Oakcliff-Parkview - Oklahoma City, OK

This neighborhood grew up alongside Tinker Air Force Base in southeast Oklahoma City. Tinker was constructed during World War II, initially as the site of a new air materiel depot, then expanding to include a Douglas Aircraft Assembly Plant and eventually a permanent air base. In the 1970s, Crossroads Mall at the junction of highways 77 and 240 became an attractive place for residents to shop and mingle. Shifting demographics and economic downturns diminished the area over time, and Crossroads Mall lost its major tenants. By 2011, the tide had shifted, and new owners put plans in place to create a revitalized commercial and cultural center called Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads.

This neighborhood does not have a museum or arts scene, but Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads hosts an ongoing calendar of events, from live mariachi music to a zumbathon to meetings with the Mexican consulate.

This neighborhood has a variety of restaurants scattered throughout, so locals easily find something to please their palates. If Thai food tempts your taste buds, check out Thai Sayarm in the Sunnylane Plaza strip mall on 44th Street. Patrons rave about the pad thai and the phat bai kra-phrao. With casual dining, a quiet atmosphere and reasonable prices, especially during buffet times, Thai Sayarm brings a taste of Thailand home.

If Korean is your food of choice, you've come to the right place, as Sunnylane Plaza houses another array of tastes from the Far East. Korean B-Won Restaurant features a mind-boggling selection of authentic Korean dishes. Naturally, kimchi graces the menu, but there’s also everything from ya knee man doo – a pan-fried beef and vegetable dumpling – to dolsot bee beem bap – rice with assorted vegetables, served in a hot clay pot. For something beyond the everyday, try one of the lunch boxes to go when you’re in a hurry, and feast on a main dish, rice, egg roll and assorted spicy extras.

For a bit of true American, head over to Don’s Alley on 29th Street in nearby Del City. Don’s classic southern food has been soothing the soul since 1955. Show up for breakfast and get a satisfying down-home meal complete with biscuits and gravy, eggs and savory ham. Or come for dinner and have a steak with all the fixings or a hot pastrami sandwich. Don’t forget dessert. Regulars anxiously await for fall to arrive, knowing that’s the time for Don’s heavenly pecan cream pie.

For nightlife, locals only have to travel a mile or two from this family-oriented neighborhood to kick up their heels and have some fun. Jamaica Joe’s Billiard Bar & Grill in close-by Midwest City has a full-service bar and grill to complement nightly league play. Leave the kids at home, as Jamaica Joe’s is only for the over-21 crowd. Get your karaoke fix at Booger Red’s on Southeast 15th Street just a little jaunt north of the neighborhood.

For entertainment less divey and more arts-oriented, head downtown to Bricktown’s Pinot’s Palette, where patrons paint their own masterpieces while sipping their favorite beverages. An upscale "paint and sip" studio, Pinot’s Palette makes the perfect venue for that special birthday or anniversary celebration.

Only a mile or so west of this neighborhood, residents flock to the city’s rocking live music venue, Oklahoma City Limits. Tuck into a burger or pizza and knock back some brews while listening to some of the area’s most talented bands.

Residents of Oakcliff-Parkview typically drive to do their shopping but can catch the 014 SE Bryant/Sunnylane bus to cross the neighborhood. Call ahead for taxi service or use your smartphone to summon Uber or Lyft.

Businesses generally provide parking to their customers at no charge, and some streets allow parking. This neighborhood has great highway access, with US Route 77 just to the west, Interstate 240 to the south and Interstate 40 to the northeast.

The area is not very walkable, and biking lanes don’t exist here; bikers can get in their workouts nearby in a dedicated bike lane on Sooner Road between Southeast 29th and Southeast 44th.

Just northeast of this neighborhood on Southeast 29th in Midwest City lies Tinker Bicentennial Park, where residents take kids for a cookout or to play on the playground. The whole family can enjoy a relaxing day in the park’s free facilities, including the leashed family dog.

Another fun family destination, Lake Stanley Draper provides fishing, boating and biking/hiking opportunities. For music festivals and outdoor summer movies, neighborhood residents head to the city centers. The Arts Council of Oklahoma City launches its annual Sunday Twilight Concert Series each summer, while the Midwest City Summer Concerts in the Park event features music styles from blues to bluegrass.

The Myriad Botanical Gardens & Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory provides fun year-round, but the Sonic Summer Movie Nights series makes this destination a hit for all ages in the summer.

Cost of living in this neighborhood makes it attractive, with prices somewhat lower than the city average. A one-bedroom apartment goes for about $480 per month, while the neighborhood gas price average sits at 18 percent less than the national average. Single-trip bus fare for a trip downtown runs $1.75, but you can buy a one-day unlimited pass for $4. Children six and under ride free. Buying a beer at the local pub costs around $3, with many venues proposing reduced-price specials.

The heart of Oakcliff-Parkview's commercial district is the redesigned and reimagined Plaza Mayor at Crossroads, just 2 miles southwest of the neighborhood. Specialty chain stores such as La Fiesta Western Wear and Champs Sports call this mall home. Residents have to travel a bit farther to find boutiques or high-value stores. Hop on the highway to go downtown and find Teena Hicks Company, a full-service men's clothing specialty store that has been providing tailor-made clothing since 1989. While at the city center, target some fun fashions with a visit to the Bow & Arrow Boutique on North Broadway.

Locals do their grocery shopping at Homeland on Southeast 29th Street. The Mid Del Farmers Market Association hosts a lively farmers market in the Town Center Shopping Plaza at SE 29th & Mid America Boulevard in nearby Midwest City, where locals find veggies, herbs and locally-produced eggs.