Daily brief · Brookline, MA
Thai coffee roaster, halal chain coming soon
August 20, 2026
Top story
New specialty coffee and halal dining spots coming to Brookline
Newbery Street Coffee Roasters, founded by three-time U.S. National Brewers Cup finalist Pack Katisomsakul, is converting the former Cremeux space at 240 Harvard St. into a Thai specialty coffee cafe, with a Kickstarter that cleared its $25,000 goal on Aug. 18. Shahs Halal Food, a New York franchise with three existing Boston locations, plans a 25-seat restaurant at 830 Commonwealth Ave. A returning Brookline Village wine market is also among the businesses set to open along Harvard Street and Commonwealth Avenue this summer and fall.
Brookline Record
Nearly $1 million raised in crowded Norfolk DA race
The eight candidates seeking to replace longtime Norfolk County DA Michael Morrissey had raised a combined $975,124 and spent nearly $489,000 as of early August, according to a Brookline.News analysis ahead of the Sept. 1 primary.
Brookline.News
School subcommittee reviews FY28 budget, CIP and major grants
On August 19, 2026, the School Finance and Capital Projects Subcommittee reviewed FY27 Mini-CIP projects, proposed FY28 Mini-CIP requests, a draft FY28-FY33 Capital Improvement Program, and more than $2 million in grants including a major METCO award.
Town of Brookline
Booksmith hosts book club with author Yu-Mei Balasingamchow
Brookline Booksmith's Transnational Series Book Club hosts author Yu-Mei Balasingamchow tonight at 7 p.m. to discuss her debut novel, "Names Have Been Changed."
Brookline Booksmith
Brookline mandates new formatting for town warrant articles
The Town of Brookline announced August 18, 2026 that it will reject electronic warrant article submissions for the Fall Special Town Meeting that don't follow a new ADA-compliant style template.
Brookline Record
Brookline Police seek identity of Harvard Street shoplifter
Brookline Police released a description August 18, 2026 of a suspect caught on surveillance footage during an August 3 shoplifting incident on Harvard Street.
Brookline Record
Crafts Zone offers texture painting night out
Crafts Zone Brookline hosts a Texture Painting Thursday Night Out tonight from 6-8 p.m. at 229 Harvard Street, with materials, instruction, light snacks and a BYOB option.
The Boston Calendar
Knight Moves Cafe open for board games tonight
Knight Moves Cafe in Brookline is open today from 5-11 p.m., offering its board game cafe space at 1402 Beacon Street.
The Boston Calendar
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