May 16, 2008
It’s been bugging me for a while now. The phrases “Beacon Hill and Back Bay”, “Back Bay and Beacon Hill” or any recombination thereof, are woefully unpoetic. I am sick of saying them.
What I really want is some sort of euphemism that covers both areas. Like saying “the bullpen” instead of saying “Timlin, Okijima, Hanson, Pappelbon, etc.” I could say “the nice parts of town”, but that’s more like saying “the center of the lineup” to refer specifically to Manny and Ortiz. Plus everyone who didn’t live in either of the neighborhoods I cover would complain.
My instincts are to say “the gaslight district”, which is completely wrong (plenty of other places have ‘em) and already in use by panicky Charlestown agents trying to persuade yuppies that the projects are as far away as possible. Then I thought up “unannexed Boston”, which, while true, must also include the West, North, and South Ends along with Bay Village.
Any attempt to define the neighborhood archetecturally is doomed to end in failure. Sure, a great many of the houses in the neighborhoods adhere to a certain architectural milieu, but there are plenty that do not. And even those homes that do conform, do so to very different styles: federal, Victorian bowfront, and brownstone, to name a few.
So please, Boston, pepper me with suggestions. Brick-lined Boston. Capital Gainsville. The European Auto District. Anything to keep me from having to write “Back Bay and Beacon Hill” one more time.
May 16, 2008
Open House Date and Time:
Sunday, May 18th 2-3:30PM
75 Clarendon St #201
Boston, MA 02116
Seller’s Comments
Coffee shop of choice: Francesca’s Cafe is a short walk away on Tremont Street and they have the best breakfast or lunch food you can find in the area without breaking the bank. They also have a really convenient takeout counter for coffee and great baked goods.
Favorite places to go: The park in Copley Square is the most beautiful place to go on a nice, warm day. Where else is there a square surrounded by three architecturally famous buildings from different eras (Trinity Church, and John Hancock Tower) It’s only two blocks away so it’s great to get lunch at a nearby takeout restaurant and take a picnic there in the park, or go to the Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Fridays and listen to live music Thursday nights!
Favorite restaurants in the area: Living in the South End means you’re surrounded by excellent restaurants that people come to from all over, but Delux is a stone’s throw from home and is really just for neighborhood locals. This is where you go when you want home-made food without any effort, including going anywhere far!
Best features of the home: Being an end unit and surrounded by so many windows makes the condo very bright and warm. The unit has a great layout and architectural detail to really highlight the windows and the feeling of having the outdoors inside.
Favorite room: The living room/dining room is an amazing open space. It’s on the end of the building, so has eight windows on three sides of the room. There are breathtaking views of the Back Bay skyline to the north, the Downtown skyline to the east and peaceful South End gardens to the south. The only wall without windows has a great big fireplace, making this room great for all seasons.
Any remodeling since last purchase?: The kitchen has been completely updated with high-end stainless steel appliances and a bamboo floor.
Most romantic spot: The terrace off the master bedroom is a great place to have a romantic dinner. It is a quiet and peaceful area overlooking the building’s back gardens.
What I will miss the most: The location of this home is simply amazing. Living within a short walk in one direction of all the shopping and hussle of the Back Bay, and then in the other direction the peacefulness and great restaurants of the South End cannot be matched elsewhere!
May 16, 2008
Open House Date and Time:
Sunday, May 18th 2-3:30PM
189 Oxford St #4
Lynn, MA 01901
Seller’s Comments
Coffee shop of choice: Gulu Gulu Cafe - great place for coffee and speciality coffee drinks (love the Creme Brulee Latte), beer, food , music, and art. The Gulu-gulu has become the signature hang out spot for Downtown Lynn.
Favorite places to go: Long Beach in Nahant (adjacent to Lynn) is great for running, walking, biking, lying out or swimming. There is a paved path between the parking lot and beach for those exercising. Parking is only $3. The beach is about 2 miles long so it’s never crowded. Dogs are allowed in the off-season from Oct-May.
Favorite restaurants in the area: Walk downstairs and you are at the Downtown Bistro and Wine Bar. Come for great food and drink at the new north shore hot spot. The Bistro caters to both local Lynners and restuarant connoisseurs from nearby Marblehead and Nahant. Come Tuesday nights for neighborhood night and get the best deal of the week.
Best features of the home: The Jacuzzi tub. You can’t beat the relaxation of a jacuzzi tub bath after a long day.
Favorite room: Kitchen - both a wonderfully bright and sunny room but also a great cook’s kitchen. Plenty of counter space to make your favorite dish and dessert too. The kitchen has so many wonderful features that includes lots and lots of light (under and over-cabinet lights) plus large windows that pull in the afternoon sun. The kitchen walks into the large spacious dinning room making it fun and easy to entertain.
Any remodeling since last purchase?: No - brand new construction in 2005
Most romantic spot: Lynn Heritage Park on the waterfront is only a 15 minute walk. The boardwalk boasts with new benches and historic Lynn artwork that overlooks the beautiful harbor.
What’s in the neighborhood: On the first floor of our building you will find a home furnishings store called Urban Elements. They offer yoga classes along with their one of a kind beautiful furnishings.
Steps to the MBTA Station - Lynn - Central Sq which brings you to Boston, 20 minutes and to Salem, 10 minutes. You can’t beat the convenience of public transportation.
The Capitol Diner is a true gem of downtown Lynn. Tucked between retail stores and the Commuter Rail, it serves breakfast and lunch items. The best time to go is during the summer to enjoy the outdoor seating.
Taco’s Lupita for great Salvadoran cuisine. Excellent chicken tacos!
North Shore Community College Lynn Campus is just steps away. A beautiful campus with wonderful park area to walk through and play with your dog.
The Lynn YMCA offers great athletic and community programs for all ages.
The Lynn Heritage museum has incredible artifacts from the hey day of the manufacturing boom in Lynn. It also has a small park with a beautiful fountain adjacent to the building
Raw arts is a great community art youth program. They have a new gallery on the ground floor for artists displays.
What I will miss the most: Everything ocean - Lynn Heritage Park on the waterfront, Long beach in Nahant, Lynn Beach, Red Rock Park, etc.
May 16, 2008
Open House Date and Time:
Saturday, May 17th, 1-3pm
Sunday, May 18th 1-4PM
751 Washington St #2
Brookline, MA 02446
Seller’s Comments
Coffee shop of choice: Athan’s bakery is steps away in Washington Square. Athan’s is a European style bakery with an endless assortment of delectable desserts, sandwiches, and superb coffee. Their chocolate and almond croissants are unbelievable, as are the fruit tarts. Starbucks is a block away also, but Athan’s is the place to go!
Favorite places to go: There is so much in the area within walking distance. We love to walk to movies at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, dine in any of the area’s hundred restaurants, walk up the Summit Avenue hill to get a view of Cambridge, and walk or jog around the beautiful Chestnut Hill Reservoir.
Favorite restaurants in the area: Around the corner is The Public House, serving several hundred Belgian beers and excellent food; the Washington Square Tavern is the classy local pub; Super Fusion Sushi is fantastic; Emack & Bolios serves creative ice cream. Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village are just a few minutes’ walk away, featuring the entire spectrum of ethnic cuisines. My favorite place in the area is Baja Betty’s which serves hands down the best Burrito in Boston.
Best features of the home: Windows on all 4 sides give plenty of light and air. On the third floor, surrounded by mature trees, you really feel like you’re in the treetops. Skylights reveal the clouds and stars. All the rooms are large, and the floor plan excellent featuring a big eat in kitchen and a good bathroom. We have a redwood sauna. On a practical note, there are 5 closets and 3 walk in storage rooms (including a pantry), the entire attic (think expansion), and FOUR parking spaces that we rent out to Zipcar to help pay our mortgage and provide us with 4 cars!
Please visit 751washington.com for photos and more info.
Favorite room: We love nearly every room, but the enormous living room with so much light is our favorite. One wall is filled with built in mahogany bookcases and a desk, which is a wonderful feature.
Any remodeling since last purchase?: We have made many improvements in the past 1-3 years. The entire unit has been repainted. The original hardwood floors are newly refinished, and look great. We put in top quality new windows and skylights. The shared systems are also all new: The entire roof is completely new, including all new flashing, gutters, and repointed chimneys. Also, we put in a new gas furnace and indirect hot water heater. Our wonderful downstairs neighbors just relandscaped the entire exterior, including a bluestone patio and mahogany stairs that serve as the entry for unit #2.
Most romantic spot: Just steps away is The Fireplace, a classy restaurant / bar that features live Jazz two nights a week (and a fireplace). The food is very good. We often catch the music with an evening drink or dessert.
It’s a very romantic spot.
What’s in the neighborhood: Apart from the endless restaurants mentioned above, the immediate neighborhood (Washington Square) features many useful shops such as a hardware store, Movieworks DVD rentals, Marathon Sports running shop, a 7/11 with a Citibank ATM, dry cleaners, show repair, eye glasses shop, Brookline Bank, Bank of America ATM, and more. If you walk
10-15 minutes in either direction on Beacon St., you reach all the shops in Coolidge Corner and Cleveland Circle.
What I will miss the most: We’ll miss the feeling of being up in the sunlight and treetops.
We’ll really miss being able to walk everywhere.
May 16, 2008
Open House Date and Time:
Sunday, May 18th 12-2PM
2 Ledgewood Drive
Bedford, MA 01730
Seller’s Comments
Coffee shop of choice: There are several places to go for coffee near us. A new Starbucks just opened up in a new shopping plaza in Bedford next to Whole Foods. There also a Starbucks on the way to the Burlington Mall. There are also 2 Dunkin Donuts within 5 minutes of the house and one in the Stop & Shop!
Favorite places to go: During the summer we love to bike to the Minuteman Trail and ride into Lexington or Arlington for lunch. Everybody in town goes to Bedford Farms for ice cream. We also like the Barnes & Noble just around the corner to relax on rainy days. In Carlisle, the next town over, there’s great hiking and a small petting zoo in Great Brook Farm State Park. The Bedford library is great. We also love to walk around the track at the high school or play tennis under the lights. Trader Joes is very close as well.
Favorite restaurants in the area: There are tons of great restaurants in the area. On a nice day, Bamboo Fine Asian Cuisine, Flatbreads Organic Pizza, and the Melting Pot are all a short walk away. Other great local choices include Naked Fish, several Chinese, Thai, and Japanese restaurants, Dalya’s for fine American dining, and Max Steins for an upscale steakhouse. For great food at reasonable prices, several restaurants are near the Burlington Mall such as Macaroni Grill, Chili’s, Uno’s, the Cheesecake Factory, and Border Café.
Best features of the home: We love our home. Having an updated house, on a private, flat, 1 acre piece of land in a great family neighborhood close to so many amenities and the highway is wonderful. The scenery around the area is beautiful with tall trees, wildlife, and even a small waterfall down the street. The deck is great for entertaining or relaxing with a good book while looking out at a variety of trees in our backyard.
Favorite room: Our favorite room is the family room. With windows on all sides, anywhere you look you see nature. We added in new carpeting and lighting to go with the French doors leading off the kitchen to make it a relaxing room that we can spend all day in.
Any remodeling since last purchase?: We have put a great deal of time and effort into remodeling the home. We updated the family room with new carpets and lighting, added ceramic tile, new counters, new lighting and a new dishwasher to the kitchen, recessed lighting and Hunter Douglas duets in the living room, a new chandelier in the foyer, new carpeting in the master bedroom, new lights and dimmers in the 2nd and 3rd bedrooms, and new lighting and sconces in the bathroom and hallway. We also added a new furnace and central air conditioning, a new roof, a new driveway, a new water heater, and new garage door opener. Finally, we added in new carpeting throughout the lower level and extra insulation throughout the house.
Most romantic spot: The most romantic spot in the house is eating a nice quiet dinner outside on the deck with the sun setting, the music playing, and the candles burning. It’s incredibly peaceful and private in the backyard which lends to the feeling of intimacy.
What’s in the neighborhood: Just down the block is the site of Wilson Mill, a historic site in Bedford which includes a small park behind a pond with a waterfall. Our neighborhood is circular so we enjoy going for walks as well. Several restaurants are also a short walk away.
What I will miss the most: We’ve put a lot of love into our house and we’ll definitely miss it. We’ll probably miss the backyard the most since it’s so rare to find a beautiful piece of property in a great neighborhood that is both private and close to so many amenities.
May 16, 2008
What’s up with the Longwood Towers? Last I heard, an auction was scheduled last week to sell off a block of 196 units in this partially-developed building on the edge of the Longwood Medical Area. I assume this auction went through, as it was described as “just a paper deal”. At this point, the new owner, IStar Financial, plans to complete renovations on the elegant complex and continue the sale of the remaining units.
Interestingly, this week, a whole slew of units in this building have hit the market. Their prices — even for units of the same square footage with the same basic amenities — differ dramatically. Is this the buying opportunity of a lifetime or the potential buying disaster of a lifetime? Since I’m neither a realtor nor lawyer, I can’t say. All I know is that as a buyer, I would approach cautiously and ask A LOT of questions. If you’re curious to see what’s going on over at the Towers, these are just a few of the units being shown in this building on Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
#B809, $510,000, 780 sq ft, 1 bed, 1 bath.
#B805, $843,150, 1520 sq ft, 2 beds, 2 baths.
#B401, $311,665, 781 Sq ft, 1 bed, 1 bath.
#B801, $353,850, 780 sq ft, 1 bed, 1 bath.
#B412, $515,750, 1190 sq ft, 2 beds, 2 baths.
#B703, $459,000, 760 sq ft, 1 bed, 1 bath.
May 15, 2008
What do you want to bet all of these are on Sunday?
We’re having 2 sets of friends up — Rachel is going to COME UP EARLY for breakfast at Sugar Magnolia in Gloucester (RIGHT, Rachel???), and S & E are coming up for a big home-cooked seafood dinner late in the day.
Even when we rented, having room to entertain was a big priority. I hate going out. We have to go to a dance party in JP Friday night, being thrown by a friend who is close enough that she will sniff out any lie I tell to get out of it. I hate to dance, and others hate it when I try to dance near them, but I guess someone hasn’t been invited to enough weddings lately. (I hate weddings, too.)
74 Haskell Street is a bargain in “The Farms,” which means Beverly Farms, where Updike lives. No open house listed for this one, but some of the pics make it look like a really pleasant little house. Way better than a condo, as far as I’m concerned.
55 Cole Street is in a great part of town, not too far from the commuter rail and Lynch Park. It’s kind of the quintessential New England house. And, it’s $379k for over 1500 square feet, with a fireplace. Sunday 2-3:30.
4 Millbrook Road is 2200 sq. ft. Cape with a fireplace for $449k. I like Centerville — there’s some seriously pretty landscape over that way. Sunday 1-3.
15 Rezza Road is another house that’s small for ‘The Farms.’ The price reflects it, but only a bit. $462k for 1600 sq. ft. and a nice sized yard. Sunday 1-3.
May 15, 2008
Oh, it’s so exciting. Do I even need to tell you? You must know already. All the cool people know already. Do I really have to mention it? OK, fine…I’m too excited anyway. The Apple Store on Boylston Street opens today.
Somehow, Steve Jobs convinced the notoriously curmudgeonly Fashion Club to agree to the design, which, until recently, hid behind this locally-themed banner. Behold the true magnificence!
Now, I realize Apple put a store way out in Chestnut Hill (good luck getting there anytime soon) and another just over the river in Cambridgeside, but this, this, is a big deal, folks. The biggest deal Apple Inc. opened outside of 1 Infinite Loop.
Now, I don’t want to get your hopes up by promising this will improve property values in the region. So let me put it this way: Sir Speedy wasn’t raking pedestrians into the neighborhood. And here are a few places up for sale nearby, in case you’re looking to invest in something more than an iMac.
280 Comm Ave #308 - $574,280
1 bed, 1 bath, 645 sq. ft.
What did we learn from the MacBook Air? No only that size doesn’t matter, but a lack thereof is often preferable. Good design trumps all. Also, deeded parking and an open house this weekend. Grab a 30-inch monitor and see how it compliments this efficient little place.
360 Newbury St #702 - $735,500
1 bed, 1 bath, 848 sq. ft.
Take that Mass Pike view frown and turn it upside down! Forget those dinky, overpriced Newbury St boutiques; you’re now neighbors with the biggest, snazziest overpriced store in town—and it’s enormous, dang it! Plus, your aerie perch will make sure you’re the first to know when the new batch of iPhones arrives.
776 Boylston St #W-11A - $5,500,000
2 beds, 2.5 baths, 3,179 sq. ft.
Whether your expression’s a sunny Steve Jobs grin, or the sourpuss scowl of Michael Dell, you’ll be able to aim it downward at the new Apple installation from this opulent pad. And, in the case of the latter, should you succumb to whimsy under the influence of spirits, you might just make it an additional half-bath…
More of Cosmo on Back Bay and Beacon Hill
Sweet Digs Boston Home
Image stolen from Bostonist. Go click one of their ads so they don’t sue me.
May 13, 2008
60 Perkins Street #3 in Salem is a great entry-level condo for about $150k. Nice floors, nice architectural detail, nice enough part of town. Not near the train, but not too far from Salem State. It isn’t easy to park near the train in Salem — the lot fills up and stays full. I honestly don’t know what bus service is like, though I do see them when I go into Salem to teach. Honestly, if I were in a position to do it, I would totally buy this place, or one like it, and use it as an office. We’re looking for ways to add a room to our house — even if it means building a new shed and finishing the inside.
404 Jefferson Avenue in Salem isn’t quite lovely, but it is big, with a BIG yard. And it IS close to Salem State. Canal Street is aesthetically challenged, but the rest of it is really nice. No inside pics of this one, which is either on purpose, or not on purpose. Check it again for updates, but you might need to get a dumpster and a crowbar. $191k. Two years ago, the locals in Gloucester were claiming that no house in town had sold for less than $180k. I wonder what the market is like up the coast a bit…?
35 Winthrop Street is in Salem, near the McIntyre District. This is a pretty condo in a great location for $230k.
75 Cabot Street is a townhouse condo in Beverly. About 600 square feet for $129,900. It’s right on the main street, which can be a pain — but it’s also right downtown, near the train, bars, restaurants, and the beach. Townhouses are bound to look a bit dated, but that loft bedroom with the skylight is something else.
The photo at the top is the Salem “Witch House.” The tourist industry in Salem tends to play up the whole Witch City thing, which annoys me a bit — I mean, it’s tragic history, and there’s a statue of Samantha from TV’s Bewitched in the middle of town to commemorate it. (Dude, I totally loved that episode, too. Durwood didn’t know what he had going.) Plus, Salem Village is over in Danvers, and that’s where it all started. Witches were hanged in Gloucester and Essex, too….
But other than that, Salem is a really interesting and historically important town, worth getting to know.
May 13, 2008
Spectacular views from 45 Province. [condoDomain]- The latest pics of the W Hotel in (or near) Chinatown. Maybe it’s the Theatre District. [The Chinatown Blog]
- Mall Cop filming at the South Shore Plaza. [The Beantown Bloggery]
- Maybe this guy needs to find a supermarket where the baggers remember his odd preferences. I can’t imagine the indignity and he must suffer. [Suldog]
- Fill your head with more economic statistics. This time, it’s the decreasing purchase price to rent ratio. [boston.com]
- The Apple Store on Boylston Street opens this week. [Boston Daily]
- The latest on the federal bailout of irresponsible home buyers. [Inman News]
- Are foreclosures increasing the spread of West Nile Virus? [The Real Estate Bloggers]
- Boston bicyclists fight back. [Universal Hub]
