Midland - Tacoma, WA

Gone are the days when Midland's thick forest canopy was said to have obscured the stars, but that countryfied feel lives on. The neighborhood still roughly follows the ghostly lines of the original 1850 land claims of Ezra and Oliver Meeker. Midland claims its name from its position as the midpoint for the Tacoma trolley line. The area has always been a suburb of sorts, accommodating the spillover from Tacoma's 20th century growth spurts. A combination of young professionals and legacy families choose Midland for its lower cost of living and central location amid the south Tacoma suburbs.

A sleepy bedroom community, Midland relies on Old Town Tacoma and North End for events and cultural happenings. Six major museums grace Tacoma's downtown core, along with galleries and public art projects. Local events attract Midland residents year round, from October's Orting Pumpkin Fest to the Daffodil Festival in April.

Midland has been a neighborhood in flux since its origin, and its transient character has discouraged local entrepreneurs from staking a claim that truly defines the region.

Along the western edge of the neighborhood locals pick up fast-food favorites from the likes of Taco Bell, Jack-in-the-Box and Pizza Hut. In 2013, Bar Bistro rose up to challenge the long-held notion of Midland as a cultural desert. The unassuming exterior hides a restaurant worthy of any well-kept secret in downtown Seattle, serving up eclectic delicacies in a casual atmosphere. Locals come here as much for the scrumptious offerings as the friendly service. A few favorites include the succulent Veal Osso Buco and the indulgent Mocha Crème Brulee. Cocktail lovers find it hard to tear themselves away from the glowing bar, where mixologists whip up boozy fantasies worthy of the history books. A local favorite, the Campfire Cocktail features an ingenious chocolaty creation served in a martini glass and topped with flaming marshmallows.

A locally popular place to shoot pool, enjoy a pint or watch the Seahawks game can be found at the Black Star Pub & Grill. This no-nonsense hangout feels like a true public house, serving up classic pub food, beer and cocktails, with occasional live music on Sundays as well as DJ nights.

On Saturdays, locals head south of Midland on Pacific for the slow cooked prime rib special at Warthog Barbeque Pit. The smoke-grilled prime cut takes a 4-hour journey to perfection in contrast to the traditional oven-broiled version. This locally owned barbecue joint satisfies fans of Southwest barbecue with an exhaustive menu of favorites, from cornbread and house-made honey butter to country-style steaks, beans, barbecued chicken quesadillas and more. Order at the counter, and pick up some peanut butter pie.

Locals don't consider Midland a walking neighborhood as no truly dense urban clusters for commerce or entertainment exist. However, plenty of open space and undeveloped land makes Midland a nice strolling neighborhood. While no bike routes designate the streets, roadways have generous shoulders, and motorists prove happy to share the road with cyclists.

Pierce County Transit route 1 takes bus commuters from Midland through downtown Tacoma and the North End neighborhood via highway 7. Similar routes from Midland to downtown have stops at Portland and MicKinley Avenues. Bus fare runs about $2.

Auto commutes to Tacoma can take up to 30 minutes. The 512 state freeway skirts the south end of the neighborhood and can be accessed from several Midland surface streets. The 512 connects with Interstate 5 for points north and west.

Ace Cabs, headquartered in South Tacoma, frequent the area's main streets. Quick service assures that your cab usually shows up in about 7 minutes. Hailing a cab works okay along Portland, McKinley and highway 7, but in other areas texting Uber or phoning a cab remain the best options.

Housing tracts in Midland normally do not provide designated parking, but parking spots can usually be found, and there are no meters. Most apartment complexes have designated lots.

Neighborhood tennis players frequent the free tennis courts at Dawson Playfield, Midland's only municipal park. Kids hang out at the children's play area, and the park also features a lighted softball field and expanse of lawn with a few big shade trees.

Nearby Charlotte's Blueberry Park supplies a much larger open space in the form of a once-blueberry farm where groves of blueberries still produce fruit. Visitors can pick the berries on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the season. Half of this 20-acre expanse remains reserved as wetlands, and Midland locals frequent the park for seasonal migrations, bird watching and nature hikes.

Midland residents save on home prices and monthly rent. Renters can expect to pay $700 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. For this perk, they accept a somewhat remote location and lack of a true urban center. Locals typically face a drive to get the same types of amenities and conveniences enjoyed by Tacoma residents. Prices at the pump run about 9 percent higher than the national average and a bit cheaper than neighboring Tacoma. Beer prices hover around $4 for a pint.

Locals consider Fred Meyer, just west of the neighborhood across Pacific Avenue, the best option for supermarket shopping. As the recognized western border of Midland, Pacific Avenue provides locals with some unique shopping options as well.

Neighborhood dwellers pick up eclectic furnishings and décor items at the Pacific Run Antique Mall, an expansive shop packed with a huge variety of precious and not-so-precious items. It's common to find locals in the tiny café at the back chatting over a sandwich or a slice of huckleberry pie. If you music is your talent and you need a good guitar, make a trip to Best Guitar Parts. In 2011 the company selling direct and 100% american made guitars. They continue to offer components and are constantly expanding their product line.

Although no farmers market occurs in the immediate vicinity, great deals on local organic produce can be found at Valley Liquidation on Pacific at 99th. It's not just about the produce at this one-of-a-kind shop, though. Pass through the outdoor fruit stand, and you discover a wealth of sundries, from grocery items like coffee and canned goods, to pet supplies and lots more. The neighborhood of Lakewood hosts a seasonal farmers market from June through September, located a few minutes west of Midland near the Lakewood Towne Center.