Woodstock - Bronx, NY Area Guide

Woodstock remains part of the South Bronx, an historic part of New York City known as the birthplace of the hip hop movement. Originally, much of this area belonged to the Morris family, and the Manor of Morrisania dominated the local landscape. Lewis Morris, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, owned the entire borough at one time.

In the 1930s, much of the South Bronx was home to a mostly Jewish population. After much urban decay in the 1960s and 1970s, the area revitalized in the 1980s and 1990s. Several developments along Charlotte Street built newer homes in the mid-1980s, while many places have landmark status under the Landmarks Preservation Commission of New York.

A Carnegie Library building, constructed in 1914, forms part of the New York Public Library and creates a cultural reminder of the neighborhood's rich history. The library sponsors several arts events throughout the year.

Several chain and local eateries exist within this neighborhood. Choose from Middle Eastern, Italian, Chinese, Mexican and American cuisine for a different taste for several days in a row without repeating a restaurant. Several dive bars and lounges provide nightlife. A cluster of establishments sits along Westchester and Longwood Avenues. If you don't want to eat out, several restaurants deliver.

El Valle Restaurant specializes in Spanish delicacies such as chicken, paella and mashed plantains. Order the chicken breast stuffed with seafood for a real treat, while mashed green plantains come with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, shrimp or cheese. Don't forget to save room for three milk cake as a dessert.

Daisy's Pizza Place on Longwood features pizza, wings and burgers for hungry crowds. Breakfast meals include several types of omelettes. If you need a quick bite before work, order the western omelette with pepper, onions and ham alongside home fries, toast or French fries. Egg sandwiches make perfect to-go dishes. The Daisy Famous taco pizza contains ground beef, jalapeño, cheddar cheese and onions for an Italian take on a Mexican favorite. If pizza doesn't fit your fancy, plenty of burgers, sandwiches and salads present a wide variety of tastes.

Seis Vecinos serves dishes from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala as a celebration of this neighborhood's Latino culture. Traditional platters include red snapper, stewed chicken and sauteed steak topped with onions. For something different, order the fried yucca plant alongside pork, plantains and cabbage salad.

Plenty of dive bars exist in this neighborhood so you can relax after a hard week of work. For a more upscale experience, head to the southeast part of Woodstock to M&J Flow Lounge . Regular DJs provide musical entertainment, and the kitchen stays open until 2 a.m. A few televisions let you watch the big game on the big screen. If you crave regular live music, head closer to New York for tons of options.

Wide sidewalks allow residents to walk through the neighborhood during daylight hours to catch a bus or train. Crowded streets leave little room for bicycles, although St. Ann's Avenue, Prospect Avenue and Southern Boulevard serve as bicycle-friendly thoroughfares.

Third Avenue, Westchester Avenue, Southern Boulevard and I-278 run north to south, while 163rd Street, 149th Street and Longwood Avenue go east to west. Businesses provide free parking, although parking along streets may seem daunting during busy times. Access I-278 through 163rd Street. If your car breaks down, plenty of taxi companies can pick you up, and Uber remains an option.

Bus drivers along routes 2, 5 and 6 make stops throughout Woodstock. Catch a Metro Transit Authority bus between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. at Westchester and Longwood, 149th and Third, and finally along Southern Boulevard. Subway stations along Southern Boulevard and 149th Street create an easy way to reach downtown New York.

Several small parks in Woodstock give kids and adults a respite from the daily grind. Rainey Park has baseball diamonds, playgrounds and bathrooms. This dog-friendly facility allows pooches to roam on leashes, so long as owners clean up any droppings. A small network of paved trails are great places to walk, bike and jog.

St. Mary's Park, just to the south of Woodstock, receives plenty of love from locals as the largest park area in South Bronx. Run on the track, or spread out your blanket for a summer picnic and enjoy the sunshine. The recreation center has an indoor pool, handball courts and basketball facilities. Regular events teach kids the basics of sports. The annual SummerStage concert, held in conjunction with a larger festival at Central Park, showcases local talent and Latin music.

Living costs less in Woodstock as compared to downtown, mostly due to lower housing costs. A one-bedroom apartment runs approximately $1,500 to $2.600 per month in this neighborhood.

A seven-day unlimited pass on Metro Transit Authority goes for $31, which comes out to $4.50 per day to ride anywhere in the system. A beer costs around $3 per pint during happy hour at a local bar, while a gallon of gas averages around 5 to 10 percent higher than the national price.

Major shopping centers sit toward the southwestern part of Woodstock at the corner of Third and 149th. This shopping area, known as the Hub, represents a revitalized portion of this neighborhood with national retailers such as Footlocker, Lids, Gamestop and Modell's Sporting Goods. A few high-value stores also have a presence in Woodstock.

Casa Amadeo opened in 1927 as a refuge for Puerto Rican immigrants in East Harlem. The store remains the oldest Latin American music store in New York City, and the building represents a cultural center for people who want to experience a rich musical heritage. Musicians, baseball players, celebrities and local DJs come here to buy the latest music but also to hang out with artists and enthusiasts at the center of Latin music in New York.

The Fulton Store in the Bronx specializes in national-brand furniture and guarantees a price match of any competitor's advertisement. Shop for a mattress, kid-sized furniture or a home entertainment package from several nationwide names at this local store.

Local shops and regional chains sell basic grocery items to residents. Check out Key Food and Pioneer Supermarkets for some of the best grocery prices in town. The Bronx Borough Hall Greenmarket opens every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for residents to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables. Stop by the farmers' market from early June until late November.