For my money, Garlic n’ Lemons had the best showing at Taste of Allston today, dishing out this ridiculously tasty chicken shawarma/hummus/tabouli thing. I heard some votes for YoMa (who had an enjoyable if homogenous potato curry) so let’s put them in second place. The ceasar salad from Big City was rather good, and Fish Market had a bunch of interesting rolls.

I’m inclined not to speak negatively about any of the restaurants that came out for this event so let me just say in a semi-oblique manner that I’d still like to try Grain & Salt in a more controlled environment at their place. Serving hot food outdoor works better for some items than it does for others.

I kept looking around for Mt. Everest Kitchen, since I read in that piece I linked to yesterday that they were coming. But, they weren’t. Turns out that article was from last year, and (surprisingly) none of the restaurants mentioned there (Dawat, Gitlo’s, Bravo, Lilly’s, Buk Kyung and Camino Real) came this year.

I put a couple photos in a set here, or you can check to see if others will find their way to the ACL pool.

I’ve been completely remiss not to mention that Taste of Allston is tomorrow, June 27th. It’s still possible to get discounted tickets ($15 rather than $20) tonight, and through tomorrow morning until 9am. I’m taking both my parents since I didn’t manage to get it together to get either a father’s or mother’s day present on the appropriate day. Two late birds, one tasty stone.

Oh and look, there’s booze.

Past festival venues have not allowed alcohol to be served, but this year’s Taste, held at the Murr Center at Harvard’s Athletic Complex, will give attendees even more bang for their buck, with sponsors Presidente Beer and Sam Adams handing out free samples along with El Mayor Tequila and Pearl Vodka, Reed said.

Mikeyallswell posted a massive set of photos from last Thursday’s Rock the Village Fashion Show.

This Thursday at Harper’s Ferry, a show to benefit AVMS. A better poster is here.

Oh, and a promo video from Stingray (w/ extensive Mr. Butch exposition).

If you haven’t skated here yet, better get it in sometime this month.

The rink will be open until March 28. The hours of operation are Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A little background on the rink itself.

The idea for the rink emerged in mid-December as part of a brainstorming effort between three Harvard entities: the Allston Development Group; Public Affairs and Communications; and Real Estate Services. More than 20 university employees worked through their winter vacations to repaint and redecorate the building.

“We realized that this was an idea that had a limited shelf life, since the spring could be on us in a couple of months,” said Harvard Executive Vice President Katherine Lapp.

That’s ambitious for a Sunday. Allston Village Street Fair, today, right now, details here. Bacchus King (above) closes it out on the main stage.

This Saturday, AVMS and superfriends will be out doing the beautification thing. Provided we’ve not all been washed away by hurricane danny-boy.

The public is invited to join Allston Village Main Streets for a fall neighborhood cleanup on light poles, kiosks and utility boxes. Work will also include trash removal, painting and some graffiti removal. Twenty-five students from Wentworth Institute of Technology will be leading the charge. The cleanup takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29 (come any time).

Participants should meet at the AVMS Office, 161 Harvard Ave., Suite 11. Ring the buzzer for Suite 11 at the door.

In semi-related news,

In order to assist law enforcement officials in eliminating the unsightly and illegal activity of graffiti in Allston, the Allston Board of Trade is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the defacing of private property.