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Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

It's high time I put together another teacher meet...

I recently found the Franz Mayer gallery/museum near Bellas Artes...a lovely little place with a cafe in a courtyard in this fabulous 17th century building. Come and enjoy conversation, coffee, and fine art if the idea grabs you.

Sunday, July 22nd, 1 PM. Franz Mayer Museum is at Av. Hidalgo #45 Col. Guerrero. Closest metro stop is Bellas Artes.

thelmadatter · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:21 pm Post subject: classy

mmmmmm... not sure I can handle all that class (you can take the girl outta Jersey...) Laughing

But being the good trooper that I am, Ill give it a shot.

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

This looks lovely and I would like to go, but...I am in the US for a short vacation until the 28th. Crying or Very sad

MO39 · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:59 pm Post subject:

The Franz Meyer is my favorite museum in Mexico City, and its courtyard is a true "remanso de paz"in that very hectic part of the city. Too bad I won't be able to attend the July get-together there since I won't return to the DF till September or early October.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Excellent place. I`ve had the Mayer Gallery high on my must do list. Will be there without Yogi Bear.

danielita · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 281 Location: SLP

I can't believe it!! I am NEVER in DF, but I happened to have been there a few days ago and I am gone again! I miss all the fun. Sigh...some other time....

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

What a nice little get together on a lazy Sunday. Franz Mayer is a great spot to enjoy a quiet courtyard and fine art, away from the bustle of Bellas Artes just across the street. Pictures to be posted soon.

Next one will be nacorific, instead of classy...I promise. Wink

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Pictures, as promised.

The Franz Mayer museum is in an old building in the centro historico. I believe it served as quarters for the clergy to the attached church.

The cafe abuts a central courtyard with a fountain and gardens. Very refreshing.

We were 5 to attend this outing. The cafe offerings are little more than sandwiches, coffee, and desserts but we enjoyed it.

One of the features this month is a stunning silverworks display. I've seen fine works in Taxco, but today's fare put even that to shame.

Other displays were more historical...17th century items attached to the church, including many other silverworks, furniture, and paintings.

MO39 · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:37 am Post subject:

Thanks for the great photos, Guy. When I get back to Mexico, I'm going to look into doing volunteer work at this wonderful museum. Even if they don't take me on, I'd be happy to give an informal tour of my favorite parts of the permanent collection to anyone who's interested.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

There were a number of uniformed volunteers in many of the rooms in the museum. Many had clipboards and were taking notes of the visitors, but as to what they were exactly writing, I don`t know.
The works are not exactly to my dearest interests, as furniture from the Renaissance or from any period, is of not particular interest to me, but there were some pieces I found absolutely fascinating. There is the contemporary ceramic collection that was outstanding as was the Plata collection, (for me to a lesser extent) and of course, the courtyard was a real pleasure.
If anyone enjoys this particular architectural style there is a similar building, a convent, across the street from the Hidalgo station, that has a larger courtyard but no garden. They serve coffee and pastry and have some very nice musical groups playing. A good place to go in the early evening.

MO39 · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject:

Geoff, thanks for the tip about the convent across from Hidalgo. Could it be the Hotel Cort�s? I knew there was some sort of cafe there, but didn't know about the music.

If they were wearing uniforms, I'm guessing that the people you saw at the Franz Meyer holding clipboards were probably employees, not volunteers.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

That does sound like Hotel Cortes, though there is another old building nearby...city government building I think. Is that the one Gearonson?

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

I haven't been checking here for a while, and I wouldn't have been able to go anyway because I'm sort of holding down the fort on my own at the moment.
But, Guy, if you think of it could you PM me next time? Now that I'm back in Oaxaca, there's a chance that I might be able to make it to one of these get-togethers one day. I'd love to meet everyone.
And, yeah, that place looks beautiful.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

The city public building is the Centro culturale de Jose Marti and is not the place I was referring to. The convento is across Paseo de Reforma and has two internet cafes on the block and a religious bookstore. The coffeehouse, if you could call it that, is in the atrium of the cloister in the very center of the block and you enter it from the Reforma side.
The Jose Marti art center is a great find as well and they have marathon movie sessions on Friday nights from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. on Saturday. Yes, you got me right, 10 hours of great flics if you can stay awake and they are free.
The gallery is nice as well and currently have a nice National Geographic type of documentary images on Taiwan. They also offer classes in origami, paper making, chess, etc. etc.

MO39 · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:41 pm Post subject:

I've been to nice exhibits at the Jos� Mart� Center but didn't realize that it showed movies and offered crafts classes (at reasonable prices?). Thanks for the tip.

I didn't realize that students (is that university students?) could earn servicio social credits at museums. That could mean that they might not have much use for my services.