Jenkins Subdiv/Pinecroft Subdiv Shreveport, LA

The Shreve Town Company founded the city of Shreveport – including the area that is now known as Jenkins-Pinecroft – in 1836. This company helped to develop residential subdivisions and commercial areas on land that allowed the early settlers access to both the Red River and the Texas Trail.

View local and regional artifacts that educate you about the advancement of the area at the nearby Louisiana State Exhibit Museum on Greenwood Road. Featuring an assortment of permanent historical collections and revolving exhibits, this major Shreveport attraction also houses outdoor gardens, and hosts interactive children's educational seminars.

Enjoy the Red River Revel, an annual festival on Crockett Street in downtown Shreveport that celebrates the area's visual and performing arts scene. Look for a wide variety of local artists and craftspeople selling their unique creations, and a multitude of food vendors serving local foods such as gumbo and jambalaya.

Mansfield Road, the main retail and dining hub in the neighborhood, provides you with an ample assortment of casual dining establishments. Order the boudin balls from Crawdaddy's Kitchen to tide you over until your chicken and andouille sausage gumbo or grilled alligator plate hits the table. Featuring unique spins on authentic Cajun/Creole dishes, this casual spot also hosts a seasonal outdoor dining patio.

The crimson red walls and black tables and chairs at Roma Italian Bistro give you a relaxing atmosphere in which you can savor a scrumptious mid-week meal. Enjoy a classic entree, such as the lobster ravioli topped with a pink sauce, or try one of the house specials like chicken Carciofi or Veal Aristocrat to expand your Italian culinary horizons.

Shane's Seafood and BBQ, a small Shreveport/Bossier City family-owned chain, utilizes a unique crawfish boiling method that gives the mudbugs a richer, tastier depth of flavor than other traditional boiling techniques. When you visit the restaurant outside of crawfish season, try the Blink sandwich, a delectable mix of chopped beef and hotlinks or the crab cakes smothered in crawfish etoufee.

Stay on Mansfield Road for a nightcap at TimeOut Sports Bar. This dark dive hosts weekly karoake, scheduled live bands and DJ dance nights. Pool tables and dart boards allow you to let off steam and meet new, like-minded people throughout the night.

If you want to enjoy a more chic drinking experience, head to the Round Bar on nearby Youree Drive. Featuring a wide variety of craft beers, this brick wall and wood-accented lounge fills up with young, hip professionals on the weekends.

Three major thoroughfares – U.S. Route 171, Highway 526 and LA-3132 – run right through Jenkins-Pinecroft, which make it easy for you to get out of the area in minutes. Because the neighborhood does not host bike or walk-friendly roads or public buses, you'll need a car to get around the area. Call a cab company if you're in need of a ride, as cabs aren't available to hail from the street, and Uber isn't available in this area. Once you get to your destination, you'll find free parking at most area businesses.

A.C. Steer Park and Playground, just outside of Jenkins-Pinecroft on Youree Drive, houses an expansive playground that was especially designed for the needs of mentally and physically challenged children. This free, exercise-centric park also features a lighted ball field, a hike/bike trail, tennis courts and a picnic area.

A.C. Steer Park also hosts Shreveport Rugby Club games and Moonbeams, an outdoor movie series. This free facility welcomes on-leash dogs.

The cost of living in Jenkins-Pinecroft is approximately 1 percent higher than the rest of the surrounding Shreveport communities. Renting a one-bedroom residence runs you about $673 a month, while grabbing a pint at a local bar costs between $6 and $7.

One gallon of gas averages out at about 16 percent less than the national average, an attractive figure that can make up for the neighborhood's lack of a public transit system.

The Jenkins-Pinecroft area hosts a couple of discount shops that help you stretch your home decorating dollar. King's Antique Mall on nearby King's Highway houses more than 60 antiques and vintage dealers. Look for unique collectibles here, and peruse the handmade candle and body care booths for one-of-a-kind gift ideas.

The owners of Needful Things on East Kings Highway have a knack for locating boxed, hard-to-find collectibles and vintage Bohemian clothing. Give yourself an hour or more to look through the second-hand store's CDs, gently used shoes, accessories and interesting home décor pieces.

When you want something brand new, go to Mall St. Vincent on nearby St. Vincent Avenue. Housing stores such as Dillard's, H&M, and Charlotte Russe, this mall helps you keep up with the latest fashions without having to venture too far out of the neighborhood.

Jenkins-Pinecroft's proximity to Ed Lester Farms on Highway 84 West in nearby Coushatta allows you to pick up fresh, seasonal produce from this working fruit, vegetable and cotton farm.

Find other seasonal produce at the weekly Shreveport Farmers Market on Crockett Street in downtown Shreveport. Featuring live music, homemade baked goods and a wide variety of vendors selling hot food items, this market is a local Saturday morning tradition.

Mansfield Road also serves as the neighborhood's central grocery shopping destination. Kroger Food Stores, Walmart and Brookshire's Food Stores are all conveniently located along this commercial strip.