So you want to get to the HMS Putnam?
By Foot
Starting in Central Square
From the intersection of Mass Ave and Prospect Ave, go west, crossing
the bus stop area and passing the Ras Cafe. You will be on River
Street, which is one-way towards Central Square. Walk about ten blocks
to the second stoplight; this is the intersection of River and
Putnam. There should be an auto parts yard on the left and Riverside
Pizza on the right, and Osco across the street on the left. Turn left
and cross the diagonal street. 346 Putnam is the second house on the
left.
Starting at MIT
Go north on Mass Ave to University Park (location of Star/Shaw's
supermarket, and The Asgard restaurant (formerly Austin Grill,
RIP)). Turn left onto Sidney Street (which passes through the
University Park gate). Go about ten blocks to the stoplight, which is
the intersection with Putnam Ave. Turn right and go north about six
blocks (past two stoplights at Brookline Ave and Magazine Street, and
a blinking light at Pleasant Street). 346 Putnam is the first house on
the right after the park.
Starting in Harvard Square
Take Mass Ave or Mt. Auburn St. towards Central Square. At the
intersection of Mt. Auburn, Mass Ave, and Putnam Ave (the corner with
the Crate and Barrel), turn right onto Putnam. Go seven blocks south
to the intersection of River St. (which is identifiable by being
one-way towards Central Square) and Putnam Ave. Riverside Pizza will
be on the left and Osco will be across the street to the right. Cross
the intersection to the east side of Putnam Ave, and cross the
diagonal street. 346 Putnam is the second house on the left.
Saferide
If the weather is bad, or you're a lazy bum, and you're coming from
MIT campus, you can take Saferide to within
a short distance of the HMS Putnam. Take the Cambridge West
van, from the bus stop in front of the student center. Stay on the van
until pika (after dorm row;
the first stop after getting off Memorial Drive and back onto little
streets), and then ask the driver to let you off at the corner of
Chestnut and Magazine (it's where the van turns right after stopping
at pika). Go right on Magazine street one block to the intersection
with Putnam. Turn left onto Putnam Ave. 346 Putnam is the first house
on the right after the park.
By Car
From MIT
Go north on Mass Ave to University Park (location
of Star/Shaw's supermarket, and The Asgard restaurant (formerly Austin
Grill, RIP)). Turn left onto Sidney Street, passing through the
University Park gate. Go about ten blocks to the stoplight, which is
the intersection with Putnam Ave. Turn right and go north about six
blocks (past two stoplights at Brookline Ave and Magazine Street and a
blinking yield light at Pleasant Street). 346 Putnam is the first
house on the right after the park.
From Central Square
Go to the intersection of Mass Ave, Prospect Ave, and Western
Ave. Take Western Ave. Go about 12 blocks to the third stoplight (the
Western Front club is located on the northwest corner of this
intersection). Turn left onto Putnam Ave. Go one block to the next
stoplight (intersection of Putnam Ave and River St), and through. The
house is the second house on the left.
From the Mass Pike (I-90)
Take the exit for Cambridge/Allston (a left exit if you're coming from
the west). Turn left and cross the River St. bridge into
Cambridge. Turn right onto Putnam Ave, which is immediately after the
Osco drugstore on the right. The house is the second one on the
left.
Parking
Putnam Ave has Cambridge permit parking. If you're
adventerous you can park in the Osco or Bread and Circus lots across
the street, but they do tow on occasion.
How do I know when I'm there?
- You're at a blue house that looks like this
picture.
- A vague sense of vertigo is triggered by the non-rectangular shape
of the building.
- You look across the street and see a corner of the Putnam Cafe.
- You find a windowless wood-strip door in an alcove with a
handle but no traditional doorknob.
- The aroma of black beans and salsa becomes overwhelming.
Ring both doorbells!
One doorbell rings downstairs and one rings upstairs, and they don't
both always work. Ring both to be sure.
nathanw@mit.edu
Last updated: $Date: 2001/11/20 01:16:18 $