Northwest Richfield Richfield, MN

Richfield has a proud history as Minneapolis's oldest suburb. It began as a small farming community known for its abundance of rich farmland. It officially became a city in 1908. In the 1850s, one of Richfield's first and most famous settlers, Riley Bartholomew, built a house on Wood Lake in what is now Northwest Richfield. The Richfield Historic Society formed in 1967 to preserve and share the history of the house, which today operates as the Bartholomew House Museum, part of the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, Richfield hosts many annual community events, including a popular 4th of July celebration. New Year's Eve festivities such as a skating party and a candlelit program at the Wood Lake Nature Center take place in Northwest Richfield. To enjoy Richfield's abundance of art and sculpture constantly on display, take in the Walking Public Art Tour presented by the Richfield Arts Commission.

When hungry, your go-to destination are the restaurants located around the intersection of Penn Avenue and 66th Street. Although located in an unassuming old Taco Bell, Aida presents beautiful, accurate and perfectly-made Mediterranean food at reasonable prices and quantities. Get the Mediterranean platter to try a bit of everything, and add the authentic Mediterranean fries for an extra treat. Plan to take your meal with you if a plain, serviceable atmosphere isn't your style.

When you have a sweet tooth, Patrick's Bakery & Cafe provides the best selection of French desserts in the area, as well as a range of breakfast and lunch fare, each tastier than the last. Enjoy the unique atmosphere, including a long window of delicious treats right next to the wall of quality alcohol. Try the Sarah cake and the beef brisket salad, or any of the breakfast options.

At night, grab an olive burger at Sandy's Tavern and stick around for a game of pool. The regulars rave about the cheap prices and good food at this classic neighborhood dive bar. You can also visit Lyn 65 Kitchen and Bar for fun in an old-fashioned atmosphere. The drinks are reasonably priced, and the bartenders are friendly. The food's pretty good too if you want to chow down before indulging in cocktails or beer. The menu is seasonal, so be sure and stop by often to see what's new. For a night of dancing, comedy and endless entertainment options, make the 10-minute trek to downtown Minneapolis.

Northwest Richfield is highly walkable around its key intersections, where you can also enjoy plenty of available street parking if you prefer to use your car. Consider getting your bike out to explore the neighborhood, as bikers are a common sight all over the Twin Cities Metro area, even on streets without biking lanes.

Register with Uber to avoid waiting to hail a cab, and enjoy the added convenience of ordering and paying from your smartphone. Enjoy access to Highway 62 to drive to downtown Minneapolis in minutes via Interstate 35W North, which runs through the middle of Northwest Richfield. Metro Transit also provides limited transportation throughout the city of Richfield and connects Richfield to the Twin Cities via the Orange Line rapid transit bus service.

Northwest Richfield enjoys a number of well-maintained parks; Richfield's popular "Adopt a Park" program encourages community members to commit to two cleanup days a year for any given park. Visit Jefferson or Sheridan Park to take advantage of softball fields as well as tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. A large playground at Jefferson keeps little ones entertained. Richfield Lake Park also offers a 3/4-mile jogging path, a lake and a playground.

The Wood Lake Nature Center constitutes Richfield's largest park, and half of the reserve is conveniently located within Northwest Richfield's borders. Explore over three miles of walking trails, learn the art of Nordic pole walking, make your own snowshoes or join the environmental book club. A popular destination for birthday parties, the Nature Center also hosts fun, educational events for youth led by a naturalist.

To welcome in the New Year, attend the New Year's Eve Candlelight and Ice program on Wood Lake. Please leave your pets, bikes and rollerblades at home to preserve the habitat. In addition to equipment rental costs, special events and programs at the Nature Center usually have a fee between $2-$4.

Northwest Richfield is an affordable option for those looking to live in the Twin Cities Metro area. The cost of living is 9 percent lower than the Minneapolis average and 3 percent lower than Richfield's average. You can rent a one-bedroom residence for around $750 in Northwest Richfield, compared to Minneapolis's city median of $900.

It costs $1.75 to get to Minneapolis's city center via public transportation. A beer at a local pub averages around $4, while neighborhood gas prices average 6 percent lower than the national average.

Boutiques and specialty stores are clustered most thickly along Penn Avenue and 66th Street. Thrift your way through Arc's Value Village for top-quality books, clothing and home goods, all lightly used.

On the west border of the neighborhood, the Galleria Shopping Center provides a high-end, eclectic range of stores from Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and Restoration Hardware to Williams-Sonoma, Coach, and Cole Haan. Come for an upscale shopping experience, or visit the Southdale Center across the street if you are saving your pennies.

Neighborhood grocery stores include Lund's & Byerly's in the north, with an Aldi right next door, as well as a Cub Foods in the west. The Richfield Community Center on Nicollet Avenue hosts two summer farmers markets for shoppers looking for fresh, local fruits and vegetables, garden plants, musical performances and family art activities. The markets take place at the Community Center in Northwest Richfield and the nearby Veteran's Memorial Park.