Good music, bad art on the walls, dudes with long, unkempt hair making tasty coffee based beverages, graffiti on the bathroom walls that's never removed, etc. Your typical urban coffee shop.

The Coop (as it is commonly known) is a retail store owned by its members: Harvard and MIT students, faculty, staff, and other affiliates. Founded in 1882, The Coop operates student-oriented stores offering a wide selection of textbooks, general-interest books, office supplies, stationary, music, prints and school insignia merchandise, including Harvard and MIT gear. Members are entitled to annual rebates based on their purchases; all for a $1 annual fee. You do not have to be a member to shop here, however. Anyone affiliated with Harvard may join by going to the Cashier's Office in one of the seven Coop locations and paying a $2 annual membership fee. Other locations include: the MIT Coop in Kendall Square, MIT Coop at Stratton, Business Coop at Spangler, Law School Coop at Pound Hall, and the Medical Coop on Longwood Avenue in Boston. The tend not to answer their phones during normal business hours.

Template:Travel Agency AYH is the Boston headquarters of Hostelling International (HI), the worldwide hosteling syndicate with 4500 hostels in 71 countries. Members receive discounts on accommodations, transportation, admission, and more. You can buy your Hostelling International membership from them (1 year: adults $28, under 18 free) and get International Student ID Cards ($22). They help with student travel arrangements too. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

The Symphony Road Garden was built on a site where a home was razed by arson in the 1980's. Out of the ashes came a vibrant garden that serves a diverse group of over 50 residents of the East Fenway. It is a place for residents to relax, eat, and study. There is a wait list for each garden plot, as few spots are available each year. Also offers universal access to gardening with raised beds. The Symphony Gardens requests guests do not bring pets, pick fruits/vegetables, or leave any trash behind. If you would like to help maintain the gardens, feel free to attend Weeding Wednesdays from 6-8 pm.

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Dry cleaning and laundry services.

Tired of Dunkin Donuts? Sick of selling out to Starbucks? Espresso Royale, with several locations around Boston, is a mini-chain in its own right, but doesn't feel cookie-cutter. The Gainsborough St location, uber-convenient to Northeastern and New England Conservatory, is the area's best spot for a caffeine fix, a bagel sandwich, and hours of free wireless and good ambience. There's delicious, well-made coffee and specialty drinks, a wide selection of iced and hot teas, and organic juices. Hungry? Bagel sandwiches, with bagels from Allston's Bagel Rising, come in lots of combinations, with plenty of options for the vegan and vegetarian crowd (don't worry carnivores, they still cater to you). Fresh pastries range from croissants to vegan cookies! The free wireless is pretty dependable, although if you don't log out and then back in before you hit 4 hours of time, you'll lose the ability to use the wireless the rest of the day, so if you plan on staying longer, keep your eyes on the time and log out before the end of that cycle. Waitstaff is usually young, pierced, tattooed, and generally friendly. Warning: if you're on your cellphone and get to the front of the line, they won't serve you and will most likely mock you. Music varies from shift to shift: world, punk, reggae, jazz--ask the baristas if you want to know what's on! Additionally, ERC (as its fondly known in the neighborhood) usually exhibits local art for sale--often overpriced, but great to surround yourself with while you hang out. It's a favorite spot for students, both undergrad and grad, musicians, local residents, and even families. If you go to NU or NEC, you're certain to run into at least half a dozen people you know if you stay longer than 10 minutes. During the week, there's little to no wait for food, drink, and tablespace, except for during finals. The lines and the wait for a sandwich can be terrifying after 11 or 12 on a weekend, however--come earlier, to revive after a night out or to start a day of studying, to grab a window table, coffee and a bagel, then let the peoplewatching and work (or distraction from) begin...

Dependable Cleaners offers Same Day Dry Cleaning, standard Dry Cleaning, EarthCare cleaning (good for the environment), shirt laudry (that means shirts are cleaned normally and then pressed- not cleaned "dry cleaning" style, and tends to be cheaper), and tailoring and alterations. Other non-standard servics include Wedding Gown presevation, Fur Cleaning and Storage, Wash/Dry/Fold (roughly $1/pound), and Home Delievery.

Eco-friendly store serving up recycled-material goods, gifts, and thinger-ma-gijers. Everything is very Martha-Stewart, tree-huggin', and moderately expensive. But just think, you're not buying just a present for you/friend, you're buying the earth a little more time.....

Cozy, comfortable coffee shop with outdoor tables. The granola-ie servers make noteworthy tea bags by hand (the berry blend is delish). Espresso Royale serves up tasty bagels, on a first come first serve basis- so hurry not to miss your favorite flavor. Vegetarian friendly- but no alcohol is served at this location. Also, the seating is fast to go- and often filled with a graphic design artist improving his/her lastest creation on their Apple, or a liberal policital activist whispering about the '08 election. It's always a treat to see who your caffienated neighbor is talking about..