Archive for the ‘South Boston’ Category
Friday, September 21st, 2012
You are now three weeks in to your new lease and probably finally feeling settled in your new apartment. You have probably seen your neighbors in the hallways or when you are exiting or entering your apartment building and just greeted them with a quick nod. However, now that you feel more comfortable it is time to possibly build some friendly relationships with the people that share your building, mail room, and maybe even laundry basement. Here are a few pointers for meeting new neighbors!
- Remember to smile
- Don’t be afraid of small talk–while exiting or entering the building, in the laundry room, or in the elevator or on the stairs
- If there is one, join your building’s committee–you’ll definitely meet people and feel as if you have a say in the community and also be able to discuss common issues (such as issues with the landlord, etc.)
- If you’re feeling bold, plan a building party—invite everyone!
You never know—after making these connections you could make a new friend, or even find a new roommate for next year!!
Good luck,
The Charles Realty
http://www.rent.com/blog/apartment-living-meet-your-new-neighbors/
http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/?p=6211
Tags: apartment living, neighbors
Posted in Allston/Brighton, Back Bay/Beacon Hill, Brookline, Fenway/Kenmore, Jamaica Plain, North End/Waterfront, South Boston, South End, The People, The Trends | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
We’ve already has some cold days this year! Even though it has warmed back up a bit (I promise you that this is only temporary), I can assure you that winter is coming. However, it is not too late to take some steps to prep your home for the cold months ahead.
1. Give your boiler a check up
Whether you like it or not, your heat is going to get turned on soon (if it hasn’t been already). It’s a good idea to get your boiler tuned up. It could add years to its lifespan! If nothing else, the filter should be changed between cooling and heating, which is not a difficult task!
2. Inspect chimneys!
Now is the time! Do not wait to have them inspected or cleaned if you use your fire place regularly throughout the winter.
3. Weatherstripping
If you’re like me and live in an old building in Boston, you can actually feel the cold air blowing into your home from underneath doors and around windows. Get some floor snakes to go under your doors, and purchase some products to seal up your windows. Not only will you save money on heating, but you’ll be so much more comfortable when it starts getting really cold!
4. Prevent ice damns on your roof!
“Seal air leaks. Shutting down air leakage is probably going to have the biggest effect, and it’s the kind of thing you can do incrementally. The second would be adding insulation. If you have R18 insulation value, turn it into R36. This is where your energy audit will be helpful. And the third is making sure your roof is vented properly, if your house is designed to have a vented roof. Make sure your soffit vents aren’t blocked, your gable vents are open.” (Source)
5. Order a home energy audit
If you’ve been putting this off, now is the time to do it. They use an infrared gun to monitor heat leakage, and the process is so much more successful when it’s cold outside. The results could help you save money and stay warmer this winter!
6. Prepare an emergency kit
Collect a flashlight, batteries, matches, food and water in case of an emergency. Also, collect the phone numbers of your local utility companies and tape them somewhere safe!
Let us know if you have any other suggestions to keep everything and everyone safe this winter!
Source
Source
Tags: Boston, Boston Homes, Boston Real Estate, Boston winter, Preping for winter, Winter proofing your home
Posted in Allston/Brighton, Back Bay/Beacon Hill, Brookline, Cambridge, Charlestown, Dorchester, Fenway/Kenmore, Jamaica Plain, North End/Waterfront, South Boston, South End, The Happenings, The People, The Trends | No Comments »
Monday, August 29th, 2011
This photo, submitted to Boston.com by John Harrington, in evidence that Irene was very present in the Back Bay. I hope that everyone who has been affected by the hurricane is recovering well. The first death in Massachusetts caused by the storm was reported this morning. Our thoughts go out to his family. It will be a team effort to recover from the storm, but after a disaster like this we can rebuild. Please share your hurricane stories with us, we’d love to hear them.
Tags: Boston, Boston Homes, Hurricane Irene, storm damage
Posted in Allston/Brighton, Back Bay/Beacon Hill, Brookline, Cambridge, Charlestown, Dorchester, Fenway/Kenmore, Jamaica Plain, North End/Waterfront, South Boston, South End, The Happenings, You and Us | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
The vacancy rate in rental units is down lower than it has been in the Boston area since the end of 2002.
“Boston-area rents are hitting new heights – with the median price recently reaching $1,665 a month” (source). Perspective-tenants are scrambling to find affordable places for September 1st. We hear stories of some landlords taking advantage of the desperation and hiking up rents, and of others requiring extreme items from possible renters in order to consider them.
Here are some tips to navigating this tough rental market:
1. Work with a rental agent.
While it means sometimes paying a fee (typically one month’s rent), working with one agent who can scour MLS and exclusive rental listings that are not on Craigslist will very be helpful to you. Plus good rental agents have relationships with landlords, and if you have them to back you up as a good fit for the unit, then you stand a much better chance of getting it! A good rental agent can also help you understand your lease, etc. and walk you through the complicated process of renting an apartment in Boston.
2. If you do want to do it on your own…
Search the listings by owner on Craigslist. If you can get a floor in a single family, you could save a lot of money, and a lot of headaches if your landlord shares a wall with you. If Craigslist comes up short, go to the area you’re wanting to live in and look for “for rent” signs in the windows. Just because it’s not online, doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t exist.
It’s hard out there, but perseverance and sacrifices are necessary if you want to find the perfect rental unit for September! Good Luck!
Tags: Boston, Boston Homes, Boston Real Estate, Boston Realtors, boston rental market, Boston Rentals, Boston Trends, Realtors, The Charles Realty
Posted in Allston/Brighton, Back Bay/Beacon Hill, Brookline, Cambridge, Charlestown, Dorchester, Fenway/Kenmore, Jamaica Plain, North End/Waterfront, South Boston, South End, The Happenings, The Trends | No Comments »
Monday, June 27th, 2011
Much has changed since Whitey Bulger left Southie. Boston.com says that he “would hardly recognize the neighborhood where he grew up.” It’s true. The gentrification of the neighborhood is occurring quickly. While it is still sometimes regarded as the most dangerous or inexpensive place to live in Boston, it is quickly changing. It now hosts cute boutiques and some seriously expensive real estate. For example, Broadway used to be home to this:
The site made famous thanks to The Departed and infamous for being a cover for Whitey Bulgar’s many “paybacks,” used to set the tone for a crime-ridden area that now, some 15 years later is home to this:
This is the newest addition to the area: Local 149. South Boston is certainly in the process of undergoing some changes and from what I’ve read, many people believe it’s for the better. How do you feel? Do you think that Southie is loosing its roots?
(photos are from Boston.com)
Tags: Boston, Boston Real Estate, South Boston, The Departed, Whitey Bulger
Posted in Dorchester, South Boston, The Happenings, The Trends | No Comments »
Monday, April 25th, 2011
Are you renting?
It’s the time of year when students are busy finding rentals for the fall, and as the apartment search continues, keep in mind that drab walls and boring spaces are easily remedied!
Here is a list of 5 simple things that you can do to improve your space as a renter, that you might even be able to take with you when you move.
1. Don’t be afraid of a little color!
Most places will let you paint the walls of where you’re renting. Paint is inexpensive, and if you just devote a day to changing a wall from cream to blue or red the difference will be astounding. If you’re limited on natural light or your space is small (aka most rental units in Boston) then avoid dark colors. On a paint swatch, chose on of the top three shades. Trust me, they may look too light on the sample, but on your wall, it will be just fine.
Other ways to incorporate color are awesome area rugs! Urban Outfitters has great ones for inexpensive prices. Throw pillows, shower curtains, decorative vases (or recycled bottles with nice flowers), fun lamps and for a little more money… a statement chair or sofa! Adding a splash of color to a sea of neutrals is so key.
2. Hang things up!
It’s amazing what thumbtacks can do. Anything from cool bedsheets to scarves can be used to jazz up your space. If your landlord doesn’t want you to paint then this is ideal.
3. Turn on some lights!
Especially if it is a garden level, or doesn’t have a lot of light, definitely put in as many light sources as possible. You might have to get creative if you have a limited number of outlets, but extension cords and power strips are simple to hide. Plus, then you get to play with lamp shades and cool lighting units. Definitely get creative here!
4. Mirrors are your best friend!
Nothing opens up a space like mirrors! Mirrors of all shapes and sizes are so crucial. In my apartment, we have a big mirror above the TV and a floor to ceiling mirror by the door, a vanity sized mirror on our bookshelf and a round mirror above our table. That’s 4 big mirrors in a small Beacon Hill living room, and I cannot tell you how much it opens up our space! Get creative with painting the frames of the mirrors. If your on a budget, second hand mirrors from garage and estate sales can be easily repainted to fit your space. Just be sure you put newspaper down on your floor before you get down and dirty with your painting project!
5. Change your knobs!
Cabinet pulls, door knobs and fan pulls are often little forgotten details that could easily wake a space up. Anthro is one of my favorite places to look for fun things like this, but just a simple change in the kitchen such as cabinet pulls will provide a wonderful change in look and feel.
I hope this helps! And happy apartment hunting Boston!!
(inspiration: http://on-msn.com/hGBLEG)
Tags: Boston, Boston Homes, Boston Trends, Home Improvement, Realtors, Rennovations
Posted in Allston/Brighton, Back Bay/Beacon Hill, Cambridge, Charlestown, Dorchester, Fenway/Kenmore, Jamaica Plain, North End/Waterfront, South Boston, South End, The Happenings, The Trends | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
Boston’s favorite day is finally less than a week away! Boston closes its roads to hundreds of runners on a Monday in late April every year. The traditions surrounding the race are huge in the city, and locals find anyway they can to get downtown to mingle with their friends and cheer on the runners. It is an inspiring event! This year, the 18th of April, Boston will welcome once again marathoners from all over the world for the 115th time. The route, a 26.6 mile tour of the Boston area, is scared.
One of my favorite Boston bloggers has outlined some excellent spectator tips for marathon day including how to get around (driving & parking vs public transportation), where to watch, where to eat or grab a beer, what to wear and more! That can be found here: http://carrotsncake.com/2011/04/spectator-tips-for-the-boston-marathon.html
What are your favorite Marathon Monday stories? I always enjoyed not having class on that day, getting up with my college roommates, taking the camera to go cheer on the runners and stopping to pose with the statues on the Comm Ave mall. We have pictures of us there every year, it has become our tradition! What are yours?
Tags: Boston, Boston Marathon, Boston Runners, Boston Tradition, Boston Trends
Posted in Allston/Brighton, Back Bay/Beacon Hill, Brookline, Cambridge, Charlestown, Dorchester, Fenway/Kenmore, Jamaica Plain, North End/Waterfront, South Boston, South End, The Happenings | No Comments »
Thursday, March 24th, 2011
As we all know, with the passing of Elizabeth Taylor yesterday we lost a true legend in Hollywood. Boston was truly blessed to not only watch her on our local movie screens but to see her grace Boston’s theatre stage. This is just one early example of Boston’s ties with Hollywood. But never before has the city been so highlighted in Hollywood then in recent years. The Town, The Fighter, The Departed, The Women, The Social Network, 21, Knight and Day, to name just a few. Take the good with the bad, the scenes in recent movies, haven’t always been so favorable, but all in all movie goers have gained a wonderful appreciation for the architecture of Boston’s Back Bay and South End classic brownstones and cafes, the sweeping views of the Charles River, of Cambridge and Harvard’s famous campus, the charming streets of Charlestown and the bustling streets of South Boston. And of course, who can forget the insider sneak peaks at Fenway Park during The Town. If you have walked the Back Bay, South End, Cambridge, Downtown Boston, Charlestown, South Boston, the Waterfron and the Fenway, in the last few years, you were bound to run into the equipment, wardrobe and catering trucks as well as those non-sensical directional signs pointing the way to set. All creating quite the buzz in our small often underappreciated city.
Thanks to Hollywood’s latest “IT” guy and Boston bad boy turned legend-in-the making, Mark Wahlberg, we have a new movie coming to Boston’s South End. This movie, set to film here in May, is a Seth McFarlane creation about a man whose teddy bear comes alive due to a wish made during his childhood. Wahlberg and Black Swan star Mila Kunis star in this movie. The scenes will be shot in and around Chandler and St. Charles streets. Areas around Columbus Ave, Clarendon St/Appleton St/Berkeley St, will be blocked off for film equipment.
But don’t worry residents…Hollywood is picking up your parking bill…just look for flyers to be passed out before filming. If only they would have supplied parking during the blizzards.
Tags: 21, Appleton St, Back Bay, Berkeley St, Boston, Boston architecture, Boston Real Estate, Boston theatre, Cambridge, Chandler St, Charles River, Charlestown, Clarendon St, Columbus Ave, Downtown Boston, Elizabeth Taylor, Fenway Park, free parking, Hollywood, Knight and Day, Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth McFarlane, South Boston, South End, St. Charles St, The Departed, The Fighter, The Social Network, The Town, The Women
Posted in Back Bay/Beacon Hill, Cambridge, Charlestown, Fenway/Kenmore, North End/Waterfront, South Boston, South End, The Happenings | No Comments »
