Plaza-Midwood is one of Charlotte's most diverse neighborhoods. Its earliest avenues were platted in 1903 and its newest date from after the Second World War. Buildings range from turn-of-the-century factories and blue collar housing, to the city's oldest country club. As in Myers Park, medians from the old trolleys remain and are now planted with huge, old crape myrtles.

Plaza-Midwood did not formally come into being as a neighborhood until 1973, when residents organized to stop a highway through the neighborhood. The Plaza, a long, straight boulevard with a landscaped median, forms the neighborhood's spine. Mecklenburg and Belvedere avenues run east from The Plaza, tying together the area's network of sidestreets.

The neighborhood is host to a great deal of restaurants and shops that cater to the late 20s, early 30s crowd of inhabitants that live and support the neighborhood's merchants on and around Central Avenue. The Central Avenue and Thomas Street districts have many great restaurants, shops, antique stores, and bars.

• Read Scott Lindsley's article in Uptown Magazine online about Plaza-Midwood.