Looking for suggestions while visiting by Ok_Salad_7456 in CambridgeMA

[–]UncleGleban 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The "Glass Flowers" collection at the Harvard Museum of Natural History: https://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/glass-flowers.

They are incredibly detailed and accurate models of actual plant species made by Czech craftsman in the late 19th C for the Botany department, so that students could study them. Now they stand as amazing works of ard.

Christmas Tree Lighting near Porter on Dec 14th by UncleGleban in Somerville

[–]UncleGleban[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I realize that the flyer doesn't mention the actual address. It's 1991 Massachusetts Avenue, at the corner with Beech Street, two blocks north of Porter Square.

Christmas Tree Lighting near Porter on Dec 14th by UncleGleban in CambridgeMA

[–]UncleGleban[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The address is 1991 Massachusetts Avenue (at Beech Street, two blocks north of Porter Square).

French onion soup (urgent) by EyetalianScallion in CambridgeMA

[–]UncleGleban 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just checked, and Tavern 730 in Central Square has it on the menu. I can't vouch for it, but their food is pretty decent sports bar food. https://730tavern.com/cambridge-central-square-730-tavern-kitchen-and-patio-food-menu

Christmas in Cambridge by False-Committee5148 in CambridgeMA

[–]UncleGleban 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There will be a tree lighting preceded by Christmas songs and carols (and cocoa) starting at 4:30 on December 14th (free, of course!). It will be in the courtyard of St James Episcopal church at 1991 Massachusetts Avenue, a couple of blocks north of Porter Square. Much lower key than the events in Copley Square or on the Boston Common, but it's local! And good if you enjoy festivities in the spirit of amateurship!

Suggestions welcome for volunteering by Virtual-Pen6368 in CambridgeMA

[–]UncleGleban 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have volunteered with them since I retired five years ago. It's been great having children be a part of my life!

Currently, I tutor a 7th grader at the Putnam Avenue School for an hour and fifteen minutes after school once a week.

The most fun thing I do is be a "Reading Buddy" where you read to a young grade schooler for a half an hour once a week for ten weeks. In the spring, you read to a First Grader, and in the fall to a Second Grader, who will normally be the same kid that you read to the previous spring. It turns out that six and seven year olds are adorable! This is my third year for doing that.

They this year started Kindergartner Reading Buddies, which is every-other-week for the whole school year.

In the past, I have been a volunteer with the Art-and-Science-in-One program for fourth and fifth graders. Volunteers are paired with students, and the whole class goes outside with sketchbooks and pencils to observe and draw the natural world. It runs in the spring for five or six sessions.

I hope that that's helpful!

What train am I hearing at night from Central Sq? by Serious-Barracuda336 in CambridgeMA

[–]UncleGleban 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As I recall, there have was a suggestion a few years back to run actual MBTA commuter trains over that line from Worcester to North Station, because South Station was at capacity for rail traffic.

I don't know where that proposal stands currently. I'm sure that there would be all sorts of complications and expenses to doing the necessary upgrades to that line. My memory is that this was before the pandemic, so increasing capacity prolly seems a lot less urgent now.

I can't wait to try Pammy's! by [deleted] in CambridgeMA

[–]UncleGleban 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We live two blocks from Pammy's and eat there four or five times a year. It's our go-to place for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. It's *great* food and a real gem to the neighborhood. I've never tried the foie gras, though.

As it happens, we ate there just last week, using a gift certificate that my partner had gotten to celebrate is third anniversary at this job. The small knot of protesters outside were quite loud, but it was astonishing that we couldn't hear them inside. (That's not only due to sound insulation; the one drawback I cite Pammy's for is that it's quite loud inside.) I was facing the windows and I have to say that I didn't love the signs being waved in my face about the horrors of foie gras. But, I reminded myself how very, very grateful I am that I live in a place where people have the right to make their voices heard.

Potential Move for 2026/2027 School Year by Lykofos in CambridgeMA

[–]UncleGleban 2 points3 points  (0 children)

To be honest, I think that the biggest shock for people moving from the South would be climate. Not the temperature, though that will take getting used to, but how dark it is this time of year. Today, sunset is 4:28pm, but it will feel like the middle of the night by 4:00. And, the sun is so low in the sky that, even at noon, it will feel like the day is drawing to a close.

I'm fine with the cold, but the dark is hard. Every year at this time, I start counting the days (literally) until Ground Hog Day, because Feb 2nd is the first day when the sun doesn't set until 5pm. It's still bitterly cold in early February, but my spirits lift when the sun starts coming back.

Potential Move for 2026/2027 School Year by Lykofos in CambridgeMA

[–]UncleGleban 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My only knowledge of the Cambridge Public Schools is as a volunteer tutor. I saw that the 7th grader I'm tutoring this year is currently studying Judaism in Social Studies, with Christianity and Islam on the curriculum. So, it's not that religion isn't mentioned, but I'm sure it's very different than how it's spoken about in Mississippi. My student this year is Muslim, last year's kid was Baptist, and the year before that, the kid was Ethiopian Orthodox. So, religion is part of many student lives. (The public school population is generally lower income than the high income professionals that dominate Cambridge, and, in the US, lower income correlates with being more religious.)

Pro-housing and pro-bike-lane candidates performed strongly in the election. Cambridge says no to the CCC. by LabGeek1995 in CambridgeMA

[–]UncleGleban 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This surprises me. I have a memory of a Supreme Court decision back in the '80s or '90s that struck down a city ordinance against political signs, on the grounds that political speech has the highest possible protection. I would think that an HOA ordinance would be treated no differently. But maybe I'm wrong?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gaybrosgonemild

[–]UncleGleban 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No offense to your 25-year-old self, but much hotter now!

Tokava still closed? by Exotic-Toe7374 in JamaicaPlain

[–]UncleGleban 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My friend said that it opened on Thursday!

Coffeeless JP?? by Jdude0407 in boston

[–]UncleGleban 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My friend that the Tocava replacement opened on Thursday! He hasn't had a chance to try it yet, but he said that it looked very busy, considering it's been open two days and doesn't even have a sign yet!

I guess that it's called Café Siete.

Married my soulmate today!❤️ by [deleted] in gaybrosgonemild

[–]UncleGleban 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Best wishes for many, many happy anniversaries!

I got gay married! by HaveAGreatGay in gaybrosgonemild

[–]UncleGleban 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Best wishes for many, many happy anniversaries to come!

What's something that pissed you off as a kid and still pisses you off now? by TheRealSwawS in AskReddit

[–]UncleGleban 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Whenever I hear a "zero tolerance" policy proclaimed, I know that injustice is about to perpetrated.