 100 Loratadine (aka Claritin) for my allergies at Harvard Vanguard Pharmacy for $8.00. I learned that the over the counter medicine there is for sale to anyone and its at crazy low prices. A bottle of cough syrup is something like $1.24. I go in for my yearly bout of allergies and always forget that they are there the rest of the year.

I talked to a few friends and they also didn't know the pharmacy even existed. 100 generic claritin at CVS/RiteAid etc would be 30-40 dollars. So if you are ever in Davis and need over the counter meds, cough drops etc. Check out the Harvard Vanguard Pharmacy on Holland St 2nd floor in the brick building attached to Au Bon Pain. You can save a ton of green in these trying economic times.

The "Send In The Clowns" ice cream truck just rounded the park at Powderhouse, the first I've heard it this year. Happy Spring, everyone! ;-)

Have you noticed discrepencies in credit card transactions at Star Market/Shaws (I forgot which it is now)?

All my receipts for the last six years go into MS Money.  At most, I make a couple entry mistakes per year.  When my February cc statement arrived, two charges didn't match what I'd put into MS Money -- Shaws in Porter Square and Star Market in Medford.  The dozens of other entries were fine, as usual.  In March it happened a third time: Porter Square Shaws again.  By the time I got my cc statements I had thrown out the receipts, and what records the cc company is sending will take 6-8 weeks to arrive (and it's doubtful that they're itemized for me to verify the charges).  I won't get the ~$55 back, but I'd like to know if this is widespread or if my typing fingers have a vendetta against Shaws.  I also wanted to give a heads up -- check your statements against your receipts.  I'll call Shaws' corporate office during open hours and let them know.

Thanks for your time.

In case anybody is thinking of donating to public radio, WBUR has a very Davis-centric deal right now. A $100 donation gets you a $25 gift card to Redbones and passes to the Somerville Theater, according to the www.wbur.com website. Yeah, I know that's not worth $100, but you also get to support public radio and not feel quite as guilty whenever their fund drives come on the air.

I hope I haven't missed a post raving about it, already, but has anyone been into the neat little shop that just opened near Deli-icious and the chinese place on College Ave, yet? They look like they have some amazingly unique crafts and doodads!

I got this notice today from M&M:

McIntyre & Moore Booksellers' 50% OFF MOVING SALE HAS BEEN EXTENDED beyond the announced ending date of March 19th.

We'll be open our REGULAR HOURS, 10 AM to 11 PM, THROUGH SATURDAY MARCH 22ND, and selling at 50% off. Sunday March 23rd we'll begin closing at 8 PM. Books will still be 50% off, but we'll be packing, so there'll be fewer left. We'll remain open until 8 PM as many days as we can, possibly through the 31st, but if you're coming out of your way to visit us you may want to call first (617-629-4840).

We don't know a definite opening date at 1971 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, but we're still hoping for April 1. It should definitely be in the first week in April.

Hi to all.

Graduated Tufts in '03, and started following the woodworking bug. Since then I graduated the cabinet and furniture making program at the North Bennet Street School in the north end, and I set up shop close to Tufts.

I'm currently running a studio furniture shop, and I'm always looking for work. I'm looking to build the unique and interesting, for whoever wants to pay.

Here's my deal. I've been to school, and learned the ins and outs of working wood, and what makes for a quality piece of furniture. part of the basis for my shop is the assumption that there are people out there who have ideas for things that they want built, but don't have the means or the know-how to make it happen. My ideal client is someone who brings their ideas to the table, and is willing to work with me to figure out how to make it happen. The ideal client also understands that custom made furniture is not inexpensive. I'd love to do this work for free, but floating a shop takes work, and it takes money.

So, please, spread the word, and drop me a line if you have a project you'd like to discuss.

On Saturday 3/15 Magpie is starting a new art show featuring the works of Somerville artist Elisa Archer.

More info over on our LiveJournal:
http://community.livejournal.com/magpie_store/17177.html

Hope you'll come and check it out!

Candlewick Press, publisher of Where's Waldo? and other fine children's books, has moved into the Dover Plaza building behind the Somerville Theatre. They are in the space formerly occupied by the Share Group telemarketing firm.

Here's a Somerville Journal article on our newest Davis Square business.

Does the Davis Square Thrift Shop have set hours to drop off donations?

Reminder: McIntyre & Moore is selling all books for 40% off today and tomorrow.

Starting this Thursday, March 13, all remaining books will be 50% off.

They expect Wednesday, March 19, to be their last day of business in Davis Square.

(See my earlier post about the store's impending move to 1971 Mass. Ave. in North Cambridge.)

Hello:

I need to have jerseys or t-shirts made for my Somerville Men's Softball team and was wondering if someone could put me in touch with a good vendor that uses e-mail to communicate. I don't have much time during the day to be on the phone, but e-mail always works well.

Thanks a lot.