Located equidistant between the academic powerhouses of Harvard and MIT, Central Square is the seat of City government. Home to a vast variety of international restaurants, the square is a constant multicultural festival and swings well into the night with a broad range of musical offerings at the local pubs. One can take a tour of the world's cuisine including dishes from Asia, India, Italy, Africa, and the Caribbean. Each June, Central Square celebrates diversity with a day-long World's Fair street festival offering food, music, and crafts from around the globe (For more info on the World's Fair, call 617.868.3247).
Adjacent to the
historic brick walls of Harvard University, "The Square" is world famous
for its eclectic collection of small boutiques offering everything from
haute couture to the latest in street fashions. Lively well after midnight
almost any day of the week, over 100 restaurants and sidewalk cafes will
tempt even the most adventurous palate. Music and entertainment are
everywhere, and you can browse in the world's largest concentration of
bookstores (24 at last count!). Street performers greet you at every
corner offering songs, dramatic performances, juggling and magic. Catch
some sizzling jazz or blues at a local nightclub, experience virtual
reality at the nation's largest cybercafe, or simply sit and watch the
colorful crowds pass by. For more information, contact the Harvard Square
Business Association at 617.491.3434 or at http://www.harvardsquare.com/.
Historically, Inman
Square has been home to many immigrant populations and today, the strong
influence of the Portuguese community permeates this lively neighborhood.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its many
architecturally significant buildings, this square is also home to
countless restaurants offering cuisine of unparalleled excellence and
diversity.
Home to MIT and the
heart of Massachusetts' booming high tech and biotechnology industries.
Shop at the nearby CambridgeSide Galleria with over 100
nationally-recognized stores, an international food court, and several
fine restaurants. Then, step onto a riverboat for a relaxing tour of
Cambridge and Boston along the scenic Charles River. And, don't forget to
allow time to visit the nearby Museum of Science which offers interactive
exhibits, a planetarium, and a state-of-the-art IMAX Theatre.
Offering a multitude of
one-of-a-kind antique shops, boutiques, and sidewalk cafes, Porter Square
also boasts the region's largest concentration of Japanese eateries and
shops including a popular bookstore. The late Tip O'Neill, former Speaker
of the U.S. House of Representatives, called this neighborhood home and
his many good deeds proved that "all politics is local."