Community Resources
U.S. Postal System
Mail is delivered to homes six days each week, Monday through Saturday. There is no mail delivery on federal (US government) holidays, because the post office is a federal agency.
You will find a Post Office in every town.
Stamps
When you buy a first class stamp (for letters up to 1 ounce; mailed within the U.S.), it will cost 44 cents (as of 5/2009). There are always many designs you can choose from. If you buy a forever stamp, you will be able to use this stamp for such letters even if/when postage rates increase. The stamp’s “value” will always be whatever the rate for a 1-ounce letter is. That is why it is called a “forever stamp”.
How to Address an Envelope
Write your name and address in the upper left corner. Your address is known as the return address. Write your friend’s name and address in the center. Put the five– or nine-digit zip code on the same line as the city and state. Use the official 2-letter state abbreviations. For letters going outside the U.S., write the name of the country on a separate line at the bottom. Write in English and use all capital letters. The stamp goes in the upper right corner.
You can get a free booklet, International Postal Rates and Fees, at any Post Office. It includes information about:
- Rates for international letters and packages
- Descriptions of security safeguards
- Restrictions on the size and weight of letters and packages
You should use First-Class Mail for letters, post cards, and most personal correspondence within the U.S. For international delivery, you can use surface, air, Global Priority, or Express Mail International (in increasing order of speed).
Speed of Mail Delivery
The Post Office says that most first class mail within the US takes 3-4 business days to arrive. Mail within one city takes one or two days to arrive. Or you can use Priority Mail to major cities in the U.S. Priority Mail “strives for” (but does not guarantee) delivery within two days. For overnight delivery, the U.S. Post Office offers Express Mail. Or try a private company like Federal Express (www.fedex.com), DHL (www.dhl.com), or UPS (www.ups.com).
Airmail to other countries (both letters and packages) is supposed to take 7-10 days. Surface mail takes from 4-12 weeks, depending on the distance and the delivery system in the other country. Global Priority Mail, offered to over 40 countries, is supposed to be faster than airmail, and Express Mail International (available to 180 countries and territories) is the fastest.
Mail delivery within the U.S. is generally thought to be safe from theft and loss. But you may want to use one of several security safeguards for valuable items.
Go to the United States Postal Service site to find nearby post office locations.
Bookstores
Barnes & Noble (www.bn.com)
Babson Bookstore, Babson College
781-239-4375
Bookstores near Babson
Online:
- Amazon.com (www.amazon.com)
- Half.com (www.half.com)
Bulk/Warehouse Stores
A warehouse club is a retail store, usually selling a wide variety of merchandise, in which customers pay annual membership fees in order to shop. The clubs are able to keep prices low due to the no-frills format of the stores and customers are required to buy large, wholesale quantities of the store's products.
Warehouse stores near Babson
Children’s Items
Everyday products for babies, such as diapers, formula, and baby food, can be easily found in drug stores or grocery stores. For toys, strollers and child seats, you can also find a good selection at Target (see Household Items).
Children's stores near Babson
Copy Services
Copy shops near Babson
Cultural Organizations
Austro-American Association of Boston (www.austria-boston.org)
67 Bridle Path, Sudbury, MA
978-579-2191
French Library and Cultural Center (www.frenchlib.org)
53 Marlborough St., Boston, MA
617-912-0400
Goethe Institute (www.goethe.de/boston)
170 Beacon St., Boston
617-262-6050
Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association (www.gbcca.org)
437 Cherry Street, West Newton, MA
617-332-0377
Japan Society (www.us-japan.org/boston)
1 Milk St. #2, Boston, MA
617-451-0726
Russian American Cultural Center (www.raccboston.org)
78 Tyler Street, Boston, MA
617-542-0707
Swedish American Chamber of Commerce New England (www.sacc-ne.org)
760 Main Street, Waltham, MA
617-395-8534
SwissNex www.swissnexboston.org
420 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
617-876-3076
Electronics
Electronics stores near Babson
Furniture
You can find simple and ready to assemble furniture such as bookshelves, TV stands, or computer desks at Target (see Household Items), or office furniture at Staples or Office Max (see Office Supplies). Another option is getting used furniture online through moving sales, for examples go to Craigslist (http://boston.craigslist.org/).
Furniture stores near Babson
Economy Hardware/Homeware (www.citylivingstores.com)
IKEA (www.ikea.com)
Jordan’s Furniture
Groceries/Food
Most stores are state/nation-wide. In order to look up your nearest location, go directly to the websites and search the location by zip code and/or address. To find a driving directions, go to www.mapquest.com or www.google.com.
Supermarkets in the Babson area
Ethnic Grocery Stores
International
Trader Joe’s (www.traderjoes.com)
958 Highland Avenue, Needham Heights, MA
781-449-6993
(Additional locations in Brookline, Boston, Cambridge, Framingham and West Newton)
Russo’s (www.russos.com)
560 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA
617-923-1500
Bazaar International Gourmet (www.bazaarboston.com)
1432 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA
617-739-8450
OR
424 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA
617-787-1511
Chinese
Super 88 Market (www.super88market.com)
One Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA
617-787-2288
Halal Food
Cheema Supermarket
572 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA
617-783-9800
Indian
Shalimar India Food and Spices
571 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
617-868-8311
Japanese
Cherry Market
349B Newbury Street, Boston, MA
617-437-1939
Kosher
The Butcherie (www.butcherie.com)
428 Harvard St, Brookline, MA
617-731-9888
Korean/Japanese
Reliable Market
45 Union Square, Somerville, MA
617-623-9620
Household Items
Bed Bath & Beyond (www.bedbathandbeyond.com)
820 Providence Highway, Dedham, MA
781-326-4420
OR
401 Park Drive, Boston, MA (Accessible by T, Green D line-Fenway)
617-536-1090
Target (www.target.com)
400 Cochituate Rd, Framingham, MA
508-628-3136
Wal-Mart (www.walmart.com)
121 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA
508-872-6575
You can also find bedding items at department stores like Macy’s, Sears, JC Penny found in Shopping Malls (see Shopping Malls).
International Shopping Areas
There are international markets all over Boston. But you will find a concentration of some nationalities in the following areas:
Chinatown (downtown Boston, near the Boylston (Green Line), Chinatown (Orange Line), and Downtown Crossing (Red Line) T stops)—Chinese and other Southeast Asian
North End (downtown Boston, near Haymarket (Green or Orange Line) T stop)—Italian
Porter Square (north Cambridge, at Porter Square (Red Line) T stop)—Japanese
East Cambridge (along Cambridge street)—Portuguese and Brazilian
Libraries
Local libraries offer free membership, books, videos, DVDs, newspapers, etc. They also offer lectures, computer and yoga classes.
Libraries near Babson
Office Supplies
These stores carry a large variety of office supplies, computer equipment, software, and office furniture.
Office supply stores near Babson
Pharmacy/Drug Stores
You can find these chain stores anywhere in the area. They sell daily necessities including pharmacy products, cleaning/bathroom items, beauty products, snacks, and photo development services.
Pharmacies near Babson
Places of Worship
Babson College
Glavin Chapel
781-239-5623
Ashland
New England Hindu Temple (www.srilaksmi.org)
117 Waverly Street
508-881-5775
Needham
Beth Shalom Temple-Reform
670 Highland Avenue
781-444-0077
Carter Memorial United Methodist
800 Highland Avenue
781-444-2460
Chabad Jewish Center
472 High Rock Street
781-455-9096
Christ Episcopal Church
1132 Highland Avenue
781-444-1469
Congregation Ruach Israel
754 Greendale Avenue
781-235-1114
Congregational Church of Needham UCC
1154 Great Plain Avenue
781-444-2510
Grace Lutheran
543 Greendale
781-444-3315
Presbyterian Church
1458 Great Plain Avenue
781-444-3728
Saint Bartholomew Catholic Church
1180 Greendale Avenue
781-444-3434
Saint Joseph Catholic Parish
1382 Highland Avenue
781-444-0245
Temple Aliyah
1664 Central Avenue
781-444-8522
Wellesley
Wellesley Congregational Church
2 Central Street
781-235-1988
Wellesley Baptist Church
42 Elmwood Road
781-235-6025
Christ Church United Methodist
2 Brook Street
781-235-7569
Christian Science Church
Linden & Rockland Street
781-235-1114
Wellesley Friends Meeting (Quaker)
26 Benvenue Street
781-237-0268
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church
79 Denton Road
781-235-7310
Saint Paul Roman Catholic Parish
502 Washington Street
781-235-1060
Unitarian Church of Wellesley Hills
309 Washington Street
781-235-7423
Village Congregational Church
2 Central Street
781-235-1988
Restaurants
Alta Strada (Italian)
92 Central Street, Wellesley, MA
781-237-6100
Amarin of Thailand (Thai)
27 Grove Street, Wellesley, MA
781-239-1350
Bertucci’s (Italian/Pizza)
380 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA (Corner of Washington & Forest Street)
781-239-0990
Café Mangal (Turkish/Mediterranean)
555 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA
781-235-5322
China Sky (Chinese)
11 Forest Street, Wellesley, MA
781-431-2388
La Riviera Gourmet (European Bakery & Restaurant)
390 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA (Corner of Washington & Forest Street)
781-235-1885
Lemon Thai Cuisine (Thai)
555 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA
781-237-6996
Masala Art (Indian)
990 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, MA
781-449-4050
Not Your Average Joe’s (American)
109 Chapel Street, Needham, MA
781- 453-9300
Papa Razzi (Italian)
16 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA
781-235-4747
Tian Fu (Chinese)
446 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA
781-235-1111
Yama (Japanese)
245 Washington Street
781-431-8886
Shopping Malls
The Chestnut Hill Mall (www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=786)
199 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA
617-965-3037
The Atrium (www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=331)
300 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA
The Natick Collection (www.natickcollection.com)
1245 Worcester St, Suite 1218, Natick, MA
508-655-4800
Cambridgeside Galleria (www.cambridgesidegalleria.com)
100 Cambridgeside Place, Cambridge, MA
617-621-8666
Storage and Shipping Services
All-American Storage (www.allamericanselfstorage.com/Natick_massachusetts.html)
14 Mill Street, Natick, MA
508-647-3637
Collegeboxes.com (collegeboxes.com)
Extra Space Storage (www.extraspace.com)
122 Allied Drive, Dedham, MA
781-329-8833
EZ Storage (www.ezstoragenow.com)
336 Speen Street, Natick, MA
508-653-2224
Fortress (www.thefortress.com)
99 Boston Street, Boston, MA
617-288-1143
Lazy Bones (www.mylazybones.net)
877-215-2105
New England Student Services (www.nestudentservices.com)
401-405-0922
Store to Door (www.storetodoor.com)
76 Holton Street, Woburn, MA
888-867-2800
Vita Bahari Inc. (www.vitabahari.com)
Shipco Transport, Inc, c/o Boston Freight Terminal, 329 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA
617-482-6222
Translation Services
ALS International Translation & Interpreting
617-723-0844
80 State Street, Boston MA
www.alsintl.com
American ESL, Inc
781-963-1114
89 N Main Street, Suite 11, Randolph, MA
www.learneslnow.com
American Translation Partners
508-823-8892
175 Paramount Drive, Raynham, MA
www.americantranslationpartners.com
Boston Translation Company
617-778-0594
31 Saint James Ave. Suite# 510
Boston, MA
http://bostontranslation.us/
Cefiro Language Services, LLC
617-314-6887
186 Hampshire Street, 3rd Floor, Cambridge, MA
Community Interpreter Services
617-451-7979
75 Kneeland Street, 8th Floor
Boston, MA
www.cccab.org
Global Vision International, Inc
508-616-6660
276 Turnpike Rd, Suite 234, Westborough, MA
www.globalvis.com
Language Consultants
781-237-9580 , 1-800-466-9580
14 Mica Lane, Suite 203
Wellesley Hills, MA
www.languageconsultant.org
The Multilingual Group
617-973-5077
8 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA
www.themultilingualgroup.com
Additional Resources
Moving Sales: Watch for informal signs near where you live and at your university for a “Moving Sale”. People who are moving far away often sell all their furniture and house wares and you can often get good prices.
Garage Sales: In the warm months, you will see signs advertising “garage sales” (also called “moving sales,” “yard sales,” “tag sales,” or “barn sales”). The prices are usually very low. The quality will range from excellent to awful.
Charity Organizations and Thrift Stores: There are several charity organizations that accept used furniture, clothes, and appliances from people who do not need them, then sell them at low prices. Examples are: Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army.