Piety Corner - Waltham, MA

First settled by English colonists at the end of the 17th century, this neighborhood was originally known by locals by a different name: "Hosier's Corner." Because it housed many church elders, the name was changed to the more familiar "Piety Corner." Development over the centuries headed in the opposite direction from this neighborhood, towards the Charles River, which left Piety Corner to enjoy the look and feel of its historic roots.

To find out more about development in the area, head out into Waltham to find the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, or enjoy the architecture and traditional feel of Stonehurst, a historic museum with well-preserved grounds. Art lovers may prefer the Rose Art Museum on South Street. Their events include the Annual Sheep Shearing Festival at Gore Place.

Find plenty of dining options scattered in the area surrounding Piety Corner, with fare ranging from Italian and Mexican to classic American. Most eateries concentrate around the Main Street area in Waltham, branching off onto the major roads connecting to it, so you may need to travel a little outside the neighborhood to find what you're looking for.

Inside the neighborhood, find The Bistro at the Marriott Hotel on Winter Street, offering menus for every time of day. Enjoy a full breakfast, with sandwiches, eggs, coffee and oatmeal; or, visit The Bistro at lunch or dinner for American fare ranging from salads and soups to Buffalo wings. Save room for their sundaes, tarts and cobblers to finish off your meal.

Naked Fish, located on Totten Pond Road, serves seafood with a focus on unique and interesting flavor combinations. Enjoy balsamic glazed salmon with plantains, Atlantic salmon with mango salsa, or peppercorn tuna with garlic kale.

For something a little different, head out into Waltham to Pleasant Street, the location of My Other Kitchen. This restaurant provides a Greek and Mediterranean spin on American comfort food. Open for lunch and early dinners, this eatery has a way of converting visitors into patrons just with its breakfast menu of omelets, sandwiches and French toast. Alternatively, try Karibu, located on Crescent Street, for authentic food from all across the African continent - the fried sweet potatoes and kabalagala, an African pancake, attract diners from all across the region.

In the evenings, theater aficionados enjoy the Regent Theatre, originally a vaudeville house that now hosts music concerts, dance, comedy, family entertainment and theater. Enjoy free popcorn while you select your beverage from the well-curated draft beer list at The Gaff, or stay within Piety Corner and head to the Copper House Tavern for a beer while you watch a sports game on the overhead screens.

Biking or walking may be possible and relatively safe, but most locals within Piety Corner rely on a car to commute to work or otherwise travel within the neighborhood. Carpooling is common, which comes in handy should you not own your own vehicle to get around, and parking on the streets or at your own home is rarely a problem. Head south on Lexington Street to access Route 20, the main thoroughfare that also serves as Main Street for Waltham.

Several private taxi companies operate in the area, including through the app service Uber, some of which can also ferry you to the Boston airport. Find a Greyhound Bus Station further south in the city.

Visit the Robert Treat Pain Estate, otherwise known as Stonehurst, on a hidden hilltop site that spans 109 acres of conservation land. General admission is $3 during six months of the year and allows you to both visit the museum and spend time on the grounds, which include walks for children, space for relaxation and picnics, hiking trails in the woodlands and regular educational events.

Alternatively, head to the Prospect Hill Park's northern entrance on Totten Pond Road for free entry to a community park covering 250 acres of undeveloped land. Enjoy walking trails, picnic sites and playgrounds for the kids. Jog or walk the trails or take your dog for an outdoor adventure.

The median rental price for a one-bedroom residence in Piety Corner sits at $1,937 per month, which almost doubles the average rate for most neighborhoods in Massachusetts. You'll find it more expensive to live in this district than elsewhere in the city, with gas prices around 8 percent higher than the national average and a glass of beer averaging around $7.

A suburban neighborhood not known for its shopping, Piety Corner features few outlets or high-end stores and no central shopping location. Head to Syrah Spa and Catwalk Cosmetics for a range of beauty products akin to those enjoyed by top models. The Lakeview Variety Store is a quick-and-easy convenience store located on Lake Street.

For malls, large outlets including T.J.Maxx and Costco, and boutiques, head out of the neighborhood along Lexington Street, on the eastern edge of Piety Corner. Main Street in Waltham proper is mere minutes away via car and provides all manner of shopping opportunities, while the Wal-Lex Shopping Center lies north of the district.

Head north on Lexington Street to find Star Market and the Wagon Wheel Nursery & Farmstand, or west on Totten Pond Road to reach Uptown Gourmet.