An electric, cosmopolitan feel is emerging in the Triangle’s downtown areas. Luxury apartment and condominium towers embellish the skylines, with an increasing level of world-class dining and shopping filling in the gaps.

Walking from home to work to fun is now a reality in both downtown Durham and Raleigh. No longer do we so closely associate living in the Triangle with commuting by car. “You’re seeing a renaissance of downtown development,” said Peter Anlyan, a developer of Durham’s American Tobacco Historic District project, the largest such project in history of the state of North Carolina.

Hundreds of thousands of square feet of grand, historic condos and apartments, such as the already popular Baldwin building, will put the downtown Durham dweller a hop, skip, and a jump away from work, shopping, dining and nightlife— not to mention right across the street from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. From there, residents have a healthy array of choices to dine within walking distance. The wildly popular Tyler’s Tap Room is definitely a “see-and-be-seen” kind of place, with over 60 of the finest craft and specialty import beers on tap as well as yummy American comfort food. Symposium Café and Café Zen serve up delectable delights in a delicious, hip environment.

Raleigh residents are witnessing a stunning infusion of life in their downtown. By 2010, more than 10,000 apartments and condos are expected to be inhabited by metropolitan lovers. The Hudson, the Paramount and the Dawson are just a few of the high-rises that have already opened their doors to residents. Most impressive is the new RBC Bank Center tower with sweeping vistas. Construction has already begun on the new Raleigh Convention Center.

Tiny antique and contemporary furniture shops, along with art galleries and trendy clothing boutiques add to the excitement in downtown Raleigh. And if you want a night out on the town, you never have to worry about being the designated driver again. Enjoy a leisurely stroll as you bar hop from such hip joints as Aura or Rush nightclubs to the Red Room, Bogart’s, Sushi Blues Café or the Hibernian Restaurant and Pub on Glenwood South.

Forget New York or DC to quench your urban thirst. Nice places to visit, but the Triangle has it all— within walking distance!