Just catching up on my reading (a pre-req for a project I'm working on) doesn't seem like taking full advantage of my limited down-time in one of the greatest cities in the world.
2. Also, hang out at OpenCoffee Boston every Wednesday at 8:30 AM for coffee with tech entrepreneurs. http://boston.going.com/event-122245;OpenCoffee_Club
3. Consider Boston Entrepreneur Meetup at Exemplar. Good place to learn about general entrepreneurship from both tech and non-tech entrepreneurs. http://entrepreneur.meetup.com/674/
4. Xconomy is the single best source of information that I have found for Cambridge news and events wrt tech and etc. Keep an eye out at http://xconomy.com/
5. Keep an eye out at myEventGuru - http://boston.myeventguru.com/index.php - for networking events and meetups.
6. Going.com (awesome startup in Boston, a person from the team sometimes comes to networking events) and Upcoming.org are always great resources.
7. MarksGuide.com is a guide for Boston networking events. http://www.marksguide.com/
8. General hacking areas include the cafes - DanGrover from here likes Diesel Cafe. Good hacking environment. They also have WiBuddy which allows you to connect with other people inside the cafe.
9. Keep an eye out on Hacker News for events such as DevHouse Boston, and the one I'm organizing, Facebook Developer Garage Boston 2.
Welcome to Cambridge, it's nice to see you here, and I hope you have a good time.
Sources: side dish presenter at WebInno Boston November. Used to be regular at Boston Entrepreneur Network (JayNeely also.) Information from crusade searching for Boston/Cambridge networking events :)
And Randall Munroe apparently goes there a lot, because he started an IRC channel for Diesel folks!
Boston is about two-three noches down.
1369 coffee is always full with semi-hipsters over educated types, and you can hear intersting conversations
Check out Davis sq. in Somerville, and especially Diesel Cafe. You see hackers there working with their laptops once and a while. The problem is that people are unfriendly, and if you just randomly start talking to somebody with their laptop open, they might snub you. Unfortunately it is not California. In here if you randomly start talking to somebody, they will talk kindly back to you, in the "who knows, something might come out" away. Over there they will talk back to you in the way "Why the frick you talking to me. Do I know you?". Big difference.
Finale-s in Harvard sq. has some really good desserts!
Harvard Cooop is my favorite bookstore ever. It has a certain "air", very inspiring place (like: you should be smarter, and try harder, kind of inspiration).
But here is my favorite activity while I lived there: Learn how to Sail in the charles river. In the boston's side of Charles river, at the beginning of the esplanade, there is the community Boat House. You pay something like 120$ per year, and you learn how to sail (all lessons are free), and you can go there and get a boat (you will start with small sail boats), or canoe out anytime you want. It is actually really fun, if you have the patience to learn. Since it is not even a real lake, and winds are not that strong, it is very easy to learn. And if you get good at it, it would be a great activity for a second date. Worth every penny.
I do agree with the recommendation of Davis Square. The Somerville Theater, which is in Davis, is pretty sweet.
I live in Boston, and I have to say it is much unfriendlier than new york, where I grew up. I am sad for california if what you say is true (although that was not my experience at all when I spent time there).
Even when I visit NYC I don't feel that people are so hurried, pushy, and selfish as boston. When you penetrate the shell, and aren't in traffic, a line, or on the T, Boston folks can be friendly. Sadly, my very pregnant wife frequently is left standing on the T in boston--often no one offers her, or the 80 year old who happens to be on board, a seat.
I visited the Coop a few days ago - but wasn't particularly impressed. I think I'm more a fan of the dusty, hole-in-a-wall, hidden gem sort of place.
I'll look into that community boat house - I'm not sure if I have the time or patience, but it is definitely worth considering. Do you know where I can read more about it, or what the name is?
If you're looking for a dusty bookshop, try McIntyre and Moore in Porter Square: http://www.mcintyreandmoore.com/
Porter Square Books is not dusty. It's basically the old Concord bookstore, re-opened in Cambridge after some dispute with the owner, after which all the employees quit en masse.
Rodney's bookstore on Mass Ave in Central Square is at least somewhat dusty.
The lower floor of the Harvard Bookstore is all used books, though mostly remainders, not much dust.
If you're into sci-fi/fantasy: http://www.pandemoniumbooks.com/
The Coop is pretty weak in my opinion. It's owned by Barnes and Noble, and the selection is not remarkable.
Also, tomorrow, there's the river festival: http://www.cambridgeartscouncil.org/riverfestival/
Sponsored by Microsoft, no less!
The tech and intellectual social circles here are great, though. Nice people and good conversation.
Best view: Find a way to get in the John Hancock building, go to one of the corners of the floor and lean against the glass. You'll get a 210°+ panorama.
Food:
Indian - any of the dozen places on Mass Ave is good.
- Indian Food and Spices (80 River Street) is an excellent one-man operation
- Desi Dharba (on Mass Ave and Main) and Indian Pavilion (Central Square) both have very good buffets in the $8 range.
Mexican:
- Felipe's is great for take out. Mount Auburn Street, next to the 7-11.
- Border Cafe is an extra delicious sit down places yet prices are really low.
Japanese:
- Wagamama - great fusion food
Don't know any good sushi places, though.
After 12pm:
- Falafel Palace on Western Ave and Mass Ave (sometimes open till 3)
- IHOP on Brattle Street, Harvard
Bars:
- Om Bar near Harvard
- Grafton Street is one of the typical Harvard hangouts
- John Harvard Pub make their own beer
- So does the Cambridge Brewing Company on Kendall Square
- The Estate next to the Boston Common. Not a very good club but all the house/dance DJs go there. Tiesto's coming next week.
- Middle East and 2 others next to it on Central Square always have live music.
- The Enormous Room (above Central Kitchen on Central Square) is a nice club/bar with great music, one of the few places that stays open after 2pm.
Parks & Walking:
Not much in the park area unfortunately. Best bet is to go to the far west parts or to go to the Charles River park by following Main St or Mass Ave until you cross the river.
Cambridgeport (what's north of Mass Ave, east of Harvard) is quite nice for a quick walk to clear your head. People on the street say hi. The area around the YC house is also cool.
Check out the markings on the pavement of the Harvard Bridge (it actually leads to MIT). Details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoot
NB: When you go to Kendall be careful as there are two places about 10 minutes away which are both called Kendall Square. One is the real Kendall with the namesake Red Line stop and the Marriott, the other one is an office park north of it.
There are a lot of good ice cream places including Herrell's, Emack and Bolio's, JP Licks, Toscanini's. Conduct a long term comparative study.
Coolidge Corner Theatre is a great place to watch movies.
I've not hung out with them for years and I've heard it's changed quite a bit but consider going to a MITERS party [1]. It used to be more about conceptual art. I think it's now more about technology. Either way though you can't go wrong if you click with the people.
Boston is a great beer town. If you like beer go to some of the Beer Advocate beerfests. One is coming up very soon [2].
http://www.mcintyreandmoore.com/ http://www.quantumbooks.com/
While looking for links, I discovered that Victor Hugo books and SoftPro are probably gone now. As I look at the shelf of books I choose to place within arm reach of where I code, probably half came from SoftPro and a goodly armful from Victor Hugo.
If the internet didn't offer a way to buy used editions from anywhere in the nation, I'd have to make a yearly pilgrimage back to Cambridge with a buying list. Thank god for that.
2. On Fridays and Saturdays, go to Haymarket (Haymarket stop on the Orange Line) if you want to save a ton of money on food but live very, very well. I could write a whole article about Haymarket, but the short of it is that it's a superb open air market with fresh produce, fish, meats and cheeses. I recently walked away with 24 pints of organic strawberries for $6.
3. The best place for a game of chess is in Harvard Square at the Au Bon Pain courtyard (Harvard Square on the Red Line). I did write an article about it, so search for my name if you want to. Keep in mind that there are always more players than there are boards to play with, so bring a board unless you like to watch.
4. The Esplanade along the Charles River is gorgeous in the summer and is great for biking, running, rollerblading and people watching. It's also a good place for free concerts during the summer.
5. The best thrift stores are Boomerangs in Jamaica Plain and Savers on Route 9. I've found Armani shirts for $5.
6. The Museum of Fine Arts (Ruggles stop on the Orange Line), or the MFA as locals call it, has free admittance on Wednesdays.
7. The greenest, most socially responsible bank you'll find in Boston is Wainwright Bank. I haven't been to their newest branch, but I heard it uses natural light and things like the counters and flooring are made of cornstalk and bamboo.
8. There is a Trader Joe's that's accessible by the T (Hynes Convention Center on the Green Line) but it's a dry store thanks to the Massachusetts' law that prohibits them from selling alcohol at more than 3 locations in the state. The Trader Joe's on Memorial Drive in Cambridge is the best location. For whatever reason, the lines are shorter and the staff seems happier.
9. I know you're already in school, but one of the greatest resources in Boston is the Independent Activities Period at MIT (Kendall/MIT stop on the Red Line) every January and February. I have great memories of a 20 hour course I took with Tim Berners-Lee.
10. If you have a dog, you are required to go to Franklin Park in Jamaica Plain. It's the city's largest greenspace and it was designed by the same Frank Law Olmstead who later designed Central Park in New York. It's also home to the Franklin Park Zoo, where a gorilla actually escaped a few years ago and was seen waiting at a bus stop.
1. If you're old enough to sit in a bar (you are, but for others reading this), go to Chez Henri (http://www.chezhenri.com/). Get a cubano (they go great with a Manhattan btw). I've been to Miami (never Cuba though) and never had one as good as the bar menu one at Chez Henri. If you don't eat meat, get the veggie one, still amazing, but not quite as.
2. The Kendall and Brattle Theatres. Awesome REAL movie theatres. Great for dates or just getting away from the next, big sequel of crap.
3. Getting gifts for the folks back home? For some you just have to get Harvard / MIT clothing (it's just a fact), but for those who are a bit cooler, or not parents, grandparents - go to Joi de Vivre on Mass Ave just south of Porter (http://www.joiedevivre.net/). A store where you, as a grown up, will actually want to play with stuff.
4. Get some rockin pizza at Cambidge1. I haven't been to the new one by Fenway, but the one in Havard Square rocks hard. The lines during weekend prime time don't though - so you've been warned. Their pizza is way better than their website (http://cambridge1.us/).
5. Those ten books in your queue not enough? Challenge yourself by reading something in another language. Schoenhofs is an amazing resource.
And then pretty much everything everyone else said. Have fun. Cambridge is a great place to be in the Summer (Winter, not so much ...)
Although, I already have a queue of about 10 books to get to ... A visit there will likely just make me feel more guilty for not reading enough ;-)
EDIT: Sorry, I assumed that you were over 21. Don't bother going if you are only 18,
http://www.csail.mit.edu/index.php
just walk in and ask someone to show you around. they got some pretty cool stuff going on
Generally, if you hang around, act friendly, and talk really quickly they assume you're part of the club.
At Harvard, though, you can't get into the library without a current valid ID and a body cavity search.
John Harvard's is good for microbrews, relaxed atmosphere.
Memorial Drive is closed on sundays and is nice to walk, roller-blade, jog, watch pretty girls, etc.
Harvard Square: Graton St. (dinner), The Greenhouse (brunch)
Also, in Harvard Sqare: Hot chocolate/Candy/Dessert/dates at L.A. Burdicks
If you're new to town, the duck tour and freedom trail are good.
The MFA is good if you're solo, or otherwise, and I highly recommend the museum of science.
Also, the Greenhouse went out of business a few months ago (though it was good while it lasted). Maybe try Daedalus on Mount Auburn Street. It's relatively expensive, but good.
The correction is appreciated! Grafton|Graton was a typo but the edit link has expired, so my perfectionist tendencies will be left wanting.
1. Many have rightly noted that Davis Square in Somerville is a cool place to hang, yet no one has mentioned its crown jewel: Redbones. Do you people really live here?
2. For excellent pizza, check out Emma's on Hampshire near Kendall Square.
3. Flat Top Johnny's near the Kendall Square Cinema is an OK place to play pool and have a beer. But watch out: their computer keeps track of how much you drink and you will get cut off if it thinks you have had too many too soon. Infernal Machines!
4. Games People Play on Mass Ave.
There is also the Lizard Lounge in the basement of the same building with great live music