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Historic Cambridge Kiosk set to reopen as community pop-up space

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (WHDH) – The historic Harvard Square Kiosk in Cambridge will soon reopen as a renovated pop-up community space.

In partnership with the City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Office of Tourism, the landmark, which has been closed since 2019, Culture House will be operating and programming the kiosk beginning in 2025.

Cambridge KiOSK will be a brand new space for art, culture, and conversation.

The organization is seeking artists, creatives, nonprofit organizations, and businesses in and around Cambridge to help bring the KiOSK to life!

The city is looking for community members to join an advisory committee that will help determine what events and programming will be featured at the kiosk.

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Newsbreak

Harvest in Cambridge Named Most Charming Restaurant in Massachusetts

According to a recent feature by Love Food, Harvest, located in the heart of Harvard Square, has been recognized as the most charming restaurant in Massachusetts. Nestled along a cobbled path, this elegant eatery offers a delightful dining experience that showcases the best of New England cuisine.

Chefs at Harvest collaborate closely with local farmers to create seasonal menus that highlight fresh, regional ingredients. The restaurant’s interiors are adorned with dark woods and neutral tones, providing a sophisticated ambiance, while the beautiful patio offers a lovely option for al fresco dining. For those seeking a quaint and memorable culinary experience, Harvest stands out as a must-visit destination in Cambridge.

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Hoodline

Harvard Square Kiosk Set for Community-Driven Transformation Into Dynamic Hub by 2025

Harvard Square Kiosk Set for Community-Driven Transformation Into Dynamic Hub by 2025Source: Google Street View

In a city where culture and community are as rich and variegated as the storied streets themselves, the historic Harvard Square Kiosk is gearing up for an auspicious transformation. According to an announcement from the City of Cambridge, in collaboration with CultureHouse and the Cambridge Office for Tourism, the iconic kiosk will be repurposed into the Cambridge Kiosk, a bustling community space, and visitor information center, with doors set to swing open in early 2025.

The revamp process is community-driven, with a two-year plan inviting local input to reflect a broad spectrum of needs and dreams. Beginning now, applications for the City’s new Cambridge Kiosk Advisory Committee are open to the public. Furthermore, CultureHouse is seeking propositions via an interest form from artists, nonprofits, and businesses, for future events and programming that will happen at the kiosk. Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang expressed that at the heart of this initiative is a mission to “provide greater opportunities for creativity, connection, and collaboration in the center of Harvard Square.”

Managing and programming the Kiosk will be CultureHouse’s wheelhouse. This organization, known for rejuvenating dormant spaces into cultural hotspots, will spearhead a series of multilingual surveys and interactive sessions for public input on desirable activities and functions in the renewed space. Executive Director Aaron Greiner told the City of Cambridge, “Programming at the Cambridge Kiosk will continuously evolve to meet the needs of the community and turn the space into a dynamic hub where people from all places and backgrounds can come together to experience culture and to build relationships.”

The Cambridge Kiosk’s refurbishment not only extends an invitation to embrace the contemporary but also honors the rich tapestry of its past. Kathy Watkins, Commissioner of Cambridge Public Works, shared a snapshot of the meticulous preservation efforts underway, advising visitors to “take a moment to look up at the details of the roof, the interior wood ceiling, and the brick columns that have been painstakingly restored,” celebrating both its storied history and envisioned future.

In the interim, visitor services formerly housed in the kiosk have been temporarily relocated to Cambridge Savings Bank’s ground floor. Robyn Culbertson, Executive Director of the Cambridge Office for Tourism, reassures that the dedicated staff will continue to aid visitors with “navigating the city and discovering its vibrant cultural scene.” With the anticipated opening of the Cambridge Kiosk, the promise of a nuanced and colorful future is as tangible as the bricks laid down nearly a century ago. For those eager to play a role or just stay in the loop, opportunities beckon at cambridgekiosk.org.

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WROR

Harvard Square Kiosk Reopening as Community Space

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

November 1st 1:58 PM

Darren McCollester/Getty Images

The historic Harvard Square Kiosk is going to reopen in early 2025 as a community space.

The City of Cambridge announced this news in a press release sharing that the space will be named the Cambridge Kiosk which will also act as a “vibrant cultural incubator” and a “visitor information center.” The city announced the space will be be run by the new Cambridge Kiosk Advisory Committee. Those interested in serving on that committee can apply here.

Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang said in a statement, “The activation of the Cambridge Kiosk represents a significant milestone for our community. By transforming this historic landmark into a dynamic public space, we will provide greater opportunities for creativity, connection, and collaboration in the center of Harvard Square.”

The kiosk has existed since 1927. Notably, it featured the Out of Town Newsstand from 1983 until the kiosk closed in 2019.

Commissioner of Cambridge Public Works Kathy Watkins said in a statement, “The Kiosk has adapted over its nearly 100 years to meet the needs of the community and it is exciting to see it transform yet again. The current renovations have been led by a dedicated team of architects, engineers and historians and will support this treasured building becoming a modern amenity, while honoring and celebrating the historic details that make it special.”

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MSN

Historic Harvard Square kiosk to reopen early 2025 as community space

The kiosk in Harvard Square is being renamed the Cambridge Kiosk.

The kiosk in Harvard Square is being renamed the Cambridge Kiosk.© (David L Ryan/Globe Staff )

The Harvard Square Kiosk, which has sat in the heart of the square at the mouth of the MBTA stop for nearly 100 years, is set to reopen early next year, the City of Cambridge announced Thursday. 

The Kiosk, which has been “recently restored,” will open in partnership with the Cambridge Office for Tourism and Somerville-based nonprofit CultureHouse, the city announced. The landmark will be renamed the Cambridge Kiosk to be a “cultural incubator, community gathering space, and visitor information center.”

“The activation of the Cambridge Kiosk represents a significant milestone for our community,” Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang said in a statement. “By transforming this historic landmark into a dynamic public space, we will provide greater opportunities for creativity, connection, and collaboration in the center of Harvard Square.”

The historic kiosk has been vacant since before the pandemic, when longtime Cambridge landmark Out of Town News closed in 2019. The newsstand was the natural center of the square, providing global news since 1978, when the Kiosk was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was registered as a Cambridge Landmark in 2017.

Since 2019, the kiosk has been under seemingly perpetual construction, surrounded by a chain link fence, in the middle of Cambridge’s biggest tourist spot. The Boston Globe reported last week that the construction cost $3.3 million, or about $6,600 per square foot.

Now, Cambridge is looking for community members to join the Cambridge Kiosk Advisory Committee and for local partners to host events at the Kiosk. CultureHouse will hold community meetings and do surveys to discuss how to use the space moving forward.

“Programming at the Cambridge Kiosk will continuously evolve to meet the needs of the community and turn the space into a dynamic hub where people from all places and backgrounds can come together to experience culture and to build relationships,” said Aaron Greiner, the executive director of CultureHouse.

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NBC Boston

Historic Harvard Square news kiosk set to reopen

The kiosk was built in 1927

By Malcolm Johnson  Published November 1, 2024  Updated on November 1, 2024 at 7:56 pm

A historic Harvard Square kiosk is set to reopen early next year. Its local impact has spanned decades as it served as a popular newsstand in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Organizers have a modern vision for the local landmark, which is nearly 100 years old.

“The kiosk was constructed in 1927 by the Boston Elevated Railway. It was originally an entrance to the Cambridge subway which should’ve been completed in 1912,” explained Charlie Sullivan, Cambridge Historical Commission executive director.

The kiosk was reconstructed and became Out of Town News, which closed in 2019. It was a key service in days predating the internet.

But how can the legacy of the institution be preserved in the 21st century? Melissa Peters, the city’s chief of planning strategy, has some answers.

“The windows are all full size as well as transparent and it’s meant to be an indoor, outdoor space. Really the living room of Harvard Square,” Peters said.

The kiosk seeks to serve as a cultural hub – a place for visitor information, arts and culture and social connection. It’s reopening with several partnerships, including one with Culture House, which improves livability by transforming underutilized spaces into social infrastructure.

“It’s also an opportunity to create a space where people can connect across that difference. In times when we have loneliness and division, having a chance to meet on level ground is an important way to rebuild that social trust that we’ve had over the couple years, Executive Director of Culture House, Aaron Greiner, said

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Boston.com

Historic Harvard Square kiosk to reopen early 2025 as community space

The landmark will be renamed the Cambridge Kiosk to be a “cultural incubator, community gathering space, and visitor information center.”

The kiosk in Harvard Square is being renamed the Cambridge Kiosk.
The kiosk in Harvard Square is being renamed the Cambridge Kiosk. (David L Ryan/Globe Staff )

By Molly Farrar October 31, 2024

The Harvard Square Kiosk, which has sat in the heart of the square at the mouth of the MBTA stop for nearly 100 years, is set to reopen early next year, the City of Cambridge announced Thursday. 

The Kiosk, which has been “recently restored,” will open in partnership with the Cambridge Office for Tourism and Somerville-based nonprofit CultureHouse, the city announced. The landmark will be renamed the Cambridge Kiosk to be a “cultural incubator, community gathering space, and visitor information center.”

“The activation of the Cambridge Kiosk represents a significant milestone for our community,” Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang said in a statement. “By transforming this historic landmark into a dynamic public space, we will provide greater opportunities for creativity, connection, and collaboration in the center of Harvard Square.”

The historic kiosk has been vacant since before the pandemic, when longtime Cambridge landmark Out of Town News closed in 2019. The newsstand was the natural center of the square, providing global news since 1978, when the Kiosk was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was registered as a Cambridge Landmark in 2017.

Since 2019, the kiosk has been under seemingly perpetual construction, surrounded by a chain link fence, in the middle of Cambridge’s biggest tourist spot. The Boston Globe reported last week that the construction cost $3.3 million, or about $6,600 per square foot.

Now, Cambridge is looking for community members to join the Cambridge Kiosk Advisory Committee and for local partners to host events at the Kiosk. CultureHouse will hold community meetings and do surveys to discuss how to use the space moving forward.

“Programming at the Cambridge Kiosk will continuously evolve to meet the needs of the community and turn the space into a dynamic hub where people from all places and backgrounds can come together to experience culture and to build relationships,” said Aaron Greiner, the executive director of CultureHouse.

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iheart

Beloved Massachusetts Eatery Named ‘Most Charming Restaurant’ In The State

Beloved Massachusetts Eatery Named ‘Most Charming Restaurant’ In The State

By Logan DeLoye

October 29, 2024

View of old cozy cafe in old city. Wooden tables and chairs in an outdoor cafe

Photo: iStockphoto

If you’re already planning on dining out, why not enjoy a tasty meal at the most charming restaurant in the state?

A main course pairs well with a few savory, pre-meal appetizers and a sweet desert to follow, but nothing compliments a dish quite like ambiance, or as Gen Z would say: the “vibe.”

If the overall vibe of the restaurant is good, then the food and experience might just soar over your expectations. While there are many restaurants scattered throughout Massachusetts, only one is known for having the most charming vibes around.

According to a list compiled by LoveFood, the most charming restaurant in Massachusetts is Harvest in Cambridge. This restaurant was praised for its ambiance and delicious dishes among other beloved qualities.

Here’s what LoveFood had to say about the most charming restaurant in the entire state:

“In the beautiful city of Cambridge, down a cobbled path in the heart of Harvard Square, is Harvest. This elegant restaurant presents the best of New England cuisine, with chefs working closely with local farmers to devise seasonal menus. The interiors are smart, with dark woods and neutral tones, while there’s a beautiful patio for dining al fresco.”

For more information about the most charming restaurants across the country check out Love Food‘s full list!