2 days Ago By Annie Jonas
By Annie Jonas In Boston.com’s Perfect Day series, we’re talking to a local expert in each of Boston’s 23 neighborhoods about how they’d spend their perfect day. See what makes this city so special to your neighbors, and share your perfect day with us at [email protected] .
Located in the southwestern part of Boston, Roslindale is a vibrant neighborhood known for its blend of suburban charm and urban convenience. Once part of West Roxbury, it became an independent neighborhood in 1873 and has since grown into a diverse and sought-after area. Roslindale Village, the neighborhood’s heart, is home to an eclectic mix of cafes, restaurants, and the popular farmers market in Adams Park, which features local produce and artisanal goods.
In recent years, the area has attracted young professionals and families drawn by its affordability and proximity to downtown Boston, thanks to easy access to public transit. Josh McCorkle is one of those young professionals who now calls the neighborhood home. As the Roslindale Neighborhood Liaison, McCorkle serves as a key point of communication between residents and City Hall.
He has lived in Roslindale for three and a half years with his wife and dog, and is deeply invested in the community’s growth and well-being. The neighborhood, he said in an interview with Boston.com, often gets overlooked by busier and more centrally located neighborhoods in Boston.
“Rozzie is a bit of a hidden gem in the Boston area. A lot of people think of it as a pseudo suburb, even though it’s a neighborhood of Boston. They don’t really think about it as a place where they might go and spend a day.
.. But Rozzie has a ton to offer, and the area around Roslindale Square is incredibly walkable.
” Here’s how he’d spend a perfect day in Roslindale. Morning | Afternoon | Evening | Map | Share your perfect day in Boston McCorkle starts his day with a walk (with his dog) to Exodus Bagels ( 2 McCraw St. ), which he argues has the best bagels in Boston .
“Exodus, I think, goes toe to toe with any of the best New York City bagel shops,” he said. He’ll order a sesame bagel untoasted – this is key, he said – with the works: cream cheese, lox, capers, and red onions. “When you’re getting a bagel that high quality, I think it kind of ruins it to get it toasted,” he explained, adding that “a toasted bagel is tasty, but at that point you just have toast, which is always good, but it changes the character of the bagel.
” Of course, he acknowledges that “people should do what they want” and he’s “not one of those guys who tries to tell you what you should and should not like.” But when it comes to great bagels like those at Exodus, he’s particular about his order. Bagels in hand, he’ll head to Roslindale Village Main Street Farmers Market in Adams Park ( 4225 Washington St) .
The farmer’s market is actually two markets held back to back: The Summer Farmers Market typically begins the first Saturday in June and runs until just before Thanksgiving. The Winter Farmers Market generally starts in early January and runs through March. Both markets are held on Saturdays.
The markets sell produce and goods by local farmers and artisans, and holds events for community members as well. McCorkle said he considers the farmer’s market to be Boston’s best. “You get so many great vendors, everyone’s so friendly.
There’s a great variety of produce, and also ready to eat food that you can take and put in your freezer to have an easy meal later in the week,” he said. For his caffeine fix, he’ll head to one of several coffee shops in the Roslindale Square area: Green T Coffee Shop ( 873 South St. ), The Square Root ( 2 Corinth St.
), Fornax Bread Company ( 27 Corinth St. ), or PS Gourmet Coffee ( 4252 Washington St. ).
“You’re filthy [rich] with coffee options in Rozzie Square,” McCorkle said. Much like his morning, McCorkle will spend his afternoon sampling food and drinks from some of the neighborhood’s best restaurants and establishments. First up is Pleasant Cafe ( 4515 Washington St.
), a 1937 institution turning out plentiful, home-cooked American and Italian dishes in a retro setting. The menu boasts old-fashioned Boston comfort foods such as Yankee pot roast and grapenut pudding alongside a range of classic Italian dinners including eggplant and chicken parmesan. But it’s not just Pleasant’s award-winning thin-crust pizza that has earned the restaurant its reputation as a Boston legend.
The restaurant was also featured in the Oscar-nominated film “The Holdovers,” which starred Paul Giamatti as a teacher at a New England boarding school who is forced to chaperone a handful of students over Christmas break. The restaurant has a movie poster positioned in the booth where Giamatti and co-star Dominic Sessa sat in a scene of the movie. At Pleasant, McCorkle will opt for a classic cheese pizza , but he also recommends getting either anchovies or artichokes added on top (the former of which he proudly stands behind, despite common distaste for it).
“I think that one of the biggest lies that we were told as children is that anchovies are our grossest possible pizza topping, when actually they’re the best one,” he said. Afterward, he’ll head to Sweeties ( 48 Corinth St .) for a post-lunch sweet treat.
The New Zealand-style ice cream shop is BIPOC- and LGBTQ+-owned, and was founded in 2023 by Anika and Jamila Gramsey, “married mothers of two and lovers of sweet treats,” according to their website. New Zealand style ice cream is a creamy, soft-serve dessert made by blending fresh fruit into ice cream. McCorkle said the shop imported their ice cream machine directly from New Zealand and is expected to get a second machine to up their production.
He’ll bring his afternoon to a close with a casual drink at Distraction Brewing Co . ( 2 Belgrade Ave. ).
The local craft brewery and taproom offers both indoor and outdoor seating, which McCorkle especially enjoys partaking in (with his pup) if the day is warm enough. For dinner in Roslindale, there are plenty of options to choose from. McCorkle will head to Shaking Seafood ( 919 Poplar St .
) for a fun and interactive dining experience with New Orleans-style seafood boils . The concept is simple: pick your seafood, choose your seasoning, and have it boiled in a bag to soak in all the flavorful spices. He also recommends heading over to Shanti ( 4197 Washington St.
), an Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant. McCorkle will order the paneer masala with a side of naan . If you’re looking for something a little more upscale, McCorkle recommends Delfino ( 754 South St .
), a cozy Italian spot that he said is perfect for a date night or a special evening out. For a cocktail and upscale comfort food, try Midnight Morning ( 14 Birch St. ), a newer addition to the neighborhood.
After dinner, Roslindale has several unique spots to keep the evening going. The Rozzie Square Theater ( 5 Basile St. ) is a hidden gem for entertainment.
This small, basement-level venue hosts a variety of events, including comedy shows, improv, and even drag performances. Just remember, the theater doesn’t serve alcohol, so grab a drink before or after the show at one of the nearby bars. For a beer with community members, McCorkle recommends The Substation at ( 4228 Washington St .
) This historic electrical substation is a co-working space during the day and a lively beer hall in the evening. The venue often hosts a resident brewery, communal tables, and a great atmosphere for casual mingling. For something low-key but equally engaging, check out The Square Root ( 2 Corinth St.
). This coffee shop by day transforms into a fun nightlife venue in the evening, serving wine and canned cocktails. The cafe also hosts local events like comedy shows, live music, and movie screenings.
A favorite of McCorkle’s is the Roslindale Film Society , which organizes film screenings once or twice a month at the cafe. “They’re very affordable, and it’s a cool spot to watch a great movie,” he said. Annie Jonas Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.
com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times. Boston.
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