Somerville's Squares

Somerville is a city of neighborhoods and squares; each area has its own distinct flavor, offering visitors and residents a wide variety of attractions.

Union Square features an eclectic mix of ethnic restaurants, mom-and-pop gift shops, small businesses and offices. On nearby Prospect Hill, the first American flag was raised on January 1, 1776, and the hill features one of the most spectacular, panoramic views of the Boston area. For the small business owner, Union Square offers excellent values in commercial real estate. MBTA buses serve the square, with direct service from Cambridge's Central Square and Harvard Square, Charlestown's Union Square, and Somerville's Davis Square.

Nearby, the Brickbottom Condominiums and Vernon Street Studios house many of Somerville's artists, and both places often offer open studios where you can not only see art, but also see artists at work.

In 1997 Davis Square made Utne Reader's list of the top 15 "hippest" neighborhoods in the country. Davis Square has something for everyone: Bookstores, coffee shops, music stores, restaurants, and nightlife will help anyone while away the time day or night. Commercially, the square features some prime office space and houses high-tech corporations, national nonprofit organizations, small businesses of every stripe, financial services businesses, banks, and insurance companies. Davis Square also is home to many health care providers, from large medical practices to a variety of alternative health care services. Besides being served by a variety of MBTA bus lines, Davis Square is a stop on the Red Line subway. And Davis Square is a major stop on the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway.

Somerville's recently inaugurated two-hour meterless parking program has made it much easier to shop in Teele, Magoun, and Ball Squares, and on Lower Broadway. Teele Square is more residential than is Davis Square, but has grown into another "hip" area, featuring several excellent restaurants and shops. It's walking distance from Davis Square, and is near Tufts University, offering a popular spot for off-campus living.

Magoun Square is an old-fashioned yet vibrant neighborhood where you can see the merchants sweeping the sidewalks at 10 a.m. every morning. You can buy everything from clothing to hardware in the square. And Ball Square is another Somerville treasure, with retail stores, cafes, and restaurants galore. Lower Broadway offers patrons at the nearby Holiday Inn an alternative for some down-home cooking.