St. Mark's Area Main Street

“Joan Rivers” (aka Doreen Collins) and awardee Marisa Luse share a laugh. Photo copyright Mike Ritter

In true Oscar fashion, “We’d like to thank…” everyone who made Oscars on the Avenue 2013 a success!  Tavolo’s fantastic food & service, Doreen Collins’ version of Joan Rivers, Craig Galvin’s awesome auctioneering, Mike Ritter’s “celebrity” & crowd photos,  our generous sponsors and auction donors, a tremendous cast of volunteers, and all the dedicated partiers who braved the snow to support economic and community development on Dorchester Ave!

To view photos of the event, please click here.

The after-party, Dot Ave style.  Photo Copyright Mike Ritter.

Thanks to our generous sponsors and donors!

City Clerk Maureen Feeney…1810 Realty Group…Anh Hong Restaurant

Eric Abenaim – Omega Mortgage – A Division of Lowell Bank…Ashmont Auto Collision

Ashmont Cycles…Ashmont Tire…Liz Carney…Designer Draperies

Building & Construction Trades Council of the Metropolitan District

EST Associates…Ed & Ellen Frechette…Ligris & Associates PC, Attorneys

Flip Hair Salon…Maureen Connolly Insurance…Mohawk Insurance

O’Brien’s Market/Liquors/Deli…Tedeschi Food Shops

Tedeschi’s Peabody Square…Charlie Tuttle

Image design by

Sunday, February 24, marks the return of Oscars on the Avenue – one of SMAMS’ best events ever!  This community celebration of the Academy Awards will feature great Tavolo hors d’oeuvres, great friends, our own “Joan Rivers” and awards, a fantastic auction, and more!  Proceeds will help SMAMS continue our work revitalizing our Dorchester Ave. business district.

Sunday, February 24, 8:00 p.m., at Tavolo Ristorante, 1918 Dorchester Avenue, in the Carruth Building at Ashmont Station.

Tickets are $75 in advance (until 5:00 p.m. Feb 22), and $90 at the door.

For more information about tickets or sponsorships, or to inquire about other advance payment options, please call the SMAMS office at 617-825-3846, or send us an email at office@smams.org

Thanks to our generous sponsors!

City Clerk Maureen Feeney; 1810 Realty Group;

Eric Abenaim – Omega Mortgage – A Division of Lowell Bank; Designer Draperies;

EST Associates; Ligris & Associates PC, Attorneys; Mohawk Insurance; Tedeschi Food Shops

Image design by

Back To Life Chiropractic & Wellness

Award Presentation. From Left: Rafael Carbonell, Deputy Director, Department of Neighborhood Development/Officeof Business Development; Co-Owners Philippe Saad and Dr. Anil Nair; Sheila Dillon, Director, Department of Neighborhood Development and Chief of Housing; Steve Gilman, Director, Boston Main Streets.

Congratulations to Back To Life Chiropractic and Wellness, winner of the City’s “Deck the Windows” decorating celebration!

Sheila Dillon, Director of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development and Chief of Housing,  presented the award to co-owners Dr. Anil Nair and Philippe Saad on December 20 at a neighborhood gathering at Back To Life, 1912A Dorchester Ave, in the Carruth Building.  For more photos from the event, please visit Facebook.com/smamspage

Back To Life is a great example of immigrant-owned businesses making a contribution to their community: Dr. Nair is originally from India, and Philippe  is originally from Lebanon.  Both are active on SMAMS’ Fundraising Committee, and Philippe is also a member of the Design Committee.

Back To Life was one of many SMAMS businesses that did a great job of “Decking” their windows.  Please take some time during the holidays to visit and congratulate them all!

GiGi Hair Concept, 1730 Dorchester Ave., honorable mention
Eden Natural Lifestyle Boutique, 1878  Dorchester Ave, honorable mention 

Tavolo Ristorante, 1918 Dorchester Ave.
Flat Black Coffee, 1906 Dorchester Ave.
Sea Breeze Mexican Grill, 1782 Dorchester Ave
Celia & Company, 1775A Dorchester Ave
Dot-2-Dot Cafe, 1739 Dorchester Ave
Beauty Line Boutique, 1692 Dorchester Ave.
Boston Hairnista Salon, 1690B Dorchester Ave.
Micci Fuel, 551 Talbot Ave
Ashmont Grill, 555 Talbot Ave
Yankee Insurance, 569 Talbot Ave.

Many thanks to all our participating businesses, and to our team of dedicated judges!

Some of the participants in the breakfast. Back row, from left: Dan Larner, SMAMS; Robert Weiss; Mihir Parikh, A Better City; Luis Perez and Yomiris Rodriguez, Sea Breeze Mexican Grill; Bill Howland, Carney Hospital; Jack Cunningham, Ross Common Quilts; Tim Deihl, The Residential Collaborative; City Councilor Charles Yancey.  Front:  Brandon Guillermo, Diverse Elements Online Marketing and Consulting

Thanks to all who attended SMAMS’ Business Task Force networking breakfast November 8 at Sea Breeze Mexican Grill, 1782 Dorchester Ave.

The breakfast focused on ways for businesses to save energy and money.

Mihir Parikh, of A Better City, told participants about ABC’s Challenge for Sustainability, which helps participants to shrink their carbon footprint and grow their bottom line.  The challenge features hands-on technical assistance and guidance, and direct access to city, state, and private incentives and subsidies.

To see the impact the Challenge has had on one local participant, please click here for a short video.

Steve Rumpler, from Boston’s Office of Business Development, gave information on two valuable City programs:

• Renew Boston – Partnerships with utilities that can reduce, by up to 70%, the cost of lighting and mechanical upgrades.
• Boston Buying Power – Group purchasing of electricity and natural gas that can reduce and stabilize energy costs

Lt. Commander Bill Fleming of MBTA Transit Police and Officer Tim Golden of Boston Police Area C-11 gave safety updates, and we welcomed Bill Howland from SMAMS’ newest corporate sponsor, Carney Hospital.

For further information on any of the energy saving programs, or the Business Task Force, please call the SMAMS office at 617-825-3846 or email us at office@smams.org

Lt. Commander Bill Fleming, of MBTA Transit Police, gives a safety update.

Thanks to all who attended Harvest-Tini – the eighth annual Martinis on the Avenue – November 14 at The Blarney Stone

For a gallery of photos from the event, please click here and use the password: Dotini

Thanks to auctioneer extraordinaire Craig Galvin and our committee:  Evelyn Darling, Lee Adelson, Donna Finnegan, Lisa O’Neill and Rachel Hronek; and our many volunteers.

 Thanks to our generous sponsors!

 

 

Hon. Russell Holmes
Hon. Martin Walsh
Dorchester Board of Trade
Eire Pub
Fallon Residential
Fields Corner CDC
Harbor Health Services, Inc.
Karlene Valente Insurance Agency
Mohawk Insurance
planwork.us
Vargas & Vargas Insurance
Viet AID

City Council President Steve Murphy; City Councilor Frank Baker; Ashmont Auto Collision;
Ashmont Tire; Boston University Urban Business Accelerator; Comzer Insurance; Gerard’s Restaurant; O’Brien’s Deli, Market and Liquors; Princess Hair Palace and Day Spa; Super 99 Cent Plus; Tedeschi’s Fields Corner – Gibson Street; Tedeschi’s Peabody Square

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 – 7-10 p.m.
The Blarney Stone, 1505 Dorchester Avenue

SMAMS and Fields Corner Main Street invite you to reap the rewards of another successful year with us! Meet old and new friends, try a “Harvest-Tini,” enjoy the Blarney’s delicious hors d’oeuvres and cash bar, and bid on great items at our live auction. All proceeds go toward SMAMS’ and FCMS’ work to revitalize our Dorchester Avenue business districts.

Tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door. For more information, please call 617-474-1432.

Click here to purchase tickets until November 12.

Thanks to our generous sponsors!

Hon. Russell Holmes

Hon Martin Walsh

Dorchester Board of Trade

Eire Pub

Fallon Residential

Fields Corner CDC

Harbor Health Services, Inc.

Karlene Valente Insurance Agency

Mohawk Insurance

planwork.us

Vargas & Vargas Insurance

Viet AID

Thanks to all who participated in celebrating the new signage for Ashmont Cycles and Sea Breeze Mexican Grill on August 16 – Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry, Councilor Frank Baker, Dept. of Neighborhood Development Director Evelyn Friedman, Boston Police AreaC-11 Bicycle Unit, and lots of friends! The beautiful signs were made possible with design and financial assistance from the City’s “Re-Store” Program.  (For more photos, please see our Facebook page.)

Some of our guests on the patio at Ashmont Grill

Thanks to all who attended our Business Task Force Breakfast/Sponsor Recognition Event on July 12 at Ashmont Grill. Mayor Menino was on hand to recognize Trinity Financial, CWC Builders and WinnResidential for their generous support of SMAMS over the past three years. We also had business safety updates from Capt. Richard Sexton of Boston Police Area C-11, Lt. Commander William Fleming of the Transit Police, and Carolyn MacNeil of BPD’s Neighborhood Crime Watch Unit. Thanks as always to our host, Chris Douglass and Ashmont Grill! (For more photos, please see our Facebook page.)

Farmers' Market Ribbon Cutting 7/6/2012 (Copyright Lianne Ames)

The market will run every Friday through October 19, 3-7 p.m., on Ashmont Station Plaza, at the corner of Ashmont Street and Dorchester Ave..

Many thanks to our host the MBTA, market sponsor Eastern Bank, and district sponsors Trinity Financial, CWC Builders, WinnResidential, Boston Main Streets, and the Boston Main Streets Foundation.

Presented this year in partnership with Mass Affordable Housing Alliance and Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester

“Eagle” Sponsors

Dorchester Mutual Insurance Company