Browne's Addition - Spokane, WA

Browne's Addition was Spokane's first established neighborhood. John J. Browne, a respected lawyer, purchased 120 acres of land in the late 1870s, which later became the foundation of Browne's Addition. Over time the large mansions that were built on the land and housed the wealthy began to be subdivided. Though the neighborhood has gone through some periods of boom and bust, Browne's Addition is thriving once again.

Two museums sit within the community. The Northwest Museum of Art and Culture features exhibits profiling regional history, fine art and American Indian culture. Next door lies the Campbell House mansion. This property showcases what life was like during the early 1900s as told by preserved artifacts and the expansive grounds.

Spokane houses some great live performance theaters, such as the Modern Theater. Annual events frequented by locals include the Spokane Lilac Festival and MusicFest Northwest.

The majority of restaurants in Browne's Addition sit near the intersection of South Cannon Street and West Pacific Avenue. No chain restaurants lie within the neighborhood boundary. Instead, residents experience great tasting, locally-made dishes from some of the best establishments in the city. The Browne's Addition neighborhood attracts visitors from all over the city looking for a casual yet delectable meal.

The Elk Public House, once a pharmacy, has been transformed into a trendy gastropub. Menu favorites such as the French dip royale and marinated pork soft taco consistently impress hungry diners. Those looking for a quiet, romantic night out on the town should look elsewhere, because the Elk maintains the perfect pub atmosphere. It may be a little loud and a bit rowdy, but that's just part of the experience here.

Right across the street sits the eccentric Pacific Avenue Pizza. Pacific Avenue produces amazing pizzas, such as the margherita and supreme. The Josiphina, a house speciality, comes loaded with chicken, mushrooms, artichokes, tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and a creamy alfredo sauce. Sports fans appreciate the many televisions that line Pacific Avenue Pizza's walls.

Those looking for the perfect romantic place in Browne's Addition drive to Italia Trattoria. All pastas come handmade and the food is as fresh as it gets. Diners new to Italia Trattoria should definitely try the potato gnocchi. These hand-rolled Italian dumplings come prepared with a roasted tomato and fresh herb ragu, mozzarella, basil and parmesan. It wouldn't be wise to leave without a hearty helping of the tiramisu or the gluten-free chocolate almond torta.

Locals find that the best places to grab a drink can be found on South Cannon Street. The Elk Public House, El Que, Pacific Avenue Pizza and Italia Trattoria all provide solid beer, wine and cocktail offerings. Just south of Browne's Addition lies Swamp Tavern, a local joint with a great beer selection and a large outdoor patio to enjoy during warmer weather. Hop on a bus and head to the heart of downtown Spokane for more nightlife options, including Gibliano Brothers Dueling Piano Bar and popular music venue the Knitting Factory.

Browne's Addition, considered Spokane's second most walkable neighborhood, appeals to residents interested in being able to walk to nearby amenities and downtown Spokane. Bike lanes are present throughout the community, and bike commuters heading downtown take West 3rd Avenue east. Drivers can easily access Interstate 90 by heading south toward High Bridge Park Road. Visitors park along residential streets, as no public parking garages lie in Browne's Addition.

Those seeking alternative transportation can use Spokane Transit's bus service. Buses run throughout Browne's Addition between 5:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Taxis and Uber both operate within Browne's Addition, but it may be difficult to hail this type of transportation during non-peak hours.

Spokane houses a large number of city-operated parks. The Parks and Recreation department welcomes pets at all parks, but they must be on a leash. Most parks do not charge an entrance fee, but those looking to rent picnic shelters or athletic fields should be prepared to pay a small fee. The Couer d'Alene neighborhood park sits within Browne's Addition, along West 2nd Avenue. Though small, this park contains many family-friendly features, such as a large playground, picnic shelter and a summertime splash zone. Further west lies High Bridge Park, covering 200 acres. This large park has a great walking trail system, perfect for an afternoon stroll with the family. High Bridge Park also holds a separate dog park.

The annual Pig Out at the Park, which runs for six days every September, has become Spokane's most popular food festival and Riverfront Park serves as the backdrop. Visitors to the festival have the opportunity to sample tasty dishes from over 45 food vendors, as well as alcoholic beverages found in three adult beverage gardens. This family-oriented event also features over 100 concerts.

The cost of living in Browne's Addition sits 9 percent higher than the city average of Spokane. Homes are valued up to 55 percent more in Browne's Addition, and residents pay 29 percent more for general housing costs. Renters pay $536 a month on a one-bedroom apartment. Other costs incurred by residents, including transportation, utilities, goods and services, mirror the rest of Spokane. Spokane Transit riders pay $1.50 for one-way bus service, while a monthly pass costs $45. Gas prices lie 15 percent below the national average. Patrons pay between $4 and $5 for a pint of local beer throughout Spokane.

Because of its residential nature, Browne's Addition does not contain many shopping options. Though a small handful of speciality shops lie within the community, most residents find that they must travel to downtown's River Pack Square or north to the Northtown Mall to purchase most retail goods and to shop name brands. High-value stores can be found at River Pack Square. Upscale boutiques and designers featured here include White House Black Market, Anderson & Emami and North Face.

One local shop lies at the core of Browne's Addition. Locals appreciate their hometown bike store, Steve's on Cannon Street. Steve's provides a large selection of bikes to purchase, and also provides repair and tune-up services. Bike brands sold here include Bianchi USA, Seven Cycles and Gunnar. Customers rave about the exceptional service and quick turn-around times.

Drive east along West 3rd Avenue, just past the boundary of Browne's Addition, to reach Spokandy Chocolatier. As Spokane's premier candy manufacturer, Spokandy creates and sells creamy homemade chocolates. The store caters to many dietary preferences, including those looking for gluten-free and sugar-free options. Since opening in 1913, Spokandy has been bringing in residents from all over Spokane looking for quality confections.

Browne's Addition residents purchase groceries at Rosauers or the Sunset Grocery, both found on West 3rd Avenue. Grocery Outlet, a popular discount grocery chain, lies just to the east of the neighborhood on the corner of West 4th Avenue and South Ash Street. Spokane's Farmers Market can be found directly south of downtown Spokane on West 5th Avenue. This market sells local produce, meats and everyday goods, and remains open Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.