Willow Glen - San Jose, CA

Much of the Willow Glen area was marshy and unusable before the early 1900s, when the land was drained and put to use for agricultural purposes. Roads, schools and houses followed to form the town of Willow Glen, which, after further expansion, was annexed to San Jose in 1936. Twice in their history, Willow Glen residents banded together to prevent the construction of a railway and an expressway that would disrupt the peace of their neighborhood. This district saw its most significant housing growth in the 1950s and 1960s.

The San Jose Museum of Art, Tech Museum of Innovation and Children's Discovery Museum all sit in the downtown area within easy reach of Willow Glen residents.

Big crowds turn out for live music, food booths and dancing in the street during the neighborhood's free "Dancin' on the Avenue" annual event.

With the power of good location and dense population, Willow Glen attracts unique and trendy eateries, especially along upper Lincoln and lower Meridian Avenues. Locals can enjoy a California roll, slice of pizza, pancake sandwich or margarita all within the space of a few blocks.

Sample the menu at The Table and find out why this restaurant was recommended in the 2015 Michelin Guide. For starters, try the roasted bone marrow with compressed apples or the caramelized Brussels sprouts with smoked hazelnuts. The olive-brined pork chop with vegetable succotash and nut tapenade makes the local-favorite list, along with the ricotta beignets with lemon curd.

At Siena Bistro, you can enjoy a meal indoors with a group of friends or a romantic dinner on the patio with someone special. Locals can't give enough praise for the Angry Pasta with a spicy kick of Italian sausage or the Scallops Gorgonzola with garlic and sun-dried tomatoes.

Local sports fans can get in the game and hoist a few beers at Rookies Sports Lodge on Meridian. Get the tailgate experience, and join the packed house to cheer on the Sharks, 49ers or Oakland As while you enjoy a brew on tap and a jalapeno Swift Kick burger.

Willow Glen residents are within 10 minutes of the pounding music and dancing excitement of nightclubs in the downtown San Jose area.

Anything goes for getting around in the Willow Glen neighborhood. Shops and services make the northeast corner of this district very walkable, and residents of other parts of the neighborhood can run many errands on foot. If you like the exercise and energy-efficiency of cycling, you can find several bike-friendly roads, trails and dedicated lanes crisscrossing the neighborhood and leading into other districts.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) connects the neighborhood with bus routes that run east-west along Willow and Curtner and north-south along Lincoln and Meridian. You may be able to hail a cab on Lincoln, but you can be certain of service with a call to Checkered Flag Yellow Taxi. If you have a specific vehicle in mind, try Uber.

For those behind the wheel, the downtown area of Willow Glen offers free parking on the street and in the public lots. Drivers have easy access to I-280 for day trips to San Francisco or US-101 for road trips south to Monterey.

Sunny days and outdoor play go hand-in-hand in Willow Glen, and the neighborhood celebrates the sun with lots of big and small city parks. Take the little ones to Lincoln Glen Park for a dig in the sand pit, a romp on the playground and a splash in the water zone. Improve your racket skills on one of the eight tennis courts at Wallenberg Park - court lighting allows you to hone your game in the cooler part of the day after the sun has set.

Dogs like playtime too, and dog-owners know that a well exercised dog is much less likely to chew up a favorite pair of shoes. Let your pooch run off-leash in Butcher Dog Park to meet-and-greet with other dogs and burn off pent-up energy. While you're there, you may as well enjoy lunch at the picnic site, shoot a few hoops on the basketball court and cool the kids down in the water play area.

Willow Glen residents live close enough to attend the Starlight Cinemas outdoor movie series that runs from June through August downtown. The whole family can enjoy free-of-charge festivities followed by shows starting at dusk at these BYOB, as in "bring your own blanket" events.

As you'd expect from a neighborhood that dances to the pulse of urban life, Willow Glen's cost of living runs higher than the San Jose average and considerably higher than the California average.

Expect to pay an average of $1,343 per month for an apartment or condo rental, and prepare to pay about 22 percent more than the national average when you gas up at the pump.

A one-way trip downtown on a VTA bus costs only $2, and a cool brew at the pub sets you back about $5.

The Willow Glen shopping area usually refers to the boutiques and specialty stores of the village-like, shop-lined section of Lincoln Avenue.

Take a step back in time, and search for vintage and antique treasures at Whatnots and Dodads. This collective of antique dealers brings in a selection of diverse items daily - you just never know what the store has in stock. You might find vintage costume jewelry, antique cameras, a set of Limoges china or a distressed vanity that must go home with you.

Make a bold style statement with a hat from JORCAL Hat Company. You can pick up a straw fedora by Carlos Santana and rock an edgy look, or find a delicate frilly fascinator for your next royal wedding or special event. Centrally located Safeway stays open 24 hours daily to take care of the neighborhood grocery needs, and for farm-fresh fruits and veggies, the seasonal Willow Glen farmers market opens its outdoor booths in May.