Around Town

Get Your Questions Ready for the First Watertown Chats of the Year at the Library

By |

Meet Watertown’s Community Engagement Specialist to ask any questions, or raise concerns or anything else about Watertown during the first Watertown Chats of the year. See more info in the City announcement below. The first Watertown Chats of 2025 will be hosted at the Watertown Free Public Library at 123 Main Street on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. This Watertown Chats will be held in the Lucia Mastrangelo Room on the 2nd Floor, where you will find Watertown’s Community Engagement Specialist, Tyler Cote, to ask questions, raise concerns, or chat about anything Watertown. This is also a great opportunity to visit Tyler and share any thoughts or feelings you might have about the Library’s strategic plan! No appointments are needed, and all are encouraged to stop by and chat with Tyler later this month.

Around Town

Restaurants & Businesses Invited to Join Watertown Porchfest After-Hours

By |

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Cultural District:

Watertown Porchfest will return to porches, lawns, and driveways on Saturday, May 17, 2025, with extended hours from 12-6 p.m.! The Porchfest team invites Watertown businesses to join the fun by expanding the celebration even further for “Porchfest After-Hours” from 6-9 p.m. by hosting live music, promoting the event at their location, or supporting Porchfest in their own way. In its inaugural year, Watertown residents or organizations had over 70 locations and hosted nearly 150 performance groups, bringing in an estimated audience of 1,500 people. Registration for venues (“porches”) and performers will open in February but interested restaurants and other businesses are encouraged to start reaching out about Porchfest After-Hours.” The Porchfest team is available to assist with After-Hours program development can promote your After-Hours program. Contact Watertown Porchfest:wscd@watertown-ma.govwww.watertownporchfest.org

Around Town

First Creative Chats Will Feature Sculptor & Watertown’s Public Arts & Culture Planner

By |

Watertown resident Matt Hanna will debut a new series of in-person events called “Creative Chats” on Friday, Jan. 17 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. His first guest will be Liz Helfer, a professional sculptor and the City’s Public Arts and Culture Planner. The event is free and refreshments will be available. See more information in the announcement below:

You’re invited to the first ever Creative Chats!

Around Town

YardArt Will Showcase Community Art & Creativity in Watertown During April 2025

By |

YartArt returns to Watertown for the fifth year in 2025. See more information about the month-long outdoor exhibition that takes place around the city. See more information in the announcement below. Start planning your art projects! YardArt, a month-long outdoor citywide art exhibition taking place in Watertown, Mass., at the transition of winter to spring, will return for a fifth year in April 2025.

Around Town

Sold Out Watertown Concert Raises Thousands for Humanitarian Aid

By |

The Light of Palestine concert raised thousands of dollars for humanitarian aid. (Contribute Photo)

The following announcement was provided by the concert organizers:

The Light of Palestine concert that took place at First Parish of Watertown on December 18 raised $8,800 for humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. The funds supported Anera, a U.S.-based nonprofit with no political or religious affiliations. Anera will use the funds to provide meals, water, shelter, and medicine to those affected by the ongoing war. The concert was sold out, and access to the livestream was purchased by more than thirty households. 

Artistic director Lina Malshy selected a program of songs from her native Palestine and neighboring countries, ranging from traditional folk tunes like “Ala Dal’ona” to present-day popular songs such as “Mawjou Qalbi.”

Malshy confessed, “This concert was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences I’ve had as an artist and director.

Around Town

New England Patriots Honor Longtime Perkins School Volunteer as a Difference Maker

By |

Chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group and the New England Patriots Robert Kraft takes a group photo with the 2024 Patriots Difference Makers of the Week. (Photo courtesy of David Silverman/New England Patriots). The New England Patriots honored volunteers on Jan. 5 during a ceremony honoring the 2024 Patriots Difference Makers, including a woman who had volunteered at Perkins School for the Blind for two decades. See details in the announcement from the New England Patriots Foundation below.