Plaza Midwood - Charlotte, NC

Around 1900, a group of wealthy mill owners wanted to create an industrial district for their workers. They chose an area along North Davidson Street in North Charlotte. They included everything the mill workers would need: grocery stores, a pharmacy, a bank, a doctor's office, and a dry goods store. They connected this new community to Charlotte's trolley line, since most residents didn't own cars. The community thrived -- until the mills were shut down. The neighborhood suffered, especially in 1969, when Matheson Avenue was built along the south edge of the neighborhood, which divided the community and disconnected many of the streets. In the 1990s, artists discovered the neighborhood. Slowly, the buildings were renovated into art studios and galleries. The area soon became Charlotte's art and music hub.

Established as a streetcar suburb in 1910, Plaza Midwood thrived until the 1950s, when the area declined in popularity. The Craftsman bungalows were all but forgotten until the mid-1990s, when the neighborhood came roaring back. The bungalows were restored, and the historic buildings were converted into lofts, shops, and restaurants. Much of Plaza Midwood, especially along Plaza and Thomas Avenue, were declared a historic district in 1992.

Today, NoDa and Plaza Midwood are considered two of Charlotte's most-loved neighborhoods. With NoDa's art galleries and music venues combined with Plaza Midwood's unique shops and restaurants, these neighborhoods continue to attract new residents. Since art galleries and theaters define these neighborhoods, there's always something to do in NoDa and Plaza Midwood.

From brew houses serving craft beer to coffee shops offering fresh pastries, NoDa is Charlotte's go-to place for food, drinks, and fun. Before you do anything else, get to Amelie's French Bakery and pick up some French macarons, some petit-fours, a tart, and maybe some eclairs. Or just order a cake to celebrate your move to Charlotte.

Boudreaux's will transport you straight to Bourbon Street Stop in for lunch and order a Po'Boy or Muffaletta, or go for dinner and try the Crawfish Etoufee, the BBQ Shrimp Creole, or a traditional Jambalaya. After dinner, top off the evening at NoDa Brewing Company, famous for their pale ales and porters. Try the award-winning Hop, Drop, 'n Roll or the Strawberry Blonde.

Shoot some pool, watch a game, or play some darts at the Blind Pig, one of NoDa's favorite hangouts. Whether it's the latest football showdown or just a night of dancing and playing some foosball, this bar is the go-to hotspot. When you're in the mood for live music, the Rabbit Hole in Plaza Midwood was named one of the best nightspots in 2015 by Creative Loafing Charlotte.

Festivals in NoDa and Plaza Midwood attract visitors from all over the metro area. The Common Ground-Plaza Midwood Music and Arts Festival is held in September along Commonwealth Avenue. This fun weekend includes craft brews, art, music, and a variety of vendors. In NoDa, the Gallery Crawl is held two Fridays a month to highlight all of the area's art galleries.

Being so close to downtown, NoDa and Plaza Midwood are very walkable neighborhoods with a terrific mass transit system. The Charlotte Area Transit System has bus service throughout the area, and the city is bicycle-friendly -- it earned a bronze level designation from the League of American Bicyclists.

If you prefer to travel by car, I-277 and Highway 74 are located on the south side of Plaza Midwood. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is located on the east side of Charlotte, and there's an Amtrak station off Tryon Road in NoDa.

With Charlotte's beautiful weather, you'll want to visit the local parks often. Start with Veterans Park, located on the south side of Plaza Midwood. This 19-acre park includes a sprayground, six tennis courts, picnic areas, an indoor shelter, a playground, a walking trail, ball fields, and two half-court basketball courts.

Six-acre Midwood Park is in the heart of the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. This park includes a community garden, an outdoor amphitheater, a full-court basketball court, a ball field, a playground, a tennis court, and picnic areas. In NoDa, the North Charlotte Park features a walking trail, a basketball court, a ball field, a playground, and a picnic shelter with grills.

Just south of Plaza Midwood in Elizabeth, the 19-acre Independence Park is ideal for relaxing -- it has a reflecting pond, rose garden wedding sites, a stone shelter, walking trails, and demonstration gardens. It also includes a playground, a volleyball court, picnic shelters, table tennis, two tennis courts, a baseball field, and a batting cage.

While Plaza Midwood and NoDa may have started out as a haven for struggling artists and musicians, the increase in popularity is reflected in the rent prices, which are higher than in the rest of Charlotte overall. While the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Charlotte is about $760, in Plaza Midwood it is $890. And if you decide you can't live without one of those charming bungalows or Craftsman homes, you can expect to pay about $328,000, which is above the average home price in Charlotte at $271,000.

With so many locally-owned shops and art galleries to explore, you may find yourself shopping quite a lot when you move to Plaza Midwood/NoDa. The NoDa Eclectic Marketplace is a shopping destination you'll love visiting over and over, discovering something new every time. This Saturday outdoor market is filled with artists, farmers, artisans, collectors, performers, craftsmen, and more.

The NoDa Farmers Market is a year-round market that features locally-grown produce and other items from vendors that include local vineyards, coffee houses, farms, and bakeries. The outdoor market is held at the corner of 36th and Alexander Streets. In the colder months, the market is held in the Neighborhood Theatre.

Located in Charlotte along Tryon Street, the Latta Arcade provides ample shopping in a historic, two-floor building. The Latta Arcade was built in 1914 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It offers specialty shops, boutiques, and a variety of restaurants.