Three Retailers Compete for Town's Two New Liquor Licenses
Arlington, MA · September 27, 2026
Rain is drumming against the storm sills this morning, leaving the streets slow and quiet after the nor'easter blew through. If you are venturing out, keep a tight grip on your umbrella—plenty is happening indoors today.
The Lead
Tomorrow evening, the Select Board opens public hearings for three local businesses competing for just two available package store licenses, marking the first expansion of off-premise alcohol sales since town voters approved the measure in March.
The ballot vote authorized the town to raise its statutory cap from six licenses to eight, prompting applications from Peter Pan Superette, Ruby Wine and Spirits, and Arlington Center Fine Wines, a venture planned for Medford Street by veteran restaurateurs Pietro Giglio and Chris Lianos. Because state law strictly binds the board to the new ceiling of eight licenses, members must weigh neighborhood fit, site accessibility, and business plans before turning away one of the hopeful operators.
The board convenes at Town Hall on Monday night to hear presentations from all three applicants and take public comment before casting the deciding roll call.
Local Pulse
Storm Cleanup Clears Way for Sports Safety Town crews cleared scattered downed branches and minor outages following Friday's nor'easter, reopening all municipal playing fields for Sunday games.
Planning Hearing Resumes for Summer Street Housing The Redevelopment Board meets Monday evening to continue reviewing proposed design permits for the multi-family development at 251 Summer Street.
Adaptive Trike Season Wraps This Week Parks Residents have until Wednesday to register through Arlington Recreation for free recumbent trike rentals along the Minuteman Bikeway.
Today's Outlook
- High 61°F · Low 56°F — Rain (93% chance of precipitation, winds around 19 mph)
- Keep a sturdy umbrella and raincoat ready for persistent wet gusts throughout the day.
What's On Around Town
Today
Jagged Little Pill: The Musical Arlington Friends of the Drama (22 Academy St), 2:00–4:00 PM · $30 Local staging of the raw Broadway hit inspired by Alanis Morissette.
Manhattan Short Film Festival Regent Theatre (7 Medford St), 3:00 PM · $15–20 Screen and vote on ten international short film finalists from your seat.
Drop-in Improv Workshop True Story Theater, 4:00–5:30 PM · $10–15 Practice spontaneous playback theater and deep listening in an interactive session.
Tomorrow
- Movement Series: Walking and Squatting The Arlington Center (369 Massachusetts Ave), 9:45 AM · $125–150
- Dialogue Dinner Citywide Senior Center (806 Massachusetts Ave), Cambridge, 6:00–7:45 PM · Free
- Dumpster Demons Tour: Candi Carpenter & Moselle The Rockwell (255 Elm St), Somerville, 7:00 PM · $15–20
Tuesday
- Faculty Artist Recital: Byrne:Kozar:Duo Pickman Concert Hall (27 Garden St), Cambridge, 7:00–8:30 PM · Free
- Jenny Owen Youngs Club Passim (47 Palmer St), Cambridge, 7:00 PM · Paid
- Book Launch: Calling the Rain Robbins Library (700 Massachusetts Ave), 8:00 PM · Free
Spotlight & Story
- Robbins Farm Kite Day
- Started in the late 1990s alongside the annual volunteer park cleanup, this springtime ritual was championed by neighborhood volunteer Dick Harmer—known locally as the "Kite Man"—who brought dozens of colorful kites to teach kids how to catch Eastern Avenue’s skyline-facing updrafts.
Arlington Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
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