PIOLA - - “Famous for Pizza”

You cannot find a bigger or better assortment of pizzas anywhere than at Piola ---okay, maybe in Italy, but I doubt it. Located at 1550 Wilson Boulevard in Rosslyn, Piola is a big place with, of course, a brick oven to showcase more than 50 kinds of pizza. There are also other dishes—appetizers, salads, pasta specials with homemade sauces and other chicken, fish and beef entrees. But, it’s the pizza that makes them a specialty restaurant. Being a pizza purist, I ordered the classic Margherita, but then decided to add sausage, mushrooms and chopped tomatoes. Scrumptious! And, being a growing boy, I made room for Piola’s homemade profiteroles, homemade cream puffs with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Piola actually means “meeting place” and it certainly has a friendly atmosphere. Piola was started by two brothers in Italy about 20 years ago and there are now Piola’s in seven countries including the United States. Lucky for us we have one in our back yard here in Arlington. Stop by and talk to owner, Nabil and manager, Badma. Piola’s phone number is 703-528-1502 and check the website at www.piola.it

NATIONAL GALLERY of ART - - “Gauguin: Maker of Myth”

Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), painter and sculptor of myths, is the subject of a large exhibition in the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in D.C. As depicted in the show, “Gauguin: Maker of Myth,” he was known for blending fact with fiction and often used personal tales to tell his exotic stories through art. His stoneware ceramic sculpture, Oviri, is a Tahitian name meaning savage which Gauguin thought best described him and which he used extensively. Even though Gauguin was a renowned artist, he considered himself a work in progress and without doubt, was a man ahead of his time. His concern was the demise of Western culture. He was a philosopher and saw himself as a martyr. In one painting, he depicts himself as Christ. Tahiti, then a French colony, was the center of his interest. His paintings reveal a sensuality in his female nudes. The Gauguin exhibit will be at the National Gallery of Art through June 5. For more information, call 202-737-4215 and check the website at www.nga.gov. Be sure to check the beautiful catalog.