Day 99: 5 Horses + 45 more days

A week of rehearsals this has turned out to be - Sunday/Wednesday/Thursday (tomorrow) for Rumors, and Tuesday for Calliope.  Lines are to be learned for Rumors by the coming Sunday -- I counted and Chris (my character) has something like 200+ of them, so it's been quite the work week in that sense.  Ah, the real job is also going ok.


To reward a job well done, E. and D. and I headed out for one drink after practice tonight, and ended up at a place unknown to me until today -- Five Horses in Davis Square, which contains multitudes (of outdoor seating).  Strange that Harvard/Central/Inman/Porter just don't, really.  Shay's and Charlie's in Harvard -- oh, and Daedalus --, the Field and (I guess we'll count) the Tavern in Central, nothing that I know of elsewhere really. Davis somehow seems homier and cozier than the other areas.  Especially during the winter, when the lights are out... I remember how surreal the first Cambridge snow that I experienced was, in December of 2008, and I have a strong association of it with Davis Square.  The snow was blanketing it as I went with classmates to see something at the Somerville Theater (ok, that part wasn't so magical -- it was the Slutcracker).  I believe we did snow angels - but we also had driven to the show for whatever reason, so we had the joyous experience of navigating through thick flurries.  That was also the night before I drove home to Indiana for winter break, of course, which ended up taking 19 instead of 15 hours due to the 8-10 inches covering the ground.  Somehow worth it, I think.  See Blue Yoshi (i.e., my blue Toyota Corolla) above, covered in snow. Not in Davis Square, but in front of my old place on Columbia St. near Central.

How did this post end up being about snow?  Anyway, the 5 Horses pub was great because we got to sit outside, we invited our waitresses to sing karaoke with us (and now I'm remembering they suggested we go to the Rosebud, maybe on Mondays?, for karaoke), and I got a little more Davis under my belt.  Oh, and today was the last day in the double-digits. Ahoy last six weeks of Cantabrigia.

Day 13: Bloc 11

This past year I have finally felt like the pieces that make up my understanding of the jigsaw puzzle of Cambridge and surrounding cities have been clicking more rapidly. Not only can I navigate Harvard Square (for example), but I know how it connects with Fresh Pond, Inman, and Central. And recently, I'd say that I can add Union Square to the puzzle. I've been there several times, but mostly by car or perhaps even bike. Today I walked, and I must admit that I was shocked at how short a walk it was and a bit embarrassed at how rarely I get up there.

In particular, I was looking for a new coffee place that would be good for studying, and a friend reminded me of Bloc 11. I had been there before, but not in ages, and I didn't remember that they had (gasp!) outdoor seating. Since it has been so gorgeous, this made my day. It also turns out that their coffee is pretty good, too :).

Another thing learned today pre-studying was that at 3pm, it is nearly impossible to find lunch on a Sunday in between Central and Harvard - Cellar, Plough & Stars, Mass Ave cafe all out. However, People Republik will serve you -- but at that point you might as well just walk back the way you came (either Harvard or Central would do) because although People's Republik is a lovely place to enjoy a beverage, they haven't quite figured out how to accompany those with pub fare. Not hating, though, I promise.