The Village - Winston-Salem, NC

You may wonder why it's called Winston-Salem. The original town of Salem began around 1753, when a group of settlers from the Moravian Church, led by Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenbeg, moved to the location and named their new village after a city in the Book of Genesis.

In 1849, Salem sold some of the land on the north side of the village to the brand-new Forsyth County so they could create a county seat. At first, this newly-created town had a rather uninspired name -- "County Town." In 1851, the town was renamed for a local Revolutionary War hero, Joseph Winston. Eventually, Winston was filled with tobacco farms and the first tobacco warehouse. This industry took off, and before long Winston had 40 tobacco factories.

During the 1880s, the post office began to blur the lines of the two neighboring towns, referring to it as Winston-Salem. For the next 10 years, the residents of the two towns fought this blending of their names. Finally, in 1913, the towns officially came together and were incorporated as the city of Winston-Salem.

Because of all of the tobacco farms and furniture manufacturers in the area, neighborhoods were developed for the workers. The Village was one of those neighborhoods. Learn more about the history of the area at the New Winston Museum.

The arts have long played an important role in Winston-Salem. This is the location of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a public arts conservatory that was founded in 1963. The school's Stevens Center, located downtown, is a fantastic performance venue, hosting the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra as well as the school's musicals. The Piedmont Opera, the Winston-Salem Symphony, and other performances are also hosted at the center.

Winston-Salem, often called the "City of the Arts," hosts a variety of other performance venues and museums, including the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, and the Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts. Winston-Salem's Arts District is located around Sixth and Trade Streets. Here, you'll discover art galleries, studios, and workshops.

If you consider yourself a "foodie," you'll love living in the Village. This neighborhood contains some terrific restaurants, and you'll be tempted to try them all. Start with oSo Eats, located off Jonestown Road. This trendy American bistro offers terrific dishes with creative names like Spaghetti a la Oso, Ahi Roxanne, Hammered Pork, and Shell Shocked. Locals will tell you to top off your meal with a slice of Bananas Foster (or as they call it, "NaNa" Foster).

After a day of shopping at Harper Hill Commons, be sure to stop by Little Richard's BBQ on Country Club Road as you head home. Everything about this place is Southern, from the red-and-white checkered tablecloths to the signs on the walls. The cooking method is traditional, pit-cooked over hickory coals. Residents of the Village and beyond have been enjoying barbecue here since 1991.

Also located at Harper Hill Commons, Kimono Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar offers traditional hibachi as well as sushi and sashimi. Try the deep fried rolls, such as the Funky Roll or the Vegas Roll. The Funky Roll contains crab, cream cheese, avocado, and eel sauce while the Vegas Roll contains eel, crab, asparagus, and avocado.

Head over to the Shoppes on Little Creek and try the wood-fired steak and seafood at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. Firebirds also offers a bar and patio with drinks and bar bites. These smaller entrees include beef sliders, shrimp tacos, and chicken tenders.

Chada Thai is the local hotspot for Thai food -- try the hot pot soup, the Pad Gra Prow, and the Pad Cashew. If you can handle the spice, try the Kaeng Kaio Wan (Green Curry) or the Spicy Basil Catfish.

Other terrific restaurants are located nearby, including Shiki, located off River Center Drive, Full Moon Oyster Bar (the oysters are great, but try the shrimp and grits, too!), and River Ridge Taphouse. River Ridge Taphouse is a terrific place to visit after hours since it offers tapas, a full bar, trivia nights, and live music.

Most residents of this neighborhood drive or ride bicycles to get around, as buses from the Winston-Salem Transit Authority run through only twice daily. You can arrange for a ride in a taxicab, but Uber does not operate here. Plenty of free public parking may be found anywhere you need to go outside the city, but bring quarters for parking meters if you must go into central Winston-Salem. Route 421 runs through the Village, as does Interstate 40, and both can be accessed easily from this area. You can safely walk, jog, and cycle here, and bike lanes have been provided on some streets.

Winston-Salem has ample green space, including an impressive 74 parks. These parks provide everything from public swimming pools to picnic areas to ball fields. Washington Park has a fenced, off-leash dog park. The South Fork Community Center has a variety of outdoor amenities, including lighted tennis courts, a walking trail, and a picnic shelter. Inside, you'll discover a computer lab, a meeting room, and a ballroom. The center offers a variety of classes, including exercise classes, dance, painting, and crafts.

Be sure to check out Reynolda Gardens, which used to be part of the R.J. Reynolds estate. The four-acre formal gardens are part of a 125-acre park that features wetlands, forest, and open fields. The Greenhouse Gardens were originally designed in 1917. This sunken garden has four quadrants that include theme gardens, tea houses, pergolas, and more.

Old Salem is a terrific place to spend the afternoon. This National Historic District features a living history museum that represents the Moravian settlements of the 18th and 19th centuries. About 70 percent of the buildings are original and date back to 1766. The Bethabara Historic District, which also features several surviving buildings from the original settlement as well as archeological remains dating back to 1753. Historic Bethabara Park covers 183 acres and is a must-visit open-air museum.

Annual events in Winston-Salem include food and wine festivals, craft fairs, Christmas events, an air show, sports tournaments, and a carnival called the Dixie Classic Fair.

Even through the Village is one of the fastest-growing and most popular neighborhoods in Winston-Salem, the cost of living is still reasonable. Rent a one-bedroom apartment in the Village for about $560, about 15 percent less than the city average. Bus fare is about $1 with free transfers, so getting downtown will only set you back a buck. Gas prices are roughly eight percent below the national average.

You'll have plenty of options for shopping when you move to the Village. The neighborhood contains Harper Mill Commons, a large shopping plaza containing a Harris Teeter grocery store, several restaurants, businesses like Inner Strength Pilates and Dream Nails, and shops like Score More Sports Collectibles.

Continue along Country Club Road and you'll find a variety of other businesses and shops, including Food Lion and Let It Grow Produce. The Forsyth Humane Society is also on Country Club Road. This no-kill adoption center hosts a variety of events, including educational events and the annual "Furr Ball." (If you think you might want a furry companion, check out their website's "Adoptable Pets" section.)

Along Hanes Mall Boulevard, you can pick up whatever you need to decorate and furnish your new apartment. Stores along this road include Conn's HomePlus, Hobby Lobby, Ethan Allen, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, Target, Pier 1 Imports, Home Depot, and Bed Bath & Beyond. You'll also discover Sam's Club, PetSmart, and Gander Mountain.

Hanes Mall is just outside the neighborhood. This large mall contains anchor stores Belk, Macy's, and Dillard's and specialty shops like Jimmy Jazz, H&M, Aveda, and Pandora. Strip plazas surrounding the mall contain even more shops, including Cato Fashions, Marshalls, and AC Moore Arts and Crafts.