davinci and brussel sprouts....

[thoreau]

My delightful friend Phillip (nonLJ) and I at Chow for dinner

Today was a gas and a half. Pete and I met up with my friend Phillip for breakfast then I took both of them downtown for a tour of the stations and where I work. Pete had a nice chat with our weekend DJ at KOIT about old music technology - it was fun seeing Pete talk about the old day of "big platters" and other stuff. I picked up our tickets and we were off to the DaVinci exhibit.

Now - I went with low expectations because it wasn't a touring museum exhibit. I was dissapointed that the entire exhibit was 'recreations' of pieces - there wasn't a single actual piece of Davinci codex or artwork. still - davinci was startlingly ahead of his time working on things like helicopters, submarines and such in the 1400s. I was actually surprised at how much of the exhibit - and apparently Davinci's work was spent on the war machine in Europe. I suppose it was a very warlike time with city states attacking one another - and the Pope being a diva. (some things never change huh?) The most interesting part of the exhibit was an examination of the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa with multi-spectral imaging. They've been able to take the layers of paint and restoration apart on each piece and show renderings of what this restoration looked like - and the surprising change Davinci made to particularly the Mona Lisa. The imaging showed for instance that the shall on her lap and the viel around her head were added YEARS into the process. as well as several different ideas for the back ground were sketched on the canvas underneath the oil paint. The documentary film showing it all off was very, very interesting.

We stopped at BeardPapa and had a creme puff... and celebrity Steve rootbeer1 is in their permanent "when BeardPapa premiered in SF" video that plays in rotation in the store. Pete was like "OMG - it's Steve!" it was like he'd seen Angelina Jolie walk by or something. LOL! So we sat, whipped creme on our faces, waiting for Steve in line for a puff to re-appear on the screen. LOL.. it was fun.

Pete then headed off for his photo shoot for Bearracuda - and joining friends at beerbusts, etc. Phillip and I relaxed for a bit - and hung out with the goddess that is Miss Kate before heading out to Chow for dinner. They served the most amazing side to my chicken tonight - - a warm salad of shaved fennel, radicchio, onion and brussel sprouts. all sautéed in butter and wine, then finely chopped with teh shaved fennel over the top. Unbelievable flavor and yummyness. (valley girl chef voice) It is soooooo like totally going in my recipe book - I mean - as if! (end valley girl chef voice)

So now Phil and I are settling in for a movie and a quiet night in. Yay!

Comments

[bukephalus.livejournal.com]

Wow! Sounds like a perfect way to spend the weekend. I'm glad you and your guest are having fun. Hugs!

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Bear + Celebrity = Bearlibrity

From the "Unofficial Guide to Palm Springs Slang" ...

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the review of the da Vinci exhibit - now I'm curious to see it. Apparently he was quite the experimentor in everything he did. I happened to catch The Da Vinci Code film on TV last night. Clever film, though the basic thesis strikes me as questionable when it comes to analyzing The Last Supper fresco.
Wishing you a Happy New Year - Hugs!