Newsletter archive | Press Release 12.9.06

Hyde Park Arts Initiative E-Newsletter

February 2007

In This Issue
> HPAI Receives Boston Cultural Council Grant!
> La Boheme at Riverside Theatre Works
> New Business Boom in Hyde Park!
> Announcements

HPAI Receives Boston Cultural Council Grant!

HPAI is pleased to announce it has received a programming grant from the Boston Cultural Council to help fund this year's Artscene Festival. Planning for the festival will begin in March, and the support of the BCC grant means a bigger and better event for the community! HPAI has just added an expanded listing of local programs and events we support, as well as a list of local artists, to our revamped website. If you would like to be included on the artist list, please contact HPAI at the number/e-mail listed below. If you have events you would like included in our online or print calendars, please call 617-364- 7300, or e-mail, betsyhpai@swbcdc.org

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La Boheme at Riverside Theatre Works

This March, the Riverside Theatre Works will continue its three year old tradition of "bringing opera to the opera house" with a performance of La Boheme. A joint production with the Boston Opera Collaborative, the cast features many up and comers in the opera world, graduates of the New England Conservatory, and one current finalist for a job with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in addition to local students from RTW.

La Boheme was considered innovative and avant garde when it premiered in 1896. Created by Puccini, it was the first opera that depicted the lives of everyday people, whom the audience could relate to, as opposed to the dramatic fantasy escapes that were the norm. The story focuses on the lives of a group of bohemian friends, performers and artists, struggling to survive and stay true to their ideals. It is ultimately, a tragic love story, and has been the basis of many modern productions, including the popular Rent.

RTW Director Melissa Williams explains that as a classically trained singer, she was interested in somehow incorporating opera into the activities of RTW. As the current home of the Riverside Theatre Works is the former French‚s Opera House, it seemed meant to be, and three years ago RTW had its first production, featuring songs from various operas. In honor of Mozart‚s birthday last year, they performed pieces from The Impresario with a small cast of five. The production of La Boheme, with a paired down set, will be the first attempt at a full production, and everyone involved is very excited. The cast will be accompanied by a small chamber orchestra, and seating will be cabaret style, with the audience being included as patrons at the famed Café Momus.

Opening night of La Boheme will be Thursday, March 29 at 8 p.m. and plans are under way to include an opening night reception. Performances continue on Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31 at 8 p.m., with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 1. Tickets (incredibly priced at $19 for seniors and $22 for adults) are available through the RTW box office (617) 361-7024. This is a great opportunity to experience some wonderful talent and support local theatre, don‚t miss out!

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New Business Boom in Hyde Park!

Several businesses have opened recently in the Cleary/Logan Square area, including the Blue Wave Fish Market and Maple Street Pizza, with three more restaurants slated to open between now and early April. It is clear that the renewed interest in Cleary/Logan Square as a place to do business will benefit all of the local merchants, and lead to a re-energized downtown.

This summer, Maple Street Pizza opened and immediately became a fixture in the community. Owner David Ward jumped right in offering to provide pizzas to volunteers at the Artscene Festival, and regularly supplying food for various community meetings, school groups, theatre rehearsal groups and many others. Maple Street Pizza offers a wide variety of pizzas, subs, salads and more, and has delivery service available as well. The Blue Wave Fish Market on River St. also opened this summer, and as exciting as it is to have fresh fish at reasonable prices available right in downtown HP, more exciting where the heroics of one of the owners, Anthony Graham, when he rescued a child at Houghton's Pond last August, earning praise and media attention for his efforts! Other Blue Wave owner Sonia Farquharson says they will begin offering an expanded take-out menu in early March, specializing in Caribbean style foods in addition to fish. It has been awhile since a fire burned down the original Papa Gino's, and while the mural that graced the building for several months was nice, everyone is sure to be happier to have the traditional pizza of Papa Gino's back.

Arthur Donovan has been busily renovating the old Mario‚s on Hyde Park Avenue and will be bringing the traditional American style chicken, steak and seafood of his original restaurant, CF Donovan's in Dorchester, to the Hyde Park Donovan's soon. Mike Tallon has successfully owned and operated the Kendall Cafe in Cambridge for years. A Hyde Park resident, Mike decided to build his own restaurant and bakery/café in Hyde Park after attending the Artscene Festival and realizing what an up and coming neighborhood Cleary/Logan Square was. It has been exciting to watch the new building go up on Fairmount Ave., which includes ten residential units in addition to the retail space, but more exciting will be the opening of the two-story, full service restaurant called Townsend and The Coffee Shop bakery and café sometime this spring.

To top it off, Sean Martin opened Albert Winestein on Fairmount Ave. this winter. Specializing in "smart wine and simple cheese" Winestein's is open T-Sat 4-9 p.m., but hopes to expand those hours as the business grows. Hats off to all these folks for investing in our community, let‚s support their efforts! Blue Wave Fish Market, 1238 River St. (617) 333-FISH (3474), Maple Street Pizza, 6 Maple St. (617) 364-1655, Albert Winestein, 84 Fairmount Ave. (617) 333- 6777.

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Announcements

Calls for artists! The 18th Annual Juried Art Show at Scollay Square Gallery and Mayor's Gallery, The HPAA Group Spring Show at the Hyde Park Library, and the Dept. of Neighborhood Development Spring Art Exhibit are all accepting works from interested artists. Contact Valentino Alba at (617) 838-3302 for more information.

The Floor Lords at the Hyde Park YMCA! Great classes are being taught by this local professional dance troupe including Breakin' & Poppin', the original hip hop styles! Call (617) 361- 2300 for more information.

Theatre Camp! Riverside Theatre Works has space available in February Vacation Theatre Camp. Classes in singing, performance, dance and more run daily from 9-3 p.m. Feb 19-23. call (617) 361-7024 for more information.

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