Thursday Night: Informal Party
Day/Time: May 2nd, 8pm - whenever
Location: 23 Monmouth Street, Somerville, MA 02143
Kids: Welcome but no childcare arrangements have been made and the house has not been childproofed
Description: If you are in town early, come on over to this coop of pika alums called "the forbidden zone" (you are very much not forbidden from coming)! We'll have snacks, some drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), music, and both indoor and outdoor gathering areas. You're welcome to bring food or drink yourself as well, if you have something to share! The event will start at 8pm and go until folks wind down (maybe midnight). The house has a dog and two cats (though none will be present during the party), in case you have allergies.
Transportation: We are about a 20min walk from both the Porter Red Line stop and the Gilman Square green line stop. The 83 and 87 buses (which go by Porter) drop off quite near the house (though downhill from the house). There is some available parking at the abandoned house next door to us (17 Monmouth Street). The street in front of the house is resident-only and we will likely be making use of our own driveway for the party. There is also a small parking lot nearby, across the street from St. Catherine of Genoa Parish (185 Summer St, Somerville). If there's no church event going on that evening, there may be some open spots there, but no promises.
Friday Afternoon/Evening: Game Night
Day/Time: May 3rd, 4pm - 11pm
Location: Le Méridien Hotel, 20 Sidney St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Kids: Welcome, the games we are bringing are suitable for smart 8+ year olds, though there will be sufficient room for kids games if you want to bring some!
Description: Come join for fun night of board games hosted by Jeff Jackson! And bring your favorite game if you have one! A meeting room at the Le Meridien will be available for gaming on Friday from 4pm to 11pm. You can also come just to socialize and hang out. The meeting room is near the hotel lounge, where you can buy dinner and drinks. No outside food or drinks are allowed in the hotel.
Transportation: The hotel is about a 5min walk from the Central Red Line stop and numerous bus routes. There is on-site paid parking at the hotel as well as another paid parking garage at 55 Franklin St, Cambridge.
Saturday Morning: pika pancakes
Day/Time: May 4th, 8am - 1pm
Location: 69 Chestnut Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Kids: Welcome but no childcare arrangements have been made and the house has not been childproofed
Description: A pika reunion tradition! Tim McElrath will be making pancakes for folks to happily munch on while seeing the house and hanging out with its current residents.
Transportation: pika is about a 20min walk from the Central Red Line Stop. The 47 bus also goes from Central to quite close to pika. The house has extremely limited offstreet parking (like maybe one or two cars, but don't count on it). Street parking requires a Cambridge parking pass (on Saturdays, see the Spring Thing description for Sundays). There is also a nearish parking lot of dubious legality behind the MIT Furniture Exchange at 350 Brookline St, Cambridge (entrance is on Waverly St). In general, we don't recommend trying to park a car near pika.
Saturday Morning: Old Timers Brunch
Day/Time: May 4th, 10:30am - ???
Location: 114 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead MA
Kids: Ask Holly first
Description: Housemother Holly Willsey-Walker and Dave Walker are hosting brunch for those “old timers” who were pikans thru 1981. "We of ‘pika The Early Years’ will hopefully share the remembrances of our time in the house while we can still remember so we can write it on stone tablets for the ages." Those interested in attending should text Holly at 781-248-4548.
Transportation: Inquire with Holly.
Saturday Evening: Night at the (MIT) Museum
Day/Time: May 4th, 6pm - 11pm
Location: Gambrill Center, 314 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02142
Kids: Welcome and we are seeing if we can arrange for childcare
Description: Food, drinks, and friends in the brand new MIT Museum! We will have the entire museum all to ourselves and can spend the evening regaling each other with tales to yore.
Transportation: The MIT Museum is literally right next to the Kendall T Stop on the Red Line, as well as several bus routes. In the museum's own words, "Parking in Cambridge and Boston can be expensive and hard to find. Whenever possible, we suggest you use public transportation or a taxi/rideshare service." That said, if you do want to pay for parking, the nearby Yellow Garage at 75 Ames St, Cambridge is your best bet.
Sunday Afternoon: Spring Thing!
Day/Time: May 5th, 1pm - whenever
Location: 69 Chestnut Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Kids: Welcome but no childcare arrangements have been made and the house has not been childproofed
Description: After you sleep off the night at the museum, make your way back to pika for the annual spring celebration for snacks and story time! There will be ice cream, popsicles and materials to make screen prints of the pika reunion T-shirt design. If you'd like a specific shirt, feel free to bring it. We have 100 shirts of various sizes that people can print on, but if you want something specific then please bring it yourself. And we only have black ink, so you should probably stick to light-colored shirts. A housecorp meeting will be happening onsite at 3pm if you want to see how the house is kept running and maybe get involved!
Transportation: pika is about a 20min walk from the Central Red Line Stop. The 47 bus also goes from Central to quite close to pika. The house has extremely limited offstreet parking (like maybe one or two cars, but don't count on it). Street parking is free on Sundays but you might have to look on adjacent blocks if the street in front of pika fills up. There is also a nearish parking lot of dubious legality behind the MIT Furniture Exchange at 350 Brookline St, Cambridge (entrance is on Waverly St).
Friday & Saturday: East Side Festival
Day/Time: May 3rd & 4th
Location: Various locations
Kids: ??? (we aren't organizing this so no clue)
Description: Hello Cruft of the East Side! Join us for a celebration of the history and culture of the East Side! There will be food, art, and many other fun activities. (More info here.)
Transportation: Inquire with the organizers.
Email: jack.b.reid+reunion@gmail.com
