The Somerville institution ONCE took up a summer residency at Boynton Yards, creating an outdoor concert venue, the first of its kind in Somerville. ONCE, a popular independent music venue, started in 2006 with owner JJ Gonson at the helm. Gonson has a long and varied history in the music business, starting at 18 as a band photographer. In 1996, after many years away, she moved back to her hometown of Cambridge and shifted gears opening a catering business called Cousine En Locale. JJ found her dream kitchen in an available venue at 156 Highland Ave in Somerville. Her goal was to operate Cousine En Locale from the kitchen, but it was apparent to JJ that the venue itself, with its large ballroom and separate lounge, would make a better nightclub than high-end event space. They hosted bands on most nights, sometimes two shows a night with an act in the ballroom and one in the smaller lounge. The music crossed all genres from country to rap and punk to metal. It was inclusive, welcoming, and fun - Somerville loved it. February of 2020, the COVID pandemic brought all of it to a screeching halt. Independent live music venues were shuttered all over the country, and ONCE was not immune. JJ did her best to hold on, but even with the introduction of virtual events, she was forced to close her doors.
Nevertheless, JJ was determined to find a way for ONCE to survive. She used her many connections to network with city officials and other independent business owners. Finally, she was introduced to the teams at DLJ Real Estate Partners and Leggat McCall Properties, the co-investor of Boynton Yards.
“DLJ and Leggat McCall have a vision around music and arts in Somerville. They understand the importance of it and want to cultivate and support creative expression in Somerville.” Said Gonson. “To have a major developer want to get involved to support local music and arts is inspiring. They are innovators in that way.”
Boynton Yards and ONCE teamed up to answer the challenging question: how do we continue to give local people the live music and arts scene they crave and do it in the safest way possible? And so, ONCE @ Boynton Yards was born. The open-air nightclub was located at Boynton Yards in the parking lot directly across from the Taza Chocolate factory that the development purchased early this year. Each show felt like a mini music festival. Sometimes there was one opening act and a headliner; other times, it was a 12 band billing.
Alex Pickert, ONCE booking manager, says all of the shows were incredible. “People worked very hard to make this a success. The site took 6 hours to build for each show; it was impressive.” The high-end production came together through the efforts of local favorites like Tree Beard Media for video production, Dead Moon heading the audio efforts, and High Output providing the stage.
“Our goal was to create a venue as inclusive, safe, and open as possible,” says Alex. “Boynton Yards gave us a larger space than we had before, but our maximum capacity was slightly lower, giving everyone extra room. The best part was that it was outdoors, which was the safest choice we could make.” he goes on to say, “The Boynton people have been so helpful; it’s an exceptional relationship.”
Each event showcased top-notch local food vendors. Guests could choose from Bombay Brunch – authentic vegetarian Maharash cuisine, Kind Roots Veggie Burgers, Lala’s Neopolitan Pizza, Wildfox Pierogis, and Glasser Coffee. All local and ALL delicious. Bombay Brunch and Lala’s Neopolitan were on-site for every show. The other vendors posted their schedules on their websites. The bar at ONCE @ Boynton Yards featured New England beers, ciders, and hard seltzer.
The thrust of this project was to give the people of Somerville the live music they love and hire local people to do it. Everyone was from Somerville or very close by, from the food vendors to the artists selling their crafts. ONCE and Boynton Yards have a mission to keep things local and to nourish the arts scene in Somerville. The creativity, inclusivity, and quirkiness of Somerville make it a beautiful place to live. Boynton Yards has a philosophy of bringing people together as a community and protecting that vibe – this partnership did just that.
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Your safety is very important to us. Our shows are entirely outdoors. However, we are asking everyone to follow our COVID precautions for the safety of our guests, artist, and staff.
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BOYNTON YARDS DEVELOPMENT | CONSTRUCTION UPDATE.
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- 101 South, Boynton Yards’ first building, is nearing completion and will be occupied by the end of the year by companies founded by life sciences giant Flagship Pioneering. These companies include Tessera Therapeutics, Cellarity, LARONDE, and others. Flagship Pioneering Press Release
- Planning is now underway for Boynton Yards second lab building slated for completion in early 2023.
- With the goal of rejuvenating the building back to its original artist and maker roots to support the ACE community, Boynton Yards developers DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners and Leggat McCall Properties recently acquired adjacent property at 561 Windsor Street, known in Somerville as the Taza Building for long time tenant Taza Chocolate (and maker!) Expect to see improvements to the building’s façade and landscaping soon!
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L: Mint Green performing, Photo credit: Ben Stas. R: Kati Malison performing, Photo credit: Ben Stas.
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On July 24th, ONCE at Boynton Yards hosted NICE, a fest; a one-day music festival with a line up of 12 bands featuring Really From, Bowling Shoes, Shallow Pools, and many more. The day was a celebration of the return to live music, outdoors and safely. The sold-out show had crowds arriving early and staying late to listen to the varied lineup, which did not disappoint. The indie vibe was energetic, ecstatic, and well…NICE. People came for the music and stayed for the food, drinks, and vendors like Hooked Fish Shop who served fresh oysters in the Boynton Yards parking lot, and Wanna Hear it Records from Watertown who brought their collection of new and used punk, hardcore, metal, and indie rock vinyl.
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PEDDLING INTO THE FUTURE.
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Here at Boynton, we’re all about bikes, ease of connectivity, and joining the City to reduce Somerville’s carbon footprint. In fact, our Boynton E-bikes are being put to the test by our development team both onsite and around Somerville. Many Somervillians choose biking as their primary mode of transportation. It’s environmentally friendly, healthy, and, let’s face it, a lot more fun than sitting in traffic. As people trade their keys for bike helmets, the city is responding in kind. Somerville is striving to become one of the most bikeable urban areas in the nation. For the fifth year, the City of Somerville has earned the Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award from The League of American Bicyclists. The long-awaited bike path alongside the Green Line extension is on track to be completed by the end of 2021. Currently, it extends past Davis Square, where it connects with the Minuteman Bikeway. The city government has launched numerous initiatives to support cycling in our community. They have expanded bike lanes, invested in community bikes, and added 300 new bike parking spots. At Boynton Yards, we are committed to our cyclists and pedestrians as well. 101 South and future Boynton Yards buildings will have indoor bike storage, bike repair, onsite blue bike stations and e-bikes. Bike lanes connect to the surrounding fabric giving our cyclists a convenient and safe route to their home or office at Boynton Yards. Bike lanes connect Somerville to the whole life-sciences corridor, which is one reason it has become the hottest location for expansion.
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DON'T MISS: UNION SQUARE FARMER'S MARKET.
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Boynton Yards has been thrilled again to be part of the Union Square Farmer’s Market team as the 2021 lead season sponsor. Every Saturday from May through November, the farmers market in Union Square welcomes the people of Somerville to come and shop for healthy, local food from our neighboring farms at their open-air location. Join 30+ vendors at the new location on Somerville Avenue between Carlton and Hawkins Streets. Browse the stalls of farmers, cheese makers, bakers, chefs, and artisans on the COVID prepared site. Each month we enjoy connecting with the community to answer questions about Boynton Yards and to hand out some cool Boynton Yards shopping bags and swag. We recently asked our community giving partner, the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), to join us at our booth to help spread the word about their tremendous continued efforts to end poverty in our Somerville. Remember, eat healthy, choose local, stay safe and shop outdoors!
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KIDS CORNER: SOMERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
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As summer is ending and we pack our kid's backpacks for their return to school, we at Boynton Yards want to spotlight the tremendous work our teachers and librarians have done during these challenging times. This summer, as our community continued to deal with COVID-19, the Somerville Public Library found innovative new ways to provide programming for our children that reached beyond physical books and buildings. The branches filled their calendars with innovative, engaging programs for our littlest readers - the best part, they put safety first by hosting outdoor activities and virtual events.
The Somerville Public Library system consists of three branches: The Central Branch, 79 Highland Avenue (Union Square), The East Branch 115 Broadway (Sullivan Square), and The West Branch, 40 College Avenue (Davis Square). Each location took advantage of its outdoor space and nearby parks to curate a summer schedule for all ages.
Our toddler and preschool friends enjoyed storytimes in Prospect Park and The Teddy Bear Story Time on the East Lawn of the East branch. The Central Library hosted a weekly drama workshop on its lawn for budding thespians ages seven and older. Tweens were able to enjoy their very own book club called “The Page Turners” hosted by the West Branch in their backyard; the eager readers in this book club will continue to meet throughout the school year. These are just a few of the enriching in-person programming that the library system created for our community this summer.
The robust virtual events calendar included a summer reading curriculum for all ages where the children logged hours of reading and could earn prizes. There was also a stuffed animal sleepover where little patrons could drop off their favorite stuffed friend and watch their nighttime adventures on social media. The Somerville Public Library is a community hub for educational curriculums and fun for the whole family.
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LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: BOW MARKET.
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Since opening in 2018, Bow Market has captured our hearts. The open-air market, consisting of 30 independent businesses in the center of Union Square, has an unmistakable creative spirit. The moment you walk through the gates, you can feel the energy of a completely original, collaborative space where everyone is welcome and happy to be there, from the vendors to the guests. My husband and I have spent many a date night at Bow Market; we love sipping the natural wines on the patio at Rebel Rebel and sampling the delicious macarons at Maca Boston. We always leave feeling astounded by something we tasted and nostalgic for our old Somerville apartment. So, two Sundays ago, we brought our family, and it was impressive (though not surprising) to see the imaginative way they have responded to the pandemic.
Firepit tables and large umbrellas fill the outdoor courtyard in the market center, the answer to a chilly evening or a sunny day. You can always sit at the courtyard tables and order food from any of the unique vendors in the market, but now they have table-side drink service that adds a layer of convenience. They even gave us cold water for our puppy, who they welcomed with open arms.
After much deliberation, we decided to try the Korean Bibimbap at Perillas, and we were so glad we did. The bowl was a delicious combination of thinly sliced beef, white rice, crunchy fresh vegetables, and spicy pickles. We also ordered from Nibble Kitchen, an initiative from the Somerville Arts Council that spurs cultural, economic development & supports immigrant communities through a culinary experience. When we were seated, the hostess informed us that we were lucky because they serve Venezuelan Arepas on Sundays. Lucky indeed! Arepas are Venezuelan corn patties similar to a tortilla filled with various ingredients, ours was stuffed with beans and cheese, and it was incredible; my five-year-old has been asking for it since.
After lunch, we popped into some shops, each with its own somewhat irreverent yet charming vibe. My kids were entranced by the stickers, cards, and art supplies in Tiny Turns Paperie. Their genius little cards have the perfect amount of sass for any occasion. Next, we checked out Bloom Collective with its curation of beautiful crafts from local artists and merchants, a great place for gifts for friends and yourself.
My takeaway? Bow Market’s eclectic mix of shops and restaurants creates an open, welcoming feel that makes for a perfect Sunday afternoon for all ages and puppies too!
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Boynton Yards loves this city. We want to turn up the volume on the Somerville soundtrack and highlight all that is unique and wonderful about living and working here. Join us next month for more construction updates and stories about the art, industry, food, and culture that creates the bewitching Somerville vibe. Subscribe to the Boynton-Beat or to learn more about Boynton Yards visit our website.
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