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Bostonostalgia...

I've been on a run of "gee I miss..." lately. For example:

Gee I miss Newbury Pizza.

Gee I miss Conran's on Exeter St.

Gee I miss the Hancock observatory.

Gee I miss "Where's Boston."

Then there's the Harvard Square version, which is somewhat longer... And includes some things that are nominally still there.

Gee I miss The Coop.

Gee I miss The Harvard Square Cinema.

Gee I miss The Wursthaus.

Gee I miss Discount Records.

Gee I miss The Spa.

Gee I miss Ruggles Pizza.

Gee I miss 10 Arrow,

What spots do you miss? What's new that makes up for it?

And, for those seeking more thorough lost Harvard Square reminders, there's this.

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Comments

I miss the Littlest, and I've found nothing that made up for it.

I miss Pete's Pub.

I guess nights with my wife make up for both.... I don't go out anymore really.

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Nothing has taken it's place, and now I'm sad just thinking about it.

===========================

From the brains behind http://www.bigdumptruck.com

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The pub that replaced Pete's, Dirty Nelly, isn't that bad. It's basically Pete's with a fresh coat of paint, and you can still get a good slice at Adam's for the walk home!

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Gee I miss Conran's on Exeter St.

You don't miss the Exeter Street Theatre? That's what the building was before it was Conran's.

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Wasn't that where they used to have the midnight showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show with discounts for coming in costume (and where they frisked you for props, but the toilet paper went flying anyway)?

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Underground, not overpriced, and downstairs, not upscale.

I'm in eternal mourning for the Someday, but I really think it died with first owner, who I'd been acquainted with since high school. Gawd did I love that place in the first days - it was like taking a trip back to Portland without the airfare, trailblazers stickers, good coffee, excellent music and all. Before they expanded into the next door space, before they flipped the place around the corner in the theater renovation, back when you had to shout upstairs to the basketball space to get a mid-day unemployment coffee - that was the real time of love.

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Nemos is still around, but is on Centre Street between Hyde and Jackson Squares. It's the exact same place, same red sign, same nautical themed interior, same folks asking over and over whether you really want hot peppers on your salami sub. I go every now and then because it is the only piece of the Kenmore I knew and loved that still exists at all, so far as I can tell. Back when it was still in Kenmore, I could show up after not stepping in for a year or two, and everybody would still remember me and be excited to talk old times.

Other old Kenmore items I miss dearly:

The Rathskellar
The smaller, funkier India Quality
Father's Too
The Cask n Flaggon (not the yuppie sports bar but the neighborhood dive it was in the 80s)
Charlie's
Mr. Butch :(

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I loved Nemo's! Great place for subs and such, and a decent spot to hang at while waiting for friends to meet you. Great people watching.

I also miss The Rat, for personal reasons. I played there, back in the early 80's, with a forgettable band called P.S. Wild. It was probably the most high-profile gig of my less-than-stellar career as a musician.

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

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The Delihaus.
Liberty Cafe.
The elevated North Station platform.
The (real) Gaaaaahden.
The Rat.
the Kenmore IHOP.

... and not to be too obvious, Filene's Basement.

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On the side of the old North Station elevated tracks.

Hmm, I also miss the silhouettes on the side of the Cambridge-Lee plant in Allston.

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I miss the elevated itself. That's probably a minority position, but I really do. I have some wonderful memories of taking it out to Everett and/or Sullivan Square to hang with friends from Malden, and also of taking it to Forest Hills when I was a kid, to visit with my grandparents in Roslindale.

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

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When I was a teenager, that's where I hung out when I was in town. On Pancake Special day (was it Thursdays?), all you can eat pancakes were 1.99, and the 50c coffee was bottomless. So for less than three bucks, you got full.

Harvard Square was never the same once they filled the hole in.

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"Where's Boston?" Wow. I also loved Newbury Pizza. I also miss:

The English Room

Bailey's, esp. the one on Boylston Street

The Steak Pit in Harvard Square

The Tasty in Harvard Square

and a whole bunch of other stuff.

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The Liberty.
The Phoenix.
The Iron Lung.

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It was near the corner of Beacon and Park Drive, next to Christie's. It was a short lived but very awesome place - it went out of business around the time of the smoking ban implementation.

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The Greenhouse
Sparr's

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ska shows at local 186 in allston.

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I too miss Newbury Pizza, but Bostone Pizza, in the same location, makes up for the loss really well.

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Back when there was just one and it was something exotic and people went there on a Saturday night as an adventure.

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yeah!! now we have him here in Northampton, MA.!!(IT's called Herrell's--steve's last name) and he lives just down the street from me!!
I remember the long lines in Somerville winding around the corner block! What a treat.

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I miss the Pizzeria Regina. I think it's Sandrine's now. The bar & the ovens were on the first floor but the main dining room was in the basement, with huge wooden booths. We used to sit in the smoking section with a blue cloud of clove cigarette smoke hanging over us.

And yeah, I second the Mug & Muffin.

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Nowhere else can I get advice from strangers in the fitting room. "You are rocking that dress, honey!" etc. I know it's not going to be the same when it comes back.

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I miss when dressing rooms didn't even exist in the Basement and you changed next to the columns that had mirrors on them.

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I miss Newbury C O M I C S

and that big eatery right next to the Boston Garden

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They still exist, they're all over, and I think they even still sell some comic books.

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I now call 'em Newbury-so-called-Comics, now that the ratio of comics to other products is about 1 to a gazillion. Still an interesting place to wander thru..

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Sage's. I useed to get home made stew/soup for lunch. What is it now? Cinguler or something? ahg....

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The former Sage's stands vacant, though papered-over windows indicate that something new might possibly open there. I hope for the return of Sage's but I know it's very unlikely.

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I read some story a few weeks ago about Harvard renting out that storefront and subleasing it to a new grocer who should be opening soon.

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Filene's Basement.

Tower Records.

Wordsworth.

Avenue Victor Hugo books.

Kenmore Square.

Harvard Square.

Downtown Crossing.

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Revisiting this thread brings on the melancholia by the bucket. More things I miss...

New England Music City

The Watertown Streetcar Line

While some of the actual stops still exist, I miss the old names for some of them, i.e., Washington, Columbia, Devonshire, Summer/Winter, Atlantic, Essex, Friend/Union...

(I know that's an odd one, but I do.)

The Waldorfs and Bickfords cafeterias that dotted the city, providing great grease-filled breakfasts on the cheap (and, I always assumed from looking at the countermen, gave numerous just-released convicts their first outside jobs.)

And, of more recent vintage, Brigham's

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

(

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The excellent army/navy stores in Harvard Square and Kenmore Square.

Stairway to Heaven in downtown crossing

Jordan Marsh and their muffins

The Mug and Muffin

Oh well...

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This is a list I posted on my blog back in January. You can add Filene's Basement to the list, and probably a few others but I don't really want to think on it now.

Denise’s Ice Cream - Davis Square
Disc Diggers - Davis Square
Union Square Bistro - Union Square
Eat - Union Square
Tir Na nOg - Union Square
hardware store - Magoun Square (just because I can’t remember its name doesn’t mean I don’t miss it)
WordsWorth Books - Harvard Square
Billings & Stover Apothecary - Harvard Square
Sage’s grocery store - Harvard Square
Johnny’s Luncheonette - Central Square
Kendall Cafe - Kendall Square
Curious Liquids - Beacon Hill
Cafe Marliave - Downtown
The Littlest Bar - Downtown
Irish Embassy Pub - West End
Mike’s Doughnuts - Everett
Juicy Lucy’s - Watertown

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Ashmont
Ali's Roti Wrap

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Which is now a sports bar, apparently.

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This was on Route 99 in the 'wasteland' part of Everett, right? I did not know this had closed. What is there now?

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Last time I went by there it was a Dunkin' Donuts.

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These places may only be remembered by those my age; that is, ancient and crumbling to dust any day now.

I miss New England Music City in Kenmore Square. I bought half my record collection there, back in the 70's.

I miss the Waldorf's and Bickford's that used to be so numerous. Good greasy breakfasts at a cheap price.

I miss the following downtown stores: Kresge's, Kennedy's, Grant's, Raymond's ("Where U Bot The Hat", it said on a sign, although I never knew why), Mickey Finn's, and, of course, Jordan Marsh.

I miss Dini's Restaurant on Tremont. For that matter, I miss Chez Freddie's, the bar just off of Tremont.

I also miss The Combat Zone, but maybe we'd better not go there.

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

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Now I just have to drown my sorrows at the Pleasant Cafe in Roslindale, but it's not the same :-).

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... but The Pleasant sure is :-)

That joint has barely changed in 40 years. I guess that's why I love it.

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

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I remember that store. It was a block from where I lived as an MIT student. It's now a Campus Convenience store.

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Jeez - the other day I was just telling my daughter about The Spa: the first place I ever had soft serve frozen yogurt.
I miss Rowinsky's, too. That was some good cheesecake.

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I wanted to let you know. I came aross your blog because Rowinskys Cheescake was mentioned. I am the keeper of the flame for Rowinskys Cheesecake. This was my fathers business and in fact my brothers and I are working on a plan to restart it. I cannot give out the family recipe unfortunately. It was literally one of my fathers dying wishes that I keep it close to the chest. If your interested in corrisponding you may email me at [email protected]

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My husband and I spent 4 years in the Boston area attending college (Brandeis) and I just wanted to let you know we used to venture into Cambridge once a month for your father's cheesecake....best cheesecake in the world! One Valentine's Day he had even bought me a heart-shaped cheesecake - I still have the picture of myself holding it! Hope you re-open the store, I'm sure it would be a great success!

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Rowinsky is the best cheesecake in the world and I once worked down the road from the company in Cambridge. I discovered one day they are not in that location and I truly miss having a cheesecake. Do you know if a place sells them or still making them. I would travel a long way just to have one or two again!!
Thank You
Howard cohen

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I still remember Rowinsky's cheesecake as the BEST cheesecake that I ever had. I saw an article in Yankee magazine in the late 70s, early 80's. Our company had a project in Lawrence that I was auditing and on one of my trips I located Rowinsky's and bought 3 cheesecakes to bring along back. I shared one with a co-worker. The next trip to Lawrence I had to stop and bring back some extra cheesecakes. They were fantastic. I was sorry to learn that the owner passed away in the mid 90s. It would be great if they did reopen - with mail order since I no longer get to travel to the Boston area - on the company expense plan.

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I miss Harvard Square immensely! I grew up there...going there when I visited my grandparents in Cambridge, and later, when I was in college in Boston. My sister and I used to go to The Greenhouse next to Nini's Corner when we were kids, go to the Harvard Square Theater on Thanksgiving Day...then in later years, she worked there, and we would get into the movies for free. In college I worked at Ruggles Pizza, shopped at the Coop, and closed my eyes as I walked past the Wursthaus (because of the beef tongue they always had in the window! LOL). And dont forget Out of Town News!

I love Harvard Sq!! I miss it even more now that I live out of the country, but whenever I do home, I always visit.

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The Greenhouse closed within the past year or so. I'm not sure what is replacing it.

Nini's Corner has changed its name to Crimson Corner, but it's the same place with the same merchandise.

Ruggles Pizza is long gone. I forget what is now in their old space, possibly C'est Bon Convenience store.

The Harvard Square Theatre is still open, but it now has 5 movie screens and no more live shows.

The Coop is still there, but may be unrecognizable, as the book department is now in the front builidng, with other stuff in the back buildings. The Coop is no longer a full-line department store. The only clothing it still sells is stuff with Harvard logos on it.

The Wursthaus is also long-gone. Z Square restaurant has taken its place.

Out of Town News is scheduled to close at the end of January! The city is taking bids on what will replace it (hopefully, another newsstand).

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Reading International -- Who remembers?

Ruggles Pizza became Mass Army Navy for about 10 years. It closed down and C'est Bon, which was a cafe/bakery, expanded into its space. I think they've ceased food prep operations and now Finagle a Bagel is in their old storefront.

Also gone are Discount Records, the Tasty, One Potato Two Potato, Buddy's Steak Pit, and, more recently, Wordsworth.

Capt. Nemo's had Super Punch Out when I was of loitering age. I had no idea it just relocated. Strawberries was on the same Kenmore Square strip, as was the giant sock place -- Super Socks or something?

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It was owned by Sheldon Cohen who at the time also owned Out of Town News.

After RI closed, a "homeopathic" (i.e. fraudulent) drug store called Harnett's moved in. That closed a couple of years ago, and now it's an American Apparel store.

Record stores in Harvard Square have taken a beating. Discount Records, HMV, Tower Records, Sam Goody, Strawberries -- all gone. The lone survivor is Newbury Comics.

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For most of its history, Out of Town News was owned by a local businessman. I believe his name was Cohen. He was considered something of a local character and was famous for his feuds with the guy who owned Nini's Corner.

Out of Town News was famous for having newspapers and magazines from around the world. Of course, the students and academicians who frequent Harvard Square were among the first to get hip to the Internet, and when newspapers began appearing online, they stopped going to Out of Town. In the late 90s, I believe, the long-time owner sold the place to a national chain that operates news stands in airport terminals and large train stations.

Now I guess even the national chain can't stand up to the Internet competition.

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The way my father talks about Ruggles is really out of control. I was really young when he used to take me there but he went there every single work day for lunch. He says the one thing he wishes for before he dies is one more Ruggles pizza. He's seriously obsessed. If there is any way that you could tell me how to make the pizza it would make my dads life! Thanks, fingers crossed =)

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My sister and I are the same way about Ruggles and both of us even lived in the North End, home of real Napolitan pizza. But we worked in the financial district and ate at the Washington St Ruggles at least 3 times a week. Even had a favorite waiter, Paul, who would make sure there was extra cheddar on our pizzas and cute guys seated at the tables near us!

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Do you happen to have the recipe for the pizza?

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More places and things I miss, Dorchester/Mattapan edition.

The Cathay Village restaurant in Mattapan Square. Great Americanized Cantonese cuisine.

The Oriental Theater, movie palace of my youth.

The old Ashmont station, before the redesign. I mean way back, in the 60's and 70's, when there was an upper level bus station.

The Embers, where chickens roasted enticingly in the window and made you drool as you walked by.

Lucky Strike bowling lanes in Fields Corner.

Ah, shit, I think I'm gonna go open a bottle of Old Granddad and quit bothering folks...

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

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