West Side-Waterside-South End - Stamford, CT

Stamford, originally referred to as Rippowam by Native Americans, was the summer home of wealthy New Yorkers seeking a waterfront retreat. After the establishment of train lines, many residents began to commute to Manhattan on a daily basis, turning the enclave into a year-round community.

Stamford, which incorporated in 1893, began to grow rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s as New York-based corporations relocated to the Connecticut waterside community. Greater Stamford ranks as the seventh-largest city in New England, houses four Fortune 500 companies and contains one of the highest concentrations of corporations in the United States.

Stamford is packed with art and cultural attractions. The Stamford Observatory, the Stamford Center for the Arts and the Stamford Symphony Orchestra all host annual shows and events throughout the year.

There are a variety of restaurant choices in the area, regardless of your taste. If waterfront-dining appeals to you, choose one of the posh restaurants on Long Island Sound.

Gourmands who crave Latin fusion-food find that Brasitas Restaurant, located at 954 East Main Street, provides an array of diverse dishes which are as artful in presentation as in taste. To start, try out the empanaditas de pato, a presentation of duck confit, sofrito and mahón cheese empanadas with smoky chipotle and agave nectar emulsion dip, and follow it up with salmon a la plancha on a bed of moro rice. Brasitas also provides catering services for special events.

Professionals seeking nighttime entertainment in the West Side-Waterside neighborhood have a variety of venues to choose from. Locals frequently head out to the Ponus Yacht Club at 41 Bateman Way by car or boat. Live music on weekends packs in the masses. You can sit inside and order a drink, or head outside, weather permitting, grab a rocking-chair and enjoy a view of the stars and Long Island Sound as music floats through the night air. Old salts and families can dock their boats at the Yacht Club for $2.50 per foot and spend the night if they wish.

Those preferring old-town, tavern-style entertainment should put Tigin Irish Pub at 175 Bedford Street at the top of their list. Tigin hosts a happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. every Monday through Friday. On Tuesday night pub quiz teams compete for prizes, and on Saturdays, the house rocks with live music. Tigin packs in the crowds for major sporting events such as football, soccer, rugby and UFC bouts.

Some residents in South End use their own personal vehicles to get around; however, since Stamford lies along the main branch of the New Haven Line on the Metro-North Railroad, greater metropolitan New York commuters often opt to travel by rail to Grand Central Station. CT Transit provides ample bus service throughout the greater Stamford area, seven days a week. Taxis can be found in abundance, and Uber also provides services throughout the area.

Public parking is available, and places such as Harbor Point offer three-month specials to commuters for $65 per month. The neighborhood lies within a few miles of I-95; however, transit time to the highway depends on the local traffic. While Dock Street, Jefferson Street, Cove Road and parts of Washington Boulevard do have dedicated biking lanes, the rest of the neighborhood does not. Smaller side streets allow for the safe transit of pedestrians and cyclists; however, major roadways can be hazardous due to vehicle speed, especially during rush hours.

Stamford offers more than a dozen parks within a few miles of the West Side-Waterside area. The public beach at Cummings Park draws the crowds during the summer months, and Terry Connors Ice Rink, conjoined with Cove Island Park, offers skating during the winter months. Fitness buffs flock to Scalzi Park on Bridge Street for volleyball, tennis, bocce ball, basketball, roller hockey and baseball. If your family includes a canine (or two), Cove Island Park and Mianus River Park have plenty of space to give Fido a good run. Don't forget to take the kids to Mill River Park's annual Halloween Party for a fun-filled family-adventure.

The cost of living in West Side-Waterside is lower than the overall Stamford living cost, with the average rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment in the area at $1,689. It cost $1.50 to take a bus from the South End to downtown, and expect to shell out at least $5 for your favorite brew at the local bars. If you need gas, try and fuel up outside of the metropolitan Stamford area, as the price easily runs 30 percent above the national average.

Due to its close proximity to metropolitan New York, residents of West Side-Waterside have limitless shopping options. All of the nation's major luxury stores lie within a 45 minute commute from this part of Connecticut. For residents who prefer to shop closer to home, there are plenty of options in the area, as well.

A great local haunt for bargain shoppers is Fred's Boutique on 236 Sound Beach Avenue. It carries brands such as Joie, Monrow, Twenty, Drew, Toss Designs and Gigi New York. Fred's friendly staff can outfit you for a night on the town or a day on a yacht.

Locals have a choice of three major supermarkets in the immediate area: Shop & Stop, Fairway Market, and ShopRite. Stamford also hosts a farmers market every Sunday on Bedford and Forest Streets from June to October.