Harvard Square

Alright, take a deep breath and feel the energy of where you’re standing—Harvard Square, a spot so iconic in Cambridge that even lost tourists feel right at home here. Picture the crossroads of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and JFK Street merging in a sea of footsteps, bike bells, honking car horns, and the hum of voices from just about every language on the planet. You’re at the center of a triangular plaza, surrounded by the kind of shops, cafes, and bookstores that make students and locals drift in like moths to a warm, academic flame. And if you squint a bit, you might just spot a Harvard undergrad, three famous professors, and at least five street performers all vying for attention! In fact, the square’s been serving as the heartbeat of the community since before any of today’s businesses even existed—imagine colonial poet Anne Bradstreet strolling across the same bricks back in the early days, jotting lines as horse carts clattered where buses now roll. Speaking of which, did you know that underneath your feet there’s a whole world of subway tunnels and bus routes? The Harvard MBTA Red Line station is a crossroads for travelers, students, and local legends—and back in the day, it was the very end of the line for the Red Line trains! Buses glide through their own special tunnel here, which saves people above a lot of honking and stop-and-go. That quirky, domed kiosk at the center of the square—it’s more than just an information booth. Up until 2020 it was home to the Out of Town News stand, the kind of spot where you could get newspapers from Paris, Peru, or Peoria, all before your morning coffee. Just outside is “The Pit,” a legendary sunken performance nook that’s launched local musicians and living statues into storybooks. Tracy Chapman strummed her guitar as a student here, and Amanda Palmer, dressed as a statue, once got more tips for standing still than I ever did for bad jokes! And watch your step—there’s a tiny, bronze puppet statue called “Doo Doo” perched nearby. It’s there for local street performers, especially Igor Fokin, who once wowed the crowds after moving here from Russia. It’s a subtle reminder that this square doesn’t just feed brains, but souls, too. But oh, how the square has changed! Once upon a time, Harvard Square had grocery stores like Sages, a Woolworth’s five-and-dime, and wild little diners like The Tasty and Leo’s Place, which stayed open for 64 years and survived more Harvard exams than any one person. Today, chain stores are creeping in, but if you sniff around the block, you’ll find stubborn, old-school gems: Leavitt & Peirce for tobacco, Laflamme Barber Shop, Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage, and Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe where you can buy snacks from nearly every country (even if you can’t pronounce them). This place pops up in movies too! In Goodbye, Columbus and Love Story, lovesick students moon around these corners, and if you ever play Fallout 4, you’ll recognize the visitor’s kiosk—even video games know Harvard Square is unforgettable. And if you’re wondering what’s up with “Car Talk Plaza,” that’s a joke made famous by the Magliozzi brothers, who broadcast their hilarious radio show Car Talk from a third-floor window right here. Their pretend company name, “Dewey Cheetham & Howe,” still stares out from the very window! And if you start to get overwhelmed by all the history and hubbub, stroll a couple blocks north to Cambridge Common for a quiet break among baseball diamonds, playground swings, and Revolutionary War monuments. Harvard Square is more than a junction—it’s the place where past, present, and future meet, shake hands, and then break into spontaneous applause for the next street performance.