Sensational Somerville, MA

Expat · #1 Posted **Jun 2, 2011, 8:11 PM**

Somerville, MA, just north of Boston & right next door to Cambridge, has a population of over 75,000. The most dense city in Massachusetts. On T's red-line subway (and maybe some other lines?), commuter rail, and multiple local bus lines. Somerville is large and varied. There are times when I may have crossed a border. For instance, a couple of these pictures may actually be in Porter Square of Cambridge.

The skyline shots are from Prospect Hill Park near Union Square.

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Thanks for looking!

ColDayMan · #2 Posted **Jun 2, 2011, 8:43 PM**

Excellent job! I think it goes without saying that everytime I see "Somerville" I see "JBoston."

Expat · #3 Posted **Jun 2, 2011, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColDayMan

Excellent job! I think it goes without saying that everytime I see "Somerville" I see "JBoston."

It is also Texfiles04's turf. Hope I haven't started any battles

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sterlippo1 · #4 Posted **Jun 2, 2011, 11:34 PM**

great job as usual Expat and talk about a city in the midst of a renaissance

this one's it!

Shawn · #5 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 12:27 AM**

Nice Expat, Somerville seems to have shed the "Slumerville" name my snooty "South of the Charles" extended family would throw around from time to time.

This is Porter Square, really hard to know when you've crossed into the People's Republic. Porter Square is the closest we have to a Little Tokyo in Boston, does anyone know if there's still a Yoshinoya there?

blade_bltz · #6 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 12:47 AM**

@ Shawn: the centerpiece of the Porter Exchange, Kotobukiya Market, was sadly forced out of its lease in 2009 due to Leslie expansion plans. I haven't been back in a number of years, but I'm assuming all the Japanese restaurants are still there. Apparently, a new Japanese market will be opening in Porter any day now (if it hasn't already)...so that's a relief!

@ Expat: a sensational tour! Davis Sq would not be a bad place to live...

sopas ej · #7 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 1:14 AM**

Excellent photos, Expat! Somerville looks very interesting.

I'll admit, when I think of the word "Somerville," I think of Jimmy Somerville.

seaskyfan · #8 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 3:31 AM**

Great tour! My ancestral homeland (my mom grew up near Davis Sq.).

texfiles04 · #9 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 3:43 AM**

Another wonderful thread Expat...

Thanks. Somerville is served by the red line and also the Sullivan Square stop on the Orange Line. But Sullivan Square is right on the Charlestown/Somerville border. I guess you might say 'East' Somerville still has the Slumerville vibe to it. I walk out to Union Sq every once in a while, but I've never actually been as far as Davis Sq. But now I know I've gotta get out and do it

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Expat · #10 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 3:14 PM**

@Texfiles - You definitely want to get out to visit Davis Square. It is a great spot.

@Sopas Ej, I should have started this thread with a Jimmy Somerville video!

@Shawn - It is easy for me to blend Davis & Porter square. And I did a little. But, that particular pic is Davis Square.

Thanks all!

Danny · #11 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 4:00 PM**

Thanks for these new pictures, Expat!

Nice neighbourhood Somerville. I´ve liked every picture very much.

As I see, the day was too clear and warm, wasn´t it?

I´ve liked that Rosebud Bar & grill. It´s really nice, like an old dinner. I suppose they will serve tasty meals there. As I see, there´re many bars and restaurants to have lunch or dinner in Somerville.

The skyline view from Somerville is very nice.

Sensational, as you´ve titled your thread.

Congratulations and greetings from Madrid, Spain!

giovanni sasso · #12 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 4:17 PM**

good stuff, expat. towns like somerville and cambridge and roxbury are kinda fascinating to me, i guess only because boston proper's boundaries are so small and these little satellites are only that in name. they all look like parts of the same whole, which i'm sure in most ways they are.

fflint · #13 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 10:26 PM**

Sweet pics, Somerville sure has come a long way since I lived there.

Thundertubs · #14 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 10:54 PM**

Somerville is a great town. Cool tour.

Was Davis Square in this thread? I have a friend from there who says our Chicago neighborhood (Lincoln Square) reminds her a lot of Davis Sq, so I'd be curious to see it.

Expat · #15 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 11:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thundertubs

Somerville is a great town. Cool tour.

Was Davis Square in this thread? I have a friend from there who says our Chicago neighborhood (Lincoln Square) reminds her a lot of Davis Sq, so I'd be curious to see it.

This thread covers so many areas, I should have broken it up by neighborhood. So, I have gone back & numbered the photographs & broke it down as follows:

Davis Square:
1(1 is very near Davis, but not exactly - it is someone's house that is also an art gallery, not typically open to public), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 (Shawn thinks 22 is in Porter Sq - so this one is in question), 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 44
.........
Porter Square is just across the line in Cambridge & only one stop away on the the red line from Davis. You can walk between the neighborhoods, therefore, the line got blurred for me. Now that I numbered the photos, I can see there is more in Porter than I thought. Porter Square as follows:

8,32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42

.........

Teele Square:
28 & 29

...............

Union Square:

44, 45, 47, 49, 56, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

.................

Prospect Hill Park is basically in the Union Square neighborhood. Straight up the hill from Union Square with great views. It is where the first American flag was flown. A tower is there now with a replica of the old flag flying. And views to all over:

48, 50, 51, 42. 43, 54, 55, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65

....................

Around town, so I don't know exactly what neighborhood in Somerville they are in:

30, 31, 33, 39, 43, 46, 58, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75

Expat · #16 Posted **Jun 3, 2011, 11:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by giovanni sasso

good stuff, expat. towns like somerville and cambridge and roxbury are kinda fascinating to me, i guess only because boston proper's boundaries are so small and these little satellites are only that in name. they all look like parts of the same whole, which i'm sure in most ways they are.

It does feel that way to me. So many places that might be called suburbs live like city neighborhoods.

Centropolis · #17 Posted **Jun 4, 2011, 6:33 AM**

so very solid!

TomOfBoston · #18 Posted **Jun 5, 2011, 12:39 AM**

There has always been an income and density gradient in Somerville as you move from east to west.

Some beautiful buildings awaiting restoration too.

ShadowMaster · #19 Posted **Jun 5, 2011, 3:04 AM**

There are plentiful of quality buildings! And #72 reminds me of those old wooden frontier forts which would of contained cannons and stationed with musket men inside.

Expat · #20 Posted **Jun 5, 2011, 1:38 PM**

More nice comments! Thanks all! Shadowmaster, I am glad you brought up this building.

Does anyone know the story of this building? It is very unusual. And also strange to see it in a neglected state. There must be a reason, because the rest of the neighborhood is in good repair. Beautiful new townhouses are being built next door, too. Building pictured below: