Shrewsbury Street - Worcester, MA

The history of the Biotech Park neighborhood and the City of Worcester definitely aids in defining the Massachusetts culture. Green Hill Park has a wall in honor of Massachusetts Vietnam War veterans, and museums give insight to the history of the area. Being so close to the downtown of Worcester makes it simple to take advantage of the Worcester Historical Museum and the Salisbury Mansion.

Decades ago, the Shrewsbury Street area was used mostly as farmland. Today, it acts as a residential area for families to grow and flourish. The natural settings provide many open areas for families and residents to gather, while Belmont Street provides shopping centers and boutiques. The lake has always been a desirable place to be near, even before it filled up with waterfront homes.

Located just minutes away from home, especially to the southeast, many restaurants and cafes lie situated right outside of the Shrewsbury Street area and just north of downtown Worcester. Even vegetarians have many options with places like the Belmont Vegetarian Restaurant on Belmont. Pomir Grill on Shrewsbury has vegetarian option like Banjan Borani and the Kadu Borani. Serving Indian cuisine, meat eaters and non-meat eaters always leave happy.

The Ceres Bistro on Plantation Street in the Biotech Park area provides upscale dining with beautiful views to the outdoor gardens. As you take a seat in your plush booth surrounded by warm hues or at a table in the wine room, choose a fine wine to pair with your meal. Start off with some fried calamari and a salad, and then choose from a menu that features signature bistro steaks and pan-seared duck breast.

Still and Stir Cocktail Bar on Exchange features mixologists who can create any cocktail or mixed drink to perfectly gratify any thirsty night owl up until closing time at 2 a.m. Order any fine wine on the list or have a cocktail with friends at the bar. The dark bar and brick walls make the speakeasy a great place to relax at the end of a hard day.

Transportation throughout the neighborhood consists mostly of private vehicles, walking and bicycling. With sidewalks along the roads throughout the neighborhood, getting anywhere you need to go can be done quickly. Hailing a cab isn't prevalent, but Uber can take you where you need to go. Union Station in downtown Worcester can also get you all the way to Boston for under $5 by taking the bus.

The parks in the Shrewsbury Street neighborhood remain as some of the most loved areas for the residents. Green Hill Park sits to the west of the neighborhood, providing over 480 acres of land. Spend a day at the zoo, enjoy the trails, use the athletic fields or simply relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. Green Hill Park even has a golf course and a farm. The park truly tries to appeal to all ages and makes traveling throughout the park easy with roads, free parking, sidewalks and plenty of trails. Pay attention to the park's calendar as an array of events continuously happen throughout the year.

Quinsigamond State Park next to the lake has beach areas and trails. In the summer and fall, kids gather for a game of football while soaking in the light breeze off of the lake. Pet owners walk their dogs around the water's edge, and boathouses provide restrooms and water fountains for all that come to visit.

Living in the Shrewsbury Street area has always come with a lower cost of living as compared to the greater Boston area or even downtown Worcester. The average rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment sits steady at around $1,326 a month. To live in downtown Worcester, you'll pay a few hundred dollars more.

Fuel prices in the Shrewsbury Street area run about 1.1 percent higher than the national average. When going out to eat, expect to pay about $15 for a meal, or pay around $3 to $4 for a pint of beer. Overall, the neighborhood makes living near Boston and major cities easier and cheaper for its residents.

Shopping throughout the Shrewsbury street area consists mostly of mainstream stores and chain restaurants. Thrift shops and consignment stores exist around the circumference of the neighborhood. For instance, Trunk and Disorderly on Main Street carries quirky, fun fashion for men and women. Finding one-of-a-kind pieces and unique outfits in the shop will help you stand out in any crowd.

On Lake Avenue, Sneakerama provides sneakers for all ages. This family-owned business sells athletic shoes for the whole family. The White City Shopping Center situates itself right across the lake along the Boston Turnpike. This shopping center features stores such as Dress Barn, Firestone Auto Care, The Paper Store and more. Head to this shopping center when you have more than one item on your list.

The grocery stores and farmers markets near the neighborhood include Shaw’s and Trader Joes, which sit next to and within the White City Shopping Center. Most of the farmer's markets exist within the downtown area of Worcester just 10 minutes away. However, D’errico’s Market sells local produce at low prices as well as fresh cuts of meat. It also features all the typical grocery store products, making D’errico’s your one-stop shop.