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{shortcode-bf969be3790c18dcb109d0d50e5aabfccc04f1a7}Scrolling through your Instagram and see yet another picture of someone with Remy the Cat? Don’t understand how everyone else has spotted Remy for the fifth time while you haven’t even seen him once? Don’t worry! Our precious Remy is hard to find, but here are some tips to help you find him.

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Go to Lamont.

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Tucked away in a cozy corner of the Yard, it’s no wonder Remy gravitates toward Lamont. Next time you need a study spot, head to Lamont, or take a different route to class that includes passing by the library. If you do this consistently for your whole undergraduate career, you’ll definitely find stressed out students, and you might just see Remy!

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Chill in the Yard.

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The best place to spot Remy is where he is living up to his name as the Guardian of the Yard (and its expensive furniture). Especially when the weather is sunny and warm and Remy is in his feels, you’ll see him sprawling out on the grass in the Yard, watching us as we walk to class while chugging our third cup of coffee of the day.

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Get Catnip.

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Cats have a sense of smell that’s fourteen times stronger than humans. Fourteen! Imagine how they feel about Red’s Best Catch. But this superior ability means that catnip is a wonderfully pleasant scent for them. Go to Costco (get a hot dog while you’re at it), buy bulk catnip, and leave hunks of catnip in every corner of every room (don’t skimp). The smell is bound to result in an appearance from Remy (and your building manager) at some point.

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Scout Every Dorm.

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Lots of people invite or take Remy into their dorm rooms. So if everything else fails, just knock on every door to every dorm in the Yard. Even if you don’t find Remy, you’ll get your steps in and probably make a few friends. This may seem like a bit too much, but it’ll all be worth it to see our friend Remy — just think about the Instagram possibilities.

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These tips should help you get your star moment with Remy. But even if you don’t ever end up seeing him, I can guarantee you’ll find a few rats along the way. Looking forward to seeing that post on my Instagram feed. Good luck and happy Remy-searching!

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{shortcode-c69849da0be60747140b6e04a8683bb951938263}Sure, they may look dapper, but I can’t help but have some questions. Are they going on an adventure on their scooter to a punch event… perhaps. But, I can also choose to believe that an even cooler destination is in store on a Tuesday evening. If you too want to ask some nicely dressed people a question as you contemplate your own life on your way to Lamont at 9 p.m., here are some starting points to get the convo flowing.

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Hey, is that tux rented? (If yes, did your scooter come with the rental?)

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I appreciate a nice usage of alternative transportation — scooters, bikes, legs, shuttle. For research purposes, I also would like to know where the tux is from. We love seeing people in suits scooting at 9 p.m.! I would just like to join!

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Who’s your prom date?

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Another subtle way to inquire about the suit and the vibes. You could even offer to snap some pics for mom, I’m sure she would appreciate that! Bonus: a lowkey (highkey?) assertion that they could pass for high schoolers…

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Can I have your pocket square?

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We’ve seen a few spiffy men in suits with pocket squares. But the question remains, can I have it? Please?

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Going to the Hamptons? Me too.

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This is perfect for someone wearing a tan or linen suit. We may officially be in fall, but fashion (as well as Cambridge weather) knows no boundaries. It’s also a great time to assure them that you, too, are in the *know*.

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Where’s the wedding?

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Are you a groomsman? Perhaps a flower girl? Maybe a bridesmaid? Regardless, I hope there’s cake where you’re headed. And, you know, not just social pressure and even more people dressed in suits.

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All in all, we enjoy seeing people in suits looking fancy. Just as geese must fly south for the winter, so too must the suits emerge for punch season. At least that means cuffing season is not far behind?

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{shortcode-19ec1c220ba3b45d7dc3fcb5496b4476a301000e}Roses are red, violets are blue, Trader Joe’s fall treats are here, and we’ve tried some for you! It’s that time of year again: sweater weather, crunchy leaves, and pumpkin-spice everything. On our mission to find the best fall-themed snacks, Trader Joe’s comes once again to our rescue, giving us a reason (or excuse?) to make the trip to our favorite grocery store (please sponsor us, TJ). Here are our ratings for the new TJ fall snacks, with a dash of cinnamon, pumpkin spice and everything nice.

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Pumpkin Spiced teeny tiny Pretzels

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{shortcode-08ed1c43b1a7f699d950dd5fdc54c6444b793e5d}CJZ: 9.5/10. Look at them! They’re so so cute. The pumpkin flavor is amazing and I love the yogurt. They’re so tiny I could probably finish a whole bag of them while suffering over psets.

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TC: 10/10. Just the right amount of pumpkin and cinnamon flavor for that festive fall vibe. Sweet from the yogurt dipping, salty from the pretzel itself. Definitely gonna be munching on these to motivate myself through my psets when the dhall Brain Breaks run out of their less-than-exciting plain pretzels.

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Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps

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{shortcode-40b011bc00d4fff2104feab1148652fa3ca99345}CJZ: 7/10. I love the idea of them, but I’m not the hugest fan of cranberries. I think these would be really yummy and aesthetic on a charcuterie board, though!

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TC: 6/10. Nice and crisp, with a subtle pumpkin flavor, but there’s nothing really special about it. Maybe it would pair better with a dip or something. I would snack on these if available, but not my first choice selection.

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Non-Dairy Pumpkin Oat Beverage

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{shortcode-30ce8709d634a9f00cafe82717f9fc6e4e7a2065}CJZ: 4.5/10. Who at Trader Joe’s comes up with these wack product ideas? I love pumpkin and oat milk separately, but together is just a no. The packaging is adorable, though.

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TC: 5/10. I pity people who are lactose intolerant because this just doesn’t slap like real milk. It’s alright — has quite a pumpkin/cinnamon flavor, but it’s not a great aftertaste. 1% milk all the way.

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Maple Sea Salt Kettle Corn

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{shortcode-83698a0b5f78f5ab099268a34f61b3d79eb39fb3}CJZ: 7/10. I really enjoyed this! I love sweet and savory combinations, especially the flavor of maple. Would buy again for sure.

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TC: 4/10. Looks like regular kettle corn, tastes like regular kettle corn. I guess kettle corn is just sweet popcorn, so the maple flavor is just sweet flavor. Nothing too exciting imo, doesn’t really scream “fall” for me.

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Pumpkin Ginger Mini Ice Cream Cone

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{shortcode-095e90b08ea3d8b58bd577d68c5c621b79bcb7f1}CJZ: 10/10. THESE ARE SO GOOD!! The gingery pumpkin flavor really comes out, and each cone is the perfect size for a snack (or you can have 3, no judgment). My crappy dorm freezer did melt them a bit, so they were soggy. Still delicious!

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TC: 9/10. -1 because these need to be bigger. So good, really can’t go wrong with ice cream tbh. Pumpkin + ice cream = match made in heaven.

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We hope this article makes you want to run to the closest Trader Joe’s (a solid 20-minute trek) and stock up on their fall products. Wishing you the best of luck on your TJ’s journey, whether you’re shopping for your next fall-themed extracurricular social or just scouting ingredients for a personal ~autumnal~ charcuterie board. Go crazy!!

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{shortcode-aafd5bc597a0fa6f3d5c4f84e652c5a1045711e8}Recruitment season has just ended and all the clubs have been hard at work looking for new members. From flooding email lists, offering free foods and drinks, to promising awesome merch (though unfortunately for all the Wall Street bankers wannabe, Patagonia is no longer an option), every single organization at Harvard is pulling out all the stops to woo new members. With that said, the hardest worker of all must be that semi-secret Sorrento square social organization that used to occasionally publish an allegedly humor magazine. For a “secret” organization, they sure are desperate for members.

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If you are still confused about this organization — that for tradition’s sake legal reasons we cannot mention by name — and their try-hard ways, let us walk you through their various (and questionable) recruitment efforts.

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That magazine that was put in everyone’s mailbox the first week of school

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Here’s the thing about being a secret organization with a purpose to party only 95% of the time: you want to make sure to advertise the entire purpose of the org to potential compers before you crush them with your elitist comping process. The usual Harvard students have only heard of the name in passing and know of the off-kilter building that perhaps some would consider an eyesore. To generate more buzz and interest, a magazine was dropped into every room’s mailbox to show just what exactly this organization, whose name is composed of the first three letters of a certain 24/5 Harvard library and the second half of a harpoon gun, is capable of. Is this their best work? Probably not. But hey, maybe they’re recruiting for some new blood and better writers.

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Effort: Average. Props to the people who went to every dorm to drop off the magazine. I hope your step counts for that week were good.

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Environmental damage: The amount of electricity and ink as well as paper spent on this… all those emissions. :-(

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Does this make me want to comp? Nah

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Overall rating: 2/10

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The fake syllabus

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pov: it’s the first day of class and you’re a student in Gov 20 or Psy 1 or any iconic large Harvard course, and people are passing out syllabi at the doors. Being a typical eager Harvard student, you immediately try to get your hands on one of them, only to realize later what a complete bogus the piece of paper in your hand is. “Not one of the jokes hit,” shared Ian H. Thompson ‘25, a student in GENED 1091 who threw away the syllabus pretty quickly. A student in PSY 1, Birukti Tsige ‘23, did have a laugh about the syllabus but was mostly confused. She originally thought the professor was messing with her before realizing on second read that the jokes were “so ridiculous and terrible.”

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Effort: Did they even try? At least with the magazine, I could give some points for the manual labor required. But this? For a club that’s supposed to be funny, they can do better.

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Environmental damage: I hope the amount of trees that were sacrificed for this prank keeps you up at night.

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Does this make me want to comp? No. Though I do want to give them some jokes books after this.

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Overall rating: -3/10

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Excessive flyering

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Maybe they just have never heard about “quality over quantity”, but for some reason, excessive flyering seems to be a good idea for this organization whose name is the second Google search result of “publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm.”

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First of all, taking up all the bulletin space everywhere? Total jerk move. Though, I gotta thank them for the free thumbtack pin and tape that I stole from the flyers in order to use on my own flyer. What cannot be forgiven, though, was the paper-covered atrocity surrounding a certain building in between Adams and Lowell.

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Effort: did negative energy go into this?

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Environmental damage: Let’s just hope someone is nice enough to recycle all those papers.

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Does this make me want to comp? Is there a word for wanting to anti-comp an org?

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Overall rating: -128472345105

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The fake Crimson newspaper

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This is actually clever, I gotta admit. Unfortunately, any potential enjoyment for the fake article was spoiled by that slavery joke. It’s 2021. You can do so much better, Ampoon-Lay.

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Effort: Probably required the most effort out of the four

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Environmental damage: I’m convinced that everyone in this organization hates trees.

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Does this make me want to comp? O-nay

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Overall rating: -∞

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So there you have it, our totally honest and unbiased ranking of that organization’s recruitment methods. And for any members of that Pinocchio-shaped building reading this, do better next year.

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{shortcode-c2de1b520f033c7d527fd4b0ba301d7477d938c2}Dear Harvard Rats (the animals, not the snitches),

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I’ve been in Cambridge for more than a month now but have not seen much of you in a long time. I guess now that I’m at the Quad you don’t feel like paying me a visit, but surprises are always nice. I remember the days at Mather during my freshman year where you would run against the prison walls in sync like secret agents in the shadows. The fateful day that one of you paid me and my suitemate a visit in our common room was one of the most eventful days I had in the pandemic era at Harvard.

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I know this is controversial, but I miss you. I miss the fight or flight that flushed through my body as you searched for food in any Harvard Square trash can. I miss the fear that both you and I felt when we were in proximity to each other, like a playful game of hide-and-seek. I miss the nights where I would catch a glimpse of your long-haired concrete fur, make eye-contact with you, and then we would just give each other a little cheeky smile. Those are the memories I cherished most as a first-year.

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Times have changed since then. I heard you don’t really come out too much since there are more people out. I get it. It can be an overwhelming change. Just know that if you ever do find yourself taking one of those long and lonely college-student midnight walks, I would join you in an instant. Who knows, maybe after reading this you’ll finally text me back, and if not, that’s okay too (it’s not). I get you’re, you know, constantly trying to survive and all.

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Whether or not you believe it, I really care about you. When I saw you in my common room, I never bought a rat trap or rat poison. I will admit that clogging the hole from which you would enter was a little cruel, but I should have known that rats at Harvard are smart enough to chew through cardboard boxes if it means getting a warm and cozy place to sleep for the night.

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Even after the encounter we had where you ran under one of our couches to hide, I never thought about anything less than welcoming you into my Harvard College experience. I know there you will never read this—considering you cannot read or understand the complex linguistics of the English language—but if one day you find a way to fluently read, write, and speak English using some amazing product like Duolingo, or at least understand humans like Remy from Ratatouille, I hope this letter somehow finds its way to you and makes you smile. But until then, just keep on doing your thing and don’t die.

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Happy Trails,

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Edgar “Teddy” Onate

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P.S. This letter is not sponsored by Duolingo

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{shortcode-00ba28187818eebd366884c75b1a53737485c818}I’d like to dedicate this article to all my fellow Quad inhabitants, along with anyone who has a class in the SEAS building, and all those who generally are opposed to walking anywhere. You might be wondering, what common factor unites these groups? Well, there are two — being the main character and spending time on the shuttle.

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Now, I must confess that I am not the shuttle’s biggest fan. I have been known to power walk with a bagel and coffee in hand rather than brave the shuttle and its unknown-to-me destinations. I also have been known to download PassioGo and pretend as if I know how to use it. However, the Quad life has necessitated me reluctantly giving in to the shuttle life, and I must say, it comes with one great bonus: living out all of your greatest main character fantasies.

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Allow me to provide a scenario. You’re rushing out of your first floor dorm room in Currier, which requires you to run down a flight of stairs and then back up another flight of stairs (and no, this can’t be avoided, for any non-Currierites who might be thinking that I am clearlyyyyy missing something). You have a slightly warm bagel with cream cheese in one hand and a combination of coffee, a hair clip, and earbuds in the other. (Oh, how the female hands have evolved to accommodate a lack of adequate pockets.)

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Anyway, you finally get outside of the building, and the last shuttle is driving away with only 15 minutes left before your morning class starts. “Dang, horrible morning!” You might be thinking. WRONG! Could that not be the start to every great pre-2000’s coming-of-age/rom-com/cheesy/heartfelt classic movie?? Maybe you’ll chase after the shuttle, get cream cheese on your favorite pants, and spill coffee everywhere, making the start of a great story that will help you flirt with your super cute TF. Maybe you’ll turn around and your future husband or wife will be standing right there because they just missed the shuttle too! Probably not, but you get the idea. Romanticize the pain away, baby.

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For all my pragmatists out there, let me give you a much more realistic scenario — a.k.a., let me use this platform to describe my typical morning to you. You wake up 45 minutes before your class starts, put on some jeans, pack your bag, grab some coffee, and make it to the shuttle on time. You put your earbuds in when you sit down and debate what to listen to. You’re sick of all your normal music, so you decide that you should look for a new playlist. (Prepare yourself to cringe at the next sentence.) After debating for a moment, you type in “main character energy” into Spotify to see what comes up. I KNOW, I know, it’s super weird, and if you feel superior to me right now, I get it.

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But, if you just so happen to feel a similar inclination, I highly recommend it. There are some extremely intelligent people out there making Spotify playlists, and let me tell you, I rediscovered some songs that absolutely hit the spot. There’s simply nothing better than listening to some main character music and staring out the window as you pass Cambridge Commons, knowing that you’re protected inside the shuttle and can’t smell the super extreme odor that has been coming from that general area in recent weeks (hopefully other people have noticed this??).

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Anyway, the point is that if you want to walk into your 9 a.m. feeling the full potential of your gaslight-girlboss side, I 10/10 recommend having a main character shuttle moment. It’s probably equally powerful to a hot girl walk and completely eliminates the need for the walk aspect — woohoo! So, go catch that shuttle, go look out that window like you’re in a cheesy Jonas Brothers type music video, and go shamelessly look for that main character music that will help you semi-seize the day.

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{shortcode-2646e1abdd74605e58a5b2a24ff91158da82b9bd}With promises of fall sweaters and pumpkin-flavored everything, the leaves outside are starting to turn a brilliant red and orange. Unfortunately, the leaves on our indoor plants have also decided to change. We are less excited about this. Spoiler alert — bamboo should not turn red, brown, or orange. In search of help, we turned to the experts for tips and tricks on plant care and ownership. Whether you’re looking to buy a new plant or keep your existing plants healthy, hopefully this list helps your babies grow and thrive!

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Lucky Bamboo

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Lucky Bamboo is – as we were told by the nice man at the PBHA plant sale – one of the easiest plants to take care of! It can be trained into different designs and swirls and symbolizes good luck and happiness. Some common care tips recommend that the bamboo is potted in rocks and watered pretty frequently, so that it never really dries out. Experts suggest that you remove the water every 7-10 days and replace it with fresh water. This plant prefers indirect sunlight and is an ideal houseplant.

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Pothos

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Next up is Pothos, another houseplant that is supposedly great for beginners! These plants are fairly flexible in terms of sunlight, but it is recommended to keep them in either indirect or low light. People grow Pothos either in soil or water and clippings can be taken and propagated, meaning instant new plants! Woohoo! Water your Pothos when the top soil starts to dry out, but be careful not to overwater it and make sure that the pot has good drainage.

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Coffee Plant

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Don’t buy a coffee plant or any tropical foliage unless you’re committed to being a full-time plant mom. They’re sensitive – to light, to water, and to your insults. If you try to grow a tropical plant in Cambridge-fall weather, it will die. And then you’ll have to plan a funeral as you toss the dry bundle of leaves into your basement dumpster and wonder where your plant parenting strategy failed (totally not speaking from experience here).

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Orchids

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Orchids are flowering plants – they’re pretty and add color to your room, but require a lot of effort to take care of. The best advice for keeping your orchid healthy is putting it in a windowsill that faces either east or west for bright light and feeding it every week with flower food. Orchids don’t grow well in regular soil — you’ll typically find them growing in a mixture of small rocks and bits of wood called orchid mix. If the plant stops flowering, it’s a sign that you need to repot your orchid in fresh orchid mix! Orchids prefer dry soil, so water them sparingly. Try just putting an ice cube in the soil to melt every other week or so.

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Bonsai Tree

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Bonsai trees are cute tiny trees that look super cool. But they are a little more temperamental than some aforementioned plants. That being said, if you are up to the challenge of raising a Bonsai tree, there are a few things you should know. Typically, Bonsai trees should be placed on the windowsill of a south-facing window, but realistically the most important thing is that it gets a lot of light. The tree also requires high humidity, but that should not be a problem here considering our recent weather. You should water your tree when the soil becomes slightly dry and pay close attention to the state of the soil.

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Succulents

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When life succs, buy one. A succulent will forgive you even if you forget to water it or forget it exists all together (not that you should). Among the most resistant and resilient of plants, succulents like bright light and dry soil that is well-drained (continuously wet soil can rot their roots). Spray your succulent with water every 2-4 days or let it soak up water in a different container every few weeks and dry out over time. You really can’t mess this one up. If you do, give up and buy a pet rock, dude.

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Are we qualified to give you advice on plant care? Unclear (No). Should you listen to us anyway? Definitely. Expert or not, one thing we know for sure is that our plants have made our dorm rooms (and us) so much happier! If you’re holding back because you’re worried about the responsibility of plant-care, just remember, unlike children, if you neglect or accidentally kill your plant, you can just buy a new one and try again. Plants don’t judge or have feelings (at least, we think).

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{shortcode-2c9b31cd5e886bb7578d0290d108ab3599722429}As is the case in life, many things only happen in our dreams: finishing a pset before the day it’s due, a full eight hours of sleep, and the shuttle being there for you when you actually need it. Whether you’re going to class from the Quad or Mather, returning back home after a long day of walking, or trying to visit the new SEAS complex, the shuttle is always necessary and never on schedule. And since we’re busy students, it’s probably a good idea to be ~productive~ when spending those many hours waiting for it to arrive. Here are some ideas for when you’ve finished listening through your entire Spotify library:

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Finish a Reading for a Class

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Let’s be real, this applies to most assignments that require you to consume media. Downloading your book onto your phone? Actually bringing your physical textbook to the shuttle? You’ve got the time, so you might as well start reading! Pros of this approach include appearing as if you have your life together — especially if your textbook is one of those giant ones that require some strength to carry. You might even be able to retain some of the information if you focus enough… which, let’s be real, is going to require all of your mental capacity and will probably never happen before your 9 a.m., but at least you can say you tried!

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Walk to the Yard and Back

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Do you find yourself without time to stay active? Is your phone’s health app disappointed because you haven’t met your daily step target? Now that you have some downtime while waiting for the shuttle, you might as well begin to move that body! Take a quick walk to the Yard and back if you’re coming from the Quad. You might return just in time for the next shuttle. Shuttle still not there? Sources indicate that you can walk all the way to MIT or even the Boston Common and back before the next shuttle.

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Become Fluent in Klingon

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Honestly, you can try out any language. The U.S. Foreign Service Institute estimates that you can become fluent in a language like Spanish or Italian in 480 hours, so while this might have to be spread across an entire week of waiting for the shuttle, you’ll experience many benefits with your newfound multilingualism. Finally master that one language on your résumé you’ve been lying about being fluent in! Get a head start on that language citation you’ve been meaning to add! Just make sure you don’t spend TOO much time waiting for the shuttle, or else you might start to become too fluent in your new language, start to forget English, and vIDelmeH jIblIj, 'ej bISopqu'mo' qa'lI' je, HoS lIng.

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Finish One (1) Question on Your Orgo Pset

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These things take forever, just like waiting for the shuttle. So why not try to combine two infinities to make them both go by faster? You can try this method out with any pset. Wait an hour for the shuttle and you might be able to finish a question. Or not. Psets are hard.

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However you choose to spend your time, try your best to keep up a positive attitude and know that somehow, the shuttle will arrive (try out the new app: Passio Go). It might be in 3-5 business days, but it will come!

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{shortcode-4fab62b95d9aeea30caf90adec8518317b2ac362}For jaunting around campus on your scooter, bike, unicycle, or legs. For silly little walks, aggressive power walks to the class you’re late for, or simply for vibing in your room taking in the first glimpses of New England autumn. A diverse set of tunes for all your wants and needs. Flyby presents: our Fall 2021 playlist.

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{shortcode-7b2c4c7640cd1d7b9543e5ebef45524429b60522}Welcome to (or back to) campus! What a relief to finally be able to see everyone in person and gasp over the unexpected heights of everyone you met on Zoom. But, why is your go-to study spot no longer open when you need it to be? Are your House grilles returning? Why are all your favorite spots on campus closed or functioning on the weirdest hours ever? Well, welcome to Flyby’s official guide to what spaces are currently open on campus and exactly when you can enjoy them.

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Libraries

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What in the world has been up with the hours of operation at libraries recently?? Anytime I’ve tried to randomly pop into Widener to get some studying in, I’ve been rudely turned away by closed doors, enabling my procrastination. But we’ve done some digging so you can get back to pulling those all-nighters at Lamont.

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Lamont: As of September 13th, late night study sessions at Lamont are now accessible!

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Opens 9 a.m. on Sundays and remains open 24/7 until 10 p.m. Fridays

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11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturdays

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Widener: Good news, early weekday closings are now a thing of the past.

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Open 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays

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9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Fridays, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Saturdays, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Sundays

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Law School Langdell Hall: Another location for studying if you need a change of scenery<3

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Open 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays

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8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sundays

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Common Spaces and Study Spots

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From the student center to department-based common spaces, you’re bound to find a space with an atmosphere that fits your study needs the best! We’ve got the hours in which you can explore these great spaces and get your study on.

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Smith Student Center: The best place to pull your all-nighters.

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- The Arcade: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. weekends; after hours access by HUID swipe

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- Collaborative Commons: 24/7 by HUID swipe

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- 10th Floor: Now officially open 24/7 for students, so you can now be surrounded by views of Cambridge at all hours :)

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Science Center: Perfect for getting to work on your pset in between lectures!

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All doors are currently locked 24/7, but can be accessed by HUID swipe at any time!

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CGIS: Spend some time at my roommate’s favorite study spot.

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Both buildings open 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. weekdays, CGIS Knafel open 1 p.m. - 9 p.m. Sundays

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House Grilles

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The home of beloved stringy mozzarella sticks and other delicious fried snacks, House grilles are dearly missed. While no official plans have been set, according to College spokesperson Rachael Dane, reopening plans are being discussed in consideration with Covid policies on campus and in the community. Hopefully, they’ll be up and running soon.

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Cafes and Coffee Shops

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Whether you want a delicious sandwich, some caffeine to keep you from falling asleep in lecture, or to start a candlelit memorial at the Barker Cafe, we’re here to support you and your snack-related needs.

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Barker Cafe: Closed until further notice, will it ever return? Rest in peace :(

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Clover Science Center: Open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays

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Pavement Coffee: Located conveniently in the Smith Campus Center and now open 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. weekends

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LamCaf: Closed until further notice...

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Cafe Gato Rojo: Closed for now, but good news! They seem to be planning for an October 4 reopening, so get ready for more of that conveniently located coffee right in the Yard.

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Now that you have explored the highs and lows of campus reopenings and campus ~never-openings~, you can check out all the great places Harvard has to offer or revisit your pre-Covid favorites!

', [])

('

{shortcode-f99a6d7fc8415d78d4696c457b8a604af8006774}Finally having an in-person semester means the return of midterms, men in suits, and David Malan’s sweat. If that isn’t enough to look forward to, being on campus means we’ll finally be able to enjoy New England’s least-worst season: fall! With the official start of fall happening tomorrow – and as a New England native – here are my favorite ways to enjoy the fall that doesn’t involve crying over midterms.

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Apple Picking

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You don’t need to join a pre-professional club to go on an apple picking retreat! Russell Orchards is only a short Uber away from the Ipswich stop on the Newburyport Commuter Line and has even fresher fruit and cider than the plums in Dunster dhall. So grab a couple of friends and your canvas tote (you definitely have one) and get pickin’!

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Explore the Esplanade

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If you’re looking to stay in Boston, you can pedal your problems away on a BlueBike, a great and inexpensive way to explore the city. You can find bikes outside of Dunster and around the Square, and bike paths stretch down the river and through the famous tree-lined Boston Esplanade.

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Take a Hike

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To get a glance at New England’s famous fall foliage, tear yourself away from your screens and head to the hills for some hiking. Popular hikes include the Blue Hills (MA), Mount Monadnock (NH), or the Franconia Notch Ridge (NH) for more adventurous hikers, all accessible via Zipcar. The Harvard Outing Club also offers frequent weekend hiking trips to New Hampshire or western Massachusetts for those who are too lazy to plan their own trips. If you don’t have a day or a weekend to travel upstate, walking to the Quad is also an option for a long and strenuous hike.

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Providence Ghost Tour

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Your Tinder date isn’t the only ghost you’ll encounter this fall! Get spooked by the Providence Ghost Tour, a walking tour of the haunted streets of the East Side of Providence, RI. MBTA Commuter Rail passes are just $10 for the weekend — the cost of a single Felipe’s burrito — and an easy way to get out of The Harvard Bubble™.

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Be sure to check out a few of these options before it’s too late — time really flies, and the Canada Goose jackets and sub-zero temperatures will soon be here before you know it.

', [])

('

{shortcode-e3e559139611cea67f6e9aee00cf4367eff2a12a}What’s everyone’s absolute favorite activity at the beginning of each semester? If you said giving the Harvard introduction until your words lose meaning or going through the same icebreakers (“My favorite color is blue!”) in every single club, then we’re on the same page. We’ve come up with some ~alternative~ icebreakers to really spice up those awkward meetings with random people whose names you’ll never remember.

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What is your favorite item that you brought with you to Harvard?

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Such a sentimental question! We just love it when people talk about objects that they are passionate about. Is it the teddy bear that they’ve had since birth or their illegal microwave?

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What’s your favorite song to listen to while studying?

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Find out what jams play in the background as someone sobs over their CS50 pset.

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Favorite HUDS dish?

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There’s a lot you can learn about someone based on their go-tos from HUDS. If they mention the suspicious looking General Gao’s chicken that we’re pretty sure are just frozen chicken nuggets thrown in teriyaki sauce, maybe consider walking away from the conversation. Alternatively, you can also try asking what everyone’s best dhall hack is – it might just be your saving grace next time that meal you love to hate is on the menu.

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If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

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We bet you $5 that someone’s going to say “their bed.” Good chance for some creativity, or to plan your next dream vacation instead of studying?

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What is your birth time, date, and location?

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Dating at Harvard is hard. Who has time to commit to a relationship when you can barely commit to your psets? By getting someone’s time of birth, date, and location, you can figure out their Sun, Moon, and Rising horoscopes. Fear not, you no longer have to go on awkward dates with them. Just plug in their birth logistics and figure out whether or not their horoscope is compatible with yours (psst, just stay away from the Scorpio men – no offense).

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We hope these alternative icebreakers help get the juices flowing on how to make your Harvard intros more spicy and less boring – after all, we can only say “name, year, house, concentration” so many times!

', [])

('

{shortcode-baa55d86994cf747bcd867c08c7a5ec9dff7d0e9}Yeah, yeah, yeah — you know what your FOP leader told you about the John Harvard Statue, Widener Stacks, and first day of reading period. Snooze fest. We’re back on campus, and for those of us who are in our final fall, it’s time to graduate to the big boy bucket list. Here’s some tasks for any senior who feels like they’re really up to the challenge.

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Do something risky.

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Go to an apple orchard. And don’t post a picture on social media. Sure, you might look cute in your H sweater, and that apple isn’t the only juicy thing in the photo, but risks are meant to be taken. Other options include trying to get into the Leverett dining hall on community dinner night if you’re not a resident, brewing your own dorm wine, or sticking the pointy part of the Lampoon ibis somewhere creative.

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Get mistaken for a freshman.

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Maybe you don’t remember where the dish drop is. Maybe you look a little young in your mask. Maybe you’re taking LS1a. Hey, if you can’t beat them, join them.

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Get rejected from a job.

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Right. Of. Passage.

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Take a picture that has never been taken at Harvard before.

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Lots of tourists, lots of cameras. But nobody has ever taken a picture of themselves rappelling down the side of Widener. Nobody has a pic of the time they wore nothing but a ripped-in-half phone book to CS50. Nobody has a 2 a.m. pset picture where everyone in frame looks happy.

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Forget you’re thesising for about a week.

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Oops.

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Sled in the first snow.

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Widener steps are for babies! Some creative options: the hill by Adams (beware of traffic), the banks of the Charles (beware of gGeese), the side of the GSD (beware of gravity). Grab and go with your HUDS tray, except you’ll be what’s flying by. Bonus points if you hit CGIS so I don’t have to go to section there anymore.

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Get rid of those alcohol bottles you’ve been using as decoration.

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This is maturity. This is adulthood. Those are recycling.

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Tell someone you love them.

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Options are endless. Mom? Estranged blockmate? Hot TF? Freshman fling one time hookup you’ve been obsessing over for the past four years and just need closure, dammit?

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The semester has just begun, we have a lot of time, but all the same, endings don’t have to be scary. So let’s make this a good one. No regrets!

', [])

('

{shortcode-939e6510391e48e0d17c353cec218c422a295fd3}Campus life is back and buzzing, and whether you're new to the scene or returning after a Zoom hiatus, we can all identify with the burning question: what is the deal with BoardPlus? Maybe you miss the good ol’ pre-Covid days of BoardPlus, or maybe you have never even heard of it before clicking on this article. Either way, we’re here to tell you what it is, what has changed, and how to take advantage of it.

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What The Heck Is BoardPlus?

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Whether you’re a junior/senior and it’s been a while or a freshman/sophomore and you literally have no idea what we’re talking about, let me take you on a journey to (re-)discover the wonderful concept of ~BoardPlus~. Basically, each semester you’ll receive $65 on your HUID to use at specific HUDS- and House-operated dining. If you don’t use your $65 during the fall, no worries! It’ll roll right over to the next semester (but make sure you use it up before the last day of exams in the spring… otherwise, it’s gone forever 🥲). If you do leave it till the last minute, Flyby has proved that no amount of time is too small to blow all $130 left in your account (apparently, the LamCaf cakes are the move).

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To clear up some common misconceptions – BoardPlus is different from Crimson Cash. Rather than money you transfer onto your HUID, BoardPlus is money already in your designated account that is included in your meal plan. While Crimson Cash is used for things like laundry, vending machines, printing, and designated dining locations that have partnered with Harvard, BoardPlus is exclusively for those sweet on-campus cafes and grilles. (To all of those wonderful students running for the UC pledging for BoardPlus to be used for laundry… sorry to disappoint). In order to use BoardPlus at eligible locations, simply let the person checking you out know and swipe your HUID!

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Where Can I Use It?

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In a normal year, there are a wide variety of open locations in which you can work through your $65 a semester. These locations include HUDS-operated cafes, House grilles, and even to pay for guest meals in the dhalls (perhaps your next romantic date with that BU student across the river?). But, Covid has put a real damper on this (cue a surprised gasp).

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For now, you can use those precious BoardPlus dollars at the Laboratory for Integrated Science and Engineering (LISE) Café, Northwest Café over by the science buildings, and the SEC Café at our beautiful new Science and Engineering complex! And if you’re willing to check out some of our graduate schools near and far, options abound at their cafes and commons as well.

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...So When Are Things Actually Reopening?

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So far, it appears there is no official saving grace date in which we can expect our beloved House grilles to reopen so we can consume some well desired deep fried snacks. Currently, according to College spokesperson Rachael Dane, campus and city guidelines are being reviewed to determine when the best time to open the grilles will be... we can only hope this will be soon.

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But, never fear, many of the HUDS-operated cafes on campus have been opening up over the last few weeks, with more to join in the coming weeks, too (bring back Barker Cafe please, RIP). In the meantime, we’ll be eagerly awaiting the return of some all-time Flyby favorites, from Quad Grille mozz sticks to Barker croissants to LamCaf Javiva’s.

', [])

('

{shortcode-e331b08c846c413c35170b5467e470ae76e65798}So, I could write a letter directly to Dunster’s Plums, but that wouldn’t be useful to you. And you — a Harvard student sitting in lecture while comping seven clubs while debating a situationship while double-fisting compostable paper cups while, apparently, reading the latest Flyby masterpiece — you only like things that are useful.

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Moving from home to campus has been challenging, yes, but by far the most challenging part has been the absence of fruit. “What about bananas?” you foolishly ask. Try eating five bananas a day, thinking you’re getting your daily serving of fruit, and get back to me. Still like bananas? Yeah, I thought so. Totally not speaking from experience here.

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Anyway, back to the Plums. Sure, other houses have plums. But they don’t have Dunster’s Plums. Dunster’s Plums are SO GOOD. Like, they’re washed good. Perched on the top of the fruit display, where they rightfully belong, the Plums demand your attention in a way your untouched p-set could never.

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To get your hands on God’s greatest creation, I’d recommend bringing a large bag and the fruit-picking skills your Taiwanese parents instilled in you. Everyone knows that plums in your backpack is a sticky situation — stickier than that time you waited for the SEAS shuttle, only to have to Uber to class when the shuttle didn’t show up :) :) :). Hence, the bag. If you’re not expecting to get enough Plums to warrant a large bag, sorry but gtfo.

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You might be wondering, Ariana, if you love the Plums so much, why would you advertise it, thus limiting your personal supply of Plums? Good question, and I’m glad you’re learning a lot in Ec10A. The thing is, while you may be a Harvard student sitting in lecture while comping seven clubs while debating a situationship while double-fisting compostable paper cups while, apparently, reading the latest Flyby masterpiece — you’re still too lazy to walk to Dunster to get Plums. ;)

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To conclude, I’d like to thank the housing gods for placing me in Leverett — it’s like a minute away from Dunster’s Plums. For any fellow Dunster Plum enthusiasts, please email ariana.chiu@thecrimson.com so we can totally, like, grab some Plums together sometime.

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With love, in sickness and in health,

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Ariana

', [])

('

{shortcode-28709e92c0a0bfef390c93ca0ab21e9ff94fd2aa}It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a Harvard student in possession of a single hour of free time must be in want of a confusing situationship. If you’re such a student looking for some ways to add a little spice to the garbage pit of your love life, seek no further — our curated list of activities is sure to make whatever the hell you have going on worse (somehow).

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Picnic in the Pit<3

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You know that random archaeological dig site in the Yard? Well, nothing says love like hopping over a low wire fence and sitting in a dirt pit together. Throw on some socks and sandals, grab a to-go cup of clam chowder from the dhall, and embrace the most disgusting date of your life while tourists and Yard security look on in horror. It’s sure to be a horrible time, but, hey, if you both get dirty and happen to need to shower at the same time...

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Enjoy That Sweet FlyBy Chili Together

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Are you a premed with seven free minutes seeking a hot date with your long-suffering engineering beau who essentially lives in the SEC complex? FlyBy (not us, the thing under Annenberg / in the SEC complex) may be just what you need to keep the romance alive. Spend 90 percent of your time together standing in line, and then speed-sip some chili beneath everyone’s favorite freshman dining hall as ambient noise drowns out any attempt at conversation.

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Have a loud DTR talk in Loker Reading Room

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Haven’t felt uncomfortably visible in a while? Let’s fix that. Hash out all your miscommunications with your paramour in the most intimidating study space of all time: Loker Reading Room. Distract future doctors with all the messy details of your relationship. Worst case, you’ll become the subject of some blocking group’s dinner… And if all goes well, the stacks are right there ;)

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Scooter Race on Mass Ave

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First one to get hit by a bicyclist has to buy dinner.

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Fight a Turkey

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There you are, on a romantic stroll through the Yard, when you spot them. The turkeys. Wandering in a pack. Looking menacing, as always. Now’s the time to earn your partner’s undying respect through hand-to-hand (hand-to-wing?) combat. You’re basically their knight in shining armor!

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Campus Bathrooms Tour

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It’s like a wine-tasting tour, but decidedly less sexy. This is definitely a choose-your-own-adventure date, but we suggest beginning with the terrifyingly ancient wooden toilet in the top floor of the Peabody Museum and ending with the restrooms in the basement level of the Science Center. Nothing says romance like the sweet smells of every tourist in sight using the same bathroom as you.

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CVS

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Just trust us. Wander the fluorescently lit liminal space of Harvard’s only convenience store until you both lose all grip on reality in the snack aisle.

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Wishing you good health and emotional instability,

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PAJ & RLR

', [])