Title
Archive for the 'Living Here' Category
Somerville Snow Removal
Somerville Snow Removal
It was 6:30 this evening before I finished shoveling so I haven’t been out and about.
I can only imagine the mess – it’s not easy when large amounts of snow are dumped in the city. Working as a real estate agent in Cambridge means that I’m frequently driving around searching for parking spaces ever more rare in the snow filled streets, climbing over snow banks, repeatedly taking off and putting on the LL Bean boots that become my footwear of choice once snow falls.
Every year I find myself wishing that Cambridge would follow Somerville’s lead in snow removal. The city of Somerville does a great job of snow removal – not just during the storm but in the days after. Somerville actually removes snow from the streets – clearing parking spaces, making sure that crosswalks are cleared, making room for the next storm’s snow. In Cambridge we just hope that the snow melts quickly.
Sure enough, yesterday I spotted this City of Somerville truck loaded with snow removed from the streets in anticipation of the storm. The DPW has been out all month taking away snow, days after the last storm. It only makes sense in the city where there just isn’t room for large piles of snow that make driving, parking and walking a hassle or worse.
Cambridge Bookstores
Cambridge Bookstores After a particularly unsatisfying trip to Barnes & Noble I’m recommitting to shop at the wonderful independent bookstores that remain in Cambridge.
I’m a frequent book buyer – never leaving the store without a big bag. While I do spend plenty at bookstores in Cambridge sometimes when a book buying urge struck I would head out to Burlington. Typically the Barnes & Noble there would have a good selection in that day’s targeted subject plus plenty of other enticing books. More than once I’ve left an armful of books on the counter the better to free my arms to find more books.
But B&N seems to have made a distinct shift in emphasis - the store seemed markedly different than just a couple of months before. Much book space has been given over to toys and to promoting their electronic reader, the Nook. The books that were on display were a disappointment – lowest common denominator sort of books - the “masses” in mass market seem to be the target.
So I’m resolved – next time the book buying urge strikes I’m heading to a Cambridge bookstore. Sadly there are fewer independent bookstores in Cambridge nowadays – I still miss Reading International, Wordsworth and Paperback Booksmith. All the more reason to frequent the bookstores in Cambridge that we still can.
Bookstore hours and phone numbers are included below. Before planning a visit a call to confirm store hours would be a good idea.
Cambridge Bookstores – New Books
Porter Square Books – Years ago there was a bookstore in the Porter Square mall that I used to pop into to find something to read on the train back to Concord. After it closed Cambridge was without a bookstore north of Harvard Square for many years. Happily some folks from the Concord Bookstore – another wonderful independent bookstore – opened Porter Square Books several years ago. It’s become very popular – at Christmas the cash register line stretched to the back of the store – a sight that warmed book lovers’ hearts. There are frequent author appearances, a buyer reward program, and a cafe that’s become a popular neighborhood destination.
Porter Square Books is in the Porter Square Mall by the T station. 617-491-2220
Open M-F 7am - 9pm, Sat 8am - 9pm and Sunday 9am - 7pm
Harvard Book Store – Located in Harvard Square on Mass Avenue, the Harvard Book Store has been a favorite of Cambridge book lovers for over 75 years. It’s difficult to walk past their windows without spotting a must-have book. The Harvard Book Store has one of the best lecture series in Cambridge and when admission is charged you get a coupon for a discount at the store. A super destination for new books, there is also has a strong selection of used books downstairs.
The Harvard Book Store is located at 1256 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA.
Open Mon – Sat 9am – 11 am and Sun 10am – 10pm. 617-661-1515
Globe Corner Bookstore – the Globe Corner Bookstore in Harvard Square specializes in travel books and maps. I shop here when looking for guidebooks about various regions and countries and always make it a point to stop in when shopping for my Dad who appreciates the hiking books, maps, atlases, etc. I’ve bought here over the years. The owners have announced plans to sell the store so Cambridge book lovers have fingers crossed that they will find a buyer to keep this local treasure going.
The Globe Corner Bookstore is located at 90 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge
Open Mon – Sat 9:30am – 9pm and Sun 11am – 7pm. 617-497-6277
Cambridge Bookstores – Used Books
Bryn Mawr Book Store – This used book store has an excellent selection of fiction and non-fiction. You can find recent bestsellers at used book prices as well as rare books here. The store regularly holds sales of books by subject matter – one week (or is it month? I’m not sure) gardening books will be on sale, the next week sociology books will be discounted, etc. Proceeds from book sales fund scholarships to Bryn Mawr College.
Bryn Mawr Book Store is in Huron Village at 373 Huron Ave, Cambridge. 617-661-1770
Open Mon – Sat 10am – 5:30pm. May to December on Thursdays open until 7 pm.
McIntyre and Moore Booksellers- McIntyre and Moore has long been one of my favorite used bookstores in Cambridge and I’ve followed them around from their first(?) location in Harvard Square, to Davis Square and now to their current spot in Porter Square near Bob Slate Stationery. McIntyre and Moore specializes in scholarly books in wide range of subjects. You can also find fiction, children’s books, cookbooks, and books on sports, games, gardening, health, finance and much more.
McIntyre and Moore bookstore is in Porter Square at 1971 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
Open Mon – Thurs 10am – 6pm, Fri & Sat 10am – 8pm and Sun noon – 6pm 617-229-5641
Rodney’s Bookstore – Rodney’s, in Central Square, is a big store for a used bookstore with a very good selection in all sorts of popular subjects. They’ve recently added a second floor for remainder books and also offer pine bookshelves if you’re looking for some new bookcases to hold all those books you just bought.
Rodney’s Bookstore is in Central Square at 698 Mass Ave, Cambridge.
Open Mon – Sat 9:30am – 9pm, Sun noon – 8pm. 617-876-6467
These are my favorites but there are more used bookstores and specialty bookstores in Cambridge. Feel free to put in a plug for your favorites in the comments below.
How to Get Rid of Your Christmas Tree
Christmas tree at the curb for pickup
This is last year’s post. Here’s the Christmas tree recycling info for 2012
Already taken down the tree? Wondering about Christmas tree disposal or recycling? Here’s the scoop on Christmas tree pickup and recycling in local towns.
Several local towns recycle Christmas trees by turning them into mulch. When you leave your holiday greens curbside remember:
- Trees mut be bare – stripped of all decorations and tinsel
- Trees should not be left in plastic bags
- Tree stands must be removed
- Wreaths and garlands can’t be recycled because of the wire used. Wreaths and garlands should be left in the trash
Arlington Christmas Tree Pickup
Arlington recycles trees and will pickup trees on your regularly scheduled trash pickup day between January 10 – 14, 2011
Cambridge Christmas Tree Recycling
Cambridge turns Christmas trees into mulch. Trees will be picked up on your regular pickup day between January 3 – 14, 2011
Somerville Christmas Tree Disposal
In Somerville Christmas trees can be left at the curb during the month of January. The DPW will pick up the trees for mulching. If your tree is put out after January it will be picked up as trash.
Christmas Trees in Belmont
In Belmont you should put your Christmas tree out with the trash. Belmont does not recycle trees.
Medford Christmas Tree Pickup
In Medford Christmas trees should be left at the curb on your regular trash pickup day during the week of January 10 -14, 2011. Waste Management sends out a truck to pickup the trees for recylcing / mulching. Since only one truck goes out and it fills up quickly, your tree may not be picked up bright and early but it should be picked up that week. Since the trees are recycled you need to make sure the tree is completely bare.
Medford residents who don’t get their tree out next week can either leave it with the trash in subsequent weeks or keep it outside until spring and yard waste pickup begins again.
Save Your Back with a Back-Saver Shovel
Backsaver Shovel - Buy Yours Today!
We’ve all been doing a lot of shoveling this week. The Cambridge area got about a foot and a half of snow on Sunday and Monday.
That’s a lot of snow – and plenty of shoveling to dig out driveways, sidewalks and cars.
There’s only one way to shovel as far as I’m concerned and that’s with a Back Saver Shovel I got my Back Saver ergonomic snow shovel a few years ago and winter’s never been the same.
The Back-Saver shovel’s handle is ergonomically correct – the bend in it is a miracle – truly a miracle. Somehow it transfers the load so the shovel, not your back, does the work.
No matter how heavy the load, no matter how many hours you shovel – with a Back-Saver shovel you’ll be in fine shape – no pain, no strain.
Even better, Back-Saver shovels are made right here in Massachusetts by a company called Rugg.
I looked for Back Saver shovels in local stores since I had planned to give my Dad one for Christmas. I wasn’t able to find one locally but you can order them online
Holiday Shopping at Museum Shops Near Cambridge
Want to steer clear of the malls but still need to finish your Christmas shopping? Visiting small local shops is always my preference – I’ve made the rounds in Cambridge, Belmont and Concord in the last few weeks.
Every year I try to take shopping local one step further and hit some of the local museum shops. I’m far happier spending my dollars at a non-profit than at a big box or chain store.
Audubon Shop
Audubon Shop in Lincoln
By far my favorite local non-profit gift shop is the Audubon Shop at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln. It’s amazing how many people I can cross off my list by the time I’ve finished shopping there.
The Audubon Shop carries plenty of items for bird watchers and bird feeders but the store’s inventory goes far beyond the birding realm. There’s a very good selection of kids’ items and wonderful things for adults too. There are household accessories, ceramics, jewelry, ornaments, books, and much more. It’s a lovely shop and kudos to the people that make the selections of what to carry in the store. I can’t list all the treasures I found this year since my family reads this blog – but my bags were heavy when I left.
Outside the shop there’s a butterfly garden and bird feeding / watching stations to entertain the family while you shop.
The Audubon store is located at 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA and is open every day until Christmas.
Orchard House Museum Store
When we visited the Orchard House in Concord earlier this year I was amazed to see how the gift shop has grown. Unlike many house museums, Orchard House is open year round so the gift store is worth checking out for holiday shopping.
Most of the store’s merchandise has an Alcott or Little Women tie-in but there’s a lot more here too. Collectibles, books, stationery, t-shirts, posters, and more fill the shop. If you can’t make the trip to the Orchard House you can shop the catalog online.
The Orchard House museum shop is open during museum hours and is located at 399 Lexington Road, Concord, MA.
More Museum Shops
Many of the Historic New England house museums have small gift shops including the Otis House on Cambridge Street in Boston. The museum carries an excellent collection of books on historic preservation, architecture and history as well as gift items. Historic New England has an online catalog with some of their most popular items. The Roseland Cottage ornament is on my wish list this year.
For kids or anyone on your list with an interest in science or nature the Museum of Science gift shop is worth a visit. You don’t need to pay museum admission to visit the gift shop.
The Museum of Fine Arts gift shop is a great place to shop for people of all ages – from kids to grandparents. Sculpture, music boxes, prints, games, jewelry, stationery, toys, books, ornaments and much more can be found here. Don’t have time to get into Boston? – you can shop the MFA online.
Seven days left… time to get shopping!
Comella’s Is Coming to Arlington and Belmont
Comella's - Opening Soon In Arlington
Comella’s Restaurant is coming to Arlington and Belmont and I can’t wait!
My first Comella’s sighting was in Concord when a family came out of the store weighed down with take-out bags. One look at the menu and I was ready to become a regular – even if it meant driving to Concord.
Comella’s serves homemade Italian food – pasta, pizza, salads and sandwiches. But what really caught my eye is the long list of “messes” - a mystery recipe that has a non-meat base and over 30 variations that include various combos of eggplant, chicken, veal, sausage, shrimp, etc. The messes come in individual portions or in multi-person ”buckets” – you gotta love a restaurant that serves delicious food in buckets!
It turns out that I won’t have to drive too far - Comella’s is expanding and two restaurants are opening nearby.
The former site of the Monroe Saltworks on Mass Ave in Arlington by the Capital Theatre will house a Comella’s soon. I was sad to see Monroe Saltworks go but if you still want to do some holiday shopping there you can stop by the store in Copley Place.
In Belmont Center, the former Charlesbank Bookshop will be a new Comella’s location. It’s always bad news when a bookstore closes but Belmont residents are sure to love Comella’s.
No word yet on when the restaurants are opening. The Arlington Comella’s is further along and a “Now Hiring” sign is posted in the window. I’m counting the days.
Secret Santa at Walgreens in Arlington
Secret Santa at Walgreens
The Secret Santa gift tree is up at the Walgreens in Arlington Center. The tree is decorated with senior citizens’ wishes for gifts.
I dare you to pick just one!
That was my problem last year – it was hard to stop.
So many of the requests are poignant – and irresistible- either because they’re so simple – ” a sweatshirt, Ladies Large, dark color if possible” or because the potential recipient really went for it – asking for multiple items or something really big. If only I could have gotten the air conditioner someone asked for last year.
You select your gift request(s) and bring the items back to Walgreens for distribution. The presents are due in a couple of weeks – details are at the store.
Stop by Walgreens at 324 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA and make somebody’s Christmas wishes come true.
Last Days For Yard Waste Pickup
It’s time to rake the leaves!
Wondering when the last days for yard waste pickup are?
Local towns collect yard waste on specified days in the spring through the late fall.
Yard waste collection typically coincides with your regular trash and recycle collection.
Here are the dates for the last pick ups for Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Medford, Somerville and Watertown.
Last Days for Leaf and Yard Waste Collection
Arlington: last days for leaves and yard waste collection are Nov. 29 – Dec. 3, 2010
Belmont: last pickups for yard waste are Dec. 6 – Dec. 9, 2010
Cambridge: yard waste will be collected through the week of Dec. 13 – Dec. 17, 2010
Medford: last collection of yard waste will be the week of Nov. 29 – Dec. 3, 2010
Somerville: picks up yard waste through the week of Nov. 29 – Dec. 3, 2010
Check your town or city’s website for more information about what is collected and when and how yard waste should be left out.
Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Centers And Squares Agent Login Design by Real Estate Tomato Powered by Tomato Real Estate Blogs
