Saturday, May 19th, from 10 am to 2 pm, is Fresh Pond Day! There will be family activities, music, dog training clinics, snacks, tours and open houses. You can learn to stilt walk, watch bee keeping in action, get your face painted, dance in wide open fields, and of course, drink delicious free tap water.

Here is Ranger Jean's description of the event:

The poster, the agenda for the day's many activities, and a map are all attached to this article. Please click on the attachment below to get all of the information you are going to need for Saturday's event.

The information will also be available on the City's website: http://www2.cambridgema.gov/news.cfm?instance_id=4587

(photo of a topsy-turvy Fresh Pond by S Segat)

Happy Mother's Day!

As a special gift, click on the video below for a minute of peace and harmony, brought to you by mother goose:

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And here's our very own local urban legend, the owl guarding her babies:

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(photo by s segat)

On Sunday, May 6th, Harvard Square had a party. A really big party.

Celebrating the 29th Annual Mayfair, thousands of people took over the streets.

There was music. You could hear anything you wanted; from classical violins to blue grass to jazz to, well, just name it.

Here are some sample sounds:

There were artisans; there were merchants. The Rotary Club had a sidewalk painting project fundraiser. Non-profits advertised their services. Artists showed their work. read more...

Saturday, May 5th, neighbors from all over East Cambridge met on Cambridge Street for the Third Annual East Cambridge Clean Up Day. Groups started from either Silva Park (on Otis and Sciarappa) or at the Bocce Courts (in front of the King Open school), and with the leadership of the East Cambridge Business Association, the clean-up began. Other groups involved included the East Cambridge Families Group, the EC DOg Owners Group, and the Frisoli Teen Center.

Litter was picked up, sidewalk trees were weeded, and pizza at Vellucci Park was enjoyed by all.

Here are some of the volunteers:
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On Saturday, May 5th, at the Cambridge Public Library, people gathered for the 3rd Annual Cambridge Poetry Jam. Curated by Cambridge Poet Populist Toni Bee and the Cambridge Arts Council, this free event celebrates "traditional, multilingual, slam/spoken word, free verse and poetry music mashup."

The all-day event started with traditional poetry, then took a break for the Awards Ceremony. The 2012 awards went to Jeff Robinson for his poetic and slam events at the Lizard Lounge; to David Harris for supporting and covering the artistic Cambridge community; and to Simone Beaubien for her years of hsoting the weekly slam at the Cantab Lounge.

Here is Jason Weeks, from the Cambridge Arts Council, introducing the program:
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And here are a few sample poetry readings:
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How resourceful is that!

As Wm. Shakespeare said, "Frame thy mind to mirth and merriment, which bars a thousand harms, and lengthens life."

Or, as a current tweet would say, "come out to Harvard Square and have some fun!"

The parade on Saturday, April 28th, ended on Palmer Street, where the fifth Annual Bookish Ball and Shakespeare's Birthday Celebration took place. This event was presented by the Actors' Shakespeare Project and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust from Stratford-Upon-Avon, England.

The ceremonies started with a reading of a poem written for this day by Toni Bee, the Poet Populist of Cambridge.

Here is Toni's gift to the Bard:

Then, Dr. Nick Walton, from the Shakespeare Birthday Trust, gave the toast in honor of the birthday boy:

Dr. Walton's toast: read more...