Northridge Lakes Milwaukee, WI

Northridge Lakes lies between the Milwaukee neighborhood of Granville and the suburb of Brown Deer, in which several housing complexes have been built. The area was once a part of the town of Granville, which was founded by a group of Pennsylvania Dutch who arrived in the area in the early-19th century. The town would eventually be annexed by Brown Deer to the east and Milwaukee to the south.

While the neighborhood is residential and doesn’t support much in the way of culture, its proximity to downtown Milwaukee provides residents many opportunities to enjoy artful attractions, such as the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Milwaukee also hosts the Wisconsin State Fair every year, and Oktoberfest remains a yearly celebration of the city’s rich German-American history.

Northridge Lakes is a residential neighborhood, so locals need to venture out a bit into the surrounding area for dining and drinking establishments. Thai Bangkok's strip-mall exterior may appear ordinary, but residents know looks can be deceiving when it comes to great food. Classic Southeast Asian dishes of pad kee mao, aka drunken noodles and pad Thai keep them coming back for takeout and in-house dining.

For cuisine from south of the U.S. border, a trip to Poco Loco Cantina doesn't disappoint. A cool margarita may be the answer to a hot summer day, with the cantina's juicy cowboy steak as the perfect complement. Regulars often order the Aspen Ridge sirloin, slathered with Poco Loco's homemade cowboy rub and served with Amish blue cheese. Fresh fish is available daily and, of course, there are plenty of choices for tacos and tequila.

Everywhere you look at Zi's Sports Pub & Eatery, 55-inch HDTV's ensure that you never miss a homerun, tip off or touchdown. A full bar awaits you, including top-shelf liquors, and a growing selection of craft beers and local Wisconsin brews are always on tap here.

Locals who prefer dancing to watching sports head down to the Hot Water & Wherehouse for some tango or salsa dancing and fine Latin music. The club features a rotating style of dance every night of the week, including swing and rockabilly. For more choices in dance clubs, restaurants and live music venues, a trip south to downtown Milwaukee may be the answer. The Rave/Eagles Club has several rooms of varying size to hold small to large crowds, and hosts nationally touring music acts.

The Milwaukee County Transit system serves Northridge Lakes with several bus routes that can be used for travel around the northwest side of the neighborhood or trips to downtown Milwaukee. Biking on city streets requires caution, but Milwaukee County features many miles of paved bike paths that can be used to make connections to a network of trails that are safe for cycling. Walking on quieter residential streets remains generally safe, but caution on major roadways should be exercised.

Free public parking can be found on residential streets in Northridge Lakes, but attention needs to be paid to parking signs that may limit parking on certain days — or after experiencing excessive snowfall. There are many options for cab service throughout Northridge Lakes and Milwaukee, but it's always a good idea to call for service. Uber can be used as well.

For trips out of town, locals access U.S. Route 41 for travel north to Fond du Lac. A road trip north to Green Bay can be accomplished via Interstate 43. Interstate 94 will get you south to Chicago or west to the Wisconsin state capital of Madison.

The Milwaukee area has a number of free parks open to the public. The county-run AC Hanson Park lies just east of Northridge Lakes, offering parents a place to bring their little ones to play at the park's tot lot. The park also features a segment of the Oak Leaf Trail. With more than 100 miles of trails, this interconnected system provides access to many attractions around Milwaukee County and can be used for hiking, biking, in-line skating and even cross-country skiing. Granville Dog Park provides a wooded, grassy area for dogs to run free off-leash, and they can also take a dip in the Menomonee River on a hot day.

To visit the biggest outdoor music festival in the world, folks in the area — and from around the globe — head to Henry Maier Festival Park for Summerfest. This annual 11-day event draws close to a million spectators while hosting hundreds of live music acts each year.

Gas prices in Northridge Lakes sit about five percent less than the national average, and are in line with the surrounding Milwaukee neighborhoods. Groceries and housing can be inexpensive, but transportation costs a little more. A bus trip downtown runs $2.25,with discounts given to children and seniors. A beer costs $3 for a bottle of domestic and about $4.50 for an import. A one-bedroom apartment can be rented for about $642 per month.

Residents on Northridge Lakes have the option of shopping at Kohl’s department store for bargains on everyday household needs, or a more upscale selection can be found at East Towne Square in nearby Mequon. Located northeast of Northridge Lakes, East Town bills itself as a premier boutique shopping center. Luci Boutique can be found here, carrying a wide selection of designer clothing and apparel. For great home decorating ideas, The Lemon Tree has a selection of everything from lamps, rugs, pillows and early American antiques. Sur La Table has everything the aspiring gourmet chef needs to prepare a meal, stocking a variety of kitchen tools, flatware and dinnerware.

Locals visit Pick-n-Save for everyday grocery needs, and Trader Joe’s and The Fresh Market for organic ingredients. For fresh, Wisconsin-grown produce, residents of Northridge Lakes head east to the Brown Deer Farmer’s Market, held in the parking lot at West Brown Deer Road and 66th Street every Wednesday from May to October.