Metropolitan Hill-Beech St - Roslindale, MA

The arrival of the railroad to Metropolitan Hill in 1834 marks the neighborhood's transition from a sleepy farming community to a street car suburb. Today, visitors to the Bay State Model Railroad Museum can view these historic trains in miniature, including an elaborate street car display similar to the old Commonwealth Avenue line, complete with brownstones and cityscapes. Though Metropolitan Hill doesn't have a big arts scene, the community gathers every year at Saint Nectarios church for a three-day Greek feast of Gyro, moussaka and Goya apple pie, along with a Greek band playing to dancing crowds and vendors selling cotton candy and toys.

Most of Metropolitan Hill's restaurants cluster close to Roslindale Village, where locals choose from a variety of international cuisine.

In the warm months, customers come to the flowering outdoor patio at Sophia's Grotto for Mediterranean salads, creamy gnocchi and small plate tapas, including the highly praised stuffed artichoke hearts and calamari. A recommended spot for first dates, regulars like the relaxed, old-world atmosphere that encourages leisurely meals, and the indoor booths near the small bar are perfect for family gatherings.

Redd's in Rozzie dishes up new takes on classic Southern comfort food with an emphasis on fresh and local ingredients, from hush puppies with bacon jam to a daily selection of pork charcuterie and tender biscuits. The bright, modern dining room and bar can get loud on busy nights, but regulars enjoy the fun atmosphere, particularly Bingo and Burgers nights, when winners get free eats from the kitchen.

An outdoor mural greets customers at the Fornax Bread Company, where locals come for the flavorful baguettes and espresso, along with breads, pastries, sandwiches and soups. Though there's no wait service, diners seat themselves at the motley collection of vintage cafe tables or take a seat outside. Prices are reasonable, and regulars say you can't go wrong with their giant homemade oreo cookie. A baking schedule posted online helps you nab Irish soda bread or olive boule while it's fresh.

Metropolitan Hill tends to be quiet at night, but a few pubs around Roslindale Village let locals unwind. For cheap brews, head to B.K.'s Pub, where the juke box always plays and the blue collar regulars welcome newcomers just so long as you don't interrupt the Red Sox game. For craft beer and an extensive wine list, the Birch Street Bistro pours drinks at the granite-topped wood bar. The establishment also hosts some of the only live music in Metropolitan Hill, with free blues on Thursday nights and jazz on Sundays in the wood paneled dining room. For the after-work crowds, the bistro serves a full menu of classics such as mussels in tomato broth and bruschetta.

The streets of Roslindale cater more to drivers than pedestrians, but good public transit options and dedicated bike lanes help residents get around without a car. The commuter line provides express service into Boston with stations within walking distance at Bellevue and Roslindale Village, and residents further south can catch a commuter at Hyde Park station. L train riders prefer to drive to the red line at the Mattapan station or the orange line at the Forest Hills station, which both lie outside of Metropolitan Hill. Numerous local buses help make up for this deficit, with routes 35, 36 and 37 running along Belgrade Avenue and routes 34 and 40 cutting across the neighborhood's center. People who live closer to Roslindale Village and the shops on Washington Street can run many errands on foot, but farther out, the residential side streets make for a long walk home. Dedicated bike lanes on Belgrade Avenue and Cummins Highway help cyclists get around safely, though the area's hills can turn long distances into a workout.

Drivers reach downtown Boston in about 25 minutes, barring traffic, and routes 9 and 28 are both a 10-minute drive away. Though parking gets tight in Roslindale Village, finding a space elsewhere rarely poses a problem, and most of the single family homes have private drives. Hailing a cab is another matter. Few pass by, and Uber drivers tend to have slow response times. However, several car services based in Roslinsdale answer your call when you need a lift.

Parks large and small dot Metropolitan Hill, and most locals can reach green within a 10-minute walk. At the heart of Roslindale Village, tiny Adams Park serves the neighborhood's town square for annual egg hunts, holiday tree lightings and a free summer concert series, when the sounds of acoustic, rock and soul fill the grounds. The town hosts a free movie night here at least once every summer.

Those looking to escape into the wild find it at Stony Brook Reservation, where locals fish for perch and hike on 475 acres of unspoiled forest, rocky outcroppings and wet lands. Families picnic at the tables and grills, and dog owners love the area, bringing their pups to swim in Turtle Pond. However, small dog owners should be careful trekking too far in after dusk, since coyotes roam the dense parts of the forest. The grounds also hold athletic fields, tennis courts and an ice skating rink.

Though Roslindale parents have expressed a wish for more playgrounds, most vote Fallon Field as the best of the lot, with slides and swings for younger kids, along with a baseball diamond and bike paths. Healy Field and Weider Park also have small play areas, and to the south, McGann Park has a water play area for kids to cool down on hot days.

Residents in Metropolitan Hill get a break from the high prices of Boston. Though groceries and utilities fall in line with the city's average, Roslindale's lower housing costs make it the more affordable option. A one-bedroom apartment here rents for about $1,300, compared to the Boston average of around $2,000. A one-way commute into Boston sets you back $5.75, and gas prices typically stand 10 percent higher than the national average. The mix of affordable restaurants and upscale eateries lets locals have a nice meal out without breaking budgets, and a beer at the local dive bar can be purchased for under $3 or a glass of red at the bistro for $8.

Metropolitan Hill may not be a destination shopping neighborhood, but the streets near Roslindale Village make for pleasant browsing, with boutiques selling clothing, jewelry and gifts, along with pharmacies, hardware stores and office supply chains scattered throughout the neighborhood.

At Joanne Rossman, handmade crafts mingle with imported soaps and antique silverware displayed on old bookcases. Prices run high, but the collection makes for fascinating browsing, and the owner contributes some of her own creations, including brightly patterned clothing hangers.

For bargains on vintage furniture, locals check out the changing selection at the Thrift Shop of Boston, where they can score on mid-1960s coffee tables or Mad Men-era desks, along with clothing, books, vinyl and home goods. New stock arrives often, and low prices make it worth combing through the crowded shelves.

Locals do the weekly grocery shop at the Stop and Shop on Washington Street, and several small markets fill in the gaps with ethnic foods and a local butcher. The popular Tony's Market sells some of the best sausages in the city at its meat counter, alongside fresh mozzarella, desserts and Italian specialty items. A year-round farmers market divides its seasons between Roslindale Village and a nearby Italian club, and locals come on Saturdays to pick over fresh fruit and vegetables, along with baked goods, meat, and specialty items such as locally made honey and preserves. Though the selection can be limited, prices are lower than neighboring farmers markets, and activities for kids provide a welcome distraction.