العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolALLSTON, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
'Allston' is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, located in the western part of the city. It is, for the most part, administered collectively with the adjacent neighborhood of Brighton. The two are often referred to together as "Allston-Brighton." The population of Allston is approximately 50% students, mostly from Boston University, Boston College, and Harvard University.
Housing stock varies but largely consists of brick apartment buildings, especially on Commonwealth Avenue and the streets directly off of it; while areas further down Brighton Avenue are largely dotted with wooden triple-deckers. Lower Allston, across the Massachusetts Turnpike from the rest of Allston, consists of mostly 1890-1920s single-family and multi-family Victorian homes. Allston is generally viewed as a very safe middle class neighborhood with a young population and a large number of bars and cheap eateries.
Allston, while primarily a neighborhood shared by students and bohemians of all ages, is also home to Boston natives, Asian, Russian, and numerous other immigrants. In the 1990s, census figures indicated that 52.6% of its population was aged 20-34 (as compared to 33% for the city of Boston as a whole), an indication of the strong student and "twentysomething" presence. That presence has created tension between some long-time residents and the student population, which constantly cycles in and out as students matriculate and graduate from Boston's many colleges and universities. In addition to nightly dancing and live music at area bars, house parties abound on surrounding streets, particularly during the school year. This has long been a sore point among other Allston residents. Boston Phoenix article
The ZIP code '02134' is famously identified with Allston, due to a recurring musical piece on the PBS children's series ''ZOOM'' -- whose originating station, WGBH, is located in the neighborhood. Residents and mapmakers refer to the eastern part of the former town of Brighton as "Allston," separated by an imaginary border at Everett Street. However, there is no clear and established boundary between the two.
The neighborhood of Allston is almost completely cut off from the main body of the city of Boston by the Charles River and the town of Brookline, which borders Allston on the south and east. Allston is bordered by the Charles River and the city of Cambridge to the north, and is split in two by the Massachusetts Turnpike. The area north of the turnpike near the river is often referred to as "Lower Allston" or "North Allston." The western edge of Allston is more roughly defined, but is primarily east of the western most point of Cambridge.
The busiest section of the neighborhood lies immediately south of the turnpike and centers on the stretch of Harvard Avenue between Commonwealth Avenue and Cambridge Street, which houses many shops, bars and restaurants. Recent business promotion initiatives have dubbed this area "Allston Village," though the prevalence of musicians and music venues has given rise to the popular nickname "Allston Rock City." The center of the neighborhood, sometimes referred to as the "Beer Mile," is a popular hookup spot for college students.
Allston was an eastern section of the former town of Brighton.
In 1868, a new railroad depot and post office in Brighton's eastern portion were given the name "Allston" after Washington Allston, the noted painter who had lived and worked across the Charles River in the Cambridgeport section of Cambridge. It can even be said to have been named for a specific painting: Washington Allston's "Fields West of Boston". Only a few other locales in the U.S. are named for artists, such as Copley Square in central Boston.
Allston has never existed as a separate political entity in its own right. The Town of Brighton was annexed by the City of Boston in 1874.
The Allston community developed largely around large railroad and livestock operations. The Boston and Albany Railroad (now CSX) operated a major yard. Stockyards and a large abbatoir operated nearby in the northern part of Brighton. Much of the railroad yard remains in use today as the CSX Beacon Park Yard, but all livestock activity ended by the mid-twentieth century.
A strip running from Brighton Avenue in Allston out Commonwealth Avenue toward Kenmore Square was Boston's original "Automile," lined with automobile dealerships. Packard's Sales Stable and Riding SchoolHistory of Pack Corner gave Packard's Corner its name, but it was perpetuated by the presence of an opulent Packard dealership. Few dealers remain, but many of their large-windowed storefronts can be easily spotted to this day.
The Massachusetts Turnpike Extension, built largely on part of the Boston and Albany right-of-way, opened through Allston in 1964 and 1965.Mass Pike Website
The Boston Patriots (now the New England Patriots) of the National Football League played one season in Allston, 1970, at Harvard Stadium. The Boston Braves played at Braves Field (now Boston University's Nickerson Field) at Allston's eastern edge from 1915 to 1952.
Allston lies near two major universities. A substantial part of the campus of Harvard University is in lower Allston, including Harvard Business School and Harvard Stadium. Harvard also owns large portions of other land in lower Allston, much of which it plans to develop as an academic campus. Boston University lies along Commonwealth Avenue to the east. The Berklee College of Music also has a practice and rehearsal building near Commonwealth Ave on Fordham which runs between Comm Ave and Brighton Ave.
★ Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, lived at 100 Brainerd Road as a small child
★ Thomas Johnson, world championship bodybuilder
★ Evan Dando singer and guitarist for The Lemonheads
★ Jared Leto actor, musician
★ Aerosmith
★ Janeane Garofalo
★ Mr. Butch street performer
★ Big D And The Kids Table band
The "B" Branch of the Boston MBTA subway Green Line runs through the neighborhood along Commonwealth Avenue. The former "A Line" of the Green Line ran along Brighton Avenue, since replaced by the number 57 MBTA bus. Other MBTA bus lines serve Allston, such as the 64, 66, 70, and 86.
In May 2006, Harvard officials said that they would like to establish a commuter rail stop in Allston on the Framingham/Worcester line.[1]
Allston, or Allston Rock City as it is cheerfully known among many residents, possesses an active night life. It is well-known for its frequently occurring house parties, basement shows, and bars hosting live music and popular dance nights such as Great Scott's, Common Ground, Harper's Ferry, O'Leary's, The Model and Our House. Harvard Avenue, running through the center of the area and connecting Allston to the neighbouring city of Brookline, is a hub of social activity and hosts a number of independent record stores, bars, cafes and restaurants. [2]
★ Toxic Narcotic, a hardcore punk band from Allston, have a song titled "Allston Violence" off their album "89-99".
★ In 2003, the community, along with neighboring Brighton, saw an outbreak of bedbugs in hundreds of apartments. This was due to the practice of people buying used mattresses or accepting ones left behind by former tenants, commonplace among Allston's bohemian artist and musician element. A $200 subsidy was offered to tenants with infested mattresses Allston Brighton Development website, and bedbug extermination workshops were held by the Boston Inspectional Services Housing Division.
★ In 2005, the New England Foundation for the Arts selected a site in Allston for its Art & Community Landscapes program.NEFA site The artist team of Legge Lewis LeggeLegge Lewis Legge site was chosen to design this site which is known as the Lincoln Street Green Strip. Lincoln Street
Marchione, William P. ''The Bull in the Garden: A History of Allston-Brighton.'' Boston Public Library, pub., 1986. ISBN 0-89073-078-4.
1. Harvard Crimson, "University Plans Allston T Stop," May 10, 2006.
2. Dan Benedetti August 13th, 2007, the Ari Wartanian Interview
★ Brighton Allston Historical Society
★ Allston Neighborhoods
★ Allston Rock City Photos
★ Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation
★ Royal Street Website
★ Lower Allston Website
:
Housing stock varies but largely consists of brick apartment buildings, especially on Commonwealth Avenue and the streets directly off of it; while areas further down Brighton Avenue are largely dotted with wooden triple-deckers. Lower Allston, across the Massachusetts Turnpike from the rest of Allston, consists of mostly 1890-1920s single-family and multi-family Victorian homes. Allston is generally viewed as a very safe middle class neighborhood with a young population and a large number of bars and cheap eateries.
| Contents |
| Demographics |
| Geography |
| History |
| Colleges and universities |
| Notable residents |
| Transportation |
| Night Life |
| Miscellaneous |
| References |
| External links |
Demographics
Allston, while primarily a neighborhood shared by students and bohemians of all ages, is also home to Boston natives, Asian, Russian, and numerous other immigrants. In the 1990s, census figures indicated that 52.6% of its population was aged 20-34 (as compared to 33% for the city of Boston as a whole), an indication of the strong student and "twentysomething" presence. That presence has created tension between some long-time residents and the student population, which constantly cycles in and out as students matriculate and graduate from Boston's many colleges and universities. In addition to nightly dancing and live music at area bars, house parties abound on surrounding streets, particularly during the school year. This has long been a sore point among other Allston residents. Boston Phoenix article
Geography
The ZIP code '02134' is famously identified with Allston, due to a recurring musical piece on the PBS children's series ''ZOOM'' -- whose originating station, WGBH, is located in the neighborhood. Residents and mapmakers refer to the eastern part of the former town of Brighton as "Allston," separated by an imaginary border at Everett Street. However, there is no clear and established boundary between the two.
The neighborhood of Allston is almost completely cut off from the main body of the city of Boston by the Charles River and the town of Brookline, which borders Allston on the south and east. Allston is bordered by the Charles River and the city of Cambridge to the north, and is split in two by the Massachusetts Turnpike. The area north of the turnpike near the river is often referred to as "Lower Allston" or "North Allston." The western edge of Allston is more roughly defined, but is primarily east of the western most point of Cambridge.
The busiest section of the neighborhood lies immediately south of the turnpike and centers on the stretch of Harvard Avenue between Commonwealth Avenue and Cambridge Street, which houses many shops, bars and restaurants. Recent business promotion initiatives have dubbed this area "Allston Village," though the prevalence of musicians and music venues has given rise to the popular nickname "Allston Rock City." The center of the neighborhood, sometimes referred to as the "Beer Mile," is a popular hookup spot for college students.
History
Allston Railroad Station, about 1909
Allston was an eastern section of the former town of Brighton.
In 1868, a new railroad depot and post office in Brighton's eastern portion were given the name "Allston" after Washington Allston, the noted painter who had lived and worked across the Charles River in the Cambridgeport section of Cambridge. It can even be said to have been named for a specific painting: Washington Allston's "Fields West of Boston". Only a few other locales in the U.S. are named for artists, such as Copley Square in central Boston.
Allston has never existed as a separate political entity in its own right. The Town of Brighton was annexed by the City of Boston in 1874.
The Allston community developed largely around large railroad and livestock operations. The Boston and Albany Railroad (now CSX) operated a major yard. Stockyards and a large abbatoir operated nearby in the northern part of Brighton. Much of the railroad yard remains in use today as the CSX Beacon Park Yard, but all livestock activity ended by the mid-twentieth century.
A strip running from Brighton Avenue in Allston out Commonwealth Avenue toward Kenmore Square was Boston's original "Automile," lined with automobile dealerships. Packard's Sales Stable and Riding SchoolHistory of Pack Corner gave Packard's Corner its name, but it was perpetuated by the presence of an opulent Packard dealership. Few dealers remain, but many of their large-windowed storefronts can be easily spotted to this day.
The Massachusetts Turnpike Extension, built largely on part of the Boston and Albany right-of-way, opened through Allston in 1964 and 1965.Mass Pike Website
The Boston Patriots (now the New England Patriots) of the National Football League played one season in Allston, 1970, at Harvard Stadium. The Boston Braves played at Braves Field (now Boston University's Nickerson Field) at Allston's eastern edge from 1915 to 1952.
Colleges and universities
Allston lies near two major universities. A substantial part of the campus of Harvard University is in lower Allston, including Harvard Business School and Harvard Stadium. Harvard also owns large portions of other land in lower Allston, much of which it plans to develop as an academic campus. Boston University lies along Commonwealth Avenue to the east. The Berklee College of Music also has a practice and rehearsal building near Commonwealth Ave on Fordham which runs between Comm Ave and Brighton Ave.
Notable residents
★ Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, lived at 100 Brainerd Road as a small child
★ Thomas Johnson, world championship bodybuilder
★ Evan Dando singer and guitarist for The Lemonheads
★ Jared Leto actor, musician
★ Aerosmith
★ Janeane Garofalo
★ Mr. Butch street performer
★ Big D And The Kids Table band
Transportation
The "B" Branch of the Boston MBTA subway Green Line runs through the neighborhood along Commonwealth Avenue. The former "A Line" of the Green Line ran along Brighton Avenue, since replaced by the number 57 MBTA bus. Other MBTA bus lines serve Allston, such as the 64, 66, 70, and 86.
In May 2006, Harvard officials said that they would like to establish a commuter rail stop in Allston on the Framingham/Worcester line.[1]
Night Life
Allston, or Allston Rock City as it is cheerfully known among many residents, possesses an active night life. It is well-known for its frequently occurring house parties, basement shows, and bars hosting live music and popular dance nights such as Great Scott's, Common Ground, Harper's Ferry, O'Leary's, The Model and Our House. Harvard Avenue, running through the center of the area and connecting Allston to the neighbouring city of Brookline, is a hub of social activity and hosts a number of independent record stores, bars, cafes and restaurants. [2]
Miscellaneous
★ Toxic Narcotic, a hardcore punk band from Allston, have a song titled "Allston Violence" off their album "89-99".
★ In 2003, the community, along with neighboring Brighton, saw an outbreak of bedbugs in hundreds of apartments. This was due to the practice of people buying used mattresses or accepting ones left behind by former tenants, commonplace among Allston's bohemian artist and musician element. A $200 subsidy was offered to tenants with infested mattresses Allston Brighton Development website, and bedbug extermination workshops were held by the Boston Inspectional Services Housing Division.
★ In 2005, the New England Foundation for the Arts selected a site in Allston for its Art & Community Landscapes program.NEFA site The artist team of Legge Lewis LeggeLegge Lewis Legge site was chosen to design this site which is known as the Lincoln Street Green Strip. Lincoln Street
References
Marchione, William P. ''The Bull in the Garden: A History of Allston-Brighton.'' Boston Public Library, pub., 1986. ISBN 0-89073-078-4.
1. Harvard Crimson, "University Plans Allston T Stop," May 10, 2006.
2. Dan Benedetti August 13th, 2007, the Ari Wartanian Interview
External links
★ Brighton Allston Historical Society
★ Allston Neighborhoods
★ Allston Rock City Photos
★ Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation
★ Royal Street Website
★ Lower Allston Website
:
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
Featured Companies
| Green Parrot Beach Houses Resort | |
| Selloffvacations.com Oakville |
Allston, Boston, Massachusetts Videos
 | mural allston boston desert |
 | Vanna at ICC Allston MA 4/28/07 |
 | Allston Rocks! |
 | A Taste of Allston, Massachusetts |
 | Sunset Time Lapse - Everett St. Bridge Allston, MA |
Newest Companies
Allston, Boston, Massachusetts Features
 | Massachusetts delivers unique foodie experiences this fall |
