Towns
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Re: Towns
posted at 8/2/2011 9:36 PM EDT
- ajuly09
- Posts: 1334
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Oh, I miss Brighton, except for all the drunk irish kids that come to work for the summer who used to break bottles and yell outside our condo. But there is definite charm in being able to walk to get dinner, your nails done, a haircut and ice cream. -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/2/2011 10:15 PM EDT
- lemonmelon
- Posts: 2236
- First: 7/31/2006
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In Response to Re: Towns:Oh, I miss Brighton, except for all the drunk irish kids that come to work for the summer who used to break bottles and yell outside our condo. But there is definite charm in being able to walk to get dinner, your nails done, a haircut and ice cream.
Posted by ajuly09
There are really quiet, neighborhoody parts of Brighton and Allston. And then there are punk ghettos too. I don't mind the punks, but I absolutely could not deal with the doods. -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/2/2011 10:46 PM EDT
- lissafro
- Posts: 851
- First: 4/15/2007
- Last: 5/20/2013
In Response to Re: Towns:In Response to Re: Towns : Where???
Posted by lemonmelon
My parents live in Fairhaven. All those towns down there have great town beaches but you need to be a resident to get a sticker. In Westport there's Horseneck but that's all waves and fine sand, kind of scary for a toddler. New Bedford has decent beaches but the neighborhoods you have to drive through to get to them aren't great and there's construction on 18 now so it's not worth the effort.
Have you tried the S. Boston beaches? They really are great. -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/4/2011 11:03 AM EDT
- poppy609
- Posts: 2228
- First: 10/29/2009
- Last: 5/21/2013
Wow. I did not know there were single family houses like that in our price range in All/Bri. Damn. I might have to change my search criteria... -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/4/2011 11:43 AM EDT
- lemonmelon
- Posts: 2236
- First: 7/31/2006
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There is a small but incredibly dedicated parents' group here, and everyone is so friendly and helpful and not snotty or creepy. Lots of band people and arty types.
This is the house I want:
http://www.trulia.com/property/3054649319-11-Durland-St-Boston-MA-02135
Poppy, you can buy my house and I'll buy that one. -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/4/2011 11:47 AM EDT
- lemonmelon
- Posts: 2236
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Come to us, Poppy. I will share my cucumbers with you.
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Re: Towns
posted at 8/4/2011 1:21 PM EDT
- jettagirl78
- Posts: 40
- First: 9/1/2009
- Last: 3/26/2012
The commute from Brighton to Malden may not be so much fun...but the tomatoes might make it worth it! :)
I grew up in Melrose and my brother and his family (4 kids) live there. They go to the charter school, which is fabulous! But no, I don't trust the school system at all and it kills me, because I love Melrose. You get the townie feel, with the ability to be in Boston in 20 minutes. At one point I did live in Melrose and commuted to Malden, best commute of my life!
DH had a house in Burlington before I met him and that is where we live now. It is very different, but it is growing on me. We live on the Wilmington border and I have to say I do a lot in Wilmington. I just recentely discovered Silver Lake beach with a great playground, that is perfect for families with small kids!
Burlington has lots of activies: 4th July Parade, Town Day, Truck Day, weekly concerts in the summer and lots of wonderful parks and wading pool. The schools are not bad either!
Having grown up in the area...Reading is lovely. Winchester is great if you can afford one of those beautiful victorians!
Good luck in your search! -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/4/2011 1:30 PM EDT
- poppy609
- Posts: 2228
- First: 10/29/2009
- Last: 5/21/2013
Ooh, that house is lovely, Lemon. As are your tomatoes and cucumbers...
Jetta - there are some nice houses in Burlington we could afford, but we don't know much about it... I'm glad it's grown on you a bit. Do you think you'll stay there? I see mixed things about the schools, but overall them seem ok... -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/4/2011 1:50 PM EDT
- jettagirl78
- Posts: 40
- First: 9/1/2009
- Last: 3/26/2012
Yes, we will be staying, I just make sure we go to Turners in Melrose once every couple of months! Ha!
Growing up in Melrose, we played Kickball in the street, in Burlington we have a yard that is comparable to a park! Love our neighbors who also have small kids and the fact that it has so much going on has won me over. Yes, the schools are a mixed bag. I am in the Pine Glen elementary school district, so I am confident as far as elementary goes...and also, school is what you put into it. So I am living on the one day at a time... : ) -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/4/2011 4:52 PM EDT
- LiveLoveLearnEnjoy
- Posts: 472
- First: 6/9/2010
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We used to play street hockey on our street in Melrose, it was great. And we lived behind a school and it was the days when parents let you go off without them so we would go to the playground all the time.
I see kids playing in the streets around our house all the time too in Melrose and we live on a nice quiet street.
Jetta - I have heard great things about the charter school except for their facilities. A friend of my husbands actually took there child out of the charter and put her in the middle school because it offered more programs (I'm guessing extra curricular/electives) than the charter school...what is your brothers opinion about that?
I went to Melrose schools and worked in them briefly and they are better than they were but they do still need work and having said that I went to a good college and am a successful adult! -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/4/2011 7:25 PM EDT
- lemonmelon
- Posts: 2236
- First: 7/31/2006
- Last: 2/22/2012
We had a huge house and yard on the cape on a quiet street in a quiet town and I COULD NOT WAIT to get the h3ll out of there. I remind myself of that every summer when I start feeling the lawn envy. -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/5/2011 10:00 AM EDT
- medfordcc
- Posts: 1174
- First: 1/26/2010
- Last: 5/10/2013
Is the charter school in Melrose that you guys are talking about the Mystic Valley Regional Charter?
If so, I would say it is not right for every kid. I have a couple of colleagues who have pulled their kids out. I believe their main complaint was excessive structure and rigidity. In my opinion, some kids need that but others already impose their own structure. In that case, the excess of structure just makes them nuts and turn out like ME!
Anyway, just my thoughts on charters -- they tend to serve some kids well but not others. Also, I think MVR has a pretty big lottery / waitlist, so you'd be taking your chances even if you knew it was the kind of school you wanted. -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/5/2011 11:06 AM EDT
- poppy609
- Posts: 2228
- First: 10/29/2009
- Last: 5/21/2013
Well. Just signed the P&S to sell our condo. I should be excited, but rather am trying to quell the panic... -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/5/2011 11:38 AM EDT
- Winter2011Bride
- Posts: 4233
- First: 2/8/2010
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Congratulations Poppy. And Happy House hunting!! -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/5/2011 11:55 AM EDT
- medfordcc
- Posts: 1174
- First: 1/26/2010
- Last: 5/10/2013
Congratulations! I can imagine it is exciting / panic inducing! -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/5/2011 2:32 PM EDT
- JKFDais15
- Posts: 317
- First: 6/22/2009
- Last: 8/28/2012
yay - so exciting.. keep us posted where you end up! you could be a neighbor! :-) -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/5/2011 3:03 PM EDT
- ajuly09
- Posts: 1334
- First: 7/15/2008
- Last: 4/15/2013
Makes me want to move again, even though we bought a house a year ago. I love looking at houses and then the decorating that comes in the new house! I may just have to go to some open houses on sunday for a fix! -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/5/2011 3:37 PM EDT
- medfordcc
- Posts: 1174
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Ajuly - can you look for houses for me next year and then decorate them??? I am the sort of person who buys a new shower curtain and then lets it sit around in the package for 3 weeks collecting dust. -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/5/2011 4:06 PM EDT
- Winter2011Bride
- Posts: 4233
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I love the decorating part too. We bought a house in December, moved in in March and we've been decorating. All we have left to paint is the second floor master suite. -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/5/2011 8:47 PM EDT
- lemonmelon
- Posts: 2236
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I hate painting trim. -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/5/2011 8:57 PM EDT
- LiveLoveLearnEnjoy
- Posts: 472
- First: 6/9/2010
- Last: 9/26/2012
I could use some help over here too! I love the idea of decorating but don't know where to even begin!
Congrats Poppy! -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/6/2011 2:22 PM EDT
- jettagirl78
- Posts: 40
- First: 9/1/2009
- Last: 3/26/2012
Oh Congrats Poppy!!!
LiveLoveLearnEnjoy - To be honest, I was never a charter school fan, but my neices and nephews seem to be thriving, so I have to say it is working for them. And I do agree it is not for everyone. They do their extra-curricular activies in and around Melrose, like dance and karate. But I do believe one of my neices is on their swim team.
The one downside to the charter school is that your friends are not in walking distance. I would walk all over Melrose to go to friend's houses/schools parks, & Caruso's for a slice. (hopefully to reopen soon? Although Petrones is my #1) However, when your friends are from different towns it makes it harder.
My heart will always be in Melrose...and you never know, my Mom is still sitting on the family homestead...maybe, I'll be back at somepoint! You never know! ; ) -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/6/2011 9:31 PM EDT
- lemonmelon
- Posts: 2236
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- Last: 2/22/2012
In Response to Re: Towns:The one downside to the charter school is that your friends are not in walking distance.
Posted by jettagirl78
... but neither are your enemies -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/6/2011 9:55 PM EDT
- LiveLoveLearnEnjoy
- Posts: 472
- First: 6/9/2010
- Last: 9/26/2012
Jetta - I'm for petrone's for subs because their pita bread is the best there is but when it comes to pizza I am partial to Melrose House which is funny because until I moved back to Melrose (into my grandmother's house funny about your parents house being a possible someday) my family always got patrone's.
We have several children on our street who go to the MVR charter and are happy but I would have to do more research before making any decisions. DS is currently 11 months so I have time.
Oh and the memories you have brought back of walking the streets of Melrose! -
Re: Towns
posted at 8/7/2011 9:37 AM EDT
- ajuly09
- Posts: 1334
- First: 7/15/2008
- Last: 4/15/2013
In Response to Re: Towns:Ajuly - can you look for houses for me next year and then decorate them??? I am the sort of person who buys a new shower curtain and then lets it sit around in the package for 3 weeks collecting dust.
Posted by medfordccSure, I'd love to. If I stop teaching I'd love to be a home organizer, don't think I have the skills to be a decorator. I could spend hours in Homegoods! It's a good thing my little man likes to shop. We have two floors of our house that have been gutted and need to be redone, I am chomping at the bit to decorate them!