03.26.09

BOSTON, MA

ROSLINDALE STROLL

Where’s the next cool spot in Boston where you can find cozy cafes, hip specialty shops and welcoming pubs before the invasion of Starbucks and the Gap? If you’ve been strolling down the mean streets of the Back Bay and the South End, sometimes venturing to Fort Point, we’re here to tell you that there are many more jewels to be found just a short 8 miles away, which for fitness buffs is practically walking distance and for the rest of us a quick ten minute drive.

Roslindale is a diamond in the rough. To do Roslindale right, start your morning off with an Albanian omelet or banana coconut pancakes at the Blue Star Diner, the food is as friendly as the service and the clientele will give you a sense of the wonderful diversity Roslindale is known for.

Full and happy, head up the street to Joanne Rossman, “Purveyor of the Unnecessary and the Irresistible.” Rarely has a tagline so eloquently described a store. Expertly laden with handmade ornaments, jewelry, and Joanne’s signature scarves, you can literally spend hours in here discovering the perfect gift for everyone on your list (and several for yourself.)

Loaded down with goodies, head over to Village Books to spend some time browsing for your favorite authors. For lunch, Delfinos is a great authentic Italian spot that consistently gets rave reviews.

Next head into the Boston Cheese Cellar, where owners Kathy Lacher and John Pierce can help you select the perfect cheese platter for your evening. Don’t forget to ask about their “bag o’bits,” a great way to sample some new interesting cheeses. From here it’s just a hop, skip and jump over to Solera wine shop. Because really, what good is cheese without nice wine to go with it?

Read more about Roslindale in Misstropolis, the online magazine for modern women.