Classic 2 bedroom near Arboretum

2 bedroom apartment WITH CENTRAL AC in a well-maintained triple decker in the unique & diverse Jamaica Plain area of Boston. Spacious, colorful, sunny. Ideal if visiting JP, W. Roxbury, Roslindale or Brookline. Steps from the Arnold Arboretum, 1 mile from Jamaica Pond. Access to shared laundry. Exclusive use of front & back decks and shared use of expansive outside patio. 1 queen & 1 full bed. Sorry-No Pets/Smoking. Please inquire before making reservations that include children. The space The apartment is on the 2nd floor of a triple decker. Sorry, there is no elevator or lift. There are 6 steps from the sidewalk to the front door of the house and 15 steps to the second floor. The house was built in 1910. You will be aware of people above and below you but normal-level conversation does not permeate. We are .25 miles from the expansive Arnold Arboretum; .3 miles from the shops and restaurants on Centre Street; .8 miles from Jamaica Pond with its beautiful walking and running path; 2.8 miles from the Longwood Medical area; 3 miles from Fenway Park; 4 miles from Copley Square; 7 miles from Quincy Market. Guest access You will have exclusive use of the apartment including the front and back decks off of the second floor landings. The only time we might access the second floor decks during your stay is to do a quick watering of plants. You will have shared access to the laundry in the basment and to the ground-level outside back patio. Other things to note PARKING There is typically on street parking available- either on Goldsmith Street or just around the corner on Centre Street. If you are used to a driveway or reserved parking - you'll find it less than ideal. If you are used to city street parking- you'll be very happy. The area has NOT been designated as "residential parking" by the city and there are no street cleaning restrictions. CHILDREN Constantly supervised children are welcome but we do need to keep the peace in this adult household. If you expect your child will need to run, yell and rummage- we understand. That's what kids do. But this is not a good match for you or us. Please inquire before making reservations that include children. GETTING AROUND First…. A warning about Boston Streets: Don’t assume that because you found the street you are looking for that you are near the place you are looking for. Many streets end and resume somewhere else. Different ‘hoods have many of the same street names. Some streets meander on forever though different parts of the city. Particular culprits of confusion: Tremont, Washington, Boylston, Commonwealth, Centre and Harvard. Use your GPS! Driving into Boston We suggest you download the Park Boston app in advance so you don’t have to fish for change later. It’s easy and convenient. Parking Garages can be pricey, you may not pay too much more (maybe less) to just order an Uber. We definitely DON’T recommend driving to the North End (ever), nor to games/events at TD Garden or Fenway. Consider taking an Uber or driving to the Forest Hills T station. The entrance to the garage is on the Hyde Park Avenue side of the station. Public Transportation At MBTA dot com..... you can find trip-planning tools for buses, subway, and the Commuter Rail. The site will provide trip options, live schedule updates and fare options. It will also provide updates on any subway lines or stations that are off line for repairs. Note: The actual routes between the house and the bus/subway stops are very straightforward BUT, while learning the route, use your GPS as some street names change. Subway (The “T”) We are 1 mile from the Forest Hills MBTA station on the Orange Line. This is the quickest way to get into the city. Options for getting to Forest Hills: -a 10-15 minute walk -a 2-4 minute Uber ride -the #39 bus from 775 Centre Street (near the monument) -drive and park at the Forest Hills’ Parking Garage (entrance on Hyde Park Ave). Or you may find free street parking near the station. You can use Contactless payment(e.g. Apple Pay), or buy a Charlie Card (debit card) at the kiosks inside the station. Remember to buy for the trip home! One-way tickets are $2.40 including silver line bus routes. Buses The one-way fare is $1.70. You can use your Charlie Card, Cash or Contactless Payment. Silver line Buses pay the subway fare of $2.40. To get to Forest Hills Station: We are .3 miles from the # 39 bus stop at 775 Centre Street which is in front of AAA Appliance and JP House of Pizza. To get to the Harvard Medical Area, MFA & Gardner Museums, and (in about 30 minutes) Copley Square: The stop for the #39 bus going that direction is in front of the Community Ctr at South & Sedgwick Streets. Amtrak (coming from...) There are 3 Boston-area Amtrak stations: Route 128, Back Bay and South Station. Back Bay Station is (by far) the most convenient for getting to Jamaica Plain. It is in the same facility as the Back Bay Orange Line stop on the “T”. After getting off the Amtrak train- go up the escalator, turn right and you are at the "T" station. Use contactless payment at the turnstiles or buy a one-way ticket or Charlie Card at the kiosk; go down the escalator and take any train to Forest Hills-it’s about a 15 minute ride. Forest Hills is the final stop. From Forest Hills: walk, Uber OR take the #39 bus to the South & Sedgwick St and walk about 5 minutes to the house. Logan Airport (coming from...) Taxi, Uber or Lyft are the ways to go unless you are picking up or dropping off a rental car. If you are traveling lightly and/or on a tight budget—you might prefer taking the airport shuttle to the MBTA blue-line stop (it’s free and easy). Shuttles 22, 33, 55, 66 and 88 all stop at the "T" (subway) -but double check with the bus driver in case the route has changed. . Take the blue line heading toward Bowdoin and get off at State Street. From there, change to the Orange Line toward Forest Hills and take it to Forest Hills. From Forest Hills: walk one mile, Uber OR take the #39 bus to the South & Sedgwick St and walk about 5 minutes to the house. Be sure to check the status of Orange and Blue subway lines on the MBTA site before committing to this plan. Occasionally stops are off-line for repairs. SOME RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS Breakfast (& lunch) nearby. Mike & Patty’s (JP location). 388 Centre St. (1.5 miles). For great breakfast sandwiches. Very limited seating. We suggest you order on line for pick up or delivery. You won’t regret it. Fiore’s Portuguese Bakery at 55 South Street (0.3 miles) Very good breakfast sandwiches, friendly service, great bakery goods. Harry’s All American Breakfast at 1420 Centre St. (1.5 miles). Great breakfast options and lovely staff. Clean and plenty of seating. Will deliver through food apps. Lunch (& Dinner) nearby. The Galway House at 710 Centre St. (0.4 miles). This is a bar/restaurant with a good & extensive menu, colorful characters and a simple no-fills environment. We like it. Open for lunch and dinner. Open later than most places. You can call in for an order to pick-up. Cafe Verde at 711 Centre St. (0.4 miles) is a bit more hip than the Galway. Creative and delicious taco options and other Mexican delights. Open for lunch and dinner. Momo Masala at 2 Perkins St (1.0) miles serves delicious Indian and Nepali food. Dine in, pick-up or have delivered. Only Dinner nearby. The Haven at 284 Amory St. (1.2 miles) is Scottish-themed restaurant tucked away in the old Sam Adams Brewery complex. You would never stumble upon it. Check out the menu and see if it blows your kilt up. We love it. Ten Tables at 597 Centre St. (0.7 miles) & Toninos at 669A Centre St (0.4 miles) We’ve had great times at Ten Tables and love the warm and welcoming staff there. We are hearing great things about Tonino’s and look forward to trying it. Both are intimate venues so recommendations are strongly encouraged in both places. Sometimes they can accommodate walk-ins and sometimes have last minute cancellations. Tres Gatos at 470 Centre St. (1.0 miles) We regret not having found time to go there yet but since we keep hearing good things about this unique Tapas restaurant/book & music store atmosphere - we would be remiss to not include it here. Check their site. In Roslindale Square (2.5 miles away) Even further out from downtown Boston than JP but still part of the City of Boston, Roslindale Square is charming and has several terrific restaurants. And parking is infinitely easier than in the city! Delfino’s at 754 South Street is as good as any place we’ve tried in Boston’s North End. This is our “go to place.” The fish specials are always great… so is the chicken parm…. So is the “figgy piggy.” If you get our favorite waitress, Christina, she can convert with you in English, German or Portuguese. Sophia’s Grotto is around the corner at 22R Birch Street. So so charming. We only went because Delfino’s was closed- and we’re glad we did! In Boston “propah”: Of course, there are hundreds of restaurants in Boston. And, if you haven’t done so already, there are two sections of Boston you really should experience. The old North End and the new Seaport District. The North End is chalk full of Italian restaurants- every one of which is good. You’ll feel like you’re in an old European town. Our friend Michael, who is a well-connected North Ender, recommends Panza or Vinoteca di Monica for lunch and Vinoteca…, La Summa or Limoncello for dinner. The Seaport District has trendy seafood, steak, Italian and Brazilian options. And if weather allows, do the “Harbor Walk” between the harbor and the beautiful new buildings in this part of the city. That said, we prefer the more local feeling in the South End. East Boston.: Mida’s new location there.For great food and a SPECTACULAR view. Well worth the jaunt. South End neighborhood- not to be confused with South Boston. The Elephant Walk (French-Cambodian fusion) at 1415 Washington St (near the Cathedral). Ask for Jason, he’ll smother you with attention and good recommendations. The menus is unique and the food is SO SO flavorful (not to be confused with overly-spicy). The Franklin Cafe at 278 Shawmut Ave is neighborhood bar/restaurant on a super-quaint South End Street. You won’t find many - if any- visitors here. The food is good but it's the local vibe that keeps it going. Mela (Indian) at 578 Tremont Street, near the Boston Center for the Arts theaters, is our favorite Indian restaurant. Love the butter chicken! Mida at 782 Tremont St. (at the corner of Mass. Ave & Tremont). It’s not the most attractive intersection but don’t let that fool you- this is a high quality place. The owner/chef, Douglas Williams, has received national acclaim and has opened several other restaurants in greater Boston. Try the glazed duck wing appetizer and the short rib lasagna. Mida also has locations (with different menus) in Newton, East Boston, Fenway and online for delivery. JJ Foleys at 117 E. Berkley St is a real Boston landmark that has been owned by the Foley family for several generations. It is a classic Boston-Irish pub with a blue-collar history. It now welcomes an eclectic crowd. It has an extensive (and very good) menu. Try the “clam chowdah.” Myers & Chang at 1145 Washington Street is hard to describe. Everything is excellent and everything is unique. Boston’s infamous Joann Chang, co-creator of of Flour Bakery chain, is the creative genius behind it. You’ll be taking your chances as a walk-in. Better to make a reservation. And then there’s CAMBRIDGE! If you plan on spending any time in Harvard Square, Kendall Square or East Cambridge and would like recommendations…just let me know. GROCERY STORES Happy Market & Spirits (.5 miles) 128 South Street. Medium-size grocery store. Some prepared foods, liquor, basics. Walking: left out front door, left on Custer, right on South. Store is on left side; about halfway to the Forest Hills T station. City Feed And Supply 672 Centre St. (.5 miles) Very “JP”! Country-store atmosphere. Great place to include in a Centre Street stroll. Cafe, Deli (great sandwiches), Basics Whole Foods 413 Centre Street (1 mile) This is not a showcase Whole Foods- but it’s a Whole Foods.! Parking is tight. Stop & Shop 301 Centre St. (2 miles) Plenty of of parking in front. Standard grocery store. In the largely Latino section of JP. Careful-Centre St veers to the right where it meets South Huntington at the 7-11. 7-11 Convenient Store 451 Centre St. JP (1 mile) Where S. Huntington merges with Centre. St. If you are doing a significant shopping, prefer a more upscale grocery store and don’t mind driving a bit: Whole Foods 348 Harrison Ave. Boston’s South End (4 miles) A nice store, I would suggest it only if you have other reason to be in Boston proper as the area can be a bit congested. There is a parking lot. Wegmans 200 Boylston Șt. (Route 9) in Chestnut Hill, MA (5 miles) OR 169 University Ave. in Westwood, MA (12 miles) Both nice. The Westwood Store has considerably more elbow room. Star Market 795 Providence Highway, Dedham MA (8 miles) CVS There are two nearby. 704 Centre St. (.4 miles) There is on street parking as well as a public lot behind the businesses on the opposite side of the street. 467 Centre St. (1 mile) A bit further away but there is parking on the premises. ALCOHOL Blanchard Wine & Spirits 741 Centre St. (.4 miles) A FEW OF OTHER JP GEMS…. Boing! Toy Shop at 667 Centre St. (.5 miles) JP Licks Ice Cream at 659 Centre St. (.5 miles) Papercuts Bookstore 60 South Street (.3 miles) Registration Details STR-578442