Fairfax - Cleveland, OH

Fairfax became a distinctive neighborhood in 1872, when it was annexed by the City of Cleveland from Cleveland Township. Most of the neighborhood’s activity centers around Euclid Avenue, where development over the years has hugely increased the number of visitors and residents to the area.

Fairfax is also home to many sites which form an important part of Cleveland’s economy, culture and history. These include the renowned Cleveland Clinic, historical religious architecture and Karamu House, one of the oldest African-American theaters in the United States. Join in on community events throughout the year, such as picnics and other events celebrating the neighborhood’s rich African American history.

Choices abound around Fairfax’s horizontal roads, starting from Euclid Avenue and spreading south. Don your dinner suit, and head to Table 45 on Carnegie Avenue. Part of the sleek InterContinental Suites Hotel, the upscale restaurant serves tender meat and fresh ingredients, along with fine wine or your drink of choice. Start with a hearty soup of the day, or opt for what locals deem as the best sushi in town, and follow it with seared scallop.

Continue on the road in a westerly direction to Hot Sauce Williams. The family-friendly barbeque restaurant is famous for its Polish Boy sandwich and fried chicken, but a varied menu satisfies all tastes. Customers can choose to sit inside or take advantage of the restaurant’s drive-through service.

If you do happen to be on the move but could do with a good dosing of authentic Chinese food, China Mountain III provides quick and polite service, good value for money and, most importantly, great tasting food. Located on Cedar Avenue, the fast-food restaurant serves a range of traditional meal options, with some of its most popular items including egg rolls and the house rice.

As the night goes on, a number of late-night restaurants and lively bars offer a fun atmosphere. C2 Restaurant, another one found in the elegant InterContinental Suites Hotel, provides customers with a diverse drinks menu at its C2 Bar. Choose your poison, whether that be single malt Scotch or a signature martini, or take your pick from the bar’s extensive wine selection.

From the neighborhood, get onto I-77 within 10 minutes, which takes you south through the state, via Akron and Canton. You can also be in downtown Cleveland in just 12 minutes by driving westward on one of the neighborhood’s main roads, Carnegie Avenue. You can use Uber as another way to get to downtown Cleveland and elsewhere, and various taxis exist in and around the area too. Once in the City of Cleveland, be aware that you cannot hail a cab on the street; either call ahead or wait at one of several hotel taxi stands.

The extensive bus network servicing Fairfax provides yet another method of transport. The numerous bus routes passing through the neighborhood make getting around, into and out of Cleveland a dream. Fairfax also enjoys the presence of the BRT Healthline, a state-of-the-art bus rapid-transport system running from East Cleveland to Public Square in Cleveland.

This excellent public transport system encourages residents to walk as a means of getting from A to B, as does the proximity of shops and restaurants to one another. While the neighborhood lacks bike infrastructure in parts, you can find dedicated bike lanes on some main roads, such as the Euclid Corridor bike lanes on Euclid Avenue, allowing residents a safe commute to the city on two wheels. From here, cyclists connect to the Harrison-Dillard Bikeway, which continues on past the Cultural Gardens, Lake Erie and eventually Shaker Lakes.

The community comes together for fun and games at their beloved recreation center, located in the scenic 4.5-acre Fairfax Park. The center provides residents with an indoor pool, sauna, sundeck, gymnasium and game room, as well as activities for all ages, from pee-wee sports to old-timers’ basketball. Plus, with the provision of a ball field as well as a child-safe rubberized playground for the little ones, the park caters to all members of the family. City of Cleveland residents enjoy recreational programs and swimming free of charge. Choose from over 60 parking spaces at Fairfax Park, and ensure your furry friend is kept on a leash and out of any prohibited areas indicated by signs.

It costs about 2 percent less to live in Fairfax compared to what the average Cleveland resident pays and 15 percent less compared to Ohio. The median one-bedroom rental rate in Fairfax runs $574. Gas in Cleveland costs about 2 percent more than the national average. A one-way trip on the bus runs $2.25, and a bottle of beer at the pub costs around $4 or $5.

Fairfax’s shops supply many commercial needs and also provide residents with several useful services, from haircuts to clothing alterations. However, various outlets in and around the neighborhood cater to retail shoppers, and most of these can be found on Euclid Avenue.

One such example, modern boutique Green Roots Collection supplies customers with fashion, décor and gifts. As indicated by its name, the shop also caters to the environmentally conscious, featuring brands designed and manufactured in the United States. For flower arrangements, try Segelin’s Florist on Carnegie Avenue. The charming neighborhood shop provides customers not only with beautiful bouquets but excellent customer service too. If you can’t pay a visit to the store, order your flowers on the phone or online – your experience will be just as pleasant.

Situated within minutes of downtown Cleveland, Fairfax also provides residents with a shopping mecca on their doorstep. Head to the city to shop amongst designer labels found in both department stores and independently owned boutiques.

You needn’t go any further than Fairfax to do your grocery shopping, with chain stores like ALDI in the area, as well as smaller neighborhood shops, such as Rumi's Market & Deli, providing hungry customers with fresh ingredients and international delicacies. As another option for freshly stocked food, head to farmers' markets in the area, such as Gateway 105 Farmers' Market just north of the neighborhood.