Davis Square 1997 vs. Davis Square 2007

[cvs-is-king.livejournal.com]

which do you prefer?

Comments

good topic

[gildersleeve.livejournal.com]

I miss Disc Diggers, but stopped going there when they stopped selling LP's back in the early 90's. I miss the original Someday Cafe when it was just one little storefront right next to the cinema entrance (and I remember paying $2.50 for a movie back before the theater had 5 screens and was not renovated, and even less than that as a kid).

Some real old school stuff: Pine Tree Diner, Somerville Books & Records, Kay & Chips, Zembla Books (when it was where JP Licks is, then moved up Holland), the little Antique store where Antonia's is, Apple-A-Day (where Dunkin Donuts is today), Friscati's restaurant (the whole block where Anna's Taqueria is), the Venice restaurant (where Orleans is). Gorin's Department Store, the Blarney bar. Or how about when the train tracks went through the center of the square. Man, now we are talking 1977 or 87.

I think that the vibe in Davis changed permanently in the mid-90's and hasn't changed much since then. Places come and go, some loved, some not, but overall it seems fairly consistent. My Davis is not your Davis is not my kids Davis is not my father's Davis. But it is all of ours, too.

Re: good topic

[ron_newman]

What and where was Pine Tree Diner?

I do remember Somerville Books & Records, on Highland Avenue. Real funky, bohemian place. Occasionally they had acoustic performers. I saw an unknown singer named Tracy Chapman play there.

Unfortunately, when the Fraimans renovated that building in the late 1980s, they seriously damaged the store's stock, and it never reopened.

Re: good topic

[gildersleeve.livejournal.com]

Pine Tree Diner was a little diner like the Rosebud, it was across from Johnny D's basically where the T station is today. It was not as classic looking as the Rosebud, but it was a good place for a quick greasy meal. They took it down when they built the subway.

Re: good topic

[ron_newman]

Do you know if the Pine Tree was moved elsewhere? These things were designed to be moved and often were. Kelly's in Ball Square used to be in some other state.

Re: good topic

[tarkap.livejournal.com]

Kelly's was hauled all the way from Delaware, but I'm not sure when it was moved up here. The diner itself was made in the 60's I think.

Re: good topic

[ron_newman]

I don't remember either, but Kelly's replaced a business block that had burned down a couple years earlier.