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Jun. 18th, 2004 02:02 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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davis_squareFor those who live in and around Davis Sq, what do you wish you knew about before moving there?
I'm about to move to the area to start grad school at Tufts (I just got offered the apt I wanted today and will be moving in August).
What should I know about the area before living there? I moved from NYC to Waltham 2 years ago so I'm somewhat familiar with Boston in general.
I'm about to move to the area to start grad school at Tufts (I just got offered the apt I wanted today and will be moving in August).
What should I know about the area before living there? I moved from NYC to Waltham 2 years ago so I'm somewhat familiar with Boston in general.
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no subject
Date: 2004-06-17 11:56 pm (UTC)Davis is generally a safe area (except for a few recent incidents). When I was homeless, I stayed mainly around Davis and Harvard Sq. (Davis felt much safer). I never had any incidents sleeping outside in Davis Square. (not that you will have to, but it's just a good thing to know if you wanna camp out in your yard)! ;)
If you are a night owl, the downside is that everything is Somerville closes by midnight. but there is the CVS in porter down the street that is still open 24 hours and I believe white hen pantry is as well (also in Porter). Diesel (and possibly other places) is open til 1am on Fridays and Saturdays though.
There is a library and a post office right near by. and Tufts is walking distance. I'd say that most of the people in the area are Tufts Students with some Lesley and a few Harvard Students as well.
I guess thats my summary of Davis Square... I don't know how close to Davis you'll be, but I think it's an excellent area!
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 04:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 06:59 am (UTC)May I offer an alternate opinion? I think they're great, actually. Yes, you have to know which bus you're taking and when it comes, but that's not really too hard to figure out, and they're often *much* more efficient than the T, depending on where you're trying to go. And as for nasty weather, it's a toss-up: often the bus gets you so much closer to your destination that it's worth waiting outside. I take the 87 (to Lechmere via Union Sq.) and 77/79 (to Arlington Heights via Mass Ave.) frequently, and they're always right on time.
I highly recommend the MBTA Trip Planner: http://trip.mbta.com/cgi-bin/itin_page_dhtml.pl. You put in your location, your destination and when you want to get there, and it tells you the best ways to get there.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 09:58 am (UTC)I recently used it for such, and told it to plan, allowing 1/2 mile walking distance ((possibly more--the point being, it seemed to ignore that parameter for part of its results). It correctly advised me which subway line to take, and which stop to get off at, but it then would have had me waiting around about twenty-five minutes for a bus, when I could walk to my destination (clearly less than a half mile from the stop) in about 5. Fortunately I also had a map that made that clear, and therefore did not take the unnecessary bus.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 05:09 pm (UTC)But I still love the TripPlanner, now that I realize I have to add a dash of my own common sense to the mix to get the most sensible directions =^)
busses
Date: 2004-06-18 08:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 05:44 am (UTC)So.
MacKinnon's! It's on Elm Street, past the Diesel. No one ever goes in there because it looks little and tired. It has incredibly cheap meat. We got the makings of a steak dinner for two (including the vegetables) there once for under $5. And it's good meat, too. OK, if you're a vegetarian, you just totally didn't care about that. But if you like meat and hate your grad student budget, no better place.
If you're getting movers to help (which I *absolutely* recommend if you can afford it; they make life so much easier) avoid weekends if you can, and avoid the days near August 1 and August 30, because they will be overwhelmed. Ditto if you're renting a moving van.
There's a shuttle from Davis to Tufts but it's lame, because you can walk from Davis to Tufts. Unless it's pouring down rain, don't use the shuttle. It takes this bizarre convoluted route anyway, so it isn't even faster than walking.
East Asia (on Broadway near Powderhouse) has pretty tasty Chinese food, and I find that the dinners are big enough for lunch the next day, too (though it isn't nearly as good reheated; the sauces get weird). Similarly, Blue Shirt smoothie + half a steak burrito = lunch, and then the other half is lunch tomorrow.
The Diesel is excellent but you need to get there early to get seating. You may find the Brown & Brew, at Tufts, more useful (you need to get there "not at lunch" to get seating).
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 06:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 09:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 01:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-19 10:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 06:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 07:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 06:26 am (UTC)Recommendation for MacKinnon's strongly seconded. Their pre-marinaded packages of meat are really good, particularly for grilling in the summer.
Other recommendations for resturants and things; Diesel (cafe), Redbones (BBQ and good beer variety, two bars), The Burren (Irish style bar, can get stupidly busy Friday/Saturday especially in term time), Namaskar (good Indian food, I eat there a lot), Out of the Blue (cheapish seafood, on Highland), Gargoyles (special event type resturant, very good food), Rosie's (diner). In Porter there are also many more things, including some very good and cheap Japanese noodle places in Porter Exchange.
There are lots of things to do, including movies (Somerville theater), live music (all over, particularly the Somerville theater and Johnny D's), and candlepin bowling (hiding in a side street).
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 10:08 am (UTC)Thank you :)
(I work in TCCS).
What is TCCS?
Anything I should know about Tufts beforehand that they probably didn't tell me? (I'm going into the PhD program in Drama.) What's the gym like?
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 11:35 am (UTC)I don't really know much about the academic or lifestyle side of the university, I just work there :)
The gym is pretty good, relatively new weight and cardio equipment. The pool is kinda small but ok.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 04:57 pm (UTC)I see you're a fellow martial artist. Do you train in the area?
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 08:17 pm (UTC)As to martial arts, I do Aikido at New England Aikikai (http://www.neaikikai.org/) in Porter.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-19 01:03 pm (UTC)Re: Another welcome to Tufts
Date: 2004-06-18 04:55 pm (UTC)Do you happen to know anything about squash over there? I just picked up the game recently and am hopinh to continue.
I may end up taking some classes in anthro. One of my fields is performance theory and there's a lot of crossover (though my dept at Tufts is very theater history oriented).
Re: Another welcome to Tufts
Date: 2004-06-19 12:58 pm (UTC)I was primarily a sabre fencer but was pretty competent in foil and epee as well. These days most of my fencing is for the stage (which is a whole other world).
It might be cool to come fence with the club, but I know already that grad school life is nuts so I doubt that will happen all that often.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 07:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 08:11 am (UTC)There's an email the grad office sent out to us all recently with bulletin boards for incoming grads. It has a section for househunting and roommate finding, I would look into that if you haven't yet.
Good luck!
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 08:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 09:46 am (UTC)I see in your user info that you're from DC, so here are a few basic facts about area housing that you may or may not know...
1) It's expensive. If you find something for $500/month plus utilities near Tufts, you're lucky. (All rents are quoted not including utilities.)
2) You need a roommate. I mean, unless you want to pay $800/month or more. Studios/1BRs are tremendously expensive.
3) There is a lot of public transportation and it is very useful, but it's hard to tell which apartments are convenient to useful transportation and which aren't unless you've lived here for a while. Realtors will not know (they may *say* "this is close to the T" or whatever, but they have no clue what it's like to navigate around here without a car). If you expect to be dependent on public transportation, ask a local about an apartment's location before you say yes to it.
4) The market moves very fast. It may be only a day or two between hearing about your apartment and signing a lease on it. It's scary, but that's how it goes. Because of this, I wouldn't freak out too much (maybe some, but not too much) that you don't have your apartment yet. People are only just now signing for August 1 apartments and probably won't sign on their September 1 apartments until July.
5) Speaking of which, practically everything turns over the 1st of the month. And the vast majority of apartments turn over in August or September, especially September, so there's a lot on the market. If you were looking for a mid-month date, try pushing it back or forward to the 1st of whichever month is more convenient and you will have many more options.
6) If you haven't, ask your department secretary about housing leads and about other grad students who are looking for roommates. Often they know these things. Chances are there are other incoming students in your department in the same situation, or current grads who need to find a roommate.
hah
Date: 2004-06-18 08:12 am (UTC)i wish i'd known there was a bowling alley behind someday cafe, how's that? :)
Re: hah
Date: 2004-06-18 08:27 am (UTC)i wish i'd known there was a bowling alley behind someday cafe, how's that? :)
That'll do nicely, thanks :)
I haven't bowled in years, and have never done this candlepin thing that I've been hearing about, so it's time I tried it.
Re: hah
Date: 2004-06-18 08:58 pm (UTC)Re: hah
Date: 2004-06-18 09:57 am (UTC)Yeah, everybody forgets about Sacco's Bowl Haven! (http://www.saccosbowlhaven.com/) In fact, I think it's the bowling alley that time forgot. The whole place seems like it's been in a bubble since 1947.
Re: hah
Date: 2004-06-18 02:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 09:20 am (UTC)I just say that if you live near Davis, make sure to explore Teele Square - there are some amazing restaurants here. :) Also I wish I'd known - but soon discovered - that there's a library branch right in the square. No need to drive/take a bus to the main branch, just request books online and have them delivered. Tadaaaah!
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 10:03 am (UTC)Well, you're already in the Boston area, so some of the weirdnesses that were new to me won't be to you.
Parking is relativly easy here (no permits). If you are a beer person the Watch City Brewery makes excellent stuff. Theater at Brandeis University tends to be very good (I am biased) and they have a lot of big name classical musicians come through. There is also an art museum on campus that sometimes has amazing stuff in it. Walden Pond is within biking distance (depending on how you feel about biking). Many of the resturants are suprisingly good. Lizzy's ice cream rocks. Stuff closes REALLY early. The Dunkin Doughnuts doubles as a biker bar apparently. Charles street is dangerous (so I am told). The sports store on Moody St has equipment from the 70s.
request online?
Date: 2004-06-18 10:17 am (UTC)Re: request online?
Date: 2004-06-18 10:32 am (UTC)Not sure if the Medford library is part of the network, but if it is...yeah. It's amazing. :)
no subject
Date: 2004-06-19 05:42 pm (UTC)* There's a canoe place on the Charles right by Brandeis, near the rt. 30/mass pike crossing and right by the Marriott (never had a car so never learned exactly how to drive there). The river out there is beautiful, espeically in the fall.
* Little India on Moody St. Still my favorite Indian restaurant in the Boston area, though Punjabi Dhaba in Inman runs a close second for a very different genre of restaurant (LI is more your classic restaurant atmosphere, great food, not yuppy, good prices, best lassi ever).
* Carambola on Main by Moody is better than its sister restaurant The Elephant Walk and cheaper, too.
* You may commute by commuter rail but don't forget about the 553 and 70 buses, which I depended on, as they run much more often and in the case of the 70 later than the train. 70 goes to Central, 553 goes to Newton Corner and then downtown by South Station/Chinatown.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 06:37 pm (UTC)2) Go check out Pemberton Farms on Mass Ave near Rindge. I can't believe I lived here for so long thinking it was just a garden supply store. It's a gourmet grocery.
3) La Contessa pasteries are almost as good as Mike's in the North End.
4) Officially speaking, the 87 bus does not stop "at Porter Sq." It stops next to the Star Market in Porter Sq. which is as good as; at least at one point the official literature did not make that at all clear.
5) Hop on the 87 and take it to Union Sq. There's all sorts of good cheap stuff there, so take the time to scope it out.
6) ArtBeat! Be aware that once a year in July, Davis Sq. has its annual street festival, "ArtBeat!" Even if you're uninterested in the festival, it's a massive road block, so it's good to keep it in your awareness.
7) http://www.tuftslife.com/dining -- The single most useful web page for living in the area, IMHO. :) Not only does it have all the menus you could want, the little door icons indicate whether each restaurant is open right now.
8) Competition for seating at the Diesel is so fierce that if you leave your food to go to the restroom, you might return to find it cleared, even if you did leave some indication you aren't done.
9) Carberry's has great danishes.
10) Anna's Tacqueria has a <$5 "mexican plate" which is a deal; open till 11pm. Dragon Garden has a <$4 daily lunch special, many of which are quite good. Golden Light (Chinese) is open until 2:30a on Fri. & Sat.
11) If you have more time than money, the North Cambridge Laundromat has a wash-dry-fold service. I think it's $0.88/lb, 7lbs minimum. They may also deliver (not sure).