Centers And Squares
Welcome to Centers and Squares
As a Cambridge real estate agent, the city squares of Cambridge, Somerville and Medford and the town centers of Arlington, Watertown and Belmont, Massachusetts are my home turf. And as a lifelong New Englander who’s lived within twenty miles of Boston most of my life, I can introduce you to other nearby towns as we search for your new home. If you’re planning to sell your home in Cambridge, MA or nearby you’ll find plenty of info about the home selling process here too. Questions? Send me an email or call me at 617-504-1737.
128 Magazine St Cambridge MA
128 Magazine St Cambridge MA 02139
128 Magazine St Cambridge MA is a four-story brick building at the corner of Putnam Avenue in the Cambridgeport neighborhood of Cambridge.
128 Magazine Street was designed by architect W.E. Clark and built in the 1890s as the Allerton Apartments. The sixteen apartments were converted to The Allerton condos in 2004.
Cambridge real estate buyers will appreciate 128 Magazine’s proximity to the Charles River, Central Square, Harvard and MIT. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are within walking distance. The express bus to the Longwood Medical area runs through the neighborhood.
Features of Condos at 128 Magazine St Cambridge
- One and two bedroom condos, approx. 600-850 sq.ft.
- Handsome paneled building entry
- Maple floors
- High ceilings
- Bay windows
- Some units have a deck
- Some condos have parking
- Laundry and storage in the basement
- Heat and hot water included in condo fee
- Pet friendly
128 Magazine St Cambridge MA Real Estate Sales
In 2010 two 710 sq.ft. two bedroom condos sold: one on the 3rd floor for $317,900 and a 4th floor condo for $318,000.
If condos are available at The Allerton at 128 Magazine Street in Cambridge they will appear below. Click on the small photo for additional info and more photographs.
The Allerton Condos are located in Cambridgeport at 128 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA 02139.
Holiday Shopping at Museum Shops Near Cambridge
Want to steer clear of the malls but still need to finish your Christmas shopping? Visiting small local shops is always my preference – I’ve made the rounds in Cambridge, Belmont and Concord in the last few weeks.
Every year I try to take shopping local one step further and hit some of the local museum shops. I’m far happier spending my dollars at a non-profit than at a big box or chain store.
Audubon Shop
Audubon Shop in Lincoln
By far my favorite local non-profit gift shop is the Audubon Shop at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln. It’s amazing how many people I can cross off my list by the time I’ve finished shopping there.
The Audubon Shop carries plenty of items for bird watchers and bird feeders but the store’s inventory goes far beyond the birding realm. There’s a very good selection of kids’ items and wonderful things for adults too. There are household accessories, ceramics, jewelry, ornaments, books, and much more. It’s a lovely shop and kudos to the people that make the selections of what to carry in the store. I can’t list all the treasures I found this year since my family reads this blog – but my bags were heavy when I left.
Outside the shop there’s a butterfly garden and bird feeding / watching stations to entertain the family while you shop.
The Audubon store is located at 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA and is open every day until Christmas.
Orchard House Museum Store
When we visited the Orchard House in Concord earlier this year I was amazed to see how the gift shop has grown. Unlike many house museums, Orchard House is open year round so the gift store is worth checking out for holiday shopping.
Most of the store’s merchandise has an Alcott or Little Women tie-in but there’s a lot more here too. Collectibles, books, stationery, t-shirts, posters, and more fill the shop. If you can’t make the trip to the Orchard House you can shop the catalog online.
The Orchard House museum shop is open during museum hours and is located at 399 Lexington Road, Concord, MA.
More Museum Shops
Many of the Historic New England house museums have small gift shops including the Otis House on Cambridge Street in Boston. The museum carries an excellent collection of books on historic preservation, architecture and history as well as gift items. Historic New England has an online catalog with some of their most popular items. The Roseland Cottage ornament is on my wish list this year.
For kids or anyone on your list with an interest in science or nature the Museum of Science gift shop is worth a visit. You don’t need to pay museum admission to visit the gift shop.
The Museum of Fine Arts gift shop is a great place to shop for people of all ages – from kids to grandparents. Sculpture, music boxes, prints, games, jewelry, stationery, toys, books, ornaments and much more can be found here. Don’t have time to get into Boston? – you can shop the MFA online.
Seven days left… time to get shopping!
Comella’s Is Coming to Arlington and Belmont
Comella's - Opening Soon In Arlington
Comella’s Restaurant is coming to Arlington and Belmont and I can’t wait!
My first Comella’s sighting was in Concord when a family came out of the store weighed down with take-out bags. One look at the menu and I was ready to become a regular – even if it meant driving to Concord.
Comella’s serves homemade Italian food – pasta, pizza, salads and sandwiches. But what really caught my eye is the long list of “messes” – a mystery recipe that has a non-meat base and over 30 variations that include various combos of eggplant, chicken, veal, sausage, shrimp, etc. The messes come in individual portions or in multi-person “buckets” – you gotta love a restaurant that serves delicious food in buckets!
It turns out that I won’t have to drive too far – Comella’s is expanding and two restaurants are opening nearby.
The former site of the Monroe Saltworks on Mass Ave in Arlington by the Capital Theatre will house a Comella’s soon. I was sad to see Monroe Saltworks go but if you still want to do some holiday shopping there you can stop by the store in Copley Place.
In Belmont Center, the former Charlesbank Bookshop will be a new Comella’s location. It’s always bad news when a bookstore closes but Belmont residents are sure to love Comella’s.
No word yet on when the restaurants are opening. The Arlington Comella’s is further along and a “Now Hiring” sign is posted in the window. I’m counting the days.
Why oh Why Y-Not
Driving down Willow Ave in Somerville near the bike path this afternoon I was sad to see the refurbished Y-Not Variety corner store. Freshly painted, the side wall is now bare. The rusty vintage Coca-Cola and “Submarines” signs that used to hang there were favorites of mine. Here’s a photo to remember them by.
Old Y-Not Signs Are No More
Somerville MA Real Estate Market – Nov 2010
Welcome to the Somerville MA Real Estate Market Report
Last but not least – here’s a quick look at Somerville MA real estate market activity in November 2010.
Somerville MA Real Estate on the Market
213 residential properties were listed for sale in Somerville in the MLS on November 30, 2010 for asking prices between $135,000 and $1,600,000.
That’s close to 10% fewer listings than one month ago when 235 properties were on the market. As I write, even fewer properties are for sale in Somerville – only 186. Inventory dips between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. Homes continue to go under agreement but relatively few new properties come on the market until the new year.
Inventory is actually down from the same time last yearwhen 223 residential properties were on the market in Somerville MA.
Somerville MA Real Estate Market – November 2010
29 home sales closed in Somerville in November. The median price paid was $415,000. That’s a decrease of almost 50% from November 2009 sales when 56 properties sold.
5 single family homes sold in Somerville in November priced between $278,000 and $800,000. The median sales price was $655,000. On average, single family houses sold for 99% of the asking price. Average days on market for these houses was just 34.
18 condos sold in Somerville MA in Nov. 2010 for prices ranging from $288,000 to $635,000. The median condo sales price was $377,250. On average, condos sold for 98% of the list price. Average days on market was 105 for these condominiums.
6 multi-unit houses sold during November for prices from $345,000 to $580,000. The median price paid was $430,000. On average, multi-families sold for 95% of the asking price and were on the market an average of 52 days.
Somerville MA real estate market activity in November 2010 totalled $12,848,000.
See also:
Somerville MA Home Sales October 2010
Info about Somerville MA real estate market in November 2010 from MLSpin
Decorated Wreaths in New England – A Wreath Slideshow
Wreath on a New England door
Wondering how to decorate your wreath? Looking for some ideas for holiday wreaths?
Here’s a slideshow of photos I snapped of decorated wreaths in Salem and Newburyport, Massachusetts. We went on holiday house tours in those two towns this month. While we couldn’t take photos of the extraordinarily beautiful holiday decorations inside the houses the wreath on the door outside was fair game.
We vowed to go back to Salem and Newburyport as soon as we could – or at least when the temperatures warm up a bit. Both towns are filled with architectural treasures – outdoor museums of sorts – and worth a full day to wander.
Enjoy the slideshow – it’s filled with decorated wreaths from New England houses – and a swag or two as well.
Medford MA Real Estate Market – Nov 2010
Welcome to the Medford Real Estate Report
Here’s how the Medford MA real estate market fared in November 2010.
Medford MA Real Estate On the Market
On November 30, 2010 171 Medford MA properties were on the market for asking prices from $134,995 to $1,300,000. That’s a significant increase – just over 40% – from last year at this time when 121 homes were listed for sale.
Medford MA Real Estate Market – November 2010
47 homes sold in Medford in November 2010. Properties sold had been on the market 80 days on average and sold for an average of 97% of the list price. The median sales price in November 2010 was $345,000.
21 single family houses sold in November for sales prices between $210,000 and $615,000. The median sales price for a single family house was $340,000. The houses that sold were on the market an average of 97 days and sold for an average of 98% of the seller’s asking price.
14 condos sold in Medford MA in November priced between $180,000 and $454,500. The median sales price was $286,000. Condominiums sold for an average of 96% of the list price and average days on market was 45.
12 multi-family properties sold last month for sales prices from $302,000 to $525,000. The median price paid was $416,000. Multi-families sold for an average of 97% of the asking price. Average days on market for these properties was 88.
Total value of Medford MA real estate market activity in November 2010 was $17,105,550.
Also see:
Medford MA Home Sales October 2010
SEARCH FOR PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN MEDFORD MASS
Information about the Medford MA real estate market in November 2010 from MLSpin
Somerville Illuminations Tour 2010
The Somerville Illuminations Tour - Dec 18, 2010
Somerville Illuminations Tour 2010 Christmas lights are one of my very favorite things. Many homeowners in the city go all out and the display can be dazzling. More houses on my street have lights than don’t. What a treat from our neighbors who pay that hefty electric bill!
Somerville Illuminations Christmas Lights Tour
Some Somerville homeowners really do it up with extraordinary displays of Christmas lights and figures.
Each year the Somerville Arts Council has a trolley tour of the best Christmas lights displays in Somerville.
This year’s Illuminations Tour is scheduled for Saturday, December 18, 2010.
Tickets went on sale on December 1st and the 45 minute tour typically sells out. Tickets are sold for set times and for a particular trolley. Trolleys leave from City Hall and tour times run from 4:30 pm to 9:15 pm.
Tickets are sold only at the Blue Cloud Gallery in Ball Square, Somerville at 713 Broadway. Tickets must be purchased in person and paid for by cash or check only.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for Seniors and children 12 and under.
The Blue Cloud is open Mon – Thurs from 11 to 7, Fri & Sat from 10 to 6, and Sun from 11 to 6.
Somerville Illuminations Bike Tour
This year the Somerville Bike Committee is holding a bike tour of the Illuminations route. The tour leaves from City Hall concourse at 7:15 pm on December 18th. Participants must wear bike helmets and have bicycle lights. There is no charge to participate.
The bicycle ride will be canceled in the case of heavy wind, rain or snow. The Illuminations Tour by trolley will be held even if there is rain or light snow and typically is only cancelled if there is a snow emergency.
Whether you’re traveling by bike or trolley be sure to bundle up – and enjoy the ride!
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