Community Running if you're open to track workouts! Pace inclusive, Monday and Wednesday nights. I know you said "casual," but if you're open to fast-casual, the energy is goofy and not intense.

Some laundromats have a bill-to-quarter machine. You don't need to actually use the laundromat to use the machine. What I used to do was get a $20 as cash back from the grocery store, then transfer it to quarters at Belmont Street Laundry.

Others have said it, but I want to emphasize that you're asking this question at the *perfect* time. The JK/K lottery is this month and only this month! (Well, you can register later, but you have less choice.) Act now!

Also - the CPSD site has recordings of Zoom information sessions explaining the lottery. Might be helpful.

Also also - Cambridge is full of excellent elementary schools. You're unlikely to make a wrong choice.

Some of the other branches of CPL are also great. They do vary, but I live near Collins and it's super cozy.

They will also be giving out books to kids! :)

When I was a VT journo, I interviewed Scott a handful of times. He's a smart, thoughtful guy. And he always had a sane answer lined up for whatever questions I threw at him. I'm as progressive as they come, but I really came to respect him.

And yeah, by most states' standards, he's not a Republican.

Carnage at the NYC Marathon too. It's hot out.

I've used two online firms (Progressive and Geico) and one mom-and-pop while living in Cambridge. I have no clue why there isn't a bigger national-firm presence! I can tell you that when my car got hit by a truck--a no-fault accident with serious damage--Progressive communicated directly with an in-network auto shop to assess repairs. The experience of getting in a serious accident was horrible, but my insurance experience was ok. It didn't matter to me that there was no field office. I got my car fixed & my record cleared, which is what I wanted.

I left the mom-and-pop shop, which was also fine, because this past year my insurance doubled in price for no reason. After confirming that I wasn't misinterpreting anything, I bailed for Geico. Based on the convo with the insurance agent, I think it's a tough year for the mom and pop shops, and they're getting more expensive across the board. But YMMV.

One of CHA's central goals is getting medical care to poor & underserved populations. If you don't fall into those categories, then yeah, Mount Auburn is going to have way nicer amenities! But CHA isn't *bad* as an overall org. It's just population-health oriented & thus a little rougher around the edges.

Protestors for affirmative action have been out & about recently, although mostly closer to Harvard.

Sure, of course! Dude, I'm on your side! I meant that the overall rhetoric we use around bikes and cars can be moralizing in a way that makes it sound like disabled lives don't matter. "Down with cars, everybody bikes" is alienating and isolating to people with different realities. (I know you're not saying that, but people do.) It doesn't have to be disabled folks; think about young children or families, for a different example. I agree that it's not ableist to encourage and uplift public transport and biking. I'll vote for such policies every time. But the vitriol and condescension toward cars--it's neither righteous nor kind.

Yeah, I bike everywhere but think frequently that it's an ableist big-picture solution. We do need something better for aging and/or disabled residents.

Crunchy, vibey. Sometimes compared with Hampshire, although less of a train wreck. Like other commenters, I'm unclear why you'd go there over UVM or Midd. (Or, moving south a little, the 5 Colleges.)

Edited to add--just realized OP currently goes there, and this is a mean comment. There's nothing wrong with Bennington, I think it has a fine reputation! Just, yeah, a little pricey and scattered.