Sure, its name may trigger a memory of your favorite prairie skirt from 9th grade, but this place rocks.
I've been here once before and was so enamored by the gift shop that I only had enough time to run through the exhibitions. It carries gorgeous items from around the world: jewelry, stationery, clothing, bags, etc. It's a great place to find a unique gift for that person who has everything. And you might even feel good about your purchase, as many of the items are made from recycled or sustainable materials, and/or made by local/global artisans.
I didn't know much about the current exhibitions before visiting this time around but was blown away by both. They run until September 11th, and there's no doubt I'll visit them again. That'll be a first for me. Usually I see an exhibit once, or maybe just half of once. I breeze through most rooms and try to make it look like I'm heading for the bathroom, then stop in the ones that have those really uncomfortable but feet-saving benches. I sit there and gaze in the direction of the art, trying to look interested, but really I just people-watch. Have you ever noticed how many couples appear to be on their first date at a museum? The woman is wearing high heels, and they're both feigning interest in every single painting, holding their chins just so. I imagine a conversation in front of some modern painting that resembles my own symmetrical butterfly blotches made in the first grade might go something like this:
Boy: "So, what do you see in this painting?"
Girl (or Boy) replies nervously, hoping to give the "right" answer: "Well, when I first looked at it, I saw a human pelvis, but now I see so much more..."
When I go to a museum with someone, even my husband, I always feel like I've got to reach deep into my brain for those long-lost terms from my Art History 101 class to discuss the exhibit. So much work.
But visiting CAFAM is not work. I can linger in their exhibits and express my appreciation for the art with words like cool, really cool, and really f#*!ing cool. That's not to say the art isn't worthy of more specific, descriptive adjectives; it's just that the art is stuff I can relate to. It's mostly stuff people have made with other stuff. And that's cool.
For example...
The two current exhibits feature cardboard and insects.
When I saw the giant cardboard sculptures, I thought, "Wow, this woman did a lot of Dumpster diving." Seriously, though, her sculptures are truly beautiful and inspirational. I'd totally love one in my house. Hey, now I know what to do with all those empty boxes that used to house baby gear...
I'm not really a bug person. When I find one in the house, I usually kill it. I don't examine its beauty first, nor do I think about the possibility that its death puts its kind one bug closer to extinction. This exhibit, though, may have transformed me. I left it having a new appreciation for bugs and their usefulness as objets d'art. This installation is simply beautiful. Vividly painted walls adorned with colorful dead insects and beeswax molds, all arranged in patterns that resemble textile prints. If you stand far enough away, the walls look covered in wallpaper. One of the employees of the museum said the artist orders dead insects and rehydrates each one, then shapes them just so in preparation for her installations. Hundreds - if not thousands - of insects make up this installation. Now that's patience. And she pins them to the walls in straight lines, be they vertical, diagonal, whatever. I could see holes in the wall where she took out an insect because it wasn't placed just right. The OCD in me totally appreciated this.
This visit to CAFAM was a total success. Babe and I were both wowed by the the installations - so much so that we'll definitely head back to see them again before they move on.
Here's a link to the current exhibitions page on CAFAM's website: http://www.cafam.org/current.html
Stroller access: Yep, entrance to the museum is at street level, and there are elevators inside.
Nursing privacy: It's a small museum, so not really. You can see everything in under an hour and make it to the car in time for a feeding.
Kid friendly: Yes!
Food: N/A
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Hiatus Explainus
I'm sure all of my three followers (actually, make that two, as I'm one of my own followers) have been dying to know why I haven't posted in a while. Allow me to reveal the mystery: A trip up north and some exciting changes on the home front have rendered cruising about town with the wee one a bit difficult. I've lost like 20 days, which makes my original goal of 300 out of 365 days more out of reach, but I'm going to keep plugging along. It's not the destination, but the journey, right? I really love me some schmaltzy inspirational sayings when they work for me...
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Day 2: B is for Brand Library & Art Center
Our venture out of the house yesterday was an abbreviated one. Before lunch, hubby came home sick with what might be the flu, so babe and I hung around to make sure he could make it to the toilet in time if need be.
B for beach? No, too easy. In retrospect, we may have had a better day had we gone with easy.0000 I want to be honest here. The Brand Library & Art Center was a bit of a drag. "Be positive," the little voice in my head is telling me. Ok, I'll give you the positives:
To be honest, though, I expected the library to be different, seeing as it was a mansion at one point. I had visions of my babe staring at grand chandeliers, frescoes, ornate window coverings, and perhaps some colorful stained glass. But no mansion-y vibe here, save for a rather beautiful leaded glass window. I realize the structure is old, but it's a shame the inside hasn't really been kept up. It's rather drab and desperately needs a coat of paint. It does house an extensive collection of music books, CDs, sheet music, etc., though. There's an art gallery inside the building, but yesterday happened to be one of the days between exhibitions. We walked over to the Japanese Garden and Teahouse just across the parking lot, but that was closed. The Doctors House Museum, also on the grounds, was closed as well. The nature walk that starts on the grounds looked promising until I realized our stroller couldn't handle the uphill. Shoulda brought the BOB.
In a nutshell, the library's worth a visit if you're a musician. The grounds are attractive, and there's lots of space to run around or have a picnic. I like the fact that the art gallery exhibits up-and-coming California artists, so we'll probably head back for an upcoming show.
Stroller access: Yes, at the back of the library there's a ramp.
Nursing privacy: Not in the library, but outside if you're not too shy. I sat in the car and nursed.
Kid friendly: Library, no. Gallery, depending on exhibit. Playground/grounds, yes.
Food: No, but plenty of room for a picnic.
For more info:
http://www.brandlibrary.org/
http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/parks/teahouse.asp
http://glendalehistorical.org/doctors.html
B for beach? No, too easy. In retrospect, we may have had a better day had we gone with easy.0000 I want to be honest here. The Brand Library & Art Center was a bit of a drag. "Be positive," the little voice in my head is telling me. Ok, I'll give you the positives:
- Lovely palm trees lining the drive up to the library
- A playground for the kiddies and plenty of open space on the grounds near the library to run around
- The library structure itself is pretty cool. Used to be a mansion built in1904 by a guy named Leslie Coombs Brand. It sits in the foothills above Glendale.
- The library houses lots of music-related materials for loan.
To be honest, though, I expected the library to be different, seeing as it was a mansion at one point. I had visions of my babe staring at grand chandeliers, frescoes, ornate window coverings, and perhaps some colorful stained glass. But no mansion-y vibe here, save for a rather beautiful leaded glass window. I realize the structure is old, but it's a shame the inside hasn't really been kept up. It's rather drab and desperately needs a coat of paint. It does house an extensive collection of music books, CDs, sheet music, etc., though. There's an art gallery inside the building, but yesterday happened to be one of the days between exhibitions. We walked over to the Japanese Garden and Teahouse just across the parking lot, but that was closed. The Doctors House Museum, also on the grounds, was closed as well. The nature walk that starts on the grounds looked promising until I realized our stroller couldn't handle the uphill. Shoulda brought the BOB.
In a nutshell, the library's worth a visit if you're a musician. The grounds are attractive, and there's lots of space to run around or have a picnic. I like the fact that the art gallery exhibits up-and-coming California artists, so we'll probably head back for an upcoming show.
Stroller access: Yes, at the back of the library there's a ramp.
Nursing privacy: Not in the library, but outside if you're not too shy. I sat in the car and nursed.
Kid friendly: Library, no. Gallery, depending on exhibit. Playground/grounds, yes.
Food: No, but plenty of room for a picnic.
For more info:
http://www.brandlibrary.org/
http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/parks/teahouse.asp
http://glendalehistorical.org/doctors.html
Monday, June 6, 2011
Day 1: A is for Arboretum
After a slow start this morning, we finally made it out of the house at 1 pm and headed to the LA County Arboretum & Botanical Garden in Arcadia. My mom worked there for about 20 years, so I visited many times during my childhood and therefore have lots of memories of hours spent exploring its grounds. Once she let me skip school and go with her to work because Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson were filming an episode of The Hardy Boys there. Didn't get to see them as it was raining and they stayed in their trailer the entire day. So I sat and looked at their trailer the entire day. Shaun did sign an 8x10 glossy portrait of himself I happened to have, so the day wasn't a total loss. But I digress...
Today couldn't have been better. Perfect weather, not too many people, and babe and I were in good moods. Within 2 minutes of our arrival we happened upon two male peacocks flaring their feathers and squawking loudly for a female's attention. Babe couldn't see them from her stroller but definitely heard them; her eyes got big as saucers and her eyebrows did a cute little dance. Totally curious. We then visited the aloe garden, the rose garden, the waterfall, and finally Queen Anne's Cottage, which is a National Register of Historic Places structure. If you're old enough to remember the television show Fantasy Island, you'll probably remember Tattoo ringing the cottage's bell in the tower while crying, "The plane, the plane!" Near the cottage we found a sweet spot in the shade to camp out for a while. We spent half an hour on our backs looking up at the swaying palm trees. It was pure heaven. Babe cooed and smiled, totally content and relaxed. Seeing her happy makes me happy.
Visiting The Arboretum today was a sweet way to start a tour of LA with my daughter. If you haven't been there, it's definitely worth a visit. If you've got kids, there's plenty of room for them to run around - 127 acres to be exact! If you don't have kids, it's just a beautiful place to take a leisurely walk and enjoy the stunning plant collections and view of the San Gabriel mountains.
Stroller access: Yes
Kid friendly: Yes
Nursing privacy: Yes. There are plenty of little nooks and crannies where snuggling up with the little one is doable without hoards of people walking by and ogling your goods. Once summer hits, though, it could be a different story.
Changing table: Yes, in main restroom near the entrance. I didn't see it as the restroom was closed, but an employee told me there is one in the women's restroom. I changed babe on a blanket under a tree. Much easier than one of those cold, nasty changing tables, anyhow.
Food: Cafe closes at 4 pm. Burgers and sandwiches, daily soup. Didn't eat there, though, so can't comment on the quality. Lovely outdoor patio. Bringing your own food isn't allowed, as the squirrels and peacocks tend to be a bit aggressive about begging for and/or stealing food. One employee told me that peacocks have been known to take snacks right from toddlers' stroller trays!
For more info:
http://www.arboretum.org/
Can't wait for tomorrow's adventure!
Today couldn't have been better. Perfect weather, not too many people, and babe and I were in good moods. Within 2 minutes of our arrival we happened upon two male peacocks flaring their feathers and squawking loudly for a female's attention. Babe couldn't see them from her stroller but definitely heard them; her eyes got big as saucers and her eyebrows did a cute little dance. Totally curious. We then visited the aloe garden, the rose garden, the waterfall, and finally Queen Anne's Cottage, which is a National Register of Historic Places structure. If you're old enough to remember the television show Fantasy Island, you'll probably remember Tattoo ringing the cottage's bell in the tower while crying, "The plane, the plane!" Near the cottage we found a sweet spot in the shade to camp out for a while. We spent half an hour on our backs looking up at the swaying palm trees. It was pure heaven. Babe cooed and smiled, totally content and relaxed. Seeing her happy makes me happy.
Visiting The Arboretum today was a sweet way to start a tour of LA with my daughter. If you haven't been there, it's definitely worth a visit. If you've got kids, there's plenty of room for them to run around - 127 acres to be exact! If you don't have kids, it's just a beautiful place to take a leisurely walk and enjoy the stunning plant collections and view of the San Gabriel mountains.
Stroller access: Yes
Kid friendly: Yes
Nursing privacy: Yes. There are plenty of little nooks and crannies where snuggling up with the little one is doable without hoards of people walking by and ogling your goods. Once summer hits, though, it could be a different story.
Changing table: Yes, in main restroom near the entrance. I didn't see it as the restroom was closed, but an employee told me there is one in the women's restroom. I changed babe on a blanket under a tree. Much easier than one of those cold, nasty changing tables, anyhow.
Food: Cafe closes at 4 pm. Burgers and sandwiches, daily soup. Didn't eat there, though, so can't comment on the quality. Lovely outdoor patio. Bringing your own food isn't allowed, as the squirrels and peacocks tend to be a bit aggressive about begging for and/or stealing food. One employee told me that peacocks have been known to take snacks right from toddlers' stroller trays!
For more info:
http://www.arboretum.org/
Can't wait for tomorrow's adventure!
 |
| Queen Anne's Cottage |
 |
| Babe mesmerized by the palm trees |
 |
| The palm trees |
 |
| Rose Garden |
 |
Update: It's An Alphabetical Tour
In keeping with the baby/kid theme, today's destination begins with an A, tomorrow's with a B, and so on. To reach 300 days, I'll have to go through the alphabet more than 11 times. How 'bout I get through it once and then revisit?
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Destination: L.A.
Now that my baby is about three months old, I figure it's time to get off my backside and outta the house. I haven't exactly been home-bound since her birth, but let's just say I've been enjoying easy access to the fridge a little too much. I live in L.A. and therefore can't use the excuse that there's nothing to do, not to mention all the baby books say I'm supposed to expose my babe to all sorts of interesting things to look at. So tomorrow she and I are embarking on a year-long adventure: to make it out of the house at least 300 out of 365 days and experience the City of Angels. See, I'm a reasonable person. I saw Julie and Julia, and I heard about that couple who had sex every day for a year, but I'm just not that committed. Good for them, but I know myself all too well. Even before I had a baby, I loved spending leisurely days at home doing, well, absolutely nothing. So the idea of having to get not only me, but my baby as well, out of the house for 365 days straight is just silly, and therefore not part of my plan.
What IS part of my plan is to get us out of the house as often as possible and visit baby-friendly places in Los Angeles. I'll document our adventures here. Getting out of the house is purported to be healthy. Getting out of the house with babe is fun. And getting out of the house and exposing her to interesting sights automatically makes me a good mom, right? This blog will not only motivate me to stick to my plan, but will end up being a sort of journal I can eventually share with babe. Really, though, it'll be proof that I didn't spend the first year or so of her life with my feet up eating bon bons while she alternately dined on her mother's milk, took naps, and spent hours in her bouncy chair.
Tomorrow the adventure begins. Destination? L.A.
What IS part of my plan is to get us out of the house as often as possible and visit baby-friendly places in Los Angeles. I'll document our adventures here. Getting out of the house is purported to be healthy. Getting out of the house with babe is fun. And getting out of the house and exposing her to interesting sights automatically makes me a good mom, right? This blog will not only motivate me to stick to my plan, but will end up being a sort of journal I can eventually share with babe. Really, though, it'll be proof that I didn't spend the first year or so of her life with my feet up eating bon bons while she alternately dined on her mother's milk, took naps, and spent hours in her bouncy chair.
Tomorrow the adventure begins. Destination? L.A.
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