Archive for November 2009
Tangerino – always a pleasure
Yesterday evening I was cycling home after having visited a nice concert. I was fascinated by the neon lights. They seem to be everywhere… I might do a blog on neon another time. While I was taking photos of the neon lights I ran into an old friend: Tangerino! The little rascal always makes me smile. Here he is on a pebbly background, on a wall , that can’t be seen from the public road. Good thing I had left the usual way home…
Rotterdam – Culinary Capital of Holland
Source: Metro, 25 November 2009
This morning I read the Rotterdam edition of Metro and I felt proud. From today, the number of restaurants with a Michelin star in Rotterdam is four. Besides the two brand new Michelin star rated restaurants Fred and Ivy, we have also Amarone (one star) and Parkheuvel. (two stars)
Source: Metro, 25 November 2009
Congratulations to chefs Fred Mustert and François Geurds and their teams!
I’m definitely going to visit the new Michelin Star rated restaurants in the near future. If you are interested too, you can check out their websites:
And here are the websites of Amarone and Parkheuvel:
Modern Life – Edward Hopper and His Time
Last Saturday I went to the Kunsthal for an exhibition of paintings by Edward Hopper. I really like his work, so the chance to see originals in my home town, Rotterdam, I could not let got to waste! This is what I learned…
Edward Hopper (1882 – 1967) studied commercial art from 1899 – 1900 at the Correspondence School of 
Illustration, and after that until 1906 at the New York School of Art. He was employed as an illustrator and commercial artist in New York. He took time off for visits to Paris and to travel through Europe. He held his first solo exhibition at the Whitney Studio Club in 1920, where he also attended evening drawing classes in 1923. After a successful exhibition in 1924 he decided to quit working as a commercial artist. He married Josephine Nevison , also a painter, in the same year. From then on she was nearly always his primary female model. Hopper received numerous distinctions during his career. In 1945 he was elected to the National Institute of Art and Letters. In 1952 he was selected to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale.
About Edward Hopper’s paintings
American modern art at the beginning of the twentieth century has been associated in Europe with one artist in particular: Edward Hopper. Hopper’s work is characterized by empty streets and landscapes, desolate buildings and by solitary figures in an urban setting. The places depicted in his paintings continue to shape our image of America.
About the exhibition
The Modern Life exhibition. Edward Hopper and His Time presents highlights of eight Hopper top works together with more than ninety masterpieces from the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York in the spacious daylight hall of the Kunsthal. For the first time ever works by Edward Hopper are shown in the context of their time. The exhibition also includes works by famous artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Sheeler, Man Ray, Lyonel Feininger, Grant Wood and Alfred Stieglitz. The exhibition presents through paintings, works on paper, sculptures and photographs an imposing impression of the developments in modern art in America and puts the works of Hopper in a new light. The exhibition is organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of New York. (1609 – 2009)
The Kunsthal is both on the inside as on the outside a striking building, which was designed in 1992 by famous Rotterdam architect Rem Koolhaas. With more than 3300 square metres of exhibition space and some 25 exhibitions a year, it is worthwhile to pay a visit anytime. The exhibition Modern Life – Edward Hopper and His Time runs until January 17, 2010.
For more information about the Kunsthal you can visit it’s website www.kunsthal.nl
Wedding reception and news from Borgo d’Aneto
Previously I blogged about the Day of Dialogue. (http://wp.me/punIp-ex) This is what the owner of the Trattoria Borgo d’Aneto wrote about it in his weekly newsletter: “The conversations were extremely interesting and inspiring! The more we learn to listen to ‘others’ the more we get to know ourselves. And isn’t that not the most exciting, highest and best that we as humans can pursue? It is therefore not surprising that in the vestibule of the ancient Greek temple of Delphi the famous words “Know thyself” were engraved.
We have therefore decided to open the Trattoria every last Sunday of the month for a delicious, healthy and rich brunch. The first brunch will be November 29! During the brunch, you can meet yourself or just anyone. Through a conversation with other guests, or by having nothing to be: relax with a newspaper, book or magazine in one hand and in the other a delicious cup of tea, coffee or fresh juice. Record this date in your diary!“
The above shows that they are doing well in Borgo d’Aneto. But there is more to illustrate this. Last Thursday, 19 November, I was at a wedding reception. Guests were treated to delicious appetizers, great house wine, prosecco, a nice atmosphere and excellent service. I therefore think it is fair to say that none of the guests went home, without praising the restaurant and the staff. Because the compliments were often given to the newly weds, I will reiterate it here. I know that people in the Trattoria read my blog regularly … Once again, on behalf of all guests of the wedding reception: WELL DONE!
The Trattoria is going strong. Next to the usual lunch time on Monday to Friday and dinner on Friday, comes now a brunch on the last Sunday of the Month. Furthermore, the space thus can be booked for receptions, meetings and workshops. The photos in this blog will give you an idea of the establishment. But especially note the view! Both day and night this is phenomenal! The restaurant is located at the most beautiful point of Rotterdam, at the “Kop van Feijenoord”! The only things missing is a terrace and nice sunny weather. The latter cannot be controlled or manipulated but plans for a terrace are in an advanced stage. Therefore: To be continued! For more information check: http://www.borgodaneto.nl
Food for thought at Rotterdam CS
Central Station in Rotterdam has been and will be under construction for some time. This does not mean, that for the time being no investments are being made to improve the environment in which passengers have to stay before they can start or continue their journey. I noticed these new benches on platform 11, that definitely improve the atmosphere on the platform. Not only do they bring colour to the grey surrounding, they also bring comfort to the waiting passenger and moreover, they give travellers the opportunity to read and learn. Dozens of quotes by famous and unknown people about travelling are inscripted in different languages in the seats and backrests. Here are some examples:
Superior talent (which I cannot deny myself to be without being impious) will go to pieces if he remains remains forever in the same place [Mozart]
Travel and change of place impart new vigour to the mind [Unknown]
De grote Weg is vlak, maar mensen zoeken liever bergpaden [Lao-Tse] (1)
Nicht da ist man daheim, wo man seinen Wohnsitz hat, sondern wo man verstanden wird [Christian Morgenstern] (2)
L’Absence ne tue l’amour que s’il était malade au depart [Comtesse Diane de Beausacq] (3)
These and many more quotes may inspire people, or move them to reverie and keep them company on their journey, where ever it may lead them. I like that idea!
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(1) The great Road is flat, but people rather seek mountain trails
(2) One is not home, where one has his domicile, but where one is understood
(3) Absence does not kill love if it was already ill at departure
