W South Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK

This neighborhood has seen some major cultural shifts throughout its history. In the 1940s, Will Rogers Field, which later became Will Rogers World Airport, served as a major training facility for the United States Army Air Forces. However, economic downturns caused the area to decay over time. Passage of the Metropolitan Area Projects Plan 3 aided in turning the banks of the Oklahoma River into usable parkland. Since then, the area has thrived and provides a wide variety of diversions.

This neighborhood doesn't have a museum or arts scene. Residents usually head downtown for art exhibits, theater and festivals. Each fall, the Boathouse District on the north side of the river hosts the Oklahoma Regatta Festival, where participants enjoy a four-day celebration of rowing and dragon boat racing, the Blu Lounge, with food, live music, streaming blue lights and a hip, relaxed environment — all capped off with fireworks on the river.

A wide variety of restaurants serve patrons in and around the neighborhood and plenty of nightlife beckons for those who enjoy a night on the town.

Tamales El Patio on Southwest 29th brings an authentic taste of Old Mexico to its patrons. Home-style tamales made in the traditional Mexican style feature a savory filling surrounded by corn masa, wrapped in corn husk. Choose red pork or chicken and jalapeno. Vegetarians need not fear as the restaurant also offers a cheese and jalapeño version. Kids love the dessert options, including choco-bananas, a banana dipped in chocolate and covered with candy sprinkles, and diablitos, Mexican-style snow cones.

If you crave a unique, backwoods fishing lodge atmosphere — and who doesn't from time to time? — Trapper's Fishcamp & Grill has it down to an art. Located one block east of Meridian on Reno in the Airport Hotel district, Trapper’s delights with specials such as jalapeño tilapia served over angel hair pasta in garlic and mushroom buerre blanc. The truly adventurous try the blackened alligator served in a cast-iron skillet over dirty rice with creole meuniere sauce.

For barbecue, burgers, pasta and more, locals get their fill at Shorty Small’s on South Meridian. A favorite, the pork fritter sandwich, dresses up a deep-fried tender pork cutlet with veggies and a side of gravy. Shorty’s describes the barbecue ribs as “jumpin'-off-the-bone tender” and serves them up with seasoned fries, slaw, tangy baked beans and a hot cheese biscuit. Kids find plenty to eat here as well, with eight items on their own menu.

A full menu plus three fully stocked bars await locals at the Frosted Mug Grill & Big Bar on South Meridian, where you choose from over 18 draft beers and 40 bottled beer varieties as well as any cocktail you can dream up. Over at Ruthie’s Last Call on South MacArthur, locals have a popular music venue complete with ice cold beer, full bar and restaurant service.

Residents of this neighborhood have a number of choices for getting around town. While most choose to drive, you can also take the 011 29th St Crosstown to a number of destinations, including downtown to the east and Meridian Landing to the east, where you can catch a river boat for a more leisurely ride to the city center. Meridian Landing provides a parking refuge for those wanting to visit the downtown business and entertainment districts. Oklahoma River Cruises delivers direct service to Regatta Park, where visitors can connect to the free downtown trolley.

Since locals don’t find it a walkable neighborhood for running errands, most choose to drive, and major highways such as Interstates 40 and 44 afford easy accessibility. You can’t hail a cab, so call ahead for taxi service. Lyft and Uber also operate in Oklahoma City. Streets here don’t having biking lanes, but bikers do have trails running along the Oklahoma River and down South Grand Boulevard.

Residents enjoy spending the day at the neighborhood’s Tulsa Park, where they can swing a bat on the baseball field, shoot some hoops on the basketball court, or just monkey around on the playground with the kids. This park also welcomes on-leash dogs.

For a wider range of activities, locals go to Woodson Park on South May Avenue. Woodson’s emphasis on fitness provides a disc golf course, walking paths and a gymnasium. Other free activities at the park include a playground, basketball courts, swimming pool and ball fields.

For music festivals and outdoor summer movies, residents find downtown has plenty to amuse, from the deadCENTER Film Festival in June to the Plaza District Festival, featuring performing artists and visual artists, dancers and musicians.

Cost of living in this Hospitality Corridor neighborhood comes in higher than the city average. Median rent for a one-bedroom residence runs about $710 per month. A one-way bus ticket to downtown Oklahoma City only costs $1.75, but it’s a roundabout way to get there via EMBARK’s bus transit system. Driving makes for a better bargain, with neighborhood gas prices running 17 percent below the national average. Hoisting a frosty mug at the neighborhood bar ranges from $3 for domestic brews up to $8 for the pricier imports.

Just north of Interstate 40 on West Reno lies the closest major shopping center to this neighborhood. The Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City opened in 2011, with dozens of chain and specialty stores to pique shoppers’ interest. In addition to popular national chain stores, such as Aeropostale and Banana Republic, the mall features smaller venues such as a store specializing in the collectible brands Waterford, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton.

Across Interstate 40 on Northwest 5th, McCubbin Hosiery proves its love affair with socks by pushing the envelope to bring creative and innovative socks, tights, slippers and leg warmers to its customers. A couple of miles southwest of this neighborhood, Sgt Grit’s line of clothing, accessories and Marine Corps gear of all descriptions make it the perfect place to go for that hard-to-shop-for military guy or gal.

Most residents do their grocery shopping at Walmart on West Reno or Buy For Less on Southwest 29th. The historic Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market operates year-round a few miles north of the neighborhood. This market features fresh produce, baked goods, specialty items, and other locally-produced goods. The market is held every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm.