Jefferson - Cleveland, OH

The neighborhood of Jefferson in Cleveland, OH, is a part of the bigger area referred to as West Park. Originally a community of isolated homes, the city of Cleveland developed into a major transportation hub with the development of the Ohio and Erie Canal and the addition of railroad links. Quickly becoming a center for commerce, the area attracted immigrants from across the country. Recovering from its financial default on federal loans in 1978, the city has rebounded to emerge as a major city in the U.S.

Nearby museums include the Museum of Divine Statues in Lakewood, which features a wide selection of religious-themed statues, stained glass windows and other objects of religious art. For annual events in the area, check out the Clifton Art and Musicfest in nearby Lakewood in June and the Lakewood Arts Festival in August.

Most of the restaurants and entertainment locations in the Jefferson neighborhood lie along Lorain Avenue. The melting pot of cultures within the city of Cleveland has led to a wide availability of ethnic cuisines, including Asian, Italian, Mexican and American fare.

When seeking Italian, look no further than Caffe Roma. Caffe Roma serves a variety of favorite Italian dishes, such as an assortment of pastas covered with a hearty marinara or white sauce. You can also try out the linguine with clam sauce.

For German-style food, check out Der Braumeister. Try out the scrumptious Hungarian-style goulash served with tender beef simmered in tomato, onion and green peppers, all in thick gravy placed over spatzle.

If you seek a meal with all the flavors of Asia, visit China Star. One of its signature dishes includes the Seafood Delight, made with lobster, shrimp, scallops and king crab meat, mixed with Chinese vegetables.

With a good selection of sidewalks and bike lanes, the Jefferson area caters to those who like to walk or ride their bicycles. If you prefer public transportation, the Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority (RTA) offers both bus and train service. You can also call a taxi or connect, via a mobile device, to a taxi service such as Uber.

When it comes to parking, you can find a variety of free lots along the RTA line. Utilizing the RTA, residents can get to various parts of the city, including downtown, quickly and easily. If you drive, take advantage of the city’s Park-N-Ride system.

Additionally, the area's proximity to highways and freeways give residents fast access to the rest of the city by car. The most prominent roadways near the Jefferson neighborhood include the 90, 71 and 480 Freeways.

In addition to great entertainment, restaurants and shopping, you can also find ways to enjoy the outdoors at Jefferson area parks. The first, Jefferson Park, features a variety of amenities on its 12 acres, including eight tennis courts, a playground and a shelter for having picnics out of the sun.

You can also visit one of the nearby Cleveland Metroparks, a series of parks set around the city of Cleveland that span over 21,000 acres. Some of the activities that the parks support include horseback riding, walking and cycling. The Metroparks include many picnic areas, educational centers and fishing spots. You can take your pets but must keep them on a leash.

Another area park great for pets is the Lakewood Dog Park in the Lakewood neighborhood to the north of Jefferson. This off-the-leash dog park gives pets and their owners plenty of room for exercise and play. Located within the city’s Metroparks in the Lakewood region, the location encompasses about seven-tenths of an acre, most of it a light gravel surface.

The cost of living in the Jefferson neighborhood sits slightly higher than the rest of the Cleveland area. This has resulted in rental of a one-bedroom residence costing, on average, $450 a month. To get to downtown Cleveland on The Rapid should cost $2.25 one-way or $2.50 using the Park-N-Ride program. A beer at a local bar costs anywhere from $3 to $4 in the Jefferson area, and a gallon of gas costs about 11 percent less than the national average.

When shopping in Jefferson, you have a wide selection of stores from which to choose. A main shopping area in the neighborhood lies along Lorane Avenue, including retail, boutique and grocery stores. If you are looking for a high-value boutique, then Daystar Boutique can provide what you seek. Some of the items it carries include jewelry, clothing and a variety of other high-quality products.

When shopping for handbags, pay a visit to Blue Orchid Handbags. This boutique has a wide assortment of shoulder bags, clutches and accessories to fit almost any style.

Finding a good local grocery store ensures that you have the items you need in your home. Giant Eagle provides one option, as it sells a large variety of grocery items, including produce, meat and personal items for use around the house. Also, check out Marc’s for groceries and other services. This self-service store offers low prices, especially in the closeouts department.

Buy fresh produce brought to market by area farmers at The Kamm’s Corner Farmers Market. Open every Sunday June through mid-October, the market sells items only from Northern Ohio vendors.