In My Hood: Out and About in Plaza Midwood, Charlotte

Plaza Midwood is home to creative and open-minded people from all over the world. If you walk through the streets here between old warehouses and historic wooden houses, you will immediately notice the many murals on the walls – and the countless small stores and restaurants serving food from all over the world.

As a big matcha latte fan, I often start the day at Undercurrent Coffee. They serve my favorite drink in different flavors and also have lots of healthy breakfast options such as overnight oats or avocado toast. I like the fact that all the ingredients come from local producers. This sense of togetherness is typical of the district.

What Delicious Treat Is Hidden Behind the Name Golden Milk?

The community spirit of the neighborhood can also be felt in the ice cream store Seemingly Overzealous. Charlotte-based artist Eulises Orellana designed the mural behind the counter and also the T-shirts and cups for the café. I always order a scoop of "Is This My Life" made from golden milk with turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger, but there are also many other unusual flavors such as "You're My Banana" with banana, maple syrup, and caramelized pecan nuts. What's particularly nice is that the owners, Garrett and Jess, have a different anecdote for each flavor. Another place full of creative energy is the Innovation Barn, a community center where everything revolves around the circular economy and zero-waste living. It hosts upcycling markets, sewing classes, and workshops where you can learn how to repair your bike or how composting works.

Plaza Midwood: Food From All Over the World

Mexican, Japanese, Peruvian, or Yemeni? The choice of restaurants in Plaza Midwood is so large that it's hard to decide. My favorite is the Cuban-Peruvian restaurant Calle Sol. The ceviche there tastes just like in Peru. The quesadillas and burritos at the Mexican restaurant El Malo Tacos are also a hit. As well as the noodle soup in the Japanese restaurant Menya Daruma. Their stocks and noodles are made from scratch daily.

For a coffee or chai tea in between, I recommend the Haraz Coffee House, which serves the finest coffees from Yemen and offers latte art classes. The Italian bakery Villani's is also very popular, with a huge selection of cakes, biscotti, and muffins.

Second-Hand Clothes and Brand-New Sounds

I could browse for hours in the second-hand stores East 8th Vintage and Boris & Natasha Clothing. Both sell second-hand clothes and jewelry for every budget. I discover new music at the record store Lunchbox Records, which regularly hosts listening sessions and release parties for new albums. The best club for live music is Petra's, where different local bands and jazz musicians take to the stage every week. I like the place because it attracts so many unique characters. The karaoke nights are especially fun. Because many of my friends play in punk bands, you can often find me at concerts at Snug Harbor, a mini club with great energy.

I can only recommend that you plan a whole day for Plaza Midwood to let yourself go. Unlike the rest of Charlotte, the neighborhood is quite compact and easy to explore on foot or with a rental bike.

About

Katrina Sánchez lives and works as a textile artist in Charlotte. She is known for her Magnified Weavings, created with colorful and textured knitted "noodles" to build her large-format three-dimensional fiber works. She exhibits these at home and abroad. They have already been shown at the VOLTA Art Fair in Basel and the Future Fair in New York, among others. Info: katrinasanchez.com