Comment by ardit33 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by ardit33 | Hacker News Reader

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"in one of the greatest cities in the world." -- Calm down. It will get boring within the year. Not near the league of many other cities. When I think greatest cities of the world, I think of NYC, London, Paris, Tokyo, Singapore, Shangai, Bejing, Seul, Chicago, San Francisco, Berlin.... you get the point.

Boston is about two-three noches down.

1369 coffee is always full with semi-hipsters over educated types, and you can hear intersting conversations

Check out Davis sq. in Somerville, and especially Diesel Cafe. You see hackers there working with their laptops once and a while. The problem is that people are unfriendly, and if you just randomly start talking to somebody with their laptop open, they might snub you. Unfortunately it is not California. In here if you randomly start talking to somebody, they will talk kindly back to you, in the "who knows, something might come out" away. Over there they will talk back to you in the way "Why the frick you talking to me. Do I know you?". Big difference.

Finale-s in Harvard sq. has some really good desserts!

Harvard Cooop is my favorite bookstore ever. It has a certain "air", very inspiring place (like: you should be smarter, and try harder, kind of inspiration).

But here is my favorite activity while I lived there: Learn how to Sail in the charles river. In the boston's side of Charles river, at the beginning of the esplanade, there is the community Boat House. You pay something like 120$ per year, and you learn how to sail (all lessons are free), and you can go there and get a boat (you will start with small sail boats), or canoe out anytime you want. It is actually really fun, if you have the patience to learn. Since it is not even a real lake, and winds are not that strong, it is very easy to learn. And if you get good at it, it would be a great activity for a second date. Worth every penny.

I've had perfect strangers yell and threaten me in Boston. That's never happened to me anywhere else, not even close. Trying to summarize that experience will sound classist, so I won't, but I'll just say that I've noticed some patterns, and certain groups here don't hide the chip on their shoulder and can be very punchy.

The tech and intellectual social circles here are great, though. Nice people and good conversation.

I lived in California for 13 years and in Cambridge for 4. My impression is that people are of uniform unfriendliness in the two areas.

I do agree with the recommendation of Davis Square. The Somerville Theater, which is in Davis, is pretty sweet.

My initial reaction to the grandparent post was offense, but then I thought about it.

I live in Boston, and I have to say it is much unfriendlier than new york, where I grew up. I am sad for california if what you say is true (although that was not my experience at all when I spent time there).

Even when I visit NYC I don't feel that people are so hurried, pushy, and selfish as boston. When you penetrate the shell, and aren't in traffic, a line, or on the T, Boston folks can be friendly. Sadly, my very pregnant wife frequently is left standing on the T in boston--often no one offers her, or the 80 year old who happens to be on board, a seat.

Really? I've grown up in NYC as well, and I've found thats its much easier to be friendly in Boston than in NYC, but that might just be a consequence of the fact that when I'm hanging out in boston, its generally over in the MIT area, which is certainly a very unique culture, combined with that fact that being in one's 20s in boston certainly very different from being in Boston and not being in one's 20s.

To clarify--I grew up in central new york and was a vistor to NYC, so you are more qualified to comment re:NYC. I just meant that NYC had had a reputation in that regard, and my personal experience in Boston was worse comparatively.

Note on sailing: I just signed up on Saturday at the Community Boat House, and got my Solo certification. Will probably go out today after work as well, weather permitting. Full year cost is actually $240, but a 60 day pass (good for rest of summer) is only $159. That will cover sailing, kayaking, and wind surfing.

Fair point about Cambridge - I think I'm just a bit over excited about my new home :-D

I visited the Coop a few days ago - but wasn't particularly impressed. I think I'm more a fan of the dusty, hole-in-a-wall, hidden gem sort of place.

I'll look into that community boat house - I'm not sure if I have the time or patience, but it is definitely worth considering. Do you know where I can read more about it, or what the name is?

http://www.community-boating.org/

If you're looking for a dusty bookshop, try McIntyre and Moore in Porter Square: http://www.mcintyreandmoore.com/

Porter Square Books is not dusty. It's basically the old Concord bookstore, re-opened in Cambridge after some dispute with the owner, after which all the employees quit en masse.

Rodney's bookstore on Mass Ave in Central Square is at least somewhat dusty.

The lower floor of the Harvard Bookstore is all used books, though mostly remainders, not much dust.

If you're into sci-fi/fantasy: http://www.pandemoniumbooks.com/

The Coop is pretty weak in my opinion. It's owned by Barnes and Noble, and the selection is not remarkable.

Also, tomorrow, there's the river festival: http://www.cambridgeartscouncil.org/riverfestival/

Sponsored by Microsoft, no less!

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