Square Routes (Solution)

by Kevin Chen

This is a puzzle about square dancing. The names listed with each set of instructions are gendered corresponding to dance role and increase alphabetically corresponding to couple numbering. (The names are taken from the list of most popular names in the 1990s.)

A sequence of square dance calls (centered on Central Square with the "A" couple as #1 couple) is traced out by having the 8 people follow the instructions. At the end of each step, one of the 8 people is instructed to "Record your location." At this point, that person records the name of the Cambridge square indicated on a nearby sign.

Once all the paths are traced, they can be converted into square dance calls. Each call has a canonical number assigned to it in the Callerlab Mainstream list (either from the checklist or the definitions). As suggested by the title (square routes) and the flavor text, take the floor of the square root of the call number, and then index into the name of the square at each step, giving the answer HOME BASE.

Heads Lead Right (18 → 4), Ric[h]ie Kenney Square → H

Right and Left Thru (22 → 4), Nic[o]la & Philomena Sorrentino Square → O

Square Thru 2 (28 → 5), John [M]. Gibson Square → M

1/2 Circulate (21 → 4), Rev[e]rend Larry Love Square → E

Swing Thru (39 → 6), Wolf A[b]dias & Stanley Esdras Jules Square → B

Recycle (68 → 8), James O. D[a]nce Jr. Square → A

Pass the Ocean (41 → 6), Reale [S]quare → S

Balance (37 → 6), Richi[e] Kenney Square → E

Detailed solution

Andrew

  • Start at Landsdowne St and Franklin St.
  • NW on Franklin, NE on Brookline St, NW on Mass Ave, NE on Norfolk St, NW on Bishop Allen Dr (known as Bishop Richard Allen Dr to the USPS), NE on Inman St.
  • NE on Inman St to Broadway (68 bus route), SW on Inman St to Harvard St (backward), E on Harvard St (backward, in direction of 64, 83, and 91 bus routes) to Norfolk St, N on Norfolk St to Broadway (backward, looking for Metric Systems sign by Elm St).
  • S on Norfolk St, NW on Bishop Allen Dr to Inman St.
  • SW on Inman St to Mass Ave (Life Alive). Record your location (Reverend Larry Love Square).
  • S on Pleasant St, NW on Green St, N on Sellers St, N on Clinton St, West on Harvard St, S on Lee St.
  • NW on Mass Ave, NE on Hancock St to Centre St.
  • SW on Hancock St, SE on Kinnaird St to bend in street.
  • Continue forward a few steps and back.

Ashley

  • Start at Main St and Bishop Allen Dr.
  • NW on Bishop Allen Dr (away from U-Haul), NE on Columbia St, W on Washington St, NE on Norfolk St.
  • NE on Norfolk St to Broadway (Sennott Park), NW on Broadway to Inman St.
  • SW on Inman St, SE on Bishop Allen Dr to Norfolk St (Central Square Farmers Market).
  • Bishop Allen Dr to Douglass St, Douglass St to Mass Ave.
  • S on Brookline St, W on Green St, North on Pearl St to Mass Ave.
  • N on Norfolk St, E on Washington St, S on Cherry St, W on Main St to Bishop Allen Dr. Record your location (James O. Dance Jr. Square).
  • S on Columbia St and Sidney St, NW on Tudor St to Brookline St.
  • Continue forward a few steps and back.

Brandon

  • Start at Broadway and Elm St.
  • Record your location (Richie Kenney Square).
  • NW on Broadway (away from Squirrel Brand Park), SW on Norfolk St to Washington St, NE on Norfolk St (backward), NW on Harvard St (backward), SW on Inman St.
  • NE on Inman St, E on Broadway to Tremont St. Record your location (John M. Gibson Square).
  • E on Broadway to Windsor St, S on Windsor St to Front St, SW on Front St to Mass Ave.
  • SE on Landsdowne St, NW on Green St, N on Sidney St and Columbia St, W on Bishop Allen Dr, S on Douglass St to Mass Ave.
  • SW on Brookline St, NW on Green St, N on Pearl and Essex Streets, SE on Bishop Allen Dr to Norfolk St.
  • SW on Norfolk and Pearl Streets, SE on Auburn St to Brookline St.
  • Continue forward a few steps and back.

Brittany

  • Start at Broadway and Inman St.
  • Do nothing.
  • SW on Inman St, SE on Bishop Allen Dr, N on Norfolk St to Washington St.
  • N on Norfolk St, NW on Broadway to Inman St.
  • W on Broadway, S on Lee St to Mass Ave.
  • Cross Mass Ave, and on other side of street, W to Hancock St, and cross back.
  • NE on Hancock, E on Harvard St, S on Inman St to Bishop Allen Dr.
  • SW on Inman and Pleasant, SW on River St to Howard St.
  • Continue forward a few steps and back.

Christopher

  • Start at Harvard St and Hancock St.
  • SE on Harvard St (in the direction of Clinton St), SW on Inman St (woman if two letters were changed), SE on Mass Ave, SW on Pleasant St, SE on Green St, SW on Brookline St to Franklin St.
  • SW on Brookline St to Decatur St, NE on Brookline St (backward), NW on Lopez St and Cottage St (backward), SW on Magazine St (backward), NW on Upton St (backward).
  • NE on Pleasant St, SE on Franklin St to Brookline St.
  • N on Brookline St, W on Green St, N on Pearl St to Mass Ave.
  • N on Norfolk St, E on Bishop Allen Dr, S on Douglass St and Brookline St, E on Green St, N on Sidney St, cross Mass Ave and go across the park. Record your location (Wolf Abdias & Stanley Esdras Jules Square).
  • E on State St, S on Village St, SW on Landsdowne St, NW on Franklin St to Sidney St.
  • NE on Sidney and Columbia St, W on Washington St to Fisk Pl.
  • Continue forward a few steps and back.

Courtney

  • Start at Hancock St and Franklin St.
  • SE on Franklin St to Pleasant St.
  • SW on Pleasant St, SE on Kelly Rd, McTernan St, and Valentine St. NE on Brookline St to Decatur St.
  • NE on Brookline St, NW on Franklin St to Pleasant St.
  • NE on Pleasant St, NW on Green St, NW on Sellers St to Mass Ave.
  • NE on Bigelow St, SE on Dorothy "Dottie" Doyle Way (behind City Hall), SW on Inman St to Mass Ave.
  • SW on Pleasant St, NW on Franklin St to Hancock St.
  • NE on Hancock St to Broadway, E on Broadway to Inman St. Record your location (Reale Square).
  • Continue forward a few steps and back.

Daniel

  • Start at Pleasant St and Upton St.
  • Do nothing.
  • NE on Pleasant St to Franklin St, SW on Pleasant St to Cottage St (backward), SE on Cottage St (backward), NE on Pearl St (backward), SE on Watson St (backward), NE on Brookline St to Franklin St (backward).
  • SW on Brookline St, NW on Deactur, Perry, Upton Streets.
  • NW on Kinnaird St, NE on Hancock St to Mass Ave.
  • NE on Hancock St, E on Harvard St, S on Lee St to Mass Ave. Cross to the other side of Mass Ave, SE to Sellers St, cross to the other side of Mass Ave.
  • SE on Mass Ave, SW on Pleasant St to Franklin St.
  • NE on Pleasant and Inman St to Harvard St. NW on Harvard St to Clinton St.
  • Continue forward a few steps and back.

Danielle

  • Start at Brookline St and Decatur St.
  • Do nothing.
  • NE on Brookline St, NW on Green St, SW on Pleasant St to Franklin St. Record your Location (Nicola & Philomena Sorrentino Square).
  • SW on Pleasant St, SE on Kelly Rd, Lawrence, and Valentine Streets to Brookline St.
  • E on Tudor St to Sidney St, NE on Sidney St to Mass Ave.
  • E on State St (turning when reaching Blanche St), S on Village St.
  • SW on Landsdowne St, W on Franklin St (start of 64 and 70 bus routes) to Pearl St (second stop on 47 bus route).
  • NE on Pearl and Essex Streets, E on Broadway (central walkway of Alcatraz) to Elm St.
  • Continue forward a few steps and back. Record your location (Richie Kenney Square).