High's Sky Bridge & Midtown Skyline

I've shared with you before the I love bridges. The Sky Bridge at the High Museum of Art is another sort of bridge, but I totally love it for the vistas it offers.

View from the Sky Bridge at the High Museum of Art

From the Sky Bridge looking south, you have a brilliant view of 1180 Peachtree (Symphony Tower, left) and Promenade II. Both are stunning buildings.

Keep your cameras at the ready...you'll have some amazing vacation photos if you do.

An Endlessly Engaging Experience

A recent trip to the High Museum of Art uncovered a delightful surprise. Artist Anish Kapoor says of his work Untitled, it “invites discovery and provides an endlessly engaging experience.”

"Untitled" by Anish Kapoor,
High Museum of Art

Untitled is a multi-sensory experience…and it does indeed invite discovery.

The friend I was visiting with had seen the piece before, but didn’t know about the auditory aspect to the piece. Much like concave dishes you’ve seen placed on opposite sides of a room in science museums, this dish on its own allows visitors to carry on conversations from great distances as if they were standing next to each other.

"Untitled" by Anish Kapoor,
High Museum of Art

But actually, the carried sound sounded like my friend’s voice was being transmitted via radio. Very cool either way.

Visually, the dish is stunning. Kapoor has combined art and science using stainless steel triangular facets, because of his interest in fractals, “wherein multiples are equivalent to the whole.”

"Untitled" by Anish Kapoor,
High Museum of Art

Anish Kapoor is also the artist responsible for Cloud Gate in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Some will know Cloud Gate as the giant silver kidney bean that’s very popular with tourist and local artists. 

"Untitled" by Anish Kapoor,
High Museum of Art

To give you an idea of just how large this particular piece is, the person in the below shot is approximately six feet tall.

"Untitled" by Anish Kapoor,
High Museum of Art

For those who have never been to the High Museum of Art, I highly recommend including it in your touring plans. There's a lot to see there and they also have some pretty amazing programming...check it out!

Last Days to See "Independent Visions"

"Independent Visions", a brilliant sculpture exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Garden featuring 19 sculptures by nine artists displayed throughout the Garden come to a close this month. You have only a couple of days to see this marvelous exhibition!

"Independent Visions" at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

These are some of the largest sculptures ever displayed at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and are not to be missed! If by chance you do miss the exhibition, wanderlust ATLANTA will feature a photo album on its Facebook Page after the exhibition closes.

ATLANTApix: Samuel Spencer

Samuel Spencer

Remember that Atlanta was originally a railroad town, long before she was ever a convention town. Nestled in a tight little corner of the 12-story David R. Goode Building at 1200 Peachtree Street is an elegant sandstone and bronze statue erected to one of the city's railroad pioneers.

Samuel Spencer today is remembered as the first President of Southern Railway Company, one who made remarkable achievements. The unique statue's engraved sentiment reads:

(front)

Samuel Spencer

1847 - 1906

(back)

A Georgian, A Confederate Soldier, and the First President of the Southern Railway Company. Erected by the Employees of that Company.

Most statues are erected by governments or enthusiast groups. I believe this is the first statue I've ever encountered that was erected by an employee group. He must have been one an amazing boss!

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Invesco

Invesco Global Headquarters

There is absolutely no shortage of unique architecture in the New South.
 
Invesco, an investment management firm originally founded in England and Wales in 1935, has a most unique building at the north end of Midtown in Atlanta, which happens to be their global headquarters!

The building is directly across the street from Equifax, the largest credit reporting company in the United States. It also is the center of the company's total managed assets. At the close of the second quarter 2011, those assets represented approximately $674 billion...I can only imagine how stunning this headquarters building is inside.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Best Friend of Charleston

Best Friend of Charleston

Traveling up Peachtree Street in Midtown, on the way to Buckhead from Downtown, if you happen to glance to your left at 12th Street, you'll see a bright red, green, and gold train! 

No, it's not an over-sized tree ornament for a gargantuan Christmas Tree, it's a life-size model of the first steam-powered locomotive built in the United States to establish regularly scheduled passenger service...meaning, this is an historically significant train.

Housed in Norfolk Southern's Atlanta office, featuring floor to ceiling windows for easy viewing, the "Best Friend of Charleston," a replica of the 1830 original, is a fully operable train.

The original Best Friend suffered a boiler explosion, the first in the U.S. to do so. The surviving parts were used to build the "Phoenix," well before the phoenix became Atlanta's mascot.

Norfolk Southern's Midtown office is in the David R. Goode Building, named so for the retired Chairman, President, and CEO of Norfolk Southern Corporation.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Different View? Look Up!

Promenade II

One of the things that I love about Atlanta architecture, much like its skyline, is that it offers many unique and interesting views. I mean, just walk half a block, drive around the corner, or walk up to the base of the building and you're looking at something totally different...and probably even more impressive.

The stainless steel "fins" on top of the Promenade II building, in the heart of Midtown, are a spectacular design element. During the day they give a depth of field that teases one's visual perception, but in a fun way. At night, they're absolutely brilliant and offer a glowing 3D effect that pronounces the outline of the ziggurat-like tapering spire.

While I'm writing about tourist attractions all over the city, anytime I need an architecture fix, I just pop over to Architecture Tourist, the wildly popular architecture blog authored by my buddy Terry Kearns. He always, always provides an interesting look at our city's architectural marvels.

So, when you're making your vacation photos, remember to look around and take more than one photo of the subjects that interest you (so much easier with digital cameras and phone cameras!). Look behind you, look right and left, look up...you'll be surprised at some of the great shots you'll get.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Bonsai at the Garden

Japanese Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

This weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21, 2011, the Atlanta Bonsai Society will hold their Spring Show at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. I'm excited about attending this show because they are featuring Suthin Sukosolvisit, renowned for this masterful Bonsai skills since the 1970s.

I've attended the Bonsai Show in previous years and they always have a spectacular display of truly amazing Bonsai. And if tradition continues, there will be demonstrations, as well as Bonsai trees, pots and other Bonsai gardening supplies for sale.

There's a lot going on in the Atlanta Botanical Garden this weekend, including music, tomorrow's Cocktails in the Garden, featuring the Atlanta Opera, and cooking demonstrations in the Outdoor Kitchen as part of Gourmet in May, yet another fun Garden program.

Of course, while you're there, stop by the approaching-50-year-old Japanese Garden (photo), certainly one of my favorite spots at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: A Purple Cactus...plant or cocktail?

A Purple Cactus at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

This bright purple flowering cactus (photo) caught my attention, and fascination, on a recent visit to the Atlanta Botanical Garden (yes, it’s true, I’m there a lot). It was also on this visit that I noticed that there is a lot in bloom in the Desert House of the Fuqua Conservatory…the most blooms I’ve ever seen in there.

Speaking of the Garden, their Cocktails in the Garden program started up again just last week. Throughout the summer and early fall, visitors to the Garden can enjoy a libation while strolling through the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

It's the perfect setting for a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city or, even better, it can serve as a beautiful setting for a romantic date.

I don't know if they serve a beverage called "Purple Cactus," but you can always ask. And if you're there next week, Thursday, May 19, you'll be treated to special performances by the Atlanta Opera!

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Frogs in the Garden

Frogs at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

As April comes to a close, the Atlanta Botanical Garden's first annual Atlanta Blooms! exhibition does as well. But, blooms are in full force throughout the Garden...as are frogs!

I've seen so many frogs in the Garden lately that I feel I'm developing a fondness for the creatures...the Garden's amphibian research is a likely contributor to that fascination, as is the sighting of frogs in several gardens within the Garden.

I was at the Atlanta Botanical Garden earlier this week and passed by the boy-with-frogs fountain, in the Perennial Garden, and right there before me was a giant frog in the water! (photo, lower left)

And did you know that there's a daily frog feeding at the Garden? It takes place in front of the Fuqua Conservatory every day at 11:00 a.m. It's a great event for seeing some of the Garden's frogs, in part because feeding time is their most active time of day.

So, in addition to the human-size frogs throughout the Garden, there are lots of real ones to be sighted as well.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Arts District Disguises

Atlanta Arts District, Midtown

Although I would easily be convinced that the geometric chrome "box" sitting on Peachtree Street in front of the Aecom Building is an artifact from Logan's Run ("the first motion picture of the 23rd Century"), it's actually a cleverly disguised ATM.

That's one of the things I love about Midtown, Atlanta's Arts District...there are creative aesthetics everywhere, including lighting, fencing, lobby furnishings...the possibilities are limited only by imagination and, of course, budgets.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: The Vortex



The Vortex (Little Five Points)

 The Vortex offers one of the most "real" dining, drinking, and comedy experiences in all of the city of Atlanta. I particularly find their "Idiot-Free Zone" policy amusing (the language in which it's written, actually) and would never want to be on the wrong side of an incursion of said policy.

The Vortex is an Atlanta favorite (I myself enjoy going there). Locals go there in droves and bring visitors there in droves. It's a unique experience, especially after a tranquil visit to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the World of Coca-Cola, or the Margaret Mitchell House...a visit that many will remember for a very long time to come.

More on the Idiot-Free Zone: "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, especially if we think you're being a big jerk. We strive to keep The Vortex an official Idiot-Free Zone at all times, so if you're acting like an idiot we'll be sure to let you know, right before we throw you out."

Sound harsh? Not at all. Actually, I wish more establishments had such an outspoken policy. There's a time and place for everything (Your mother told you that too, right?). Certain behavior is just not appropriate in certain venues, events, or gatherings...so, kudos to The Vortex for telling it how it is and for being an Idiot-Free Zone!

Really, are you going to blare the latest Reba song while attending an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performance? No, they'd throw you out. Are you going to chain-smoke at Georgia Aquarium? No, they'd throw you out. Are you going to swear at a tour guide at the Fox Theatre? No, they'd throw you out. So when dining at The Vortex, behave! Otherwise, as noted, they will throw you out!

The Vortex has locations in Little Five Points (photo) and on Peachtree Street in Midtown...and be sure to catch their comedy musings at the Laughing Skull Lounge adjacent to their Midtown location.

Atlanta really does has something for everyone...The Vortex is an excellent testament to that fact.

ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: The Peachtree Building

The Peachtree Building

I've long admired The Peachtree Building for its spiraling architecture and have always thought it be a residential highrise. As it turns out, it's chock full of law firms and other businesses...it's an office building!

With that, you may wonder why I post architecture and sculpture photos on a tourism blog. When I'm a tourist in other cities, I often wonder what a particular building is or what the story is behind an interesting sculpture.

For example, have you ever wondered about the big red building or the kidney bean sculpture in Chicago? What about the obelisk in Central Park or, also in New York City, the glass building with all the planets hanging inside? Maybe you've wondered about the history of the red-orange monumental buildings with arches, a dome, and lots of sculptured ladies in San Francisco. Or even that massive cathedral in Washington, DC?

Learning answers to questions like those,  relative to Atlanta, is the reason why you see so many photos of buildings and sculptures in the daily ATLANTApix category of tourATLANTA. I do hope you enjoy them!
 
ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Silhouette Midtown

Silhouette Midtown

One of my favorite buildings, a new "discovery" since returning to Atlanta, is Silhouette Midtown. Silhouette, built in 1964 and originally called 1447 Peachtree, was redesigned and repositioned in 2007—with great success.

The previously non-descript, fade-into-the-background 10-story building has a totally new facade, landscaping, and interiors lending to a "museum-quality modern aesthetic." Dramatic silhouetted figures adorn the full-length sides of the building in white, grays and black.

The illuminated square columns supporting a glass canopy, as well as a new fountain and landscaping, invite visitors to Silhouette. I've not been inside this office building, but have read that the interior spaces also incorporate silhouette elements and that there's a small "gallery-like museum of modern art" in the lobby.

Silhouette is nestled in Atlanta's Midtown Arts District just down the street from the High Museum of Art and the recently relocated Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA).

ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: HIGH

High Museum of Art (Meier Building)

If the buildings of Atlanta were stars, the High Museum of Art would shine the brightest.

I've been visiting the High since 1987 and it was spectacular even then. Its 2005 expansion, an addition of three Renzo Piano-designed buildings that doubled the size of the museum, was remarkably complimentary to the existing Meier building.

The High offers a variety of tours ranging from a daily 1:00 p.m. highlights tour to tailored group tours. I personally recommend a visit to the High for any and all art lovers, architecture enthusiasts, and anyone wanting to experience one of the more uniquely beautiful destinations in Atlanta.

ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Promenade II

Promenade II

I've learned a lot about Atlanta architecture since starting tourATLANTA. For instance, the Promenade II building (photo) is one of what was supposed to be three identical buildings, of differing heights, in the Midtown skyline. The other two were not built because of the collapsing economy. Promenade II, completed in 1990, is at Peachtree and 15th Streets.

Another point, vastly more important, is that building height doesn't necessarily translate into number of floors. At 691 feet, the Promenade II comes in at only 38 floors. Its fins at the top, dramatically lit at night (time stamp 1:57), make it a distinguished landmark in the Atlanta nighttime skyline...actually, it was built on a diagonal to emphasize its place in the skyline and to give it tenants optimal views of downtown Atlanta.

I love this particular photograph for its demonstration of Atlanta truly being a "city of glass"...the building being reflected is its neighbor, One Atlantic Center. Both buildings have former names...Promenade II was once called the AT&T Building and One Atlantic Center was originally known as the IBM Tower.

ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Olympia

"Olympia"
(sculpture at Promenade II)

Atlanta is indeed a land of discovery. Beyond the magnolia trees, around every corner, in every neighborhood, below the majestic skyline, and in skyscraper courtyards are all sorts of treasures to be found. At the base of the Promenade II is "Olympia."

Created by (Albert) Paley Studios, Ltd. of Rochester, New York, in 1990, Olympia stands 30 feet tall and is fashioned of steel and polychrome. 

What's polychrome, you ask? I'm glad you did.

From Greek (as is the sculpture's name), polychrome translates as "many" and "color." You can see from the photograph, Olympia is indeed sporting many (vibrant) colors. I lived in Greece for more than two years and still remember a bit of the language, to my great surprise.

The Promenade II courtyard is but a brief detour on any Midtown Atlanta walking tour and is an excellent spot to make some great photographs of neighboring skyscrapers.

ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Federal Reserve Bank

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

When the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta was built, there was no other building quite like it in the city and it remains a unique structure, especially among those that line Peachtree Street. Last month, I toured the Visitors Center and museum located on the first floor...and it was quite an impressive tour.

In the background of this photograph is the 53-story GLG Grand/Four Seasons Hotel, a mixed-used (residence, office and hotel) skyscraper completed in 1992 located in the heart of Midtown. The GLG Grand is named for its Swedish developer, G. Lars Gullstedt.

ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: City of Glass

1180 Peachtree reflecting Promenade II

I moved from Atlanta, after 15 years, to live in Washington, D.C., for almost nine years. Upon my return, I discovered that Atlanta had become a city of glass. More skyscrapers than I could have imagined (mostly glass) were put up while I was away from home, including the entire mini-city of Atlantic Station.


The glass facades make for some fun and interesting photography. This photograph of 1180 Peachtree (Symphony Tower), a 41-story office building completed in 2006, shows a reflection of its neighbor, the Promenade II, a 38-story office building completed in 1990. Both are in Upper Midtown.

ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: One Atlantic Center

One Atlantic Center

I distinctly remember the excitement and marvel created by the construction of Atlanta's tallest building the year I first moved here in 1987, also the year it was completed. It is today known as One Atlantic Center, home to a very prestigious list of tenants. It remains one of the brightest jewels that is the crown of Atlanta's skyline.


One Atlantic Center, formerly known as the IBM Tower, was the tallest building in Atlanta until 1992 and its modern design changed the skyline of Atlanta forever. The 50-story skyscraper started a revolution in Atlanta architecture and she was the leader in making Midtown the heart of Atlanta's business district. 


Seen from many vistas throughout Atlanta, this particular photograph was taken from Sifly Piazza in the Woodruff Arts Center, home of the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.


ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!