Posted January 6th, 2007 by Jon
Lovingly known as Slumerville, the area used to be known as the home to Whitey Bulger and the Winter Hill Gang. But Somerville has come a long way since those days. About 20 years ago, the Red line was extended from Harvard Square to Davis Square. From there, Davis Square went from a Tufts student area to becoming one of Rolling Stone’s top 10 hippest places to live. Now with the proposed extension of the Green Line through Somerville, we are starting to see a gentrification of the rest of the town as well.
I would consider Somerville to be more residential than Cambridge, however a majority of the housing tends to be in multi-family homes. And even though it has more of a residential feel, that didn’t stop it from being the most densely populated municipalities in New England in 2000.
Besides Davis Square, Somerville also shares Inman Square and Porter Square with Cambridge, and holds it’s claim to fame with Union Square being the site of where one of the earliest American flags was raised.
Posted January 6th, 2007 by Jon
Now we’re talking about my stomping grounds. I live work and play in Cambridge, I am a Canterbridgian. The Oakland to your San Fransisco, the Annaheim to your LA, the city of Cambridge lies across the river from Boston, and exists in a different County all together. And even though the two cities are a mere bridge away, most of the people in Boston I know, never come to Cambridge, because it’s “the other side of the river.” Their loss.
Not only is Cambridge host of two of the most respected educational institutes in America (MIT and Harvard), but it also boasts one of the most diverse populations in the area. Accessible by the Red Line and the Green Line, living here gives anyone easy access to the rest of the city, if you ever want to leave.
Shopping, dining, and entertainment can be found in any of the vibrant squares that Cambridge offers. Most can be found along Massachusetts Avenue (Kendall Sq. Central Sq. Harvard Sq. and Porter Sq), but my personal favorite is a little more off the beaten path. Inman Square lies on the border of Cambridge and Somerville, and is a can’t miss. The original home of Legal Seafoods (a Boston staple) still has some of the best restaurants and nightlife in town.
Most of the industry can be found around East Cambridge, including companies such as Biogen, Genzyme, and Novartis. In the past few years, this portion of Cambridge closest to Downtown Boston, has been seeing a revival with numerous high-end high-rises, and luxury condos comming on the market. With the proposed extension of the Green line through Somerville, the area is turning to more of a commuter hub than it was before.
Republicans and pro-lifers need not apply though. The Peoples Republic of Cambridge is normally considered to lean pretty far left, and that’s by Massachusetts standards.
Posted January 6th, 2007 by Jon
I don’t even know where to begin with this one. The city of Boston has so much history under it’s belt, that it would take way to long for me to lay it all out here. Fortunately for everyone interested in tons of details, on the eighth day God created Wikipedia.
In the last 15 years, Boston has gone from the Carjack capital of America (lowjack was tested here in the early/mid ’90s), to a thriving technological, financial, medical, and educational hub. The greater Boston area is host to over 100 universities, including Tufts, UMass, BU, BC, Northeastern , and Emerson to name a few. Because of the amount of “transients” we see, the rental market here is unlike most other cities, and properties are much smaller here than in most other cities (excluding of course NYC). It is not uncommon to see three students living in a 750 square foot 2 bedroom apartment.
The other thing that Boston boasts is it’s roots in America. Many people consider Boston to be a walking city, and one of the major attractions is the Freedom Trail. It’s literally a 2 brick wide line that circles around the city and makes it easy for visitors to soak in it’s history. Some of the 16 sites on the trail include the old state house, the Paul Revere home, the site of the Boston Massacre, and the USS Constitution.
Posted January 6th, 2007 by Jon
Situated just west of Boston, Brookline caters to both urban and suburban lifestyles … if you can afford it. Brookline boasts median property values 50% higher than the rest of Massachusetts, and over double the US average.
Being surrounded on three sides by Boston and one side by Newton (Voted Americas safest town multiple times), Brookline is truly an oasis with easy access to all of Boston. In the south side you will find The Country Club, the three time host of the U.S. Open, as well as numerous million dollar estates.
To the northeast lies it’s more urban diggs which are mostly accessible to the T (MBTA). The area offers some excellent commercial areas and neighborhoods including Coolidge Corner, Washington Square, Brookline Village, and Cleveland Circle.
Don’t forget about the educational system in Brookline. So far it’s helped produce such great people as Barbara Walters, Conan O’Brien, Theo Epstein, and John F. Kennedy. Ok, maybe JFK was just born here, but the schools are great.
