Pierre –Auguste Renoir Exhibit
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
February 14 – May 9,2010

Pierre – Auguste Renoir,(1841 – 1919) the French Impressionist painter known for his luminescent female nudes, was a towering figure in the art world along with other Impressionist greats such as Monet and Cezanne. This ticketed LACMA Renoir exhibit; February 14 – May 9, 2010 – illuminates Renoir’s later works as a postimpressionist whose influence on modern painters, such as Picasso, has received lesser discussion.

This exhibit, which opened this past fall at the Grand Palais, Paris, is the first to focus on the mature works of Renoir, in his last years. The exhibit moves on to the Philadelphia Museum of Art June 17. The show brings together about 80 of his paintings, drawings and sculptures from collections in Europe, the United States and Japan. In addition, works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisee, Aristide Maillol and Pierre Bonnard demonstrate Renoir’s often overlooked influence on their art. A startling echo can be seen in Picasso’s female figures after viewing Renoir’s nudes painted in his 20th century career.

Many years ago a friend and I took our seven young sons – ages 3 to 12 – to see a glorious Renoir exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. The huge canvases of beautiful early career nudes shown as though lighted from behind. On the way home in the proverbial stationwagon of that era I asked, of no one in particular, “Did you like the show?” “Yes,” came the immediate reply from the way way back. “We counted 47 nudes.”

Alas, this show would perhaps have disappointed. I counted less than fifteen nudes, which are different in their light reflective qualities from early works. Nonetheless, it is an exhibit for serious art students as well as casual observers. The curators of the exhibit wish to demonstrate how Renoir’s curiosity and determined art self-instruction influenced his late works.

According to the experts, in October, 1881,  Renoir decided, after finishing his  Luncheon of the Boating Party, one of the most famous and admired Impressionist paintings, to achieve his ambition to go to Italy. He planned to visit Venice, Rome, Florence and Naples to view the paintings of Raphael, Titian and other Renaissance masters. He did just that and was as awed as any ordinary tourist, except his titanic talent allowed him to utilize what he had absorbed in creating something different in his later paintings.

That something different did not always please his admirers. American Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt is said to have written to a friend that Renoir was painting pictures of “enormously fat red women with very small heads.”  Visitors today may see for themselves whether that critique holds true. The later nudes are characterized as “monumental” in describing the appearance of out-of-proportion lower limbs.

As Renoir aged he was ravaged by severe rheumatoid arthritis and moved to Cagnes, in the South of France, for the milder climate. Though unable to walk or even stand, with hands deformed by his disease, he nonetheless continued to explore his vision to create new perspectives of his art. He often used his three young sons and a nanny, Gabrielle, as his models. His later paintings includes the 1902 masterpiece, Reclining Nude ,which recalls Rubens and Raphael themes of idealized spring and fertility.

In 1913, Renoir is said to have stated he was about to reach the goal he’d set for himself with his trip to Italy 12 years before; “I’m starting to know how to paint.”

Perhaps this is the mark of genius when curiosity and ambition cannot be faded by age or infirmity. Renoir is said to have painted until his last days.

Not a bad life for an old man –using his talent to capture his vision of the naked model before him. Beauty such as he created does not age or wither…tastes may change and new perspectives open to works unappreciated previously. This exhibit encourages modern viewers to learn and enjoy the enduring creativity of a great painter.

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Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90036
Tickets – $20; admission $12 –under 17 years free, seniors, $8
Free second Tuesday of each month;Target Free Holiday Mondays. After 5 p.m.
daily “pay what you wish” program.
Hours – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, noon-8 p.m.; Friday, noon-9 p.m.
Closed Wednesdays.
1-323-857-6000
www.lacma.org

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Angela Rocco DeCarlo, copyright, 2010

While it doesn’t look like a scene from an old Marx Brothers movie anymore, a day at the races is still a fun enterprise, whether you know the score or not. Recently a group of school chums from Chicago wanted to try their luck. We spent a pleasurable few hours in the grandstands trying to figure out betting techniques, while discussing long-ago prom dates. Some were more successful than others in both the racing results and prom picks. Nothing to be done about the long-past prom, but it may be worthwhile to attend the free classes offered at the track for some assistance.

Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California, is approximately 14 miles Northwest of downtown Los Angeles, and about an hour from Orange County (location of Disneyland) and is noted for its picturesque mountain view setting. The current racing schedule runs from Wednesdays through Sundays with varied times for the first race. It’s best to check the day you want to go for the starting times. The first race can be noon, 12:30 or 1:00 p.m.

Good to know: on Thursdays seniors are admitted for free and on Fridays everyone is admitted for free – general admission – with the added incentives of $1 hot dogs, beer, soda, popcorn and coffee. There is a fee for parking.

The Park is a beauty and there’s plenty to see and do besides the actual races. The free Seabiscuit Tram Tour, which I took some years ago, was fascinating. It starts early – 8:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. – but is worth the effort. Reservations are required: (626) 574-6677. Tram pick up is at Clocker’s Corner and takes visitors to the stable area, receiving barn and paddock gardens. There’s a look at what is said to be racehorse Seabiscuit’s original stall and barn, and some areas used during the filming of the movie, Seabiscuit. I found the look inside the jockey’s room and silks room fascinating as “backstage” insights are always revealing. Locker rooms for any sport are utilitarian places giving a view of the working world of the athletes, not always a glamorous place.

For those who want to have a leg up on how the racetrack betting operates there are some free classes. On the day I recently visited there was “Beginners’ Seminar” at noon. The class was a 45-minute presentation covering the basics of using the facilities of the park. The class took place at the East Paddock Gardens. Weather permitting the class takes place every race day at Santa Anita.

Jim Guinn’s “Simple Techniques” classes are held every Sunday in the Baldwin Terrace from11:30 a.m. until the feature race of the day. The program includes early speed, current form, Beyer speed pars & Beyer figures, late speed on the grass, and much more. Extensive materials and free track programs are provided.Sessions are free.

“Big ‘CapDay” is Saturday, March 6, celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the race track. All fans, with paid admission, while supplies last, will receive a free 75th anniversary wall clock. There is a $500,000 guaranteed pick 4, which is billed as the payoff of a lifetime.

Santa Anita Park is a pretty place – good for reminiscing or dreaming of creating tomorrow’s fortune…good luck.

Santa Anita Park
285 W. Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA91007
http://www.oaktreeracing.com/
http://www.santaanita.com/

Angela Rocco DeCarlo, copyright, 2010

There’s something about Miami. It welcomes you by not making too much of a fuss about you. “Oh, so there you are,” it seems to say. “Great. Dale, Chico. Te veo después y nos tomamos un café.” And you know, it’s happy to see you.

My favorite spot to welcome the day in all of Miami is not anywhere near the infamous SoBe of the tanned and gorgeous. It’s not on a boat gliding past tall downtown buildings on bayside waters.  It’s sitting on the sidewalk facing the huge, colorful, exhuberant sculpture at the entryway of the otherwise unremarkable Dadeland Metrorail Station in  South Miami.

It´s fittingly called “Welcome”and stands amid the light gray concrete on mornings when my own bed wants nothing to do with me and, as my mother would say, “el que me fume, pierde el vicio.”

And here´s the trick: you sit on the sidewalk in front of it with your newspaper and your strong, sugary, Cuban coffee… you look at it for awhile… and pretty soon you start to feel happy and… god forbid… optimistic. By then you’ll look a little crazy to couples walking by with their strollers or their dogs, so taking a few pictures of the pure, innocent, joyous embrace it offers won’t make much of a difference.  (I recommend polaroids because you´ll want to touch your production inmediately. Don’t make it too precious. You’ll be back.)

Its creator, Romero Britto, has long been an outcast of the traditional art world. (“He’s too commercial.”) He’s also an outcast of the outcasts who say there’s no depth to his work. I wouldn’t know, and I confess to being unmoved by the hanging pictures in his gallery space. But his sculptures…these big gifts of happy for open spaces, sum up for me what he’s often quoted as saying:  “For me, art can reflect the celebration of the simple and good things in life. This is most important to me!“  Just like Miami.

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Anjanette Delgado is an Emmy award-winning writer and multimedia producer with over eighteen years of experience in broadcast, cable, print and Internet environments, both nationally and internationally. Her book “The Heartbreak Pill” is out in stores and she is hard at work on her second novel “The Calle Ocho Clairvoyant.” Anjanette lives in Miami, Florida, and her very favorite quote is “When you’re going through hell, keep going,” by Winston Churchill.

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You are pregnant…congratulations!  Like all moms, I’m sure you want to do everything possible to make sure that your baby is healthy, and going green during your pregnancy is a great way to ensure this.  Here are 6 green living tips that will make a big difference in your life and your pregnancy.  As of the writing of this article, I myself am almost 5-months pregnant and I feel great.  Hopefully my tips will help you feel great too and help ensure that your baby is as healthy and happy as possible!

1. Eat green! You should be eating green both literally and figuratively.  Get as many organic, whole foods into your diet as possible (whole foods mean foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.)  Try and cut out any calories that are not filled with nutrients as they will not nourish the baby but WILL lead to excess weight gain.  Eating healthy is probably the single most important thing you can do for your baby while you are pregnant.[1] It’s also supposed to be helpful in mitigating some of the “symptoms” of pregnancy.  From my own personal experience (again, I’m just a sample of one), I have had no issues with nausea or cravings, no “pregnancy constipation” (which is caused by our digestion slowing down to squeeze the most nutrients out of our food) and my weight gain has been slow and steady.  Also, when it comes to eating green you should literally be eating green foods.  Folic acid, which is very important for avoiding certain birth defects, is easily found in most green vegetables.[2] I can tell you from personal experience, I’m a mostly-raw vegetarian, and when I had my blood tested my folic acid was very high.  In fact, all of my blood results were very good except for Vitamin D, which brings me to point #2.
2. Check your Vitamin D. When you first get pregnant your doctor will do a blood work-up on you.  Be sure to ask her if your work-up includes a test for Vitamin D also known as “the sunshine vitamin.”  The studies on Vitamin D deficiency are pretty new (about 3-years old) but compelling and especially important for a developing baby.  Vitamin D is actually more of a hormone than a vitamin and its deficiency has been linked to osteoporosis, depression, heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, parathyroid problems, immune function and even weight loss.[3] Even though I live in sunny Los Angeles and walk my dog for 20-minutes every day, my Vitamin D test came back severely deficient.  There is talk about raising the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D, but one thing to keep in mind is that if you are dark-skinned, as I am, than you need even more sunshine since the melanin in our skin blocks the UVB rays that synthesize Vitamin D from sunlight.  There are also Vitamin D supplements that you can take orally as well.  Honestly, EVERYONE should be tested for Vitamin D deficiency.  You’ll probably be hearing more and more about this as doctors are just now starting to realize how important Vitamin D is for our bodies.  After giving me my test results my doctor had himself tested and was shocked at how low his own Vitamin D was. 
3. Forget registering for your baby shower…get hand-me-downs! Kids grow quickly, in fact; they grow so quickly that many of the products they used can be passed down to many other children.  My goal is to not buy anything new except for whatever fabrics or paints I may need for the baby’s room and maybe the occasional “special event” outfit (those holiday clothes are super cute!)  As soon as my husband and I decided to get pregnant we started spreading the word that we would take any hand-me-downs that were 1) not subject to recalls, 2) in good condition and 3) made out of natural materials (except for car seats and strollers.)  So far we have gotten 2 cribs (one is for my parent’s house who live very near by), an organic crib mattress, lots of cotton bedding, a solid wood rocking horse, a solid wood high chair, a solid wood rocking chair, a glider, 3 car seats, 2 strollers, lots of books and a changing table.  We haven’t received any clothes yet because we don’t know the sex of the baby, but there is lots of that on the way too.  Ask and you shall receive, it’s amazing!
4. Use green paints in the baby’s room. Most people end up painting their baby’s room.  If you do, be sure to look for paints that are “no-VOC” or even all natural paints like Old Fashioned Milk Paint, made with lime and milk protein.  These paints will not “off-gas” into the baby’s room creating a better breathing environment for your child.  This is especially important for newborns since their lungs are the last thing to develop and will continue to grow as they grow[4].  AFM Safecoat and Yolo Colorhouse and excellent no-VOC paints that cost approximately $50/a gallon which is the same as other “high-end” paints.
5. Eliminate chemicals from your life. One of the most dangerous places in most homes is that cabinet under the kitchen sink with all the cleaning products.  Make an effort to eliminate chemicals as much as possible from your life.  Switch to earth and people friendly cleaners like baking soda and white vinegar or to brands such as Bi-o-kleen, Bon Ami and Begley’s Best to name a few.  I try to buy locally so most of the brands I mention are West Coast based.  If you are on the East Coast then Seventh Generation is an excellent resource for you.  If a product smells toxic to you, it probably is toxic, and you might as well get rid of this stuff before the baby is born!  Products to definitely get rid of include anything with heavy perfumes (often these masks dangerous chemicals like as phthalates), and anything with chlorine and ammonia in them.  Also, be sure to switch to safer insecticides and pesticides such as boric acid and neem oil for around your house and in your garden.
6. Exercise. Exercise is great for building and maintaining muscle tone and stamina, for helping to moderate pregnancy weight gain and for helping to improve your mood among other things.[5] It can also help with constipation brought on by pregnancy![6] Regular exercise, along with a good diet, is said to help with many of the “symptoms” of early pregnancy, and from my own experience, except for occasional fatigue I have had NO pregnancy symptoms.  Now, if you weren’t a marathoner before your pregnancy, now is definitely not the time to start training for one, but getting regular movement is very important for your pregnancy. Maintaining your stamina is especially important if you are going to go for natural child birth (which I am and will be sure to write about when it happens) since labor can be a very tiring experience and you want to be sure you have reserves of strength so that when your midwife or doctor says “you can start pushing” you still have the energy to push.  Walking is a great, low-impact exercise.  My midwife advised me to get up to 3-miles a day (about an hour of vigorous walking) if I could.  At this point in my pregnancy I have been able to maintain my pre-pregnancy exercise regimen of yoga, weights, walking and elliptical training with no modifications.

Remember, every person and every pregnancy is different, so be sure to consult your medical professional before making changes to your diet and/or exercise regimes.  The information in this article should not be taken as medical advice.

Alegre Ramos is a LEED AP interior designer and green living expert based in the San Fernando Valley.  Her store, Green and Greener, is located in Valley Village and online at http://green-and-greener.com.  Stay up to date on important green info by signing-up for her Twitter feed http://twitter.com/greenandgreener.  Copyright Green and Greener 2010.  All rights reserved.

[2] http://vitamins.lovetoknow.com/Foods_High_in_Folic_Acid

[3] http://www.womentowomen.com/healthynutrition/vitamind.aspx

[4] http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/bpd.html#

[5] http://www.babycenter.com/0_seven-great-benefits-of-pregnancy-exercise_7864.bc

[6] http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/fitness/pregnancy-exercise/?page=2

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo

Visitors from around the world plan holiday travel with Orange County, Southern California in mind. While wonderful attractions, parades and merriment at Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm are major draws to the area, there is a large and loyal audience for the inspirational Broadway-quality production “Glory of Christmas,” at the Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA.

There is still time to enjoy “Glory,” as performances continue through January 3, 2010.  Audiences return year after year, and this season, on the show’s 29th anniversary, children are still mesmerized by the spectacle of  Roman centurions on horseback, splendidly robed Wise Men on camels, and townspeople with their wealth of livestock. Mary rides on a little gray donkey to Bethlehem, with Joseph at her side, where a sympathetic innkeeper finds a place for them. The theme parks make merry, but it is the unique “Glory” nativity full-scale musical production which tells the story of Christmas.

It is a simple story. Yet, this well-produced little “opera,” with over 150 performers, and 350 volunteers working in various capacities, brings the nativity alive through dance, singing and recorded music by the London Symphony Orchestra, complimented by the Crystal Cathedral’s world-renowned pipe organ.  There are six horses, three adult camels, one baby camel, goats, sheep, donkey and a miniature donkey. Many talented singers and dancers enliven the story in showcase musical scenes. After the performance ends the Wise Men and other cast members are available outside the auditorium to greet visitors or pose for photographs. This year, Miss California (Miss America) Kristy Cavinder, returns to the production for her seventh year, finally as prima ballerina. “I’ve been dreaming of this dancing role since I was five years old,” says Cavinder.

The show includes lovely ballet numbers, solo singing roles by children and adults, as well as choral music. Many familiar Christmas carols blend into the story seamlessly. There’s not an opera scene to compare to hearing “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” as seven “real” angels soar through the air above the heads of believing children and adults. This is the entertainment that captures the true spirit of Christmas.

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Crystal Cathedral
12141 Lewis St.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Ticket information: 1-877-544-5679, 714-54-GLORY
www.crystalcathedral.org
Discount performances: $20; Dec.18, Jan. 2 & 3
Other performances $35 -$45. Seniors and children 12 &
younger receive a $2 discount, except on discount nights.
December 18th, 2009-January 3rd, 2010

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Angela Rocco DeCarlo, copyright, 2009

Chicago – like any great city – has to be enjoyed in small bites. I recently revisited my former hometown, where you can sample at one time only a small slice of the great confection that is this beautiful lakeside city. However, there are attractions that are unique or stunningly significant that should be on any traveler’s short list. This is a sort of “Best of”…Some favorite things include: tour of the magnificent Lake Michigan waterfront museum campus of parks; Art Institute’s Impressionist paintings and Thorne Miniature Rooms; Cultural Center’s magnificent Tiffany Dome ceiling, largest in world; Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex, Field Museum of Natural History; Museum of Science and Industry, 1893 Colombian Exposition building; Lincoln memorabilia/death bed, Chicago History Museum; Chicago’s 38 bascule (meaning see-saw) bridges, including Michigan Avenue Bridge Museum; Sears Tower (tallest building in Western Hemisphere) and Hancock Center observatories; and Chicago Water Tower on Michigan Avenue, a remnant of the Great Chicago Fire, 1871.Yes, I know Sears Tower has been renamed, as has Marshall Field’s, but Chicagoan are loath to let go, hence the names Sears and Marshall Fields reverberate.

On my recent trip, my plan was to sample two Marriott properties, one in the suburbs, Residence Inn Chicago Oak Brook and one on Michigan Avenue, Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile, do the Chicago museums, have tea in a fabulous location, such as the Peninsula Hotel, gorge on Chicago’s uniquely delicious deep dish pizza and see the Softball Hall of Fame, Forest Park and Italian Cultural Center, Stone Park. I’ll deal with the suburban attractions in a separate article.

With Chicago a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to see it all. A taste of Chicago could include many other attractions such as Wrigley Field and the Cubs; Lyric Opera House; El train ride; Buckingham Fountain; Navy Pier; Architectural boat and lake cruises; Tribune Tower visit; deep dish pizza at Pizzeria Uno or Due or Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. The best way to peruse the vast panoply of Chicago delights is to access the tourism information at www.cityofchicago/tourism; phone 312-567-8500.Or www.explorechicago.org/tourism. For now we’ll go with llama-like leaps among some favorites everyone should know about.

First off, if you plan to pack up and leave soon, include plenty of warm clothing, boots and heavy coat. You can Ice skate downtown and enjoy waterscapes along Lake Michigan’s shoreline that are breathtaking, but you need proper clothing. So don’t let the weather keep you home; Chicago knows how to handle cold and snowy weather. Life goes on – excitingly.

It’s too bad Chicago wasn’t lucky enough to be founded by the Romans, as were London, Paris, Cologne and a long list of other European cities. Then it might have had instant world-class recognition instead of having to scramble to introduce itself. But then London (Londinium) is 2,000 years old and the city of Chicago not even 200 years – it was christened as a city in 1837, was destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire, 1871, and was almost instantly rebuilt with echoes of the urban Parisian parks and boulevards of that era. Astonishingly, it opened the Art Institute of Chicago in 1889, just eight years after cleaning up the ashes.

At that time, the city was fortunate in its wealthier citizens and architects, such as architect and city planner Daniel Burnham, who determined to make the city as beautiful, elegant, and cultural as any European city. Burnham ensured the lakefront remain open park space. However, when developers sought to foil Burnham’s grand design, retail tycoon Montgomery Ward sued and won the protection of Chicago’s Lakefront. People like this, who loved Chicago, kept it beautiful for future generations.

The tycoons of the era, such as Marshall Field, Potter Palmer and others, had enormous civic pride and gave generously to establish Chicago’s great cultural institutions. Bertha Honore Palmer, wife of millionaire businessman Potter Palmer, (Palmer House Hotel) was an intelligent and avid Impressionist painting collector, under the guidance of American painter Mary Cassatt, who was part of the artist Impressionist cohort of the era. Palmer amassed a large collection of the best of the time. A fascinating Palmer exhibit at the Chicago History Museum includes gorgeous gowns, jewels and other artifacts, along with biographical details of Palmer’s life. It is said she traveled with her favorite Impressionist painting, Renoir’s “Acrobats at the Cirque Fernando,” which keeps company with “On the Terrace” at the AI. Mrs. Palmer’s Impressionist bequest in 1922 and the 1926 donation by Helen Birch Bartlett ensured the Art Institute of Chicago as the preeminent Impressionist collection.

The Impressionist collection at the Paris Musee d’Orsey, situated in a former train station – love those ginormous clocks – has the reputation, perhaps because of its location, but most agree it is Chicago’s collection that shines.

Chicago’s Impressionists includes Renoir’s “On the Terrace”, Monet’s “Hay Stacks”, El Greco’s “Assumption of the Virgin”, Seurat’s “Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte,” Gustave Caillebotte’s “ Paris Street, Rainy Day,” Grant Wood’s “American Gothic,” as well as works by Mary Cassatt, Van Gogh, Degas, Monet, and so many more.

Imagine – 2,000 acres of the city’s core burned in 1871, and eight years later there’s an art museum amid the new buildings. The city’s energy enabled it to host the 1893 World’s Colombian Exposition with its magical “White City.” The Fine Arts Building survives today as the Museum of Science and Industry, with its superb colonnade of caryatids (female support columns). It’s working coalmine and German submarine are major attractions.

Chicago spreads out in three directions – with Lake Michigan on the east. Therefore, to easily reach favorites, I selected the Marriott on Michigan Avenue for its convenience, luxury and excellent service. Settling into the newly transformed Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile, 540 N. Michigan Ave., 312-245-4728, ChicagoMarriottDowntown.com, was easy. With this hotel you are near a huge array of restaurants, shopping, museums, attractions, summer boat rides and foot-cruising the Magnificent Mile Michigan Avenue with its world-class retail shops.

The hotel has recently been beautifully redone and features a lobby Great Room, which brings to mind the “Wizard of Oz.” Perhaps the designers took their cue from Chicagoan L. Frank Baum’s famous “Wizard of Oz” books, the first published in 1900. The classic movie came out in 1939, forging indelible images in Americans’ minds of tornados, Dorothy Gale and her three charming friends. The Marriott’s Great Room lobby features a gigantic architectural column, which for the entire world looks like a tornado funnel cloud. The horseshoe bar curves around it – visually riveting. The bank of TVs and beer taps equals after-hours relaxing.

I loved the bed in the comfortable guestroom. Wondering if I could buy one like it, I learned the beds are for sale on the hotel’s website. Though large – 1,173 rooms, including suites – the hotel’s service is boutique-style. The staff took pains to banish feathers from this allergy sufferer’s room: A health-saving service. There are all amenities one desires – location, fitness center, pool and steam room.

The auto entrance is at the back on Rush St., both valet and self-park are available for slightly under $50 per day. Room rates depend on season and dates, so best to contact the hotel directly for the best rates. Phone: 312-245-4728; ChicagoMarriottDowntown.com.

After settling into the Marriott we took a $5 short cab ride to see “my” Impressionist collection and Thorne Miniature Rooms at the Art Institute. Alas, Renoir’s “On the Terrace” has been moved; I liked it in the center of the left wall – it anchored that gallery perfectly. After searching I learned the Wedgwood Portland Vase, a copy of a magnificent 2,000year old Roman glass vase (Roman original, British Museum) was not currently on display. As this is a great favorite I missed seeing it. But the museum has more than a quarter million objects, not everything can be on display.

If time is limited it’s best to take a bus tour to get a taste of the city’s charm as you glide around the beautiful lakefront – unique for an American industrial city – and take a peek at its new Millennium Park and other major cultural attractions. Be sure to make note of the entrance to Grant Park, at Congress Plaza Gardens, for the two magnificent Ivan Mestrovic 1928 bronze equestrian statues of Native Americans – the Bowman and the Spearman. Though not specified, the warriors’ obvious superb horsemanship and imposing power suggest they may represent the great horsemen of the plains, the Cheyenne. The sculptor purposely did not include the weapons – leaving that to the viewers’ imagination.

After a tour of the Thorne Rooms, splendidly recreated miniature period rooms that feature setting from the 9th century to 1930s, exquisitely furnished with authentic materials of exotic woods, stained glass, silver, gold, stone, terrazzo, Wedgwood plaques, and sculptures, we headed to the Peninsula Hotel for afternoon tea. There’s something soul-satisfying in such a day. The Thorne Rooms, 68 finely tuned replica room settings commissioned by Mrs. James Ward Thorne between 1932 and 1940 are favorites of adults and children alike. My then-three year old granddaughter, Michelle, when viewing them for the first time, uttered an awed “They’re so cute.” Don’t miss them.

So much beauty over-awes and afternoon tea is just the thing to revive the soul. So after the art we cabbed it to the splendid Peninsula Hotel, off Michigan Avenue at Superior. Afternoon tea is something I enjoy in every city visited. All are distinctive, but share a predictability that is relaxing and soothing. Everything is bite-sized, no cutting required and everything is slightly sweet. In fact, this is my favorite meal – well, maybe Chicago pizza ties the score. In any case, afternoon tea usually has three courses: scones, pastries and sandwiches, along with the tea, of course.

The Peninsula boosts a gorgeous space called The Lobby, with Murano glass chandeliers, custom carpets and octagonal-backed padded armchairs. The impression is of sun-kissed splendor even on a rainy day. Murano glass has a long history, from the 9th century to the present. The manufacturing center is located near Venice, Italy, on a tiny island in the Adriatic Sea. The Peninsula’s ceiling fixtures are delicate cascading droplets of sparkling light that draws the eye in a room full of beautiful accouterments.

The table is set with Wedgwood china set on cream-colored linen placemats. Two string musicians on an upper balcony serenade the guests below. My anticipation was well rewarded when the small chocolate chip scones arrived with cream and strawberry preserves; the combination is scrumptious. Green tea was served in a small plain white pot, along with sealed envelopes of sweeteners– so long to the darling sugar cubes long associated with tea service.

All the food is brought to the table at once on a three-tired silver server. Among the delectable treats were the scones, chocolate mini-cupcakes; pink macaroon cookies and perfect chicken salad sandwiches. However, guests need not order the entire tea service.

“My wife and I always celebrate our birthdays at tea, “ says guest, Dr. Michael Mercer, an industrial psychologist and author of several books, including “Hire the Best – Avoid the Rest.” He and his wife, Mary, admitted to sampling tea service in all the fine Chicago hotels.

“We like the Peninsula best because we can order only what we like,” he continued. “Mary likes scones and finger sandwiches, but not pastries. I don’t care for the finger sandwiches. So we order a la carte and each is happy. And we love the charming, very airy and open feel of the room. And the music is wonderful.”

They were the kind of people one thinks might be on their way to the Lyric Opera to catch Puccini’s “Tosca.” The Lyric lists 77 performances for the 2009-2010 season, with “Tosca” playing again in January 2010. If it’s the Zefferelli production I’m tempted to fly back for a matinee, if only to erase the memory of the Metropolitan Opera’s recent screwy “Tosca” production. The 1927-’29 Civic Opera House is a beautiful auditorium that enhances the stage experience. Many modern facilities resemble padded shoeboxes with no place of beauty to rest the eye.

There were some shoppers at tea, not surprising, as the Peninsula is convenient to Water Tower Place and other premier Chicago retail centers. If weather permits, a stroll the length of Michigan Avenue from the river north to the Drake Hotel, is worth the shoe-leather: the Michigan Avenue bridge, Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building, new Trump building, American Girl Place, Marina Towers and upscale retailers line the boulevard. Anyone with a little girl will relish AG Place – a virtual harem of girlie-ness. As the mother of three sons, I found it rather exotic and somewhat bewildering, especially the beauty salon for dolls. Nonetheless, it was the realization of my heartfelt dream to surprise my granddaughter with an American Girl look-alike doll of green eyes and auburn hair. Adorable.

It is impossible to be in Chicago and not eat deep-dish pizza. My husband and I have been diners of the originals since our dating years as teens. Lou Malnati’s, a descendent of the original Pizzeria Uno and Due (Italian; one and two) is a favorite. We usually load up on a dozen frozen Malnati pizzas in a special bag, which was forgotten. Result: no Chicago pizza in California, truly a sorry state.

In any case, there are dozens of Malnati outlets all over Chicago and one on Wells St. However, the night we wanted pizza we were walking and it was raining so we landed in Pizzeria Due on Rush. It’s the place we went to as college-age kids. The pizza was nearly as we remember it.

It’s nice to be able to go back “home.” Especially when the city is Chicago.

Angela Rocco DeCarlo, copyright 2009

Angela Rocco DeCarlo, former Chicago journalist, covers travel, entertainment, and culture for www.travelingdiva.com, www.angelaroccodecarlo.blogspot.com, and www.heralddeparis.com. She lives in exile in Southern California.

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo ©2009 -

They’re back!

Sadly, there was no train exhibit last year at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA, and plenty of train enthusiasts were disappointed, especially those who had enjoyed the trains the previous two years. But this year the train exhibits have returned, bigger and better, thanks to the dedication of various model train clubs, including the Southern California LEGO© Train Club and Train Collector’s Association and Empire Railway Museum, Perris, California. This is a “must-see” holiday event for the entire family: A tradition to treasure.

It’s hard to tell who is more thrilled by the 1,500 feet of track, 13” tall multi-layered landscapes with 14 trains running on six tracks – adults remembering their own toy trains as children or the children they have with them, experiencing the romance of trains as their fathers and grandfathers once did. The exhilarating displays call for repeat visits to fully appreciate the charm of the two rooms of trains. The entrance lobby is taken up with a ginormous LEGO© landscape, while the traditional mountain of trains keeps company with the George Washington “Crossing the Delaware” painting in a separate room.

The LEGO© cityscape is spectacular, with skyscrapers, heliports, street cafes, miniature vehicles of all kinds, including, of course, moving trains. There is a 20 foot-long suspension bridge and a 15 foot-long cable-stayed bridge and two others. There’s even a little pirate’s cove hidden beyond “civilization.” It is difficult for the eye to accommodate the fabulously diverse features, so the museum made a little game to help the children along.  Two whiteboards list items for viewers to find. The day we were there, the items viewers were encouraged to locate were: Superman; four American flags (hint: look for Superman at one of the flags); sea monster (look under a bridge); five helicopters, two pizza trucks and much more. It was not an easy task – but made the experience more challenging. Older kids especially liked circling around to find as many of the designated pieces as possible.

The second display room, in addition to the mountain of trains, had an 8’ x 8’ glass-enclosed, button-operated inter-active game. The children could push a button to make the helicopter fly, the RR gate go up, the conductor emerge from the station and other actions. Wonderful vintage videos of the opening of Disneyland, 1955, played on, with then-Vice President Richard Nixon and family cutting the ribbon to start the Disneyland Monorail train and having a tough time doing it. Walt Disney had to rip it apart with lots of laughs all ‘round.

In this room the huge mountain of six levels of moving trains – all different sizes, tiniest at the top, largest on bottom – was enchanting. The landscape was dressed for autumn on two sides with a beautiful winter scene of a snow-dappled village, complete with an infinitesimal flying Santa sleigh at the top, on the other side. The children never tired of going round and round to marvel at the trains rushing through tunnels and over bridges, finding something new with each look. They have asked to go back again.

When you go, be sure to inspect the various cases along the walls, which contain marvelous Lionel trains – invented in 1901 by Joshua Lionel Cowan. Initially, the animated trains were used to attract window shoppers in New York City. Each year the Lionel Company produces 300 miles of track and has built 50 million train sets.

Each year my own Christmas fireplace tableaux features a Lionel engine from one of these trains – a last remnant of a post-WII Lionel train set. The set belonged to my husband, Dan, when he was a boy, but the rest of the set – tracks and trains– were flooded out in the basement of our suburban Chicago home years ago. Only the treasured heavy black metal engine remains.
In his memoirs, Richard Nixon wrote: “All through grade school my ambition was to become a railroad engineer.” His father, Frank, who built the family home, which is located at the Museum, had been a street-car motorman in Columbus, Ohio, before the family relocated to California.

Today, with our ability to fly across the country in the time it would have taken Nixon’s father to travel by horse and wagon from Whittier to Anaheim, the romance and wonder of the adventure trains once represented is hard to imagine. This exhibit rekindles that amazement of travel and trains and the longing to explore, which is engendered by powerful trains cutting through the countryside.

Don’t miss the full-size steam engine, “Chloe,” a sugar plantation engine, displayed next to the presidential helicopter (go inside the helicopter for extra fun) east of the Nixon home at the edge of the library property. On your way to the helicopter take a peek in the windows of the White House East Room replica with its glorious crystal chandeliers and oil paintings.

Something of the horse and wagon remains in modern trains and their tracks. It is said the width of the early train track – 56.5” wide – replicates the width of two horses and the wagons they pulled. Going farther back, there were roads of wood rails in Germany in 1550, which had horse-drawn wagons hauling freight and people. The iron rails and wheels arrived about 1776 and by 1789 a flange was added to allow the wheel to gripe the rail. Once the steam engine appeared – 1803 – in Wales, the world was changed forever. Various inventors are credited with the steam engine, among them James Watt, but there are others.

Of course, everything goes back to the Romans and train track widths are no exception. The width of modern train tracks are approximately the width of ancient Roman chariots’ wheels.  The engineer of the Knott’s Berry Farm full-sized steam engine first shared this with me. Further research indicated he was on the mark and the Romans can take another bow for their contributions to Western culture.

The Romans were in England 54 B.C. and didn’t leave until about 425 A.D. They left their beautiful roads, walls and centrally heated villas with hot running water to go defend the Empire elsewhere. It would be more than 1000 years before an Englishman would again have a hot bath in a warm house – and longer than that for fast transportation. They didn’t call it the Dark Ages for nothing. Technology and trains threw a bright beam of enlightenment across the land.

“A Holiday Festival of Trains,” Nixon Museum, runs until Jan 10, 2010.
Nixon Presidential Library & Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd
Yorba Linda, CA92886
714-993-5075 – www.nixonlibrary.org
Admission: adults, $9.95; seniors $6.95; children 7-11 $3.75; children 6 and younger are admitted without charge.
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.

San Diego, like Shakespeare’s Cleopatra, “…age cannot wither nor custom stale her infinite variety…” enjoys a glamorous reputation.  The Southern California city,  is a sparkling jewel set about with water and dotted with lovely hotels, fabulously fun entertainments, and historical sites such as SeaWorld, San Diego Wild Animal Park, San Diego Zoo, architecturally adventurous Balboa Park with its many museums, the USS Midway,  and the first of the 21 California missions, Mission San Diego de Alcala, established by Franciscan Friars in the 18th century for the Spanish crown.

It is true to say that  no matter how many times one visits San Diego there is always more to see and relish. Having written about San Diego for decades it is refreshing to know there is always something left unexplored to which one can look forward.  Though summer is past, fall offers continuing warm weather, with fewer tourists, online discount coupons and lower hotel rates.

There are many special events to entice visitors: Fleet Week San Diego, actually runs into mid-October with many events, including US Navy ship tours; Miramar Air Show, Oct. 2, 3 and 4;  SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular; Little Italy Festa, Oct. 11 and SD Wine & Food Festival, Nov. 18-22.  Admission to SD Zoo and SD Wild Animal Park is free for children ages 3-11 in October. The Da Vinci Experience (to Nov. 1)  at the SD Air & Space Museum features over 30 full-sized and interactive replica Da Vinci machines along with reproductions of 12 of  Da Vinci’s most famous paintings. It’s best to consult the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, one of the best such sources,  for complete information on the vast array of attractions: www.sandiego.org or call 619-236-1212.

Recently we treated two of our grandchildren, Michelle, 11 and Andrew, 9,  to a few days in sunny San Diego in order for me to be introduced to the killer whale, Shamu – a celebrity nearly as famous as the late Michael Jackson. Alas, we had missed him on previous visits to see artist Edgar Degas’ Little Ballerina sculpture, the Pompeii exhibit,  the SD Zoo pandas, the Wild Animal Park giraffes, the USS Midway and the mission San Diego de Alcala. I was intrigued to see this world renowned performer. As I consider myself to be something of a “non-fish” person– yes, I know Shamu is not a fish, but our cousin mammal – I was not anticipating what happened to me at SeaWorld. While there are a wide variety of animals such as polar bears, penguins, walruses, dolphins, sharks, fish, whales, etc., at SeaWorld I wanted to see Shamu.

San Diego  SeaWorld is an easy drive from our homes in Orange County, CA, and to cut down on driving even more we selected hotel accommodations ten minutes from Shamu’s place…we didn’t want to waste a moment. So after settling into the lovely Paradise Point Resort & Spa on Mission Bay, www.paradisepoint.com,  a 44-acre charmer with lavish tropical gardens, five pools, bike trails, marina and an 18-hole putting green (Andrew’s favorite), we dashed over to see Shamu.

It was love at first sight.

Much to my surprise – and not a little embarrassment – I became emotionally enthralled as Shamu began to perform. Silly to say, but I felt as I did the first time I’d seen Frank Sinatra in person and immediately understood his half century successful career. I felt he was singing especially for me. And Shamu – with apologies to Frank – was nearly as enticing. Shamu seemed to be smiling at me as he slid up from the water in a marine salute to the audience.  My emotional response accelerated and produced a near-Stendhal syndrome experience. I’d heard about the Stendhal or Florence syndrome after being dazzled by the art at the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy. Apparently, it is a recognized phenomenon in Italy. A highly emotional response consisting of a mixture of awe, wonder, delight in great art or natural beauty which can  produce, among other things,  dizziness, fainting or weeping.

How else to explain that Shamu, in his own way, was nearly as awesome, in the correct sense of that over-used word, as a Florentine art treasure. It seemed to me Shamu is one of the wonders of the world.

Shamu is sleekly black and white, spectacularly beautiful, agile and talented – and yes, he certainly has personal charm. It was the Sinatra effect all over again. This glorious creature graciously enacted improbably daring – they looked that way –skills just for me. Well, OK, for the entire audience.

The show is artfully conceived and Shamu is presented in a creative narrative in an aquatic theater overseen by highly talented trainers and performers. And like the Stendhal response I nearly wept with the beauty of what I was seeing. Even now, I’m not sure why I responded so emotionally to what is, after all, only an animal act. I can only say the Shamu (actually there are several killer whales that enact the role) I saw perform has “it” – that indefinable quality that grabs an audience and leaves an indelible impression.

We also saw the dolphin show, which was wonderful. The dolphins are trained to swim around the perimeter of the water tank while flipping water at guests – who love it!  It was fun, but I did not fall in love with any of the performers, same with the dog show. Cute pooches doing cute things, but no love affair developed.  The Wild Animal Park denizens were lovely to see, especially the giraffes that come up close to the guest tram to nibble one of the few trees – maybe they it would be good to plant more trees in the animal area. Anyway, again, no bells ringing. Yet, I’m willing to bet that each visitor will have his or her unique experience in response to the splendid variety of experiences within San Diego. No doubt someone has fallen in love with the giraffes or dolphins, as I did with Shamu. This is a city which offers so many entertainments return visits are necessary.

With fall there are more special promotional discounts on parks and accommodations.The best strategy is to first check the San Diego Visitors & Convention Bureau, then the individual attractions you wish to see. Leave time for unexpected delights that will certainly turn up. One should check online for discount coupons for SeaWorld and other attractions, as well as hotel rates, vacations packages  and operating hours for various attractions. Request any available informational booklets, brochures, coupons, etc., be mailed  to you. Once you go, you’ll know and will return again & again.

Before you go:

SeaWorld – www.seaworld.com,  and www.seaworldsandiego.com,
1-800-25-SHAMU.

San Diego Convention &Visitors Bureau – www.sandiego.org,
1-619-236-1212.

Paradise Point Resort & Spa – www.paradisepoint.com,
1-858-274-4630.

THE CASTLE ESTATE
Joanne DiBernardo
The Castle Estate
35250 Loma Ventoso Lane
Temecula, California 92592
(951) 699-3940
joanne@thecastlebandb.com
www.thecastlebandb.com

DELYTE’S FINE FOODS
Leah D. Di Bernardo
Exec. Chef – The Castle Estate…   southern california wine country
Local, Organic & Seasonal Foods Catered
(323) 376-1799 C.
(951) 694-3663 (food) O.
www.delytes.com

PR and Media Relations
Regina Marston (regina@ideationunlimited.com)