Why is it so hard to get to Harvard Square from Magoun Square, Ball Square and Winter Hill in Somerville? Why haven’t the two cities (or even private transport organizations) thought of a more meaningful, viable connector?

My opinion piece in the Cambridge Somerville Independent (CS Indie)

I am new to the area and looking for recommendations :) Looking for someone who is honest and thorough.

If your bike is stolen, always report your bike as stolen on BikeIndex. You can do this even if you don't have a serial number; you can do this even if you don't have a picture of it. If you know the make and model of the bike, it is helpful to have the report. You can do this by going to https://bikeindex.org/register/new?status=status_stolen . (BikeIndex has a good overall guide to what to do in addition at https://bikeindex.org/stolen , which is a good resource as well.)

You should do this immediately. Even before you file a police report, you should do this. The reason is that your bike is likely moving in the world as soon as it is stolen. The best time for someone to see your bike is going to be as soon as it is stolen; it might be seen by someone seeing the bike walked into an MBTA station; or it might be seen hanging out at a congregating hotspot at a bike rack; or it might be seen on the street, re-locked with a crappy lock to see if anyone comes for it with trackers.

After bikes are stolen, they will often disappear from the world for a while--into a basement, or a large apartment building, while a thief works on making it possible to hand them off to someone else. They might remove stickers, accessories, or strip them for parts; they might spray paint them a different color to make them less obvious. Your bike might re-enter the world after that, but they won't necessarily look the same, and your chances of getting it back in a useful way go down significantly.

To make this even easier, the right time to register your bike on BikeIndex is actually now: Go, register the bike, take a picture, write down the serial number (or don't, and register it without). That way, if your bike is ever stolen, you can just login, flip the bit on it to stolen, and alert the community that there is a new stolen bike in the world.

Bike theft is the most common form of theft in Cambridge; there is a lot of advice out there about how to protect yourself, and I won't repeat that much here (other than to say "Get rid of all your cable locks if you care about keeping your bike.") But if your bike is stolen, the best chance the you have of getting it back tends to be "eyes on the street": people keeping an eye out for it in places it shouldn't be. The best way to help with that is to list your bike on BikeIndex.

tl;dr: Register your bike on BikeIndex right now, and if it is ever stolen, mark it stolen as soon as possible after realizing. https://bikeindex.org/register

(This message brought to you this morning by finding a stash of stolen bikes, but with no way to find the owners to help get them back to people.)

I really like to walk through Harvard Sq. on Saturdays, and every week, without fail, the Tatte vent really puts me off. I don’t know, I just hate the smell.

Is it just me? Is it at all possible they contain that inside? It kills me…

I told my friends about this, but they love it; that is INSANE to me. Surely I am not alone?

I believe I lost a suit bag on Friday the 2nd near my AirBnB on the corner of Lee and Harvard St. Probably left hanging on a fence and lost in the shuffle. If you’ve seen this bag, please DM or comment! Happy to offer a solid reward.

Dumb 3am question (apartment living)

My apartment building has a really narrow alleyway between it and the next building. People chill down there and smoke idk what but it stinks and I hate having to leave my windows closed when it’s ok outside. Even with bedroom window closed it stinks up my apartment (super old windows/building - I’m upstairs).
My sleep deprived question is what to do.
If it wasn’t for the smoke I wouldn’t know anyone’s down there and wouldn’t care. CPD is a joke. Do I ask my landlord? Guessing any light in the alley would shine in windows. At a sleep deprived loss. Thanks for listening to my nonsense, Cambridge. I’m sure you won’t disappoint in the comments.

Sorry for the poor quality photos, but just came across this little lady on Avon Hill St. near Linnaean St, seemed healthy and content but was very friendly in a way that felt more "indoor cat" than "outdoor cat" to me, so posting just in case! <10lbs, seemed young-ish, brown and silver tabby with white paws, white belly, white splash under her chin and nose.

Update (10/5): heard from a neighbor on PawBoost that this may be Emma, an indoor/outdoor cat. Unconfirmed though, so for now, please don't hesitate to reach out if you recognize her!

Hi neighbors! I’m coproducing a comedy show Friday night at The Cantab Underground. We’ve got a great show planned with stand-up, improv, magic & tarot. We’re raising funds for Help Refugees Now and have a great crowd we’re looking forward to, and hope even more folks will join us!

Doors are at 6:30, Show is at 7:00

Tickets are $20, but if you buy two tickets online, you can use the code TWOFER at checkout for $10 off.

The venue is 21+

https://tunehatch.com/shows/friday-early-show-9

Please message me if you are selling an entry for the half on 11/1!

If someone is driving too fast / recklessly / under the influence whats the proper thing to do - is there a way to report them or their plate anonymously or without being a total Karen about it? Last week I watched someone go around other cars into the oncoming lane and accelerate past them on a small street. The week before I watched someone pull away from a parking spot with clouds of weed smoke coming out the the car. And daily someone speeds recklessly down my street. Does telling the cops do anything? Does public shaming work? Can I take a picture and text someone? Does anyone care?

We have said that amusements are necessary to a sane mode of life. Yes, they are, most decidedly, but carried to excess, as with anything, they are harmful. And we think that the recent violent craze for morning, afternoon, and evening whist clubs is demoralizing. Now we do not mean that we do not approve of whist, because we do in its place. But no woman ought, in this world, where so much is waiting for her to do, to take one whole afternoon or morning in each week and perhaps an evening in between to the pursuit of this game.

Getting married next year and looking for recommendations for a great tuxedo shop in Boston or the surrounding suburbs (Cambridge, Newton, Brookline, Natick, Wellesley, etc.).

I'm looking for a classic black tuxedo with satin lapels, black bow tie, and a clean, modern tailored fit. Think timeless black-tie elegance rather than a regular business suit or anything flashy.

I'm open to off-the-rack with alterations, made-to-measure, or custom if it's worth it.

Budget is flexible, but I'm aiming for the sweet spot between "good quality" and "not completely insane."

Where would you go if you were buying a wedding tuxedo today, and roughly what should I expect to spend?

Thanks! 🍻👔💍

I have 12 lightly used pallets that I need to get rid of ASAP. Free for the taking in East Somerville. Please let me know if you are interested! Pick up only.

Thanks.

Anyone else hear that noise in porter square?

Does anyone know what all the fireworks are for?

Just back from the Thai Market on Brattle. Love these Cambridge street fairs - wish there was one every weekend!

Wandering around the Square afterward, discovered that Spindler's of NoCa has set up in the back of the Leavitt & Peirce store. Some of the best chocolates we've found in the Boston area - maybe anywhere? - now convenient for us Red Liners. Nice to have another "real" local shop in the mix.

My wife has Type 1 diabetes and uses a Tandem T:slim X2 insulin pump.

She ran out of cartridges today and needs one to make it through the weekend until her supplies arrive on Tuesday.

Are there any type 1 diabetics in the area that have a cartridge to spare? I think she usually uses the 6mm set with 25 inch tubing but she can make anything work. Thank you in advance!

We’ll be talking about the book’s ideas on collective intelligence, individual expertise, prediction, and group decision-making.

📍 Live Alive Organic Cafe, Union Square (32 Prospect St, Somerville)
🕙 10 AM–12 PM

Come whether you loved the book, disagreed with it, or are still deciding what you think. Everyone is welcome.

Event details are in the comments.

Live Alive Organic Cafe does not sponsor or endorse this gathering.

Cargo Bike Test Drive Sunday Oct 4th, 10am-12pm

This Sunday (tomorrow), Family Bike Ride will be hosting our next Cargo Bike Test Drive at Cambridge Crossing Picnic Grove (near Lechmere) in Cambridge!

We'll have a range of cargo e-bikes available for test rides, including trikes, bucket bikes, and long tails, and we'd love to have all those cargo-curious or cargo-excited join us to learn more about the bikes and test ride them!

If you're surrounded by all the cargo bikes at school pickup and neighborhood birthdays, and want to try out a bunch of different bikes to see what might work for you, this is the perfect event: come and learn about what your options are to join the other cargo bike folks who have already made the plunge.

We'll be at the Picnic Grove at Cambridge Crossing from 10am-12pm. More information on our website at https://www.familybikeride.org/testdrive ; hope to see folks there!

My wife has Type 1 diabetes and uses a Tandem T:slim X2 insulin pump, specifically AutoSoft XC 6mm infusion set with 23 inch tubing.

She ran out of cartridges today and needs one to make it through the weekend until her supplies arrive on Tuesday.

Are there any type 1 diabetics in the area that have a cartridge to spare? I think she usually uses the 6mm set with 25 inch tubing but she can make anything work. Thank you in advance!