Category: Brookline.News

  • ‘Miles and miles of warmth’: Welcome Blanket Brookline debuts third exhibit at All Saints Parish

    Lauren Albano

    Blankets on display as part of Welcome Blanket Brookline, a group which makes homemade blankets and quilts to display in art exhibitions and then give to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Photo courtesy Hadassah Margolis

    Amid federal immigration crackdowns, a group of crafters in Brookline aims to welcome recent arrivals to the United States the way they know best: with colorful, cozy blankets.

    Welcome Blanket Brookline, the local chapter of the national Welcome Blanket project, makes homemade blankets and quilts to display in art exhibitions and then give them to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The group celebrated its third local exhibit, which is on display through Nov. 1, during an open house Sunday at All Saints Parish.

    Hadassah Margolis, chief operating officer of the national Welcome Blanket project and founder of Brookline’s chapter, said the initiative brings a “power” of togetherness by uniting crafters on the issue of immigration.

    “Being there for our neighbors is so important, and it’s just a really nice way to be able to turn our passion into action,” she said. 

    Welcome Blanket was founded by Margolis’ friend Jayna Zweiman, a Newton native known for co-creating the pink “pussy hat” that took the 2017 Women’s March  by storm. Welcome Blanket was formed in response to the first Trump administration’s proposed wall between Mexico and the U.S., which promised to seal the nearly 2,000-mile border.

    “We want to create a new American tradition,” Margolis said. “Instead of miles and miles of concrete keeping people out, we wanted to create miles and miles of warmth to welcome people in.”

    The Brookline chapter outgrew its beginnings in Margolis’ living room and now holds monthly meetings at the Coolidge Corner Library. The group, which has an email list of 200 people and sees around 10 participants per meeting, has created over 400 welcome blankets, Margolis said.

    AnneMarie Ellis, an 82-year-old retiree and Welcome Blanket Brookline participant, is a member of All Saints Parish and helped secure the space to display the blankets. She said as a descendant of immigrants, she feels a connection to those who had to sacrifice a lot to come to the U.S. for a better life.

    “I’m sad about what’s going on in our country this year, and I can’t go out and protest as much as I’d like to,” Ellis said. This is my way of doing my part and welcoming people who maybe aren’t otherwise welcome to our country.”

    Devora Baronofsky, a 71-year-old retired nurse and Welcome Blanket Brookline member, said the project provides a personal token of support to recent arrivals as they are resettled in the country.

    “They need positive encouragement,” she said. “Rather than to go through something with pre-packaged, multi-produced furniture, something that’s handmade that somebody put time and effort and love into, it will be important for them.”

    The exhibit features more than 20 welcome blankets that were knit, crocheted and quilted by the Brookline chapter’s members. After being displayed, the blankets will be donated to resettlement agencies and given to incoming immigrants and refugees. 

    A note card is attached to each blanket containing a message for the recipient — welcoming them to the country, offering words of advice and sharing the creator’s personal story of immigration.

    “The note cards are so touching, because it really makes the political, personal,” Margolis said. “[They show that] we’re not any different from the immigrants and asylum seekers and refugees who are coming to our country now.”

    Ellis said it feels great to see the group’s blankets make a direct impact. Last year, several of Welcome Blanket Brookline’s blankets were taken to a resettlement center in Worcester, and Ellis got to see a photograph of two young girls smiling with blankets she had made. 

    “It was wonderful to be able to see a person receiving a blanket. It was lovely,” she said.

    Bridget Frey, a 52-year-old theater educator and Welcome Blanket Brookline member, said the initiative provides a “tangible” way to show immigrants they are valued upon entry into the U.S. despite federal immigration policies that might say otherwise.

    “I believe that our country is strongest when we allow people shelter here and allow them to rebuild their lives here,” she said. “Our current administration is at the wrong end of the stick in thinking that being welcoming to people is somehow impoverishing Americans who are already here.”

    Frey said she hopes the new exhibit puts “positivity out in the world” and inspires more residents to get involved with Welcome Blanket Brookline.

    “There’s a lot of love here in our community for recent arrivals,” Frey said. “I hope people take away that love that we’re trying to share and put out in the world, and maybe some people will get excited and make their own welcome blankets.”

    This story is part of a partnership between Brookline.News and the Boston University Department of Journalism. 

  • ‘Even the dogs are happy’: On sidewalks and stoops, Porchfest highlights community ties

    Lauren Albano

    A father kicked a soccer ball around with his son. A young girl hopped along on a chalk-drawn hopscotch court. Strangers, neighbors and families joined together around a porch to listen to live music. 

    Over 100 artists and bands performed on 63 porches, driveways and lawns Saturday, filling Brookline’s neighborhoods with every genre — from jazz to punk rock to a cappella — for Brookline Porchfest. 

    One block on Toxeth Street was populated with yard sales framing the Porchfest stage. Neighbors sold children’s toys, clothes and other bric-a-brac before 4:50 p.m. when around 50 people filed onto the block for a set from Vices Inc, a punk rock band from Portland, Maine.

    Having just arrived, Kaylee Rochelle and Peter Batten were looking forward to getting a taste of live music at their first Brookline Porchfest. 

    “Any reason to get everyone all together to enjoy a singular experience is always massively positive,” Batten said. 

    Porchfest attendees dance to the band Vices, Inc. on Toxteth Street. Photo by Lauren Albano

    Justin Gatcomb, the boyfriend of Vices Inc’s lead singer, Eleanor Langthorne, said the band didn’t know what to expect, so it was “heartwarming” to see the turnout for their set.

    “It’s probably really encouraging for them to be able to have people [who] just literally pulled in and stopped off the street to come watch them,” Gatcomb said.

    Gatcomb said he enjoys that Porchfest is a “family-friendly block party, everywhere.” 

    “I just watched somebody grab their chair from their house and bring it out to come watch,” he said. “That’s not a thing that you could find everywhere.”

    Wallis Raemer and her husband, Dan, set up tablecloths for a post-Porchfest potluck. The Raemers typically bike around Brookline to see different artists, but this year they stayed on home turf, prepping for the party and focusing on connecting with all who passed by. 

    “It’s fabulous to see your neighbors and friends, some you don’t see all the time,” Wallis Raemer said.

    The Raemers’ golden retriever, Mowgli, attached at Dan’s hip all day, roamed the street and invited attention from the children and other animals on the block.

    “Even the dogs are happy,” Wallis said, smiling at Mowgli, who clutched a baseball in his mouth.

    Dan Raemer and Mowgli enjoy Porchfest. Photo by Lauren Albano

    Barbara Stein has been hosting artists on her porch at Lawrence Road for at least a decade. Her husband, Jin Suk, is a member of Brookline Music School’s board of directors and oversaw organizing Porchfest.

    “Your tireless work pays off every year,” Stein said of Porchfest organizers.

    Stein said her favorite acts that played on her porch were rock and soul band Tio Rojo and friends, and acoustic indie singer Kiara Nothhaft.

    “I love having the crowd at the house,” Stein said. “I love being able to have artists get exposed to all the people wandering by and in Brookline.”

    Jenny Tam and her husband first got involved in Porchfest in 2018, when their driveway hosted their friends’ band. This year Tam enjoyed hosting Vices Inc. 

    Tam said she enjoys that her block closed off the street for Porchfest. Combined with the yard sales, she said it “encouraged foot traffic” and allowed neighbors to mingle. Vices Inc closed out their set by inviting the audience to dance to their rendition of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.”

    Neighborhood moms and dads took to the street, grabbing their children by the hand. Some were met with eyerolls and hesitation, but dancing commenced nonetheless. 

    A performer sings on Lawrence Road during Porchfest on Saturday. Photo by Lauren Albano

    “We can kind of embarrass our kids,” Tam said, laughing.  

    Maria Rodrigo, originally from Spain, moved to Brookline a few years ago but attended Porchfest for the first time this year with her daughter, now that she’s old enough. 

    Rodrigo said while she attended family-oriented Halloween celebrations in the neighborhood last year, she was pleasantly surprised by the number of kids on Toxeth Street for Porchfest. Rodrigo held her daughter’s hands and danced in the street, her curls bouncing in tune with the beat.

    “We’re loving it, and our toddler is loving it as well,” Rodrigo said. “[My daughter] was playing with some kids, painting with chalk on the ground, and now she’s dancing like crazy.” 

    Around the corner, Brian Sandor and Alex Petric from Tusken & The Raiders packed up after their set. Their self-described “pink rock pop funk” band debuted new original songs at their third porchfest of the summer. 

    Their favorite part of the day? “Everyone is dancing,” Sandor said. He hoped people could “find the freedom to let go and dance” while listening to their music.

    Petric said Porchfest brings charm back to the modern music scene through a “grounded, local experience” where bands can “talk to the people who are actually living [there].”

    “I think sometimes mainstream music gets away from that,” Petric said. 

    This story is part of a partnership between Brookline.News and the Boston University Department of Journalism.

  • Bar Lunette serves up colorful cocktails in Coolidge Corner

    Romy Meehan prepares a cocktail at Bar Lunette. Photo by Hannah Roderick.

    Bar Lunette is quickly making a splash in Coolidge Corner.

    The new cocktail bar, in a space that had been an optician’s office, has an undeniably retro vibe. The floor is a black-and-white checkered pattern, and vintage paintings hang on the yellow walls. Patrons can doodle or write quotes on one wall covered in brown paper.

    “It’s so cute here,” said Jenny Seminack, a 21-year-old Boston University student who was there for the first time on a recent Friday, drinking a strawberry spritz with gin. “I can’t wait to come back.”

    Bartenders Mikaela Estes, right, and Romy Meehan at Bar Lunette. Photo by Hannah Roderick.

    While there is no shortage of bars in Coolidge Corner, owner Nick Mallia said he wanted to create a unique experience.

    “There are lots of options on the table but not a cocktail bar,” said Mallia, who has worked for the neighboring Paris Creperie for over 20 years. “A cocktail bar to go to before a movie. A cocktail bar to go to after the movie. A cocktail bar to go to after the sit-down fancy restaurant.”

    Bar Lunette’s menu features French spirits, “Frenchified” classic cocktails and clever pop culture references. Drinks include “Lunette’s French Martini,” which contains vodka, pineapple, mint and blackberry liqueur, and the “Guillo-tini,” a cosmopolitan with a rose and basil foam. The spicy and smoky margarita “Paris Is Burning” references Jennie Livingston’s 1990 documentary. Most cocktails cost $13 to $16.

    A bartender serves up “Lost in Translation,” a Midori sour, at Bar Lunette. Photo by Hannah Roderick.

    “The drinks are really good and unique for a reasonable price,” said Nicolle Alvarez, 24, a research lab technician at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

    Malia said he hopes by mid-summer to offer a food menu that includes baguette sandwiches, French onion soup, cheeses and more.

    Open since mid-May, Bar Lunette already has regulars.

    Lauren Smith, 21, a manager at CorePower Yoga who lives in Brookline, said Bar Lunette is a good addition to the community.

    “The vibe is great,” Smith said. “We need more fun little bars.”

    A “Guillo-tini, left, and “Stardust” at Bar Lunette. Photo by Hannah Roderick.

  • Why matcha mania is taking over Brookline’s cafés

    Deborah Obeng enjoys her matcha at the Maruichi Tea House in Brookline. Photo by Miu Tung Rong.

    Walking through Coolidge Corner on a weekend morning, it’s hard not to notice the matching cups. Dozens of people pass by holding the same clear plastic cup — each one filled with a layered, vividly green drink. Some swirl it as they walk. Others pause to take photos before taking a sip.

    Matcha – the finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves, known for its earthy, slightly bitter taste and vibrant green hue – has become a highly visible part of Brookline’s food and drink culture. What was once a niche product in health food stores and Japanese grocers is now a common order at cafés and tea houses, especially among younger consumers.

    “I personally have whisked easily over 10,000 matchas,” said Akira Kato, the shift lead at Maruichi Select, a Japanese tea house and market in Brookline. “I actually have a callus from it.”

    The rise of matcha – whose global market is valued at over $2 billion and growing – reflects broader shifts in how people consume food and drink, prioritizing aesthetic appeal, health benefits and cultural variety. Over time, it has steadily integrated into everyday routines, reflecting changing tastes and a growing interest in Japanese tea culture.

    Matcha originated in China during the Tang Dynasty and was brought to Japan by Zen Buddhist monk Eisai in the 12th century, where it became deeply rooted in meditative rituals and the tea ceremony tradition, according to Matcha.com. Eventually, regions like Uji in Kyoto refined the cultivation and stone-grinding techniques, turning matcha into a symbol of Japanese culture and craftsmanship, according to Tenzo Teas.

    Maruichi  Select, part of the Fuji Mart Corp. family of Japanese grocers and markets, launched its Brookline “Select” boutique in 2021. The store combines a curated selection of private‑brand and imported goods — ranging from pantry staples to gift items — with a café offering handcrafted beverages and food. Its prominent matcha line offers insight into how global trends gain local traction and how social media visibility can shape real-world behavior.

    Two cups of matcha at Maruichi in Brookline. Photo by Anny Zheng Wu.

    Other Brookline spots serving matcha — like Kyo Matcha, Caffè Nero and Japonaise Bakery — point to the drink’s broader popularity in cafés, bakeries and specialty shops.

    This summer Junbi Matcha & Tea will open its first Massachusetts location in Brookline. The brand has 11 locations across the United States and is opening eight more, including the shop at 190 Washington St. in Brookline Village. With drinks like yuzu dragon fruit and strawberry matcha, Junbi adds even more variety to Brookline’s booming café scene.

    Kato has observed the tea house’s rising matcha demand firsthand. On a busy Saturday, staff prepare anywhere between 700 to 800 matcha drinks, often with customers ordering in groups or picking up multiple drinks for friends or family. Prices typically range from $8 to nearly $20, especially when drinks are paired with food items or include seasonal ingredients.

    Unlike most cafés, where matcha is pre-mixed and poured, each drink at Maruichi is hand-whisked to order — a time-consuming process that some customers view as part of the appeal.

    “It’s never pre-batched in a big container or in squeezy bottles,” Kato said. It’s all just right, directly from the bag into the tins, and then we just whisk it.”

    That attention to detail is part of what drew in Deborah Obeng, who typically makes her own matcha at home.

    “I don’t typically go to places just because I don’t like their quality,” she said. “So I usually make it at home. But this one was worth trying.”

    “I saw her whisking it just like I make it at home, so that makes me feel good about it,” she added. “It’s not super sweet. You can still get the green earthiness from the matcha.”

    Maruichi’s growing visibility has been boosted by limited-edition seasonal menus and pop-up events. One of the most high-profile was a 2024 collaboration with Japanese tea brand Yamamotoyama, featuring Eitaro, a tea expert who traveled from Japan to participate.

    “I think the pop-ups we’ve been having, where we’ve had the strawberry matcha with the guy coming in — that really, especially on TikTok and Instagram, that really propelled us forward.”

    The influence of those online posts has translated into in-person traffic. Kaylie Chapa, a 2025 Boston University graduate, said she was drawn in by a seasonal special.

    “The strawberry one last year was amazing,” she said. “Now I got the seasonal mango one. It’s my favorite matcha.”

    According to Kato, drinks like the mango or strawberry matcha outsell the house menu items during seasonal periods. “For every tonic drink we sell, we probably sell maybe three to four mango matchas,” he said.

    Nikhill Deo & Dani Murdoch enjoy their matcha at Maruichi Select. Photo by Miu Tung Rong.

    With increased attention has come the challenge of maintaining quality at high volumes. Kato said that during crowded events, consistency can be difficult to manage.

    “I heard some complaints saying the matcha was too strong or too weak,” Kato said. “It was so hectic that we couldn’t measure it out,” he said. “Outside of pop-up, we measure everything, you know, by weight just to make sure… we really need that consistency.”

    Flavor preference also plays a role in feedback.

    “Our matcha is pretty strong compared to a lot of other places,” Kato said. “So a lot of people are like, ‘This is too matcha-forward,’ you know. So they either ask for more milk or more syrup.”

    Oat milk is the most popular add-on, though Kato said he personally prefers soy milk for matcha. Syrup additions, like vanilla, are common among first-time customers or those seeking a sweeter option.

    He recommends hojicha, roasted green tea, for those looking for a milder option. “If you had to compare matcha to grass, right – I would say hojicha is more like wood,” he said.

    Though matcha is the main draw, Maruichi also offers a wide range of Japanese grocery items — from onigiri and bento boxes to imported sake and snacks.

    “A lot of people come in here and they’re like, ‘Wow. It’s like I took a plane to Japan,’” Kato said.

  • Alumni golf tournament helps fund scholarships for 17 students in BHS class of 2025

    Maria Udalova, who graduated from Brookline High School this month, will attend George Washington University this fall with her first year fully paid — thanks in part to a scholarship awarded in the memory of a lifelong resident.

    Udalova, who helped found Brookline’s Students for Nuclear Disarmament club and lobbied at the U.N. as a junior, is one of 17 students from the Class of 2025 to receive scholarships from Brookline High’s Alumni Association.

    “It’s important to show young people that they are cared about and that people are invested in our futures,” said Udalova, who plans to study international affairs, “especially right now when there’s so much going on in the world.”

    About $10,000 of student scholarships were funded by alumni donations and the association’s annual charity golf tournament, held June 13.

    The alumni association was founded in 1990 to build a network of Brookline graduates, help organize class reunions and raise scholarship money for current students. It has hosted the annual golf tournament as its only fundraiser for 31 years.

    The scholarship Udalova received is named for Brenda Moran, a member of the Class of 1965 who lived in Brookline her entire life until her death in 2020. Moran was named to Brookline’s sports hall of fame in 2012 for her accomplishments in field hockey and softball, and she was named a Greater Boston League all-star in both sports.

    Her niece, Caroline Moran, travels from Texas each year to support the community and golf tournament, which was renamed in her aunt’s honor in 2020, even though Caroline has never lived in Brookline.

    Although she was awarded less than $2,000 — which may seem insignificant compared to college tuition — Udalova said the scholarship will have a huge impact on her family’s finances. The money is expected to cover the balance after her other scholarships are deducted, making her first year of college free.

    Sarah Smolyar, who also won one of this year’s scholarships, will attend UMass Amherst in the fall, where she anticipates double majoring in business and math.

    “It’s just gonna make everything a little bit less stressful,” Smolyar said, “especially since everything’s gonna be new and different, it’ll just take a little bit of that off.” Smolyar, whose mother, Olga, graduated from Brookline in 1990, is one of several recipients this year with an alumni parent.

    This year the tournament hosted 40 golfers — a drop from previous years that attracted around 100 participants.

    “We need more golfers,” said Paul Deletetsky, a member of the Class of ’69.

    Deletetsky grew up across the street from Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course, where the tournament was held, and participated for his fourth year.

    New golfers, like Tara Sales, were also in attendance. A 2006 alumni, Sales played alongside her father and brother, who participate each year.

    The golf tournament and alumni association are both searching for fresh faces.

    “Unfortunately, what we’re finding is that we’re having a really hard time finding younger people that want to be involved,” said Marcy Kornreich, Class of ’74, the alumni association’s newsletter editor and former president. “I think that’s a challenge a lot of organizations are facing, especially nonprofits.”

    Kornreich acknowledged the tournament has become more demanding, with much of the planning falling on her and 83-year-old treasurer and president Stanley Goldberg. She said attending the scholarship ceremony for the first time reminded her why she got involved in the alumni association to begin with.

    “When we walk through the halls, they’ve done a lot of renovations on the school,” she said, “but it feels like the same place and the same sort of vibrant spirit and commitment to individual success, whatever that looks like.”

    Abigail Ketema, the only recipient to attend the golf tournament, will continue her education at Wentworth Institute of Technology, where she plans to major in architecture.

    “The amount of stress taken off my family — and definitely other families’ backs — is just, like, incredible,” Ketema said, “and I don’t know how else to say thank you.”

  • Strummerville Ukulele Club expands to Brookline with monthly jam sessions at the library

    The Strummerville Ukulele Club attracts a large crowd. Photo by Maeve Callaghan.

    Two dozen people strum ukuleles, filling the second floor of the Brookline Village Public Library with the catchy melody of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising.”

    Welcome to the Brookline meetup of the Strummerville Ukulele Club, which invites both seasoned and brand-new ukulele players to jam in a group of 20 to 30 people on the second Tuesday of every month. Even those who do not own ukuleles are encouraged to participate, as the library has several to loan for the evening.

    “For us, the beauty of all of this stuff is it doesn’t cost a lot, and it’s fun,” said John Soares, one of the leaders of the Strummerville Ukulele Club.

    Strummerville began in 2015 in Somerville at the Arts at the Armory, where it also hosts monthly meetups. A member of the Somerville community suggested that they host a regular event in Brookline.

    “We never thought to come to Brookline,” Soares said. “We came to Brookline, and we got a ton of people.”

    Nick Howarth became involved with Strummerville in 2016 while in search of a new hobby. He quickly became a regular member, and the following year he began to lead the group.

    Since January, the members of Strummerville have gathered at Hunneman Hall in the Brookline Village Public Library. Doors open at 6 p.m., and attendees play music from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. using the official Strummerville Ukulele Club songbook. They then play and sing songs for the first 45 minutes followed by a 15-minute snack break.

    The songbook includes 200 songs. The material ranges from folk, classic rock and contemporary pop to much more. Their favorites include “Come Sail Away” by Styx and “I Went to the Library” by The Wiggles.

    Brookline resident Don Sherak, a new member of the Strummerville Ukulele Club, was walking down the street in Coolidge Corner when he discovered the club. “My son had given me a ukulele as a gift, and I figured, how hard can it be?” he said.

    “It’s nice to come out of the workspace and think music, sing music, and make music with people,” Sherak said. “It’s about community.”

    A poster for the Strummerville Ukulele Jam. Photo by Maeve Callaghan.

    Sarah Bastille, a Brookline resident and longtime member of the Ukulele Union of Boston, said she was thrilled to hear that Strummerville planned to host an event in the area. Previously, she found herself commuting to Somerville to attend jams.

    “I was so excited when they said they were going to do a Brookline one,” Bastille said. “People love the ukulele!”

    Haworth and Soares are always willing to take requests for songs from the group – which June Lestrange did at the June gathering in Brookline. Lestrange, who lives in Winchester, plays in five groups, but she’s taken a liking to the Strummerville environment.

    “I’m in the mood for ‘Psycho Killer,’” Lestrange said. “My other groups won’t play it – they’re too rigid – but Strummerville is great.” Soares and Howarth excitedly took the request and led the group in playing the familiar rhythm.

    Soares and Howarth said they try to make everyone feel welcome, even if they don’t know how to play. “Even if you don’t know the song, you can pick it up easily,” Howarth said.

    Strummerville is the perfect place for those fond of brief moments of off-key singing, laughter and a lively jam.

    “That wasn’t right at all, but I did it with confidence,” Soares said while strumming his ukulele in front of the group. “That’s my favorite part.”

  • Gouda times roll at Curds and Co. cheese tastings

    Victoria Glatz and Sam Joseph enjoying a class at Curds and Co. Photo by Miu Tung Rong.

    The clink of wine glasses and the laughter of strangers getting to know one another filled the air at a small cheese shop in Brookline, as they shared slices of Florette and spoonfuls of rosemary grapefruit marmalade.

    Tastings at Curds & Co. feel like dinner parties. You’ll catch people conquering their fear of blue cheese or debating the ideal wine pairing for a funky washed-rind cheese. It’s not just about tasting — it’s about creating a space where curiosity and community meet over cheese.

    “We use these events to push people out of their comfort zone,” said Becky Mason, the general manager, who guides tastings.

    While most people don’t associate cheese shops with Friday night plans, Curds & Co. has carved out a small role in Brookline’s social life. The shop hosts weekly themed events — from wine pairings to tarot card nights — that blend education and entertainment for locals looking for something different.

    Friday’s “Bubbly Buzz” class gathered guests around a long table in the Washington Street shop to sample four sparkling wines and four cheeses, paired with unexpected touches like lemon honey and lemon artichoke pesto. Tickets range from $50 to $65, and class sizes typically stay between 6 and 18 people.

    A platter of cheese at Curds and Co. Photo by Miu Tung Rong.

    “We’ve had people who live right nearby and have never heard of us,” Mason said. “We’re really trying to get more locals in.”

    That local connection runs deep for Mason, who grew up just around the corner and attended Brookline public schools. Her mother, Jenn Mason, opened the store after careers in art, market research and magazine publishing. “She found this love of cheese,” Mason said, recalling how her mom brought home different cheeses from the grocery store and made small cheese plates each night.

    Noticing a gap in the community, Jenn enrolled in a cheese school in San Francisco to study cheese mongering before opening the shop in 2017 with her husband, Matt Mason.

    “We want it to be a friendly environment where people feel comfortable to go up to the case and try something new,” Mason said.

    Becky Mason teaches a class on cheese at Curds and Co. Photo by Miu Tung Rong.

    Victoria Glatz, a registered dietitian and longtime customer, attended Friday’s class with her partner, Sam Joseph. Though she often stops by for lunch, initially drawn in by the grilled cheese, this was her first tasting event.

    “I would definitely come back,” Glatz said.

    The couple appreciated the relaxed format and the way the class encouraged them to try unexpected combinations. “They’re really intentional about the pairing and had a really good point of flavors,” Joseph said.

    Though neither enjoyed the pickled red onions, both liked the rosemary grapefruit marmalade and were surprised by how much they enjoyed some of the bolder cheeses. When asked to describe the night, Joseph called it “informative, fun and surprising.”

    Glatz often grabs lunch at the shop, usually ordering a customizable grilled cheese. “The base sandwich costs five or six bucks,” she said, though her go-to add-ons, prosciutto and hot honey, bring it closer to $10.

    While the atmosphere is welcoming, not every customer likes the pricing. Mason acknowledged occasional pushback. The store adds a 7% administrative fee to purchases — a policy some customers question.

    “The admin fee just goes straight to the employees,” Mason said. “It gives them an extra two to five dollars per hour, depending on the time of year.” The shop does not accept tips. Curds & Co. operates with a small team: three full-time and four part-time employees.

    Though Mason is pursuing a master’s in art education, she continues to manage the store. Her parents, Jenn and Matt Mason, have since moved to Sicily and are seeking a buyer to continue the business.

    Curds and Co hosts a cheese class on Friday, Jun 6, 2025. Photo by Miu Tung Rong.

    For now, the shop continues to draw both familiar faces and curious newcomers.

    “We definitely have a lot of regulars that we know by name,” Mason said. “But we also have about 50% new customers who have never been here before.”

    Even after seven years, Mason said, people still walk in thinking the space is something else.

    “This used to be a UPS Store,” she said. “And for years people would come with their packages and be like, ‘Where’s the UPS store?’ And we’re like, ’It hasn’t been here for a couple years, but we have cheese.’”