Have you ever wanted to break the BC bubble and venture somewhere new? Newbury Street, The Prudential Center, Fanueil Hall, and The North End are all fun places to spend a day, but there are exciting areas much closer to campus that offer a wide variety of shops, food, and entertainment! This might be surprising, but one such area is only a 10-minute T ride on the C-line. Just hop on board at Cleveland Circle and you will arrive at Coolidge Corner in no time!
Named after the Coolidge brothers’ general store that opened in 1857, this area is located just a few towns over in Brookline, MA. It is a pedestrian-friendly hangout and you won’t be able to resist the adorable Coolidge community. Between the variety of study spaces, eateries, shops, and entertainment, this C-line destination is the perfect BC bubble escape.
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Study Spaces
If you are tired of spending countless hours in O’Neill and Bapst, look no further. Coolidge Corner is home to a variety of coffee shops that are excellent study spaces for students who want to get off campus for the day.
Bruegger’s Bagels: Another excellent option for studying that provides a spacious and comfortable environment. They do an excellent breakfast complete with a variety of muffins, breakfast sandwiches, and their specialty, bagels! In fact, they have a menu that consists of 25 different flavors of bagels and 17 different types of cream cheese.
253 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA
Panera Bread: Characterized by a warm, welcoming atmosphere, Panera provides a quiet study escape. Stop by in the morning and grab a toasted bagel and a coffee (I recommend the whole grain bagel), but don’t forget to grab a table as well! This location can get pretty crowded by the time lunch comes around!
299 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA
Starbucks: If you are craving a Starbuck’s Vanilla Latte, White Mocha, or Hot Chocolate, just head a few stores down from Panera. This location empties out in the afternoon and has a handful of tables that are the perfect size for spreading out and being productive.
277 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA
Eateries
Coolidge Corner offers a diverse selection of food ranging from grocery stores to restaurants to “desserteries.” With so many amazing places to grab a meal with friends, it is hard to decide where to go! Here are just a few of my favorites:
Paris Creperie: One of my all-time favorite places to grab dinner (and dessert!), Paris Creperie is a small restaurant easily recognized by its brown and white striped awning and glowing, neon sign. The Nutella hot chocolate is perfect for the cold weather days we seem to be having so often, but don’t worry because when the weather turns warm, the frozen Nutella hot chocolate is just as delicious. The menu consists of a variety of savory crepes, but save room for dessert because the sweet crepes are equally delectable. My picks? The Brie and apple, cinnamon infused crepe, but if you are craving chocolate go for the classic combination of fresh strawberries and warm Nutella. You simply can’t go wrong.
278 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA
Boca Grande: My friends and I stumbled upon this restaurant and were extremely excited to find a place with good Mexican fare at a decent price. Don’t get me wrong, we love El Pelon, but we were eager to spice things up. They offer delicious burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and tacos in a festively decorated and fun atmosphere. There are plenty of tables, so finding a seat is never a problem. Beware: the portions are relatively large, so sharing is always a good option.
1294 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA
Naked Pizza: A new company that has been popping up across the country, Naked’s mission is to provide a pizza with natural, whole food ingredients that taste better and are better for you. Their innovative menu design and clean interior create a fun dining experience. Choose your own toppings or choose from list of favorites. If you don’t have the time to venture to Coolidge Corner, no worries because they will deliver right to BC!
1331 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA
Finale: If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth, head over to Finale. This “desserterie” offers a wide selection of desserts to enjoy while sitting in the dining room as well as an array of indulgent drinks. I recommend ordering the dessert sampler if you are with a group of people – the mini desserts are delicious and not to mention adorable. The bakery is an excellent option if you want to take some dessert to go. The menu isn’t as extensive, but it definitely includes some of their more popular items like Chocolate Symphony and Dark Chocolate Decadence.
1306 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA
Entertainment/Shopping
The Coolidge Corner Theatre: Did you know that there is a classic, 1930’s movie theater located so close to BC? This theater, which is one of the nation’s most prominent independently operated movie theatres, offers a diverse mix of big screen classics, midnight cult films and sing-alongs, kids’ variety shows, and broadcasts from London’s National Theatre and Europe’s Grand Operas. They also offer sneak previews and discussions of upcoming films as part of their program called Talk Cinema. Check online for the schedule of featured films, which at the moment include Jane Eyre and The King’s Speech.
290 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA
www.coolidge.org
Mint Julep: I couldn’t write this post without mentioning at least one boutique. My friend and I happened to wander into Mint Julep and were excited to find a small, clothing store offering adorable clothes and accessories. They have an amazing selection of cute spring dresses and skirts right now, so if you want to enhance your spring wardrobe make sure to check them out!
1302 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA
www.shopmintjulep.com
The Paper Source: It might seem strange that I am featuring a paper store, but I swear this store is addicting. It will fulfill all your wrapping paper, stationary, and greeting card needs as well as provide you with endless entertainment and amusement. The merchandise consists of more than just paper products and is an excellent place to find a unique gift for someone special. Don’t be thrown off by the store’s name. It is definitely a hidden gem of Coolidge Corner!
1361 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA
Hopefully you have become inspired to break through the BC bubble and explore the surrounding area of Boston College. Coolidge Corner is a great destination for the busy, BC student in search of a temporary escape. Happy Exploring!
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Sources:
http://www.brooklinehistoricalsociety.org/history/coolidge.asp
http://www.brueggers.com
http://www.nakedpizza.biz
http://www.finaledesserts.com/index.php
http://www.coolidge.org/
http://www.paper-source.com/