Good morning, Waltham,
We have officially hit Issue 5. The momentum behind this newsletter has been incredible. Every week I hear from more of you discovering places in the city you never knew existed. Thank you for continuing to read and share.
This week we are talking about a true local legend. It is not upscale and it is not new. But if you ask anyone who grew up here or went to college in Waltham where to get the best sandwich, they will all give you the exact same answer.
Let's get into it.
🍽️ THIS WEEK'S EAT
Carl's Steak Subs, 55 Prospect Street
There is a reason Carl's has maintained a cult following for decades. They serve unapologetically massive, incredibly delicious steak and cheese sandwiches. The menu is straightforward and the portions are absolutely legendary.
When people graduate from Bentley or Brandeis and move away, this is the food they come back to visit. The classic cheesesteak is a rite of passage, but the special steak with peppers and onions is the true standout. Do not expect fancy seating or craft cocktails. Just expect the most satisfying, heavy, perfectly grilled steak sub you will ever eat. Bring an appetite because finishing a whole sub in one sitting is a genuine accomplishment.
📍 55 Prospect St | Open Monday through Saturday
📅 3 THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND
Speed Dating at Mighty Squirrel Brewery Thursday April 9 starting at 6:30pm. If you are single and tired of the dating apps, Boston Single Mingle is hosting an in person event right inside the Waverley Oaks taproom. It is aimed at ages 29 to 39. You get real conversations, local beer, and zero screen time.
Spring Orchid Sale at the Lyman Estate Friday April 10 through Sunday April 12. Last week we featured the Lyman Estate Greenhouses as our local find. This weekend they are hosting their massive annual spring plant and orchid sale. It is the perfect excuse to go walk through the 200 year old tropical rooms and take something green home.
The Mill Girls in Story and Song Saturday April 11 at 11:00am. The Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation is hosting a special morning event focused entirely on the history of the women who worked the early industrial mills. It is a fantastic deep dive into local Waltham history.
🛍️ LOCAL FIND
Stonehurst, The Robert Treat Paine Estate
Tucked away at 100 Robert Treat Paine Drive is a genuine architectural masterpiece. In the late 1800s, two of the most famous designers in American history teamed up to build this summer home. Architect H.H. Richardson and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted collaborated to create Stonehurst.
Today the mansion sits on 114 acres of gorgeous conservation land that is completely open to the public. You can hike the wooded trails from dawn until dusk. It is one of the most peaceful and beautifully designed outdoor spaces in the entire Boston area, and most people have no idea it is right here in Waltham.
📍 100 Robert Treat Paine Dr | Grounds open daily from sunrise to sunset
💬 ONE GOOD THING
Waltham is home to one of the most historic Girl Scout camps in the United States. In the early 1920s, a philanthropist named Cornelia Warren passed away. She was the heir to a massive paper manufacturing fortune. In her will, she gifted her sprawling 75 acre Waltham estate, known as Cedar Hill, directly to the Girl Scouts. Over a century later, that land on Beaver Street is still operating as a beloved camp and outdoor space for thousands of young girls. Her generosity permanently protected a massive piece of Waltham green space from development.
See you next Thursday,
Pankhi
The Waltham Insider
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