Latest news with #Mycenaean
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Getty Villa sets reopening date after fire: L.A. arts and culture this weekend
The Getty Villa Museum will reopen to the public on a limited basis beginning June 27 after a nearly six-month closure forced by the devastating Palisades fire. On the night of Jan. 7, reports swirled that the wind-driven conflagration had reached the outskirts of the Villa. A Getty team stayed through the night, putting out spot fires with fire extinguishers and ensuring that the galleries were safely sealed off, while updating a command team at Getty Center that included Getty President and Chief Executive Katherine Fleming. A few days later, Fleming told The Times that the teams were confident that their thorough preparation — including extensive brush clearing — would keep the museum from burning. The galleries and other buildings did remain safe, but the glittering fountain pools went dark with ash. Extensive work on the property, including intensive cleaning and testing of indoor and outdoor spaces for toxic residue, is nearing completion. The water system has been flushed, and air and water filters have been replaced. More than 1,300 fire-damaged trees were removed. 'The site may look different to visitors,' the museum warned in an announcement this week, 'with less vegetation and some burn damage to the outer grounds.' The limited visitor hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday. The goal will be to help limit traffic on Pacific Coast Highway, which is the only way to reach the campus. (The Villa is not yet accessible via Sunset Boulevard.) Reservations are limited to 500 visitors daily, and free, timed-entry reservations can be booked online. Parking is $25. Unfortunately, the exhibition on view when the fire erupted, 'Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures From Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece,' had to close, but the Getty created a virtual tour. Times art critic Christopher Knight had great things to say about it when he viewed it just before the fire. The exhibition for the reopening is 'The Kingdom of Pylos: Warrior-Princes of Ancient Greece,' which will be on view from June 27 through Jan. 12. It will feature more than 230 works of art and artifacts from Messenia, a region in Greece where the Mycenaean civilization flourished during the Late Bronze Age. Theater fans can breathe a sigh of relief. The outdoor classical theater will return in the fall with 'Oedipus the King, Mama!' co-produced by Troubadour Theater Company. I'm arts and culture writer Jessica Gelt, looking forward to reading a book in the shade by a Villa fountain. Here's your weekend arts roundup. Does Los Angeles have its own musical style? Times classical music critic Mark Swed answers the question after attending the Hear Now Music Festival and Tod Machover's opera 'Schoenberg in Hollywood.' 'Los Angeles is the home of film music. The two most influential classical composers of the first half of the 20th century, Stravinsky and Schoenberg, lived here. ... The composer with the most radical influence on the second half of the 20th century, John Cage, was born and grew up here. Ferreting out L.A.'s bearing on jazz and the many, many aspects of popular music, as well as world music, is a lifetime's effort,' Swed writes. 'A Doll's House, Part 2' at Pasadena Playhouse gets a mixed review from Times theater critic Charles McNulty, who praises Jason Butler Harner's performance as Torvald, while noting that costumes and set design did not come together. Lucas Hnath's play picks up 15 years after the conclusion of Henrik Ibsen's 1879 classic, when Nora famously walks out on her husband and children. Nora's life is complicated. And so is McNulty's reaction to the show. Last week, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art laid off 15 full-time employees, accounting for 14% of its staff. Most were from the organization's education and public programming team. Seven part-time, on-call employees were also let go, according to the museum. Sources described the morning of the layoffs as chaotic and shocking, with staff being summoned by human resources and being told they needed to be out of the building by 2 p.m. The museum said in a statement, 'Education remains a central pillar of the Lucas Museum.' The Hammer Museum raised $2.4 million during its 20th annual Gala in the Garden last Saturday. The fete honored Jane Fonda and artist Lauren Halsey, and it featured a performance by the singer Griff. This marked the first gala for the museum's new director, Zoë Ryan, who took over in January. Last year's party marked a heartfelt send-off for longtime director Ann Philbin, who retired after 25 years at the helm of the institution. This year, per usual, plenty of celebrities were in attendance, including LeBron and Savannah James, Usher, Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen and Molly Shannon, as well as plenty of artists including Doug Aitken, Andrea Bowers, Diedrick Brackens, Catherine Opie, Ed Ruscha and Jonas Wood. Thelma Golden, the director of the Studio Museum in Harlem, paid tribute to Halsey; Danson and Steenburgen celebrated Fonda. The Fowler Museum on Tuesday returned 11 objects to the Larrakia community of the Northern Territory in Australia. The items, which hold deep cultural and spiritual significance to the Larrakia people, consist of 10 glass spearheads and a kangaroo tooth headband worn by a Larrakia elder. Elders have worked closely with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and the museum over the last four years to identify and arrange the return of the objects. This particular return ceremony is the second time the Fowler has returned artifacts in partnership with AIATSIS. Last July, the museum repatriated 20 items to the Warumungu community of Tennant Creek in northern Australia. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced its 2025-26 theater season — the first with President Donald Trump as chair. 'Hamilton,' as previously reported, is out. Offerings include plenty of Trump-approved Broadway fare, including 'Moulin Rouge,' 'Chicago,' 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' 'Back to the Future: The Musical' and 'Monty Python's Spamalot.' Tony Award winner Charles Strouse, who composed the music for 'Annie,' 'Bye Bye Birdie' and 'Applause,' has died. He was 96. — Jessica Gelt You can opt to be buried up to your neck in compost at this California spa. I love a good spa day, but this is a hard pass for me.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The deadly Palisades Fire nearly destroyed landmark Getty Villa. Now it's about to reopen.
The deadly Palisades Fire nearly destroyed landmark Getty Villa. Now it's about to reopen. Show Caption Hide Caption 82-year-old joyfully reunites with beloved cat lost in Palisades Fire After being separated from her cat during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, Katherine was overjoyed when Aggie was found alive two months later. LOS ANGELES – Once in the crosshairs of the deadly Palisades Fire, the famed Getty Villa Museum in the tony coastal hills of Los Angeles has a reopening date. The villa has been closed since Jan. 7, when the fast-moving Palisades Fire came much too close for comfort. The blaze destroyed thousands of structures in the area, killed 12 people and went on to burn for nearly a month, but amazingly, the villa was spared. 'It is with the utmost gratitude and appreciation for Getty staff, first responders, and other agencies that we can announce the reopening of the Villa to the public,' Katherine Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, said in a May 19 announcement. The villa is set to reopen on Friday, June 27. It will have a limited schedule − Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. − to limit traffic on the fire-battered Pacific Coast Highway – the only open route to the museum. Reservations for the museum are limited to 500 per day and parking will cost $25. How close did the Palisades Fire come to the Getty Villa Aerial footage and images shared on social media the morning of Jan. 7 showed smoke approaching the Getty Villa as the fire moved through the area. Some trees and vegetation on the villa site burned, according to the museum. Fleming said at the time that additional fire prevention measures, including on-site water storage and irrigation, were immediately deployed throughout the grounds. Museum galleries and library archives were sealed off from the smoke by "state-of-the-art air-handling systems," and double-walled construction also provided "significant protection" for the collections, according to Fleming. The museum said Tuesday that it has undergone an extensive cleanup and removed more than 1,300 fire-damaged trees. "The site may look different to visitors, with less vegetation and some burn damage to the outer grounds," the announcement read. What is the Getty Villa? The Getty Villa is an educational center and art museum located the coastal Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Opened in 1974 by billionaire oilman J. Paul Getty, the museum honors the arts and cultures of various classic civilizations from the ancient Greeks to the Romans. The museum will reopen with the exhibition "The Kingdom of Pylos: Warrior-Princes of Ancient Greece" on view through January 2026. The exhibition will showcase over 230 works of art and artifacts from Messenia, an epicenter of the Mycenaean civilization that flourished in Late Bronze Age Greece – according to the announcement. It is the first major display in North America focused on Mycenaeans, the museum said. The exhibition on view in January, "Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece," closed permanently due to the fire. A video tour of the exhibition was posted by the museum in April. Contributing: Thao Nguyen, Anthony Robledo – USA TODAY
Time Out
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Getty Villa is finally reopening—here's how you can visit
There's good news this afternoon for art- and antiquities-loving Angelenos. The Getty Villa has announced a reopening date: Friday, June 27. The beloved museum, sister institution to Brentwood's Getty Center, has been closed since January 7, when the destructive Palisades Fire broke out. Even though the Villa shut its doors to the public, some staff members stayed on-site to protect the artwork and grounds from the encroaching blaze—and thanks to the brave work of the Los Angeles Fire Department, volunteers and some truly impressive security measures, the building and collections were unharmed. The Getty says it has worked with its staff and other agencies to ensure the grounds are safe for the public to return to. The extensive cleanup efforts included deep cleaning indoor and outdoor spaces, replacing air and water filters, flushing the water system and removing more than 1,300 trees that had been damaged by the surrounding fires. But even though visitors might notice less vegetation and some burn damage around the grounds, the heart of the Getty Villa remains intact. For the time being, the museum will be open with limited hours: Fridays though Mondays from 10am to 5pm. As always, you'll need to book a timed ticket to visit—walk-ins aren't accepted. And only 500 guests will be admitted per day. You can reserve a ticket here (time slots are available every half-hour until 3pm). At the time of writing, reservations have only been released for the first week of reopening, from June 27 to 30. And while admission is still free, parking is $25. Now, how do you get there? Though the stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway by the Getty Villa remains closed right now, the state has promised that it'll reopen by the end of May. The museum notes that you'll have to enter via PCH, and don't be surprised if you run into some traffic—so plan accordingly. In addition to over 1,000 artifacts on display, visitors will be able to see a brand-new exhibition when they visit: 'The Kingdom of Pylos: Warrior-Princes of Ancient Greece' opens June 27 and is the first major museum show in North America focused on Greece's Mycenaean civilization. Weapons, wall paintings, clay tablets and carved sealstones tell the story of Messenia and its Griffin Warrior tomb. And later this summer, the Villa will resume its outdoor theater series held in its amphitheater built in the Greek and Roman styles. In September, the Troubadour Theater Company will combine Greek tragedy with rock & roll in Oedipus the King, Mama!
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Getty Villa Museum to reopen in June following closure due to Palisades Fire
The Getty Villa Museum will reopen to the public on Friday, June 27, following a months-long closure due to the Palisades Fire, Getty officials announced Monday. The Villa was evacuated and closed the morning of Jan. 7 as flames from the Palisades Fire neared the site. Since then, Getty staff have worked alongside local agencies to test the area and ensure the safety of the grounds and buildings before welcoming back visitors. 'It is with the utmost gratitude and appreciation for Getty staff, first responders, and other agencies that we can announce the reopening of the Villa to the public,' Katherine Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, said in a statement. 'Without their tireless efforts, we would not be in the position we are in today.' The museum will operate on a limited schedule — open Fridays through Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — in an effort to ease traffic congestion on Pacific Coast Highway. The Villa remains inaccessible via Sunset Boulevard, and guests are advised to enter through PCH. Daily attendance will be capped at 500 visitors, with free timed-entry tickets now available for reservation online. Parking will remain at $25. The Villa will reopen with a new major exhibition, 'The Kingdom of Pylos: Warrior-Princes of Ancient Greece', on view from June 27 through Jan. 12, 2026. 'The exhibition will showcase over 230 works of art and artifacts from Messenia, an epicenter of the Mycenaean civilization that flourished in Late Bronze Age Greece,' according to the museum. The previous exhibition, 'Ancient Thrace and the Classical World,' was cut short by the fire. Getty has since released a virtual tour to allow visitors to explore the collection online. Getty's Outdoor Classical Theater will also return this fall, with its 19th annual production: Oedipus the King, Mama!' co-produced by Troubadour Theater Company. The Villa's public programs schedule will continue, with a robust slate of talks and events, both in-person and online, focused on the upcoming Kingdom of Pylos exhibition. More information about the reopening can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Olive oil tourism is taking off in Greece. Here's where to taste it.
The silvery-green olive trees that blanket Greece are as rooted in its culture as the stars and sea. According to Greek mythology, Athena planted the first olive tree on the Acropolis, triumphing over Poseidon to become Athens' patron goddess—forever cementing the evergreen as a sacred symbol of prosperity. In ancient Greece, Olympic victors were crowned with olive branches, while Homer referred to the antioxidant-rich juice as 'liquid gold' in his epic poems. Today, Greece remains one of the world's top olive oil producers, alongside Spain and Italy, with more than 80 percent of its harvest dedicated to high-quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). While olive oil has long been a healthy staple of the longevity-boosting Mediterranean diet, its popularity has surged in the United States recently, fueling a growing curiosity about its origins. As more travelers look to connect with local producers, many are venturing beyond the touristy hot spots. Here's how to best experience the country's thriving oleotourism scene. The main olive oil-producing region on Greece's mainland, the Peloponnese peninsula, is an ideal starting point for any gourmand's adventure. Near the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, a new kind of sanctuary is drawing olive oil enthusiasts. Opened in 2020, The Olive Temple offers farm and mill tours, and hands-on classes in pruning, harvesting, and olive oil soap-making. The Karabelas family, fourth-generation olive growers, also run the neighboring Agriturismo Magna Grecia. Their centuries-old trees—including Olympia's native tsabidolia variety—are organically farmed, but rising temperatures have forced them to adapt. 'Climate change is here, and our discussions with our grandparents bear testimony to that,' says Alexis Karabelas, co-owner of The Olive Temple. In 2021, extreme heat wiped out nearly 80 percent of their production. While olive oil remains their main livelihood, tourism has helped sustain their business. 'Olive tourism is a significant driver of the local economy,' he says. 'It makes us very happy when visitors realize it's not just our family that works together, but also local families, as they meet 20 to 25 employees during their visit.' At the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese, Messenia's golden beaches, scenic trails, and Mycenaean sites have long drawn travelers, but the region's thriving olive industry is just as renowned. Alongside the world-famous kalamata olives, visitors can learn about the resilient koroneiki variety; these withstand dry conditions and yield high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Harvest season begins in October when the olives are still green, producing a flavorful, antioxidant-rich oil. Evidence of olive oil's legacy can be seen everywhere, from ancient storage rooms at the Palace of Nestor in Pylos to hotels offering olive oil-focused experiences. 'In Messenia, we say that for a great dinner, we need good friends, old wine, and always fresh extra virgin olive oil,' says Cristina Stribacu, an olive oil sommelier and local producer who leads olive oil tastings at Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino. Opened in 2023 overlooking the Bay of Navarino, the hotel replanted 2,700 olive trees alongside half-a-million endemic shrubs on its grounds. During tastings in the Three Admirals Lounge overlooking the Ionian Sea, guests warm shot-sized glasses of oil in their hands to enhance its three defining characteristics: fruitiness, bitterness, and spiciness. The region's biodiversity—including the nearby Gialova Lagoon, home to over 270 bird species that aid in pest control—has helped Messenia's olive groves continue to flourish. (How to plan the ultimate coastal Greece road trip) An hour's drive from Athens, near the Isthmus of Corinth, travelers can witness the olive oil harvest year-round at Markellos Olive. The family-run mill began offering tours in 2020 and has since welcomed more than 15,000 visitors from 86 countries. Through its virtual olive oil harvesting experience, guests can don a headset and see the process even in the summer months. 'The vast majority of travelers visit Greece outside the production period, so I wanted to offer an experience where visitors could see all the stages of the process,' says Nikolaos Markellos, co-owner of Markellos Olive. Innovation is at the heart of the company's operation. With climate change impacting production over the past five years, the company is transitioning from the manaki olive variety to the more heat-resistant koroneiki. Plans are also afoot to open a restaurant and a museum. Nearly half of all Greek olive oil is produced on Crete, making the nation's largest island a must-visit for those tracing the delicacy's history back to Minoan times. 'Sea and olive oil are our heritage, fortune, and way of life,' says Aspassia Stavroulaki, owner of Oliving in Crete, which offers tastings in an olive grove near Rethymno. 'The mountainous landscape makes it difficult to apply invasive farming methods, so our soil remains rich and healthy. The natural drainage and diverse flora surrounding the trees enrich the oil's flavors.' Beneath trees ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 years old, visitors learn how olive oil influences local gastronomy, daily life, and familial bonds. (The 31 best Greek islands to visit in 2025) The verdant Ionian island of Corfu is home to over four million olive trees and a rich but often overlooked olive oil heritage. During the Venetian occupation in the 16th century, Corfu supplied olive oil to the Vatican, and many of its towering, centuries-old trees remain. Many of the island's olive groves were abandoned until about 15 years ago when pioneering local producers set out to revive its oleoculture. 'Lianolia was an unknown variety until 2010 or, at best, well-known for being the worst in quality EVOO in the world,' says Spyros Dafnis, co-founder of The Governor, one of Corfu's leading producers. Through innovative processing methods, they earned a world record in 2016 for producing olive oil with the highest concentration of oleocanthal compounds, known for their anti-inflammatory properties. They have since collaborated with U.S. universities on various health studies. Oleotourism is also central to their mission. Visitors can tour their mill in the village of Agios Matthaios, join guided tastings, and explore ancient olive groves—including their 1,500-year-old tree called 'Mitera' (Greek for mother). 'These trees are a living symbol,' says Dafnis. 'Every harvest, we remember what our grandparents used to say: We are like trees. To grow and thrive, we need strong roots.' (Why you should visit Greece's "city of gastronomy") Julia Eskins is a Toronto-based travel writer and editor whose work explores conservation, culture, wellness, and design. Her stories have appeared in publications including Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue, Bloomberg, Architectural Digest, and Time. Follow her adventures on Instagram @juliaeskins.
