Positive Developments for Roxbury/Dorchester nightlife/social life (Boston, Cambridge: 2014, crime)

[BostonBornMassMade]

Let's start with Roxbury:

Nubian Square jazz cafe wins approval; bill providing for a liquor license goes to governor

The Zoning Board of Appeal today unanimously approved plans for Jazz Urbane Cafe, a 200-seat performance space and restaurant in Nubian Square's Bolling Building.

Separately, a bill that would give Boston five new liquor licenses - four for the Bolling Building and one for the Strand Theatre in Upham's Corner, could soon be signed by Gov. Baker, Jazz Urbane attorney Lesley Delaney Hawkins said today.

"Some of us love jazz, so this is a good thing," board Chairman Mark Erlich, in which is likely his last meeting on the board, said.

Hawkins told the zoning board that her clients - Berklee Professor Bill Banfield, Darryl's Corner Kitchen & Bar owner Nia Grace and entrepreneur Turahn Dorsey - hope to open in June and begin bringing local, national and international performers to Nubian Square.

(The June date, presumably so that the Lounge can be open before the NAACP National Convention comes to Boston in July)

The 7,800-square-foot space (large too!), in the Ferdinand section of the building, with an entrance at Washington and Warren streets, will feature a round stage surrounded by tables, a lounge, a 10-seat bar and a private dining room.

Hawkins said that Jazz Urbane will be open for both lunch and dinner and will offer brunch on Sundays. Plans call for a 2 a.m. closing time.

Jazz Urbane now needs to go before the Boston Licensing Board for food and liquor licenses and the Mayor's Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing for an entertainment license


Dorchester:


Legislature agrees to give Boston more liquor licenses, for the Bolling Building in Roxbury and the Strand Theatre in Dorchester

The city also owns the Strand and is hoping to revitalize the 1919 theater, which despite more than $10 million in renovation work under the Menino administration, frequently sits unused. Earlier this year, the Wu administration announced $200,000 in grants to local performing-arts groups for performances there.

The bill started as a home-rule petition by the City Council.

The last time the city has won permission to issue new liquor licenses was in 2014, when then Councilor Ayanna Pressley shepherded legislation that got Boston 75 new licenses, most for neighborhoods outside downtown, the North End, the Back Bay, and the waterfront.

Having a liquor license is really the only viable (read: non-city-subsidized) path forward for the 103-year-old neighborhood theatre. IT will fundamentally change the shows it can book. It is a 1100-seat theatre and its most recent show was on Saturday, A Nubian Nativity and 'Can I touch It?' it doesn't have another show booked until "'You'll Never Beat the Irish' concert on March 11th.

[b]For a Washington DC comparison, this is like bringing back the Howard Theatre basically identical in size and age (Howard Theatre is 112 years old and 1200 capacity), but it is located further from Downtown.

I've been to shows and parties at Howard Theatre and the Strand Theatre, excellent venues and way more lively than the Strand as of now.


The Bolling being open that late, and having a more highbrow show, could SERIOUSLY decrease crime in that area. Especially once they finish building Nubian Ascends which will also have a performance and cultural space. Across the Street, Black Market Nubian has also applied for a liquor license so that it may convert to a lunge and bar. By 2024/2025 the area will be home to BFIT, Nubian Ascends (which comes with a parkinggrage), Jazz Urbane and many new housing units

[masssachoicetts]

This a huge W for Boston, especially POC.

The nightlife/nighttime scene is drastically improving between this, already established neighborhoods and the recent announcements in Everett for more nightclubs, sports betting and restaurants.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

This a huge W for Boston, especially POC.

The nightlife/nighttime scene is drastically improving between this, already established neighborhoods and the recent announcements in Everett for more nightclubs, sports betting and restaurants.

Two other positive developments. Well, 1.5 for POC in particular are Apex Noire and Soul Cannabis.

Apex Noire is going to be a 7 story Cannabis store on the bottom with a Lounge and Bar on the 2 top floors of 150 states street. It has been fully approved by the city and should be open within ~6-8 weeks. Tito Jackson runs it.

Soul Cannabis will be a marijuana store and recording studio in Fanueil Hall. it is owned by Michael Bivins, but it's been stalled by the ZBA (which si going to be gone later this week) because it is well within the buffer zone of several other marijuana businesses including Tito Jacksons. But seeing as its Michael Bivins, I suspect it will eventually pass.

I think people of all races will like and enjoy Jazz Urbane, Apex Noire and the Strand Theatre..its jazz, weed, and theatre ya know? but for sure the clientele there will be diverse, and they're in POC neighborhoods.

Going to a Comedy show at the Strand and getting tipsy would be great. Live Music in Nubian Sqaure?- great.

Everett will certainly is a real benefit to the nightlife. I'm already irritated at the operators of places like the Wilbur bemoaning the addition of more performance space.

I also want to go check out Puttshack….Top Golf is opening in Canton next year but I wish it could’ve been in Westie or HP.

I also spoke directly with Segun Idowu (Chief of Opportunity and Inclusion for the City of Boston) this morning..

the late-night czar position hire will be announced soon.

[WestieWhitie]

How long will it be before the news of shooting or stabbing at one of those establishments ends up on the police thread? I'll give it a few weeks after opening...

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by WestieWhitie

How long will it be before the news of shooting or stabbing at one of those establishments ends up on the police thread? I'll give it a few weeks after opening...

No shootings in Nubian Square or Uphams Corner now, right? So that way we know when one does happen it is because of the new venues. I thought you said they were gentrifying all the crime out? What happened to that

We all know the theatre and jazz crowd is soo raucous. So many shootings outside of Wally's and Darryl's, right? /s

Sorry, Westie Whities can't have anything of note. I hear Blanchard Liquors (err. 'Wine and Sprits') is amazing this time of year though. Parkway YMCA really did an amazing job with its renovation...20 years ago. The laser tag near the porn shop is a ball too.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

This a huge W for Boston, especially POC.

The nightlife/nighttime scene is drastically improving between this, already established neighborhoods and the recent announcements in Everett for more nightclubs, sports betting and restaurants.

Also, this.

The Bowery Presents is opening an outdoor concert venue at Suffolk Downs in East Boston

The Stage, as the new seasonal Suffolk Downs venue is called, will debut in spring 2023. According to the New York-based promoter's announcement, up to 8,500 music fans will be able to fill the historic track's infield.

from Boston.com:

Compared to other local outdoor venues, The Stage at Suffolk Downs will be notably larger than the 5,000-seat Leader Bank Pavilion near Boston’s Seaport district, although still far shy of the 19,000 capacity of Xfinity Center in Mansfield.

The venue will be built in partnership with The HYM Investment Group LLC, the company that is redeveloping Suffolk Downs.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

No shootings in Nubian Square or Uphams Corner now, right? So that way we know when one does happen it is because of the new venues. I thought you said they were gentrifying all the crime out? What happened to that

We all know the theatre and jazz crowd is soo raucous. So many shootings outside of Wally's and Darryl's, right? /s

Sorry, Westie Whities can't have anything of note. I hear Blanchard Liquors (err. 'Wine and Sprits') is amazing this time of year though. Parkway YMCA really did an amazing job with its renovation...20 years ago. The laser tag near the porn shop is a ball too.

I hit Wally's for the first time last Friday night. Man, I tell ya the proprietor keeps a firm hand on things...wasn't taking any s**t, and was taking a hard line on IDs and bar capacity!

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

I hit Wally's for the first time last Friday night. Man, I tell ya the proprietor keeps a firm hand on things...wasn't taking any s**t, and was taking a hard line on IDs and bar capacity!

I have never been to Wally's but I am not surprised. I suspect Wally's Crowd/Darryl's Crowd to blend with Slade's Crowd at Jazz Urbane.

I'd also expect with the large size and concentration of venues in Nubain Square..that It will attract a significant following of 'progressive; people from suburbs like Cambridge, Milton, Chelsea, and Brookline. Maybe even further down in Norfolk County...Canton/Stoughton. The Nubian Nights events have had mixed crowds for sure.

I doubt they'll be luring the 20-somethings in. Maybe for daytime events, maybe Nubian Ascends?

Write ups on the Nubian Nights series at the Bolling Building:
https://www.baystatebanner.com/2021/...nubian-nights/

https://www.baystatebanner.com/2022/...and-in-person/

their instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nubiannightsroxbury/

Jazz Urbane Cafe website

Roxbury Cultural District website

Nubian (Square) Ascends website

[WestieWhitie]

Ah yes, nothing like progressives patting each other on the backs for attending nights named after a tribe of slavers. Oh wait, never mind - that was the milder, kinder(tm) slavery.

[masssachoicetts]

I am actually surprised at how fast the Boston nightlife scene is developing.