Looking for a neighborhood

[voodoocheese.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone--

This isn't a post about looking for an apartment, I just wanted some suggestions on neighborhoods.
I'm a Florida native who is planning a move to Boston at the beginning of November. I came to Boston last October, and I fell in love with Davis square- and immediately decided that's the area I wanted to live in. However, in my obsessive searching for apartments, I've noticed that there are far more availabilities in the Allston/Brighton area. I did pass through there on my visit, but I only got off the T in a couple of spots- so I didn't really explore.
So, the real question I am posing- to you that live in and love Davis square; is there any other area that is comparable to Davis-- but still near a T stop?
On a completely other note, can anyone tell me if Cambridge School of Culinary Arts is as cool as it seems to be online?
Thank you so much!

Comments

[voodoocheese.livejournal.com]

I didn't attempt the bus system when I visited, is it as easy as the T? Where I live now- it's awful...

[ron_newman]

Some buses run frequently (such as #77 on Mass. Ave.), some don't. There's no hard and fast rule. Where do you live now?

When you get a CharlieCard, you will be able to ride both bus and subway together, for the cost of just a subway ride.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Coming form a place with no public transit, I was thrilled when I had ANY options here, be they bus or train.

However, having been here for a while now, I have found that relying on the bus to have you be on time is rough. I love my many different bus options when I can come and go at anytime, but when I need the bus to get me somewhere at a specific time, I often find it to be a struggle. This is someitmes due to an inconvenient schedule, and more often due to the bus just being off-schedule.

Having said that, many of the neighborhoods that ron_newman and cemeterygates listed are basically in the Greater Davis area, and are totally walkable. I personally think this includes Powderhouse, Teele Square, North Cambridge, Clarendon Hill, and Ball Square (though Ball is more of a 15-20 minute hike).

[voodoocheese.livejournal.com]

I live in FL now, so I don't use any public transportation! I have a car that I intend to bring to Boston, but I'm terrified of driving in the snow-- and besides; why drive if I can take the T, right? I've heard horror stories about driving in Boston...

[ron_newman]

If you move to Davis, you may want to leave the car behind, or promptly sell it. Parking here is very crowded.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

If you live near transit and don't think you'll need to go out of town all the time, I would HIGHLY recommend selling the car. Driving and parking here are both nightmares.

I got rid of my car when I came here in '99 from Louisiana, and don't regret for a second. The only times I miss it are when I need to make a big Target trip, or go to some random place in Connecticut. However, there are easy solutions for both of these things (friends, Zipcar, cabs, busses, etc).

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Actually, Ball Square is just 10 minutes. I make it from my house to the T in that much time (I'm on the cusp of Powderhouse, but still technically Ball).

[cemeterygates.livejournal.com]

People whine about the buses a lot around here because no one wants to wait around (especially in winter) and things can be highly variable based on traffic, but if you are trying to save money (living right on the T, especially in the redline areas you'd like, is very expensive), you can find cheaper rent a 20 min walk from each area and grab a bus when you don't want to walk. For some examples of what bus schedules might look like in certain hoods, just check out mbta.com

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

As you might have gathered, some buses are good, some not -- and it's really hard to tell unless you're quite familiar with the bus system. If you're considering renting an apartment that's far enough from the subway that you'd be sorta bus-dependent, I recommend asking a local (who is familiar with the bus system, of course) -- there's no other way to know if it'll work for you.