If any one wants to discuss a sublet possibility for the summer that I am offering, or this apartment (2br) for the fall, let me know. Porter Square area.
By the way, whether you live in my place or not, Porter Sq is great. The combination of Restaurants and Bars plus the red line right here is unbeatable. Inman doesn't have a T stop, Central is practically a humanitarian disaster, Harvard is a shopping mall.
I have lived in Union Square, Porter, Harvard, and Central Square.
Central Square is one of the liveliest areas in metro Boston. It is grittier than other areas of Cambridge but unless you are afraid of homeless people (usually the same 4 or 5) it is far from a humanitarian disaster. However, it has legendary music venues, diversity. and excellent public transportation access to Boston. Plenty of decent housing nearby.
Harvard Square is touristy and has more shops. It has some of the best people watching in the Boston area. 2nd to Newbury Street. Great book stores and music stores.
Porter Square has nice houses. Good restaurants and music nearby. Walkable to Harvard and Davis and another lively area. The Star Market, Fitness Centers, and Burrito place is a mecca of Dartmouth and liberal art school grads. Not diverse enough for my taste.
Inman is cheaper and has funky cafes and places to eat. Though it is 10-15 minute walk to the T. But it has good bus transportation.
All these areas are relatively safe if you're smart. I would choose Central, Inman Square, Harvard, Porter. In that order.
I used to live between Harvard Square and Inman, right down the street from the GSD. I now live closer to Kendall Square (steps away from the B Side for all you Cantabrigians.) Both are good places to live but it largely depends what you're doing and where you need to do it. Since you're going to the GSD, anywhere near Harvard or Inman Square would be ideal. You could also look at Porter Square though it's a little further away.
Larry, I don't know if you left Boston or what, but Central Sq has gotten much worse in only 2 years. I attribute this to the Bush admin and lack of social services.
Central Sq also has a lot of apt's that get trumped as "central sq area" yet they are closer to the River than the T.
i second Javier's comments on Porter ... lots happening around there and very affordable.
I lived around Inman Square but eventually moved because of rent increase. I think it is still kinda expensive.
Central Square .... affordable, good vibe, yet kinda shady.
I moved to Washington Street in Somerville near Knapp Video ... 7 minute bike to GSD, affordable, good size apt.
i'd say don't look in cambridge, but check out somerville...
especially if you have a car..the prices are gonna be a bunch cheaper
and a parking permit is five dollars or so..it may have gone up...
i lived on washington st right outside of union sq and i could walk
to work in harvard sq...rent was 650 (each) for a sweet two bedroom
with a grape arbor and a huge living room and dining room..
and it's real close to dali, the wine and cheese cask, inman and 1369..
i also lived on a street off msgr obrien highway...paid 550 each for
a similarly sized apartment...a parking space off the street and one
car garage...it's in a mildly worse area and you had to bike or drive
everywhere..but you can't beat the price..
javier..
i don't know where you're comin from with the central sq stuff, but my
experience with it is that it's gotten a lot 'nicer' back around 95 or so
there were a lot more mom and pop stores and a lot more dirt ...
now there's that huge ugly housing project that went up on the corner
of mass and river and all the huge chains (gap, foot locker, starbucks)
it's the only city-like area of boston..the whole town has been so
cleaned up it's boring..
Lars, the story of Central Sq is a tragicomic one...it used to be "funky" and "interesting" and also called Central Scare back in the mid 90's. The traffic problems got somewhat fixed (early or mid 90's?) but then the area also got gentrified with that housing block you talk about. Some kind of colonial reference on steroids landed in the middle of the place and , yes, starbucks, walgreens, the gym, etc. Where I'm coming from is out of the T stop at Central, and also I used to live down by the Trader Joe's...The area just feels like it has gotten much worse in only 2 years.
I know people that live above Economy Hardware and they have to place signs on the door that say "please don't piss on our doorway." There might be more moms with sports strollers around Porter but that doesn't happen.
As far as price...$650 a month in sommerville is comparable to Porter, possibly with a slightly smaller living room but closer to the T, movies, good bars and rest., harvard, etc.
in any case, my personal experience is of being much happier living around Porter than Central. Of course this varies from individual to individual...
i hear ya...i'm not necessarily promoting central square as a place
to live...i thought it used to be more interesting back in the day
is all i was saying...
i have friends that live in toward the river..and i've seen that area
go through a bunch of changes..that whole area is being sliced into
condos ..old houses being bought up and yuppie-ized..
i do like porter/davis square..although why people forget how to drive
once they get in that star parking lot i'll never know.. scary place.
i think what's happened to central has been an influx of bars and
restaurants...which creates more drunk people..and maybe brings in
more homeless people...
didn't mean to hijack..just like talking about the ol' hood..
i'd run with porter, davis, union, inman....i still say union is going to
be the best choice though..it's basically fifteen minutes outside of
boston..it's fairly centrally located between all the squares..davis,
porter, harvard, inman, kendall..and it hasn't been 'found' yet..it's
still pretty much all mom and pop... a lot of brazilian stuff....but
there's good stuff moving in...and it's real easy access to 90 and 93
by car...
It's not just the Star parking lot, it's a boston area-wide epidemic- crappy drivers everywhere.
Central is perfectly safe. I know lots of students that live there. I probably would have lived there myself, but off-street parking was hard to come by. I think the rents tend to be a little lower. It's great to visit, but consider whether you would enjoy living there. It can be chaotic on the weekends because that's where many of the students go out. Great live music venues.
I live near Porter and really like it. I'm not sure about the great bars around there that Javier mentioned, but it's very comfortable and there are several good restaurants. I'm about a 10 minute walk from the GSD, but only a 3 minute bike ride.
I agree with Javier about Harvard Square. It's a shopping mall. Too many tourists.
If it weren't for the commute, I'd live in Davis Square (the stop after Porter on the T). Of all the squares I like the vibe there best. It kind of reminds me of parts of San Francisco. There's more going on than Porter Square, but it's not as hectic as Central. Consider it if you don't mind a longer bike ride or taking public transportation every day.
If you're going to the GSD, I'd choose proximity to school over a more enjoyable neighborhood. You'll be at school all the time anyway.
guess i am a little late on the draw, but central is fine, kinda crummy but it seems to me its gotten a little gap-fied since they tore down all those old storefronts.
lived in porter, central, cambridgeport (the fancy name for that area of central towards the river) and in that strange no-mans land by dali and the wine and cheese cask. that is a decent area although its a haul to the t. if you can, i would get into the harvard housing on prescott street across from the carpenter center. those apts are pretty big and its a great location for school.
the one nice thing about central is you can walk to the middle east!
Central is an area that has definately improved in the past 5 years... but the improvements also make the things that need work all the more apparent - which is why it might feel sketchy.
The reality is that GAP, Starbucks, Walgreens, Dunkin Donuts, Boston Sports Clubs, a newer CVS, and more has gone up there recently. There's also an awesome organic foods market, a hardware store, and more cool bars and ethnic food choices than you can shake a stick at.
It is a tad rough around the edges, but it's definately an area that will slowly get better and better - year after year.
Harvard Square is pricey and a tourist-trap.
I like Porter more than Davis... Davis has a couple of OK bars, but just doesn't have the right vibe to me. Porter has some great eateries and bars - and is surrounded by some nice homes.
Inman is nice. Quiet and a bit of a walk to the subways.
WHERE TO LIVE IN CAMBRIDGE,MA?
Anyone out there live or have lived in cambridge, MA? Any suggestions on best neighborhoods to live?
I like Inman Square but it also depends on where you go to school or work and how you plan on getting around.
What is it you like about Inman Square. Getting around is not such a prob. I have a car, bike, and legs. School not working. GSD
If any one wants to discuss a sublet possibility for the summer that I am offering, or this apartment (2br) for the fall, let me know. Porter Square area.
By the way, whether you live in my place or not, Porter Sq is great. The combination of Restaurants and Bars plus the red line right here is unbeatable. Inman doesn't have a T stop, Central is practically a humanitarian disaster, Harvard is a shopping mall.
I have lived in Union Square, Porter, Harvard, and Central Square.
Central Square is one of the liveliest areas in metro Boston. It is grittier than other areas of Cambridge but unless you are afraid of homeless people (usually the same 4 or 5) it is far from a humanitarian disaster. However, it has legendary music venues, diversity. and excellent public transportation access to Boston. Plenty of decent housing nearby.
Harvard Square is touristy and has more shops. It has some of the best people watching in the Boston area. 2nd to Newbury Street. Great book stores and music stores.
Porter Square has nice houses. Good restaurants and music nearby. Walkable to Harvard and Davis and another lively area. The Star Market, Fitness Centers, and Burrito place is a mecca of Dartmouth and liberal art school grads. Not diverse enough for my taste.
Inman is cheaper and has funky cafes and places to eat. Though it is 10-15 minute walk to the T. But it has good bus transportation.
All these areas are relatively safe if you're smart. I would choose Central, Inman Square, Harvard, Porter. In that order.
I used to live between Harvard Square and Inman, right down the street from the GSD. I now live closer to Kendall Square (steps away from the B Side for all you Cantabrigians.) Both are good places to live but it largely depends what you're doing and where you need to do it. Since you're going to the GSD, anywhere near Harvard or Inman Square would be ideal. You could also look at Porter Square though it's a little further away.
Larry, I don't know if you left Boston or what, but Central Sq has gotten much worse in only 2 years. I attribute this to the Bush admin and lack of social services.
Central Sq also has a lot of apt's that get trumped as "central sq area" yet they are closer to the River than the T.
i second Javier's comments on Porter ... lots happening around there and very affordable.
I lived around Inman Square but eventually moved because of rent increase. I think it is still kinda expensive.
Central Square .... affordable, good vibe, yet kinda shady.
I moved to Washington Street in Somerville near Knapp Video ... 7 minute bike to GSD, affordable, good size apt.
i'd say don't look in cambridge, but check out somerville...
especially if you have a car..the prices are gonna be a bunch cheaper
and a parking permit is five dollars or so..it may have gone up...
i lived on washington st right outside of union sq and i could walk
to work in harvard sq...rent was 650 (each) for a sweet two bedroom
with a grape arbor and a huge living room and dining room..
and it's real close to dali, the wine and cheese cask, inman and 1369..
i also lived on a street off msgr obrien highway...paid 550 each for
a similarly sized apartment...a parking space off the street and one
car garage...it's in a mildly worse area and you had to bike or drive
everywhere..but you can't beat the price..
javier..
i don't know where you're comin from with the central sq stuff, but my
experience with it is that it's gotten a lot 'nicer' back around 95 or so
there were a lot more mom and pop stores and a lot more dirt ...
now there's that huge ugly housing project that went up on the corner
of mass and river and all the huge chains (gap, foot locker, starbucks)
it's the only city-like area of boston..the whole town has been so
cleaned up it's boring..
and i lived there for the last seven years...
Lars, the story of Central Sq is a tragicomic one...it used to be "funky" and "interesting" and also called Central Scare back in the mid 90's. The traffic problems got somewhat fixed (early or mid 90's?) but then the area also got gentrified with that housing block you talk about. Some kind of colonial reference on steroids landed in the middle of the place and , yes, starbucks, walgreens, the gym, etc. Where I'm coming from is out of the T stop at Central, and also I used to live down by the Trader Joe's...The area just feels like it has gotten much worse in only 2 years.
I know people that live above Economy Hardware and they have to place signs on the door that say "please don't piss on our doorway." There might be more moms with sports strollers around Porter but that doesn't happen.
As far as price...$650 a month in sommerville is comparable to Porter, possibly with a slightly smaller living room but closer to the T, movies, good bars and rest., harvard, etc.
in any case, my personal experience is of being much happier living around Porter than Central. Of course this varies from individual to individual...
Somerville can be cheaper. You will have to look harder to find deals in Cambridge. I live in between Harvard and central now.
I don't think Central has gotten shadier. Its lively, diverse, and urban. You will be hardpressed to say that about many other parts of Boston.
Javier, please don't take out your frustrations with Bush on such a great part of the Boston area.
javier..
i hear ya...i'm not necessarily promoting central square as a place
to live...i thought it used to be more interesting back in the day
is all i was saying...
i have friends that live in toward the river..and i've seen that area
go through a bunch of changes..that whole area is being sliced into
condos ..old houses being bought up and yuppie-ized..
i do like porter/davis square..although why people forget how to drive
once they get in that star parking lot i'll never know.. scary place.
i think what's happened to central has been an influx of bars and
restaurants...which creates more drunk people..and maybe brings in
more homeless people...
didn't mean to hijack..just like talking about the ol' hood..
i'd run with porter, davis, union, inman....i still say union is going to
be the best choice though..it's basically fifteen minutes outside of
boston..it's fairly centrally located between all the squares..davis,
porter, harvard, inman, kendall..and it hasn't been 'found' yet..it's
still pretty much all mom and pop... a lot of brazilian stuff....but
there's good stuff moving in...and it's real easy access to 90 and 93
by car...
Or just live in Allston with all the trashy BU girls.
It's not just the Star parking lot, it's a boston area-wide epidemic- crappy drivers everywhere.
Central is perfectly safe. I know lots of students that live there. I probably would have lived there myself, but off-street parking was hard to come by. I think the rents tend to be a little lower. It's great to visit, but consider whether you would enjoy living there. It can be chaotic on the weekends because that's where many of the students go out. Great live music venues.
I live near Porter and really like it. I'm not sure about the great bars around there that Javier mentioned, but it's very comfortable and there are several good restaurants. I'm about a 10 minute walk from the GSD, but only a 3 minute bike ride.
I agree with Javier about Harvard Square. It's a shopping mall. Too many tourists.
If it weren't for the commute, I'd live in Davis Square (the stop after Porter on the T). Of all the squares I like the vibe there best. It kind of reminds me of parts of San Francisco. There's more going on than Porter Square, but it's not as hectic as Central. Consider it if you don't mind a longer bike ride or taking public transportation every day.
If you're going to the GSD, I'd choose proximity to school over a more enjoyable neighborhood. You'll be at school all the time anyway.
guess i am a little late on the draw, but central is fine, kinda crummy but it seems to me its gotten a little gap-fied since they tore down all those old storefronts.
lived in porter, central, cambridgeport (the fancy name for that area of central towards the river) and in that strange no-mans land by dali and the wine and cheese cask. that is a decent area although its a haul to the t. if you can, i would get into the harvard housing on prescott street across from the carpenter center. those apts are pretty big and its a great location for school.
the one nice thing about central is you can walk to the middle east!
Central is an area that has definately improved in the past 5 years... but the improvements also make the things that need work all the more apparent - which is why it might feel sketchy.
The reality is that GAP, Starbucks, Walgreens, Dunkin Donuts, Boston Sports Clubs, a newer CVS, and more has gone up there recently. There's also an awesome organic foods market, a hardware store, and more cool bars and ethnic food choices than you can shake a stick at.
It is a tad rough around the edges, but it's definately an area that will slowly get better and better - year after year.
Harvard Square is pricey and a tourist-trap.
I like Porter more than Davis... Davis has a couple of OK bars, but just doesn't have the right vibe to me. Porter has some great eateries and bars - and is surrounded by some nice homes.
Inman is nice. Quiet and a bit of a walk to the subways.
Stay in the Harvard Sq. T-stop....it's sweet!
Signed,
Brother Blue
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