SETTLING IN
FINDING HOUSING
The local papers refer to Boston as “the Hub of the Universe” or simply The Hub. Looking for housing is one time when you’ll agree because it feels like you’re competing against the entire universe! In late summer and fall, finding housing in Boston or Cambridge can be quite difficult. The number of colleges and universities in the area and the resistance to new development means that the market is VERY tight, but don’t be discouraged. Living near campus is expensive, though convenient, but if you are able to live a few miles away (in Somerville, Arlington, Watertown or Waltham, for example) you can save a lot. Consider living further out in the suburbs as well. Commuting is absolutely do-able, and you’ll find much better deals. Either way, you’ve picked a great time to move to the area.
For housing near Harvard, consult the Harvard Housing Office, 7 Holyoke St., Cambridge, MA 02138, 617-495-3377 or 800-252-5020, open Monday through Friday, www.hpre.harvard.edu/RRE. Harvard offers off-campus affiliated housing, if you don’t have pets and you get a decent lottery number. The office also has many realtor contacts and postings for available apartments.
You can also check the Sunday Boston Globe or its website, www.boston.com, and bostonapartments.com also has great leads. In addition, hlcentral.com, the Law School’s student-run website, has apartment listings posted by other HLS students. Looking for an apartment without a realtor in Boston or Cambridge may be very difficult, especially when 100+ people often call about an apartment advertised in the paper. Realtors typically charge a fee equal to one month’s rent. Generally you’ll end up paying 3 months of rent upfront – first, last, and broker’s fee. It may be possible to negotiate a lower fee when the market isn’t as busy. The best way to avoid the fee is to look for apartments rented by the owners. But don’t feel too bad if you can’t avoid the fee – at least it’s lower than in New York City!
UTILITIES
ELECTRIC NSTAR ELECTRIC
800-592-2000
GAS NSTAR GAS
800-572-9300
TELEPHONE VERIZON (Phone/Internet)
800-870-9999
CABLE & INTERNET COMCAST (Cable/Internet/Digital Phone)
888-633-4266
RCN (Cable/Internet)
800-RING-RCN
Verizon offers a pretty good local/long distance package. If AT & T Broadband provides digital phone in your area, the package for all 3 services is supposed to have some great savings. Finally, RCN has the least expensive cable, but it doesn’t service all areas yet.
BANKS
These are some of the major banks in the Boston area. Check the Yellow Pages for a more comprehensive list. These numbers are for customer service or general information.
BANK OF AMERICA 800-841-4000. Boston’s largest bank since it acquired Fleet. Having an ATM on every corner has its advantages (there
is an ATM in the Hark).
CAMBRIDGE SAVINGS BANK 617-864-8700. Branches in Harvard, Porter, and Central
Square. Offers free checking. Part of the SUM network (almost all Boston banks
except for Bank of America are members) which means that it will not charge you a fee for using
another SUM bank’s ATM.
CAMBRIDGEPORT BANK 800-401-2626. Offers totally free checking,
but has few branches. Great only if you live in Harvard or Central
Square.
CAMBRIDGE TRUST 617-876-5500. Also part of the SUM network.
CITIZENS BANK 800-922-9999. Several account options and
many branches with ATM’s in most subway stops. Mediocre service.
SOVEREIGN BANK 877-SOV-BANK. Offers totally free checking, many
Cambridge, Boston, Somerville branches and ATMs.
POST OFFICES
Here are just a few area post offices:
CAMBRIDGE MAIN BRANCH
770 MASS AVE. (CENTRAL SQUARE), 617-575-8700
HARVARD SQUARE BRANCH
125 MOUNT AUBURN ST., 617-876-3883
PORTER SQUARE BRANCH
1953 MASS AVE.
SOMERVILLE MAIN BRANCH
237 WASHINGTON ST.
WATERTOWN MAIN BRANCH
126 MAIN ST.
www.usps.com
LIBRARIES
HARVARD LIBRARIES Spouses can get free library cards at all of the Harvard libraries.
Browse their resources online.
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 666 Boylston St., Boston, 617-536-5400. To obtain a free
library card you will need to bring proof of residency (for example, an electric bill).
Often has discounts to local museums for free. Check out its great website at
www.bpl.org.
VOTER REGISTRATION
Towns and cities, not counties, perform registration in Massachusetts. If you register in
person, you will need to bring proof of your name and address (for example, a
Massachusetts driver’s license, a check book, or a phone or gas bill). Mail-in registration
forms are usually available around campus. You must register at least 30 days in advance
of an election to be eligible to vote. Non-presidential primaries are usually held in
September; general elections are in November.
BELMONT CITY HALL 455 Concord Ave.
617-489-8210
BOSTON CITY HALL Government Center Rm. 221
617-635-4000
BOSTON ELECTION DEPARTMENT
617-635-4635
BROOKLINE TOWN HALL 333 Washington St
617-730-2000
CAMBRIDGE CITY HALL Central Square
617-349-4000
SOMERVILLE CITY HALL 93 Highland Ave
617-625-6600
WATERTOWN CITY HALL 149 Main St.
617-972-6486
EMERGENCY AND HEALTH INFORMATION
FIRE/POLICE/AMBULANCE
911
STATE POLICE
617-740-7600
POISON INFORMATION CENTER
800-682-9211
DENTAL CARE
HARVARD UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES (UHS)
Holyoke Center, 1st Floor
617-495-2063
CAMBRIDGE DENTAL ASSOCIATES 921 Mass Ave., Cambridge
617-492-8210
HARVARD DENTAL SCHOOL 188 Longwood Ave., Boston
617-432-1423
NEW ENGLAND DENTAL CENTER 1446 Cambridge St., Cambridge
617-876-1100
TUFTS DENTAL SCHOOL 1 Kneeland St., Boston
617-636-6828
The basic Harvard dental plan covers all the costs of a visit for cleanings and routine fillings
except for a co-payment ($10 for cleanings, $20 for fillings), however, the Harvard
clinic is extremely backlogged. Expect that the first available date for a non-emergency
appointment will be in about 2-3 months.
Also, don’t forget the yellow pages, which provides an extensive listing of dentists with
private practices throughout the area. While costs will be higher, the trade-off of a quick
visit may make it worthwhile.
HOSPITALS
Boston is famous for its medical facilities, many of which are affiliated with Harvard Medical School. But before checking into a hospital for treatment, check your insurance coverage to be sure it covers that hospital. This list is not inclusive — check the yellow pages for a complete listing.
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL 330 Brookline Ave., Boston
800-667-5356
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S HOSPITAL 75 Francis St., Boston
800-294-9999
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL 300 Longwood Ave., Boston
617-355-6000
MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL 55 Fruit St., Boston
617-726-2000
MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL 330 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge
617-492-3500
HARVARD UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES (UHS)
Holyoke Center, Cambridge (in Harvard Square
617-495-5711
Law School Clinic, Pound Hall basement (on HLS campus)
617-495-4414
If you have insurance through the Law School, then using the HMO-style Harvard UHS is the best value. You can see a doctor easily and the cost is automatically covered by your student insurance. While some options for other treatment are available through the Massachusetts Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan offered by Harvard, BC/BS has developed a reputation as a difficult insurer to deal with, even by insurance-industry standards. General-practice physicians for Harvard Health Services are located both in the main Holyoke Center location and in the Law School Clinic. Specialized services are in Holyoke Center. Since Holyoke Center has no parking of its own, expect to spend some time hunting for a parking place if you drive to it, however it is easily accessible by subway. Status changes (such as spousal coverage or birth of a baby) must be reported to Harvard UHS member services (617-495-2008) within 30 days to guarantee coverage.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Finding a job can be difficult, but don’t get frustrated. Listed below are employment agencies you can begin with. Also, don’t forget the
Boston Globe “Help Wanted” section and websites like monster.com, hotjobs.com, craigslist.org and www.careerbuilder.com.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES 11 Holyoke St., Cambridge, 617-495-2772, www.workingatharvard.org. Up to date listings of temporary/permanent/ casual/full-time/part-time jobs for all available positions at Harvard. The office and listings are open to the public. Unfortunately, there is no extra consideration for spouses of students. While you are looking for a job, you can register for
the temp service at Harvard, which will give you exposure to some of the offices and increase the likelihood that you will find out about and be seriously considered for a permanent position.
ACCOUNTEMPS OF CAMBRIDGE 617-876-9500. Temporary placement in bookkeeping
and accounting positions.
AQUENT 617-535-6000
ARTHUR BLAIR ASSOCIATES 617-723-8135.
CUNNEY AND JOSPÉ 617-367-6665. Temporary and permanent placement in secretarial
and office support positions.
FANNING PERSONNEL 617-728-4100. Terrific (see below).
NEW BOSTON ASSOCIATES 617-720-2617. Temporary placement.
PSG (PROFESSIONAL STAFFING GROUP) 617-250-1000. One of the largest in Boston.
PORTER DOWN EMPLOYMENT CONSULTANTS 617-357-9096. Positions in advertising
and creative placements.
RANDSTAD 617-338-8866
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
There are over 50 colleges in and around Boston. The Higher Education Information Center at the Boston Public Library, 666 Boylston St., 617-536-0200, has a guide to educational opportunities in the greater Boston area.HARVARD UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SCHOOL 20 Garden St., Cambridge, 508-495-2371. This school offers a variety of courses, for credit or non-credit and two-thirds of thefaculty are Harvard professors.KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT (HARVARD) 79 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge, 617-495-1100. Often has workshops and speeches by politically-prominent individuals in the late afternoons and evenings. Generally, you must apply in advance for admission.
BOSTON CENTER FOR ADULT EDUCATION 5 Commonwealth Ave., Boston,
617-267-4430. They offer a wide variety of classes, weekly workshops and lecture series.
CAMBRIDGE CENTER FOR ADULT EDUCATION 42 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-547-6789.
Like its Boston counterpart, offers a variety of weekly workshops and lecture series.
REDCROSS REGISTRATION SERVICES 99 Brookline Ave., Boston, 617-262-1234. It offers many
first-aid and CPR courses, as well as certification for instruction, ambulance operation, etc.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
In addition to the dozens (if not hundreds) of service opportunities at HLS, here are some groups in the community who could always use help:
BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER A 11⁄2 to 2 year commitment is requested. Big Brother Boston:
294 Washington Ave., 617-426-1237; Big Brother Cambridge: 1151 Mass Ave., 617-
492-8212; Big Sister Boston: 161 Mass Ave.,617-236-8060.
BOSTON CARES Boston, 617-263-2273. Provides a diverse array of volunteering
opportunities.
CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS 495 Broadway, Cambridge, 617-349-6794.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS INTERNSHIP OFFICE 1 Ashburton Place, Boston, 617-727-8688 has positions in state offices, profit and non-profit agencies.
THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BOSTON 117 Newbury St., Boston, 617-536-9640.
PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE 15 Sleeper St., Suite 204, Boston, 888-763-5656. Helps others by organizing fun hands-on community service projects and recruiting people to volunteer for a day.
PROJECT BREAD-WALK FOR HUNGER 617-723-5000. This is an HLCA tradition which takes place the first weekend in May. A variety of volunteer opportunities for this one day event—making lunches for the walkers, serving the walkers, walking, etc.
VOLUNTARY ACTION CENTER OF THE UNITED WAY 2 Liberty Square, Boston,
617-482-8370. Various opportunities from soup kitchens, working with the handicapped, to helping the homeless.
GETTING AROUND
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation is great in Boston. If you don’t have a car, a useful book to get is
Car-Free in Boston. You can purchase it from most bookstores or magazine stands. It tells
how to get anywhere and everywhere in Boston using public transportation.
The MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) is the subway, bus and commuter
rail system in Boston. It is referred to as the “T.” Subway fare is $1.25 for most destinations
on the four main lines: Red, Green, Orange and Blue. (Soon to come: the Silver
Line!) The Green Line subdivides into four separate lines. The Red Line runs through
Harvard and Porter Squares and also goes downtown. The T runs from 5:00 a.m. to
12:30 a.m. Check the MTBA website for “Night Owl” service. You can purchase tokens
in any station or, if you will be using the T frequently, you can buy a monthly pass (also
available for buses). Passes are available at various area stores, banks,
stations, or by mail. Call the MBTA for the retail place nearest to you.
Also, discounted passes are available through the Dean of Students’ MBTA Semester Pass Program.
Buses run all over the city. If you call the MBTA information line, tell them where you
are and what your destination is, the operators can tell you the bus route you need and
the times and places it stops nearest you. They can also send you route maps. Bus fare is
$0.90 on all routes and you must have exact change – drivers are not allowed to give you
change. Bus schedules can be found at the Harvard Square station and the Information
Booth next to Out of Town News in Harvard Square (when in stock); bus drivers may
also have copies of their schedules. But the best site for finding schedules is the MBTA
web page, www.mbta.com.
The commuter rail system consists of purple Amtrak trains, which go to the outlying
suburbs throughout the day. They connect with the subway at various stations including
Porter Square, North Station, South Station, and Back Bay (check the MBTA map).
Amtrak provides national train service from North Station and South Station (which is a
Red Line T stop). Amtrak’s number at South Station is 617-345-7460 or 800-872-7245.
MBTA PHONE NUMBERS
Customer Service and Travel Information
617-222-3200
Toll-free
800-392-6100
Customer Relations (aka Complaints
617-222-5215
Recorded Service Conditions
617-222-5050
To get T passes by mail
617-222-5218
By phone call
617-222-3200
TAXI SERVICE
There are many cab companies in Boston. Here are a few to save you time looking in the
Yellow Pages. Keep in mind, however, that the cabs in this city can be a terrible expense
and hassle. Try to take the T or drive whenever possible; however, consider taking a cab
to the airport when you have no other option— traveling on the T with excessive luggage
is doable but tiring.
BOSTON CAB
617-262-CABS
CHECKER CAB OF CAMBRIDGE
617-497-9000
TOWN TAXI
617-536-5000
CAR SHARING
Zipcar (zipcar.com, 1-866-4ZIPCAR) provides a great service for those with a sporadic need
for a car. The system works very simply and they have cars located in random neighborhoods
all over the Boston area that are typically within walking distance from your home.
OWNING A CAR IN BOSTON
Owning a car in Boston can be a big headache, but after you have it insured, inspected,
and registered, you will enjoy having the extra mobility to visit the outlying areas of New
England. Dealing with Boston drivers is another story…
CAR INSPECTION
You must have your car inspected once a year to check for basic safety and emissions control.
Inspection costs $30.00 (cash) and can be done at any gas station that displays a big
inspection sticker (poster-size). The inspection takes ten minutes. Hopefully your car will
pass. Otherwise you must bring it up to the standards, and the cost can be up to 2/3 of
the value of your car! If it still fails the tests, then you will be issued a one-year waiver.
CAR INSURANCE AND REGISTRATION
Registering your car in Massachusetts is required immediately upon assuming Massachusetts residency. This can be an expensive process, and many students insist that they are residents of their home states (not Mass) to avoid it. Auto insurance is mandatory to register a car in Massachusetts; the insurer actually prepares the registration paperwork. The rates are very high, which you will understand when you see how many fender-benders Boston drivers get into (coupled with a “no-fault” accident policy), and most insurers insist upon their fees up-front. The state of Massachusetts sets the insurance rate and requires all companies to charge it, so shop around for quality of service or for one of the few permitted discounts. Many insurance companies will go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and get your car registration for you, since they have to prepare the paperwork anyway. Take advantage of this offer; it’s free!
In addition to the cost of registering your car, all towns and cities in the state are permitted to charge you an excise tax after you register (and do). The tax is a declining percentage f the vehicle’s Blue Book value for the first four years of its life, plus a flat fee.
Since this tax can amount to hundreds of dollars a year for even a relatively inexpensive but new car, you must budget for it!
ADVICE ABOUT DRIVING IN BOSTON: MASS DRIVERS & MASS ROADWAYS
Driving in Boston can be of the most trying and frustrating things about living in Boston, but if you remember ONE simple rule, you should be fine. Many people will tell you that Boston drivers are aggressive or just plain bad, but the best advice you can follow is this: Boston drivers are incredibly UNPREDICTABLE. Some drivers are good, and some are bad, and some will pull some outrageous stunts, but the best thing you can do is drive with caution and expect the unexpected (and don’t be surprised if a Mass driver doesn’t use a turn signal—it rarely happens).
A major contribution to the challenging driving conditions is Massachusetts itself. The streets, roads and highways are poorly designed and maintained—there are different streets in the same town with very similar names and roads will suddenly change names in midstream…and change back again. Many streets are not clearly marked or marked at all. Lanes in roads will also merge or end without warning. And there are too many cars for the road to handle (a major route between Highway 93 and Cambridge is a single lane).
A big thing to look out for is Rotaries (also known as traffic circles). The rule is simple: if you are outside the rotary, you must yield to those driving in the circle. Once it is clear and you are in the circle (it’s good to enter when someone exiting is blocking those trying to enter), you have the right of way. You may exit when you wish and others are supposed to stop for you. But they don’t always stop, and the police will not punish those who transgress (or much of any other violation—another contribution to the unpredictable driving).
Some couples find that making the person riding shotgun the “designated swearer” keeps the driver calm and attentive, while other couples find that 4-letter words are inevitable for the driver. In any case, a good thing to keep in mind is that you’re yelling at the roads and the drivers, not at each other. A AAA membership is a must in this state. It’s pretty inexpensive, and one service call justifies the price.Call 1-800-222-8252 or log on to www.aaa.com.
PARKING YOUR CAR IN BOSTON
If you can get your own parking space as part of your housing deal, it really helps (but unfortunately adds to your rent). If you park on the street, beware of parking problems. Make sure you know the street-cleaning schedule or if it’s permit parking only; otherwise, your car will be towed (Boston & Cambridge have very organized towing schedules).
Most street parking in Cambridge and Somerville is reserved for local residents who have a resident permit and sticker. Stickers can be purchased at the following city Parking and Traffic Departments:
BOSTON TRAFFIC AND PARKING 1 City Hall Square, Room 224, 617-635-4682. Bring proof of residency and your Mass car registration. The permit is free.
CAMBRIDGE TRAFFIC AND PARKING 238 Broadway, 617-349-4700. Bring proof of residency and your Mass car registration. The permit is $8. www.ci.cambridge.ma.uf If you’ll have frequent visitors who will have a car you will want to consider a visitor parking permit, available at these same locations. After winter blizzards there can often be Snow Emergencies where you are required to remove your car from the street to let the plows clear the roadways. You can find out about declared Snow Emergencies by calling the traffic and parking office.
GOING SHOPPING
SHOPPING INFORMATION AND SERVICES
The shopping information below is not inclusive, but only a list of stores that HLCA members have recommended. Remember to check the phone book or Google for additional listings.
BAKERIES
HI-RISE BREAD COMPANY 208 Concord Ave., Cambridge, 617-876-8766. Reputed to produce the best bread in the area, but really expensive. Always busy during breakfast hours. Take-out location in Harvard Square as well.
PARTY FAVORS 1356 Beacon St. (Coolidge Corners), Brookline, 617-566-3330. The best
cakes and cupcakes around (plus a full line of party supplies and greeting cards).
BOOKSTORES
If you love to read, you are in the right place!
BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC 10-24 School St., (downtown) Boston, 617-557-7188. 300
Boylston, The Atrium Mall, Newton, 617-630-1120.
BUCK-A-BOOK 30 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square, 617-492-5500.
CHILDREN’S BOOK SHOP 237 Washington, Brookline, 617-734-7323.
CURIOUS GEORGE GOES TO WORDSWORTH 1 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square,
617-498-0062. Children’s books.
THE COOP 1400 Mass Ave., Harvard Square, 617-499-2000. The Coop (pronounced
“koop”) is not only Harvard’s bookstore (and the Law School’s, with a branch in the
Hark) but is also an independent business. Recently renovated with the help of Barnes
& Noble, this “superstore” includes a coffee shop and a large children’s section. The
“back building” of the Coop carries Harvard texts and Harvard-logo items.
HARVARD BOOK STORE 1256 Mass Ave., Harvard Square, 617-661-1515. Contemporary
scholarly selections; has new and used books.
NEW ENGLAND MOBILE BOOK FAIR 82-84 Needham St., Newton, 617-527-5817. All
books are 20% off. Huge selection. Books are organized by publisher. Recommended
for children’s books.
OUT-OF-TOWN NEWS Harvard Square, Cambridge, 617-354-7777. Has newspapers,
magazines, and journals from all over the country and the world.
SCHOENHOF’S 488 Green St., Cambridge, 617-547-8855. Has huge selection of foreign
language books.
WORDSWORTH 30 Brattle St., Harvard Square, 617-354-5201. Discounts all books from
10-30% off the publisher’s list price. The other dominant bookstore on the square.
CLEANERS
ARROW DRY CLEANERS 1134 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-354-3233. 290 Main St.,
Cambridge, 617-354-4088.
CRIMSON CLEANERS 1609 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-876-0268, next to HLS 362
Huron Ave., 617-354-8155.
HILLSIDE CLEANERS 49B Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-354-1872. Same-day dry cleaning
and laundry services. Pick-up and delivery in the Harvard Square area.
SPARKLE ONE-HOUR CLEANERS Multiple locations including 679 Mt. Auburn St.,
Cambridge, 617-661-1888. (near Star Market Plus)
ZOOTS 9 White St. (Porter Square), 617-864-5374 and tons of other locations. Fast
and reliable service, but not cheap.
COMIC BOOKS
MILLION YEAR PICNIC 99 Mt. Auburn St., Harvard Square, 617-492-6763. Great service
and lots of rare comics in a fun atmosphere. Has a good subscription program.
NEW ENGLAND COMICS 14A Eliot St., Harvard Square, 617-354-5352. Good back issue
selection. Simpsons “Comic Book Guy”-like service.
NEWBURY COMICS 35 JFK St., Harvard Square, 617-491-0337. 211 Alewife Brook
Parkway, 617-491-7711. NOT REALLY a comic book store despite its name. More
famous for an incredible selection of used and new CDs and fun toys and merchandise.
ETHNIC FOODS
ATHENS MARKET 532 Tremont St., Boston, 617-482-6390. Greek groceries.
ATOMIC MARKET 1010 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617-864-9131. Portuguese groceries.
JAY’S DELI 340 Boston Ave, Medford, 781-391-0370. Terrific Italian grocery.
JIN MI ORIENTAL 313 Walnut St., Newton, 617-964-2668. Chinese, Japanese, Thai,
Filipino and Vietnamese food and spices.
LEO’S GROCERY 121 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-864-2450. Spanish and some
Portuguese groceries.
SAVENOR’S 160 Charles St., Boston, 617-723-6328. Exotic meats and gourmet foods.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
DEVINCENT FARMS 378 Beaver St., Waltham, 781-894-7342. Quality fruits and
vegetables, as well as gardening needs.
HAYMARKET Haymarket T stop (Green Line). Open air market with extremely cheap produce and fish. Friday and Saturday 5:00 am to 5:00 pm (cash only). Be prepared to elbow and nudge co-patrons.WILSON FARMS 10 Pleasant St., Lexington, 781-862-3900. Top quality fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry, dairy, flowers, etc., at fair prices. Check out their pies and half-cooked frozen breads. From Cambridge, take Rt. 2 West, exit at Lexington/Bedford (Rt. 4 and Rt. 225), take right at ramp end, go approximately 1⁄2 mile.
MALLS AND MAJOR SHOPPING AREAS
ARSENAL MALL 485 Arsenal St., Watertown, 617-923-4700. Located at the intersection
of Arsenal St., Arlington St., and Coolidge Ave.. Stores include Ann & Hope,
Marshall’s, Filene’s Basement, The Children’s Place, Old Navy and many more. (Best
Buy across the street).
THE ATRIUM 300 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, Newton, 617-527-1400. Stores include
Border’s, Godiva, Gap, Baby Gap, Limited Express, The Forgotten Woman, Henri
Bendel, and Victoria’s Secret. It also has a wonderful toddler playground.
BURLINGTONMALL 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, 781-272-8667. The Burlington
Mall is just off Rt. 128 (also called I-95); take the Middlesex Turnpike exit (#32) heading
north. It is a beautiful mall, with moderate to expensive stores including: Macy’s,
Filene’s, Sears, Lord and Taylor, Laura Ashley, Ann Taylor, Talbot’s, and a food court.
It also has a movie theater and a Legal Sea Food restaurant. “Picture Perfect” is a great
place for family photos.
CAMBRIDGESIDE GALLERIA 100 Cambridgeside Place, Cambridge, 617-621-8666. Over
100 stores including: Sears, Filene’s, J. Crew, The Limited, Gap, Baby Gap, Banana
Republic, and a food court. This mall is accessible to the Lechmere stop on the T
Green Line and walk-able from Kendall on the Red Line.
MALL AT CHESTNUT HILL 199 Boylston St, Chestnut Hill, 617-965-3037 (just east of
The Atrium). The Mall is one of the fanciest of the local malls. Stores include
Crate and Barrel (including a separate furniture store), Filene’s, Bloomingdale’s, and a
movie theater.
COPLEY PLACE 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-375-4400. Parking available, but you
should call ahead for rates. The T stop is Copley Place. It is upscale, with stores like
Tiffany, Gucci, Ball of Switzerland, Crate and Barrel, Williams Sonoma, and Neiman
Marcus.
DOWNTOWN CROSSING Popular shopping area in Boston with its own Redline T stop.
Includes Macy’s, Designer Shoe Warehouse, Filene’s, and Filene’s Basement for bargains.
FANEUIL HALL Downtown Boston, 617-523-1300. To reach Quincy Market and Faneuil
Hall, take the T to Government Center or Haymarket. This shopping place has over
150 stores including many boutiques, small stores, craftstands, flower stands, restaurants
and bars. It is built on what used to be Boston’s old market district. Faneuil Hall
itself was built in 1742. The top floor is a public meeting place and the ground floor
houses many shops. On the weekends, Faneuil Hall is packed with street performers
and musicians who entertain you as you shop.
HARVARD SQUARE Mass Ave., Cambridge. The Square is technically located at the intersection
of John F. Kennedy St. and Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge. However, it is
really a four-block radius around that intersection. Here you can find every type of
store imaginable, from clothing, to art, to gourmet foods, and books.
KITTERY, MAINE OUTLETS Take I-93 North to I-95 North to the first exit in Maine. Alternative
route: take Rt. 1 north out of the city and follow it for about 90 minutes. Kittery is a
shopper’s haven, home to hundreds of quaint outlet shops, outlined by the Maine
wilderness and the Atlantic coastline. Crate and Barrel, Polo, Lennox, Boston Traders,
London Fog, Nautica, Liz Claiborne, Anne Klein, DKNY, J. Crew, Magnavox, and
Brooks Brothers are just a few of the many stores. There are books, housewares, appliances,
clothes, and lots of other items. Kittery can be packed with people at peak shopping
times. Don’t miss out.
NORTH SHORE MALL 210 Andover St., Peabody, 508-531-3440. A large mall with some
more middle-price stores (like JC Penney’s), as well as Filene’s, Lord & Taylor’s, Sears,
and Macy’s. Also has a Borders Bookstore across the street.
PHEASANT LANE MALL Nashua, New Hampshire. Part of a great shopping town that
contains at least one of every chain store in the U.S. A great place to take advantage of
New Hampshire’s no sales tax policy. Also, all liquor sales have fewer taxes and lower
prices, which can justify the 40 mile drive.
THE PRUDENTIAL 800 Boylston, Boston, 617-266-0590. This is a new and fun shopping
place with stores from Saks Fifth Avenue to delicious chocolate
ROCKINGHAM MALL Salem, New Hampshire. This large mall is worth the extra drive. It
is north of Boston, just off Interstate 93 a couple of exits past the New Hampshire border.
There is plenty of parking and a wide variety of stores that make this a great place
for holiday shopping.
WRENTHAM VILLAGE Wrentham, 508-384-0600, www.premiumoutlets.com.
Excellent Outlets! Stores include Brooks Brothers, Gap, Jones
New York, Williams Sanoma, Reebok, Timberland, Banana
Republic, J. Peterman and many more.
WOBURN MALL Woburn, 781-935-2698. Take I-
93 North to Rt. 128 South, then take the first
exit (#36). Stores include Fabric Place, CVS,
and Market Basket grocery store.
GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICE
PEAPOD www.peapod.com. Online grocery shopping and delivery. We’ve never tried this,
but our friends say it’s great. Plus, they offer a ton of coupons every time you order.
GROCERY STORES
STAR MARKET 699 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, 617-876-1450.
49 White St., Porter Square, 617-492-5566. 275 Beacon St., Somerville, 617-354-
7023. 400 Western Ave., Brighton (Boston), 617-787-5266, and more locations. Star
Market is the largest grocery chain in the area.
STOP AND SHOP 905 Mass Ave., Arlington, 781-646-8072. 700 Pleasant St, Watertown,
617-923-2007. A general grocery store offering liquor and a floral department.
MARKET BASKET 400 Somerville Ave., Somerville, 617-666-2420. Cheaper and carries
some hard to find ethnic items.
BROADWAY MARKET 468 Broadway, Cambridge, 617-547-2334. A neighborhood
market with some gourmet items very close to campus.
HAIR SALONS
CUSTOM BARBER SHOP 49 Brattle St., Harvard Square, 617-876-7986. Old-fashioned men’s
barber shop.
GREAT CUTS 297 Newbury St., Boston, 617-267-3225. 1 Eliot Square, Harvard Square,
617-576-3920 (no appointment needed)
LORD’S AND LADY’S Arsenal Mall, Watertown, 617-926-7945. Cambridgeside Galleria,
Cambridge, 617-577-0022. 102 Tremont St., (downtown) Boston, 617-451-5359.
MI & MIYA’S HAIR SALON 95 Main Street, Concord MA, 978-369-0569. A favorite among
several years-worth of law school spouses who express that “seeing Mi is worth the drive.
SNIP-ITS Burlington, Framingham and other locations. Specializes in children’s haircuts;
the “Chuck E. Cheese” of barbering.
SUPERCUTS 1083 Commonwealth Ave., Brighton, 617-782-5290. 2150 Mass Ave,
Cambridge, 617-492-0067. 20 McGrath Highway, Somerville, 617-666-1640. Cheap.
TOCCO CLASSICO 1638 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.497.5585. This salon is a short walk
up Mass Ave from the law school. Susan O’Connell is an excellent colorist.
VIDAL SASSOON 14 Newbury St., Boston, 617-536-5496. Ask for Angela, one of the
mid-priced stylists.
HINT: Stay away from Judy Jetson’s on Mass Ave. We’ve received enough bad comments
about this salon.
FABRICS, ARTS, AND CRAFTS
AC MOORE ARTS & CRAFTS SHOPPERS WORLD Framingham, Liberty Tree Mall,
Danvers. An HLCA favorite for it’s excellent selection and very low prices. Good for
crafts, stamping and memory books.
BEN FRANKLIN 89 Trapelo Rd., Belmont, 617-484-6656. All kinds of craft materials,
including a small selection of fabric. Great for holiday decorating. Good prices.
BOB SLATE STATIONER 63 Church St., Harvard Square, 617-547-7181. Good office supplies,
stationery, and some art supplies.
CROSS-STITCH UNLIMITED 127 Mass Ave., Arlington, 781-643-8399. Incredible selection
for cross-stitch materials. Extremely helpful in answering any questions; they will
even get you started!
MICHAEL’S ARTS & CRAFTS Gateway Plaza, Everett, 617-381-8102. Arts and crafts supplies
superstore.
PAPER SOURCE 810 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-497-1077. Upscale stationary store near
Porter Square
PEARL ART AND CRAFT 579 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-547-
6600. Great art and craft supplies.
SEW-FISTICATED FABRICS 264 Msgr. O’Brien Hwy., Twin
City Plaza, Somerville, 617-625-7996. Great buys on
fabric; few craft supplies.
SEW-LOW FABRICS 473 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617-
661-8361. Good buys on zippers and fabrics.
PHARMACIES
BROOKS 1740 Mass Ave, Cambridge. 617-876-4010.
CVS Harvard Square, 617-354-4420; Porter Square, 617-876-4037 and dozens of other
locations. The dominant drugstore chain in the area, although not cheap. Open 7 days
a week (some locations are open 24 hours).
HARVARD UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES (UHS) PHARMACY Holyoke Center (Harvard
Square), Arcade (1st floor).. 617-495-5797. Open Monday-Saturday. Will only fillprescriptions
written by UHS or a UHS referral provider. Harvard ID card required.
If the UHS Pharmacy stocks an item, it generally costs less to buy it there.
SKENDARIAN APOTHECARY 1613 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617-354-5600. Open
7 days a week and will deliver.
SPECIALTY GROCERY STORES
BREAD & CIRCUS 115 Prospect St., Cambridge, 617-492-0070. 186 Alewife Brook
Parkway, 617-491-0040. All natural grocery store with organically-grown fruits and
vegetables. It’s expensive (Trader Joes has many of their products at lower prices), but
their cook-at-home pizza is exceptional.
HARVEST CO-OP 581 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-661-1580. Cooperative grocery store
offering fresh produce, bulk items, a deli, and some basic grocery items.
PURITY FOOD 171 Watertown Ave., Newton, 617-969-6410. Offers a huge selection of
fruits and vegetables as well as staple items at a reduced cost. It is very large and will
take about 2 hours to get through it all. There is also a smaller store at 2151 Mystic
Valley Parkway, Somerville, 617-395-4998.
TRADER JOE’S 727 Memorial Dr., Cambridge, 617-491-8582. 1427 Mass Ave.,
Arlington, 781-646-9138. 1317 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-278-9997 and many
more locations in the Boston area. Amazing grocery store that sells gourmet items at
discount prices. For example, it has many of the same products as Bread & Circus for
less. Excellent and delicious frozen foods section for those of you too busy to cook.
And check out their giant tubs of cookies and candies. Mmmm…
WAREHOUSE CLUBS
BJ’S CLUB 278 Middlesex Ave., Medford, 781-396-0235. Great for bulk food and house
supplies—membership required ($25/year). 800-BJS-CLUB.
COSTCOWHOLESALE 520 Winter St., Waltham (just off I-95/Route 128) or #2 Mystic Ave. in Everett. Great deals on
bulk food, alcohol and house supplies—membership required ($45/year). www.costco.com
781-890-9600.
SAM’S CLUB 1225 Worcester Rd., Natick. Bulk food, alcohol and household—membership
required ($35/year) 508-650-9105.
EATING OUT
These restaurants listed below are just a few of our favorite picks. Most have low-key, informal atmospheres. For more formal special occation recommendations, there are dozens of restaurant guides available in most bookstores.
ANNA’S TAQUERIA 822 Somerville Ave, Porter Square Mall, 617-661-8500. Like a
healthy, fresh version of Taco Bell. Lots of cilantro!
AU BON PAIN 1360 Mass Ave., Holyoke Center Atrium, 661-8738. The national coffee,
sandwich, and bakery shop has many locations in the greater Boston area, but the one
in Harvard Square, with its outdoor seating, is a famous landmark on campus.
BARKING CRAB 88 Sleeper St, South Boston, Pier (near the court house), 617-426-2722.
Great fresh seafood and lots of fun!
BERTUCCI’S BRICK OVEN PIZZERIA 21 Brattle St., Harvard Square, 864-4748. Wonderful
thin-crusted pizzas of endless variety. Locations all over Boston, including Quincy Market.
BOCA GRANDE 1728 MassAve., 617-354-7400. Mexican chain. Another cheap & fresh
Mexican take-out place.
BORDER CAFÉ 32 Church St., Harvard Square, 617-864-6100. Good, reasonably-priced
Mexican and Cajun food. Go early or you will be waiting in a long line.
CAMBRIDGE COMMON 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617-547-1228. Right near the law
school. Pretty good bar food at very reasonable prices.
CHEDDAR’S PIZZERIA 201 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, 617-661-3366. Philly-quality
cheesesteaks (best in Boston!) and eggplant parmesan sandwiches made by a mom
and son team. Call first though. Closes often for holidays and summer trips.
CHEESECAKE FACTORY Cambridgeside Galleria, 617-252-3810. Chestnut Hill Mall,
617-964-3001. It takes an hour to read the menu at this restaurant chain known for
its huge portions (lunch-sized portions are available for salads and pastas). Try to save
room for their great cheesecake that comes with everything from snickers, to brownies,
to hot fudge and whipped cream. Always a bit of a wait for dinner, which is why
they’re located in malls!
CHILI’S BAR & GRILL Copley. Part of the national chain. www.chilis.com
CHRISTOPHER’S 1920 Mass Ave., Porter Square, 617-876-9180. Extensive vegetarian and
non-veggie menu. Good food at reasonable prices, but service quality varies with
time of day. Always a good choice for Sunday brunch (check out their fruit-filled
French toast or their Pesto Chicken sandwich).
DALI 415 Washington, Somerville, 617-661-3254. Extremely popular tapas restaurant.
Be prepared to WAIT (sometimes 2 hours or more)!
THE ELEPHANTWALK 900 Beacon St., Boston, 617-247-1500. 2067 Mass Ave, 617-492-
6900. One of the most respected restaurants in Boston. Half of the menu is French, the
other half Cambodian. A great special-occasion place, although relatively expensive.
GIORGIO’S LA FAMIGLIA 112 Salem St., North End, 617-367-6711. A favorite North
End choice of HLCA for its low prices and huge leftovers. After dinner, cruise over to
Mike’s Pastry to take in the ambiance of the North End with some cappuccino and a
cannoli. Or stop by Modern Pastry to pick up tastier and cheaper cannolis to go.
GREEK CORNER 2366 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-661-5655. Inexpensive and unbelievably
delicious, this local Greek restaurant remains relatively undiscovered. Take-out
only branch in Harvard Square.
GRENDEL’S DEN 89 Winthrop, Harvard Square, 617-491-1160. Seat yourself.
Everything on the menu is $3 from 5-7 p.m. Sunday-Friday. A local landmark, immortalized
in a U.S. Supreme Court case (Larry Tribe represented Grendel’s).
HANA SUSHI 2372 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-868-2121. Some of the best sushi around
with free delivery. A little pricey, though.
HERRELL’S 15 Dunster St., Harvard Square, 617-497-2179. Herrell’s has the best ice
cream in Boston, bar none. Pretty expensive for ice cream, though.
JOHN HARVARD 33 Dunster St., Harvard Square, 617-868-3585. One of HLS’s favorite
restaurants, though perhaps more for its big bar and fun atmosphere. Great variety of
food and appetizers. They brew their own beer.
JOHNNY’S LUNHEONETTE 1105 Mass Ave., Harvard Square, 617-495-0055. Wonderful
50’s-style diner with extensive menu including milkshakes and breakfast available all day.
KAYA 1924 Mass Ave., Porter Square, 617-497-5656. Quality sushi (and other Japanese
and Korean food) in a city where it’s hard to find. Relatively expensive.
L.A. BURDICK 52D Brattle St, Harvard Square, 617-491-4340. Chocolate heaven. A
small café with cakes and candies. Make sure to get their flawless hot chocolate or buy
the mix to bring home.
LEGAL SEA FOODS Several locations in Boston. Some people love it, some people don’t,
but everyone agrees their chowder is outstanding! Nearest location is 5 Cambridge
Center, Kendall Square, 617-864-3400
MR. BARTLEY’S BURGER COTTAGE 1246 Mass Ave, Harvard Square, 617-354-6559.
Dozens of burgers to choose from and famous frappes (milkshakes).
NEW ASIA 1105 Mass Ave., Harvard Square, 617-491-1167. Amazingly inexpensive allyou-
can-eat Chinese buffet available 7 days a week. Not much in the way of décor, but
with the high quality of food and low price, you won’t care! Regular menu and delivery.
THE NO-NAME RESTAURANT 15 1⁄2 Fish Pier, South Boston, 617-338-7539. Cheap food
and lots of it. One of Boston’s greatest seafood restaurants.
PICANTE MEXICAN GRILL 217 Elm St., Davis Square, 617-628-6394. Tiny, inexpensive,
and very fresh. Lots of unusual combinations of burritos. Perfect for take out. They
have a “salsa bar” with at least 5 different kinds of salsa daily. Good Mexican is hard to
find in Boston – Picante is a real winner.
PIZZERIA UNO 22 JFK St., Harvard Square, 617-497-1530. Chicago-style pizza. Several
other locations in the Cambridge and Boston area.
PORTER EXCHANGE 1815 Mass Ave., Porter Square. Tucked away in an art-deco building
are tons of hole-in-the-wall Japanese noodle and sushi restaurant-stands. Also has
an Asian market and an ice cream stand.
REDBONES 55 Chester St., Davis Square 617-628-2200. Southern comfort/BBQ heaven!
Must-go for meat lovers with great fish and side dishes, too (like buffalo shrimp, candied
yams, incredible fries, and mac n’ cheese). 4 choices of BBQ sauces!
ROSEBUD DINER 381 Summer St., Davis Square, 617-666-6015. Cramped quarters, but
decent choice for diner-style breakfast. Get there early or be prepared for long lines on
the weekend.
S&S 1334 Cambridge St., Inman Square, 617-354-0620. Family-friendly deli with reasonable
prices and all-day breakfasts. Make sure you try the croissant french toast.
SUNSET GRILL 130 Brighton Ave, Allston, 617-254-1331. Bar, burgers, french fries,
burgers, nachos, burgers. Did we mention burgers? Really good veggie burgers, too!
Inexpensive and delicious, but prepare to wait on weekend nights. (Bonus: there’s a
Herrell’s across the street. See above).
TRATTORIA IL PANINO 1001 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-547-5818. Cheap Italian food,
huge portions, relaxed setting with take-out available.
UNION OYSTER HOUSE 41 Union St., downtown Boston (on the Freedom Trail near
Faneuil Hall), 617-227-2750. Boston’s oldest restaurant, established in 1826. Good
seafood and meat (expensive, but worth it).
VINNY TESTAS 20 Waltham St., Lexington, 781-860-5200. Great Italian food, immense
portions, decent prices. Be prepared to take home multiple doggie bags! Multiple locations
but this one is our favorite. Bonus: EMACK & BOLIO’S, a popular ice cream parlor,
is right next door.
WEST SIDE LOUNGE 1680 Mass Ave, btwn Harvard & Porter, 617-441-5566. Recently
included in Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston.
Back to Top
ARTS & LEISURE
TICKET INFORMATION
| ARTS BOSTON | 100 Boylston St., Boston, 617-432-4454 |
| To access these discount tickets, call the above number to get on their mailing list. They will send you a monthly list of arts events that you can order discount tickets for. | |
| BOSTIX | Faneuil Hall, 617-723-5181 |
| Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11-6 and Sunday 11-4. Closed Monday. Half-price tickets are available on the same day of the performance. Tickets may also be purchased for advance performances. | |
| TICKETMASTER | 617-931-2000 |
| HMV and Tower Records in Harvard Square are among the outlets. |
|
| UNION TICKETS | 1-800-234-8497. Hours are Monday-Friday 9-8. |
MOVIE THEATERS
These are just a few suggestions. As far as we are aware, the Fenway and Boston Common theaters are the only ones on this list that have stadium seating.
AMC FENWAY 201 Brookline Ave, 617-424-6266.
COOLIDGE CORNER THEATER 290 Harvard St., Brookline,
617-734-2500. Old-style movie house. Boston’s only nonprofit
first-run arts house theater.
KENDALL SQUARE CINEMA 1 Kendall Sqaure, 617-494-9800. Shows independent and
foreign films.
LOEWS FRESH POND CINEMA 617-661-2900. Older theater, crowded with teenagers on
the weekend.
LOEWS HARVARD SQUARE 10 Church St, 617-864-4580. Only the first performance is a
matinee on the weekends.
LOEWS THEATRES BOSTON COMMON 175 Tremont St, 617-423-3499. A 5-minute walk
from the Park (Red Line) or steps away from Boylston (Green Line), it might be the
nicest theater in the area. Matinee prices until 2 PM on the weekends.
MUSEUMS
Local public libraries offer free passes to library members to many of the museums listed
below. The passes allow 2-4 people to visit the museums for free. Some museums do
not allow free passes during the busy tourist season.
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 300 Congress St., Boston, 617-426-8855. The Children’s
Museum houses great exhibits that change regularly.
COMPUTER MUSEUM 300 Congress St., Boston, 617-426-2800 (next door to the
Children’s Museum). This is a unique museum completely devoted to computers and
their impact on society. They have a wide range of exhibits including more than seventy
hands-on exhibits like a giant walk-through computer and an award-winning
Animation Theater.
DECORDOVA MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE PARK 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, 781-259-
8692. Another unique museum featuring both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The outdoor
section features sculptures on a huge, child-safe and picnic-friendly lawn. Hosts
a local art fair every June.
FRANKLIN PARK ZOO 1 Franklin Park, Dorchester (Boston), 617-541-5466. In the mid-
1990s, this zoo was ranked as the worst major zoo in the country. A new director was
hired to consider closing it; instead, it has been massively renovated. It now features
the African Tropical Forest, Bongo Congo, Australian Outback (with kangaroos and
wallabies hopping by), a butterfly enclave, and the Children’s Zoo, all situated in historic
but unsafe Franklin Park (don’t hang around after the zoo closes).
HARVARD UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUMS 32 Quincy St., Cambridge, 617-495-9400.
Comprised of the Busch-Reisinger Museum (Northern and Central European Art),
the Arthur M. Sackler Museum (Ancient and Asian Art) and the Fogg Art Museum.
They house over 120,000 works of art of all periods and nations. Admission free with
Harvard ID.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS OF CULTURAL & NATURAL HISTORY 24 Oxford St.,
Cambridge, 617-495-3045 or 495-1910. Four museums in one building, including
the Botanical Museum’s glass flowers, the Mineralogical and Geological Museum, the
Museum of Comparative Zoology’s dinosaur’s skeletons and endangered species, and
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology’s outstanding Pre-Columbian
artifacts. Admission is free with Harvard ID and on Saturday mornings 10-12.
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART 955 Boylston St., Boston, 617-266-5152. The institute
presents contemporary art in all media: painting, sculpture, photography, video,
and printmaking.
ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM 2 Palace Rd, Boston, 617-566-1401. This is a
beautiful museum housed in a building styled after a late Renaissance Venetian palace
with a gorgeous indoor courtyard. The collection is from Isabella Stewart Gardner
(1804-1924) and includes Italian Renaissance, 17th century Dutch, and 19th century
American paintings, sculpture, tapestry, furniture, and much more. Take the T to the
Museum stop on the Green Line.
JOHN F. KENNEDY LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Columbia Point, Boston, 617-929-4500.
Housed in a building overlooking Boston Harbor, this museum focuses on the life of
John F. Kennedy, including a replica of the Oval Office and a film on his life.
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-267-9300. This museum has
over 200 galleries of Asiatic, Egyptian, Classical European, and American paintings
and sculpture. There is also a unique musical instrument collection. Harvard students
are admitted free with ID. Take the Green Line T to Museum.
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HAYDN PLANETARIUM SCIENCE PARK (on the Charles near
MIT), Boston, 617-723-2500. The Museum of Science has wonderful displays and
hands-on exhibits in natural history, life sciences, medicine, astronomy, and dinosaurs.
There is a “Discovery Room” for all ages, a play area for children, and a planetarium.
Take the Green Line T to Science Park.
NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM Central Wharf, Boston, 617-973-5281. Located in a spectacular
building on Boston’s waterfront. The Aquarium has many activities ranging
from tanks with exotic animals to a hands-on tide pool, with live demonstrations
throughout. They also offer whale-watching, which is fantastic. Take the Blue Line T
to Aquarium.
SPORTS MUSEUM OF NEW ENGLAND 1175 Soldiers Field Rd., Boston, 617-787-7678.
This museum is the only comprehensive regional sports museum in the country. It has
artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia that celebrate New England’s greatest sports
heroes and sporting events. Take the Green Line T to Lechmere.
MUSIC AND THEATRE
AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATRE 74 Brattle St., Harvard Square, 617-547-8300. Classic
and experimental theatre.
BOSTON BALLET COMPANY 19 Clarendon St., Boston, 617-695-6950. The Boston Ballet
presents modern and classical works. At Christmas time do not miss the “Nutcracker.”
BOSTON LYRIC OPERA 114 State St., Boston, 617-542-6772.
BOSTON PHILHARMONIC 617-868-6696. This group was founded in 1979. It offers concerts
from October to May in Jordan Hall in Boston and Sanders Theater in Cambridge.
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND BOSTON POPS 301 Mass Ave., Boston,
617-266-1200. Recorded concert information at 617-CONCERT.
CHARLES PLAYHOUSE 73 Warrenton St.,
Theatre District, 617-426-6912. Home of
the incredible Blue Man Group.
COLONIAL THEATER 106 Boylston St, Theatre
District, 617-426-9366. Hosts national companies
and pre-Broadway tryouts.
ESPLANADE CONCERTS Hatch Shell (off Storrow Drive on the Charles River),
Boston. The Boston Pops performs in July and the Boston Ballet in August.
For information on the free concerts call the Metropolitan District Commission at
617-727-9547.
HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY 300 Mass Ave., Boston, 617-262-1815. This Society was
founded in 1815 and is the oldest musical organization in the city. They present a
series of instrumental and choral concerts throughout the year.
NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC 290 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-536-
2412. During the school year there are FREE concerts.
NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE 62 Dunham Rd, Beverly, 978-232-7200. Great regional,
family-oriented theater. HLCA took a trip to see their “The Christmas Carol,” an
annual production.
SCHUBERT THEATER 265 Tremont St, Theatre District, 617-482-9393. Broadway shows
with New York casts.
TANGLEWOOD The BSO’s summer home as well as host to many other performers,
Tanglewood offers a beautiful outdoor setting for summer concerts. Bring a picnic dinner
and sit on the lawn while listening. Located in the Berkshire Hills, off of I-90.
Concert schedule and detailed directions are available on the BSO website.
Back to Top
SPORTS AND RECREATION
SPORTS
Harvard has a wide array of athletic facilities including gyms, swimming pools, boathouses, and squash and tennis courts. Call the Athletic Center for information on building hours, locker reservations, and even towel services. 617-495-4848. There are also many intramural sports teams to join including the popular basketball program. Watch for flyers during first semester for information on these teams.
BICYCLING Boston’s BikeMap, sold at many bookstores is a great resource for getting
around Boston and the surrounding areas on bike. The map includes Arlington,
Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Malden,
Medford, Needham, Newton, Somerville, Waltham, and Watertown. A wonderful
bike path, the Dr. Paul Dudley White Bikeway, runs 18 miles along both sides of the
Charles River, but for safety ride in daylight only. The Minuteman Bike Trail runs
from Davis Square in Somerville to Bedford (22 miles round trip), through the
Alewife T stop and Arlington Center and past the Lexington Battle Green. The
Charles River Wheelmen, a local club, takes bike trips every Sunday. Call 617-325-
BIKE for information.
FISHING Freshwater: on the banks of the Charles River, at Turtle Pond, Stoney Brook
Reservation, Turtle Pond Parkway, and Hyde Park. From the shore: John J. McCorkle
Fishing Pier, Castle Island, and the pier at City Point.
GOLFING Fresh Pond Golf Club, 691 Huron Ave., Cambridge, 617-354-9130.
Massachusetts Golf Association, 190 Park Road, Weston, 781-894-4903. Woburn
Country Club, Country Club Road, Woburn, 781-935-4653. Stone Meadow Driving
Range, 675 Waltham St., Lexington, 781-863-0445.
JOGGING Charles River: Boston/Cambridge/Watertown: packed-base path. Fresh
Pond: Cambridge/Belmont, two miles, asphalt. The Boston Marathon is on Patriots
Day (3rd Monday in April).
ROLLERBLADING Charles River along Memorial Drive. On Sundays, the MDC closes the
road to traffic. Rent blades from vendors along the drive May-October. Lessons are available.
SAILING Harvard Sailing Center: Memorial Drive and Wadsworth St., 617-495-3434.
Sailing on the Charles River. Community Boating: 21 Embankment Road, Boston,
617-523-1038. Sailing on the Charles and Harbor trips.
SKATING Bright Hockey Center, 617-495-4205, from early November through mid-
March. Skating Club of Boston: 1240 Soldiers Field Road, Brighton (Boston), 617-
782-5900. Metropolitan District Commission (MDC): 20 Somerset St., Boston, 617-
272-5215. Call for information on skating rinks offering lessons and open skate time
throughout the Boston area.
SWIMMING For information on non-Harvard outdoor pools, call the Metropolitan
District Commission, 617-272-5215.
PARKS AND TRAILS
For a map and complete list of state parks and their facilities, call 617-727-3180. For
information about parks in the Boston area call the Metropolitan District Commission
(617-727-9547). For the Boston Department of Parks and Recreation call 617-635-4505.
ARNOLD ARBORETUM Rts. 1 and 203, Arborway, Jamaica Plain (Boston), 617-524-7217.
Owned by Harvard; designed by Frederick Law Olmstead (who also did Central Park)
in 1872 as the cornerstone of Boston’s “Emerald Necklace.” This is a big and beautiful
park, especially in the spring, with over 15,000 labeled trees and shrubs. Great
walking paths. Orange Line T stop is Forest Hills.
BEACHES Crane’s Beach, Ipswich; Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester; Wingaersheek
Beach, Gloucester; Singing Beach, Manchester; C’s Beach, Ipswich; Nahant Beach,
Nahant; Nantasket Beach, Hingham; Horseneck Beach, beyond Westport.
BEAVER BROOK RESERVATION Trapelo Road, Belmont, 484-6357. Has a duck pond,
paths to walk along, playground, tennis courts, and a summer sprinkler system
designed for children to play in.
BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL Downtown Boston, 617-742-5415. A 90-minute walk through
sites that were historically important to Boston’s African-American community.
Guided tours start in front of the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial in Boston Common
during the summer.
BOSTON COMMON Downtown Boston. The oldest public park in America, dating to
1630. Very popular for jogging and walking, and full of memorials to historic Boston.
The pond is frozen in the winter for ice skating. Take the Red Line T to Park St.
DRUMLIN FARMS Lincoln. Owned by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Has 220 acres
of pastures, fields, woodlands, and ponds. New England farm animals are housed in
several large barns (children can learn why pig farmers have been unpopular throughout
history), and a live exhibit of wild animals that typically inhabit the New England
landscape is located on the property.
FREEDOM TRAIL Downtown Boston and Charlestown (Boston). A three-mile walk
through many historical sites from colonial Boston and the American Revolution. The
trail begins near the Boston Common. Follow the red painted or paved line on the
sidewalk. The National Park Service offers a map and free 90-minute guided tours
from the Visitors’ Center at 15 State Street T stop is State (Blue Line) or Park Street
(Red and Green Lines).
HARBORWALK Begins at the Old State House (206 Washington St., downtown Boston –
the site of the Boston Massacre) and traces Boston’s maritime history. Follow the blue
line on the sidewalk. T stop is State (Blue Line).
HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD FOUNDATION WALKING TOURS 99 Bedford St., Boston,
617-426-1885. This helpful organization sponsors narrated tours of Beacon Hill,
North End, Chinatown, Back Bay, and Downtown, plus the Mother’s Day Make Way
for Ducklings parade. Advance registration required.
LEXINGTON GREEN, Lexington. The first battle of the Revolutionary War was fought
here, on April 19, 1775. At 6 a.m. on Patriots Day (3rd Monday in April), the town
reenacts it. There is also a parade. It’s a must! Near the green are Lexington Center, the
“downtown” of Lexington, and a large park and playground.
MOUNT AUBURN CEMETERY Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge/Watertown, 617-547-7105.
One of the earliest and most beautiful cemeteries in the United States. Walk in the fall
or the spring and enjoy the vivid colors.
PUBLIC GARDENS downtown Boston (across the street from the Common). The famous
Swan Boat rides are here, in a nicely landscaped duck pond. Near the pond are statues
commemorating Robert McCloskey’s classic children’s book Make Way for Ducklings.
WALDEN POND outside Concord, Rt. 126 off Rt. 2, 978-369-3254. Now a
Massachusetts state park. Wooded trails lead to a replica of Thoreau’s cabin in the
woods. Evening strolls are offered in the summer and also a morning children’s hour.
There is a beach for swimming, although it may be closed due to erosion, and it is a
great place to picnic. Can be very crowded on weekends.
WEEKEND OR DAY TRIPS
Seasonal Activities
Following are just a few ideas for fun things to do during the coming seasons:
FALL
• Pick your own apples
• Take a hike through the White Mountains
• Take a foliage drive through Pickity Place, Mason, NH.
WINTER
• Cut a Christmas tree at Lahti Tree Farm
• View holiday displays in Boston Common or Newport, RI.
• Cross Country Ski
SPRING
• See beautiful flowers at the Public Gardens or
Mt. Auburn Cemetery
• Go sugaring at Parker’s Maple Barn, Mason, NH.
• Join the Make Way for Ducklings Parade
SUMMER
• Take a whale-watch cruise
• Go to outdoor concerts
• Take a canoe trip
One pleasant surprise awaiting newcomers to Massachusetts is the closeness of Maine,
Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire—all wonderful opportunities for weekend
getaways or day trips. Several areas you can explore are listed below.
The Massachusetts Department of Travel and Tourism offers a Spirit of Massachusetts
vacation information package which contains a map of the state and lots of information
about sites and events throughout the state. You call can this office at 617-973-8500 or
check out their website at www.mass-vacation.com.
CAPE ANN, MASSACHUSETTS From 128 take Rt. 1A or Rt. 62 at Beverly and follow to
Rt. 127. Rt. 127 makes a loop around Cape Ann, through Manchester, Gloucester,
Rockport, and Annisquam back to Rt. 128.
Gloucester—stop at Hammond Castle. Even if you don’t take the tour, walk around
the grounds and enjoy the view out to sea. Stage Fort Park is just off Rt. 127 as you
enter Gloucester. It has huge climbing rocks with many paths that kids love and is a
good place for a picnic.
Rockport—for over 100 years, Rockport has been home to artisans, writers, and musicians.
Originally settled in the 1690s, Rockport takes you back in history while
strolling through the art galleries, shops, and seafood restaurants that surround the
waterfront. Hint: Great-tasting, inexpensive ice cream!
Points of interest include the Wharf (one of the most picturesque harbors in America);
Motif #1, the ultimate artist’s subject of the New England coast (it’s a fishing shack
built in the 1850’s and rumored to be the most painted in America); and the shops
along the walk from Dock Street to Bear Skin Neck.
CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS Take I-93 South to Route 3 South. From there you have
the choice of scenic Route 6A or speedy Route 6. A popular Boston weekend getaway
destination and the cause of much Friday evening traffic in the summer. It’s best to
visit after Labor Day when prices for food and lodging drop. Beautiful white sand
beaches and legendary scenery. Home to Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard and
Nantucket. Don’t miss the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory.
KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE Take I-93 North to I-95 North. If you would like to take the
beautiful scenic route, after getting on I-95 North, go east on Highway 1A which runs
along the New Hampshire and Maine coast. A wonderful New England town. Don’t
miss the Lobster Stew. About an hour and a half drive.
MT. MONADNOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE Mt. Monadnock (3,165 ft.) is an isolated mountain
that towers 1500 to 2000 feet above the surrounding country. There are several
major trails to the summit and a network of connecting and secondary trails on the
east, south, and west sides of the main peak. The hike is steep and rocky. It takes
approximately three hours to climb.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND Take I-95 South through Providence. About 20 miles south
of the city take the RI Rt. 4 exit east (the Newport exit). Follow the signs from there
and you will be in Newport in about 20 minutes. Total travel time is about two hours,
depending on traffic. Newport is home of the Tennis Hall of Fame, the Vanderbilt
summer mansions, numerous music festivals (famous for jazz and folk), the world
famous ocean walk, and the former host of the America’s Cup. Newport is a “must
see.” The most famous home is The Breakers, a 70-room mansion built by Cornelius
Vanderbilt. For law students however, the most famous mansion belongs to Claus Von
Bulow, Professor Alan Dershowitz’s client.
OGUNQUIT, MAINE Located ten miles south of Kennebunkport; take I-93 North to I-95
North; exit just prior to the start of the Maine Turnpike. Noted for Ogunquit Beach,
which is huge and flat at low tide but almost disappears at high tide, and Perkins Cove,
which is filled with small shops. Has a trolley system that runs between the hotels, the
beach and Perkins Cove during the summer. About an hour and fifteen minutes.
PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS Take 93 South and follow signs to Plymouth. Visit
Plymouth Plantation, an authentic Pilgrim village of 1627 on Rt. 3A south of
Plymouth Harbor. In Plymouth you can also see Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower
II, take a tour of Cranberry World (a free exhibit sponsored by Ocean Spray) and take
a trolley ride around Plymouth.
SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS Take Rt. 1 North from the city. Take the I-95 North exit. About
2-4 miles on I-95, take Rt. 123 East (Peabody exit). Follow the signs from there to
Historic (as opposed to new) Salem. Travel time is about an hour. Salem is famous as
the home of the 17th century Puritan witch trials and most modern visitors come to see
the scary sights. Tops on the list is the Salem Witch Museum, and the Essex Museum.
There are also several restored homes in the area where the supposed witches lived and
were kept during their trials.October weekends are Salem’s busiest season, with haunted
houses and other seasonal attractions open only during that month. Also, on
Halloween itself, about one out of every three people on the street will be in costume.
It is worth seeing. Salem is not only known for its witches. Nathaniel Hawthorne also
lived in Salem and nearly all of his Puritan stories were set in the village. The House of
Seven Gables is a real place and is the primary example of pre-Colonial architecture in
the country. It is fully restored and can be toured (admission is $7-8).
SIX FLAGS NEW ENGLAND Springfield, Massachusetts. New England’s largest amusement
parks with incredible coasters like Superman: Ride of Steel and Batman: The Dark
Night. Log on to www.sixflags.com/parks/newengland/home.asp for details.
WHITE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL FOREST New Hampshire. Take I-93 North and you will
drive through the White Mountains. It takes about a two-hour drive to get to the
heart of the mountains. The White Mountains have many great hiking trails and
camping areas. The Appalachian Mountain Club has bunk houses throughout the
mountains. It also have maps of the area. Its office is located in downtown Boston,
617-523-0636, and has a library and bookstore with great books on hiking trails
throughout New England.
For all New England locations, a few tips should be remembered. First, most of the tourist locations are designed for summer visits; as a result, some of the shops and attractions are closed during the winter (Kittery is the exception). If you are making a trip between October and April, it might be wise to call ahead to be sure that the attraction you want to see is open. On the plus side, these places will be far less crowded in the offseason. Many of these places maintain their own Web sites that provide such information as well, and the Boston Globe Web site- www.boston.com contains a series of articles outlining potential day trips from Boston, along with links to their Web sites.
Second, a car is preferable but not absolutely necessary for getting away. The MBTA commuter rail runs to Salem and Rockport (see the map), and the HLCA plans some day trips throughout the year, so you can catch a ride with us. Also rental cars are plentiful in Cambridge. But car-rental companies have a fairly strict age restriction for non-business travel: you must be over 25.
Third, mileage alone may not give the correct estimate of how long it will take to arrive. Small-town New England traffic is often congested, and freeways may not be available alternatives depending upon the destination. But don’t let that stop you. Finally, during the school year temperatures are always cooler along the ocean front because of the breezes. Bring a jacket!
BOOKS AND INFORMATION SOURCES
T he following is a short list of the many books that are available to help you get to know Boston and the surrounding areas better.
AIA Guide to Boston (Susan & Michael Southworth). Gives an architectural history of the Boston and Cambridge neighborhoods. Provides maps and many pictures of significant buildings in Boston and Cambridge.
Best Places to Stay: New England: Bed & Breakfasts, Country Inns, and
Other Recommended Getaways (Tree)
Boston Off the Beaten Path (Patricia Harris and David Lyon)
Car-Free in Boston. A small paperback that tells you how to get anywhere in the greater Boston area using public transportation.
Fodor’s Around Boston With Kids
Frommer’s Guide to Boston
Literary Byways of Boston and Cambridge (Noelle Blackmer Beatty). A walking tour of authors’ homes, bookstores, etc. in Boston and Cambridge.
Mr. Cheap’s Boston: Bargains, Factory Outlets, Off-Price Stores, Deep Discount Stores, Cheap Eats, and Cheap Fun Things to Do (Mark Waldestein)
Nature Walks in Eastern Massachusetts (Michael Tougias). Provides maps and trail descriptions for 40 nature walks within an hour of Boston.
Street Atlas: Metro Boston, Eastern Massachusetts (published by Arrow). The famous and always reliable yellow spiral-bound map you should always have in your car. Warehouse clubs, such as Costco usually sell it at half-price.
Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard