US: New England-based development and management company Lark is set to debut Cambridge Common House, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Located just outside Harvard Square at 2 Garden Street, the 16-room property will open in late 2025. Rooms have been designed by Elder & Ash.
“We have long flirted with the possibility of opening a concept in Greater Boston, and I’m thrilled that it’s finally coming to fruition,” said Rob Blood, founder and chairman of Lark. “This space has an inherent charm and historic roots in Harvard Square, starting as a private residence designed by Cambridge’s William Saunders, and eventually serving as student housing for undergrads. It’s an honour to guide it into its next iteration.”
Lark is a leading operator of boutique hotels under 150 keys in North America. Lark combines a “tech-forward ethos, hands-on development expertise, and people-first culture to maximize profitability for small to mid-sized hotels”.
It says its portfolio of around 75 independent spirited properties delivers “compelling guest experiences through distinctive branding, local storytelling, and thoughtful, place-based design”.
Lark’s branded hotel collections include its signature Lark Hotels, Bluebird by Lark, Blind Tiger Guest Houses, AWOL, and Life House. The group also manages independent hotels across a diverse range of markets.
Highlights: • New England-based development and management company Lark is set to debut Cambridge Common House, in Cambridge, Massachusetts • The 16-room property will open in late 2025. Rooms have been designed by Elder & Ash • Lark is a leading operator of boutique hotels under 150 keys in North America with around 75 properties on its books
By Kara Baskin Globe Correspondent, Updated August 7, 2025, 1:54 p.m.
Exterior of the new Daily Provisions in Harvard Square.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
Where to: Daily Provisions, a sunny spot with big windows and cheerful bustle in Harvard Square.
Why: For an all-day repast from Union Square Hospitality Group, the New York City restaurant powerhouse run by Danny Meyer — known for time-honored institutions like Gramercy Tavern, The Modern, and Shake Shack.
Inside Daily Provisions in Harvard Square.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
The backstory: The first Daily Provisions opened in New York in 2017, a spinoff of Meyer’s people-pleasing Union Square Cafe. This is the 10th location — and the first one in Massachusetts. (Another will come to the Seaport next year.)
Meyer received a James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur Award in 2005, and his restaurants have won a multitude of outstanding service awards.
The Lumberjack sandwich at Daily Provisions.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
What to eat: “Silver Palate Cookbook”-esque, café cuisine. Breakfast is served all day, with heavier items sharing real estate with sweets and baked treats. Daily Provisions is known for maple crullers, and you can enjoy them as a husky Lumberjack breakfast sandwich with eggs and cheese ($13.50) or a la carte ($4.95). There’s the requisite avocado toast ($11) with accompaniments ranging from smoked salmon to eggs, or a savory-sweet everything croissant piped with cream cheese ($5.95).
Sandwiches are available after 10:30 a.m. They’re simple and satisfying: Get the tuna melt ($13.50), a polished affair — no diner this — with a subdued amount of mayo, griddled sourdough just buttery enough to taste melty, not greasy, coated with a thin layer of American cheese.
The Tuna Melt sandwich and a Iced Matcha Lemonade.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
The rest of the sandwich menu veers picnic chic: BLTs, cured ham and cheddar, herb chicken salad, chickpea veggie, with healthy sides like tomato and green bean salad ($9) and snap peas with quinoa ($9).
My dining companion enjoyed a bountiful “chefy” salad ($16.50, but big enough for two), with roast chicken, jammy hard-boiled eggs, marinated white beans, cucumber, gruyère, and breadcrumbs.
“Eggs were indeed jammy and really flavorful, which doesn’t happen when they’re overcooked. All the other ingredients felt fresh and did not give the vibe of having been sitting in a fridge bin somewhere. Chicken in particular was tender and gently shredded, not the squeaky cubes you often see in salad. Little crunchy topping and a really good, creamy dressing was light and not gloppy, kicked up with dill, clearly house-made,” she reflected after taking the rest home — but noting that, for $16.50, bread or chips might have made the salad feel more like a meal. (The dressing is DP’s version of Thousand Island.)
You can also order dinner-ish main courses here, though the space has a lunchtime, benches-and-laptops vibe. A roast chicken dinner, big enough for three, comes with roasted carrots, Brussels sprouts, and crispy potatoes ($45). Order it to-go, and pass it off as your own at your next small dinner party.
The “Chefy” Salad at Daily Provisions.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
What to drink: A wide assortment of caffeine and/or alcohol, from salted caramel cold brew ($5.75) to matcha lemonade ($6) to Beaujolais by the glass ($9) or bottle ($32). You’ll order at a counter, but a server will deliver your goods. While you wait, take a moment to appreciate the local touches, such as a brick salvaged from the late, lamented Pit down the block, marked with a plaque and perched on a shelf that looks straight out of a Restoration Hardware showroom.
An authentic brick from “The Pit, Harvard Square” is on display at Daily Provisions.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
The takeaway: Once upon a time, The Tasty was Harvard Square’s all-hours gathering spot for counter-service sandwiches, sweets, and melts. Down the street, Daily Provisions is the 2025 version: healthier, cleaner, dressier. Still tasty, though.
If this column seems thinner week to week than it might be, it’s partly because there is a literal hole in Cambridge’s cinematic ecosystem. The AMC Loews Harvard Square, known for its iconic mural on Church Street, has sat vacant for more than a decade, moldering in the portfolio of billionaire owner Gerald Chan. There was a time, of course, when the theater was a vibrant hub of the community, an intimate space to watch the latest blockbuster – and the area’s official “Rocky Horror Picture Show” venue since 1984.
With that in mind, the Harvard Square Business Association, in partnership with Cambridge Community Development and the Cambridge Arts Council, hosts a free outdoor movie night Saturday celebrating the theater’s once – and hopefully future – legacy. The festivities begin at 7 p.m. with a musical set by DJ Joey Finnz, with the film unspooling at 9 p.m. (Officially a “secret” until showtime, the film’s name was announced at Monday’s meeting of the City Council.)
This weekend TheBrattle Theatre plays host to “In the Spectrum of Love,” a traveling program curated by Seattle’s nonprofit STArt Film Studio dedicated to LGBTQ+ intimacy in Asian cinema. The series begins Friday and Saturday with “Happy Together” (1997), the beloved gay romance from director Wong Kar Wai (more on whom in a bit), and Tsai Ming-liang’s impressionistic “Vive L’Amour” (1994). Rounding out the program Sunday are a new 4K restoration of Stanley Kwan’s “Lan Yu” (2001), presented with a reel of interviews with the director, and the area premiere of Ray Yeung’s “All Will Be Well.” If you find yourself inspired, you’re in luck: STArt is dedicated to helping first-time filmmakers fund and release their debut shorts!
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The Somerville Theatre’s “Great Remakes” series continues Monday with its most unexpected entry. When the great comedic filmmaking team of Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker (whose cop spoof “The Naked Gun” is back on our minds thanks to its delightful reboot) made “Airplane!” in 1980, it was widely perceived as a parody of “Airport” (1970) and the all-star disaster films that ruled the box office in its wake. But the directors found more specific inspiration in a much older film: 1957’s “Zero Hour!” in which Dana Andrews plays an off-duty fighter pilot forced to land a commercial airliner when its crew succumbs to food poisoning. To avoid litigation, the ZAZ team (who lifted large chunks of dialogue in addition to the plot) simply bought the rights to the original outright, making “Airplane!” an official remake. Who wore it better? Watch both back to back on the big screen and decide!
For its annual summer repertory series, IFFBoston returns to the Somerville to visit the “World of Wong Kar Wai.” Wong’s films, known for their lush visuals and swooning atmosphere, received the full restoration treatment from the Criterion Collection in 2020, but due to certain unforeseen circumstances that year a full theatrical rerelease was scrapped; while most have screened since then, this the first time all eight restored films have screened as a set in Greater Boston. The series kicks off Tuesday, appropriately enough, with Wong’s debut film, “As Tears Go By” (1990), a smash hit in its home country that suffused the standard hyperkineticism of Hong Kong action with the aching romantic yearning on which the director would make his name. There’s never a bad time to immerse oneself in the world of Wong Kar Wai, and there’s no better place to do so than the palatial main hall of the Somerville.
By Lisa Zwirn Globe Correspondent,Updated August 5, 2025, 6:00 a.m.
Cardullo’s chocolate bars.Amreen Qureshi
For those who love quality chocolate bars, a shop with an excellent and wide selection is bound to be your happy place. Welcome to Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe. The Harvard Square store opened 75 years ago and carries gourmet foods, wines, and beers from around the world. It’s also a popular Italian deli. But the highlight for many is the variety of distinctive chocolate bars — “a whole chocolate wall,” says general manager Una Donegan — with products representing over two dozen countries and 100 brands. Some of the world’s finest dark and milk chocolate bars are here, including French brands Bonnat and Valrhona, Belgian Dolfin and Neuhaus, Venchi from Italy, Friis-Holm from Denmark, Milkboy from Switzerland, Raaka of Brooklyn, Markham & Fitz from Arkansas, and Compartes, Dick Taylor, and Dandelion from California. Sudbury’s own Goodnow Farms is well represented, as are Taza of Somerville and Lake Champlain of Burlington, Vt. (Prices range from $5 to $20 per bar.) Many brands come in different flavors and styles so you can enjoy your favorites and discover new chocolate makers. As Donegan says, “There really can be a chocolate bar that changes someone’s day.”
Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe has locations at 6 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-491-8888, and 99 Seaport Blvd., Boston, 617-326-8655. In 2026, a third shop will open on the Street in Chestnut Hill.
Lou’s in Harvard Square is now open. Alyssa Blumstein
It’s a good time to be a Greater Boston diner in 2025, with exciting and diverse restaurant openings occurring all over the metro area.
Each week, Boston.com will highlight the restaurant openings worth knowing about across the Greater Boston region. Some spots will already be open, while others are set to debut soon or later this year. At least one featured restaurant will always be a bonus item — either a pop-up, a collaboration, or event at area restaurants.
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What’s new in Greater Boston restaurant openings this week
Omakase — a Japanese dining experience in which the chef curates the meal, usually with sushi — is not new in Greater Boston, but Akami claims to be the first omakase experience under $100 in Boston. A per-person cost of $89 gets you 13 courses of sushi, or splurge a little bit more for a premium 16-course dinner for $109.
Broadway Restaurant Group (behind Prima Italian Steakhouse, Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant, and the recently opened Park City) has opened up yet another restaurant, this time in the South End. Capri is an Italian steakhouse, with menu items like Florentine steak, bolognese, and house martinis.
Open now (July 2025)
500 Harrison Ave., South Endhttps://www.instagram.com/p/Cju_ze3O_Fo/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.com&rp=%2Ffood%2Ffood%2F2025%2F07%2F31%2F5-cant-miss-restaurant-openings-and-dining-updates-in-boston-this-week-july-31-2025%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A320.69999998807907%2C%22ls%22%3A94.5%2C%22le%22%3A94.5%7D
A favorite North Shore coffee roaster finally has a permanent cafe space in the city, with an open coffee counter concept located in Seaport. The new cafe will feature Little Wolf’s coffee as well as some pastries.
Harvard Square gained a new spot for live music, drinks, and food over the weekend with Lou’s. Its weekly lineup of musicians features emerging artists and local acts — spanning genres that include jazz, the blues, soul, and more — while its food and beverage menus are about celebrating lounge dining classics, all inside a 5,600-square-foot space.
Located down an alley next to this Harvard Square stalwart is a summer weekend-only ice cream pop-up, which is selling homemade ice cream from pastry chef Tab Volpe. Along with ice cream classics and sundaes, customers can expect to see other frozen treats like ice cream whoopie pies and push-pops.
Event date: Every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Founded in 2017, Daily Provisions is known for its menu of elevated, yet classic fare in a comfortable neighborhood café vibe. Recently, the restaurant chain opened its tenth location in Cambridge’s Harvard Square. Located at 1 Brattle Square, between Mount Auburn and Brattle Streets, this is not only the first of two planned Boston area locations, but also the first location outside of the New York tri-state area.
Based on Danny Meyer’s original Union Square Café, Daily Provisions is an all-day café known for its breakfast menu featuring its signature Crullers, B.E.C.s with runny egg yolks, and freshly brewed coffee. Lunch fare includes made-to-order sandwiches and salads. These include favorites like the Tuna Salad Sandwich built on toasted sourdough bread with kalamata olive tapenade and arugula and the Chefy Salad made with Gruyere cheese, marinated white beans, cucumbers, chicken, an egg, and Thousand Island dressing. All orders are available for dine-in or to-go.
“We’ve always admired Boston’s thriving and inclusive restaurant community – its proximity to New York made it a natural next step for us,” Union Square Hospitality Group CEO Chip Wade said in a press release. “We were especially drawn to the city’s unique neighborhoods and its warm, welcoming energy. Boston is a place where anyone — students, families, or visitors — can feel at home.”
Not only is the food memorable, but so too is the space. Featuring large windows, it’s all about optimizing natural light and relaxation. The new location also features a breathtaking 14-foot marble bar that sits at the center of this casual restaurant. Guests will also find walnut furniture accents, floor tile inlays, and even custom millwork.
Daily Provisions partnered with Boston-area fashion brand Project Paulie to make limited-edition merchandise in celebration of this new location. But not only can you feel perfectly stuffed after enjoying a mouthwatering sandwich or caffeinated by a freshly brewed coffee in a custom t-shirt, or bucket hat, you can feel good that a portion of your purchase of merchandise will go to support a local non-profit that cooks and provides medically tailored meals to those in need called Community Servings.
Boston fans of Daily Provisions will be happy to learn that while this is the first location in the area, it won’t be the last. A second location is expected to open in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood in 2026.
Massachusetts is a spectacular place to live. Residents and visitors alike enjoy vast and various landscapes from sandy Cape Cod beaches to the iconic Boston skyline, and the hidden beauty of the Berkshire mountains.
From historic landmarks, legendary sports teams, and an overall great quality of life, folks love living in the Bay State. A lesser-known fact about Massachusetts is that it’s a foodie’s dream. From unique and exclusive Michelin-starred dining experiences to mom-and-pop roast beef shops, fresh seafood, and farm-to-table eateries, there is something for everyone’s palate and budget in Massachusetts.
In addition to a multitude of independently owned restaurants, Massachusetts, of course, has its chain restaurants as well. Many are unique to Massachusetts and New England. Take Dunkin’ for example. The coffee and donut chain was founded in Massachusetts and, for decades, could only be found in the Northeast. In recent years, the brand has expanded and now has thousands of locations in 44 states.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A bookstore in Cambridge was the site of two marriage proposals…on the same day.
Lovestruck Books has been open for 7 months in Harvard Square, and they specialize in selling romance stories. Some couples have found that it is the perfect spot to propose to their loved ones.
While Event Manager for Lovestruck Books Riley Mulroy wasn’t surprised about the idea of proposals happening at the store, he was surprised at the proximity of the two of them, both happening on Sunday, July 27.
He explained that the first proposal was a complete surprise to them, and the first proposal to happen in the store since it opened.
“I was standing at the cash register, and I just heard ‘Oh my God, they’re engaged, they’re getting engaged,” Mulroy said. “It was the unexpected plot twist three quarters of the way through the book.”
The second one was more planned out, with a man named Samuel reaching out to the store with his proposal idea.
“Samuel reached out to us and asked if you could send us this book that we would have on hand for his fiancé to read,” Mulroy said. “It was this beautiful story totally printed, bound, had a dust jacket on it, and it was just a wonderful moment of watching her flip through the pages of their love story and be in that moment together.”
Mulroy said how happy he was that so many found Lovestruck to be the perfect place for such a live-changing event.
“We’re so happy that anyone is just reaching out to us and making sure that we’re a place that they can come to have their love stories,” he said. “We’re so happy to be part of anyone’s happily ever afters.”
Last fall, it was reported that a new dining and drinking spot featuring live music would move into a subterranean space in Cambridge that had once been home to another restaurant and bar, and now we have learned that it is open.
According to an article from Eater Boston, Lou’s opened over the weekend in Harvard Square, taking over the former Beat Brew Hall space on Brattle Street. The article and the website for the place indicate that the new spot offers a raw bar, small plates, larger meals, and beer, wine, and cocktails while also featuring both DJs and live music, and the team behind the place includes co-owners Tom Keane and Harry DiLeo of American Flatbread and John DiGiovanni, general manager Allison Finney (Roadrunner), and executive chef Jason Bond (Bondir).
The address for Lou’s is 13A Brattle Street, 13A Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its website can be found at https://www.wearelous.com/
Fans of Latin rhythms and outdoor festivities, take note: Harvard Square is set to transform into a vibrant dance floor for the Salsa Squared Dance Party on Friday. Commuters and passersby should be prepared for some detours and a bit of congestion, as the City of Cambridge has announced road closures to accommodate the event. If you’re planning to navigate the Square on that Friday evening, consider looking for alternative routes or opting for other transportation modes.
The affected stretch, Brattle Street from Eliot St to Church St, will be off-limits to vehicles from 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM. Originally slated for last Friday, the Salsaextravaganza had to be postponed due to uncooperative weather. For those inconvenienced, frustrated by the recent erratic climate, the city advises keeping an eye on detour signs or possibly just joining the party instead. More information can be obtained on the Cambridge official website for those seeking details or updates on the closures.
As this cultural event promises to lure both locals and tourists alike with its infectious beats and community spirit, the closure may affect usual Friday evening routines. Those with businesses in the area are alerted to the impending bustle, which while temporary, will bring inevitable changes to the usual ebb and flow of commerce and transit. Plan accordingly, and maybe, let the rhythms lead you through the disruption.
