Belmont, MA Road Trips

The town was settled by European colonists in 1635 as a village within the boundaries of Cambridge, Massachusetts, named Menotomy, an Algonquian word meaning "swift running water". A somewhat larger area, including surrounding land, was incorporated on February 27, 1807 as West Cambridge. In 1867, the name "Arlington" was chosen in honor of those buried in Arlington National Cemetery; the name change took effect that April 30. Mill Brook, which historically figured largely into Arlington's economy, flows through the town. In 1637 Captain George Cooke built the first mill on the brook. Subsequently, seven mills were built along the stream, including the Old Schwamb Mill, which survives to this day. Paul Revere's famous midnight ride to alert colonists took him through Menotomy. Later on that first day of the American Revolution, more blood was shed in Menotomy than in the battles of Lexington and Concord combined. Minutemen from surrounding towns converged on Menotomy to ambush the British on their retreat from Concord and Lexington. All in all, 25 colonials were killed in Menotomy (half of all Americans killed in the day's battles), as well as 40 British troops (more than half their fatalities). The colonial soldiers are buried in Arlington's Old Burying Ground/ The Jason Russell House, a yellow colonial, is today a museum which remembers those twelve Americans, including Russell himself, who were killed in and around the house on April 19, 1775. Bullet holes are visible in the interior walls to this day.

1 Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum, 611 Massachusetts Avenue, ☏ +1 781 641-0747, [email protected]. W-Su noon – 4PM. Features the work of American sculptor, Cyrus E. Dallin (1861-1944) who lived and worked in Arlington for over 40 years. His works include the Paul Revere statue in Boston's North End and Appeal to the Great Spirit in front of Boston's Museum of Fine arts. Free; donations welcome. 2 Jason Russell House, 7 Jason Street, ☏ +1 781 648-4300, [email protected]. Sa Su 1-4PM, mid April to mid October. The Jason Russell House, built in 1740, still bears bullet holes as the site of bloody fighting on the first day of the American Revolution. British soldiers, in retreat from Lexington and Concord, shot and bayoneted Jason Russell on his own doorstep. Eleven other area Minute Men, who had gathered in Arlington, due to its strategic location, also lost their lives here in the April 19, 1775 skirmish. The Jason Russell House is attached to the Smith Museum. Admission covers both. Adults $5, children $2. 3 Old Schwamb Mill, 17 Mill Lane, ☏ +1 781 643-0554, [email protected]. Tu & Sa 11AM - 3PM. The Old Schwamb Mill is a continuously operating site where immigrant Puritan, Yankee, and German entrepreneurs used water power from the adjacent brook to run machines and develop a series of family-owned businesses. Today the mill continues to produce museum quality hand turned wooden oval and circular frames. Visitors can tour the facility and see how these frames are made. 4 Prince Hall Mystic Cemetery (Prince Hall Cemetery), Gardner St.

1 Spy Pond (directly off the Minuteman Bikeway less than half a mile from Arlington center). Spy Pond Park has a children's playground, benches and several grassy areas where you can relax and enjoy the view. (updated Jun 2020) Arlington International Film Festival, ☏ +1 857 209-1122, [email protected]. AIFF runs a yearly film festival in the Fall and sponsors other film-related events year round. Films are selected that develop, promote, and increase multicultural awareness and understanding.

1 Acitrón Cocina Mexicana, 473 Massachusetts Ave., ☏ +1 781 777-2839, [email protected]. M-Th Su 5PM-10PM, F Sa 5PM-11PM, Su 11AM-2:30PM. Contemporary Mexican. Full bar. 2 Fusion Taste, 303 Broadway, ☏ +1 781 641-2388. M-Th 11AM-10 PM; F Sa 11AM-11PM; Su noon-10PM. Asian. Full bar. 3 Menotomy Grill & Tavern, 25 Massachusetts Ave, ☏ +1 781 648-1775, [email protected]. M-W 4:30PM-midnight; Th-Su noon-midnight. 4 Not Your Average Joe's, 645 Massachusetts Ave, ☏ +1 781 643-1666. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su noon-10PM. Casual, contemporary American. Full bar. Part of a small chain. 5 Punjab, 485 Massachusetts Ave, ☏ +1 781 643-0943. Daily 11AM-11PM. Indian. Full bar. 6 Retro Burger & Ice Cream, 795 Massachusetts Ave., ☏ +1 781 777-2139, [email protected]. 11:30AM-9PM. 7 Sabzi, 352 Massachusetts Ave, ☏ +1 781 753-0150, [email protected]. Tu-Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-9PM. Persian/Iranian cuisine. 8 Scutra, 92 Summer St, ☏ +1 781 316-1816. M-Th 5:30-9PM, F 5:30-9:30PM, Sa 5-9:30PM. Contemporary American cuisine. 9 Thai Moon, 663 Massachusetts Ave, ☏ +1 781 646-3334, [email protected]. Tu-Th 11:30AM-9:30PM, F 11:30AM-10PM, Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-9PM. Thai. Beer and wine only. 10 Toraya, 890 Massachusetts Ave., ☏ +1 781 641-7477. Tu-Sa 11:30AM-2:30PM, Tu-Th Su 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM. Japanese, Sushi Bar. (updated Sep 2018) 11 Tryst, 689 Massachusetts Ave, ☏ +1 781 641-2227, [email protected]. Dinner: M-Th 5-10PM; F Sa 5-11PM; Su 4:30-9PM; brunch: Sa Su 11AM-2:30PM. Contemporary American cuisine.

Arlington's liquor laws allow alcohol to be served only with a meal. In practice this means that all bars are part of a restaurant and that after your second drink, even sitting at the bar, you'll be asked to order some food.

1 Hawthorne Suites, 1 Massachusetts Avenue, ☏ +1 781 643-7258, fax: +1 781 643-7298.

Arlington is bounded on the south by Route 2, a major transportation route allowing access to Boston and the western part of Massachusetts. Arlington is also a short distance from Interstate 93 and 95. Other major routes that go through the town are Routes 2A and 3. The MBTA Red Line stops at Alewife station on the Arlington border. From there, you can take the 67 bus which runs to Arlington Center. The Commuter rail Fitchburg Line has two commuter rail stations in Belmont. The popular 77 Bus runs through Arlington on Massachusetts Avenue. Other, less frequent bus routes in Arlington include the 62, 67, 78, 80, 87, and 350 buses. Belmont is served by MBTA bus 73, 74, 75, and 78.

The Minuteman Bikeway is a well-used bicycle and pedestrian path built on a former railroad right-of-way. It connects Bedford and Lexington to the west, runs through Arlington Heights, crosses Massachusetts Avenue at Arlington Center, and leads to Alewife Station on the MBTA, making it very popular with commuters.