Pacific Palisades, California: Getty Villa; things to do

Inner Peristyle garden at Getty Villa museum
in Pacific Palisades, California

Getty Villa  

17985 PCH/Surfview Dr., 1 mi. N of Sunset Blvd., in Pacific Palisades, (310) 440-7300. W-M 11-5. Free; reservations necessary.  Parking $25; no neighborhood parking. No pets.

Located a few miles west of the larger Getty Center museum, the hilltop Getty Villa museum is modeled after the Villa dei Papiri--a 1st-century luxury Roman country house in Herculaneum, near Pompeii, that was buried by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79.  It houses the Getty collection of ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art.  A large variety of polished marble adorns floors and walls throughout.  My favorite display holds a mummified ibis that is inside an intact human mummy whose head covering bears a painted portrait of the deceased.  

Gardens and fountains are a particular delight, and performances are sometimes scheduled in a semi-circular amphitheater.  Kids gain insight in a hands-on Family Forum space and with a free Art Detective card that guides them to specific art pieces.  Informal tours run throughout the day, and a free app guide can be downloaded.  

The Cafe serves casual Mediterranean fare at fair prices and offers spacious indoor and sheltered outdoor seating.  An espresso cart is also an option, and afternoon tea is sometimes scheduled.

Roman Sarcophagus with life of Achilles at Getty Villa museum
in Pacific Palisades, California

Greek ram's head drinking cup at Getty Villa museum
in Pacific Palisades, California

Ptolemaic gold snake bracelet at Getty Villa museum
in Pacific Palisades, California

Outer Peristyle garden at Getty Villa museum
in Pacific Palisades, California

East Garden at Getty Villa museum
in Pacific Palisades, California

display of marble samples at Getty Villa museum
in Pacific Palisades, California

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first image c2010 Cassidy Meyers

rest of images c 2024 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

updated 9-6-24

Things to Do: Rubin Museum of Art, NYC

Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) 

150 West 17th St., (212) 620-5000. M 11-5, W 11-7, Thur 11-5, F 11-10, Sat-Sun 11-6, closed Tu. $10, students $7, under 12 free.

Situated on a leafy side street within a contemporary building, the Rubin Museum of Art is dedicated to displaying Himalayan art. Begin on the top floor, and walk down via the dramatic central circular staircase. Helpful resources enhance a visit and include magnifying glasses on each gallery floor. Free lunchtime performances and entertainment are sometimes scheduled.

Enjoy fragrant and tasty Himalayan fare at The Café @ RMA. The menu includes a daily rice bowl with savory topping, handmade traditional momo dumplings, and freshly baked samosas.

 

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Top 10 North American cities for live music

The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the world’s largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, recently polled its members to come up with the “Top 10” best North American cities for live music.  Not really a surprise, New Orleans is #1, and NYC is #2.  (this article has been removed from website)


View my little movie about "Jazz in Washington Square."

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image depicts chess players in Washington Square, c2010 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

NYC: East Broadway Bakery; restaurant review

East Broadway Bakery 

363 Grand, Lower East Side, (212) 228-1110.

This kosher bakery still has that Old World feel and uses no butter or milk in its array of pastries. Choose from bubkes, streudels, and ever-popular black-and-whites. The actual baking for East Broadway Bakery is done in Brooklyn.

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Bucket list train rides

Check out my article about bucket list train rides in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle.

Some more travel articles to inspire and help you plan spectacular getaways.

image of "El Chepe," c2009 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

near Mazatlan, Mexico: Concordia+Malpica+Copala, near Mazatlan, Mexico; things to do

COLONIAL CONCORDIA IN MEXICO

Known as the land of the serpent, the entire colonial village of Concordia is dedicated to manufacturing handmade mahogany and cedar furniture, bricks, and clay pottery. Sights include a cathedral and busy plaza with a giant rocking chair. An annual horse parade takes place in January around the time of the Festival of St. Sebastian, when I visited last year. I saw more than 200 horses, some stinky and many prancing, with men riding them while smoking, drinking beer, and holding toddlers.

My group stopped before Concordia in Malpica, a tiny town with a church, tile-maker, and bakery (I selected a delicious caramel-stuffed empanada).

From Concordia, we continued to Copala, a 400-year-old former mining town in the Sierra Madre Mountains that is famous for its pottery. A walk tour through the old cobblestone streets passes the old prison, the San Jose Church dating back to 1740, the charming town square, and the town’s colonial-style homes with red-tile rooftops. Kids sell geodes found in local hills as well as hand-carved replicas of their village. Daniel’s Restaurant is in a gigantic open-air palapa and is famous for its banana coconut cream pie; rooms are also available starting at $22 and “skyrocketing to $30."

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image depicts Malpica bar, c2009 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Spectacular images of Hawaiian waves

This surfer's photography career began in 2007 when his wife wanted a nice piece of art to decorate a wall.

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5 common travel mistakes–and how to fix them

5 common travel mistakes–and how to fix them

Elliott tells you how not to get taken advantage of in your travels.


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NYC: Kossar's Bialys; restaurant review

Kossar’s Bialys 

367 Grand, Lower East Side, (877) 4-BIALYS.

Bialys, bulkas, and pletzels are all made at Kossar's Bialys from the same Middle Eastern bread dough; the malt bagels are hand rolled and kettle boiled.

 
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image c2009 Carole Terwilliger Meyers