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  #1  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 1:27 AM
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Central Square ~ Cambridge, MA

I went to breakfast in the Central Square area of Cambridge. It was Monday AM, gloomy, overcast, etc. Breakfast was delicious and I took the following pictures. I think most people associate Harvard Square with Cambridge, but Central Square feels more like downtown Cambridge to me.

We will start with the Central Square subway station & then out to experience the June gloom:

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Thanks for looking!

Last edited by Expat; Jun 15, 2011 at 2:09 AM.
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  #2  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 2:28 AM
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Great pics! Thanks for sharing. Looks like a great environment to enjoy breakfast and June gloom--which I don't find gloomy at all.
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  #3  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 2:39 AM
blade_bltz blade_bltz is offline
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Awesome! Central Square is one of my favorite parts of the entire Boston area. Classic music venues, tons of good (and cheap) food, tons of character, as well as home to a lot of, uh, characters.

As much as I love Harvard Square, the replacement of local institutions with bland chains in recent years is disappointing. While Central is definitely less gritty than it was 10-15 years ago, it's still managed to retain its feel.
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Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 2:44 AM
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Nice pictures. I like the apartment building partially covered in ivy.
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  #5  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 3:12 AM
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Expat always has the good stuff! Thanks for another fantastic tour. I am loving #68.
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  #6  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 3:50 AM
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Another fantastic tour!
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  #7  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 8:11 AM
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Thank you very much for this thread, Expat!

I remember perfectly those streets when we went to Harvard University walking along Mass Av. It´s a nice neighbourhood, very green, as we can see in your pics. And the day was nice too.

Delicious breakfast, I see.

Congratulations and greetings from Madrid, Spain!
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  #8  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 9:30 AM
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For a college town the people on the street seem to be in the older age bracket... that must be how you know school's out.

Thanks for the pics... as everybody else said it's always nice to see more of the Boston area. I'm surprised at how uniformly urban a lot of it seems to be.
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  #9  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 10:21 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nineties Flava View Post
For a college town the people on the street seem to be in the older age bracket... that must be how you know school's out.

Thanks for the pics... as everybody else said it's always nice to see more of the Boston area. I'm surprised at how uniformly urban a lot of it seems to be.
yeah, it's a college town but also a bustling city of over 100,000 so there's a lot going on in The People's Republic of Cambridge. I'm not sure you would see a lot of students in that particular area though. Expat, i think you should become the head of the state's bureau of tourism , another great set of pics that do justice to this unique city and as a area native i am grateful for your work showcasing the best that the Boston area has to offer
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  #10  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 2:37 PM
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This is the square I have come to know and love as home over the past several years. Another really great set, Expat; glad you shared the breakfast and street scenes with us! Where's that partially demolished building in #47?

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yeah, it's a college town but also a bustling city of over 100,000 so there's a lot going on in The People's Republic of Cambridge. I'm not sure you would see a lot of students in that particular area though.
Agreed, Central Square (heck, even Cambridge as a whole) is not all that "college town" overall, although obviously you'll find some students anywhere in this vicinity. The demographics in Central are pretty diverse, but the two that seem to stand out are the twentysomething crowd and alcoholic loiterers, homeless or otherwise.
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  #11  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 3:31 PM
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Love the sidewalk composition
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  #12  
Old Posted Jun 15, 2011, 9:58 PM
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@Sopas Ej - Thanks for looking. I don't mind June gloom. Especially now that I know it doesn't have to stop me from taking pictures.

@Blade Bltz - I really like Central Square and it is growing on me. It feels like the real deal.

@xzmattzx - A little ivy makes everything look nice. Too bad it is so bad for the building. The ivy wants to grow all over my house and I won't let it. But, secretly, I would like it.

@Shadowmaster - Always love your comments! Thanks!

@Coldayman - What would we do without you?

@Danny - It was a wonderful breakfast & pleasant morning. Thanks for looking!

@Nineties Flava - Like the others have said, this area really isn't a college town neighborhood. It is sort of like downtown for Cambridge. It has City Hall, major post office, offices, banks, insurance companies, etc. Plus, it was early on a Monday AM. So the only people out were on their way to work. Central Square is a major transfer point. A lot of the people you see are actually just transfering on bus or train. The shops were just beginning to open when I got there. And the restaurants were just getting set up for lunch as I left and the sun came out a bit. I missed the lunch & evening crowd altogether, which might have looked a bit different.

@Sterlippo - Thanks! I always appreciate your comments & insight.

@Pigboy - Not sure what the building in #47 is or was. It is sort of across the street from the newish green building shown on #48. Central Square is great. It has diverse street life & purpose. Not quaint & colonial. It reminds me of a Chicago neighborhood for some reason. A workhorse of a neighborhood, but colorful & lively. Central Square does all the work while her pretty sister, Harvard Square, gets all the attention.

@Coldrsx - The sidewalks are wide in Central Square. Perfect for outdoor cafes & other street furniture. And fortunately, the neighorhood is vibrant enough to keep the wide sidewalks busy & interesting.
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  #13  
Old Posted Jun 16, 2011, 4:48 AM
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Quote:
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37.

Hey - that's my birth certificate under that tower in the background (Cambridge City Hall)!

Another great set - loving your tour of Greater Boston!
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  #14  
Old Posted Jun 17, 2011, 4:42 PM
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Thanks Seaskyfan. I tried to get better pictures of City Hall & the cool old building on the corner. But, it was so gloomy out, those big dark buildings didn't photograph well when trying to get the entire building. My skills were not up to the challenge.
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  #15  
Old Posted Jun 17, 2011, 7:03 PM
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The built environment looks fantastic. This is the type of urban environment I love!
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  #16  
Old Posted Jun 17, 2011, 8:52 PM
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looks like cambridge is where its at. nice tour. cool neighborhood.

hey what is your flickr address pat?
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  #17  
Old Posted Jun 17, 2011, 11:46 PM
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Quote:
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The built environment looks fantastic. This is the type of urban environment I love!
well, good, come visit. we have lots of stuff that looks like this

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looks like cambridge is where its at.
it is but some may say it depends on what your political viewpoints are
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  #18  
Old Posted Jun 18, 2011, 4:44 PM
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lots to love in this set. I need to get back to Boston one of these days...
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  #19  
Old Posted Jun 19, 2011, 6:42 AM
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I really like this a lot, it has lots of atmosphere and it starts off with a great shot. Your photography is getting better with each thread.
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  #20  
Old Posted Jun 20, 2011, 2:40 AM
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Chef, Sekkle, Diskojoe & OhioGuy - Thanks for your comments! Much appreciated.
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