When Karen Storz saw that Capitol Square businesses were offering a raffle basket to benefit the Arlington Center for the Arts, she didn’t hesitate to buy tickets. “Supporting the ACA is important,” she says, “I didn’t even look to see what was being offered.”
She had all but forgotten about the raffle when she received the phone message that she had won over $900 from Capitol Square, including movie passes, gift certificates from restaurants and stores, an art play date, a free class from Arlington Center for the Arts, and a marble coffee table top.
The raffle was held as part of Romancing the Square, a weekend celebration in East Arlington that drew crowds to view art exhibits and sample the offerings of the stores and galleries.
Thrilled with their prizes, Karen says her husband and 8 year old son have been making lots of plans. “My son will bring a friend to Artbeat to make a craft. My husband and I are looking forward to having dinner at Flora and Kathmandu. We love all the shops in this area.”
Business owners in Capitol Square in East Arlington, MA, are enthusiastic about their business district, so much so that they decided to sing about it.
It started with Jan Whitted, from ARTBEAT Creativity Store and Studio, who likes to rewrite song lyrics (and once did so for the Boston Pops). She wrote lyrics to “Let It Snow” that extol Capitol Square as the best place to shop and dine, and shared them with fellow business owners who work together to plan monthly and seasonal events for the area.
Marc Gurton, the owner of 13FOREST Gallery volunteered to help record the song. He recruited Eileen Ani, also from 13FOREST, Brian Phillips from Maxima Gift Center, and Andrai Whitted from ARTBEAT. The four met at the landmark Capitol Theatre and sang in the new ice cream parlor recently built inside the historic lobby. East Arlington resident Walter Locke volunteered to videotape the carolers, and the video will air on local cable station ACMi.TV.
The result, an a cappella showcase of collegial enthusiasm, is an example of community spirit that proves that life—even with a frightful economy—is quite delightful.
” I checked out some of the shops at 3rd Thursday last night after finishing up work. It was a nice night to be walking around outside. I had a lively conversation with Jay who owns Tall Tree Guild. The wares in his shop are modern, clean, fun and colorful. There are many affordable items for gifts. I like the charming bird wallets, handmade mittens and the tiny, colorful pottery bud vases. They also have some beautiful, innovative hand made furniture. Jay thinks a lot about art, design and color. He just has a passion for those things. I recommend a visit.
I stopped in Art Wear to say hello to the friendly and helpful proprietress. She has a lovely selection of scarves. Her clothes for women are modern basics with some colorful accents here and there. Great for work clothes if you want to be polished but not all buttoned up!
13 Forest was having the opening for their current show, Plenty. The place was packed with friendly people really enjoying the new exhibit. If you have not visited the gallery you will be surprised at all the beautiful, affordable items suitable for gifts. Some of the area’s best artists are represented in the gallery and there is a wide, wide variety of art. Something for everyone.
I am on the Arlington Cultural Council. We are given funds from the state each year to award to artists and arts and culture groups to enrich our lives here in Arlington. It is evident more and more that a healthy arts and cultural environment is a necessary part of the financial well being of a community. We are lucky to have an
enterprising group of proprietors in Capitol Square who understand this and are working hard to provide a quality experience. If we all did even just a little of our holiday shopping there it would go a long way to keeping that experience going.”
“I know what you’re thinking. How can a town bordering such suburban sleepyvilles as Belmont and Lexington be one of the country’s top spots for singles to meet a “sugar daddy or sugar mama’’?
The folks at CNNMoney.com have the scoop. In a recent “best of’’ list, the geniuses who brought you such click-throughs as “Wells Fargo: Good Bank or Bad Bank,’’ spread the word of the country’s top places to meet the rich and single. Arlington, the proud hometown of not-so-funny man Dane Cook and sculptor Cyrus Dallin, lands at No. 10, just behind such lovers’ landmarks as Edgewater, N.J., and Herndon, Va.” Read more
Wondering who creates Flora Restaurant’s beautiful flower arrangements and window boxes? Its flora’s very own Melissa Oothout. Melissa’s unique flower arrangements and window box service are available by contacting Melissa’s Flower Farm at www.melissasflowerfarm.com or stop by and visit Melissa at Arlington’s farmer’s market on Wednesdays in Arlington Center. Melissa has also created flower boxes for Artbeat.
When Karen Storz saw that Capitol Square businesses were offering a raffle basket to benefit the Arlington Center for the Arts, she didn’t hesitate to buy tickets. “Supporting the ACA is important,” she says, “I didn’t even look to see what was being offered.”
