When my friend, Holli Banks, publisher of my local bimonthly magazine, The Somerville Scout, approached me about helping with their first annual holiday gift guide, I was thrilled.  At last, my penchant for shopping locally could be put to good use!  Scouring my neighborhood squares for great goodies is a favorite weekend pastime that I never have a problem indulging in.  I am lucky to live in a small city with a vibrant local scene of shops, restaurants, music and artist studios (NYC is the only US city with more artists per capita!) and try to take advantage of this awesome locale every chance I get!  I quickly got to work, brainstorming and popping around to my favorite neighborhood haunts to see what they had in store for the holidays.  After a few inspired emails on my favorite findings (you may have noticed, I can be rather verbose about my passions), Holli asked if I would author the guide.  I’ve never had an official writing gig, but hey, why not?

To read the rest, go to Amanda Williams’ “Scribbles and Schemes” blog!

Share this:

Matthew Reineck, owner of 2ndsuit, a Somerville-based maker of bike caps, exhibits his inventory on Day 1 of the New England Bicycle Expo at Arts at the Armory.

On May 6, the League of American Bicyclists honored Somerville as a “bronze-level” Bicycle Friendly Community.

One day later the New England Bicycle Expo (NEBE) arrived at Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave). Exhibitors included bike-related businesses and organizations from all over the United States.

Of course, Scout immediately took an interest in the only Somerville-based business we saw: 2ndsuit, a maker of bicycle caps run from the Davis Sq home of proprietor Matthew Reineck.

Last summer, Reineck started the business when he got sick and tired of seeing his friend — a man named Derek Enos — wearing “the same nasty cap every day.” An industrial designer by trade who moved to the Boston area from Seattle six years ago to work for Boston-based musical instrument manufacturer First Act, Reineck already knew how to design and sew. It was just a matter of applying his skills to a new product.

Reineck sources almost all his material from the Goodwill Store in Davis Sq (230 Elm St). His caps sell for $20 or $25. Reineck sold 15 of them last weekend at Somerville Open Studios and estimates he’s sold 30 all told, including several to Cambridge bike shop Ata Cycle.

Exhibitors like Reineck are just the tip of the NEBE iceberg. The Expo runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both today at tomorrow. Throughout both days there will be presentations on subjects such as “Organized Bike Rides in the Boston Region” and “Cycling in Somerville: Practical Strategies to Implement Infrastructure Improvements.”

There are also several organized bike rides departing from the Armory on both Saturday and Sunday, including a ride to Taza Chocolate (561 Windsor St), a Tour of Somerville Bicycle Companies and a Tour of the Community Bike Path Extension.

On top of all this, there will be live music at the Armory on both days during the event. Be sure to check it out.

And stay tuned for the next Scout — due out in early July — when we’ll bring you a road map of outstanding Somerville rides and a primer on how to make sure you’re ready for a summer of cycling.

front page thumbnail photo courtesy of Danielle Baskin and bellehelmets.com.

Share this:

And at the marketplace this year, they’ll promote local musicians, too: indie pop bands The Grownup Noise and One Happy Island will perform.

As part of my duties as intern for Somerville Scout I decided to do a little research on this year’s exhibitors…but as time went on I realized I’d stopped thinking about the Scout and started thinking of my potential purchases for tomorrow: bubble tea soap from Dirty Ass Soaps? an adorable headband from Pink Sequin Designs? Decisions decisions!

Share this:

The change in temperature, coupled with a closet re-org, reminded me that I bought this fantastic tie at Artifaktori in June.  At the time, I thought to myself, “I have to wait 4 MONTHS to wear this?”  But just like that, fall is here, and I get to wear my brand new (old) tie with favorite corduroy jacket and jeans.

If you haven’t checked out Artifaktori (22a College Ave Somerville), I strongly recommend you do so.  The staff is sweet and charming and extremely knowledgeable and helpful.  They are bound to have something you didn’t expect to find and will definitely have something you won’t find anywhere else.

————

Spanish translation by Mark Mazzei

El otoño es en la Ropa

Otoño es sobre nosotros, que es agridulce, por decir lo menos. Por un lado, este verano en New England fue increíblemente corto. Por otra parte, es otoño! Hojas. Suéteres. Manzanas. Chaquetas de luz. Bebidas calientes. Las hortalizas de raíz. Zapatos cómodos.

El cambio de temperatura, junto con una reorganización de gabinete, me recordó que me he comprado este empate fantástico en Artifaktori en Junio. En ese momento, pensé, “¿Tengo que esperar 4 MESES para usar esto?” Pero al igual, otoño esta aquí, y puedo usar my nueva (viejo) marca con chaqueta de pana y los pantalones vaqueros favoritos.

Si no se ha comprobado Artifaktori (22a College Ave, Somerville), os recomiendo que lo hagan. El personal es dulce y encantador, y muy bien informado y muy útil. Están obligados a tener algo que no esperaba encontrar y, definitivamente tendrán algo usted no encontrara en ninguna otra parte.

Share this: