TRAVEL LOG

Museums’ summer bounty

Museums often slip into slumber in June, saving debuts for less sunny seasons when strollers long to duck indoors. But not this month. Among notable openings:

* Houston: “Inverted Utopias: Avant-Garde Art in Latin America” presents more than 200 paintings, sculptures and other works by 67 artists, including such giants as Mexico’s Jose Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros, produced from 1920 to 1970. Through Sept. 12 at the Museum of Fine Arts. Adult admission is $7. (713) 639-7300, www.mfah.org.

* Long Island City, N.Y.: The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, devoted to the late designer and sculptor whose abstract organic shapes became midcentury icons, reopened June 12 after 2 1/2 years of renovations. It has been renamed the Noguchi Museum. Over 100 examples of Noguchi’s work, including stage sets, are on display in a special exhibit through Oct. 3. Adult admission is $5. (718) 204-7088, www.noguchi.org.

* New York: The letter that Christopher Columbus sent to Spain upon arriving in the Americas, plus other rare documents, paintings and more, are displayed in “Isabella the Catholic, Queen of Two Worlds (1451-1504).” Instituto Cervantes at Amster Yard. Through July 11. Free. (212) 308-7720, cervantes.org.

* San Francisco: “Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile” delves into the culture of the hired companions and entertainers in Japan from the 17th century to the present. Kimonos once owned by Ichimaru (1906-1997), later a recording artist, are among highlights in the 130-item collection of clothing, video installations, photos, ceramics and more at the Asian Art Museum. Through Sept. 26. Adult admission is $10. (415) 581-3500, www.asianart.org.

* Washington, D.C.: Nearly 100 photographs document Mexico’s Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in “Diego y Frida: A Smile in the Middle of the Road.” Jose Clemente Orozco Gallery at the Institute of Mexico. Through Aug. 27. Free admission. (202) 232-8674, www.sre.gob.mx/eua/instituto.

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New owners for B&B;

Fall River, Mass.

The house where Lizzie Borden’s father and stepmother were killed more than a century ago is being sold and will be closed as a museum. But the new owners plan to continue operating it as a bed-and-breakfast.

Tours of the house will still be offered. For information, call (508) 675-7333 or visit www.lizzie-borden.com. Rates begin at $150.

Associated Press

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Lighting up

Las Vegas

The Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas’ struggling downtown area last week debuted what it said was the world’s largest LED display for its nightly sound-and-light shows.

The Viva Vision project, which cost

$17 million, involved replacing 2 million incandescent bulbs that lighted the 1,500-foot-long canopy screen with more than 12 million light-emitting diode lamps.

The goal: a sharper image.

-- Compiled by

Jane Engle