Each summer, Rome, an ancient city torn between its present and its past, is plagued by heat and tourists. Typical sightseeing endeavors include checking out the Roman Forum, the Jewish ghetto, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon, all of which suggest an appreciation for historic venues, but after multiple visits become a tad boring. Here are some of my favorite places around Rome that hopefully spice up the adventures dictated by your average guidebook. (more…)

Every two years the art world descends on Venice, spinning the entire city into a whirlwind of arts-based festivities. In addition to the two special areas in Venice and multiple islands housing the international pavilions, the Biennale di Venezia operates satellite exhibitions all around town. I came to Venice with the intention of merely spending a day or two checking out and enjoying the art fair, entitled All the World’s Futures and curated by Nigerian Biennale-newbie (though an established art-world figure), Okwui Enwezor. Instead I found myself not only traipsing through the Biennale at its Giardini location, but also spending time at the Palazzo Mora, an offshoot of the Biennale where artists from around the globe, some of them representative of their countries, show their work. I was also fortunate enough to visit the Peggy Guggenheim Museum; a true testimony to the art of art-collecting, the space has been preserved in almost exactly the same way as Ms. Guggenheim herself had lived in it. Here is a short download of my Venetian experiences, accompanied by pictures of my own taking: (more…)