The last word that should be used to describe Boston is "cheap," but housing prices compared to New York City's are a steal. The cellist for the Magnetic Fields, Sam Davol, has moved his family up to a new pad in Boston's Chinatown above Jumbo Seafood Restaurant.

Of course, "cheap" is relative. The New York Times did a piece on how Davol and his spouse decided a move to Boston would allow them to quit their day jobs. Then again, they also had enough cash to buy a $1 million space consisting of two apartments. And they can afford architects. Maybe indie rock pays better than we thought.

The NYT also paid a compliment to post-Big Dig Boston: "Chinatown was quickly becoming the Boston equivalent of Battery Park City: dense, but bordered by green spaces." Nice. Now Chinatown can straighten out that foo dog mess, and it will really be movin' on up.

Gawker did a post about Davol's move and changed up the cover for the Magnetic Fields' "69 Love Songs" to read "617" on the front. It was so cute how a Gawker commenter totally didn't get the "617" reference.

Perhaps it isn't a coincidence that the Magnetic Fields will be performing at the Somerville Theatre on Valentine's Day (and February 15) next year.

Slightly adjusted Magnetic Fields album cover from Gawker's Josh.