Liberty City - Miami, FL

Liberty City began as part of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s. His administration authorized the construction of housing in the area to relieve nearby Overtown of overcrowding and deteriorating living conditions.

In the ensuing decades, Liberty City attracted a diverse population of middle-class professionals and families to the neighborhood, but racial tensions marred the area during the Civil Rights Era in the 1960s. These issues persisted until the 1980s, when the success of the Miami Hurricanes football team, featuring numerous players from Liberty City, brought national attention to the area's struggles and prompted intense efforts to revitalize the neighborhood.

Although there are no museums within Liberty City, the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center remains popular both with children and adults. The neighborhood's annual Martin Luther King Day parade along Northwest 54th Street attracts massive crowds every year and promises a great time for all in attendance.

Liberty City is a Mecca for home-cooked food and local dive restaurants. Characterized by locally-owned eateries serving fried chicken, soul food and fluffy pancakes, the neighborhood contributes greatly to Miami's culinary scene and deserves a visit when hunger for true Southern comfort food strikes.

Liberty City's restaurants are spread throughout the community. MLK Restaurant, a soul food staple in Liberty City, sits on Northwest 62nd Street. Featuring low prices, an amiable staff and a festive atmosphere, this locally-owned dive serves up great Southern fare. Diners consistently rate the fish and grits as some of the best in Miami, especially when washed down with a giant glass of the sweetest tea in town. Also garnering high marks from locals, MLK Restaurant's breakfast menu includes Georgia sausage and grits, waffles and chicken wings, and large omelettes stuffed with a variety of meats and cheese.

The area's Haitian influence resonates strongly at Naomi's, a little dive on Northwest 71st Street featuring a walk-up order window and a lively outdoor atmosphere. The okra and beef entrée ranks highly among regulars, and fish lovers rave about the grouper fillet. Hungry locals head to Naomi's to fill up on a great meal for a low price. Most entrées cost $7 or less.

Small clubs and dive bars characterize the nightlife in Liberty City. The neighborhood features no live music venues, but the expansive offerings of South Beach and Brickell in Miami sit only a few minutes down the road.

Many of Liberty City's residential streets are flat and wide, permitting reasonably safe walking, jogging or bicycling. However, the neighborhood's main thoroughfares contain heavy traffic and lack bike lanes. Moreover, even with its perpetually improving crime rate, issues still plague the area and demand that caution be taken while walking or biking at night.

Cars, cabs and public transportation all serve as viable options for getting around Liberty City and for traveling to and from other areas in Miami. Most parking in Liberty City remains free, and the neighborhood provides easy access to Interstate 95 and numerous secondary highways.

Numerous taxi companies operate in the area, though hailing a cab remains uncommon in Liberty City. Uber maintains a presence in Liberty City and the Miami metro area.

Public transportation includes the Miami Metrorail, which provides three stations in Liberty City, as well as the Miami Metrobus, featuring several stops in the neighborhood.

Liberty City doesn't feature parks with exercise programs or equipment, but Alonzo Kelly Park has plenty of green space for a picnic or barbecue with family. This park welcomes kids and dogs, and it costs nothing to park or use the facilities.

Simonoff Park on Northwest 54th Street supplies much of the same, along with well-kept picnic tables where folks enjoy a meal. Many visitors like to take advantage of the open space and play Frisbee with a dog.

Liberty City's parks lack annual events, but its Belafonte Tacolcy Park offers sports programs and other structured activities designed to develop skills and confidence in children and teens.

The cost of living in Liberty City sits significantly lower than Miami. Expect to pay $525 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, $2 for a beer at an area bar, and $2.25 for a train or bus ticket to downtown Miami. Gas prices in the area hover right at the national average.

Liberty City lacks a centralized shopping district or high-end stores, but public transportation shuttles residents to major shopping areas nearby such as the Brickell District of Miami and the Aventura Mall, both of which feature dozens of luxury retailers and big box stores.

Several boutiques and specialty shops exist in Liberty City. These include the Esquire Barber Shop and Clothing, where men stop in not only for a haircut but to find the latest in fashionable attire, including fine footwear. A neighborhood staple for many years, Esquire's employees treat their regular customers and newcomers like family. Another locally-owned gem, Simon's Sportswear on Northwest 54th Street supplies both sporting goods and clothing, including baseball cleats, jerseys and hats.

Winn-Dixie in the Shoppes of Liberty City serves neighborhood residents for large grocery trips. Rami Meat Market on Northwest 22nd Avenue features specialty African food and prime cuts of meat. Total Food, Inc., a smaller grocer on Northwest 17th Avenue, serves residents of Liberty City's northern section. Liberty City Green Market Place on Northwest 7th Avenue provides the area with an authentic farmers market.