Northfield, OH

In 1807, Northfield was part of Olde Northfield Township, which encompassed the communities of Macedonia, Northfield Village, Northfield Center Township and Sagamore Hills. The township later separated into four separate communities in the early 1900s. Commercial and residential development came to Northfield during the mid-1900s, and in the 1950s, the Northfield Plaza was built, which later became Summit Plaza.

To learn more about the village's history, take a free tour of The Historical Society of Olde Northfield's Palmer House Museum. Complementing the active arts scene in the nearby urban centers, The Cleveland Performing Arts Ministries in Northfield conducts theatre shows throughout the area. Each year during Halloween, the neighborhood hosts a safe trick-or-treating event for children.

When you go out to eat, you find everything from traditional American restaurants, Greek food, Italian eateries and Asian cuisine on Northfield Road. Whether for a casual breakfast or refined dinner, the restaurants in Northfield have something suited to any time of the day.

Peggy's Lunch Box hits the spot with good home-style breakfast cooking. As a well-established restaurant in the neighborhood with decades of history, Peggy's serves up both classic and unique breakfast favorites, including corn beef hash, bacon and mushrooms eggs benedict, and chocolate chip with peanut butter pancakes. Come in to see Peggy cooking behind the grill and to eat a hearty breakfast at an affordable price.

Go to Spennato's for a flexible Italian dinner with the family or a romantic date. Listen to the soothing sounds of Italian music as you dine on traditional Italian cuisine, or simply get takeout orders of local favorites, such as the stuffed-crust pizza packed with meat and cheese. Opt for one of its fine wines to accompany your entrée should you choose to dine in.

Good for a quick treat at any time of the day, Best Gyros unsurprisingly specializes in all aspects of this iconic Greek delicacy. The eatery also serves up something new to try with its huge variation of gyros, including the Jamaican gyro or the atomic gyro for those who want to turn up the heat. In addition to gyros, the place also draws praise for its corn beef, served in breakfast dishes and sandwiches. This staple comfort food spot stays open late and delivers to the nearby area.

The nightlife in Northside clearly centers around its famous combination race track and casino at the Hard Rock Northfield Park Rocksino. Many people attend the horse races, and the inside casino has a Vegas-style decor and plenty of betting stations, monitors and a nice lounge area. You can drink at the large center bar and attend concerts and comedy events during your satisfying night out on the town. If you want a more laid-back bar experience, just head to Scoreboard's Sports Grill.

Called Northfield Road by locals, Ohio State Route 8 functions as the neighborhood's main street and also stretches from Cleveland to Akron for commuters. The area's residents largely depend on personal vehicles, and drivers easily find free parking throughout the neighborhood. Locals generally only bike and walk on the smaller residential roads. Northfield's thoroughfares don't have bike lanes.

If you need a taxi service, try Metro Yellow Cab, or use the Uber application from your smartphone. Commuters have two public transportation options to travel to either Cleveland or Akron. Ride into Cleveland on the Greater Cleveland RTA buses by using the nearest stop in the adjacent neighborhood of Oakwood. To travel into Akron, the Akron Metro RTA runs bus routes straight into Northfield and the rest of Summit County.

Three major parks in Northfield give residents the chance to get outdoors for leisure, play and exercise. Named after a notable neighborhood Fire Chief, Huntington Park on Magnolia Avenue features a baseball field, basketball courts, playground and picnic tables. Families frequent the 2.2-acre park, which lies within a residential area. Smith Park on Houghton Road has similar sports courts and amenities along with an even larger amount of space and a parking lot on the premises.

Entrenched in the heart of Northfield, the Pitluk Preserve provides winding nature trails through an 11-acre expanse of trees, a stream, a ravine and wildflowers. Take your dog for a walk on the paths, or come alone for a relaxing stroll. However they choose to use it, residents enjoy this sanctuary of local wildlife throughout the seasons.

Residents living in Northfield pay prices slightly above those of the nearby cities of Akron and Cleveland. Northfield's cost of living sits about 8 percent higher than both, and you can find a one-bedroom apartment in Northfield for a cost of around $872 per month.

Riders pay $1.25 for buses into Akron and $2.25 for those into Cleveland from Northfield. Drivers find that gas costs only 2 percent more than the national average. When locals go out, they pay about $5 for a beer in the area.

As the neighborhood's main street, Northfield Road contains nearly all of the local stores. Purchase everyday goods at the chain stores in Summit Plaza, or obtain more niche products at the mom-and-pop shops.

Locals take advantage of the services of expert tattoo artists at Define Tattoos. The large catalog of tattoos lets you choose something that truly represents what you want to express, and the service remains friendly and professional. The strong reputation of Define Tattoos carries far and wide, and some tattoo enthusiasts come from across the country to get work done at the store.

Residents purchase their flowers at Petal Place Florist on Northfield Road. Known for its creativity, the store prepares flowers for all situations. Assemble a custom bouquet to surprise a loved one, or embellish your wedding with classy arrangements. The service tops off with same-day delivery throughout Northfield at no extra cost.

You can buy your groceries by heading to the ALDI or Giant Farm on East Aurora Road. While no dedicated farmers markets operate in the neighborhood, you can go to Pepper's Fresh Market on Northfield Road for a selection of more locally produced vegetables and meats.