Category Archives: Food

Wrap up of the week’s good classes and events

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It's a dark, rainy, somewhat chilly morning and I don't have to be anywhere until 4 pm. I went back to bed for awhile, then read blogs and finally took a long, hot shower. Amazing what that does for all my aches. It doesn't seem to matter where the water hits me, usually on my back and the back of my neck, and all of the pains in my hip and legs go away. It's better than Tylenol, the only thing I'm supposed to take.

I've really had a busy week. On Saturday, Ivetta and I went to the SPF Expo–Small Press Festival. It was very nice to see all those publishers, but the best thing for me was the venue: AIR: Artist Image Resource. They have open studio time; I could go and make silk screen prints if I can work up enough ambition. Something to keep in mind, anyway.

We went to another festival: Little Italy Days in Bloomfield. As with most large city ethnic neighborhoods, identity is anchored more in nostalgia than in reality. It was fun, a little like a New York street fair.

Sunday night Robin served dinner in the sukkah–a Jewish holiday tradition. We had dinner in Dina's sukkah on Friday night. Miraculously it didn't rain either night–the usual sukkot event.

Monday I went to my World War I class. That one is good. We are not fighting each battle, but rather, examining possible causes. Excellent presentation. Tuesday was Japanese art history, then an open house at the Intel lab at Carnegie Mellon. I find I can understand about half of what they try to tell me.

Tuesday evening there was a lecture by Rev. Tom Johnson, Jr., who runs a school, the Neighborhood Academy, for children living in poverty. His goal, which he mostly has met, is to have 100% of his children graduate and go on to college. He explained his philosophy and his methods. I wish I had his talk written out. He's an amazing man.

Yesterday was infectuous diseases, another great class. I can't say I have any special interest in diseases, or in World War 1, but a good teacher can really capture me. That's the best part of these OLLI (Osher LIfelong Learning Institute) classes. Yesterday was also my next to last cardio rehab session. Friday is the end, but there are ways to continue and I may do it. First, I'll see if I can get religious about going to the health club.

In the evening I went on a walking tour of some of the art in East Liberty and in Mellon Park. I enjoyed the teacher and will be taking a class with her next month.


Kentucky 2

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This will be a short update with more to come. Tuesday is always a very long day for me–African food in the morning, then Japanese art history all afternoon, and tonight the class went out for dinner together. I'm getting bored with the African food, always seems to be some kind of rice and beans, but the Japanese art history remains my favorite.

Back to Kentucky: I drove out on Thursday. It's an easy six hour drive, but with all my usual stops it takes seven. I had a book on tape–Richard Russo, Bridge of Sighs. I got through the first five CDs on the way out. Coming back took longer–lots of road work. I got into CD12 then finished listening at home. There are 21 CDs and I like the book so much I have to figure out how to finish it. No more driving but that's when I like listening the best.

I stopped at what was purported to be an excellent outlet mall between Columbus and Cincinnati. (Most of the trip is going across Ohio.) Anyway, the stop reinforced my belief that outlet malls aren't worth much. I would like to get another bookcase, something I swore I'd never do. I looked in Pottery Barn but found nothing. Walked over to the Harry and David store. Many years ago a friend sent me a box of amazing pears from Harry and David; the best I've ever had. They didn't have stores then; the store didn't have anything I wanted. Oh well.

Kentucky 1

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It was a great, busy weekend; hard to believe there was so much activity in one small southern town. It's really all because of Raja. She seems to know everyone in town and a great many people in surrounding areas, including the larger city of Lexington. The best part of the trip was all of the artists I met and spent time with. I miss that kind of interaction here in Pittsburgh. I know a lot of people/friends, but very few I share work and ideas with. Beginning on Friday afternoon, when we bumped into Anna across the street from Raja's place, it was all art.

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Anna and Raja in front of a great work in Lexington

First, tea at Raja's, then the art hop in Lexington and an opening at the Georgetown art league. It was also food and wine, the best in Georgetown thanks to Carole Ann–a superb cook. More than anything, though, it was horses.

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That's a horse. They were all over and came in all sizes.

That's horse country and the entire area is preparing for one of the biggest events in horse culture: the World Equestrian Games, held for the first time in the US. With the exception of two galleries in Lexington, one with the tree in front, all the galleries mostly had pictures of horses (with occasional dogs). I certainly had my fill of them that night, but there is more to come, some of it good fun.

There was good art conversation Saturday evening, also. We went out for dinner with Judy, Anne and Carole Ann, then returned to Raja's to look at my books and some beautiful books and papers made by Carole Ann (and brownies with strawberries and grapes, brought by Carole Ann, and Prosecco, brought by me).

Be sure to see Raja's blog for stories about the flag display. It was the subject of controversy all weekend.

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The first person I met in Georgetown on Thursday afternoon was despairing over protests about the relative positions of the flags and the controversy continued all weekend. Raja is talking to some firemen, above, who are changing the position of the flags. This story, which appeared in the local paper, doesn't tell the half of it. Amazing what you can spend time worrying about when the sun shines and you don't want to know about anything of substance.


I’m going to visit Raja

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We've been friends for more than thirty years. I was amazed when she moved to Kentucky; couldn't understand how she could do that. Do I have to tell you I'm not too fond of rural situations. But she's made good friends, has a great life and is having a wonderful time. This is my second visit to her. I'll visit with some of her artist friends, go to see the exhibit about the horse, and I'm particularly looking forward to the frickles.

More food and more Gigapans

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The African food class went to Kenya this week with a beautiful chef, Lydiah Wanyoike, who does catering and hopes to open her own restaurant here in Pittsburgh.

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Lydiah made tilapia with rice, coconut beans and steamed cabbage for us.

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We had a brief discussion about other foods from Kenya and admired Lydiah's dress, also from Kenya. I'll probably never cook any of this, but I enjoy watching the demonstrations and, of course, eating the food.

Friday afternoon, the Gigapan group, which I wrote about here, went up to the top of the U.S. Steel building, the tallest manmade structure in Pittsburgh, and shot some test Gigapans in preparation for the big one on September 23. I just went along for fun. It was awesome being 64 floors above the city. The roof is an acre in area with a thick, chest high railing all along the periphery. I never felt any fear or insecurity; just had to watch where I walked because of some things projecting from the surface and lots of cables running across the expanse. Here is the group rushing to the edge, then a few of my shots looking down.

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The white structure is the David Lawrence Convention Center, my favorite place, because of the tunnel that runs underneath.

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Two of the three rivers: the Allegheny flowing into the Ohio on the left.

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Looking East, away from downtown with the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt rising above everything else.

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PPG. I particularly like the way the other roofs are reflected. I'll have more about the Gigapan as I work on it.


 

Back to school

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My new semester started this morning with another cooking class: Food from Africa. We got some information about vegetables grown in Nigeria, then a demonstration of how to prepare and fry plaintains, and finally, a chance to taste the results. I love these classes even though I seldom cook–just enjoy watching someone else do it. And eating the results, of course.

I'm taking another Japanese Art History class that met for the first time this afternoon. This one is called Space and Place in Asian Art. Sitting there, thinking about the use of space in Japanese art, I realized my likes and dislikes of Japanese gardens had to do with the use of space. The gardens I didn't particularly like had huge, broad lawns. The ones I loved made use of densely designed space. I am anxious to see whether I can refine my ideas as the class progresses.

Speaking of cooking, you who know me will be amazed to hear I cooked something tonight. In a weak moment, probably five months ago, I bought a package of frozen swordfish steaks from Trader Joes. You can tell how anxious I was to cook it. Finally, I knew I had to do it, or else throw it out. I browned the fish on both sides on top of the stove (an old electric with burners that slope at various angles). Then five minutes in a 450 oven to finish it. Doused with lots of lemon juice, it was good. Because of the way they were packaged all three pieces had to be cooked at the same time. Now I have one very large piece and one small piece left over. You know some of this will be thrown out. This is why I don't usually cook.

Two weeks, already

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Spent most of yesterday with Renee. The chiropractor told her to do more walking, less sitting, so we went out for several walks during the day: grocery shopping, lunch out, finally ice cream. You can tell where our heads are at.

About 5:30 i left her and went down to the Center for Book Arts to hear artists talks about the current exhibition. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening; I guess you could call it talking shop. I was not Robin's mother or Charna's grandmother or a heart patient: just another artist.  This is the kind of interaction I'm not getting in Pittsburgh. There probably are events like this. I just haven't found them.

Later in the evening Charna came from Chicago. Robin and Steve are driving in today. The party is tonight.

Day Six, New York

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I meant to post every day, but can't seem to stick with it. Here's what happened in the last few days. On Sunday evening, I went out for lobster dinner with Barbara. I haven't had lobster in years, and I loved it. It's probably another one of those things I shouldn't have. Not because of the lobster, per se, but the butter. I was good, didn't use the extra quarter pound they gave us melted, but, nonetheless, there was butter on the lobster.

I'm so tired of the shoulds and shouldn'ts. Eating has gone from being a source of pleasure to just another maintenance thing. I'm hoping losing weight will make my legs feel better, choosing mobility rather than pleasure, but I've decided that when I'm 80, not so long from now, thin or fat, I'm going to eat cheese, fruit, bread and ice cream, exclusively.

Back to NYC: Monday the weather was decent, humidity was manageable, nice breeze, so I opted to walk around and do a little shopping. I took the subway down to 34th St., then walked up Sixth Ave., and visited all the bead stores. No, I wasn't looking for beads. I was looking for interesting fibers I might use for book binding. That's where my head is these days. I didn't find much, but it was a lovely walk ending in Bryant Park, one of the great places in NYC. Then some bus riding, more walking in the East Village, finally a nap back at the apartment, then dinner with Rose.


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Bryant Park pics


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I am fascinated with the thing at the top. No idea what it is.


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I like the way those curves work together.  

Yesterday I met Phyllis at the Met. We started at the Picasso show, which I thoroughly enjoyed, then went to the American Woman, a Costume Institute spectacular. The thrust of the show was to equate women's independence with fashion–obvious nonsense, but a good show. Ended the day with dinner with Julia, at a nearby Indian place.  

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Another Second Ave. subway pic. I've never seen a machine like this. 

Cooking and eating

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For the first time in many weeks I cooked something: iced tea. Don't laugh at me. I consider this cooking because it involved a kettle, a teapot, a pitcher and finally, a glass with ice–and no use of the microwave. Maybe, after I get my hair cut this afternoon, I'll make gazpacho. I've been buying it, already prepared, from Whole Foods. I found it perfectly adequate until I read the label yesterday. Salt is the third item in a long list of ingredients. I was going to compare the relative costs of buying or making, but now I guess I have to make, regardless of cost.

I find myself ruling out increasing numbers of food items. After I went to the conference on women's health and the environment I decided to stop eating meat or poultry. (BTW, all of the conference presentations are now on the website if you are interested.) I haven't been entirely successful about the meat but I keep trying.

I stopped drinking soda (usually Diet Coke) the last time I was in Japan. They have hot or cold green tea in vending machines and I find that more satisfying. Too bad we can't get it here in machines.

All told, my diet has become less interesting. To some extent I've lost my zeal for eating, making it much easier to diet, but I still love ice cream, frozen yogurt and dark chocolate. What would life be like without that stuff!

New York Tuesday

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Very full day. We began with Hockney on 57th St. (He's in two places.) I wanted so much to love his work. I find it intellectually interesting–sort of–but I'm back to the question: what is great art? There was one piece, at Pace prints, I really admired. It was largely computer created and probably impossible to do without a computer program. Inspiring! (Hockney slide show) I like the pictures online better than the real thing.

On our way to the subway to go to Hockney two we passed an amazing gallery called Ana Tzarev. It was huge and filled with the work of Ana Tzarev, a woman I had never heard of. I'm not about to tell you I've heard of every artist, but the size and location of the gallery made me wonder about who bankrolled her. You can read all about her here and here. Amazing what you can do with money.

Hockney on 25th St. was a little more interesting. There was more work, more thinking about perspective, which of two paths to take, stuff like that, but no AH Yes moment, nothing to enter and get lost in.

Back to the subway to one more show, but first lunch. We stopped at Cosi's, a decent fast food place. Along with the ingredients for each dish were the calories. I must say it gave me pause: I selected my lunch very carefully and ate mostly vegetables. I'm not complaining. I was just amazed at how meaningful this was to me.

The last show was Serizawa at the Japan Society. I've known about Serizawa for years. His wonderful calendars were sold at Aiko's in Chicago. But I had no idea how prolific he was and how wonderful his work is.