Things to Do in Usa

Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Independence Square sits at the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets providing a place to take in public art, admire local architecture and people watch. Those who visit the attraction should know they're standing on a piece of important history, which can be explored through the public art standing on the square.

Littered around Independence Square you'll find four bronze statues created by sculptor Raymond Kaskey titled "Transportation," "Commerce," "Industry" and "Future." The Transportation statue is of an African American laborer, paying homage to the city's first railroads from the 1850s. The creation of this metro is what laid the foundation for Charlotte becoming a major transportation hub. You'll also notice an eagle, which gives a nod to the city's advancements in aviation. Next is the Commerce statue, which depicts someone panning for gold, commemorating the discovery of this valuable precious metal near Charlotte in 1799. You'll also notice a figure of a banker underneath that's part of the statue that references the opening of the U.S. Mint in the city in 1837. Then there's the Industry statue, which shows a female textile factory worker with her child, representing a time before laws that banned such a practice. This art-spoken story all ties together with the Transportation, Commerce and Industry statues gazing toward the "Future" statue -- a sculpture of a mother with a child and the state dogwood flower -- representing the city's fruitful economic past paving the way for a positive future.

The history behind the name of the square is interesting, although controversial. According to The Big Story, an Associated Press news website, the square is named after the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Some people believe this document was signed on May 20, 1775 -- before the colonies approved Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Set in a converted brick warehouse in Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood, this chocolate wonderland is the flagship of Jacques Torres' mini-empire of treats. An Algerian-born French pâtissier whose resume includes New York's famed Le Cirque, Torres not only makes his own dark- and milk-chocolates, he bakes his own croissants "“ which you can enjoy here at one of two highly coveted cafe tables.

Often referred to as "Mr. Chocolate," Torres was of the first chocolatiers to use graphic prints on his confections, as well as unique flavors and ingredients like ancho chile and passion fruit. He creates Champagne-filled chocolate corks, menageries of chocolate animals, and his own signature chocolate lollipops, in addition to ice cream, cookies, and an enormous chocolate bar called the Big Daddy. His popularity has allowed him to open five other locations in Manhattan, including an outpost in Chelsea Market.

Housed in the 1935 Art Deco, pink-and-green marble Max Factor Building, this former museum of make-up (which has been partially preserved here) now hosts the largest collection of Hollywood memorabilia in the world. In addition to movie props, sets and costumes, the archives here include over 1,000 vintage photographs from Tinseltown history.

Arranged chronologically from the silent film era to modern entertainment production, temporary exhibits have included career retrospectives of stars like Lucille Ball and Michael Jackson, and permanent exhibits include an entire floor of horror-themed set pieces and props from frightening movies like Silence of the Lambs and Nightmare on Elm Street, as well as gory TV shows like Dexter and The Walking Dead. One of the museum's most prestigious features is a large, permanent exhibition of historian-authenticated Marilyn Monroe memorabilia.

Located across the street from the Hollywood and Highland mall complex (where parking is available), the museum includes a comprehensive library, a screening room, and a souvenir-ready gift shop. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, docent-led tours are available for groups of 12 or more.

The 20th-century artwork displayed on the gently inclining white walls of the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum often take second place to the building's landmark Frank Lloyd Wright design.

The great architect's last work is an uplifting sight, from both outside and within, and a thorough restoration program was completed in 2008. Unwinding like a coil of white ribbon, the exhibition space spirals upwards around a central skylight.

As well as hosting changing exhibitions of photographs and paintings, the Guggenheim's permanent collection includes works by Gauguin, Picasso, van Gogh, Monet, and other early Modern masters.

The most-visited link in the House of Blues music club/restaurant chain, this joint is hopping every night of the week with established and emerging musical acts from a wide variety of genres -- but with a focus on the blues. The club itself was built to resemble a tin shack from the Deep South, and there's a metal box of Mississippi Delta mud beneath the performance stage.

Renowned for fostering artists like local L.A. glam-metal parody band Steel Panther and hosting the occasional burlesque show, the House of Blues is most popular for its Sunday morning Gospel Brunch, which features a huge choir in church robes, and a groaning board of a Southern menu. The soul-food-inspired Crossroads Restaurant also has weekday happy hours and live blues shows on Friday and Saturday nights, and dinnertime concerts can be booked in the red-lit Voodoo Lounge every night of the week.

The Portland Japanese Garden, set within Washington Park, offers a 5.5-acre meander beneath vine-draped arbors, over curving bridges, past waterfalls and stone sculptures. Its five-garden layout was devised in the late 1960s by one of both Japan and America's most famous landscape designers, Takuma Tono.

Reflecting the philosophical focus of Portland's large Japanese community, the five distinct gardens here are meant to encourage tranquility and provide color throughout the year. There is an on-site tea house where occasional tea ceremonies are held, an airy gift shop with a large variety of wares from Japan and an ever-changing lineup of art and craft exhibits.