EVER MOVIN’ FORWARD: REMEMBERING JEFF LAWRENCE & THE BEST LITTLE PAPER IN BOSTON When I got the call that founding publisher of Boston’s Weekly Dig/DigBoston Jeff Lawrence had left us last week at the tender age of 54, it tore me to shreds. For the past 12 years since I left The Dig, I haven't really looked back. I have no words, or maybe not as much as I thought, but I think I owe Jeff, the city of Boston, and perhaps myself some explanation of who the guy was in retrospect- what he created and how it changed alternative media, not to mention who he brought together, and the opportunities that he gave young writers and others venturing into the Boston media market. The paper was fueled by news, arts, music, culture, event listings, and a brand of humor not always for the faint of heart. In those early days when Boston's Weekly Dig was rearing its head, he was my boss, a good friend, and at times a confidant. Jeff acted as mentor to me as I became immersed in Boston’s publishing and journalism community. Looking back, there was no other publication that was going to give me any opportunity like he did. ORIGINS While the idea to start a publication was percolating in Jeff's mind in the latter part of the 90s, it occurred to him that The Boston Phoenix which was at the helm of alternative Boston media at the time, had no competitor. This is during
an era where the internet was starting to thrive, speculating the future of print. It was a completely new frontier for journalism and publishing and many were hesitant…not Jeff. He had been putting out a little paper called Shovel, which was preliminary to what The Weekly Dig manifested into. It occurred to him that he could sell advertisements in print, be a force in sponsoring events, and take on just about anything that The Phoenix wasn't. He had a good mind when it came to competition. Jeff decided to make the paper free since advertisement would take care of its production and eventually its profits. This eventually took The Phoenix for quite a ride and there was a bitter rivalry over the years, mostly playful but at times nasty.
— CRAIG TERLINO
I reached out to the editor of the paper at the time explaining I was very close to sitting down and speaking with the late great Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. I had just come from the South Shore of Boston, where I was working as the front page editor at a monthly newspaper called the Hingham Times. In no time, however, I was canned because of the belligerent nature of my writing and the eccentric stories that I chose to put on their front page.
Fast forward a couple months, making my way into the oppressively hot Dig loft in Chinatown late at night to secretly fax Hunter S. Thompson. It was Jeff who received the fax reply from my literary hero. I was ecstatic. “Is he going to give me the interview?” I asked. To perhaps make light of the rivalry, Jeff “Are you sitting down?” He continued… Lawrence challenged The Boston Phoenix publisher Steven Mendich (in his ”He told you to ‘Fuck Off! You write like 70s at the time) to a road race and of a bull fruit whore with a SHOVEL up her course Steven didn't show up for it, but ass.’ He says ‘Good Luck In Sicily!’” Jeff ran the 2k anyhow… in a full on chicken costume. This infuriated a lot of In disbelief, I asked, “bull fruit what? the people who were working for The Sicily?” I rushed down to the office, and Boston Phoenix at the time. They looked it was legit. My fax was returned with at us and many probably still do as a big black marks and big boorish bunch of infidels running wild in the comments. journalism community in Boston. There was some truth to it…but what of it? Jeff brought promise to such a humiliating moment, “Don't let it get to FEAR AND LOATHING IN BEANTOWN you, Captain. Not for nothing, but he I moved to Boston mid-2000 and actually took the moment to correspond immediately came across The Weekly with you, so you must have given him Dig, as I was trying to find an outlet for some kind of rise.” my writing, I reached out to the editor of
BLOOD, SWEAT, AND GEARS Jeff gave me a job but he also gave me a van, a testament to the freedom and independence I was given. I drove it and looked over it proudly like Montgomery Scott to the USS Enterprise. My job was to drive the company van around, deliver the paper, but there was a more important factor to that job. Each issue needed to be placed strategically on the street and in certain businesses. Each issue paved way for the next. I applied a marketing aesthetic to putting the paper out rather than being some sort of glorified newsboy. I knew that if we just dumped papers wherever, the readership would suffer. On the streets, although our readers were excited to see the van pull up with a new issue, I wasn't a hit with the Boston police since it took me a few years to understand that there's no turn on red in Boston and everywhere I decided to park was illegal. continued on p. 2
PAGE LAYOUTS: Yasmin Hamilton: p. 1, 4, 5 Abigail Lincks: p. 2, 3 Adrian Alvarez: p. 6, 8 Kelsey Deemer: p. 7
continued from p.1 I had a lot of run-ins with cab drivers, cyclists, homeless people, truckdrivers, old men, and angry business owners who hated our paper and told me never to step foot in their establishment again. I even managed to piss off a Teamster in Charlestown which resulted in a call to Jeff telling him that next time I try to get heavy with a fellow Union delegate, I won't be so lucky. Most bosses would send you right home or take the keys away. Not Jeff. He lived for those moments. The paper was important to me because it not only gave me a chance to write but it surrounded me with a lot of support and people who believed in me and got me where I needed to be as a writer. It’s where I found a purpose. There were even rumors that I lived out of the van. I can't say I didn't take refuge in it on many sleepless nights while living with a bunch of coke-addled and bourbon sniffing roommates. On some occasions it was my office since I was working on the road. As a writer, I've held many interviews in the van. I would give random strangers who claim they were readers rides to the other side of town strictly out of good merit. And every once in a while a drunken fight amongst Dig employees broke out in the back of the van- one time leaving a bloody mess for me to clean up. One of my most cherished experiences in the van was taking it to Laconia, New Hampshire for Bike Week 2000 to distribute the issue where my Hunter S. Thompson story had finally made its way to the page. I spent the day hanging out with bikers sharing a mutual respect for marijuana and mezcal. The next day I decided to drive a little bit further north and I found myself on top of Mount Washington, in a two and a half ton double bed company van which read “Boston’s Weekly Dig …The Best Lil’ Paper In Boston.” I even put a sticker on the back saying this vehicle climbed Mount Washington. I never told Jeff that I took the van up there, although I think the sticker gave it away. He never asked me. On the way down, it was all blood, sweat and gears, as the brakes began smoking and the acrid stench of brake dust burned my nostrils. I feared I'd have to call him and break the news. “Hey Jeff, you're not going to like this but I took the van to the top of Mount Washington and on the way down the brakes started to catch fire. The tires are completely melted to the tarmac. I can't go any further.” I was proud to be a part of this paper and I was proud of the job I had- to put the paper out every week. I even wrote a fiery weekly column called “Captain’s Log” about my escapades delivering the paper. MOVING AND SHAKING When I first came aboard, I realized the force of this paper. The Weekly Dig had a huge hand during its run advocating everything from legalizing tattoos and cannabis, to boasting local politics, and even lifted some blue laws such as not being able to buy liquor on Sundays. Infidels. Jeff Lawrence was also a huge force in presenting and encouraging what many know today as craft beer. At the time there were a couple Boston breweries such as Harpoon and as everyone knows Sam Adams. They were the first beer companies to put their good foot forward and make beer a little bit more interesting than the warm piss that your grandfather used to drink. To each his own perhaps, but when Jeff brought in the Alstrom Brothers to write a column, which became known as Beer Advocate, it spawned a whole culture in Boston upping their game from connoisseurs to brewers. We all started to learn a little bit more about beer and it became, and still is, alive and well today.
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The Weekly Dig reached its peak success in the mid-2000s, as it became DigBoston, when editor-in-chief Joe Keohane came aboard and really took the literary value and substance of the paper to new heights. Boston Magazine came along as an investor up until 2011 when Jeff bought the paper back for one dollar and called me back to pick up where I left off.
So the next time you find yourself at a bar drinking craft beer, or walking out of the dispensary, or even getting a tattoo, you can give that man a little praise for the parts he played in it. Here's to you Jeff!
––––––––CRAIG TERLINO
Jeff Lawrence cherished all the people he brought together. He opened doors for quite a lot of people, but on many occasions it was reciprocated because of the decisions he made and the people that he confided and trusted in to be part of his paper, his legacy. Like any business they were ugly times but it was a huge support system for people who wouldn't want to be anywhere else at that time. Some say he paid his staff in burrito cards and other types of trade, which I never had much of a problem with because if I got paid I was going to buy food anyhow, but that's not the whole picture. He gave everybody an opportunity and brought a lot of people together who went on to other successes. CHANGING OF THE GUARD By 2013, Jeff was probably thinking about exiting the business and putting all his efforts into the legalization of cannabis. He was probably burned out with the publishing game, especially how the times were dictating a final shift from print to digital media. After all, it was advertising that was keeping the paper alive for many years, or should I say advertising was keeping it financed. It was the writing and the energy of the writers that kept the paper alive. Although Jeff challenged me on many levels he had a good heart, even if he didn't know where to put it sometimes. When he saw me struggling, confused, walking into walls, or sometimes worried that I'd be making a bad decision about something, he always offered the best advice. After I finally left The Dig in 2013 he and I didn't speak too much. I could see something changed in him. He had gone through a series of personal issues like we all do, but some of us come around the bend, some of us don't. Our last conversation didn't go so well. It was a bunch of headbutting. He thought I was hitting him up for a job and I think that bothered him because at that time he was working for someone else and not the media bigwig that he once was. The drinking and excess exceeded him a little bit and I saw that. It broke my heart because as I said, there was a time when I looked up to him. But I must be clear, I never looked down on him. Frustrated perhaps, because there was something going on I just couldn't put my finger on. EVER MOVING FORWARD In the last two months leading up to his passing, it sounded like there was a struggle. But there are three words that he told me on occasion when he saw me struggling, confused, walking into walls, and completely filled with anxiety. No, it wasn't “I love you,” although he would from time to time tell us that he loved us when he and his blood alcohol level was a little high. These three words I'll never forget, they have become part of the fabric of my own philosophy of staying present and moving ahead:
ALLSTON X ALLSTON Local bands support unhoused community
Have you ever wanted to hear Boston’s best local bands covering each other all in one place? If the answer to that was a confused look or a no, let's just say you're missing out. Allston X Allston, released Nov. 17, is a 27song-long cover album of Boston-born bands covering each other's releases. All proceeds from Bandcamp sales benefit Warm Up Boston, a survival program that empowers Boston’s unhoused population through action-backed solidarity. The organization prioritizes harm reduction while focusing on material aid and advocating against city policies that harm unhoused people. A third of the way through the album, a pinnacle is reached with Winkler’s contributions. The band covered “Big Bug” by The Croaks, and their track “Nothing But Time (if you want it),” is covered by St. Clementine. St. Clementine brings a fresh take to the 2023 release, adding their jangly folk sound to the already warm track. The band introduces fiddle, which compliments the original while stamping their own ink seal on it. On “Big Bug,” Winkler reinvents The Croaks' fuzzy post-rock tone with an audible McCartney influence. The addition of their DIY sound compliments narrative lyrics like “Moved into a house hidden deep in the city/Took my problem to the insect committee/They said it was clean...I found that hard to believe/Came home late last night what did I see?/Big bug.”
“Ever Moving Forward!” For those who did know him, if you heard these words from him, then you know what I'm talking about. May that spirit live on within us and keep moving us forward. May all future journalists and publishers take a page from his driving force and maybe throw a couple away if need be. He was a manifestation of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly that we all have in us…but certainly a force to reckon with.A folk hero and a champion to changing the face of media in Boston as many knew it prior to the millennium.
“Big Bug” is arguably a song about personal anxiety, but in the context of Allston X Allston, it has a different connotation. The cover suggests that the “insect committee” is the city government, which puts forth and enacts policy that Warm Up says “perpetuate a housing shortage to create profit, entrench racism, criminalize homelessness, and deprive the poor of access to affordable, quality healthcare.”
It’s true, lyrics can be analyzed for meaning; sounds and styles can be written about. But the impact of Allston X Allston and Warm Up Boston is so very, very real. By coming together to record these covers, the indie scene, including these 27 bands, proves its solidarity with a vulnerable community in our city. The album, mastered by Nicky Donovan, has a charming DIY sound to it that evokes classic basement shows. Those basement shows, which all of these bands have played at some point or another, are what the Boston music scene is about. Allston X Allston argues that Bostonians look out for each other. It argues that art is political, and that music can make a difference. Bostonians support each other by doing what they can, whether that be recording covers, volunteering at Warm Up, or even just listening to the music. Allston X Allston is not available on streaming services, but take a breath and relax, reader. You, too, can listen to these unique renditions for the simple (and worth it) price of $16 on Bandcamp.
–––––––––––– RINA LABY
SCENES OFF SPOTIFY
Creating a Better World for Musicians and Listeners Can the music streaming bubble finally burst? Scenes Off Spotify, a new movement organizing nationally and helmed by scenes in Chicago, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Boston, think it can be done. Everyone knows on some level that Spotify is evil - they allow AI copycats to post “new” songs onto the pages of verified artists (often long deceased, like Blaze Foley), run ICE and IDF recruitment ads to free subscribers, pay independent artists one of the worst percentages of all the digital streaming providers (DSPs) and demonetize any song under 1000 streams, they have illegal backdoor deals with all of the major labels, and their founder is involved in military startups investing in AI weapons. As well, streaming services in general (with Spotify being the worst) nudge users towards passive listening and engagement with music. This is overall terrible for our local scenes and independent music as a whole, as it detaches music fans from listening to and investing in music on a deeper emotional level. Regardless of all of this, Spotify continues on as the leading streaming service - what would it take to change that?
Scenes Off Spotify believes that a bottom up, organized divestment from the platform will start to turn the tide away from the DSP. Modeled after a demonstration already made public in Chicago where over 100 local bands pledged to pull all or a significant part of their discographies, the national groups’ hope is to organize similarly in cities all over the country. With a goal of one thousand artists pledging nationally, the group is poised to make a huge splash in the DIY and independent music world. They look towards a future where music is once again valued as something worth paying attention to and worth paying for. There is already a growing movement of Boston-based artists, bands, and fans taking the leap away from Spotify. If you’re a musician fed up with the state of streaming, or a music fan considering making the switch from Spotify to another DSP (or quitting them altogether!), consider joining or following along with Scenes Off Spotify by heading to this link and submitting an inquiry form.
MASSACHUSETTS MINUTE IT'S MARQUISE! NOW
Depending on who you ask, the mention of the Boston music scene stirs different feelings, memories, and associations. For the old heads, Edo. G, the Almighty RSO, and New Edition are likely some of the first artists to come to mind. For younger generations, Boston hardcore icons Haywire or the rising rap sensations that make up Van Buren Records are two groups of artists who may come into frame. Others might think back on the shows they experienced at any one of the Greater Boston area’s list of music venues, from The Middle East to the Great Scott to Big Night Live. But for those, like me, who are quickly approaching unc status (if not already there), a distinct vision comes into mind—the early 2010s.
2010-2015 was a particularly formative period of time for Boston’s music scene. A chapter nestled right in between the Blog Era and the SoundCloud era, artists belonging to this class were some of the first to experience just how far the power of social media and online community could take them. Some of the artists found their footing during this ––––– MADDY SIMPSON who time include Cousin Stizz, Michael Christmas, Jefe Replay (Rest In Peace), J O I N T H E M O V E M E N T ! Cam Meekins, Avenue, Moe Pope, and Caliph. But there was another special artist who blossomed during this stretch of time—MARQUISE!.
Scan here or visit linktr.ee/scenesoffspotify
Formerly known as Og Swaggerdick, MARQUISE! has played an especially emblematic role in Boston’s music scene for more than a decade. From basement Boiler Room performances to Middle East headliners to the Eric Andre Show, MARQUISE! has amassed quite the resume up to this point in his lengthy career. But after a recent transition into fatherhood, moments of reflection, and a desire to show up as his most authentic self, MARQUISE! left his old persona in the past—putting aside his alter ego and instead opting for his real, government name. While it’s already been nearly two years since this evolution has taken place, MARQUISE! is finally starting to show fans what this fresh start means
sonically. Towards the tail end of November, MARQUISE! and East Boston producer Grubby Pawz linked up to gift fans with IT’S MARQUISE! NOW. A five song EP that features fellow Massachusetts MCs Michael Christmas and Luke Bar$, the newest release from MARQUISE! is a telling example of who the Boston artist really is.
Photo Credits: Chow While still borrowing some of the stylistic influences that were foundational to Og Swaggerdick’s music, this new EP takes a step in a different direction. Equipped with Soul, Funk, and Jazz sonic inspiration, IT’S MARQUISE! NOW combines an almost Freddie Gibbs-like style of production with more internet, Lil Badjacent raps. There’s a heightened sense of maturity with MARQUISE!’s music now, but it doesn’t abandon the core artist that MARQUISE! built a fan base around over the years. As much as this transition and the release of this project do mark a new beginning, it’s probably more accurate to classify it as a rebirth than anything else. MARQUISE! has completely reinvented himself, and this project is a testament to where this journey has taken him. Though “BAOW!” and “DAWG!” are certainly personal standouts, the entirety of this project is 12 and a half minutes fans of Boston music won’t want to miss.
––––––––– SHAMUS HILL
inclusive services, shops, or
music & audio www.bostonshows.org An online listing of shows in Boston, submit ya links!
1/24 The Makeshift Kings, Hot Lunch, Minisplit, Cherry Picking @ Midway Cafe 8pm 21+ $10 1/24 McBling Rave Y2K + 2010s DJ sets and performances @ Crystal Ballroom 8:45pm 18+
1/6 Words as Worlds presents: Freedom Sounds ft Dj411 @ Just Book-ish 6:30pm- 1/25 We Are Space Horses, Mother Fungus, Strawberry 8pm All Ages FREE Coffin, Lesotho @ O'Briens Pub 1/9 Black Helicopter, Spiller, 2pm-6pm 18+ $12.55
local favorites, their resource 12/20-1/18 Apollonaire performance Theatre Company presents Is guide has you covered. This a Room by Tina Satter 1/3 Race And Inclusion Book Head to Chelsea for a psychological thriller based on Group: People Before Highways By Karilyn Crockett real FBI transcripts @ Book group discussion on Apollinaire Theatre Co $28+ Boston's anti-highway protest and its impact @ Roslindale 1/15-1/17 It’s Complicated Zoridyctions presents David Branch of the Boston Public Mamet’s Oleana A powerful, Library 9:15am-11am All Ages FREE intimate play with Mamet’s profound commentary on interpersonal relationships @ BCA Plaza Black Box theatre 7pm 18+ $50
1/10 Heading For Extinction Talk An Extinction Rebellion talk on climate crisis, science, and action @ Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library 3:15pm-4:15pm All Ages FREE 3/3 Creative Sector Day At The State House 2026 Artists and creatives perform and exhibit to advocate for the arts to the State Government @ Massachusetts State House 1pm-3pm All Ages
1/4 Vinyl Record Show Up to 100 tables – the largest vinyl show in the area @ Dedham Holiday Inn 10am-3pm All Ages Daughter Of The Vine @ 1/25 Adlo, Divorce Cake, $5 Deep Cuts Deli 7pm 18+ 1/15 Roslindale Comedy 1/23 Surviving Deer Island Vivravera @ The Jungle 5pm$13.60 Showcase @ The Square Root Book Talk Indigenous 8pm 21+ FREE 1/7 Pub Quiz @ The Square Cafe 7pm-10pm 21+ FREE Resistance to Genocide from Root Cafe 8pm-11pm 21+ FREE King Phillip's War to the 1/9 Rong, Blast Shield Grind, 1/27 The Inkwell Open Mic Posthumous Band, Robots 1/16-1/18 Stokely And Present History Talk @ Lucy Presents Covers for Change 1/8 Be·com·ing: A Lecture-ish Parsons Center 7pm-9pm All Keep Secrets, Constantly Martin A play imagining a Night This open mic night is Terrified @ Tourist Trap conversation between MLK Jr. Series ft Catherine Morris A Ages FREE known for allowing original only Allston. DM and Stokely Carmichael. 8pm talk centering the work and life material, but as a partnership @tourist_trap_allston for Friday/Saturday, 2pm Sunday @ of BAMS Fest organizer 1/25 People's Assembly For with local orgs (TBD), they'll be Catherine Morris @ Just Bookaddress 8pm All Ages $10-$15 Multicultural Arts Center All 2026 Strategy Extinction hosting a permitted covers ish 6:30pm-8pm All Ages Ages $30 Rebellion members discuss 1/10 Live Band Karaoke Sing night for a cash donation of $32025 strategy and organization 1/11 Mass Revolution Arts x with a live band at your local 5 per cover. Donations will go 1/17 Dwg Presents improvements @ Cambridge towards helping the Est 24 Hrs presents Notorious Friends House 4pm-5pm All rock venue @ O'Briens Pub Dreamlove Fashion Show underserved members of our Revolution @ The Jungle 9pm- Ages 7pm 21+ $12 featuring LoveCashionista community on the streets in a designs and merch @ Arts at 11:30pm critical time. Sign up via 1/11 Ava Neal Original the Armory 7pm-9pm All Ages 1/16 Rupaul’s Drag Race singer-songwriter showcase Instagram @theinkwellopenmic $20 opportunity @ Midway Cafe 8pm 21+ $5 Fridays Watch Season 18 in @ Lilypad 8pm-9:30pm All community, hosted by Mizery @ Ages $10 1/22 Book Launch: Let The 1/29 Running with Scissors Club Cafe 8pm-10pm 21+ FREE Call for Art: Lunar New Year Moon Wobble By Ally Ang, 1/11 Sado-domestics @ The Tour: Afternoon Bike Ride @ Ft. Anju & Chen Chen Poetry Exhibit Each Lunar New Year, Lilypad 7:30pm-9:30pm All Square Root Cafe 4pm-6pm reading, music, Q&A, and book 1/19 MLK Day Of Service: Pao Arts Center welcomes Ages $15 Solidarity Meetup At Life 21+ FREE signing for Ally Ang's debut 2000 visitors to celebrate AAPI collection @ PAO Arts Center Alive Join hands-on projects arts and culture. This call is an 1/31 Armadi Tsayn EP Release 6:30pm-8pm All Ages honoring MLK Jr. with 1/14 Problems, Yeah invitation for local artists to Show @ Lilypad 7:30pmExtinction Rebellion and friends contribute to a vibrant Everything, Aznjujube @ 9:45pm All Ages $15 1pm-5pm All Ages O'Briens Pub 7pm 18+ $18 1/24 Boston League Of collection that honors the 1/15 Boston Urban Ceilidh Participatory social dances with live music from Celtic traditions @ Crystal Ballroom 7:30pm All Ages 1/16 Eliad Wagner, Dei Xhrist, Richard Tarantino Experimental & improvised electronics, vocals, and movement from Berlin and New England @ GoetheInstitut Boston 8pm All Ages $10-$15
1/31 Michael Nau, Magic Tuber String Band @ Deep Cuts Deli 7pm 18+ $28
visual art 11/21-1/17 Objects of Devotion A group exhibition exploring routines, rituals, and spirituality in daily life @ Distillery Gallery All Ages FREE
1/24 The Imposter Syndrome A surreal talk-show by Jaina 1/17 Silver Screams, Static Cipriano where self-doubt Friction, Screw Cart, Fear is a becomes spectacle @ The Mind Killer @ Midway Cafe Capitol Theatre 7pm All Ages 3:30pm-9pm All Ages $10 FREE 1/18-1/19 AfrobeatsOnly on 1/25 Tarot + Art Workshop MLK Weekend Get ready to Explore tarot and create art dance the night away to the inspired by the cards. Hosted hottest beats @ Mémoire by Brenda Echeverry @ The Boston 10pm 21+ $25 Foundry 3pm-5pm 18+ $25 1/22 Get To The Gig Presents Sharp Pins with Eli Winter art and Invisible Rays live music event @ Arts at the Armory 1/3 Ebb & Alchemy Pt2 7pm-10pm All Ages Featuring original works and
performance art
improvistionsart by local dancers, 1/23 Dd Island, Winkler, choreographers, musicians, & Tyler And The Names @ Deep artists @ Spontaneous Cuts Deli 7pm 18+ $13.60 Celebrations 7:30pm-10pm All
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Ages $20
Wicked Wrestlers ft Pink Slip One Fall The baddies of (BLOWW) are hitting the mats for a very special throwback show! And throwing down a brand new beer collab while we're at it. @ Deep Cuts Deli 7pm 18+ $17 1/25 Luvwander An ethereal journey through sound and emotion, blending ambient textures live @ The Rockwell 8pm All Ages $12–$17
1/29-2/1 ArtsEmerson presents Noli Timere Innovative choreographer Rebecca Lazier and ethereal sculptor Janet Echelman collaborate on this hypnotic aerial performance happening 25 feet in the air. Can’t afford to miss this. @ Arts Emerson $25+
community
1/30 Clean Energy Mixer Presented by Boston Ujima Project and Boston Center for Community Ownership. Connect with other professionals invested in good business, collaboration, and community centered work, while enjoying food and drinks from Fresh Food Generation. @ Location TBA 6pm-7pm All Ages FREE 1/31 Junk Journaling Create journals using recycled and found materials. Supplies provided! @ Egleston Square Branch of the Boston Public Library 3pm-4:30pm All Ages FREE
advocacy
The Arts and Accessibility Hub Providing arts and culture BostonBikeEvents.net No organizations with information, affiliation, just compilation. resources, training, and experts to increase accessibility. Visit BostonQueers.com Your go-to artsaccesshub.org queer-owned business directory for discovering and Boston Liberation Center exploring queer-owned Birthday Fundraiser Donate to businesses in New England. support this community group's Whether you're looking for birthday fundraising goal: $4000 for 4 years! Donate @ bit.ly/BLC-donate.
heritage, rituals, and stories surrounding the Lunar New Year. Visit paoartscenter.org to apply. @ PAO Arts Center. All Ages. The deadline to apply is 1/9.
Dance Around Boston A weekly newsletter with dance classes around Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and the greater Boston area. Visit danceclassesboston.substack.c om to sign up. 1/28 Cultural Organizing For Artists An arts action workshop hosted by Shey 'Rí Acu' Rivera Ríos on artist collaboration with communities and organizations @ Online. Visit arts-action.com to learn more. 6pm-8pm All Ages FREE
Ben Tolkin is an experienced crossword constructor and editor, who's made both full-size and mini crosswords for major publications. Though most people are familiar with the dry style of national newspapers, Ben is excited to make crosswords that are fun, cool and hyper local by incorporating modern slang, dumb memes, and Boston terms into his puzzles. www.nautiluspuz.com
ADVERTISE WITH BOSTON'S ONLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER! (Us!!!)
–––– BEN TOLKIN
ANSWER KEY!
DOWN
1 Fishy foot-long, maybe 8 Taxi 11 UFC sport 14 Eighth avatar of Vishnu 15 Had a bite 16 Hear here! 17 Part of a plan 18 Home to the world's oldest continuouslyoperating university 20 Red line in Boston? 22 Unit of soap, or signal 25 Handiwork at a salon? 26 Reddit Q&A sessions 27 Green line in Boston? 32 Org. for women working on links? 33 Soothing succulent 34 Org. that was the subject of Snowden leaks 35 Blue line in Boston? 40 Hides out 41 "Scarface" director Brian 45 Before, in an old way 46 Modern art? 47 Put up 48 "Sick!" 49 Haul 50 Milk, Park, Newbury, etc.
1 Decision that can end a boxing match, for short 2 Remains to be seen? 3 Bit of cacao 4 "Since..." 5 Indian actress Anushka 6 Virtual 7 Villainous story arc conclusion, often 8 Mexican resort, for short 9 Little bit of everything? 10 Three stars, for Orion 11 Classic video game character in blue armor 12 Crazy ones 13 Central Asian body of water that's mostly dried up 19 Final exam type for some degrees 21 Middle Eastern money 22 "Bob's Burgers" surname 23 Ancient Greek storage unit 24 Entertained with stories, maybe 28 Unusual 29 Omits, as syllables 30 Out of the public eye 31 Great boyfriend, e.g. 36 Exam for a future JD 37 Continental currency 38 Emit 39 Dash, e.g. 42 4G tech 43 Encountered 44 Sponsored spots
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SEASON 9
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MEET THE ARTIST Brian Huntress’ art is a whimsical acid trip infused with classical oil painting and punk rock ethos. A Boston based artist and content creator, Huntress shares time lapse videos of his painting and illustration process with audio commentary, music, and offbeat art history lessons to an audience of over 200,000 followers online.
THIRD SPACES WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU AT IN 2026
Congratulations! The winds of time have blown us past the winter solstice, and each day the sun will be shining on us longer and longer. With all this newfound daylight on your hands, you may be interested in spending it at some hip, local third spaces. 1369 Coffeehouse is a cozy, delectable cafe wellstocked with espresso, sandwiches, and seating. Whether you arrive with the intention to catch up about New Year’s Resolutions with a pal, admire and find inspiration from local art, or buckle down with some noise cancelling headphones and overdue work, 1369 Coffeehouse provides a comfortable space for all activities. 1369 Coffeehouse serves beverages and treats across Cambridge at both of their locations in Inman Square and Central Square.
The Brattle Theater is the perfect venue to fight off these still long inter nights heir thoughtful, curated screenings provide a nostalgic reunion for old favorites and an opportunit to e perience classics on the big screen he rattle serves as a elcome reminder of the delightful shared e perience and communit feeling that occurs hen ou atch movies in a theater he rattle heater s inter calendar dropped mere da s ago and inBoston Comic Arts Foundation cludes a avid nch birthda tribute, a premire is your one stop shop for expandrun of agellan, and he rattle s annual ugs ing your comic craft this winter. The unn ilm estival ou can atch these BCAF organizes events and workshops films and man more at their location geared towards building community and near arvard quare in exchanging ideas between Boston creators. ambridge Their Picture + Panel series at the Boston Figurative Art Center in Somerville features a unique, thought-provoking theme on the first Monday of each month. Stop by the Boston Midway Cafe Comic Arts Foundation events page to learn is a third space we more about their winter events. cannot encourage that you visit enough this winter. After a single visit to their weekly Queeraoke event, you too will understand the sanctuary that is this sweet, sweet bar. With an oval bar that can service the entire venue at once to the decor that seems to grace every inch of every wall, the ambiance alone would be enough to catch a vibe, but Midway Cafe’s community-centered events is what brings this space to the next level. Their The Square Root schedule is packed with live music, open mics, is a venue that blows and events every day of the week. Midway Cafe the hinges off your typical is situated squarely in Jamaica Plain with fresh cafe. Open from 7am-11pm entertainment and a cold bevermost days, The Square Root age waiting for you. seamlessly transitions from a daytime workspace and coffee joint to a live music and performances venue with ease. Their events page offers an accommodating range of entertainment from karaoke and jazz performances to film screenings and pub quizzes. Located in Roslindale, The Square Root has you covered for pastries, espresso, and beer during these last few short winter days.
KELSEY DEEMER
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He got his start playing basement shows on the South Shore while working in a factory art studio before shifting his creative output online, where his energetic,
mixed media style quickly found a large audience. His visual work ranges from metaphysical oil paintings to scribbly collage pieces built from a tornado of materials and ideas. In addition to his visual art, Huntress is an anti-folk songwriter who has released dozens of albums over the past decade, including fan favorite EP Art Songs for Kids and Teens. Today, he continues to make educational art content online while painting and performing live.
BRIAN HUNTRESS
NOTES FROM THE CREW VOLUNTEER POWER RUNS BCN
We wanted to share an organizational update here: TLDR, end-of-year budgeting has us pivoting towards a more sustainable structure that returns to our volunteer-run beginnings! November was a really monumental month for us as we faced some realities about publishing the BCN, triggered by our search for a new production manager! Throughout the search (deepest gratitude to all who applied!) and onboarding, we realized the actual degree of labor that goes into producing this thing was not aligned with the amount of funds we budgeted (plus, we had $0 budgeted for the labor that goes into managing said paid position)! This caused us to take a pause, align our resources with our revenue, and decide how to pivot. Ultimately, despite our ambitions and efforts to transition to paid admin, the BCN has always been a volunteer effort and we realized we must embrace and celebrate the volunteer power that is still making this paper happen and will continue to create a it – channeling volunteer power to get local bunch of paid gigs for artists every month – artists paid for covering the culture. THAT is sustainable. Happy New Year BCN Family! So keep volunteering and submitting your ideas for the paper and we will keep doing what we do for as long as we can do
SAM P.