WMA Board greet guests at WMA-JFK Reception 2009 AAM Philadelphia

AAM Philadelphia and amazing opening session

I absolutely loved the opening session today from the wonderful and witty discussion of Einstein and creativity with Walter Isaacson, to the great “Town Hall” that Ford Bell conducted, to the thrilling singing of the gospel choir Soul Searchers that started things off. I am dashing off to the Contemporary Art Museum for an evening event that should be fun and daring…Radical Art. Philly is pretty amazing. Thanks to the host committee for making it all happen.

San Diego — Gotta Go!

The post below is from Cheryl Hinton, Museum Director and Chief Curator at the Barona Cultural Center & Museum and Chair, Host Committee Western Museums Association Annual Meeting, San Diego 2009 (October 24 – 30, 2009).

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Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

O.K., folks, here is a superb list from Hugh M. Davies, The David C. Copley Director, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Thanks so much Hugh and Denise Montgomery (Director of Communications) who asked him the question for WMA!
Favorite Spots in San Diego:

Salk Institute—Louis Kahn’s architectural masterpiece—for the magnificent vista of the sea framed by a timeless building.

The truly challenging and visually splendid south course at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT), an impressive cultural center with a marvelous multimedia display of the history of the Californias. Expanded in September 2008 to include El Cubo (The Cube), designed by Tijuana architect Eugenio Velásquez, for visual arts exhibitions. This cultural center also features a state-of-the-art concert and lecture hall fine café, and IMAX theater. Easy to reach over the border.

Border Field State Park for a true sense of what it feels like to live on the border between the U.S. and Mexico. A simple fence—la linea—runs all the way to the ocean, separating the two countries. Also, there is a beautiful bird sanctuary there and a festive, convivial atmosphere.

Top of Mount Soledad in La Jolla for the 360-degree view of San Diego.

Timken Art Gallery in Balboa Park, a jewel box of a museum with a great repository of European old masters, Russian icons, and historical American paintings.

Roppongi Restaurant and Sushi Bar in La Jolla’s wonderful hamachi appetizer – served in a most inventive fashion on four upright forks.

Exploring the tide pools in La Jolla on a Sunday afternoon.

Guy Fleming Trail at Torrey Pines State Park.

Strawberry-banana gelati from Gelato Vero in Mission Hills.

Chicano Park murals in Barrio Logan.

Drinking lavender lemonade and a light French café-style lunch at Café Chloe in downtown.

Cocktails at the W Hotel’s hip rooftop Beach bar (complete with sand, of course).

Catching some great live jazz at Anthology, the jazz supper club on India Street in Little Italy.

—San Diego is fascinating… let’s hear more from all of you, Cheryl.