coffee and community

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

Hi there!

I'm a student working on a project about baristas, indie coffeehouses and their relationships to the communities around them. So, I'd love to talk with baristas or staff at Diesel or Bloc 11 in Somerville who are willing to share their experiences over lunch or a hot beverage (I'm buying). I'm interested in stories or reflections about working and the connections to the area.

Email me at nameofdog AT yahoo.com if you're interested.

Comments

[ron_newman]

A couple of other indie coffeehouses you didn't list here:

True Grounds in Ball Square
Sherman Cafe in Union Square

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

and the 1369 in two camberville locations.

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

Central Square is Camberville? Mmmm, no.

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, yes. "Camberville" = Cambridge + Somerville. (Or Cambridge ∪ Somerville, for the logicians/set theorists.)

It just happens that both 1369 locations are in Cambridge. Which may or may not suit the OP's definitions of "the communities around them", but I tend to think it would.

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, maybe. I thought Camberville was loosely organized around Cambridge-Somerville line, and in particular the central/western part of the border (from Inman to Teele). I wouldn't argue Ten Hills or Cambridgeport, or the far northwestern sector of Ward 7 (almost to the future Route 16 T stop) or even the Fresh Pond shopping area is included.

Inman Square, definitely counts, though. Maybe someone with cartographic experience can help set the boundaries...

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

That's really funny. I use the term "Camberville" all the time and totally never thought of it as denoting a bounded location *within* the regional union. Now I want to post a poll!

[ominousspectre.livejournal.com]

I've always considered it any neighborhood that was very near or on top of the city line. Inman is textbook Camberville but I also consider Porter and Davis to be Camberville. That's how I use it.

But I've heard people use it to refer to ANYTHING on the red line past Charles or anywhere in either Cambridge or Somerville.

[cos]

I use that term all the time, and it had never occurred to me that it might possibly mean anything other than "Cambridge and Somerville".

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I started using "Camberville" before I'd heard anyone else say it (as have, I'm sure, hundreds or more, before and since) and I came up with it to mean "Cambridge and/or Somerville". So there. :)

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

Which would have been how long ago? I think the first time I came across "Cambriville" (different spelling) was in the epic thread over at the SN site after Rebekah Gewirtz defeated Jack Connolly in 2005. (And I'd like to meet whoever was posting under CambrivilleNews someday...)

http://somervillenews.typepad.com/the_somerville_news/2005/11/gewirtz_wins.html

Not sure about how long "Camberville" (apparently the present-day preferred term) has been around. Anyone?

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure when I first starting using Camberville out loud, but offhand, I can find references in my LJ going back to 2003, anyway. (I think the 'Cambriville' variation is rather awkward, personally.)

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* i've lived in both neighborhoods, and yeah, i think so. especially the 1369's :)

[beatniktea.livejournal.com]

true grounds is great!

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

Ron,

Thanks. I was actually focusing particularly on those two - I am aware others are out there.