South Wedge - Rochester, NY

The neighborhood of South Wedge stems from the 1820s. Families connected to the Erie Canal trade built homes here. Rochester annexed South Wedge in the 1830s. The neighborhood flourished by the 1860s, when Frederick Douglass was one of its most famous residents. A period of decline occurred after World War II, as many residents moved to the suburbs. However, revitalization efforts began in the 1970s and continue to the present.

The National Museum of Play lies just outside South Wedge. Guests of all ages enjoy this unique, interactive museum which recounts the history of toys and displays active exhibits for visitors to partake in.

The Geva Theatre Center in downtown Rochester is Rochester's premier theatre house. The Christmas Carol performance here has become a Rochester tradition, but a number of other great plays take place throughout the year.

The abundance of restaurants and nightlife brings residents from all over Rochester to South Wedge. Pubs and cafes occupy much of the area's commercial space.

The hip, premier coffee house Boulder Coffee Co. serves speciality coffee drinks and creative sandwiches and salads. You won't find a bagel breakfast sandwich called Jefferson's Airplane anywhere else. For the record, if you order a Jefferson's Airplane you'll get a fresh bagel stuffed with egg, ham, banana peppers, red peppers, onion and spicy Cajun mayonnaise. Vegetarians also enjoy coming to Boulder for their range of meatless sandwich and salad options. Popular coffee and hot tea drinks include the Chai latte and any one of their coffee cocktails. The cafe doubles as a live music venue and brings in some of the best talent in town. Their open-mic night draws a large number of patrons each week as well.

Vegetarians and vegans love The Owl House though meat lovers will find items to enjoy as well. This restaurant serves fresh, new American cuisine. The Owl House is a great place to come at night, thanks to their wide range of cocktails and drinks. Some popular menu items include the vegan mozzarella sticks, the waffle breakfast sandwiches and the Lady Chris sandwich stuffed with maple Chipotle tofu, squash and ginger apple fennel slaw.

The trendy Lux lounge has become the hot spot for Rochester hipsters. At Lux you can have a craft beer, play pool or a board game, enjoy quirky specials like PBJs and PBR for $2 and take part in an arts & crafts night.

You need to own a car to live anywhere in Rochester, including South Wedge. Luckily, traffic rarely becomes a problem in the area. Public buses exist, but waiting for these infrequent buses in the frigid Rochester weather during the winter months quickly becomes intolerable. However, pedestrians and cyclists have an easier time in South Wedge than in other Rochester communities because of its proximity to downtown and the number of young professionals who choose to bike or walk around their neighborhood.

Catching a cab or Uber takes little effort in South Wedge. The plentiful bars in this neighborhood draw cabs to the area. Accessing highways and expressways takes no time at all from South Wedge. Interstate 490 and New York Route 31 lie directly north of South Wedge.

The neighborhood has a number of small parks in its immediate vicinity. The free Genesee Gateway Park lies along the Genesee River. The Genesee River Trailway that runs through the park connects to the University of Rochester in one direction and downtown in the other. The park also has a playground, basketball courts and fishing locations.

Families enjoy the public Marie Daley Park because of its playground, picnic tables, grills and grassy area shaded by plentiful trees. The park also has a baseball diamond.

More residents choose to move to South Wedge each year, making this neighborhood one of the fastest-growing areas in Rochester. The cost of living rises here as long as demand continues. Still, living in downtown Rochester costs much less than the New York City metropolitan area. One of the perks of living in South Wedge is its walking distance to the city center.

Renting an one-bedroom residences here will cost you about $928, which lies just a shade above the average for the city. The majority of South Wedge's young population decides to rent, which may drive rental prices up.

Grabbing a beer or bite to eat in South Wedge won't cost much. Decent beer prices lie under $5 and main meals are often $10 or less. Unfortunately, New York state has some of the highest gas prices in the country. The price of gas in South Wedge strongly resembles the price of gas in all of Rochester: 27% higher than the national average.

Boutiques and specialty shops make up the bulk of the shopping options in South Wedge. Many of these local shops lie on South Avenue.

Zak's Avenue carries one-of-a-kind jewelry, accessories and gifts. The name comes from the owner, Deb Zakrzewski. Check out this store if you are trying to find the perfect gift for someone with a lively personality, or some decor to spice up your home.

Music lovers flock to NeedleDrop Records. The shop sells and buys vinyl at prices that are often much lower than competitors' prices. The punk selection here stands out as particularly abundant.

The boutique Thread sells women's and men's clothes as well as housewares and accessories. Many of the items in this store come from local artists. It serves as Rochester's answer to Urban Outfitters.

The Rochester-based grocery store Wegman's has locations all over the city. Mise en Place offers an unique grocery experience in the heart of South Wedge. This European-style market also serves as a cafe and comes equipped with a deli.

South Wedge Farmer's Market runs on Thursday evenings from June through October. Over 20 vendors show up each week to sell their organic and local products.