September 15–28, 2014 THE OFFICIAL GUIDE to BOSton PANORAMAEVSIGHTSENTS | | SHOPPING | MAPS | DINING | NIGHTLIFE | CULTURE SPECIAL Cambridge Guide Including Fall Festivities in Harvard Square 波 士 顿 欢 迎 您 See p. 10 bostonguide.com OYSTER PERPETUAL MILGAUSS rolex oyster perpetual and milgauss are trademarks. September 15–28, 2014 THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO BOstON Volume 64 • No. 9 contents Features PANO’s Guide to 8 Cambridge Experience culture, history and more across the Charles River in Boston’s neighbor to the north Departments 5 5 A Peek at the Past The John Harvard statue 6 HUBBUB Legal Sea Foods’ Oyster Festival, Ghost Tours in Harvard Square, Revels RiverSing (pictured), Chowderfest and the New England Americana Festival 12 Boston’s Official Guide 12 Current Events 17 On Exhibit 20 Shopping 26 Cambridge 29 Maps 6 35 Neighborhoods 43 Sightseeing 50 Freedom Trail 52 Dining 39 High 5 North End historic sites 62 Boston Accent Folk music writer Scott Alarik ON THE COVER: A fall parade in Harvard Square. Photo: Bill Manley. 62 PHOTOS (TOP TO BOTTOM): ALLIE FELT; BILL MANLEY (2) BOSTONGUIDE.COM 3 ThE official guidE to boston bostonguide.com September 15–28, 2014 Volume 64 • Number 9 Tim Montgomery • Publisher Laura Grant • Associate Publisher Scott Roberto • Art Director/Acting Editor John Herron Gendreau • Associate Art Director Samantha DiMauro • Contributing Writer Lizz Scannell • Photography Intern service with sarcasm! Tim Montgomery • President & CEO Tyler J. Montgomery • Vice President, Operations Rita A. Fucillo • Vice President, Publishing Jacolyn Ann Firestone • Vice President, Advertising fun Melissa J. O’Reilly • Business Manager Niki Lamparelli for • Operations Assistant Lenard B. Zide, Butters Brazilian LLP • all, Corporate Counsel all in fun! PANORAMA is published bi-weekly by New Venture Media Group LLC. Editorial and advertising offices at 560 Harrison Ave., Suite 412, Boston, MA 02118. Telephone (617) 423-3400. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. No part of this publica- Hey You, bring in this ad for tion may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission of the publisher. PANORAMA is a member of the Massachusetts Lodging 20% OFF GRUB! Association, The Back Bay Association, The Greater Boston One per table. Not valid w/ any other offers. Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cambridge Chamber of And, of course, you must have this ad, Genius! Commerce, the Greater Boston Concierge Association, the Harvard Square Business Association, the Newbury Street League, the South End Business Alliance, the Downtown Crossing Association, the Kendall Square Association and the Faneuil Hall Marketplace Central Square Business Association. Quincy Market Building Boston, MA 02109 a magazine affiliate 617-267-8080 FolloW US! Facebook.com/PanoramaMagazineBoston Twitter.com/PanoramaBoston Instagram.com/PanoramaBoston www.DicksLastResort.com PanoramaBoston.Tumblr.com 4 PANORAMA A peeK at thE past Taking the Mystery Out of Boston History THE JOHN H ARVARD STATUE ere’s a situation you don’t come across too often: vard as “Founder” of the college, yet it was named Ha story behind a statue that is more interesting after him for being one of its earliest and greatest than the person whom the statue honors. This just benefactors—not its actual founder. The inscription may be the case with the bronze sculpture honoring also states the date of the founding of Harvard’s John Harvard that sits in famed Harvard Yard. namesake school as 1638, when it was established Although his name graces one of the most in 1636 by the Great and General Court of the famous campuses in the country, John Harvard was a Massachu setts Bay Colony. Puritan minister who lived a fairly modest, short and As the statue stands on the grounds of an little-documented life. Born in Southwark, England in academic institution, this is all the subject of lively 1607, he and his wife emigrated to Charlestown in the debate. One could argue that although John Harvard relatively new Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637, just wasn’t the founder, he was a founder, due to his a year before he died of tuberculosis. On his death- instrumental donation in the school’s early years. If bed, he bequeathed his library and half of his estate the previous statement is true—and it is also true that to an as-yet-unnamed college which had just been said generosity did occur in the year 1638—it also founded two years prior in nearby Cambridge. holds that his role in the founding of Harvard did in- Which leads us to the story of the statue that sits deed occur the year marked below the statue, leaving in Harvard Yard. Anyone passing through the heart of us with a very forgivable “statue of one lie” situation. Harvard University during a guided tour has probably Regardless of all this, the statue remains a beloved overheard the familiar phrase declaring the larger- icon. Though it has been defaced over the years by than-life tribute as the “statue of three lies.” vandals from rival Ivy League schools, the “portrait” Created by famed Lincoln Memorial sculptor Dan- of John Harvard remains as stoic as ever as it sits on iel Chester French and unveiled in 1884, the statue an illustrious perch next to University Hall in Harvard does not, as far as anyone knows, resemble the real Yard, a position it has enjoyed since it was moved John Harvard. This is because there is no record of from its original spot in front of nearby Memorial Hall what Harvard looked like, so a recent graduate sat in in 1924 (above left). Harvard’s left foot (above right), as French’s model. due to constant rubbing by visitors for good luck, The next two “lies” are perhaps more egregious. boasts a sheen of burnished gold, so if you stop for a Engraving on the statue’s base proclaims John Har- visit, give it a try. John won’t mind. —Scott Roberto PHOTOS (L TO R): DETROIT PHOTOGRAPHIC CO., C. 1900; ALLIE FELT BOSTONGUIDE.COM 5 MOLLUSK MADNEss Love oysters? Then this is the time of year for you. Not only is fall considered the time when these tasty shellfish are at their best, it’s also the return of Legal Sea Foods’ (refer to listing, page 61) sixth annual Oyster Festival. From September 17–October 14, enjoy featured oyster dishes, as well as special events, at Legal restaurants throughout the area. The first event, the “Shellfish Shindig,” takes place September 21 at the Charles Square location in Cambridge (20 University Road, 617-491-9400) from 2–4 p.m. Slurp down $1 oysters at the al fresco Terrace Bar while they last, or indulge in favorites like oyster stew, fried oysters, oyster po’ boys and the ever-popular bacon-wrapped oysters. The fun continues September 23 and October 2 at the Park Square location in Boston (26 Park Plaza, 617-426- 4444), where diners can opt for a three-course, wine-and-oyster pairing menu for only $40. Reservations for this prix fixe dinner are recommended. WHAT BOSTON’S IN THE SPIRIT BUZZING ABOUT As fall sets in and the days grow shorter, the thoughts of many inevitably turn toward all things spooky. The 9.15.14 folks at Cambridge Historical Tours (617-520-4030, cambridgehistoricaltours.org) are no different, as they offer an eerie and illuminatingGhost Tour throughout the Halloween season. Expert guides in Victorian-era costumes lead 90-minute walking excursions around Harvard Square recounting shocking tales of grisly murders and harrowing hauntings before ending, appropriately enough, at Cambridge’s Old Burying Ground. To keep it from getting too scary for young ones, “spirited” jokes are interspersed along the way. For those less inclined toward the morbid, don’t fret—the company also offers regular tours of both Harvard Square and the high-tech playground of Kendall Square. 6 PANORAMA HUBBUB TOP PHOTO: CHIP NESTOR AUTUMN SERENADE A joyous annual tradition, RiverSing returns to the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge on September 21 for its 11th year. Created by Revels, a performing arts organization dedicated to bringing people together through traditional music and dance, this free, family-friendly event celebrates the autumnal equinox with a colorful, puppet-filled parade, followed by the main event, a communal sing-along led by the 100-member Revels RiverSing Chorus of adults and children at the Weeks Footbridge. A slew of guest singers join the fun, as well as percussion ensemble Bloco AfroBrazil and acrobats and circus performers from Moonship Productions. What better way to say goodbye to summer and welcome the official start to fall? Join the festivities beginning at 5 p.m. in Harvard Square before the 5:45 p.m. parade, and get ready to sing your heart out at 6 p.m. SOUP’S ON Chocolate, chili and even salsa have all been feted in Harvard Square over the past several years, yet one of the culinary delicacies most associated with the Boston area—clam chowder—hasn’t had its own celebration—that is, until now. On September 21 in front of 25 Brattle St. from 2–4 p.m., join fellow bivalve fans at the first annualChowderfest , where close to a dozen Cambridge restaurants offer sample sizes of their creamiest clam concoctions, along with other soups and stews. This free festival also boasts a “mocktail” bar, hosted by Harvard Square favorite Grendel’s Den. Thousands are expected to attend, so come early if you don’t want to miss out on this inaugural event. TaKING IT TO THE STREET Ten acts and two stages all on one street—this is what folk music fans can enjoy, all for free, when the fifth annual New England Americana Festival takes to a closed-down Brattle Street in Harvard Square on September 27 from noon–9 p.m.