Assembly Row Walking Tour
The Rejuvenation of Assembly Row
Looking for inspiration to make a fresh start? Look no further than Somerville's Assembly Row (also known as Assembly Square). Long ignored, the plaza's rejuvenation (with many fits and starts along the way) has been nothing short of astonishing. The investment from the city of Somerville, the MBTA, local and national retailers and restaurateurs, and the Federal Realty Investment Trust developers is on display each day, with new businesses opening, a cleaned-up waterfront park, and a brand-new T stop.
If you visited Assembly Square, say, a year or two ago, you would have found just a few stores and lots of undeveloped asphalt. (The area had the dubious distinction of dead mall status back in the aughts.) Today, though, you'll find Legoland. A bustling arts market. Yoga classes along the waterfront. A movie theater with 3D and IMAX. A new outpost from Legal Sea Foods. Outlet shopping galore. And that's just scratching the surface.
I visited recently to see how the latest developments are coming along, and snapped a few photos along the way. Expect frequent updates on this photo gallery as Assembly Row continues to grow.
Getting to Assembly Row
Assembly Row is situated right on the border between Charlestown and Somerville. To get here by car, take 93 North to exit 29. Make a right onto Middlesex Avenue, then a left onto Foley Street. From there, take the second left onto Grand Union Boulevard, the first right onto Canal Street, and the second right to Assembly Row. There is plenty of free parking available. Or, take the T to the Assembly stop, the first new T stop in more than 20 years.
Assembly Row is set up as a grid, with the legacy Marketplace to the west; blocks of dining, shopping, and entertainment venues to the east; and the riverfront park to the north. Middlesex Avenue and Grand Union Boulevard contain the original Marketplace; Grand Union Boulevard, Assembly Row, and Great River Road are the three parallel thoroughfares of the new development.
Begin: Legoland
Start your visit at Legoland, Assembly Row's biggest draw, at the intersection of Assembly Row and Artisan Way. Head for the 20-foot tall giraffe made out Legos – you can't miss it! Opened in late May 2014 to much excitement and fanfare, Legoland has a few ground rules: You have to have a timed ticket to enter, and no adults without children are permitted to enter. (There are regularly scheduled adult nights, however, so all is not lost.) If you and your little ones go, expect a climbing maze, depictions of Boston-area landmarks made entirely of Legos, and a few amusement-park-style rides.
If you can't get in (or have a delay before your entry ticket time), there are more than enough shops in the area for distraction.
J.P. Licks
From Legoland, make a right onto Artisan Way, then a left onto Assembly Row, to the newest location of J.P. Licks, the much-beloved Boston ice cream chain. Good luck choosing what you want – the seasonal menu currently features salty caramel, apple crisp, and fresh lemon sorbet; my old standby is the oatmeal cookie hard yogurt (which is deceptively as creamy as ice cream). Relax and enjoy your sweet treat on the new patio, or take it to the waterfront park for an even nicer view.
From J.P. Licks, head east on Assembly Row toward the Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park. Here, you can walk along riverfront trails, take a seat at the amphitheater for people watching, or join a class (there's regularly scheduled running, and boot camp fitness get-togethers here at the park). There are six acres to explore, and in warmer months, you can often stop by for a live-music concert or free movie night.
From Baxter Park, head south on either Assembly Row or Grand Union Boulevard and turn onto Artisan Way to the new AMC Assembly Row 12 cineplex, and take in a movie. The theater is already generating buzz around town for its on-site bar, oversized comfy seats (with some that recline!), mix-and-match your own flavor Coca-Cola vending machines, and IMAX screen. You can also choose your seats in advance—so if there's a particular row, vantage point, or seat that you love, you can snag it via your smartphone beforehand and ensure it's yours for the show.
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Looking for inspiration to make a fresh start? Look no further than Somerville's Assembly Row (also known as Assembly Square). Long ignored, the plaza's rejuvenation (with many fits and starts along the way) has been nothing short of astonishing. The investment from the city of Somerville, the MBTA, local and national retailers and restaurateurs, and the Federal Realty Investment Trust developers is on display each day, with new businesses opening, a cleaned-up waterfront park, and a brand-new T stop.
If you visited Assembly Square, say, a year or two ago, you would have found just a few stores and lots of undeveloped asphalt. (The area had the dubious distinction of dead mall status back in the aughts.) Today, though, you'll find Legoland. A bustling arts market. Yoga classes along the waterfront. A movie theater with 3D and IMAX. A new outpost from Legal Sea Foods. Outlet shopping galore. And that's just scratching the surface.
I visited recently to see how the latest developments are coming along, and snapped a few photos along the way. Expect frequent updates on this photo gallery as Assembly Row continues to grow.
Getting to Assembly Row
Assembly Row is situated right on the border between Charlestown and Somerville. To get here by car, take 93 North to exit 29. Make a right onto Middlesex Avenue, then a left onto Foley Street. From there, take the second left onto Grand Union Boulevard, the first right onto Canal Street, and the second right to Assembly Row. There is plenty of free parking available. Or, take the T to the Assembly stop, the first new T stop in more than 20 years.
Assembly Row is set up as a grid, with the legacy Marketplace to the west; blocks of dining, shopping, and entertainment venues to the east; and the riverfront park to the north. Middlesex Avenue and Grand Union Boulevard contain the original Marketplace; Grand Union Boulevard, Assembly Row, and Great River Road are the three parallel thoroughfares of the new development.
Begin: Legoland
Start your visit at Legoland, Assembly Row's biggest draw, at the intersection of Assembly Row and Artisan Way. Head for the 20-foot tall giraffe made out Legos – you can't miss it! Opened in late May 2014 to much excitement and fanfare, Legoland has a few ground rules: You have to have a timed ticket to enter, and no adults without children are permitted to enter. (There are regularly scheduled adult nights, however, so all is not lost.) If you and your little ones go, expect a climbing maze, depictions of Boston-area landmarks made entirely of Legos, and a few amusement-park-style rides.
If you can't get in (or have a delay before your entry ticket time), there are more than enough shops in the area for distraction.
J.P. Licks
From Legoland, make a right onto Artisan Way, then a left onto Assembly Row, to the newest location of J.P. Licks, the much-beloved Boston ice cream chain. Good luck choosing what you want – the seasonal menu currently features salty caramel, apple crisp, and fresh lemon sorbet; my old standby is the oatmeal cookie hard yogurt (which is deceptively as creamy as ice cream). Relax and enjoy your sweet treat on the new patio, or take it to the waterfront park for an even nicer view.
From J.P. Licks, head east on Assembly Row toward the Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park. Here, you can walk along riverfront trails, take a seat at the amphitheater for people watching, or join a class (there's regularly scheduled running, and boot camp fitness get-togethers here at the park). There are six acres to explore, and in warmer months, you can often stop by for a live-music concert or free movie night.
From Baxter Park, head south on either Assembly Row or Grand Union Boulevard and turn onto Artisan Way to the new AMC Assembly Row 12 cineplex, and take in a movie. The theater is already generating buzz around town for its on-site bar, oversized comfy seats (with some that recline!), mix-and-match your own flavor Coca-Cola vending machines, and IMAX screen. You can also choose your seats in advance—so if there's a particular row, vantage point, or seat that you love, you can snag it via your smartphone beforehand and ensure it's yours for the show.
Want even more Boston travel news and updates? Subscribe to the About.com Boston travel newsletter and get all stories delivered right to your inbox!
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