Plaza Midwood mixes convenience, charm

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• Hot picks

  Landmarks

  Van Landingham Estate: Built in 1913 by cotton broker Ralph Van Landingham, the home still boasts some of its original furniture. The grounds are amazing and a great place to hold a special event. In a city where many complain of history being torn down, this is shining example of preservation. 2010 The Plaza. www.vanlandinghamestate.com.

  Dining

  Dish: No one gets closer to my grandmother's cooking than Dish. Located on Thomas Avenue just off of Central, this is a neighborhood joint through and through. My personal favorites include the squash casserole, biscuits and deviled eggs. 1220 Thomas Ave. www.eatatdish.com.

  Common House: Opened this year by a group of friends, this restaurant and bar has really caught on with the locals. With options ranging from a fish of the day to meatloaf, dinner at Common House is anything but common. My usual fried green tomato BLT sets me back a whole $6. 1101 Central Ave. www.charlottecommonhouse.com.

  Best Bets

  Nova Bakery: Friendly staff and fresh-baked breads and sweets make this place a neighborhood staple. But the Novakovic family's baking empire doesn't stop here. You can also find Nova's breads in local grocery stores and some of the most popular restaurants. 1511 Central Ave. www.novasbakery.com.

  Why You'd Want to Live Here

  Plaza Midwood is an active neighborhood with a sense of community that's hard to beat.

Since last year's Living Here, I've moved. I'm now a proud resident of one of Charlotte's most vibrant and eclectic neighborhoods.

Drive down Central Avenue from Seventh Street, and within two minutes you're in the Plaza Midwood business district. Visiting family members think the storefronts look like the remnants of a small town. Just in this strip, you'll find the rocking new night spot Soul, Nova's Bakery with some of the best treats in town and a personal favorite of mine, Fifteen Ten Antiques.

Another favorite is John's Country Kitchen, a family-owned diner that reminds me of the one my grandparents owned.

What draws people to this neighborhood is something rare in Charlotte – and I love this part – you don't always need a car. I can walk to get coffee or dinner. I often grab my backpack and ride my bike over to Harris Teeter for groceries. That's the company's original store on the corner of Central and The Plaza, by the way. And recently when I needed to get downtown, I hopped on the bus and stopped in center city six minutes later.

If you've explored the east side at all, you know Central Avenue offers some of the best international cuisine anywhere. From Mexican to Japanese to Vietnamese, there is something for every taste. Housing choices are as diverse as the restaurants that line the main corridors. The pricier Midwood ranges from condos and small bungalows to renovated and new homes that often sell for $500,000 and up. Get closer to the historic Charlotte Country Club and you'll find areas that go as high as $1 million. Farther east, neighborhoods like Eastway Park and Sheffield Park are seeing resurgence as first-time home buyers realize their value.

It's always a gamble when you move. Will you like the neighbors? I can say triumphantly, yes. That's been one of the most pleasant surprises since moving a year ago.

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