The South End
Cool.
That’s the South End.
The South End is Boston’s hippest, most design-oriented neighborhood. Home to hundreds of visual artists and interior designers, as well as a sizable gay population, the South End offers the city’s best and trendiest restaurants, most sophisticated interior design stores, most cosmopolitan art galleries and most interesting boutiques. And there’s no stuffiness here either — this neighborhood is one of the most diverse in the city, embracing every race, religion and sexual orientation. It’s urbane and funky, all at the same time.
Architecturally speaking, the South End is largely composed of mid-nineteenth century brick bow fronts, just south of the Back Bay and Chinatown. These elegant buildings, are built around a series of 11 residential parks, and retain a sense of style and grace absent from most new architecture today. In fact, the specialness of the South End has been duly noted. The South End is the largest surviving Victorian residential district in North America and is not only listed on the National Register of Historic Places but is a Boston Landmark District.
There’s a lot of history in this neighborhood. During the 1950s this area was home to the black middle class and was a jazz mecca, brimming with all the best jazz clubs. In the 1960s the neighborhood grew a little tattered as many of the old mansions were turned into seedy tenements and rooming houses. Fortunately, things began to turn around in the 1980s, and the neighborhood has undergone an amazing transformation. Most of the old mansions and townhouses have now been lovingly restored to their original splendor.
Despite all the Victorian townhouses, the South End is not stuck in time. The area known as SOWA (for South of Washington) has recently been completely redeveloped and now encompasses hundreds of artist studios, and fashionable lofts refashioned from industrial buildings. New boutiques and restaurants continue to open. The South End’s best days may lie in the future.
Neighborhood fact: Only one jazz club still exists in this neighborhood. It’s called Wally’s Café and is located at the intersection of Massachusetts and Columbus Avenues.
South End Links
- South End Historical Society
- United South End Artists
- South End Business Alliance
- Old Dover Neighborhood Association
- SOWA Artist Guild
- SOWA Open Market
- Ellis South End Neighborhood Association
- Union Park Neighborhood Association
- Blackstone/Franklin Association
Where to go in the South End for:
- Cheese: Formaggio, specializing in small production artisan cheeses.
- Doggie Treats: Indulgence, sure, but nothing beats the Polka Dog Bakery for fresh-baked doggie treats.
- Saturday morning brunch: Aquitaine, Boston. $10 gets you a warm and filling meal in nice company.
- Housewares, furniture: Urban Living Studio. Not only furniture but a local artist featured every month.
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