Upper Washington-Spring St West Roxbury, MA

This Boston neighborhood that was once used as farmland still holds onto its historical character, especially on Centre Street where many older architectural and historical landmarks exist. Centre Street blends new and old with all of its boutiques, the Theodore Parker Church, parks, and restaurants. When the Boston and Providence Railroad was constructed in the 1800s, the Upper Washington- Spring Street neighborhood began to grow, just as its bordering communities did.

Located in the southernmost parts of the Upper Washington- Spring Street neighborhood in Dedham Square, the Dedham Community Theatre has been putting on shows for locals since 1927. The under $10 admission and interesting shows make this theater for live entertainment the locals’ favorite historical attraction. The live performances can be enjoyed with a glass of wine and fresh popcorn year round.

The Upper Washington-Spring Street neighborhood has everything from privately owned ethnic restaurants to large chain restaurants such as IHOP. You can find any type of cuisine you might have a taste for within the neighborhood’s borders. Many of them pride themselves as kid-friendly eateries with reasonably priced menus.

The Rox Diner has won numerous awards for its outstanding breakfast menu, which includes artisan breakfast sandwiches, French toast stuffed with chocolates and fruits, and burgers like “The Most Interesting Burger in the World,” which won the restaurant a trophy in 2013. There isn’t a lot of seating, as it gives the feel of a typical small town diner with checkered tile flooring and stark white walls full of pictures.

Check out the Brickhouse Café for Italian cuisine in an ethnic setting that's complete with red and gold linens, pictures of Italy, tray ceilings, and natural wood features. The menu features classic Italian dishes such as seafood stuffed peppers, rigatoni in vodka sauce, and an array of veal dishes. Catch breakfast or lunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays or Sundays. Dinner starts at 5 p.m. every day.

Nightlife in the Upper Washington-Spring Street neighborhood is limited consisting mostly of late night pubs and restaurants. Most of the dance clubs and bars reside nearer to Boston. One in neighborhood bar is Waterfords Restaurant and Pub where friends gather to enjoy music, flat screen TVs, and good food. This Irish Pub sits on Bridge Street near the VFW Parkway and has plenty of space for everyone.

The multiple means of transportation throughout the neighborhood makes reaching anywhere accessible at all times. Those with their own vehicle usually take Centre, Lagrange and Spring Street to reach the heavier shopping areas. While those trying to reach Boston take Washington Street or Hyde Park Ave. The Orange Line bus route also provides a quick trip to Boston for only a few dollars.

Locals often call a cab or an Uber for rides throughout the Greater Boston area. To get around the neighborhood quickly, most locals walk, ride bikes or use their cars. The community makes transportation by foot or bike easy for its residents.

To the north, west or east of the neighborhood, many parks exist. Kid and dog-friendly, these parks provide plenty of room to roam, trails and athletic fields. The parks take the entire community into consideration and provide areas accessible to all ages.

Billings Field on the corner of Lagrange and Centre Streets has baseball fields, tennis courts and a huge fenced-in playground. For anyone into running, Billings Field typically houses all those who run in a race for a little fun and food afterwards.

Just west of the VFW Parkway, Millennium Park has over 100 acres of land, beautiful views, 6 miles of hiking trails, playing fields, a canoe launch, and more. All trails are wheelchair accessible and easy enough for all ages. The area is part of the Newton Conservation Lands, which allow residents of Boston to escape the busy city for a while.

The cost of living in the Upper Washington- Spring Street neighborhood is less than the State of Massachusetts by nearly 11 percent. The median rental rate for a one bedroom apartment sits steadily at around $1,310 per month.

To grab a beer at the local pub, expect to pay around $5 a pint and for a meal, around $14. The median gas price remains slightly higher than the national average by about 1 percent. A trip to central Boston usually costs less than $50 by a taxi or private transportation. Luckily, living in the neighborhood remains slightly less costly than being in downtown Boston, making it easier for professionals to reside near their place of employment in the city.

All of the major shopping areas situate themselves on Washington, Lagrange, Spring and Centre Streets. Brand name stores and chain restaurants, and boutiques and thrift shops exist on these roads. Boomerangs a consignment shop on Centre Street, has wonderful vintage labels for fashion-minded men and women. All proceeds go to the AIDs Action Committee.

Fabutique has unique vintage clothing with a stylish New York City influence for women. Every third Thursday of the month, it has cocktails, wine and hors d'oeuvres for its guests. In addition, you'll get 10 percent off various purchases.

For grocery and home products, there’s Shaw’s Supermarket on Spring Street or the Greek International Food Market on Washington Street. The international market has all sorts of ethnic meals and salads made fresh daily. The market also has many Greek ingredients and foods for anyone to buy and create meals with at home. The nearest farmers market is on Corey Street, about a mile to the north. This market opens seasonally on Sundays between June and October.