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Categories: Harvard Square News, Irving House Gazette

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briana pearson

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a full day beckons
as long as the sun is bright
lightness holds the dark

25.06.20

Dear Reader,

I hope this email finds you well! We have all been busy here with Commencement guests, followed by reunion guests and all during a very news worthy moment for Harvard. I am happy to report this period has gone very smoothly over all and I attribute this to our amazing staff. We have welcomed a few new staff faces but as many of you know with Irving House, as much as things change, many things are just the same.

This is also true with our guests! I have had the humbling honor of sitting with so many returning families here to celebrate. Some have known my mom and had such encouraging words for me. Others are new to the house and charmed by its existence. One guest recently told me of his grandfather telling him of the “rooming houses” around Harvard campus and smiling with the thought that perhaps this very house was a rooming house his grandfather stayed in so many years ago as a Harvard student. If you have not already, please read our house history page on our website!

For me, these longer days mean a full schedule of spring sports and of course also means the end of the school year. What kid isn’t excited to feel the promise of summer vacation? I hope you all have a school age child in your circle to share in that joy. Celebrate life, lead with joy and protect your peace.

As always we look forward to seeing you around Irving House some time soon!

Yours sincerely,

Briana
Many families joined us during the commencement week.
We offer our warm congratulations and
Thank You to all the families who stayed with us at this extraordinarily special time.
MayFair and Boston Calling also share the month with Commencement!

MAYFAIR

The Harvard Square Business Association did not disappoint!  The biggest events in the square are in early May and early October. Definitely worth checking their site if you plan to be in the area. There’s always great performances and so many food options!
Boston Calling reveals 2024 festival lineup | WBUR News
BOSTON CALLING
Such a great way to see well known bands and performers outside
all Memorial Day weekend! I have just heard that they may not be doing the event in 2026 but you can sign up for updates here.
Summer here in Cambridge means explore the Squares!
If you are traveling to the area soon you may want to check for events in all three of our neighboring “Squares”!For folk music, make sure you check out the Passim calendar of shows for their comprehensive list of the dates and locations of their outdoor “summer series “. It’s a great way to be outside this summer in Cambridge!

Shopping is a great way to support local businesses! Check out this list to see if any retail catches your eye in Harvard Sq. Not to be ignored, Inman Sq has some neighborhood gems, particularly for knitting and crafting. Central Sq and MIT area have their own vibe. I like to think if it as the “heartbeat” of Cambridge. It is where you can feel the pulse of our residents. City hall is lit up in celebration of Pride month but we are also a community of people who strive to care for those of us who have fallen on hard times.

All of these “Squares” have exceptional restaurants and best of all? All are within walking distance of Irving House!  For those on the hunt for vintage, @found.boston (on instagram) has Block Parties are all around Cambridge and Boston with vintage clothes, music and food!

                               
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LOVE SPICE? LOVE REGGAE?

I am planning my weekend! July 11 &12th I’ll see you at Boston JerkFest!
A family-friendly Caribbean-style food festival offering two days of fun in the sun and featuring Jamaican jerk spiced food and all things jerk hot! The festival features 14 Caribbean restaurants offering tasty Jamaican jerk dishes for purchase, specialty foods, such as authentic Caribbean drinks Seafood Throwdown and Jerk Cook-off Competitions, live reggae and DJ’s, ethnic arts and craft vendors, VIP Reggae Lounge, and Kids & Culture stage. And don’t forget the rum punch at the Reggae Bar!”

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On a walk…

On a walk to school earlier this month my son noticed a huge tree in a park which had recently undergone a renovation (pictured below). He lamented that he was glad they “saved the big tree”. I was reminded that this city has so many notable historic buildings but it also has a fair amount of really big, old trees. A friend of mine, (and an extraordinary photographer) Kristen Joy Emack, wrote a beautiful piece for our local paper called, “Witness trees watch over us as history unfolds” (article). In it she tells the story of a tree, in East Cambridge, thought to be almost 250 years old. At the end she even lists the very impressive timeline to really highlight what all this tree has “seen”.
I propose, as a free tour of Cambridge, inform yourself before arrival about the self-guided tours on the History Cambridge website. While you are walking through our streets, keep a look out for some of these huge trees. If you stand under the trees in Harvard Yard, or the tree in the article, try to imagine it has been here, watching history unfold for centuries. The feeling is pretty amazing.
Our College Tripping Special will be permanent.
Once you have booked your room on our site, (enter COLL in the promo code to note you would like the bag of goodies) email or call us to let us know you are
a subscriber to the Irving House Gazette and we will give you a discount on the room as well!We are also trying out a discount for those who book directly on our website and are staying 2+ nights early in the week.
Enter your dates and if the discount applies it will show you that option when making the reservation.

Always check our own site to make sure you have reservation access to all of our room types and any discounts that might apply!