Burncoat - Worcester, MA

A hotbed of activity during the Revolutionary War, Worchester regards itself as the real seat of the Revolution due to the "Worcester Revolution." Over half a year before the first shots were fired at Lexington, thousands of militiamen from Worcester and dozens of surrounding towns gathered at Worcester and ousted all British magistrates and appointed officials, effectively declaring Worcester independent of the British Crown. Worcester continued to play a pivotal role as the war raged on, and the Worchester Town Hall hosted the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Burncoat and greater Worcester take their culture seriously. View a musical or ballet at the Hanover Theater, attend an opening at the Worcester Art Museum, or mix education and pleasure at the EcoTarium -- an indoor-outdoor museum that introduces visitors to the science of the great outdoors. The annual Taste of Shrewsburg Street in the summer brings the offerings of Worcester's Restaurant Row to the public in an indoor-outdoor sampling experience -- inside for a taste of Greek tapas and outdoors to lift a bottle of Budweiser while you listen to local bands perform live, all up and down Shrewsbury Street from Washington Square to Route 9.

As an introduction to the holiday season, Worcester celebrates a local Festival of Lights on the Worcester Common. Come help light the holiday tree and then celebrate the joy of the season while listening to chorale performances and watching ice skating exhibitions.

Within easy access to Burncoat lies Worcester's unofficial restaurant row on Shrewsbury Street, which boasts an array of high-quality traditional American, Italian, and Asian culinary options.

Try family-owned and run Pomir Grill, an Afghani restaurant for those who want to expand their palates. The friendly wait staff happily answers any questions and guides you through the menu, and the pan-style bread that starts your meal comes with three unique dipping sauces to jump-start your adventure. The vegetarian sampler changes according to the season, allowing you to experiment with a wide array of dishes. After your entree, round out your meal with the the house-made baklava for a perfect finish.

Nightlife options in Burncoat prove broad and varied. Catch a movie at the nearby Showcase Cinema, or grab a pint of beer at Bennie's Cafe Pub & Deli, a cozy hole in the wall that boasts great burgers and cheap drinks.

For the more adventurous, the Palladium Nightclub hosts regular heavy metal shows, but watch out — the lines to get in often prove a bit long. Journeying farther into Worcester takes you to a more upscale destination, the Still and Stir Cocktail Bar on Commercial Street. The wide variety of cocktails and skill of the bartenders bring you new regard for mixology as a highly underrated art form.

Burncoat residents can travel by car quickly and easily on two major interstates that intersect a short distance from the neighborhood. Interstate 190 and Interstate 290 make road trips a breeze, while Highway 70 and Highway 12 make life easier for the more local traveler. If international travel proves more your style, you can fly anywhere in the world from Logan International Airport in Boston, located at 1 Harborside Drive.

The Worcester Regional Transit Authority runs bus routes throughout Worcester, and residents of Burncoat can catch a bus on Route 14 for easy commuting anywhere in the city. Also, you can ride the Framingham/Worcester commuter rail from Worcester straight into the heart of Boston.

Discover the natural beauty of the Burncoat area displayed at the Green Hill Park, a large nearby park that covers 480 acres and houses a zoo, baseball fields, and golf courses. Open year-round Tuesdays through Saturdays, the park also hosts the Green Hill Park Farm, which lets you watch llamas, sheep, fowl, goats, and a miniature horse free of charge. If you want to entertain the kids closer to home, Burncoat boasts three neighborhood playgrounds.

Life in Burncoat carries an average-to-high cost of living, reflecting its desirable location in the suburbs of Boston. Leasing reflects the housing market, with an average rent of $1,112 for an apartment in Burncoat. Excluding housing costs, the cost of living sits at or slightly above the national average, while housing costs remain lower in Burncoat then in the majority of the state of Massachusetts.

Shopping around Burncoat blends national chains with personalized, locally-owned boutiques. The Greendale Mall in Worcester houses well-known national brands such as Aeropostale and Bath and Body Works alongside local businesses, including Chic D'Afrique and Hannoush Jewelers.

Most boutique offerings nestle close to the heart of Worcester and focus on women's fashion. For reasonable prices, try French Twist Boutique on Pleasant Street, which provides a European flair with a mission to "bring high-style fashion at real-world prices." For a more pricey option, Adore Boutique hosts fashion shows that showcase their seasonal lines. If you want a greater selection of shopping, hop on the highway or the commuter rail and dash into Boston where you can find all the shopping amenities of a large city.

The Stop and Shop Supermarket fills the supermarket needs of Burncoat residents, while the Burncoat Market convenience store offers homemade Mediterranean edibles for the hungry shopper. Pair the flaky meat pies with the phenomenal baklava for lunch or a fabulous light dinner.