Scene and Heard: Food During Finals

Finals period is coming, and with it, the need for non-HUDS food is stronger than ever before. To help you through Harvard’s hell week, FM has compiled a list of ways to get a satisfying—and cheap—culinary fix.

For the networker:

Looking to land that sweet summer internship and make all your blockmates jealous? Hit up the Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs’ Holiday Party on Dec. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at One Main St. Vietnamese food, hors d’oeuvres, a view of the Charles, and a room filled with prime networking targets—the perfect environment to get your holiday schmooze on. Tickets start at $10.

For the businessman:

After hitting up the holiday party, head on over to the Ticknor Lounge for the Harvard Extension Business Society for their Holiday Cockail Party (also on Dec. 11) from 7:30 to 10 p.m. This is a great opportunity to find the Zuckerberg to your Saverin. Cocktails, agua fresca of an absurdly large number of flavors, and food will all be provided. Tickets start at only $5—even cheaper than the average late-night Felipe’s burrito!

For the guac-lover:

El Jefe’s Taqueria just opened in the Square, right next to our favorite semi-fast-food burger joint (hint: It’s tasty). We haven’t been yet, but they don’t charge extra for guac and they stay open until 4 a.m., so we can already tell you that it’s one of our favorite places. Let’s be honest—is there really ever a time in your life when you don’t want a burrito?

For the cheapskate:

Speaking of cheap... If you’re anything like us, you already know all the tricks to get free food on campus: Stalk every Harvard Facebook page you have access to for mentions of study breaks, follow around your linkmates in hopes of stumbling across an open house, and most importantly, troll your favorite eateries around closing time to see if they give away free food at the end of the day. Try Mike’s Pastry for stale cannolis, Otto for desperation pizza, and Panera for (day-old, but still delicious) rolls. Some things get better with age.

For the late-night crammer:

After merciful restaurants that give away free, delicious food, the greatest institution humankind has ever created is the 24/7 eatery. Harvard Square’s never-closing market (fittingly, if uninspiringly, named “24 Hour Market”) makes sandwiches better than the OCS gets you internships. OK, bad example, but trust me, the sandwiches are AMAZING—we can think of nothing better to help a stressed student on the verge of breaking down through their last exam. If you can’t ace the p-set at 4 a.m., at least you can give up and eat your problems without waiting until morning.