It’s awesome. Easily one of, if not the, best bars in Central

It’s a weird place- I’ve had good times there

it’s changed

Poetry night is cool.

I miss Little Joe Cook.

I watched a group of 5, probably homeless, men smoke crack in it.

Still a top 5 bar for me.

https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/12/15/massachusetts-cantab-reopens

Years ago when I first moved here I met friends of mine who were in grad school there after work. I’m the only one in a suit, which I think explains the interaction I had. Friends walk in first, no cover. I start to walk in, and the doorman demands a cover from me. It’s 6pm, no band playing yet, but they will start at 8pm. Well after we’re gone, a fact that doesn’t matter to him.

He insisted that I, and I alone, pay a cover charge. My friends were inside wondering where I went. One eventually came out and heard us, so we bounced.

It was the dumbest doorman interaction I’ve ever had. I’m sure the bar is great based on everyone’s love of it, but I wasn’t feeling like giving them any of my money after that interaction.

It always looks dead when I walk by. Maybe I just happen to be walking by too early.

Did they at least offer you any?

Thanks for this link. Also found this one: https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/cambridge-chronicle-tab/2021/08/31/new-owner-looks-preserve-cantabs-heart-and-soul-cambridge/7962382002/

Bluegrass Night and Open Mic Nights are also pretty great, at least in the past in my experience.

It’s always looked like a throwback to the 1950’s. They have good events (they have a downstairs) and it’s a good place.

It closed for a bit down to the pandemic-

https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/12/15/massachusetts-cantab-reopens

Great live music! I love the Chicken Slacks on Thursday nights.

Bluegrass night has effectively moved to Lilly P's https://bluegrasstuesdays.com/

One of the few bars with early morning liquor license if you wanted an eye opener

I'll go if you go.

In what way?

Do you know when the next one is? Would love to go.

Every Wednesday! I just got back from the valentines day one.

Used to go over there when I worked In the neighborhood around 8 am. Nice crowd

Chicken Slacks

There's very little visibility from the outside, and things usually get started late. I know Bluegrass Night before it moved was at 9:30pm.

Me too. Little Joe Cook was one of a kind. He was great.

I need to check out Chicken Slacks. I meant to do this earlier but the pandemic hit.

Does the downstairs section still smell like stale wee-wee?

Stale beer and old cigarettes. The old owners were not the most inclusive, but the new owners seem pretty cool.

They had like 3 bouncers for a small gig last night, seemed kind of overly aggressive to me but I get that they have a job to do.

For the postal workers next door. Lol

I always figured this was the case. How early do they get it crackin in there? And how many licenses like this exist in Cambridge/boston?

The ultimate gatekeeping

Place looked pretty packed though?

I think river Gods had an early morning license too but they are closed so at this point it might just be the cantab left. I’d go there around 8 am because I was “paying my meter” but I don’t know if it could open earlier than that