A Day in the Park – Balboa Park Museum s and the Prado – A Delight

By Lydia E. Ringwald

A day tour of San Diego’s Balboa Park museums offers families, couples, and friends or singles a delightful day of both education and entertainment.

The San Diego Museum of Art current exhibitions of Calder Jewelry, the wearable art works of the sculptor Alexander Calder famous for his experiment al mobiles in the 1930’s with a parallel exhibit of the work of Picasso, Calder and Miro.

In adjacent gallery spaces, art patrons can enjoy viewing work of ‘American Artists from the Russian Empire’ and ‘Oceanic Art.”

The neighboring Mingei International Museum that specializes in native art currently exhibits the folk art of ‘Sonabi’ curated by acclaimed photographer and anthropologist Stephen Huyler, Mid-Century California Modernism and a Salute to James Hubbell.

Touring the San Diego Historical and Museum offers unique insights into the ‘world that was’ – our life in Southern California from the ranchos into the 1930’s,‘40’s and 50’s. Intriguing insights.

A tour of the Science Museum and Museum of Natural History is ‘de rigueur’ if you have children and want to give them stimulating opportunities to stretch and learn beyond the schoolroom.

But dining at the historical Prado restaurant is a special thrill for families and friends.  The true to the original 1930’s atmosphere recalls the days of destination dining, the days before fast-foods and freeways changed the Southern California landscape, the days of the family outing where dinner at an exclusive ‘dinner-house’ was a thrill to look forward to.

The Prado’s elegant period hacienda style décor feels like Becall and Bogart dined here. While sipping on a Sangria in the enchanting outdoor garden, one reminisces and dreams, ‘those were the days.’

A staccato taste of seared ‘Kobe Beef Sushi Roll’ with hared asparagus, wasabi cream, raised hijiki dipped in roasted garlic ponzi dipping sauce snaps one back into the luscious, delicious present. What a luxury it is to be here, now!

The Prado menu reads like a poem, with house specialties to inspire exotic exploratory quest for everything very California and everything from all over the world.  Choices of dinner pastas with goat cheese ravioli or fresh delicious steak tacos burgeoning with vegetables and chipolte peppers offer plenty of veggie vitamins  and lots of nurturing nutrition.

When admiring the dessert tray, one reminisces about the lyrics of the amorous Cole Porter song made famous by femme temptress Marlene Dietrich, ‘It’s not 'cause I shouldn’t, It’s not 'cause I wouldn’t and you know It’s not 'cause I couldn’t, It’s simply because I’m the Laziest gal in town.’

The song goes on…

Though I’m willing to learn
How these gals get money to burn,
Each and every proposition – I turn
Down – waaaay… down (heavy innuendo here with raised eyebrows and a wry smile)…

But what about altering the refrain with - ??

Though I’m willing to learn,
How these gals get calories to burn
(Then look longingly at the dessert tray and sing..)
Each and every proposition  - I turn
Down – way……down…(shake the head 'no' as the charming waiter whisks the dessert tray away)....

Then chant the refrain  again –

It’s not cause I shouldn’t….

I guess it’s the Sangria…

Another splendid day at San Diego’s Balboa Park.