Melrose - Bronx, NY

The Bronx was originally settled in 1639 by Swedish explorer Jonas Bronck. Bronck slowly purchased land from the native people and eventually held 500 acres between the Harlem and Bronx Rivers (then called Aquehung). The settlers in the area referred to it as "Bronck's Land" and sometimes as "the Bronck's." Over time, the name evolved into Bronx.

In 1973, the neighborhood experienced a decline when the Third Avenue El train was dismantled. Many residents chose to leave the area, and abandoned buildings had to be torn down. Four historic churches were saved. These churches were all built during the late 1800s and are some of the neighborhood's most-loved landmarks. Melrose has recently experienced a "green" construction boom, with the borough's largest number of LEED-certified apartment buildings. The largest, Via Verda, was awarded a silver medal by the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence in 2013.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts and Yankee Stadium sit to the north and the Jazz Museum in Harlem lies to the west. The annual Bronx Cultural Arts Festival also takes place in this neighborhood in May.

Venture towards Melrose and Courtlandt Avenues to find plenty of fine eateries from which to choose.

If Mexican strikes your fancy, try the Xochimilco Family Restaurant, also available for delivery. Choose from an extensive menu of quesadillas, burritos, tacos, and Mexican sandwiches, or try one of the house specials, such as salty beef with cactus leaves, Mexican-style steak, or steamed goat's meat. Locals recommend an order of the guacamole and warn that spicy, in this case, really does mean spicy.

Serving breakfast and lunch to hungry locals for over half a century, Symphony Diner remains a favorite in Melrose. Take advantage of a breakfast special served with coffee or tea, such as pancakes with butter and syrup or corned beef hash with home fries or grits, or grab some eggs to go with ham, sausage, or bacon. At lunch or for an early dinner, sample entrees such as meatloaf, roast sirloin, or meatballs with spaghetti, or order hamburger with cheese or bacon. Finish up with homemade rice pudding or pound cake.

The family-owned Robles Pizza fuses Italian cuisine with Ecuadorian. Sample the latter through dishes such as goat stew and shrimp ceviche, or try a pizza, calzone, or pasta dish such as seafood linguini. Specialty dinners here include chicken Caprese, baby back ribs, and a seafood combo of tilapia, shrimp, and scallops.

Just outside the borders of the neighborhood, you'll discover an array of cocktails at G-Bar and Charlie's Bar, live music and drinks at Sam's Soul Food Restaurant Bar & Lounge, and regular game screenings at the Dugout, Stan's Sports Bar, Billy's Sports Bar, and Yankee Tavern.

Because the public transportation within Melrose provides excellent access to other parts of the city, it's unusual for locals to rely on anything else. Take advantage of five bus routes traveling through the neighborhood towards Third Avenue, Westchester Square, Fordham Plaza, the New York Botanical Gardens, Riverbank State Park, Mott Haven, and Williamsbridge. Of course, the subway is the fastest and easiest way to get around, with the IRT White Plains Road Line taking you to Third Avenue. Melrose features the Metro North Station on the Harlem Line.

Relatively friendly to bikers and extremely walkable, this small neighborhood lets residents easily travel on foot or bicycle. Uber does operate within the area, and you can book a taxi ride via several local firms. If you own your own vehicle, a reasonable amount of on-street parking proves easy to find. Travel across the city and beyond via the Major Deegan Freeway, which circles the neighborhood, or the Cross Bronx Expressway a little to the north.

The largest park in the South Bronx lies just to the south of Melrose. St. Mary's Park proves popular with families looking to enjoy picnics and make use of the barbecue areas, while the kids enjoy the playgrounds, spray showers and indoor pool. Sports enthusiasts take advantage of basketball, tennis, and handball courts and baseball and football fields, as well as the running track circling the park. The rec center hosts plenty of activities and programs for visitors of all ages, including education programs and dance classes.

The Melrose Playground serves as a popular pit stop for families, with handball courts, playgrounds, and spray showers for the kids, and the Railroad Park also provides a playground. Just beyond the borders, watch out for the Arcilla Playground and Flynn Playground, both featuring facilities for handball, baseball, and basketball alongside its playgrounds, and the Patterson Playground, which swaps baseball facilities for a football field.

For a place to exercise your four-legged friend, visit the Saint Nicholas Park Dog Run to the west in Harlem and the Marcus Garvey Park Dog Run to the southwest.

Despite its proximity to the high prices of Manhattan Island, the living cost in Melrose proves relatively affordable at almost nine percent cheaper than the average for New York City. If you decide you want to buy a house in Melrose, prices in the Bronx are rising quickly. In 2015, the average home price was $360,000. By early 2016, that jumped to $363,000.

Expect to pay an average rental cost of around $1,250 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in Melrose. Traveling to the city center via public transportation, however, only sets you back a few dollars. A glass of beer at a local establishment costs at least $10.50, while the price of gasoline in Melrose hovers around 11.5 percent above the national average.

As the second-busiest shopping district in New York, you'll probably spend a lot of time at the Hub after moving to your Melrose apartment. The Hub's sidewalks are usually filled with shoppers who come here for the electronics stores, game stores, boutiques, gift shops, niche stores, and more. While this is probably the best place to find unique items and great deals, it can get very crowded. Luckily, it isn't the only shopping area in the neighborhood.

Around the edges of Melrose, particularly toward the south, you'll find smaller crowds and a great collection of department stores, chain stores, or boutique shops. Discover grocery stores in equal abundance, from Pioneer Supermarkets, C-Town, and Metfood to smaller options such as the Fine Fare Supermarket. Find the closest farmers market to the west thanks to Bronx Borough Hall Greenmarket. Buy farm-fresh produce, including a wide range of seasonal fruits and vegetables, every Tuesday throughout the summer.

Melrose Bridal Palace features formal dresses for any occasion such as weddings, proms, sweet 16 parties, and quinceaneras. Outfit your bridesmaids and groomsmen in the latest fashions, or go for something retro with a vintage look. Shop for gowns made by Mary's, Bonny, and Mori Lee.

Neighborhood Cycle sells fast road bikes and rugged mountain bikes along Courtlandt Avenue. The place also markets safety equipment such as secure grips and lights. Get tuned up and ready for the summer biking season or prepare for your commute to work at this handy shop that has served the area since 1997.