Cambridge

Ok, so we've covered local television news crews, overly-friendly staff, and, sadly, lack of cheap wine. (Although the store is stocked on Guinness for the big holiday).

But who are these crazed shoppers, anyway?

"[With] Whole Foods, Garden of Eden, Food Emporium, and now Trader Joe's, I'm excited," said Peter, a self-described "foodie," who lives at nearby Irving Place. And what got him so excited? Sliced Papaya in White Grape Juice.

"It's so cheap," shrieked Katie, who clutched one bag from Whole Foods and two from Trader Joe's. Her personal favorite: Frozen Vegetable Enchiladas.

An elderly couple visiting from Massachusetts, who "go to the one in Cambridge all the time" bought plain pizza dough to make for their grandson. They're so proud that he now lives near a Trader Joe's.

But not eveyone left in good spirits. One man was so flustered by the crowds that he refused to speak with The Real Estate.

"I've been in there for a half hour and didn't buy anything, he said. "I'm not going to stand here and talk to you."

Is the backlash already beginning?  read more »

- Mickey Ehrlich Previous: Trader Joe's: No Chuck Previous: Trader Joe's: Rival Gangs Previous: Trader Joe's: The Crew Previous: Trader Joe's: Morning Rush

AIMEE: Brian and I arrive in Maryland for a whirlwind day of wedding planning: Our all-important first stop? Popping by the Dorchester County Courthouse in the tiny town of Cambridge to get ourselves a marriage license. With my parents in tow, Brian and I wander in and a cheery clerk named Patty greets us: "People who get married in Dorchester County stay married!" she proclaims. "So where will it be? Oooh, the Hyatt is gorgeous. Oooh, I love your ring!" Patty runs through as though we're already old pals.

After getting all our necessary information, Patty disappears into a backroom and returns a few minutes later with the license, fancy script, colors and everything.  read more »

"Now, bride, you sign here," she says handing me a pen. She starts humming: "Hmm hmm hmm-hmm." (It's "Here Comes the Bride.") She continues serenading us while Brian scribbles his signature. My parents applaud!

I have very good news.  read more »

In case Freddy advisor Jen Bluestein hasn't told you yet -- she hasn't? -- we bring you the news that her brother's excellent Cambridge restaurant, the Craigie Street Bistrot, won him a "best new chef" award from Food & Wine Magazine.

The restaurant was, not coincidentally, a haunt of Democratic operatives during last summer's convention.  read more »

And in other culinary news, it pains our Anglophile hearts to fully agree with Gothamist that the food at Brooklyn's Chip Shop is not so good, and that the service is much worse.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-"Cambridge here is not unusual.  read more »

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-"Cambridge here is not unusual.  read more »

Wednesday 29th Comedians talk about their first time and their worst time (which was one and the  read more »

The other day, I fell to talking about A.E.  read more »

Uneasily I write this column: In the fear-heavy shtetls , where superstition was as common as the co  read more »

Trimalchio: An Early Version of 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, edited by James L.W.  read more »