For most of this year, tickets have been and will be $7 on Tuesdays at the Somerville Theatre, as well as the Capitol Theatre in Arlington. This is in celebration of installing solar power at the Arlington location earlier in 2024. Per yourarlington.com, over 300 panels were installed which will help lower electricity costs at both theatres, since they are owned jointly. Enjoy a cleaner viewing experience.
— Jeffrey Shwom

Backbar’s rotating menu are a special feature that regulars particularly appreciate.

By Karenna Umscheid

You may have heard of backbar – it’s been named as one of the coolest bars in the world by Thrillist, and one of the best in Boston by Boston Magazine. It has a reputation for being a hidden gem, a speakeasy-style spot in the heart of Union Square. To Somerville residents, backbar is just a gathering place, a welcoming institution since its opening in 2011.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

The year was around 1980 and it was Christmas week. I was playing a solo gig with my guitar at The Original Restaurant in Cambridge. We had a pretty good crowd and I was finishing up with a couple of Christmas songs.

— Photo by Jeffrey Shwom

Workers stage along Lowell Street at the Magoun Square MBTA station Saturday. The Green Line is currently shut down from December 6th through December 20th between Medford/ Tufts, Union, and Park Street as part of planned track work. MBTA officials have been working for over a year to resolve track slow down areas, with this section being one of the last in 2024.

For more information, please visit mbta.com/TrackProgram.

— Photos by Bobbie Toner

Somerville kicked off the holiday season Thursday, December 5, with a Christmas Tree Lighting on the City Hall Concourse. Santa Claus was escorted by the Somerville Fire and Police Departments making his grand entrance atop a shiny red fire truck. Once the tree was lit, children were able to have a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus in the Somerville High School Cafeteria. All children who attended received a special gift from Santa.

Regulating broker fees for rentals in the city is being considered by the Somerville City Council.

By Harry Kane

The demand for legislation to regulate broker’s fees on a statewide level was reintroduced by Somerville City Councilors at the latest meeting on November 26 in the hope of reducing the overhead for renters in Somerville.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

By Chris Dwan

A casual observer of Somerville politics, dropping in on a meeting or two, might get the impression that the city is overcommitted. It’s actually much worse than it appears at a first glance. The city’s backlog of projects, commitments, and crises is long enough that it is difficult to even list them all — let along meaningfully address them.

The community is invited to see the creativity and holiday spirit of their neighbors by embarking on either a self-guided or SAC-led Illuminations Tour, December 12, 2024 – January 2025. The Illuminations map is available to take a self guided tour: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/illuminationstour. Join the Somerville Arts Council and Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee for a bicycle tour of our city’s festive holiday lights. Meet at Somerville High School at 5:45 pm on Saturday, December 14, rolling out at 6 pm. (In case of rain, heavy snow, or icy conditions, they’ll postpone to Sunday, same time and location.) This will be a short, family-friendly ride, visiting some (not all) of the locations on the Somerville Arts Council’s Illuminations map. Light yourself and your bicycle up as much as possible, both for safety and to contribute to the festive atmosphere. Dress warmly.

The “Show Me Your Bits” standup comedy show runs every third Friday of the Month at the Arts at The Armory. — Photos courtesy of Julian Gabelus (Instagram @lyfpresents)

By Jeffrey Shwom

This is the one of three articles in a series titled, “Laughing around town: Somerville’s comedy scene”

 Every third Friday of the month, at The Center for the Arts at the Armory, Jonathan Anderson and his hot, funny friends perform Show Me Your Bits. It is a distinct, interactive comedy show that intertwines individual performance with crowd work and audience participation.