Toscano opened in Harvard Square at the end of March, a second branch of the Beacon Hill restaurant with which it shares a name. The Brattle Street spot was for years scented with garlic naan and tandoori chicken as Cafe of India; now pasta and grilled meats take their place.
May/June 2013
The Square’s restaurant scene has welcomed more than six newcomers within the last year, with others set to open soon.
In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, many Harvard Square restaurants and businesses are donating portions of their sales to help victims of the attacks. “Anything that we could do in some small way to help the victims was something that we felt strongly about,” said Patrick M. Lee, a partner with The Grafton Group, whose restaurants PARK, Russell House Tavern, Grafton Street, and Temple Bar all participated in fundraising.
Three decades ago, when customers entered what is now UpStairs on the Square, some assumed that the woman who greeted them was only there to take reservations. But in fact, Mary-Catherine Deibel welcomed the guests to her restaurant. In 1982, Deibel, as the co-owner and co-founder of the longstanding Harvard Square restaurant, represented an exception to the male-dominated business community.
The Harvard Square Business Association has partnered with Cambridge-based technology start-up Leaf Holdings, Inc. to begin collecting in-store donations this month to help the homeless, the HSBA announced last Friday.
Shoppers and visitors in Harvard Square no longer have to dig deep in their pockets to look for change to help the homeless in the area. On Friday, the Harvard Square Business Association, in partnership with Leaf, a local tech startup, announced a new initiative that allows patrons to effortlessly donate money to help provide food, clothing and shelter to the homeless population in the Harvard Square area with the swipe of a credit card.
Charitable giving to the homeless in Harvard Square is getting a technological makeover. Fifteen tablets, using touchscreen and wireless technology, we being installed at local stores to give residents and visitors the opportunity to donate money with the swipe of a credit card.
Anthony Pira, the photographer featured in the inaugural edition of Scout Cambridge in the story called “Invisible Faces: Photographer Spotlights Homeless Youth in Harvard Square,” has been honored by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education as one of the “29 Who Shine.” Pira is slotted to receive the award at the State House in May. “When I started this project, I expected to change people’s lives, but I never expected it would change mine,” says Pira, the photographer behind the photos featured here and here.
As parents of students in the Class of 2014 pack their bags and finalize travel arrangements for Junior Parents Weekend this coming Friday and Saturday, Harvard Square establishments are preparing for a flood of visitors by hiring extra staff and hiking up prices. General Manager of The Charles Hotel Alex Attia said that the hotel will be approximately 90 percent full this weekend with rooms costing at least $300, which is $100 higher than prices later in March.
The Boston Celtic Music Fest’s final concert Saturday night at the First Parish Church in Harvard Square wrapped up two days of demos, sessions, small concerts, and a ceilidh Friday night that drew more than 200 people.