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Allston Facts from Harvard to "ZOOM"
Published: 09/24/2010
Allston is divided into sections, the most notable being Lower Allston. A large part of Harvard University lies in this area. This small neighborhood is noted for being upscale and very safe. It is not overly populated with students and the area retains much of its historical charm. Harvard owns quite a bit of land in Lower Allston and has plans to be an auxiliary site for Harvard Medical School. From long-term residents to working professionals to college students, Allston as a varied mix of people living in harmony and working together as a community dedicated to a higher quality of life.
This part of Allston is on the northern side of the Massachusetts Turnpike which splits the neighborhood in two. Lower Allston is also referred to as “North Allston”. On the other side of the turnpike lies the busiest neighborhood in the area. Here you will find Harvard Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue and an eclectic mix of things, especially nightlife. There is live music virtually every night the area boast a large number of musicians and performers. This area has been promoted as boasting numerous places to hear live music and been given the informal name of “Allston Village”.
The eastern side of town is what used to be the town of Brighton. On this side and to the east lies the town of Brookline which serves as a buffer in between Allston and Boston. It is virtually cut off on these sides and really only has a connection to Boston by a small piece of the eastern border with the neighborhood of Fenway/Kenmore. On the north side, Allston is bordered by the Charles River. On the other side of the river to the north lies the famous city of Cambridge. The city was named in honor of the prestigious school, Cambridge University.
One of the claims to fame of Allston is that it was the filming site of the popular children's show "ZOOM" on PBS. In fact, the zip code of Allston has become famous as well since the show theme song includes a verse that sings out "02134". The PBS affiliate, WGBH-TV was the originating station to carry the show which was produced from 1972 to 1978. The show was actually created and produced mostly by the kids on the show. It emphasized that kids should turn off the TV and just get out and do it.
