North Allston - Brighton, MA

Once known as "little Cambridge", Allston was a farming community in the seventeenth century. A thriving cattle market followed, filling the area with stockyards. In 1872, the Brighton Abbatoir was built to consolidate the industry, freeing the land for new homes and handsome Victorians. The arrival of electric street cars in 1889 spurred growth, and the population exploded, transforming Allston-Brighton from a cow town into a well-to-do suburb.

Though North Allston has no museums or festivals, South Allston hosts the Allston Village Street Fair, a free celebration of music, art, games and crafts. Locals feast on succulent barbecue at the International Food Court or watch live bands on two stages, while magicians and chalk muralists entertain crowds in the street. Allston also boasts a fledgling art scene. At Art School 99, students master painting in relaxed studio classes, while Studio 52 houses South Allston artists and musicians in a warehouse-turned-artist-community.

North Allston offers a good selection of restaurants with Japanese, cafes and pizzerias on Western Avenue. Residents can also trek just south of the neighborhood to Brighton Avenue for Allston's lively row of eateries. On leisurely weekend mornings, customers line up at swissbakers for jam-filled Berliners and Swiss linzer cookies, along with loaves of pajazzo and strawberry cakes. In addition to pastries, bread and pretzels, the bakery offers sandwiches and a hot all-you-can-eat brunch. Though there's no table service, the staff welcomes customers with bright smiles, and cafe tables await diners in the bright, modern cafe, along with a kid-sized mushroom table to entertain the little ones.

At The Breakfast Club, customers come for fruit-topped Belgian waffles and fresh-squeezed orange juice served with a side of '80s nostalgia in a classic diner car. Despite the crowds, the speedy kitchen keeps down the wait for a table, and diners choose from an extensive breakfast and lunch menu made with fresh ingredients. Standouts include the omelettes, seasoned home fries and the eggs benedict, which are served classic or with creative additions such as smoked salmon or avocado.

Closer to the river, a tiny gem of a deli hides where customers least expect it. You'll find the BoatHouse Deli at the back of a gas station, where the sandwich geniuses load up freshly baked rolls with mounds of high-quality meats sliced to order, wowing customers with freshness and flavor. The sandwiches and subs are perfect for an impromptu picnic or lunch on-the-go. The BoatHouse Special, a mix of prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and basil, has regulars hooked. Though many of the best area bars and music venues SIT further south along Brighton Avenue, North Allston offers several low-key pubs and bars for locals looking to unwind. At the Bus Stop Pub, patrons play new tunes on the retro jukebox while chatting with friendly regulars and students from nearby Harvard Business School. Though the outdated decor might not impress your date, the wood-paneled walls, roomy booths and bar games make this local hangout perfect for a casual night out with friends or watching the Red Sox game. Cheap pitchers make it easy to buy the next round, and the establishment also serves bar food for a quick bite after work or a late night indulgence, with call-outs for the pizza and wings.

Jazz fans come from all over the city for the intimate live performances at Scullers Jazz Club, voted the city's Best Jazz Club by Boston Magazine. Scullers keeps tradition alive with small, candle-lit tables surrounding the stage, where patrons can order a drink while listening to legendary musicians and talented new comers, including past performances by Harry Connick Jr. and Tony Bennett. Located above the DoubleTree Hotel, the venue offers easy parking and dinner packages. A full night out at Scullers can set you back, but reasonably priced tickets are available for those who come just for the music.

North Allston offers commuters a little of everything with easy access to highways, local buses and T stations close by. Nearby I-90 makes for a fast trip into downtown Boston or a ball game at Fenway Park, and local bus routes 86, 66 and 70 offer a quick trip over the river into Cambridge. T riders can walk twenty minutes to reach the green line, which runs just south of the neighborhood with stops at Allston, Griggs, Harvard and Packards Corner stations.

Parking in Allston can be a hassle, and tow trucks wait to catch those who disregard signs or park in private lots. A number of resident-only street spaces help locals find spots, but visitors should expect to circle for a while before parking. The streets are safe for pedestrians, and the balance of busy avenues and quiet areas with historic homes gives the neighborhood the feeling of being part city, part suburb. Many residents go without a car, preferring to run errands on foot, though you'll probably need to take the bus for groceries. You'll find fewer cabs cruising the streets, particularly at night, but Uber services the area and local car service is only a phone call away. Biking offers another great way to get around, with a dedicated bike lane that runs north through the neighborhood on Harvard Street, along with partial routes on Western Avenue and Cambridge Street. Cyclists can also ride the bike trails that hug the entire waterfront, offering views of the Charles River and the Cambridge skyline.

Parks large and small grace North Allston, offering residents a refuge from busy schedules and a place for kids to climb and play. For quick outings, the Portsmouth Playground and the Hooker-Sorrento Playground provide a convenient place for parents to take children, and the Mansfield Street Dog Park lets pups roam free with a double gate to prevent escapes.

The larger Herter Park runs along the banks of the Charles River, with benches providing a scenic spot to stop and soak up the view, along with trails for running, biking and roller blading. During spring and summer, families picnic on the open grassy fields and wooded areas with massive willow trees let visitors escape into nature. Inexpensive boat rentals make it easy to fish or explore the city's shoreline, and a boardwalk invites visitors to dip their toes in the cool water on hot days. Kids love to cool off in the large wading pool complete with spray fountains. A playground with slides, swings, and a climbing structure provides hours of entertainment.

Though living in Boston isn't cheap, North Allston offers a better deal on housing than many nearby neighborhoods. The average one bedroom apartment here rents for about $1,550 a month, compared to nearly $2,200 in the neighboring Fenway/Kenmore area and just under $2,000 for Boston as a whole. Groceries and utilities fall in line with the city's average, and the cost of filling the gas tank is about ten percent higher in North Allston than the national average. Taking the T into downtown Boston runs you $2.10 each way, or you can ride the bus for $1.60. There are cheap options for restaurants, and you can grab a beer at your local pub for under four bucks.

Locals head to Brighton Avenue in South Allston for cool vintage threads, vinyl records and tribal jewelry, along with a Buffalo Exchange and T.J. Maxx. Closer to home, Mahoney's Garden Center stocks an indoor nursery with a wide selection of well-cared for trees, shrubs, perennials and tropical plants to get you started on everything from creating a garden to starting a terrarium or bonsai collection. Mahoney's also sells an impressive selection of planters and soils, including hand-painted pots. Over at Vivant Vintage, gently used designer clothes and funky 70s finds mingle on the racks. Reasonable prices and a quirky variety make for a nice balance between a curated vintage store and a no-frills thrift shop. The store also sells vinyl LPs, handmade jewelry and even some home goods and furniture.

Residents do the weekly grocery shop at Shaw's Supermarket, which offers customers a large selection, free parking and late hours, though some locals prefer to buy their produce at the Trader Joe's in South Allston. Several small ethnic grocers in South Allston specialize in Hispanic foods such as sweet alfajores and an impressive selection of hot sauces. During the warmer months, locals head to the Allston farmers market on Saturday to pick over fresh produce and local seafood, along with freshly baked bread and cookies. Organized by Harvard University, the market welcomes low-income customers, accepting SNAP and offering discounts on bulk purchases.