“Over the last nine months, remains — including Roman taverns and 16th-century palace foundations — have turned up at the central Piazza Venezia and near the ancient Forum where works are paving the way for one of the 30 stations of Rome’s third subway line.”
Tag: 03.07.08
Why Is New Spanish Architecture Thriving While Italy’s Languishes
“In Italy, politics can seem like a capricious game, one that has deeply influenced the country’s approach to architecture, design and urban planning over the past 30 or 40 years. Meanwhile, Spain changes its political spots slowly, but when it does change direction, the cultural results have been as thrilling as they have been serious.”
When The LA Times Drops Its Dance Critic…
“For Los Angeles itself, this is a particularly damaging time to lose its best-known critic. The city has just seen the launch of the Los Angeles Ballet, after two seasons still feeling its way in terms of audience and repertory. It deserves and requires the attention of at least one well-informed, local critic to judge and observe its progress on a regular basis.”
Walking The Line – What Can You Show On US TV?
“Directors and producers are deploying new tactics to get spicy material into television shows. Exactly what network standards will allow is a particularly touchy subject this season, as broadcasters struggle to walk a fine line between the television audience’s growing appetite for steamy fare and the Federal Communications Commission and partisan watchdog groups’ shrinking tolerance for it.”
NY’s Grand Plaza Hotel Goes To The Embalmer
“The historic exterior and grand public rooms have been impeccably restored, yet the New York icon feels embalmed rather than enlivened.”
Dedalus Saved From Extinction
“A real-life literary cliffhanger has had an unexpected happy ending, with the rescue of imperilled publisher Dedalus by another imprint. The small independent, acclaimed for its translations of work unfamiliar to English-speaking audiences, had been left in financial dire straits by Arts Council England after its funding was withdrawn last month.”
Report: Only 4 Percent Of NY Elementary Schools Meet Arts Ed Standards
Mayor Michael Bloomberg defends the city. “We are moving in the right direction. We will hold them accountable for teaching the arts just as we have established holding them accountable for English and math.”
Giant Nuremburg Nazi-Era Project To Become Concert Hall
“It was the biggest construction project ever begun by the Nazis, but it was never completed. Now, six decades after the end of World War II, part of Nuremberg’s Congress Hall is reopening — as a concert venue.”
Ancient Greek Tomb Discovered
The discovery could fuel debate on a major prehistoric puzzle — where the homeland of Homer’s legendary hero Odysseus was located.
Baghdad Museum Struggles As Art Deteriorates
“A lot of the material now in store is in very bad condition. Material was thrown off the shelves during the looting, and trampled under foot. Environmental conditions inside the museum are not what they ought to be. It was very damp in June 2003, when I was there with British Museum conservators. This is very bad for ivories, cuneiform tablets and metal objects.”