D-Day in Boston at John Harvard's Pub

posted May 9, 2014 9:50 AM | |

Fri June 6 at 5:00 PM, John Harvard's

33 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA, USA (Map & Directions)

I would probably be up for lunch or happy hour in Davis or Harvard squares. I will have an out-of-town friend with me, but he has successfully met Mefites before!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 1:24 PM on May 9, 2014

I'll probably be pretty busy at work that week. Couldn't make it for lunch, but I could do a later happy hour. Anywhere near the Red Line is good with me.
posted by Metroid Baby at 1:42 PM on May 9, 2014

I wouldn't be able to do lunch, either - I live and work in the suburbs - but I might be able to do something in the evening, depending on what and when. I'm looking for a car now, but I should have transportation of my own by then.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 1:46 PM on May 9, 2014

What a great idea. I live in Boston, and could make it for lunch in the city. More MeFites live and work over in Cambridge/Somerville, so it might be easier for more people to meet up there, but I'm open to either.
posted by benito.strauss at 9:11 AM on May 10, 2014

I work too far away for lunch as well, but if you end up doing something in the evening would probably join you. I even live in Davis Square, so if you want a nightcap, let me know!
posted by maryr at 9:32 AM on May 10, 2014

Last time Jessamyn was in town, we walked from South Station/Fort Point, along the waterfront to the Aquarium, then cut left through Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and Government Center... then turned right and went between Beacon Hill and Mass General. There we crossed the river on the Salt'n'Pepa/Smoot bridge into Cambridge, through Kendall Sq/MIT, up Mass Ave through Central Sq, and we arrived at Harvard Sq about 3 hours later, stopping many times along the way to point and look at stuff and to eat. There was SO much to see.

Come to think of it, it was quite a hike -- a little over five miles. Here's the route on GmapsPedometer. Davis would be another mile-and-a-half, 30-40 minute walk from there. A straight shot from Downtown Boston to Davis, though, would be mostly residential once you cross the river, not so much to see. Anyway, just thinking aloud.

tl;dr - Boston/Cambridge/Somerville is easy and pleasant to walk around. Have fun, and if I'm around, I'll be glad to join the MeFi Parade.
posted by not_on_display at 11:00 AM on May 10, 2014

NOD, I have done more or less that walk many a time, and it pretty much mirrors my plan except I want to stop and see the swan boats, and I may need to go to the North End because Ohio does not make good cannoli.

OK, so it looks like happy hour in Cambridge is a thing. Where do you guys want to do this? I don't know any good bars in any squares, so I'll defer to you all.

Benito.strauss or other people who would be up for lunch in Boston proper, I can make a separate event for lunch. Again, no clue where or what is good to eat. Where would be a convenient part of town to meet? I like pretty much all food, from clam chowder to Ethiopian and back again, so I'm up for anything.
posted by ChuraChura at 12:39 PM on May 10, 2014

Dinner would be easier for me than lunch, but we'll see.
posted by pxe2000 at 1:25 PM on May 10, 2014

I'd be up for happy hour in Cambridge!
posted by jpdoane at 2:29 PM on May 10, 2014

For happy hour, I would suggest John Harvard's in Harvard Square. We had a meetup there once before, and they have some bigger tables.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 3:43 PM on May 10, 2014 [1 favorite]

A Cambridge eve sounds good to me, too - I'll look forward to joining in if I'm free.
posted by daisyace at 4:52 PM on May 10, 2014

Happy Hour yay! Am in
posted by darsh at 10:44 AM on May 11, 2014

I won't be able to do the walk in the afternoon, but happy hour in Cambridge sounds great.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 10:53 AM on May 11, 2014

YOU MAY NOT

Ahem. You may not be able to wander across the Longfellow, BTW, as they have begun doing things with giant cranes this week, if my T ride Saturday night was any indication.
posted by maryr at 9:13 PM on May 11, 2014

Oh, weird. Well, if worse comes to worse I will commandeer a duck boat. I'll go ahead and call the happy hour for John Harvard's - and it looks like you can make online table reservations for up to 20 people, so as it gets a little closer, I will do that.

Should I do a separate lunch meetup as well?
posted by ChuraChura at 6:41 PM on May 12, 2014

The T is still running over the bridge, I just don't know its current/near future pedestrian status.
posted by maryr at 7:53 PM on May 12, 2014

Well, I don't know that anyone else was up for lunch, and the Happy Hour sounds like where it's happening, so unless someone else chimes in I'll just see you all at John Harvard's.

But ChuraChura, if you used to walk around Boston a lot but have been away for a while and want ideas on what to check out to see what's changed and where to eat, I Have Opinions.
posted by benito.strauss at 8:38 PM on May 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

FYI, be aware that 6/6 is MIT Commencement this year, so Cambridge may be a little crowded. Shouldn't change your plans or anything (MIT isn't that big, maybe 2500 graduates?), but if you haven't made a dinner reservation yet, I'd get on that NOW.
posted by maryr at 9:03 AM on May 20, 2014 [1 favorite]

hm, well, I wasn't planning far enough in advance (seriously, two and a half weeks?!?) and there are no reservations for a table for 10 people around 5. Folks who know John Harvards: Do we need to make a reservation for space? If so, we may be out of luck. Should we find somewhere different to be?
posted by ChuraChura at 5:38 PM on May 20, 2014

Hrm...normally John Harvard's is not that busy at 5pm, but with it being a graduation day, I could see it being tricky. I assume no available reservations means the big tables are already booked. They do have a lot of bar seating, if we wanted to just show up and try our luck we might be able to snag a few tables at the bar near each other. Otherwise I can't think of anyplace else in Harvard Sq. that would have space for 10 people at a table.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 5:46 AM on May 21, 2014

I am fine with bar space, as long as you all are too. Ten people is also likely an optimistic number. Let's keep it at John Harvard's, then. I'll try to get there a bit early, too.
posted by ChuraChura at 6:28 AM on May 21, 2014

walking is my skill

my one skill
posted by threeants at 9:59 AM on June 2, 2014

Oh right, this is happening! I will put myself down as a maybe - I have a pretty full schedule this week, so I'm just going to play it by ear at the moment.
posted by backseatpilot at 11:44 AM on June 2, 2014

I'd really love to come to this, but I'll certainly be pretty late, coming down from the northern suburbs to Davis Square on a Friday night, and that after picking up my family from work and dropping them back home. I'll watch the thread for updates.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 11:54 AM on June 2, 2014

I wonder if there will be anywhere to sit, even at the bar, on Harvard graduation day. Any interest in a change of venue, to a non-Harvard locale?
posted by daisyace at 3:05 AM on June 3, 2014

Harvard's commencement was May 29th. Hopefully MIT's kids will stay in Kendall Square.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:14 AM on June 3, 2014

Also, I just made a reservation for a table for 5 at 5 ... maybe someone else wants to make a second reservation for a table for 5?
posted by ChuraChura at 7:16 AM on June 3, 2014

The MIT kids will almost definitely not stay in Kendall Square. In my experience, at least, which is dated, I grant you. But they aren't going to all swarm John Harvard's either, so no need to panic.

I'll try to be there later, but I have a graduation party to attend, which is how I knew graduation was Friday in the first place. I'll try checking in in-thread or via Twitter to figure out where you are if I can make it.
posted by maryr at 8:43 AM on June 3, 2014

Oh, my mistake. Sorry for the poor reading skills, and glad it's not in fact Harvard graduation day. I'm hoping to make it.
posted by daisyace at 1:01 PM on June 3, 2014

I'm supposed to go to the Morrissey concert Sat...but he cancelled his show in Atlanta tonight. If the Boston show is too I'm going to pass on this trip.
posted by brujita at 10:55 PM on June 4, 2014

I have very bad reading comprehension; is the walking thing a thing? If so, when and where is it happening? Or did someone just make that part up? I love to walk!
posted by threeants at 7:17 PM on June 5, 2014

I wasn't planning on walking with anyone, but if you want to we totally can! I am getting into South Station sometime between 10 and 2; if you want to meet somewhere to walk, just tell me where you are.
posted by ChuraChura at 8:45 PM on June 5, 2014

Things are actually looking busier today than I expected, so I think I'll just show up for dinner, but thanks for clarifying!
posted by threeants at 3:53 AM on June 6, 2014

I am probably not going to be able to make it. Work is nuts and we're going to be short-staffed, so the odds that I will be free before about 8, or conscious afterward, are pretty grim. Hope y'all have fun!
posted by Metroid Baby at 4:50 AM on June 6, 2014

Hey folks, I'm here! The place is pretty empty; I am waiting for our table which I have been told is a 6 top close to the bar. I am wearing a flag it and move on shirt and glasses and am female. If you don't see me/us, the reservation is under Erin.
posted by ChuraChura at 1:57 PM on June 6, 2014

We are sitting and you can see our table from the stairs.
posted by ChuraChura at 2:11 PM on June 6, 2014

I might come to this.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 2:58 PM on June 6, 2014

I'll be on my way shortly. I'm coming down from the Woburn area, so I'll be at least a half-hour coming through Somerville. Southbound traffic on nice Friday evenings is always nuts.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 3:05 PM on June 6, 2014

You guys still there?
posted by maryr at 6:10 PM on June 6, 2014

I came to this.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 7:08 PM on June 6, 2014

Lots of fun - thanks for showing up, folks! Maryr, sorry we missed you!
posted by ChuraChura at 10:04 PM on June 8, 2014