Apartment Blog

ForRent.com is at it again. In the hopes of providing you with the ‘insiders scoop’ of another highly visited metropolitan area, we have decided to interview one of our own who was born and raised in the downtown Boston area. I picked her brain about the local scene to provide some useful tips for those of you planning a visit or relocating there soon.

Q. When is the best time to visit Boston?

A. Boston has all seasons so depending on what season you prefer, Boston has something to offer. The winter is cold with snow, but trees are lit in the Common, Garden and Faneuil Hall. In contrast, the summer can get hot but you can go sailing on the Charles River. And the Fall foliage in New England is pretty self explanatory.

Q. Where do you go if you want to eat cheap?

A. Try Faneuil Hall marketplace; there is a strip with about any type of food you could think of. There are even small diners around town that are worth it; the South Street Diner is open all hours as well as a slightly more posh diner on Charles street; “The Paramount”. Both of these are some of my favorite spots to dine in Boston and won’t be a large strain to the wallet. If you like Italian food, the north end has tons of great pizza/pasta joints…but be mindful that some get more expensive but are completely worth it.

Q. Where is there to go shopping?

A. I happen to love Newbury Street for shopping although it does tend to have your more high end designer shops as well as small intimate cafés and restaurants. The Copley and Prudential Malls are not far off, offering more to the general consumer.

Q. Where is the ‘hip’ place to live?

A. For college students and young professionals on a tighter budget, probably Cambridge/Allston-Brighton, and Somerville areas. If you are able to afford more expensive living arrangements, Back Bay and Beacon Hill are known for their Boston charm.

Q. Where is the best ’singles’ locations/clubs/bar/etc?

A. Again, since young professionals and college students all seem to swarm to Cambridge and Somerville, those bars offer a lot of opportunity to meet other singles. Personally some of my favorite bars/clubs etc, are Gypsy Bar, The Liquor Store, 33 Bar and Restaurant, Jose Macintyre’s, Coogans, and The Middle East. If you want to possibly run into some Boston sports players, Daisy Buchanan’s is known for that.

Q. What are some really cool attractions that would be considered ‘must see’ if visiting Boston?

A. Fenway Park; Old Ironsides; THE CAPE; Harvard Square; Freedom Trail; Sam Adams Brewery; Boston Tea Party

Q. And lastly, what is something weird or quirky about the city!?!

A. Truly considered “Americas College Town” with more than 100 colleges and universities.

The Big Dig (a project to eliminate traffic in Boston bringing major highways under the city itself) is one of the largest construction projects in the world, yes WORLD (as well as one of the most expensive).

Boston has quite a few firsts; including America’s first public school, The Boston Latin School (1635) (where I happened to attend), and first college, Harvard College (1636). Boston is also home to the first subway system in the United States, the T.

Special Thanks to:

Name: Jessica Lambert
Age: 24
Hometown: Downtown Boston

While Valentine’s Day is often thought of for couples, it provides an excellent time for singles to meet new friends. And Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to test the waters. Did you know that over two thirds of all singles try online dating? It’s a social scene that’s gradually getting more and more attention. You probably know someone who is on a dating site! I myself know a guy who met his wife online. They are happily married now for over three years! So if you see Valentine’s Day as an opportunity for love why not ‘test the waters’ with something new?

Here are a few tips to make your online dating process that much more successful!
1) Visit ForRent.com’s Relocation Center! On there you’ll see ‘Find a Date’ link. Then you’ll be brought to a page that will take you to a dating site.
2) Be sure to take time and complete your profile. This includes a picture! A majority of searchers won’t be as interested in you if they can’t see what you look like. In the description don’t go too personal, but write things about yourself, what kind of person you are looking for, interests, etc. This will help find someone with common interests as you.
3) Try not to be over eager. It is an Internet world where people check their email and myspace page 2 and 3 times a day, but that doesn’t mean that you should bombard others with constant messages. It’s not only intrusive, but it also gets a bit annoying. Give and take space!
4) Don’t just try one method. You may remember that movie with Diane Lane, ‘Must Love Dogs’. In the movie Diane Lane’s character, Sarah Nolan, was told by Dolly, Stockard Channing’s character, that she must venture into other Internet sites! You’ve got to explore all your options! So don’t limit yourself to online dating, continue going out and meeting people elsewhere too!
5) Have fun! Dating can be fun, if you let it. You get to meet all sorts of new and exciting people and have a good time! So don’t look at it as an opportunity to land ‘Mr. Right’, but rather an opportunity to enjoy being you!