Around Town

Take a Trip Down the Charles River on the Proposed Water Shuttle Route, Grant Being Sought

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Drew Rollert, right, and Will Congram hope to be making trips down the Charles River from Watertown Square to Beacon Hill in Boston on a water shuttle. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On a sunny spring day, the two men behind the effort to create a water shuttle from Watertown to Boston hopped on a small motor boat to give Watertown News a preview of what a trip down the Charles River would be like. Drew Rollert, who came up with the idea after being stuck in traffic trying to get to Fenway Park from Watertown as the waters of the Charles River remained quiet, hopes to start a pilot shuttle by the fall of 2024. The company, called Wada Hoppah, has applied for a grant to get the electric-powered shuttle sailing. The Watertown Yacht Club with the Arsenal on the Charles behind it.

Government

City Manager’s Zoning Presentation TONIGHT! See How to Tune-in and Participate

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Ahead of the June 13 Watertown Square Area Plan meeting, City Manager George Proakis will be speaking about what zoning can and cannot do in Massachusetts during a live broadcast with a Q&A time on Monday at 6 p.m.

The City provided the following information about the event:

Watch City Manager George Proakis present about zoning live at 6 p.m. on June 3, 2024, on Watertown Cable Access! City Manager Proakis will present about how zoning works, how it can benefit and shape the community, its limitations, and much more! Following the presentation, he will sit down to answer questions with the WCATV team before answering questions submitted directly by the Watertown residents! You can watch the presentation live online. You can submit any questions you have about zoning.

Around Town

New Bagel Store Opening in Watertown This Weekend, Will Soon Serve Brunch

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Wicked Bagel will open its Watertown location on June 1. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown will have a new place to grab bagels, coffee, and soon brunch when Wicked Bagel opens on School Street. The location at 68 School St., the former Porcini’s spot, will be the third for Wicked Bagel, which also has stores in Lexington and Woburn. Wicked Bagel opens for business on Saturday, June 1, and will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wicked Bagel President Maria Mahoney said customers will get a discount during the opening weekend, with 25 percent off the entire order for walk-ins on Saturday and Sunday. The Watertown store will have something that the other two locations do not offer – brunch with alcohol available.

Entertainment

Life Science Lab Hosting One-Day Art Exhibit Featuring Underrepresented Artists

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A Watertown life science lab incubator space will be focusing on art for one evening in June, and will showcase the works of artists from underrepresented groups. Cambridge Scientific Labs opened two years ago, and has two locations in Watertown. The company provided space for biotechs trying to get off the ground, said Barbara Pearlman, CEO of Cambridge Scientific Labs. Pearlman decided that the space could also help some local artists become more well known. “They have to be underrepresented artists,” Pearlman said.

Entertainment

Weekend Fun: Pride Festival, Tour Town’s Oldest House, Author’s Trip Down Charles River & More

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A “Proud” flag is displayed during the 2022 Watertown Pride Parade. Watertown will celebrate its Pride this weekend, with the annual Pride Parade and Festival. History buffs have a couple of options, including taking a look inside a house built in the 1600, and a narrated slide show focusing on the Charles River. Mount Auburn Cemetery has a pair of events: a walking tour and a writing workshop. Also, enjoy Armenian music from the comfort of your home, or wherever, with an online concert.

Government

Hours of Watertown City Hall, Senior Center & More Changing After Council Vote

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Hours will be changing for Watertown City departments in City Hall, the Parker Annex, along with the Senior Center, after a City Council vote on Tuesday. These facilities will be open later on Tuesdays and close earlier on Fridays throughout the year. City Manager George Proakis said at a previous meeting that the change in hours would help the city recruit employees, and that many surrounding communities have early closings on Fridays. One area of concern was resident’s ability to pay bills at the Treasurer’s office on Fridays. “There have been discussions about how it affects particular employees, and how it impacts the public as a whole,” Proakis said.