Tropical Storm Irene hits Somerville

Yesterday Irene struck Somerville, Massachusetts and the rest of New England. Although it was just a tropical storm (not a hurricane as everyone predicted), it still caused a fair amount of damage. Here are some pictures I took in Somerville during the late afternoon.

A damaged car on Murdock Street

A snapped tree on Broadway (near Trum Field)

A fallen tree on Hall Avenue

We didn’t lose power at our Cedar Street apartment, but folks in Magoun Square did. Inside Olde Magoun’s Saloon staff were sitting in the dark, and across Medford Street (around Status Boutique, Marcelino’s Exotic Birds and Churrasco) a generator was running.

Outside of my house

This has been a great year

My fiance in our new apartment

One of my college roommates recently told me that 2011 has really been my year. I would say that’s correct, but also that the whole last year has been my year. Since turning 29 in June, I’ve moved in to an awesome apartment, gotten engaged, and become involved with copywriting– a field I truly enjoy. I have written copy for WordStream (a search marketing company) and FlipKey (a vacation rental property website), and last week I started a copywriting position with BzzAgent (a social marketing company). So far I love the new gig! I feel so lucky to have experienced such a great year, and am motivated to spread my good fortune in any way that I can.

Royal White Laundry in Somerville has new storefront location

Today I saw this sign in front of Royal White Laundry’s longtime 181 Cedar St. location.

I walked to 13 Warwick St., which is just a few steps away. This sign is in front of the business.

This is what the entrance looks like.

Royal White Laundry had been operating its tailoring and dry cleaning storefront out of 181 Cedar St., while 13 Warwick St. appeared to contain all their washers and dryer. Now everything’s been consolidated. The planned community path extension and new Maxwell’s Green (formerly MaxPak) development should provide increased visibility for the Warwick Street location.

Somerville’s Royal White Cleaners improves signage

Royal White Cleaners just put up this sign.

This past weekend Royal White Cleaners, the troubled dry cleaning business on Somerville’s Cedar Street, replaced an outdated “laundromat” sign with one for its tailoring service. You can access this part of the business through the building’s main door.

Royal White Cleaners' main door

The company’s self-service laundromat has been closed since at least August (when I moved to Cedar Street). This signage improvement might be one indication the company’s seriously trying to improve its finances. According to the Somerville Journal, Royal White Cleaners owes the city over $240,000 in unpaid taxes; as a result, the city recently seized the property.

Royal White Cleaners can only reclaim the property if it repays its debts within a year, the article states.

Spring has sprung

At least it was here on Thursday and Friday. I took advantage of the nice weather by walking around my neighborhood. Here’s some of what I saw:

Snow melting

Dirty snow

A bike path with no ice or slush

Crews working on this new residential building

High snowbanks

Clear sidewalks

The sun

Trash that had been hiding beneath snowbanks

During my outing, I had a delightful feta avocado salad at the Joshua Tree in Davis Square. In addition to marinated feta cheese and ripe avocado, it had toasted pistachios, mixed greens, white beans, and citrus vinaigrette.

And later in the day I got a surprise from my fiancee!

Tulips are my favorite flower.

This weekend I also picked up my engagement ring from Shreve, Crump & Low in the Back Bay.

They had resized my ring and made a new setting. Here it is now:

It sure is snowy in Somerville

When I left the house at 7:15 a.m. to go to the gym, the roads were clear. When I got out of the gym at 8:30 a..m, they were covered in snow and ice. Not only that, but snow was streaming down, vehicles were moving slowly (good thing!), and pedestrians were struggling to get to work. Here’s some of what I saw:

On Elm Street in Somerville

An ambulance headed out of Davis Square (toward Elm Street)

A woman walking in the road on Willow Avenue

A vehicle being towed on Willow Avenue

A guy with an umbrella (smart idea!) on Highland Avenue

People crossing the street on Highland Avenue

Vehicles backed up on Cedar Street (right before the intersection with Highland Avenue)

Home sweet home

Talk about a lot of action for before 9 a.m., huh?

Valentine’s Day is on its way

Well I’m not really thinking about it (yet), but my neighbor is! I love these lights!

It’s a snowy day here in Somerville

Some pictures from outside my apartment:

The snow is really sticking to the windows:

Long-vacant building and shed in Somerville being demolished

I don’t know the exact address of the property. All I can say is it’s adjacent to the Cedar Street bridge (not far from Broadway). Before there was a large parking lot, a main building, and a shed. There’s still a parking lot, but the shed’s been knocked down and half of the main building has been demolished.

I believe the main building once housed a Curves and a Coldwell Banker. Here’s are some pictures of the scene (I took them yesterday):

I’m not sure who owns the property, or if it’s recently been sold.