We’re halfway through October, so the Halloween theme is in full force, from neighbors’ front yard decorations to the things happening around the squares this week.
But before the monsters come out, don’t forget to get a front-row seat on Memorial for the Head of the Charles Regatta as crews from around the world race three miles up the river the entire weekend. As the world’s largest three-day rowing race, it usually draws over 300,000 spectators, plus Memorial closes to cars from Saturday morning through Sunday night.
For those of you ready to hit the Halloween theme, you’ve got options from rooftop movies at Urban Park to a pumpkin-themed food crawl in North Cambridge & of course Somerville’s annual Monster Mash in Union Square on Sunday. Rumor has it a certain neighborhood newsletter will be haunting a table there, so come say boo.
Michette, the East Somerville French bakery named one of America’s top 14, opened its second and largest café Tuesday at 305 Webster Ave in Inman Square, with more seating and spanakopita croissants · Boston Uncovered, Hoodline
Harvard Square’s Grafton Street is celebrating 30 years this week · @grafton02138 on Instagram
The Head of the Charles is back tomorrow through Sunday with more than 12,000 rowers, and Memorial Drive closes between Western Ave and Fresh Pond Parkway from 7AM Saturday to 9PM Sunday · New Boston Post
A five-alarm fire Monday night destroyed Rei da Picanha and Damata Barbershop on Broadway in East Somerville, the city’s second five-alarm fire in two weeks, and a GoFundMe is up for the restaurant’s family · NBC Boston, Cambridge Somerville Independent
Momma’s, the North Cambridge grocery known for its maple creemees, is planning a third shop at 1175 Cambridge Street near Inman Square that could open as soon as November · Boston Restaurant Talk
Harvard sheltered in place for about 45 minutes yesterday after a man threatened someone with a knife near JFK Park, until police caught him by the Weeks Footbridge with no one hurt · WCVB
Storm water damaged about 10 classrooms at the West Somerville Neighborhood School, moving seventh and eighth graders to a Tufts building on Holland Street while repairs wrap up · Cambridge Somerville Independent
At drop-in sessions on last week’s two shootings, police said neither was random and parents pushed for faster school alerts, since the first happened minutes after nearby schools let out · The Harvard Crimson
Cambridge City Council approved new protections for adult sex workers, asking police to keep consensual sex work a low priority and the Middlesex DA to stop prosecuting it · Patch
Harvard’s endowment jumped to $68 billion on a 27.1% return, even as federal research funding fell 20% and its endowment tax rises from 1.4% to 8% · Harvard Magazine
SomerStreets Monster Mash @ Somerville Ave, Somerville - Somerville's annual Halloween street party lights up Union Square : costume parades, two stages of live music, pumpkin carving, and even a haunted house if you’re brave enough
Tag Trade Clothing Swap @ Remnant Brewing, Somerville - Tag Trade’s free clothing swap goes Halloween for one afternoon at Bow Market. Swap the jacket you never wear for a new favorite, then hang around for Wavpool’s set and a beer
Head of the Charles Regatta Race @ Charles River, Cambridge - The world's largest rowing event takes over the Charles the entire weekend. Drop into Memorial Drive and watch the thousands of crews racing a 3-mile course | FREE • Friday-Sunday
Indoor Movie Night: Hocus Pocus @ CanalSide Food + Drink, Cambridge - CanalSide screens the Halloween classic for free inside CambridgeSide. Bring the family or stop with friends if you're in East Cambridge | FREE • 5:30-9PM
Vintage After Dark @ Arts at the Armory, Somerville - Thirdspace fills the Armory with vintage and Y2K vendors for a Halloween market and social, with music, drinks, tarot and a costume contest | FREE • 6-10PM
Pumpkin Spicetacular Food Crawl @ North Cambridge to Porter Square - Three hours of pumpkin everything on a walk from North Cambridge to Porter Square with local neighbors. Only a couple of spots left | $30-35 • 10:30AM-1:30PM
The Big Squash @ First Street Market, Cambridge - Need a way to get into the spooky season? The pumpkin festival is back for year two, with carving, a hay bale maze, indoor games and gourds for sale at First Street Market | FREE • 11AM-3PM
Spooky Cakes Cake Decorating @ First Street Market, Cambridge - In this case you can design your cake and eat it too. Try a beginner-friendly cake decorating class with a Halloween theme, covering buttercream piping & festive designs | $30 • 12PM
Mushroom Fest @ Bow Market, Somerville - The Mushroom Shop and Saus are putting on a full day for fungi: fresh varieties to take home, shroomy specials from Bow shops, a dyeing station, cultivation and herbalist tables, plus a costume contest at the courtyard | FREE • 12-5PM
Nature in the City Festival @ Magazine Beach Park, Cambridge - Watch the Head of the Charles crews compete from the riverbank with a nature festival with it: a guided bird walk, outdoor art and live music from Saklamara on the park | FREE • 2-6PM
FITFO Run Club x BoostBerry Açaí @ BoostBerry Açaí, Cambridge - College student in the area looking to make new friends? FITFO runs during the regatta and ends back at BoostBerry for free açaí and hydration. All Boston area college students welcome | FREE • 3PM
Spooky Saturday @ Urban Park Roof Garden, Cambridge - Kendall's rooftop garden runs free the whole afternoon, plus a DJ set and face painting first, then a kids movie screening with free popcorn from Puffy Clouds. Solid idea for a night with friends or family | FREE • 4-8PM
Mushroom Fest @ Bow Market, Somerville - Spend the day at Bow going full fungi with mushroom-inspired food, wild mushroom education, growing tips, photography, specialty shopping and even mushroom beer, plus a shroom-themed outfit contest
Head of the Charles Regatta @ Charles River, Cambridge - The world's largest three-day rowing competition takes over the Charles, with 11,500 competitors racing past some of the best free viewing spots in the city. Bring a blanket or just your favorite hoodie and stake out a bridge
Social Run @ CanalSide Food+Drink, Cambridge - Boston Asian Runners host a relaxed morning run through CambridgeSide, three miles at whatever pace you want, with everyone regrouping for food and drinks after | FREE • 9:30AM-12PM
SomerStreets: Monster Mash @ Somerville Ave, Somerville - One of Somerville's best Halloween traditions shuts down Somerville Ave for the day, with a costume parade led by School of Honk, two stages of local bands, pumpkin carving and giant puppets | FREE • 1-5PM
Tag Trade Clothing Swap @ Remnant Brewing, Somerville - Have some semi-worn clothes that you don't need anymore? Tag Trade's free clothing swap goes Halloween for one afternoon. Swap the jacket you never wear for a new favorite and meet new people while you're at it | FREE • 3-5PM
Best Game Bash: Women's+ Halloween Hang @ Flat Top Johnny's, Cambridge - Boston Belles & Chimes runs its women's+ pinball tournament in Halloween mode, with a costume contest and IFPA points on the line. Pre-register on Matchplay | $10 • 2PM
Under The Trees Community Concert @ Donnelly Field, Cambridge - Head to a free outdoor community concert in East Cambridge with four local bands - including Head of the Meadow and Lenny's Funk Club. Grab a blanket and listen under the trees while still watching the crews compete | FREE • 2-5PM
Lego Speed Dating @ Aeronaut Brewing, Somerville - Aeronaut’s first run at this: you’re paired with a stranger over a Lego set, and every seven minutes you swap both the partner and the build. Thirty-six spots, split evenly. Only a few tix left
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