Hey did anyone else find this stamp window? I thought I saw some spumoni cups along my path...
This was a handy one for me, as I live nearby, so I hitched up the tiny accomplice in her stroller and proceeded to 81 37th ave. and discovered Romolo's Cannoli & Spumoni Factory! So cute (as was the fellow behind the counter). I ordered a cannoli (chocolate chip) for the hubby back home and also some of "Timothy's Icy Sweetmeats", for which I was treated to an ice cream cone of my choice (butter brickle) and handed a small, stamped card with a nearby address on it. So excited was I that I nearly forgot the cannoli! I was subsequently shocked to discover that nobody had yet made a "leave the gun, take the cannoli" reference from The Godfather in this establishment. I hardly believe this is possible.
Ice cream cone in hand, I wheeled the tiny accomplice (who was at this point napping) to an unassuming cul-de-sac a few blocks away, where I discovered an open studio filled with delights! Closest to the driveway was a large wooden box with a sign that said "zymogliphic museum" and containing many specimens of natural history from the zymogliphic region, curated by artist Jim Stewart
http://www.zymoglyphic.org/galleries.html
Jim stamped my passport and kindly helped me wrangle the tiny accomplice's rolling conveyance into and out of the galleries and was very gentlemanly about it. We were both amused when a mom, grandmom and two young boys showed up. The boys were fascinated by the museum but their mother soon noticed that there were such things as diceased insects involved and practically dragged her boys out of there. Grandma announced her intention to remain in the street. This was much to her loss, I afraid, for the next studio up the path belonged to Judith Hoffman. I could've spent several hours in there, gazing at her beautiful and sculptural pinhole cameras, books and photographs, as well as her collections of vintage cameras and plastic dinosaurs and Godzillas. The aesthetic if these pieces was like that of cherished family heirlooms, but that gravity has so much humor along with it (as only plastic dinosaur toys can bring) and I really enjoyed the combination
http://www.judithhoffman.net/
I had to hurry home at this point, already late for some family obligation, but I had a very enjoyable time at this window. I never would have expected to discover two such unusual artists in San Mateo, and I've since returned to Romolo's to enjoy a cannoli sundae with the hubby.[/url]

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:09 pm