notes from another side

cambridge

bagelsaurus - honorary mention. had a ridiculously long line going down the street.
bom dough coffee & dough - can't remember what i got, just remember that the way the place was set up was confusing.
broadsheet coffee roasters - had a espresso shot with grenadine. quick service, unique beverage choices.
elmendorf baking supplies & cafe - tiny and crowded, but service was quick. had some atypical flavors of baked goods.
maprang bakery and cafe - slightly asian fare. the ube cream puffs were delicious. had several savory bakery options. small seating area.

hokkaido ramen santouka - nothing special, but the food was good and the staff were friendly.
le's vietnamese restaurant - crowded, with really friendly service.
silk road - only place i've seen offering uyghur cuisine. was crowded 30min after opening. i ordered takeout online. food was good.

harvard art museums - very crowded, likely due to free admission. collection seemed a bit random. wouldn't go out of your way.
harvard museum of natural history - free admission to massachusetts residents on sunday mornings. very nice collection of rocks. loved the glass plants & sea animals. LINK
labyrinth and contemplative garden LINK

broadway marketplace - high prices for grocery items. had many inexpensive wines from a variety of regions, including some that were half the size of a typical wine bottle.
harvard book store - large selection of used books in the basement. not necessarily affordable.
high energy vintage - vintage != cheap. very nice clothing though; had i more money to spend, i'd've bought some dresses from here.
muji - i failed to check out the robot barista. this muji (near harvard) had a wider snack selection than the one on newbury street.
rodney's bookstore - used books. truly eclectic selection. loved the off-the-beaten-path vibe.
the garment district - there's something for everyone here. affordable prices, organized by style + decade, will return when i want new clothes.