St Anthony - Saint Paul, MN

Wealthy Minneapolis residents established estates in this area at the end of the 19th century, but the centrally located Saint Anthony Park now houses a diverse community of students, families and others. The neighborhood hosts its own Independence Day parade and an all-day, free party for residents at Langford Park, and a Sunday concert series fills the area with music every summer.

Although there are no museums or theaters in the neighborhood, there are several world-class museums within driving distance, including the Weisman Art Museum and the Walker Art Center. Theater lovers boast that the metro area has more theater seats per capita than anywhere outside of New York City.

Readers and researchers love the Saint Anthony Library, a Carnegie library, and they also enjoy living in close proximity to large city libraries in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, as well as research libraries at the University of Minnesota.

Restaurants in Saint Anthony Park sit primarily on Como or University avenues, and residents can easily find satisfying breakfasts or plates of gourmet dinner food.

In spite of its name, the Colossal Cafe resides in a small space and has just a few tables. Rubbing elbows, patrons enjoy gorgeous plates full of dense griddle cakes called flappers or dive into waffles covered with toppings ranging from walnuts, brie and apples to Midwestern rhubarb to blue cheese and bacon.

Located in a renovated historic house in Milton Square, Muffuletta Cafe offers hearty breakfasts as well as high-end lunches and dinners cooked from scratch. Tap into your cheesy side with the 1977 beer cheese soup or the yummy mac and cheese covered with shaved shallots and bacon. If you prefer something lighter and spicier, grab the Asian burger with five spice powder, cabbage slaw and peanut sauce.

If you want to listen to the sounds of jazz as you sip a glass of wine and split, visit Caffe Biaggio. If you prefer a frosty pint of lager, live music and a sometimes raucous crowd, head to the Dubliner Pub, which offers funky soul parties and quiz nights alongside Irish bands and Celtic dancing lessons. Those who want more nightlife options head to the Midway area, east on University, where bars such as the Turf Club and Tracks proudly claim the title of dive bar and offer live jazz in the basement and peanut shells on the floor, respectively.

Quiet residential streets offer safe walking opportunities in a beautiful environment, but because the area's businesses are not grouped together, residents may need to use other modes of transportation to fully experience the neighborhood.

Several bus lines serve the Saint Anthony Park area, taking residents to downtown Saint Paul or Minneapolis. Students can ride a free bus from the Saint Paul campus to the Minneapolis campuses of the University of Minnesota.

Residents can easily drive to Interstates 35 or 94 to commute to either city or to quickly get out of town. Ample free parking exists on the streets of the neighborhood, and bikes lanes connect the area to the rest of the city, earning the area numerous accolades as one of the best urban areas for bicyclists.

Don't expect to easily be able to hail a cab in the street, but you can call a cab or contact Uber for rides.

Saint Anthony Park contains a plentiful amount of beautiful green spaces, making it an ideal place to call home for families with children or pets. Langford Park offers a playground, tennis courts and picnic areas in the summer, as well as skating rinks in the winter. College Park also offers tennis courts and playgrounds, while Hampden Park is an open green space.

To the north of this neighborhood sits Como Park, which offers a free zoo with polar bears and gorillas, as well as areas for hiking, picnicking or playing.

If you need an affordable workout during the cold months, the Langford and Saint Anthony rec Centers offer programs and classes for adults and children.

Living in Saint Anthony Park costs slightly more than the average cost of living in Saint Paul but still less than living in most parts of Minneapolis. While the average tenant of a one-bedroom apartment pays $839 in Saint Paul or $961 in Minneapolis, the average Saint Anthony Park resident pays about $911 in rent.

Riding the bus costs $1.75, with express buses and rush hour fares ranging up to $3. Gas costs 93 percent of the national average, and when you need a break, you can find a pint of beer for between $4 and $7.

The Saint Anthony Park neighborhood offers a range of cute boutiques and thrift shops. High-end and speciality stores tend to set up shop on Como Avenue, while the real deals hide on University Avenue.

Micawbers Bookstore, an independent shop with knowledgeable employees, and Bibelot, a clothing, stationery and gift shop, also occupy this corner of Saint Anthony Park. Nearby, Raymond Avenue features a gem of store that takes you on a trip back in time. Barely Bros Records sells vinyl records, making it a must-visit for music geeks in the neighborhood. Locals claim the ridiculously extensive selection makes each visit a treat. If you sold your turntable years ago at a garage sale, don't worry — the store also sells equipment. Frequent patrons say that though prices run a bit high, the quality and service prove well worth the added expense.

Thrifty residents head to University Avenue for a fun grouping of charity and consignment shops. When shopping for furniture and accessories, head to Classic Retro and grab a few mid-mod items. Carefully selected consignment clothing and furnishings await you at Succotash, but if you really want a great deal, check out Ax-Man Surplus Stores. From the truly odd to the absolutely necessary, this shop sells everything you didn't now you wanted. This store proffers a couple hours' worth of entertainment whether you need to stock up or simply wish to browse the racks.

Hampden Park Co-op brings fresh organic produce and bulk grains to the neighborhood, and residents who prefer a more conventional shopping experience visit chain grocery stores such as Cub Foods and Rainbow Foods in the Midway area. St. Anthony Park residents have a great location for reaching the St. Paul or Minneapolis farmers markets in the summer, or they can hunt for produce among the ruins of an old mill at the Mill City Farmers Market.