ON THE FRONT

DROOD Final Cover Art!

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:02:00 +0000

Good day today -- author Dan Simmons officially approved this artwork so now it can be revealed in its final form. This is my cover illustration for Subterranean Press' limited edition of Dan's forthcoming major novel, DROOD. They're taking pre-orders right now, and if you're considering owning of these, you might act quickly. Every Sub Press limited edition of a Simmons book has been a sell-out. I'm just sayin'.....

What's the book about? Here you go (courtesy of Subterranean Press): "On June 9th, 1865, Charles Dickens, 'the most popular novelist in England, perhaps the world,' boards a train bound from Folkstone to London, accompanied by his youthful mistress, the actress Ellen Ternan. Shortly afterward, the train derails near the village of Staplehurst, toppling into an abyss. Dickens emerges from the carnage physically, if not mentally, unscathed. And he has a story to tell.

He tells it, with typical Dickensian brio, to his friend and occasional collaborator, Wilkie Collins, the narrator of this magisterial novel. The story concerns an otherworldly figure who calls himself 'Drood,' and who moves through the wreckage like a pale, unholy apparition. The mysteries surrounding Drood form the heart of an epic narrative encompassing ancient religious practices, subterranean cities, hallucinatory visions, madness, murder, and the limitless power of the creative imagination. The result is a fever dream of a book that vividly recreates the sights, sounds, and smells of 19th century London, while illuminating the final years of a great writer's life. Absorbing, moving, and constantly surprising, Drood shows us Dan Simmons at his inimitable -- and mesmerizing -- best."

One last Subterranean Press-related note -- I just received my copy of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's THE SHADOW OF THE WIND -- and my gosh -- this thing looks absolutely spectacular. Vincent Chong did the cover and interiors for this book, and the whole package is as gorgeous as it gets. Congrats to Subterranean Press on another knockout.

FF2 = PKD Award Finalist!!

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Hooray! Just heard that FAST FORWARD 2 is one of this year's Philip K. Dick Award finalists. I'm ecstatic for editor Lou Anders and all of the authors. Pyr's blog has the complete press release. Congrats to HarperCollins/Eos for having three books on the final list. That's editors Diana Gill and Jennifer Brehl, if you're keeping score at home. Wow!

Wow! MUSE OF FIRE!

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:42:00 +0000

Been super-busy here, but wanted to note that last week Subterranean Press sent me my copies of Dan Simmons' MUSE OF FIRE. When Traci and I popped the box open and held the finished books in our hands, we were both blown away. Completely beautiful printing job all around. The interior design by Desert Isle Design is gorgeous. The whole book turned out perfect, which happens all too rarely, unfortunately. The only bad news -- Subterranean's already completely sold out of their print run. Wow! So if you see a copy of this book out on the retail market, you might want to snap it up. :)

My 2008 Published Work

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:57:00 +0000

Here's a one-stop visual list of my 2008 published works. As noted elsewhere (thanks, Chris, Cheryl, and John), the awards nomination season is upon us again (Hugos and otherwise). If you wish to reference the list below for future consideration this year, please bookmark this post. FYI: in addition, my blog sidebar displays my 2008 work in abbreviated form. The big list below doesn't include all of my interior illustrations for ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS, but it includes my favorite one from that set, along with the eighteen cover illos published in '08. Onward...

(above)
Cover illustration for
FAST FORWARD 2
edited by Lou Anders
Pyr
October 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
MUSE OF FIRE
by Dan Simmons
Subterranean Press
December 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
VIEWPOINTS CRITICAL
by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Tor Books
March 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS
by Michael Moorcock
Ballantine/Del Rey
February 2008

(above)
"Elric The Damned"
One of many interior illustrations for
ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS
(Note: here's a gallery of more interiors from this book)

(above)
Cover illustration for
ELRIC: THE SLEEPING SORCERESS
by Michael Moorcock
Ballantine/Del Rey
December 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
THE PHYSIOGNOMY
by Jeffrey Ford
Golden Gryphon Press
October 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
MEMORANDA
by Jeffrey Ford
Golden Gryphon Press
November 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
THE BEYOND
by Jeffrey Ford
Golden Gryphon Press
December 2008

(above)
The three Jeff Ford covers above are a trilogy, so I created their covers as a triptych. This is what the original art looks like. It's one of the most labor-intensive pieces I've ever done, but definitely a labor of love. This is all traditional media, no digital.... oil painting, found objects, collage, and shadowbox assemblage.

(above)
Wraparound cover illustration for
SON OF MAN
by Robert Silverberg
Pyr Books
June 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
STARSHIP: REBEL
by Mike Resnick
Pyr
December 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
ASIMOV'S
Inspired by Stephen Baxter's
featured story, "The Ice War"
September 2008 Issue

(above)
Cover illustration for
SHIMMER MAGAZINE
edited by Mary Robinette Kowal & co.
September 2008 Issue

(above)
Cover illustration for
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE 9:
FEARFUL SYMMETRY
by Olivia Woods
Pocket Books
(TM, all rights reserved,
& copyright 2008 CBS Studios)
June 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
STAR TREK: MYRIAD UNIVERSES:
ECHOES AND REFRACTIONS
by Keith R. A. DeCandido,
Chris Roberson,
& Geoff Trowbridge
Pocket Books
(TM, all rights reserved,
& copyright 2008 CBS Studios)
August 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
STAR TREK: MYRIAD UNIVERSES:
INFINITY'S PRISM
by Christopher L. Bennett,
William Leisner,
& James Swallow
Pocket Books
(TM, all rights reserved,
& copyright 2008 CBS Studios)
July 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
STAR TREK: TEROK NOR:
DAY OF THE VIPERS
by James Swallow
Pocket Books
(TM, all rights reserved,
& copyright 2008 CBS Studios)
March 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
STAR TREK: TEROK NOR:
NIGHT OF THE WOLVES
by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison
Pocket Books
(TM, all rights reserved,
& copyright 2008 CBS Studios)
April 2008

(above)
Cover illustration for
STAR TREK: TEROK NOR:
DAWN OF THE EAGLES
by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison
Pocket Books
(TM, all rights reserved,
& copyright 2008 CBS Studios)
May 2008

(above)
Pocket Books really liked the triptych I did for a Kirk/Spock/McCoy trilogy a couple of years ago. So they commissioned me to do another for their 2008 STAR TREK: TEROK NOR trilogy. This is what the three covers above look like when they're side-by-side.

Onward and best wishes to everyone in 2009!

Fresh New Year, Fresh New Sidebar

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:24:00 +0000

Blogger's been cranky these last 24 hours, but finally my sidebar updates are available for all to see. Check out the sidebar to the right and you'll see a complete visual rundown of my 2008 published cover artwork. I'll tweak it a bit in the coming days as well as do a detailed post here in the near future.

Hello, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:25:00 +0000

Happy New Year, folks! Hope 2009 brings us all better days than '08. I just tried uploading my 2008 body of published work into the sidebar at right, but Blogger's cranky right now. It doesn't seem to like all the new data for some reason. Once it cooperates, I'll have little pictures of eighteen shiny new covers over there, representing my 2008 published body of cover artwork. Last year at this time, I did a post showing all of my published covers from the previous year, and I think I'll do that next. Stay tuned. :)

Last Day of 2008

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:27:00 +0000

Wow. Anyone ever read that comic book MISTER X? I always wanted to illustrate a cover or story about that guy. (Cover art at left is by Paul Rivoche.) At any rate, his mantra was, "So much to do, so little time." That line is the story of my year, really. So it's pretty appropriate that today would feel the same. :) I'm looking forward to seeing everyone on the other side tomorrow! Wow, 2009....here it comes. I'll be posting my 2008 body of work very soon, and it'll be fun to assess the labors of the past twelve months. I'm grateful to all friends who stop by my humble cyber-abode here and who have shared the journey with me so far. Onward into 2009, and best wishes to everyone out there!

Boskone 47 in 2010!!

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:51:00 +0000

Exciting news -- I'll be the Artist Guest of Honor for Boskone 47 in Boston, MA, February 12-14, 2010. Boskone is the oldest science fiction in New England, and always reputed to be one of the best regional cons any year. I'm thrilled and honored to be invited. Alastair Reynolds will be the Author GoH. Jim Mann is the chairman for the show and I'm looking forward to working with him and the NESFAns. Before then, Boskone 46 will be this February. Irene Gallo and Stephan Martiniere will be amongst this year's GoHs. I wonder if there's any chance I could make it up there for the '09 show? Hmmmm...might have to look into this....

Charles Tan on Jeff Ford

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:32:00 +0000

Charles Tan has posted a personal essay about Jeffrey Ford and his books. If you haven't read Ford before (what are you waiting for?), this is a nice overview of his work. And until now, I had missed out on this terrific interview Tan conducted with Ford earlier this year. Good read!

FAST FORWARD 2 = 2008's Best SF Book!

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:10:00 +0000

So says Bookgasm. And note that they're not saying FF2 is the best sf anthology of '08, but the best book -- including novels, collections, anthos, everything. Wow. A stellar short list, compiled by Ryun Patterson. It feels like I blog every week about FF2, but the kudos for this book just keep coming. Congrats to Lou and the authors, once again!

Gentle note -- sf anthologies are notoriously poor sellers for any publishing house. I have no idea how well FF2 is selling, but if you haven't yet bought a copy, please consider doing so. Personally, I'm a fan of sf anthos, and if an excellent series like this is going to continue, then it's gotta sell. Rave reviews alone don't pay the bills. :)

Soulful Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:28:00 +0000

Well, it's Xmas Eve, and lots of last-minute giftwrapping and Xmas preparations here. Very best holiday wishes to you and yours!

Here's a YouTube holiday gift to you before I vanish in a flurry of giftwrap and scotch-tape. Every Xmas for the last 12 or 13 years, one CD is a constant standby for me -- JAMES BROWN'S FUNKY CHRISTMAS. You can't miss with tunes like "Go Power at Christmas Time", "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto", and "Tit for Tat (Ain't No Taking Back)". Trust me -- you won't find a better holiday disc than this, folks. Need proof? I present "Soulful Christmas" by James Brown, with a priceless montage video of JB live in Boston, 1968.

SF Signal on FF2

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:59:00 +0000

Terrific review over at SF Signal for the sf antho FAST FORWARD 2, edited by Lou Anders. John DeNardo gives his story-by-story takes, and it's a really fun read. Wow, the FF2 juggernaut just keeps rolling, doesn't it? Congrats to Lou and all of the authors.

Recent raves for FF2:
Bookgasm
Discover Magazine
Futurismic
BoingBoing
SFDimensions

And it's really fun to read the various critical takes on my cover art because frankly, cover art doesn't get reviewed (or even mentioned) in most reviews. 'Wish it did! So thanks to SF Signal, Bookgasm, SciFi Dimensions and Futurismic for the kind consideration. :)

Vincent Villafranca

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:11:00 +0000

VV is a very bad man. While the rest of us struggle to eek out a basic round of Xmas cards to our pals, this guy's sending out original hand-made solid bronze elf sculptures as his Xmas greeting. This showed up in my mailbox the other day, and yeah, I was floored. Props, Vince. Happy Holidays to you and Michelle. Many thanks, and again, huge congrats on your first Chesley Award this year in the 3D category. I suspect it won't be your last. :)

Happy B-Day, Mike Moorcock

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:42:00 +0000

He's a living legend and one of our true and few gentle giants. He may not have coined today's hot buzzword "multiverse", but he popularized it, and built entire civilizations there long before today's cool kids arrived. (Edit: MM himself kindly clarifies that he indeed coined the term to describe multiple universes, while William James coined it in 1895 to describe states of mind. The truth -- straight from the source!:)) I don't want to get too gushy, but simply put, Mike's a hero and a true friend, and quite frankly, I'd take a bullet for the man.

I suppose the best b-day gift an author can receive is for folks to buy his/her books, and since we're in the gift-giving season, the new Del Rey editions of Mike's classic ELRIC work make excellent stocking stuffers. :) The first three of a six-book series are available here, here, and here. If you're reading this, please join me in leaving a comment below, or on your own blog, and wishing Mike a birthday salute.

One last thing -- this past April, I had the honor (along with Betsy Mitchell) of presenting Mike with SFWA's Grandmaster Award at the Nebula Ceremony. My speech was a collage of tributes from not only myself, but Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, China Mieville, Jeff Ford, Jeff Vandermeer and Chris Roberson. In honor of Mike's b-day, here it is again.

MileHiCon 41 in 2009

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:02:00 +0000

Now that I've seen this news posted online, it's safe to let the cat out of the bag. I'll be the Artist GoH next year at MileHiCon 41 in Denver. Barbara Hambly and Nancy Kress will be the Author GoHs. Looking forward to it very much! Even though the show's way down the road (October '09), they're on the ball over there and already registering attendees. If you live in the Rocky Mountain region, mark that show on your calendar...:)

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:40:00 +0000

In the previous blogpost, ces asked for a better look at the art sans typography for the forthcoming WAR AND SPACE: SELECTED SHORT STORIES OF LESTER DEL REY, VOL. 1. So here you go....:)

WAR AND SPACE

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:44:00 +0000

Cover art by me for this one: a forthcoming book from NESFA Press titled WAR AND SPACE: SELECTED SHORT STORIES OF LESTER DEL REY, VOL. 1. Alice Lewis is doing the jacket design and layout. Steven H. Silver is the editor. The book's slated for a 2009 release, and the second volume will be called ROBOTS AND FANTASIES. They're not taking orders for Vol. 1 yet, but I'll post a note here when they are...

SF Signal: Mind Meld / Best of '08!

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:40:00 +0000

The geniuses of SF Signal have posted their latest Mind Meld -- "The Best Genre-Related Books/Films/Shows Consumed in '08". My list is here, if you scroll down a bit. Hey, and thanks to my fellow contributors, I found a couple of cool, new gift-giving ideas to boot! Bob Eggleton, Andy Remic, Paul McAuley, Mary Robinette Kowal, Marc Gascoigne, and Mike Resnick are just a few of the bright sf/fantasy minds that list their faves. Don't miss Part Two of the lists here. Fun stuff all around. :)

More raves for MUSE OF FIRE!

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:20:00 +0000

SciFi.com reviews Dan Simmons' forthcoming hardcover MUSE OF FIRE and gives it a big, fat "A"! Paul Di Filippo breaks it down. And the mighty io9 spotlights their December book picks and MUSE is amongst their featured picks. Nice! :)

James Cawthorn / 1929-2008

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:48:00 +0000

Very sad news -- James Cawthorn, the fine sf/fantasy illustrator best known for his seminal visualizations of Elric of Melnibone, died Tuesday. John Coulthart eloquently commemorates Cawthorn's artistic contributions and his impact on the Elric saga. This quote from Mike Moorcock sums up that impact: "Jim Cawthorn and I have been inseparable for over twenty-five years, sometimes to the point where I can't remember which came first--the drawing or the story. It is his drawings of my characters which remain for me the most accurate, both in detail and in atmosphere. His interpretations in strip form will always be, for me, the best."

As for my own thoughts about Cawthorn--he and I never met, but because I'm currently doing illustrations for Del Rey's new editions of the Elric series, I almost feel like we have because I've studied his early Elric drawings so intently. When I visited Mike while preparing to illustrate the Del Rey edition, ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS, I kept pressing him for his favorite visual takes on Elric. He was reluctant because he wanted me to be free to follow my own unbiased path, which is typical of Mike's generosity. Finally, he pointed to the image you see here and said he would always see Cawthorn's Elric as the definitive interpretation. It's a testament to Mike and Jim's genius that Elric so explosively fires the engines of all creators who encounter him. My work doesn't look anything like Cawthorn's, nor does Yoshitaka Amano's, Michael Whelan's, Robert Gould's, or any of the other illustrators that have added to the visual legacy of Elric. We've all tried to contribute our own unique vision to Elric. The angst, majesty, and power of the character never ages. Today, as Mike related the bad news of Jim's passing, I'm working on more Elric illustrations for the forthcoming ELRIC: THE REVENGE OF THE ROSE. The goodness of Jim Cawthorn's Elric drawings will remain in my thoughts as I finish the rest of this work. Thanks for lighting that first match, Jim.

THE SLEEPING SORCERESS + SPECTRUM 15

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:46:00 +0000

Been so busy here that I just realized Michael Moorcock's ELRIC: THE SLEEPING SORCERESS is now available. If you're keeping score at home, this is the third of a six-volume ELRIC trade paperback series from Del Rey. I illustrated the cover and interiors for the first volume. The great Michael Kaluta did the art chores for the second one. THE SLEEPING SORCERESS features cover art by me and interior illustrations by Steve Ellis.

Speaking of Elric, more good news -- SPECTRUM 15: THE BEST IN CONTEMPORARY FANTASTIC ART is now available, and one of my Elric interiors was selected by the Spectrum jury for inclusion. The drawing is from the first ELRIC volume, ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS. I call this piece, "Elric The Damned." It's 11"x17", pencil on crescent board. If you haven't checked out the latest edition of SPECTRUM, you owe it to yourself. Arnie & Cathy Fenner have assembled another amazing showcase, and if you know anyone who loves genre art, SPECTRUM 15's pretty much the best holiday gift I can imagine.

Dozois: FAST FORWARD 2 = 08's Best SF Antho!

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:50:00 +0000

Just read the December issue of LOCUS MAGAZINE. Gardner Dozois breaks down 2008's best sf anthologies in his column, "Gardnerspace".

Gardner: "This has been an almost unprecedented year for the number of first-rate original SF anthologies published, at least since the heyday of ORBIT, NEW DIMENSIONS, and UNIVERSE in the '70's." He goes on to say, "...I'd have to say that the three strongest original SF anthologies of the year were Lou Anders' FAST FORWARD 2, Jonathan Strahan's ECLIPSE 2, and Strahan's THE STARRY RIFT...." And then the kicker, "Of these, I think I'd give a very slight edge to FAST FORWARD 2." Awesome. Congrats to Lou and all of the contributing authors! Proud to have done the cover art for this one. And speaking of LOCUS, if you aren't a print subscriber yet, have you heard they've got the October issue online for free? Seems they may start making the print mag available on a web-subscription basis. Let 'em know what you think!

I've got a face over at Facebook.

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:46:00 +0000

I managed to hold Facebook at bay all this time, but officially succumbed this week. Lots of friends friended me after I foolishly signed up in August, but with all the work deadlines at the time, I wasn't able to get the ball rolling until this week. So thanks to everyone who was patient with me. Now I've finally got a profile photo and a list of very cool friends. Check it out.

Back home from Philly (Part 2 of 2)

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:47:00 +0000

(pictured L to R): Traci Picacio; Mary Robinette Kowal; Richelle Mead. My previous entry covered the tourist half of last week's Philly trip; this time around -- the Philcon Experience. I was Artist Guest of Honor so I didn't take many photos at the con, and wish I would have. It was a great con weekend -- all of my panels were lively and fun to do; my slideshow presentation was well-attended and went off without a hitch; sold some work in the Art Show (not to be taken for granted in a tough economy); met lots of new folks; and even won a couple of merit awards in the Art Show, including "Best In Show/Popular Choice" for the cover art for ADVENTURE, VOL. 1.

(pictured L to R): Elspeth Kovar; Serena Powers; Tim Powers; Dennis McCunney; Traci Picacio. The great Jeff Ford was in the house on Friday night and it was terrific to hang with him as always. Never tried a Whiskey Sour before I had a few Friday night, but now I know why Ford likes 'em so much. HarperCollins/Eos editor Diana Gill dropped by Sunday and it was great seeing her as ever. Pleasure spending time with Richelle Mead, Mary Robinette Kowal, Andrew Wheeler, Alan Beck, Greg Frost, Ray Ridenour, Bud Sparhawk, Jane Jewell, Michael Walsh, Diane Weinstein, Gary Frank and wife Nancy, Keith R.A. DeCandido, John Grant, and many others. Spent quality time with Principal Speaker (Author GOH) Tim Powers and his wife Serena once the show was over, and in a taxi to the airport. Like a cappella singing? Check out the Chromatics. Missed 'em while I was judging the Masquerade but they were the intermission entertainment. Will catch up later via YouTube.

Special Guest Scott Christian Sava of DREAMLAND CHRONICLES fame was kind enough to bestow copies of his illustrated books to both me and Tim at the show's end. Thanks a bunch, Scott!! Being GOH at a show like Philcon makes you grateful to all the volunteers who work hard to make it happen. Shoutouts to the entire Philcon Committee, but especially to Mark and Margaret Trebing, David Silber, Eric Gasior, Rock Robertson (thanks for the help with the slideshow!!), Terry Graybill (who produced some terrific promo bookmarks and palmcards), Nathan Lilly (nice job with the program book!!), Filthy Pierre, Shirley Avery, Martin Deutsch, Byron Connell, Diane Kovalcin, Rob Himmelsbach, Tina Connell, the Wombat, Rhea Hoch, Gary Feldbaum, Debby Lieven, Christine Norris, Suzanne Rosin, and more. Dennis McCunney was the Hotel Liaison, but seemed to be more than just that and in more places than one at the same time. He was awesome. Thanks, Dennis! Mad props to Joni Dashoff and Andrea Senchy who made the Art Show a success. Joni taught me and Traci what a "jug handle" was and made me realize that driving in Europe is probably easier than navigating the back roads of Jersey. Last -- I've gotta give huge props to Todd Dashoff who really seemed to wear ten hats all at once and seemed to always come through in the clutch. It was a pleasure being in their midst this past weekend and with all members of the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society. Loved it, and look forward to returning to Philly, somewhere down the road.

Back home from Philly (Part 1 of 2)

noreply@blogger.com (John Picacio) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:19:00 +0000

Traci and I are back home from a whirlwind week in Philadelphia and Philcon in Cherry Hill, NJ. This report covers the tourist side of our trip, in the days before Philcon. The next report will be the Philcon experience. Without further ado, some highlights!

WIZ WIT: We arrived in Philly three days before Philcon. It was our first visit to the City of Brotherly Love so we wanted tourist time. First stop: Pat's King of Steaks to sample the local cuisine. So much hype about Philly's legendary cheesesteak sandwiches. So much said that it wasn't a genuine Philly experience unless you ordered it "wiz wit", which means with Cheez Whiz and with onions. So I did. Verdict: pretty good, but I still wasn't quite sure about Philly's love affair with Cheez Whiz. So I did the natural thing when unsure about cheesesteaks wiz wit, and after just exploding my daily cholesterol count -- I finished it and went to Jim's Steaks (visiting bookstores along the way) and ordered another cheesesteak wiz wit. Verdict: Pat's was good. I like Jim's better. Tastier onions. Better balance between all the flavors. Current cholesterol count after two Philly cheesesteaks in one afternoon: off the charts. Epilogue: we later talked to lots of native Philadelphians about cheesesteaks and not a single native liked Cheez Whiz, or would even go near the stuff. Go figure.
Traci abstained from the whole cheesesteak thing and we decided later that evening to hit the Continental Midtown which was fabulous. Crazy 50's moderne decor, basket chair-pods hanging from ceiling chains, huge calamari salads, lobster mac & cheese, and yummy sidecar drinks. After a long dinner, we had a nightcap up on their roof deck and it was the end of a great first day.

WORLD-CLASS: Maybe Cheez Whiz wasn't such a big hit for us, but the Philadelphia Museum of Art sure was. I expected it to be pretty good, but it was truly one of the best museums I've seen. Good Picassos, Braques, Bocklins, Dalis....great ones by Degas, Toulouse-Latrec, Turner, Van Gogh, and Rubens. The only disappointment was Duchamp's NUDE DESCENDING A STAIRCASE was loaned to Paris and wasn't there. Definitely one of the ones I wanted to see, but overall, what a great museum. We managed to hit an exhibition of Frank Gehry's design process over at the Perelman, and later, the Rodin Museum, which was tremendous -- especially THE GATES OF HELL (detail photo seen above).

LIFE IN THE SHIRE: We spent time with Joe McCabe (editor of FearNet.com) and his photographer wife Sophia Quach. Joe will be moving to LA next year because of his job, but he loves Philly. He said he feels like living in and around the town is like "living in the Shire." Personally, I can see why, when urban murals like the one above are part of the everyday scenery. This wasn't what Joe was talking about when he made the comment, but I've never seen a better piece of urban mural than this one (created by Meg Saligman). Just part of everyday life in Philly.

MORE URBAN MAGIC: Philly's Chestnut Park reminds me of Paley Park in NYC -- a secluded green oasis in an urban jungle. Love this gate designed by Christopher Ray, and the funky animal sculptures sprinked throughout. This wasn't a planned destination, but just surprised us out of nowhere.

STRANGE BIRD: Loved this bird, which is a detail from the same gate (seen in the upper right corner of the sculpture).

WEDNESDAY WITH WYETHS: I'm a huge admirer of the work of N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Harvey Dunn and Dean Cornwell. Really, you can't go wrong with any of the Brandywine artists, or with Andrew Wyeth. So Joe and Sophia took us out to Chadds Ford, and the Brandywine compound, where we visited the Brandywine Museum. The museum has a little beeper that sounds off when visitors get too close to the paintings. I set the beeper off a lot when I saw paintings like the TREASURE ISLAND one above. Didn't care either. I've stared at these in books for years, so seeing the originals up-close was a huge experience. We visited N.C. Wyeth's house and studio as well, and it made me want to fly home right there and get back to work. So inspiring.

BE AFRAID: Had to show these. Joe works in the Comcast Center which dominates Philly's skyline and downtown. That's currently where Fearnet.com's corporate offices are. This is their bathroom signage.

LIBERTY & INDEPENDENCE: Our last tourist day in Philly was largely spent visiting the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall (the Hall seen in background here behind the Bell). In previous days, we'd had several meals at Reading Terminal Market, and we did another lunch there (DiNic's and Bassett's). For the most part, I hate formal tours, but we did a brief one for Independence Hall, and it was well worth it. All and all, Philly's a tremendous town! Philcon Report in the next blog entry...