The Tacoma Museum of Glass is having a retrospective exhibition of the works of Lino Tagliapietra. I went today and I'm here to tell you it's cool.

I've never been up there but after seeing some specials on public TV about the joint, Marcie and I went to check it out. I don't know much about blown glass except for my old bong and Dale Chihuly. Ha!

In case your wondering, it's ten bucks to get in. Cheaper if you are a child or old or in the army.

I had never heard of this glass bloke (honestly, I'm tired of typing that confusing name, over and over, again) but thought, "I'm sure he's no Dale Chihuly. Dale Chihuly has an eyepatch, which is like a beret for your eye."

Boy, was I wrong. That old guy (he's around 74 years old) can throw down. He's from some glass-blowing island in Venice. They have secret techniques there. Or, at least, they used to. In fact, Dale called Lino the "greatest living glassblower".

I couldn't take any pictures in his gallery, but if you clicked on the "blue words" above - and you click around - you'll see a few pics of some of the works displayed. Warning: The pictures are completely 2D & the art is 3D and there is absolutely no way to experience Lino's art from looking at pictures.

We spent an hour or so taking in Lino's exhibit and then went to the "hotshop". They blow glass pieces at the museum all day long (except from noon to 1).