Scott's Addition - Richmond, VA

Scott's Addition started as part of the Mayo family plantation, presented as a dowry to Elisabeth Mayo's husband, Major General Winfield Scott, a war hero in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. As Richmond grew, Broad Street, which borders the neighborhood on the southwest, became the primary road into the city. In the early-20th century, Richmond added the area to the city grid, and it became known as Scott's Addition.

The up-and-coming neighborhood's active business association unifies the community, sponsoring events like Earth Day cleanups and customer appreciation days. Locals love the October Pumpkin Festival, showing up for local bands, vendor booths, and beer gardens. Kid zones and family movie night make this a great event for all ages, and furry friends are welcome as well.

Despite its urban setting, Southern cooking triumphs over more sophisticated fare here, with big breakfasts and old-fashioned barbecue keeping locals fed. Asian fusion, seafood and Chinese restaurants round out the meal options, and a few nightclubs keep things lively at night.

It's hard for even locals to figure which meal to have at Lunch. Supper. This two-sided restaurant serves up brunch fare like the train wreck — an enormous biscuit with creamy sausage gravy and cheese and served with hash browns or grits — on the lunch side of the restaurant, and lunch sandwiches like Southern pride BLT, with fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese, across the way in the supper dining room. The mint sweet tea is a favorite drink on both sides.

Fat Dragon means Asian fusion and a daily happy hour from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Fried to perfection, the crispy calamari appetizer takes the edge off your hunger while you wait for the spicy dragon breath wings. A hip vibe and strong cocktails make Fat Dragon a great night-life destination as well.

You won't find better spare ribs anywhere than at Buz & Ned's Barbecue on North Boulevard — known simply as "The Boulevard." The meat falls off the bone, but many locals prefer the flavor and chewy tenderness of the beef ribs. The fried apples absolutely must be paired with the ribs, and the more adventuresome should try the Cajun-spiced fried okra as a side. Don't give up on the parking, the frustration of looking for a spot in this part of town melts away after the first bite.

Few dance clubs grace this part of town. Richmond's main clubbing paradise stretches down Main Street in the downtown area, but Infuzion provides a closer venue for dance and drinks. Locals wishing to see a campy show visit Richmond Triangle Players Comedy Club off West Broad Street.

Leave the car behind when doing errands in Scott's Addition, as the parking gives locals headaches — and it is much easier to walk or bike. Few bike lanes exist in this urban neighborhood, but the ease of biking the short distances from place to place creates a lot of happy cyclists.

If you need to take a trip into the city, five bus lines get you around town in a matter of minutes for a handful of change.

Getting out of the city by car is a snap. Scott's Addition sits between two major freeways, Interstates 95 and 64, not plagued with the oppressive traffic found in bigger cities.

Locals agree that Scott's Addition could use a park as a local gathering place. In the meantime, residents do not suffer excessively from park deprivation. Maymont Park, just 2 miles south of the neighborhood, is the jewel of Richmond. This 100-acre landscaped park has it all: a Victorian mansion, exquisite gardens — including a vast Japanese garden with a rushing waterfall — acres of walking paths and displays of wildlife native to Virginia, including bison, deer, bobcats and black bears. Kids love romping through the park, jumping on stepping stones in the Japanese garden's enormous koi pond and looking for the otters in the creek. A children's farm and the Maymont Nature Center, which provides many programs for children during the year, make this one of the nation's kid-friendliest parks. Except for service dogs, pets are not allowed at this park.

Take the furry friends to William Byrd Park, another treasure of the city, adjacent to Maymont. Joggers head for the Vita Course, a flat one-mile loop, when they need some easy exercise. The Byrd's Dogwood Dell Amphitheater and Ha'Penny Stage offer a free summer program with high-quality shows, from musical performances to the theater arts. During summer months, locals can be found sunning themselves around Fountain Lake and taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi.

Living in Scott's Addition costs a little more than the average neighborhood in Richmond. Sleek loft spaces average $1,056 a month for rent, significantly higher than the $800 average in surrounding areas, and just edging out downtown's average rental prices.

Be sure and fill up the tank in the neighborhood, though. Gas prices are 4.4% and 8.7% lower than the state and national averages, respectively. Cheap bus transportation makes Scott's Addition a great commute into Richmond, with fares starting at $1.50, plus a quarter per transfer. Hoist a pint at the local bars for $5 on average, with one bar charging $3 for the daily mystery craft beer.

No grocery, boutique, or chain stores exist in Scott's Addition proper. Locals head to Carytown for groceries at Kroger, or order from online grocer Relay Foods, which delivers organic fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood and prepared foods to convenient drop-off locations for free. The Relay Fulfillment Center on Roseneath Road brings fresh scallops right to your sauté pan, along with crisp veggies and a tray of fresh cinnamon rolls for dessert.

Carytown serves as the shopping destination for many locals in Scott's Addition. Long known for its boutique thrift stores and vintage clothing, Carytown also has high-end designer boutiques to appeal to every taste. Pick up a flapper dress with a sassy feather headband at Bygone Vintage Clothing, or head to Clementine and its sister shop, Ashby, for in-trend designer clothes at affordable prices. If you're in the mood to buy new items, stop into Jay Sharpe's Custom Jewelry store to find the right piece to match the fabulous jacket you found at The Jazzy Giraffe, a boutique full of hand-picked fashion from international designers.