Popping up along the other perennials on the Boston Common is a new beer garden and performance space. Seating more than 400 and spanning 5,000 square feet, it will be a seasonal outdoor gathering space open through Nov. 1, 2023
The cultural hub, which opened to the public Thursday, is a collaboration between Emerson College and Trillium Brewing Company, in conjunction with the City of Boston. The main attractions are Trillium Garden on the Common and Emerson College UnCommon Stage.
“This new venue on the Boston Common will enliven this corner of the historic park with performances that represent all of our citizens of Boston and a new, beautiful outdoor gathering space for all,” said Mayor Michelle Wu in a press release.
Echoing the mayor’s sentiment is David Howse, vice president for the Emerson Office of the Arts and executive director of ArtsEmerson.
“This is about Emerson being a citizen organization and adding to the vitality and the life and the activation of a space that honestly has been neglected for a very long period of time,” he said.
One way to bring that vitality on the Boston Common is with suds and sustenance.
Esther Tetreault, co-founder of Trillium Brewing Company, said she is excited to bring their beer and other products, including food from Taqueria el Barrio, to an iconic Boston neighborhood.
“Boston has such a history and beer has a long history and a legacy in Boston,” she said. “I think now this will become a new gathering place, a starting point, to then go out to a theater or concert or another restaurant in the area. But this is a great place to start first and appreciate the Common.”
Instead of being a starting point, this could also be a destination for people in search of live — and free — entertainment.
The music performances will be curated by community partners Departure Arts, Boston Art & Music Soul Festival and Carl Lavin. Local musicians will take to the stage every day, along with WERS 88.9 broadcasts, DJs and other performers.
Tim Hall, a musician and assistant professor at Berklee College of Music, is scheduled for multiple performances at the UnCommon Stage. Hall, who is a spoken word artist, saxophonist, composer and producer, said his work is about his experience as a Black man.
“It seems like a really cool opportunity to shine a light on musicians and local artists and activate the Common especially as we enter the spring and summer months,” Hall said. “Everyone starts to feel a little more present with the city and I think the weather in summer months [is] so nice in Boston that it only makes sense to have live music acquisition happening in the Boston Common.”
Emerson graduate student Sofia Moreira said she has been passing by the construction of the new space for a few months and was excited for the venue to open.
“It's very nice to see it come alive,” Moreira said. “I'm not from Boston. So it's very interesting to see some live action in the city. It's nice to have people drinking outside and enjoying the day in the weather. It’s very nice to have this here, especially downtown.”
The venue is open 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
