Enjoyed walking across the Charles River to Cambridge, along Massachusetts Ave, to have brunch with…read moreour daughter and to enjoy the Harvard Art Museum, as well as to get cannolis at Mike's Pastry there. People watching is also fun in this city.

The garbage man was not taking our dog bags from the green bin. My wife (who is 7 months pregnant)…read morewas very upset and went to approach the man he calmly instructed her as to why he can not take them. However, to not stress the baby he took the bags. That is what you call someone who diffused a situation professionally and went above and beyond. We need more people like him

Would we be able to enjoy nature's fresh, crisp, delicious water if it weren't for the MWRA and the…read moreQuabbin Reservoir? Would we flush with confidence if not for the MWRA and Deer Island Treatment Plant? Would we smell icky water air without the efforts set forth by the MWRA? Hey you lucky residents of 51 communites (Cambridge not included), I hope you're drinking your tap water! (Cambridge water isn't bad, but just not from Quabbin). Check the website http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/02org/html/whatis.htm to see if you're within the MWRA drinking water supply. Whenever given the opportunity, I forgo bottled water and go straight for the tap. The Quabbin waters are so fresh and delicious, its unlike any other water I've tasted! Hey you lucky residents of 43 MWRA sewered communities, I hope you're being good to your sewers! Although much of your flushings are treated at the Deer Island Treatment Plant (white egg-shaped domes on island off shores of Winthrop), during large storms sometimes excess rainwater in the system causes icky overflows. MWRA and local municipalities are working to make the overflows less icky by separating the sewer pipes from stormwater pipes, though (whew). While I do not implore you to stick your head down the drain or dump your Poland Springs water cooler (well ... this is unnecessary IMO), did you know you can enjoy the wastewater treatment plant by using the walking trails around the plant? Unfortunately, you're limited to experiencing the Quabbin by supply regulations. No swimming and no doggies!

For me, Boston was a revelation, I always wanted to visit it and it exceeded my expectations!…read more It is big, with so many things to do and see. I packed a lot in four days. I wanted to stay longer but hotels are so expensive! The only downside! Public transportation is pretty good, it makes it easy to get around everywhere you need to go! Weather could be iffy even in the summer, so be flexible. The vibe of the city is more European with lots of history around, many firsts in US- public park, subway system, botanical gardens, etc. I loved the famous campuses in town - BU, Harvard. Stayed in Cambridge area. Lots of historical sites, did the Freedom Trail, loved it, learnt a lot (I've been reading more history books since then). Loved the parks and public spaces - Boston Common and Public Garden among them. Major sites - Newbury street, Kenmore Square, Copley Plaza, Back Bay are great to visit. Loved Beacon Hill old area. Great views over the Boston Harbor and the Esplanade on Charles River! Great art museums- Isabella Gardner Museum was a joy to visit and MFA is rich in art offering! Chinatown is a great neighborhood to visit and so is the historic North End. Great food, lots of cafe-s, restaurants, breweries. Didn't have time to shop, but there are some nice bookstores and loved the visitor centers! And I feel like I barely scratched the surface! Sports aren't my thing, but there are famous venues around. I'd love to come back one day, dig deeper, visit more. Lots left to be explored. My husband lived here in college and was a bit down on Boston, but this visit improved his perception. Lively, clean, easy to get around and orient yourself, not very crowded. Lots of American history with an European vibe and esthetic. Unique city that has lots to offer to visitors!

From the depths of a swamp, the inspection of Boston begins with an unexpected surprise!…read more May 1, 1822, the city of Boston was governed by a Mayor and Council . The roots of Boston go as far back as the Puritans looking for their new home . Many early settlers made their way here because Salem, Mass was too crowded. Then the battles with water shortages, disease, sanitation, and culture theory were a few things that they battled and then figured out . What's not to love here? The people of this great city generate love and happy as you admire the beauty all over the place. The rich history here is at every turn. Now the best way to see and celebrate this city is to walk . The traffic here is so bad. So get out and enjoy the surroundings of a new place. Those who are here, how it has changed from a book. When we visited every other corner a "protest was apparent." It was controlled and peaceful too. The individuals that wanted to voice their opinions did not riot or make others feel uncomfortable. We were asked to join in but we were on a time limit. We were not afraid to walk around the city and see what Boston was all about. The roots of religion and culture surrounding the holy word were ingrained into the ancient traditions of the founders. In fact they wanted to keep and create a controlled environment where religion and the people were allowed to exist is certain boundaries. If you violated these rules you could be punished. Even shunned. It was not anyway but the religious way that was dictated. One great example of this religious ideology was the belief to educate the people. The higher institutions of thought were created. In fact it still stands today. It's the school of Harvard. Now let's move forward to the new age of social media and how we see the world. It's the year 2026, let us not waste our time for the individuals of Boston are truly progressive. In fact all is protected! Whatever form of love you choose it's great? In fact it was the first city to guarantee equality for all in 1989. The idea of marriage passed for same sex couples in 2004. Why is this important, it's not but the idea of hope and "getting along," exists here . Remember love, in whatever form wins!

For a group that purports to promote peace and social justice, they sure are a ruthless bunch of…read morecryptofascist tyrants. More power to them! In fact, I applaud their boldness and efficiency in how they routinely disarm their opponents, only to turn around and brutally mow them down. Their ability to seize power so brazenly is a wonder to behold. What's so funny about peace, love and understanding now?! Eh?! Eh?!

From the owner: The Cambridge Peace Commission works in three main areas: *…read moreAddressing Violence and Promoting Peace in the Community * Supporting Diversity, Building Connections and Relationships, and Recognizing Peacemakers * Connecting with the Community and Connecting Cambridge with the Wider World The Peace Commission promotes peace and social justice within Cambridge and in the wider world by working with other municipal agencies, communities of faith, nonprofit organizations, and the community as a whole to build connections and strengthen relationships, and to promote positive dialogue and foster understanding. The Peace Commission fosters a community where differences and diversity are understood and celebrated, so that all residents can contribute to making Cambridge an equitable and peaceful community. It pays special attention to traumatic events and violence affecting Cambridge and its residents, and coordinates and supports compassionate community responses to support recovery and healing. The Peace Commission also supports Cambridge's Sister City relationships, including those with: Les Cayes, Haiti; San José Las Flores, El Salvador; and Yerevan, Armenia. It also celebrates Cambridge residents and local efforts with recognition programs and events, and raises awareness about local and global peace and social justice issues through educational forums, discussions, and presentations.

My family and I visited Fresh Pond for the first time and it was beautiful. We were lucky to have…read morefound street parking right across from the Trader Joe's. The loop was well paved in most areas and there were a couple off trails that were a nice surprise. It was pretty crowded even for a "not so great weather day" so I can imagine how busy it gets on a nice day. Loved how it was a dog friendly place. Most people didn't have their dogs on leash. This is great for families who feel comfortable with it but imagine it could be an issue for others. We will definitely be back!

Beautiful, well-maintained park, with a designated bike lane and separate walking path, which I…read moreLOVED - always less stressful for all parties knowing you have your own literal lane. The surroundings are gorgeous, I especially liked the smaller pond further off (think it's called Little Fresh Pond/Dog Beach on the map), with a peaceful seating area. When I went during the day, I didn't see a ton of other people milling about (lots of doggo's merrily bounding about). The one star off is for the parking situation. I actually tried coming here twice before finally succeeding. The first time, I found the nearby rotaries too daunting and gave up and went home. The second time, we finally conquered the rotaries but pulled into the parking lot right by the park to find resident only signs plastered everywhere. Seriously? No non-resident access even for one day out of the week? So here's a tip. On my third try, I just parked in the nearby Whole Foods lot and walked over. It was about five minutes with a sidewalk but I wasn't a fan of having to cross a super busy road to get into the park. Better than nothing, I guess. I've also heard there's street parking on the south end of the pond but you might need to do some circling.

My 1.5 year old and I really enjoy this library. We loved story time on fridays and occasional…read moreSaturdays. There is a small play area with puzzles, kitchen area, and blocks. There is a good though small parking area.

I love the Boston public library system!…read more To provide some context, as a kid I loved going to the library but in the country I grew up, libraries weren't free. And they definitely did not have any non-reading materials that the libraries around here have. Anyway, I was a voracious reader back then but I lost touch along the way. So I'm thankful to the Boston libraries, especially the Brighton branch, for reintroducing libraries and the love of reading to me. The Brighton branch is great! The reason I chose this branch was because it's close to home (I visit once a week is probably an underestimation!). But the librarians are friendly, the space is well maintained and clean, and the timings are great (open on Saturdays, say what?!). There are even comfy chairs throughout the library to sit and read. Apart from traditional books, the library provides DVDs (movies, sitcoms, documentaries, etc.), graphic novels, organizes events, etc. and caters to all age groups. Thank you, Boston, for such a wonderful public resource.

NASTY NASTY NASTY elderly woman on the far left needs to RETIRE!! horrible, disrespectful,…read moreincredibly unhelpful and simply the worst customer experience I have EVER had. By far the rudest and most incompetent person I have ever experienced working a customer facing job. A complete idiot. I have lived in Somerville for over 4 years and this place is a nightmare every time you need a permit renewed. I would rate in the negatives if I could.

Yelp only allows ratings from 1 to 5 stars. If there were an option to give less, I would…read moredefinitely give them negative 100. I never received a single snow emergency notification a day in advance after signing up. The city does not provide any public parking lots during snow emergencies, and there is literally no space to park on the odd-numbered side. I went to their hearing office, and the woman there sat for half an hour doing nothing. When she finally noticed us waiting for an appeal, she acted surprised. Trying to explain the situation felt pointless -- she completely ignored what I said and simply told me to pay within 10 business days. Filing a second-level appeal for a $100 fine costs $200. Do you really need that much money from residents? I would honestly prefer to have the male hearing officer handle the case, as he was much more professional and willing to listen. The other male hearing officer was much nicer and did a far better job compared to her.

This is a review for the Suffolk Probate and Family Court…read more I've sat in Suffolk Family Court long enough to recognize the soundtrack. It's the shuffle of papers, the sighs, the clock that never moves, and the quiet sound of people's lives getting billed by the hour. You want to know what went wrong? I watched it. Day after day. Same hallway. Same fear. Different families. Judges? Overworked. Exhausted. Politicized. Good people once, now just trying to get through a docket like it's TSA on Thanksgiving. Lawyers? They don't fight for justice. They fight for extensions. Every motion is a revenue stream. Every delay is a vacation home getting closer. They drain savings accounts with straight faces and sleep just fine knowing the kids are collateral damage. And the guardians....don't get me started. Some of them shouldn't be guarding a goldfish. No grasp of psychology. No understanding of trauma. Enormous power. Minimal oversight. That's not protection, that's roulette. This system doesn't listen. It processes. It grinds families down until everyone's too tired to keep going, then calls that resolution. I left because I couldn't watch it anymore. Too many parents breaking. Too many kids learning early that adults in robes don't always mean safety. There's a sadness in those courtrooms you can feel in your chest. And if you're not careful, it teaches you to shrink. To comply. To shut up. Don't. Strength doesn't always look like winning. Sometimes it looks like enduring without losing yourself. Teach your kids to trust their instincts, even when adults in authority fail them. You have to walk in strong. Eyes up. Spine straight. Because intimidation is baked into the architecture. These people should not have the power they have. Not without real oversight. Real training. Real accountability. To the Governor of Massachusetts, the Governor's Council, the Chief Justice, and those charged with oversight of the Probate & Family Court: Families are trapped in this system for months and often years, waiting for decisions that directly affect children's safety, stability, and development. These delays are not administrative inconveniences--they cause real and lasting harm. Without rigorous review, nothing changes. Immediate intervention, transparency, and reform are required, including a comprehensive review of judicial performance and court operations to address the human cost of prolonged inaction. Family court shouldn't feel like punishment for loving your kids. And when it does, when it breaks families instead of protecting them that's not justice. That's rot. And anyone paying attention knows it. Tell your story. Silence is how this stays hidden.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR JURY DUTY: (1) phones and laptops ARE allowed past security, (2) you can buy food…read moreand drinks at the little cafe and credit cards are accepted, (3) limited wifi is available in the break room, (4) outlets are available in both rooms (though more of them are in the break room) I gotta say, this is about as well-organized a process as jury duty gets. Here is a brief rundown of my day (as others have also shared), with some tips along the way. Instructions mailed to me say to show up by 8am at the Suffolk County Courthouse at 3 Pemberton Square. Finding the courthouse is a little tricky. Most people will probably be coming from the Cambridge Street/Tremont Street side of the plaza, so just walk through the tunnel under the "Center Plaza" sign next to Caffe Nero at the intersection of Court Street and Tremont. Go past Caffe Nero on the right and walk up the stairs. When you get to the brick courtyard/parking area, follow the row of parked cars to the right and you will see the entrance to the courthouse. Once I entered the courthouse, here's how the day unfolded... 7:45 go through security (very short line of 2 people in front of me - security officers were very pleasant) 7:48 directed to take elevator to 2nd floor and go to Room 218 (easy to find, right near elevators) 7:50 check in and submit juror questionnaire (first one on line) 7:55 grab coffee and breakfast sandwich at "Court Café" (credit cards accepted) - sandwich was hot, fresh, and pretty good (tasted home made) 7:55-8:30 wait in main jury pool room or break room (break room is much smaller but has better AC and gets wifi; main room does not) 8:30-9:00 general instructions read, video about jury service shown, and judge speaks to jury pool 9:00-11:00 continue waiting in jury pool room with periodic announcements that they are waiting to hear from judges upstairs 11:00 the last trial reached a plea deal, so no one is needed today!!! Everyone leaves quickly before they change their minds! LOL At several points, we were reminded that we should receive a jury service certificate in 7-10 days in the mail. This will enable us to be excused from jury service again for 3 years.