Hark! A fruitful new study documents the evolution of the luscious tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) from the inside out. A collaboration among three leading-edge research institutions delivers imagery and a deeper dive into tomato genetics than your average tomato lover can genuinely absorb, but it sure is fascinating stuff. You will never have appreciated more the … Continue reading
Whether for welcome camouflage in tight quarters, tantalizing droplets of seduction or a simple flight of reverie, perfume enchants us all. Today’s marvelous NYT story tells that tale and more–the article merits a few moments of reading/travel log daydreaming and sparked this writer’s curiosity. The French like to say they invented the concept of perfume in … Continue reading
Here’s one Christo project–this time in Italy– that I can say is intriguing, playful and engagingly surreal–more of an achievement worthy of the always-substantial investment by his wealthy patrons. Walking on water…installed in 2016 is again in the saffron color he favored for the Gates installation. The experience of walking out over the lake must … Continue reading
I love this idea of pianos appearing in public places around the world! Of course the quality is far from ideal, but people with talent can provide a bit of spontaneous happy enjoyment for all. What a wonderful gift–not to underestimated years of disciplined practice– to be able to play for people. Continue reading
When I first launched Curated Eclectica, I chose as my background theme my favorite culture creation project in the world: the Saadiyat Island project–a museum mecca extraordinaire, which the New York Times called “A Cultural Xanadu.” I first was delighted to discover this project upon visiting a scale model exhibit at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi and … Continue reading
OK, not to be sappy here or deluded as to its purely philanthropic purpose but I have to admit that this weekend’s Washington Post article about Whole Foods’ gutsy new stores in Detroit and Chicago brought a tear to my eye. Not being overly sentimental, I wondered now where did that come from? Well, more than anything, … Continue reading
Film Director extraordinaire James Cameron is one of the world’s most intensely curious inhabitants. He has stretched the boundaries of film, imagination and now too science with his record shattering deep-sea dive 2 years ago, 7 miles into pitch darkness at the bottom of the ocean. He is one of the newer uber-wealthy who happily for the … Continue reading
Silver Treasures in the Land of Sheba Hearing the Queen of Sheba, one conjures the notion of a majestic South Arabian woman of the Sabaean people, who traveled by camel caravan to Jerusalem bearing spices, frankincense and myrrh, jewels and gold, on a mission to test King Solomon’s wisdom. Her people lived in an area … Continue reading
One evening last month, while it was still light enough to see around 6:30, I took metro to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and walked around the grounds before meeting a friend inside. I noticed this bronze sculpture titled Don Quixote, by Aurelio Teno, which surely I’ve visited over the years. This time, as soon as my … Continue reading
This just in: Israel will issue 250 biometric cards to business people and merchants for people crossing the Erez Checkpoint between Gaza and Israel. The cards allow expedited security screening at Israeli-controlled crossings. Found this other artful photo of a better-than-typical checkpoint pedestrian walkway. Sharing here while most are far different by an order of … Continue reading
curated eclectica 