Business
Officials concede failures in low-income housing, move to study higher standard

Officials concede failures in low-income housing, move to study higher standard

The City Council wants a study that could mean a permanent increase in the amount of affordable housing in large residential developments – and if work on the study started now, it would come back for a vote in 2014, potentially too late for some of the flood of projects under way.

Saturday Harvard Square vigil targets Gap to spur safety leadership overseas

Saturday Harvard Square vigil targets Gap to spur safety leadership overseas

Reacting to last week’s fatal garment factory collapse in Bangladesh, a local social justice group is calling for a vigil and demonstration at the Gap store in Harvard Square on Saturday afternoon.

News

Councillors duel over frozen schools budget in runup to Monday meeting

Councillors duel over frozen schools budget in runup to Monday meeting

The $151 million schools budget – frozen in the Finance Committee May 9 despite the expectation that the full City Council would adopt the city’s full, $507 million proposed budget today – are sure to be a big part of the 5:30 p.m. meeting of the City Council.

Lesley graduates 2,234; speakers include historian McCullough, singer-songwriter Graham Nash

Lesley graduates 2,234; speakers include historian McCullough, singer-songwriter Graham Nash

Lesley University’s commencement was Saturday, with 2,234 degrees and certificates handed out – 468 bachelor’s degrees, 1,740 master’s degrees and 23 doctorates.

Police seek help finding missing senior

Police seek help finding missing senior

Cambridge police are asking help with finding a missing person: Richard Aylward, 62, who walked away from MIT Mayor’s Senior Picnic on Vassar Street at about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Stocks

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Features

Five (or so) things to do this weekend: May 18-19

Five (or so) things to do this weekend: May 18-19

Get in free to the Harvard Art Museums. Get photographed on the red carpet. See the art of the East/Central Cambridge Open Studios. Tune in to Porchfest. Experience “Love on the Run” via Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev and Verdi. And have a literary weekend.

League of American Bicyclists to give Cambridge the gold before Saturday ‘Sweet Ride’

League of American Bicyclists to give Cambridge the gold before Saturday ‘Sweet Ride’

Cambridge has been recognized as a gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Mayor Henrietta Davis will accept the award at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Cambridge Main Library just before the Cambridge Bicycle Committee’s “Sweet Ride.”

Commentary

Three reasons the IRS ‘scandal’ is ridiculous

Three reasons the IRS ‘scandal’ is ridiculous

The Internal Revenue Service has acknowledged that for a little while it was giving some extra scrutiny to political groups applying for tax-exempt status. So? For starters, political groups aren’t supposed to be tax-exempt.

‘Disappointment and frustration’ over City Council’s hold on schools budget

The co-chairs of the Cambridge Parent Advisory Council on Special Education hope that City Council will work more collaboratively with School Committee and not have impetuous political gestures jeopardize the welfare of our children’s education.

Music

For sexy spy songs with chanteuse Niki Luparelli, go-go to Oberon on Wednesday

For sexy spy songs with chanteuse Niki Luparelli, go-go to Oberon on Wednesday

Chanteuse Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers perform favorite James Bond and spy-themed songs live at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Harvard Square’s Oberon. “Diamonds are Forever, but this show is one night only,” Luparelli says.

Film

‘The Iceman’: Potentially titillating, but tale of suburban killer for hire leaves you cold

‘The Iceman’: Potentially titillating, but tale of suburban killer for hire leaves you cold

What makes Richard Kuklinski intriguing is that he did it while married and living a suburban existence, replete with two teenage daughters. But writer/director Ariel Vromen plays the tale a little too straight.

Comedy

Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival plays Harvard Square, Boston in June

Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival plays Harvard Square, Boston in June

The Sinclair hosts the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival the last weekend in June in three chunks, including a Sunday vaudeville-style night led by musician and author John Wesley Harding that combines music, literature and, of course, comedy.

Art

Why you won’t see this artist’s improved map of the T while riding the T

Why you won’t see this artist’s improved map of the T while riding the T

Artist Dave Ortega has an entry for the “New Perspectives” T Map Challenge that looks more orderly and airy, provides geographic scale, adds significant green spaces and names some waterways and landmarks. He won’t be entering his map in the T’s contest, though.