An independent book store in Harvard Square (not associated with Harvard University), Harvard Book Store is one of our favorite book stores, period. Over the years, Beth and Chris spent numerous hours here—together and individually, to see book talks, to find something new, or just to kill time. We still stop back in (and leave with heavier bags and lighter wallets) whenever we are in town. Be sure to check out their recommendations (Amazon can't compete with great curation) and visit the remainders section downstairs for heavily discounted books.

Subway: Take the Red Line towards Alewife. Get off at Harvard Square.

Need a breakfast sandwich, a quick lunch, or an afternoon coffee? Darwin's Ltd serves the best in Cambridge. Chris's favorite combo: a Sumner sandwich (incredible egg salad), a latte (pulled by a talented barista), and a mint-buttercream sandwich cookie (you'll never want to leave). This was a favorite spot for us to hang out when Chris was in town and Beth was between classes.

If you're bumming around Cambridge, you can hit their original location on Mt. Auburn St off of Harvard Square, but for the authentic Beth and Chris experience, take a pleasant stroll east through Harvard's campus, to the Cambridge St location.

Atwood's Tavern is a diamond-in-the-rough, an unassuming bar that plays host to great music in Boston's roots/americana scene. Chris and Beth first met in a car on the way to Atwood's Tavern in Cambridge, east of Inman Square. Keep an eye on the March 2016 calendar-- but, in 2015, Tim Gearan, a favorite Boston musician, was playing Friday night shows at 10pm. If Tim Gearan or Sean Staples will be playing when you're in town, GO.

How to get there: not easily subway accessible-- but luckily pretty close to the museum and the recommended Cambridge hotels. Grab a cab.

Probably no place in Boston is more special to us than Lizard Lounge. Over the course of a three year period from 2007 to 2009, at least one member of our Cambridge posse—Beth, Chris, Mark, and Matt—was at every show of Session Americana's weekly residency. Great bar food and one of the Cambridge area's best rotating draft beer list add to Lizard Lounge's magic. Keep an eye on the calendar—but even if you don't catch a show, the upstairs bar/restaurant Cambridge Common is still a great place for lunch or dinner.

Subway: take the Red Line to the Harvard Square stop. Cambridge Common is a few blocks north of the square on Mass Ave.