May be moving to Boston in a few months!!

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by Memnoch: So I guess I'll soon be moving from Sydney to Boston! Can anyone give me any insiders' insights about Boston, mainly on the following: the people the weather the city itself - cool places to live, transportation, cost of living, etc. cool beaches to go to, including surfing ones (I assume there must be some) any idiosyncracies I should know about (do they still have that wierd rule where pubs close on Tuesdays??) In general, what's cool about Boston! I'm assuming Boston will be as cool and cosmo as Sydney is. May be a silly question, but I'm thinking of bringing my cat to the US with me (Maryrose is going to London at the same time and we're still deciding who gets Mikka). What's the rule on pets in apartments in Boston? Anyone know?

Hey, I've lived in and around Boston for going on 6 years now. The people are decent, but you gotta watch out for the "mass-holes", particularly on the roads.

As for the weather I hope you like cold and snow because thats all we get from Jan-Mar. Summers are fabulously mild with occassional heat waves breaking into the 90s and 100s.
As for Beaches, there are plenty but I don't know any surf spots first-hand. Pubs aren't closed on Tuesdays but the Subways stops running at 12:30 and the bars close at 2:00 so you need back-up transporation ready if you go out drinking late.

Oh, yeah- it's expensive to live here more so than many places. If you have a car or don't mind a train commute, you can reduce your rent by living in the burbs. We live in Natick, about 15 miles west of the city and for what we pay for a house with a yard might get you 1/2 a studiop apartment in Boston.

As for cats, we have had ours here in several places with little trouble except a pet deposit.


Whats cool about Boston? It's got History, Museums, Great sport teams and venues. Lots of things to do and see and lots of colleges! Mass is ranked as the state with the most and the best colleges. Its close to the beautiful White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Big Apple, NYC, is only 3-4 hours away. 6 flags over NEw England is 90 minutes away and has a sweet water park and some terrific roller-coasters. Oh, yeah we are close to Canada as well!


Lets me know if you have an more particular questions or if you need some one local to help with anything. I'd be happy to help.

Cheers,
Scott

[ 05-23-2005, 03:01 PM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

[Cloudbringer]

Mems, found this info on the Back Bay area of Boston : http://web.mit.edu/housing/och/backbay.html

http://www.10best.com/Back_Bay,Boston,MA/


Will send more as I hear about it. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Hey, good, I see Chewie's answered! ROTFL, I told him about the museums and historical stuff- methinks Memsie wants the hot nightclubs and places where young blondes gather. [img]graemlins/laugh2.gif[/img]

[Lady Sedai]

Here are some additional links on surfing in the area and on "nightlife".

Northeast Surfing

Global Surfers forum

Boston Travel site

[Chewbacca]

Back Bay is quite nice, but quite exspensive. If you can afford it that would be an ideal place to live. It is close to everything, including BU!

Communities close to BU I would also recommend apartment hunting in are Brighton, Cambridge, and Newton. Watertown and Somerville are close-by as well. Somerville has a reputation for lower rent.

As for party spots and nightclubs...I wouldn't worry much Cloudy- The sheer volume of colleges and college student here makes for plenty of partying. Many of my friends and co-workers could run down a list of hotspots that my old-stay-at-home-and-play-video games-or-DnD self is blissfully unaware of.

[Memnoch]

Thanks guys, re the pets thing, all US customs need is a rabies innoculation and a rabies test. Since Australia is rabies free Mikka is considered to be in quarantine the whole time she's here, so importing is no problem. Thanks for the offer to call though LadyS!

I was more concerned with apartment housing - what's the deal on cats? I know NYC is very cat-friendly, not sure about Boston? I think Mikka will FREAK if she sees snow. [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img]

Thanks for the comprehensive info, Chewy. You still in Boston at the moment? We may have to catch up for a drink when I'm settled.

I was looking at Back Bay (nice but looks a bit pricey) as well as Copley Place, Allston and Brighton. Are these pretty cool places to live? Convenient for transport? What's the bus/taxi scene like in Boston?

In terms of your suggestion re: the burbs - how far from the city is considered to be the burbs? For example is Wellesley the burbs? One of the unis I'm considering, Babson, is at Wellesley, which I think is 10mi from the city? 10mi from Sydney would take me about 20mins in off-peak hour, 45mins in peak hour. Is that about the same there? And how much cheaper are the burbs?

Also, what's Jamaica Plain, Roxbury and Roslindale like? Seedy or worth a look?

[ 05-23-2005, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]

[Memnoch]

Originally posted by a_decent_1: Money is not a problem for memnoch i guess. Boston is the Best option Man,.

It's not so much about money, as about value for money. I don't want to spend heaps for no reason, particularly if I'm not going to be working for two years. I'm financing this whole MBA out of my savings, which is why the BU offer is appealing. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Oh, and you can call me Ozzie here if you're more used to it mate. I respond to both.

[Memnoch]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: Oh, yeah we are close to Canada as well!

Hmm...this is EXTREMELY important for me, as you all well know.

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by Memnoch: Thanks guys, re the pets thing, all US customs need is a rabies innoculation and a rabies test. Since Australia is rabies free Mikka is considered to be in quarantine the whole time she's here, so importing is no problem. I was more concerned with apartment housing - what's the deal on cats? I know NYC is very cat-friendly, not sure about Boston? Thanks for the comprehensive info, Chewy. You still in Boston at the moment? We may have to catch up for a drink when I'm settled. I was looking at Back Bay (nice but looks a bit pricey) as well as Copley Place, Allston and Brighton. Are these pretty cool places to live? Convenient for transport? What's the bus/taxi scene like in Boston? In terms of your suggestion re: the burbs - how far from the city is considered to be the burbs? For example is Wellesley the burbs? One of the unis I'm considering, Babson, is at Wellesley, which I think is 10mi from the city? 10mi from Sydney would take me about 20mins in off-peak hour, 45mins in peak hour. Is that about the same there? And how much cheaper are the burbs?

Hey, I'd love to catch up! Let me know if you are in town! [img]smile.gif[/img]

The suburbs here are old. I'd say they start 10 miles out of the city of Boston. Past Cambridge to the West, Quincy to the South and Revere to the North. All the burbs are serviced by the commuter rail.

I live right next to Wellesley. Its a Burb, but its also close and very nice. Wellesley is not cheap, in fact it is one of the wealthiest areas near Boston, but just 5 miles further west you have Natick {where I live} and Framingham which have more affordable smaller houses and apartments. Its kinda hilly and very green out here. I love this area! It's close enough to the city yet just far enough away as well!


Boston has plenty of taxis, and a great subway system called the T. Copley, Brighton, and Allston are served by the T. Off-street Parking is hard to find and can be expensive this close to town though.

Further west where I live and Wellesley there is a commuter rail and commuter buses. From here its about 1/2 hr in to Boston on the rail. Or you can drive the Mass pike. With peak traffik this can be a 45 minutes or longer trip and it costs at least two bucks for tolls. Off-peak you can be into the city from Wellesley/Natick in 15 minutes.


Cheers!

[Stormymystic]

I do not know much about MASS. but I do know that pretty much every state is cat-friendly. your chances are better at being allowed to have a cat in an apartment then a dog.

[Cloudbringer]

Originally posted by Memnoch: quote: Originally posted by Chewbacca: Oh, yeah we are close to Canada as well!

Hmm...this is EXTREMELY important for me, as you all well know. [/QUOTE] Yup, we do. Hehe.. you can pass by me on your way up if you take a slight detour. LOL!

I was at work today when I posted the other info, Mario, but I'll see what else I have from friends etc. Looks like you've got Chewie for inside info, though!

I remember Cambridge as being fairly nice.. it's just been so long since I've been in Boston.. wow.. gonna have to make a trip sometime... will have some more incentive if you're there, Memsy!