ext_46639 ([identity profile] redheadedmuse.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2010-01-27 08:08 pm

Good writing spots around Davis Sq?

I'm looking for a few places to get away from home and do some writing. Top requirements would be a quiet atmosphere, a place to sit for a few hours at a stretch and free wireless. True Grounds has been my default for awhile, but I'd like to add a few to my list, especially if they have later hours.

Where do y'all like to sit/think/write?

[identity profile] serious-noir.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
The Somerville Library on College Ave. Don't know the hours offhand.

I prefer noise and ruckus so usually go to Diesel.
(deleted comment)

[personal profile] ron_newman 2010-01-28 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
Starbucks doesn't have free wi-fi, though.

[identity profile] syntheticnature.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
If you register a Starbucks card and use it once in a while, your wifi is free. Allegedly it's limited to 2 hrs/day but I've never seen it get cut off. (And I understand that registering and using a Starbucks card may not be acceptable to some DSLJ readers.)

[identity profile] clevernonsense.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
when i'm writing, i often prefer no wifi :)

[identity profile] whaler.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
haha yeah the internet is the worst distraction!

[identity profile] clevernonsense.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
for me, the work/writing become the (very occasional) distraction from my web-noodling

[identity profile] justjess.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I try to limit surfing-while-writing to research for whatever it is I'm working on, but... yeah. Internet bad.

[personal profile] ron_newman 2010-01-28 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
Somerville Library West Branch hours here.

This won't matter right now, but when the weather gets warm you need to know that this library branch is not air-conditioned.

The Cambridge Public Library's O'Neill Branch is a short walk from Davis Square, on Rindge Avenue, and they say they have free wi-fi.
Edited 2010-01-28 01:29 (UTC)

[identity profile] nonnihil.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
No wifi at the West branch, last I checked. But the Somerville Main Library is just a three-minute bus ride away, has better hours, less creaky floors, and all the wifi you can eat.

[personal profile] ron_newman 2010-01-28 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
Is the WestBranch library's page wrong? It says they have wi-fi.

[identity profile] nonnihil.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
No sign of it yesterday evening, but that may have been incidental technical difficulties or something.

[identity profile] blunderblunder.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
It was fine a couple of weeks ago :P

[identity profile] hissilliness.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
Orleans, when it's quiet.

[identity profile] smoterh.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
definitely agree

[identity profile] ukelele.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Worth noting that True Grounds will be limiting its wifi as of Feb. 1 (one hour free with purchase of coffee/food, after that you need to pay). Of course I still <3 them.

The public libraries in general have free wifi; if you don't mind going a bit farther afield, Cambridge/Arlington/Lexington main libraries are just much nicer spaces.

I used to do 1369 in Inman a lot when I lived in Union, and if I still lived in Union I'd be doing Sherman and Bloc 11 a lot, but I don't know the wireless situation at 1369 and Sherman (at Bloc 11 it's the same as the Diesel, so not, alas, free).

[identity profile] offroadpath.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Another vote for the Arlington library. I wrote a good chunk of my thesis in the reading room there.

[identity profile] slinkr.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I think Sherman's wi-fi is free with purchase, but I don't remember if they had a time limit or not.

[identity profile] smoterh.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 02:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Block 11 is a great place to work. Much nicer than any other coffee shop in davis and I believe they have free wifi.

false

[identity profile] hoppzor.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
the wifi is most definitely not free. see above: they're run by diesel folks, and the 'net costs the same.

[identity profile] yagagriswold.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
My living room, particularly when my spousalbeast needs a writing partner to help him stay on task. Oh, wait. That's most of the time. :)

[identity profile] justjess.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds almost like a normal weekend at my place!

[identity profile] entrope.livejournal.com 2010-01-29 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
Blue Shirt Cafe - lots of outlets, free wifi with a $5 purchase, not too loud, not too silent.

Teele Square Cafe

[identity profile] shava23.livejournal.com 2010-01-29 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
If you just pop out Holland Street, the Teele Square Cafe, right smack in the middle of Teele Square (I bet you guessed that) has free wi-fi and great food, wonderful people, and it's just nice. But now you'll all descend on it... *pout* No really, send them business, I want them to stay there!

[identity profile] desired-writer.livejournal.com 2010-02-02 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
Au Bon Pain in Davis Square (right next to the T) has free wi-fi... 6 hour limit. I have gone there several days in a row without buying anything, no one really cares and there are plenty of outlets near the tables to the right of the food area towards the back.