Claude Debussy at the Orangerie Museum, Paris
By Vivienne Mackie
Until June 11, 2012, there is a special exhibit on the life of Debussy at the Orangerie Museum (Musee de l’Orangerie) in Paris, where you can see …

Berthe Morisot at the Marmottan Monet Museum, March 8-July 1, 2012
By Vivienne Mackie
A retrospective devoted to one of the most illustrious of the women Impressionist painters, Berthe Morisot (1841-1895).
This is a very good special exhibition, …

Roissy Bus from Charles de Gaulle Airport
By Vivienne Mackie
Paris: If you arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Terminal 2A, on American Airlines you have a number of choices as to how to get into the …

“Words to Eat By. Five Foods and the Culinary History of the English Language” by Ina Lipkowitz. St. Martins Press, 2011, 291 pages
By Vivienne Mackie
It all started with a pig-picking and, if you’re wondering what …

National Nutrition Month. Making A Rainbow Plate
By Vivienne Mackie
March is National Nutrition Month, a time to try and encourage people to re-think their eating habits and develop a healthier daily diet.
This year (2012), the themes for …

Loch Leven Castle. In the Tragic Footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots
Pictures and Story by Vivienne Mackie
Scotland has so many castles that it’s difficult to decide which ones to visit. Each castle has a special place …

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (Jinga) Turns 1300
By Vivienne Mackie
KYOTO, JAPAN: On October 8-9-10, 2011, the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in southeast Kyoto turned 1300 years old. It was a weekend of intense celebrations, made even …

Washington, DC: A Special Celebration for Cherry Blossoms
By Vivienne Mackie
“Mirror, Mirror Near the Mall, Which Cherry is Fairest of All?”
Thus cleverly begins a short article in the latest Arbor Day newsletter, put out by www.arborday.org
As winter …

Guitar: The Instrument that Rocked the World
By Vivienne Mackie
If you are planning to be anywhere near Louisville, KY, before April 22, 2012 it’s well worthwhile to take an extra day to visit this wonderful exhibition. …

National Center of the History of Immigration, Paris
By Vivienne Mackie
France is not the only country grappling with questions of identity and immigration. Today, there’s much concern and discussion about immigration from the Third World to …

The Art of Good Taste, with master sculptor Mercedes Strachwsky
By Vivienne Mackie
Two remarkable miniature sculptural landscapes at the Orlando Science Center give new meaning to the word “Incredible”, as in “truly hard to believe”. They …

Kyoto Bus Pass
By Vivienne Mackie
Kyoto, Japan, is a large city with many wonderful sights and sites, some at the periphery of the city. There are 2 subway lines, but by far the best way to …

Kan Yasuda in Sapporo, Japan
By Vivienne Mackie
A special exhibit of sculptures by Kan Yasuda, called “Touching the City”, is in Sapporo September 3-November 20, 2011.
Earlier in June he had an exhibition in Turin at Valentino …

The Fun of Halloween is Spreading
By Vivienne Mackie
Japan is a land of contrasts in many ways. For example, modern buildings, bright neon lights flashing, and huge colorful-gaudy ads almost side by side with quiet and …

San Francisco Celebrates!
By Vivienne Mackie
Pier 39, San Francisco: Sea lions are still here.
The California sea lions are a real draw for the San Francisco waterfront—a free, live show. But, we’d heard rumors that these famous …

Happy Birthday Madiba!
By Vivienne Mackie
Honoring an amazing man, an inspiration to many around the world.
Nelson Mandela, or Madiba or Tata, as he is affectionately known, is 93 years old today.
In November 2009, the United Nations …

Celebrate Water on World Water Day, March 22
By Vivienne Mackie
(photos by Vivienne Mackie; logo courtesy of the World Water Day website)
Why water? It’s Like the Earth’s Liquid Gold

Almost daily, we hear news around the globe …

What is this Wagashi? This Tasty, Healthy AND Beautiful Treat
By Vivienne Mackie
When one thinks of Japanese cuisine, sushi immediately comes to mind. And other seafood, and various noodles. But, there are also some amazing traditional …

Flip Into Summer, with National Flip Flop Day (Friday, June 17, 2011)
By Vivienne Mackie
After a long and hard winter, and a cool spring for many in the northern hemisphere, folks are thinking longingly of summer …

The World Celebrates Mothers
By Vivienne Mackie
Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days and dates around the world. Most commonly, Mother’s Day occurs on the second Sunday in May, which is Sunday May 8 this year. The …