Around Town

Martial Arts Studio Brings Following to Watertown, Led by Longtime Instructor

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A class at Wu Dao Kung Fu & Tai Chi in Watertown. (Courtesy of Wu Dao)

Inside an unassuming building, surrounded by office buildings, labs, and an auto dealership sits a spacious studio where students train in kung fu and tai chi from an instructor who is versed in martial arts and more. Wu Dao Kung Fu & Tai Chi moved to a studio on Walnut Street after years operating near Fresh Pond in Cambridge. Owner and head instructor Lindsay Lambert developed a loyal group of students, many of whom followed Wu Dao after the move to Watertown. The numbers dropped during the Pandemic and after the move, particularly the kids program.

Around Town

Arsenal Yards’ New Additions Include Donuts, Skin Care, a Tea House and More

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See what’s just arrived and what’s coming soon in this announcement from Arsenal Yards:

Arsenal Yards, the thriving new neighborhood in Watertown’s historic East End from Boylston Properties and Wilder, is pleased to welcome exciting new dining, health, and wellness offerings to the neighborhood this summer, in addition to gearing up for additional highly–anticipated openings over the coming months. 

Coming soon to the Arsenal Yard’s robust roster of restaurants, retailers, fitness, service, and entertainment destinations, is fan–favorite Blackbird Doughnuts, as well as Chip City and Medium Rare.  The most recent openings include specialty food venue dining venue Ten One Tea House, and health and wellness options like Skin Laundry, Restore Hyper Wellness, and GNC. “Summer is one of the best times to visit Arsenal Yards, and all of the new and diverse additions to the neighborhood this summer truly represent what makes our community so unique,” said Kerry Dowling, Wilder’s Managing Director, Leasing. “Whether you are looking to kickstart your wellness journey, sample delectable and exotic teas, or enjoy the outdoors while exploring the neighborhood, there is something for everyone to be excited about. It’s our goal to make sure everyone who comes to Arsenal Yards, whether to live, work, or play, finds everything they need and everything they want.”

A sampling of recent and upcoming openings at Arsenal Yards includes:

Coming Soon

Blackbird Doughnuts To Debut Seventh Location

Known for its delicious, made–from–scratch doughnuts, Blackbird Doughnuts will open its seventh Massachusetts location at 116 Bond St. in Fall 2023.

Around Town

Six People with Watertown Ties Made Charles River Chamber’s List of Most Influential Business Leaders of Color

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Half a dozen people living or working in Watertown made the list of Most Influential Business Leaders of Color chosen by Charles River Chamber of Commerce, which focused on both established leaders and emerging ones. The search for people of color making a positive contribution to the economic fabric of businesses and non-profits in the suburbs west of Boston began in January when the Chamber put out a call for nominations, said President Greg Reibman of the Charles River Chamber. The list was culled down from close to 200 nominations for either the “50 Most Influential Leaders” or “Emerging Leaders” lists. To qualify, honorees have to work and/or sit on a board for a business or nonprofit that is physically located in Newton, Needham, Watertown, Waltham, Wellesley, Natick, or Framingham. “Then we leaned on an eminent panel of judges to curate our final lists, in partnership with Colette Phillips and Get Konnected!”

Around Town

Life Science Reps Discuss Development Cycle of Biotech Companies at WBC Event

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Four representatives from life science companies in Watertown appeared on the 3rd Annual WBC Life Science Panel (Screenshot from WCA-TV video). The panel was moderated by Merle Kummer of CoLAB. The Watertown Business Coalition’s third annual Life Science Panel featured four people who work at local biotech companies, each of which is at a different stage in its pharmaceutical development. The event took place at the Mosesian Center for the Arts on April 25. Attendees learned that there are 63 life science companies right in Watertown, and that they think being here helps their companies, said WBC Co-President Doug Orifice.

Around Town

Athenahealth Leaving Watertown, Heading Down the Road

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Athenahealth will be leaving its longtime home in Watertown and the company’s headquarters will be relocated to Brighton. For nearly 20 years the health care tech company has been located at the Arsenal on the Charles, a complex the company once owned. Athena has leased 100,000 sq. ft. at Boston Landing in Brighton for its corporate headquarters, the according to the Real Reporter.

Around Town

Watertown Business Community Town Hall Being Hosted by Charles River Chamber

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The Charles River Chamber of Commerce will host a Watertown Business Community Town Hall on Wednesday, March 22 from 9 to 10 a.m. via Zoom. The event is free for members & non-members. The Chamber sent out the following information:

Watertown has experienced a remarkable period of growth and change that’s projected to continue in the coming years. By 2031, the city is expected to add more than 6,000 jobs, mostly in the research and development sectors. A positive impact of this economic development is that it will increase the non-residential tax base.

Business

Watertown Dance School Will be Closing After a Dozen Years

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After teaching children to dance in Watertown for a dozen years, Miss Maria’s School of Dance will close later this year. This week, Maria Zullo, or Miss Maria to her students, sent a letter to parents and students on Feb. 24 announcing that her studio will be closing in June. She cited the challenges of the Pandemic and its aftermath as factors in her decision. The studio will host one more round of recital shows before closing, Zullo said, and there will be time for current and former students to come in to say goodbye to the teachers.

Around Town

Watertown Yoga Studio Offering Free Classes in Celebration of 7th Anniversary

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The following announcement was provided by Artemis Yoga:

Artemis Yoga is inviting the local community to an Open House on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 21, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at their east end location in Watertown. With an afternoon of FREE classes, this is a wonderful opportunity to discover Artemis Yoga, a local independent yoga center that just celebrated its seventh anniversary, having opened its doors at 639 Mt. Auburn St. in 2015. 

Liz Padula, founder and owner, shares, “The staff and I are grateful to the Watertown, Belmont, Cambridge and surrounding communities that have supported Artemis Yoga, especially during the pandemic, and we are excited to give back with an afternoon of free classes.