Pupusas and Prussian Blues
posted July 20, 2015 11:31 AM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Sat August 29 at 12:00 PM, Norton Simon Museum
411 West Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, USA (Map & Directions)
Come on over to Pasadena for a wander through the Norton Simon, and some delicious Salvadoran food!
There's a new exhibit at the Norton Simon museum on the discovery of Prussian Blue and French Art that looks pretty neat. If that doesn't tickle you, they are also showing a collection of art school drawings by Fragonard, a photography collection about the human presence in nature photography (closing at the end of August), in addition to their regular collections.

There's also a renowned pupuseria here, La Caravana, that is really excellent, and fits our alliterative scheme.
UPDATE 7/22: Scheduling Poll!
UPDATE 8/4: Set for August 29. Can I get some feedback on time of day and what order to do things?
UPDATE 8/23: So, we're a week out from the meetup!

Since there's only four confirmed, I'm not going to make a reservation at the restaurant.

We'll meet at noon, at the Norton Simon. We can decide then what exhibits folks want to see.
I have room for three in my car, for anyone not driving, to go up to La Caravana.

See you then!
posted by ApathyGirl to Meetup (45 comments total) 3 users marked this as a favorite

It occurs to me that the Norton Simon might be objectionable, and undeserving of our patronage.
If anyone would be down for a museum crawl and pupusas, but not at the Simon, please comment and let me know!
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:33 AM on July 20, 2015


What's wrong with the Norton Simon? No!! Tell me nothing's wrong with it!

Is it the Cranach Adam and Eve?
posted by persona au gratin at 3:06 AM on July 21, 2015


I'm up for pupusas for sure; walking activities will depend on how my knee is but an museum will have plenty of places I can sit for a while if needed. The exhibits at the Norton Simon look fascinating, but if it's problematic I'm happy to go somewhere else. Great idea, ApathyGirl!
posted by Room 641-A at 7:55 AM on July 21, 2015


A stellar idea. Two of my favorite paintings are there. Also: just sayin'.
posted by Celsius1414 at 1:49 PM on July 21, 2015


It is indeed because of the Cranach piece and their fight to keep it. I don't have a strong opinion about it - I just wanted to acknowledge that it's a Thing in case someone did have a strong feeling about it.
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:01 PM on July 21, 2015


Interested if the dates work out for me. I have no objections to the Norton Simon.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 5:05 PM on July 21, 2015


I suspect that if we took that sort of moral stance against museums, we'd have no more museums to visit. At least major ones. But yeah, that dispute does raise eyebrows.
posted by persona au gratin at 6:31 PM on July 21, 2015


The NS hours are:
Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
La Caravana:
Saturday 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
(and the Neon Retro Arcade, for good measure, is Sat 12-12 and Sun 12-9)

Comments on what order to do things, and what combination are highly encouraged.

So, for scheduling.. Inspired by Celsius1414, I have created a Doodle for potential dates. If it looks like August is a no-go, I'll bump it out through September.
posted by ApathyGirl at 12:12 PM on July 22, 2015


I'm also willing to split events and make an Old Town-centric event with the Arcade and maybe like King's Row/Lucky Baldwins.
posted by ApathyGirl at 12:21 PM on July 22, 2015


It looks, so far, that the best date is Saturday, 8/29. Thoughts?
posted by ApathyGirl at 1:32 PM on July 31, 2015


Sounds good to me!
posted by Room 641-A at 1:46 PM on July 31, 2015


Works for me.
posted by persona au gratin at 2:04 AM on August 3, 2015


Works for me I believe!

I wish one could subscribe to get email alerts for IRL thread updates. :)
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:58 AM on August 3, 2015 [2 favorites]


Ah well, I'm going back to Boston before then, so I'll miss this IRL as well.

I enjoy a good pupusa, but I'm leaving because my Dad is finally healthy enough to be left to himself and I'll gladly take that instead.

But when I'm here I do enjoy reading about the cool stuff happening downtown while I'm stuck behind the Orange Curtain. Have a great time, MeFiLA.
posted by benito.strauss at 12:58 PM on August 4, 2015


Sorry you can't make it, but *very* glad there's good dad news, benito.strauss!
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:31 PM on August 4, 2015 [1 favorite]


Can I get some feedback on time of day and what order to do things? Maybe from other folks who have done previous museum crawls, on how much time to allow?
posted by ApathyGirl at 9:47 AM on August 6, 2015


I think the Norton Simon is not very large, so maybe around 2 1/2 hours? Lunch at 3, arcade after. Pupusas are good, but eating in old town would mean only looking for parking once, which would be nice.
posted by betweenthebars at 4:15 PM on August 7, 2015


Sadly, I will be on my way to Burning Man that day. Gotta bow out.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 4:34 PM on August 7, 2015


Okay, every time I say in print, 'Yea, verily, I will be there at the IRL Thing,' the universe conspires against me. It would be funny if it weren't so frustrating to fix the conspiracy's results.

To that end: I am NOT coming. *peers suspiciously*

Let's see if that does it.
posted by culfinglin at 6:11 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]


I think the Norton Simon is not very large, so maybe around 2 1/2 hours? Lunch at 3, arcade after. Pupusas are good, but eating in old town would mean only looking for parking once, which would be nice.

It did seem like packing too much in, so I thought I'd make a separate old town-centric meetup for the arcade and different food..
posted by ApathyGirl at 6:32 PM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]




Ugh, it's looking like I may not make this one. I've got biz travel starting early on the 30th, so my attendance 100% depends on how thoroughly I can get packed and prepped first.
posted by Alterscape at 5:58 AM on August 14, 2015


I think the museum and food is plenty for one day.
posted by persona au gratin at 2:40 AM on August 19, 2015


I may be a couple mins late. If I am, how would I locate y'all? And now that I think about it, if I'm on time, how would I locate y'all!
posted by persona au gratin at 1:56 AM on August 26, 2015


Usually the first person posts a comment with their location and/or note about their easily recognized article of clothing/body part/accessory. IME everyone is very good about making sure the stragglers are accounted for before moving on from the initial meeting spot. People check the comments too, so you can always send up a Bat Signal. (Matt Signal?)
posted by Room 641-A at 5:43 AM on August 26, 2015


Cool. Thanks!
posted by persona au gratin at 3:31 AM on August 27, 2015


Sorry to say I won't be able to make it for this event. :(

Have a wonderful time and please say hello to The Traveler and Woman with a Book for me.
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:26 AM on August 27, 2015


(Before clicking your links I was sure that the_traveler and "woman with a book" were other L.A. Mefites, and wondered why you wrote their names so non-standardly.)
posted by benito.strauss at 12:23 PM on August 27, 2015 [3 favorites]


Ha! They are not MeFites, alas, but exceedingly personable. I expect everyone will get along famously. :D
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:06 PM on August 27, 2015 [1 favorite]


Just want to confirm...

persona au gratin & betweenthebars, you're definitely coming?
Anyone else in the maybe column *know* they're coming?
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:33 PM on August 28, 2015


I'll be there - if you don't see me exactly at 12, I'm either stuck in traffic or looking for the perfect parking spot.
posted by betweenthebars at 9:37 PM on August 28, 2015


Sorry, volunteering conflict, hope you all have a marvelous time!
posted by jetlagaddict at 10:59 PM on August 28, 2015


I have been unavoidably detained by mischievous ghosts.

1215, 1220.
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:35 AM on August 29, 2015


Well.. all two of us are heading in.. if anyone shows, post and we'll find you!
posted by ApathyGirl at 12:20 PM on August 29, 2015


So so sorry. My ceiling caved in and my place filled with asbestos and it has been total and utter chaos. Very sorry!!
posted by persona au gratin at 3:12 PM on August 29, 2015


Oh man, persona au gratin, do you need anything? Are you okay?
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:05 PM on August 29, 2015


I'm so bummed I had to cancel but I just can't do 3-4 hours of public transport in this heat :(
posted by Room 641-A at 6:05 PM on August 29, 2015


OMG person au gratin i didn't read the comments. Yes, please let us know if you're okay.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:07 PM on August 29, 2015


I'm fine. It was an ordeal. The insulation people managed to break the AC and then one dude fell through my ceiling. He was fine, but my living room was full of asbestos. So all day dealing with that. AC is fixed. Gaping hole on my ceiling but no asbestos. I hope! And they broke my bathroom fan, but that's not as big a deal as no AC when it's 104 (and humid? what's up with that?) and asbestos.

Anyway, thanks for your concern. Things are finally settling down. I'll be at the next meetup!
posted by persona au gratin at 7:02 PM on August 29, 2015


I'm glad you're okay! Let us know if you need any help cleaning up.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:43 PM on August 29, 2015


Thanks! Fortunately in the age of Yelp I have some power in this situation.
posted by persona au gratin at 2:44 AM on August 30, 2015


Holy crap for crap, someone fell through your ceiling?! YIKES! Glad you're okay!
posted by culfinglin at 10:38 AM on August 30, 2015


Holy cats, that sounds terrifying! Glad you're okay!

Much fun was had by two.. except for the over-eager pages who had a problem with:
- my water bottle
- my leaning in a vestibule
- my purse position on my body
- me waiting to the side of the bottom of the stairs which was apparently suspicious
- the phone camera light activating by accident (while it wasn't pointed at artwork)
- some other lady's illegal water bottle
- some mom's kids getting too close to a large, enclosed, secure display while she was walking them through the gallery

The pupusas were delicious, and you all missed out. =D
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:57 PM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Wow, I think I violated 10 rules just reading that.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:37 PM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


It's also possible that the pages were annoyed because there were babies who can't even ALL OVER THE MUSEUM exhibits, including this one, and I couldn't not see them and snicker. Every. Time.
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:39 PM on September 1, 2015



This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments