Around Town

Community Meeting Planned for Townhouse Development on Franklin & Washburn Streets

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A view of the proposed project at properties on Franklin and Washburn streets looking south from the entry drive. A Community Meeting about a project proposed on properties for Franklin and Washburn streets will be held on Dec. 11. See the meeting announcement from the developers below. The project applicant, Peter Zagorianakos/ Triad Alpha Partners will be hosting a PublicInformation Community Meeting as required by the Watertown Zoning Ordinance to discuss Proposed redevelopment of the Properties located at 53R Franklin Street, 18-20 Washburn Street and 30R Washburn Street, Watertown, MA into 16 townhouse units, which will consisting of 14 market rate units and 2 affordable units ranging in size from approximately 2,400 sq ft to 2,900 sq ft.

Entertainment

Watertown Artists Taking Part in Turtle Studios Open Studios

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Watertown artists will be showing their work as part of the Turtle Studios Open Studios. See more information below:

Turtle Studios Newton will fling open its doors to the public for its semiannual Open Studios art exhibition and sale at 213 California Street, Newton on December 7 and 8, 2024 from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Turtle Studios has an exciting and eclectic mix of members who keep art in their lives and bring their lives to their art in a supportive community that values the creative process, experimentation and self-expression. They are joined by a handful of guest artists who will also display and sell. 

The event is free, open to the public and family-friendly. Gourmet gift baskets will be raffled off, with proceeds to benefit Turtle Studios, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and its Scholarship Fund. Vendors handle their own sales, and typically accept cash or credit through Venmo, Square or PayPal. 

Bring your holiday shopping list!

Around Town

Toy Drive for Watertown Boys & Girls Club at Revival Cafe

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Revival Cafe sent out the following announcement:

We are hosting a Toy Drive for the Boys & Girls Club of Watertown at Revival Cafe! Feel free to send this information around so we can get as many gifts for children in need as possible! Revival Cafe is located at 99 Coolidge Ave., Watertown, and gifts will be accepted seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Dec. 13. Popular gift categories:

Sports Balls: Soccer/Basketball/Football/Volleyball                                                             

Action Figures or Soft Toys (e.g. Squishmallows)

Science/STEM Kits

Board Games/Small Electronic Games

Gift Cards (for Teens)

Lego Sets

Pokémon sets

Arts & Craft kits

Entertainment

Library’s Winter Concerts Include Norwegian Fiddle, Indie Folk & Songs from Around the World

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The Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL) is thrilled to announce our 2024—25 Winter Concert Series! Join us at the Library, December through March, one Sunday per month. As in previous years, our concert series features talented, local artists. Performances are free and open to all and registration is not required. Violinist Joshua Peckins

Sunday, Dec.

Entertainment

Watertown Gallery’s Latest Show, “Family, Creativity, Continuity + Art | Interrupted” Opens Saturday

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Watertown gallery Storefront Art Projects will host Family, Creativity, Continuity, and Art | Interrupted from Dec. 7 to 28, featuring the art of Lisa Olson and Mary Beth Muscara. A Reception will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, from 1-4 p.m. Gallery Hours: Thursdays and Saturdays 1-4

Find out more in the following information provided by the gallery:

Lisa Olson and Mary Beth Muscara share two grandchildren, but their lives and art practices are as far apart as their studios in Lexington, MA and Baltimore, MD. They both explore the fragility and danger of life and the relentlessness of time with collaged, painted, sculpted, corporeal, and somatic interruptions. 

Lisa is living with Parkinson’s disease which has robbed her of her manual dexterity and strength but her art is still flowing.

Around Town

Local Podcast Episodes Focus on Director of Armenian Photo Archive, Plus a Real Estate Agent & Business Leader

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Arto Vaun

Little Local Conversations Podcast creator Matt Hanna recently profiled the executive director of the Project Save Photograph Archive, as well as a local real estate agent and business leader. In “Little Local Conversations,” discover the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown. Hanna has conversations with various businesses owners, community leaders, creatives, and other interesting folks in Watertown to learn about what they do and get to know a bit about the people behind the work. 

Arto Vaun

Meet Arto Vaun! He’s Executive Director of Project Save Photograph Archive and a musician and poet here in Watertown. We talk about his own journey as a self-described late bloomer in owning his artistic identity to now getting public acclaim for his music, how he came to be interested in joining Project Save and his vision for reimagining it for the future to have a broader scope outside of just the Armenian community, and we dive into the backstory of Project Save and its founder and how it’s a truly incredible 50 year old cultural collection that is unique not only in the region, but the country and world.

Around Town

Mount Auburn Cemetery Seeks Applications for 2025 Artist in Residence

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The Mount Auburn Cemetery’s Artist in Residence Program is turning 10 years old, and applications are being sought for the 2025 residency. The Cemetery provided the following information:

Since 2021, we have awarded smaller one-year residencies to a cohort of local artists to work on projects at Mount Auburn. Each artist is creating works or programs unique to and inspired by Mount Auburn. Artists also have the option to use their residency as a planning grant for a larger project to be completed the following year. Learn more about our Artists-in-Residence in this recent feature from Watertown Cable Access News

Artist-in-Residence Application

Award amount: $500 – $4,000

Application due date: February 1, 2025

Notification date: March 1, 2025

Project start date: April 1, 2025

End date: March 31, 2026

Read the application for more details:

2025 Mount Auburn Cemetery Artist-in-Residence Application

Around Town

Charles River Chamber Hosting Watertown Business Awards Night

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The Charles River Regional Chamber will celebrate all the great businesses and nonprofit organizations in Watertown at the first annual Watertown Night on Thursday, January 23rd. All ticket proceeds will benefit Watertown Boys & Girls Club. We’ll be recognizing those who have made a significant impact in Watertown through their leadership, innovation, and service in four award categories:

Business Excellence Award

Recognizes a business that has demonstrated outstanding success, innovation, and a significant contribution to the local economy. Community Leadership Award

Honors an individual who has shown extraordinary dedication to service, creating a lasting and positive impact on the Watertown community. Customer Service Award

Awarded to an individual who consistently goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional service, creating memorable experiences, and fostering strong customer relationships in Watertown. Nonprofit Impact Award

Celebrates a nonprofit organization that has made a significant difference in the lives of others through its programs, initiatives, and advocacy.