Topic: Harvard Square

Culture Cafe Mindy Kaling: One Monitor writer details why she'd like to be Kaling's best friend

Mindy Kaling is currently starring on the Fox comedy she also created, writes for, and executive-produces, 'The Mindy Project.'

Modern Parenthood Childhood as a garden: Don't let Boston Marathon bombings spread weeds

The Boston Marathon bombings may foster helplessness, despair, but they don't have to. Be proactive in helping others, says Dr. David J. Schonfeld. And allowing your child to express their feelings – in the comment section below, in private, or as Lisa Suhay suggests through gardening – can be salutary.

A literary road trip through New England

Take a trip through historic New England and visit the homesteads of famous literary figures. 

Charlotte au Chocolat

Her parents' restaurant was celebrated, but Charlotte Silver's childhood as a rich little poor girl was less glamorous than it looked.

The Red Sox complete epic collapse and suffer from cosmic farce

Wasn’t this sort of thing supposed to be a part of the Red Sox past? Bill Buckner’s booted ground ball? A “Curse of the Bambino” and World Series futility for over 86 years?

Shaquille O'Neal: basketball's larger-than-life big man calls it a career

Shaquille O'Neal, one of the most dominant centers in pro basketball history, announced his retirement Wednesday. Both on and off the court, he was an original not likely to be duplicated.

Sarah Palin's 'America by Heart' sure to stir friends – and enemies

Sarah Palin's new book 'America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag' goes on sale Tuesday. It arrives as Palin ponders a run for the presidency, drawing criticism from the right.

Can 'The Town' be top of the Hub? Top 5 Boston-based movies

The Red Sox may be struggling to make the playoffs this season, but Boston is a perennial box-office favorite. The latest Boston-based film to hit silver screens is "The Town," starring and directed by local boy Ben Affleck. The top 10 Boston-based films, ranked by US box-office receipts, includes the Sox-centered "Fever Pitch," according to Turner Classic Movies and IMDB.com. Also on the list is the 1968 version of "The Thomas Crown Affair" starring Steve McQueen, which was shot on Boston's Beacon Hill. Do your favorite Boston films make the top 5?

Bogus ATMs discovered at Vegas hacker conference

Monitor writers celebrate ‘unique’ moments

From crawling on the carpet with Ronald Reagan to sipping tea with the Che Guevara of Afghanistan, former staffers recount stories as the Monitor transitions to new formats.

An independent bookseller stars in her own fairy tale

Nancy Traversy took on the big chain-store dragons to rule her own realm – Barefoot Books for children.

Does closing roads cut delays?

A recent study has found that closing off certain streets can actually improve traffic congestion.