North America - Lili on the Loose

3 04, 2017

Museum Monday: Queen Amidala at the Denver Art Museum

By Lili|April 3rd, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, costume, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, North America, Padmé, Padmé Amidala, Queen Amidala, Star Wars, Star Wars and the Power of Costume, USA|0 Comments

The original costumes from Star Wars are iconic. And while the prequals have (many) faults, the costumes aren't one of those. Queen Amidala played by Natalie Portman had numerous detailed costumes, here are just a few displayed at the Denver Art Museum as part of Star Wars: The Power of Costume. One of the first costume's you'll see is the red Queen Amidala costume. The bottom bulbs used to light up and the entire platform moved. It's hard to tell, but Natalie Portman must be pretty small. This is another famous costume, with a very large and heavy headdress. Also on display are the

27 03, 2017

Travel Missteps: The Runaway Snowboard

By Lili|March 27th, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: Colorado, Loveland, North America, Ski, Snowboard, USA|0 Comments

Source What I'm going to say is going to shock you. I don't like to ski or snowboard. I know, I live in Colorado know for its amazing ski resorts in the winter, and great hiking/camping in the summer. But I'm not really an outdoorsy type person. I'll push myself when traveling, but at home...I'd rather do art or curl up with a book. Now part of the reason I don't do outdoorsy stuff is because I have really bad ankles, of which I have collective sprained hundreds of times. I'm just too injury prone. Take for example

20 03, 2017

Museum Monday: Star Wars at the Denver Art Museum

By Lili|March 20th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, costume, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, North America, Star Wars, Star Wars and the Power of Costume, USA|0 Comments

At first it might seem strange, an art museum hosting a Star Wars exhibit. But Denver Art Museum curated the exhibit to focus on the creative process, art, and detail of more than 70 costumes and other props from this iconic franchise. DAM wants to embrace pop culture and show that it too can be fine art. Here are just a handful of my favorites! Duel of Fates! They did a good job of showing the costume evolution and details of various Jedi/Sith characters, including details of their lightsabers (and the ability to turn them on and off!) Luke lurks

28 02, 2017

January 2017 Recap

By Lili|February 28th, 2017|Categories: Blog Recaps and Roundups|Tags: 2017, Carrie Fisher, Colorado, Denver, National Western Stock Show, North America, Rodeo, USA, Women's March|0 Comments

So first there was an Inauguration and then the next day there was a massive march of Women. I wasn't planning on attending, the introvert in me likes to stay home. But late the night before my friends asked if anyone wanted to go, and so off we went! About 100k to 200k people were there for the march that day. It was so much fun, everyone friendly and helpful, singing and chanting. It was a calm and happy atmosphere. I'm so glad I went! A post shared by Lili (@liliontheloose) on Jan 21, 2017 at 9:03am PST Also this

27 02, 2017

Travel Missteps: Personal Time with TSA

By Lili|February 27th, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2016, airport, boarding pass, check in, chemical swab, Chemical Swab Test, Colorado, Denver, Disney, Disney World, EDS, ETD, Explosive Detection System, Explosive Trace Detection, false positive, Florida, full body scan, Global Entry, glycerin, Glycerine, Homeland Security, Magical Weekend, Nitrates, North America, Orlando, pat down, redress number, Secondary Security Screening Selectee, Secondary Security Screening Selection, security, SSSS, Trusted Traveler, TSA, TSA Pre-Check, Walt Disney World|0 Comments

I've talked about triggering the ETD system before, as well as getting the SSSS on almost every trip I fly. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. In May 2016, after reading all those articles of massive lines at TSA checkpoints (which disappeared later on in the year) paid $100 to apply for Global Entry and TSA Pre-Check. I didn't quite know what to expect. After being on the SSSS list, I decided against going through the lengthy "Redress" process. So I worried that I might be auto-denied for Global Entry. I waited a few weeks and

24 02, 2017

Chihuly Fireglass

By Lili|February 24th, 2017|Categories: Photography|Tags: 2014, Botanical Garden, chihuly, Colorado, Denver, Denver Botanical Gardens, glass, North America, Photo Friday, USA|0 Comments

This beautiful, twisting, colorful glass was part of Chihuly's exhibit at the Denver Botanical Gardens a few years back. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

23 02, 2017

Murals of Balmy Alley, San Francisco

By Lili|February 23rd, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Travel|Tags: 2008, art, Balmy Alley, Balmy Street, California, Good Food in San Francisco, mural, North America, San Francisco, Travel Thursday, USA|0 Comments

On my first trip to San Francisco, I was exploring the Mission district on the hunt for their famed murals. While there are many works of art in the area, the most murals are found within one block at Balmy Alley. Located off of 24th Street, it is about a 5 block walk east of the 24th/Mission BART stop. The first murals started in the 70's initially depicted human rights and political abuse in Central America. The first murals were done by Patricia Rodriquez and Graciela Carillo who became known as Las Mujeres Muralistas. Here are some of my favorite: Indigenous Eyes

20 02, 2017

Museum Monday: Glory of Venice at Denver Art Museum

By Lili|February 20th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, Glory of Venice, Italy, North America, USA, Venice|0 Comments

My memories of the Denver Art Museum growing up were going on the chaotic free days. Trying to peer over the rabble of families or fight to one of the children activities areas but failing due to the mass of people. As I got older, I tended to only go to that museum for big events, things like the Tutankhamen exhibit in 2010, Van Gogh in 2013, Cartier in 2015, or Star Wars in 2016. But I decided for Star Wars I'd become a member and try to go more often. It is down the street (sort of) from my office,

18 02, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Novelty Shot Glasses

By Lili|February 18th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: California, Coronado, North America, San Diego, shot glass, shot glasses, The Del, The Del Coronado, USA|0 Comments

I use to collect shot glasses everywhere I went. Back in my college days I'd even use them! But towards the end of me collecting shot glasses I finally caved and bought a few novelty ones that you couldn't drink out of, you know the types with something glued to the inside or outside of the shot glass. Here are 3 I bought in San Diego featuring the Del Coronado Hotel and an Orca. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

27 01, 2017

Firebreather

By Lili|January 27th, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2016, Diagon Alley, dragon, fire, Florida, Gringotts, Harry Potter, Magical Weekend, North America, Orlando, Photo Friday, Universal, Universal Studios, USA, Wizarding World, Wizarding World of Harry Potter|0 Comments

Harry Potter Celebration in Orlando kicks off today. I've always wanted to go, but at least I got to visit Diagon Alley last year for a quick day trip! Although it took me ages to get this photo. Each time the dragon breathed fire I could never get my camera ready in time! Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.