On the T is a continuing feature about Greater Boston neighborhoods along the five lines of the T. The dedicated members of the Daily Features Department will fill up their Charlie Cards and be your guides to the vast expanses of Boston (or the ones easily accessible to you by subway).
Out of the squares in Somerville and Cambridge, Porter Square typically gets the short end of the stick in terms of press coverage and reputation. It seems to lack both the hipster charm of its northward neighbor, Davis Square, and the intellectual ambience of nearby Harvard Square.
Tufts students cruising the Red Line will almost never make a pit stop at Porter, sophomore David Schwartz said.
"I never say, ‘I want to go to Porter Square,' really, because it's overshadowed by Harvard and Boston," he said. "I'd like to learn more about Porter, but I never really plan to go [to Porter] if I plan to go off campus."
But the shopping center that spans Porter Square and the surrounding stretch of Massachusetts Avenue, full of specialty stores and avant−garde sculpture, may deserve a second look.
After emerging from the T station that is the deepest underground, the first attraction that marks Porter Square to visitors is a large red metal structure. Visible for miles down Massachusetts Avenue, this futuristic work of art titled "Gift of the Wind" was erected by Japanese sculptor Susumu Shingu, and its movement is entirely driven by wind. The statue — in addition to the black−and−white striped stones, carefully placed boulders and various sculptures that dot the square — was part of a 1997 initiative to increase visual appeal amid the urban sprawl.
Perhaps the biggest draw to Porter Square for Tufts students is Shaw's Supermarket (49 White St.), the grocery store situated in the heart of the Porter Square Shopping Center. One of closest supermarkets to campus, Shaw's is a practical place to stock up on a week's worth of groceries or to buy a box of Funfetti cake mix for a friend's birthday party.
A few doors down sits Porter Square Books, one of the few remaining independent booksellers in the area. The small shop stresses its independent, local status and boasts a small café that carries specialties and baked goods from around the Cambridge area.
One of the store's managers, Jane Dawson, explained that locals are attracted to the shop because they are tired of the chain bookstores popping up across the country.
"It's very local. It's very neighborhood," she said. "We order our books locally. We see everyday what sells, and we gear our collection [and] our books to the neighborhood, while the ‘big boys' do it in a central office in a very cookie−cutter way."
On the other side of the shopping center, the Mudflat Gallery exhibits the work of 47 ceramic artists affiliated with the Mudflat studio, one of Boston's few professionally run ceramics schools.
Like Porter Square Books, Mudflat supports the independent, local feel of the neighborhood. "The [art]'s all handmade by local artists," Kayla Esce, a gallery employee, said.
The stretch of Massachusetts Avenue between Porter and Harvard Squares is sprinkled with small, independent shops, often selling products from around the world. For home furnishings, jewelry and clothing, NOMAD (1741 Massachusetts Ave.) offers an impressive Fair Trade collection, including pieces made in Africa, Afghanistan, India, Mexico, South America and Southeast Asia. For those looking to spruce up their apartments or dorm rooms with slightly more high−end goods, Abodeon (1731 Massachusetts Ave.) offers a range of highly modern and aesthetically pleasing knick−knacks.
Eco−conscious advocates should walk farther down the avenue to Greenward (1764 Massachusetts Ave). The shop sells everything from backpacks to sunscreen and claims that every product is either recyclable, sustainable, energy−efficient and biodegradable, or made from recyclable, organic or sustainable materials.
Although Porter's nightlife also tends to be overshadowed by the bars of Davis, Harvard and Central Squares, the area does offer a number of entertaining options. Tavern in the Square (1815 Massachusetts Ave.) gives students a chance to test all that they've learned in trivia nights, taking place every Monday and Wednesday. At the Lizard Lounge (1667 Massachusetts Ave.), students can listen in on or participate in open mic nights and poetry readings.
Of course, a description of Porter Square would not be complete without a nod to the area's many restaurants and dining options. Popular picks include Christopher's (1920 Massachusetts Ave.), a perfect spot for when a burger craving hits, the slightly more upscale Temple Bar (1688 Massachusetts Ave.), which offers New American and Irish fare, and the ever−popular Thai establishment Sugar & Spice (1933 Massachusetts Ave.). Porter Square is easily accessible from the Tufts campus and can be reached by the Red Line, the 96 bus or by foot.
