Cambridge, MA– Last month’s announcement that Brattle Square Florist would be closing on January 31 led to an outpouring of support from its customers and the community.
Moved by that outpouring, Stephen Zedros—the longtime manager at Brattle Square Florist—put plans in place to take over the business and maintain operations without interruption starting February 1.
CAMBRIDGE, MA — Last month, word got out that Brattle Square Florist would be closing on Jan. 31, but after an enormous amount of support from customers and the community, the over 100-year-old flower shop will remain open.
Longtime manager Stephen Zedros put plans in action to take over the business and maintain operations without interruption starting Feb. 1.
The store will remain in its same iconic spot in Harvard Square, continuing to operate at 31 Brattle Street into March until it will relocate steps away to 52 Brattle Street.
“Brattle Square Florist has been operating in Harvard Square for over 100 years and I’m planning to lay the foundation for the next 100 years.”
Could ONCE Somerville soon be ONCE Cambridge?
The independent live music promoter and venue space announced today (January 27) that it has submitted an application to rent the former OBERON location just outside Harvard Square. That spot, at 2 Arrow St. in Cambridge, was left vacant after the American Repertory Theater opted last fall to not renew its lease for 2022. OBERON, a longtime performance theater and alternative nightlife haven, had operated in Cambridge for 12 years, but was not part of the A.R.T.’s future plans as it eventually relocates to new digs in Allston.
“New home news: ONCE has submitted an application to rent the Oberon space!” ONCE posted to social media this afternoon. “Light a candle. Spread the word. Come on, Army. Let’s save some venues!”
When Brattle Square Florist announced its impending closure in late December, it felt like a moment of mourning for loyal customers of the 105-year-old Harvard Square institution.
Many were in disbelief that the shop would disappear on Jan. 31. Some began paying visits to browse the blooms while they still could. “I could wallpaper a room with the notes and letters and cards we received,” said longtime manager Stephen Zedros.
But it turns out that reports of Brattle Square Florist’s demise were premature, or at least, not the last word: The business is going to keep its doors open at a new address.
Not only will Brattle Square Florist remain open after a December scare, it will return to the founding family who ran the business for nearly 100 years.
Randy Ricker said Dec. 27 that the pandemic, economic conditions and physical drain of running the 31 Brattle St. store forced him to close Jan. 31 after nine years as owner. There was an outpouring of sadness and support from customers and the community – so much so that Stephen Zedros – longtime manager at the shop and grandchild of the founders – put plans in place to take over the business and maintain operations without interruption starting Feb. 1.
The Scorpion Bowl is dead. Long live the Scorpion Bowl.
In 1950, husband and wife Chun Sau Chin and Tow See Chin started a small restaurant of 40 to 50 seats called the Mandarin House. The couple, who had moved to Massachusetts from China, offered dishes that would appeal to American diners: fried rice, chow mein, egg foo yong. Their daughter and her husband, Madeline and William Wong, took over the business in 1958 and began to expand, buying adjacent land and building additions. Along the way, they had six children; in her spare time, Madeline worked as an insurance agent for John Hancock, setting sales records as one of the rare Asian American women on staff. Eventually, the restaurant would come to have 1,200 seats, themed areas like the Tiki Lagoon Room and the Luau Room, a comedy club, and a different name. The Kowloon still stands on Route 1 in Saugus more than 70 years after it opened, a landmark of glorious isosceles architecture, the tiki god above the entrance glowing in the neon light.
By Kevin SlaneJanuary 19, 2022 | 2:08 PM
A traveling exhibit featuring more than 100 original artworks by reclusive street artist Banksy is coming to Harvard Square in February.
“The Art of Banksy,” which bills itself as “the largest touring exhibition of authentic Banksy artworks in the world,” will be hosted in a building owned by the Harvard Coop at 12 Palmer St., Cambridge, from Feb. 17 to April 3.
Among the pieces set to be on display are recognizable works like “Flower Thrower,” “Rude Copper,” and original variations of “Girl with Balloon,” the artwork which caused a stir when it was shredded at an art auction in 2018. Most of the works featured in the exhibit were created between 1997 and 2008, and range from prints and canvasses to sculptures.
Starvox Exhibits, the company behind the “The Art of Banksy,” has three concurrent exhibitions currently traveling the world, each featuring around 100 works by the reclusive artist. The company sourced more than $35 million worth of art by Banksy for their exhibits.
“This is a one-of-a-kind exhibition. You will never again have the opportunity to see this many of Banksy’s works in one place,” Starvox CEO Corey Ross said in a press release announcing the exhibit’s arrival in Boston. “Once the exhibition is over, the artwork will be returned to art collectors around the world, and the chances that they will be displayed together again in the future are extremely slim.”
The exhibit has already visited world cities like London, Melbourne, and Amsterdam, as well as U.S. cities like Chicago and San Francisco. Following its stay in Boston, “The Art of Banksy” will head to Denver.
While the works on display are authentic, the exhibit is not sanctioned by the anonymous artist (or artists) behind the Banksy moniker.
“Banksy has NOTHING to do with any of the current or recent exhibitions and they are nothing like a genuine Banksy show,” reads a message on Pest Control, a Banksy-affiliated website. They might be crap so please don’t come to us for a refund.”
Tickets areBostoto 9 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tacos with crispy pork belly, pico de gallo, and cotija cheese at the Painted Burro in Bedford. Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe The Painted Burro intends to fill the vacancy left by Border Cafe in Harvard Square.
The restaurant plans to open at 32 Church St. this spring, according to Denise Jillson, the executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association. Firefighters respond to a fire at Border Cafe in Cambridge on Dec. 1, 2019. This spring, the space will be taken over by the Painted Burro. – Nic Antaya / The Boston Globe
CAMBRIDGE (CBS) — “The largest touring exhibition of authentic Banksy artworks in the world,” is coming soon to Cambridge.
The Art Of Banksy, which is not authorized by the famous-but-anonymous street artist, will run in Harvard Square at a Harvard Coop building from Feb. 17 to April 3.
Organizers say the exhibition will feature “over 100 original works from private collectors across the globe,” including “Flower Thrower,” “Rude Copper” and original variations of “Girl with Balloon.”
Banksy’s “Flower Thrower (Photo credit: Kyle Flubacker)