The Student Lounge | Your First Class

Before your first class you will receive an email confirming the class time and location. Grub Street’s headquarters are located on the 5th floor of 162 Boylston Street. To enter the building, please buzz up to the office, and once in the building, you can either take the elevator or the stairs. Below is some information on our space; we hope you’ll read this through before your first class!

What to Bring

Please bring a pen and paper, and any books or other materials that the class description requests. If your instructor would like you to bring something in addition (an assignment or a reading), they will email you in advance. We typically discourage laptops, as their noise can often be distracting to other students, but for classes on social media and blog-writing they may be required. You do not need to bring proof that you have registered for the course, as we have your registration on file.

Food & Drink

There is a water cooler, microwave, toaster oven, and coffee maker in the kitchen that all are welcome to use. Please be sure to TURN OFF the appliances when you are finished using them. Food and drink in the fridge and cabinets is staff food unless otherwise marked. Snacks, coffee and tea on the wood table in the kitchen or atop the refrigerator is communal, so please help yourself. There are also a number of nearby restaurants and cafes, including Starbucks, Boloco, and Au Bon Pain. Feel free to bring anything you like to eat or drink during class, but also be sure to tidy up and throw away your trash, and to wash your dishes! Bottles, cans and all paper can can be recycled in the big blue and green bins in the back hallway.

Breaks

Each Grub Street class has a break in the middle so you can stretch your legs, use the bathroom, or get something to eat. The length of the break depends on the length of the course-- three-hour classes will break for roughly fifteen minutes, while seven-hour weekend classes will get closer to half an hour. Grub Street does not serve food or drink; if you're taking a weekend class we encourage you to pack a lunch or visit a nearby cafe.

The Copier

If you are taking a 6 or 10-week course, you are welcome to use our industrial-strength copier, located in the back hallway. This machine collates, double-sides, and staples and while it is robust, please be gentle with it, especially with the document feeder. If there’s a jam, it will give you clear instructions for how to fix it. If it runs out of paper, you can find more in the front room closet. If making lots of copies, please arrive early to avoid creating a long line.

Wireless

Enjoy free wireless while you’re at our center. The network name is GrubStreet or GrubStreet_EXT, and the code is 1601601601.

The Library

Grub Street members are encouraged to sign out (and return!) books from our library for up to one month. Simply fill out one of the cards at the back of the book. We have a wide array of books in our library, from novels and essay collections to writing guides and literary magazines. Please do NOT remove books from the “Friends of Grub” shelf in front of the elevator. Many of those books are inscribed to Grub Street.

If you're not an active member, become one today!

Community Board

Looking for a writing group? Upcoming readings? Similar organizations around town? Check out our community bulletin board in the kitchen and post something of your own. Don’t forget to also check our community board on Facebook.

Parking

There are a number of local parking garages, and Grub Street is able to offer discounted rates to members. For more information, please click here.

When You Leave

Please be sure to leave things as tidy as they were when you arrived. Dispose of all coffee cups and recycle leftover handouts. If you are the last to leave your classroom, turn off the lights.