Maxxi ~ Thoroughly Modern Rome

MAXXI 

National Museum of 21st Century Art

Designed by Zaha Hadid

This museum opened only weeks after my previous trip to Rome! It's Italy's first national museum of contemporary art and architecture. I vowed to go back and see it, just to experience the unique and fantastical modern architecture.

The museum was awarded Royal Institute of British Architects 2010 Stirling Prize for architecture. 

The inside is open and light and very exciting. Everywhere you look makes you feel you have entered a new piece of modern art. It also reminds me of a spaceship where stormtroopers would feel at home! What could better? ;)

Architecture is really about well-being.

I think that people want to feel good in a space...

On the one hand it's about shelter,

but it's also about pleasure.

~Zaha Hadid

You are actually getting two museums in one. One for art and the other for architecture.

Just in case you were wondering, yes, you can take an elevator.

There was a very cool exhibition by William Kentridge going on at the museum when I was there. Since it was an installation I couldn't really take pictures ...

Here is a little video, which is partly in Italian, but the artist speaks English and the you can see some of his art, and and bits of his installations and films.

After going to the Capuchin Museum and Crypt that morning, then Santa Maria del Popolo, I was beginning to get hungry. Most museums these days have some sort of café and if they are art museums, it usually a pretty good bet that the food will be good.

It took me a while to figure out that the museum restaurant was across the courtyard. There were some people in line ordering paninis and vino.

But then I saw ... a buffet! 

And it looked good.

I ordered a glass of wine ...

And then I dug in to the buffet.

Tons of antipasti  and salad, and a variety of pastas in the hot food containers. I was trying to be low key about photographing the buffet. For some reason it felt extra silly taking picures here. Maybe it was the ultra sleek atmosphere and my little aqua colored point and shoot. I don't know.

That didn't stop me from photographing my own food, of course. My Italian teacher would have had a fit, that I piled it all on one plate, American Style. (Or at least, my style.) After all those stairs, in the museum, I was tired and just wanted to sit instead of getting up between every course. Besides, I knew I'd be getting up again ...

 ... for a cheese course! Oh, above at the top of my plate was this formed pasta thing with some kind of cream and cheese ... omg. Oh, and you see I did get salad and veggies, as well as penne and couscous.

Yum!!!! (I'm not doing dairy at the moment, so this photo, below, is killing me!) That's a pear sitting up top and if you look closely,  you can spy the banana in the top left corner that I threw in my purse for later. 

And then, I had to have dessert! I'm not so much of a dessert person normally ... just a chocolate person, but I really couldn't resist. I guess, that's obvious. 

The thing that looks like scrambled eggs, was actually some kind of custard thing, I think ... then I tried the raspberry dessert (up top) and whatever yummy mysterious confection that was in the front. 

It was all very yummy and I was happy to have splurged a little on the buffet. It was still less than my touristy pasta I had my first night in the city!

I was very happy I made it up there. What a building! It was pretty easy to get there too. I was already at Piazza del Popolo, just south of the Flaminio Metro Station. 

If you are at the Metro A Flaminio stop, at the north side of Piazzale Flaminio, there is an outdoor tram that takes you north to the Apollodoro stop. Then you are at Via Guido Reni. Head west a short distance, in a cute neighborhood, and you are there. 

If you are worried about missing the stop, do what I did and ask a nice Italian girl, and she'll signal you when to exit. The tram was very nice, by way.

Here's a video of the opening of MAXXI, and the awesome woman architect, who designed it - Zaha Hadid. Love her!

For more on MAXXI and how to find it, click here for their website.

One of the things I feel confident in saying we can do

is bring some excitement, and challenges, 

to peoples lives.

We want them to be able to 

embrace the unexpected.

~Zaha Hadid

architect of MAXXI

A Long (Wonderful) Weekend in San Diego

Pacific Beach

San Diego, California

Before teaching summer art workshops, in L.A., I headed to San Diego to kick off summer and visit some of my oldest and dearest friends.

My friend Lisa, lives in Pacific Beach, not all that far from where I used to live. (I lived down there for four years studying art and theatre.) Lisa and I have known each other since we were 4 or 5, and being with her feels like home, wherever we are or happen to be.

I think Lisa said these little bungalows have been there since the 30s and you can still rent them. Wouldn't that be fun? It's called the Crystal Pier Hotel, now.

We walked around Pacific Beach, bought some fun tank tops, took lots of pictures, then stopped at this little hotel on the boardwalk for for ceviche tacos and pinot noir. (A very yummy combo!)

Bar at Tower 23 Hotel

Lisa and me photographed by the bartender!

There were some very fun little shops on Garnet with all sort of goodies. For the most part, excluding the neccesary summer tank tops, I managed to keep my wallet in my pocket!

In California, we often call June weather "June Gloom" and though there might have been some clouds in the sky, it definitely did nothing to dampen our spirits or our wonderful visit.

I had a great visit with my friend Kristen and her family, in Point Loma, as well! 

I love photographing kids, as you might have noticed, from some long ago posts. This first shot is of Kristen's son.

Nate, 7 years old (check out that dimple!)

Libbey, their new, and very sweet, dog. Biggest lab ever, by the way, but look at those eyes! 

Sofia, age 11 and recovering from a slumber party.

We had a fabulous dinner out in Mission Hills, near yet another place I lived, in San Diego. I think I moved 7 times in 4 years. That's Lisa again in the middle, and Kristen on the right.

After hanging at the beach, I headed out to see my friend Erin on the East side of town. She took me out to this lovely garden place. Well, it's much more than a nursery, as you'll see.

Summers Past Farms

Flinn Springs, Calfornia

As you can see, it turned into a gorgeous day out there!

I spied this little one on the bridge, watching the water ...

It turned out that that morning was their annual fairy festival!

We missed the events, but there were still some fairies hanging around. This one looks like she might be doing something she knows she ought not be doing! Taking a dip in the pond!

There are two very cute little shops, with various treasures.

I bought a hummingbird feeder here for my dad.

They also have an array of native plants for sale, a chicken coup, a little place to by ice teas and treats and little places to sit an enjoy the lovely views.

The following day, I went with Erin, her husband Jimmy and their kids, out to Lakeside to her parents ranch. I love going out there!

Rancho Puesta del Sol

Lakeside, California

Below is the view looking out across their backyard. The little structure on the left is her mom's new art studio! Can you imagine? So fantastic.

Erin's daughter McKenna, who is 7, and you can see by her cheek is a big Padres fan.

This is Erin's son Cooper. Erin was the first of my closest friends to have a baby ... and now he's 15!

As you can see, her parents' home is warm and so inviting!

Feathers they've found on the property ...

A friend of theirs found this skull and gave it to Erin's mom Sandie. She decorated it, and it looks amazing!

She has be creating beautiful watercolors for years, but recently started doing some abstract pieces, which I LOVE. Here is one of my favorites!

Watercolor abstract by Sandie Seckington

Down the hill on a neighboring ranch, there were two new baby llamas to see!  The brown is the older baby.

And lying in the grass ... the new baby! So cute!!!

Erin and I took her dad's golf cart down and frankly I wasn't sure we'd make it back! It was like Mr. Toads Wild Ride at Disneyland! We were laughing so hard. Here's a shot I took with my iphone on our wild ride!

A Friend

May well be

reckoned the masterpiece

of Nature.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The weekend just couldn't have been any better. Thank you, my friends!

Growing up in Southern California, my family used to listen to this, on the 8 track, in my parents' big white GTO, especially on summer rode trips! Enjoy!

Blessings and light!