Saturday, December 12, 2009

For Wine Lovers - Rent "Bottle Shock"

For those of you who enjoy wine, I highly recommend renting the movie, "Bottle Shock". This flick takes you back to the 1970's before California became reknown for its quality wine. Fun, entertaining and informative, if you are of a younger generation, you might not realize that before then, France reigned supreme and was unchallenged in it's position and rank as the world's top wine producer.

This film chronicles the dreamers in California who dared to go for the gusto and challenge the establishment. It makes for a great tale and you can't help but feel uplifted and happy. My recommendation is to select a few bottles of wine -and enjoy the movie with friends....or you may decide to, open a bottle of wine on your own and drink a glass or two in the solitude. Which ever way - you pick - and you will be sure to enjoy.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Getty Villa

This afternoon seemed like a perfect opportunity to take a jaunt to the Getty Villa in Malibu. I arrived slightly after 3 pm. What a lovely drive it was from Agoura Hills. Traversing on the windy single lane road Malibu Canyon, a wonderous view of the ocean suddenly appeared . Along the way, I took note of the eateries and shopping that I might consider on another afternoon of exploration.

I have been to the Getty Villa several - maybe even many - times. What draws me there is this unexplainable primordial feeling of belonging and of keen appreciation for the sensabilities of the Roman and Etruscan art. I identify with it - all of it - the mosaics, the large robust sculptures, the architecture, the attention to detail, the infusion of symbolism...I find all of this intriguing.

It was a stellar day - with low lighting and a crisp chill in the air. It I thought the best way to spend my time wisely was to enjoy the outdoor gardens, scupltures, reflecting pool and take in the architecture. What is so spectacular about this museum is that symmetry, geometry, placement and perspective. I found that I would gaze at something in front of me and then would expand my view and it would be perfectly reframed and then enlarge my view a another time and again, a perfect view would appear and I kept doing this until a panarmic view was before me and the complexity was pure perfection. I marveled at the planning and incredible attention to detail. I wondered what person or persons created such masterful experience.

The sun sets fairly early and so I made my way to my car . As I left the museum driveway and was turning on to PCH, I witnessed a fantastic Malibu sunset and called my mother to tell her about my afternoon. I arrived to the Getty Villa with anticpation and left full of inspiration. My mother said, "That sounds like you." and that made me smile. A perfect afternoon.