Somerville Open Studios takes place this weekend all over Somerville as the ninth annual event brings together more than 300 artists. Right here in Union Square you'll find works from more than 30 of them including exhibits at Somerville Community Access TV, Villari's Self Defense Center, and Boyes-Watson Architects. You can see maximum art with minimum walking by checking out the cache on exhibition at the Washington Street Art Center at 321 Washington and the studios at 285 Washington.

Be sure to check out the bookend shows at Brickbottom Gallery on the outskirts of Union Square and the Nave Gallery across town on Powderhouse Blvd. These galleries are celebrating the future Green Line in Somerville and how it will link the city.

A free trolley is the way to get around so you don't miss the readings and performances taking place on them. Pick up maps from kiosks around town, including one on Union's plaza, or you can download maps at the Somerville Open Studios website.

If you're not worn out by studio trekking take part in the walking tour sponsored by Somerville Historic Preservation through ArtsUnion. "The Ins and Outs of Union Square" starts at the Conway Playground (Somerville Avenue at Central Street) at 2 pm on Sunday, May 6. Visitors will explore our wide variety of architectural riches from Victorian churches and Queen Anne homes to industrial buildings. The tour will be led by Edward Gordon, President of the Victorian Society of America. For more information contact the Historic Preservation Commission at 617-625-6600 x2500.

Experience two of the hottest health crazes - the exercise of Nia and the natural powers of Acai.

Acai (should have an accent under the c and pronounced a-sigh-ee) is a berry found only in the Brazilian rain forest and prized as a super food for age defying beauty. Don't believe me? Ask Oprah. She featured it on her show as the number one super food and the best way to maintain beautiful, healthy skin. Growing in clusters on the Acai palm, acai berries look like dark, oversized blueberries. Acai is rich with iron and vitamins and loaded with antioxidants -- 10 times more than grapes and twice as much as blueberries. A powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, recent studies have even shown positive results in the fight against leukemia.

The Brazilian community has long known about the ability of Acai for improved digestion, skin conditions and cardiovascular disease. It's hard to get in America unless you live in Union Square where Pao de Acucar Market at 57 Union Square sells "acai medico" as whole frozen whole berries, a refreshing chilled drink, and in liquid concentrate. Chat with Eduardo at the store and he'll show you the various forms available.

Nia is a creative, barefoot workout that blends dance with martial arts like t'ai chi and the healing arts like yoga to build health through the integration of the body with mind, emotions and spirit. Nia cultivates strength, stability, flexibility, fluidity and relaxation while deepening the mind/body connection. Set to fabulous music, the joy-filled exercise is easy to learn and adaptable for every body.

Julianne Corey of Moving Celebrations will lead an 8-week series of classes at Third Life Studio on Wednesday evenings at 6:45 pm beginning May 9. For the curious, you can attend the May 2 "taster class" for just $5. Find out more or register by contacting Moving Celebrations.

The first rumblings of the major reconstruction of Somerville Avenue have begun. There's now a large electronic sign in the middle of the square where Washington and Somerville Ave meet, and over at the Kiley Barrel site on Prospect Street there's piles of gravel coming in. Those two spots, along with a site office and garage further down Somerville Ave towards Porter Square, will be staging areas for the three year project that will transform Somerville Avenue from Union Square to Porter Square with new sewer, water and utility lines along with new sidewalks, crossings, and streetscape improvements. The nearly 100 trees, synchronized intersections, new signalized pedestrian crossings, benches and more promise to provide a beautiful gateway to Union Square.

The reconstruction effort was outlined at a public meeting hosted by overseer of the project MassHighway and the City of Somerville. At all times traffic will continue to flow on Somerville Ave although trucks may be diverted onto Washington Street. The digging and other work will take place in a scattered way, with no more than four focused work areas along the stretch at a time. Parking may become tight on Somerville Avenue around work zones and the City's Traffic and Parking Department is willing to meet with businesses to make temporary accomodations if needed.

To keep residents and business owners informed on construction progress and changes that might affect them such as detours and utility shuts the City of Somerville is utilizing the CTY system. Sign up and you can receive regular telephone or e-mail updates. Call 311 or 617-666-3311 to sign up. Be sure to say, if you don't live in Union Square, that you'd like information on the Somerville Ave reconstruction.

You can find out basic information from the website connected to the city's 311 line. For more detailed info, the construction company is creating their own website. This newsletter will include the link when that's ready.

Problems are likely to come up during a project this extensive. Should encounter a problem or have questions contact the City's 311 line either by dialing 311 or 617-666-3311. The centralized office will allow the city to track problems and respond to them most effectively.

May is Bike Month and May 12-19 is the super- intensive Bike Week with events taking place all over the state. Here in Union Square Sherman Cafe has joined with the Somerville Bicycle Committee to celebrate by offering a free breakfast treat for bike commuters. On Wednesday, May 16, if you bicycle past the Sherman Cafe at 257 Washington Street before 9 AM stop in -- bring your helmet -- for a free small coffee and muffin or bagel with cream cheese.

Toscanini and Sons further down Washington Street will offer a free breakfast too but the date isn't set yet. To find out when you can have breakfast on them and for other events organized by the Somerville Bicycle Committee including a Bicycle Tour of Historic Somerville and Medford check the MassBike.org calendar.

The Union Square Main Streets Design Committee is recovering from last weekend's spring clean up. The Square is looking spiffy with its new flower planters sponsored by local businesses and residents. 80 people came out to volunteer the morning of April 28 and we say thank you for a job well done. And much thanks to the City of Somerville, the Mayor's office and DPW for providing all the resources we needed from tools and water to a tasty barbeque lunch at Nunziato Field.

The Design Committee isn't resting on its laurels. Following up on a training session with WalkBoston, you're invited to map the pedestrian aspects of the square. Armed with detailed outlines of the streets and sidewalks, we'll mark where improvements are needed like repainting crosswalks, repairing walk signals and ramps as well as where signs are needed for street names and parking areas.

The group is meeting on Saturday, May 19th at 9:30am. For more information on how you can participate, contact Jodi Hullinger, chair of the Design Committee at design@unionsquaremain.org.

Also beautifying Union Square are the new trash barrels on the plaza. Commissioned under the Somerville Arts Council's ArtsUnion project, Christina Lanzl and Phil Manker created a stainless steel barrel with a pattern of footprints. It's been installed beside the bus shelter on the plaza.

See all the details on this street architecture project here.

The revised zoning proposal was presented to the Board of Aldermen at the last meeting in April. A hearing will be scheduled for the Land Use Committee and Planning Board to receive public comment. That meeting hasn't yet been scheduled but in the meantime you can review the new proposal and support materials at the City's website or the USMS website.

This latest proposal incorporated much of the public comment the City has received in recent months of this process including focusing the area of the arts overlay district to eliminate RA and RB (residential) districts and expanding the PUD (planned unit development) areas down Somerville Avenue opposite the Public Safety Building. Allowable heights for the PUD-C1 subdistrict have been lowered from 120 to 100 feet and densities in the PUD-C to 3.5 FAR (floor area ratio.) See all the details and do a comparision between the proposals at the websites.