Around Town

Wayside Staff Spotlight: Program Director Sophia Suarez-Friedman

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Sophia Suarez-Friedman. Sophia Suarez-Friedman, Wayside Multi Program Director, shared her favorite local spot in Watertown, career advice, and what keeps her rooted to Wayside Multi in the latest Wayside Staff Spotlight. See what she said in the Q&A provided by Wayside. Suarez-Friedman oversees community-based prevention, outreach, resource navigation, and counseling services for Watertown, Waltham, and surrounding communities. In this role, she leads program development, supervises staff, manages grant funding and reporting, and collaborates with city agencies, schools, and community partners to strengthen access to vital resources.

Around Town

Hear About the Mass. Cultural Council, an Arts Roundtable & Watertown’s Oldest Home on Little Local Conversations

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Matt Hanna, the voice behind “Little Local Conversations” podcast, spoke with Michael Bobbitt, the executive director of the Mass Cultural Council; led an arts and culture roundtable; and the administrator of Historic New England which overseas the Browne House. 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. 

Episode 64: Michael Bobbitt (Mass Cultural Council)

Michael Bobbitt

Meet Michael Bobbitt! He’s a Watertown resident and the Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council along with being a distinguished theater artist in many ways himselfIn this conversation we talk about how art saved him in his early years, his early successes from being the “best Hansel” to touring nationally to perform, his time in children’s theater and building Adventure Theatre in the DC area from 15,000 patrons to 100,000 patrons, co-writing musicals with Bob Marley and Jim Davis, and eventually making his way to New Repertory Theater in Watertown and his current role at the Mass Cultural Council. 

We dig into topics such as the challenges of arts advocacy in Massachusetts, how and why the arts sector needs to change its beliefs, values and behavior, possible policy changes such as STEM to STEAM, how the arts in Massachusetts are saving healthcare money with the first in the nation arts prescribing program, his thoughts on Watertown arts, how the MCC has redesigned their grant programs to make them more accessible for all artists, and what’s the day-to-day like for an executive director while also juggling his personal artistic projects. Listen to the episode by clicking here.

Around Town

Watertown Hibernian Ladies Hosting Fall Craft Fair

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The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians will host the fifth annual Fall Craft Fair on Oct. 25, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. See more information provided by the organizers below. The event includes crafts, food, and raffles. The event will be held at Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St., Watertown.

Around Town

October Watertown Walks Include Gore Place, Art Exhibit, Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Shuttle

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Members of the public walked around Walker Pond, which sits on two parcels, one owned by the City and one by the Bell Watertown apartments. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The following announcement was provided by Live Well Watertown:

Weekly programs will take place every Thursday, from 1-2 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) and include movement, conversation, and opportunities to connect, interact, and explore the greater community. The walking portion of these programs will be approximately 30-40 minutes, and we encourage attendees to walk at a comfortable pace. 

Each month will feature city happenings, health and wellness, arts & culture, and community/business assets (some walks are in collaboration with the Watertown Public Arts & Culture Committee and Watertown Business Coalition)

October 9 ~ Walk N Talk / Gore Place / with the Watertown Business CoalitionMeetup:  Gore Place / Carriage House, 52 Gore St., Waltham

Join us as we explore the historic grounds of Gore Place in Waltham & Watertown (yes it is also in Watertown). Please park in the gravel lot beside the carriage house and meet inside.Gore Place website In collaboration with the Watertown Business Coalition 

Register here. October 16 ~ Public Arts & Culture Walk / Reception for “A Pleasant Landscape”Meetup:  Bemis Park, 76 Bridge St. Come join in a walk to the opening reception for “A Pleasant Landscape”, a new public art exhibition featuring six local artists.

Around Town

Sidewalk and Road Work Will Impact Coolidge Square, East Watertown This Week

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The Mt. Auburn Street project continues with sidewalk work from near the Cambridge line to Arlington Street, while drainage work will take place in Coolidge Square. See details in the announcement provided by the City of Watertown. Sidewalk Excavation Begins At Cambridge Line

Excavation of the eastbound sidewalk and curbing on Mount Auburn Street between Belmont Street and Arlington Street will begin on Monday, October 6, 2025 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Learn about travel and parking impacts below. Traffic and Sidewalk Impacts

The eastbound sidewalk will be closed for excavation starting on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 7 a.m. A bypass sidewalk on the eastbound side will be opened up while this work is being completed.

Around Town

Registration Open for Watertown Boys & Girls Club Biddy Basketball

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Boys & Girls Club:

WBGC Biddy Basketball is an 8-week instructional program designed to introduce young players to the fundamental techniques, skills and rules of basketball in a fun, team environment. The focus of this program is on technical development and building confidence with the ball. This co-ed program is open to Boys and Girls in Grades 2 & 3 only. All registered players will be assigned to a team that will be coached by a parent/guardian volunteer, with all midweek practices and Saturday AM games taking place in the Watertown Boys & Girls Club gymnasium. GIRLS DIVISION! 

Following the success of its introduction in 2025, Biddy Basketball will once again offer a girls-only division in 2026!

Around Town

Playground to Temporary Close at One of Watertown’s Parks

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The City of Watertown announced the upcoming temporary closure of a playground at one of the parks in town. See details provided by the City, below. Please be aware that there is an upcoming temporary closure of Casey Playground the week of October 6, 2025, weather permitting. The playground will be closed for a few days to install new rubber surfacing. We hope to see you back here soon after it’s installed!

Around Town

Adopt-a-Ghoul Sponsorships Available for Wicked Watertown

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The City’s Halloween celebration, Wicked Watertown, will take place on Oct. 25, and organizers seek sponsors for the event. See details provided by the City’s Event Team below. Adopt-a-Ghoul at Wicked Watertown 2025! 

This Halloween, put your brand in the local spotlight! Sponsor a towering skeleton, giant ogre, or oversized gargoyle at Wicked Watertown on October 25, 2025 at the Commander’s Mansion from 4–8 p.m.

Each sponsor gets to deck out their creature with merch or swag

Signage at a high-traffic community event included

Fan-favorite photo contest for best-decorated spirit supporter

Your logo front and center!