Bailey Allen USA TODAY NETWORK – New England

Officials in Cambridge are working on a plan to permanently block off a street in Harvard Square to car traffic, allowing pedestrians to use it instead.

The pedestrianization of Lower Bow Street would start next spring, coinciding with the beginning of the 2026 outdoor dining season, according to a Sept. 11 letter from Transportation Commissioner Brooke McKenna to city councilors.

The street has already been closed for construction for years, without causing significant impacts, McKenna said in the letter. The construction projects have ranged from building renovations to road repaving, according to city spokesperson Jeremy Warnick.

“This has demonstrated that from a traffic perspective, this location is an excellent opportunity for pedestrianization,” she said.

McKenna said the permanent closure of Bow Street could benefit local businesses, with opportunities for outdoor dining.

The plan was discussed by the Cambridge City Council on Sept. 15 and set in motion.

Where exactly would the road be closed?

Lower Bow Street would be closed permanently between Dewolfe and Plympton streets, according to McKenna.

The road has already been closed temporarily, and the area was utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic for outdoor dining, she said.

Officials deciding what materials to block roadway with

McKenna said in her letter that city officials had not yet determined what materials to use to block the roadway, but would consult with stakeholders, including Harvard University and the Harvard Square Business Association.

However, the City of Cambridge has “serious reservations about the reliability, maintenance burdens, installation challenges, and costs of automatic bollards,” she said.

The city plans to pursue its options, and the council voted unanimously to place the discussion “on file.”

Beth McDermott
Reporter assisted by AI

Revels RiverSing, a beloved family-friendly fall tradition, is returning to Harvard Square on Saturday, Sept. 20.

The annual sing-along celebration of the autumnal equinox kicks off at Winthrop Park and on the banks of the Charles River by the John W. Weeks Memorial Bridge, according to a community announcement.

The event, hosted by Revels Artist-in-Residence David Coffin and Revels Music Director Elijah Botkin, will feature music, puppetry, dance and a puppet parade. The parade, which begins at Winthrop Park, will feature puppets provided by The Puppeteers Cooperative and music from Good Trouble Brass Band and Wheelwright’s One Man Band.

Visitors waiting on the riverbank for the parade’s arrival will be treated to a Morris dance performance from Muddy River Morris, according to the announcement. Once the parade arrives, audiences will participate in a community singalong led by Coffin, Botkin, the Revels RiverSing Chorus and the Boston City Singers. The event will also feature appearances from the Revels Dragons, dancer Isaura Oliveira as Yorùba river goddess Oshun and vocalist Jireh Calo.Top municipal salaries Who were the top paid Cambridge employees in 2024? We have a list

The celebration will conclude with saxophone virtuoso Stan Strickland sailing down the Charles and greeting the setting sun with music, according to the announcement.

Revels RiverSing began as a partnership with the Charles River Conservancy in 2004. The event is a participatory musical celebration of the change of seasons and the splendor of the Charles River and its parklands, according to the announcement.

The program begins at 5 p.m. in Winthrop Park and at the Weeks Bridge. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5. Parking is available in nearby Harvard Square.

Attendees can pre-purchase a picnic meal from Harvard Square’s Grendel’s Den, which will be available for pickup on the day of the event. They’re also welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

In the event of inclement weather, Revels RiverSing will move to Sunday, Sept. 21. Updates will be posted on the Revels website at revels.org.

The event is sponsored by the Harvard Square Business Association, the Cambridge Community Foundation, Houghton Chemical and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

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Block of Harvard Square road will go traffic-free, but plan to repurpose T tunnel meets resistance

By Marc Levy

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Marc LevyA block of Bow Street in Harvard Square will close to car traffic in the spring, Cambridge staff say.

One Harvard Square project got a win Monday in Cambridge, while another faced a setback.

In the spring, the Blue Bottle Coffee shop and two restaurants on Mount Auburn Street will have back patios to lounge in on a stretch of road closed permanently to pass-through car traffic, officials said. But a project to reuse an abandoned MBTA tunnel faces resistance in a bid to explore its reuse as an entertainment venue.

A block of Lower Bow Street, between Dewolfe and Plympton streets, was closed for at least two years of construction “without causing significant impacts on the safety or functionality of the surrounding traffic patterns,” transportation commissioner Brooke McKenna said in a memo to city councillors. This shows it to be “an excellent opportunity for pedestrianization.”

That will benefit the Daedalus and Sea Hag restaurants and, proponents say, give Harvard Square an additional stretch of European-feeling luxury.

There was one disagreement between staff and councillor Patty Nolan, who urged the plan in June with a reminder that pedestrianization of parts of the square has been discussed back to 2020: Nolan wants the city to try blocking the street with automated bollards that delivery drivers can lower by punching in a code on a keypad.

Deputy city manager Kathy Watkins thinks they will be too “fussy,” costing more to install and maintain than manual bollards that are taken away and put back by hand as needed.

“Cities all across Europe have been using these in snow, in rain,” Nolan said. “You don’t have to pay people to go back and forth like on Palmer street, where you have to have someone every single day, twice a day, go out” to move bollards. (Watkins also noted that the city’s removable bollards “tend to get removed and not put back.”)

Subway tunnel entertainment venue

While Nolan asked staff for at least an assurance that they were researching the automated bollards, mayor E. Denise Simmons rejected Monday that city staff would shut down a Harvard Square Business Association dream for reuse of an old subway tunnel, unseen by passengers for 40 years, that lurks beneath the pavement from Mount Auburn and Eliot streets to the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government.

The mayor planned to send the report back to city manager Yi-An Huang.

“I’m disappointed that the office seems very unwilling to take even this modest first step to invest in and explore the future of one of our most important commercial districts,” Simmons said. “The Harvard Square Business Association has brought us a creative proposal that deserves more than cautious hesitation at a time when our commercial districts face unprecedented challenges.”

An empty tunnel under Harvard Square could be turned into a venue hosting a variety of events, the Harvard Square Business Association says.

Before the mayor could take that formal step, councillor Burhan Azeem used his “charter right” to bump discussion by one regular meeting – to Sept. 29, because the council is off for next week’s Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. He sought a “productive” discussion and Monday’s dialogue was “becoming hostile,” Azeem said.

Like the pedestrianization concept, public discussion of the tunnel dates back to 2020. But it’s been eyed by the association for longer, and members even paid for 3D imaging of the space to help craft designs – part of some $50,000 to $60,000 in private money already put toward the idea. The next step was asking the city for $72,000 toward crafting a request for proposals and seeing what firms might want in on development of the idea.

Huang demurred in a memo, though, as “the full cost of the feasibility study that the RFP would seek to fund could require an investment in the range of $500,000 to $1 million, and a viable funding source for this next phase has yet to be identified.”

There were objections from councillors to the call for proposals being shut down – vice mayor Marc McGovern noted that the $72,000 requested was already allocated for study in Harvard Square – and from John DiGiovanni, a developer and former president of the HSBA.

“The RFP process itself will likely take over a year, giving the city and others time to identify additional funding sources,” DiGiovanni said. Meanwhile, “neighboring cities are developing their mixed-use districts … Entertainment is the anchor, and we’re late.”

That the memo arrived Monday was a surprise to Simmons, who had a new order in place calling for Huang to report back Sept. 29 …

Lower Bow Street will be closed to traffic to create outdoor patio space for restaurants.

By Madison LucchesiSeptember 16, 2025 | 4:14 PM
2 minutes to read

The Cambridge City Council passed a motion to close a block in Harvard Square traffic to allow for outdoor dining spaces on Monday.

Blue Bottle Coffee, Daedalus Restaurant and Sea Hag Restaurant & Bar will have back patio spaces on Lower Bow Street beginning in the spring, according to Cambridge Day.

Between Dewolfe Street and Plympton Street, Lower Bow Street has been closed due to construction for two years “without causing significant impacts on the safety or functionality of the surrounding traffic patterns,” Cambridge Transportation Commissioner Brooke McKenna wrote in a statement to the city manager.

McKenna continued, “This has demonstrated that from a traffic perspective, this location is an excellent opportunity for pedestrianization. In addition, during COVID, the adjacent restaurants, with front doors on Mt. Auburn Street, had robust outdoor dining on Bow Street with great success.”

The type of blockage that will be used to close the street to car traffic has not been determined.

City Councilor Patty Nolan began pushing for automatic bollards that can be lowered with a code, allowing delivery drivers to pass through, in 2020.

“The city continues to have serious reservations about the reliability, maintenance burdens, installation challenges, and cost of automatic bollards,” McKenna wrote in her Sept. 11 statement.

On Monday, Nolan said Bow Street “seems to be an ideal way to try [automatic bollards] because it’s such a small, very specific street.”

In response, Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins said, “It is just a significant maintenance issue that we feel like there are better solutions that don’t require that level of maintenance and that level of complexity.” She also noted that most of the city’s removable bollards are not reinstalled.

Nolan asked the city managers to consult other cities that use the automatic bollards, noting the bollards are popular in Europe, because she believes they could be a cost saving method in the long term, she said.

“I’m looking forward to all of us being able to go out and sit on Bow Street,” Nolan added.

McKenna said the city will continue to collaborate with the Harvard Square Business Association, Harvard University, and the impacted businesses regarding the pedestrianization of the block.

“All the people who operate businesses there are in favor of” pedestrianization to create outdoor patio spaces, Nolan said.

The cafe chain Daily Provisions opened a location in Harvard Square this summer. By E. Matteo Diaz

By Jaya N. Karamcheti and Kevin Zhong, Crimson Staff Writers

Yesterday

Daily Provisions is quickly becoming a daily staple in Harvard Square, attracting students and tourists alike with all-day dining, craft coffee, and study spaces.

The cafe — located at 1 Brattle Square — is a small chain that recently expanded from New York City to New England. The Harvard Square location marked its first in Massachusetts when it opened in July, with another location set to open in Seaport in 2026.

Steven L. Kurland, the New England area director for the chain, says the all-day concept of Daily Provisions sets itself apart from other cafes and restaurants in the Square. Open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., its menu features everything from crullers to sandwiches to a whole roasted chicken.

“We get here at 5:30 a.m. We bake our cookies and bake our croissants and make our crullers, so that’s probably our most directly iconic item. We have a pretty wide variety,” Kurland said.

Daily Provisions’s emphasis on its food has made it a quick standout among customers. Trish A. Zeytoonjian, a local resident, made her second visit to Daily Provisions for the “best Arnold Palmer I’ve had.”

“Consistency in food, good service, nice outdoor space, really pretty aesthetic. Those are all important things,” Zeytoonjian said.

Daily Provisions has ten other locations across the country, ranging from New York City to D.C. But Kurland says Harvard Square stands out for its diversity of businesses and residents — a key resource he hopes to tap into.

“Within half a mile, we’ve got big companies, small companies, residents, students, tourists, and a lot of local great businesses here already,” Kurland said. “So I think that made it a really logical choice.”

Kurland says that unlike other cafes, the spacious layout of Daily Provisions makes it an ideal spot for Harvard students to study.

“We want to build our business in our evenings, but it’s a great time to come in with a study group,” Kurland said.

Kurland hopes Daily Provisions will be more than a cafe, eventually becoming an integral part of the Harvard network. He hopes to partner with local businesses, organizations, and even Harvard sports teams. Daily Provisions has already been working with Project Paulie and Spoonfuls, two local food recovery and pantry organizations.

Daily Provisions has already become a reliable staple for students looking to escape dining hall food and regular Harvard Square haunts. The cafe offered Harvard students free crullers during the first week of school — and students have been coming back ever since.

“Their bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich is, I think, what people really mess with,” Josh P. Mysore ’26 said. “That’s currently what I got.”

“I just was like, ‘I need a sandwich and I don’t want HUDS today,’” he added.

But Kurland said Daily Provisions is much more than their breakfast sandwiches — it’s also a spot to find a friendly face.

“We want guests to walk away feeling delighted, not just like, ‘That was a good sandwich,” Kurland said.

— Staff writer Jaya N. Karamcheti can be reached at jaya.karamcheti@thecrimson.com.

— Staff writer Kevin Zhong can be reached at kevin.zhong@thecrimson.com.

Lou’s has recently joined Harvard Square at 13 Brattle St. By Briana Howard Pagán

By Jaya N. Karamcheti and Kevin Zhong, Crimson Staff Writers

12 hours ago

Since opening late this July, Lou’s — located on 13 Brattle St. — has been turning the tables on Cambridge’s diners and music lovers alike.

The restaurant features a 1920s-inspired lounge space and nightly music from live artists and DJs, making it a unique addition to the food, music, and nightlife scene in an area densely populated by students.

“We love the idea of live music. We need more of that. So we really want to support really good artists,” John P. DiGiovanni, who owns the Lou’s property, said.

“We also have a DJ night. I think there’ll even be some dancing. A lot of that was missing in the Square that we wanted this to add to the vibrancy of this place,” he added.

Upcoming performances span a range of musical traditions, including reggae, Brazilian music, and Senegalese afropop.

Megan B. McNamara, a local resident who dined at Lou’s with a friend, said she appreciated the ambiance and decor.

“It’s absolutely amazing. What they’ve done with the space is so beautiful,” McNamara said. “Whoever designed it, it is absolutely gorgeous. The books, the couches, it’s so good.”

“This is such a good space in Harvard Square that’s gone to waste for so many years, as a local,” she added.

After the pandemic slowed foot traffic and in-person gatherings in the Square, DiGiovanni said he wanted his property to become a venue of conversation and connection. The property had been vacant since 2022, when bar and restaurant Beat Brew Hall closed.

“We want people to engage,” DiGiovanni said. “Honestly, part of the inspiration for me was creating a place where people want to talk and be in a place to socialize. We’re in a time where there’s not enough of that personal contact.”

Lou’s is named after DiGiovanni’s late father, Louis F. “Lou” DiGiovanni, who was a powerful entrepreneur and real estate agent in Harvard Square. Thomas J. Keane — a friend of DiGiovanni’s and a co-owner of the restaurant — suggested the new venue be named in honor of Lou DiGiovanni and his impact on the Square.

DiGiovanni said he hopes Lou’s becomes a lasting institution for Harvard affiliates and Cambridge residents.

“When you come back for your 10th and 25th, you want to go to Lou’s. I want this to be here,” DiGiovanni said. “I want it to be part of the life of the Square.”

For now, Marisa F. Gann ’26, who visited Lou’s over the summer, agreed that the new venue can play a role in nightlife at Harvard.

“It definitely has a lot of potential to be the reliable dance scene in Harvard Square,” she said.

— Staff writer Jaya N. Karamcheti can be reached at jaya.karamcheti@thecrimson.com.

— Staff writer Kevin Zhong can be reached at kevin.zhong@thecrimson.com.

Near Brattle Square lies the home of Harriet A. Jacobs, a renowned author, teacher, and activist in the 1800s. By Jonathan G. Yuan

By Summer E. Rose and Laurel M. Shugart, Crimson Staff Writers

The Cambridge Historical Commission hesitantly voted to allow the redevelopment of the Harriet Jacobs House on Thursday, on the condition that developers continue to meet with the CHC to address “clear concerns” from neighbors over the proposed height and size.

The house, which Janet Jiang has privately owned since 2020, was originally home to the boarding house Harriet Jacobs ran in the years following her escape from slavery. But in recent decades, the house has fallen into disrepair as it has bounced between private owners, none with the funding to preserve the historic site.

With architects from CambridgeSeven, Jiang brought forward a proposal to move the house forward on its original lot and construct a 90,000-square-foot addition behind. CambridgeSeven’s proposal sits at eight stories — remodeling the Jacobs house into a hotel and creating a cafe and residential units on the remainder of the lot. The renovation could include a “mini-museum” in the hotel lobby, open to the public to spotlight Jacobs’ work as an abolitionist and author.

But since November, plans have stalled in front of the CHC.

The house already sits within the Harvard Square Neighborhood Conservation District, restricting changes that can be made to the exterior of the building. But the CHC — charged with overseeing historical preservation projects — has been weighing designating the house a historic landmark since August.

If the Jacobs house becomes a landmark, it would give the CHC more oversight of both internal and external changes to the house. The study is expected to take roughly four months, CHC Executive Director Charles M. Sullivan said in the Thursday meeting.

But the vote still gives CambridgeSeven permission to move forward with the project, though Commissioners remained skeptical as they passed the vote. Architects, Jiang, and her lawyer, Patrick W. Barrett, will be required to continue meeting with the CHC in the coming weeks to address concerns regarding the building’s height and scale.

The decision comes amid nearly a year of back-and-forth with Harvard Square residents, many of whom live near the Story St. house and have strongly objected to developers’ plans to build eight stories of residential units as part of the proposed remodel.

Residents and Commissioners alike have raised concerns over the height and size of the addition, criticizing multiple iterations of the design for being out of character with the surrounding neighborhood.

“It just feels like the house is sort of engulfed by the building,” CHC member Florrie Darwin said in the Thursday meeting.

But Commissioners supported approving the proposal unanimously, though cautiously awaiting the results of the landmarking study and further discussion with developers over the building’s size.

Many have been quick to point out that there have been no other plans to preserve or develop the house in recent years. And, since the house is privately owned, it could easily be sold to private developers with little interest in preserving Jacobs’ history.

Jiang turned down an offer to sell the property outright to a private condominium developer last year, declining a sizable profit. Instead, she hopes to protect the house’s historical significance in partnership with developers.

“I didn’t grow up studying American history, but over the past five years, I have learned so much about Harriet Jacobs and how important she is both to Black history and to Cambridge,” Jiang said in the Thursday meeting. “I want this to be a real place that is alive and public, where people can connect with her history — not just the static landmark.”

The proposal has also amassed support from more than half of the City Council. Mayor E. Denise Simmons, Vice Mayor Marc C. McGovern, and Councilors Sumbul Siddiqui. Jivan G. Sobrinho-Wheeler co-authored an op-ed in the Boston Globe earlier this week to advocate for the redevelopment.

“Something is going to be built on that site, and we have a property owner who is saying, ‘Not only do I want to build on this site, but I want to preserve this history and this house.’” McGovern said in a Thursday interview. “This is a win-win.”

—Staff writer Summer E. Rose can be reached at summer.rose@thecrimson.com.

—Staff writer Laurel M. Shugart can be reached at laurel.shugart@thecrimson.com. Follow them on X @laurelmshugart.

Staff at Beyond Full stand beside Mayor E. Denise Simmons and Harvard Square Business Association President Denise A. Jillson for the restaurant’s ribbon cutting ceremony. By Elyse C. Goncalves

By Christiana P. Foufas and Jaya N. Karamcheti, Crimson Staff Writers

15 hours ago

Cambridge residents inaugurated a new Mass. Ave. restaurant with a hipster look into the local dining scene at Beyond Full’s grand opening on Tuesday.

Sitting between Harvard and Central Square, Beyond Full, which offers traditional diner fare, comes several years after Beyond Full’s owner Richard R. Yancey opened the restaurant’s first location in Hopedale, Mass. — a small town around 40 miles from Boston. The new restaurant fills the vacancy left by the beloved Zoe’s Diner.

The move to Cambridge brings Beyond Full to a more “artsy” and metropolitan setting, according to Yancey, himself a native Bostonian. Yancey said that melded well with his more urban vision for the restaurant — which features walls painted with colorful graffiti and air abuzz with hip-hop music.

“It’s artsy, it’s right next to the college, and it has an urban vibe to it. So, this is a great fit for what we sell,” Yancey said.

Yancey said Beyond Full’s food stands out for its freshness.

“Our burgers are hand-pressed and they’re fresh. They’re not frozen,” Yancey said. “We don’t deal with frozen, so they taste amazing.”

Denise A. Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association, said the restaurant would bring a new vibe to the area, calling it “a little more edgy than what we have here in the Square.”

“It has a different look about it, which we love,” Jillson said.

Jillson added that Beyond Full’s every day operation would help it overcome the business challenges that faced Zoe’s, which she said focused too heavily on weekend breakfast and brunch.

“I think that in order for a restaurant to succeed in Harvard Square, and in any district, really, it needs to be an everyday operation,” Jillson said. “I really believe that the new owners, Richard and Carrie, are committed to doing that.”

Though the restaurant’s location on the outskirts of Harvard Square may require extra work to draw people in, Jillson also expected it to find customers from nearby mid-Cambridge residents.

After settling in Cambridge, Yancey said he hopes to expand Beyond Full to other tourist hubs in the metropolitan area, such as Boston’s Newbury St.

Despite his now-expanding business, Yancey only got his start in the restaurant business a few years ago, upon becoming an empty nester. Before his daughter left for college, a conversation between the two inspired his venture.

“I was a stay-at-home father, and I was at a breakfast spot in Hopedale, and she asked me what was I going to do when she goes to college?” Yancey said. “I said, ‘I don’t know, maybe I’ll open a restaurant. I was just joking.’”

“She said, ‘What about this place?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, we love going to this place,’” he said, of a local restaurant he and his daughter frequented.

After a conversation with the owner of the restaurant, Yancey bought the building and opened Beyond Full’s first location.

Six years later, Yancey said he hopes that same business will welcome Cambridge students and residents from all walks of life.

“I want to bring a positive but an interesting vibe, a place where you can come and relax and be able to dress any way you want, more of an artsy environment,” Yancey said.

“An environment that welcomes every human being on the planet,” he added.

By Sadie Barandes

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Deborah Mason Performing Arts Center via social mediaDeborah Mason, second from left, welcomes alums of her dance school on July 26.

Most dancers end their careers in their 30s.

Not Deborah Mason, whose Performing Arts Center in Somerville is celebrating its 50th year.

The studio (and Mason) have undergone many changes in that time, but she still runs the show.

Mason grew up in East Cambridge in the 1950s and ’60s and began taking dance lessons as a child. When she was 14, her teacher hired her as an assistant; she continued working there until her early 20s. “By that point, I was pretty much running [my teacher’s] school,” Mason said in an interview. “I figured I should open up my school. And that’s what I did.” 

She began searching for a location in 1975, finding instead a hard truth: “Nobody wanted to rent to me, since I was young and a woman.”

Mason eventually found a small space on Hampshire Street in Inman Square – only her studio’s first location. “I had to move six times. But my students followed. I guess I’m a bit like the pied piper of dance,” she said.

Merlot Williams via social mediaDeborah Mason, center, is honored at a 50th Anniversary Celebration in March.

By 2000, Mason was in her fifth location, in North Cambridge. There she remained for 15 years as the numbers of students and teachers continued to grow. 

It was there she formed the nonprofit Cambridge Youth Dance Program in 2005 and began curating the dance stage at the city’s Harvard Square-based MayFair festival – also still going strong. At this year’s May 4 event, its Deborah Mason Dance Stage featured more than 30 troupes.

Mason’s landlord had long signaled that the building hosting her studio would be knocked down and replaced with condominiums. In 2012, time ran out and she looked for a new location with urgency, turning to her faithful Cambridge community – and families rallied behind her without hesitation, she said, helping her raise $250,000 toward the purchase of a permanent home.

This time it was in Somerville. She arrived in late 2013 to a building at 624 Somerville Ave., just a few blocks outside of Porter Square.

“This school was built by the people of Cambridge. Everyone helped me raise the money, and the builders even worked on holidays so I could move in sooner,” Mason said.

Since its creation, her school has fostered a community: nearly 700 dancers a week ages 3 to 18 coming to learn ballet, en pointe, modern dance, tap, jazz, musical theater and hip-hop, according to the school; and more than 2,000 students over the years subsidized to attend if they couldn’t afford classes. 

One of the students Mason helped – by making up a work-study program to fill – went on to become a Deborah Mason instructor. Paula Khelifi was on hand too to give testimony to the Cambridge City Council in 2012 to plead for help keeping the school alive.

“I was teased and bullied and cried myself to sleep at night from about the ages of 10 to 14. Something you never forget. It stays with you. Then I met Debbie,” Khelifi said at the time. “I wouldn’t even have been able to show up for the audition if I didn’t have Deborah Mason behind me telling me that I could do anything. Not only did I learn all the skills and technique, but I learned about self-confidence.”

In 2022, Mason documented her life in a book, “Life is But a Dance” – and now reflects on her role during her school’s golden anniversary.

“I really do love this school, and I love watching people be successful,” Mason said. “I love that the kids are enjoying themselves. Some will go on to dance professionally, and others won’t; either way, the lessons you learn from dance will help you throughout your life.”

“It is kind of strange that 50 years went by so fast,” Mason said. “I’ve just been doing what I love.”