Day 5
Today we spent the morning touring the Seattle public library. The central library for the Seattle public library system which has 26 Branches. An amazing 11 story building in the heart of Seattle. They have 26 branch libraries and serve a population of 600,000. They are also doing a lot of work with early literacy programs and job hunting...seems to be a theme so far. Its really about the library being the place for connection and for people who have become unemployed because of the GFC they are providing all sorts of services (BTW, we have come out of it fairly unscathed compared to what we are hearing here)
We loved the city of Seattle and didn't have anywhere near enough time to explore before we were off to Chicago. Much cooler than expected and it rains a bit!
Day 6
After 1/2 a day travelling we arrived in Chicago about 3pm and it was HOT. Checked into the extremely opulent Palmer Hilton. We went to the Art institute were they have a fabulous collection of impressionist art, amongst a whole lot of other stuff, and some gorgeous Monet's. Today we visit Chicago Library. its 92 (33) today and humid.
17 June 2010
16 June 2010
Catching fish
Today we left LA and headed up to Seattle. We had a tour of Bainbridge Island (think of the book Snow falling on Cedars) which was really interesting. But prior to that we went to the famous Pike Fish Markets famous for the Fish throwing motivational program, I got to be centre of attention as usual and catch a very large fish thrown at me by one of the guys who works there.
So far we have done some interesting stuff and seen some good libraries. Tomorrow we head for the Seattle Public library in the morning and then to the Gates Foundation in the afternoon where i have to do a presentation,
Still, nothing beats having had dinner with Michelle Obama!!!!
So far we have done some interesting stuff and seen some good libraries. Tomorrow we head for the Seattle Public library in the morning and then to the Gates Foundation in the afternoon where i have to do a presentation,
Still, nothing beats having had dinner with Michelle Obama!!!!
15 June 2010
Dinner with Michelle
Day 2
Sunday - A cultural tour of LA
Today we went to the The Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels, the Disney Centre, home of the LA Philharmonic, an amazing Frank Gehry building, and then to the Getty Museum, another wonderful building with an eclectic range of exhibitions...all free for the people of LA. We also stopped at the Mexican market and ate enchiladas for lunch. All of these buildings reflected a different architectural style but each of them stunning in their own way.
Sunday evening - Dinner with Michelle
However, the highlight of the day was the dinner at Lucques on Melrose Avenue. We arrived at 8.30 to find we had to wait in a queue to get into the restaurant, (something I really hate) but then I realised that customers were all having a full body scan and handbags searched by some very attractive young men in suits (something I don't hate). Turns out Michelle Obama and her daughters were there for dinner as well. We sat on a table just across from them, the place was full of security but no one seemed to mind.
Day 3
Today we got down to the serious business of looking at libraries and visited the Central library in downtown LA as well as two of the LA branch libraries. The LA library system looks after 11m people with 72 branches, all of which are either new or have been refurbished in the past 15 years. The central library covers a city block and is 5 floors, a fantastic building built 17 years ago following a fire gutted the existing library. The other two libraries we visited were Silver Lake, the newest branch, which is an environmentally sustainable design and the chinatown branch. Was blown away by the main library but underwhelmed by the branches. There was nothing I would take from them to bring home that we aren't already doing, however, they are going through some tough financial times (as is all of LA) and will have to lay off 100 or so staff this week and then reduce opening hours!
Some of us then popped into the Beverly Hills library which is not part of the LA library system but still a free public library for the residents of Beverly Hills.
Off to Seattle very early in the morning so here's hoping there will be something fabulous there.
Sunday - A cultural tour of LA
Today we went to the The Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels, the Disney Centre, home of the LA Philharmonic, an amazing Frank Gehry building, and then to the Getty Museum, another wonderful building with an eclectic range of exhibitions...all free for the people of LA. We also stopped at the Mexican market and ate enchiladas for lunch. All of these buildings reflected a different architectural style but each of them stunning in their own way.
Sunday evening - Dinner with Michelle
However, the highlight of the day was the dinner at Lucques on Melrose Avenue. We arrived at 8.30 to find we had to wait in a queue to get into the restaurant, (something I really hate) but then I realised that customers were all having a full body scan and handbags searched by some very attractive young men in suits (something I don't hate). Turns out Michelle Obama and her daughters were there for dinner as well. We sat on a table just across from them, the place was full of security but no one seemed to mind.
Day 3
Today we got down to the serious business of looking at libraries and visited the Central library in downtown LA as well as two of the LA branch libraries. The LA library system looks after 11m people with 72 branches, all of which are either new or have been refurbished in the past 15 years. The central library covers a city block and is 5 floors, a fantastic building built 17 years ago following a fire gutted the existing library. The other two libraries we visited were Silver Lake, the newest branch, which is an environmentally sustainable design and the chinatown branch. Was blown away by the main library but underwhelmed by the branches. There was nothing I would take from them to bring home that we aren't already doing, however, they are going through some tough financial times (as is all of LA) and will have to lay off 100 or so staff this week and then reduce opening hours!
Some of us then popped into the Beverly Hills library which is not part of the LA library system but still a free public library for the residents of Beverly Hills.
Off to Seattle very early in the morning so here's hoping there will be something fabulous there.
14 June 2010
Travel sickness and jetlag!
Day 1.
Arrived in LA 3 hours before I left home (who says there is no such thing as time travel?) feeling slightly the worse for wear after a 14 plane trip, on which I threw up a couple of times in the middle of the night/day from travel sickness.
Went straight to Rodeo Drive aft err dropping the bags at the hotel and went to Tiffany's and bought some jewelery, was also very tempted to purchase a Picasso or a Chagall lithograph for only $4,000 from the art gallery, (perhaps we could get a couple for the new Bayside arts and culture centre with the acquisition budget we might get).
Rodeo Drive not being quite enough we then proceeded to the Westfield Century City shopping centre for a bit of a wander around and a perusal of the sale items at Macy's.
Jet lag not too bad thank goodness, I put it down to the Melatonin tablets I bought at the health food shop!!
Arrived in LA 3 hours before I left home (who says there is no such thing as time travel?) feeling slightly the worse for wear after a 14 plane trip, on which I threw up a couple of times in the middle of the night/day from travel sickness.
Went straight to Rodeo Drive aft err dropping the bags at the hotel and went to Tiffany's and bought some jewelery, was also very tempted to purchase a Picasso or a Chagall lithograph for only $4,000 from the art gallery, (perhaps we could get a couple for the new Bayside arts and culture centre with the acquisition budget we might get).
Rodeo Drive not being quite enough we then proceeded to the Westfield Century City shopping centre for a bit of a wander around and a perusal of the sale items at Macy's.
Jet lag not too bad thank goodness, I put it down to the Melatonin tablets I bought at the health food shop!!
11 June 2010
06 June 2010
Not long to go.....
Only 6 more sleeps and I'll be on my way to LA.
Big excitement this week with the news that our library contact in Baltimore is trying to get a meeting with John Waters, at the very lest she can get me an autographed photo and we'll drive by his house (she lives in the same street) plus one of the writers for The Wire lives around the corner from her and he's happy to have a chat!!
I know, I know, it kinda sounds a little bit like stalking but its all done with the best of intentions!!!
Big excitement this week with the news that our library contact in Baltimore is trying to get a meeting with John Waters, at the very lest she can get me an autographed photo and we'll drive by his house (she lives in the same street) plus one of the writers for The Wire lives around the corner from her and he's happy to have a chat!!
I know, I know, it kinda sounds a little bit like stalking but its all done with the best of intentions!!!
29 May 2010
Two weeks to go
Well its two weeks to go and I'm very excited. Haven't packed yet but I'm putting together a list in my mind. I think I have everything organised and I'm very please I got my ANZ travel card when the dollar was at 93 cents!
Here's the link to the itinerary
Here's the link to the itinerary
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