Panoramas

Opened in 1975, Eastland Mall drew millions of visitors in its 35 years of operation. Its closing on June 30, 2010 marks the end of that era and a possible new reincarnation as a multi-use, multicultural community hub. Panoramic photo composite by Gary O'Brien - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com

World Wide Knit in Public Day (http://www.wwkipday.com) found Charlotte knitters (from left) Amy Roger, Salem Macknee, Karen Singleton and Carol Sawyer at the International Trade Center at College and Fifth Streets, knitting some new duds for the Queen Charlotte statue. Since knitting is generally a solitary pursuit, the day is designed to get knitters out of the house and into the fresh air. Panoramic photo composite by Gary O'Brien - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com

The signature work of art at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design - Dale CHihuly's Royal Blue Mint Chandelier - has a new home six blocks down Tryon Street at the new Mint Museum uptown, which is scheduled to open Oct. 1. Weighing 2,200 pounds, the piece is made up of hundreds of delicate, asymmetrical glass pieces that fuse craft, art, ornament and design. Panoramic photo composite by Gary O'Brien - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com

From Mary Newsom's "Naked City" blog: What ARE those things on South Tryon Street? The two metallic structures erected just past the Big O building at the bridge over I-277, are not, as you might have thought, witches-hat-derived homage to the show "Wicked." They are a gift from the Queens Table, a group of anonymous – and apparently wealthy and influential – public art donors who have brought us the Socialist-realist monuments at The Square. Read more: http://marynewsom.blogspot.com/2010/05/dear-queens-table-please-stop.html#ixzz0qQ0Ef3O0

Workers put the finishing touches on the Urban Garden inside 1 Bank of America Center, which opened Tuesday, June 1, 2010 in uptown Charlotte, NC. A six-story atrium between the office building and the Ritz, the space features granite floors, vegetation and a huge wall decorated with a Bank of America "flagscape" logo made of window-shade type material. Panoramic photo composite by Gary O'Brien - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com

1 Bank America Center's lobby is called the Urban Garden, with a six-story atrium at its center. The area will be open to the public, with shops and restaurants planned. Panoramic photo composite by Gary O'Brien - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com

Workers climb down from the glass roof of the 1 Bank of America Urban Garden. The building's focus on efficient use of energy and water includes a "green roof", planted with sedums and other plants that can stand the bright sun and high temperatures of an uptown rooftop. Panoramic photo composite by Gary O'Brien - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com

Balfour Beatty Construction project manager Kyle Bolejack looks out onto the Bank of America Corporate Center complex from a 30th floor terrace of the new 1 Bank of America Center building. Panoramic photo composite by Gary O'Brien - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com

The top level of 1 Bank of America Center features a two-story glass room that stretches the length of the building, allowing a broad panoramic view of the southeastern Charlotte skyline and the rolling hills of the Carolina Piedmont. Panoramic photo composite by Gary O'Brien - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com