Moving

[Sarkhaan]

Okay Ryadn and Sarkhaan, what are the good neighbourhoods to live in in San Francisco and Boston? I'm looking for middle class, educated, but not yuppie, hipster, soccer dad/mum, or pretentious posturing rich douche-bag. Maybe a mix of older uni students, post-grad or co-op upper-level, young couples, educated yet modest non-hipster types, etc. Anywhere that you can live without a car is a must, and I'd like to be able to walk to pubs, restaurants, green grocers, supermarkets, branch banks, cinemas, coffee shops, "Cheers" type hangouts, bookstores, used bookstores, computer stores, etc. Also, access to a frequent transit network is important (i.e. the ability to catch a train or bus every 10 minutes or less within a 400-metre radius of my house). Basically, a neighbourhood like where I live now. Any suggestions? Oh yeah, a place where you can get a safe, clean, decent one-bedroom apartment for about 1200$ or less is important. I am assuming you two have lived some place like that.

Fitting the areas you're looking for, there's Allston (more specifically some areas of Lower Allston, where you get away from the students), Brighton (the richer, better looking older brother of Allston), Jamaica Plain (JP), Coolidge Corner (technically Brookline, not Boston), Harvard Square (technically Cambridge), and Davis Square (technically Slummerville [Sorry Murv....Somerville])
Boston is a city of neighborhoods...you could easily live within just your neighborhood. I haven't left Allston in a few months. Transportation can be spotty sometimes, but can be decent. I'm paying $900 right now for a decent two bedroom.

Mind you, we also divide up our neighborhoods into sub-neighborhoods. Allston/Brighton is broken down into Allston and Brighton. Allston is broken down into Allston, Allston Village, Packards Corner, and Lower Allston, while Brighton is broken down into Brighton Center, Brighton, Oak Square, BC, and a few others. All of the neighborhoods I listed have their own personality, but each will tend to house educated people (be they college students or recent graduates), bars and pubs are literally everywhere, with each neighborhood having their own shopping district. As it stands, I live in Allston and am a 10 minute walk from Harvard Ave, which has some 15 bars on it and a mix of random shops ranging from pet store to furniture store to hardware store, a 5 minute walk from Whole Foods, a 10 minute walk from a Shaws or Stop and Shop (grocery stores).

[Sarkhaan]

...a 100+ ft climbing tree?

I have a disturbing anecdote about something along those lines.

...do go on.

[Barzan]

Thanks Sarkhaan and Ryadn! The maps are awesome. One more question to Sarkhaan though, if I may:

You pay 900$ per person for a 2-br or total?

[Sarkhaan]

Thanks Sarkhaan and Ryadn! The maps are awesome. One more question to Sarkhaan though, if I may:

You pay 900$ per person for a 2-br or total?

per person. Last year, I was paying 750 per person for a 3 bedroom, and before that was I think 600 per person for a 4 bedroom (so 1800, 2250, and 2400, respectively). I think you could get a studio in the area for around 1200, but I've never looked.

Edit: I should also note that the map is slightly wrong. Chelsea is a seperate town, and not a Boston neighborhood. The area labled "Waterfront" is actually two areas: East Boston, bordering Winthrop, and South Boston, bordering the South End. Mattapan is actually a part of Boston, not a seperate town as indicated. But I would stay away from there and Hyde Park, anyway.

[Barzan]

Thanks Sarkhaan and Ryadn! The maps are awesome. One more question to Sarkhaan though, if I may:

You pay 900$ per person for a 2-br or total?

per person. Last year, I was paying 750 per person for a 3 bedroom, and before that was I think 600 per person for a 4 bedroom (so 1800, 2250, and 2400, respectively). I think you could get a studio in the area for around 1200, but I've never looked.

Edit: I should also note that the map is slightly wrong. Chelsea is a seperate town, and not a Boston neighborhood. The area labled "Waterfront" is actually two areas: East Boston, boardering Charlestown, and South Boston, boardering the South End.

Ouch. I thought it was high for me to pay 775$ Canadian per person, though that's with hydro, phone and internet. Does yours have that too for the price? I guess you have lower taxes and get paid more though, eh?

[Ryadn]

Thanks Sarkhaan and Ryadn! The maps are awesome. One more question to Sarkhaan though, if I may:

You pay 900$ per person for a 2-br or total?

per person. Last year, I was paying 750 per person for a 3 bedroom, and before that was I think 600 per person for a 4 bedroom (so 1800, 2250, and 2400, respectively). I think you could get a studio in the area for around 1200, but I've never looked.

Edit: I should also note that the map is slightly wrong. Chelsea is a seperate town, and not a Boston neighborhood. The area labled "Waterfront" is actually two areas: East Boston, boardering Charlestown, and South Boston, boardering the South End.

Ouch. I thought it was high for me to pay 775$ Canadian per person, though that's with hydro, phone and internet. Does yours have that too for the price? I guess you have lower taxes and get paid more though, eh?

Whoops, forgot to include prices. SF is definitely going to run you more than Canada. Although it depends on the neighborhood, taxes are high in CA and even higher in the City. You're not going to find a one-bedroom apartment to yourself anywhere for under $1000; $1200 is pretty much the starting point for anything that isn't low-income or reduced for some special reason. Renting a room in an apartment is much cheaper, and can start around $550-$600, though nicer neighborhoods will be closer to $700-$850. Try searching Craig's List--it'll give you a good peek into the market.

[Cannot think of a name]

Thanks Sarkhaan and Ryadn! The maps are awesome. One more question to Sarkhaan though, if I may:

You pay 900$ per person for a 2-br or total?

per person. Last year, I was paying 750 per person for a 3 bedroom, and before that was I think 600 per person for a 4 bedroom (so 1800, 2250, and 2400, respectively). I think you could get a studio in the area for around 1200, but I've never looked.

Edit: I should also note that the map is slightly wrong. Chelsea is a seperate town, and not a Boston neighborhood. The area labled "Waterfront" is actually two areas: East Boston, boardering Charlestown, and South Boston, boardering the South End.

Ouch. I thought it was high for me to pay 775$ Canadian per person, though that's with hydro, phone and internet. Does yours have that too for the price? I guess you have lower taxes and get paid more though, eh?

Whoops, forgot to include prices. SF is definitely going to run you more than Canada. Although it depends on the neighborhood, taxes are high in CA and even higher in the City. You're not going to find a one-bedroom apartment to yourself anywhere for under $1000; $1200 is pretty much the starting point for anything that isn't low-income or reduced for some special reason. Renting a room in an apartment is much cheaper, and can start around $550-$600, though nicer neighborhoods will be closer to $700-$850. Try searching Craig's List--it'll give you a good peek into the market.

You can occasionally find a $1000 place, but it's usually in The Tenderloin...good times.

[Straughn]

...a 100+ ft climbing tree?

I have a disturbing anecdote about something along those lines.

...do go on.

I did. Eastern San Jose, Penitencia Creek up into Alum Rock area. Had a few that went all the way to eastern San Fran ... shifted to get a better view ...
*snap*
*plummet*
*counts seconds*
*lands in crab position*
*looks around, gets up, slinks away*
*avoids people, family, nourishment for eve*
*sits in pitch dark all night, thinking*
*has no assurance time has actually continued from that incident*

[Straughn]

...a 100+ ft climbing tree?

I have a disturbing anecdote about something along those lines.

Is it suitable for children's eyes?

Spock said something about it ....

As with all living things, each according to his gifts.

[Ryadn]

Whoops, forgot to include prices. SF is definitely going to run you more than Canada. Although it depends on the neighborhood, taxes are high in CA and even higher in the City. You're not going to find a one-bedroom apartment to yourself anywhere for under $1000; $1200 is pretty much the starting point for anything that isn't low-income or reduced for some special reason. Renting a room in an apartment is much cheaper, and can start around $550-$600, though nicer neighborhoods will be closer to $700-$850. Try searching Craig's List--it'll give you a good peek into the market.

You can occasionally find a $1000 place, but it's usually in The Tenderloin...good times.

I see it's pretty cheap to sublet a room in your neck of the woods, too.

My best friend shares a kick-ass two-bedroom apartment with a rooftop terrace that's only $1200/month, but it's only because it's rent controlled. Siiiigh.

[Cannot think of a name]

Whoops, forgot to include prices. SF is definitely going to run you more than Canada. Although it depends on the neighborhood, taxes are high in CA and even higher in the City. You're not going to find a one-bedroom apartment to yourself anywhere for under $1000; $1200 is pretty much the starting point for anything that isn't low-income or reduced for some special reason. Renting a room in an apartment is much cheaper, and can start around $550-$600, though nicer neighborhoods will be closer to $700-$850. Try searching Craig's List--it'll give you a good peek into the market.

You can occasionally find a $1000 place, but it's usually in The Tenderloin...good times.

I see it's pretty cheap to sublet a room in your neck of the woods, too.

All you have to do is not mind the cancer!

And right now being buzzed by the helicopters from the Trauma filming. And next month being buzzed by the Navy.

Actually, it is cool and pretty cheap. And as long as they keep dragging their feet on redevelopment I get to be poor as hell and still have the best view of the city just down the street.

[Sarkhaan]

Thanks Sarkhaan and Ryadn! The maps are awesome. One more question to Sarkhaan though, if I may:

You pay 900$ per person for a 2-br or total?

per person. Last year, I was paying 750 per person for a 3 bedroom, and before that was I think 600 per person for a 4 bedroom (so 1800, 2250, and 2400, respectively). I think you could get a studio in the area for around 1200, but I've never looked.

Edit: I should also note that the map is slightly wrong. Chelsea is a seperate town, and not a Boston neighborhood. The area labled "Waterfront" is actually two areas: East Boston, boardering Charlestown, and South Boston, boardering the South End.

Ouch. I thought it was high for me to pay 775$ Canadian per person, though that's with hydro, phone and internet. Does yours have that too for the price? I guess you have lower taxes and get paid more though, eh?

lets see...first apartment (that was the 2400 one), heat and hot water were included. Second (the 2250 one), we had heat, but paid hot water. This one (1800), I think heat is included? I forget. I should probably figure that one out...
As for lower taxes, I'm not so sure that we pay less...MA is nicknamed Taxachusetts...6.25% sales tax, meal tax and alcohol tax, 2.50 or so for a gallon of gas...all that good stuff. As for income, mine varies because I'm a server.

[Sarkhaan]

...a 100+ ft climbing tree?

I have a disturbing anecdote about something along those lines.

...do go on.

I did. Eastern San Jose, Penitencia Creek up into Alum Rock area. Had a few that went all the way to eastern San Fran ... shifted to get a better view ...
*snap*
*plummet*
*counts seconds*
*lands in crab position*
*looks around, gets up, slinks away*
*avoids people, family, nourishment for eve*
*sits in pitch dark all night, thinking*
*has no assurance time has actually continued from that incident*

Ask the weasels. They can tell you that time has continued.

[Sarkhaan]

Thanks Sarkhaan and Ryadn! The maps are awesome. One more question to Sarkhaan though, if I may:

You pay 900$ per person for a 2-br or total?

per person. Last year, I was paying 750 per person for a 3 bedroom, and before that was I think 600 per person for a 4 bedroom (so 1800, 2250, and 2400, respectively). I think you could get a studio in the area for around 1200, but I've never looked.

Edit: I should also note that the map is slightly wrong. Chelsea is a seperate town, and not a Boston neighborhood. The area labled "Waterfront" is actually two areas: East Boston, boardering Charlestown, and South Boston, boardering the South End.

Ouch. I thought it was high for me to pay 775$ Canadian per person, though that's with hydro, phone and internet. Does yours have that too for the price? I guess you have lower taxes and get paid more though, eh?

Whoops, forgot to include prices. SF is definitely going to run you more than Canada. Although it depends on the neighborhood, taxes are high in CA and even higher in the City. You're not going to find a one-bedroom apartment to yourself anywhere for under $1000; $1200 is pretty much the starting point for anything that isn't low-income or reduced for some special reason. Renting a room in an apartment is much cheaper, and can start around $550-$600, though nicer neighborhoods will be closer to $700-$850. Try searching Craig's List--it'll give you a good peek into the market.

You can occasionally find a $1000 place, but it's usually in The Tenderloin...good times.

You have a neighborhood named after a delicious cut of meat? AND it's cheap to live there?

I like this place.

[Barzan]

lets see...first apartment (that was the 2400 one), heat and hot water were included. Second (the 2250 one), we had heat, but paid hot water. This one (1800), I think heat is included? I forget. I should probably figure that one out...
As for lower taxes, I'm not so sure that we pay less...MA is nicknamed Taxachusetts...6.25% sales tax, meal tax and alcohol tax, 2.50 or so for a gallon of gas...all that good stuff. As for income, mine varies because I'm a server.

Damn. 1200$ for a 1-br in an older, yet ok, building here is decent. No hydro, phone or internet though. The good thing is that there are rent control laws, but the minute the place changes hands, they can do what they want, but other than that, they can only jack it up 3% per year. (I'm lucky that my landlord hasn't raised the rent in over 3 years.)

As for taxes, we pay 15% for all goods and services except groceries, local public transport, uni tuition and such. Petrol is some 1.10$ a litre. (I don't know how the taxes work with that because I don't own an vehicle, but there's some 2¢/L carbon tax, goods and services/provincial/transit tax/city tax/fuel tax/offset something or other.) Liquor tax and tobacco tax is another 3%. I pay 11% income tax, but that's not the actual tax rate, that's with standard deductions factored in, plus 4.5% for the Canadian Pension Plan and 1.7% for EI. And unlike you socialist Americans, we don't get to deduct mortgage interest or employer-paid benefits -- no government subsidies for us there. Plus, we have to pay half our own EI contributions, versus in the States it's the employer who bears the brunt.

Then again, we can carry-forward tuition, which can be used as a refundable credit ad infinitum, we get refundable credits for transit passes (which amounts to a free monthly pass every year), we don't pay tax on dividends unless there is some foreign ownership of the corporation in question involved, we get child refundable credits, consumption tax rebates if you're under a certain income level, 80% of prescriptions paid for if you are low income and have no employer provided extended health care, 100% paid for for old people and children, free health care (except elective dental and eye unless you're under 19 or over 65 in which case it's free), really good labour and workplace health and safety laws, public auto insurance, lower crime, decriminalised prostitution and marihuana (that's how the government likes to spell it) and other things. But then again we have to buy alcohol from government owned liquor stores. They don't refrigerate anything or have the greatest hours. (Closed Sundays and on stat holidays, for instance.) But then again, they have to always harge the same price no matter where the stre is located, so you pay the same price in the middle of nowhere as in a fancy urban centre or popular expensive tourist spot.

So all in all, I'm not sure how I would fare compared to you, I guess it kind of balances out. Then again, I don't know how fancy an apartment you have compared to my place.

[Ryadn]

You can occasionally find a $1000 place, but it's usually in The Tenderloin...good times.

You have a neighborhood named after a delicious cut of meat? AND it's cheap to live there?

I like this place.

It's where the prostitutes* live/work. It's also where random homeless people yell at me for being white.


*Except the trans prostitutes, who work in the aforementioned Polk Gulch.

[Sarkhaan]

You can occasionally find a $1000 place, but it's usually in The Tenderloin...good times.

You have a neighborhood named after a delicious cut of meat? AND it's cheap to live there?

I like this place.

It's where the prostitutes* live/work. It's also where random homeless people yell at me for being white.


*Except the trans prostitutes, who work in the aforementioned Polk Gulch.

huh...that doesn't sound nearly as fun.

*crosses Tenderloin off list*

Any place in the city I could find a mute ninja panhandler?

[Ryadn]

Damn. 1200$ for a 1-br in an older, yet ok, building here is decent. No hydro, phone or internet though. The good thing is that there are rent control laws, but the minute the place changes hands, they can do what they want, but other than that, they can only jack it up 3% per year. (I'm lucky that my landlord hasn't raised the rent in over 3 years.)

As for taxes, we pay 15% for all goods and services except groceries, local public transport, uni tuition and such. Petrol is some 1.10$ a litre. (I don't know how the taxes work with that because I don't own an vehicle, but there's some 2¢/L carbon tax, goods and services/provincial/transit tax/city tax/fuel tax/offset something or other.) Liquor tax and tobacco tax is another 3%. I pay 11% income tax, but that's not the actual tax rate, that's with standard deductions factored in, plus 4.5% for the Canadian Pension Plan and 1.7% for EI. And unlike you socialist Americans, we don't get to deduct mortgage interest or employer-paid benefits -- no government subsidies for us there. Plus, we have to pay half our own EI contributions, versus in the States it's the employer who bears the brunt.

What's EI? And 11% income tax? That's... how can you be socialist and pay less income tax than us?? Is the 11% just federal tax? Do you have provincial taxes?

lets see...first apartment (that was the 2400 one), heat and hot water were included. Second (the 2250 one), we had heat, but paid hot water. This one (1800), I think heat is included? I forget. I should probably figure that one out...
As for lower taxes, I'm not so sure that we pay less...MA is nicknamed Taxachusetts...6.25% sales tax, meal tax and alcohol tax, 2.50 or so for a gallon of gas...all that good stuff. As for income, mine varies because I'm a server.

6.25% sales tax and $2.50/gallon. You bastard. We just got a 1% hike statewide in April, so sales tax in the City is now 9.5%. You can still get a gallon of gas for (just under) $3, but I don't know if you can get it in SF. I don't drive in the 'Sco.

[Ryadn]

You can occasionally find a $1000 place, but it's usually in The Tenderloin...good times.

You have a neighborhood named after a delicious cut of meat? AND it's cheap to live there?

I like this place.

It's where the prostitutes* live/work. It's also where random homeless people yell at me for being white.


*Except the trans prostitutes, who work in the aforementioned Polk Gulch.

huh...that doesn't sound nearly as fun.

*crosses Tenderloin off list*

Any place in the city I could find a mute ninja panhandler?

I suppose you could try Japantown...

[Cannot think of a name]

You can occasionally find a $1000 place, but it's usually in The Tenderloin...good times.

You have a neighborhood named after a delicious cut of meat? AND it's cheap to live there?

I like this place.

It's where the prostitutes* live/work. It's also where random homeless people yell at me for being white.


*Except the trans prostitutes, who work in the aforementioned Polk Gulch.

So, true story...

The best VW shop in the Bay Area is in the Tenderloin, on Eddy street. So when my Bus breaks down I have to drop it off there and then walk back home through the TL and then back in to pick her up. So I'm walking to pick up my old Vanagon (I used to have a Vanagon in addition to my Bus)...I'm crossing the street just past Cyril Magnon and this old dude looks right at me as we cross and says, "I don't have any crack, but I think the guy down the street does."

Um...cool...I'm just here for my van, but thanks for sharing.

Also, working on a show that was staying at a hotel just out of the Tenderloin, had to go fetch...fuck I don't remember, doesn't matter...something that meant I had to walk through the TL. I pass this chick who looks a little odd out of the corner of my eye, I look over just as she drops trough, squats, and starts to pee. It's 11am. She looks at me and says, "Don't trip."

Okeedoke.

It's like a carnival. Without the lights or rides or cotton candy, just the scary ride operators and sketchy patrons.

[Straughn]

Ask the weasels. They can tell you that time has continued.

Ooh - good point. They're not the best listeners, but they're *fabulous* at rolfing.

[Ryadn]

So, true story...

The best VW shop in the Bay Area is in the Tenderloin, on Eddy street. So when my Bus breaks down I have to drop it off there and then walk back home through the TL and then back in to pick her up. So I'm walking to pick up my old Vanagon (I used to have a Vanagon in addition to my Bus)...I'm crossing the street just past Cyril Magnon and this old dude looks right at me as we cross and says, "I don't have any crack, but I think the guy down the street does."

Um...cool...I'm just here for my van, but thanks for sharing.

Also, working on a show that was staying at a hotel just out of the Tenderloin, had to go fetch...fuck I don't remember, doesn't matter...something that meant I had to walk through the TL. I pass this chick who looks a little odd out of the corner of my eye, I look over just as she drops trough, squats, and starts to pee. It's 11am. She looks at me and says, "Don't trip."

Okeedoke.

It's like a carnival. Without the lights or rides or cotton candy, just the scary ride operators and sketchy patrons.

So you're saying it's really like The Boardwalk after closing hours?

[Straughn]

So, true story...

The best VW shop in the Bay Area is in the Tenderloin, on Eddy street. So when my Bus breaks down I have to drop it off there and then walk back home through the TL and then back in to pick her up. So I'm walking to pick up my old Vanagon (I used to have a Vanagon in addition to my Bus)...I'm crossing the street just past Cyril Magnon and this old dude looks right at me as we cross and says, "I don't have any crack, but I think the guy down the street does."

Um...cool...I'm just here for my van, but thanks for sharing.

Also, working on a show that was staying at a hotel just out of the Tenderloin, had to go fetch...fuck I don't remember, doesn't matter...something that meant I had to walk through the TL. I pass this chick who looks a little odd out of the corner of my eye, I look over just as she drops trough, squats, and starts to pee. It's 11am. She looks at me and says, "Don't trip."

Okeedoke.

It's like a carnival. Without the lights or rides or cotton candy, just the scary ride operators and sketchy patrons.

Moddarnit with the sigs!
*sobs*

Sigs are limited to i lines.

[Sarkhaan]

lets see...first apartment (that was the 2400 one), heat and hot water were included. Second (the 2250 one), we had heat, but paid hot water. This one (1800), I think heat is included? I forget. I should probably figure that one out...
As for lower taxes, I'm not so sure that we pay less...MA is nicknamed Taxachusetts...6.25% sales tax, meal tax and alcohol tax, 2.50 or so for a gallon of gas...all that good stuff. As for income, mine varies because I'm a server.

6.25% sales tax and $2.50/gallon. You bastard. We just got a 1% hike statewide in April, so sales tax in the City is now 9.5%. You can still get a gallon of gas for (just under) $3, but I don't know if you can get it in SF. I don't drive in the 'Sco.

huh...looks like my baby will be equally unused in the bay area...
And people around here were bitching that we went up to 6.25, and they would start taxing alcohol

[Sarkhaan]

You can occasionally find a $1000 place, but it's usually in The Tenderloin...good times.

You have a neighborhood named after a delicious cut of meat? AND it's cheap to live there?

I like this place.

It's where the prostitutes* live/work. It's also where random homeless people yell at me for being white.


*Except the trans prostitutes, who work in the aforementioned Polk Gulch.

So, true story...

The best VW shop in the Bay Area is in the Tenderloin, on Eddy street. So when my Bus breaks down I have to drop it off there and then walk back home through the TL and then back in to pick her up. So I'm walking to pick up my old Vanagon (I used to have a Vanagon in addition to my Bus)...I'm crossing the street just past Cyril Magnon and this old dude looks right at me as we cross and says, "I don't have any crack, but I think the guy down the street does."

Um...cool...I'm just here for my van, but thanks for sharing.

Also, working on a show that was staying at a hotel just out of the Tenderloin, had to go fetch...fuck I don't remember, doesn't matter...something that meant I had to walk through the TL. I pass this chick who looks a little odd out of the corner of my eye, I look over just as she drops trough, squats, and starts to pee. It's 11am. She looks at me and says, "Don't trip."

Okeedoke.

It's like a carnival. Without the lights or rides or cotton candy, just the scary ride operators and sketchy patrons.

hmm...sounds like quite a good time