Old school small New. England cities with a working class, european vibe (Boston: section 8, real estate)

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Framingham is about 20% Brazilian so that migth satisfy your European desire in that its like Portuguese culture.

Not even a little bit. The language is Portuguese, but the culture is entirely different.

There are other cities, but New Bedford jumps out most.

It has a population that's largely Azorean and Cape Verdean Portuguese (many first generation, primarily Portuguese speaking)- not as many mainland Portuguese. That cultural heritage is very much ingrained in the culture. The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament is the largest Portuguese Feast in the world and the largest ethnic celebration in New England. There are dozens of other smaller feasts and festivals in the city throughout the year as well. There are Cape Verdean parades, a Portuguese consulate, an abundance of Portuguese restaurants, and the culture permeates most aspects of daily life in the city. New Bedford isn't just an old mill town. It's a very active seaport and the highest grossing fishing port in the U.S. This was the reason a lot of Portuguese were/are drawn to the area. It's also nicely reflected in the city's food scene.

Beyond the culture, New Bedford has pretty neat bones. Yes, it was most recently an Industrial city. Prior to that it was a seaport and whaling center. Unlike Lowell or Lawrence, New Bedford has bones that linger from before it was a center of industry. This is most obvious downtown where half of it is quaint cobblestone streets not far off from what you'd find on Main St. in Nantucket. This section is a national historic park. The rest is a dense, 19th century downtown. Many of the residences around the city center reflect the seafaring tradition. Great historic homes.

It'll definitely fulfill you're "rough around the edges" desires. It's gritty. That's for sure.

[johngolf]

Like it or not, many of those towns or sections within a town that had ethnic cultures are fading fast. First born American generations do not want to be "old fashioned" like their folks. They wanted to be named Tiffany, Amber, Josh, Sean, etc. They want to look like and sound like all their friends. No babushka's for them girls....LOL

The closer the towns are to greater Boston, the quicker they become homogenous with new folks moving in. Even towns considered just so so as late as the 80's are booming such as Waltham. Even towns considered far out of Boston are now considered Boston suburbs such as Stow.

The best remnants of ethnic heritage one now finds is an ethnic restaurant. Forget the bakeries, butcher shops, grocery stores, etc.

The times they are a changing.

[FCMA]

Chicopee, Ludlow, Southbridge.

[massnative71]

Many places surrounding Providence fit the bill ie. Knightsville (Cranston), Darlington (Pawtucket) E. Providence. etc.

[MichaelReilly]

Originally Posted by johngolf

Like it or not, many of those towns or sections within a town that had ethnic cultures are fading fast. First born American generations do not want to be "old fashioned" like their folks. They wanted to be named Tiffany, Amber, Josh, Sean, etc. They want to look like and sound like all their friends. No babushka's for them girls....LOL

The closer the towns are to greater Boston, the quicker they become homogenous with new folks moving in. Even towns considered just so so as late as the 80's are booming such as Waltham. Even towns considered far out of Boston are now considered Boston suburbs such as Stow.

The best remnants of ethnic heritage one now finds is an ethnic restaurant. Forget the bakeries, butcher shops, grocery stores, etc.

The times they are a changing.

Thanks

Specifically why I said not near Boston

[BostonBornMassMade]

Irfox, genuine question, is Cape Verdean culture more like Portuguese than Brazilian? Me personally I feel like it is I feel like Cape Verdeans in Brockton have less in common with Portuguese in New Bedford than Brazilians in Framingham. Also I think New Bedford is rough around the edges but its currently teetering on mostly ghetto. I dont know about the older population but the young people and people moving into New Bedford seem to be much less pure Portuguese than Fall River. Young people there, who are the life blood of any city, see more Cape Verdean, Black, Dominican, Central American, mixed race..its actually quite cool and it creates a sort of culture more in line with Providence. However, I know the Portuguese influence is still strong but in my 3 times to New Bedford and everything Ive read or seen it seems pretty rough and noticeably less Portuguese in the sub 30 population.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Irfox, genuine question, is Cape Verdean culture more like Portuguese than Brazilian? Me personally I feel like it is I feel like Cape Verdeans in Brockton have less in common with Portuguese in New Bedford than Brazilians in Framingham. Also I think New Bedford is rough around the edges but its currently teetering on mostly ghetto. I dont know about the older population but the young people and people moving into New Bedford seem to be much less pure Portuguese than Fall River. Young people there, who are the life blood of any city, see more Cape Verdean, Black, Dominican, Central American, mixed race..its actually quite cool and it creates a sort of culture more in line with Providence. However, I know the Portuguese influence is still strong but in my 3 times to New Bedford and everything Ive read or seen it seems pretty rough and noticeably less Portuguese in the sub 30 population.

Cape Verdean culture is a mix of Portuguese and African elements (the Islands are off the coast of Africa), but I don't see too many similarities to Brazilian culture aside from the language.

Lots of New Bedford is pretty tough, but the downtown area (and residential neighborhoods around it) are much nicer than anything in Fall River. There's a heavy emphasis on arts, dining, drinking, shopping, etc. And the under 30 culture in both isn't as Portuguese. Part of this is due to 2nd and 3rd generation Portuguese mixing in with the rest of the cultures in the area (Irish, Polish, French Canadian, etc.), and a lot of it is due to a new wave of immigrants from Central America (a lot of Guatemalan and some Puerto Rican). So I definitely agree the under 30 crowd is less Portuguese. Still, the culture is very present in the city. I'm under 30 and from that area. Many of my friends still use "Carai!" and other Portuguese slang in their regular conversations. I often end up at Portuguese festivals and restaurants naturally (instead of seeking them out- I'm not Portuguese) because it's where friends and their families are.

[MassNative2891]

Originally Posted by lrfox

2nd and 3rd generation Portuguese mixing in with the rest of the cultures in the area (Irish, Polish, French Canadian, etc.), and a lot of it is due to a new wave of immigrants from Central America (a lot of Guatemalan and some Puerto Rican). So I definitely agree the under 30 crowd is less Portuguese. Still, the culture is very present in the city. I'm under 30 and from that area. Many of my friends still use "Carai!" and other Portuguese slang in their regular conversations. I often end up at Portuguese festivals and restaurants naturally (instead of seeking them out- I'm not Portuguese) because it's where friends and their families are.

I went to school out in Dartmouth (MA) and I couldn't tell the difference between the Portuguese folks and many, many groups.

I.E. I know Portuguese people (born in Portugal) who can pass as Irish or Italian, Black (light skin) or Hispanic. Sure places like NB, Stoughton and Fall River have Festivals and Cultural clubs but the general population is as Americanized as the Irish in Southie and Quincy.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by FCMA

Chicopee, Ludlow, Southbridge.

There is nothing European about Southbridge these days. It used to have a heavy French and Polish vibe 20 to 30 years ago, but not anymore. Same with Webster. Too small for what I think the OP is looking for.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by MassNative2891

I went to school out in Dartmouth (MA) and I couldn't tell the difference between the Portuguese folks and many, many groups.

I.E. I know Portuguese people (born in Portugal) who can pass as Irish or Italian, Black (light skin) or Hispanic. Sure places like NB, Stoughton and Fall River have Festivals and Cultural clubs but the general population is as Americanized as the Irish in Southie and Quincy.

I guess it depends on who/what you get involved with and where you go. There are plenty of restaurants, churches, bars, markets, parks, etc. that you can walk into on a daily basis and hear nothing but Portuguese being spoken. I've lived in the area long enough to have been exposed to a lot of it. It's one of my favorite things about the region. To the OP's point about feeling "European," I don't know that you'll find that anywhere in MA, but Fall River and New Bedford will probably come the closest.