Council advances taller Mass Ave zoning plan

Top story

Council advances taller Mass Ave/Porter Square zoning

The City Council advanced a rezoning plan for North Massachusetts Avenue and Porter Square on July 30, adopting the Planning Board's recommendation on how much ground-floor commercial space new buildings must include. A stricter alternative, which would have required "active use" spaces such as storefronts or eateries in buildings taller than four stories, drew support from only three of the eight councilors present. A companion proposal for Cambridge Street deadlocked and is now on course to expire in mid-September.

The Harvard Crimson

MBTA completes 10-day Red Line shutdown, restores service

The MBTA's 10-day Red Line shutdown between Alewife and Park Street, which used free shuttle buses while crews did track and signal work, ended July 31 with service restored to Porter Square and other Cambridge stations.

MBTA

Teachers union urges School Committee to speed contract talks

On July 31, the Cambridge Education Association called on the School Committee to accelerate contract negotiations, citing proposals to raise paraprofessional starting salaries to $55,000.

Patch

Commonwealth Wine School hosts summer cocktails mixology class

Commonwealth Wine School in Harvard Square hosts "The Spirit of Summer," a mixology class on seasonal cocktails, Saturday, Aug. 1 from 6:30-8 p.m.

Commonwealth Wine School

Planning Board schedules hearing on short-term rental zoning

The Cambridge Planning Board holds a virtual public hearing Tuesday, Aug. 4, on the Short-Term Rental Zoning Petition (CMA 2026-188).

City of Cambridge

Extended deadline for LGBTQ+ Commission vacancies closes Saturday

Saturday, Aug. 1 is the extended deadline for Cambridge residents to apply online to join the City's LGBTQ+ Commission, which advocates for equality and welcoming policies.

City of Cambridge

STAI-X 2026 conference holds main program day at Harvard

Harvard's Departments of Statistics and Biostatistics co-host the STAI-X conference's main program on statistics and artificial intelligence Saturday, Aug. 1.

StatsUpAI

Eversource, BXP complete shell of huge underground substation

Developers announced completion of the structural shell for a 35,000-square-foot underground substation in Kendall Square on July 29, part of plans to support Cambridge's electrification goals by 2029.

Cambridge Day

CORE Veterinary Surgical Clinic hosts grand opening on Concord Ave

CORE Veterinary Surgical Clinic hosts its grand opening at 607 Concord Ave on Saturday, Aug. 1 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with clinic tours, complimentary pet portraits, and free nail trims.

Partiful

Dine Out Boston 2026 launches two weeks of restaurant deals

The summer edition of Dine Out Boston kicked off Saturday, Aug. 1, featuring two weeks of prix fixe menus at more than 20 participating Cambridge restaurants.

Cambridge Office for Tourism

Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser return to Club Passim

Acoustic jazz and swing duo Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser play a live set at Club Passim on Saturday, Aug. 1, starting at 7 p.m.

Club Passim

Hopcroft shifts campaign energy to Beacon Hill policy dialogues

After ending his campaign for the 2nd Middlesex State Senate seat covering parts of Cambridge, Tom Hopcroft announced July 31 that he plans to lobby former rivals on climate and tech issues.

Cambridge Day

Cambridge Local First launches digital bootcamps for businesses

A city-funded program organized by Cambridge Local First began teaching local business owners social media and digital marketing skills on July 30.

Cambridge Day

MC Kabir and Krush Factory start Lizard Lounge residency

Emcee MC Kabir Sen and the Krush Factory kick off a monthly first-Saturday residency at the Lizard Lounge on Massachusetts Avenue Saturday, Aug. 1 at 9 p.m.

Lizard Lounge Club