West Meade Nashville, TN

The West Meade neighborhood was built starting in the 1950s on land originally owned by United States Supreme Court Judge Howell Jackson. After being subdivided, the lots in the neighborhood were sold to individual owners who contracted with their own builders to construct homes on the lots. This accounts for the unique nature and individual distinctions in West Meade's housing stock.

West Meade maintains its historic charm and has staved off over-development and cookie-cutter construction. The average lot size in the neighborhood remains at over a full acre.

A close-knit community feel marks this neighborhood, and residents enjoy participating in activities with their neighbors. These include an annual 5K run, sponsored every December by the West Meade Conservancy.

Mostly residential in nature, West Meade doesn't feature a centralized dining and entertainment district. A few kitschy cafes sit at the neighborhood's southeastern edge near the merging of Highways 70 and 100. Nearby Charlotte Pike and White Bridge Pike each provide dozens of restaurant options, both chains and locally-owned establishments.

Also on Highway 70 sits Sperry's, a high-end steakhouse with a tavern feel that has served the West Meade area since 1974. Start out with a jumbo lump crab cake appetizer that frequently makes diners forget that they're in Nashville, not Maryland. For an entree, move on to the Prince William blue cheese stuffed filet, wrapped in bacon and marinated in proprietary spices. Finish your dining experience with Sperry's house specialty dessert: a sticky toffee pudding featuring creme fraiche and warm toffee sauce.

Expand your palate with some international cuisine from Anatolia Turkish Restaurant, located just a mile up the road on White Bridge Pike, featuring daily lunch and dinner specials along with a Sunday brunch. Hummus lovers, enjoy a heaping portion as an appetizer and then move on to a Mediterranean salad, followed by an entree of baked Turkish ravioli. This favorite dish features ravioli shells stuffed to capacity with fresh ground beef, topped with a garlic yogurt sauce and dripped with hot butter and mint.

The nightlife in the area features a mix of sports bars and local pubs. Across Interstate 40 on Charlotte Pike sits a favorite local bar, the Broadway Brewhouse, offering pool, darts and the widest selection of draft beers in Nashville. On Church Street you'll find Lonnie's Western Room for karaoke and on West End there's Aloft Nashville for specialty cocktails and a cozy ambiance.

The streets of West Meade generally contain a low volume of traffic, making walking and bicycling reasonably safe activities. However, the neighborhood is marked by hills and curves and does not contain bike lanes or a high level of lighting at night.

Most residents employ their cars as their primary method of transportation. West Meade provides easy access to Interstate 40 as well as the major secondary routes of U.S. Highway 70 and Charlotte Pike, both of which provide alternate routes directly into downtown Nashville. The neighborhood features abundant free parking, as do its nearby shops and restaurants,

You can't hail a cab in West Meade, but many taxi companies serve the area and can be called for a ride. Uber also maintains a presence in West Meade and all over the Nashville metro area. Nashville's MTA public bus service features stops along Highway 70 near the entrance to West Meade.

Situated directly across Highway 100 from West Meade, Edwin and Percy Warner Parks combine to provide miles of trails for running, jogging and horseback riding; athletic fields; scenic overlooks; and areas for picnicking and grilling. Both parks are very kid-friendly and dog-friendly, and neither cost money to get into or to park your vehicle, although both feature certain amenities that require a fee for use, such as the golf course and equestrian center.

West Meade features no exercise-centric parks, although joggers are a common sight in Percy Warner Park and along nearby Belle Meade Boulevard. The Warner Parks offer several annual events for the public, such as Full Moon Pickin' Parties every summer, featuring live bluegrass music under the moonlight.

The cost of living in West Meade runs lower than Nashville's average. Expect to pay an average of $904 per month in rent for a one-bedroom apartment. A bus ticket to downtown Nashville runs $1.70, and a beer in one of the local bars averages $3. Gas prices in the area hover at 10 percent lower than the national average.

Boutique and specialty shops characterize the area around West Meade, with more expansive retail offerings and numerous high-end stores located a short distance away at the Mall at Green Hills.

Hit the downtown honky-tonks in style with a pair of boots from the Nashville Boot Co. on Harding Pike. Open Monday through Saturday, this local Western wear and gift shop not only features cowboy boots but also boots for work, hunting and children. Complement a new pair of boots with one of Nashville Boot Co.'s diverse selection of hats, and for the ladies, pick up a Frye handbag to complete your ensemble.

Located right where Harding Pike and Highway 100 convene, Magpies Children's Shoppe buys and sells an array of gifts for children including stuffed animals, cushy feet slippers, and wall art. Started by a local entrepreneur, this establishment also partners with a local nonprofit dedicated to helping needy newborns.

Kroger serves as the main grocery store for discount store brand groceries and an impressive selection of organic foods. Locals head to the Richland Park Farmers' Market on Charlotte Pike for a cornucopia of fresh local produce, homemade jams, eggs, peaches, and more.