Chances are that if you live in Roslindale, you love Roslindale. Possessing a combination of cultural diversity and pastoral beauty (the place was named for the literal hills and dales in the area) you won’t find in many other Boston neighborhoods, Roslindale was part of Roxbury until it was annexed to the city of Boston in 1873. Several decades ago, some spots in Roslindale Square fell into disrepair, exhibiting vacant storefronts and a lack of activity. But the neighborhood’s downtown has since undergone a renaissance, with a reincarnation into Roslindale Village—though you’ll find plenty of locals don’t bother calling it that. Now, new businesses are popping up all the time in the Village—the highly-anticipated Distraction Brewing Co. is expected to open this year, while a classic mainstay like Romano’s Pizzeria and Taqueria is an ideal spot eat a slice or burrito on the couch in the back in front of the TV.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Rozzie is that the area still manages to do what many other parts of Boston fail at: maintaining a true “neighborhood” feel. Less trendy than Jamaica Plain but more lively than West Roxbury, Roslindale residents are a mixed bag of families with deep roots in the neighborhood, young professionals, older retirees, and hipsters (chances are you’ll spot a fedora or two). Naturally, real estate prices are increasing as Bostonians seek out affordable neighborhoods where it’s actually possible to buy a home and raise a family, and some fear that sense of community that gives Roslindale its spark may be fleeting due to rapid development. Some residents claim there’s a bit of distinction between living on the “good” or “bad” side of Washington Street, but the general consensus is a true love for a neighborhood that some Bostonians don’t even seem to know exists. Rozzie’s plentiful green spaces are truly beloved—particularly the south end of the pristinely maintained Arnold Arboretum, which dips into Roslindale from Jamaica Plain. Read more