ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 646 / C& RL N ew s ■ O c to b e r 2002 ACRL NATIONAL CONFERENCE Charlotte on a shoestring Public art, waterscapes, historic sites, and dining by B arbara Tiern ey What does a transplanted San Francisco Bay Area librarian have to reveal about explor­ ing Charlotte’s charms on a shoestring? After a three-year trial separation from San Francisco’s high cost of liv­ ing, I can assure you that Charlotte offers a w ealth o f public art, historic sites, w aterscaped vis­ tas, and southern dining de- lights that are extrem ely easy on the pocket book. Photos r­ by , Carl n and d Barbara Tierney G e t t i n g a r o u n d C h a r lo t t e Uptown (Center City) Cha lotte is a visitor-friendly com pact lo cale set withi tree-can o p ied plazas an streets— easy and safe to explore on foot. If you are O n e o f C h a rlo t te 's fre e t r o lle y car buses. a fan o f public transporta­ tion, you will be delighted w ith C h arlotte’s free trolley car buses. T he C e n te r C ity C ir c u it S h u ttle provides 43 stops on a round-town-loop, with free pick up at each stop, every seven to eight minutes. For a more nostalgic mode o f travel, hop aboard the H i s t o r i c C h a r lo tte T r o lle y for a 15- minute ride to S o u th E n d C h a rlo tte , where you’ll find antiques galore, restaurants, and the T r o lle y M u seu m . E n j o y m u s e u m h o p p i n g ? For m odest entrance fees, Uptown Charlotte provides an exciting array o f museums. T he M in t M u se u m o f C ra ft + D e s ig n offers a fascinating medley o f glass, wood, ceramic, and jewelry art by leading craft artists. The T ry o n C e n te r f o r V isu al A rt (a newly constructed center o f galleries and studios within the walls o f a form er church) celebrates visual art with exhibits, classes, and studio space for artists- in-residence. The Levine M u s e u m o f t h e N ew South interprets southern regional history with inven­ tive interactive exhibits fo­ cusing on civil rights history, NASCAR, and much more. D isc o v e ry P la ce (Char­ lotte’s 140,000 square-foot hands-on science museum) features an Ominmax The­ atre, a planetarium, and a tropical rain forest. P u b lic a n d w a t e r s c a p e a t t r a c t io n s Fancy serendipitous art-focused walking amidst refreshing waterscapes? Uptown Charlotte is a won­ derland o f public art and waterscape attractions. Each year, Charlotte/Mecklenburg sets aside one percent of Hinds used to construct or renovate pub­ lic buildings for public art. For a “zero budget” escapade, try the Uptown Charlotte’s self-guided Public A rt W alking T ou r which features: A b o u t t h e a u t h o r Barbara Tierney is librarian in reference services at the J. Murrey Atkins Library, University o f North Carolina at Charlotte and a member o f the ACRL National Conference 2003 Local Arrangement Committee, e-mail: bgtierne@email.uncc.edu mailto:bgtierne@email.uncc.edu C&RL News ■ October 2002 / 647 • An Oculus Reflector. As you walk through the halls of the Convention Center, look up. Integrated into die Grand Hall ceiling is a glass and steel oculus reflector, which reflects and re­ fracts sunlight streaming through it, creating shift­ ing patterns and designs on the floor (artist, Jamie Carpenter). • Wachovia Plaza’s Fountain Sculp­ tures. Perched amid die splashing waters of the fountains in Wachovia Bank Plaza are four bronze sculptures of children so lifelike it wouldn’t sur­ prise you if the children stepped from the water and skipped through the plaza (figurative sculp­ tor, Dennis Smith). • Carillon Building Cascade. Stroll into the lobby of the Carillon Building and you are face to face with a moving, splashing, motor­ ized, kinetic sculpture/fountain that incorpo­ rates eclectic Charlotte memo­ rabilia. Look for the lion’s head that once graced the fa­ cade of “Hotel Charlotte,” which stood on the same spot the Carillon now occupies (in­ Photos by Carl and Barbara ternational artist, Jean Tinguely). • Transamerica Square Continuum. Breeze through the open air rotunda of Transamerica Square and direct your eyes upward to a gorgeous circular fresco that pays homage to the “continuous cycle of de­ struction and rebirth” (artist, Ben Long). A f lo o r-to -c e ilin g Ben Long triptych fresco in the Bank of America Corporate Center Lobby.Other notable public art at­ tractions include the floor-to- ceiling Ben Long triptych frescoes in the Bank of America Coiporate Center Lobby and the “Stat­ ues at the Square” at Trade and Tryon Streets (four giant bronzes by sculptor Raymond Kaskey repre­ senting Charlotte’s transportation, industry, com­ merce, and die future). H ave a ta s te f o r g a lle r y b r o w s in g ? Visit Charlotte’s NoDa (North Davidson Street) District, located two miles north of Uptown Charlotte. This thriving arts and cul­ tural center is home to one-of-a-kind art gal­ leries with such whimsical names as the Cen­ te r o f the E arth Gallery, New Waves of Jo y , the Blue Pony, and the Light Factory. Residents and visitors alike enjoy First-Friday Gallery Crawls, which display the work of ex­ citing local artists. NoDa’s eclectic small shops—such as Sun­ shine Daydreams (silver, jewelry, beads, hats, candles, and clothing), Swank (vintage housewares, underground artwork, and clothing), and Sit A Spell Atelier (seating furniture)— offer an out-of-the-ordinary shopping experience. A r t a p p re c ia tio n m a k in g yo u h u n g ry ? For low-cost dining served up with gracious Southern hospitality, sample the NoDa neighbor­ hood eateries. Fat City, a full-service deli with inside or outside dining, offers live music by re­ gional bands nightly; Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen features Bayou specialties such as gumbo, jambalaya, and po’ boys; Kelly’s Café offers veg­ etarian food in a quaint mill house setting; and Pat’s Time for One More is a popular neigh­ borhood bar connected to the Studio 23 Gallery. Other recommended Up­ town eateries for academic li­ brarians on a budget include: Alexander Michael’s (a ca­ sual neighborhood tavern with loads of atmosphere in the Fourth Ward residential area); Green’s Lunch (a lunchtime tradition in Charlotte since 1926); Mert’s Heart and Soul (a tasty soul food place); Reid’s Fine Foods (a gro­ cery/gourmet shop with great takeout sandwiches, salads, and sushi); and Fuel Pizza Café (a local chain of pizza parlors, often located in restored gas stations). See the January 2003 issue of C&RL News for an article that focuses on recommended Charlotte dining spots. D o n 't k n o w m u ch a b o u t S o u th e rn h is to ry ? Try the self-guided Charlotte Uptown Histori­ cal Walking Tour that features such stops as St. P eter’s Episcopal Church (Confeder­ ate President Jefferson Davis attended services here as the Civil War ended); Settlers Cem­ etery (Confederate soldiers, planters, politi­ cians, and slaves were buried here from 1776 to 1 8 8 4 ); and F o u r th W ard (on e o f Charlotte’s original residential neighborhoods featuring many restored Victorian-style homes decorated southern-style.) ■