Cambridge is booming with innovation, food, music, and history, highlighted in detail by the Cambridge Office for Tourism’s “Unpack my Cambridge” video series.
Reporting from Kendall Square – “the most innovative square mile on the planet” – MIT President Sally Kornbluth shares some of her favorite spots, and sweets, around the city.
To help you plan a visit in real life, more information on the different stops is below. You can find even more on the Cambridge Office for Tourism’s Kendall Square neighborhood page.
MIT Welcome Center
Kornbluth encourages visitors to begin your MIT journey with a tour at the Welcome Center, directly across from the Kendall Square T station.
On your tour you will visit landmarks such as the iconic MIT Dome and take a look at the many public art installations around campus. For prospective students and families, this is also an opportunity to learn more about the admissions process as you immerse yourself in the MIT community.
MIT Museum
Ready for some science? Kornbluth welcomes you to visit the MIT Museum, which has wonderful science exhibits, and is now home to MIT Future Fest.
The inaugural Future Fest, which MIT plans to hold annually, was a five-day festival exploring the future of science, technology, art and design through more than 50 public talks, tours, performances, exhibitions, installations, open laboratories, and more.
Throughout the year, admission to the MIT Museum is free for MIT community members as well as Cambridge residents. Current exhibits include “Sensing Oceans” and the original 33-inch Starship Enterprise from the opening credits of the “Star Trek” series, which is docked at the museum until March 28, 2027.
Harvard Bridge Smoot Markings
Kornbluth’s tour makes a stop at the Harvard Bridge, a short walk from campus, where you will likely see the words “Smoot” painted on the sidewalk, accompanied by a number between 1 and 364.4.
“I remember when I first visited Cambridge, I was walking across the bridge on Mass Ave, and I noticed these markings,” Kornbluth shares.
This standard distance measurement corresponds to the length of one Oliver Smoot ’62, an MIT graduate who, with the help of his fraternity measured the entire bridge using his height (5 feet 7 inches) in 1958. See if you can find the marking that adds an ear!
Charles River
Kornbluth invites you to “not only to enjoy Cambridge indoors but also enjoy Cambridge outdoors” on the banks of the Charles River, which runs parallel to MIT’s campus. She refers to the Charles as one of Cambridge’s ‘gems,’ complete with “walking paths, the bike paths, and kayaking opportunities.”
Thomas Tull Concert Hall
If you’re in the mood for some music, you’re in luck. “Turns out that the students at MIT, many of them are professional quality musicians,” Kornbluth says, as she highlights MIT’s own Thomas Tull Concert Hall, located inside the Edward & Joyce Linde Music Building on campus.
At Tull Hall, you can check out a concert by one of MIT’s jazz, classical, or contemporary ensembles, attend a talk from a guest speaker, or even catch a live DJ set.
Whichever performance you choose, you can expect some quality sound, brought to you in part by thoughtful details such as the building’s high ceilings and curved wall panels. “Using MIT's know-how, it was constructed for the best acoustics,” Kornbluth notes.
Eastern Edge Food Hall
With all the activities on and off campus, it’s easy to work up an appetite. As Kornbluth quips, “MIT is certainly in the food game.”
She recommends the wide, globally inspired selections available at the new Eastern Edge Food Hall, including tacos, burgers, and barbecue. Eastern Edge is located along Main Street and easily accessible from the Kendall/MIT station on the MBTA Red Line.
In the video, Kornbluth takes a moment to enjoy a chocolate vanilla soft serve twist from Eastern Edge’s Bacaro, a venetian inspired cafe and bar.
Ice cream and beyond
“If you like ice cream, Cambridge is a good place for you,” Kornbluth emphasizes. “I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Momma's Grocery for maple, Honeycomb Creamery, J.P. Licks. Lots of opportunities!”
Looking for more eats? A new page on OpenTable highlights restaurants throughout Kendall Square.
“We hope to see you here soon on a visit to MIT, whether you are a prospective student, whether you are a tourist or whether you are just someone who likes really cool things,” says Kornbluth.
Watch and share
“Unpack My Cambridge” with MIT’s Sally Kornbluth can be found on the Cambridge Office for Tourism’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
The social campaign also features reels with author Alice Hoffman; chef Jason Doo; former Mayor Denise Simmons; Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, among other Cambridge denizens.
