Over the Charles River in Cambridge, Harvard Square is the place to be. Home of the famous Harvard University, founded in 1636, it is often frequented by tourists looking to put a place to a name. Aside from the...

Over the Charles River in Cambridge, Harvard Square is the place to be. Home of the famous Harvard University, founded in 1636, it is often frequented by tourists looking to put a place to a name. Aside from the University, however, is an area which used to be home to unique shops and restaurants, more recently taken over by the influx of chain stores in the main square, with the kitschy spots on the radius of the hub of Harvard College.

Even with the chain stores, there's still a heart beat to the old square. One can sit during warmer weather at the Au Bon Pain and watch at least five to twenty tables of chess players compete and teach each other. One can also just sit near the pit and listen to live music, watch skateboarders and decide which color of flouresent hair looks best. Across the street, near the COOP is another area for street performers. Frequently one may see a juggler, tight rope walker, poet, accordionist and card shark. Don't be surprised if some of the acts do all of this at once.

Places to check out include: Harvard Book Store: one of the best independent bookstores in the country (NOT the COOP!). Harvard Yard: the center of Harvard University, where its oldest buildings can be found (tourist tours leave from Holyoke Center in the Square; admissions tours leave from Byerly Hall on Garden Street). The Brattle Theater: a great independent movie theater that shows interesting classic and current films.

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