Help me find a coffee shop in Boston for a photograph.
March 6, 2012 7:25 AM Subscribe
I want to find a coffee shop in the Boston area where I could stage a particular photograph.
My girlfriend and I would like to have our photo taken, and we had a fun idea for what we want. It would be a wide view of the two of us sitting at a table, each doing our own thing: one playing guitar, the other doing artwork. The setting is a coffee shop, and we're surrounded by strangers all doing their respective things—reading, talking, working on laptops, whatever.
(If we can get the picture, then we thought about playing with the idea of making everything around us black-&-white, or vice versa. But that's down the road. We don't even have the location yet, or a photographer.)
I don't know coffee shops, so I'm hoping somebody might have a suggestion. It should be big enough and pack enough tables to create an interesting scene, but if it's too cramped there wouldn't be room to sit with the guitar. "Playing" isn't necessary for the photo, so no worries about noise level. Probably crowded is better, actually (as long as we can get a table!), because we might be less noticeable.
In Boston would be best. We don't have a lot of money for a photographer, so we were considering hiring somebody off Craigslist, and that means T accessibility might be important. Having said that, we're willing to travel as far as Worcester, Nashua, or Rhode Island (in those directions) if the setting is right.
Thanks for your help!
My girlfriend and I would like to have our photo taken, and we had a fun idea for what we want. It would be a wide view of the two of us sitting at a table, each doing our own thing: one playing guitar, the other doing artwork. The setting is a coffee shop, and we're surrounded by strangers all doing their respective things—reading, talking, working on laptops, whatever.
(If we can get the picture, then we thought about playing with the idea of making everything around us black-&-white, or vice versa. But that's down the road. We don't even have the location yet, or a photographer.)
I don't know coffee shops, so I'm hoping somebody might have a suggestion. It should be big enough and pack enough tables to create an interesting scene, but if it's too cramped there wouldn't be room to sit with the guitar. "Playing" isn't necessary for the photo, so no worries about noise level. Probably crowded is better, actually (as long as we can get a table!), because we might be less noticeable.
In Boston would be best. We don't have a lot of money for a photographer, so we were considering hiring somebody off Craigslist, and that means T accessibility might be important. Having said that, we're willing to travel as far as Worcester, Nashua, or Rhode Island (in those directions) if the setting is right.
Thanks for your help!
1369 in Central Square, Cambridge. Or Mariposa or Cafe Luna down at the other end of the square. All close to the red line.
posted by ldthomps at 7:31 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by ldthomps at 7:31 AM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
Agree with Diesel. Also, hate to recommend Starbucks, but the one in Harvard Sq. has a spacious and trendy-looking upstairs section that might fit the bill. They have live music sometimes in the evenings. Also, I've personally had a cool picture of me taken at Simon's Coffee Shop (near Porter Sq on Mass Ave) but it's a pretty small place. Great color and ambiance though. Finally might consider the Clear Conscience Cafe in Central.
posted by lovingkindness at 7:33 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by lovingkindness at 7:33 AM on March 6, 2012
Also second Mariposa. And finally, would consider The Thinking Cup--next to the Boston Common Loews--if you're not opposed to a bit of a NYC hipster vibe.
posted by lovingkindness at 7:34 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by lovingkindness at 7:34 AM on March 6, 2012
Diesel also has a lot of "stuff" that might be interesting in a photo setting, so it's got that going for it. It might help, though, to have a sense of your personalities - are you the young college type, more hipster-ish, worldly?
Also, there are a number of amateur/semi-pro photographers on Metafilter that live in and around Boston (*raises hand*), so you may get some success finding someone here - maybe post it in Jobs?
posted by backseatpilot at 7:50 AM on March 6, 2012
Also, there are a number of amateur/semi-pro photographers on Metafilter that live in and around Boston (*raises hand*), so you may get some success finding someone here - maybe post it in Jobs?
posted by backseatpilot at 7:50 AM on March 6, 2012
I don't have a good sense of your staging needs but here are some coffee shops I like:
The Biscuit, corner Beacon / Washington in Somerville.
Crema (Harvard Square) has been packed every time I've gone, but is bright and attractive.
A lot of people are recommending the Diesel but I always found the place to be unpleasant and think it's unphotogenic. It's a very large space with diner-ish decor.
posted by grobstein at 8:16 AM on March 6, 2012
The Biscuit, corner Beacon / Washington in Somerville.
Crema (Harvard Square) has been packed every time I've gone, but is bright and attractive.
A lot of people are recommending the Diesel but I always found the place to be unpleasant and think it's unphotogenic. It's a very large space with diner-ish decor.
posted by grobstein at 8:16 AM on March 6, 2012
RJ Gourmet in East Cambridge on Cambridge st might work-- pretty stylish, incredibly laid back people. Disclaimer, this is a friend's business and I am totally biased.
posted by tenderman kingsaver at 8:19 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by tenderman kingsaver at 8:19 AM on March 6, 2012
You might want to set this up with the management first--and make sure the other patrons are cool with being background talent in your photo.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:04 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by Ideefixe at 9:04 AM on March 6, 2012
Diesel has the ambiance, no doubt, but good frigging luck getting a table. Of course, the hipster factor reaches outstanding levels in there so they may be more receptive to your artistic need for some elbow room than to my desire to eat a sandwich.
/damn kids, etc. etc.
posted by lydhre at 9:24 AM on March 6, 2012
/damn kids, etc. etc.
posted by lydhre at 9:24 AM on March 6, 2012
The Biscuit is cool, but it would be hard to get a good photo in there because of the layout. The advantage of Diesel is that it's a square room. Bloc 11 is definitely more photogenic.
Sherman Cafe in Union Square is another option to consider. Also a square room, less "busy" than Diesel.
As Ideefixe says, definitely set this up with the management in advance! And clear it with the other patrons.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:25 AM on March 6, 2012
Sherman Cafe in Union Square is another option to consider. Also a square room, less "busy" than Diesel.
As Ideefixe says, definitely set this up with the management in advance! And clear it with the other patrons.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:25 AM on March 6, 2012
Zume in Charlestown. Not too big on tables, but plenty of comfy leather chairs. They are big supporters of local photographers, and may be able to suggest one.
posted by Gungho at 9:56 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by Gungho at 9:56 AM on March 6, 2012
The Sherman Cafe in Somerville would be good because it's spacious, well-lit, and the owners are nice.
posted by tetralix at 3:34 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by tetralix at 3:34 PM on March 6, 2012
Sherman or Bloc11 for space and light!
posted by canine epigram at 6:47 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by canine epigram at 6:47 AM on March 7, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions, everybody. I'm familiar with Diesel, although it's been years since I've been inside, but the others are all new to me. There used to be a coffee shop right across from the State House with a basement room that might have worked well (it was set up living-room style, with couches and games and little alcoves) but it's gone now. I'll check out some of these ideas and figure out what works best.
In case there are any latecoming suggestions, I will check back. Thanks!
posted by cribcage at 2:34 PM on March 8, 2012
In case there are any latecoming suggestions, I will check back. Thanks!
posted by cribcage at 2:34 PM on March 8, 2012
Be aware that coffeeshops might not be too keen on you and a photographer setting up shop to do this in the middle of their busy time (or any time. I could imagine Starbucks has a blanket "no photography" policy.).
posted by msbrauer at 5:32 PM on April 2, 2012
posted by msbrauer at 5:32 PM on April 2, 2012
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Particularly between 9 and 11 am on weekdays and later afternoons.
It gets filled with Tufts students all doing their homework and grad students grading and researching, etc.
There's also a huge window that they keep open during nicer weather, so that could supply some nice background. Plus, Diesel posts a bunch of local art, so they probably wouldn't mind someone having a picture taken (especially if maybe the photographer offered to give them a copy...).
posted by zizzle at 7:29 AM on March 6, 2012 [3 favorites]