Heavy rains flood low areas in Charlotte and wash flotsam into creeks

The waves of heavy rain that hit Charlotte late Sunday night and early Monday overloaded drains and creeks and washed debris down the creek beds.

A small blue dumpster is stuck on the Central Avenue bridge over Briar Creek at the moment. A Charlotte Special Services truck was parked nearby.

Debris also clogged the edges of the pedestrian bridge over Briar Creek connecting Merry Oaks and nearby Plaza Midwood. Sand and mud on the bridge indicated that at some point late Sunday or early Monday, the creek overwashed the bridge.

A Charlotte Fire Department alert early Monday indicated that the department had responded to a call for "rescue and evacuation" at 1600 Masonic Drive about 1 a.m., and also responded to a person trapped in a flooded vehicle at 3800 Country Club Drive about 3:25 a.m.

For future similar situations, you can follow @charlotteFD on Twitter. And another good person to follow: Brad Panovich, or @wxbrad, chief meteorologist at News Channel 36, WCNC-NBC TV.

Why redecorate when you can just accessorize?

This Easter Bunny in the 3400 block of Draper Avenue in Merry Oaks put on a hat and added some sparkling accessories to get through the winter holidays.

Why completely redecorate when you can just accessorize?

For a closeup, click on the photo and check out the tasteful small white Christmas lights around the bunny's chair.

What's up with pink ribbons on trees on the former Tuscan property on Central Avenue?

Pink ribbons and a few pink dots have appeared on trees of various sizes on the former Tuscan property at 3223 Central Avenue, at the intersection with Briar Creek Road.

The 9-acre property once belonged to developer Rip Farris, who planned a 58-unit condominium complex at the site. After a foreclosure, the land is now owned by New Dominion Bank, with an address of 1111 Metropolitan Avenue, Suite 500, Charlotte, N.C. 28204, according to county property records.

Has anyone heard anything about clearing planned on the land?

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art opens in Charlotte

Clearly, the Bechtler Museum’s opening on Saturday is much more than neighborhood news.

But what makes this museum of modern art so exciting for people in central Charlotte is its accessibility. It’s hard to imagine: Works by Picasso, le Corbusier, Miro and more are only four miles away, with easy parking, in a beautiful building that presents the art in proportions that soar without overwhelming. The building also frames intriguing views of South Tryon Street.

The Bechtler has the ability to awe like the great museums of New York. At the same time, it’s easy to set aside an hour or two for a visit.

And it's relatively inexpensive. Adult tickets are $8; students, teachers and senior citizens get in for $6, youth 11 to 18 pay $4, and children 10 and under get in free.
Go visit. For hours, see the Bechtler's website.

More:
More photos from the Bechtler’s opening day at Flickr.
Miriam Durkin on the Bechtler in The Charlotte Observer.
Phillip Larrimore on the Bechtler in Charlotte Viewpoint.

Top photo: Panorama stitched together by friend and photographer Gary O'Brien, who shares panorama techniques at The Panoramist.