wifi for a stranded brit

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

a friend of mine from london is temporarily stranded in boston on account of the volcano (she was trying to get home from a work trip in indiana, and the plane turned around because it couldn't land in dublin) and she has to get online to do some work while she's here. in the interests of her not having to hang out in my house all week, where can she go that's got free/low cost wifi where she can sit for a couple of hours without being hassled? i already mentioned the diesel and the blue shirt cafe and starbucks - i think she's going to the diesel today - and she'll be reimbursed so she doesn't mind having to pay for it. it has to be walking distance or accessible by public transportation, but she's not confined to greater davis square.

help?

(i'm not sure how to tag this. i went with "wifi".)

Comments

[anotherthink.livejournal.com]

I've just discovered that the public library is awesome for this. I live in Cambridge and the branch on Broadway is great -- there's probably something analogous in Somerville too.

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

Borders in Downtown Crossing has free wifi. The Boston Public library requires that you have a library card for their wifi, not sure about Cambridge and Somerville.

[frotz.livejournal.com]

In the coffeehouse vein, True Grounds isn't far, and I find it a more pleasant place to pass a few hours.

If the need is just for quiet and net, how about the library?

[lac.livejournal.com]

The Borders in the Back Bay has free WiFi as well (maybe the one in the Cambridgeside Galleria does as well?). But today is not the day I would take advantage of the Back Bay one.

[tamalinn.livejournal.com]

IIRC, there's free public WiFi in Cambridge. I sat down in the library one day on Pearl St. in Central Square and used it 'til the library closed. Didn't need a library card or nothin'. :)

[naufiel.livejournal.com]

I used to love the Diesel for this, but they do make you pay for their wifi.

If there are any Panera's around or T-accessible, they're all free wifi for as long as you like.

[fe.livejournal.com]

Nothing helpful here. Just noting that it's amusing when I find people from other communities I'm watching show up in local ones.

[greyling.livejournal.com]

Cafe Algiers is beautiful and has wifi for their patrons. (A bunch of other cafes do as well.) Tasty, tasty falafel.

MIT has guest wifi, and much of their space is public for sitting.

The Harvard Coop has free wifi. Bookstore + coffee shop.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

The Burren has free WiFi coupons

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

the cambridge public library (on broadway) is the best place on earth, period. they also have cafe areas where you can eat/drink, etc., though she'd be better off bringing a sandwich as opposed to relying on the vending machines :)

[oonh.livejournal.com]

darwin's ltd on cambridge st has free wifi.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I wish this thread had come up 2 weeks ago when I lost my wired connection at home and made the mistake of buying Diesel's worthless wifi in the noisiest commercial setting I've ever experienced outside of a nightclub. I don't know how anyone can do any work there unless they're deaf.

Sorry, no suggestions, but I'm glad you asked because I'm making note of the answers that are coming in.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I second the suggestion above for True Grounds -- free WiFi, good coffee and a pleasant place to be!

[masswich.livejournal.com]

True Grounds wifi isn't free any more. The will give you one free hour after you pay for an hour (although when I was there I only needed it for an hour so I didn't figure out how to get my free hour.)

Its too bad but I can't say I blame them. Its annoying when every table is taken up by someone with a computer pretending they are not done with their coffee by leaving one sip left in it for 3 hours and running an office out of there. I am a reluctant supporter of paid wifi at coffee shops to reduce the "office" look of them.

[panterka37.livejournal.com]

Good Food Cafe on Mass Ave. - between 12pm and 3pm. The wifi is free and the smoothies and sandwiches are great :).

[ritcey.livejournal.com]

For something quite a bit quieter than a cafe:

http://workbarboston.com/

$20 for a day pass

Red Line to South Station - block or two away.

(my friend is one of the founders)

[tarsier10.livejournal.com]

other free options:
Brugger's Bagels (incl. Porter)
Gourment Express (Porter, open 24/7, with parking)
Borders bookstores
Au Bon Pain locations
Cambridge Public Library branches (no card needed; when it's not Patriot's Day)
Somerville Public Library branches (same caveats)
JP Licks, by rumor

[ron_newman]

Au Bon Pain in Davis Square has free wi-fi, and is rarely busy.

[antimony.livejournal.com]

Boloco up by tufts has free wifi with purchase of food. And comfy couches. It's generally empty and I've never had them hassle me for hanging out for a good long while, but it's a hike from Davis.

[rozhinka.livejournal.com]

Atomic Cafe between Central and Harvard. Everyone in there seems to be using it as an office.