The second Friday of every month is a special day in Tremont, a neighborhood just south of downtown. That's when locals and visitors gear up for the Tremont ArtWalk, one of the oldest such events in town. For almost 20 years, this hamlet's art galleries, studios and boutiques have been rolling out the monthly red carpet for curious art lovers. That the affair has survived so long is testament to the quantity and quality of creative folks who live and work in the area.

Tremont is well regarded as the culinary heart of Cleveland's thriving dining scene. It is, after all, where Michael Symon opened Lola, his first restaurant. Fast on his heels were scores of other trendy bars, restaurants and lounges, manned by notable chefs with names like Bruell, Whalen and Boccuzzi.

While many budget-conscious homeowners have been priced out of Tremont, a compact neighborhood with little room to expand, reasonably priced rentals are always available. Diverse yet cooperative, Tremont attracts residents by the handful thanks to walkable streets, community gardens, dog parks, and convivial coffee shops. If the street names -- Professor, Literary, College -- sound a bit bookish, it's because they are holdovers from a short-lived university that existed here in the mid-19th century.