SoWa
SoWa Boston (South of Washington) is an area of Boston's South End neighborhood known for its art galleries, restaurants, shops and the award-winning SoWa Open Market. Centered on the artist studios, shops & boutiques located at 450-460 Harrison Avenue, SoWa spans north-to-south from Herald Street to Massachusetts Avenue, and east-to-west from Albany Street to Shawmut Avenue.
History
GTI Properties and owner Mario Nicosia are credited with rejuvenating the district, beginning in the early 2000s, and also for coining the SoWa name. Their redevelopment of the massive factory buildings on Harrison Avenue has since drawn high-end restaurants, art galleries, retail stores and creative businesses to the growing neighborhood.
In the 19th century, SoWa's brick & beam factories were home to manufacturers of pianos, canned goods, shoes and other merchandise.[1] In addition, 540 Harrison Ave, a building currently used to host various markets & events, originally opened in 1891 as the Central Power Station for the West End Street Railway Company, the precursor to the MBTA. The Romanesque and Gothic Revival structure was the world’s largest electrical power station at the time and later became a trolley barn.[2]
Culture
Due to the number of artists & galleries located in the neighborhood, SoWa has become a creative epicenter, attracting a wide range of art-enthused fans, creative minds, and unique events. In 2015, SoWa was ranked #2 in USA Todays 10Best Art Districts in the country.[3] Every month, over 90 artists & galleries throughout SoWa stage their new 30-day shows, featuring the works of emerging and established painters, photographers and sculptors. This event, known as "SoWa First Fridays", is held on the first Friday of every month starting at 5:00pm.[4] In addition, the SoWa Art Walk, an annual art festival held each spring, enables many artists to present their works and host open studios.[5]
The SoWa Open Market, which runs every Sunday, from May 1 - October 31, is a vibrant collection of open air markets featuring over 150 local artisans, farmers, specialty food vendors and food trucks. This weekly event, located at 450-540 Harrison Ave draws thousands of visitors from across New England.[6]
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External links
Coordinates: 42°20′31″N 71°03′54″W / 42.342°N 71.065°W