Blame it on that recent string of warm weather days. The pre-spring temperatures called all of us sun-starved cave dwellers outside to enjoy — especially the throngs wandering through my beloved Harvard Square. The street performers were doing their thing, the tourists snapping pictures in every direction, and the students were basking on every available patch of green. My thoughts simply would not be corralled to focus on the serious issues of the day — leaked sources and contentious town halls and a potentially botched covert military operation. So, I pushed all that aside, stopped thinking about the heavy stuff and gave myself over to my balmy moment in the sun.
Soon I was doing a mental walk down nostalgia lane reminiscing about my college self hanging out in Harvard Square. Back in the day we Wellesley women would tumble out of our bus and hit the cobblestone streets heading to a certain Chinese restaurant whose only claim to fame was its dirt-cheap prices. It disappeared, and in its place appeared glass and steel structures that seem to be ubiquitous. Wandering around, I find I can barely recall the funky stores and restaurants that would now stick out like sore thumbs among the upscale bistros and designer boutiques. I have to search out the unique. The kind of places that have the shabby chic quality which, for me, give Harvard Square its character.
I’m sad about the increasing number of shuttered or soon-to-be shuttered storefronts. I’m still missing the Church Street movie theater which closed five years ago. I didn’t even know until my recent stroll that Hidden Sweets, the candy store with a wide repertoire of kitschy gift items, is gone. And I can’t stand the fact that the Curious George store may not be able to stay in the triangle shaped building, which was sold.
I know these retailers must respond to current customers to stay in business. It was only a matter of time when the square’s two newspaper stands lost their regular customers to the web, where 21st century news consumers read the front pages. The Crimson Corner newsstand will soon exit its familiar corner, but will relocate in the square. Denise Jillson, Executive Director of the Harvard Square Business Association, says the iconic Out of Town News kiosk, which houses the other newsstand is protected — it was listed on the historic registry in the 80s. What’s more, Cambridge (which owns the landmark) has earmarked $4 million for the renovation of the beloved structure. Soon the City Manager and a group of volunteers will meet to decide on a new function for the space.
I’m thrilled about this change, because it means the Out of Town kiosk will be around into the next century. I’m getting to be one of those people who identifies new places by the names of old places they used to be. It’s comforting to know I don’t have to worry about that one. And I must confess there’s nothing better than doing a food tour of today’s Harvard Square restaurants — though they are no longer cheap, they have delicious offerings all. Meet you at the Tasty Burger.
