Looking for bohemian New England communities (Boston, Worcester: movie theater, live in, safe)

[timberline742]

Great call on Providence. Don't know why I didn't think of it. With the RISD influence, and other influences, it has a strong art community. AS220 does great stuff. Heck, I wish Boston could have a space/area like the Olneyville underground art lofts/warehouses.

[massnative71]

For someone looking to avoid drugs and poverty, I don't know why Providence would be a suggestion. It is easily worse than Lowell, Salem, Worcester, Portland or any of the other places mentioned. Maybe not Springfield.

Olneyville is horrible. You would almost need an armed guard when picking up ribs at Wes's some nights...

[SeekingRoots]

@FCMA: Of the alternatives above, I'd vote for "isolated" or "a bit quiet" rather than "insanely expensive" or "squirreled away in the slums" - as long as there are more social activities for people in my age range than there are in Newburyport and Portsmouth.

Portland might be a workable option too - I haven't ruled it out. I think I could steer clear of the drug issues by being selective about where I live.

It sounds like the Northampton area might be a good fit. I like visiting Providence and know people there, but I'm not interested in living there. I also have had a good time visiting Burlington, although it is far away.

[Hollytree]

Originally Posted by massnative71

For someone looking to avoid drugs and poverty, I don't know why Providence would be a suggestion. It is easily worse than Lowell, Salem, Worcester, Portland or any of the other places mentioned. Maybe not Springfield.

Olneyville is horrible. You would almost need an armed guard when picking up ribs at Wes's some nights...

Wow- are you off base here! You just proved you know nothing about what's happening here.

Providence has a great artistic community.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by massnative71

For someone looking to avoid drugs and poverty, I don't know why Providence would be a suggestion. It is easily worse than Lowell, Salem, Worcester, Portland or any of the other places mentioned. Maybe not Springfield.

Olneyville is horrible. You would almost need an armed guard when picking up ribs at Wes's some nights...

Prone to exaggeration much? There are drugs everywhere, but again, I was commenting on the art scene in Olneyville. Lots of warehouse space turned into artist living/performance space. Cool things going on down there. It's not infrequent I go down on Friday/Saturday night to see cool bands that aren't playing Boston due to lack of venues.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Prone to exaggeration much? There are drugs everywhere, but again, I was commenting on the art scene in Olneyville. Lots of warehouse space turned into artist living/performance space. Cool things going on down there. It's not infrequent I go down on Friday/Saturday night to see cool bands that aren't playing Boston due to lack of venues.

No I'm not exaggerating. The OP was clear in what he did/didn't want. He is being turned away from cities where those issues are very tame compared to Providence. If Salem has too much of "that", then Providence/Olneyville is definitely not for him. Just sayin...

[495neighbor]

Maynard is a nice safe suburb with something of an alternative undercurrent. Not that you'd mistake it for the Burning Man festival. I live in the next town over and have seen my share of goth, punk, unusual hair colors, tattoos and piercings around town.

It even has its own theater and art gallery building.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Olneyville is horrible. You would almost need an armed guard when picking up ribs at Wes's some nights...

Those must be some ribs

[BitofEndearment]

I honestly think you might still try Lowell. The crime rate has been dropping and of all the satellite cities in the the entire state it's probably going to turn out the best safety-wise and culturally and economically. And it's close to and accessible from Boston, which may not be that important for you, but it's probably important to many people in your scene, and so they will find it to be a cheaper, perhaps edgier alternative to Boston/Cambridge/Somerville.

Northampton still seems like a really good option. It's not as isolated as places like Burlington with Springfield and Holyoke close by, Amherst, and lots of forest and hillside. It has a nice arts scene but it doesn't feel as sterile as Newburyport or as isolated as Burlington.

I'm trying to think of other possibilities. I mean honestly, someone listed all the different "types" or artsy/edgey/bohemian communities and I guess that point was that the options are limited, but damn the list seemed pretty diverse to me.

Maybe this isn't right but what about Hyannis? It's not P-Town but it's not New Bedford. I don't know how strong their bohemian scene is because I haven't spent much time there.

I'd also take another look at Worcester. Worcester is a city but it's not a big metro area which means you can live right outside Worcester in a less overwhelming community. I don't think people know that much about Worcester's bohemian city but it's actually pretty impressive, more impressive than Boston's in my opinion based on what they do with a lot less "recognition." There are communes, a lot of the converted factories and mills are used by sort of independent bohemian-style workers (black smiths, people who do their own carpentry) and there's a big environmental/sustainable scene.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Those must be some ribs

Oh and they are.