Northside-Northline - Houston, TX

The first European settlers in the area were situated near Buffalo Bayou during the 1830s when Houston was in its infancy. Development of the area took off during the 1880s when many relocated to the area to work the newly developed rail yards. The majority of immigrants were Italian and German by birth or ancestry. A trolley line from the area to downtown ran during the early 20th century but was removed in 1939.

The only museum in the area, The Ink Spots Museum, is dedicated to the highly influential rhythm and blues band from Houston that shaped popular culture for decades to come. The annual Northline Commons Cinco de Mayo Celebration showcases Mexican culture, food and live entertainment in an open-air mall setting.

Restaurants can be found sprinkled throughout the neighborhood. Just outside the neighborhood on Airline Drive is Bellissimo, an Italian restaurant with fusion dishes and classic staples. For a taste of the divine, order the ossobucco, a dish of braised lamb shank in a port wine demi-glace sauce with shitake mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and raisins paired with mashed potatoes, a generous bacon slice and grilled vegetables. Bellissim also offers unique pizzas like the jalapeño, hand tossed with chicken, black beans, cilantro, tomatoes and jalapeños in a Parmesan white wine butter sauce.

For night time fun, head over to Dan Electro's Guitar Bar, a unique space featuring live blues and acoustic music along with craft beers and a decent wine selection. The nearby re:HAB Bar on the Bayou offers free live music and cold beer on the banks of the Little White Oak Bayou.

Common ways to get around the neighborhood include driving and public transportation. Buses serve the area, as well as a light rail system that takes passengers south to downtown and other neighborhoods. Hailing a cab can be difficult in Northside-Northline, but local companies can be reached by telephone for pick-ups in the area. Uber provides ride-share coverage as well. Interstate 45 and Hardy Toll Road provide access to points north and south with east/west linkages at Interstate 610. Walkability scores are average for the neighborhood, with some errands possible on foot. Minimal bike lanes makes biking somewhat more difficult, but residential and back streets can be taken to increase overall safety.

The Northside-Northline area is home to several neighborhood parks throughout the area. Dogs may visit the parks but should remain leashed. Kids love the swimming pool and extensive playground area at Northline.

Clark Park hosts a baseball diamond, soccer field, basketball pavilion, playground area and open fields in addition to Clark Park Community Center. Sam Houston Park features two baseball diamonds, a soccer field, large running track and open field space. Cooper Park is a large open green space, great for ultimate Frisbee or pickup neighborhood games. Northline Park has multiple lighted field spaces, a community pool, tennis courts, sheltered picnic area and a playground. Melrose Park offers more than half a dozen baseball and softball fields of varying sizes, tennis courts, a community center and open field spaces. Dow Park Number two hosts even more baseball diamonds and open fields.

The Bayou City Art Festival takes place during the spring and showcases 300 working artists in the lush setting of Memorial Park west of the city center.

In Northside-Northline, a one-bedroom apartment will cost around $1,000 per month. If you're looking at houses for rent in Northside-Northline, you'll be pleased to know that the average rent is around $1,600. For those nurturing the dream of homeownership, Northside-Northline has an average house price of $280,000.

The neighborhood contains two shopping mall areas, the Northside Commons and Northtown Plaza Shopping Center. High end shopping can be found in the nearby Greater Heights neighborhood, southwest of Northside-Northline. Check out designer offerings from Mosaic Boutique, April Cornell and more. Don't forget to check out the great accessories like the ready-to-go wine clutch, a purse specifically designed to carry a wine bottle. For great house wares, furniture and gift ideas, scoot over to Jubilee, a boutique also housed in the Greater Heights neighborhood on West 19th Street. Jubilee caries items from elegant chandeliers and ornate cowboy boots to armoires and beauty products. Make sure to check out the fragrant body scrubs, soaps and natural health products. Come prepared to spend some serious time, as the store encompasses 4,000 square feet of merchandise. Local grocery options include a Walmart Supercenter and ethnic grocery stores featuring Latin American and Asian ingredients and produce. Make sure to head over to Canino Produce company for a year-round farmers market experience with hundreds of varieties of produce and more.