It's been the usual busy summer here in Union Square. The Rock n Roll Yard Sale last weekend had a big crowd, with hordes knocking elbows to check out the vinyl and hipster crafts. The Farmers Market has been blessed with every Saturday morning this season rain-free. (Quick! Knock on wood!) Big crowds are arriving each week to get the fresh picked tomatoes, corn, and early apples. Everyone's still thrilled to have cheese at the market this year. Absolutely nothing better than some artisan bread, an heirloom tomato, fresh basil and mozzarella. Now that's a taste of summer!

But we're far from done! Check out these upcoming happenings.

On Saturday, August 8 at 3:30, there's a dance performance by Callie Chapman, Korn Ivan Korn, Sarah Turner and Catherine Murcek.

On Friday, August 14 from 7 to 10 pm Somerville Community Access Television is the producer of "Somerville....In Shorts!" SCAT comes in under the Arts Council's ArtsUnion umbrella to present an evening of locally produced experimental and animated films outside on the Union Square Plaza. It's an impressive line-up of filmmakers, including some who have shown internationally, like Karen Aqua, and many who have shown nationally, most recently at the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art, like Joel Frenzer and Steve Gentile. Some of the films are playful and wild, like Gina Kamentsky's "Einstein's Riddle" (pictured); several shorts feature animals, like Frenzer's zany "Paper Bears." The works of local up- and-comers, many who have taken workshops at SCAT and Harvard, will also be showcased. Ranging from drawn animation to stop motion, humorous to ponderous, this family-friendly film fest is the first of its kind in the area.

Local indie band, Faces on Film, will warm up the square while waiting for darkness to descend. The Boston Globe named the band's first LP, The Troubles, an "Album of the Year" and frontman Mike Fiore just won best local singer-songwriter in the Boston Phoenix music poll. Following Faces on Film and preceeding the film screening, Tim Devin locates us in time and place with his presentation of "The History of Somerville, 2010-2100," a community art project.

The event is free. Raindate is Saturday, August 15.

Now it's fourth year, coming up on Saturday, August 29, is the return of Project MUM. Presented by the Somerville Arts Council's ArtsUnion and produced by ArtSomerville, Project MUM, an open- air dance party under McGrath Highway, moves into orbit for 2009.

This year's event creates an intergalactic space odyssey featuring four hours of music spun by DJs flack, wayne and wax, axel foley & pace. An out of this world environment created by lighting whiz Todd Sargent sets the stage for an unforgettable outdoor dance party. A video mashup of space scenes both real and imagined will be shown by vj dziga. Celebrity danceoffs led by Carey Foster will provide inspiration for earthlings shaking it on ground level.

You won't have to travel to a galaxy far, far away to find the best Saturday night dance scene; this gritty urban space odyssey is on the edge of Union Square, Somerville. Participants are encouraged to come in their best space attire. A contest will be held at held at midnight, award a one-year supply of TANG!, the drink of astronauts. A $10 donation is suggested.

Check out the video whipping up enthusiasm for this year's event.

The changes to parking regulations in the City of Somerville continue to be hashed out.

The Somerville Chamber of Commerce has a webpage providing a series of links to information on what these changes will be and their implementation.

Somerville Parking Advocacy and Reform Coalition (SPARC) seeks to work collaboratively with the City of Somerville towards the creation of an innovative parking plan, devised through community input, which allows the City to serve the vehicle parking needs of residents and business patrons, to maintain active business districts, and to generate the revenue needed to continue vital City services. SPARC strives to ensure that Somerville establishes itself as a national leader in managing parking for economic vitality.

The City of Somerville has an on-line survey to ask your opinion on these changes. Click here then go to Survey on the left hand column of the page.

Nearly half way through the season, it's clear that the Union Square Farmers Market is having a great year. Open since the start of June, the Union Square Farmers Market runs every Saturday from 9 am to 1pm and continues, rain or shine through October 31st.

In addition to seasonal vendors with fresh fruits and veggies, herbs, and breads the market includes for the first time this year two cheese vendors: Fiore di Nonno with mozzarella and Valleyview Farm selling goat cheese. The crops are ripe at the Yang's and Nicewicz family farm so those vendors rejoined the market in July. There is always jammin' music from the local music scene, kids activities, and information on local food and other agriculture, environmental or local economy issues at our manager's booth. If you haven't been to the market yet, be sure to stop by!

Some special theme days are coming up in August.

Saturday, August 8th is Health and Wellness Day featuring tables with local health businesses, live demonstrations, and free massages.

OPEN Bicycle makes its second appearance at the market on August 15th. OPEN Bicycle, a new, locally owned bike shop here in Union Square, will selling bike gear and providing complimentary inspections and minor repairs. So ride your bike to the market this day for sure!

Zachary Teachout and Joshua Kampa, the creatives behind OPEN, quietly unlocked the doors to their new bicycle retail and repair boutique this past March. Located on Hawkins Street just off Washington, OPEN takes an innovative approach to the bicycle-centric lifestyle, offering new and vintage bicycles, frames, components, and accoutrements for a diverse crowd of urban riders. Folded into the renovated warehouse, the OPEN Bicycle space includes a retail store, a full service repair and restoration workshop, a stand- alone art gallery, and a interdisciplinary design studio.

We've still got it. Stuff Boston once again has recognized the fabulousity that is Union Square by declaring us Hot Neighborhood 2009.

Here's what they said:
"Off the beaten T, Union Square in Somerville is a hotbed of cool and only getting hotter, and cooler, respectively. The neighborhood is particularly popular for the sheer density and diversity of eat and drink. Highlights include the wall of sake at Reliable Market (45 Union Square, 617.623.9620); tamales ($1.25) from Cantina La Mexicana (247 Washington Street, 617.776.5232); the Peruvian dishes of Machu Picchu (307 Somerville Avenue, 617.623.7171); cocktails, board games, and mashups galore at The Independent (75 Union Square, 617.440.6022); and the brand-new local-foods market at the beloved hippie haven/coffee joint, Sherman Cafe (257 Washington Street, 617.776.4944). And what other square hosts an Urban Country Fair, a "What the Fluff?" Festival (Marshmallow Fluff, sickos), and a maple-syrup boil-down with sap tapped in Somerville? Not to mention the bars and performance venues like Sally O'Brien's (335 Somerville Avenue, 617.666.3589), P.A.'s Lounge (345 Somerville Avenue, 617.776.1557), Precinct (70 Union Square, 617.623.9211), and Bull McCabe's (366A Somerville Avenue, 617.440.6045). And the shopping, oh, the shopping. Stock your abode with sleekly kitsch décor from Grand (374 Somerville Avenue, 617.623.2429), and score cocktail accoutrements at its store-within-a- store, The Boston Shaker, or indulge your inner fanboy at Hub Comics (19 Bow Street, 617.718.0987). And when you need to refuel on caffeine after all that shopping, grab a socially conscious latte at Bloc 11 (11 Bow Street, 617.623.0000). It's hip (and hipster) to be Union Square."

Check out the article on-line.

Ever so quietly this summer, Union Square Main Streets has been preparing for the opening of the Design Annex, our co-working space for designers. It's been a lot of work that is beautifully coming together thanks to a lot of friends in the community.

We're not quite ready to show off the handiwork yet - it needs to be just perfect before we'll do the big reveal. For now though, we're taking a little breather to appreciate the hurdles we're overcome and those who are making it happen. So in that spirit check out the fabulous painting team.

Left to right ,that's Gerry Green, a professional painter who lives here in Union Square; Dave Cajolet, one of the members of Design Annex lending a hand; Chris Dewing, Market Assistant enlisted for this other effort; and his buddy Paul Yandel, recruited for a couple days to help with the big job. Also on the team but not in the picture, are super-duper volunteer Scott Loring, pro painter Peter Ellis, and USMS Executive Director Mimi Graney.

Your can follow the updates of our progress on Twitter.

Adults with developmental disabilities take part in art programs both in the gallery space as well as the organization's main building near Target. Works created by the participants are for sale in the retail gallery at 29A Union Square - that's on Somerville Avenue as it enters the heart of the square, over by Elegant Furniture.

The retail gallery is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm, Friday from 3 to 6, and Saturdays from 9 to 5.