Jonthan+Denis2


 * __Davis Square__**



Davis Square in Somerville Massachusetts is a melting pot of old and new. Trendy coffee shops, bars, and record stores exist in harmony with old time mom and pop diners, tailors, and barber shops which have been in business for decades. Hanging out at Davis Square is a peaceful experience. It is the axis of activity and a beautiful natural oasis at the center of the surrounding shops and restaurants. People use the space to relax, socialize, and enjoy a nice day.

I have decided to visit Davis Square around 1:00 pm on Saturday to make observations about the interaction between its space and its patrons. The weekend is a perfect time to sit back and observe the copious amounts of activity. I will attempt to describe the experience of visiting the square and analyze how the space creates this experience. The sun is warm and tame today. Its rays gently message my body. Beams of light burst through the tree canopy, drawing an animated design on the cobblestone which transforms with each gust of wind. The breeze tickles my skin and stimulates the little hairs on my arms. The square envelops me with a blanket of comfort.

A gentle rhythm is heard in the soundscape of the square. Light indecipherable conversations are harmonized by the chirping chorus of birds; creating a white noise which enhances the relaxing atmosphere. The song seems to get louder and softer in correlation to the intensity of the breeze. The volume ascends and descends in a slow moving frequency like classical music piece. One could argue the wind is the conductor. The soothing songs of the square ease and focus the mind. They provide a great environment to read or do work. There is an ever changing shmorgestborg of smells floating through the square. The wind is again the conductor of these experiences. Tree leaves and fresh air are constants. Puffs of tobacco meander their way to my nostrils. Occasional whiffs of hotdogs and sausages are a tantalizing reminder of my childhood. The smells add to the soft ambiance. The diversity of people is high. A full gamut of age, sex, race and species is present. A lot of socialization between mixed groups is taking place. People chit chat while hanging out on the benches. Conversations are light and jovial, reflecting the mellow experience of the square. Children run around aimlessly, playing tag or terrorizing birds. Couples on dates share cones of ice cream. The square is a place where people feel comfortable taking it easy with one another. It is designed for this very purpose. There are many interactions going on between humans and animals. People love to bring their pets when they visit Davis Square. Dogs are the biggest link between complete strangers. They are the celebrities of the square and make perfect ice breakers. I have brought my beagle Freddy with me today. I have only been here for forty minutes and I have been approached by three random adults and four children. Everyone starts off with the same exclamations and questions. “Oh he is so cute! What is his name?”. Pleasant conversations ensue. I had the privilege of meeting a little girl named Maggie. She was energetic and rambunctious, much like Freddy. Maggie went on a five minute run on sentence about what she had done that day. It was a hilarious interlude to my studies. The birds have their own scene in the square. They split their time between their safe haven in the tree canopy and running the gauntlet on the floor level in search of food. The birds seem to feel secure with anyone over the age of sixty five. They circle around senior citizens chirping and begging for a snack. They move on to the next senior couple when all resources have been exhausted. Children and dogs are the birds arch nemeses. Maggie has already terrorized numerous groupings. She likes to run full speed at them, wildly flailing her arms while screaming a high pitched squeal. She will laugh hysterically when the birds flee in horror. Freddy has also taken it upon himself to harass any bird who is unfortunate enough to finds its way to our general vicinity. It is a shame because I enjoy watching them hobble around my legs. They are essential pieces to the natural qualities of the square. Davis Square is designed to facilitate relaxation and socialization. The beautiful natural environment entrances its visitors into tranquil state. Warm and cool sensations from the sun and wind relax the body. Soothing natural white noise eases and focuses the mind. Intriguing smells of nature and tasty snacks stimulate the senses. Mesmerizing sights, sounds, sensations, and smells harmonize together to create a serene experience. The benches, tables, nature, and environment give people a comforting place to hang out and socialize. A cozy sense of community is felt while enjoying a nice day at the square. I have come back to Davis Square at midnight on Saturday. I expect to observe many differences and a few similarities to the day time scene. Once again I will attempt to observe and analyze the experience. The mood is energized, but winding down. People are gathering in groups and getting ready to go home; trying to enjoy the last vestiges of the night. What were fifteen groups of two to five people has turned into a few mini mobs and sets of couples. The visitors are far less diverse than those who came during the day. College students and young adults completely dominate the area. No animal life can be found. The square has changed from a natural oasis to a crashing pad for bar patrons. The air is cool and refreshing; sobering me from the beer I had a few minutes earlier. Hints of alcohol and sweet ice cream mildly swim through the air. I was lucky enough to grab the same table I had sat at during the day. It is sticky from a days worth of ice cream mishaps. I made the mistake of placing my arms on the table when I sat down. There are imprints of various body parts in the gooey globs on the surface. It appears others have made the same mistake.

The sounds are more erratic than during the day. Complete silence is interrupted by blaring cab horns and drunken exclamations. Every minute or two, the old rickety door to the local pub cracks open. The raucous unified voice of forty college students explodes out of the bar for a brief moment before the door thwacks shut.

A lot of the space is being used in ways which were not intended. Trees and statues have become leaning posts for people standing in groups. Long lines of bar goers are sitting on the stone median between two flower patches. There isn’t enough space at the tables for such a mob to sit down together, so the median acts as a long bench. A drunkard is using one of the table tops as a place to nap. I hope he was sober enough to choose one of the tables with no ice cream residue. Davis Square provides a similar yet different function at night. It is designed to be a large lit area where people can conglomerate before heading home. It is a nice place to rest before journeying back to ones residence. The sensory aspects of the square are less intense than during the day, but still prevalent. The lighter experience helps to bring a person down from the intensity level of the bars.

 Relaxation and socialization are the main ingredients in Davis Square . The atmosphere is rich with activity and calming sensory qualities. The environment and layout enable the squares visitors to relax with each other. Check out Davis Square if you are ever in the downtown Somerville area. The experience will undoudibly leave you in a peaceful mood.

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