Somerville’s porches, yards, and stoops are once again set to host free mini-concerts across the city as part of the city’s annual Porchfest hosted by the Somerville Arts Council. This celebration of local, live, homegrown music offers something for everyone at drop-in home-based shows. Participants can simply stroll from house to house to enjoy the open-air entertainment. More than 300 bands are set to participate across wide-ranging musical genres from youth playing classical music to electronica groups, karaoke, and – a first this year – stand-up comedy. The 2024 Porchfest is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. it will take place in three 2-hour blocks (Rain date Sunday May 12). For map, times and resources visit somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest. Be considerate to porch hosts, neighbors, and residents.

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Once you read the first ingredient listed, you may be thinking, is she seriously using canned chicken? Yes, yes I am. The only thing I regret is not using it sooner. The meat is lean and very tender. And not only that, it’s a quick meal prep. The flavors and textures of this savory, sweet, and crunchy chicken salad are exactly what you’re looking for in a great sandwich.

William L. Conrad, 85, a life-long Somerville resident, passed away on April 23, surrounded by his many friends. Born on October 17, 1938, Bill was the son of Leo A. Conrad and Mildred H. Conrad, and brother of the late Robert Conrad. He graduated from Somerville High School in 1957, served in the Army Medical Corps in Verdun, France from 1959-1961, and lived in San Francisco and Denver. He traveled throughout Europe and spent considerable time in Canada with his relatives. However, Union Square was his home where he was affectionately known as “Mister Mayor.”

This year’s installment of PorchFest will be hitting the city this coming weekend. Those who have, in the past, taken notice of the event – and it is an event that is rather difficult not to notice – usually have fairly strong opinions of approval or distaste for the goings on.

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By Andy Hoffman

The musical, A Strange Loop, winner of both a 2019 Pulitzer and a 2022 Tony for Best Musical, takes the audience deep into the confused, proud, and self-loathing mind of Usher, an ambitious young man wrestling with a plague of Thoughts, personified and set to music. Overweight, black, and gay, Usher wonders if he can ever succeed in the creation of a musical.

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Every great while I put a poem of my own in the Lyrical. I read this at a recent gathering of Somerville poets at the Arts Armory. I think this is a subject we can all relate to.

Residents, community members invited to attend and share feedback to help select Somerville’s next Chief of Police

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Somerville Police Chief Search Committee are inviting all community members to attend public interview sessions with candidates under consideration to be the next Chief of Police for the City of Somerville on Thursday, May 9, 2024. All interviews will take place in-person at Somerville City Hall (93 Highland Ave.) between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., with a final schedule to be shared with the community in the coming days. 

Join the Mystic Learning Center’s Casino Night for the 14^th Annual Spring for Children Fundraiser on Friday, May 10 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Hosted at Somernova (8 Tyler St., Somerville), The Casino Night themed event will include Casino Gaming Tables (Black Jack, Craps, Roulette, and Poker), raffle baskets, live music, delicious food, and a limited open bar, all in support of Mystic Learning Center, Inc.’s mission to improve the lives of low-income children and families who live in the Mystic Public Housing Development and surrounding neighborhoods.