When she was young, she lived her entire life within a two-block radius of her home, said Tenenbaum. She went to mass at St. Augustine's, across the street, and she attended grades one through 12 at the parish school. In many ways, it was a typical South Boston experience, she said. Many people live within blocks of their extended families. On warm days, it's common to see mothers pushing their babies in old-fashioned prams.
Drivers stop if they see an elderly person step off the curb.
And, parking is elevated to an art form. And, in last few years, there's a growing number of Asian immigrants who have settled in South Boston. But, so far, there are no more than a handful of African Americans. The city's financial district is less than two miles away. But, you have to cross two bridges to get there.