SoNo - Norwalk, CT

Many of Norwalk’s historic buildings, including the Norwalk Hat Factory, call South Norwalk home, and the SoNo Switch Tower Museum and Norwalk Museum capture the area’s rich history. During the 1970s, most of downtown SoNo and its historic buildings were scheduled for demolition, but the mayor and locals managed to get this area of SoNo named a historic place, which saved it from being destroyed.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Norwalk actively encouraged big businesses to settle in town, and the companies came in droves. Diageo, Bear Naked, Dooney & Bourke, Stew Leonard’s, Sclafani Foods, Pepperidge Farm and Priceline have facilities or headquarters in Norwalk, and many of those employees live in or frequent SoNo when they’re off the clock. Summertime events in SoNo include the Annual SoNo Arts Celebration, the Norwalk Jazz Festival and the annual Harbor Splash.

While there are a few restaurants along Connecticut Avenue, most of the SoNo’s dining venues sit closer to the waterfront along North Main and Washington streets, making it a great place to take a stroll on a warm summer evening. Locals flock to Strada 18 to nosh on authentic New York-style pizza with house-made mozzarella and other Mediterranean favorites served in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The chef's dishes focus on casual comforts made with local ingredients, resulting in a menu that includes duck confit with roasted beets, macaroni and cheese with white truffle oil, and oven-roasted branzino with fresh herbs.

For lighter fare, residents head to the Blue Cactus Grill to enjoy fresh burgers, quesadillas, soups, chili and house-made potato chips. Be sure to try the namesake burger that’s topped with roasted jalapenos, sliced garden-fresh tomatoes and avocado crema or one of the eatery’s vegetarian options, such as the caprese with fresh mozzarella, pesto, tomato and balsamic vinaigrette on healthy multigrain bread.

The same area along North Main and Washington, close to the harbor, also houses much of SoNo’s nightlife. For a touch of the Irish, Donovan’s is the pub of choice, while the Beer Garden hosts an annual Oktoberfest and Football Sunday events in an authentic German biergarten atmosphere.

Most SoNo residents and visitors get around by car, bicycle or boat, thanks to the community's waterfront location on the Norwalk Harbor and Long Island Sound, while commuters tend to use the Metro North Railroad when traveling into Manhattan or New Haven. Central SoNo, where North Main meets Washington, sees a lot of pedestrian traffic, especially on the weekends and during the summer months. Metered parking is available along most of the main streets, and affordable public parking lots are also available.

Uber operates in Norwalk, and several shuttles and private car companies serve locals who prefer not to take the train or who are traveling to the White Plains, LaGuardia or Kennedy airports. When you’re in the central areas of the town, expect to find many streets that have dedicated bike lanes for those who prefer pedal power, but care should taken on some of the busier streets. The Norwalk Transit District operates public buses for those traveling between Norwalk, Westport and Greenwich.

During the warm summer months, Calf Pasture Beach is a favorite hangout for locals and visitors with its sandy beach and convenient location where Long Island Sound meets Norwalk Harbor. It also offers plenty of places to fish and boat launch for those who opt not to keep their boats in one of the area’s many marinas. Though locals tend to spend rainy days at the local IMAX Theater, there are many outdoor recreational possibilities in the area. Oyster Shell Park offers a bit of history mixed in with summer fun, as it's the site where local Native American tribes used to congregate to gather the oyster shells found on the shore to make wampum.

Oak Hills offers a public golf course, while Veteran’s Memorial Park, Mathews Park and Cranbury Park offer a host of recreational activities, including baseball fields, basketball and volleyball courts, playgrounds and picnic areas. The public parks are free for residents, although they must apply for a pass, while non-residents can purchase daily or seasonal passes through the town. Pet lovers usually congregate at the 227-acre Cranbury Park on the Wilton border because of its dog-friendly policies.

Like most of Fairfield County, living in South Norwalk comes at a price. Expect to pay an average of $2,062 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in town, but most residents can cover that comfortably since the town’s median household income is more than $70,000 per year. While housing costs in Norwalk are higher than the state and national average, groceries, health care, transportation and utilities are all on par with the rest of the state. Gasoline is also expensive in this area, averaging 18 percent or more above the national average, but the cost of beer is more affordable, with bottled, canned and draft beer ranging from $6 to $8. Bus fares are also affordable at roughly $1.50 per ride.

More than 30 neighborhood stores serve SoNo residents and visitors. Cayambe is a terrific boutique with its assortment of clothes, jewelry, and home-decor items. While the area features larger grocery stores, including ShopRite and Stop & Shop, Stew Leonard's is still the place that takes center stage in the grocery arena, with people traveling there from all parts of the state just to do their shopping. For more ethnic items, Patel Brothers on Connecticut Avenue and Oriental Food Market on New Canaan Avenue are top choices. While there are no farmers markets in the neighborhood, residents frequent the nearby farmers markets in Darien, Rowayton and Westport.