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A Cafe in The Gardens For many years I've hoped to have a return visit to La Casina Dell'Orologio.  The little green cafe is in the heart of Villa Borghese Gardens, in Rome. 1969 I remember visiting The Gardens with my family, in 1969. I was 11 and it felt like a magical oasis, after days of touring museums and cathedrals.
We 4 kids got to take a rowboat out on the lagoon. We visited the zoo and my dad held my brother up to feed the giraffe.  I remember how good it felt to stop and eat at an outdoor cafe on that beautiful spring day. I've never been able to recall the cafe's name, but I always hoped to someday find the place I remembered... with sweet doggies and funny statues. Piazza del Popolo In 2023, Don and I flew into Rome on Good Friday. We only had one day to visit The Eternal City.  Luckily our hotel was near the wonderful Piazza del Popolo. I only had to climb some stairs to reach the beautiful gardens that sit high on a hill above Rome. I gave myself an hour to explore. No time to dine, but I hoped to find the cafe I remembered. It was a lovely spring day. Just like 1969. I wandered and found the little green cafe!  I took a photo of the name so I would remember... for whenever we returned to Rome. October 2025 It was fall the next time we were in Rome. Once again we stayed at a hotel near Piazza del Popolo and we climbed the slippery steps to reach the park.
It was cloudy and windy and the towering trees moved like eerie monsters.  I spotted one of the many statue busts, like the one in my family photo.  The property looked a bit ominous. Or was I just feeling concerned because I'd read some pretty awful reviews about the sweet green cafe. Rude staff... awful food... high prices. Don and I figured we'd avoid disappointment and just stop in for cappuccino. Welcoming As we got closer, a framed menu lured us. I could see an open door with glowing lights.
We stepped inside and the cafe felt fresh and relaxed. It had just opened. The interior seemed inviting with its chandeliers and mosaic floors. I told the man holding menus that we'd like to sit outside.  He invited us to sit anywhere, so we made sure to find a table near one of the serious looking marble busts.
It wasn't the same head that looked over my family's table in 1969, but this one looked just as serious. Giacoma Zanella The patio tables were more enclosed than years ago, so I had to step outside the bushes to get a good look at the serious man who stood above our table. Hmm? Was C. Spazzi the sculptor?  The internet told me Mr. Zanella was an Italian poet. Cardinal Guglielmo Massaia While stepping outside the patio, I paused a moment to look at another notable Italian, with a pigeon on his head.  I looked up Mr. Massaia and learned he was a missionary, who did work in Ethiopia. There are over 200 busts displayed throughout the Pincian Hill Area, of the Borghese Gardens. Evidently 3 are actually women. Menu Back at the table, it was time to make a coffee choice. There were about 16 coffee options on the menu.  I was pretty amazed I could get a cappuccino for less than 5 euros. The whining reviews that I read earlier, complained of high prices. But I'd pay plenty for a drink or meal, seated anywhere in Borghese Gardens. Coffee Corrected Don was pretty excited about the idea of corrected coffee. We learned that "corrected" meant a shot of booze. The Italians started "correcting" or masking the odd flavors of coffee substitutes in the 1930s... back when coffee was hard to get, due to high taxes.  It wasn't even noon yet, but Don figured, "When in Rome..." He went for the Coffee With Corrected National Spirits. Corrected with Amora, an Italian liqueur. Just one euro more!  Don looks as serious as our nearby poet friend. Despite his expression, he enjoyed his special coffee very much. I was happy with my cappuccino. No decaffeintated barley cappuccino for me.  It was pleasantly quiet that morning at the cafe. I looked around us and wondered where my family had been seated in 1969. Everything looked more spread out.  I told our server that I had come here as a child in the '60s. He said there had been many changes since then. New Addition He took me inside to see the newest addition.  I counted 5 tree trunks, rising up through the roof. Since 1922 The trees were a reminder that this area had once been outside. It was a little hard communicating, but our server seemed enthused that I was interested in the history.  The cafe actually began as a small wooden kiosk, in 1922. It was reconstructed in 1960 and expanded with indoor seating, in 1970. This larger area came much later, I believe. I spotted a marble bust in the corner and walked over to have a better look.  This guy named Gino had a beard, so he was not the statue near our table 56 years ago. Eyes? Wikipedia told me that Gino Capponi was an "Italian statesman and historian of a Liberal Catholic bent."  Wikipedia didn't tell me why all the marble busts seemed to be asleep. However Later, I learned that the eyes of the statues in the park, were originally painted on. Obviously after time, the painted irises and pupils wore off. A Nice Visit I feel so lucky that our relaxed visit to La Casina turned out well.
I wish I'd never read the poor reviews. I'm so glad that we felt welcomed and enjoyed our coffees beside that serious poet.
Maybe on the next visit to Rome, we'll order a bite and rent a rowboat and feed a giraffe!
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First Time Visit I've traveled to Springfield, Missouri about a million times, since I was a kid in the 1960s.  But I never had a chance to eat at Mexican Villa, until 2023. Quick Lunch It was on Labor Day when Don and I visited, along with our son. We'd spent a busy few days celebrating my dad's 95th birthday. We stopped in for lunch before taking Scott to the airport.  Dad was off having lunch with my sister, or he would have been with us. I wish he had been, since Dad might have shared some memories of this place. From the 1940s This house-like building, has been at this South National location, since long before I was born. It was a bbq place when it first opened. I read that it got a lot of business from Drury College students... My parents maybe?  Since 1951, the property has been owned by the Ferguson family. There have been name changes over the years and the most recent one was around 1961. The word "Italian" was replaced with the word "Mexican", on the red sign! Murals I love some good neon and I love some kitschy murals.   Mexican Villa has quite a few. I snapped a few photos as we walked from the parking lot.  The kid in me loved the bullfighter. The adult in me paused a little, when I saw the smiling figure with his sombrero and taco. I would prefer a donkey "mascot".  I don't know the history of the animated fellow, but he has probably been smiling at customers since the fifties, when the Ferguson's opened the first Mexican food restaurant in Springfield. Fullhouse The restaurant was doing good business when we arrived on the holiday weekend.  A back room was packed with large parties. I had to wait until later to get up close to see some of the old photos.  This cozy booth was empty, so I could snap a pic without being rude. Knotty pine, sombreros... The words "Top plate is hot!" written above the window, made me wonder. Booth Time A friendly woman greeted and seated us at a booth in the old section of the building. Maybe Mom and Dad had bbq here, in 1949.  The dining room was lively. There was a jukebox behind Don and a table-side-jukebox that we didn't get a chance to try. Tabletop Entertainment Instead we enjoyed the tabletop entertainment.   I'm glad we got a good look at the fun food images, before the real food covered things up. Ferguson Family I read some history in the menu, about the family that started the business. Garin "Hargrave" Ferguson and his wife Betty, were originally from Springfield. Like my dad, they left Springfield and returned. After Hargrave's service in San Antonio during WWII, they returned to Springfield with an appreciation for Mexican food.  The couple purchased the homey little Springfield property in 1951 and eventually opened more locations. The restaurant has been operated by the family for over 65 years. Garin Ferguson, (Hargrave and Betty's grandson) runs the business today. Old Photos I found these photos in another room. One image shows a new location opening.  I don't recall seeing any Mexican Villas as a kid, but I believe the sign with the smiling figure was located at the Glenstone Avenue property. Funny, I thought I remembered every colorful sign on that wildly entertaining Springfield street. Signs on South Glenstone My sibs and I were always giddy when we arrived in Springfield to visit relatives. The drive down Glenstone was like Times Square to us. Colorful neon signs, moving and flashing! The Cat and the Fiddle sign was our favorite. That cat actually fiddled!
Evidently the Ferguson's restaurant on Glenstone, was right across the street from Cat & Fiddle. I guess I never noticed the waving figure in the sombrero, because I was staring at the fiddling cat! More to See Inside There was a lot to look at while we waited for our orders.  There was Hargrave and his wife Betty. Who knows, maybe my dad knew them. Nostalgia I spotted decor that brought back memories of visiting my grandmother in Springfield. I never ate Mexican food as a kid, but I recall Foremost Milk in "Daw's" refrigerator, on Weller Street.  I obviously didn't know Mr. Ferguson when I visited Springfield in 1967...  ...but the soda bottles surrounding his 1967 photo brought back more memories of Daw's fridge. She often stocked up on these bubbly bottled drinks, when we visited in the summer. Eating Don and I didn't grow up with Mexican food, but we learned to love it. Especially after moving to Texas decades ago.  Scott did grow up with Mexican food and was excited to dig into his double plated feast.  We laughed with our server about the double plating. Just like the words on wall, the top plate was indeed hot! Both our platters and Don's basket of tacos were decent. They were just what we expected. An Ozark style of Mexican meal. Not authentic Mexican or Tex Mex, but just fine. We came for some Springfield history! A Quick Look By the time we finished up, the back room had emptied.  We wandered back to check out the photos, near the wall above the fireplace.  There was Hargrave and Betty again, at their Glenstone location. Called Old Mexico, at the time.  We absorbed a few more images displayed on the knotty pine, before heading out the front door. One last sign with the pointing fella, before we headed to the car.  We never found the Fiesta Room. We were off to the airport. Wondering As we drove to the airport we talked about how well the birthday weekend gathering had gone. I was eager to give Dad a call later and ask if he'd ever gone to Mexican Villa.
Did Dad eat bbq here as a teen? Did he bring Mom here, when they started dating at Drury? Did he know the Fergusons? Dining With Dad I got distracted and I forgot to ask and then it was too late. Just a few months after Dad's birthday celebration he passed away. It's sad that I'll never know if he and Mom dined inside the cozy "house" on S. National. In recent years, I've been lucky to collect lots of other dining memories with Dad in Springfield. Cheers to sharing meals with those we love. Cheers to the iconic eateries of Springfield.  Cheers to finally eating at Mexican Villa for the first time!
Lunch at The Tavern Last fall, Don and I strolled through Central Park on the day before Thanksgiving.  Weather was lovely and so was our lunch at Tavern on the Green. In 2003 22 years before, we strolled through Central Park with our kids... on the day before Thanksgiving. We stopped in front of the historic property. with its festive trees.  We regretted not having reservations. I'd always hoped to return. The Tavern's History I remember being so curious about the famous restaurant, tucked into the heart of Central Park. I actually knew little about the history. I just pictured glitzy New Yorkers dining there.  I learned later that the brick building opened as a restaurant in 1934. This vintage postcard makes it look like a rambling country club, instead of a fine city restaurant. Where were the tall buildings? November 2025 It took over 2 decades before Don and I returned to New York. This time, we knew to make reservations.  But we still got confused. We walked up to this charming entrance, then realized it was just an order window. "Tavern To Go" offers take-out sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Main Entrance We walked further and found an enclosed walkway that took us to the lovely Gothic Revival building.  The building was a bit obscured, but I could see arches and they looked familiar. Not so much from our 2003 visit, but from an image in our vintage cookbook! Cookbook Illustration Months before our New York trip I flipped through our 1950 Ford Motor Cookbook, featuring recipes from all over the country. I spotted this watercolor image, along with a Tavern on the Green recipe.  I was suddenly extra excited to visit the restaurant! I secured reservations and I made sure to pack the book for the trip! Always love a Cookbook Dining Adventure! Sheepfold First As we moved towards the walkway, I glanced up at the logo with 2 sheep. What a fun reminder of the building's history. When the restaurant opened its doors to the first diners in 1934, the brick building wasn't new. It had served wooly guests for many decades. Well, sort of.  The original structure was built in 1870 to house 200 sheep, that grazed in the park's nearby Sheep Meadow. The sheepfold protected the flocks for many decades, before it was transformed into a restaurant. Fancy! More arches and pretty woodwork greeted us, when we stepped inside.  It was surreal to imagine the fluffy sheep that once sheltered under this roof. It was also fun to imagine the famous people from Grace Kelly to John Lennon, who used to dine here. The Bar Room We arrived at noon and our gracious host welcomed us and told us our table was ready. She had us follow her through the less formal Bar Room, where guests are able to dine and drink without reservations.
I glanced at the ornate fireplace, before passing into the next room. It looked original to me, but was actually created during the most recent renovation. Hard to see, but there are 2 sweet sheep heads holding up the mantle. Central Park Room We continued following, through the bright Central Park Room, with its glass wall facing the outdoor dining terrace.  This dining room occupies the space where the Crystal Room once entertained guests, beneath shimmering crystal chandeliers. The glass-enclosed Crystal Room (which opened in the 1970s) was removed when the Tavern was sold in 2009.  After a 40-million dollar renovation, the Tavern reopened in 2014. Diners in the Central Park Room could enjoy views of the dining terrace, as well as views of the open kitchen. South Wing We passed through the bustling Central Park Room and I worried. Were we going to be taken to some new overflow annex? Nope. We entered the South Wing, which is where Tavern on the Green originally served diners in 1934.
My South Wing photo with vaulted ceiling and dramatic lighting, looks classy and modern. It's fun to compare it to the 1934 photo of the same dining space, with tablecloths and waiters in white jackets. How I wish I could find photos showing sheep inside this building!  Instead I saw comfortable diners, in a pleasant and soothing space.  Moss green velvet banquette seating and mirrored panels with plant designs. So nice! The dining room looked less rustic than the images of long ago.  I wish I could see what guests wore in the 1930s when they came to dine. The lunchtime crowd in 2025 seemed a bit informal and touristy. But I was just happy to be dining along with them. Great Spot Our server Brittania arrived right away. We ordered some wine and took in the atmosphere.  Don's seat offered a view of me of course... and the back section of the dining room. At the end of the room (and building) there was a small bar.  Bar staff was working swiftly. A lot of happy diners were in holiday spirits. Looking behind Don, I had a view of a beautiful stone table, with yet another nod to the restaurant's sheep history.  It made me wonder about all the collected decor that went to auction in 2009. Tiffany lamps, Baccarat Crystal, animal sculptures, whimsical murals... What a massive auction it must have been, before the building was turned over to the city. Ordering I enjoyed spotting more sheep on our water glasses and on the menu. Then I went to work searching for Chestnut Dressing.  I didn't find it and I didn't expect to. Cookbook Time! When Brittania came to take our order, I asked my question even though I knew the answer. "Do you still serve Tavern Chestnut Dressing?" When she apologized that they didn't, I pulled out the book.
Don and I had a chuckle watching our server react. Brittania saw the page with the recipe & illustration and did a double take. Then she studied the cover. "Where did you get this!" We love that question. I felt a little guilty to taking up her time on such a busy day. But Brittania was clearly interested in the old book.  Before long she'd gotten the attention of Jason, the manager.  Jason studied the curious page and asked to snap a photo of the recipe. Chef Bill Pete After Jason and Brittania left our table, a couple sitting nearby popped up and came to our table. They wanted to know about the little yellow book that everyone was looking at.  Just a moment after the couple departed, Executive Chef Bill Peet suddenly appeared at out table. What a fun surprise! He of course wanted a peek at the book and recipe. We were a little stunned that this very important chef on a such a busy day, would take a moment to come to our table. He was delightful and so enthused when he heard how we used the cookbook to inspire our own dining adventures around the country,  We were happy that Chef Bill was properly amused. He was happy to hear us rave about our dining experience so far. We hadn't even taken a bite of food, but we were already in love with Tavern on the Green. When he learned we were NY visiting family, he encouraged us to bring them here the day after Thanksgiving. "You can have a turkey sandwich and we'll be all decorated for the holidays!" His enthusiasm made me think he was new to The Tavern, but he'd been here 9 years. Food! Don and I usually eat light for lunch, but we needed a feast to match the fun we'd had so far.
Don's grilled rainbow trout, blistered green beans and warm bacon potato salad was pretty amazing, even before the almond caper sauce! I could have eaten all his potatoes for him! The name Lemon Chicken Under a Brick, excited me. I had a wild image in my head of how this might be served. Britannia had to break the news that the brick was used for cooking, not serving. We both laughed, picturing the muscles it would take to carry dishes with bricks.
I ordered anyway and loved every bite. The brick must have done amazing things to my chicken. It melted in my mouth, along with Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes. Perfection! Sweets We were on a roll and ordered some sticky toffee pudding to split. The dried plum caramel sauce was fabulous, with the salted caramel ice cream and sponge cake.  If that wasn't enough Brittania surprised us with a nifty green box, holding some chocolate truffles. Thanks Tavern! We couldn't thank Brittania enough for giving us a memorable dining experience. We wished her a Happy Thanksgiving... even though we knew she'd be working.  I'm sure the diners she served the next day were very well taken care of. Wandering The weather was pleasant and sunny when we stepped out. We wandered a bit, trying to see glimpses of the old building.
I would love to hear some of the best stories that have taken place on this property, over the years.
Maybe I could just settle for seeing a few older movies that have filmed scenes on the property. Ghostbusters, Beaches, Arthur, The Out-of-Towners...  We passed the terrace patio and I imagined how it would look, lit up in the evenings over the holidays. Next visit! Walking in Central Park To top off our memorable dining experience, we got to enjoy a lovely walk back to our hotel. Perfect way to burn off those calories.  What a beautiful day to stroll and enjoy some fall colors and a little people watching. Cheers to enjoying the 167-year-old park! The park might have even more stories to tell than The Tavern!  Cheers to dining in a 155-year-old building, that's been delighting diners for 91 years!
We won't wait 22 years for our next visit! Day After Thanksgiving The day after Thanksgiving, Don and I joined my brother and his wife, for a meal at Junior's.  Dave knows we love an old-school dining experience. Especially if the restaurant has been around for over 75 years. Or if you can spot a martini glass on the exterior. Or if the establishment has sort of a retro name, like Junior's. Brisk Morning Even the walk to Junior's was entertaining. It was a chilly morning, but the walk from Dave and Amy's apartment was pleasant.
We spotted some holiday decor. The glowing star-lights looked very vintage.  Some of the older buildings offered hints of the past. It was fun to imagine Brooklyn in the 1950s... or long before! The wind stirred leaves as we walked beneath the scaffolding.
I could see a cozy glow through the curved glass at Junior's. We passed by an entrance with lots of glowing bulbs and the word COCKTAILS.  It was a little early for cocktails. Corner Entrance We entered the red doors at the corner of Flatbush and De Kalb. Now known as Cheesecake Corner.  This corner looked a little different than it did when Harry Rosen operated Enduro Restaurant from 1926 to 1949.
Mr. Rosen reopened as a family style restaurant called Junior's, in 1950. The name was chosen to honor his 2 sons. Walter and Marvin, not Junior and Junior. It felt cozy and warm when we stepped inside,  The mod, curvy dining counter looked inviting. Holiday decor added a festive vibe. The walls were filled with framed photos and clippings.  Lots of celebs have visited over the years. I regret that I didn't take time to study the walls. President Clinton is shown in the photos above. Quiet Friday There were lots of open tables at 10:00 am. Maybe everyone was sleeping late, the morning after their turkey feast.  Maybe the usual diners were out doing some Black Friday shopping. We slid into a cozy booth, with coffee cups waiting.  The menu and cup with saucer looked very 1950. Orange stripes and a smiling fellow wearing a chef's hat. Most Fabulous!  Even the soft coaster beneath the cup, was a nice touch. Ready to absorb my coffee drips. Breakfast in Brooklyn I believe this was the first dining experience Don and I have ever had, in Brooklyn. We wanted to order something that fit the iconic restaurant.  We both look sleepy in this photo. Luckily the coffee kept coming. Hash, Blintzes & Ruebens For $21.95 Don ordered homemade corned beef hash with 2 poached eggs and home fries.  Pricey for a diner breakfast, but worth it! I chose homemade cheese blintzes. 3 delicate-flaky packages, stuffed with sweet cheesy filling. Strawberry sauce, sour cream and powdered sugar. Just right! No way could I eat all!
It was closer to breakfast than lunch, but Dave and Amy couldn't resist Ruebens, with hefty fries and a thick dipping sauce. No photos of the complimentary pickles that our server delivered to all of us. Imaging the Past Before long we were headed out, carrying leftovers with us. We walked past the retro dining counter and I imagined another time. How fun to go back to 1950 and sip a coffee next to a cab driver... or some celebrity stopping by for cheesecake. So many different kinds of guests over the years.  President Obama ordered some cheesecake in 2013. The cast of Sex in the City surely had some good things to eat when they filmed a scene at Junior's once. The dining guests were allowed to stay! Cheesecake We were tempted to get some dessert to go, when we walked past the case of cheesecakes. I still can't believe we passed on the food that Junior's is known for.  Junior's puts out more than 5 million cheesecakes a year, using the same recipe from 1950. Gage & Tollner Temps were warmer and the walk back to the apartment was pleasant. We'd walked less than 10 minutes when I paused in front of an old building and studied the gold letters on the window.  I suddenly recognized the name from one of our vintage cookbooks, with restaurant recipes! Gage & Tollner opened in this building around 1889! I knew we had a plane to catch, but oh how I wanted to add G & T to our Brooklyn dining adventure day!
Brooklyn, we'll be back! Cafe-Museum We were the only diners inside this little museum. last October. It was magical.  The only other diners we saw at Canova Tadolini were seated outside. They were focused on food & drink, not art. "Museo Atelier" Don and I stumbled across this remarkable place while wandering in Rome last October. The brass sign near the door, had the Italian words for museum and studio. It also had the names of 2 artists.  We knew a bit about the sculptor, Antonio Canova. We learned later that Adamo Tadolini had been Canova's prized student and this building became their studio in 1818. Ugliest Fountain in Rome We actually didn't see the brass sign right away, when we were strolling down Via del Babuino. We could have totally missed the curious art-filled cafe, if something odd hadn't caught our attention first.  This moss covered man with the odd expression, was in front of Caffe Canova Tadolini. Babuino The creepy 16th century figure is nicknamed Babuino, which means Baboon. It is one of Rome's "talking statues". I wasn't familiar with that term, but it's worth a Google search.  We studied the odd fellow lounging above the fountain, looking out over the street. The street actually had a different name once, but it became Via del Babuino, eventually. Babuino is obviously very influential! We weren't the only ones pausing to study Babuino. He has drawn attention for hundreds of years.
This dapper man paused to look at the statue, before heading off with his briefcase. Plain Building After admiring the "furry man" we noticed the building behind. It looked simple but curious, with leaded glass windows and flags.  We saw cafe tables and a pretty church, just beyond. Only a few of the cafe tables were occupied at 11 am. A Bold Entrance We headed on our way, then stopped abruptly when we spotted this bold entrance. It looked like a wild collection of statues, attempting to escape!  As we peered inside, a man greeted and invited us in.  The room we entered looked like a museum. A somewhat cluttered museum.  I made Don pose to show the size of that enormous horse. Bar The room to the left of the entrance, held a bar. Evidence that this was not just a museum. I could see food on display, as well as sculptures.  The liquor bottles shared shelf space with some smaller sculptures. A large foot here and a pair of cherubs there... Inside Dining A waiter introduced himself as Jimmy. He seemed delighted when we asked to dine inside the museum, unlike the other guests.  He took us through a doorway, past a few important looking sculpted men. There were about 4 tables squeezed into the front room.  Don and I were both pretty clueless and assumed these were marble statues. We learned more later. I posed to show just how large and impressive these pieces were.  It turns out the museum was filled with 2 centuries worth of Italian sculpture. Most of what we saw were practice pieces, preparatory models and plaster casts used for creating finished sculptures. The final works are exhibited in museums around the world.  Don and I learned a little of this from some information written in the menus. But Jimmy spoke enough English to help us understand a little more. A New Room Jimmy ended up moving us to a back room, where we could absorb even more art and history. It was amazing to sit in this space where Canova and Tadolini worked together. The studio was handed over to Tadolini and 4 generations of his family produced work here.  The studio remained in the Tadolini family from 1818 to 1967. Adamo Tadolini's great-great-grandson Enrico Tadolini, was the last to work in this space. After his death in 1967, the studio was abandoned for a period. Jimmy's Favorite I asked Jimmy which piece was his favorite in the museum. He pointed to the figure behind him, that I thought was Madonna at first.  I was a bit confused, but I believe Jimmy said the statue was a practice piece, for a final sculpture that is now displayed in the Vatican. St. Frances Cabrini I took a closer look. The woman with the angel, is actually St. Frances Cabrini, who was canonized in 1946.  A nearby display of photos gave a little insight. Although I can't read Italian. I learned with some internet help, that it was Enrico Tadolini who sculpted this massive piece in 1947.  I studied the photos and tried to imagine how Enrico created this tremendous piece inside the studio, where we were about to have lunch. My eyes were drawn to the photo of Enrico, with the face of St. Frances Cabrini. The image is almost a little sad. He looks exhausted.  I have a new appreciation for these sculptors and the strenuous work that went into these especially large pieces. I read that Canova's death at age 64, was due to the physical damage done to his body, after years working with heavy tools. Relaxing in the Corner Don and I did nothing rigorous. We took a seat at a little table where we could enjoy all that surrounded us.  The framed piece beside Don, shows a 2022 stamp that honored Canova. From my chair, I could look out towards the entrance. The tall window made me imagine the artists, working on enormous pieces.  Across from me I studied a piano, holding smaller works.
The fancy woman and her fancy chair, intrigued me. The pieces were numbered, so it felt organized like a museum.  Yet the sculptures and sketches and photographs were so casually placed, it felt just like a cluttered studio.  Which I think was the point in the 1990s, when a gallery purchased all the works. (nearly 500) The idea was to create a restaurant, yet maintain the somewhat chaotic atmosphere of the original studio. History Besides the plaster sculptures and practice pieces, there were lots of photos and articles displayed.  This one shows the studio long ago. The entrance, with its massive door. Time for Food It seemed odd to order food in a museum, but we were hungry by 11:30.
We ordered cappuccino first.  Don ordered a ham panini for a reasonable 6.50 euros.  I was excited about my toast sandwich with ham, cheese, egg and lettuce.   A tasty late morning treat. People Watching We had the back room to ourselves until a man came with a ladder. We were entertained, watching him fix a spotlight.  After a while I was entertained by a woman who came in from outside. She seemed to be in search of a restroom. She headed for the corner and seemed confused to find a dead end. Then she magically disappeared. A hidden automatic door! Just another surprise in the museum. The Three Graces After finishing lunch I decided to try out the magical mystery door, myself. I walked past the familiar statue of The Three Graces... and wondered.
Canova's original from 1814, is in Russia now. I wish I'd asked Jimmy what he knew about this piece. Was it a practice piece? Before Departing We finished our meal and I took one more snap of the incredible room where we had just enjoyed a light meal.  Jimmy thanked us for coming and insisted on taking our photo.  He placed us at a table in front of his favorite statue. I have to chuckle at our awkward, yet happy pose. It looks like I'm wearing an artist's smock! Good Bye Babunio! We thanked Jimmy for our wonderful experience at the museum.  We headed out and said good-bye to Babuino and thanked him for catching our attention that morning!
What a wonderful Dining Adventure! |
The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
February 2026
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