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{shortcode-5740c9d5648ce5af75bbc7a32473b2a14a3afeb0}You asked, we answered. With summer around the corner, we know Harvard students have their own very unique, never-before-seen anxieties. Flyby has zero credentials and should not be a source of advice for most decisions but we may have one or two good ideas about how to make this summer stress-free and everything you need. Read on to hear all about it ;)

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Dear Flyby, what do I do if I feel like my summer plans aren’t as cool as my friends?

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1. Master the art of answering the question.
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2. Realize that nothing you say is really the right or wrong answer. At the end of the day, everyone is experiencing fomo doing something worthwhile even if it’s balancing six full-time internships or going back to your hometown to take a break during, you know… a break.
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3. Romanticize your summer plans. Remote internship? No problem, take that Zoom call from the fanciest library in town, do the meetings at the new coffee shop, and take your lunch break outside of the office.
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4. If you’re in a new city, focus on exploring and making the most of your time there. Every city has its perks and exploring more of the one you’re in will help you not spend your time comparing it to other places.
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5. Gaslight your friends into thinking their plans aren’t cool. If their plans aren’t cool, then how can yours not be as cool? We’re somewhat kidding (ish)… in reality, it’s best to learn to ~validate~ yourself.
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Dear Flyby, how do I stay in touch with my friends over the summer?

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1. Send a postcard, write a letter, send a carrier pigeon — all of these options are equally cute. Even if you’re sitting in Cambridge this summer, send your friend a good old John Harvard statue postcard with a note. It’s cute, we promise.
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2. Make a group chat with your closest friends and make everyone send a picture of the day. Then, roast each other or have a fruitful conversation about an annoying boss or that summer fling.
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3. Even better — make a group finsta/spam account and everyone can post a story time or do a takeover for the day. Live your influencer dreams for an audience that actually cares.
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4. Send your friends a TikTok or an Instagram reel (we don’t judge). If you have no fun stories or updates, let the content creators do the work for you so you and your friends can still share a laugh kilometers apart.
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5. Play virtual games, like iMessage games to stay in touch with your friends and do an activity with them. You may be bad at 8Ball but you won’t be bad at staying in touch.
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With all the flyby advice in the world, you are unstoppable and ready for a summer filled with high self-esteem… we hope.

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Xoxo,

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Flyby Blog (Summer Version)

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{shortcode-f86c94e3ef27ff341abf1b6cb7ce1cae151a2fe4}

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As late spring transforms into summer, basking in the sun while lying in the yard during reading period is a must. What more do you need? Well, actually, you do need something more: a playlist to accompany your space. Listen to this beautiful cacophony of sunshine sounds with AirPods, headphones, and maybe even a speaker if you’re feeling public. Enjoy <3

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{shortcode-70290fb764acdaed3f3acc54a34dcf8f55ee889b}The year is finally coming to an end, which means it’s time to get rid of all your BoardPlus as quickly as possible! It unfortunately does not roll over onto next semester’s, so this is URGENT. But don’t go around throwing your money at *any* place. Take a look at our top five places to give away your BoardPlus so that you not only spend Harvard’s money swiftly … but also smartly.

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Lehman Hall

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Are you interested in a good lunch and a variety of delicious options? Well, make your way to Lehman Hall (the gorgeous gray building beside Straus and Matthews), where Santos (the guy behind the food bar) uses his culinary magic to create some of the most delicious bowls and burritos. There’s also ramen, rice bowls, and cake that will keep you full for hours. Lehman Hall turns you into the academic weapon that you were always meant to be!

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Caspersen Center (The Law School)

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Are you interested in law? Are you interested in anything other than law? Look no further than the Caspersen Center at HLS! Practically one of the best choices, this center has not only two options for food: A coffee shop and a full cafeteria. They also have beautiful study spaces! And they’re open after 2 p.m.!! Caspersen will make you forget you ever knew HUDS — the flavors? They are more than immaculate.

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Quincy Grill/Cabot Cafe

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Undergrads can do it too. Do you need a late night snack? Are you out partying and the dhall isn’t open late enough? Well make your way to Quincy Grill or Cabot Cafe and throw all of your boardplus at them. Managed by students, these quaint places feel like a homely diner from a movie. The vibes are 10/10: the prices are low, you can get some delicious late night food (at Quincy) and the best coffee around (at Cabot).

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Buckminster’s

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Are you a fan of coffee? We know you are. Head straight to Buckminster’s (watch out though! it’s in a niche location — in the weird extension of the Science Center). This cafe does not have a massive variety of food but has you covered in the pastry and wonderful drinks category. Make sure to stay caffeinated during finals season.

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Science Engineering Cafe

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Do you want to sit in a beautiful building and imagine that you are the main character in a young adult dystopian movie? Well, walk down to the SEC across the river near Trader Joe’s (aka the best place EVER). A beautiful building (on the outside), this is the perfect place to go when you need to get away from Harvard’s humanities girlies. The cafe is huge — like a miniature grocery store drenched in yellow. There’s hot chocolate, breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and so much more. If you like flyby (which we all know you do *wink*), then this is the place for you! Run (or shuttle) over there NOW!!

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We hope this list was wonderful, beautiful, and everything you could have ever asked for. BoardPlus can be scary. But don’t stress, the top five places will make sure all your worries go away. Now go! Spend that BoardPlus! Make haste!

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{shortcode-74a670e18559271f293b2752ee0bb25001129a4e}As the curtains close on the spring semester of my first year, I cannot help but walk down memory lane. From sticky note messages on windows to laundry room fires, there were many beautiful occurrences that have forever imprinted themselves in my mind. The most memorable of them all, however, is Annenberg Hall itself. As both a love letter and expose, let’s review the top Berg happenings of the year:

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Faculty Dinners

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Welcome to WatchMojo. Today, we’re counting down the top 10 betrayals of all time. Up first: Faculty Dinners. This was when we realized what HUDS was truly capable of. Ice sculptures? Edible food? A CREPE STATION? Where was all this normally???

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Yet again, Berg showed us that it CAN pull out all the stops for the people who actually matter. Forget the freshmen and their happiness, how can we impress their professors? Alas, I was happily devouring creme brulee one evening, and swallowing chewy roast beef the next.

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Brain breaks

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No jokes here, brain break is just SO cute. All the sleep-deprived freshmen gather together to laugh, sing, and eat cinnamon toasters (God forbid they buy on-brand cereal with their ever-growing endowment). Rushing from Cabot to break through those doors before 11 p.m. was arguably more of a thrill than jumping fences at river run. Despite the limited options, brain break was integral to the freshman experience. This was the prime time to awkwardly run into people you swore to get a meal with. This was the place to gather Ec 10 pset answers. This was the place where you met all your best friends. So, cherish the last time you call bowls of goldfish a meal or admire Berg’s (finished?) ceiling. Nothing will ever be quite as wholesome and pure as Annenberg brain breaks.

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Sunday sundaes

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If you were daring enough to stand in that obscenely long line or contaminate your hands with that sticky scooper, you were able to enjoy Berg’s prized Sunday sundaes. Despite the perfectly warm caramel sauce and immaculate range of toppings, this tradition still has its caveats. Did the annoying kid from section take the last of the M&Ms? Yes. Did they run out of ice cream before I even got a second scoop? Yes. Did I find that murky water that’s “supposed to clean the scooper” relatively suspicious? Again, yes. I don’t care though, my eternal love for Sunday sundaes survives these minor setbacks.

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The HUDS revamp

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This was a thing… until it wasn’t. Before the revamp, HUDS would slap soy sauce on everything and call it Korean. Now, they have a slightly less offensive approach to Asian food — they add sesame seeds! Jokes aside, I was greatly appreciative of this development. I found myself ENJOYING the dining hall food??? I truly did not know that could ever be a possibility. Yes, the hype has died down and so has the quality. However, the effort is what counts and I am forever appreciative.

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Berg <3,

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Despite your red-hued chicken and watered down coffee, you have both nourished and sustained me this past year. Not only have you introduced me to some of the most extraordinary people, you have taught me invaluable lessons. You taught me that not even the best school in the world could beat my mom’s cooking. You taught me that I could survive for weeks on french fries and chocolate milk. Most importantly, you taught me that all good things have to come to an end. I will love and miss you endlessly!

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{shortcode-27a28d840481e64034f633bd8d21681e0f105610}With warmer weather comes more sneezing and sniffling in sections. As we enter pollen season, here are some tips to help you with your allergies.

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Carry pocket tissues

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Having a runny nose? Can’t stop sneezing? Instead of blowing your nose with the HUDS paper napkins, run to CVS and get a pack of pocket tissues. Using soft tissues can also prevent you from getting a red chapped nose. Put them in your bag and pockets so you’ll never have to be the person that wipes their nose with their sleeves again!

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Drink herbal tea

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Drinking hot herbal tea with some honey can relieve your sore throat and decongest your sinuses. Some of my personal favorites are apple cinnamon, lemon with ginger, and peppermint. Steal some Bigelow tea bags from the Math Lounge or the Northwest Building for a relaxing tea time. Take your sickness as an opportunity to wave goodbye to three lattes a day and start your cozy tea-girl era.

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Make Vitamin C your best friend

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Your mom probably told you this already, but Vitamin C should be your go-to. Smuggle some oranges and kiwis from the dining hall or run to CVS to buy an overpriced box of Emergen-C powders. The immune system boost will not only help cope with your spring allergies but make you more resistant to sickness (you no longer have to go to Tasty Basty in fear of catching something from a sweaty stranger).

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Wear sunglasses

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The weather is getting warmer, so rock your sunglasses while walking in the yard. Sunglasses are not only a sleek addition to your outfit, but also block pollen, dust, and wind from getting into your eyes. Red, swollen eyes featured in your candid picnic photos are NOT a cute look.

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Become a hermit

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If none of these work for you, the last resort might be to just become a hermit. Clean your room and close all your windows to avoid any contact with outside air. Maybe invest in a humidifier. Dig your fuzzy pajamas out from the pile of winter clothes under your bed and use some essential oils for a self-care night. It would definitely be more fun than catching the frat flu before finals week.

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Follow these tips to enjoy yard picnics and walks along the river without sneezing and wheezing. If none of these works for you, HUHS might be your destination.

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If you still have unused Board Plus and are wondering how you can possibly spend it all in the next two weeks, we have just the place for you. Consider visiting the Divinity School Cafe located inside the new Swartz Hall on Francis Ave (on a day when the dhalls are not serving butter chicken, of course!). A walkable distance from the Yard, this HDS common space offers delicious breakfast and lunch options that range from grab n’ go pastries to Cajun chicken paninis. It is the perfect hideaway spot to enjoy a moment of peace and recharge before returning to the hectic exciting energy around the Yard.

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Overall Vibes!

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Like most graduate schools, the Divinity School has a relatively quiet campus. So, the cafe offers a calm, relaxed space where you can focus on your work or catch up with a friend. There are both chair and couch seats, but the tables are generally not too big so conversation noises are usually light. The space is well-lit, with lots of natural light pouring in. The color scheme is great too– the interior design’s palette is mostly green, white, and light gray–which aligns with the healthy food selections offered on the menu:

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Grab n’ Go Yogurt & Granola

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This HUDS-manufactured yogurt and granola cup comes in vanilla, strawberry, and blueberry flavors, and the creamy texture matches Chobani standards. Most important of all – there is enough granola in there. Anyone else always worried that your granola will run out before yogurt does? #Yourenotalone

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Sizzling Teriyaki Bowl

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A must-try in my opinion. The creaminess of teriyaki mushroom melange and field greens paired with roasted broccoli, pickled cucumber, and sesame seeds that are just the right amount of crispiness scream umami (the official taste of Flyby). Ginger dressing adds a light savory flavor to the bowl, which also includes your personal selection of protein from grilled chicken, grilled salmon, sauteed seitan, or tofu.

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Mezze Bowl

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So rich in flavor that it almost tastes too good to be healthy. The combination of hummus, tabouleh, falafel crumbs, and pita chips contrasts the refreshing taste of lemon tahini dressing on baby spinach and Fattoush salad. It is to rival Tatte. A great choice with or without protein.

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Burrito Bowl

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It was… slightly disappointing in comparison to the other burrito bowl options near campus (No, I have never heard of El Jefe’s. Don’t ask me about it). The combo of sour cream and cilantro lime dressing kind of overpowered the savory taste that I’d expect in a burrito bowl. And it had very few hot toppings, which made it taste more like a salad instead.

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Grilled Chicken Sandwich

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Nice and fresh with avocado, lettuce, and Caesar dressing on a spinach wrap, very similar to the weekday FlyBy (oddly familiar name…) signature down in Mem Hall basement.

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Other Grill

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Burgers, chicken fingers, and french fries are served hot and chewy. The skin of chicken fingers is beautifully cooked so that it’s soft and crisp, a classic pair with some good ol’ HUDS fries.

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You heard it here first: the Divinity School cafe is a worthy use of your Board Plus if you’re looking for a quick bite between classes or a change of scener

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{shortcode-cafac4f83e57f5d59991b420c716db3fdc5b65a6}Spring marks the time when we reclaim the Yard and relish the fresh air outside after being cooped up cramming studying hard. Here’s Flyby’s take on the common Yard activities, so you can gauge if your favorite outdoor pastime is Flyby-approved, of course.

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Naps in a Hammock

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At the top of the hierarchy is sleeping soundly in a hammock. A nice day means a mid-day nap outside is acceptable, and nothing beats a nap in the sunshine. There’s no need to search for loops of relaxing nature sounds to fall asleep to on YouTube when the Yard can provide you with the pink noise of birds chirping. The Earth is at your feet, and the possibilities are endless. In my experience, the only downside is that I wake up so rested and strut around thinking that I am embodying Sleeping Beauty when in reality I have the lines from the hammock covering my face and arms. That’s okay, though, because that means that the nap hit home, and remember that if people are judging, they hate us ‘cause they ain’t us. Pass out in the Lamont basement while my three final papers are waiting to be written? No, thank you. I choose peace, i.e., a hammock nap.

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Picnic

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Happiness is having a picnic with your friends, eating delicious food, and spreading laughter all around. It’s a nice change from being confined to dining halls all year during Cambridge’s seemingly never-ending cold season. If you’re looking for inspiration, try Pinterest for ideas about how to take your picnic to the next level with elaborate charcuterie boards, fruit arrangements, and fresh flowers. While I love the cottagecore aesthetic, I adore how picnics bring food, friends, and sunshine together.

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Spikeball

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Spikeball is an awesome and action-packed game to play in the Yard. I wish I could be as joyous and free as the zestful and glowing people playing Spikeball in the Yard. If I possessed even a fraction of the energy that they have, I would be unstoppable. People take their Spikeball very seriously, and I know a good number of competitive people who get so dedicated that they create a Spikeball bracket. Overall, as a classic lawn game that puts a twist on volleyball. Spikeball is the perfect way to get up and moving in the Yard.

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Lounge on Top of the Widener Steps

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If you want an ideal vantage point, you can climb up the stairs of Widener to reach the two side posts. There, you can sit and observe the Yard with a very low likelihood of being interrupted. That makes it a great place to have a deep debrief with your friends or even get creative by doing something artsy, like painting. One thing to note is that the stone is hard and can become uncomfortable, and even though some of us are becoming concerningly desensitized to pain, it may be best to keep your time here short. Also, maybe this is just me and my fear of getting reprimanded that goes hand-in-hand with my tendency to instantly tear up when someone raises their voice at me, but I’m always on edge that I will get called out by Securitas for being up there.

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Ultimate Frisbee

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I admit, I may be a somewhat biased hater of ultimate frisbee because of my ongoing count of how many times people have almost killed me with a frisbee. Moving past my near-death experiences, I can see the allure of bringing the heat for ultimate frisbee. After all, the more ultimate frisbee training you get in the Yard, the more ready you will be to make your House proud in intramural ultimate frisbee. Therefore, Flyby will let it pass, but it certainly isn’t earning one of the top spots in the hierarchy.

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We spend far too much time in windowless lecture halls, sadly. Luckily, the shift to spring brings plenty of opportunities to get outside and get some stress out, so turn that frown upside down!

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As the year comes to a close, it feels like all of your friends and/or estranged suitemates have performances they’re participating in. If you want to show up with flowers to support them, we have compiled a list of options for all preferences!

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Trader Joe’s near the SEC

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First on our list is our favorite finance bro: Mr. Trader Joe. This Trader Joe’s is a little far from campus (a 20-minute walk according to Apple Maps) but you can also take the shuttle to the SEC and have a moment living life as a CS student but without the perpetual stress! There were a lot of options in terms of flowers, including “Unkillable” wooden bouquets for $14.99 if you want something more resistant to Harvard students’ commitment problems. The highest price for a (live) bouquet was $12.99, so you won’t break your bank after a semester of dining out. You can also do some grocery shopping while you’re here if you want to eat in your dorm some days and avoid HUDS food poisoning (or “gastrointestinal illnesses”).

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Bouquet Cost: $13.86 + Emotional labor of going all the way to the SEC

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Pros: Cheapest, lots of variety, yummy snacks available (great for ur tummy)

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Cons: Not as ~aesthetic~, yummy snacks available (bad for your wallet)

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Brattle Square Florist

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Next on our list is Brattle Square Florist! The beloved flower shop in the Square was set to close last year but then announced it would remain open and it has since moved to a new location at 52 Brattle St. If you ask for a bouquet of flowers within a certain budget, they will make one for you after asking for what colors you would like. The bouquet pictured above was $15.94 and came with a lot of flowers! Maybe not so great if you’re bad at making decisions (how hard was it for you to choose a concentration?) but amazing if you want a unique bouquet!

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Bouquet Cost: $15.94

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Pros: Customizable, supporting local businesses <3

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Cons: A little more expensive

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The Other Trader Joe’s

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If you want to take a little walk along the river to maximize the spring vibes, you can also go to the other Trader Joe’s! Very similar to the one in the SEC so we didn’t go over there to take pictures, pls use your imagination <3.

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Pros: Cheapest, yummy snacks available (great for ur tummy)

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Cons: Not as ~aesthetic~, yummy snacks available (bad for ur wallet)

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Petali Flowers

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Across the street from the old Jefe’s location lies Petali Flowers, a whimsical escape from school where you can romanticize your life for a moment and pretend you live in a magical cottage in the woods. The shop is on the more expensive end of our list, but the vibes are cute and there’s lots of neat gifts to buy if you want an addition to your flowers (like a candle but shhh don’t tell your building manager). When you ask for a bouquet within a budget, they may ask you to pick one flower you like and build the rest of the bouquet around it.

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Bouquet Cost: $14.88

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Pros: cute gifts to buy for ur friends, pretty wrapping

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Cons: most pricey, not as many flowers for the price

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Although there are many options for flowers on this list, you really can’t go wrong with any of these and I am sure the recipient will appreciate it either way!. We hope this guide was helpful if you’re looking for somewhere to buy flowers for your friend/your boo/yourself <3!

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-a2f1b4dbc7d30204f30ea10d822ef0f578ec2e5e}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.thecrimson.com/photos/2023/04/26/032132_1363518.gif', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=]>), ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-cfb6c129acd83d0e38ffa76ac3ed6acc9752a371}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2023/04/26/031649_1363515.png.1500x1200_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='right', size='medium', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption="Flowers at Trader Joe's.", hovertext=None, contributors=]>), ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-9da23c8ab6404a753bea32c6a4c58a85d8890cc7}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2023/04/26/031819_1363516.png.1500x1200_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='right', size='medium', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption='Brattle Square Florist!.', hovertext=None, contributors=]>), ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-bfc0e9eee4d1c8a27ae89ef86d9ce9b232fb0ea7}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2023/04/26/031937_1363517.png.1500x1200_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='right', size='medium', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption='Petali flowers!.', hovertext=None, contributors=]>)])

('

{shortcode-14e7510d7dfafe2776789d1534f0fc5863bc58cd}

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The new Starbucks and Faro Café? Love them, but that’s old news. Blank Street, a New York based chain known for its clean aesthetic, efficiency, and its fern-green trademark color, will settle conveniently to the left of the Smith Center, providing easy access to a pick-me up. Flyby interviewed co-founder Vinay Menda to learn more about the chain and what Harvard students can expect of this new coffee shop. You’re welcome.

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EKR: Could you introduce yourself and describe your path to founding Blank Street?

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VM: I moved to New York in 2011 to go to undergrad at NYU. My co-founder was at Columbia; we became friends through the New York international student ecosystem. He’s Lebanese, grew up in London, I’m Indian and grew up in Dubai. We started working together in college, investing small amounts of money into consumer tech companies and started a tiny venture capital business at school. We graduated in 2015 and formalized that into a company called Reshape, where we invested in some incredible companies like Postmates, Sweetgreen, and Reddit. We did that for a while, but always wanted to operate and build a business in the intersection of the digital world and the real world.

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My co-founder was obsessed with coffee — I was obsessed with consumer retail. The idea for Blank Street came to us in late 2019 after a bunch of research on the market and the future of the industry. So we decided to jump right in. We quit our investing jobs and, and started building Blank Street in May 2020, and we launched our first store in August 2020.

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EKR: What differentiates Blank Street from the other coffee shops out there?

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VM: If you look at the coffee landscape in Western Europe and in the U.S., it’s still dominated by, at least in the at-home category, by old school brands; second-wave coffee, and speciality coffee, which is the coffee graded above an 85 at the source, is generally sourced at higher altitudes and is very fragmented. It’s really expensive in terms of price umbrella and it's not as convenient as second-wave coffee. So, the big opportunity we saw, and the core value proposition is: can we take high-quality coffee, the same quality coffee you get at any specialty brand, but make it as convenient and as affordable? And to truly make it a daily routine to compete with the legacy brands, like the Starbucks and in Boston, the Dunkins of the world.

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For non-coffee connoisseurs, second-wave coffee consists of places like Starbucks that emphasize coffee origin and communicate the high quality of their coffee, but mainly derive sales from the cafe experience.

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ER: I’ve heard that Blank Street is all about efficiency, is that correct?

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VM: Efficiency is important to the customer experience. I think customers don’t want to wait in line for 15 minutes to get their food or beverage. The reason people like waiting in line in markets like New York is because they want to get out of the office, they want to have a break from their day. But, I don’t think the experience of waiting for 15 minutes is the right experience. You want to get what you want very quickly and have 10, 15 minutes for yourself to do what you want versus being stuck in line. So, efficiency is very important. It’s more so just making the lives of our baristas as easy as possible so you can focus on the customer experience versus having to make 15-step drinks that they do at Starbucks.

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It sounds like when you’re running to your 9 a.m. at 9:05 a.m., Blank Street’s got you covered.

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EKR: Why did Blank Street open a location in Harvard Square?

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VM: A few reasons. First of all, my chief of staff went to Harvard. When he joined the company, he was like, “I don’t care. I need a store at Harvard Square.” So that was one thing. Boston is a market that we really love for coffee, given the history of coffee; the cappuccino was invented there, and Dunkin’ has an incredible presence in Boston. In general, we do better in residential neighborhoods over commercial neighborhoods. The second is that universities and college campuses drink a lot of coffee. We do very well at NYU with younger generations and younger cohorts. So, given how busy people are in college and how they drink coffee 24 hours a day, it was important to have a location on campus.

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EKR: I was about to say, we definitely consume a lot of coffee here at Harvard.

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VM: I think Harvard might beat NYU. Maybe.

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I think we’ll give NYU a run for their money.

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EKR: What do Harvard students have to look forward to with this new Blank Street location?

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VM: Harvard is known for a lot of legacy coffee chains, like Starbucks that is really big there. You also have some incredible cafes, like Bluestone Lane, that cater to a different type of customer, which is more of a sit down cafe. I think getting the quality you get from the brands you love, with the efficiency you get at a Starbucks is something you should definitely look forward to.

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EKR: What do you recommend Harvard Students order from Blank Street, and what’s your personal go-to Blank Street order?

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VM: If you can’t tell, I’m wearing a t-shirt that says “Mike’s Hot Honey” on it. One of our drinks is a Mike’s Hot Honey latte, so we add spicy honey to the latte. I love that one. I’m a crazy person — I drink cold brew all year round, and we have a Candy Cane Cold Brew that’s pretty incredible. It tastes like peppermint. Our signature drink in the UK, which is now on the menu here as well, is a Pistachio Latte. So our, our brand color is, what can we call it? Is it Fern Green? Is it Pistachio Green? It’s some type of green that looks like that Pistachio latte. I think that’s gonna be great as well.

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During September move-in, I will personally be making Blank Street my first stop and trying the pistachio latte. Staying on campus this summer? You’ll be around for the opening :)

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('

{shortcode-7837b2b83dbea738673a26d1d44ab5ec93dab194} After spending a day with prefrosh, their parents, and sometimes even their dogs, flyby blog has compiled a list of the most hilarious and shocking overheards from this Visitas weekend. Be prepared to be entertained by the Class of 2027.

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-

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“Stanford is acceptable, but it’s not… you know… an Ivy League school” - Anti-Stanford Kid

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-

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“My family’s trying to complete the Ivy League attendance”

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“How many Ivy Leagues do you have left?”

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“Just Cornell because why would you go there…” - The Highest Form Of Legacy Families

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-

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“MIT is so much more Harvard than Harvard is… these people are so normal” - Disappointed Prefrosh

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-

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“I heard collaboration is forbidden… even for homework” - Confused Prefrosh

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“Have you heard of the MQC? My host said that they lived there to pass their classes — Do you know the address?” - Confused Prefrosh 2

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“Do you mean the MAC?” - Confused Prefrosh 3

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-

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“Can I accompany my child so that they’re not alone?” - Overattached Parent

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“We think it would be best that they make friends while they’re here” - Anon Visitas Staff

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“Hahaha… I like to say that I’m her best friend!” - Parent

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-

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“Why do they look so sad?” - Unaware Prefrosh

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-

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“I’m still waiting to hear back from my talent agent” - Prefrosh with a Talent Agent

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-

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“My child cannot cook or do laundry” - Concerned Parent

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-

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“Can you hold my trash while I take a picture with President Dean Gay”

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*throws trash at staff* - Concerning Parent

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-

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“I can’t wait to take the train to Yale tomorrow for their Visitas, their programming looks really cool” - Prefrosh in the HUCE elevator

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-

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“This is my prefrosh” - Senior with No Prefrosh

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“They’re wearing a Class of 2023 shirt” - Senior at Harvard College

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“Can we still get free food though?” - The Senior, Also Known as “Prefrosh”

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-

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“You know I think you could literally just teach that class” - Prefrosh 1

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“I think that’s what going to happen” - Prefrosh 2

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-

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And that’s a wrap on this year’s Visitas. To all you prefrosh — we hope you enjoyed the rainy weekend and everyone at flyby wishes you good luck making what will surely be an easy difficult college decision!

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{shortcode-4306b8badc4511c77a2503bbf59c4c3b215fa71c}

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Harvard has its stereotypes, just like every other school. But the clique you’re in at your high school doesn’t matter here. This weekend, you reinvent yourself. What’s your new persona? Take this quiz to find out.

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{shortcode-62ecd77713f9e4bc65fb337e82f26784f6d084cb}

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{shortcode-dad4618d9d53bac887a5b0cf204191f936cf9ef7}

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{shortcode-036e79ec7534ebe7dc7cc0446edfea9b490ed3fc}

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('

{shortcode-95608bc64721a3167c7edecffaad52ee720b41f0}Ah, Visitas. The place you’ll either meet friends for life or friends who you’ll lose to the Bulldog Days they won’t let you forget they’re attending after. Go make the most out of it and try to get Bingo!

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{shortcode-8dbb687f6db700d266773ff4539efbc44b41508c}

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('

{shortcode-10c750ae53ce754385031bfc7faf29554c6b48da}Congratulations on your acceptance to Harvard! We know there’s so much information to take in about our wonderful institution, and it can be overwhelming. Well, we at Flyby, being the benevolent publication that we are, have decided to make things easier for you. Here are the top 10 things you need to know about Harvard.

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10. The Lowell Bells can go off whenever, so be ready.

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You never know when that resonant chime of doom will wake you from your slumber or stop you in the middle of a Zoom call. Be ready to be annoyed a lot.

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9. Bring your professor’s book to class on the first day, just in case.

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Sometimes they’ll sign it for you! Famous professors love to meet their fans.

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8. Everybody takes paper notes.

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At some schools, everybody gets out their laptop or iPad during class to take notes. We don’t do that here. The internet simply distracts from learning, which is, of course, the priority. And professors will dock participation points if you use technology. Invest in some good notebooks and pens.

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7. Cutting through the Yard is cringe.

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In the Yard, you look like a silly little student going to your silly little freshman dorm. On the streets surrounding the Yard, you look like a sophisticated metropolitan. So avoid the paths in the Yard as much as possible. You want to be a²+b², not c².

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6. Don’t touch Remy. He’s feral.

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Once, Remy (the campus cat) got in my dorm, and then I had to get a series of rabies shots from health services. Admire his orange fur from afar, but don’t you dare pet him.

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5. You absolutely have to be on time for everything.

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Nobody at Harvard is ever late, especially for extracurricular meetings. Things will start exactly on time, so you better be there.

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4. Annenberg has the best food on campus.

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Sometimes, upperclassmen will try to be nice and invite you to eat in the house dining halls. Don’t do it. Take advantage of Berg’s superior food while you can.

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3. When it’s warm out, everyone goes swimming in the river!

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We’re so lucky to have such a clean and refreshing body of water right here on campus. Make sure to pack a swimsuit, because when it’s hot in the dorms, we all follow the time-honored tradition of splashing around in the Charles.

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2. Every time people say “Flyby,” they’re referring to us, the blog.

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Yeah, the quick-service place under Annenberg is technically called “Fly By.” But nobody calls it that out loud. They’re talking about us, the most important publication on campus.

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1. Sometimes, Harvard students like to mess with prefrosh.

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Especially me. Sorry! Hazing is illegal. I have to get my kicks where I can.

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Anyway, welcome to Harvard, and remember, “veritas” means “gullible” in Latin!

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('

{shortcode-9f8ce5eef699d15e047805738c8c8b021b7398ad}Welcome to Harvard, Class of 2027! As you take your first few steps on campus, there's a lot awaiting you here, and it can honestly get very confusing very quickly. Here at Flyby, we offer you an important resource: our annual breakdown of Harvard lingo for the Class of 2027!

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The Yard

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Your one-stop shop for all things Harvard: the statue, freshman dorms, the President’s office, genetically-engineered grass and too many tourists.

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The Houses

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During their first year, students are randomly assigned to one of 12 upperclassman Houses, each equipped with a dining hall, gym, library, plenty of amenities and House spirit. But really, there’s no best house… (except for Mather ;))

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The Quad

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QUAAAAAAD.

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Located in Radcliffe College’s former residential campus, the Quad is home to three Houses: Cabot, Currier, and Pfoho, and is known for its amazing food, spirit, and Housing Day videos.

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The SEC

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Harvard’s secret partnership with Meta to sequester the CS concentrators. Also has been called “The Cheese Grater” due to its exterior. In reality, the Science and Engineering Complex is home to the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, as well as some really cool amenities (did someone say Peloton bikes?).

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Dhall (dee-hall)

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Short for dining hall. That’s pretty much it.

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Berg

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An affectionate nickname for Annenberg Hall, the freshman-only Harry Potter-esque dhall that you’ve seen in all the promotional materials. Get ready for some of the highest highs (fried chicken sandwiches) and the lowest lows (molasses ???? chicken) of your first-year dining experience.

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Memorial Hall

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The big brick and stained glass building that contains practically all you need: Annenberg Hall; Sanders Theatre, a site for performances like Cultural Rhythms and CS50; multiple classrooms on upper and lower levels; grab-and-go dining options; and the Cambridge Queen’s Head Pub, a popular spot for trivia nights and wings.

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HUDS (hudds)

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Harvard University Dining Services. The 2023 HUDS revamp was an overhaul of the dining menus that showed just how little college students require to feel happiness.

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Cabot Science Library vs. Cabot House

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Cabot Science Library is a studying space within the big concrete-glass building in the Science Center Plaza and will be the site of many (many) late nights. Cabot House is 20 minutes away in the Quad. Read your emails carefully.

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Entryway

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Your first-year residential community which includes 20-30 freshmen in the same floor or area of the dorm.

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Proctor

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A graduate student or member of Harvard staff who is your live-in resource for all things Harvard, including emergencies, support, academic advice, and free food.

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PAF (paff)

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Short for Peer Advising Fellow, a PAF is an upperclassman who does not live with you but is a great resource for advice on classes, campus life, and extracurriculars.

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Rakesh / Dean Khurana

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Dean of the College and everyone’s favorite Instagram influencer / adopted dad. +10 if you can get on the ‘gram during Visitas.

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Concentration

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Our quirky little way of saying “major”.

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Secondary field

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Because we’re sometimes too quirky, this is how we say “minor”.

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Double vs. joint

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Both refer to studying two fields. Before Harvard approved double concentrations last year, joint concentrations were the only way to concentrate on two areas of study, culminating in a thesis that combines your two fields of choice. A double still allows you to study two fields but without the requirement of a thesis. It’s still new, we’re all figuring it out.

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Pset (pee-set)

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A pset, or problem set, is a collection of questions typically assigned by STEM classes that can take you anywhere from two hours to two weeks to complete.

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1363216

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Time outside of lecture to ask questions, get help on problem sets, and feedback on essays. If you take any math from Math M to 21B, we’ll be sure to see you in the Math Question Center (MQC) Sundays through Thursdays from 7:30-11 p.m.

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TF / PSL / CA

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TF: Teaching fellow. Usually a graduate student that will help teach the class or grade your coursework.PSL (peer study leader) and CAs (course assistants) are undergraduates who have previously taken the course and can help answer questions or clarify concepts

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Canvas

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Why reinvent the wheel when 2022 Ellen explained it so well? Canvas is the app that ruins your day when you find out your midterm scores have been released. Canvas is a central platform (both a website and a mobile app) where your instructor will post course-related documents including assignments and syllabi and where you turn in your homework (and find out how well you did on it).

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Q Guide

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With a more devout following than the Bible, the Q Guide publishes student rankings and evaluations of past and current courses. We took these classes so you… still have to, but at least you know what to expect going into it (and build your coping mechanisms now)!

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The T

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Our favorite-by-default transportation system. Extensive? Sort of. Functional? Sometimes. Cheap? Eh. At least it gets you where you need to go… usually.

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Jefe’s vs Felipes

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The age-old debate between two classic fast-casual Mexican establishments and the most-asked icebreaker question. If you’re stuck on what to order, we HIGHLY recommend the nachos from Felipe’s and the quesadillas from El Jefe’s.

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Comp

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Just when you thought applications were over… psych! Many (but not all!) extracurriculars have a process to join called “the comp”, which can stand for anything from “competitive” to “completion.” Don’t worry though; plenty of incredible extracurriculars have absolutely no barriers to entry!

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Women’s Center

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Located in the basement of Canaday, the Harvard College Women’s Center provides space and programming designed to explore gender and women’s issues and build community. Plus, there’s free tea!

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Quoffice

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The Office of BGLTQ Student Life, fondly dubbed “Quoffice”, is located in the lower level of Thayer and is a resource and community to celebrate and support LGBTQ+ students across campus.

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Flyby vs Fly By

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Flyby is us. We are Flyby, the blog of The Harvard Crimson. We are cool. So cool. Fly *SPACE* By is the grab-and-go lunch service provided under Annenberg Hall for those who only have 15 minutes to eat between classes. Flyby is for everyone <3.

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('

{shortcode-584a968e9aeb85a6de37e2aaaafe68b64e028cd5}If you’ve ever been on a Harvard tour, you’ve probably heard the tour guide refer to the John Harvard statue as “The Statue of 3 Lies.” (Bonus points to you if you know what these lies are). While Harvard is an exciting place to be, it also comes with its bulk of challenges to overcome and myths to debunk. Here, Flyby shares the real three lies of Harvard that we’ve learned over the course of our years here thus far.

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Lie #1: You need to commit your whole heart and soul to one passion.

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My friend says this all the time: “Normalize not having a passion.” As an incoming freshman, it’s okay to know what you want to study and have a four-year plan saved on your phone; it’s also just as okay to not have any idea whatsoever. The best part about Harvard is arguably the ability and opportunity to try new experiences that you probably wouldn’t have the chance to do so elsewhere. Want to take a random class in some obscure niche field? No time like the present! Not sure if you want to try a new extracurricular activity? Give it a try, you never know! And hey, so many students come to college intending to do one thing and then change their minds multiple times over the course of the next four years. No matter what you have planned — or don’t have planned — Harvard is a great place for you to pursue new adventures and explore new passions.

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Lie #2: You’re definitely going to meet your best friends and soulmate in your freshman fall semester.

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Freshman fall is an exciting but overwhelming time — you will be meeting new people every day, in classes and dhalls, at parties and events. You have probably heard from at least one upperclassman that they met their blocking group and person they are currently dating in their first week of college. For every person who says this, there is another who will say that they struggled to find their footing socially in freshman fall, and it took them a while to find their core group of friends. Remember that everyone’s experience is different, and focus on having a good time with your new peers. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and on every interaction you have. Be open to meeting new people in new situations. It will work out, even if it at first doesn’t feel like it!

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Lie #3: You’ll get to do everything you want to do at Harvard.

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Harvard offers incredible opportunities! From internships in Spain to clubs that host formals on islands and boats, there are things you can do at Harvard that you truly cannot do anywhere else. What they don’t tell you is that there are more things that you can sign up for — more clubs, more jobs, more courses — than you’ll ever be able to do during your short time in College. Don’t let this deter you from enrolling! Coming to Harvard will truly open the door to this excess of opportunities for the rest of your life. However, make sure you’re not too hard on yourself when you can’t join a hundred clubs in the first semester or go to the seven parties being thrown on a Saturday night.

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Now that you know the truth, will you still say yes to Harvard? We hope so! Want to learn more about this school and all of its quirks and perks — read more articles on our Guide to Visitas feature as well as on the rest of the blog!

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