SEE
Austin, Texas
Exhibition of 138 Ansel Adams photographs runs at university through Jan. 1
The prolific photographer Ansel Adams was most famous for his landscapes, but this exhibition in the Harry Ransom Center Galleries at the University of Texas at Austin also shows his prowess with portraits and architectural views. Adams, who once thought he would grow up to be a concert pianist, amassed this collection – the largest created by the photographer himself – throughout his career, and so it represents a wide variety of images. In “Ansel Adams: A Legacy” are shots of Georgia O’Keeffe and Yosemite’s Half Dome, self-portraits and cityscapes, all in, of course, black and white. Harry Ransom Center Galleries at the University of Texas at Austin, 21st and Guadalupe streets; 512-471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu.
STAY
Cuchara, Colorado
No overbearing B&B bombs here: Inviting River’s Edge makes guests feel at home
Too many B&Bs are all bed and no breakfast; comfy quarters spoiled by a morning meal of stale coffee and boxed muffins. That’s not the case at the River’s Edge, a welcoming inn on the banks of the Cuchara River. Host Michael Moore is one of those what-would-you-like-in-your-omelet kind of cooks. He keeps it fresh and adds special touches , like a fresh geranium blossom on the butter dish. The decor is simple, and the rooms are roomy. Rates vary depending on the season but are about $95- $138 per night. River’s Edge Bed & Breakfast, 90 E. Cuchara Ave.; 719-742-5169.
PLAY
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Springs Resort makes a splash with new non-mineral “cool” swimming pool
The 17 therapeutic mineral pools already made the Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs a destination for hot-springs enthusiasts (some of which are designated “adults only”), but sometimes it meant leaving the kids, who can’t always tolerate above-95-degree temps for long, out in the cold. Now a new L-shaped, non-mineral, cool (85-degree) pool, with a 15-by-15-foot 95-degree hot tub in the center, puts the whole family together at the popular getaway. And three nights a week, a waterproof giant screen at one end of the pool shows family-friendly movies. The Springs Resort, 165 Hot Springs Blvd.; 800-225-0934, pagosahotsprings.com.
DINE
New York, New York
Union Square Cafe celebrates 20th anniversary with contest, giveaways, wine tastings
When Danny Meyer first opened Union Square Café in New York in 1985, he envisioned a restaurant that would serve the Union Square, Flatiron and Gramercy neighborhoods with dishes using fresh produce from area markets paired with great wines by the glass in a casual setting (and, oh, those BLTs and burgers!). Since then, the place has become an institution, with celebrities jostling for elbow room with tourists as well as folks from the ‘hood. Meyer, with chef-partner Michael Romano, is throwing open the doors the whole month of October. But start making reservations now, send in recipes for the pasta contest, and enter the prize giveaways at unionsquarecafe.com. Union Square Café, 21 E. 16th St.; 212-243-4020.
– Denver Post staff and wire reports
