Author: Lily Zhai

Waltham nail salon owner waits months to turn dark storefront into ‘Sun & Me’

December 7, 2025

|

Lily Zhai

for

Waltham Times

Melody Luo unlocks the darkened storefront alongside her Main Street nail salon every few days, stepping past bubble-wrapped manicure tables that have sat unused for nearly a year. She expected to open by spring of this year. Instead, the expansion…
Read more
At Mirachi shoppers connect to a bigger world

October 21, 2025

|

Lily Zhai

for

Waltham Times

The moment you step through the glass doors of Mirachi Life, you notice sunlight spilling through wide windows and glinting off white tile floors and shelves. Rows of tidy products stretch deep into the space, with colorful chip bags, gleaming…
Read more
Across Cultures, Over Coffee: The Fika Spot’s Recipe for Community

September 30, 2025

|

Lily Zhai

for

Waltham Times

The griddle hisses and a sweet-savory aroma blooms. A beef veggie fried bun rises from the pan, balanced on a spatula, its blistered crust puffed and golden from the heat. At the counter, a barista calls out a tiramisu mocha,…
Read more