Payne-Phalen - Saint Paul, MN

In the 1840s and 1850s, Swedish laborers built shanties and shops in the area where Trout Brook and Phalen Creek converge, earning this corner of the Payne-Phalen neighborhood the still-used nickname of Swede Hollow.

During the following decades, the surrounding neighborhood attracted a range of affluent and middle class residents who erected stately Victorian mansions as well as smaller but still beautiful brick and wood residences. By the turn of the century, Payne Avenue and Arcade Street emerged as the central commercial districts of the area, and many of the commercial buildings erected during that time still stand today.

Water and Oil, an art museum in Payne-Phalen celebrates the Northern European heritage of the immigrants who first settled this area as well as the history of the Midwest in general. Locals also have easy access to a Science Museum, History Center, Museum of American Art and Children's Museum in downtown.

The commercial areas of Payne-Phalen bring everything from top-of-the-line bistro fare to hard-to-find ethnic delicacies to the table. Often stereotyped for their inability to consume spicy foods, Midwesterns in Payne-Phalen buck that myth by munching on peppery curries at Eastside Thai, spicy fajitas at Taqueria Los Ocampo or hot Szechuan Style Pork at Sui Yep Cafe.

Tongue in Cheek, an East Side bistro, promises to only serve animals that have been treated well during their lives, and the menu features simple delights such as wild salmon or market steak prepared perfectly. If you can't decide, check out the seven-course tasting menu with options for carnivores and herbivores.

Just down the street, Cook St. Paul uses locally sourced ingredients and promises everything from the cinnamon rolls to the ketchup is prepared in-house or by someone local. Ward 6 East Side, another bistro, transcends definition. Need an affordable sandwich with the kiddos? Then, W6, as locals call it, can be an eatery. Need a cocktail, a local brew or an "adult" milkshake? Then, let W6 be your local bar. Need to see some live music? Then, let W6 be your vintage spot for live entertainment.

For nightlife, check out Vogel's Lounge. This dive bar has been attracting locals since the '40s, and it continues to draw a full crowd regularly. Sip cheap pints while relaxing on a vinyl bar stool, that has probably been lining the bar since it opened, shoot some darts with your neighbors or watch a game on the flat-screen TVs.

If you need wilder nightlife, pop into LoDo and check out The Bulldog Lowertown or Kelly's Depot Bar. If you are in the mood for swing dancing, visit the Wabasha Street Caves, an iconic St. Paul club built into limestone caves near the river.

Metro Transit route 64 runs through the neighborhood, taking residents to downtown St. Paul or far flung suburbs such as White Bear Lake. Bikers enjoy the safety of bicycle lanes throughout the neighborhood and into downtown and Lodo.

Although the neighborhood has an image problem due to its crime rates, safety advocates argue that it has less crime per capita than other parts of the city, making it just as safe for walkers as any other part of the metro area, and the relative density of the area makes walking convenient for locals.

Drivers utilize Arcade Street and Minnehaha Avenue, two major thoroughfares which run north-south and east-west through the neighborhood respectively. These roads take residents to I-94 which provides easy access to both downtowns. The streets of Payne-Phalen offer free parking or permit-based parking for residents, and most businesses have their own parking lots.

Cabs and Uber both serve the area if called there by residents. However, you shouldn't count on being able to hail a cab in the street.

When you live in Payne-Phalen, you have a lot of outdoor options. Walk along the quiet shore of Lake Phalen, take your puppy to the Arlington-Arkwright Dog Park for some off-leash play time or exercise your green thumb at the Beaumont Community Garden.

Once a year, area residents gather for an April clean-up of all the neighborhood parks, and in the fall, you can watch floats showcasing local pride at the Payne Arcade Harvest Festival and Parade.

The cost of living in Payne-Phalen offers better value than living in other parts of St. Paul, and beautiful homes can often be bought in this neighborhood for half of what they cost in other parts of the city. While renting a one-bedroom apartment in St Paul costs $839 on average, the same accommodation in Payne-Phalen runs less then $700.

If you want to catch a bus into the city center, look for change in your pocket. Tickets start at less than $2, with rush-hour fares costing only $3 and student fares costing less than $1. Drivers love that the area offers cheaper-than-normal gas with prices averaging 7 percent less than the national average.

At the end of the day, a bottle of domestic beer costs $3. Local brews bear a $4 to $5 price tag, and if you can't consume gluten, you can find a pint of gluten-free beer for around $7.

The Payne-Phalen commercial district focuses primarily on restaurants, but it has a few shops such as St. Paul Floral, J&E Antiques and Minnesota's Bookstore sprinkled in between the eateries. Payne-Phalen residents who want a more upscale shopping experience head to downtown to visit Details Style Lab. There, you can get everything from a pedicure to a new set of sandals. Grand Avenue, in nearby Summit Hill, offers fabulous little boutiques including BlackBlue for stylish men, Bombshell for curvy shoppers and Karma for funky labels. When you get hungry, check out organic options at the small Golden Harvest grocery shop in Payne-Phalen, or browse the wide aisles full of everything you need at one of the chain shops such as Cub Foods. If you prefer an upscale grocery shopping experience, pop into downtown and check out locally-owned Lunds & Byerly's. During the summer, grab your produce at Market on the Bluff, a Tuesday farmer's market in the heart of the Payne-Phalen neighborhood, or travel into downtown St. Paul for the large farmer's market that takes place there every weekend of the spring, summer and early fall.