I’m pretty fortunate to live within easy driving distance to many wonderful museums in the Los Angeles area. So when I recently had an hour to kill, I popped into the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena (if you haven’t been, it’s the one always featured in the background telecast of the Tournament of Roses Parade every New Year’s Day).

1./Golden Hour Lighting in the Sculpture Garden

There’s something to be said about arriving right before closing. After touring just a few of the galleries (with no residual art overload syndrome), I took a stroll in the beautifully designed sculpture and botanic garden. The way the light around 4 o’clock illuminated that space, especially reflecting off their central Monet-esque/Impressionist lily pond, added a beautiful and warm contrast for the Simon’s collection of modern sculpture. Magic!

2./Rainbows & Midcentury Art Icons

The Norton Simon just showcased the colorful and geometric work of Ellsworth Kelly. But don’t worry if you missed the exhibition—his work is still a part of the permanent collection that features the work of many early to mid-century American artists: Helen Frankenthaler, Ed Ruscha, Josef Albers, Alexander Calder, among many going even further into twentieth-century art in both painting, drawing, collage, and sculpture.

3./Portraits of the Once Rich and Famous

If you weren’t the Madonna or a martyred saint in 16th-century art, a portrait of a woman would likely be a royal (a Spanish one in this case). Meghan Markle—just be glad these ruffs and restrictive layers aren’t your fashion challenges. I especially dig how thumb rings were a thing even then.