July 2016 - Neighborhood View

Expert Larry Cultrera discusses Malden-area diners

July 29, 2016 neighbormedia 0

Larry Cultrera, author of two books on classic diners, said it was love at first sight when it comes to his life-long passion. “The writing was way down the road from my initial interest,” Cultrera told What’s New Malden. “I was interested in diners from the time I was a little kid, probably four or five years old. My dad told me about diners, that they are actually pre-fabricated restaurants. They look somewhat like railroad cars but they’re not railroad cars or converted railroad cars.” Cultrera, who grew up in Medford and is currently living in Saugus, said he would love to spot diners when his father drove him around the Boston area. “I noticed all of the diners that we had at that time in the ’50s and early ’60s,” he recalled. “And as time went on they started to disappear. By 1980 I was getting into photography and I started photographing diners as a documentation type of a thing.” Over the past 36 years, Cultrera photographed more than 800 diners. The 63-year-old author […]

TV SHOW: “What’s New? Malden” for August

July 26, 2016 neighbormedia 0

In the August edition of Neighborhood View’s What’s New? Malden: See what’s on tap at Idle Hands Craft Ales,the new brewery and taproom that just opened up on Commercial Street. Travel back in time with “Classic Diners of Massachusetts” author and local expert Larry Cultrera. Learn about about a hair art event by Raw: Boston artist Shannon Leigh slotted for August and go on the hunt for Picachu in Malden thanks to the latest Pokemon Go craze. Co-hosts Sharon Fillyaw and Sam Baltrusis from MATV’s Neighborhood View talk about hair, diners and Pokemon Go in this monthly TV show. The monthly program airs 6:30 p.m. Fridays, Noon Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays on MATV’s Channel 3 on Comcast, 28 (Verizon).

Is Pokémon GO out of control in Malden?

July 21, 2016 kgoeben 0

What’s New Malden? Pokemon GO! It’s a new GPS-driven app that requires players to walk around in order to catch Pokemon characters. When players encounter “Pokéstops,” which are often well-known buildings or landmarks, they can collect Pokéballs to catch Pokémon or things such as lures that attract rare Pokémon. Some designated buildings are also Pokémon “gyms,” in which players can train and battle their Pokemon. There is also an augmented reality component, in which Pokémon appear to be there in real life with the use of a smartphone camera. The game broke the record for the most-used smartphone app. Most players are young teens and Millennials who grew up watching the popular show and playing the Pokémon video game. Malden is no exception to the viral craze- players can be seen chasing Pokémon especially around the main street area, whether it be individually or in a group. The game has many benefits, such as getting people to be active outdoors and the success of the augmented reality technology. The downside is that players are too […]

Interfaith community unites at Ramadan Iftar meal

July 13, 2016 annedr 0

“We need more of this,” says Imene, from Algeria. “The world needs more of this.” And I agreed. We were sitting at the same table during the Ramadan Iftar celebration at First Parish of Malden, enjoying a meal prepared by the sisters from the Outreach Community & Reform Center (O.C.R.C.), a spiritual home for the local Muslim community in Malden. The Iftar is the evening meal eaten at sundown during Ramadan. It is the first meal eaten since before sunrise that day by practicing Muslims. This special Iftar, held on June 18, about two weeks into this year’s month-long celebration of Ramadan, was a shared meal with non-Muslims in the community, organized jointly between the O.C.R.C. and First Parish. “These are delicious,” I said, biting into what looked like a Chinese spring roll, but was filled with chopped beef and some type of cheese. “Oh, I made them,” said Imene. “I find they are always a crowd pleaser.” We agreed that all the food was delicious, much of it cooked by women from the O.C.R.C., […]

Events

Idle Hands opens brewery and taproom in Malden

July 12, 2016 neighbormedia 0

Mmmm, beer good. When Idle Hands Craft Ales was kicked out of its Everett home last summer to make way for Wynn Resorts Casino, co-owner and brewer Chris Tkach expanded operations to the more spacious location at 89 Commercial Street which is a stone’s throw from the Malden Center MBTA station. Idle Hands had their grand “re-opening” on Thursday, July 7 and Tkach, along with his wife Grace, are happy with the results. “We were desperate to find a new location, so we put out feelers to a lot of cities and towns,” Tkach said. “We reached out to Kevin Duffy and sure enough, we found this wonderful property right here. It’s a perfect fit for what we’re looking to do.” The result? Pure craft beer success. Idle Hands Craft Ales has perfected their complex amber-color concoctions and local restaurants, like Nicole and Bryan Palazzolo from Mystic Station, plan to team up with the local brewery by providing food options and food trucks will regularly offer some mobile meals to hungry patrons. Hours for Idle […]

Rainbow flag vandalized in front of Malden UU Church

July 8, 2016 annedr 0

A police report was filed on July 8 by First Parish Malden stating that their rainbow flag, displayed on the lawn in front of the church building on 2 Elm Street, had been vandalized. The rainbow flag stands in support of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) pride and diversity. The flag was destroyed with multiple slits and a long slash through the fabric. Officials from First Parish state that the flag will be replaced by Saturday, July 9. Stacey Gilchrist, board president for First Parish, states: “I know that many of us are feeling disoriented by what is going on in the United States right now. There are glaring instances of hate and injustice being reported on our televisions, our computers, our phones, our newspapers. For some of us, these injustices have been a life-long experience only now brought to the national consciousness.” She continues: “Rehanging our flag is one very small way we can show our community that First Parish has hope. It lets Malden know that we see a future, and that […]

Events

TV SHOW: “What’s New? Malden” for July

July 4, 2016 neighbormedia 0

In the July 2016 edition of Neighborhood View’s What’s New? Malden: Satiate your sweet tooth with Malden’s newest shop on the block Hoff’s Bakery, stay safe this summer with tips from Malden’s former fire chief Jack Colangeli who will also chat about his Italian eatery Jack’s Ristorante. Did you know that Malden was a major player in the American Revolution? Get the lowdown. Also, Neighborhood View’s Liz Taegel talks about juggling her show “Release The Sounds” with the responsibilities of being a new mom. Co-hosts Sam Baltrusis and Sharon Fillyaw unleash the fireworks with the July 2016 edition of “What’s New? Malden.” The monthly program airs 6:30 p.m. Fridays, Noon Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays on MATV’s Channel 3 on Comcast, 28 (Verizon).

Cultural Immersion Program sparks creativity in local high school students

July 1, 2016 kgoeben 2

High expectations are in the air for today’s college-bound students. At Malden’s High Expectations, the Cultural Immersion Program helps high school students strengthen their college profile and communication skills while working together to create a video production of an original play. Many of these students are English language learners (“ELL”) and are enhancing their English through this program. I was able to watch the rehearsal of their play, which is a team effort involving plot twists and what the instructors describe as a “philosophical ending.” High Expectations’ founder, Lynn A. Leonard, is enthusiastic about both the creative and academic components of the Cultural Immersion Program. An attorney specializing in Civil Rights and Children & Family law, Leonard created High Expectations to provide strategic college planning services such as standardized test preparation to ELL students and enable them to explore their interests and aspirations. High Expectations opened in June 2015. The High Expectations faculty created the Cultural Immersion Program because they noticed a pattern of ELL students lacking confidence when socializing and communicating with American students. With […]