1st Ward - Allentown, PA Area Guide

Allentown - including the 1st Ward, was originally populated by American Indians until 1736, after which it was deeded to the sons of William Penn by local Indian chiefs. The 1st Ward became first section of the surrounding area to be annexed to Allentown in 1762. In 1811, the town was incorporated as the Borough of Northamptown and subsequently renamed itself Allentown in 1838. Allentown earned a name for itself due to the fact that during the American Revolutionary War, the townspeople successfully hid the Liberty Bell from British forces.

With the arrival of the Lehigh Canal in the 1830's, Allentown commenced its metamorphosis to a commercial center and the 1st Ward began its industrialization process. The city now houses the Allentown Art Museum as well as other post-colonial architectural landmarks. It also hosts the annual Drum Corps International Eastern Classic, in which international drum corps compete in a judged two-day event.

Contiguous with Allentown's downtown district, 1st Ward has gained a reputation for multi-ethnic eateries and an electric nightlife. Many restaurants and clubs can be found within a few minutes walk from either Linden Street or Walnut Street. If you appreciate American and Asian cuisine, give Bay Leaf a try. Start off your dinner with the luscious seafood bisque and then move on to some Mango napoleon with crabmeat, shrimp and basil oil or the famous tequila raw salmon doused with wasabi vinaigrette. Poultry-lovers might want to order the pan-seared duck breast with orange-fennel sauce. Open Monday through Saturday, Bay Leaf's menu satisfies the pickiest of foodies.

Hook Seafood & Grille emphasizes the combination of ambiance and fresh, sustainable seafood. Situated in the Arts District, less than a mile from the 1st Ward, this restaurant serves up unique culinary concoctions. Its Jamaican head chef prepares such dishes as butter-poached lobster in coconut-curry broth and the chef's Bag of Donuts, which consists of deep-fried seafood fritters of lobster, scallops and shrimp served with Jamaican jerk remoulade. This popular spot is closed Sundays and Mondays, and you can make reservations over the phone.

After dinner, you may want to dance off some of those calories while enjoying drinks at the Stonewall Moose Lounge Bar & Grille, located on North 10th Street. This LGBT-friendly establishment bills itself as the hottest dance spot in the Lehigh Valley, with a huge dance floor and two bars on the first level and the Moose Lounge on the second level, where you can hang out with friends in front of the fireplace, drink, and shoot pool.

Maingate Nightclub is another popular venue that packs in the locals. Reserve a VIP table for yourself and your crew. When you pay for a bottle and the table, mixers and assorted juices are included free of charge. Maingate hosts different events every week, features a large outdoor area with a patio deck and pumps out music genres ranging from pop and Latin to rock, country, house and even hip-hop. In business more than three decades, this club is an undeniable 1st Ward favorite.

Most residents of the 1st Ward use their own vehicles to commute and get around. The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANta) provides bus service throughout the city for those that lack a personal vehicle. Taxis can be found in the downtown area, however requesting a cab via phone may take some time, and app-based car services like Uber do not provide service to this part of Pennsylvania. Most public parking lots in the 1st Ward charge a daily rate of $6, should you need to park your vehicle for an extended period.

Since this small riverside enclave lies less than a mile south of the Lehigh Valley Thruway, accessing major highways takes just a few minutes. Allentown does not have any designated biking lanes, so pedestrians, joggers and bicyclists need to use caution when traversing major roadways.

The entire Allentown area is nationally known for its extensive parks system, so 1st Ward residents have a wide selection of places to exercise and take the kids for some constructive playtime. Local fitness buffs and families often gather at the Cedar Creek Park for exercise, outdoor fun and excitement. Cedar Creek is known for its walking and jogging trails, rose gardens, playground, rock climbing, tennis courts, soccer fields and public swimming pool. The park is free to enter, however large groups may need to pay a fee for pavilions.

If you enjoy biking or want to give Fido a good run, you can take a quick jaunt over to Trexler Park. And don't forget the 4th of July, when many 1st Ward families head over to Dorney Park to watch the annual fireworks display.

The 1st Ward ranks slightly higher than the rest of the city for living and housing costs. The average rental rate for a one bedroom residence sits at $850 per month. $2 will get you anywhere in the city by LANta bus, or you can pay $4 for an unlimited day pass. A beer in the local pub will set you back $5 or $6 and it will cost you 10% above the national average to fuel up your vehicle at the local gas station.

Allentown is a major Northeast shopping destination, so 1st Ward residents never have far to travel for a premium selection of clothing, accessories or home furnishings. The Lehigh Valley Thruway runs through miles of shopping centers and malls, which collectively contain some of the nation's most popular high-end chain stores and outlets. Closer to home, Allentown proper and the 1st Ward both have many small shops, galleries and boutiques to frequent.

Boutique to Go is a 1st Ward favorite. This unique shop carries jewelry, scarves, handbags, and apparel. Boutique to Go stocks more than 20 different fashion lines and prides itself on loading the shelves and racks with the latest styles. If you like Ivanka Trump, HEET, Angélique de Paris, or Carla Mancini (to name just a few), stop in to see what they've got.

Eclectic clothing lovers flock to Francesca's when they feel the urge to splurge. This little store makes a great shopping-stop for gifts or accessorizing. Francesca's carries tops, bottoms, dresses, skirts, and intimate wear. You can also browse for ponchos, wraps, scarves, watches, and jewelry while you are there. The quality of Francesca's clothing matches its one-on-one customer service.

Many of the 1st Ward residents frequent Wegman's Supermarket for their weekly meat, poultry, seafood, and produce needs. However if you prefer to shop organic, save a few bucks for Allentown's Farmers Market held Thursdays through Saturdays on 17th and Chew Streets. The homemade Amish food which they sell is world-famous.