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A new coffee shop and bookstore that gets its inspiration from a beloved Harvard Square spot that closed two years ago is planning to open in a nearby space this summer.

A poster within the Friends of Boston’s Hidden Restaurants says (via a Cambridge Day article) that Faro Cafe is planning to open on Arrow Street, with owner Henry Hoffstot saying that “We’re trying to create a space where we of course sell coffee, but we also foster conversation and have sort of a Cafe Pamplona-style place where people can go and talk.” Cambridge Day mentions that the upcoming spot plans to have seating for 24 in two rooms along with space for approximately 50 more outside, and that it hopes to offer live music and talks while serving drinks and having a simple food menu that doesn’t require a kitchen. If all goes well, Faro Cafe could be opening in late June or early July.

Cafe Pamplona closed down in the spring of 2020 after being in business for more than 60 years.

The address for the upcoming Faro Cafe in Harvard Square is 5 Arrow Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

On a warm day, nothing sounds better than a cold, sweet scoop of ice cream! But with plenty of ice cream shops in Harvard Square, which is the best one to go to? Read on to find out the vibe of each shop and what to expect there.

Ben & Jerry’s: Craving a Classic

Ben & Jerry’s is located at 35 JFK St., and a convenient dessert option right next to Sweetgreen! Although this shop has a reputation for being overrated and overpriced, there’s no doubt it has the most consistent ice cream quality. With a variety of flavors from Americone Dream to Strawberry Cheesecake, there’s surely something for everyone. It is important to note that though the ice cream here is the highest of quality, there’s no indoor seating, so its deliciousness quickly melts away.

Café Pamplona, which closed in May 2020 after six decades in Harvard Square, is inspiring another business around the corner: Faro Café at 5 Arrow St., which owner Henry Hoffstot hopes to have open in late June or early July.

The coffee shop and bookstore revolves around community, climate change and climate justice, Hoffstot told license commissioners Thursday.

Gong Cha — an international bubble tea chain — is set to bubble into Harvard Square in early June.

The store will take over the previous Dado Tea location at 50 Church St., becoming the latest addition to the Square’s boba tea collection, alongside Kung Fu Tea located at 1160 Massachusetts Ave. Boston Tea Stop, another Harvard Square staple that served bubble tea, closed last year.

Founded in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Gong Cha — which translates to “tribute tea for the emperor” — opened its first overseas location in Korea in 2006. The Gong Cha USA franchise has more than 1,500 locations globally. The chain is known for its signature milk foam.

Although the state of Massachusetts legalized recreational marijuana back in 2016, the city of Cambridge had difficulties choosing its dispensary application procedures.

As a result, it was harder for people to open dispensaries in the city. However, this changed in February when the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission approved Yamba Market’s equity license, making it the first store in Cambridge to obtain one.

Yamba Market (the word yamba is a nickname for cannabis in West Africa) is located at 580 Massachusetts Ave and will open its doors to customers on April 11.

The owners of this black-owned dispensary, Sean Hope and Sieh Samura, hope to educate consumers in a way that removes preconceptions associated with cannabis usage.

Cambridge Plays is a series of outdoor entertainment events sponsored by the City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Office for Tourism, and our community partners. Come out and enjoy live music across the city from April to June across the city! Whether you’re up for jazz in Harvard Square, a funky dance party with lawn games in Toomey Park, Eats & Crafts in Inman Square, or even yoga at Dana Park, Cambridge Plays has something for everyone. 

All events are free and open to the public and fun for people of all ages and abilities. Cambridge Plays is sponsored by the City of Cambridge Community Development Department, Cambridge Arts, the Cambridge Office for Tourism, Central Square Business Improvement District, East Cambridge Business Association, Harvard Square Business Association, Harvard University, Lesley Art + Design, and MIT’s Office of Open Space Programming.

Wine Sommelier Bertil Jean-Chronberg Introduces His Unique Take on the Art of Wine at Harvard Square’s Premier Wine and Accessory Store

Cambridge, Mass. (Arpil 12, 2022) – Bonde Fine Wine Shop, the wine and accessory concept store in Harvard Square by Boston hospitality veteran and internationally recognized sommelier Bertil-Jean Chronberg, has now expanded its offerings to in-person public tasting events, wine classes and private events programs.

As the mastermind behind celebrated projects such as the Beehive and Beat Hotel, Jean-Chronberg brings the same level of cultural and technical expertise to Bonde Fine Wine Shop as he did to his previous projects, but now intends to disrupt the industry further by introducing drinkers to a one-of-a-kind wine shop concept, eco-responsible wine selection, neo-artisanal wine accessories for both wine lovers and professionals alike, books and wines magazines, clothing, and an intimate space for events including winemakers nights, wine tastings, wine education, private events and pop-up happenings such as a live podcast. Also available to the public are private consultations for a personalized wine curation.

On Monday, the Cambridge City Council discussed a proposal to construct bike lanes on parts of Massachusetts Avenue between Harvard Square and North Cambridge, ultimately delaying a vote until later in the month.

Councilors discussed a report from city staff detailing a proposal and timeline to construct bike lanes on four segments of Mass. Ave. The four segments, referred to collectively as “MassAve4,” share “unique complicating factors,” such as overhead bus wires and concrete medians, that make bike lane construction challenging, per the report.

In need of a read? From secondhand novels to gently broken-in paperbacks, these seven used bookstores prove that new isn’t always better.

A beautifully filled bookshelf is something to admire—but it takes a lot of work to get there. And for anyone who enjoys owning books rather than checking them out from the library, a visit to a used bookstore can be a way to fill those lovely shelves without spending too much.