This thread is dedicated to MTS.

 

It's getting to be walkin' around weather, so more photos.  Central Square, about halfway between Harvard and MIT, is one of the main business districts of Cambridge and is the most downtown-ish.  It has been sort of run down in recent history but is right in the middle of a gentrifying phase.  It's a mix of all kinds of restaurants, somewhat trendy bars and music venues, and everyday businesses, and it remains well stocked with inebriated homeless people.  A few of the shots at the beginning and end of this set are roughly in the vicinity of Central Square, but not necessarily what you would refer to as being in Central.

 

Typical residential street in this half of Cambridge, with requisite triple deckers.

 

This looked fancy.

 

Harvard Street, looking in the opposite direction from Harvard.

 

Fire! On Mass Ave, in the zone between Harvard and Central, but closer to Central territory.

 

Old photos show a lot more of this kind of signage around.

 

This is an okay bar, decorated with Soviet propaganda. I'm led to believe that it's an MIT hangout.

 

Sorry for the Pepsi truck; there was so much truck traffic that day!

 

City Hall

 

Mass Ave back in the direction of Harvard

 

Toward Central Square proper. Somehow every main street in Cambridge seems to aim for the Hancock tower across the river.

 

 

Mass Ave and Prospect St. This intersection, basically, is Central Square. Red Line subway entrance there on the sidewalk. By the way, I think someone in another thread mentioned that Central station is designed the same as the subway stations in Cincinnati are/would have been.

 

Churchtastic, but looking into the sun.

 

This place isn't quite my replacement for the Mediterranean Cafe in Madison WI, but I like it.  Awesome tiny building; I'm told it used to be some imitation White Castle.

 

 

The Middle East, as I understand it, enjoys some fame as a music venue.

 

Looking back toward central Central Square.

 

Central Square fringes. This street takes you to Kendall Square and biotech country.

 

Back the way I came.

 

Entering the adjacent Cambridgeport neighborhood. The flash seems to have fired here because my camera is an idiot.

 

Sames

 

Farther into the neighborhood, random residential scene.

 

Last one

Dedicated to me!

 

 

I'm all verklempted.  Just a moment....shpilkes in geneckteckessoink!  Ok it's passed.

Certainly looks vibrant!

 

Central Square fringes. This street takes you to Kendall Square and biotech country.

 

 

 

Mmm Tosci's.  Do you recall the status of the flatiron parcel at that intersection (across the street from those storefronts)?  I think it was slated to be a little park the many years ago Straphanger roamed those streets, but seemed to be stuck in limbo for a long, long time.  Great shots of Central Square!

^ Should have grabbed a shot of that.  It is indeed now a little park of sorts.  From what I gather, the street pattern has changed, too, so that Main Street no longer runs directly into Mass Ave, and that space (directly behind me in that view) is a little plaza with benches and tables.

 

I have been told that Toscanini’s is the best ice cream around. You agree? Haven't made it there yet.

Beautiful thread. Spring looks so good.

BAH!!!ston.

BAH!!!ston.

 

That was a nice effort in originality.

Much like your screen name.

Much like your screen name.

 

Looks like a great neighborhood.

I love what I see here. :)

^ Should have grabbed a shot of that. It is indeed now a little park of sorts. From what I gather, the street pattern has changed, too, so that Main Street no longer runs directly into Mass Ave, and that space (directly behind me in that view) is a little plaza with benches and tables.

 

I have been told that Toscanini’s is the best ice cream around. You agree? Haven't made it there yet.

 

Thanks- good to hear that park finally hatched.  It was a cruddy gas station, and then a closed cruddy gas station for years.  Going way back, I remember when they planned the streetscape for central square and added the widened brick sidewalks and sidewalk benches.  And the hullabaloo when the Gap and Starbucks first opened.

 

And yes, Tosci's ice cream rocks!  Though Christina's at Inman Square is pretty awesome too.  I'm missing me some Cambridge now.