Roosevelt - Dayton, OH

Toward the end of the 18th century, the area which later became Dayton was a battleground. The French and native tribes both claimed the land until American colonists joined the British to beat them both back.

Many people know that the Wright brothers who invented the world's first airplane came from this part of Ohio and so did Charles F. Kettering, another well-known inventor. The first mechanical cash register was also developed here.

Several museums surround the Roosevelt area, including America's Packard Museum, the world's only restored Packard dealership which operates as a museum, and also the only full-time museum focused upon the extinct Packard Motor Car Company, its products and philosophies.

The annual Americana Festival draws over 75,000 visitors, employing upwards of 100 volunteers for this one-day event.

Along the major roadways lie the usual fast-food establishments and chains, with the heaviest concentration in the downtown region. Here and there, however, Dayton does possess some noteworthy eateries. These include two longstanding family-owned restaurants.

Stop in at The Barnsider for outstanding service in a relaxing environment, and enjoy meals fit for a king, like delectable horseradish crusted salmon or tasty crabmeat-stuffed chicken. They provide alternate menus for various special days and holidays throughout the year, and patrons can rent their private and semiprivate dining rooms for parties, formal dinners and corporate events.

Rob's Restaurant & Catering specializes in home-style cooking and a family-oriented atmosphere with a huge variety of food available both in-house and for catering. Diners can choose from a wide range of soups and salads freshly made daily from scratch, hot and cold sandwiches with a side of yummy fries or onion rings, or dozens of entrees. Tempting specials cover a wide array of selections from the restaurant's vast menu, and don't forget to have a scrumptious slice of homemade pie, fresh out of the oven.

A Dayton landmark for more than half a century and long considered one of the great steak houses in the country, the Pine Club also bears mentioning. In the past several decades, hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers have passed through the Pine Club's doors. Start off with a half-dozen blue point oysters on the half shell or Nantucket Cape scallops for a robust appetizer, then try some broiled lamb loin chops or braised tenderloin tips with fresh mushrooms accompanied by a tantalizing selection from their wine-lovers wine list. Providing gift certificates as well as online ordering of their best-selling items, this restaurant aims to please. You can pay with cash or a personal check, and you can also open a personal house account, but except for online orders, this establishment does not take credit cards.

Roosevelt's proximity to downtown Dayton has an active nightlife, especially on weekends. The city holds a wide assortment of entertainment choices including the infamous drag shows at Masque.

Roosevelt happens to be one of the rare places where it actually makes more sense to ride the bus than it does to drive a car. Although fairly easy to hail a cab around here, and scheduling a ride through Uber may be useful, bus fare costs little and reliable service makes it a viable option. Parking around the neighborhood may not be so hard to find, but the city has meters and garages which can get expensive. Route 35 passes by the neighborhood, intersecting with Interstate 75, and between the two they can take you wherever you need to go.

Although the presence of sidewalks on most streets makes the neighborhood more walkable, no bike lanes have been provided throughout this part of town, so residents can either use the sidewalks or visit the parks for their cycling and other exercise.

Eastwood Park, the region’s largest and best, has more than just picnic areas. In addition to a secluded lagoon, the park’s boat rental facilities and 185-acre lake provide ample opportunity for water sports and fishing. Visitors hike the three miles of forest trails along the Mad River and through meadows, thickets and grasslands which shelter migratory bird populations of waterfowl, osprey, shorebirds and even seagulls. The park’s programs, designed for various age ranges from small children through retirees, provide everything from education to exercise groups. Some of these programs have fees; others cost nothing to attend and participate.

The best place in the greater Dayton area to take Fido for off-leash exercise, the Oakwood Dog Park at Creager Field, has benches and drinking water as well as a separate area for small dogs.

The Sugarplum Festival of Trees, an annual holiday charity event, kicks off the holiday season for the Miami Valley every year, with proceeds benefiting Dayton Children's Hospital. Community members donate Christmas trees to be auctioned off. This festival is produced by an auxiliary of Dayton Children's Hospital called TWIGS, which stands for Terrific Women In Giving.

It definitely costs less to live in this neighborhood than it does in many other parts of the city. Gas here runs about three percent below the national average and only $1.75 will get you downtown on the bus, although it’s within relatively easy walking distance. A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $455 per month in Roosevelt, and a beer at the local pub sets you back $4 to $6 for a bottle of most domestic and imported brews.

Shopping in downtown Dayton can be challenging due to parking limitations, but the city holds a lot of shops worth the effort. Among the more interesting boutiques, Clothes That Work and the Urban Loft come to mind.

The Clothes That Work Boutique upscale resale shop, operated by volunteers, sells high-quality donated designer clothing. All proceeds from the boutique go back into helping to provide interview and work-appropriate attire and training for job seekers struggling to get on their feet.

The Urban Loft Boutique focuses upon gift items such as jewelry, candles, home décor and apparel among other things. The salon and spa have wedding packages, and you can come here for a complete makeover.

Several grocery stores serve the Roosevelt area including an Aldi store and IGA. The 2nd Street Market goes one step beyond being a farmers market, with products from local farmers, bakers, culinary experts and artisans. Situated within a historic former 1911 B&O railroad building that occupies an entire city block, the market helps to support growers and creators of locally-produced goods.