Tremont - Bronx, NY

Halfway through the 20th century, the neighborhood experienced a socioeconomic shift, with an exodus of residents leaving the area for newly developed suburbs in Westchester and Connecticut. The last several decades have brought a revitalized downtown area, new apartment buildings and redeveloped lots. New businesses, eateries and shops boost the local economy and woo residents to the affordable and culturally diverse neighborhood.

Check out the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, a memorial structure hosted in an open-air colonnade filled with bronze sculptures of hundreds of important figures such as John Adams, Ralph Waldo Emerson and one-time local resident Edgar Allen Poe.

The Bronx hosts some of the most affordable dining prices in the city, with cuisine choices ranging from Latin American dishes to African and barbecue specialties. El Nuevo Bohio Lechonera serves traditional Puerto Rican dishes in a laid-back and welcoming environment. Try the pernil with mofongo, a roasted pork shoulder with a fried plantain dish served with a heaping portion of rice and beans.

The North Star Cafe hosts a refreshingly diverse selection of fresh salads, wraps, and smoothies in a cozy diner. Try a fresh beet and carrot juice for a morning pick-me-up or a Philly cheesesteak quesadilla for lunch.

When life calls for a bacon cheeseburger, Jimbo's Hamburger serves its namesake alongside wings, gyros, and salads in a tiny cafe. For breakfast, try the French toast sticks or a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich for an on-the-go treat.

A trip to The Bronx Beer Hall in the heart of the Arthur Avenue Market is a must-stop for craft beer lovers. Happy hour finds bearded hipsters rubbing elbows with suited guys at one of the oak slab tables. If your eyes glaze over at the selection on the beer menu, try a flight served from an inventive tray made out of logs.

Living in Tremont comes with the added benefit of easily accessible roadways and mass transit.

Express buses run from midtown Manhattan with stops throughout the neighborhood and remain a better bet than trying to hail a cab. Tremont Station and Burnside Avenue Station provide service on the Metro-North Railroad's B and D lines, with service to nearby Westchester and Connecticut as well as Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal.

While taxi service between boroughs can be expensive, for local service, call a cab for a pick-up or book an Uber from your smartphone.

Interstate 87, 895 and 95 lie just a few blocks away from Tremont, providing easy access to nearby Manhattan, Connecticut or the suburbs of New York. Parking can be crowded, but many local businesses offer private free parking lots. Timed and metered parking dominates much of the busy thoroughfares.

The borough participates in the Complete Streets initiative, a program designed to accommodate walkers, drivers and bikers safely by constructing bicycle lanes, mixed-use roadways and trails for pedestrians. Increased bike paths and greenways, narrowed crosswalks and wider sidewalks encourage residents to walk and cycle by making it more safe and convenient to travel on local roadways.

Tremont Park hosts a recreational oasis in a lush tree-lined park right in the neighborhood's center. Playgrounds, open fields and walking paths highlight the serene beauty of the park, while spray showers provide happy kids in the summer with a much-needed cooldown. Dogs must be leashed unless in the fenced-in area designated for play.

Prospect Playground features a smaller park with a playground and basketball and handball courts as well as a small grassy area for relaxation. Crotona Park features a sprawling 127-acre park, one of the largest in the borough. An Olympic-sized swimming pool, 20 tennis courts, 11 playgrounds and its own lake make the park a popular weekend destination for area families. Its 28 different tree species offer abundant beauty that nature-lovers appreciate.

Bronx Week hosts an annual 10-day series of events where local businesses are highlighted, celebrating the best of the borough. Residents join together to pay homage to favorite restaurants, shops and venues.

Living in Tremont stands as an affordable alternative to midtown Manhattan as a one-bedroom apartment costs about $1,125 a month. A $4 train ticket brings you to the center of the city while gas prices hover about 15 percent higher than national prices. A pint of beer costs $8 at the local watering hole.

Large shopping districts such as the Arthur Avenue Market and the Fordham Marketplace mingle with smaller, concentrated areas of shops within the neighborhood. A sportsman's play land, Frank's Sports Shop started off as an Army-Navy store and morphed into today's mecca of baseball gloves, jerseys and fishing poles. Guns sold for hunting are complemented by the hunting classes run next door while the 30 racks of baseball bats ensure players find the perfect ball smacker.

The Arthur Avenue Market hosts a venue that can't be missed. A throwback to its European roots, the market closely resembles something you'd find in Italy. With a massive selection of fresh cheeses, olives, cured meats and biscotti, the venue remains a destination within itself. When you're done with shopping, have a brew in the beer hall or sit down in Roberto's Italian Restaurant for southern Italian cuisine at its finest.

Frank Bee Stores houses the best collection of costumes in the city. Walk the aisles for a while and find accessories like a pink '80s prom dress or elbow-length sequined gloves among the packed racks of this quirky store.

Grocery options in the neighborhood include C-Town, Deli Grocery Corporation, and Bravo Supermarkets. New York Botanical Garden Greenmarket hosts a seasonal market full of produce, herbs, cider and fresh-baked pies. Free parking and admission to the garden on Wednesday makes it a perfect time to shop the market and enjoy the serenity of the garden.