Featured

Ian Cat and the Crimsons on “Release The Sounds”

Liz Taegel, from MATV’s Neighborhood View, unleashed the second installment of her indie-rock music show called “Release The Sounds.” The monthly program, airing on MATV (Comcast 3, Verizon 28) every Wednesday at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 p.m., spotlights regional musicians handpicked by Taegel. Ian Cat and the Crimsons features Ian Laczynski, Tom Larney and Matt Jones. Here is a clip of Ian Cat and the Crimsons on “Release the Sounds.”

Featured

Inside Malden: Ideas and Stories That Inspire

Blog, TV show and podcast premieres this month Community resident Ose Schwab aims to “introduce Malden to itself” with a local groundbreaking multi-media program that features in-depth personal stories that inspire. The one-hour interview format show premieres this month on MATV Public Access (Comcast 3, Verizon 28) and online with an accompanying blog on MATV’s citizen journalism site Neighborhood View (neighborhoodview.org). It is also available as a podcast (downloadable or streamed) from the Neighborhood View site. Inside Malden will offer introspective conversations with Malden change-makers, including thought leaders, artists, musicians, scientists, activists, writers, etc. who live or work in Malden. The premiere episode features an interview with Malden resident Souad Akib, who is the founder and Executive Director of the American Association for Arab Women (AAAW). The AAAW is a non-profit organization empowering women from Arab countries to thrive in their new home. By supporting these women, the AAAW helps families to thrive in Malden. Malden benefits by this service as immigrant families become engaged residents. In addition, the AAAW sponsors events that invite all […]

Arts

Artist Marketplace at Luva Spa

The handiwork of a talented group of Malden artists is on display at the Holiday Marketplace at Luva Spa and Gallery, 379 Main Street.  Today (Thursday, December 18) was the first day of the two-day pop-up.  The marketplace will be open from 9am – 5pm on Saturday, December 19. For sale are beautiful handmade scarves, hair and hat pieces, tree ornaments, jewelry, cards, photographs, food items and more. Allison de Faria, the Events Coordinator for Luva Hair and Day Spa, extended the invitation to the Malden artists. Luva is a local business that has supported the arts in Malden since it opened in 2011. Along with their full day spa offerings, they feature rotating exhibits from local artists in their extensive gallery space. The artists whose work is featured in the marketplace are Bonnie Blanchard, Elizabeth Scorsello, Ginny Remedi, Ose Manheim, and Elena Martinez.   Elena Martinez comments, “We are very grateful and excited to have this pop-up marketplace. We want Malden to know that there are artisans in the community and we are actively looking […]

Featured

New drone shop HeliDirect takes off in Malden

Remote helicopters taking flight in Malden? Yep, the drone craze has landed at 730 Eastern Ave. According to the City of Malden’s website, the new electronics shop called HeliDirect opened earlier this year. “HeliDirect President and CEO Sam Minh Le is a premier e-retailer for hobby-class and remote control helicopter and multi-rotor products, parts and accessories,” reported the City of Malden. “The engineering team and advisors for the business are MIT alumni. Many management and staff members are remote control helicopter and multi-rotor pilots and maintain a commitment to providing the best products and support in the industry.” Owner:  Minh Le, Malden resident Opened:  Retail store on July 15, 2015.  Began online sales in 2005 with mini-helicopters and in 2012 added drones. Products:  Mini-helicopters and DJI brand drones Expertise:  Technical support, repair service, before-and-after sales services Services:  Offering moderate, non-warranty, in-house repair services, fast shipping Location:  730 Eastern Ave., Malden, MA Hours:  Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Phone:  877-439-4354 Website:  HeliDirect.com Below is a video segment […]

Featured

Malden featured in author Sam Baltrusis’ ’13 Most Haunted in Massachusetts’

Listen up guys and ghouls! Neighborhood View’s Sam Baltrusis, author of the new book “13 Most Haunted in Massachusetts,” writes about the things that go bump in the night. He assembled a motley crew of the state’s most paranormally active in a show airing on MATV at 7 to 9 p.m. the last three Fridays in October. He also penned a book perfect for the Halloween season. Score tickets to the book launch on Oct. 20 or Oct. 27. Here’s an excerpt: Malden is a city with an inexplicably large number of wayward spirits and residual hauntings. Sure, it’s not a typically haunted city and deviates a bit from the Lizzie Borden or Salem witch city norm. However, there’s a historical legacy that’s often overlooked by ghost hunters and para-celebs. It’s also an easy Orange Line train ride from Boston and my home in Somerville’s Assembly Row. During the winter, I was covering an event in the old wing of the historic Malden Public Library. The well-preserved throwback to the gilded age was recently featured […]

Arts

Homes for the fairies in Malden

“If you build them, they will come.” Fairies, that is. And gnomes, trolls, elves and other creatures said to inhabit the natural world. That’s the idea behind building tiny whimsical houses in the woods. And Malden is now prepared to welcome these creatures with a full selection of residential units. On Saturday, August 29, Pine Banks Park on the Malden/Melrose line was host to Malden’s first Fairy House event organized by Ward 5 Councilor Barbara Murphy in collaboration with Malden Reads. The event was attended by families and community members of all ages. Murphy says the event was inspired by the Fairy House Series of books written and illustrated by Tracy Kane. Building tiny houses for nature’s mythical creatures is an art that some say started on islands off the coast of New England and then spread throughout the country. Many community groups pre-built fairy houses which were placed along a walk leading through the woods and up a hill. On the day of the event, children and families built houses with natural materials found […]

Arts

Filming ‘Ted 2’ at Malden Public Library: An Inside Look

Perhaps unbefitting to the historical significance and elegant grandeur of the Converse Memorial Library in Malden, the interior of the library’s historic wing provides the setting for a scene in the recently released Ted 2 comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Amanda Seyfried. The scene was created and filmed over a two-week period in July last summer. Full disclosure: I’m on the Board of Trustees for the library and have an inside view for this story. The Trustees voted on the approval for the filming after the library was approached by the film company, Raging Bear, last June. There was some, but not much hesitation, on approving the deal. According to John Tramondozzi, President of the Library Trustees, “Our main concern was the safety of the building.” The library was offered considerable compensation for the filming, though the project would require a great deal of time and extra work on the part of the library staff. “Sure, we would have loved for the film to be a period drama,” says Dora St. Martin, the library’s executive […]

Featured

Historic reading of Revolution War-era document from Malden

Was Malden a major player leading up to the American Revolution? A historic document, dated May 27, 1776, contains the “Instructions of the Inhabitants of Malden, Massachusetts to their Representatives in Congress” was read on the lawn of the Malden Public Library on Friday, July 3. Local historian and period actor Tom Coots, the captain from the Gardner’s Regiment group of the Charlestown Militia, performed the reenactment. The document was recently rediscovered when Mayor Gary Christenson was searching for a historic Malden relic to display at the State House. “This document that was read tonight is probably the first recorded acknowledgement of an entire community voting for independence from Great Britain,” explains Coots. “The first time I read it, I actually cried. The more I read it, the more I realized what the words meant.” This document is credited as a precursor to the Declaration of Independence written in July of 1776 when the Continental Congress formally declared their independence from England. Click here for the complete presentation by the City of Malden. –Sam Baltrusis […]

Events

Boda Borg interactive quest sensation to occupy Sparks building

Enter a building with a maze of hallways and an array of doors. You have no idea what challenges lie behind each door and no instructions in regards to how to master these quests. This is the Swedish interactive quest sensation known as Boda Borg and, believe it or not, it is coming to Malden. Expected as early as this summer, Boda Borg will occupy the old Sparks department store building located on Pleasant Street in Malden. It will be a facility that houses about 18 quests, the first U.S. location. Ready to learn more about the challenges offered by Boda Borg? Take a look at this video of Neighborhood View reporter Kylie Garcia’s recent chat with Chad Ellis of Boda Borg.

Featured

Malden Square’s 480 Main offers posh city living

The newest kid on the block? 480 Main, the apartment complex across from the Malden Public Library, opened its doors to Neighborhood View for a behind-the-scenes sneak peek. 480 Main offers city living at its best, replete with “sleek counter tops and cabinets, open floor plans, designer quality finishes, high ceilings and extraordinary telecommunications options in each home,” says Chris Todd from Priderock Capital Partners. Why did Priderock break ground here? “Malden is a great example of a city that is on the rise, re-making itself into a coveted, unique location with a presence and life independent of Boston for its residents but still readily accessible to all parts of the greater Boston area,” Todd continues. Of course, 480 Main was stymied a bit by the city’s snowiest February on record. “The past winter was certainly one of the most difficult times to build that we have seen in more than 20 years of developing in the Boston area,” Todd explains. “Nine feet of snow, limited access and weeks of freezing temperatures aren’t reasons to […]