Cambridge Favorites

Fondest memory: One of my favourite things in Cambridge was simply watching the buskers outside of the Out of Town News stand at Harvard Square. This little (err, big) news stand is a popular landmark right outside of the Harvard Square 'T' station in the heart of Cambridge. This is where you'll find your talented buskers singing their hearts out and selling CD's. It's where you'll see students, punks, artists, musicians and tourists mingling about. Across the street is Harvard University, and it's here where I truly felt the vibrant spirit of community.

Favorite thing: BOOKSTORES: (Or perhaps, as I watch them vanish, I should say that they were my favorite thing about Cambridge.


CURIOUS GEORGE GOES TO WORDSWORTH (Harvard Square)
(1 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 Tel. 617-498- 0062)
Extensive selection of children's books and toys.

HARVARD BOOKSTORE (Harvard Square)
(1256 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Tel 617-661-1515)
Great selection of books, good history section,
especially good African history section. There is a
basement where used books are sold. The selection in the used section is
also very good.

SCHOENHOF'S FOREIGN BOOKS (Harvard Square)
76A Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge. Tel. 617-547-8855
Books in many different languages and a huge
selection of English/Foreign Language
dictionaries (English/Arabic, for example).

GROLIER POETRY BOOK SHOP (Harvard Square)
(6 Plympton Street Cambridge 02138 Tel.(617)547-4648)
Poetry Bookstore founded in 1927. A Classic.

THE HARVARD COOP (Harvard Square)
1400 Mass. Ave. Cambridge 02138 Tel. (617)499-2000
Very large bookstore with both children's and adult books. There is a cafe inside, too.

THE GLOBE CORNER BOOKSTORE (Harvard Square)
Out of Business, now. This is an example of why people should not give their custom to the huge and lifeless chains which now dominate the square.

WORDSWORTH (Harvard Square)
Another Cambridge landmark out of business. I can still picture this lovely bookstore in my mind. I've lived near Harvard Square since the early 80's and finally I believe that with the loss of the bookstores, the heart has gone out of it.

Favorite thing: Naturally, Harvard Square, is the most famous of all of the squares in Cambridge. At the intersection of Masschusetts Avenue, Mt Auburn Street and JFK Street, this is where all the Harvard kids hang out and shop at the Abercombie & Fitch...Harvard Square also attracts lots of freaks too....there's the ever present hacky sack kids, the constant band of merry minstrels, and lets not forget my beloved Harvard Square Clown...and I guarantee at least two or three protesters....of something.....

Favorite thing: Located at the intersection of Massachusetts and Somerville Avenues, Porter Square seems to be that no-man's land between Somerville and Cambridge...where the brains meet the muscle....the upper class rubs elbows with the working class...naturally there's a Dunken Donuts located in the Square to ease the tension...

Porter Square lacks the shopping mall feel of Corporate America that has overrun Harvard Square, so, everything that's in Porter Square is all the more practical...so, roll up your sleeves and pull up a bar stool at Christopher's and order a round or two...

Favorite thing: I guess I am fascinated with this construction site, LOL!

Fondest memory: The anticapation of the newest contruction growing before my eyes...... Hahaha, you must think that also, since I take so many pictures of the Stata Center, huh?

Favorite thing: The Ray and Maria Stata Center for Computer, Information, and Intelligence Sciences is a 430,000 sq. ft. facility designed by renowned architect Frank O. Gehry. Rising from the Building site on Vassar Street, the design is bold--somewhat like solid, rectangular structures with popout parts, aligned with giant crushed cans.

Fondest memory: Working here!!

Favorite thing: See the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which is Cambridge's 'other' major university, catering mainly to technical students. The campus and area around it is quite staid and boring compared to Harvard's vibrancy, but Kendall Square is waking up with a new movie theatre and some great new architecture by Frank Gehry. The Great Dome is the most photographed landmark here. The photo shows many of the university's associated buildings seen from Boston.

Favorite thing: Although the character of the stores has faded somewhat with the invasion of chains, old-time favourites such as Wordsworth's Books, the Harvard Cooperative Society, J. August, Leavitt and Peirce Tobacco, and the Harvard Book Store remain. Out of Town News, a popular newstand and a local landmark, stands at the centre of the square, right near 'The Pit' where bands can be found playing. Shops and restaurants extend in every direction- along Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and JFK Street. If you're not into shopping, the Square is a great place to watch the interesting variety of people who frequent it. Some of the sidestreets around the square are great too- quiet and lined with old colonial houses which have survived the test of time. It's accessible from the Harvard T stop.