Nov 4 2024

Dim Sum Kitchen


… more pix on Yelp.

After a few Chinese restaurants in Orlando, we returned here.

10 minutes after opening and we were not the first one. Efficient and good service, it’s pretty quiet (great). One diner has his lap top up -:)

The chicken feet is wonderful – ok someone might find it unappetizing, and it was me when I first encountered it in Hong Kong many moons ago, but very quickly, I come to enjoy it.

Two rice rolls dim sums are thick thinned and totally tasteless. The crullers should be crispy but theirs were mushy – a no no. Funny, I ordered it the last and the server made a comment as if to agree with me, said “it’s so crunchy …” oh well, better luck next time.


Nov 4 2024

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art


5401 Bay Shore Rd,
Sarasota, FL 34243

Dim Sum Kitchen & Oak & Stone.

… more pix and video in Google Maps

Will return: a small museum with a huge collection.

On the Sarasota Bay, this is a good and manageable museum/gallery, which I don’t feel guilty for not walking 100 miles to cover portion of it -:). It’s a little surprise to see their vast and high quality exhibits, from ancient to contemporary. Not too shabby, compares to the oil and railroad barons, it sure gave them a good run for their money.

Larger part of the ground is closed at the moment, due to two recent hurricanes: Helene and Milton.

It was the home to Mable Burton (1875-1929) and John Ringling (1866-1936), of the Ringling Bro traveling circus fame. They were married in 1905, no children.

I’ve taken my kids to Ringling Bro and Big Apple at the Lincoln Center. But now to think of it, both are dated. Cirque du Soleil (1984-) seems to be the one to go to. So is the cycle or circle of life.

Among so many exhibits, (paintings, photographs, modern arts, …) I found Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) five large oil paintings by his workshop the most impressive.   

The Triumph of the Eucharist by Peter Paul Rubens

These galleries feature five immense oil paintings by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) and his workshop. The paintings reproduce a series of tapestries on the theme of the Triumph of the Eucharist that Rubens designed at the request of his patron, Isabella Clara Eugenia (1566- 1633), the ruler of the Spanish Netherlands. Isabella commissioned the tapestry cycle in 1625 for a convent near Madrid, Spain, known as the Descalzas Reales, which held special importance for her and her family (the original tapestry cycle is still preserved there). Why Rubens and his workshop also reproduced some of the tapestries at full-scale in oil on canvas-highly unusual for the time-is not entirely clear, but it is thought that Isabella may have wanted the paintings for her palace in Brussels, as a way of remembering her beloved convent from afar.

John Ringling purchased four of the canvases now in Gallery 2 from the Duke of Westminster in 1926, while the canvas on view in Gallery 1 was purchased by the museum in 1980. Gallery 1 also displays a 17th-century tapestry woven after one of Rubens’s designs for the series.

We got to visit the glass exhibit and the main hall/house. This orchid on bamboo, titled Paphiopedilum Bamboo is by Debora Moore (1960-), done in 2002. The painting grabbed me, but has no plaque to know more about it. It’s displayed in the man cave room, a coupe of room down from the Rubens’.  

  

The green boxy structure – Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Art, (趙廷箴/赵廷箴 1921-2008; a petrochemical & plastic industrialist, born in Suzhou, went to Taiwan before 1949 …) is eye-catching but contained very little interesting exhibits. 

Dish w/ Two Unglazed Carp was from Southern Song, (12th-13th centuries). It was a gift from Ira and Nancy Koger in 2001.   

 

Bowl with Silver Mount and Handles

Chinese body, late 16th-c. style, and European mount,

19th c.

Porcelain, gold washed mounted in Europe

This piece is a blue-and-white bowl with a lobed rim placed in a double-handled silver mount. The European practice of mounting oriental porcelain has a long history, but was particularly prominent in the eighteenth century as part of the interest in Chinese objects in France.

Gift of Ira and Nancy Koger, 2001, SN11122.60

 

Iznik Plate with Grape Vine Decoration Turkey, Mid 16th c.

Blue-and-white stoneware

Loaned by John Hobart Wentworth h in memory of his grandfather Richard Brvant Hobart, IL2016 29.5

 

 

Off the main hall (ticket & restaurant), is the glass exhibit.


Nov 4 2024

Oak & Stone, Sarasota


1201 First Avenue W
Sarasota, FL 34205

… more pix n videos on Yelp & Google Maps.

Def will return to this location.

Great view. Comfortable seatings. Very good service and great food.

The Beer Wall is cool (no we didn’t order it) – all you can drink but beer in the can is warm. The pizza is wonderful so is the buffalo bowl. However, Wine is served in the plastic tumbler – da beer is in the real glass -:)


Oct 1 2024

Samson and Delilah (1877)


Palladium @ St. Pete.

… more pix

Opera Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saëns, premiered in 1877.

It’s a full house. Rosh Hashanah in 2024 is from tomorrow October 2nd to 4th: happy Rosh Hashanah, or Shanah tovah.

Enjoyed this production. The few dancers brought a different visual feast in the 3rd act: refreshing.

 

推荐

挺合时宜的 以色列🇮🇱 又在战争中…

以色列是不是 打不死的小强呀
前几天定点定时定人 … 别收手 把莫斯科也提到日程上来吧 贼眉鼠眼有没有吓到尿裤子?

走题了

视觉好过音乐. 男女主角不仅歌喉棒 演技也了得. 座无虚席
[强]


Oct 1 2024

Bacchus Wine Bistro


124 2nd Ave NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Downtown St. Petersburg

… more pix on Yelp, Google Maps, TA

Love IT.

Courteous staff. Wooden tables and decors (a little too busy). Fresh flowers. High ceiling. Spacious bathroom

The warm slice breads are to die for. Hummus is bit salty but yummy. Nuts are warm but the ones with akin are soft – not crunch (esp almonds – ok I’m picking bones among eggs … a Chinese proverb), which seriously discounted the taste.

We only ordered one French salad and they served in two bowls (I wasn’t going to have that … too healthy for this pig!) – guuuush that forces me to eat greens -:) – it’s yummy.

The chocolates – Italia amaretto ganache and Mayan chili truffle are yummy – they purchase them fresh.

Opera Samson and Delilah followed.


Aug 13 2024

Ybor Grill, Cuban


339 19th Ave NE
Ruskin, FL 33570

… more pix on Yelp & Google Maps

Probably will return

The cigar boxes decor is cool

An average restaurant with good service and Cuban food. The steak sandwich looks really good – probably will return for it.

My grouper is good, I didn’t ask for the bun.


Aug 1 2024

Gulley’s seafood shack


12255 US-301
Parrish, FL 34219

Will return when pass by.

We stopped by this cute shack off 301 at Ferraro’s. It opens on weekdays – the tomato farm opens on weekends. We had our lunch but stopped by for some take out.

It’s a family business but the sweet girl said he’s not her father.

The mullet is pretty good. The crab cakes are ok – only bec I made a few two weeks ago myself, with less breadcrumbs (?) more crab meat.


Aug 1 2024

Ferraro’s Italian Grille


8348 US 301 N
Parrish, FL 34219

… more pix on Google Maps & Yelp

We stopped by here after Sweet Bay nursery. An above average Italian restaurant, with very good service.

We’ve buffalo chicken salad and eggplant Parmesan – both are delicious.

Wine glass is heavy.

 


Aug 1 2024

Sweet Bay Nursery


10824 Erie Road
Parrish, FL 34219

… more pix & videos on Google Maps, Yelp

Will return.

All native. All green. Many butterflies.

I’ve no green thumb. My only time ‘gardening’ is during my supermarket trips, when I see a pretty orchid (have you seen an ugly orchid or flowers?!?) I buy it or them, start of my many gardening -:) journeys.

This place is kind of hidden, lovely. They’ve many plants that you won’t find elsewhere. No a/c (pls no hate here …) One bathroom.

Lunched at Ferraro’s; take out fm Gulley’s.


Jul 30 2024

Bohemios, tapas


875 Central Ave
St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Downtown

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

A resounding yes to return, for the skipper (?) who’s from Nicaragua, has two children in the army and the youngest (17 y/o) is in training here. They’ve another one in Sarasota.

Nicaragua is the only Central America country I’ve visited, in 2009. The skipper wanted to know where we were from … New York isn’t going to do for him … so I said Beijing China. He said that’s where he wants to visit … call me If you need any inside tips.

The decor is simple and clean. The food is delicious and the house wine is sublime.

Love their Riedel glasses.

So just as we’re about to leave for our Rays game, they rolled out their Tuesday prosciutto $35 for 2 oz … do I hate him – come back another Tuesday!

p.s. ask for key to the bathroom

Rays def Marlins 9-3!