Adjacent to the historic brick walls of Harvard University , Harvard Square is world famous for its collection of small boutiques offering everything from haute couture to the latest in street fashions. Lively well after midnight almost any day of the week, the Square is filled with restaurants, historic sites, unique shops, quaint parks, and entertainment that reflect the international cultures of its many educational institutions and diverse neighborhoods.

Music and entertainment are everywhere and Street performers greet you at every corner offering songs, dramatic performances, juggling and magic. You can catch some sizzling jazz or blues at a local nightclub, you can browse in the world's largest concentration of bookstores. or simply sit and watch the colorful crowds pass by. There are even homeless guys who sell issues of Spar Change and make music with cups of coins. If you're looking for obscure newspapers or magazines the Out of Town Newsstand is in the geographical center of the Square.

What makes the square special is that you can sometimes see a bow-tied, Harvard professor brushing elbows with a street musician and groups of students speaking in varied languages and accents. For a Map of the square, list of events, arts & community organizations, etc check out the Harvard Square Homepage.

Places worth checking out:

• The Coop (1400 Massachusetts Avenue)- founded in 1882 by a group of students, as a cooperative has grown into one of America's largest college bookstores. It is also a full service store that's stocked with almost all the items and services you'll need on campus or off.
• Grolier Poetry Book Shop (6 Plympton St.)-This place has just about every book of poetry currently in print, and can get their hands on out-of-print books as well. They also host a reading series that features many of the best-known poets writing today.
• Harvard Book Store (1256 Mass Ave.)-Good bargains on monthly staff selections and remainders, and a great used section in the basement.
• House of Blues (96 Winthrop St) Live music every night and a Sunday Southern Gospel Brunch
• Club Passim (47 Palmer St)-No booze here, but plenty of charm. A crowd gathers cross-legged on the floor to watch blues and folk performers, often students.
• Fire & Ice (50 Church St)-Create your own Mongolian feast, and they'll cook it before your eyes while you enjoy a beverage from the bar. Popular dinner date spot, but packed on weekend nights.
• Cafe Of India (52A Church St)-Watch as Caf� of India's Tandoori chefs prepare your sizzling and steaming delicacies and fresh breads in the glass enclosed Tandoori kitchen.
• Cambridge Artists' Cooperative (59A Church St.)-artist owned and operated shop
• Cambridge Center for Adult Education (42 brattle St.)-you won't get a degree here, but where else can you take a course on 'Guaranteed Juggling' or 'Volunteering'?