Midtown Nashville - Nashville, TN

Founded in 1779, Nashville's namesake was a Revolutionary War hero, Francis Nash. The city prides itself a world-renowned music culture hotspot, often termed "Music City" and "Songwriting Capital of the World."

Historic recording studios and record labels line the Music Row area on 16th and 17th Avenues, developed since the early 1900s. Locals catch "roof-blowing" world-class performers at the historic Ryman Auditorium downtown. Spurring the "Music City" nickname, the nation's longest-running radio station starting in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry stands as a revered historic landmark. Check out United Record Pressing, where vinyl records for legends such as the Beatles, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan and Beyonce were created.

Every year, budding and seasoned artists alike provide musical performances at the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. Larger annual events include the televised Country Music Association Awards, the Nashville Film Festival showcasing indie movies and the interactive, four-day CMA Music Festival.

The only problem you'll have with dining and nighttime entertainment in Midtown is choosing which spot to pick out of an overwhelming number of options. Simply stroll up and down Division Street, West End Avenue and some of the numbered avenues such as 19th and 16th, and you'll find something to suit your mood of the day.

Locals get their daily caffeine boost at Atmalogy on West End Avenue. Tucked in one of the rooms of an actual house, regulars feel at home with the fun decor and appreciate free WiFi, plenty of outlets and seating options from cushy sofas to a hard-backed chair with a table. Ask the super-friendly baristas for a vegan pumpkin spice chai or the house dark roast with the avocado dream toast or a gluten-free baked treat.

Grab a spicy taste of Southern cooking at Hattie B's Hot Chicken on 19th Avenue, where the hot fried chicken is perfectly tender and the red potato salad proves outstanding. Cool down your mouth with one of many craft beers, all carefully picked to pair well with spicy food. For the best burger in town, grab a traditional cheeseburger at Rotier's Restaurant on Elliston Place, and make sure to try onion rings and French bread on the side.

Start an eventful night off by grabbing half-price beer and 2-for-1 drinks during happy hour at Winner's Bar and Grill on Division Street. Locals exercise their vocal chords at karaoke night Fridays and Saturdays and tap their feet to local bands on Whiskey Jams Monday.

Step your night revels up a notch at The Patterson House on Division Street. Choose from over 50 cocktail options, the majority of them original concoctions, and make sure you try the Bacon Old Fashioned if nothing else. Patrons love the "speakeasy," low-key but sophisticated ambiance and the fact that watching the knowledgeable bartenders mix your drink is more akin to watching a chemist creating a potion.

The nightlife scene continues into the wee hours at Springwater Super Club & Lounge where local and touring bands play almost every night. This dive bar and music venue serves as a fun karaoke spot, laugh-out-loud open-mic night on Wednesdays and cheap pitchers of beer any night of the week. Be sure to grab some authentic Southern barbecue from Hog Heaven right next door.

Head down Church Street to find two hopping dance clubs. Tribe provides modern decor and retro songs played over speakers to match the music videos playing on the TV. Head down the street to Play for a themed dance party and a strong drink.

Traversing around Midtown on foot proves a good mode of transportation since so many bars, restaurants and parks sit right in the neighborhood. Biking also serves as a relatively popular way to commute, run errands and do social activities, as many of the streets provide bike lanes.

Drivers take U.S. Route 431 or West End Avenue north into downtown or southeast to other areas of the city and more rural suburbs. Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority provides city bus routes, both regular and local, with several stops in Midtown. Parking proves a mixed bag, where some street parking costs a moderate fee in busier sections. Public garages with hourly rates, free retail lots and free residential parking is also available.

It's possible to hail a cab on the busier roads such as West End Avenue or Route 431 and take them into downtown. When residents need a reliable ride, they schedule a trip with one of the numerous taxi companies that service the area. Car sharing is available with companies like RelayRides and Uber.

Despite being in the vivacious hub of urban living, Midtown provides beautiful parks with tons of outdoor fun by way of exercise, sports, picnicking and festivals.

Centennial Park basically contains everything a resident of any age could want for outdoor recreational purposes. This historic park has free admission, though some particular events might charge a fee. It serves as the perfect place for a casual stroll, picnic with the children, or more exercise-centric jogging and biking. Bring your dogs for a bit of fresh air and exercise as you dip into the Sunken Gardens or walk around the Pantheon.

You'll find an event of some magnitude on most weekends at the Centennial Park; all dog- and kid-friendly. Bring a blanket and some snacks for the annual, free summer movies in the park. The Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival allows locals to enjoy music, traditional Southern food and dance.

Grab one of the 2,000 seats at the park's amphitheater for the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. Bring your dog to the Dog Day Festival & Music City Mutt Strutt along West End Avenue, where live music, dog-friendly activities and treats prove abundant.

The average cost of living in Midtown stays on par with the average of downtown Nashville. Renters in the area pay roughly $1,334 per month for a one-bedroom unit. Drivers budget about 4 percent below the national average cost of gas.

Catching the bus into downtown costs $1.70 for the regular and $2.25 for the express. For a pint of beer at the local pub, expect to pay about $4 at happy hour and $6 and up at other times.

Shopping in Midtown provides a quirky and eclectic experience with tons of local specialty shops and boutiques. Many retail establishments line West End Avenue and Church Street. Plenty of national chains greet you, as many stores rely on customers from nearby Vanderbilt University.

Meet your weekly grocery shopping needs at the Piggly Wiggly on West End Avenue or at King Market on Church Street for a nice array of produce and meats. The Health and Wellness Compounding Pharmacy on 21st Avenue provides an alternative pharmacy where pharmacists make each medication from scratch to meet the exact needs of the customer. This kind of personalized medicinal care allows the pharmacist to work closely with the patient and other health care professionals.

Midtown locals head to the daily Nashville Farmers Market in downtown for fresh produce and meats. The market centers around an eatery with authentic ethnic cuisine, barbecue and cold beer. For a less crowded market with locally produced food, free yoga and live music, check out the West Nashville Farmers Market in Richland Park.

Stroll down West End Avenue to United Apparel Liquidators for hot designer men's and women's ensembles at killer prices. Check out the impressive selection and the amazing employees who suggest clothes for you to try. Prepare to pay a pretty penny for the high-end women's designs at Boutique Bella on West End Avenue. Search the sale racks, or shop on special bargain days, for some real steals.

The Great Escape on Charlotte Avenue serves as a mecca for all things cool in music, comics and vinyl. Operating since 1977, this unique shop sells and trades used, new and out-of-print CDs, DVDs, records, comic books, video games and action figures. Customers love the listening station, friendly staff and reasonable prices.