Several weeks ago I was able to visit Tucson, AZ to see my aunts Iris, Jan, and Lida. Over the next coming weeks I'll be sharing several blogs about my trip to Tucson.
This week's blog entry starts with my visit to the Tucson Botanical Gardens. A traveling exhibition, developed by the New York Botanical Garden, showcasing several exhibits about the life and home of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907 -1954). The exhibitions included a recreation of a small Mayan temple that Frida and her husband Diego Rivera used as a focal point in their garden in Mexico City. Their 'Casa Azul' or 'Blue House', painted a vibrant bright blue, is still in Mexico where visitors are welcomed. Frida's life and expressive career as a painter was inspired-in-part by nature (specifically the dessert climate), as thematically proved in the garden exhibits.
The garden had wonderful specimens of native Southwestern plants, shrubs, trees, and cacti. It also included a small cafe that featured a Frida-inspired menu. It was an extreme pleasure to have dinner with my aunts, learn about new species of cacti and plants, and celebrate the work and life of Frida.
Owned by chef Keith McNally, Balthazar is one of my favorite restaurants and destinations in all of New York City. The restaurant is known for its high quality and traditional French menu, its French brasserie decor, and it's situated in the heart of SoHo where many designers, celebrities, and Manhattanites congregate. Recently, I learned more about the details to the design of the restaurant, which included special plaster treatments on the walls to make them look aged. McNally also collected old mirrors and pieced them together with lead to create gigantic framed mirrors, which were very atmospheric and charming. In addition to the restaurant, there is a side store bakery, which has many freshly baked cookies, breads, pies, and delicious tarts. I was thrilled to get breakfast at Balthazar and I hope to stop in again the next time I'm back in New York.
