Maple Wood - Madison, WI

Nearby galleries include Art By Marilyn, which promotes mixed media and oil works by a local artist. The Coffee Gallerie also functions as a cafe with rotating exhibits.

Drop down the isthmus for a variety of educational entertainment, including the Madison Children's Museum, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Wisconsin Historical Museum, which all line Capitol Square.

For Maple Woods residents, every night can begin and end on Sherman Avenue. Like an artery, this main street pumps traffic out of the neighborhood and into the family restaurants and bars that line its curbs.

At Cafe la Bellitalia, you can't go wrong with any dish featuring the house red sauce. The homemade pastas and pizza come large enough for leftovers, so order on an empty stomach. Serving hearty Italian comfort food, the cozy cafe fills up quickly on weekends, so reservations are recommended.

One of the city's oldest restaurants, Kavanaugh's Esquire Club takes the state's Friday fish fry tradition seriously with all-you-can-eat fried ocean perch, fries, slaw, and tartar sauce. During the rest of the week, stop by for well-cooked steaks and to watch Packers football games on the bar televisions.

Northside Family Restaurant serves diner-style meals, such as eggs, pancakes, soups, and sandwiches. Inexpensive prices, bottomless coffee, and neighborhood gossip keep this place humming most mornings.

The bars and clubs along Sherman create a surprising mix of venues for those who prefer to relax and have a beer or for others who enjoy dancing. Locals tend to haunt Busse's Markway Tavern for a quiet game of pool or darts. The large whisky list, well-stocked humidor, and rotating draft microbrews draw a more discerning crowd to Drackenberg's Cigar Bar.

Those residents in the mood for a party flock to the dance floor of Inferno Nightclub. This industrial-themed club runs a busy calendar of live music, costume nights, and other creative events.

Maple Woods' small size makes it easy for pedestrians and cyclists to travel around. While you can reach nearby parks and some of Sherman Avenue's commercial businesses by foot or on bike, a car comes in handy for longer trips around the city.

Sherman Avenue leads drivers downtown in about 12 minutes. Madison's public transportation system, Metro Transit, also maximizes traffic along this street. Routes 2, 22, and 28 carry passengers between the University of Wisconsin campus and hospital, the North Transfer Point, and downtown. Buses run every seven minutes, and the journey to the city center takes about 30 minutes.

If you prefer a more comfortable form of transportation, call Union Cab of Madison. This regional taxi service has a reputation for being the city's fastest, and its texting service makes pickups easy to organize. The ride-sharing service Uber operates around Madison, using a convenient mobile application to connect you with drivers in the area.

While nearby restaurants and shops provide ample lot space, street-side parking can be a challenge inside the neighborhood. Avoid the hassle by cycling around the area; Sherman Avenue's on-street route becomes an official paved bike lane once it turns into Fordem Avenue.

Many parks surrounding Maple Woods. Just south of the neighborhood, Fireman's Park breaks up the commercial and industrial district with a playground and picnic tables. Head north and relax in the equally tiny but pleasant Sheridan Triangle Park.

Demetral Park, 1.5 miles southeast of Maple Woods, keeps the area active with basketball, softball, and volleyball courts. Its 50 acres of open fields create a natural setting for kickball and ultimate Frisbee, while its playground and picnic shelter invites families for an afternoon of play. Dogs are welcome off-leash inside the fenced exercise area.

Occasional local events, such as concerts, corporate picnics, and club gatherings occur within the park's picnic shelter. The youthful Shrekfest brings fans of the family film together for themed food and drinks, a costume competition, and outdoor movies.

Cyclists can enjoy the paved path that runs through Demetral, though a trail pass is required to ride here.

The cost of living in Maple Woods is comparable to the average cost of living in Madison. Slightly higher housing prices increase this average, though prices for goods and services remain roughly the same. A person can expect to pay $750 to $900 on average for a one-bedroom apartment.

A one-way cash fare on Metro Transit costs $2, or you can save money by purchasing a 10-ride card for $15. Fill up your car with fuel, and pay about 10 percent less than the national average price of gas. Expect to spend $3 to $5 on a pint of beer at the local pub.

North Sherman Avenue acts as a retail lane for Maple Woods residents with most venues located in or near the Northgate Shopping Center.

Boomerangs Resale joins the Northgate Antique Mall in recycling residents' gently used and refurbished goods. A mission of Door Creek Church, this consignment closet features furniture, electronics, household items, and clothing. Volunteers run the shop, and all proceeds are invested back into community projects.

Frugal Muse Books also utilizes the cycle of buy-trade-sell, stocking previously owned print and film media items. Customers can buy new and used goods, or sell back their own for future store credit. Independently owned, with outlets around the state, Frugal supports the local art scene with organized poetry readings, book signings, and comedy nights.

Luckily for Maple Woods foodies, Sherman Avenue makes up for a lack of specialty stores with several ethnic groceries. Based out of the avenue's Food Enterprise and Economic Development (FEED) kitchen, local chefs make and sell homemade hot sauces and vegan burgers. The Hmoob Oriental Market stocks mostly Hmong canned goods and a limited range of fresh produce, as well as DVDs and medicinal herbs. Check out the frozen meat section for rare animals like rabbit and quail. Find Thai goods, including fish and beer, at Angkor Thom Market.

The nearest farmers market, Eastside Tuesday Farmers Market, takes place on the isthmus between Maple Woods and downtown Madison. Vendors gather here from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays to sell fresh produce, dairy, wool, and meat products.