Three uptown spaces you see every day - and never knew were there
A few years ago, my husband and I participated in a locally coordinated one day Amazing Race that led us to different locations throughout uptown – statues, artwork, parks, buildings.
Most of the places we saw we’d never noticed before. Maybe we had walked past them, but we had never seen them. Our habit of walking fast, head down, nose in the phone caused us to miss out.
Here are three special places you shouldn’t miss out on:
Wells Fargo Museum, 20-30 minute visit
A photo posted by J. Michael Haithcock Music (@mettanc) on Aug 1, 2015 at 7:08pm PDT
It’s easy to disregard this one: A place filled with old stuff about a bank. Boring, right? Not boring because at this hands-on museum, you can sit in an old Chevy, take a ride in a stagecoach or play bank teller. Michelle Colandro, the museum’s curator, notices that many people try the pneumatic tube, which was developed in 1836. This vacuum system is still in use today in bank drive-thru windows. Check it out during your next lunch break. 401 S Tryon St. Tue-Sat, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Free
Tinguely Sculpture, 10-15 minute reflection
Carolina Theatre Park, 20-30 minute break
In 2012, Foundation For the Carolinas transformed a vacant lot into a “pocket park.” With art pieces, trees and seating, it offers a quick get away from the work environment for a quiet place to talk or lunch. Take a moment to view the brand new mural by Matt Hooker and Matt Moore on Sixth Street, right by the park.
Hey @discoveryplace – we just caught an air guitar concert at Carolina Theatre Park uptown! #WhoStoleTheAirGuitar pic.twitter.com/0qNqiNN5uy — ASC Charlotte (@ASCCharlotte) July 15, 2015
The park is temporary and the space it occupies will be used in an upcoming renovation project, so go see it soon. The mural is staying and will evolve as the construction project gets underway.
Corner of Sixth and N. Tryon streets
Open 7 a.m.-midnight. Free.
Photo: T. Ortega Gaines
This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 11:21 PM with the headline "Three uptown spaces you see every day - and never knew were there."