Green Lines and Blue Bikes and Buses - Oh My!
KNOW THIS.
Green Line Extension - Extended
Not unexpected news for Cambridge, Somerville, Medford and light transit fans everywhere: the long-awaited Green Line Extension project has been delayed a bit more (yes, again). Recall it was just a few months ago, the thing was under budget and on schedule despite These Unprecedented Times. While still humming along and 80% complete, the Union Square branch - originally slated to open in October - will now (probably) begin operating in December, while the Medford branch and its five stops will begin moving folks in May 2022, rather than December. People in the know blame “supply chain disruptions,” which is beyond our ken and does little to soothe the heart. The project is still doing well financially, so much so that Somerville and Cambridge are getting back a combined $80 million from their investments in the project. The whole thing should be running well before anything associated with the new massive Union Square development is completed, which only just broke ground in Somerville this past month. Eager for some good news to go down with the not so great? State Rep. Mike Connolly tweeted pictures of the GLX Community Path’s progress, which is looking beautiful and pedestrian friendly as ever.
The Slightest Hint of Bus Related Shade
In other transportation news, Blue Bikes celebrated the 10th anniversary of the bike share’s presence in Boston. As bike infrastructure around the city continues to be beefed up thanks to the tireless work of local advocates, ridership has boomed as people are drawn to the streets with the promise of more affordable, safer rides. Along with bikes, buses are having a bit of a moment. Last week, the Fare Free 28 Bus Pilot Program was announced by Mayor Kim Janey. The Mattapan-Roxbury-Dorchester line will run at no cost to all riders August 29 - November 29 to study free public transportation’s effects on equity and ridership along the city’s busiest route. Mayoral candidate and city councilor Michelle Wu - who suggested the line go fare-less in 2019 - commented on the program saying, “free bus service is possible in Boston when we organize to make it happen, but we don’t just need one free route through Election Day - we need a system that reaches across our city.” Want to hear more? Check out her office’s white paper on city-wide fare free buses here.
DO THIS.
Today
Raise your voice at Cambridge City Hall with My Brother’s Keeper Cambridge at Rally for Our Youth, a demonstration calling for action to end gun violence and protect Black and Brown communities in response to the attacks seen on especially young life this summer. 5 p.m.//free
Tomorrow
Stand in solidarity with those at the risk of losing their housing in the midst of a pandemic that’s far from over. Tell the State House you believe in extending the Eviction Moratorium from its front steps. 4 p.m.//free
Bring a picnic and a blanket to Franklin Park as the FP Coalition continues to celebrate the 100th Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park Series with live Reggae for Caribbean night. 6 p.m.//free
Hear Kaveh Akbar read from his second collection of poems, Pilgrim Bell, as part of Harvard Bookstore’s virtual event series. 7 p.m.//free
Wednesday
Pop by Culture House HQ in Union Square for some free coffee and a side of a community building. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.//free
Bring your sea legs and a pair of shoes, boots, or sneakers to donate at the St. Francis House’s 18th Annual Shooze Cruise. 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.//$40+
Check out The Track, the reopened horse racing loop at Suffolk Downs - now outfitted for use by humans and their furry friends. Dawn - Dusk//free
Thursday
Head to the Canal District in Cambridge for free kayaking, DJs, art, food, and drink at Family Reunion: Kayaks & Cocktails. Organized by The Adius Arts Initiative to provide a night of joy, release, and access to Cambridge’s glittering waterfront. 4 - 8 p.m.//free
Grab your tix to see Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer fill Fenway Park for the Hella Mega Tour. 5 p.m.//$79.50+
Kick off the Boston Poetry Marathon with a slate of nearly 150 local poets filling three days of Twitch streams and FB Lives. 6 p.m.//$10 donation suggested
Check out the latest installment of the Sunflower Series for live, in-person music courtesy of Billy Dean Thomas, Genie Santiago, Shellz, Naomi Westwater, and Amanda Shea, with food, drink, and art booths at the Late Night Market. 7 p.m. - 12 a.m.//$20-25
Friday
Get in the mood to cruise around some of B-Town’s newest bike infrastructure upgrades with the Bicycle Film Festival - streaming available 8/6 - 8/15. 6 p.m.//$10-20
Complete your Taste of Cambridge & Somerville Passport to receive four $25 vouchers for use at any/all of your favorite participating restaurants. Completed passports must be submitted by 8/31//$30 donation per passport
Saturday
Explore the connections between mind, body, and pen at Grubstreet’s Meditation for Writers Workshop. Once you’ve got some headspace, take a crack at your own submission for the second annual Boston in 100 Words competition. 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.//$65 - 75
Head to Nubian Square for NUBIANA: Caribbean Edition to see artists at work at the open-air gallery and snag a piece or two to call your own. 1 - 6 p.m.//free
Head to Spectacle Island for an after hours evening featuring snacks by BRATO, drinks by Night Shift, live music by The Blackberry Bushes, activities by park rangers, and sunsets by the millions and billions of light-scattering particles in the atmosphere. Ticket cost includes your round trip ferry ticket to and from the island. 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.//$20-35
Sunday
Slow your weekend down with The Jungle’s Smooth Open Mic Jam/R&B Night with instrumentals by EJK and vocals by Elsa Kennedy. 7 p.m.//$5
Head to the Commons with your favorite lawn chair for the final showing of this season’s Shakespeare in the Park and witness the lauded John Douglas Thompson in The Tempest. 8 p.m.//free with advanced registration
This week’s edition of Inbound was brought to you by Nicholas Arnemann and Maya Detwiller.