Business

Lt. Governor Visits Watertown Bearing Three Grants for More than $3 Million Aimed at Economic Development

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Charlie BreitroseLt. Gov. Karyn Polito spoke with Town Council President Mark Sideris during an event where she announced more than $3 million in grants to Watertown. The event was at the Hampton Inn & Suites at Arsenal Yards. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito stopped by Watertown on Tuesday to celebrate the transformation of Arsenal Street and to give out more than $3 million in grants to help municipal officials continue the economic growth in the community. The event took place at the Hampton Inn & Suites, located in the biggest redevelopment project in Watertown — Arsenal Yards. Polito recalled how she used to visit the Arsenal Mall when she was a student at Boston College in the mid-1980s, when it looked very different.

Arsenal Yards

Plenty of Fall Activities and Music at Arsenal Yards in October

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The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:

With fall in full swing, Arsenal Yards invites residents, workers, and visitors to (pumpkin) spice up their fall days through a variety of autumnal events happening throughout the vibrant new neighborhood this October. Guests and residents of Arsenal Yards are invited to enjoy outdoor live music performances, pumpkin carving, games and more at Fall Falladays! The festivities will kick off on Thursday, October 14th at Arsenal Yards’ Fall Falladays Festival, a can’t miss event of fall fun including live music, festive games, harvest treats and complimentary professional family photos with a surprise backdrop, sponsored by Blvd & Bond. For those who are 21+, beer and wine will be available for purchase. The festival will offer two sessions; one from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and the second from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person (children ages 5 and under are free) with all proceeds benefitting the Watertown Food Pantry. Tickets must be reserved online in advanced here.

Entertainment

September is Filled with Music and Fitness Classes at Arsenal Yards

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Arsenal YardsArsenal Yards will have Backyard Sessions musical acts and fitness classes through the end of September. The following information was provided by Arsenal Yards:

With fall just around the corner, Arsenal Yards invites residents, workers, and visitors to get outside and enjoy the weather through a variety of complimentary events happening throughout the vibrant new neighborhood this September. Guests and residents of Arsenal Yards are invited to enjoy a series of free fitness classes along with outdoor live music performances through the new Backyard Sessions music series all month long! “Due to popular demand for fitness and the incredible response we had to our outdoor summer picnics, we are excited to invite the Watertown community back out onto the River Green at Arsenal Yards to continue our Outdoor Fitness Series and kick off our Backyard Sessions performances this September,” said Jessica Reed, Marketing Director at Arsenal Yards. “With notable new openings taking place at Arsenal Yards this fall, including the newly opened Buttermilk & Bourbon and Sweetgreen, and soon-to-open additions like Tori Jiro and Condesa Restaurante & Tequila Bar, we couldn’t think of a better time to offer visitors the space to enjoy everything that Arsenal Yards has to offer.” 

While the past year has made it difficult for many to workout indoors and in gyms, Arsenal Yards is excited to extend its popular Outdoor Fitness Series through the end of September. With outdoor, socially distanced classes ranging from yoga and barre to boot camps and cardio kickboxing, participating studios include Pure Barre Arsenal Yards, Kick it by Eliza, Artemis Yoga, Breathe Studio, Get Lively: Health & Fitness and Ballroom in Boston.

Arsenal Yards

Star of ‘Bar Rescue’ Opening Restaurant in Watertown’s Arsenal Yards

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The following announcement was provided by Taffer’s Tavern and Arsenal Yards:

Taffer’s Tavern, the innovative new full service tavern concept founded and developed by leading hospitality expert and star of Paramount Network’s Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer, announced today its first Boston area restaurant is headed to Arsenal Yards, the thriving new neighborhood located along the Charles River in Watertown, Massachusetts, just miles from the heart of Boston. The Arsenal Yards team selected Taffer’s Tavern to complement its curated dining experiences, boutique shops, entertainment offerings, 300 contemporary residences, state of the art life science space, 146-room hotel, and more. “We are very excited to welcome Taffer’s Tavern to our unique lineup of restaurant, retail and entertainment offerings here at Arsenal Yards,” said Gary Robinson, Vice President, Leasing at Wilder, developer of Arsenal Yards. “It is one of many new additions to the Arsenal Yards neighborhood, and we know our local community will love Jon Taffer’s vision for bringing a top quality experience to casual dining. This opening will help us further our goal of creating one-of-a-kind experiences for our residents, visitors and guests.”

This marks the first of several Taffer’s Tavern restaurants operated by experienced franchise operators and Boston area natives Marc Magerman and Peter Weber of 8G Hospitality Associates, LLC.

Business

Sweetgreen Opens Friday, Meals Sold on Opening Day Benefit Watertown Food Pantry

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Arsenal Yards is home to the newest location of sweetgreen. The following announcement was provided by sweetgreen:

On Friday, August 27, sweetgreen, the seasonal restaurant with the mission of connecting people to real food, opens its newest Boston-area restaurant at Arsenal Yards (100 Bond Square, Watertown, MA 02472). 

The space will be able to accommodate 24 guests inside, with a spacious patio for an additional 26 diners to enjoy salads and bowls during Boston’s summer months. Sweetgreen features fresh, seasonal food, including salads, warm bowls and plates. Earlier this year, sweetgreen went through a complete rebrand, and the Arsenal Yards space will reflect the company’s newest look decorated with updated posters, graphics and photography. For every meal sold on opening day, sweetgreen will donate a meal to its local impact partner, Watertown Food Pantry, to nourish those who are  food insecure in the Watertown community.

Around Town

Nike Opening New Store in Historic Building at Arsenal Yards

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NikeInside the new Nike Unite store at Arsenal Yards. One of the most visible spaces at Arsenal Yards will be filled by one of the biggest names in athletic clothing and gear. The new Nike Unite Watertown store opens Saturday, Aug. 7, in one of the buildings that was part of the original Watertown Arsenal. “As part of the Nike Unite concept, which reimagines our factory store vision, Nike Unite Watertown is a 15,998-square-foot home court for local Nike members, serving as our most valuable destination for sport and product inspiration in the communities we serve,” said the announcement from Nike.

Around Town

Celebrity Chef Opens New Orleans Inspired Restaurant in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseThe patio seating outside Buttermilk & Bourbon is part of Chef Jason Santos’ vision of bringing a taste of New Orleans to Watertown. One of Boston’s celebrity chefs brought his New Orleans inspired cuisine to Watertown, where he had his first opportunity to build a restaurant from scratch. Buttermilk & Bourbon officially opens on Monday, Aug. 9, but chef and owner Jason Santos hosted an opening night celebration on Aug. 5 at his newest location at Arsenal Yards.

Around Town

Wicked Dog Apparel Store Coming to Pop-Up Space at Arsenal Yards

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Wicked Dog Apparel will be occupying the pop-up space at Arsenal Yards. Arsenal Yards provided the following announcement:

Looking to partake in some summer shopping with a local brand that gives back to the community? Head to Watertown’s Arsenal Yards and shop local at the Wicked Dog Apparel Pop-Up Shop open Thursdays through Sundays now through the fall at 101 Arsenal Yards Blvd., next to Ben & Jerry’s. Launched in 2016 and inspired by a love of Boston, good times, and man’s best friend, Wicked Dog has set up shop at Watertown’s Arsenal Yards in the space next to Ben & Jerry’s. The pop-up is open weekly Thursday–Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and is selling a variety of apparel for folks of all ages including shirts, pullovers, hats, bags, sneakers, and more.