The First Commander Remembered: Washington's Legacy in Cambridge (Main/Virtual)
To mark the 250th anniversaries of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, a coalition of local non-profits and government agencies will present Washington in American Memory, a seven-part speaker series.
Debunk myths and trace the evolution of the public memory of George Washington in Cambridge, Massachusetts, featuring:
J.L. Bell, author of The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War and proprietor of Boston1775.net
Charles Sullivan, co-author of Building Old Cambridge: Architecture and Development and Executive Director of the Cambridge Historical Commission
Cambridge Announces $2.5 Million Restaurant and Nightlife Relief Grant Program
The City of Cambridge announced a new Restaurant and Nightlife Relief Grant program today which will award $2,500,000 to eligible Cambridge venues. These grants, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will provide relief to local, non-franchise cafes, restaurants, and entertainment venues (e.g. movie theaters, performance venues, galleries) heavily impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants and entertainment venues citywide will be able to apply for grant awards of $10,000 for allowable business expenses such as payroll, rent, personal protective equipment, utilities, goods and equipment, and outdoor dining infrastructure. Applications will be accepted from February 3-28, 2022 at 8:00 p.m.
4 Mellen Street Affordable Housing Application Information Session
The application period for Homeowners Rehab Inc. (HRI)’s 29-unit affordable development at 4 Mellen Street in Cambridge is now open. Click here to fill out the application online. Physical applications are available at the following locations:
810 Memorial Drive, #200, Cambridge, MA 02139
City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
Multi-Service Center, 362 Green St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
Completed applications can be returned to HRI as follows:
Online: https://waitlistcheck.com/MA3398
By Email: FourMellen@Wingatecompanies.com
By Mail: 810 Memorial Drive, #200, Cambridge, MA 02139
Applications are available from June 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026 at 5 p.m. with a lottery to be held August 13th, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. via Teams. Applicants are not required to attend the lottery.
To learn more about the application and lottery process, please attend one of the upcoming information sessions:
In person: Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at 810 Memorial Drive, 3rd Floor, Cambridge MA 02139
Online via Teams: Tuesday, July 7, 2026 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. Teams Meeting link: https://shorturl.at/BxHwS
For more information about this project, please visit https://linktr.ee/FourMellen.
For information about eligibility or the application process, please contact HRI at (617) 693-0981or email FourMellen@wingatecompanies.com.
34 Artists And Organizations Awarded $112,461 In Local Cultural Council Grant Funding By Cambridge Arts
34 artists and organizations are being awarded $112,461 in Local Cultural Council Grant funding by Cambridge Arts and the City of Cambridge. Funded projects include a comics camp for foster children, a hip-hop dance class for seniors, a celebration of the history of Black American music, a poetry writing program pairing teens with older adults, an elementary school playwriting project addressing the indigenous history and ecosystem of the Charles River, performances of short plays by short plays by Asian Americans, a documentary about the late Cambridge artist Peter Valentine, and a documentary about The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub.
Cambridge Cooks: Caribbean Heritage Month Edition with Chef Gaitskell (Main)
Join Chef Gaitskell Cleghorn Jr. as he prepares Jerk Chicken and Mango Salsa in celebration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Gaitskell Cleghorn Jr., professionally known as Chef Gates, is an entrepreneur and culinary educator based in Boston. He specializes in culinary education, catering, and community outreach, partnering with organizations such as the Codman Square Farmers Market and BOLD Teens. Throughout his career, he has taught at prestigious institutions, including Harvard University, as well as local schools such as Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and Boston Day & Evening Academy. His work has been featured in publications including Channel 7, Edible Boston, Boston Herald, and the Boston Globe. Additionally, he collaborated with a Master Sushi Chef to produce over 3,000 sushi plates at the New England Seafood Expo. His work on food and culture is currently featured in an Exhibit at the Boston Children’s Museum. Although he lived globally due to his father’s military service, he has spent most of his professional life in Boston, where he continues to grow as a culinary professional.
Danehy Park Environmental Monitoring and Reporting
Danehy Park is the site of a former landfill (see History section for more details). Since the landfill was capped in 1990, the management of the site is controlled by permitting through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Division of Solid Waste. The goal is to ensure that the site is managed in a safe manner and that landfill gases are properly managed and allowed to vent safely. To that end, the City contracts with CDM Smith to conduct quarterly monitoring, inspect the methane trench (which is the stone-filled trench around the perimeter of the park) annually, and develop an annual environmental monitoring report that is submitted to MassDEP.
221 Mt Auburn Street
In 2023, structural deficiencies were identified in the nine-story building at 221 Mount Auburn Street, the Riverview Condominiums. During exploratory work for roof and drainage repairs, engineers discovered that the building was not built as originally designed.
To reduce the weight in the building, all residents moved out by the end of 2024. After evaluating various repair options, the Condo Association concluded that fixing the building was not feasible, and it needed to be taken down. The City worked closely with the Condo Association to review the situation and plan for demolition of the nine-story building. Demolition was completed in the spring of 2026.
Sewing Circle
Continue building your machine-sewing skills AND receive support as you work on your own sewing projects with our Library sewing community. Participants must register but may drop-in any time during the program.
This program is designed for patrons who know the basics of how to use our Janome sewing machines.
The City of Cambridge does not discriminate, including on the basis of disability. We may provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to people with disabilities. For more information contact us at library@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4032 (voice), or via relay at 711.
Read to a Dog (Valente)
Read to Dante, our local cuddly therapy dog! Trained therapy dogs provide warm and non-judgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers up to age 14. Registration for each 15-minute time slot is required and begins on Wednesday, January 22 by calling or visiting the Valente Branch (617-349-4015).
The City of Cambridge does not discriminate, including on the basis of disability. We may provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to people with disabilities. For more information contact us at library@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4032 (voice), or via relay at 711
Read to a Dog (Valente)
Read to Dante, our local cuddly therapy dog! Trained therapy dogs provide warm and non-judgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers up to age 14. Registration for each 15-minute time slot is required and begins on Wednesday, April 16 by calling or visiting the Valente Branch (617-349-4015).
The City of Cambridge does not discriminate, including on the basis of disability. We may provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to people with disabilities. For more information contact us at library@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4032 (voice), or via relay at 711