Art in One Form or Another

Aspen's ArtCRUSH

Wish I could go to this year's ArtCRUSH. On August 4-6, more than 350 of the world’s top art collectors, wine connoisseurs, artists, gallery owners, curators, celebrities, and global business leaders come together in Aspen for three days to celebrate the Aspen Art Museum’s annual gala.

Importantly, Marilyn Minter is the featured artist. If you go, report back. Thanks!

Running a Danny Meyer Marathon

If eating is an art, then Danny Meyer is Jackson Pollock.

New York City has two rulers. The Hon. Michael Bloomberg is its elected mayor. Its equally honorable but unelected emperor, Danny Meyer, holds court without pomp at 10 palaces in New York County, aka Manhattan. These are restaurants admired round the world, restaurants ranging from the humblest hamburger stand to the higher reaches of Michelin-starred, plate-of-the-art fine dining. Make that 11 palaces, since Mr. Meyer, a mild St. Louisan, has just launched Maialino, a Roman-style trattoria, riding into town on a pig.

Food + Art Collide at Prospect.1

We went for the art. We stayed for the food. We left with spiked cholesterol counts. While our journey down to New Orleans was for international art, it soon became clear that the biennale was just filler between epic meals. A review of Prospect.1 is in the works, but first, the culinary highlights:

ACME Oyster House – Less than 30 minutes after landing I had grilled oysters in one hand, raw oysters in the other!
Cafe Du Monde – The Beinet bender was on.
Dooky Chase's – An institution like no other. Their fried chicken and catfish encored with the best banana pudding on this planet ,served by three generations of Chase’s.
Casamentos – A dozen oysters while waiting in line parlayed into a Po Boy sandwich capped off with the best coffee in town.
The Creole Creamery – The first of two visits to this ice cream shop in the Garden District. . An array of artesian ice cream, extraordinary flavors.
Mother's – Ever heard of debris? If not, go to Mother’s to experience firsthand.
Franky and Johnny's – My introduction to the Mufaletta sandwich and a pile of craw fish and gator bites served by one of the most fun (and bossy) waitresses I’ve ever met. 
Luke – Sitting bar side at this bistro I had a tutorial on cracking oysters and met a shucker whose biggest fear is (my favorite) the kumamoto oyster (soft shells = high injury rate).
Galatoire's – Sunday brunch at Galatoire’s is an experience like no other. Jackets are required as are two Manhattan’s before the apps come out. Eat here and you will understand how business deals are done in the south.
Deanie's – Local shrimp the size of your hand.
Camellia Grill – You know it’s the right spot when all of the Tulane students are waiting in line for breakfast.
Morning Call Coffee Stand– THE place for beignet’s and coffee. Period.

Unreal.

River North Art District, or RiNo for short

There's been so much talk about museums, galleries and artists creating communities online  that it's nice to see the same momentum continue offline as well. Enter RiNo. Situated along the Platte River Bike Path in Denver, Colorado, RiNo is a concentration of creative businesses, including architects, art galleries, designers, furniture makers, illustrators, painters, media artists, photographers, sculptors, and an array of studio spaces.

It's exciting to see a coalition, dedicated to promoting and supporting the people and businesses that reside in the area, built around art and I'm interested to learn about RiNo's development and future initiatives.