The Vortex playing at the Arts at the Armory. Left to Right: Esther Viola (Oboe), Rob Bethel (Cello) and Todd Brunel (Bass Clarinet).

To show off their new album, Vortex Live, the local band The Vortex Series hosted a release party at Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave). The release party was held Sunday, June 26 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Vortex Series, as they describe themselves on their website, is a “concert series that presents new and improvised music to audiences within the New England area.”

The group is dedicated toward gathering local artists, both famous and emerging, and synthesizing their musical styles and talents to create new music and performance pieces.

“We make creative, classical, jazz fusion, crossover avant-garde music,” offered Todd Brunel, a member of the group. “It’s hard to put [what we perform] down into a specific category. It’s not a rock, but has rock influences. It’s not classical, but has classical influences.”

Their latest CD, Vortex Live, is a nine-track collaboration recorded live in Somerville and Cambridge. The CD, begun in 2008, took three years to record and distribute.

The group decided to hold the CD release party in Somerville because of the city’s generous contributions. After applying for them, The Vortex Series received matching grants from both the Somerville Arts Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

At the release party Vortex performed selections from their new CD. David Maxwell, a local award-winning performer, Esther Viola, oboist and the CD’s co-producer and Rob Bethel, a noted cellist, were all in attendance, among other notable local artists.

Vortex anticipated a turnout from 50 to a 100  at the release party. While they did receive a decent turnout to the event,  it was “not as much as I would have liked,” commented Brunel.

“The thing about this CD in particular is that it isn’t just one band,” offers Brunel. “The concept of the Vortex is to take different musicians of different styles and get them together for the first time to create music. That’s what this is a collection of…This CD is a collection of nine tracks of musicians coming together.”

The Vortex Series will continue its residency at the Arts at the Armory’s cafe. Their CD is purchasable at their website.

photo courtesy of Todd Brunel.

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A team of local chefs prepare bacon for a competition. Matt Timms, lower left.

“You come and you’ll get 20 bites of different delicious bacon recipes. You come and vote on your favorite recipes. And if you come, we’ll raffle off a year’s supply of Hormel bacon,” explains Matt Timms, the leader and founder of Chili Takedown.

Described by the New York Times as “the spirit of two wholly American pursuits – overeating and winning,” Chili Takedown is a themed cooking competition pitting local cooks in a battle of culinary skill. Tasked with using only one main ingredient in each competition, the local chefs prepare bulk dishes that visitors sample and vote upon.

“We wanted to only have teams of local cooks. I don’t want to use the word amateur; these people are well versed in the kitchen,” notes Timms. “We just wanted to avoid celebrities and people who felt entitlement. We want this to be a huge party with chill people who love to cook and to show off their skills.”

This year’s Takedown will see 20 teams of cooks creating delicious – and hardly nutritious – dishes centered on the greasy treat, bacon. Through their sponsor, Hormel, Timms’ group will provide all the pork products each team requires.

Wanting to keep the event small, Timms only sold a few hundred tickets for Boston Bacon Takedown. As of writing, the event is already sold out. While he wanted to hold something bigger, constraints kept them from increasing the ticket capacity beyond 200. “We want to let in more people,” says Timms. “But we also want everyone to have a taste of the bacon. It’s tough to ask [chefs] to make so much food for so many people for free.”

“It’s going to be a blast,” adds Timms. “I love Boston and I love holding events here. I just hope that this will turn into a Boston tradition.” Tune in to 100.7 WZLX at 7:30 a.m this Friday, June 17 to listen to Timms talk more about the event and his group. For more information or to learn about future Takedown events, go to his website.

photo courtesy Matt Timms

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Kerry Lavin of Arts at the Armory says the Armory cafe -- serving coffee, sandwiches, smoothies, beer and wine -- will open in two weeks (May 21). Hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

While attending Day 1 of the New England Bicycle Expo (NEBE) at Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave), we couldn’t help but notice the offerings of wine and beer available at the “preview” cafe, which was set up in a corner of the gigantic exhibit room.

Kerry Lavin, 38, was behind the counter. She explained that the cafe — you can see some of its wares on the left — was a preview of the joint that will open at the Armory in roughly two weeks (May 21). Hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

While the “preview” was in the Armory’s main exhibition room, the actual cafe will be in the first room on the left, as soon as you enter the Armory through its Highland Ave front doors.

The menu will include coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, beer and wine. The beers include Pretty Things Jack D’Or, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Gonzo Imperial Porter and Pabst Blue Ribbon.

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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.

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Photo used under Creative Commons license courtesy of Flickr user CptObvious

Even if you took the time to freeze, can, or otherwise preserve those precious summer vegetables, chances are you’re low on fresh, local produce by now. Just in time comes the Somerville Winter Farmers Market. The market will be held at The Center for Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave) every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through March 26.

The idea for the market came out of Shape Up Somerville‘s sustainability planning process in 2009. One issue that arose was community access to fresh produce in the winter. SOS Director Jaime Corliss said in an email that “the market fulfilled goals of  increased access to local foods and creating opportunities for Shape Up Somerville to work  more closely with the arts community.”

The market will feature greenhouse grown crops, winter storage produce, and vegetables from Enterprise Farm’s (Deerfield, MA) East Coast Foodshed. Local meat, chocolate, baked goods, and other foods, as well as wines from local wineries, will also be available. Each week will also feature a guest vendor and live entertainment (though there will not be entertainment this week — organizers want to work out the kinks of the market itself in the first week).

If you’re planning to attend the market, public transportation is advised. There is limited parking around the Armory.

Visit the Somerville Winter Farmers Market’s Facebook page for more information.

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Scout surveyed the attendees of Harvest Fest 2010 on their favorite Somerville restaurants.

Not long ago Somerville Local First held its 2010 Harvest Fest at Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave). Scout surveyed attendees on their favorite restaurants.

Before we announce the results, we want to ask: Would you like to win a $25 gift certificate to a Somerville restaurant?

To win, all you have to do is share the highlights of a Somerville dining experience in the comments section of this blog.

Scout will randomly select one of the commentators to win a $25 gift certificate to the restaurant (or business) of your choice, provided the restaurant or biz is a Scout sponsor.

So make sure to include your email address in your comment — that way, we can contact you if you’re the winner!

And remember: The latest Scout print edition has coupons galore to Somerville restaurants and businesses (starting on page 31).

Okay — on to the results:

Restaurants that attendees wanted to check out (70 total responses):

1. Foundry on Elm (255 Elm St, 17 votes)

2. Journeyman (9 Sanborn Ct, 7 votes)

3. Highland Kitchen (150 Highland Ave, 5 votes)

In addition, 28 other restaurants received votes.

Favorite Breakfast Restaurants (77 total responses):

1. Neighborhood Restaurant and Bakery (25 Bow St, 15 votes)

2. Ball Square Cafe (708 Broadway, 12 votes)

3. Sound Bites (704 Broadway, 9 votes)

The rest: Johnny D’s (6 votes), Highland Kitchen (6), Bloc 11 (5), Renee’s Cafe (4), Rosebud (3), Diesel Cafe (3), Kelly’s Diner (3), The Broken Yolk (2), Supreme Kitchen (2), True Grounds (2), Magnificent Muffin & Bagel (2), Buddy’s Diner (1), Trina’s Starlite Lounge (1) and Pasteleria Broadway (1).

Favorite Lunch Restaurants (74 total responses):

1. Blue Shirt Cafe (424 Highland Ave, 14 votes)

2. Dave’s Fresh Pasta (81 Holland St, 8 votes)

3. Anna’s Taqueria (236A Elm St, 7 votes)

The rest: Deli-icious (6 votes), Redbones (4), The Independent (4), The Burren (3), Diesel Cafe (3), Bloc 11 (3), Victor’s Deli (2), Mr. Crepe (2) and Olecito (2, and technically a Cambridge restaurant). In addition, 16 other restaurants received one vote.

Favorite Dinner Restaurants (88 total responses):

1. Highland Kitchen (150 Highland Ave, 15 votes)

2. Redbones (55 Chester St, 11 votes)

3. The Independent (75 Union Sq, 7 votes)

3. Gargoyles on the Square (219 Elm St, 7 votes)

The rest: Mike’s Food & Spirits (4 votes), The Burren (4), Precinct (3), Trina’s Starlite Lounge (3), Journeyman (3), Foundry on Elm (3), Vinny’s (2), Rudy’s Cafe (2), Diva (2), Pizzeria Posto (2), Tu y Yo (2) and Anna’s Taqueria (2). In addition, 16 other restaurants received one vote.

In total, 93 people were surveyed. Of the 93, 56 live in Somerville; 14 work in Somerville; nine both live and work in Somerville; and 32 neither live nor work in Somerville.

Photos courtesy Somerville Local First and The Independent.

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View of the crowd from above at Session 2 of Saturday's Harvest Fest.

After a tasty first session, Session 2 of Somerville Local First‘s Harvest Fest 2010 at the Center for Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave) on Saturday was a treat.

It was worth making your way through the crowd to taste tortilla pie from City Slicker Cafe (588 Somerville Ave), garlic knots from Eat at Jumbo’s (688 Broadway), truffles and cupcakes from the chocolate tarte (199c Highland Ave), and cookies from Sherman Market (22 Union Sq) featuring Taza Chocolate (561 Windsor St).

As he enjoyed wine from New Bedford’s Travessia Winery, Mike Ward of Union Square said he came to Harvest Fest because: “I’ve been living in Somerville for five years. It’s a vibrant arts and restaurant community and I wanted to support that.” His girlfriend Jessica Alverson, who just moved to Union Square from Allston, agreed, saying she was happy for the chance to get to know her new community at such a great celebration.

An aerialist above the crowd at Harvest Fest 2010.

The eclectic entertainment program at Session 2 included a fashion show with looks from Poor Little Rich Girl (374 Somerville Ave) and Artifaktori (22a College Ave). The night ended with an entrancing performance by Aircraft Aerial Arts (12-14 Tyler St) accompanied by music and visuals from the Zebbler Encanti Experience. Attendees danced, watched in awe, and occasionally gasped with fright as the aerial performers swung up and over hoops and silks strung from the ceiling of the Armory.

At the end of the night, new car-sharing business iCar (68 Prospect St) offered free shuttles to Davis and Union Square for guests too full of food and beer or tired from dancing to walk or drive home.

Somerville Local First Executive Director Joe Grafton estimates about 750 people attended this year’s Harvest Fest. Grafton said in an email that he was happy with both the turnout and the overall sense of community that he felt at the event. Asked what he hopes people took away from Harvest Fest, Grafton writes: “I hope that people learned more about the benefits of building local economies. Most importantly, I hope it changed buying behavior in our communities and accelerated the local movement in Somerville and beyond.”

Somerville Local First is welcoming feedback from Harvest Fest participants. You can fill out their survey here.

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Joe Cassinelli, chef and owner of Pizzeria Posto (187 Elm St), says “Going to an event like Harvest Fest is about supporting each other and showing people some of the great options that are available to them in this city.” Posto will dish out a locally grown beet salad and goat cheese crostini.

Lion’s Share Foods, a vegetarian pro-biotic food company, will serve a pumpkin bisque with active yogurt and two versions of a vegan reuben finger sandwich. Lion’s Share will also have jars of kimchee or sauerkraut for sale. “Events like Harvest Fest are a fun way for us to thank our current customers with free food, and show our stuff to those that don’t already know us,” says co-owner Josh Resnikoff.

Martha Holley-Paquette, cofounder of Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project, is also fond of Somerville: “We love the city and all the great businesses here. We will be able to introduce our crazy beers and our company to lots of local customers, and we always love pouring beers for people, so we can’t go wrong with Harvest Fest.” Pretty Things will serve its flagship beer, Jack D’Or, as well as a couple of surprises.

There are many more vendors and exciting things to check out. For tickets, logistics, and more menu teasers, visit Somerville Local First. And you better move quickly; pre-sale tickets for Session 2 are already sold out.

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Somerville Local First's Harvest Fest 2010 is "not your mama's non-profit gala."

They might claim that the second annual Harvest Fest is “not your mama’s non-profit gala,” but we’re sure that they wouldn’t turn her away; Somerville Local First just likes to do things a bit differently.

This year’s festival and fundraiser will be held at the Center for Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave) over two sessions on Saturday, October 9, highlighting both neighborhood favorites and community newcomers.

Session 1, Somerville Rocks, will kick off the day at 10am (and end at 5pm) with craft beers from 11 local breweries and wine from more than 90 New England cellars. The afternoon’s soundtrack will come courtesy of acoustic rock quintet One Fine Morning and improvisational supergroup The Seamonsters.

The community-fueled flame will be rekindled again at 6pm for Session 2, Local is the Future. The beer and wine will be flowing just as before, only to a new beat this time around. The evening entertainment will begin with a set from DJ David Day and a fashion show by Artifaktori (22A College Ave) and poor little rich girl (255 Elm St). The Zebbler Encanti Experience with Aircraft Aerial Arts will close the night in a joint performance that Somerville Local First promises to be legendary.

Admission to the festival also includes one-bite servings and small samplings from Foundry on Elm (255 Elm St), Redbones (55 Chester St), Pizzeria Posto (187 Elm St), Ronnarong Thai Tapas Bar (255 Washington St), Eat at Jumbo’s (688 Broadway), Sherman Market & Cafe (257 Washington St), City Slicker Cafe (588 Somerville Ave), the chocolate tarte (199C Highland Ave) and the Burren (247 Elm St).

While general Supporter tickets are available for $20, Super Supporter tickets will get fest-goers tastings of an exclusive Cisco Brewers beer, a souvenir pint glass and access to the private performers’ and organizers’ mezzanine box. To purchase your tickets prior to the day of the event, head to Brown Paper Tickets.

Eat local. Drink local. Live local.

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Hamlet (SerahRose Roth) and Gertrude (Jackie Davis).

The past two weekends, the Armory Café was the venue for the Gan-e-Meed Theatre Project’s production of Hamlet.

Gan-e-Meed, based in Lowell, started in 2009. The project’s purpose is to advance the role of women in theater in order to reduce unseen and unintentional gender bias in the theater community, and to promote genuine career advancement opportunities for deserving artists.

Artistic Director SerahRose Roth explained the project’s peculiar title in an interview with Drama, Daily: “Ganymede is the name Rosalind takes in Shakespeare’s As You Like It when she disguises herself as a man to survive,” she said.

Roth also played the title role in the production, while other actresses played both male and female roles (click here for a full cast list). The traditional plot and dialogue of Hamlet remained unchanged.

The Café, with a maximum seating capacity of 52, provided an intimate theater experience. Most of the action took place on a stage located in the center with the audience on either side, but the actors were in no way restricted: They moved freely through the seating area, breaking down traditional barriers between actor and audience, resulting in a fresh, engaging performance that fully utilized the unique space.

For upcoming events at the Armory (including a June 19th performance by former SXSW act Villagers) check out their events page.

photo courtesy Gan-e-Meed

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