Author Archives: RICH FELONI

Ball Square is one of those neighborhoods you could drive through in an instant, or if you’re from out of town, not even know exists. On a stretch of Broadway in Somerville, I checked out what it could offer a guy in college.

MBTA: Bus #s 80 & 89. Davis Square Station/Red Line.

PORTABLE FOOD
Eat At Jumbo’s

If given the chance, I would try everything on the giant menu. Filled with 40 flavors of wings, pizza, burgers, subs and creative vegan choices, Jumbo’s is for everyone. "I thought of everything a younger version of me would want," said owner Grover Taylor. After sampling the cheesesteak and pizza, I knew his younger self was a lot like me. [688 Broadway. 617.666.0000. [[http://eatatjumbos.com/|eatatjumbos.com]]]

GET ICONIC

Kelly’s Diner

If you know Ball Square, then you know Kelly’s Diner. The local, cash-only favorite stands alone with its classic ’50s feel. The meals—diner staples—are plenty big, and the coffee is excellent. We talked to the friendly waitress about the photos of spiky-haired celebrity chef Guy Fieri on the wall. He visited twice. [674 Broadway. 617.623.8102. [[http://www.kellysdiner.net/|kellysdiner.net]]]

BROWSE AROUND

Lyndell’s Bakery

I wasn’t gazing at classic paintings in an upscale museum, but an equally beautiful array of pastries in the 123-year-old flagship bakery. While I only tried a raspberry turnover (like a fruit pie, but way better), I took my time to check out all the éclairs, cannoli, moonpies, donuts, cakes, cookies, cupcakes … they have any high-calorie dessert you could want. [720 Broadway. 617.625.1793. [[http://lyndells.com/|lyndells.com]]]

CHEAP BASTARD

Ball Square Fine Wines & Liquors

Don’t be intimidated by the façade. Yes, Fine Wines has much to offer enthusiasts, but what impresses is the self-serve, walk-in beer cooler. Stock up on cheap 30-racks, or a six of an independent brew. The store offers frequent wine, beer and occasional liquor tastings, all free. As excited recreational drinkers, we took three times as many photos of the place than anywhere else we visited. [716 Broadway. 617.623.9500. [[http://www.ballsquarefinewines.com/index.cfm|ballsquarefinewines.com]]]

BE GOOD

Sound Bites Café

I tried up cutting back on caffeine recently, but ordered a double cappuccino at Sound Bites after already having a few cups of coffee within an hour. I imagined myself bringing my homework on a Sunday and getting some French toast and an espresso for a hangover. We chatted with owner Yasser Mirza, who, uh, did us the favor of fiercely crumpling and tossing our empty Lyndell’s bag. I admire a competitive spirit. [704 Broadway. 617.623.8338. [[http://soundbitesrestaurant.com/|soundbitesrestaurant.com]]]

BE BAD

The Pub

When you see a bunch of Irish guys at a bar during the day, it’s usually a good indicator of whether the bar is worth checking out at night. That’s what we saw when we walked into the ingeniously named "Pub." There’s nothing extraordinary here, but it’s a cool place to grab some cheap beer and typical bar fare (steak tips and wings are popular) with friends after checking out the rest of what Ball Square has to offer. [682 Broadway. 617.776.7373]

Over seven years since the infamous Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island claimed 100 lives and injured over 200, the State House has decided it’s time to pass some fire regulations.

Legislation added to the state fire code, going into effect March 1st, 2011, calls for the presence of at least one "crowd manager" at all times in an entertainment venue, which is defined as a "barroom, discotheque, dancehall, or nightclub" with an occupancy of 100 or more.

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Last week, lawmakers scrambled to pass major bills before the formal session ended on Saturday. And that meant it was yet again time for the ritualistic slaughter of the good ol’ bottle bill. Continue reading →