NoDa — short for North Davidson — is Charlotte's established arts district, about three kilometres northeast of Uptown. The neighbourhood grew up around a nineteenth-century textile mill, and when the mill closed in the 1990s, artists and musicians moved into the cheap storefronts and warehouses. The result is a genuine creative district rather than a manufactured one: galleries, live music venues, tattoo shops, vegetarian restaurants, and dive bars occupy a walkable stretch of North Davidson Street.
The neighbourhood has grown more polished over time but retains character. First and Third Fridays bring gallery openings, street performers, and a general festive atmosphere to the main strip. The NoDa Brewing Company, one of Charlotte's original craft breweries, is here. The LYNX Blue Line light rail connects NoDa to Uptown, making it an easy evening destination.