Tufts University is a major American research university. The main campus is located next to the Powderhouse Square area, and includes the undergraduates and most graduate schools, including the Fletcher School of International Diplomacy. The Medical school and several other health sciences graduate programs and laboratories are located in downtown Boston next to Chinatown, while the Veterinary school is halfway across the state in Grafton, Mass.
Somerville is largely residential, with some retail and professional services, a hospital, and some light industry such as cabinet makers, printing companies, and some very small junkyards. Somerville residents span a wide economic spectrum, and thus hold all sorts of jobs within the greater Boston area.
Most tourists spend their time near Davis and Porter Squares within walking distance of each other, Porter actually mostly being over the Cambridge border. Residents sometimes avoid the crowds and hit their favorite spots in Union Square and the Winter Hill area, further from the T subways but still quite accessible.
Davis square attractions
Johnny D's
17 holland st. davis square, phone: +1 617-776-2004, (http://www.johnnyds.com/). m-f 12:30pm-1am; sa-su 9am-1am.johnny d's is a restaurant, bar, and music club which holds about 175 people. it's the boston area stop for many nationally and internationally touring musicians, especially in the folk, folk-rock, rock, and blues spectrum. there's live music most nights sometimes a series of dance or trivia nights on mondays, and they are also known for their weekend brunches which often have live jazz.
The Somerville Theater
55 davis square, somerville, ma 02144, phone: +1 617-625-5700, (http://www.somervillethea...) is a former vaudeville theater which has had several smaller theaters added without dividing the main hall. it shows fairly cheap 2nd-run movies as well as live musical acts. "the museum of bad art moba" which advertises that it's the world's only museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition and celebration of bad art in all its forms (http://www.museumofbadart.org) recently added a second gallery in the basement of the somerville theater. admission to the moba gallery is free with your movie ticket.
George Dilboy Post
The George Dilboy Post of the VFW, 371 Summer Street, plays host to various dances and acts, ranging from swing to electronica to circus to vaudeville.
There are also numerous bars and restaurants as well as various shops, some of which are mentioned below.
Annual events
Somerville Open Studios
In May is Somerville Open Studios, in which the public is welcomed into artists' home and studio space for a look at their work. Somerville has enough artists that it's basically impossible to see them all during the weekend-long event.
What the Fluff?
In September What the Fluff? (http://www.unionsquaremai...) In 2010: Saturday, September 25 raindate 9/26 for "Fifth Fluff Fest: Whoopie Pie!" A Tribute to Union Square Invention Marshmallow Fluff
Honk!
October 2007 was the second annual Honk! festival in Davis Square. Over a dozen brass bands showed up, from as far away as New Orleans and Italy.
Art Beat
In July is Art Beat a street festival in Davis Square focused on visual arts.
In May, the city's annual Memorial day parade.
In July, the city's annual pre-July 4th fireworks. Restarted in 2004, has since been the site of acts of violence yearly.
SOS Save Our Somerville Annual End of Summer youth Basketball Tournament at Lexington Park.
Elsewhere
Toast
Union Square is host to several night clubs that feature DJ's or live music of many genres. At one time or another, clubs like Toast and Club Choices have hosted nights for many sorts of music, ranging from Goth to Hip-Hop.
Taza Chocolate Factory Tours and Store
Take a 45-minute tour of one of the few bean-to-bar chocolate factories in the USA. Get a close-up view of Taza's vintage chocolate making machines and learn how cacao is transformed into authentic stone ground organic chocolate. Visit the Factory Store to shop for limited edition chocolate treats and see the factory through special viewing windows. Lots of chocolate samples available in the store and throughout the tours.