CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Plans are in the work to permanently close off a block in Harvard Square to car traffic.
Lower Bow Street is being fully pedestrianized in a new motion put forward and approved by Cambridge’s City Council.
This comes after Lower Bow Street had been closed off to traffic for two years due to construction.
During those two years it was discovered that surrounding traffic was not impacted by its closure.
Neighboring businesses between Dewolfe and Plympton Street are in support of the idea of closing the street as this will allow for outdoor dining and spaces to be accessible for them to use.
Removable security bollards will also be set up on the street to allow people to walk freely along the street.
“I really enjoy having the space to walk without being endangered by cars,” said Bill from Cambridge.
It is currently being decided whether the security bollards will be manual or automated.
If the bollards are automated, the city will be able to use a code to lower them and allow for delivery trucks to drive down the street and deliver products to the local businesses and restaurants.
The closure is set to be made permanent next spring.
Lou’s, the Harvard Square bar, restaurant and 289-seat music venue, leans hard on classic jazz club vibes. (Photo Alyssa Blumstein)
Harvard Square is cool… again? …still?
It’s hard to know how to describe Cambridge’s signature square. It seems to be in a constant state of decay and renewal all at once. But, for the optimists, the renewal is more pronounced these days. Stalwarts such Shay’s Pub and Winebar, Harvard Book Store, Pinocchio’s pizza, and the Brattle Theatre — Boston’s unofficial film school since 1953 — still thrive among banks and burrito chains. And between the classic businesses and chains, a handful of new or new-ish standouts have emerged to make (keep?) Harvard Square cool.
Lou’s, wearelous.com
Lou’s leans hard on classic jazz club vibes. That’s a very good thing. The restaurant, bar, and 289-seat music venue feels like a Roaring Twenties speakeasy — full of glittering lights, gold and brown tones, and intimate nooks. It feels like the kind of place where F. Scott and Zelda might see Joséphine Baker sing. The cocktails are good. The music calendar is slowly filling up with a fun slate of artists (performances are always free and there are tables both by and away from the stage). More music is always better.
Lovestruck Books, lovestruckbooks.com
You think you don’t need a bodice ripper where the object of your lust is a minotaur. But when you come around to your true feelings, Lovestruck Books has got you. The female-owned, romance-themed bookstore, which opened in December, takes an expansive view of love, lust, flings, and flirtations. You’ll find Jane Austin and Jasmine Guillory and Olivia Dade along with gifts, cards, kids books, and more. The book shop also has a café and wine bar run by George Howell Coffee.
Wusong Road, wusongroad.com
Inside a renovated MBTA building on Mount Auburn Street is the hottest restaurant in Harvard Square, sorry, in Cambridge, sorry, in New England, once again, apologies, in the world. Hard to swallow? Try it with a sip of one of their Zombies (strict limit 2 per guest, no joke). American Chinese cuisine and old school Tiki bars crashed together in 2022 at Wusong — a castle of cocktails, a vault of vintage decor, a palace of pupu platters (try the vegetarian version).
Bonde Fine Wine Shop, bondewines.com
Bonde has been open a few years, but anything post-pandemic that’s local and cool deserves a good shout out. Run by wine whisperer Bertil Jean-Chronberg, the owner has quite the CV: born in France, educated in Montreal, with time in Michelin-starred restaurants and Boston’s own Beehive. Now he’s celebrating small-scale eco-responsible American wines (and trying to get you to celebrate them too). Bonus points: He’s liberal with the dog treats and local dogs know it.
Grafton Street, graftonstreetcambridge.com
Not enough nooks in Lou’s for you? Try Grafton Street. Like Lou’s the relocated Grafton Street is a cozy warren of elegantly decorated rooms and booths. If Lou’s has a speakeasy vibe, this 2022 addition to the Square feels like a New England pub as imagined by Frank Sinatra (read: homey, classy, but not fancy). The Modern English (rye, averna, ancho reyes, orange bitters, arbol chile) is not to be missed.
Lovestruck Books is a female-owned, romance-themed bookstore in Harvard Square. (Photo Reagan Byrne)
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
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.”
Join the festive Salsa Squared dance event on July 25. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE HARVARD SQUARE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
n July 25, DJ D. Martinez transforms Harvard Square into a huge nighttime dance party. The 11th annual Salsa Squared features music, dancing, and lessons in Brattle Square. Organized by the Harvard Square Business Association (HSBA), the event typically draws a few thousand people. Experienced dancers come every year and easily mingle with visitors who happen to be in the square, “and then the next thing they know, they’re swinging their partners and swinging their hips,” says HSBA executive director Denise Jillson. “It’s a very welcoming crowd.” Take public transportation, arrive early for dinner, then join in the festivities. Adult beverages will be available, along with complimentary chips and salsa. Lastly, note that there’s no alternative date—come rain or shine, the dancing must go on.
Economic contributions by foreign students can be felt far and wide across the United States, and often last much longer than their college years, said experts.
People dine at Grendel’s Den Restaurant & Bar, a pub that has called Harvard Square home for more than 50 years.
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts: Small businesses near Harvard University are worried about a loss of revenue as United States President Donald Trump’s tussle with the Ivy League school over international students continues.
Just outside the university campus is Harvard Square, a bustling cultural and commercial hub with a lively mix of eateries, cafes, bookstores and other shops.
Kari Kuelzer, owner of Grendel’s Den Restaurant & Bar – a pub that has called the square home for more than 50 years – told CNA that students account for a third of her business.
Kuelzer said she is unsure if her pub, which was opened by her parents, can survive if Harvard is forced to shut its doors to foreign students.
“Where are we going to get those dollars? They’re not going to just magically materialise,” she said.
Like Grendel’s Den, many establishments in the area are locally-owned and rely heavily on students as a key source of income.
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts: Small businesses near Harvard University are worried about a loss of revenue as United States President Donald Trump’s tussle with the Ivy League school over international students continues.
Just outside the university campus is Harvard Square, a bustling cultural and commercial hub with a lively mix of eateries, cafes, bookstores and other shops.
Kari Kuelzer, owner of Grendel’s Den Restaurant & Bar – a pub that has called the square home for more than 50 years – told CNA that students account for a third of her business.
Kuelzer said she is unsure if her pub, which was opened by her parents, can survive if Harvard is forced to shut its doors to foreign students.
“Where are we going to get those dollars? They’re not going to just magically materialise,” she said.
Like Grendel’s Den, many establishments in the area are locally-owned and rely heavily on students as a key source of income.
IMPACT ON LOCAL BUSINESSES
There are around 6,800 international students at Harvard, making up about a quarter of the university’s student body.
The Harvard Square Business Association, which represents more than 300 stores in the district, is worried about the impact on its members if Trump successfully restricts foreign nationals from studying at the elite school.
People walk next to shops at Harvard Square.
When asked about how retailers are preparing for the possibility of fewer students, Denise Jillson, executive director of the association, said that shop owners may resort to adopting measures used during the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was less footfall.
“Reduction of staff, reduction of hours, less choices on the menu,” she said.
Beyond Harvard, experts said contributions by foreign students can be felt far and wide across the nation, and often last much longer than their college years.
Data from the Association of International Educators (NAFSA) revealed that more than 1.1 million international students in the US contributed nearly US$44 billion to its economy last year, including spending on tuition, housing, food and entertainment.
Foreign students typically pay full tuition fees, making them a vital revenue stream for schools faced with declining domestic enrolment – which, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, fell 15 per cent between 2010 and 2021.
Barnet Sherman, a corporate finance professor at Boston University, said that roughly one job is created for every three international students, making up about 350,000 jobs in the country.
“These are not just jobs in larger urban centres like Boston, but across the country, because nearly every city and town across America has a school, either a community college or a local state college, and there are a lot of international students coming,” he added.
He noted that 25 per cent of the billion-dollar companies on the US stock exchanges were started by international students.
“(The) implication is that it’s not just the money that is potentially being lost now, but the multiplier effect of this money over time and the number of jobs and wealth that international students have created and will continue to create,” he added.
It accused the university of allowing anti-Semitism to flourish on campus and discriminating in its enrolment and hiring practices – claims that Harvard has strongly denied.
A view of Harvard University.
The White House on May 22 tried to revoke the university’s ability to enrol international students. A day later, a judge temporarily blocked the move.
On Wednesday (Jun 4), Trump signed an executive order suspending the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programmes at Harvard.
The dispute between Trump and the nation’s oldest, wealthiest and most prestigious university is still ongoing.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also previously announced the federal government will “aggressively” revoke the visas of Chinese students nationwide, especially those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.
“One would say that’s preposterous. What we say is it’s equally preposterous to have the tunnel already built and not take the opportunity to examine its potential,” said Jillson.
The executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association is hoping to transform an unused tunnel underneath Harvard Square into an entertainment venue.
“This tunnel, this piece here from about Mount Auburn St. down to Bennett is completely abandoned,” she said.
The 116-year-old tunnel, once home to MBTA’s Red Line, has been deserted for 40 years. What some may see as a dilapidated space, Jillson sees as an opportunity for growth.
“And the nicest thing about it is there are no columns so it’s just an arch. It’s about 22 feet high. At its widest, it’s about 58 feet wide, and it’s just wide open.”
The Cambridge City Council approved a $70,000 proposal to study the space’s potential. In the meantime, Jillson commissioned a designer to create mockups demonstrating how the space can be used for art exhibits, TED talks, speaking engagements, and of course concerts. And she already has a performer in mind.
By Nick Peace, Dept. Photo Editor & Video Editor / May 31, 2025
Crowded around a multi-colored mountain of shirts and pants, thrifters of all ages, each with their own unique style, sifted through piles of clothes at The People’s Party block party.
Drawn by the promise of $5 clothing piles, food vendors, and live music, thousands of thrifters took over Church Street in Harvard Square on May 17, 2025, for a block party featuring over 100 vendors in collaboration with Select Markets.
The event, sponsored by and held in partnership with The Boston Globe, Flare 360, Boston.com, DX Arcade, SoundCloud, Topo Chico, and the Harvard Square Business Association, aimed to create an open-air celebration of community, culture, and creativity.
“We wanted to create something to give back to the community and have people come out and have a great vibe,” said Edgard Arty, one of the co-producers of The People’s Party. Arty worked on the Block Party, mainly focusing on setting up events, parties, and nightlife.
By blending shopping, music, and food vendors, the all-day street festival was a hybrid of a vintage market and a celebration of Cambridge culture. The Church Street parking lot held both booths from local vendors and event sponsors, as well as a stage with rotating live DJs. Vendors sold everything from 70s to Y2K-style clothes to homemade candles and crocheted flowers.
Jason Suzuki, a 20-year-old vendor from Boston, was selling custom airbrushed shirts, something he’s been doing for four years. Each piece of clothing is customized with designs requested by his customers, something which Suzuki said was his favorite part.
“I am helping their vision come to life,” said Suzuki, as he lightly sprayed the outline of a new design for a customer. “It’s simple but can make someone so happy. That’s one of the best parts about it.”
Suzuki, who had worked in similar pop-up markets for a year and a half in Boston, said, “This is the best one. I can pull up with my airbrush and have a good time.”
The People’s Party has been in development for the past year. The event is the successor to the music and cannabis-centered Dx420 Block Party held in April 2024.
Despite the organizers’ initial concerns about the weather, the first People’s Party went off without a hitch.
“It’s been phenomenal,” Arty, the co-producer, said. “The weather held out. The street’s looking great. The vintage vendors are having a great time…we want to do this for the people.”
The crowded streets caused many to take refuge on the sidewalks. Kristina Ocasio, a junior architecture major at Wentworth, stood on the sidewalk, staring into the constantly moving stream of people.
“The middle is very crowded; it’s nice to walk around the outside,” Ocasio said. She attends similar events, and said the vintage market was larger and more crowded.“It’s in a nice area, so I can’t really complain.”
In the chaotic mix of jubilant thrifters on Church Street, Emerson students with Dreamworldgirl Zine walked around, asking pressing Boston fashion questions to passers-by.
Dreamworldgirl Zine, a print and digital multimedia magazine for all things girlhood, was created by recent Emerson graduate Daphne Bryant ‘25. Bryant currently serves as co-editor of the magazine.
In collaboration with Select markets, members of Dreamworldgirl Zine conducted on-the-street interviews with fashionable thrifters.
“We thought it’d be cool to collab and bring our identity of Dreamworldgirl into, not only the questions, but also the interviews themselves,” said Isabelle Galgano, a junior communications major and co-editor of the Dreamworldgirl Zine.
Galgano responded to the claim that Boston has no fashion scene, saying, “I feel like this has proven them wrong. It’s great to see a Boston-based org doing some awesome stuff.”
Looking to the future of the event, Arty explained, ”As [The People’s Party] grows, we want it to be a greater and greater legacy event for the City of Cambridge.”
Thrifters pick out clothes at a $20 fill-a-bag clothing pile (Nick Peace/ Beacon Staff).Jason Suzuki airbrushes a customer’s jeans at The People’s Party (Nick Peace/ Beacon Staff).Jason Suzuki working at his table during The People’s Party (Nick Peace/ Beacon Staff).Thrifters looking through racks of clothes (Nick Peace/ Beacon Staff).A vendor stands at his table looking out at passersby (Nick Peace/ Beacon Staff).Party-goers stand around a prize wheel in the hopes of winning free merch (Nick Peace/ Beacon Staff).
A sculler rows down the Charles River near Harvard University April 15, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Harvard community has unified behind the oldest university in America in the wake of Trump administration cuts totaling $3 billion so far.
Harvard Yard is bustling on a bright day in May. With graduation nearing, large white tents stand ready for celebration. Tourists and Cambridge residents enjoy the sunshine, as Harvard students study al fresco for finals. A few SUVs loaded with boxes are parked on the quad in preparation for the end of the semester.
Those students who were willing to speak to a reporter said they were proud to belong to an institution that is taking a stand for what it believes in. Christoffer Gernow, a first-year student from Denmark, says he’s “very supportive” of Harvard fighting back against the Trump administration, and thinks a lot of other students are, too.
“We’ve never been as united as we are right now” around supporting the university’s decisions, he says. The federal government’s list of demands is, in his view, “completely unreasonable and almost somewhat dystopian,” as well as “contradictory.”
The Harvard community is processing the loss of $3 billion in funding from the Trump administration. But ahead of graduation, students, faculty, and local businesses share what is unifying them – and fueling their pride in the school.
As swiftly as the canceled grants have piled up (so far to a total of $3 billion), so have responses in support of the United States’ oldest and most affluent university. After the university filed a First Amendment lawsuit in April and spearheaded an open letter defending “essential freedom” signed by the presidents of more than 400 universities, donations began pouring in at a rate of 88 an hour, according to The Harvard Crimson.
The floods of goodwill and small-donor donations stand as a strong contrast to a year before, when the university was awash in protests, its first Black president had resigned amid plagiarism allegations and unsatisfactory testimony in Congress on campus antisemitism, and large-scale donors were pulling their support. From faculty and alumni to area businesses, the expressions of pride in Harvard’s stance for academic freedom are effusive. Actions by the White House have galvanized people, they say.
“Trump has a way of unifying people – Canadians, Australians, Harvard faculty, you name it,” says Theda Skocpol, the Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Cambridge City Council is looking to tackle the issue of vacant properties in Harvard Square, including a historic theater that is approaching its 100th anniversary.
Vice Mayor McGovern is calling on billionaire and owner of the building Gerald Chan to testify before the council to discuss plans to revitalize the building, along with other vacant properties of his.
He said it’s important that Chan be a part of that public discussion.
“People can have a chance to express their feelings … why it’s important that something be done with that building sooner rather than later,” McGovern said.
“We can all try and get on the same page about what the future of that building is going to be.”
“When we have so many closed spaces, it does bring down that level of vibrancy,” Wilson said. “And that theatre, being such a historic space, is something we just can’t just turn a blind eye to.”
