Best place to hobnob with the literati
The pool of literary energy and talent in Boston is wildly out of proportion to the city's size. Grub Street, Boston's only independent writing center, harnesses the power of this talent through writing workshops in fiction, poetry, and screenwriting, among others; through Saturday-morning discussions on various issues writers face; and through readings and events and fellowships. Not only does Grub Street make people the best writers they can be by exposing them to the best writers, but it fills the crucial role of Boston's literary hub, the place to reference for all manner of literary endeavors. In the tapestry of the cultural scene, this is the thread that ties all the literary units together. Employing as teachers some of Boston's best writers, such as Chris Castellani, Jessica Shattuck, Amanda Ward, and Jennifer Haigh, Grub Street provides those who don't have time or money for a full-on MFA program the opportunity for master's-level teaching, discussion, and perhaps most important in such a solitary endeavor, community.

Grub Street, 561 Windsor Street, Somerville, (617) 623-8100, www.grubstreet.org.