Buckeye-Shaker - Cleveland, OH

The Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood was at one time home to the largest Hungarian community outside of Budapest. Known as Little Hungary, the 1920s U.S. Census saw the area as home to over 42,000 Hungarian-born residents. Many historical buildings remain in the area, including St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church.

To learn a little about the area, visit the Shaker Historical Museum. This museum contains exhibits, both permanent and rotating, that detail the history of the Cleveland area. Enjoy special events, such as holiday, painting and arts, or gardening exhibits while there.

Some annual events to consider in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood include Porchfest and the Soul of Buckeye Festival, both featuring music from the area.

You'll find a variety of restaurants in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood of Cleveland. Two prominent restaurant hotspots include Larchmere Boulevard and the nearby Shaker Square shopping districts. Some of the cuisines available include Mexican, Asian, American, and Hungarian.

Senor Tequila Mexican Grill & Cantina has authentic Mexican fare, such as carne asada, carnitas Coloradas, and other favorite dishes. On your next visit, try the chorizo taco filled with Mexican pork sausage, lettuce, tomato, and cheese. Or go for something more filling, such as the molcajate fajitas, containing a diverse selection of meats and consisting of chicken, steak, sausage, and shrimp. The restaurant serves the main dish on a Mexican stone bowl to help keep it piping hot.

The Hungarian-themed Balaton Restaurant has served the Cleveland area for over 50 years, bringing a variety of Hungarian dishes to the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood. One popular menu item, the beef goulash, is made of lean beef tips and smothered in a spiced Hungarian sauce. The dish also comes with dumplings.

For innovative food and an exciting atmosphere, take a trip to Fire Food & Drink. Once there, try one of the scrumptious appetizers, such as the smoked cod rillette, containing walnuts, guajillo chile oil, and cumin-croustades. You can also order the pan-seared golden tilefish, a dish consisting of fish served with caper brown butter, fingerling potatoes, and a celery root puree.

If you seek musical entertainment, then nearby Severance Hall could provide just the thing for your musical fix. Featuring orchestral performances, the hall is home to the Cleveland Orchestra, which puts on shows that celebrate prominent birthdays and famous conductors throughout the year. It also performs various operas.

The Academy Tavern has live music, great food, and drinks. This historical landmark serves a small selection of beers and makes the perfect place to kick back, relax, and enjoy a night out with family and friends. The tavern is much like the nightlife in the area, very laid-back and familiar.

Getting around the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood is relatively easy when it comes to walking and biking thanks to ample bike lanes and sidewalks. For longer distances, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) utilizes buses and rail to provide area travelers unprecedented access to all of the Cleveland area. The Shaker Square Rapid Transit station gives area residents a quick and easy way to get to downtown Cleveland or other area hotspots. Buses also travel to all areas of the greater Cleveland area.

You can hire a taxi by calling one of the cab companies that service the area or travel to a stand at a local hotel to pick one up there. Uber services the Cleveland area, requiring a smartphone to order a taxi through the online service.

You can find plenty of public parking in the Buckeye-Shaker area, especially around Shaker Square. Fortunately, many of these public lots do not charge and offer 24-hour parking. When driving around the area, accessing area highways and expressways remains easy via Shaker Boulevard, Buckeye Road, and other area side streets.

Area parks include both big and small locations. One of the bigger outdoor areas includes the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. A part of the Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail, the park features a nature center, numerous green spaces, and a variety of plants and wildlife. Set aside for use by the public, the Nature Center holds programs year round for adults, kids, or the whole family.

You can get into the park for free, though donations are accepted. Another area park includes the 6-acre Artha Woods Park, which offers its visitors a playground for the kids, a full-court basketball court, and a baseball field. Parks allow for pet access, but leash laws are in place at both locations.

While area parks do not host annual events, you can check out the yearly Cleveland Garlic Festival in nearby Shaker Square. The festival seeks to celebrate this odorous plant while educating the public on its many uses.

The cost of living in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhoods sits at about the same level as the rest of Cleveland. Bus and train fare across the city costs $2.25 for a one-way trip, while Park-N-Ride options cost $2.50. Rent for a one-bedroom residence runs about $601 a month, and a beer usually runs between $3 and $4.

The price of a gallon of gas in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood costs about 7 percent less than the national average.

When it comes to shopping, few areas in greater Cleveland offer the shopping experience that Shaker Square does. A historic American Colonial-Georgian shopping center, Shaker Square has a variety of shops tailored to a wide selection of shopping needs, including fashion, electronics, and food items. One such store, Fashions by Fowler, sells a large assortment of shoes, clothing, and jewelry. Enjoy the latest fashions from such designers as Jovani, Atria, and Precious Formals.

You can also visit Larchmere Boulevard to the north of Shaker Square. While in the Larchmere area, stop by one of the many antique shops, including Marc Goodman Antiques. Fine Points Inc. is a high-end boutique that specializes in clothing, jewelry, and knitting and crochet supplies. The shop also sells a selection of fragrances.

Area residents have a few grocery stores they can go to. Dave's Markets is one area store that sells some of the freshest cuts of meat, baked breads, and sweets. The local ALDI also sells a large assortment of grocery items, including fresh produce, meat, and personal items. The North Union Farmers' Market makes the perfect stop if you seek fresh produce from area farmers, including fruits, vegetables, and meat products.