Cakes Bakery and Cafe Opening in Arlington

A cafe in Milton that features sandwiches, baked goods, and coffee is going to be opening a new shop in Arlington.

According to the Arlington Patch, Cakes Bakery and Cafe is planning to open on Mass. Ave. (just west of the center of town) in the space where Sweet Sue's Cafe used to be before closing a little more than a year ago. The article indicates that the new spot will likely be similar to the original Cakes Bakery and Cafe on Eliot Street in Milton, with a brief article in the Arlington Advocate stating that menu items will include breakfast sandwiches, scones, cupcakes, soups, stews, wraps, and pot pies. The Advocate also mentions that a catering menu will be available as well.

Cakes Bakery and Cafe may be open by Halloween, according to the Arlington Advocate article. [November 16 update: According to their Facebook page, the new Cakes Bakery and Cafe in Arlington is now open.]

The address for this new eatery in Arlington is: Cakes Bakery and Cafe, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476. The website for the Milton location can be found at: http://cakesmilton.com/

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Blackstrap BBQ Opening in Winthrop

It looks like a new barbecue joint is getting ready to open just north of Boston.

According to their Facebook page, Blackstrap BBQ will soon be opening on Woodside Avenue in the center of Winthrop. A poster on Chowhound states that it will be moving into the space where Moonstruck Cafe used to be (Moonstruck Cafe is apparently moving into another storefront in Winthrop Center). The Chowhound poster mentions that Blackstrap BBQ looks to be opening later this month.

Once it opens for business, Blackstrap BBQ's hours will be 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM Tuesday through Thursday, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Sundays.

[November 3 update: According to their Facebook page, Blackstrap BBQ is now open.]

The address for this new barbecue place in Winthrop is: Blackstrap BBQ, 47 A Woodside Avenue, Winthrop, MA, 02152. Their Facebook page can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Winthrop-MA/BS-BBQ/128113320566880

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Ivy Restaurant in Boston Closes Its Doors

A casual upscale cafe in downtown Boston owned by a group that recently went into Chapter 11 Bankruptcy has apparently served its last meal.

According to a voicemail message recorded by Ivy Restaurant, the Temple Place eatery has shut its doors after being in business for nearly five years. Ivy was owned by the Ivy Restaurant Group, which also runs Stoddard's Fine Food and Ale, and which filed for bankruptcy over the summer. A recent article posted here mentioned that only Ivy Restaurant was affected by the reorganization, and a check on Stoddard's indicates that it remains open, at least for now.

The address for this now-closed dining spot was: Ivy Restaurant, 49 Temple Place, Boston, MA, 02111. Stoddard's is located on the same street, with its address being 48 Temple Place.

Thanks to several posters on the Twitter site for initially bringing this to our attention.

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News Elsewhere: USA Today Includes a Northampton Restaurant Among Its 51 Great Burger Joints

USA Today recently came out with a list of 51 great burger joints across the United States, and a restaurant in Northampton has been included within the list.

According to the article, Local Burger and Fries is the newspaper's pick for the state of Massachusetts, citing the grass-fed beef and locally source vegetables used for the hamburgers. USA Today also mentions the sweet potato fries served at the dining spot, which is located on Route 9 along the eastern edge of the downtown area.

In addition to hamburgers, Local Burger and Fries also offers turkey burgers, veggie burgers, portobello burgers, hot dogs, wings, French fries, onion rings, and milkshakes. The restaurant has a children's menu as well.

Other New England restaurants making USA Today's list of burger joints include Ted's in Meriden, CT; Fat Boy Drive In in Brunswick, ME; The Barley House in Concord, NH; Stanley's Famous Hamburgers in Providence, RI; and The Farmhouse Tap & Grill in Burlington, VT.

The address for Local Burger and Fries is: Local Burger and Fries, 16 Main Street, Northampton, MA, 01060. The phone number is (413) 586-5857. And their website can be found at: http://www.localnorthampton.com/

For a complete list of burger joints that make the list, please go to the following link:

51 great burger joints across the USA

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Grezzo May Be Reopening in Boston's North End

While not a done deal by any means, there is a chance that a now-closed vegan restaurant in Boston's North End may be reopening, though with a slightly different theme.

According to Universal Hub, the owner of Grezzo on Prince Street is thinking of possibly opening the restaurant once again, though if it does reopen, it will focus on "natural food" rather than raw food. The article mentions that the owner of Grezzo is also considering selling the restaurant as a second option. The Boston Licensing Board is going to give her a month to decide on which option to take.

Grezzo first opened in early 2008, featuring vegan dishes such as seaweed salad, maki rolls, falafel wraps, and veggie burgers. A second location in Newburyport opened about a year ago, but closed this past spring when the North End location also shut down.

If it does reopen, the address for Grezzo will be: Grezzo, 69 Prince Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

For more information on the possible reopening of Grezzo, please go to the Universal Hub link below.

Shuttered raw-food restaurant in the North End could reopen - but with cooked food this time

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Harpers Ferry in Allston Is Closing; Brighton Music Hall to Take Its Place

A well-known nightclub in Allston that has featured live music for 40 years is getting ready to close its doors.

According to The Boston Herald, Harpers Ferry on Brighton Avenue has lost its lease and will be closing at the end of October, with Halloween being its last day in business. The Herald mentioned that over the past few months, the club had been working on trying to find a way to remain open but ultimately was unable to do so.

[October 13 update: According to the Boston Globe, the people behind The Paradise on Comm. Ave. are looking to open a new music club that will be called the Brighton Music Hall. The article says that if all goes as planned, the new club could be open by the middle of December. Thanks to the Twitter pages of Boston Emissions and BostonTweet for bringing this to our attention.]

[January 13, 2011, update: BostonTweet mentions on his Twitter page that the Brighton Music Hall will be opening tomorrow (Friday, January 14).]

Harpers Ferry has been a popular entertainment spot since opening in 1970, featuring local, regional, and national acts, including blues, rock, soul, jazz, and hip-hop bands.

The address for this nightclub in Allston was: Harpers Ferry, 158 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134. The phone number is (617) 254-9743. And the website can be found at: http://www.harpersferryboston.com/

For more information on the closing of Harpers Ferry, please go to the Boston Herald link below.

Iconic Allston club Harpers Ferry to close

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