11th Ave Industrial Blvd South, The Gulch

Calling an area of town that one wishes to market as THE hippest place to live, replete with 7 figure price tags and 3* restaurants, I'm not entirely sure that choosing the name "The Gulch" was the greatest marketing ploy in history. But somehow it worked, and it is now - in Nashville - synonymous with uber-chic apartment and condo buildings, extreme fine dining and funky retail and exercise alternatives. Anchored by the building humbly known as "The Icon," The Gulch suffered in the property crisis perhaps a bit more than other sectors of the real estate market given its ambitious target demographic and aggressive building phase. Still, however, the properties are largely occupied and rarely for rent, proving that most still are either affluent enough to have bought and lived in them, or bought them for investment and have the stability to not need to rent them out just yet, instead waiting for an upturn in the market. This area is definitely for single or young couples and not a place for kids, as there is little in the way of down-home outdoor space or nearby schools or anything else remotely child-appealing. For adults, however, it is the perfect playground allowing for dinners at the Watermark, drinks at the Wine Loft, and a guaranteed short walk home. In years to come - economy allowing - this will undoubtedly be a bustling area of town and perhaps home to a new wave of trendy boutiques and even more eateries. For now, it is still the perfect place for hipsters in town for work or for nightlife alone.