Foxhurst - Bronx, NY

Foxhurst is also referred to as East Morrisania, named for the wealthy Morris family who owned much of the land in the South Bronx. Art and culture have always flourished here and many believe the South Bronx to be the birthplace of hip hop. Institutions such as the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance and the Bronx Arts Ensemble continue to bring music, theater, and dance to the area. The Bronx Museum of the Arts has been hosting exhibits of contemporary art and programs to educate and inspire since 1971. The South Bronx also provides a home to the New York Yankees baseball team.

Fast-food places tend to dominate the restaurant options in Foxhurst, and while you won't find a central concentration of dining choices in the neighborhood, they can be found scattered throughout the area. El Valle dishes up Latin American cuisine. Chicken dominates the menu here with dishes such as the pechuga rellena de camarones (chicken breast stuffed with shrimp) and the chicharron de pollo con hueso, made with chunks of fried chicken. Dishes come with a side of rice, beans, plantain, French fries, or fried bananas.

Jimbo's makes the best burgers in the Bronx. That's what customers say when holding court at Jimbo's Hamburger Palace. If burgers aren't your thing, Jimbo's also serves a great selection of other sandwiches such as the fillet of fish, cheesesteak, gyro, and the meatball hero parm.

For a quick bite of pizza, Margerita's Pizza sells it by the slice or by the pie. The restaurant also serves Mexican food, burgers, salads, and sandwiches to go or for dining in. Other menu favorites include panini sandwiches, calzones, burritos, and the house specialty 18-inch Grandma's Pizza. For a quick snack or tasty side, try the French fries with cheese.

El Porton, in nearby Longwood, offers a great laid-back environment in which to sip sweet and salty margaritas as you eat your fill of quesadillas and tostadas. The Hard Rock Cafe has a location at nearby Yankee Stadium with good food, drink, and rock and roll memorabilia. To enjoy live music, the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts features an eclectic mix of music from Argentine tango to doo-wop.

Public transportation provides a great way to get around the South Bronx. New York's vast network of bus routes and subway lines enable residents to reach almost every corner of the five boroughs from Foxhurst. Driving is also an option, but heavy traffic and limited parking can make it a challenge. Free public parking can be found on more residential streets, however, attention needs to be paid to signs that impose restrictions during certain times. Walking can be accomplished easily enough throughout Foxhurst and the surrounding neighborhoods, but it requires caution in high-traffic areas. A number of designated bike lanes can be found throughout the Bronx. Uber riding-sharing can be obtained in the neighborhood and hailing a cab on the street rarely presents a problem.

Residents of Foxhurst can access Interstate 87 for trips north to Westchester County in Southern Connecticut. I295 can be used for travel to Long Island or to connect with I-95 for travel east to New Jersey or north to Stamford.

To take advantage of the only free public beach in the Bronx, residents head east to Orchard Beach and Promenade. Located in Pelham Park, this 115-acre beach stretches for over a mile, providing plenty of space for swimming, sunbathing or volleyball. The park also has 26 basketball courts and two playgrounds for kids. The Pelham Bay Dog Park Run can also be found here, which features two separate enclosed spaces for dogs to get their daily exercise. Residents can bring their kids to the annual Haunted Pumpkin Garden hosted by the New York Botanical Garden for an experience that proves to be more cool than creepy.

The cost of living in Foxhurst and the South Bronx is lower than the average cost in the rest of New York City but higher than the national average cost. A bottle of domestic beer at a local bar costs about $5.50, and a bottle of import is priced at about $7. The price of gas sits about 16 percent above the national average cost. A one-way bus ride to the city center costs $2.25. The average price of a one-bedroom apartment sits at about $1,500 per month.

The Mall at Bay Plaza provides residents of Foxhurst with an array of choices in retail shopping. Stores such as Macy’s and JC Penney provide choices of affordable and upscale clothing and apparel. Forever 21 and Victoria's Secret both have locations here as well, but great stores and good bargains can be found scattered throughout the neighborhood. Premier Jewelers features a great selection of watches, wedding and engagement rings and earrings. Comics fans appreciate the local mainstay Fordham Comics for their fine selection of titles.

In addition to the many corner stores and bodegas found throughout the South Bronx, there are options for larger grocery stores as well. Good N Natural provides a place to buy healthy, natural food products. Big Deal Supermarket offers many big deals on everyday grocery items. Apple Grocery and Deli features a number of specialty food products, as well as a hot and cold buffet. The Riverdale Y! Sunday Market gives locals the chance to stock up on fresh produce from area vendors when it convenes May to November.