Editor's note: We asked readers to tell us which side of theCharles is better (Boston versus Cambridge, City Weekly, Sept. 7).Here are a few responses:
Side by side
Cambridge: scenic views, higher education, number of universitymuseums (Harvard and MIT), Click and Clack, intellectual conversation(see 'higher education'), boat houses.
Boston: Number of non-university museums (MFA, Museum of Science,Gardner, Aquarium, etc.); politics (neighborhood, city, state);sports (Fenway Park, FleetCenter); green space (Emerald Necklace);working farm (Allandale); beaches; history (Freedom Trail); highsociety (Beacon Hill, Back Bay); hotels; waterfront; public radiostations; public television station; major newspapers
Chris Santos
Brookline
Not my Cambridge
Re: 'Boston versus Cambridge': You seem to have gone out of yourway to find the most ill-suited writer on your staff to marshal adefense of Cambridge. Far from a representation of all the thingsthat make Cambridge a great place to live, Johnny Diaz's 'defense'succeeds only in praising everything that lessens the quality of lifein Cambridge. Of all the things this city has to offer by way ofculture, food, entertainment, and green space, it is ultimately thefaceless franchises and strip malls that keep Mr. Diaz in town.
Examples: Cambridge has dozens of independent bike shops, but Diazbuys his at Sears at the Galleria; Cambridge has City Video andHollywood Express, two of the finest video shops I've ever come upon,and Mr. Diaz goes to Blockbuster. He eats at Bertucci's, his'favorite pharmacy' is Walgreens, he buys gifts at Pier One, he seeshis movies at the Fresh Pond Loews, which, apparently, is greatbecause it vends Diet Coke and offers parking: two perks unavailableoutside of the confines of Cambridge, certainly.
Not once in his piece is the Brattle Theater mentioned, nor theKendall Square Cinema, nor Cambridge's numerous art spaces and musicclubs, nor MIT, nor Cambridge's people. Central Square ischaracterized by the existence of a Walgreens, Porter Square is hisfavorite by virtue of its preponderance of franchises, and InmanSquare which for food rivals his beloved South End doesn't evenwarrant a mention.
The last thing we need in Cambridge right now is another soullessdrab who moves to a new place, waxes wondrous about its uniquenessand charm, and then patronizes only franchises because they remindhim of home
Joe Keohane
Cambridge
More green to the south
Cambridge (in spite of Fresh Pond) lacks the serious public greenspaces that are tucked into every little corner of Boston. Both havesome larger green spaces ... but Boston seems both more green andmore urban to me. Think Union Square in the South End.
I do think Central Square has potential to become the next NewburyStreet ...
Maria Roges
Technical Writer
e-Learning Specialist
Alternative site
One alternative: Brookline. It is a great place to live if youhave children (good schools, parks and safety) or need quick accessto Boston (Back Bay, Symphony, MFA, Logan, etc.) And I love the factthat we have a Town Meeting form of government. Keep it in mind forthe future.
Frances Shedd-Fisher
Brookline
Positive neighborhood
I enjoyed Emily Sweeney's piece in Sunday's Globe ('Boston you'remy home'). It was good to see some writing in the Globe that waspositive about Dorchester for a change, rather than the usual fear-inducing routine of violence, drug abuse, etc. ...
I grew up in the Fields Corner area in the '60s and '70s and woundup graduating from Harvard College even commuting between the twofor several years. Although I live in Cambridge today, I have manygreat memories of Dorchester.
You should consider turning this piece into a longer feature ...keep up the good writing.
Lino Donati
Cambridge
Each needs the other
I've lived in Boston long enough to understand the point, and Iappreciate the humor in bringing it up in City Weekly ('Boston versusCambridge). But as someone who has lived on the 'B' side for most ofthe last 19 years (nearly 17 of them in Roslindale), I have to saythat either city would be greatly diminished without the presence ofthe other. Boston without Cambridge would lack the vibrant college-town feel, as well as much of its intellectual-progressive nature,both as a result of the powerful presence of Harvard and MIT. AndCambridge without Boston would be just another cute college town,like Ann Arbor, Mich., or Ithaca, N.Y. (with all due respect to thosewonderful towns). Both cities (Boston and Cambridge) are so much morethan they would be alone by having each other next door. I love themboth.
Karl Haakonsen
Roslindale
