Moving to Massachusetts! Please help!

August 20, 2005 10:46 AM

Moving to Massachusetts in a year, need help from New Englanders!

I have lived in Florida my entire life and in a year I will be relocating to Amherst, MA to be with my fiancee. I need some good tips on how to survive in Massachusetts, take in mind that I have never seen snow and don't know diddly-squat about the NorthEast. What are some things I need to prepare myself for? What will be expected cost of living? How long before I can be considered a resident of the state (I want to continue with school up there, but I'd rather not pay the out of state tuition if I can help it). What type of vehicle would be best to have in such an environment?

Anything you guys can recommend would be awesome. Thanks a bunch!

posted by Number27 to travel & transportation (43 comments total)

Number27, when I was looking at the same move (destination-wise, that is) this comparison site was a big help.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:55 AM on August 20, 2005

As for residency, obtain a MA drivers liscence ASAP. I was able to attend (community) college in CA as a resident after merely presenting my state license. Offical MA residency breakdown here . Cost of living will be slightly higher, especially rent. Buy a car in Florida, cars from the Northeast will be more damaged from rust and salt on the road and harsh winters. You don't need a 4x4 in Amherst, most any car will do just fine.

For winter survival I reccomend layers. Get yourself a good fleece and a good outer shell, not one huge bulky jacket. Get yourself some quality long underwear (polypropylene) and even fleece pants (they are very comfy underneath jeans during the winter). Learn about rotaries, and get yourself a good MA road map. There are a lot of highways and towns and cities all crammed into a very small space in mass, and it can be confusing if you are not familiar with the area.
posted by sophist at 11:02 AM on August 20, 2005

It's more expensive overall for everything, but good quality i'd say, and i'd start getting mail sent there now (and have your fiancee change the billing names/addresses for utilities now to include your name on them)--usually it's a year or more of residency to get in-state tuition--check UMass-Amherst's site for more details. It's a college town, so will be full of people from everywhere and newcomers, which will help.

There's less and less snow/ice each winter, so don't worry about the car so much--you can always get better tires later.

I've found that it's little things (we have smaller portion sizes in restaurants than the south/midwest, and prices are higher, utilities cost more, etc) that are most different.
posted by amberglow at 11:09 AM on August 20, 2005

It's a lovely part of the world. Congratulations. Don't worry.
Plan on learning to cross country ski. New England in fall is magnificient, and if prepared, winters are wonderful.

You're going to have a great time.
posted by NorthCoastCafe at 11:49 AM on August 20, 2005

I need some good tips on how to survive in Massachusetts, take in mind that I have never seen snow and don't know diddly-squat about the NorthEast.

I remember the first time I saw snow after I moved up from Florida... it was absolutely magical. Ever since, I've always been one of those crazy New Englanders who loves the snow instead of loathing it like a proper NE'er. Dress in layers -- temperatures change quickly.

What are some things I need to prepare myself for?

You're going to have to learn how to drive. That stuff you did in Florida is cruising... in MA, you'll need to unlearn all that friendly driver behavior if you want to survive. Whenever the term Massholes is brandied about, 90% of the time it's in reference to their driving.

What will be expected cost of living?

Moderate-to-expensive. $1200/mo. for rent in the cities, maybe knock off a couple hundred if you're lucky. That's for a two-bed. Beer costs about $5 a pint, though there are deals to be had (the place I used to frequent in Boston had $2 16oz. bottles!) Food is basically the same, but eating out will cost you more... figure $15/person for a sit-down place.

How long before I can be considered a resident of the state (I want to continue with school up there, but I'd rather not pay the out of state tuition if I can help it).

I believe you have to live in the state for 12 months before you can be declared a resident, and you don't have to be in-state for the entire period... just be in-state enough to show intent. More here.

What type of vehicle would be best to have in such an environment?

Front-wheel drive Japanese beater. It'll handle the snow fine, it'll get you and your friends around, you won't have to fix it all the time, and you won't be too upset when it rusts to hell. A mid-90's Toyota or Honda should do nicely.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 12:16 PM on August 20, 2005

As a resource for New England events, weather, etc., check out Yankee Magazine and their Old Farmer's Almanac. And, closer to your new home -- check out the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Five Colleges, Inc. and Noho.com.
posted by ericb at 12:17 PM on August 20, 2005

I lived in Amherst and Northampton for 11 years and the snow is not that bad. The towns are well-prepared to clear the streets whenever it snows, and frankly the biggest hassle is getting your driveway cleared. The streets are usually just slush within a few hours of a snowstorm, and as long as you drive a little more slowly than usual you'll be fine.

It's a really great area with a lot to offer.
posted by bendy at 12:17 PM on August 20, 2005

Whoops... just noticed that sophist linked to the same PDF.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 12:17 PM on August 20, 2005

You don't need a car. PVTA is pretty good, you can get to Boston or NYC via Peter Pan. Car insurance is not cheap in Mass.

I prefered Hadley to Amherst. Fewer students, still on the bus routes.

And it is Hamp, dammit, not Noho.
posted by QIbHom at 12:41 PM on August 20, 2005

The snow in Amherst isn't bad, but much of the winter fun in the area is in southern NH and VT, and all-wheel drive will get you there much better and safer. I have a ten-year-old Jeep Grand Cherokee I bought for $3000 and it's great. Used Subarus are cheap too.
posted by nicwolff at 12:53 PM on August 20, 2005

Amherst is *definitely* not Boston, nor is Northampton, the closest city. Cost of living in Western Mass is not as bad. You can probably get a decent two bedroom apartment for under $1000. There is a Western Mass craigslist which you should familiarize yourself with.

The big change will be paying for heating in the winter (especially these days). Expect at least to pay $1000-1500 for oil from November to March.

Also, when it gets really hot in the summer there isn't air conditioning everywhere as there is in Florida.

As far as vehicles, you may be tempted to get the Saabs, Volvos because they're supposed to be "winter cars", but really there's not as much in that anymore. My dad was a rural mailman in Vermont for thirty years and always drove Toyotas. A good set of snow tires like Blizzaks is not a bad investment.

Besides that, just prepare yourself for the amazing change of seasons- autumn is amazing in the Amherst area. Be sure to check out the apple orchards and the farms (what's left of them). You can always go into Northampton to get your city fix.
posted by jeremias at 12:54 PM on August 20, 2005

As someone who moved from a warm place to New England for school, I have to disagree with sophist and C_D. Get a solid coat that will keep you warm with just a T-shirt and sweater underneath. As time goes on, you'll diversify your collection to include a fall coat, a spring jacket, etc., but the one thing that made me nuts about winter was all the taking-on, taking-off, and having fewer pieces made me happier. (I now adore winter.) Also, as far as staying toasty goes, do not underestimate the value of gloves, scarf, and hat. I did to my peril. Get earmuffs for when it's too warm for a hat but still cold on ears. Buy all these things and the long underwear in Mass.; there will be a better selection. Pajama pants under your trousers are warm but not confining.

Also, people may mock you for being from the South. But you've hung around on Metafilter, so that shouldn't be surprising.
posted by dame at 12:55 PM on August 20, 2005

Oh ... and a few other things

“Bang a u’ie”, not “turn around”

“Bizza”, not “weird”

"Book", not "flee", as in "The statee came and we booked outta there!"

"Candlepin bowling" involves tiny little pins and tiny little balls.

"The Cape", not "Cape Cod"

"Cella", not "basement"

"Chowdahead", not "idiot"

"Frappe", not "milkshake"

“Frickin'” means “fuck” and used when in polite company

“Gravy” is “tomato sauce” and very popular in Boston’s North End

“Hang a right”, not “take a right”

“Hermit”, is a molasses and raisin bar

“Jimmies”, not “sprinkles for your ice cream”

“Package Store” or “packie”, not “liquor store”

“Patriot’s Day” is a Massachusetts holiday (third Monday of April) to commemorate the Battles of Concord and Lexington (April 19, 1775) – and is the day of The Boston Marathon.

"The Pike", not "The Massachusetts Turnpike"

"P-Town", not "Provincetown"

“Quayuh”, not "Queer" It means “dorky”, “stupid” and is not a synonym for "gay."

“Scrod” is a generic name for white fish – usually cod, but can be the “fish of the day”

"Soda" or "tonic", not "soft drink" or "pop"

"The Sox", not "The Boston Red Sox" (also there was no curse and remember the "Yankees Suck!")

“Southie”, not the “South End of Boston”

“Statee”, not “State Trooper”

“Wisstah”, not “Worcester”

"The Vineyard", not "Martha's Vineyard"

"Wicked pissa", not "awesome"

"Wicked", not "very"

“Yah huh” and “no suh”, not “Yes” and “no.” As in -- "I saw Joey in Southie and he was with
another girl." "No SUH!" "Yah huh."

and ... New Englanders do not refer to Boston as “Beantown”, only outsiders do.

posted by ericb at 12:59 PM on August 20, 2005 [1 favorite has favorites]

I guess I should not reveal that I loathe baseball, and that I am a Lightning fan and a Packers fan then. Haha.
posted by Number27 at 1:09 PM on August 20, 2005

I guess I should not reveal that I loathe baseball, and that I am a Lightning fan and a Packers fan then. Haha.

Be very, very quiet about that fact! ;)
posted by ericb at 1:10 PM on August 20, 2005

To add to ericb's list:
bubbler = water fountain
grinder = sandwich on a sub roll
And candlepin bowling is awesome.

(I remember seeing a regional American dialect post on Metafilter before... ah, yes.)

Also, I second the Yankee magazine suggestion... it has all sorts of listings for fun outdoorsy stuff. Avoid rear-wheel drive cars in the winter. It's only really hot and gross for a few weeks in the summer. And I'd watch out for seasonal depression in the winter... February's a killer.
posted by strikhedonia at 1:44 PM on August 20, 2005

Err...“Southie”, not the “South End of Boston” "South Boston". [The South End and South Boston are separate neighborhoods]
posted by ericb at 1:45 PM on August 20, 2005

And don't forget Mass Audubon for lots of fun, outdoorsy stuff to do!
posted by airgirl at 2:30 PM on August 20, 2005

While everything that ericb has to say is correct, unless you're hanging out with UMass students, you won't run into much of that nonsense in the Amherst/Northampton area.

Civil_disobedient's monetary quotes are also a little high for Western, MA. Jerimias is very right, the part of western, MA that you're going to be in is definitely not Boston. Stuff is cheaper, the pace of life is slower, we have better scenery, we're more open-minded, and people in Boston don't even know that the Northampton/Amherst area exists, for the most part.
posted by TurkishGolds at 2:46 PM on August 20, 2005

Err...“Southie”, not the “South End of Boston” "South Boston". [The South End and South Boston are separate neighborhoods]

ericb, I have a feeling most residents of Southie would beat you down for implying that they were residents of the South End ... kna'mean?
posted by LilBucner at 3:03 PM on August 20, 2005

Gravy” is “tomato sauce” and very popular in Boston’s North End

Gravy is the stuff you put on your turkey. Marinara is plain tomato sauce (with some spices), Bolognaise is meat tomato sauce.

“Jimmies”, not “sprinkles for your ice cream”

Jimmies are not sprinkles. Jimmies are tiny, tube-shaped candies. Sprinkles are round.

Also, don't actually use any of those words if you're fresh from Florida. People will look at you funny because you'll most likely be missing all the nuance.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:30 PM on August 20, 2005

Amherst is a very nice area. In the warmer months, go to Puffer's Pond to swim. Mt. Sugarloaf in Sunderland will give you a great view of the surrounding area on a clear day. There are many sugar shacks in the area, don't forget about them in February--they had a rough year last year. There is terrific local produce in season: love it, especially the butter and sugar corn. Umass is nigh impossible to navigate during lunchtime hours. The hangar does great chicken wings and has a fabulous beer selection: wicked crowded on Friday nights. Apparently the locals refer to ground beef as 'hamburg' and offer it as a pizza topping.

Driving in Poineer Valley is not like driving in Boston. Your fellow motorists are typically very polite. If you're first in line to make a left at a light, don't be surprised if the first in in opposing traffic flashes their lights to let you go: wave thank you. Pedestrians have right of way. Cars should stop for you. Most pedestrians give a little wave of recognition and thanks for not being run down.

Drive sensibly in the winter. They do a good job of clearing the streets for the most part, but when the snow is coming down, slow down and widen your following distance.
posted by plinth at 4:06 PM on August 20, 2005

ericb, we're talking Amherst here, not greater Boston. Number27, Western Massachusetts tries to disassociate itself as much as possible from the whole Bostom mess. I am a relocated native (I lived in Amherst for about 15 years) and I get lumped in with Boston all the time by west-coasters. It's irritating, because it really is a totally different culture.

All of the terminology mentioned above is bostonian, not amhersty. except for candlepin bowling -- that IS sweet.

Get a 3-season coat and then a big-ass warm coat. Most of the time you'll be fine in a fleece and shell, but when it DOES get cold, you will appreciate having a big puffy coat when you are chipping ice off your windshield.
posted by misterbrandt at 4:15 PM on August 20, 2005

I demand a Western MA meetup, incidentally.
posted by abcde at 4:29 PM on August 20, 2005

Oh yeah, misterbrandt reminded me of one thing. If you are currently looking for housing or will be relocating, getting a house with an actual garage can be *very* worth it. When the snow does come, it's really nice to have your car sheltered!
posted by jeremias at 4:39 PM on August 20, 2005

I'd have to strongly disagree with the advice above about not getting a car. I lived in Amherst for a year and found public transit incredibly unreliable, with limited hours and limited range of service. The public transit system in the region is (as I understand it) partially to mostly funded by UMass Amherst, a large public university that has gone through budget cuts like crazy over the course of the last few years. My husband used to take the bus from Amherst to Northampton in the early evenings for a class: a one way trip was cheap, yes, but it took anywhere from 60-90 minutes. Coming back in the evening, the buses ran once per hour, so if you just miss a bus, you're sitting, sometimes in the freezing rain/snow/slush...

Well, can you tell I don't recommend the PVTA?

Anyway, you'll do fine in the weather - layers, yes. The thing we loved about living in Amherst was the food - there was great Korean in Hadley (on rt. 9 near the bridge), great pizza in downtown Amherst (Antonio's for thin-crust), and a plethora of cool places in Northampton. We liked Northampton much more than Amherst - we even got married there.

Save your pennies now - transferring car titles and driver's licenses will cost you at least $200. Grocery stores - Stop & Shop and Big Y are the two main joints in town, although a Trader Joe's recently opened in Hadley, down the street from a Whole Paycheck. Every Saturday (or is it Sunday?) in the town center of Amherst is a farmer's market. In late July/early August or so is the Taste of Northampton - try to catch it if you can.
posted by cajo at 5:35 PM on August 20, 2005

The main thing to prepare for is winter. As you've never seen snow before, you'll go through a period of "wow, winter is wicked awesome!", just as we natives do. The crisp November days, a dusting of snow on the trees when you wake in the morning. You'll buy your very first ice scraper for your car. You'll see your very first bright orange city-run snowplow. If you're lucky you'll have your first white Christmas, which is magical whether you celebrate the actual holiday or not. You'll thank your fiancee for brining you to such a lovely part of the country.

Then, around the end of December you'll start to get a bit tired of winter. The pitch black mornings, the gray days, the salt from the roads coating the car you just bought. You'll start to think maybe a trip back to Florida to visit the folks might be fun. You'll dream of the glory that you've been told is summer in New England. You'll tell yourself you're only a few hours from the beaches of Maine, or from the mountains of Vermont, or the spas in the Berkshires. But overall you'll still be enjoying yourself, maybe doing a little skating, learning to snowboard. You can make it through.

And then, around mid-February, when you've gone through a solid week of temperatures below ten degrees, when you've paid yet another 350 dollar oil bill, you'll snap. You'll wake up in the dark of morning, walk outside, feel your nose hairs freeze solid, start your poor, protesting ice block of a car. And you'll curse the day your fiancee ever brought you here. You'll do this over and over again until the last of the snow finally melts away. In May. Seven full months after it first fell.

And then, when July rolls around and you've sweated through a solid week of temperatures above ninety degrees with 100 percent humidity, your thoughts will drift back to those lovely, crisp November days. You'll start to think, you know, last winter wasn't so bad. In fact, I really like winter. I could really go for some snow right about now.

One of us. One of us.
posted by schoolgirl report at 6:07 PM on August 20, 2005 [1 favorite has favorites]

“Scrod” is a generic name for white fish – usually cod

'Scrod' is almost never cod, because cod is worth so much more money than scrod that it would be silly to sell it under a cheaper name. Scrod is usually haddock, hake, or pollock. It refers to whatever flaky, meaty white fish is in abundance at the time.
posted by Miko at 6:33 PM on August 20, 2005

I second (third?) the suggestion about boning up on your defensive driving skills. I grew up driving in Texas, spent twelve years driving in New York City (!), and now that I live in Boston, there isn't a day that goes by without me being out-and-out stunned by the godawful road behavior in this town. Seriously. There is a presumption that the right to turn left is absolute, to the point where people turn left across oncoming traffic without really giving the oncoming traffic a second thought; if you're in that stream, you better be ready to slam on your brakes hard. Likewise, people ignore crosswalks, act as if their cars have no blinkers, turn right on red at clearly-marked "No Right on Red" intersections, blow through red lights, and make lefts from the right lane/rights from the left lane without giving it a second thought. While I've loved living here, I have to say that the driving makes me want to leave more often than anything else.
posted by delfuego at 7:55 PM on August 20, 2005

There is a presumption that the right to turn left is absolute...

There is an unwritten but widely understood (at least by natives) rule in Boston to yield to drivers turning left at a stoplight if they are the first cars at the light. It actually makes a lot of sense when you have a lot of heavy traffic on single lane streets as in Boston; it keeps the drivers behind the cars turning left from being stuck unnecessarily and it's only a minor delay for the cars in the opposing lane. It's so widely understood that, yes, people do assume they can turn left, and not to let them is considered rude.
posted by tiny purple fishes at 8:39 PM on August 20, 2005

And then, when July rolls around and you've sweated through a solid week of temperatures above ninety degrees with 100 percent humidity, your thoughts will drift back to those lovely, crisp November days.

Oh goody! I am used to that type of weather.

Your advice is most excellent folks!
posted by Number27 at 9:26 PM on August 20, 2005

Just a coupla moah pointahs:
1) "wicked" is an all-purpose superlative modifier
2) pronounce "Quincy" as KWIN-zee
3) I strongly second Sophist's advice about rotaries -- very confusing for non-Yankees
posted by rob511 at 1:21 AM on August 21, 2005

I have to chime in again, this time on the rotary issue. Everybody is talking about them, but the nearest rotary to Amherst that I can think of is in Greenfield, where Route 2 meets Route 91 (about 40 minutes north of Amherst). So I am going to say that rotaries are not going to be an issue for you. Well, okay, there is one in Holyoke too, but nobody every goes to Holyoke.
posted by misterbrandt at 9:18 AM on August 21, 2005

Note that Massachusetts is one of the states where (as of about 10 years ago) the left lane isn't even nominally a passing lane; both are equal by law and the left lane is only faster by tradition, when it is.
posted by abcde at 9:40 AM on August 21, 2005

You go do to Holyoke, for the Holyoke Mall, actually. The Hampshire mall in Hadley is pathetic in comparison.
posted by abcde at 9:42 AM on August 21, 2005

Tiny purple fishes, the fact that there are people who justify such a silly "unwritten rule" makes me want to flee Massachusetts even more. What happens if two cars want to turn left? Five? Ten? Should the oncoming traffic yield to them all? Because that's pretty much the norm -- the first car bolts left across the oncoming traffic, and all the cars behind it stick together, bumper-to-bumper, like a chain. This is the most selfish road behavior I've ever experienced, not the lack of the oncoming traffic asserting their right-of-way. What about if the first car is going straight, but it's the second car that wants to turn left? Does that driver have the right to inch across the oncoming lane even before the light turns red, and then bolt as soon as the car in front of them clears enough space to do so?

In addition to all the permutations that make this sheer idiocy, the fact that every most every other state doesn't behave like this makes it outright dangerous -- should the person wanting making a left hinge his or her decision on whether the first car in the oncoming stream has out-of-state plates, and thus is less likely to know the "rule"?

Honestly, I'd love to rent some wreck and T-bone the car of a driver who decides that there's a rule saying it's OK to make a dangerous left across oncoming traffic. It'd be worth it for so many reasons; now, I can add to that list the fun of hearing them explain to the cop that I wasn't abiding by the unwritten rule allowing them to drive like a fool.
posted by delfuego at 10:53 AM on August 21, 2005

now that I live in Boston...

People! Number27 is not moving to Boston! I live in western Mass, and I can attest that folks around here tend to curse Boston when they pay any attention to it at all, which is as rarely as possible. A lot of people out here are Yankee fans because they can't stand the Red Sox worship of the Boston-based media. Your Boston driving experience has zero relevance and your cute Boston terminology still less. "Wicked pissa" my ass.
posted by languagehat at 1:19 PM on August 21, 2005

Having grown up in Amherst, then lived in the midwest, then in New York and on the West Coast, I want to echo languagehat's point. Please, rest of the world, pay attention: Western Massachusetts and Boston are not the same thing, no more then San Francisco and Los Angeles or Austin and Dallas or etc. It's a state, not a city, and the city's regionalisms do not necessarily extend westward (especially in this case, where Amherst is in a constant identity struggle and defines itself largely by what it isn't: Boston).

Aside to misterbrandt: Do you still keep in touch with Tiina?
posted by Sinner at 1:48 PM on August 21, 2005

I'm another Western MA person (Savoy representin'!) who would just like to reiterate that you should categorically ignore anyone above who mentioned anything about Boston in their answer. When people ask where I live, I always answer "The Berkshires", because if I say "Massachussetts" they always start talking about Boston. Especially Bostonians, who to a man appear to be convinced that the entire state is just one extended suburb. Jerks.

I've lived here for years, and have never heard a single one of the regionalisms ericb or rob511 lists. People here talk pretty much like people anywhere in the US talk; I'm a transplanted west coaster and didn't really notice any difference.

You will absolutely, positively need a car. Personally I wouldn't dream of living here without four-wheel drive, but that's because I live in the boondocks; in town you could get by with just snow tires. But make sure they're good snow tires, and keep a bag of sand in your trunk at all times. Traffic is generally very polite, except during leaf-peeping season, when enraged locals start screaming past the 25mph tourists looking at the fall foliage.

If you don't need to be right in town, housing can be very, very inexpensive in the more rural areas. (Savoy representin'!) And those rural areas can still be within a 20, 30 minute drive of the larger towns, so it's worth looking into if you want more space or privacy.

Winters are hard. You will be cold and miserable. Schoolgirl report's description is dead on. Except for the part in late summer where you start looking forward to the next winter. I never do that.
posted by ook at 3:28 PM on August 21, 2005

You are going to LOVE your pizza options up here. Pinnochio's in Northampton & Antonio's in Amherst are wonderful. Haymarket Café in Northampton has a great socialist feel, good coffee, amazing nachos, great smoothies and free wireless. (and it's finallly open late on weekends, late being 2am)
posted by clango at 4:04 PM on August 21, 2005

One Western Mass. native's rebuttal/response to ericb:

> “Bang a u’ie”, not “turn around”
Well, yeah, but this is sort of universal. I've learned that in CA it's "flipping a bitch."

> “Bizza”, not “weird”
No.

> "Candlepin bowling" involves tiny little pins and tiny
> little balls.
Yeah.

> "The Cape", not "Cape Cod"
Yeah, but who doesn't know this?

> "Cella", not "basement"
Nope.

> "Chowdahead", not "idiot"
Idiot.

> "Frappe", not "milkshake"
No.

> “Frickin'” means “fuck” and used when in polite
> company
No one really says "frick" outside of the company of religious authorities.

> “Gravy” is “tomato sauce” and very popular in Boston’s
> North End
No. Well, sort of. It's also "gravy," in the traditional sense.

> “Hang a right”, not “take a right”
Either/or.

> “Hermit”, is a molasses and raisin bar
Never heard of one in 20+ years.

> “Jimmies”, not “sprinkles for your ice cream”
Age-old debate I'm too lazy to participate in.

> “Package Store” or “packie”, not “liquor store”
Sometimes. In the midwest it's a "party store."

> “Patriot’s Day”
Yep.

> "The Pike", not "The Massachusetts Turnpike"
Yep.

> "P-Town", not "Provincetown"
Troof.

> “Quayuh”, not "Queer" It means “dorky”, “stupid” and
> is not a synonym for "gay."
You're kidding yourself. It's pejorative derived from "queer" - meaning "gay" - as mangled by an (Eastern Mass.) accent.

> “Scrod” is a generic name for white fish
Dunno. I hate seafood.

> "Soda" or "tonic", not "soft drink" or "pop"
True dat.

> "The Sox", not "The Boston Red Sox"
You mean "not 'The Red Sox.'" Name one city where people actually use the city name when referring to the team.

> “Southie”, not the “South End of Boston”
So not relevant to Amherst.

> “Statee”, not “State Trooper”
Is this not the case elsewhere in the country?

> “Wisstah”, not “Worcester”
Or "Wough-ster." But really, who cares about Worcester?

> "The Vineyard", not "Martha's Vineyard"
Well, yeah.

> "Wicked pissa", not "awesome"
> "Wicked", not "very"
> “Yah huh” and “no suh”, not “Yes” and “no.”
Maybe if you grew up in an SNL sketch.

ON PREVIEW:
Clango: Don't forget Rao's. Both the current owner and the founder/namesake are good friends, dedicated workers and great guys overall. As was Bruno Mattorazzo, the late founder/owner of Bruno's, Pasta Basta and the already-mentioned-but-deserving-of-unlimited-praise Antonio's. RIP.
posted by Sinner at 4:11 PM on August 21, 2005

> “Statee”, not “State Trooper”
Is this not the case elsewhere in the country?

Um, no. Never heard of this in Ohio, Michigan, or Washington.
posted by kindall at 4:15 PM on August 21, 2005

I second everything plinth said. Mount Sugarloaf is one of my favorite spots in the area to relax and gaze out over the Connecticut River. And I adore Antonio's and Pinnochio's.

Other personal recommendations: Bub's BBQ on Route 116 in Sunderland. The Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley and The Montague Book Mill. Rollerblade on The Norwottuck Rail Trail from Belchertown to Northampton. Atkins Farms Market in Amherst for produce and atmosphere. Northampton has lots of good bookstores and restaurants. WRNX 100.9 and WRSI 93.9 for excellent, slightly offbeat radio.

TurkishGolds was right about Boston but that's more true of the newspapers than the people who live here. Some of us enjoy taking regular road trips to the "Here There Be Dragons" parts of the state.
posted by tut21 at 8:00 AM on August 24, 2005