Minor - Seattle, WA

Minor houses longstanding cultural institutions such as the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, erected in 1886, and the much-loved Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, home of the African-American film festival and live performances. This neighborhood was annexed by Seattle in 1905. The hospital, built in 1910, is a neighborhood landmark.

An influx of new residents has ushered in a new era of green-friendly buildings and businesses. The Samarya Center on Yesler and 18th offers yoga classes and community outreach programs. The Central Cinema on 21st Avenue has become a popular local hangout for dinner, cocktails, happy hours, and movies.

The variety and style of the area's restaurants and bars reflects the growing diversity of its residents. Most of these establishments can be found on the outskirts of this primarily residential area.

According to loyal fans citywide, Ezell's makes the city's best golden fried chicken. Locals recommend the spicy chicken, and always order more so they have some for later. You can also enjoy hot, fresh homemade rolls and great sides like slaw, baked beans, and crinkle-cut fries. Make sure to save room for sweet potato pie -- you'll be glad you did.

Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar has become a new local favorite, offering tantalizing Ethiopian classics like tender, garlicky sibsil tibs and ginger-kissed yesiga alicha. If you're not feeling quite so adventurous, Wonder has you covered with a selection of juicy burgers, fries, sandwiches, and salads. Enjoy occasional live jazz plus your favorite sporting events and a large selection of bottled and draft brews from around the world.

Along 12th Avenue you'll find a virtual restaurant row, including favorite local chains such as Cherry Street Coffee and student hangouts like the Chieftain Irish Pub. Rhein Haus, a cathedral-esque German biergarten, has multiple levels with bars pouring German and domestic beers. The restaurant serves house-made sausages and provides two indoor bocce ball courts. Get there early on the weekend - lines start forming around 8 pm at this popular hangout.

Further up the street, Canon whiskey and bitters emporium's renowned bartenders create amazing concoctions from what looks like a candle-lit library of libations, with a rolling ladder to access the farthest reaches of their floor-to-ceiling collection. You might feel like a muggle in the wood-paneled, rustic wonderland of Harry Potter's Diagon Alley, but once you've tasted the perfect balance of bitter and sweet in a Mad Bills to Pay cocktail or one of their famous aged inventions like La Bicyclette, an oak-barrel-aged infusion of gin, sweet vermouth, and St. Germain, you'll feel ready to attend your own academy of cocktail wizardry.

For everything from live bands to performance art, check out Chop Suey Cafe, a Seattle institution and favorite of locals and visitors alike, offering draft beers and cheap cans of domestic brews along with two intimate stages affording everyone a good view.

Minor's narrow streets, replete with old roundabouts, make biking and walking fun. The small neighborhood is easily walkable, but you won't find much that isn't residential except for a few beautiful historic churches, the Cherry Hill branch of Swedish Hospital located in the historic James Tower, and a few tiny convenience stores. Most merchants line the outskirts of the neighborhood.

East and west bus routes along Yesler Way, Jefferson, and East Union Avenue provide access to Seattle neighborhoods including Madrona, Capitol Hill, and Queen Anne plus commuter routes reaching Shoreline and Federal Way. Uber and other taxi services will usually be at your door in about 15 minutes, and you can easily hail a cab along Yesler. Locals favor Car2Go, and you can generally find one available within a few blocks.

Auto commuters take Yesler to Boren Avenue to connect with South Rainier for a quick trip to the I-90 Freeway to reach Bellevue. Get to the I-5 by heading north on Boren to James Street. Take Yesler over the hump and down the hill to access Pioneer Square and downtown, which are 5 to 15 minutes away.

Minor's biggest park, Pratt, lies just on the outskirts, and offers an expanse of green space with a central fountain sculpture, kids' playground, a covered basketball court, and plenty of picnic tables and barbeque facilities. There's always something going on at Pratt Park, including annual events on Memorial Day and Independence Day, as well as neighborhood happenings that are advertised via flyers on telephone poles and in local markets. This kid- and dog-friendly park charges no admission fee.

Other parks around the neighborhood are smaller but beautifully manicured. These include the Fire House Mini Park, Spruce Street Mini Park, and Lewis Park. T.T. Minor Elementary School has a sizeable playground for kids.

Settling in Minor used to be one of the best bargains in the city. Though prices are rising, they still tend to be lower than those of other neighborhoods close to downtown. Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Minor is around $1,000 a month.

A pint of draft beer will run about $6.00. Gas prices are nearly 10 percent higher than the national average, while coffee costs about 20 percent more than the national average. Great coffee at good prices can be found at Soho Coffee Company, a neighborhood favorite.

Small local grocery stores like the Yesler Grocery on Yesler and 18th offer convenience items such as ice cream, snacks, beer, and some essentials. Just outside the neighborhood across 23rd Avenue, the Promenade Red Apple Market is an inexpensive alternative supermarket, and along Jackson you'll find a Walgreens drug store. Venture to Minor's north end to find Safeway, which houses a Starbucks and a pharmacy. On Sundays, walk or bike to the nearby Capitol Hill Farmers Market, which offers fresh, local produce.

Downtown Seattle offers a variety of shops, ranging from upscale boutiques to trendy thrift stores. For something truly unique, head to the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, located on the pier. This shop -- which houses such oddities as shrunken heads -- has been family-owned and operated since 1899. (And where else can you buy a three-headed duckling under glass?)

Of course, living in Seattle, you have access to the world-famous, iconic Pike Place Market. This market opened in 1907, when a group of eight farmers pulled their wagons into Pike Place and began selling their produce. Considered one of the oldest farmers markets in the country, Pike Place Market features the original market, open year-round, as well as an evening market and a variety of other markets scattered throughout the city. The market also features other shops, a variety of restaurants, and the Crafts Market. After moving to your Minor apartment, head on over to the Pike Place Fish Market and watch the fishmongers toss fish around, or explore the unique crafts made by the more than 225 craftspeople that contribute to the Crafts Market.