# So Going to Waltham, MA... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2014, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670 "2014-06-26T05:52:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/21 "2014-06-27T02:26:09Z")
We used to hang out (and get stoned) at Walden Pond. That was very cool, as a college senior. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/22 "2014-06-27T05:31:11Z")
As long as the topics involve Orange County freshmen migrating to the East coast, I thought I’d ask on behalf of my daughter, who will be attending Marymount Manhattan. Is she likely to be able to find serviceable winter clothing at the Goodwill store, or will that tend to be kind of picked over? I’d kind of like to have as few bags as possible to put on the plane with her. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/23 "2014-06-27T13:03:03Z")
The solution to all such problems: [LLBean.com](http://LLBean.com). ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/24 "2014-06-27T13:43:08Z")
Couldn’t get into Miskatonic, huh? Other than that & Congratulations, I got nothing! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/25 "2014-06-27T14:21:08Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Is she likely to be able to find serviceable winter clothing at the Goodwill store, or will that tend to be kind of picked over? I’d kind of like to have as few bags as possible to put on the plane with her. Serviceable, sure. Stylish, probably not but kids make their own style. There are plenty of places to get inexpensive warm clothes in a city. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/26 "2014-06-28T18:47:59Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Most of the interesting stuff in Waltham, like the Moody Street restaurants, is not really in walking distance from Brandeis. You can take the commuter train downtown, sure, but then you might as well go into Boston and Cambridge where there’s a whole lot more to see and do. Why so negative? Moody St is about 1 or 1.25 miles from Brandeis, and the Commuter train _does_ go into Boston and Cambridge (Porter Sq, right on the Red Line). Source: lived in Waltham for 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/27 "2014-06-28T19:19:10Z")
Not being negative, Waltham does have quite a bit more going for it than do most leafy upscale suburbs. I enjoyed my time working there, and even hopping all the Moody St. (and Main St.) bars with coworkers. There’s just a lot \*more \*going on right down the tracks. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/28 "2014-06-29T03:39:34Z")
There is a nice little song about Waltham, by French-Canadian singer Marie-Jo Therio. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WxfnSEPf6XI/hqdefault.jpg "Marie-Jo Thério / Chasing Lydie (Waltham, Mass) / Film de Robert Campeau") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxfnSEPf6XI) ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/29 "2014-08-26T15:37:15Z")
So how is the OP liking Waltham? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/30 "2014-08-26T23:38:55Z")
You are going to freeze your ass off your first winter. An MA winter can be damned cold (especially this past one, that was the second-coldest of my entire, twice as long as yours, life) for even natives. I hate hate hate dressing in layers, but you need to, so the best thing you can do is find layers you can stand wearing. Old Navy’s “[vintage](http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=329789002&vid=1&locale=en_US&kwid=1&sem=false&sdReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D2%26ved%3D0CCsQFjAB%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.oldnavy.com%252Fproducts%252Fmens-vintage-v-neck-tees-P329789.jsp%26ei%3DpBj9U9rxH4T8yQSAu4GgBQ%26usg%3DAFQjCNHg5MAI617E6pLURR1EFNbE0btdbA%26sig2%3Dg9LcUgVndQOikfIUTkOGFA%26bvm%3Dbv.74035653%2Cd.aWw)” tees work really well under sweaters because they’re so thin, for example, and I hate them a lot less than more noticeable under layers. And get a nice, insulated coat, like from LL Bean or Land’s End, and that’ll help a lot on windy, frigid days. Get one that’s long enough to cover your whole butt! What no one warns you about when it comes to freezing your ass off is that it might actually be worse when you go home for winter break. Why? Because your dorm probably doesn’t charge students for heat separately, and that means dorm temps average around 80F - I lived on the first floor and never turned my radiator on due to how hot other kids kept their rooms all around me. Once you get home, even the low 70s will feel cold so prepare to take a week or more to adapt. Oh, and here’s a [thread full of New Englandisms](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=565197) so you have a clue what we’re talking about 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/31 "2014-08-27T00:27:25Z")
Moody Street. Everything is on Moody Street. Food, nightclubs, everything. The T station even intersects Moody Street. Lots of restaurants and bars, lots to do. Lots of college students so things get crazy on the weekends. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/32 "2014-08-27T02:49:53Z")
Congratulations! I really enjoy seeing our doper kids grow up. I hope you still have time to hang out with us here. I find [these boots](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WG26FE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1DDFRUGC6FCTI&coliid=IZRK01GLFDDF5&psc=1) to be very comfortable and warm. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/33 "2014-08-28T15:36:33Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Lots of restaurants and bars, lots to do. Lots of college students so things get crazy on the weekends. Does it? Granted, it’s been almost 15 years since I’ve lived there, but I don’t recall it every getting “crazy”. It does seem like there are more bars and restaurants now. Although it also appears Watch City Brewery closed, which is too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/34 "2014-08-28T15:42:09Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Besides the obvious precaution of getting bulkier clothing for the winter, do you have any other advice or insights on Massachusetts life as regards to culture, food, and so forth? I dunno about Massachusetts winters but it was always hilarious when I was in college in MN to see the californians pull out parkas, scarves and big ole boots as soon as the temp dipped below 50F. You do that and you’ll have nowhere to go when it actually gets cold! Start with sweatshirts and long pants and wait until there’s actually snow on the ground before you start with the heavy duty stuff. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/35 "2014-08-28T16:01:26Z")
When you feel settled in, let us know here - it’s about time for another Boston DopeFest. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/36 "2014-08-28T16:41:45Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Although it also appears Watch City Brewery closed, which is too bad. Bleh, I haven’t been up to Moody St since spring and I hadn’t heard that. That really is too bad, they brewed some good beer. (… but $100k in unpaid taxes? Seriously?) ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/37 "2014-08-28T16:56:52Z")
> [@Kiros](#): > > Bleh, I haven’t been up to Moody St since spring and I hadn’t heard that. That really is too bad, they brewed some good beer. > > (… but $100k in unpaid taxes? Seriously?) The taxes thing is all too common around here. Suspect it’s not unique to Boston, but it annoys the crap out of me. Anyway, latest rumor I heard was that Boston Beer Works was looking to take over the Watch City facility, so that’s OK by me. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670/38 "2014-08-28T17:39:45Z")
> [@Kiros](#): > > That really is too bad, they brewed some good beer. They did at one time, but for the past 5 years they’ve brewed crap and their food was mediocre at best. Too many better options to be had. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-going-to-waltham-ma/691670.md?page=1)