We're Up and Running!

Just a brief entry today: We finished moving all of our equipment across the street over the weekend, and we're now running classes at our new location:

95 Everett Street

Allston, MA 02134

Also, note our new phone number:

617-202-3856

Sure, there's still lots of setting up and decorating to do — it will take us some time to get settled in — but, we're operational.

Please drop by and take a look around!

December 1 Has Come and Gone

December 1 has come and gone, and we're not "quite" moved in yet. There have been some small delays here and there, but we're making progress, and things are falling into place. Equipment and furnitire shipments are arriving daily. We still need to go through all the inspections to get a certificate of occupancy — thanks for being so patient!

Here are some updated photos:

Just Two More Weeks (More or less!)

I'm pleased to report that photos that accompany this posting are already out of date. The first coat of paint is on the walls, the baseboard trim has been installed, the bathroom tile and fixtures are in, and the lights are being installed as I type. The interior doors have been hung, and the drop-ceiling frames are up in the bathrooms and office.

You can click on the photos for a larger view of the images.

December 1 is looking pretty good for a move-in date!

Almost There!

Some encouraging signs of progress today: As I drove past the building this morning, I saw the sheetrock being delivered — the walls will be going up soon! The A/C unit is up on the roof, and the plumbing and wiring have passed inspection. We'll be in the new space before you know it!

We're aiming to move in on or before December 1 at this point. That means our big, grand re-opening will be delayed a little bit, but we're still hosting a mini open house at 129 Braintree Street this weekend to coincide with the annual Allston Open Studios.

The dojo will be open noon until 5:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday, and the following 45-minute mini classes are planned this weekend:

Saturday Afternoon
12:30 PM: Inroduction to Karate for Adults
2:00 PM: Yoga
3:00 PM: Women's Self Defense

Sunday Afternoon
1:00 PM: Yoga
2:00 PM: Cardio Kickboxing
3:00 PM: Women's Self Defense
4:00 PM: Yoga (a full 75 minute class)

Progress! (And, some slight delays...)

Things are continuing to look better and better in the new building. Design touches (new paint and metal strapping) have been added to the exterior, and the new windows are all in place. Lots of work has been done on the inside, too, but I'm sorry to report that some permitting delays have pushed the final build out back just a bit.

Major work on the interior will not begin until October 20: final masonry, awning construction, wiring, wallboarding, light, toilet, A/C, skylight, and carpet installation, etc., etc. We also have to wait for building inspections and a certificate of occupancy... All of this will likely push out our move-in date to on or about November 15.

Hey, we've waited this long, so what's a couple more weeks?

Our planned open house will still take place, just not where we wanted it to! On Saturday and Sunday, November 8 & 9, we'll host an open house at our current location (129 Braintree Street, Suite 213) to coincide with the Allston Open Studios event. A few other things on our calendar will need to shift, but nothing too drastic!

Despite the slight delays, I couldn't be more excited about the new place — it's going to be amazing!

Stay tuned for more details!

Boston Globe Article on Studio Expansion

This past weekend, The Boston Sunday Globe ran a short article about our expansion plans and yoga classes. You can see the article here.

September Update

Great news! The building manager is pretty confident that we'll be able to move into our new space on November 1. They are planning to paint the exterior of the building this week, and they will be aggressively starting internal build-out within the next couple of days.

In fact, I'm scheduled to meet with the carpet installation team this afternoon to specify flooring colors, and I'm already making arrangements to set up phone, cable, and Internet for the building. It's also time to start working on purchasing mats and other training equipment. Things are really moving fast!

As a side note, the green space along Everett Street (next to the bridge) is in the process of being cleared for new landscaping, so the entire area is getting a face lift. The timing couldn't be better!

If everything goes according to plan, we'll host an open house in the new space during the weekend of November 8, and I'll have a special guest coming to the dojo to teach a seminar on either November 15th or the 22nd. Stay tuned for more details!

Local Karate School Growing in Size and Scope

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, please contact:

Sensei Jason Gould
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts
(617) 230-1973
Jason.Gould@karateinboston.com


BOSTON (Allston), Mass., August 20, 2008 — This fall, Allston's Emerald Necklace Martial Arts will be moving to a brand new facility: the 2,500 square foot standalone building located at 95 Everett Street. The building is directly across the street from the karate school's current address of 129 Braintree Street.

"Our new location will enable us to grow our membership and expand the services that we provide to the community," says Jason Gould, Chief Instructor at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts. "I hope to add yoga classes and a children's martial art program to the weekly schedule very soon after we complete the move."

Gould has been teaching karate and self-defense in Allston-Brighton since October of 2003. In addition to the adult classes taught at his Braintree Street studio, he has taught children at the West End House Boys and Girls Club, The Horace Mann School for the Deaf, and Gardner Pilot Academy.

Gould's definition of "self-defense" goes beyond physical techniques. Back in June, Emerald Necklace Martial Arts hosted a free public workshop on conflict resolution skills, and Gould hopes to hold similar events on a regular basis in the new space. He is also planning to give diabetes awareness and prevention presentations at local schools and health centers this fall.

"Our dojo (karate school) members have become a community that serves the community,” says Gould, who requires his students to participate in service projects as part of their belt testing process. “And we will continue to do things that benefit our neighbors. It's important that we do more at our studio than teach people how to block and punch and kick."

More information about Emerald Necklace Martial Arts can be found at www.karateinboston.com. Updates on the school's new location are posted at http://emeraldnecklacedojo.blogspot.com/.

Sensei Jason Gould can be reached at 617-230-1973.

Things Are Starting To Fall Into Place!

We're working on getting a couple of temporary (vinyl) banner signs up on the building. They should be in place by the end of the week. I also just ordered new marketing postcards, too, and they should arrive some time in the next few days.

I met with one of my students — a graphic designer — to create a color palette for the interior walls. I'm looking at furniture and equipment for interior, too. Very exciting!

Our next adult beginner's karate session starts on Saturday, August 6.

It will be the last group of new students to train at our current location! So, if you're reading this and have always wanted to try karate, now is the time to get started!

New Roof!

I drove past the building this morning and was excited to see a large truck and a dumpster in the parking lot: workers have begun replacing the roof at 95 Everett Street! This is just one of many improvements that are part of the new facility. Did I mention the two skylights that will be installed? It'll be great to have some natural light coming into the space!

Change of Use Approved!

I learned today that the City of Boston Board of Appeals has approved the change in use application for the building at 95 Everett Street — believe it or not, the building was officially zoned as a residential space. The approval was expected, but the zoning change process can be a real bear. Glad to have that step out of the way!

The neighborhood improvements continue! The city is replacing the sidewalk along Braintree Street this week. It's kind of messy right noq, but things are really looking up for this little corner of Allston!

Construction Is Underway!

Emerald Necklace Martial Arts has been "kicking around" since October of 2003, but we've been essentially invisible: Before moving to our current location (129 Braintree Street in Allston), we ran our classes out of the dance studio at the Jackson Mann School. And before that, we rented space from the West End House Boys and Girls Club. But now, we're moving to our very own building, and we're very excited!

Have you noticed the activity at the corner of Everett and Braintree Streets in Allston? The building at 95 Everett Street — formerly an auto body garage — is being gutted and renovated for our use. It's the future home of our dojo!

The building is surrounded by a new, beautiful wrought iron and brick column fence. The parking lot has been resurfaced and planted with new trees, and the green space along the Everett Street bridge is being cleaned up, too. As for the building itself, the old bay door facing Everett Street has already been replaced by a new steel door and a window. Work is set to begin on the new roof next week.