What's a good place for a break?

[ignignokt.livejournal.com]

Davis Squarites: I'd like to find somewhere to spend my lunch breaks on days that I've brought my lunch but want to take a break anyway to read or draw or listen to podcasts for a little while outside the office. If I've got to go to some coffee shop and buy a drink, I'll do that, but I'd prefer to find somewhere I can loiter for completely free. Suggestions?

Comments

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Outdoors is free - there's plenty of room to loiter in the middle of the square in front of Store 24 etc. There's also a park behind the Holland St. T entrance, and from there you can walk down the bike path and there are several areas with tables and chairs along there.

[ron_newman]

Also, Nathan Tufts (Powder House) park up at College Ave. and Broadway.

[madscientist01.livejournal.com]

Tufts park is my favorite place to relax outside near the square!

[veek.livejournal.com]

How about right in the square, outside of JP Licks-etc and across from the Somerville Theatre? There are benches there, and pretty statues, and plenty of people-watching.

Alternately, you could try going behind the T entrance that's right next to the Somerville Theatre. It's where the bike patch picks back up, and there are benches and a lawn there.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

How far (distance and/or time) are you willing to walk?

[ignignokt.livejournal.com]

I'm willing to do a five-minute-or-so walk.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I think that radius has largely been covered as far as outdoor space (Tufts Park is probably a little more than 5 minutes, but close enough), though nobody has yet mentioned Hodgkins Park on Holland St, which has a nice playground as well as big field.

I would also imagine that the various churches which are open during the day would be okay with peaceable loitering.

There are also assorted areas as far up or down the bike path as you are willing to go.

[unferth.livejournal.com]

If you don't want to be outside, there's a library on College Ave.

[ron_newman]

but that's probably not a good place to bring your lunch and eat it. (food crumbs attract vermin which are also not good for books)

[unferth.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, didn't notice that he was looking for a place to _eat_ and not just a place to spend some down time on a lunch break.

[ignignokt.livejournal.com]

Oh, I actually meant that I'd have already have had my lunch but will be taking a break anyway. So, I'm not looking for a place to eat.

[ignignokt.livejournal.com]

Oh, nice. I didn't see that. Yeah, indoor places for rainy days are appreciated!

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

7 Hills Park, right behind the T-stop on the Holland side. Very nice, has both sunshine and shade trees.

[opn.livejournal.com]

The tables and brick circles around the trees in the little plaza outside of Starbucks.

The little park across from Rite Aid on Highland Ave.; fun to watch basketball games and children on the playground from the benches outside both these areas.

[ron_newman]

The tables belong to Starbucks, so if you're not a customer and they are otherwise full, it's better not to be there.

The park across from Rite Aid is called Kenney Park. I forgot all about it!

[opn.livejournal.com]

Totally correct about Starbucks...since I can't seem to pass a Bux without buying a drink, that detail didn't register with me. :) But, yup, the OP said they'd prefer to not have to buy anything!

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

I find the concrete planter in the plaze outside the starbucks makes a perfectly pleasant sitting place and I don't have to worry about buying something.

[ron_newman]

There are also pleasant parks along Haskell and Pemberton streets in nearby North Cambridge, as well as at Dudley and Cedar streets.

[mistresshellena.livejournal.com]

Sacco's Bowl Haven?! They might be a bit confused, but it'd be kinda fun...