Harvard Square Business Association February 2024 Newsletter
Events/Deals/News

Please join us in welcoming our new members!

Cambridge Skating Club
DX Herbwell Cannabis

Market Square Optical
The Sea Hag
Wilks Productions Consultancy

Events

Brattle Theatre

February 16th - 25th, February 16th - 19th & February 23rd - 27th

The Brattle's Annual

BUGS BUNNY FILM FESTIVAL

Feb 16 – Feb 25

Showtimes & Tickets

With more than 25 editions under our belts, you’d think we’d be getting tired of the Wascally Wabbit and his crew of hilarious oddballs… Nope! It’s still one of our favorite programs to put together each year. We can’t wait to see you for another round of classic cartoon comedies on the big screen in 35mm!

Premiere Run

THE SWEET EAST

Feb 16 – Feb 19

Showtimes & Tickets

This equal opportunity offender directed by renowned indie cinematographer Sean Price Williams (Good Time, Her Smell) is a caustic satire of contemporary American culture. Talia Ryder (Never Rarely Sometimes Always) plays Lillian, a savvy South Carolina teen who walks away from her school trip to Washington, DC and ends up down the rabbit hole of East Coast political insanity. From an encounter with a bunch of antifa wannabes, to a sojourn with a Neo-Nazi Poe-obsessed literature professor (Red Rocket’s Simon Rex), to being cast off of the street in NYC by a pair of self-obsessed filmmakers (Edebiri and Harris), and beyond, Lillian rolls her eyes at everything and everyone while she tries to find some meaning—or, at the very least, interest—in all of the posturing and proselytizing she encounters. Prepare to have your liberal bubble burst.

Premiere Run

PICTURES OF GHOSTS

Feb 23 – Feb 27

Showtimes & Tickets

Brazil’s official selection for the 2024 Academy Awards, PICTURES OF GHOSTS, from acclaimed director Kleber Mendonça Filho (Bacarau), is a multi-dimensional journey through time, sound, architecture, and filmmaking, set in the urban landscape of Recife, Brazilian coastal capital of Pernambuco. Filho sets out to examine this historical territory through the great movie theatres that served as spaces of community and conviviality in Recife during the 20th century. Having hosted dreams and progress, these places also embody major transformations in the way Brazilians—and indeed all of us—live. Combining archive documentary, historical investigation, film clips, and personal memories, PICTURES OF GHOSTS is a map of a city through the lens of cinema. – adapted from notes by Grasshopper Films.

Moonbox Productions

February 16th - 25th

THE MANIC MONOLOGUES is a play showcasing true stories of mental illness to disrupt stigma. It has shown in-person to thousands of people across four continents, and has been featured by the Washington Post, NPR, Psychology Today, NYT, Broadway World, and many more. Manic Monologues brings to life incredible stories — stories that will challenge and inform your ideas about what it means to be touched by a mental health condition. These true, lived experiences come from diverse and resilient people living across the world. These brave individuals have things to say about struggle and pain, but also triumph and joy. They are moving. They are human. And they are not ashamed. Tickets available here.

Harvard Art Museums

February 21st, 24th, 29th & March 1st

Yu-Wen Wu in Conversation with Sarah Laursen

February 21, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join us for a discussion between artist Yu-Wen Wu and curator of Chinese art Sarah Laursen. Free admission, but seating is limited and registration is required. You can register by clicking on the event on this form.

Family Day

February 24,

1:00 – 4:00pm

Bring your family to the Harvard Art Museums for an afternoon of

artful experiences, gallery explorations, and hands-on creative play. Free

admission. Advance registration for this event is encouraged, but walk-in visitors are always welcome.

Harvard Art Museums at Night

February 29,

5:00 – 9:00pm

Join us for an evening of art, fun, food, and more! This event is free and open to everyone. This month’s installment is extra special because we’ll be

celebrating the opening of the exhibition LaToya M. Hobbs: It’s Time. Free admission. Advance registration is encouraged, but walk-in visitors are always welcome.

LaToya M. Hobbs: It’s Time: A Conversation with the Artist

March 1, 4:00 –5:30pm

Join us for a discussion with the artist to celebrate the opening of LaToya M. Hobbs: It’s Time. Free admission, but seating is limited and registration is required. You can register by clicking on the event on this form beginning Tuesday, February 20, after 10am.

Revels

February 21st

Revels Fringe is BACK at Harvard Square's legendary Cub Passim with our friends from Seven Times Salt! Seven Times Salt has been bringing the music of the 16th and 17th centuries to audiences for 20 years, blurring the lines between “art music” and folk tunes in the concert hall, dance hall, or beer hall. Join us on Wednesday, February 21 at 7 PM for a toe-tapping evening of music, food, drinks, and fun! Doors open at 6 PM for dinner service.

Tickets are $25/person, $23/Club Passim members. Tickets are selling fast - buy yours today.

Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site

February 24

2024 Longfellow Birthday Celebration: Evangeline Marathon Reading 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

At Mount Auburn Cemetery, presented in partnership with Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site

Join us in Mount Auburn Cemetery's Story Chapel to celebrate the 217th anniversary of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's birth with a special marathon reading of one of his best-loved poems, Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie. After a brief introduction to the history of the poem, enjoy an hourlong read-a-thon of Evangeline (slightly abridged). Come enjoy the unique structure and moving story of this iconic work.

Longfellow completed his first draft of Evangeline on his fortieth birthday, February 27, 1847, and published it later that year. The reading will be followed by birthday cake and, weather permitting, a visit to the Longfellow family tomb for a brief wreath-laying ceremony. Free, register here.

Bonde Fine Wine Shop

February 29th

Winemaker Series: Westport Rivers Winery - Wine Tasting Class Enjoy an evening with our hometown winemaker Marco Montez of Westport Rivers. In this 90 minute tasting class, he’ll share his story, his wines, & his take on the future of the ever-changing wine world on the east coast. $75

Harvard Museum of

Natural History

February 29th

ArtsThursdays: Year of the Dragon at the Museums

February 29, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Embrace the Year of the Dragon at our ArtsThursdays event. Visit the photographic exhibition, Shehuo: Community Fire, to see the transformation of a traditional spring festival held in rural northern China. Find your Chinese Zodiac animal sign in our galleries and explore the art of traditional Chinese paper cutting with Cambridge artist Zhonghe (Elena) Li. Learn about traditional Chinese silk watercolor painting with Xiang Li, a Massachusetts-based artist. Free and open to the public.

Chinese Zodiac Animals Scavenger Hunt at the Harvard Museum of Natural History

Through February 29, self-guided during open hours.

Welcome to the Year of the Dragon! Do you know your Zodiac animal sign from your birth year? Are you a Dragon, Rabbit, or one of the other ten animals? Learn about each of the twelve animals by comparing the legendary creatures to real animals in the museum galleries. Regular museum rates apply.

25/8 artspace

Through March 1st

“fanfare of clouds”

The Harvard Square Business Association, in partnership with Intercontinental Management, is pleased to announce “fanfare of clouds”, the latest installation at the 25/8 artspace project located at 2 Linden Street in Harvard Square.

Behind VA Shadows presents the works of Cameron Boyce and multiple artists from Gateway Arts on view from December 18th to March 1st. Organized and curated by Yolanda He Yang, “fanfare of clouds”, creates a vibrant capsule packed with delightful colors, shapes, and images, reminding viewers of the universal realm of hope through paintings, sculptures, and installations.

More information available here.

Click here for full calendar of events

DEALS

Abroad Modern

Abroad Modern will be holding our annual February Sale from 2/16 - 2/25. 30% off just about everything with the code FEB30, or this link will automatically apply the discount to customers’ carts https://www.abroadmodern.com/discount/FEB30

Use a bit of a beloved boutique for your retail or creative endeavor

I am the proud woman founder and owner of a lifestyle + housewares boutique and design studio in Cambridge's Observatory Hill/Huron Village neighborhood with space to spare.

You are a friendly, responsible individual with dreams of having your own shop or a space to pursue your creative endeavors.

Let's talk! Specifically, I am looking for someone who would like to share space (either or both retail and back-of-house) and resources within the retail or office portion of my shop. Retail is hard! Combining forces will allow me to continue to do what I love and offer you the possibility of pursuing your own ambitions with a lower risk than going it alone.

Ideal scenarios include but are not limited to:

- Long-term retail pop-up of a complimentary brand

- Shelf or floor space for complimentary products

- Gallery space

- Artist/Maker space for daytime quiet/clean artistic pursuits

- Artist/Maker space for night owl less quiet/clean artistic pursuits

- Creative industry office space

- Retail storage/fulfillment space

- Something fantastic that I've not yet considered

Our space is gorgeous. Our customers are lovely. The chit-chat can range from sometimes to none-times. There's parking. I have excellent taste in music, a dry but warm wit, I'm nice, not nuts and, from time to time, funny and charming.

No clever ideas will be turned away. Movers, shakers, hustlers, over-thinkers, dreamers and good weirdos welcome. Creepy weirdos not so much.

The terms of rent are fair and negotiable, to be mutually agreed upon in accordance to the nature of use. 

Industrious

Your dream office in Harvard Square is waiting.

Thoroughly professional and thoughtfully designed, Industrious’ flexible workspaces support companies of all sizes and stages. We believe that the right workplace can move your business forward by giving your team members spaces to focus and collaborate in — spaces that make them proud to come to work.

Click here for a tour or more information.

We are excited to share that we've simplified the way you book meeting spaces. No need to go through third party websites - book your meeting right on our website! Start booking your meeting today.

Off the Beaten Path

Food Tours

Fridays, Saturdays and private tours are available.

Calling all chocoholics! Join us for a delectable adventure through historic Harvard Square. You'll hear interesting stories about the Square, learn fun facts about chocolate and sample the best and most interesting chocolaty treats around. Harvard Square has a flourishing food scene with some of the best and most unique food in the city. Each tour is a fun 90 minutes and includes 4 stops with plenty of treats and less than a mile of walking. We can't wait to take you on a unique, chocolate adventure!

This tour is suitable for all ages. $40/pp. Guests must purchase tickets in advance. Use code HARVARDSQUARE and enjoy 10% off!

Harvard Square Food Tour

Haven't been to Harvard Square lately? Do you know we have a tiki bar?

Revisit Harvard Square on our new FOOD TOUR!

Booking Saturdays at 11:30am, this memorable experience is offered weekly. You'll eat a satisfying array of yummy eats, from Greek to Latin to the best pizza in the world. Tour also includes a Mai Tai or yummy mocktail.

Origins

NEW Plantfusion™ Active Wrinkle Correction Serum with Retinoid

Our NEW 94% naturally-derived* Active Wrinkle Serum with Retinoid is a gentle day and night ritual for powerful, visible wrinkle transformation, and is appropriate for all skin types-including sensitive.

*Using the ISO 16128 Standard, from plant, non-petroleum mineral, and/or water sources

Friends & Family Promotion

February 16th-24th

Spend $75 and get $15 Off; Spend $115 and get $30 Off, or Spend $170 and get $50 Off. Some exclusions apply.

News

Bon Me

We're celebrating Lunar New Year with a limited time offer bubble tea! Introducing our Lucky Orange Bubble Tea: this auspicious concoction of zesty ginger green tea and tangy orange syrup conceals golden treasures: orange popping boba. Available through March 31st.

Boston Calling Music Festival

2024 Lineup

Distressed Children International

DCI’s 2024 Appeal

Please Join Us to Stop Child Labor, Child Marriage and Blindness Prevention

In celebration of the New Year, please join us in helping underprivileged children and their families in Bangladesh, India, Nepal & Nicaragua. You will receive a tax benefit for your financial support. 

Please open your heart and donate now

Take Action & Change a Life

- Sponsor a Child ( $15/month or $180/year).

- Provide support to the Orphans Support Program .

- Give an Eye Surgery ($100) to a visually-impaired child/person.

- Make a general contribution of Any Amount

Choose from the many other gifts available at: https://distressedchildren.org/give/

Thank you very much for your kind consideration and support of our mission of fighting poverty, hunger, child labor, child marriage, and preventable blindness.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Boston - Cambridge

Chill Over The Charles Rooftop Igloo Bar Is Back For The 2024 Season!

Set on the 16th floor, enjoy a laid-back atmosphere while taking in stunning views of the scenic Charles River and Boston city skyline at this outdoor rooftop igloo bar. Grab your friends and enjoy a fun night under the stars in a heated igloo, ideal for up to 8 guests, with your choice of a la carte or our new family-style dining options. Locally crafted brews from Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, including their seasonal Baltic Porters, as well as a selection of wines, and cocktails are also available.

(21+ after 8:00PM. Food & Beverage minimums required.)

Available Thursday – Saturday from 5:30pm to 10:00pm (weather permitting and hours/days subject to change), guests can visit OpenTable to reserve an igloo for two hours for a group of 4 to 8 people.

Eastern Bank

Harvard University Employees Credit Union

Smart Rewards Checking: Get all ATM fees refunded and earn your choice of cash back or premium interest on your balance. To learn more, please visit www.huecu.org/smart-rewards.

New School of Music

Summer at New School of Music!

Kids’ Cabaret & Play Me: Intro to Instruments

Looking for fun, educational summer arts programs for your child?

Unleash your child's creativity at the New School of Music’s two summer programs, Kids' Cabaret musical theater program (Ages 7-14) and Play Me: Intro to Instruments (Ages 5-9) in Cambridge, MA.

Sign up today and receive early bird discounts for both courses!

KIDS’ CABARET

3 weeks: July 8 – 26

Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm

FEE: $1,275

Early bird fee: $1,100 (register by March 15)

PLAY ME: Intro to Instruments

Monday – Friday, 9am-3pm

Session I: July 29 – Aug 2

Session II: Aug 5 – Aug 9

Session III: Aug 12 – Aug 16

FEE: $475

Early bird fee: $425 (register by March 15)

No prior experience is necessary for either class. All your child needs is their enthusiasm, curiosity, and a love of music.

Register today. We can't wait to see what they create!

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available for all NSM programs.

HSBA Member Spotlight

Radiant Laser MD

As the founders of a medical spa that specializes in laser hair removal and skin rejuvenation, we have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our clients. Our expertise and passion for the industry have allowed us to create a space where clients can feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. We have assembled a team of highly skilled professionals who share your vision and are dedicated to providing the best possible service to our clients.