Parramore Orlando, FL

In the 1880s, Orlando's 14th Mayor, James B. Parramore, decided to create a segregated neighborhood. The neighborhood was named for him, and this neighborhood became the hub of Orlando's African-American culture. To learn more about Parramore's history, visit the Wells' Built Museum of African American History. It is located in the Wells' Built Hotel, a historic hotel built in 1917.

Today, Parramore is considered one of Orlando's hippest neighborhoods. And while it has become the trendy place to live, the city is working hard to preserve the historic sites and ensure that prices don't soar out of the average renter's price range. But with its excellent location within walking distance of downtown and all of the businesses moving in, apartments in Parramore are being snapped up fast.

Add in the neighborhood's reputation as Orlando's entertainment hub -- containing Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, a soccer stadium, and close to several other concert and performance venues -- and Parramore is even more appealing.

The broader area of downtown Orlando features many art and cultural venues, including the Orange County Regional History Center, the Orlando Museum of Art, and the galleries and performances at the Downtown Arts District. Downtown Orlando also holds numerous annual events, including the Orlando Cabaret Festival and the Downtown Food and Wine Fest.

Holden/Parramore only contains a few restaurants, distinguished by the tastes of American comfort food. You can also get your hands on some top-notch Chinese food at the Van Family Restaurant. Residents make this their spot for kung pao chicken, fried dumplings, and other Asian delicacies.

For the bulk of the restaurants, go to the downtown central business district, which sits right next to this area. This downtown area features restaurants with fancy plating of American dishes and your choice of ethnic cuisines.

The Rusty Spoon serves foodie delights with ingredients from local sources. Switch your regular bar burger for this gastropub's grass-fed version with Gruyere cheese and bacon mixed in with the beef. Whether you go for beef, seafood, or chicken, you can be sure that your meal will have the unique flavor combinations and high-quality ingredients that make this spot a favorite.

When you see the long line at Gringos Locos, you know the restaurant must have something special. Locals know that it's worth waiting and that the line moves fast. Try the popular Double D tacos or the mouth-hugger burrito. Open until 3 a.m., this restaurant makes it easy to stop in for a taco during your night on the town.

For night time entertainment, Holden/Parramore boasts ownership of the Amway Center, where you can catch big-name concerts, the Orlando Magic basketball team, and the Orlando Solar Bears hockey team. In the stadium, the 180 Grey Goose Lounge offers an upscale nightlife experience with VIP seating and drinks that center on Grey Goose. The venue requires stylish dress.

For the main nightlife destination, head to the downtown central business district, where a variety of establishments stay open until the wee hours. Here, you find bars, such as Harp & Celt Irish Pub & Restaurant, and dance clubs, including Vixen, EVE, and Independent Bar. Check out some live music at The Social or Tanqueray's.

Residents find it possible to reach many destinations throughout this neighborhood by walking, although they still need a car to get around. You can also find numerous bus stops throughout this neighborhood. In addition, the LYMMO community bus travels along designated routes from the Amway Center to Lake Eola or Creative Village in Parramore, with numerous stops in between.

For times when a cab provides a better option, call one of the local cab company to schedule a ride. Uber also serves the neighborhood. As an alternate possibility, consider sharing a car through RelayRides.

If you plan to bike around the neighborhood, Westmoreland Drive and South Street provide the safest environment with biking lanes. The flat terrain in this area makes biking an easy activity. This neighborhood provides easy access to major highways State Road 408, Interstate 4, and U.S. Route 441. Visitors to downtown Orlando have access to numerous parking lots and garages for a fee, varying from $1 to $15 per hour or by a monthly rate.

This neighborhood has just one park, although you can find numerous other options not far beyond its borders. The local parks are free and friendly to dogs. Its own park, Z.L. Riley Park, includes a playground for the kids and spaces where you can sit and enjoy the large trees and other natural features. Visit nearby Lake Eola Park to enjoy the water, walk or jog on the sidewalk around the lake, and rent a paddle boat to take on the water. This park holds several annual events.

On average, apartments in the Holden/Parramore neighborhood average about $959 for a one-bedroom, which is lower than in other Orlando neighborhoods. The city offers the LYMMO bus for free; you can take the LYNX bus to the city center for $2 each way. Gas in this neighborhood costs five percent less than the national average price. During a night out, expect to pay $3.50 to $5.50 for a beer at your local pub.

The Shoppes of South Parramore features several businesses, including a beauty salon, a clothing store, a deli, and a brewery.

Visit Hearlie's Flower Box for flower arrangements and Miller Bearings for vehicles parts. Palmer Feed Store, open in this area since 1947, sells baby chicks and other farm animals, supplies for farm animals and pets, hardware, and gardening supplies.

The Central Business District has many independent stores such as Orlando Rubber Stamps and Sign for customized stamps and signs. The boutique La Belle carries a selection of fur coats, sweaters, jackets, and leather items. For a mall, head northeast to the Orlando Fashion Square Mall or southwest for the high-scale Mall at Millenia.

Residents have many choices of independent supermarkets right within the neighborhood; pick from Tip Top Grocery, JR Food, Mike's Food Store and Sy's Supermarket. Go to Orlando Farmer's Market in South Eola District on Sundays for fresh produce and a beer and wine garden.