Hyde Jackson Monthly
January 30, 2018


 

As the holiday season puts our retailers and restaurateurs in the black for the year, the winter months following the holiday shopping season and prior to tax day are tougher ones for our business community. But just because it is cold and snowy outside doesn't mean that it isn't a great time to sit down with a warm bowl of stew, a plate of rice and beans and chicken, or next to someone you don't know to engage in conversation over a rich pint of beer. In fact, during these cold, wintry months, it is important to get out, meet people and restore oneself ("restaurant" comes from French and Latin, "to restore.") Human engagement is food for the soul and helps us through our New England weather. Main Street is about bringing people together to enjoy others in places with commercial activity. This make us a stronger and healthier community.

So get out in the snow, meet someone new, and enjoy our diverse offerings here in Jackson Square and Hyde Square. 
 
 



 
  MainStreetRecapMain Street Recap   

Winners in our Holiday Window Contest   
 
Gondres Bakey staff with City Councilor Matt O'Malley and the glowing ice sculpture 
 
On December 8, we kicked off the district's holiday window decorating season with our Light Up Hyde Jackson celebration at Gondres Bakery. Last year, Gondres Bakery won our Holiday Window Contest so this year they received the privilege to host our annual party. There we enjoyed a community celebration with delicious treats from Gondres, a beautiful ice sculpture, a great feeling of community, and a nice greeting from City Councilor Matt O'Malley. 
 
Merchant windows that incorporate festive displays with light and color add vibrancy to Centre Street and provide a higher level of comfort for people along the street because light from merchant windows project onto adjacent sidewalks. This is important especially during dark winter months. So our Holiday Window Contest results in not just enjoyable windows to look at and a fun party but safe streets as well.

Continuing our holiday celebrations on December 14, members of our community met at MOOYAH in Jackson Square for some tasty burgers and fries then walked along Centre Street to Hyde Square for our annual Holiday Window Stroll. Our group viewed 30 creative, holiday merchant and residential building displays then selected finalists to compete in an online vote. In the final vote, Vecina Beauty Supply emerged as the district winner. In the Residential Building category, t he Julia Martin House won for the second year in a row.  
  
The winning display at Vecina Beauty Supply 
 
Thank you to all of the businesses and residents participating in the contest. Congratulations to our 5 finalists: Atlantic Travel, The Brendan Behan Pub, Tails, Ultra Beauty Salon, and Vecina Beauty Supply. Next year, our Light Up Hyde Jackson celebration will be held at Vecina Beauty Supply so bring your questions about your hair to them at the party. 
    



 
HydeSquareReconstructionHyde Square Reconstruction 

Installation of artistic bike racks 
 
One of the new racks in Hyde Square
   
To make it easier for bicyclists to park their bikes and support local businesses as well to add visual vibrancy to Hyde Square and other sections of Centre Street, we had beautiful, colorful artistic bike racks installed on the street, including 3 in Hyde Square. Thanks to the creativity of Artists for Humanity student-designers who designed the functional sculptures, and thank you for installation help from the City of Boston's Public Works and Transportation Departments.

These beautiful racks add to pedestrian improvements undertaken by Public Works and the Transportation Department. In Hyde Square, sidewalks have been widened and new street trees have been planted. Public art will also be installed around the Square. Although being planned for many years, construction began in August, 2017 and we hope to have everything wrapped up by the spring.

We will be working with businesses to activate the new areas with commerce, entertainment, and art and we are looking forward to the successful completion of the work and re-energizing of Hyde Square.  
   




CommuntiyCalendarCommunity Calendar  

Activities to enjoy in Hyde & Jackson Squares

 
 
Main Street Activities

ISD-Health Business Workshop
Wednesday, February 21, 9:30 am - 11:00 am 
Hyde Jackson Square Main Street, 329 Centre Street   
Existing restaurants and food stores and ones planning to open are invited to meet with representatives of the City of Boston's Inspectional Services Department to better understand handling food and best sanitary practices 
 
Hyde Jackson Square Main Street's 20th Anniversary Gala 
Thursday, April 12, 6:00 pm 
Save The Date - Details to follow in the next newsletter   
  
    


 
  MerchantResourcesMerchant Resources  
 
Free and low-cost workshops & resources for merchants



Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE) 
 
Effective Presentation Skills
Wed, January 31, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm 
CWE Eastern MA, 24 School Street, 7th Floor, Boston    
Workshop cost is $25 
 
 
Legal Considerations for New Business Owners
Tue, February 6, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
CWE Eastern MA, 24 School Street, 7th Floor, Boston 
 
Branding for Your Small Business
Thu, February 8, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
CWE Eastern MA, 24 School Street, 7th Floor, Boston 
Workshop cost is $20
 
   
Understand, Manage and Improve Your Credit
Wed, February 14, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
CWE Eastern MA, 24 School Street, 7th Floor, Boston
Workshop cost is $10 
 
 

Hyde Jackson Square Main Street

Inspectional Services Department (ISD) Workshop for Restaurants & Food Stores and Aspiring Entrepreneurs  
Wed, February 21, 9:30 am to 11:00 am
Hyde Jackson Square Main Street, 329 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain
Existing restaurants and food stores as well as entrepreneurs wishing to open are invited to meet with representatives of the City of Boston's Inspectional Services Department (ISD) to better understand handling food and sanitary practices. For more information, email info@hydejacksonsquare.org or call 617-522-3694. 
 

Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC)
    
Facebook for Small Business Owners  
Tuesday evenings, February 13, 20, & 27,  6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
JPNDC, 31 Germania Street, Jamaica Plain
For more information, email cespinoza@jpndc.org or call 617 522 2424 x226  
       
 
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice 

Small Business Legal Clinic 
Tue, January 30, 6:00 pm 
Morgan Lewis, 1 Federal Street, Boston  
Join us on January 30th, 2018 to speak with an attorney one-on-one and get answers to legal issues unique to your small business. 
 
Food Biz 101
Wednesday evenings, March 7 to May 30, 6:00 pm 
Commonwealth Kitchen, 196 Quincy Street, Dorchester   
13-week food business workshop series for those wishing to start a business.
 
    
 
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) Boston
     
Website Strategies    
Wed, February 7, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm 
Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Druker Auditorium, Newton 
 

Business Startup Basics     
Thu, February 8, 6:00 pm to 7:45 pm 
East Boston Public Library, 365 Bremen Street, East Boston
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Basic Tax Issues for Small Businesses
Wed, February 14, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Harvard Ed Portal, 224 Western Avenue, Allston



Small Business Administration (SBA)

Financing Options for Small Businesses 
Online course
 

Emerging Leaders Program 
The SBA Emerging Leaders Initiative is a federal training initiative that specifically focuses on executives of businesses poised for growth in historically challenged communities. The initiative provides these executives with the organizational framework, resource network, and motivation required to build sustainable businesses and promote the economic development within urban communities. 
 
 

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Celebrate the neighborhood everyday!   ¡Celebre la comunidad cada día!

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