Nostalgia: “Gas And Glamour” In Los Angeles

I love cars and I love Los Angeles for being a city of cars. Over the last decade or so, I have been intrigued by L. A.’s love affair with the automobile, tracing back to a time when cars themselves were objects of beauty.

“Those cars are no longer on the streets today but the buildings from that era remain. As an architectural photographer, I wanted to capture L. A.’s car-culture-induced optimism and ambition reflected in polychromatic, starspangled coffee shops, gas stations, and car washes, that once lured the gaze of passing motorists.” (Ashok Sinha)

Ashok Sinha is an architectural and fine art photographer whose large-scale photographs capture a sense of place tied to both natural landscapes and built environments. His photographs have been published by editorial outlets such as The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Interior Design, and exhibited at The Museum of the City of New York, the International Center of Photography, and The Royal Photographic Society.

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Italian Road Trips: Aosta Valley & Western Liguria

ITALY MAGAZINE (Aug 20, 2020) …you will reach Issogne Castle, in the lower Aosta Valley, one of the most famous manors of the region, noteworthy for its fountain in the form of a pomegranate tree and its decorated portico, a rare example of medieval Alpine painting, featuring a frescoed cycle of scenes of daily life from the late Middle Ages. 

Aosta Valley

Castles, snow-capped mountains, Roman history and food: a road trip in Aosta Valley, Italy’s smallest region, offers this, plus plenty of fun for the keen driver, who will enjoy the mountain roads with their hairpin bends, climbs and tunnels. 

The three-day itinerary we present here starts at Bard Fort, a fortified complex built in the 19th century by the House of Savoy on a rocky prominence above Bard; today, it houses a cultural center and, in the summer, the main courtyard hosts musical and theatrical performances.

Western Liguria

The westernmost part of Liguria is ideal for those looking for a mix of sea and mountains, as a road trip here alternates stretches along the coast with detours into forests, mountains and inland villages. The same variety will be found on the table, with seafood dishes, such as the famous prawns of Sanremo and brandacujùn, a dish typical of Ligurian cuisine made with potatoes and stockfish, and ingredients of the interior, including vegetables, cheeses and goat meat.

This three-day itinerary (about 80 kilometers) starts from the beaches of Ospedaletti and Bordighera (which is only 20 kilometers from France – you can indeed see the French coast from there), two picturesque villages of the Riviera dei Fiori (Coast of Flowers); since Bordighera is built where the Maritime Alps plunge into the sea, it benefits from the Foehn effect which creates a special microclimate that has warmer winters.

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Italian Home Tours: Villa On Cliff In Sardinia (Video)

Lying on a cliff that descends towards the crystalline sea of Sardinia, in the town of Maracalagonis in the Province of Cagliari, The property is divided into six apartments on four terraced levels, each with a private panoramic terrace, and has a total internal surface area of 680 sqm.

Two splendid panoramic swimming pools dominate over the sea. The prestigious complex is currently divided into five suites that share some spaces and services including swimming pools and magnificent terraces, a heated whirlpool tub, three barbecues and three access doors from which you reach a staircase leading to the cliff below and to the sea. . Fascinating and suggestive, this extraordinary property on the coast of Sardinia offers all the desirable comforts, in a landscape of rare beauty that is an integral part of the villa itself.

POLITICAL NEWS: “SHIELDS & BROOKS” ON JOE BIDEN’S DNC SPEECH (VIDEO)

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week in politics, including reaction to the Democratic National Convention and Joe Biden’s acceptance speech, what to expect from President Trump at the Republican National Convention next week and concerns about delays in U.S. mail service ahead of the election.

INNOVATIVE HOMES: “OFF-THE-GRID CONTAINER HOME” IN NEW ZEALAND (VIDEO)

One of the major advantages of shipping container homes is that they can be constructed off site and transported to remote locations. That’s exactly what has happened with this spectacular home which has been built using a 40ft shipping container. Situated in the hills overlooking the ocean and with mountain views of the South Island in New Zealand, this home is simply breathtaking. It’s remote location has meant that off-the-grid living is essential and the home is powered by an impressive solar system.

COCKTAILS WITH A CURATOR: “TITIAN’S ARETINO” (VIDEO)

In this week’s episode of “Cocktails with a Curator,” celebrate the 444th anniversary of Titian’s death by delving into the tumultuous life of Pietro Aretino, one of the most celebrated—and reviled—literary figures of the Italian Renaissance. Deputy Director and Peter Jay Sharp Chief Curator Xavier F. Salomon examines Titian’s portrait of Aretino at the Frick and the friendship between the Venetian painter and the acid-tongued writer, known to his contemporaries as the “scourge of princes.” This week’s complementary cocktail is the Bellini, a mixture of Prosecco and white-peach puree created by the Cipriani family in Venice and named for Titian’s teacher, Giovanni Bellini.

Tiziano Vecelli or Vecellio, known in English as Titian, was an Italian painter during the Renaissance, considered the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, near Belluno. During his lifetime he was often called da Cadore, ‘from Cadore’, taken from his native region. 

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