Ohio Outlet Mall Opens
The $100 million, 400,000-square-foot Cincinnati Premium Outlets mall will likely be the largest retail project to open locally for as many as five years, due to the slack economy.
I-95 Construction in St. Lucie County Florida to Impact Drivers Aug. 2-6
Ongoing construction on Interstate 95 in the Port St. Lucie area will affect overnight traffic between Aug. 2 and Aug. 6, Florida D
Florida I-95 Interchange Grand Opening Today
Today, you’ll have a new way to get to the southwest part of Port St. Lucie. There’s a public ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. to open the $40 million Becker Road-Interstate 95 interchange that’s been under construction for about two years,
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – To Climb or Not To Climb?
The lighthouse at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Hatteras, NC
There are 248 narrow, spiraling steps to the top. The climb is strenuous. It is hot and humid, there is no air conditioning and the stairwell is noisy with two way traffic and only one handrail. Individuals with heart conditions, lung conditions, bone conditions, sensitivity to heat, stress or noise, those with difficulty running, walking, climbing stairs or standing erect, people with claustrophobia, agoraphobia, myctophobia, melano-leukophobia, climacophobia, bathmophobia or any other serious medical or mental condition should use their own discretion as to whether to climb the lighthouse tower.
I chose to stand outside and take a picture.
(Photo by Ed Lamaze, who had the foresight to read the warning signs prior to dragging his kids to the top of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. That and the wait was over an hour and the kids were hungry.)
Double Lane I-95 Closure in Georgia
There will be a double lane closure on I-95 north July 29 through Friday, July 31 in Liberty County 7pm - 7am each night.
Concrete Barriers to Go Up Along Washington I-5
MARYSVILLE — Work began Monday on a project to place 10 miles of concrete barrier along I-5 in Marysville where cable medians have failed to prevent deadly crossover accidents.
High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia
by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels
High Museum of Art exterior, photo courtesy of the museum
Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, today one of the preeminent art museums in the Southeastern United States, evolved from humble beginnings. Founded in 1905 as the Atlanta Art Association, the museum was originally housed in a private residence on Peachtree Street that had been donated by Mrs. Joseph M. High. When the renowned collection of classic and contemporary art grew so large that more display space was needed, Coca-Cola magnate Robert W. Woodruff stepped up to the plate, offering a $7.5 million grant to build a new facility. The resultant stunning porcelain-enameled building, designed by Robert Meier, has been named one of the “ten best works of American architecture in the 1980’s” by the American Institute of Architects.
A towering atrium, soaring to four interior levels, is naturally lit by sunlight streaming through its glass roof. Spiral ramps surround the central core, leading upward to galleries that display 18th and 19th-century collections near the ground floor and contemporary art on the upper levels. Still the museum’s collection continued to grow and more space was needed. The acclaimed Italian architect Renzo Piano was commissioned to design three new buildings, which were opened in 2005 and essentially tripled the available display space.
Spiral ramps circle the towering central atrium
Even so, at any given time the 312,000 square foot facility can only display a portion of the museum’s permanent collection, which consists of more than 11,000 pieces and includes 19th and 20th century American and decorative art, significant European pieces, modern and contemporary art, photography, African art, and folk art.
Sculpture gallery
In addition to its permanent collection the High Museum sponsors special exhibitions throughout the year, such as Monet Water Lilies, which is currently presenting four of Monet’s most spectacular works from The Museum of Modern Art, New York. The highlight of the exhibition is a mesmerizing 42-foot painting of the water lilies on the pond at his home in Giverney, France. Painted during his later years when his eyesight was failing, Monet readly admitted to being obsessed with the subject of reflections on water; this piece is amazing in its ablity to draw the viewer into the visual and spiritual essence of the scene. The Monet exhibit will be at the High through August 23, 2009.
Monet's famous Water Lilies
Also currently on display, Louvre Atlanta: The Louvre and the Masterpiece explores how the definition of a “masterpiece” has changed over time. The special exhibition features 91 works of art drawn from all eight of the Musée du Louvre’s collection areas, spanning 4,000 years. Beginning in early October, Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius will showcase da Vinci’s interest in and influence on sculpture. The special and traveling exhibits are far too many to enumerate; check the High Museum’s website for a complete listing of dates and descriptions.
When visiting Atlanta, the High Museum of Art is a must see, as much for the architecture as the exhibits. Plan a whole day around this marvelous facility, including having lunch in the outdoor courtyard, where you must also walk around Roy Lichtenstein’s “House III.” This simple one-walled structure appears to move as you walk by it, like the eyes of a painting that follow you around a room, but it is pure optical illusion.
Lichtenstein house sits in the central interior courtyard
Located at 1280 Peachtree Street, N.E., the High is closed on Mondays and major holidays, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on other days, and has extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays and every third Friday evening, when hours are extended until 10 p.m. for Jazz Friday. Museum tickets are timed; ticket times indicate the hour visitors will be allowed to enter the queue for special exhibitions, and advance reservations are recommended. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for students and seniors (over 65), $11 for children (ages 6-17), and free for children 5 or under.
Photos by Barbara Weibel
New Ramps, Lane Shifts Coming on Georgia I-75, I-475
Interstate traffic will shift in south Bibb County again this week as the Georgia Department of Transportation opens new interstate ramps and continues to revamp the Hartley Bridge Road, Interstate 75 and Interstate 475 area.
Georgia I-75 Update
TIFTON — Contractors for the Georgia Department of Transportation will perform major reconstruction of Interstate 75 at different locations between Exit 37/Adel-Old Quitman Road and the Crisp/Dooly County line.
Union Square, New York City
One of my favorite activities to take part in on weekends with my family in NYC is go shopping at the Green Markets. And one of my favorite Green Markets takes place twice a week in Union Square Park. It is one of the largest in Manhattan and also one of the most busy. And that has a lot to do with the popularity of the park, both with tourists and locals alike.
Union Square Green Market
For most non-residents of NYC, their familiarity with Union Square Park would be from watching, on television, the protests that happen here, on a pretty regular basis. If there is something to be spoken for or against, this is where it will happen.
But also happening here, on an even more regular basis, is the gathering of musicians and artists, performers from all backgrounds and traits, displaying their art, music, and dance often for no more than a tip. It is easy to spend hours here as you walk from one fun entertainment gathering to another.
Louisiana Brass Band
It can be quite noisy and for those not used to it, even a bit overwhelming, but chances are, if you need a hug to help calm you down, that you will find people willing to give them out for free there as well!
Free Hugs
Union Square is wonderful for all these reasons, and for the restaurants. There are so many surrounding the park and down the various streets surrounding it. One my favorite places to eat is Republic, which is what I like to call “Asian noodle heaven“. If trying any of the many eateries in the area is something you are interested in doing, my suggestion would be to either get there before any main eating time, or be ready to wait 30 minutes and sometimes as much as an hour to eat anywhere nearby. And also be aware that some of them, though not all, are not very kid-friendly (the restaurant may be, but not the crowd, which tends to be younger).
Playground in Union Square Park
All in all, if you’ve never been to NYC, or even if you haven’t ventured to this part of town, I encourage you to. It’s full of life and music, it has so much to offer. As one tourist friend told me when I took him there recently, “It’s what I envisioned NYC to be like. A little bit of everything and everyone, together in one place.”
