I came this close to moving to Park Circle instead of downtown Charleston when I kickoff came to Charleston.

I love living downtown, but there are times when I'one thousand in Park Circle that I kind of regret my decision.

Not plenty to move, though.

However.

For me, it's probable more than my scene, and seems to be becoming more and so as people I associate with are priced-out of celebrated downtown Charleston.

I see a lot more beards and flannel when I'm up at that place than I practise downtown anymore.

Gentrification is existent.

Why I would alive in Park Circle (if I didn't live downtown)

Park Circle is funky and artsy, it'south less proper, and there is a strong neighborhood vibe. Everyone here seems to know everyone else, and go along just fine with each other.

And Park Circle is walkable. Most of the neighborhood has a decent walk score .

If you lot're visiting, or thinking about moving to Charleston, SC, be sure to check-out Park Circle at some point.

A brief history of Park Circle in North Charleston, SC

Park Circle is North Charleston's historic commune. It was first founded in 1912 as a Garden Metropolis. The concept was to create planned, self-contained communities with regulated numbers of homes, industries, and farms. All of which would exist surrounded by parks. The movement started in 1898, and Park Circle is supposedly the South's oldest version.

Park Circle served as a working-class neighborhood of small-scale single-family homes for the workers of the expanse's factories and nearby Naval Base of operations.

It hit on hard times, though, after the Naval Base was closed in 1995.

East Montague Avenue, the master business concern district, has been enjoying a renaissance since the city of North Charleston began a push to revitalize the street. They started:

  • Renovating or violent-downwardly dilapidated buildings on principal street
  • Repairing sidewalks and planting trees along the road

And each restaurant or bar that opened on the avenue seemed to concenter the adjacent 1. At present there are breweries, ice foam shops, and sorts of other stores to keep with the well-known bars and restaurants.

The modest homes and revitalized principal street are major reasons why This One-time Business firm named Park Circle i of the South's Best Old House Neighborhoods in 2012 .

Criteria for Park Circumvolve's accolade choice included:

  • architectural diversity
  • adroitness of the homes
  • the area's preservation momentum
  • Walkability
  • Safety
  • sense of community

Recently, a huge clamper of the one-time Navy Base of operations was demolished. What remains had been declared historic sites. Much of what'due south left is existence converted into offices, studio space, waterfront parks, and even breweries.

Information technology'south all the same fun to walk around the remaining abandoned buildings though. Albeit a little spooky.

Getting to Park Circle from Downtown Charleston

Park Circumvolve is about 20 minutes from downtown Charleston. Getting there requires a drive up I-26. After that, bulldoze through some derelict neighborhoods before hitting the large, circular park for which the neighborhood cleverly gets its proper noun.

The 30-plus acre park is filled with playgrounds, baseball fields, and a weekly farmers marketplace. The customs center in the middle of the park also plays host to bi-weekly contra dancing classes and dances . They're held every other Fri if you're interested in taking part in one of the most fun things to practise at night in Charleston.

Certain, the bulldoze into Park Circle isn't fantastic. There are large expanses of North Charleston that aren't the safest, or that could utilize some of the attending the metropolis showers on Park Circle. But that may contribute to the perception that the neighborhood is a well-kept secret.

And let'southward face information technology, North Charleston needs a revenue enhancement base.

The perks of living in Park Circle (or merely visiting)

Park Circumvolve seems to accept a continuously improving food scene. While definitely over-shadowed by Charleston, South Carolina, the rent is cheaper. Great restaurants tin can focus on their food without being pretentious up here. And nearly of the bars and restaurants are clustered together along Due east Montague Avenue.

Park Circle Restaurants

In that location are a few casual restaurants I will leave of my mode for in Park Circle. Those include:

EVO Pizzeria

I would fence this is one of the best pizzerias in Charleston. EVO Pizzeria is e'er busy, serving wood-fired pizzas in a casual atmosphere. They pride themselves on using seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients.

Lotus Vietnamese Cuisine

I have nonetheless to observe another decent Vietnamese restaurant in the expanse besides this place. The inside features chic and contemporary decor, simply I've never eaten inside of Lotus . Their minor patio is a great place to eat on a nice solar day (of which the Charleston area has in affluence).

DIG in the Park

This is a typical sports bar, but they have a huge exterior patio. DIG has a squeamish happy hr special, too.

The CODfather, Proper Fish & Fries

I passionately love fish and chips. I suspect it started with a trip to Ireland when I was young. Or that my dad, who spent some formative years in Britain, is as well a fan. Either way, I can't assist only order information technology when I run across it.

But fish and chips is literally all that the CODfather serves. And it'due south amazing.

Plus, they too have outdoor seating.

In that location are a lot of other restaurants, including ones that are available elsewhere in the Charleston area, and so not ones I'd get to Park Circle to enjoy. That list includes Sesame Burgers and Beer and YoBo Cantina.

Park Circle Bars

While I probably should try other places in Park Circle, I have plant a few bars that I consistently frequent.

There actually are a few fantastic representatives of Charleston bars in Park Circle.

And if information technology ain't broke, don't fix it.

I already mentioned DIG in the Park and Sesame Burgers and Beer, and then I won't repeat them again.

Madra Rua Irish Pub

3 glasses of Guinness beer on the counter of a park circle north charleston sc barI love Madra Rua . Information technology'south a classic Irish gaelic pub with the standard Irish fare, like shepherd'south pie. I headed upwards here for corned beefiness and cabbage last Saint Patrick's Solar day.

They also have a fantastic beer choice, including imports similar Guiness and Bass.

The name means flim-flam in Irish, by the way.

Stems & Skins

I really wanted to similar Stems & Skins when I went, but I'm not a fan.

The music was also loud to talk, and the wine was overpriced. The intense waiter steered me towards a specific vino that tasted similar water. I've had better $5 bottles at Trader Joe's than that glass.

Simply I don't consider myself a wine snob.

And no, I'm not linking to them. Go Google them if y'all desire to become that badly.

Emphasis on Wine Park Circumvolve

Go to Accent on Wine instead, a couple doors down. This identify is cozy, more alike to my favorite wine bar in the expanse, Avondale Vino and Cheese in Avondale.

Park Circle Events

Park Circle puts on some decent events throughout the year. Most of them circumduct around drinking.

St. Patrick's Day Block Political party & Parade

This one definitely revolves around drinking. While this gets bigger every yr, it'southward nowhere nearly as overwhelming equally St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, Georgia. While y'all'll see a fair number of drunks of course, information technology's kept pretty calm and orderly. And the best part is that St. Patrick's 24-hour interval is typically swell weather in Charleston.

I've gone to Park Circumvolve's St. Patrick's Day Block Party & Parade every year then that I don't really know if anything happens anywhere else in town to celebrate the holiday.

Park Circumvolve features other events throughout the year :

  1. Arts Fest in May
  2. 4th of July Festival
  3. Harvest Festival in October
  4. Veterans Twenty-four hours in November
  5. Christmas Festival in December

But Saint Patrick'southward Twenty-four hours is the big depict each yr.

And why I don't alive in Park Circumvolve (and am still downtown)

Honestly?

They don't accept a decent grocery shop. And not even one inside easy walking distance. That would badger the crap out of me.

Escaping Park Circle

Just while everything in the Charleston surface area is within 10-15 minutes from Park Circumvolve, you all the same have to drive to get anywhere.

Maybe that would be a problem if I lived there, or maybe I would adjust and just not leave the neighborhood much. Perchance I'll never know.

But besides getting to and from my current job in Mount Pleasant would require crossing the dreaded Don Holt bridge on the I-526 belt loop.

One doesn't go for a jaunt on 526 for the fun of it.

And I have a reverse commute from everyone else when I bulldoze to and from downtown Charleston now. I would be driving the aforementioned direction as anybody else, plus be competing with folks from:

  1. West Ashley
  2. Summerville
  3. Ladson
  4. Goose Creek

And yes, people who live in those areas work in Mount Pleasant. I know because I piece of work with some of them.

Likewise, there are train tracks that go through the centre of Park Circle. And another line that cuts y'all off from the outside world whenever a train takes its sweet fourth dimension passing.

And that has happened to me more ofttimes than should be statistically possible.

I may just be bitter.

Just I suppose a visit to Park Circle when I'm feeling Irish, hipster, or just desire a Guinness or fish and fries is plenty for me.