Walking in North Cambridge

Verna's is a neighborhood institution. People from the neighborhood who have moved far away still drive miles out of their way for these fresh, handcut donuts. Of course everyone has their favorite, people crave the coffee rolls and come in and buy a dozen or more at a time. The best seller is probably the honey dip donut, that's the donut former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill talked about right before he went to the big donut shop in the sky, something along the lines of "Doesn't Verna make the best honey dip donuts?" and then he was gone shortly thereafter.

Verna herself is gone, but her son Andy still makes the donuts twice a week. He sold the shop about a year ago but maintained the new owners would keep making donuts in the same way, and they have. The offerings have expanded to include things like cupcakes, Whoppie pies as big your head and Boston Creme pies, among many other goodies. The coffee is good and hot and strong, served up by the warm staff (most stayed on with the new owners) who know how you take your coffee and what goodie you might want on a Monday as oppossed to Sunday, but they seem to always be welcoming of new customers and want you to become a friend for life. Not to be missed!

Frank's Steak House is another neighborhood tradition, a family restaurant where the locals go to have dinner anytime they're hungry but also to celebrate special occassions. Frank's specializes in steaks and chops, I am especially fond of the SIZZLER (not to be confused with the chain of the same name!). The SIZZLER is a tender and large portion of sirloin that is served to you sizzling hot in it's own cast iron pan. You always know when a SIZZLER is passing by. Frank's is also a great place to go for neighborhood entertainment, I go with friends for drinks and appetizers (love the onion loaf) often on weeknights (and KENO, don't forget the KENO!) and there is cabaret style with a piano player, an emcee and open mike on Saturday nights. This always draws a fun crowd who will leave you alone if that's what you want, but will have you up and singing with John O'Neill if you seem to want the limelight. There is entertainment on Fridays, I can't comment on it, but am really anxious to check it out one of these Fridays.

Kate's Mystery Books is not far from Frank's, on the opposite side of Mass Ave. Kate's is housed in a home, one side is the funky store and Kate lives on the other side. Unfortunately, Kate has put the house up for sale and may be moving the business. The OPEN sign is still out, so if you're going to Kate's with its vast selection of new and used mystery books of all genres and an entire section of mysteries signed by the authors, get there soon!