I was curious about the Big Dig. It refers to the project to bury the freeway (the I-93) that used to cross and split Boston, before it was turned into a 3.5mile tunnel. Moshe Sadfie (who actually is now based here I think) referred to it in an article in the Globe & Mail a few weeks back, talking about the Gardiner elevated freeway that disfigured Toronto’s waterfront, wondering if it was not too late to think of dismembering it. The Big Dig started in the mid-80’s and was finally terminated at the very end of 2007 at a cost of some $22B, if you include the interest costs incurred according to the Boston Globe, many times over what was initially planned, apparently making it the most expensive transportation project ever in the US! It was marred by several incidents (including death) and led since to lawsuits for shoddy work on the part of the main contractor, a consortium I think of Bechtel and Parsons. As much as the Gardiner is an eyesore in Toronto, I think we should think twice before committing scarce resources to its replacement, when the city has so many other transportation needs to fulfill (e.g. a subway that would link the Bloor line to the North Work one, along Don Mills…the subway in Toronto is truly underdeveloped for a greater and spread out area of some 5 to 7 million people…)
Spent the morning at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, where we got a private tour from a staffer (Natalie Williams – Board Relations manager), courtesy of our local Greek connection! Quite a museum, quite a woman! She built that museum – the inner courtyard is faced on each side by a replica of a Venetian palace’s facade – to lodge her private collection that developed over the years to be a true professional one. This is in the 1890’s! With her wealthy father’s inheritance she bought oeuvres d’art in Europe and elsewhere, and with her rich (needless to say!) Bostonian husband’s inheritance she built the museum. Then there is the story of the heist, 11 paintings stolen in 1990 worth some $330M! (The stolen artworks include The Concert by Vermeer (one of only 34 known works by Vermeer in the world), three works by Rembrandt including The Storm on the Sea of Galilee (the artist’s only known seascape) and a postage-stamp-sized Self-Portrait, five drawings by Degas, Chez Tortoni by Manet, a landscape painting formerly attributed to Rembrandt, and two objects, an ancient Chinese Ku and a finial in the shape of an eagle from a Napoleonic flag – as reported on Wikipedia) Never found so far. Prosecution period is over, if the culprits are ever found. The lesson learned at the Museum from that incident: insure artworks, at least the insurance company would pay for the investigation! Here is a young Rembrandt (FOOTNOTE June 18, 2013)
“The Passion according to St-John”, by J.S. Bach. At the Symphony Hall, with the Boston Orchestra, directed by Masaaki Suzuki, known as a “Bach specialist” (with a little introductory comment to remind us of the disaster in Japan, a solicitation for donation, and a minute of silence). Quite fitting, on Good Friday matinee. Tough first part – I slept through most of it – but stayed for the second one, at the insistence of Cynthia. Quite rightly - did not regret it… This “BSO Revival of ‘St-John’” was rather poorly rated that morning in the Boston Globe, as “unsteady”; perhaps for the critique, but exhilarating for us… (Said hello and congratulations to Suzuki-san, met by chance that same night…)
Dinner at zagat-rated Toscano, a gracieusté of our local Greek connection, Nicolas Mitropolis, an old friend and “habitué de la maison”. Great place on Charles Street, in Beacon Hill; busy northern Italian eatery. Greeted by managing partners Andrew and Richard. A glass of “frizzante” Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noir for Cynthia, and Toscan white Vermentino Rocca di Mentemassi Calasole 2008 for me. Calamari in gratella – a recommendation from Andrew – plain full “rouleaux” of squid, grilled served with a Dijon mustard sauce (extra peppery sauce for Cynthia’s South-Asian palate!) For pasta, we shared a “plat” of pappardelle served with a braised duck sauce, accompanied by a generous glass of soft “rosso” Turlo di Sylviano (a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot), which was to last long enough to go with our main dish, a lemony (too lemony?) sea bass for Cynthia, and a blackened cod (“Merluzzo in Acquapazza”) served in a sauce just right for this tasty fish, and a mountain of Baby Peas. Could not resist their tiramisu, with coffee. Delightful evening…and we certainly need the half-hour walk, back to our B&B in the South End!
Friday, April 22, 2011
FOOTNOTE -June 18, 2013
In an article by its editor/publisher, the magazine ARTnews, in its June, 2013 issue reports on the state of the investigation, by the FBI and others, that is still going on...with so far more than 10,000 tips, going from Jackie Kennedy's involvement to that of Brad Pitt !
