Artists everywhere!

Two big events (other than that I got through the week! and went to LA today! and am going to sleep till about 11:00 tomorrow....) that are significant in the last 24 hours.

First: an art show! Elise and I went to a small art gallery on the opening night of a new show, since it is up here in Altadena close to where we both live. We figured we should get to know the grand old city of Altadena better, and this is one of the first steps we've taken. So we showed up at precisely 7:00, with me having decided to wear my wonderfully high red heels, and proceeded to have an AMAZING TIME! The gallery is a whimsical little grotto with two small rooms that display the art; outside the patio is partially open so that you can look up at the sky, and partially grown over by ageless vines so that you can hardly even see the moon through the weave of branches. Scattered in different corners of the grotto are little love seats, hidden away so that if you sit down to have a drink or talk to someone it feels like you're in your own little world. Well, we met wonderfully interesting and talkative people: one had written a book about Shakespeare and dogs, combining his two passions in life, and another book about Buddhism in Shakespeare's work; one was a witty, gracious ex-hippy whom his Indian friend called "guru," who had grown up a Buddhist and was planning a trip to India next summer (and with whom I would absolutely fall head over heels in love if only he were 30 years younger); a politician who gave us both jovial, tipsy hugs because Elise had her "Let's Hug" pin on; and some very nice young men.

So.... back for more awesome artsiness, anyone?

The next significant event in my life is that the Italian conversation group I go to had a near-death experience! (This would be a HORRIFIC event - I depend on my weekly dosage of Italian to get through each week.) The cafe we have traditionally met at was sold last week, to everyone's total surprise. I myself was horrified at the idea of the cafe, 'Hey, That's Amore', becoming less Italian. Honestly, given a choice between non-Italian and Italian, how could you choose non-italian??? So the Italian conversation group decided that we would have a final meeting at the cafe, decide where we'll meet in the future, and bid goodbye to the place of many laughs. I was two hours late to the meeting, as I'd been rockin' out in downtown LA with Ani.... but I got there in the end, just as most people were leaving. But a couple of us stayed on to chat for a while longer, and they told me the good news: we can continue to meet at the cafe, even if it changes, becomes un-Italian, is ripped and torn away from its previous beloved identity. Good-ish news, anyway. At least the Italian convo group shall continue in its former glory. So I asked, "Who is this new owner, anyway?" Answer, anyone? By sheer coincidence (or maybe not....), it is the terribly sexy artist I met at an art show at the cafe three or four weeks ago, a young man whom I liked very much - but who, unfortunately, is unavailable, and APPARENTLY also the guy who BOUGHT THE CAFE.... small world? Though I suppose the art show he had at the cafe may have been a nicety after he'd already purchased it, a way of making the new place his own (with lovely artwork!). Who knows, maybe he held the art show and decided that he liked the cafe so much he should have it for himself.

I'd love to have a cafe for myself some day. The handsome guru of the Altadena art show was talking about opening up a bar in India one day. Wouldn't that be a dream? Maybe a little coffee shop in Umbria or Tuscania of Italy, a little shop with biscotti and espresso, and cheese and vino.... Or maybe a cafe down in Sicily, a little coffee shop in Agrigento, nestled away in the heart of the city, with marzipan and other tasty pastries. Che bello!...

Labels: entertainment, Italy

posted by Holly @ 10:56 PM