On October 3rd, 2000, a sweet surprise kiss between Linda Scharf and Peter Gold took place in front of the House of Blues, 96 Winthrop Street in Harvard Square. Two weeks later, they were living together and inseparable, though Peter’s brother, Michael, had introduced them to each other 25 years earlier!
In 2021, their dear friend, Pat, performed their marriage ceremony in that same location.
To celebrate their first kiss, Peter reached out to Mayor Denise Simmons last month to see if there was any possibility to commemorate that encounter with an etching on a Winthrop Street brick in front of 96, as a surprise to Linda and to memorialize their love story.
Stacey Miguel, Executive Assistant to Mayor Simmons, contacted the HSBA to discuss this lovely gesture and to see what was possible.
Denise Jillson, Executive Director of the Harvard Square Business Association, contacted City of Cambridge Traffic, Parking and Transportation Commissioner Brooke McKenna, DPW Commissioner, John Nardone, Deputy City Manager, Kathy Watkins and Assistant City Manager for Human Services, Ellen Semonoff. While Peter’s gesture was hailed as romantic and incredibly charming, it was determined that etching a brick on Winthrop Street was not possible.
Not to be deterred, Ellen Semonoff suggested to Jillson that she present a “Harvard Square Pit Brick”* etched with Peter’s wording to commemorate the occasion:
“O.L.H.” My Linda and Your Peter Forever in the Garden of our Love October third, twenty twenty five
As it happens, Peter and Linda were in Harvard Square on September 27th to attend ‘“Wasn’t that A Time” The Boston Revival 1958-1965’ presented by the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF) / Boch Center Wang Theatre, which took place at Arrow Street Arts.
When the FARHOF event ended, Peter and Linda meandered through the Square and found themselves in front of 96 Winthrop (now the home of The Boiling Crab Restaurant), where they were met with a delightful surprise.
The HSBA set the scene with a table and chairs (supplied by Kari Kuelzer, owner of Grendel’s Den) complete with champagne, champagne flutes, lemon cupcakes with buttercream frosting, flowers and two bricks: Peter and Linda’s brick, and an “official” Harvard Square Pit Brick.
Serendipity continued! Totally unexpected and unplanned, Peter’s cousin Harry and his love, Ariana, strolled up Winthrop Street, just as the champagne was being uncorked. Raul Farias, General Manager of The Boiling Crab, joined the party and also decorated a reserved a table for the happy couple inside the restaurant. As with all things in Harvard Square, we came together to create a testament to love; it truly takes a village!
The HSBA sends sincerest thanks to Mayor Simmons, Stacey Miguel, Brooke McKenna, John Nardone, Kathy Watkins, Ellen Semonoff, Kari Kuelzer, and Raul Farias. We know that our extended Harvard Square community joins us in sending best wishes to the happy couple.
Congratulations Linda and Peter!
*(The HSBA harvested several hundred bricks from the beloved and now demolished PIT. The bricks are used for fundraisers, awards and special occasions.)
