Karen’s View

A Dandy in the Underworld is a new play that deals with the unconventional and sometimes controversial life of Sebastian Horsley. Somewhat ironically, though very unfortunate and tragically, Horsley died on Thursday June 17 at the age of 47. The timing of his death was bizarrely close to the opening of the new play at the Soho Theatre in London. The play was written and directed by Tim Fountain and the script is based on the autobiographical book by Horsley. The show stars Milo Tworney as Horsley. This is just one of the cutting edge performances that is onstage in London, though it may be one of the most temporally significant. The show opened on June 9 and is scheduled to run through July 10. Ticket sales have gained greater interest following the death of Horsley, which is a standard result of an artist’s death, and people who are interested in seeing the play should make their reservations as early as possible.

If you’re visiting England and staying in a London hotel the front desk is generally a solid resource for finding information on this and other plays. Dandy in the Underworld makes a solid effort at drawing out Horsley’s lifestyle and including much of the unconventional aspects without sensationalizing or even glorifying them. It is definitely entertaining and interesting, though the play was obviously not written or produced for shock value. Soho Theatre is known for producing the latest cutting edge and sometimes experimental shows and the rest of the season may not be as immediately news captivating, though it promises quality productions and thought provoking entertainment. The play that is scheduled to open after Dandy closes next month is titled Third Person: Bonnie & Clyde Redux. This is another production that deals with actual personalities and life experience situations, though the inspirations behind the title characters have no chance of dieing anywhere near opening night.

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It’s an area where there are more artists per capita than any other place in California. In a state that’s known for its vibrant art scenes, and major contributions to the entertainment of the world, that’s not a small claim to fame. A fair number of artists, working in many media such as painting, sculpture, writing, and filmmaking, prefer the clarion call of the big cities. A lively urban scene is capable of sparking the imagination, where the constant flux of human activity is its own inspiration.

There are also a fair number who prefer the opposite. Calm settings, out in the middle of nature, are places where an artistically attuned mind can find equally significant sources for inspiration. In Eureka, the blend of ocean and forest is one that apparently offers promises of a fertile imagination, and just the right place for an artist to find their voice. It’s also a pretty spectacular place for tourists, who may or may not have artistic inclinations. Some are simply called by the promise of rest and rejuvenation in the hotels Eureka offers.

Even from this vantage point, however, it’s difficult not to be inspired at least a little. Inspiration can come in the form of a call to create, just as much as it can come in the form of a call to relax and enjoy the perfect moment at hand. The beauty of the trees is impossible to escape, though, and there’s something about the forest that wakes up the imagination. Whether it’s the fantastic size of the quadruped trees , along with their unusual capacity to make one feel as though gnomes could be living in here, or the ironic stump house that used to be a roadside attraction here, there is plenty of room for mystery. These magnificent trees represent a history of place, and they are capable of inspiring awe, which is like a doorway to the present.

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When in New York City, visit Brooklyn; when in Brooklyn, visit Brooklyn Heights and stay in one of the luxury hotels Brooklyn that will give you one of the most exciting views of Lower Manhattan, the Stature of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Governors Island and the shipping factories and wharves all along the East River. Brooklyn Heights is the most expensive neighborhood in the outer boroughs and with the newly expanded Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the most beautiful homes in the city, is still considered a good deal.

Back in the 19th century, Brooklyn Heights was considered one of the most aristocratic neighborhoods where the residents set the tone in customs and manners for the elite. Most of the brownstone mansions were homes to the merchants who owned trading ships docked near by. At one time, the piers went back to warehouses with roofs that were planted with real lawns and trees, and formed backyard gardens for the houses situated above them. However, the exclusivity of the Heights was destroyed when the IRT subway opened the neighborhood up to commuters in 1908. This in turn made the elite move on to new heights, leaving the old Victorian mansions and brownstones sort of ‘free-for-all’, attracting artists and writers who partitioned the mansions into studios and apartments.

An interesting side-note about the naming of the streets such as Pineapple, Cranberry, Poplar, Orange and Willow Street, which are directly west of the Brooklyn Bridge, is that during the Civil War, all the streets bore the names of the prominent local families. This perturb a certain Miss Middagh to no end and she showed her disapproval of a few of her neighbors by tearing down the street signs and replacing them with placards bearing botanical titles. The city would replace her signs with the original names, but Middagh would changed them again, this continued until the city gave up and accepted her signs as the official names of the streets, but Miss Middagh’s own family name remained as a street name.

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Driving along the California coast can be an incredibly beautiful experience and even create an entire vacation agenda for families, friends, couples or even individuals. The coastline is extensive and also diverse and there is a great deal of variety in the marine life and geography that is found along it. In addition, the towns that exist up and down the Pacific coast are incredibly beautiful and also diverse. And once you arrive at the San Francisco Bay, just north of that lies that great Napa Valley. There are many tours that originate from San Francisco that explore the beauty and various offerings of this incredible land. In addition, it is frequently described as the finest wine country in America and of the best California. Hotel accommodations are friendly and quaint and also lavish and luxurious, it is your choice.

The Napa Valley is gorgeous and is a frequent weekend destination for many people who live in the Bay area as well as beyond. It attracts people from the northern region of the state as well as the southern and those from outside of California. A combination San Francisco stay and Napa tour is a common tourist destination for people from around the world. And of course the city has some incredible attractions and landmarks that make it a standard vacation destination on its own. The famous Fisherman’s Warf attracts millions of people every year and many of those take the ferry ride out to the city’s number one tourist destination, Alcatraz Island. This famous penitentiary has housed some of the world’s most notorious criminals and remains one of the nation’s top tourist destinations. In addition there are great museums, such as the Fine Arts Museum among others, and great shopping and dining opportunities in the city. There are outstanding theatre productions throughout the Bay and these all contribute to a fabulous vacation.

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All the hundreds of fun and exciting things to do in Dallas, Texas, doesn’t have to be expensive; there are many free or relatively inexpensive art, museums and sculptures sights; plus, most of them are within walking distance from all the five star hotels Dallas offers its thousands of visitor each week. Consider these, which is only a handful of what the city has:

The Art Garden, Downtown Dallas, at 2010 Flora Street; is a very enjoyable Sculpture Garden located at the base of the statuesque Trammell Crow Center. There are more than 20 statues, including a few from the French Master, Rodin. The statues reside in a peaceful setting with cascading waters and beautiful gardens. This Art Garden is free, but donations are accepted. Hours are Tuesday – Sunday 10am to 5pm and on Thursday from 10am to 9pm.

The exquisite Mustangs Sculpture in Las Colinas. There are 9 beautiful, larger than life, bronze mustangs splashing their way across a stream , which cuts through the stone and granite plaza of Williams Square. You can walk across the plaza and visit the mustangs and exhibit, including a informative 20 minute film about wild mustangs and how this breathtaking sculpture was made. The exhibit center is open on Wednesday through Saturday – 11am to 5pm and it’s located near Irving on O’Connor Road, North of Highway 114.

Spanish Art at the Meadows Museum is the Southern Methodist University’s most comprehensive collection of Spanish masters outside of Spain. Plus there’s another collection, which began in the 20s and consisted of Texas Rationalist art, including important artists like Jerry Bywaters. The collection now contains a wide array of artwork that was donated by alumni and friends of the University. Many of the works in the collection is art by former students and faculty members who have gone on to distinguished careers in the art world, such as David Bates and James Surls. The Meadow Museum also has a sculpture garden and a tree-lined SMU campus that is a real eye pleaser. This exhibit is free on Thursdays after 5pm, located at 5900 Bishop Blvd.

The African American Museum , located at 3536 Grand Avenue, has an objective to present a meaningful experience for children and adults who would not ordinarily visit a museum. The rich heritage of black art and history is housed in 4 vaulted galleries, including a great research library. Living African American culture is experienced through educational and entertaining programs presented in the theater, studio arts area and classrooms. The Museum’s permanent collections include African art; African American fine art; and historical archives. Hours are Tuesday – Friday from noon – 5pm and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.

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