Bronxdale - Bronx, NY

Bronxdale was a small village located along Boston Post Road, surrounded by land owned by tobacco entrepreneurs the Lorillards. When the Bronx Botanical Garden was developed, the village disappeared.

Allerton Avenue was ethnically divided from the 1950s through 1980s by a separation of Jewish and Italian residents. The arrival of West Indians in the 1980s marked the transition from a distinctly Italian area to a West Indian one, north of Allerton Avenue. The arrival of Dominicans concurrently marked the end of the Jewish community west of Bronxwood Avenue and north of Allerton Avenue.

You won't find an arts scene here, but the New York Botanical Garden and Bronx Park provide education and culture that should not be missed. The annual Allerton Avenue Festival features live entertainment, food, kid's activities and much more.

Many restaurants featuring a blend of ethnic cuisines and American fare can be found along White Plains Road.

For a truly unique dining experience, try Saloum on White Plains. A West African steam table restaurant, the neon red lobster in the window provides no clues to the Senegalese cuisine found here. You might find ceebu jen (jollof rice with fish stewed in tomato sauce), super kanja (okra and palm oil sauce with beef and fish), or boyong (cow's foot soup). The dish most people come for however, is the mafe, a peanut stew made with shredded beef. Prices here sit a few dollars lower than the standard West African restaurants in the city.

Head over to Green Garden Health Food Store, offering a variety of fresh, delicious options using quality ingredients, including a juice bar. Other prepared foods include veggie patty sandwiches, cakes, protein shakes, fresh vegetable juice, green juice, peanut punch, sour sop, sorrel drink, sugar cane juice and Irish moss. It also has a selection of vitamins, herbs, juices, canned/boxed vegan staples, teas, grocery items, cosmetics and books and a large selection of Bob's Red Mill grains and flours.

Nightlife can be found nearby, such as at Beso Lounge on 204th Street. Every night of the week provides entertainment, from domino night to comedy shows, and DJs provide music for dancing. The scene here leans towards the adult crowd with a chic ambiance. Drinks are reasonably priced and hookahs are available for use.

For a big night out, head 13 miles south into Manhattan for a wider variety of nightlife and entertainment.

Public transportation is the most common way to get around, via the 5 and 2 subway trains, the NYCT Buses Bx26, Bx39MTA and BxM11, or the Bee-Line buses 60 to White Plains, Bee-Line 61 to Port Chester and the Bee-Line 62 Limited to White Plains. Taxis and Uber service the area, and walking and biking also provide viable ways of getting around.

Parking most often can be found off street, metered or residential, or in free public lots or paid parking garages. The neighborhood lies within easy access to Route 1, 95, the Bronx River Parkway and the Pelham Parkway.

Situated in the neighborhood, Allerton Playground has basketball courts, bocce and handball courts, a playground, and bathrooms.

Nearby sits Bronx Park, which has some of the city’s most beautiful outdoor space and ecologically diverse wildlife. The diversity of its flora and fauna, and the myriad of plants and animals making their habitat along the Bronx River and in the park’s forests, makes Bronx Park one of the true hidden gems of New York City. Visitors can observe a unique habitat hosting a diverse array of invertebrates, fish and birds while walking along the 2-mile stretch of river. Annually, Bronx Park houses the Tour de Bronx, a family-friendly bike tour.

The park is perhaps best known as the home of the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden, but Bronx Park also has many recreation areas. Numerous playgrounds, bicycle paths, baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts and football and soccer fields provide entertainment for all to enjoy. Also in the park sits the Allerton skate park. Proper protective equipment must be worn, and an attendant sits on duty during park hours. Parks are free to the public, and the Bronx Park provides free public parking.

The cost of living in Bronxdale/Allerton sits at 9 percent less than the New York average, with the cost of a one-bedroom apartment running around $1,300. Section 8 housing can also be found here at a lower rate.

The price of gas in New York comes in at 11.5 percent higher than the national average. Getting to Manhattan via Uber will cost $44 to $57 but only $2.50 on the 2 and 5 subway trains. A beer at a local bar in the neighborhood costs about $3.

Allerton Avenue and White Plains Road provides the main shopping district for the area. The mall at Bay Plaza sits in neighboring Baychester. 4U House of Fitted Caps has its flagship store on White Plains. One of the largest retailers of custom, limited-edition fitted hats and snapbacks from New Era, Mitchell and Ness, and more, it offers over 1,000 styles ranging from major sports teams to independent fashion brands. The designs are heavily influenced by hip-hop culture along with urban trends in fashion and lifestyle.

Visit the designer showroom at Corner Furniture, also located on White Plains. For more than 50 years, this family-operated business knows its clients and enjoys creating the mood for even the most challenging room in your home. Selling quality furniture with the area's best prices, its staff can special order something if you don't see it in the showroom.

Foodtown and Key Food provide groceries to the residents here, and the closest farmers market sits seven miles away at the Greenmarket.