Uptown
In the heart of the Queen City, beneath glistening skyscrapers, bankers, engineers, developers and creatives shuffle to and from their offices. When the daily grind comes to a close, they flock to restaurants, rooftop patios and colorful taverns- hungry for post work chatter and play. It’s here in Uptown (formerly known as Downtown) that you find the city’s pulse. Named for its geographic positioning, the district’s center is at the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets, which once served as a Native American trading path. This crossroads, called Independence Square, actually sits on a ridge, so no matter which way you approach it, you travel uphill. Along with symbolic statues, cathedrals and landmarks that evoke its rich history, Uptown’s grid-like design and four wards echo its Colonial roots, as does Tryon street, named for Colonial Gov. William Tryon.