Beyond the Sea and Sand in Curacao - Art + Culinary Adventures

If you find yourself on the Caribbean island of Curacao, try to pull yourself away from the beach and head to the interior where Evelien Sipkes, a well respected ceramicist and jewelry designer, has her atelier, gallery, workshop and home. I spent quite awhile with her, discovering how she crafts necklaces, bracelets, rings and ceramics with inspiration from the surrounding nature. But, it's even more fascinating to discover that her creativity goes beyond these artistic objects. She's also a chef who hosts wine-paired dinners, high tea and lunches where she not only creates the culinary delights but also the table ware.  I recently interviewed Evelien for ForbesLife.

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Everything is Buzzing in Baltimore

Tell most people you're spending some leisure time in Baltimore and three things probably come immediately to mind: the tourist-laden Inner Harbor, the crime-infested HBO show "The Wire," and Johns Hopkins -- a supreme medical institution but hardly a highlight of any city vacation. So, you can imagine my surprise when, after spending four days in this city that's the hometown and inspiration for filmmaker John Waters, I found Baltimore to be a vibrant, eco-conscious town with charming neighborhoods, amazing cuisine served in some spacious restaurants that were once old warehouses or machine shops, and green spaces galore.


This is the first of two posts on what I found:

1. Elevation Burger is serving organic, grass-fed beef and, I have to say that, though I'm a conditional vegetarian -- in other words, I'm a vegetarian that eats fish except when I'm not doing restaurant reviews -- this was a supremely yummy burger. And, you can cut your guilt by ordering a double patty with a veggie burger (vegan or with cheese) combined with the beef variety. Plus, Elevation Burger is very eco-conscious: the olive oil is recycled for fuel -- yes, this burger joint uses olive oil even for the french fries; the floor is made of bamboo and the tables of a special wood (made of grass stalks) from China.


2. I really enjoyed browsing the fashion offerings at Sassanova, a new shop where I found a fun collection of headbands, bangles, sandals and necklaces, including the precious and semi-precious stone necklaces by KEP Designs.. They also carry the Karma line of jewelry with their "make a wish" bracelets," which I'm told are very popular with people visiting friends and relatives at Hopkins.


Once I walked into the Fell's Point neighborhood, I found it hard to leave. This quaint, historic neighborhood with some of the original stone streets is perfect for an afternoon or full-day visit.

3. I stopped in at the Robert McClintock Gallery that's hung with the vibrant works of this photo and digital artist. Right now they're featuring an exhibit on man's best friend: "Dogs That I Know." Don't miss the impressive Staffordshire Bull Terrier hanging prominently in the window. (He's named Blue Steel.)


4. It's certainly appropriate that Meli Patisserie & Bistro, named for honey, would stock an amazingly eclectic supply of artisanal honeys from around the world, from Tasmania to Argentina. A honeycomb pattern plays a prominent role in the decor. And, of course, many of the dishes, from entrees to desserts have honey as an ingredient.

5. Teavolve is what's called an urban tea house. This is one of the only shops in downtown Baltimore selling bubble tea, a favorite of mine. But, more interestingly, tea can be found as an ingredient is some unexpected foods and drinks here: sangria is infused with rooibos tea, even cocktails get a spike of tea -- vodka plus Fukuiji green tea and green apple puree. What could be more refreshing on a hot summer night? But all is not about tea here. The fruits and vegetables on the menu are organic and visit in the summer and you'll be treated to Belgian waffles topped with local white peaches. The adult grilled cheese with feta, boat and mozzarella cheeses is another I'd order again. But the zen-like atmosphere transforms to a more active vibe on Friday and Saturday night when you've got DJ's spinning tunes and also occasional live music.

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Tel Aviv's Art Scene

No matter where I looked in Tel Aviv, I found my senses constantly stimulated by the eclectic- and Bauhaus-style as well as contemporary architecture, art galleries and museums, and design emporia. In fact, I could've easily have spent a week just checking out Tel Aviv's art and architecture scene. This is one of several posts details the venues I fell in love with:

• If you're interested in decorative arts, the Eretz Israel Museum Shop is a must visit. Located just a short cab ride from the heart of Tel Aviv, the museum is an amalgam of everything to do with Israel's history and culture including archeology and traditional crafts. When I visited, I stopped in to check out the temporary "Clay, Sensation" exhibit that displays the works of more than 50 celebrated Israeli ceramics artists, from Samy D. to Karin Zur. This is no ordinary pottery exhibit; many are quite avant garde -- such as a bowl that reminded me of a cell's nucleus and a glowing perforated globe that seems like an alien ship. Definitely worth checking out if you want to see creativity at its best in the ceramics arena.

It's hard to walk away empty handed at their Museum Shop with its array of ceramics and jewelry, both classic and contemporary. You'll find cool glassware and metalworks, Ethiopian sculptures , Bedouin embroidery and even boldly-hued mezuzahs.

• By the way, if you can't get enough of all things design oriented, make sure to get a copy of the "Israel Through Art" guide. Here you'll be able to spend your week or your weekend in Tel Aviv and elsewhere in Israel visiting the boutique shops, private galleries, workshops and studios of some of Israel's top decorative artists. This booklet is a product of AIDA, the Association of Israel's Decorative Arts which is a group of American collectors that are well known in this arena. I wish I had more time because I only found out about this near the end of my trip.

• Along Bialik Street, a placid narrow lane lined with Bauhaus buildings, I appropriately found the new Bauhaus Museum. Open only on Wednesdays and Fridays, this one-room space exhibits the furniture designs that were influenced by the Bauhaus School. Titled "Bauhaus at Home," the display includes tubular tables and chairs constructed of glass, wicker and wood as well as tubular lights, and cabinets with tea sets.

• Almost across the street is the newly renovated Bialik Museum that opened a few months ago. This lovely 1920s home of the country's national poet, Chiam Nachman Bialik, is replete with an ornate tiled fireplace, tiled columns and floors and his painting collection on the first floor. Though all the displays and booklets are in Hebrew, come on a weekend and you might be able to request an English-speaking guide. I did and found out that the building (with its East/West architectural influences) was meticulously restored using the original plans and documents; the the clock in the dining room played what later became Israel's national anthem; and that Bialik would entertain friends and guests at length, discussing politics, philosophy, Judaism and how to build the young city of Tel Aviv.

• Down the same street, don't miss the Rubin Museum, formerly Reuven Rubin's house and studio. The Roumanian-born painter is considered one of Israel's most beloved artists. Dating to the 1930s, the multi-story house displays his sun-bathed landscapes that reminded me a lot of works by Cezanne, photos of Rubin with a multitude of celebrities, including Harpo Marx as well as a few unfinished canvases. The three-floor temporary exhibit -- these change three or four times a year -- is entitled "Van Gogh in Tel Aviv" and displays the oils, charcoals, mixed media and wood sculpture of more than three dozen Israeli artists that pay homage to this master. (Interestingly, the museum's curator was inspired to produce this exhibition when she found an homage to Van Gogh painting among Rubin's unpublished works.)

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