Archives: Media Room

This month, Harvard Square will return to its folk roots and celebrate the area’s role in developing of folk music with special events and displays of archival photos in stores fronts around the square.

We stack up Cambridge’s indie bookshops, by specialty…

THERE WAS ONCE a quirky pizza joint called Ruggles that made pizza with cheddar instead of mozzarella—an interesting if not compelling culinary proposition. Years ago—many years ago—Ruggles occupied a small storefront on Mass. Ave. in the heart of Harvard Square.

The popular TV show hits the Square

After 75 years of family-run operation, Bob Slate, Stationer is seeking a buyer for its three stores in Cambridge—two in Harvard Square and one in Porter Square. Founded by Robert Slate in the 1930s and handed over to his sons Justin and Mallory over 30 years later, Bob Slate has been a notable presence in Harvard Square, selling an eclectic mix of paper, cards, pens, and other stationery items.

This weekend will see hundreds of thousands of spectators flock to the banks of the River Charles for the annual Head of The Charles weekend.  This weekend marks the 45th annual Head of the Charles Regatta, an event which saw more than 300,000 spectators come to watch 8,200 rowers compete last year.

The Harvard Square Business Association held its First Annual Urban-Agricultural Fair at Winthrop Park in Cambridge yesterday, in an effort to celebrate locally-grown Cambridge produce and goods. The grassy area located in front of Peet’s Coffee Shop dates back to 1635 and was the location of the first marketplace in Newtowne, the city that predated Cambridge. The event, which lasted from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featured cooking demonstrations, recipe sampling, and advising information and drew over 30 participating vendors and organizations.

After more than 27 years, Herrell’s Ice Cream shop in Harvard Square is shutting its doors, just months after another location closed in Allston.  Jeffrey Stanett, owner of the Dunster Street spot known for premium sweet treats, said the business had been losing money for years and he could no longer afford to subsidize the store in the face of higher rents, increased franchise fees, and growing competition from rivals like J.P. Licks.

With a name like “The Donkey Show,” it should be unsurprising that an appropriate adjective to describe Diane Paulus’ inaugural production at the newly named Oberon—the American Repertory Theater’s (A.R.T.) theatrical club space—is “loose.” In the world of theater, the word might have a negative connotation, but in the world of sex, drugs, and nightclubs—well, it’s just what we like to hear.

After 27 years of serving ice cream to the Harvard Square masses, Herrell’s Ice Cream’s Dunster St. location may close as early as November.  Financial pressure from rising costs and a new competitor in town with prime real estate on Mass. Ave. snowballed into “the perfect storm” for the much-loved ice cream shop, said Herrell’s owner Jeffrey Stanett, making its continued operation impractical, if not impossible.