15 REASONS WHY WE'RE THANKFUL FOR CAMBRIDGE
Mon Nov 23, 2015
From serious to silly, we’ve gathered together 15 reasons why we are thankful for Cambridge:
1. WORLD-CLASS MUSEUMS
Did you know that Cambridge boasts seven world-class museums? Seriously! Art, natural history, futuristic wonders, dinosaurs, scientific oddities, historical landmarks and tales, mind-bending holograms, kid-friendly curiosities, guest exhibits and everything in between – we’ve pretty much got it all.
2. GREAT SCHOOLS
In case you haven’t heard, Cambridge houses two of the most prestigious universities in the world (Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). We’ve got a lot of great minds here in Cambridge, and we feel lucky (and proud) to be dubbed one of the brightest cities in the country by Forbes Magazine.
3. Best Places to Live
Not only were we dubbed one of the brightest cities in the country by Forbes Magazine, the magazine also dubbed us the best city for millennials to live. We found our way to the top of the list due to our close proximity to all the important necessities like transportation, restaurants, coffee shops and the high number of millennials in the area.
4. A CITY OF SQUARES
Our neighborhoods are called squares – but in a European-Charm kind of way. Each has its own a distinctive personality, vibe, and culture, all rich in fine dining, eclectic shopping, theaters, museums and historical sites. Meet them here.
Don’t believe us? View our quick, 90-second video featuring Central Square and explore its unmistakable character as you speed through its many restaurants, shops, museums and sites. You’ll quickly see why Central Square was recently designated a Cultural District by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
5. CAMBRIDGE LOOKS GREAT ON THE SILVER SCREEN
Without Cambridge to lend as a backdrop and inspiration, a good number of iconic movies (and movie stars) may have never been made. Can you imagine world-class movies such as Good Will Hunting, Girl Interrupted, The Social Network, and The Towne without Cambridge as the STAR?? Or the dynamic duo that is Ben and Matt? Us either.
But Cambridge looks pretty great on the smaller screen as well. Our city’s personality truly shines in our new 60 Second Video. See it for yourself…
6. TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND FIRSTS
There are some majorly cool innovations going on here, not to mention the countless number of big name companies and brands that were born here. We couldn’t imagine life without some of them...
Pardon our name-dropping but we think it’s pretty cool that Facebook, Fig Newtons, Email, Zipcar, the INTERNET, the disposable razor, artificial skin, Guitar Hero, radar, long distance telephone, the sewing machine, spreadsheets, the instant camera, nuclear magnetic resonance…all started right here.
7. BIKE + SKATE FRIENDLY
Who needs a car? Not us! It’s a pretty awesome feat to be known as one of the most bike friendly and walkable cities around. Cambridge feels big to us, but it’s actually only six-square miles. With the installation of bike lanes, bike racks, and bike-sharatives that are open all year long (thanks Hubway!), there is no need to be stuck in a car here. More than 7% of Cantabrigians bike to work, with rumors that we could very well master bike safety in the next few years.
Not only are we bike and pedestrian friendly (woo!), we can now add skater-friendly to our list. On November 14, thanks to the Charles River Conservancy, Vans and other local agencies, Cambridge welcomed skaters to the brand new Lynch Family Skatepark complete with everything that a skate boarder could ever dream of! Now wheel-enthusiasts of all ages and levels have a safe and a positive environment to become the next Andy Macdonald!
8. LEADER IN GOING GREEN
We take being green very seriously in this city – and wouldn’t do it any other way! From our green savvy restaurants (see #10) and hotels, to bike sharatives (hello #7) and recycling initiatives, we couldn’t be more thankful to help Mother Earth stay happy and healthy.
9. THE HARVARD SQUARE TURKEY
The Harvard Square Turkey: a mysterious fellow, yet considered a true Cantabrigian by all. This little guy can be found peering into bookstores, waiting to catch the bus, or simply waiting to cross the street with everyone else and now this little fellow can be found on Facebook. No matter where he is found, he’ll be ready for a photo op.
10. AMAZING RESTAURANTS
It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t mention the fabulous food here. We are proud to say that some of the best restaurants in Boston, and in the country are located in Cambridge: home to culinary greats from Julia Child to Joyce Chen, to James Beard winners such as Jody Adams, Tony Maws, Brian Mercury and more.
You can tantalize your taste buds with every cuisine imaginable, many of which have a deep focus on sustainable, local ingredients. Safe to say, it’s a foodie’s paradise over here! No matter which square you find yourself in, you’re bound to stumble upon an amazing eatery.
11. FESTIVALS
Oktoberfest and the Inman Square Harvest Hoedown may have just ended, but we’re already gearing up for some of our favorite holiday festivals in the next few weeks, such as December’s Sparklefest in Harvard Square.
However Cambridge’s festivals don’t stop after the holidays: we’ll take any excuse to celebrate our distinct culture with residents and visitors alike. From Mayfair, to the very first- ever VivaLatino Festival, to the (very tasty) Taste of Cambridge, to the friendly competition found at the East Cambridge Rib Fest, we are thankful for the hard work that goes into pulling these festivals off so seamlessly year after year.
Of course there are so many more festivals that are worth mentioning, and you can find those over on our events page.
12. THE MUSIC
Cambridge notoriously beats to its own drum, and that remains true to the music scene here.
And our music scene has some serious roots here in Cambridge. One of our musical institutions has been creating and fostering music talent for 100 years! The Longy School of Music of Bard College celebrated their Centennial year in September and has created quite the legacy that is sure to last the test of time. We have to say that we’re pretty spoiled with the amount of musical talent and venues located here.
We aren’t kidding you when we say you can catch a show any day of the week, any time of the year. Whether hip-hop is your jam, or you like something more classical like a performance from the Longy Students, our endless collection of venues, and musical events will keep you moving and grooving.
13. The Theater and Dance
Watch out Broadway! Our theater and dance scene is a force to be reckoned with, especially with powerhouse companies like The American Repertory Theater, The Central Square Theater, Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, The Dance Complex and the Nora Theatre Company, just to name a few.
Every taste in theater can be satisfied here from musical theater, to graceful ballerinas, jazzy numbers, and to serious dramas. Even some serious Hollywood stars like Sara Bareilles, Courtney Love and Jennifer Coolidge have leant their talents to critically acclaimed performances.
14. WE'RE FULL OF HISTORY
Although many people ponder if you can truly Pahk Ya Cah in Hahvahd Yahd, Cambridge’s history is far richer than that. Beyond the historical tales from the universities, we are grateful for the historically significant figures that made Cambridge’s history so interesting, the structures they built and the stories they tell: from the Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters to beautiful churches, and Robert Frost’s famous home.
15. YOU!
We couldn’t possibly let this list go without thanking YOU! For everyone who lives here, works here, visits and tells their friends to visit, learns here, plays here, for everyone who follows us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat (cambridgeusa) and for our ever-creative #PictureCambridge submitters – thank you for making Cambridge so unique and frankly so fun to support!!