Occupy Wall Street is still going strong and remains as organized as ever. I’m not sure if I’m more impressed with the fight for the important (albeit disorganized and overwhelmingly vast) causes or the tidiness.
Lulu Cake Boutique
This masterful High Line and Standard Hotel sugar creation caught my eye! Lulu Cake Boutique is yet another bakery, but with some imagination. Skip the basic cupcakes and try the retro confections: Pink Snowballs (chocolate cake filled with coconut custard, enrobed in pink marshmallow frosting and coconut flakes), Chocodiles (golden butter cake filled with vanilla […]
McNally Jackson and the Espresso Book Machine
This print-on-demand contraption, the Espresso Book Machine, is a compelling reason to visit McNally Jackson Books. It’s a thrill to choose from over seven million titles and print a book, all for the price of an off-the-shelf paperback. The store also stocks very well-edited selections on every subject. The vast literature department is helpfully organized […]
Gorilla Marketing
When I emerged from the subway, I saw this gorilla and caged man crossing Sixth Ave. I assume they were promoting something, but you never know.
Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore
This 16th-century Roman Catholic church was built to thank God for the deliverance of the city from a major outbreak of the plague. It was designed by Andrea Palladio and is a single nave church with three chapels on either side. The façade was inspired by the Parthenon and the 15 steps were in reference […]
Ca’Rezzonico, or Museo del Settecento Veneziano
Housed in a former palace, this museum showcases 18th-century arts in intimate salons. It’s a quite different experience than wandering through Gallerie dell’Accademia, that’s for sure. Make sure to look skyward for Tiepolo masterpieces and climb to the very top for Ciardi’s canal view pieces. Dorsoduro 3136, Venice
Cruising
Yikes! I saw multiple cruise ships come and go each day. They looked even larger than usual in this small city of islets.
Rialto Market
Visiting the Rialto Market made me wish I had rented an apartment instead of a hotel room. The produce was aromatic and colorful and the fish was so fresh some of it was still alive. The best part was watching the locals haggle with the fishmongers.
Gondola Maker
The best thing about a gondola ride is the close-up views of backyards, like this gondola maker’s.
Scuola Grande dei Carmini
This structure was commissioned by the order of Santa Maria del Carmelo in the late 1600s. At that time, its 75,000-member brotherhood was the largest in Venice. It was also one of the wealthiest, as evidenced by the extravagant stuccoed ceilings, carved ebony paneling and stunning artwork, including nine immense Tiepolo canvases. Campo dei Carmini, […]
