This mixed martial arts Mecca offers a wide range of fighting styles, from American Boxing to Pilipino Kali Escrima. Open since 1996, basic self defense classes and physical fitness gambits are on offer as well. Men and women, professional and amateur alike train here, but the atmosphere is definitely serious; this is not an aerobics studio.
This whimsical Davis Square gift shop is the place to find local crafts year-round. Opened by owner Dave Sarkowski in 2006, the work of over 175 New England artists can be perused inside the cheery lime-green space. Sarkowski prides himself on his selection of handmade items and unusual gifts, from fun cards and ironic notebooks to art T-shirts, one-of-a-kind toys and jewelry by independent designers.
This chocolate company specializes in stone-ground, organic chocolate made in a traditional Mesopotamian fashion. All of Taza's cocoa comes from a collective in the Dominican Republic, and every step of the chocolate-making process is done in-house, using traditional methods. Taza's small circular bars are a common sight at upmarket groceries. This Somerville location is a corporate office and a small factory.
This shop specializes in custom t-shirt fabrication, but is also known to personalize a hat or bandanna. Inside you'll find a hip front office with band posters, neon signs and many framed newspaper articles extolling this business. And behind massive double doors, QRST's shop sprawls into the distance; enormous spinning presses crank out t-shirts, digital printers put photo quality images onto cloth and embroidery machines rapidly stitch logos. Most of its business is handled online, but phone orders and walk-in clients are welcome.
GRA, Inc. is located on the third floor of the Gorin Building on Elm Street. President and real estate broker Micah Gorin exclusively manages the listings, which are primarily located in Somerville. The company specializes in commercial and industrial real estate.
Founded in 1970, this nonprofit organization provides heath and human resources for Portuguese speakers all across eastern Massachusetts. The Alliance strives to break down linguistic and cultural barriers between Portuguese speakers and health care, education and fiscal opportunities. This Somerville office is just one of several set up across the state, and the bilingual employees here hail from Portuguese-speaking countries including Brazil, Cape Verde and Portugal. The Alliance works with issues ranging from HIV to drunk driver awareness to breast cancer screening. Be aware that this office is only open part-time during the evening by appointment only.
This family-owned grocery store stocks specialty foods from around the globe, with an emphasis on Italian foods and take-home meals. Shelves of high-quality and rare olive oil, cases of artisan cheeses and meats, stacks of exotic chocolate (some even made with Earl Grey tea) and massive jars of various truffles line the walls. Floor-to-ceiling cool cases keep house-made pasta sauces, stuffed ravioli and gnocchi fresh, and fresh-baked cannoli fill hulking glass containers.
A huge chart above the register lists the ingredients of every homemade pasta and the best way to cook each kind. Or if you prefer your meal ready-to-go, housemade entrees such as flat-bottomed meatballs, duck and squash lasagna or Argentine empanadas are sold. Occasional cooking classes share Capone family kitchen secrets.
Insider info: Various Capone products are used across the street at Bloc 11 coffee shop.
Brick walls, 40 tables, sandwiches with local ingredients, art from Somerville natives and a huge bank vault in which to imbibe your daily caffeine intake? This is the wonderfully quirky Block 11. Owner Jennifer Park also owns the impossibly hip Diesel Café in Davis Square, but Bloc 11 has a decidedly more sophisticated feel than its hipster sister. Don't miss the courtyard seating or the freestanding fireplace in the back; watching new baristas learning how to pull the perfect espresso on the trainer machine behind the main counter is also entertaining. Of special note is "The 257" sandwich, a sinful concoction of prosciutto, ricotta from Capone's market across the street and caramelized onions.
