Anyone familiar with Lowell, MA?

[Bernadine]

My sister will be spending a month there for work. What can you tell me?

[speckledfrog]

I can tell you that the pronunciation rhymes with bowl. Lowl. Crazy MAers.

[imimahoney]

It's about an hour from Boston and Worcester. It's a small city with a large industrial history. The downtown area is tiny but there are some nice and fun places to go out. It has a bad rep for being seedy/trashy but it's come along way. UMASS has a campus there and it is a pretty decent school.

[bcv513]

I think Lowell has really become a nice place. When I was a kid, you wouldn't go near the place. Now, they have the Red Sox AA team playing there. They have a beautiful stadium and it's fun and cheap to go. UMass Lowell has built a ton of new buildings. There are some nice new restaurants and bars. I would stay in that area and not venture too far into "old" Lowell. She'll be close to the NH border and tax free shopping.

[Deleted]

I live right next door to Lowell!  It's a great place!  A few rough areas but lots of good restaurants, double a baseball team (go spinners!) that are fun to see. 

[snshne322]

I'm about 30 minutes from Lowell. There's a ton to do and Boston/NH/ME are just a quick drive away. There's a decent nightlife IIRC, but it's been a few years since I've gone there regularly for that. If she's there for the summer, the beach isn't that far either. Tons of restaurants, nice walk-able areas, and tons of recreations (another vote for the Spinners!)

[MixedBerryJam]

Will she have a car? She's going to want a car.

[Bernadine]

Jul 6, 2016 15:22:14 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

Will she have a car? She's going to want a car.

I can recommend that she drive, and request reimbursement.

[Deleted]

Jul 6, 2016 14:42:41 GMT -5 bcv513 said:

I think Lowell has really become a nice place. When I was a kid, you wouldn't go near the place. Now, they have the Red Sox AA team playing there. They have a beautiful stadium and it's fun and cheap to go. UMass Lowell has built a ton of new buildings. There are some nice new restaurants and bars. I would stay in that area and not venture too far into "old" Lowell. She'll be close to the NH border and tax free shopping.

Ya I don't think "hey I want to go to Lowell" when I hear Lowell.  it def has a bad rap but it has come very far.

[rosebud]

I had to giggle since I'm sitting on the Lowell bound commuter rail right now

[Deleted]

I lived in the Belvedere neighborhood for a few years. Beautiful tree lined streets, historic homes, close to the highway & downtown.

The folk festival is next weekend or the weekend after

Cobblestones is a good restaurant downtown.

Very close to NHfor tax free shopping & beaches.

Tell her to read Maggie Cassidy & The Town & The City by Jack Keroac before she goes & watch The invention of lying by Ricky Gervais.

[Deleted]

Jul 6, 2016 16:09:46 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

I lived in the Belvedere neighborhood for a few years. Beautiful tree lined streets, historic homes, close to the highway & downtown.

The folk festival is next weekend or the weekend after

Cobblestones is a good restaurant downtown.

Very close to NHfor tax free shopping & beaches.

Tell her to read Maggie Cassidy & The Town & The City by Jack Keroac before she goes & watch The invention of lying by Ricky Gervais.

Oh & " The Acre" & " Centralville" are considered rougher neighborhoods.

[memenee]

All I know about Lowell MA, I learned from "The Fighter". This is totally not helpful, but that is a great movie.

[bcv513]

She will definitely need a car

[Deleted]

Jul 6, 2016 16:53:20 GMT -5 memenee said:

All I know about Lowell MA, I learned from "The Fighter". This is totally not helpful, but that is a great movie.

Okay you know the part when they are on Amy Adam's porch and the guy with the cocker spaniel keeps walking by? That house was in my old neighborhood. I saw them filming on my ride home from work a few days. I actually saw Dickie and the sisters at Cobblestones on Easter when DS was a baby. He came up to me and started playing with DS and was like " This kid is HUGE get him in the ring" 

LOL! 

[Vespasia]

I was going to recommend the Textile Museum but it looks like it has closed.

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2016 8:28:54 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

I was going to recommend the Textile Museum but it looks like it has closed.

I was so BUMMED. 

[Deleted]

Jul 6, 2016 18:41:00 GMT -5 @starry said:

I went there for work. Maybe we work together (kidding)! It's ok. The stupid Lowell Connector is evil. Lots of chain restaurants and a few good local places downtown. We went to Boston one night which was a fairly easy drive.

Did you get off at the wrong exit for Target and end up at the movie theater? 

[memenee]

Jul 7, 2016 8:07:26 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

Jul 6, 2016 16:53:20 GMT -5 memenee said:

All I know about Lowell MA, I learned from "The Fighter". This is totally not helpful, but that is a great movie.

Okay you know the part when they are on Amy Adam's porch and the guy with the cocker spaniel keeps walking by? That house was in my old neighborhood. I saw them filming on my ride home from work a few days. I actually saw Dickie and the sisters at Cobblestones on Easter when DS was a baby. He came up to me and started playing with DS and was like " This kid is HUGE get him in the ring" 

LOL! 

Dickie telling you to get your kid in the ring is so cool!