Stuff We Saw in Charlotte Part 6 - Light Show (With Video)

Not far from the Green is the Duke Energy Center.  It looks like any other building in the daytime:

But at night 45,730 LED lights light it up in different colors. The colors are meant to raise awareness of local groups and events. At the top of each hour there's a light show at the top. Here's a look:

Stuff We Saw in Charlotte Part 2 - To Be the Queen

Many people, when asked, think that Charlotte, NC was named after the first famous "Charlotte" that pops into their head.  For example, we initially thought it was named after Charlotte Rae who played Mrs. Garrett on the "Facts of Life."  No so apparently.  Meet the real Charlotte:

Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was married to King George III and was grandmother to the notoriously unamused Queen Victoria (founder of Torchwood).  Historically Americans have had issues with royalty ranging from rebellion against Charlotte's husband King George to delight at the performances of Queen Latifah.

The founders of Charlotte, NC thought they might score some brownie points with the King by naming their town after his main squeeze.  This likeness of her "Easy, Genteel and Agreeable" highness was created by sculptor Graham Weathers and stands outside the The Wake Forest School of Business (and a Holiday Inn):

In addition to studying botany and tending her gardens, she was a dog lover and two of her dogs (one of whom was named Presto but don't ask me which) are with immortalized with her:

And while we're on the topic of statues that caught our eye, we would be remiss if we didn't mention the city's beloved "Disco Chicken":

Behold the Disco Chicken in all its glory!  His (or her) official name is the Firebird and he stands watch outside the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art which is pretty close to The Green we mentioned yesterday.  Chicky is about 17 and a half feet tall and was created by artist Niki de Saint Phalle.

Come back tomorrow for more Charlotte stuff!

Stuff We Saw in Charlotte Part 1 - The Green

We find ourselves in Charlotte, NC for the time being and we are taking the opportunity to have a look around.  Our fist stop is a park called "The Green."  And if you weren't in the mood to pick up a good book before you visit, you will be after.

Stacks of bronze classics welcome you at the park's entrance and set the literary mood for your park experience.  The theme continues as you walk the trails reminding you of the works of the greats as well as giving you a some geographical trivia.

Signs like these are everywhere:

And on one end stands "Brick Kids - Life is an Open Book" as well as the historic Ratcliffe’s Flowers Sign which was moved here from it's original location:

More Charlotte stuff coming tomorrow!

Inside the Green Dragon

A quick look at the refurbished trolley car known as the "Green Dragon," part of the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority's M-Line in Dallas, TX: