Commonwealth Ave, Allston Brighton

The most important thing to know about Commonwealth Avenue: NEVER call it by that name. This is Comm Ave: two syllables, never more, never less. Comm Ave connects a great deal of the city and is appropriately busy. I would recommend against biking, though of course there are a lot of bikers, and walking in favor of public transportation or by car. There are great shops and other attractions along its length and is always worth a visit, but this street is one of Boston's main arteries -- not for those seeking a leisure stroll.

Comm. Ave in Boston is a funny sort of street. When you're downtown, right where Comm starts, it's one of the toniest places in town to live (if you live around the 300s, one of your neighbors is the Harvard Club of Boston. Yeah.). Even before I could put it at the end of my address line, I simply adored walking down the green boulevard in the middle of Comm, admiring the statues and the beautiful brick residences. Now, when you move into the 1900s and up, where I call home, it's not exactly the same picture of class, but definitely can boast as much if not more character. The location is great-the B train is right outside your door, and you're never far from the C or D. You have food and shopping always nearby, even if you don't have a car (though it really helps here). You do have BC in your backyard, which can be annoying, funny, or both-my favorite example is when I woke up at 3 in the morning to a group of BC gents scream-singing the "Kars-for-Kids" jingle from the radio. This may be a deterrent for young families or the older set, but if you're a young professional single or couple, this is a place you can afford to enjoy the real Boston: part-college town, part-swanky metro, part-working class town, all home. Plus, you get a different pizza delivery menu in your mailbox every week-there's no better way to enjoy a slice of Beantown.