The city’s most ethnically diverse neighborhood is home to some 60,000 people. Just south of downtown on the east side of the Genesee, the South Wedge is a great place to see some of the oldest homes in the city, from cottages to sprawling Victorians. Residents range from old-timers who’ve lived here their whole lives to college students and young professionals who like the urban village atmosphere. (Frederick Douglass owned two homes in the area; 271 Hamilton St. still stands, and a sign at Robinson Drive marks the general locale of his South Avenue home.) South Avenue runs through the heart of the Wedge. The neighborhood is undergoing renewal, from the tip of the Wedge at Mt. Hope and South all the way down to the Ford Street Bridge. In the middle of it all is House Parts, a museum of a store packed with clawfoot tubs, solid-cherry doors, leaded-glass windows and other relics of Rochester’s architectural past. Baobab Cultural Center is an Africa-centered gathering place in the Historic German House. And don’t miss Stars and Stripes Flag Store; proceeds benefit war veterans in the Rochester area.

Restaurants

The South Wedge has restaurants to satisfy a variety of tastes, from meat lovers (Cajun barbecue at Beale Street Café) to vegetarian (Skippy’s Vegetarian Restaurant). Newcomers Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar and Ly Lou’s Pearl of the Orient bring a world-class flavor to the street. Grab a slice or a pasta dinner for takeout at Little Venice Pizza or a sandwich at Julienne or Open Face Sandwich Eatery. If you’re in the mood for bread and pastries, try Cheesy Eddie’s. Daily Perks Coffeehouse and Women’s Coffee Connection serve the brew night and day, respectively.

Main thoroughfares: South Avenue and Gregory Street
Parking: Free on South (after 5) and side streets

Bars

Beale Street Café: Cajun and blues bar. 693 South Ave.; 271-4650
Caverly’s: Authentic Irish pub. 741 South Ave.; 278-1289
The Keg: Lower level of the German House, 315 Gregory St.; 473-5070
Lux Lounge: Board games, pool table, funky art. 666 South Ave.; 232-9030
MacGregor’s Grill & Tap Room: Bar and grill with wide beer selection. 381 Gregory St.; 271-3592

Live music: Beale Street; Daily Perks