As Good As Being There

Underground Atlanta - Atlanta, GA

Underground Atlanta is a shopping and entertainment complex in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. First opened in 1969, it takes advantage of the viaducts built over the city's many railroad tracks to accommodate automobile traffic. Each level has two main halls, still called Upper and Lower Alabama and Pryor Streets.

Undergound is home to several clubs and bars in Kenny's Alley, and enjoys special exemptions including an open container provision allowing patrons to take alcoholic drinks from bar to bar, and a 4:00AM closing time that is 90 minutes later than the rest of the city. The complex has had difficult history and reputation among residents of Atlanta.

History:

A rail line was built between Atlanta and Chattanooga and 138 mile markers were placed. The Zero Milepost still stands next to Underground Atlanta today on the basement level of the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot. A bustling new town emerged around the Zero Milepost. On the eve of the Civil War, Atlanta had 10,000 people. It had already become the trade and cultural center for the South. Alabama Street, between Peachtree Street and Central Avenue, was the city's center, which was to become Underground Atlanta.

In 1968, the Atlanta Board of Aldermen declared the five-block area of the original downtown a historic site. Many significant architectural features survived from original storefronts, including ornate marble, granite archways, cast iron pilasters, decorative brickwork and hand-carved wood posts and panels. One-year later, Underground Atlanta opened as a retail and entertainment center. In 1980, The construction of the MARTA rapid transit line and other factors led to the closing of the original Underground Atlanta. Yet, upon its closing, civic and business leaders succeeded in having Underground Atlanta placed on the National Register of Historic Places and leaders vowed to re-open the area. Underground Atlanta was reopened in 1989, at a cost of $142 million, through a joint venture between the City of Atlanta and private industry. It was redesigned to be one of the major projects aimed at preserving and revitalizing the center of Atlanta as the focal point community life. Today, Underground offers a complete family experience, with retail shops, specialty and gift shops, fast food in the Old Alabama Eatery, unique features and entertainment, special events and fine restaurants.

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Fox Theatre - Atlanta, GA

The Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia is one of the grand movie palaces built in the United States in the 1920s. The theatre's unique origin sets it apart from others of the era. Originally intended as the Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque, a headquarters for the Shriners, the $2.75 million project was completed only with funding and a twenty-one year lease by movie mogul William Fox, who was building theatres around the country at the time. The 4678-seat theatre opened on December 25, 1929, just two months after the stock market crash.

In 1974, Southern Bell, the regional arm of AT&T, approached the owners of the theatre with an offer to buy and with the intent of tearing it down and building a new headquarters on the site. A group was formed to save the theatre and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in May 1974. The ensuing public outcry and massive campaign resulted in the city refusing to issue a demolition permit and ultimately, a complicated deal that prevented the Fox's demolition and the building of the Southern Bell headquarters on land adjacent to the theatre. The United States Department of the Interior subsequently named the Fox a National Historic Landmark on May 26, 1976.

The theatre currently hosts a multitude of cultural and artistic events including the Atlanta Ballet, a summer film series, and performances for various national touring companies of Broadway shows. Because of its origins as a movie house, the Fox has a relatively shallow stage by theatrical standards and is unable to accommodate some of the set pieces required by modern large scale shows such as The Lion King and Miss Saigon.

Mighty Mo

Built in the era of silent films, the Fox features a 42-rank pipe organ nicknamed the Mighty Mo. It was custom built for the Fox by M. P. Möller, Inc. in 1929 in Hagerstown, Maryland. With 3,622 pipes, it is the second largest theatre organ in the country, behind the Wurlitzer at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Mighty Mo's pipes range in size from 32 feet tall to the size of a ballpoint pen. Besides the pipes, it also contains a marimba, xylophone, and glockenspiel.

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Little League World Series - South Williamsport, PA

The Little League World Series is a counterpart of the MLB World Series for children under 13. It started in 1947 and is held every August in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA. (The postal address of the organization is in Williamsport, but the stadium complex is in South Williamsport.) At first it was only between cities of the U.S. (much like the MLB "World Series"), but it now truly lives up to its designation and has become a worldwide tournament. The tournament has gained popular renown, especially in the United States, where games from the Series and even from US regional tournaments are often broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2.

Currently, the LLWS is broken up into two divisions: The United States Division and The International Division.

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The Varsity - Atlanta, GA

The Varsity is a restaurant chain, iconic in the modern culture of Atlanta, Georgia. The main branch of the chain is the largest drive-in fast food restaurant in the world.

In 1928, it was established as The Yellow Jacket at the corner of Luckie Street and North Avenue. Its founder was Frank Gordy, who dropped out of Georgia Tech in 1925. Then, as it remains today, the resturaunt catered to Georgia Tech students. The business grew rapidly and Gordy had to move to 61 North Avenue (the corner of North Avenue and Spring Street) to accommodate the crowds (the restaurant covers two entire city blocks). At the same time, he changed the name to "The Varsity," reflecting his desire to expand to other college campuses. During the drive-in era, The Varsity began curbside service, which continues to this day.

The location at 61 North Avenue in Atlanta is now adjacent to the Downtown Connector's interchange with North Avenue. Directly across the Connector is Georgia Tech. The restaurant is connected to the Tech campus not only by the North Avenue bridge but also by a tunnel under the Connector.

The Varsity has since expanded to Athens Georgia, home of the University of Georgia, Town Center, Gwinnett, and Alpharetta. The Varsity also has a smaller restaurant called The Varsity, Jr., which, besides the downtown Atlanta location, is the only location to offer curbside service.

Did you know: Comedian Nipsey Russell got his start at The Varsity in the 1940s working as a car hop by making his customers laugh for tips.

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Basketball Hall of Fame - Springfield, MA

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at basketball, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game. A few entire teams have been inducted as well, including the Buffalo Germans, the New York Renaissance and the Harlem Globetrotters. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's mission preserves and promotes the game at all levels and serves as basketball's ultimate library of history.

It was established in 1959, with fundraising leading to an actual building opened to the public on February 17, 1968, at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. In 1985 a new hall off-campus was opened near downtown Springfield on the east bank of the Connecticut River.

On September 28, 2002, the Hall of Fame found its third home in a new $45 million, 80,000 square foot (7,400 m²) shrine to the sport. The new facility's architecture features a large silver semi-spherical structure several stories high. The hall is surrounded by a shopping center of retail outlets.

Rates:
Seniors (65+) — $13.99
Adults — $16.99
Youths (5-15) — $11.99
Children (4 and under ) — Free

Address:
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
1000 West Columbus Avenue
Springfield, MA 01105
Phone: (413) 781-6500 or (877) 4HOOPLA
Fax: (413) 781-1939

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Jimmy Carter Library and Museum - Atlanta, GA

The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia houses U.S. President Jimmy Carter's papers and other material relating to the Carter administration and the Carter family's life. the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum is part of the Presidential Library system administered by the National Archives and Records Administration, a Federal government agency. The library also hosts special exhibits such as a showing of the United States Bill of Rights and Carter's Nobel Peace Prize.

The Museum of the Jimmy Carter Library includes photographs and historical memorabilia from the Carter presidency (1976 - 1981). An exact replica of the Oval Office and gifts received by the Carters are also featured. A permanent exhibit of significant events occurring during Jimmy Carter's life and political career includes photographs with interpretative text.

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Kuwait Towers - Kuwait City, Kuwait

The Kuwait Towers are three towers of reinforced concrete in Kuwait City. One of them is 185 metres high and serves as a restaurant and water tower. Another is 145.8 metres high and serves as a water tower. The third one is just for illuminating them.  The towers hold 4,500 cubic meters of water which then flows into the homes and businesses of Kuwait city. The design is excellent, being both very modern and very Arabic at the same time.

The Kuwait Towers, the symbols of the country, were the targets of Saddam Hussein, who aimed to demolish them. Fortunately, only minor damage was done to the Towers, and they are still the nation's symbol.

The towers were designed by Sune Lindström and Malene Björn and was built in 1979.

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Woodstock Festival - Bethel, NY

The Woodstock Music and Art Festival was the most famous rock festival of its era. It was held at Max Yasgur's 600 acre (2.4 km²) dairy farm in Bethel, New York, on 15, 16, and 17 August, 1969.

Woodstock is also the name of the famous documentary film about the concert; the film, directed by Michael Wadleigh and edited by Martin Scorsese, was released in 1970 and won the Academy Award for Documentary Feature. The film has since been deemed "culturally significant" by the U.S. Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Although the show had been planned for a maximum 50,000 attendees, over 400,000 eventually attended, most of whom did not pay admission. The highways leading to the concert were jammed with traffic as people tried to make it to the concert. The weekend was rainy, the facilities were overcrowded, and attendees shared food, alcoholic beverages, and drugs. However, no violence was reported and the fact that attendees were remarkably well behaved was particularly noted.

Artists who performed at Woodstock
Joan Baez
The Band
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Canned Heat
Joe Cocker
Country Joe and the Fish
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Grateful Dead
Arlo Guthrie
Tim Hardin
Keef Hartley
Richie Havens
Jimi Hendrix
Incredible String Band
Janis Joplin
Jefferson Airplane
Melanie
Mountain
Quill
Santana
John Sebastian
Sha-Na-Na
Ravi Shankar
Sly and the Family Stone
Bert Sommer
Sweetwater
Ten Years After
The Who
Johnny Winter

Did you know? There were three deaths at Woodstock: one from a heroin overdose, one from a ruptured appendix, and one from being run over by a tractor. Two unconfirmed births reportedly occurred at Woodstock.

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Knott's Berry Farm - Buena Park, CA

Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, and a manufacturer of food specialty products (primarily jams and preserves) based in Placentia, California. In addition, Knott's also operates three Soak City USA water parks in Southern California, as well as the Camp Snoopy theme park in Minnesota's Mall of America. The theme park is operated by Cedar Fair L.P., and the food products are now part of ConAgra Foods. Knott's slogan is "America's 1st Theme Park".

Knott's Berry Farm is divided into six distinct themed areas: Camp Snoopy, Ghost Town, Indian Trails, Fiesta Village, The Boardwalk, and Wild Water Wilderness. In addition, a small shopping village called California Marketplace sits outside the admission gate, and includes the famous Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant and a number of gift shops. Also on the property (but across Beach Blvd.) is a replica of Independence Hall.

Did you know: The park's annual HALLOWEEN HAUNT also known as "Knott's Scary Farm has drawn crowds since 1973. During this special ticketed event, the entire park (or major portions of it) rethemes itself into a "haunted house" style attraction in the form of "mazes" and "scare zones" in the evening. Over a thousand specially employed monsters are also scattered - oftentimes hidden out of view - throughout the park at this time.

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West Edmonton Mall - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

West Edmonton Mall first opened its doors to the public on September 15, 1981 and is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. West Edmonton Mall is North America's largest shopping mall and one of Western Canada's major tourist attractions.

West Edmonton Mall is the most popular tourist attraction in the province of Alberta. Located in a suburban part of the city, West Edmonton Mall has a gross area of 500,000 m² (5.3 million ft²) and it cost CDN $1.2 billion to build. More than 800 stores and services are located on the two main floors, including 110 eating establishments.

Galaxyland (home to the world's tallest interior roller coaster) is an amusement park located near the centre of the mall; World Waterpark and WEM's Adventure Golf are located in the west end; and Ice Palace is directly in the centre. The mall has more than 23,500 employees. There are large parking areas which together have more than 20,000 parking spaces, making it the world's largest parking lot. The mall is often called "the eighth wonder of the world" by international travel writers and receives 22 million visits per year.

Did you know: Permission from the City of Edmonton was recently granted for an expansion. This will include additional retail space, a facility for sports, trade shows and conventions, a 12-story office building, and a 600 unit apartment building, along with more parking.

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