For your information.
Willie Thompson
U.S. Government Printing Office
202-512-1114
-----Original Message-----
From: Vicki Tate [mailto:vtate@jaguar1.usouthal.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 2:45 PM
To: GOVDOC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU
Subject: 2002 Spring DLC meeting in Mobile, AL
GOVDOC-Lers--
I want to welcome those of you that are planning to attend the Spring 2002
Depository Library Council meeting here in Mobile, AL from April 21-24.
When you sign in for the conference at the hotel, be sure to pick up a
"Welcome to Mobile" packet which includes an Official Visitors Guide for
Mobile, a Downtown Shopping & Dining Guide, a Dauphin Street Historic
District Walking Tour, a map of the downtown area, and various pamphlets for
local attractions. In addition to this packet, I have outlined some
(hopefully) helpful information for your stay here in Mobile.
TRANSPORTATION
If you are driving to the Conference, here are some basic directions to the
Radisson Admiral Semmes Hotel:
VIA I-10 WEST: Take I-10 West, through the Wallace Tunnel. Stay in the
right hand lane when exiting the tunnel and take Exit 26B - Downtown and
Water Street - to your right. This exit will put you on Water Street at the
foot of Government Street so as you exit stay in the extreme left hand lane.
Take a left on to Government Street. Go four blocks to Joachim Street.
Turn left onto Joachim to the main entrance of the hotel.
VIA I-10 EAST: Take I-10 East and take the Water Street exit to your right.
This exit will put you on Water Street at the foot of Government Street, so
as you exit move to the extreme left hand lane. Take a left on to
Government Street. Go four blocks to Joachim Street. Turn left onto
Joachim to the main entrance of the hotel.
VIA I-65 SOUTH: Take I-65 until you reach Exit 9 - Prichard and I-165 exit.
Take this exit to your right and follow I-165 until it ends at Water Street.
Go straight on Water Street until you reach Government Street. It is the
last major intersection before you go up a ramp to I-10. You will see the
Convention Center on your left. Take a right on to Government Street. Go
four blocks to Joachim Street. Turn left onto Joachim to the main entrance
of the hotel.
>From the Mobile Regional Airport: From the Mobile Regional Airport
entrance, turn left (east) onto Airport Blvd. Follow Airport Blvd., passing
through several major intersections, including Schillinger Rd, Cody Rd,
Hillcrest Rd, University Blvd, McGregor/Azalea Rd, I-65, Sage Ave, and
Florida St, for approximately 8 miles. Airport Blvd will go from 6 lanes to
5 lanes, then to 3 lanes. Eventually Airport Blvd runs into Old Government
St. Turn right at the yield sign, then past the Civil War cannon, and you
will be at Government Street. Take a left at Government Street to downtown
to the Radisson Admiral Semmes Hotel, which will be on the right side on the
street between Jackson and Joachim Streets. From the airport to the hotel
it is approximately 14 miles.
PARKING: The entrance to the parking garage for the hotel is on Jackson St,
but the main entrance to the hotel is on Joachim St. Parking is $4 per day,
with unlimited "in and out" access.
There are various taxi/shuttle buses available at the Mobile Regional
Airport. The Airport has its own shuttle service (251-633-4510). It
charges $15 per person for a one-way trip to the downtown area. Mobile Bay
Transportation (1-800-272-6234 or 251-633-5693) is also available. It is
$25 for one person, and $15 each for multiple fares. In addition, there are
usually several taxis available at the airport, which will probably run
about $25 for the one-way trip to the downtown area.
While staying at the Hotel, there is an electric "trolley" shuttle called
the MoDo that provides FREE shuttle service around the downtown area along
Government and Dauphin Streets. But, the shuttle is only available Monday
through Friday from 7 am to 6 pm. Look for the lime-green signs, which give
the details of the routes. One of the designated pick-up points is located
across the street from the Admiral Semmes on the north side of Government
St.
POINTS OF INTEREST
For those of you that will be arriving early, there are various activities
in downtown Mobile that you can take advantage of over the weekend:
Within walking distance of the Hotel-
3 Blocks east of the Hotel:
Located near the Mobile Bay, is the Gulf Coast Exploreum Museum of Science
(corner of Government & Water St.) with an IMAX theatre. Current exhibit is
"China! 7000 Years of Innovation" which is an exhibition that celebrates
ancient Chinese arts, science and culture. Open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission charge is $11 for the Exhibit
halls, $7 for IMAX theater, or $15 for both.
Around the corner is the Museum of Mobile (111 S. Royal St.), where you can
experience over 300 years of Mobile's history. Open Saturday from 9 am to 6
pm, and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. Admission charge is $5.
3 Blocks south of the Hotel:
The Mobile Museum of Art is temporarily located at the Mobile Civic Center
(401 Civic Center Dr., Expo Hall) until a new museum building opens later
this year. Open Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm.
Admission is free.
3 Blocks southeast of the Hotel:
Conde-Charlotte House Museum (104 Theatre St) depicts the periods of Mobile'
s history under 5 flags-French, English, Spanish, American and Confederacy.
Open Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, with the last tour at 3:30 pm. Admission
charged.
Ft. Conde Welcome Center (150 S. Royal St) is a good place to get oriented
to the different attractions in the community. Ft. Conde is a replica of
the original 18th century French fort. Open Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 5
pm. Admission is free.
North of the Hotel:
Walking tour of Dauphin Street Historic District (pamphlet with details
available in "Welcome to Mobile" packet)
7 Blocks north of the Hotel:
The Richards-DAR House Museum (256 N. Joachim St.) in Historic De Tonti
Square is known for its Italiante architectural style and is an excellent
example of fashionable life during Mobile's affluent antebellum days. Tea
and cookies are served to all guests. Open Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and
Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. Admission charged.
Within a short drive from the Hotel-
Battleship USS Alabama (2703 Battleship Parkway, Highway 90/98, just off
Interstate 10, exits 27 or 30). Open Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm.
Admission is $10.
Phoenix Fire Museum (203 S. Claiborne St.) is a restored firehouse dating
from 1855, which includes a collection of steamers and fire engines dating
back to the 19th century. Open Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from
1 pm to 5 pm. Admission is free.
Oakleigh Period House Museum (350 Oakleigh Place) is 3 ˝ landscaped acres
with an antebellum period house. Open Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, with the last
tour at 3:30 pm. Admission charge.
THINGS TO DO
Saturday Morning (April 20th)
Mobile River Discovery Cruises aboard the Delta Explorer, a 60 passenger
eco-tour boat, for a 2-hour tour. (Battleship Parkway, Highway 90/98, just
off Interstate 10, exits 27 or 30). You will journey by boat through the
Mobile-Tensaw Delta, one of Alabama's ten natural wonders, and the second
largest delta in the lower 48 states. It lies just minutes from downtown
Mobile. You will find wetland habitats ranging from marsh to cypress-tupelo
swamp and bottomland hardwoods. Its bird life is remarkable in variety and
numbers, especially the osprey in their large overhead nests, and it is one
of the best habitats for alligators. Boarding starts at 8:45 and leaves at
9:00 am, returning about 11 am. Admission is $20 (no credit cards) and
reservations are required. Call 251-438-3060 for details. [Since the
weekend of April 20th is the start of the Coastal Birding Trail,
reservations are going quickly. If there is enough demand, there may be a
second tour latter on in the day]
Saturday Evening (April 20th)
Sunset Dinner Cruises aboard the Cotton Blossom Sternwheeler (1 S. Water
St.) located behind the Mobile Convention Center. The 2-hour
Riverboat-style buffet cruise departs at 5:30 p.m. A full dinner is served
in the main cabin during the cruise and includes salad, two entrees, side
dishes, dessert, rolls, coffee and iced tea. A full bar is also available
for purchase. Attire should be dressy casual. Admission is $31 and
reservations are required. Call 251-438-3060 for details.
Saenger Theatre (6 S. Joachim St), about 4 blocks from the hotel, will be
showing the play "To Kill a Mockingbird." It starts at 7:30 pm. Attire is
dressy casual. Tickets are $22 or $32 (credit cards are accepted). Call
251-208-5600 for details.
Sunday Day (April 21st)
I have been able to set up a couple of tours of local interest through Bay
City Convention and Tours. Descriptions for each tour is given below. If
you are interested in either or both of the tours, you can email me
(vtate@jaguar1.usouthal.edu) for your reservations and I will then finalize
arrangements. If there is not sufficient interest by April 15, the tours
may be cancelled.
1.) Bellingrath Gardens and Home, approximate times 9 am to 12 noon, Cost:
$34 per person, including transportation, admissions, and guide.
"Board your coach for a leisurely visit to one of the nation's most
beautiful gardens & home. Located on the riverfront land once trod by French
and Spanish Colonials, this 'Garden Spot of the South' is a floral
wonderland. Enjoy 65 acres of manicured gardens and the beautiful
Bellingrath Mansion, the former home of Coca Cola magnate Walter D.
Bellingrath. The home is furnished with antique furniture in period
settings, plus an outstanding collection of china and porcelain, with one of
the largest private collections of rare Boehm Porcelains collected by Mrs.
Bellingrath."
2.) Historic Mobile, Alabama, 2 pm to 4 pm, Cost: $25 per person, includes
transportation, admissions, and guide.
"A tour of the 19th century garden district creates a flavor that takes
you back in time. There is an unique blend of architecture in the
magnificent antebellum homes of Federal, Greek Revival and Victorian styles.
Many homes are embellished with delicate wrought iron. Streets of the
garden district are framed with gigantic live oaks forming a beautiful
canopy. For a blend of the city's history and culture we visit the City
Museum. It contains exhibits reminiscent of the French, Spanish, and
English rule over Mobile. The Mardi Gras Gallery displays lavish mantles
and gowns worn by former queens of Mardi Gras. The tour will also stop at
the Richards DAR House, one of Mobile's most attractive period homes, tea
and refreshments will be served."
DINING
You shouldn't have a problem with finding places to dine downtown on
Saturday. Included in your Welcome packet is a list of downtown restaurants
and a dining guide. On Sunday, however, the downtown area almost closes up.
Some restaurants are starting to open for lunch on Sundays, so your safest
bet is to go along Dauphin Street to find what is available.
For Sunday evening meals, the Admiral Semmes Hotel has an excellent
restaurant called Oliver's. Four blocks away is the Adam's Mark Hotel (64
S. Water St.), which has the Riverview Café & Grill. One block away is the
LaFayette Plaza Hotel and its restaurant is called LaFayette.
One of the few non-hotel restaurants open Sunday evening in the downtown
area is Wintzell's Oyster House (605 Dauphin St.), a Mobile landmark and a
truly interesting dining experience. Heroes Sports Bar & Grille (273
Dauphin St) may be open for Sunday dinner, depending on customer traffic.
If you are willing to take a taxi away from downtown Mobile, you will find a
lot more restaurants to choose from for Sunday evening. Some of those that
are not too far away include: Ruth's Chris Steak House (2058 Airport
Blvd.), Original Oyster House (1175 Battleship Pkwy on Mobile Bay), and The
Blue Gill (3775 Battleship Pkwy on Mobile Bay, closer to Spanish Fort).
There are also some fast food restaurants within walking distance. To the
west of the hotel on Government St there is: Burger King (5 blocks away),
McDonald's and Arby's (7 blocks away), and Popeye's Chicken (8 blocks away)
WORKSHOPS
There will be two educational workshops available during the conference.
There is no charge for the workshops, though transportation to and from the
workshops is up to the participants.
CENSUS BUREAU TRAINING SESSION. Tuesday, April 23rd, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm,
at Spring Hill College. Space is limited to 30 people, with sign-up at the
conference check-in. Emphasis will be on the American Fact Finder web site
and on GO2000 software used with the Census 2000 Summary Files on DVD.
GPO ACCESS TRAINING CLASS. Wednesday, April 24th, 9 am - 5 pm, with lunch
break, at the University of South Alabama. Space is limited to 12 people,
with sign-up at conference check-in. Emphasis will be on the various
components of GPO Access, including search strategies and methods of access.
It will also cover the regulatory and legislative databases.
If there is any other information you would like about local attractions,
such as art galleries, antique shops, churches, etc., just email your
request to me and I will try to find the information you need. I hope your
trip to Mobile is a pleasant one.
VICKI TATE
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Vicki L. Tate phone: 251-460-7024
Head, Documents/Serials fax: 251-461-1628
University Library depository: 007-B
University of South Alabama vtate@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
Mobile, AL 36688-0002 (that's jaguar one)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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