West Bayside - Portland, ME

Established during colonial times, this neighborhood of Portland, Maine, suffered significant losses during the Revolutionary War. The town was nearly destroyed by an out-of-control fire during the July 4, 1866, Independence Day celebration. Most of the commercial premises and other buildings burned to the ground, leaving thousands homeless. This prompted much rebuilding, mainly using brick, and the town took on a gothic Victorian appearance. The look and feel remains to this day in prominent sections of Portland, including West Bayside.

Though no museums exist in West Bayside, the surrounding city offers a wealth of culture, including a resurgence in the arts thanks to the local arts college. Each summer, West Bayside hosts the Old Port Festival, an event that features live music, food vendors and attractions for the whole family.

While not known for a wide range of eateries, West Bayside does bring a certain style, taste and value to the neighborhood. Expect a range of international cuisines with a hearty feel dotted throughout the area. Try Back Bay Grill, a high-end restaurant that serves traditional and modern American fare as well as French cuisine. The opportunity to try something new every time you visit attracts many diners, as the menu varies from day to day. Locals recommend the cast iron-seared scallops, served with a truffled bacon vinaigrette, white bean puree, sauteed chard and roasted beets. If you desire a lighter meal or, alternatively, a hearty brunch, Bayside American Cafe opens from morning to afternoon and serves American cuisine with tastes inspired by flavors around the world. The menu includes a wide range of breakfast and lunch items using locally sourced ingredients and also serves a local brand of coffee, as well as locally made maple syrup and wines. Don't miss your chance to try the flatbread reuben: corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing in a seared flatbread. For a slice of Italian cuisine, Slab offers a menu devoted to Sicilian street food with a modern and sophisticated twist. Locals claim that the meatloaf meatball sandwich should not be missed, with beer braised beef and pork sausage meatballs, sauce and melted cheeses all stuffed into a fresh luna loaf. When it comes to nightlife in West Bayside, why not relive classics from the '70s and '80s alongside more modern music at Bubba's Sulky Lounge. This lounge has two bars and two dance floors, one of which lights up like a classic discotheque. Alternatively, head to Bayside Bowl, a bowling alley that caters to novices and pros alike and displays a menu of classic bowling alley food and drink with plenty of great music playing in the background.

Most locals get around West Bayside using automobiles, a bicycle or their own two feet. Public transportation options are limited to the Greyhound bus terminal and Amtrak train stations, both of which allow travel out of the city. Within the neighborhood, on the other hand, inter-city travel barely exists.

Though you can’t hail a taxi cab within West Bayside, find several nearby taxi services that can be called for a pickup. Uber and other ride-share services do not operate in the area. Expect to find limited on-street parking as well as parking opportunities at most businesses that are limited to customers only and a few parking garage options just outside the neighborhood. Part of the border of West Bayside runs alongside Interstate 295, with an on ramp in the northern corner of the neighborhood.

If you prefer walking, rest assured that West Bayside remains extremely walkable. Most, if not all, daily errands can be accomplished on foot. Limited biking infrastructure exists in the neighborhood and, due to the proximity of businesses, errands can also easily be accomplished on a bike.

Find just one park space in the West Bayside neighborhood itself: the Bayside Trail, which stretches almost the entire length of Portland. The trail features a paved path for exercise fans and dog walkers with benches and grassy slopes for quiet contemplation. Just across the interstate to the north, find Back Cove Park located in close proximity to West Bayside. Largely an open green space, it includes a section of the Back Cove Trail, which travels the entire circumference of Back Cove. Just beyond the border of the neighborhood, visit Deering Oaks Park, a location of historic interest that also features a playground for the kids and a pond.

Enjoy a cost of living in West Bayside that falls marginally below the Portland average. The median cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment runs around $980, nearly 30 percent less than the Portland average. Expect to pay around $8.60 for a pint of beer, while the price per gallon of gasoline sits roughly 7.5 percent higher than the national average.

While you can't find a primary shopping district in West Bayside, this fairly small neighborhood features a few unique businesses spread out through its streets. If you want a special, one-of-a-kind gift, try Portland Flea-For-All. This flea market spreads over several floors, each of them displaying a wide variety of goods from vendors that rotate in and out constantly. Items range from vintage vinyl to handmade jewelry and everything in between.

If you’re on the hunt for materials for a home improvement project, head to Portland Architectural Salvage. This large store sells reclaimed, period architectural pieces, such as fittings and molding. Look out for items that help you restore a historical building or add some vintage style to your home.

Find a few grocery store options within the neighborhood when you want time to stock upwant on essentials. For organic, whole foods, Whole Food Market stocks a variety of high-quality organic products as well as hard-to-find specialties. Try Trader Joe’s for a wide variety of affordable groceries all packaged under the Trader Joe’s label. From April until November, take advantage of the farmer’s market in the nearby Deering Oaks Park selling a wide range of locally grown and produced products. The market moves indoors from December to April, with live music and food trucks as well as plenty of nearby shopping opportunities to pair with the winter harvest.