Vassar Park - Canton, OH

Founded along with the city of Canton in 1805, Vassar Park began as part of the large manufacturing industry. When this industry started to decline, the retail, financial and educational establishments developed and thrived.

Experience art and culture from national and international artists and performers with the Canton Museum of Art, Canton Symphony Orchestra and Canton Ballet. The art museum sits right in the Vassar Park area on Market Avenue North and rotates a wide range of exhibits, such as First Fridays with wine and cheese.

Other notable historic spots include the Canton Classic Car Museum and the National First Ladies Library. Residents expand their palette and explore culture at annual events such as the Greek Summerfest, Taste of Canton and Canton Blues Festival.

Centered around Market and Cleveland Avenues and some of the numbered streets, dining and nighttime entertainment options in Vassar Park provide quality and variety. Locals looking for upscale food with a relaxed atmosphere crowd into the authentic Spanish tapas restaurant Tapas 218. Customers rave about the paella, ceviche, floutas and churros. If you order any sandwich, especially the Sicilian Sling or German wrap, from Thatsa Wrapp on 6th Street, expect to be satisfied. Add a side of gouda mac and cheese or the homemade buffalo cheese chips, and grab a craft beer to wash down your meal.

The Conestoga Grill is a staple in Vassar Park's nightlife scene. With a mixed-age crowd, cheap happy-hour drinks and a friendly atmosphere, this neighborhood watering hole gets packed on the weekends. After relaxing with a drink, catch a movie at the renovated Canon Palace Theatre on Market Avenue. It occasionally hosts performing art shows but mostly showcases relatively recent movies or art and Indie films, each with a live organ performance to open the show.

The Auricle on Cleveland Avenue serves as a bar, dance club and live music venue for locals. Dance the night away on Fridays, tap your foot to a variety of live bands on Saturdays, or kick back with the Sunday beer club. On any night of the week, Auricle regulars can also enjoy a casual game of pool, darts or ping pong while choosing tunes from the quarter jukebox.

Many Vassar Park residents get around on foot to do errands and activities. Though it's mostly residential, proximity to downtown Canton provides access to highly walkable commercial areas. Some use bikes as a mode of transportation, although only some roads provide bike lanes.

Drivers use Cleveland and Market avenues to get around locally and access nearby Route 62 to explore other areas of Ohio. When looking for parking in downtown Canton, try for the harder-to-find free street parking or pay a reasonable meter fee at one of over 700 metered spots.

Many residents use public transportation by way of Starck Area Regional Transit Authority, or SARTA, which provides bus stops and routes all over downtown Canton. Though hailing a cab is possible on the bigger streets in nearby downtown, many schedule a trip with a taxi service ahead of time. Other options come from car sharing companies such as Uber, Zipcar and RelayRides.

On top of having beautiful, tree-lined streets, Vassar Park provides several dog- and kid-friendly options for outdoor leisure and exercise.

Just a short trip up to North Canton is Price Park, a free kid- and dog-friendly recreational area. With a well-equipped playground, a beach volleyball area, tennis courts, a picnic pavilion and a great trail to walk or jog, this park has something for everyone.

Residents of all ages head to Vassar Hill Park for a breath of fresh air, lush greenery and recreational activities, such as strolling, jogging and biking. You can take your dog to this free park for a nice walk or bring the kids to run around the green spaces. In the summertime, Vassar Hill hosts free outdoor movies and a festive cook-off for ribs and wings.

Residents of Vassar Park pay about 3 percent less than the average cost of living in Cleveland. Known for providing beautiful homes and units at affordable prices, Vassar doesn't disappoint, with the average cost of a one-bedroom rental unit just $494 per month.

Riding the SARTA bus into downtown Canton costs $1.50 one way, $15 for a 10-day pass and $45 for a 31-day pass. Relaxing with a glass of beer for happy hour at a local pub usually runs around $2 a pint and about $4 or so during the later hours. Gas prices in the area typically sit at about 6 percent below the national average.

The retail shops in Vassar Park also line Cleveland and Market avenues. From larger mall stores to local boutiques, the local shopping experience offers something for every taste.

Satisfy your sweet tooth while browsing for the perfect holiday gift at Ben Heggy's Candy Company on Cleveland. At Julz by Alan Rodriguez, stock up on sophisticated, unique jewelry for all occasions.

Stock up for winter knitting season at Bare Naked Wool on 15th Street, where everything is chemical and dye free. Locals head over to nearby Belden Village Mall to hunt for sales at Macy's and the latest trends at Charlotte Russe.

Most residents meet their grocery needs at stores such as Giant Eagle on Cromer Avenue or Raisin Rack Natural Food Market on Cleveland Avenue. If you're looking for common Asian ingredients, head to Oriental Food and Gift on Whippie Avenue. For fresh, local produce, visit the Canton Farmers Market held every Saturday morning. As you shop, enjoy the live music and browse through work by local artists.