Meet Elyse Andrews!

One of SLF’s newest board members, Elyse joins the team as a Somerville homeowner and small business owner herself.

Elyse earned a degree in journalism and political science from Syracuse University. She then worked as a writer and editor at a financial publishing company for several years. Most recently, Elyse founded the Somerville Beat, an online magazine about all things Somerville, in May 2012. From a local perspective, the Beat covers arts and culture, food and restaurants, businesses and more in order to keep tabs on the happenings in Somerville.

Guided by a mission at the Somerville Beat that aligns well with that of Somerville Local First, Elyse thought it would be natural for the two collaborate more.

“As a Somerville homeowner and small business owner, I’m very excited to help further SLF’s work to promote Somerville businesses,” she said. “The people who live, work and play here are what make the community so vibrant and I’m excited to be an even bigger part of it.”

Eager to get started, Elyse knows the importance of buying local. Both she and her husband own small, local businesses. More than that, though, Elyse enjoys taking note of the hard work that local business owners put in and the resulting growth of the local community over time.

“We always think about shopping locally before buying things from a big box store, whether it’s by shopping at the farmers market or visiting a locally owned café,” Elyse said.

To help promote local development, Elyse hopes to use her communication skills to spread the message to a larger audience, attending SLF events and working with Cambridge Local First as well to strengthen the efforts.

“By supporting local businesses, you are enabling them to stay in your community, making it a richer place to live,” she said.

Whats-Nü, a recent addition to Davis Square, is a boutique that features independent designers, artists and artisans (the “Crü”). Established just about six months ago by owner Lena Gorczyca, the store showcases the talent of local artists from Somerville, Cambridge and Arlington, among other areas, much to the surprise of many customers. Though local designers’ work make up about a quarter of the store’s merchandise, Whats-Nü strives to offer items made in the U.S., as well as those made from organic and natural materials.

Lena has been designing clothes for her entire life. She earned a degree in computer science, and this technical background has given her the precision for design. She used to have a hard time finding what she wanted to wear and couldn’t find her particular vision anywhere else, so ultimately decided to just fashion her own clothes.

Lena had been working at and designing her own line for the store that used to be at 67 Holland Street, but once the owner had decided to step down, she saw an opportunity to open her own store. Lena wanted to take the store to the next level, to encourage local talent to participate and maintain strong relationships with customers. Not only is Whats-Nü customer-driven, but the store also works with other local businesses and organizations. The goal, Lena said, is not to be a single entity, but a network of local businesses with similar goals, values, and atmospheres to create a community. Whats-Nü has in the past exhibited art at the store and held events with other local organizations to connect with the community.

Since opening, a lot of progress has been made, but Lena hopes that in time, they will showcase more local artists. But not just for the sake of having local designers, she said. The merchandise will always be tailored to the wants and needs of customers. The first step, according to Lena, is to soon be 100 percent “made in the U.S.,” at the very least. She hopes the community will keep up the support to continue working to feature local artists.

Check out Whats-Nü at 67 Holland Street in Davis Square and on Facebook, Twitter and at http://whats-nu.biz.

Join us for a full Sunday of fun, gifting, and music! With 35 independent and local vendors, music by David Tanklefsky and Jeff Jam, an ENTIRE floor of children’s activities sponsored by Knucklebones, craft brews, and delicious treats from the Arts at the Armory Cafe, you can’t go wrong!

Come along and meet new people, all while helping us to build a strong, local economy.

Vendor List
Heflin Photo (Photobooth!)
Carland Cartography
Culinary Cruiser
Cuisine en Locale
Spindler’s Confections
Doves and Figs
Tara Faeri
I am Joolien
Union Press
Love on the Blocks
McBeth Designs
Black Magic Coffee Co.
Knucklebones
Q’s Nuts
Henceforth
Feathers & Fur
Sete Productions
Elementgrrl
Kharma Collection
Picture Renewal
Scatterbrain Crochet
Next Step Living
Pimmz Art Studio
Will Alderfer Metalarts
GIVEGIVE
Sommer Crafts
closer to the ocean
Porcelain and Stone
Pink Pigeon Creations

COMMENT BY TUESDAY, APRIL 23 at 2 PM FOR A CHANCE TO WIN TWO TICKETS TO THIS EVENT!!

Just leave your email address in the comments section.

SLF Board Member Sarah Shugars is this week’s guest blogger!

The thing I love most about Somerville is its diversity. And what better way to celebrate diversity than by eating lots of food?

Seriously, though. We all know the important role local businesses play in our community – supporting the economy, minimizing impact on the environment and expressing Somerville’s fun, funky personality.

Immigrant-owned businesses, and particularly restaurants, play a similar critical role. They are centers of community – gathering places where immigrants can get a taste of home and others can get a taste of something different. They express who we are as a city and the rich, diverse character we all love.

And we all love to eat…yummm.

For the fourth year, SLF member The Welcome Project is hosting a unique opportunity to try tastes from immigrant-owned restaurants across the city. YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City will be held Thursday, April 25 at 7:00 pm at the Center for Arts at the Armory (also an SLF member!). If you’re feeling inspired already, you can get your tickets online now!

The event will feature tastes from 11 restaurants, live entertainment, a silent auction and recognition of the work that the East Somerville Community School PTA has done to ensure all parents are able to participate in their child’s education.

And yes, there will be a giant puppet of Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture. Why? Because it’s not really a Somerville event until someone breaks out a giant puppet.

No, actually because the larger than life Louverture has been engaging local Haitian youth in learning about their country’s history through a partnership with The Underground Railway Theater, The Welcome Project, the Haitian Coalition and Books of Hope.

Speaking of which, all proceeds from the event will benefit The Welcome Project, a great non-profit which offers ESOL classes, supports multilingual and multicultural parental engagement in the school system and trains bi-lingual Somerville youth as interpreters. You may have seen some of these impressive young people interpreting at city events.

But…back to the food.

Participating restaurants are:

Aguacate Verde: Mexican | Porter Square
Amelia’s Kitchen: Italian | Teele Square
Fasika: Ethiopian | East Somerville
Gauchao: Brazilian | East Somerville
Masala: Indian and Nepali | Teele Square
Istanbul’lu: Turkish | Teele Square
Los Paisanos: Central American | East Somerville
Maya Sol: Mexican | East Somerville
The Neighborhood Restaurant: Portuguese | Union Square
Sabur: Mediterranean | Teele Square
Yak and Yeti: Nepali and Indian | Ball Square

Oh, and if you’re wondering, all of these restaurants are part of the City’s Shape Up Approved campaign, so you may not even have to hit up any of Somerville’s great local gyms afterwards.

See you there!

YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City
Thursday, April 25 at 7:00 pm
Center for Arts at the Armory
Get tickets online now

In addition to working tirelessly to promote SLF, Sarah is also active with YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City and the Welcome Project.

And remember…. comment on this post for the chance to win 2 free tickets to the event!

Meet Eliza:
One of Somerville Local First’s new interns, Eliza Deissler is a junior at Tufts University. Born
in Boston, Eliza moved to London with her mother, who works with nonprofits in the classical
music industry, at the age of 15. Since then, Eliza has spent Tufts breaks at homes in California
and now Naples, Florida. A member of the Tufts Art History Society and a volunteer for Food
Rescue, Eliza is an international relations major specializing in Europe and the former Soviet
Union. Eliza’s favorite movie is “Good Will Hunting,” an easy choice, and enjoys watching
“Modern Family.” She likes to cook, which she does admittedly pretty well, and pointed out she
loves chocolate (and for good reason, since dark chocolate has been proven to be healthy). Her
favorite meal of the day is breakfast, of course, and enjoys her own mix of greek yogurt, cereal
and fresh fruit. Eliza has no trouble confessing her love for Dave’s Fresh Pasta in Somerville,
as well as the honey peanut butter and best rocky road ice creams at Tascanini’s in Cambridge.
Last summer, Eliza worked as a development intern at a museum in Naples and really enjoys
interacting with people, so she is very excited to get started at SLF! We are thrilled to welcome
her to the team!

1. If you could have any superhero power, what would it be? : Transportation
2. I can’t live without … Such a hard question! My glasses, probably, I’m blind without them.
Also my keys.
3. Favorite color in the Crayola box? Tickle Me Pink

Meet Hannah:
Hannah Fingerhut’s one of our new interns, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her! A
sophomore at Tufts University, she’s planning to major in both quantitative economics and
sociology (phew) and she works on the Tufts Daily, plays club volleyball and volunteers with
CORES, teaching a class on citizenship to immigrants in Somerville. Although it’s almost
impossible for Hannah to pick favorites, if she had to choose, she would say baked goods are
her favorite foods, “To Kill a Mockingbird” is her favorite book and absolutely “Remember
the Titans” is her favorite film. Hannah likes to run outside and hike. She has a little Yorkshire
terrier named Snickers at home in New Jersey, along with a brother and sister. Breakfast is
undoubtedly her most important meal of the day, and Hannah loves treating herself to breakfast
in Davis and Ball Square. Hannah’s real passion is writing. She is especially involved at the
Tufts Daily, where she’s rose among the ranks as Executive Features Editor last semester and
was responsible for the newspaper’s coverage of the 2012 elections. Practically pulling an all-
nighter after the election and writing the front-page article for the next day’s issue is one of her
best memories so far at Tufts.

1. If you could have any superhero power, what would it be? To fly!
2. I can’t live without … simple – a pen and paper
3. Favorite color in the Crayola box? Macaroni and Cheese

Look for them at our SLF events this coming year. Welcome, Hannah and Eliza!

We currently have FOUR coveted vendor spots open to SLF members for our Local is for Lovers Market, taking place on Sunday, April 14.

Please sign up by filling out the form here.

Your spot must be paid for to hold it as demand is high.

Thanks!

Kat, Somerville Local First

Jen, Arts at the Armory

We’d like to start with a big, belated thank you to all the vendors and shoppers that made our first market a huge success! And it is thanks to all of you that we are now pleased to announce that the Local is for Lovers Market is BACK! Local is for Lovers 2.0 will be taking place on Sunday, February 10- just in time for Valentine’s Day shopping. This market will feature 35 amazing local artisans and crafters and foodies including Culinary Cruisers, Union Press, Cuisine en Locale, Love on the Blocks, Black Magic Coffee Company and more!  Knucklebones and Jeff Jam, total hits with the kiddos, will be graciously returning! This makes the market the perfect place to bring the family while you shop for your sweetheart!

The day will also include music by Arts at the Armory residency holder David Tanklefsky and Grimis. The Armory cafe and bar will be open for drinks, lunch and snacks.

What a wonderful day it will be, we seriously cannot wait to bring this to you again!

Details:

Sunday, February 10, 2013

11am- 5pm

Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville MA.

If you are interested in being a vendor, please sign up here, and pay for your table here.

See you all on the 10th!

Lots of local love,

SLF + Arts at the Armory

Here’s a few ideas for even the hardest to please folks (or cats or dogs…) on your list. Head to Stinky’s Kittens & Doggies Too ( 110 Bristol Rd, Ball Square) and check out these offerings and more:

Cozy canine gifts!

Chilly Dog

• Handmade Woool Dog Sweaters
• Sizes xs to XXL
• These are the warmest sweaters made.
• Do not let your dog be left out in the cold!

Gorgeous outerwear for gorgeous dogs!

RC Pet Coat

• Sizes xs to XXL
• Water proof and has a thermal baking inside to keep your pooch warm.
• Colors and styles vary.

Festive holiday cheer for the feline set.

Organically grown catnip fill toy

• Catnip toy that actually works.
• Makes a great stocking stuffer for kitty.

Give your cat the gift of cozy naps!

Nature Nap Ovals

• Purrfect for those finicky cats we love
• Comes in different colors and patterns

What’s more yummy? Dinner or this bowl?!

Ceramic Fish Dishes for Kitty

• Comes in solid and unique patterns.
• Hand Wash.

Dear friends, neighbors and business owners,

Show Your Local Love

We as Somervillans have the power to shape our community. At Somerville Local First, we believe that each one of us benefits from living or working in a diverse and vibrant city with thriving local businesses and engaged customers. We believe that it makes a difference when you can talk to the craftsperson whose work you are buying, when you can walk to a neighborhood store or dine on locally produced food. We want to live in a city where neighbors know each other and business owners greet you by name.

Please consider donating to SLF

With your support, SLF has helped make Somerville that type of community thrive. For five years, we have educated residents and business owners alike on the value of the local economy. We have changed the way people shop and provided meaningful opportunities for business owners to connect with each other.

We’re an organization that stands for things…like sustainable and strong local economies

When I started my new business in Somerville this year, SLF was instrumental in providing marketing support, helping us connect to the community of Somerville and even found us a phenomenal graphic designer who was willing to help us with our logo in exchange for classes! SLF makes doing business in Somerville so easy and fun! -Heather Schmidt, SLF member and owner of City Chicks

This year, we were thrilled to welcome our new executive director, Kat Rutkin, who played a lead role in growing our work. We connected Union Square business owners through our first SLF chapter, launched a burgeoning new initiative to support women entrepreneurs, supplied our members with free mobile websites through an innovative partnership with PagePart, and hosted our first ever holiday market which brought out 49 vendors and over 2000 holiday shoppers.

My experience with the Local is for Lovers market has made me even more passionate about following my path as an artist and marketing my work. I’ve even planned on speaking with different businesses and galleries this week about moving forward…It opened my eyes to the market for local goods and helped inspire me to keep creating things, not only for the public, but for myself. -Alexandra Boeri, Market Vendor

“I have to say that I was blown away by the event and couldn’t find anything that wasn’t perfect… the day was amazing! I would LOVE to sign up for your next event and also was curious how to join Somerville Local First!” -Jennifer Devine, Market Vendor

Please consider donating to SLF

We need your help to continue this important work. Your support means helping more small businesses find their feet in Somerville, educating people about the impact of their shopping decisions, and working towards sustaining the vibrant local economy we all love.

With warm regards and holiday wishes,

The Somerville Local First Board of Directors
Jonathan Buck
Joe Grafton
Jennifer Lawrence
Ronald Leeks
Courtney O’Keefe
Andy Pyman
Sarah Shugars
Grover Taylor
Dimitra Tsourianis
Ray Zonghetti

ps: Donations of $50 or more get a limited edition Local is for Lovers tote bag or tshirt! (Limited sizes and quantities available, while supplies last.) 

The buzz is really growing about the first SLF/Arts at the Armory Local is for Lovers Holiday Market!

A lot of you have been asking questions about the details of the day, and here they are!

The market will take place at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, from 11am-5pm on December 2. Admission is free!

SLF and Arts at the Armory teamed up this year to emphasize the importance of shifting your shopping to local vendors this holiday season. Keeping your holiday spending in the community has the potential to generate millions of dollars in revenue for the local economy. We are so pleased to have been joined by an AMAZING list of vendors (below), selling gifts sure to please even the hardest to impress on your list this year.

That said, this market is more than just a shopping experience! While we will be featuring local vendors and artisans we have activities for the whole family. Three local youth bands – Burning Honey, The Soulful Souls, and Stainless –  will play throughout the day, and we will have not one but TWO sets from local childrens’ musician JEFF JAM!

Don’t have those holiday card snapshots done yet? Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered! We will have a winter-themed photo booth set up by photographer Jeremy Heflin and you can buy your prints on the spot!

We also have some areas just for the kids: Knucklebones will be on-site so your little ones can play, and Herbstalk will be hosting a craft area! (Ed note: I heard some paper dandelions will be made. Can’t wait!)

Our amazing vendor line-up (+ possibly more!):

• Herbstalk
• Flowerfolk
• Union Press
• Caroline Barney Designs
• Canis Major
• Albertine Press
• Cuisine en Locale
• City Chicks
• Daddy Jones
• The Somerville Stock Exchange
• Picture Renewal
• Next Step Living
• Message Therapy by Elizabeth Lynn
• McBeth Designs
• Louise Musto-Choate
• Carland Cartography
• DuVine Adventures
• Feathers And Fur
• Blue Helix Designs
• Pink Pigeons Creations
• type-o by ceo
• I am Joolienn
• Qs Nuts
• Will Alderfer Metalwork
• Star Shine Creations
• Spindler Confections
• Love on the Blocks
• Jai Devi
• Ghostfingers
• Anna L. Amur Jewelery
• Culinary Cruisers
• Trinity Imports, LLC
• Artichoke Arts and Crafts
• Ansis Purins
• Mikayla Characters
• Sete Productions
• Pimmz Art Studio
• Alisa Aronson Graphic Design
• Tara Faeri
• plane paper
• Knucklebones
• Arts at the Armory
• Foret
• MJ Paperflight

See you this Sunday!