Time-Domain Needles 2024

Lodging

Due to the small size of the hackathon, we are not able to provide special pricing with local hotels. We list a few recommended nearby options below, but you may be able to find a better deal through Airbnb. The CfA Institute for Theory and Computation usually favors the Porter Square hotel, as they offer the best rates in the area. If they are booked, Hotel 1868 also has good rates.

For more affordable options with a bit more of a commute, look along the red line or commuter rail, which take you to Porter Square, a 15 minute walk from the CfA. Additionally, there are bus lines to the CfA from the cheaper areas of Belmont and Watertown.

Hotel	Distance to CfA	Address
Sheraton Commander	10 min walk	16 Garden St., Cambridge (Harvard Square)
Freepoint Hotel	23 min walk	220 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge
Cambria Hotel Boston/Somerville	30 min walk	515 Somerville Ave, Somerville
Porter Square Hotel	18 min walk	1924 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
Hotel 1868	16 min walk	1868 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge

Transportation

The nearest airport is Boston-Logan.

In addition to Uber and Lyft, there are decent public transport options around Cambridge. The easiest option to pay is by getting a CharlieTicket at a subway station. You can also pay in cash for buses. Cambridge also has a popular bike rental system, Blue Bikes.

Restaurants

Please note that breakfast and lunches will be provided.

Restaurant	Cuisine	Additional Notes
Asmara	Ethiopian/Eritrean	Best done in groups of 4-6. Make sure to get a bottle of the owner’s special honey wine!
Dali	Tapas	Crowded, but delicious and worth every penny if you can get a reservation. If you go, make sure to try their Vieiras al Azafrán and Gambas al Ajillo.
Yume Wo Katare	Ramen	One of the few ramen shops in Massachusetts which make their own noodles. Be prepared to declare your dream at the end of the meal to the other diners in the restaurant. Stop by the nearby Honeycomb Creamery for locally-sourced ice cream for dessert!
Veggie Galaxy	Vegan/Vegetarian Diner	A retro 1950s-style style diner featuring an impressive variety of vegan & vegetarian comfort food. Little Donkey is nearby afterwards for drinks.
Sumiao	Chinese	Upscale, spicy Chinese food and cocktails in East Cambridge. Toscanini’s ice cream is just a short walk away; try their unique and popular “B3” flavor.
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ	Japanese BBQ	Best enjoyed with lots of friends (think 6-8) so you can order lots of different food! Wusong Road is a popular bar nearby celebrating Asian-American culture.
Painted Burro	Mexican	A nice sit down restaurant & tequila bar near Somerville.
Neptune Oyster	Seafood	One of the few places in town which serve hot, delicious lobster rolls. Plenty of places serve cold lobster rolls. Alive and Kicking Lobsters is also an option, but they close strangely early (i.e. in the late afternoon).
Felipe’s	Mexican	Great Mexican food in a bustling venue in Harvard Square. Notably, this is one of the few places in Cambridge that opens past 10 pm (they close at midnight).
Anna's Taqueria	Mexican	A common Boston-area chain which features quick, tasty burritos/bowls.