Could This Be Obama's Puppy?

BILBAO, Spain--Steel covered with flowering plants, that's this Jeff Koons sculpture, titled simply Puppy, on the plaza of Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum. Sure Seattle's got a Gehry museum of its own, the EMP; sure, Seattle's got Richard Sera and Louise Bourgeois sculptures, too.

But the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, as it's officially known, gave this industrial and financial center a new sense of pride and purpose. The capital of the Basque Country, Spain's fifth-largest population center (roughly the size of metropolitan Seattle), Bilbao was reenergized by an urban renewal scheme in the early 1990s that moved shipping and manufacturing into the estuary and allowed for the development of new cultural buildings along the riverfront--capped by Gehry's titanium-clad museum.

It's too easy to complain that the Experience Music Project was built on the cheap with Gehry's leftover Bilbao designs. And yet the effect of the Bilbao building's vast spaces and shimmering surface certainly do exceed whatever little aesthetic appeal the EMP offers. Hard to believe the two buildings are by the same architect. Just as it's hard to believe that a 42-foot West Highland Terrier could be lovable. Malia, Sasha, better head to the pound after all. Arf!

The International Kitchen
Cooking school vacations in Italy, France & Spain.

The International Vineyard, a new way to learn about wine in France, Italy and Spain: three-night programs for wine lovers in less-traveled regions.

The International Kitchen, the leading source for culinary vacations in France and Italy.

French Word-A-Day, fascinating lessons about language and daily life in Provence

Belltown Messenger, chronicle of a Seattle neighborhood's denizens, derelicts, clubs, bars & eateries. Restaurant reviews by Cornichon.

Small Screen Network, where food & drink celebrities like Robert Hess have recorded terrific videos.

French Chef Sally is my friend Sally McArthur, who hosts luxurious, week-long cooking classes at the Chateau du Riveau in the Loire Valley.

Local Wine Events.com, the worlds leading Food and Wine tasting calendar. Spirits and Beer events as well. Post your own event or sign up to be notified when new events are po sted to your own area.

VinoLover, Seattle wine promoter David LeClaire's bulletin board of tastings, dinners and special events.

Wine Educator Dieter Schafer maintains a full schedule of Seattle-area tastings and seminars for amateur wine drinkers and professional alike.

Nat Decants, a free wine e-newsletter from Natalie MacLean, recently named the World's Best Drink Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia. Wine picks, articles and humor; no ads.

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