Bay Ridge - Brooklyn, NY

Bay Ridge (originally called Yellow Hook) and Fort Hamilton were originally settled by the Dutch, but began to develop in the 1830s as a resort for visitors to the army base.

In the 19th century, Yellow Hook was struck by Yellow Fever, and the town’s name changed to Bay Ridge to avoid association with the deadly disease. During this time, many Norwegian and Danish sailors moved to the neighborhood, joining Irish and Italian residents.

Over time, Greek, Russian, Polish, Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Arabic and Chinese people moved into the Bay Ridge-Fort Hamilton area, making it very diverse.

Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton support no museums and one art gallery, Polizzi Fine Art. Beyond Dance and Dimensions On Stage are two performing arts schools/groups in the area, offering periodic student shows.

Most of Bay Ridge's and Fort Hamilton's restaurants can be found along 3rd Avenue and 5th Avenue, two of the area's more trafficked areas. The diverse cuisine options include American, pizza, Mexican, Japanese and Chinese.

Lock Yard has one of the prettiest backyards with twinkling white lights and a casual, picnicking atmosphere. From the homemade sausage and hot dogs to pierogi, pretzels, sandwiches and baskets, food only adds to the fun. Grab one of their beers and some friends, and enjoy a relaxed evening.

Taqueria El Puente brings real-deal Mexican fare to the people of Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton with a friendly staff and quick service, whether you're eating in or taking out. Most love the tacos; from lengua and chorizo to cecina and cuarderno, this is authentic Mexican food done right with attention to detail and yummy fresh tortillas.

The exotic scents and flavors of authentic Middle Eastern cuisine attract locals to Tanoreen, a restaurant inspired by Galilee, Israel. Start off your meal with an eggplant napoleon appetizer filled with creamy baba ghanoush over a bed of tomato and basil salad. Whether you're in the mood for a hearty lamb stew or crispy falafel, give your meal a happy ending with Tanoreen's famed kanafeh. Featured on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate," kanafeh satisfies your sweet tooth with cheese-stuffed filo dough topped with pistachios and orange blossom syrup.

Nightlife in Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton gets busy, especially as the weekend nears. This active neighborhood attracts many to its restaurants and bar scene.

If you like to chill out and sip some wine, Delia's Lounge & Restaurant has food for the hungry and drinks in a cozy atmosphere. Double Apple Hookah Lounge has an extensive tobacco menu for your smoking pleasure, while Kitty Kiernans has a pub feel with live music, open mics and sweet bartenders happy to get you what you need.

If dancing is your thing, you may want to try nearby Bensonhurst, which has the B66 Club and European style deejays and dancing all night long.

As parts of a borough of Manhattan, Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton receive regular service from a good public transportation system, and most of its residents choose to get around this way. People get around typically on the R train as well as by bus routes X27, X28, X37 and X38 and local routes B1, B4, B8, B9, B37, B63, B64, B70, S53, S79, SBS and S93.

Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton enjoy easy access to the Belt Parkway and Gowanus Parkway if you choose to drive. However, as with many other parts of Brooklyn, parking can be expensive and tough to find.

It’s pretty easy to hail a cab in Bay Ridge or Fort Hamilton, particularly along 3rd and 5th Avenues. Uber pickups can also be easily arranged in this neighborhood.

Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton are both considered walkable and have many bike lanes, making both places safe for bikers.

Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton have a variety of parks and green spaces for exercising, dog walking and playing with the family. Owl’s Head Park has dog runs and a playground as well as skateboarding areas and bikes lanes, while Shore Road Park has dog-friendly areas and a great view of the Verrazano Bridge for strollers and dreamers.

If you’re into roller blading or biking, the Belt Parkway Promenade takes you along the edge of the water for a truly stunning view at sunset. The Narrows Botanical Garden may not welcome ball playing or dogs, but humans and their kids are welcome to revel in the beauty of nature in this gorgeous natural wonderland. The park hosts educational programs for children and outdoor summer movie nights.

All parks are free to the public, with dogs welcome at most and kids welcome at all. Many support fitness activities with skateboarding areas, bike and jogging trails and basketball, handball and other courts.

Bay Ridge’s and Fort Hamilton’s cost of living sits higher than the New York and national average with a typical 1-bedroom residence renting for about $1,495 per month.

It costs around $3 to get to Manhattan from Bay Ridge or Fort Hamilton via subway or bus, and a beer at a local pub generally costs around $5-6.

Gas prices are around 17 percent higher here than the national average.

While you'll find some larger chain stores like Walgreens and TJ Maxx in Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton, most of the shops here are locally-owned boutiques and specialty stores.

Consign Connection has slightly used clothing, accessories, and other items in a friendly environment with helpful salespeople. Locals love the accessibility of designer items for a fraction of the cost at department stores. Kaleidoscope carries tons of cool toys for kids of all ages and has great customer service if you're looking for something hard to find.

Lola's Boutique is another hit with locals who love the quality merchandise for women, often discounted. From shoes and bags to jewelry and scarves, this place is a wonderland for the fashion minded.

Mid-sized grocery stores such as Foodtown and Met Fresh Supermarket serve the Bay Ridge-Fort Hamilton area along with smaller grocers for deli and specialty items. Bay Green offers organic groceries, and A.L.C. Italian Grocery showcases homemade pastas and other Italian items.

Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton don't have a farmers market, but nearby Sunset Park hosts a green market on Saturdays through November for fresh produce and other artisanal items.