DIANA LEGACY OF A PRINCESS:  A ROYAL EXHIBITION

June 16, 2012 - Present

Remembered for her charm, compassion, timeless beauty and classic style; Princess Diana continues to be an icon of inspiration to millions of people worldwide.  “Diana: Legacy of a Princess” showcases a priceless collection of evening gowns, dresses, personal accessories, photographs, heirlooms and other cherished memorabilia associated with Princess Diana and the Royal Family.

Diana: Legacy of a Princess sprawls over 13,000 square feet of the Queen Mary’s Sun Deck and chronicles Diana’s private and public life from her days as a student at university, to her engagement and historic marriage to Prince Charles, to her reign as Princess of Wales and her extraordinary charity work, to her untimely demise. This very personal and rare exhibit includes many never before seen items and offers a more in-depth and up-close look into the life of a Princess everyone thought they knew.

THE QUEEN MARY

1126 Queens Hwy

Long Beach, CA  90802

INFO: 877-342-0742 / http://www.queenmary.com/diana-collection.php  

DAYS / HOURS:

Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday to Sunday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

NOTE:  Last entrance is one hour prior to closing.

ADMISSION:  

Royal Passport Adult - Adult Weekdays:  $20.95

Royal Passport Adult - Adult Weekends:  $34.95

Royal Passport Child - Child Weekdays:  $9.95

Royal Passport Child- Child Weekends:  $18.95

Royal Passport Includes:

• Self-Guided Ship Walk Tour (audio tour available)
• Entry to the Princess Diana Exhibit
• Queen Mary Story & Historic Exhibit 

PARKING:  Parking can be as much as $15, so make sure that if you have lunch at the TEA ROOM or one of the other restaurants, that you get a validation.  A parking validation can save you up to $10!

AUDIO TOUR:  There is no audio tour available.

THE GOOD:  This exhibit is so much more than a celebration of Princess Diana.  It is truly a royal exhibition with items from Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth (Mother and Daughter), Princess Fergie and Princess Kate. 

Highlights include: the “Diana” dresses and her handwritten letters, Wallis Simpson pink negligee, Princess Kate blue engagement wrap dress, and Princess Fergie’s beaded bridal gown featuring bumble bees and anchors.

THE BAD:  All of the dolls commissioned for Princess Diana look nothing like her and are embarrassingly bad.

THE UGLY:  Photography is not permitted in the exhibit which features the most photographed woman.

MY SCORE:  *****

(5 OUT OF 5 STARS) 

GEMS OF THE MEDICI

Tuesday, April 16 - Sunday, September 15, 2013

In the mid-1400s, many celebrated artists, goldsmiths, silversmiths and engravers were attracted by the abundance of wealth in the city of Florence, but the most important factor in this gathering of talent was the presence of the Medici family. For almost three hundred years, generation after generation of Medici dominated city affairs and steered the course of art history. It was the Medici family who funded the workshops of these artists and artisans, who commissioned and collected the masterpieces of art and antiquity. From founding father to the last Grand Duke, the immense power and wealth of this great dynasty was invested in its legendary collections, of which the collection renowned as the Gems of the Medici is perhaps the finest in the world.

Gems of the Medici, a world premier exhibition, highlights some of the oldest and most unique pieces of the Medici collections including antiquities dating from the 1st Century BCE as well as a cornelian which was part of the Seal of Nero.

THE BOWERS MUSEUM

2002 N. Main Street

Santa Ana, CA  92706

INFO: 714-567-3600 / www.bowers.org

DAYS / HOURS:  Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. 

ADMISSION:  

Adults Weekdays:  $15 / Adults Weekends:  $17

Seniors (Age 62+) Weekdays:  $13 / Seniors (Age 62+) Weekends:  $15

Students (12+) Weekdays:  $13 / Students (12+) Weekends:  $15

Children (under 12) Weekdays: Free / Children (under 12) Weekends: Free

PARKING:  Parking is available directly north and south of the museum for a $6 fee.  Nearby metered and timed street parking is also available.

AUDIO TOUR:  There is no audio tour available.

THE GOOD:  The kumquat panna cotta available at Tangata restaurant located inside the museum is not to be missed.  As far as the exhibit goes, it really wasn’t worth the time or effort I am sorry to say.  And that pains me, because I am actually quite fond of THE BOWERS MUSEUM. 

THE BAD:  The title of the exhibit is misleading…  When you include the word “gems,” you think of rings, necklaces, crowns and scepters… anything but cameos.  And that was this exhibit featured; a lot of small, intricate, hard to see cameos.  Not really worth the hour drive to Santa Ana.

 THE UGLY:  There is no audio tour available so you have to do a lot of reading.  And unfortunately, you will soon discover that someone forgot to proof the reading material. Typos were quite common and someone should have been embarrassed.

MY SCORE:  **

(2 OUT OF 5 STARS)