Roosevelt-Phalen Center - Saint Paul, MN

Like most of St. Paul, Roosevelt-Phalen Center has a history that began with railroad tycoons, immigrant brewers, and farmers. Residents first began settling in the area in the middle of the 1800s. Tycoons built mansions on river bluffs while workers settled into small homes and brick apartment blocks, and farmers worked the land farthest from the city.

As St. Paul grew, Roosevelt-Phaylen Center became increasingly dense, due to its relative proximity to the city center. Now, residents of the area have their choice of a quiet suburban life on the streets bordering Maplewood or a busy urban life on the streets close to Dayton's Bluff.

Although no museums exist within walking distance of the area, locals can explore everything from art to science in downtown St. Paul. There, a Children's Museum, an Art Museum, a History Center and more educate and entertain locals.

The majority of restaurants in Roosevelt-Phalen Center can be found around Minnehaha Avenue or Maryland Avenue East. If you are hungry, check out The Little Oven, where the motto "the biggest portions at the littlest prices" rings true. Here, you can enjoy classics such as fried eggs over a thick slice of ham with a plateful of hash browns, a mammoth steak platter or a giant bowl of pasta smothered in copious amounts of sauce and meat. If you don't feel like leaving home, you can have most Little Oven dishes delivered straight to your door.

You can dine inside or outside at the Dari-Ette Drive In, the home of fabulous meatball subs and soft-serve ice cream. Try the pizza burger, a local favorite.

In the evening, locals have a range of corner pubs waiting to serve them a frosty pint. In addition to a wide range of local beers on tap, 5-8 Club has won numerous local accolades for best sandwiches and best Juicy Lucy. A St. Paul delicacy, the Juicy Lucy features a beef burger stuffed with oozing cheese.

If you want something a bit wilder in the evening, leave Roosevelt-Phalen Center and head to the nearby neighborhoods. Check out the Turf Club, a 1940s throwback bar in Midway which showcases local bands. The Wabasha Street Caves is a swing dance club made out of old limestone caves along the Mississippi River, while Kelly's Depot Bar & Grill, located in Lowertown, is another popular destination.

Major thoroughfares such as Maryland Avenue, Phalen Boulevard and East Seventh Street link Roosevelt-Phalen Center to downtown St. Paul, making the four-mile commute last less than 15 minutes in midday traffic conditions. From downtown St. Paul, drivers can jump onto I-35 or I-94 to access Minneapolis or the surrounding suburbs.

Metro Transit buses run through the neighborhood regularly, providing residents with rides into both downtown areas. You can also call a cab or schedule a ride through Uber for a ride.

If you prefer to get around on your own steam, walking through Roosevelt-Phalen Center is safe but not always convenient. Bicycle lanes on the roads as well as dedicated cycling paths give bicyclists the ability to safely and conveniently traverse through the area and into the rest of the city.

Beautiful Ames Lake Park brings scenic recreational activities to the area. A pier curves into the lake and connects to walking, biking and running paths, leading to Bruce Vento Regional Trail and Phalen Regional Park for extended activity.

Sackett Playground sits within walking distance of most of the neighborhood, and it provides a meeting place for kids and parents. Dedicated off-leash dog parks exist in nearby Payne-Phalen and LoDo.

Annually, St. Paul hosts a range of burger battles, beer fests and parades, as well as the Minnesota State Fair, a huge festival with carnival rides, fried everything and blue-ribbon sows.

Roosevelt-Phalen residents live exceptionally close to the Ramsey County Fair. Not as well advertised or attended as many of the city's other festivals, this adorable county fair costs only a couple of dollars to get in, and it provides you with an authentic small county fair experience, complete with hog-tying and pie-eating competitions.

Living in Roosevelt-Phalen Center costs less on average than living in other parts of St. Paul, and renters notice a marked savings. While one-bedroom spaces in St. Paul cost an average of $839, one-bedroom apartments in this neighborhood average close to $680.

If you're thirsty, you can find a bottle of domestic beer for about $3 at the local bars and microbrews for $5 to $7 at the city's pubs and clubs.

If you are a student or senior, you can ride the bus anywhere in the city for less a dollar, and commuters can reach downtown St. Paul for $3 during rush hour. Cheaper fares dominate during off-peak hours or if you purchase a multiple-ride pass. Drivers fare well in this area too, as gas prices cost approximately 6 percent less than the national average. Residents park for free on city streets, and most businesses have free parking lots.

Roosevelt-Phalen Center hosts a couple of speciality shops which attract shoppers from around the region. Sandeen's Scandinavian Gifts stocks Scandinavian gifts as well as folk art supplies, and it has been serving the area since 1955. Gloria's Jewelry offers high-end antique and custom-designed contemporary jewelry.

Locals who want to spend the afternoon shopping head southeast to Grand Avenue. Grand hosts a range of boutiques including Bombshell, Primp and BlackBlue, as well as gift shops and eateries. Avid shoppers, preferring a more intense indoor experience drive 18 miles to the Mall of America, which features more than 400 stores.

At Hmong Village in Roosevelt-Phalen Center, you can find plenty of pork bellies and all the ingredients you need for a papaya salad. A variety of stalls selling clothing, jewelry, DVDs, baked goods and other essentials surround the grocery store.

If you need a big cereal aisle and sliced sandwich meats, head to Cub, a large chain grocery store in the neighborhood. In the summer, check out the St. Paul or LoDo Farmers Markets for local organic shopping.