A chance to roam through history

Lee Alkire is excited.

Alkire, a Spokane retiree wandering the world with his wife Cheryl, was knocked out by the “Roman Art from the Louvre” exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum, and he called up to make sure you heard all about it.

“We’ve been to the Vatican museum, the Louvre, museums in Rome, little things like the Colosseum,” he says. “That’s an interest we have, so I think I can make an evaluation about this thing.”

The exhibition, which runs through May 11, represents almost three centuries of imperial Roman life and history. And does a bang-up job of it, according to Alkire.

“We’ve never seen anything that explained Roman society like this does,” he says. “It really is the best. You walk out of there feeling like you have two college credits in Roman history.”

That education comes in the form of about 180 pieces on loan from Paris’ Louvre, many of which have never been seen stateside.

The lives of elite and ordinary citizens, soldiers, gladiators, slaves and more play out in marble sculptures, reliefs, paintings, mosaics, bronze statuettes, jewelry, and glass and silver implements.

Alkire gravitated to matters of engineering – “At Rome’s height, the volume of water in a aqueducts was equal to the amount in New York City in the 1980s” – but Cheryl Alkire found something just for her.

“They had busts with different hairstyles,” he says. “My wife just loved it.”

Alkire found the statues of children “deeply touching” and “more evocative than the best photography of our own time. As one moves among these statues, it is as if they are about to speak.”

Do your homework ahead of time with the exhibition’s audio tour, available as an MP3 download or podcast. A downloadable map shows where each of the 39 stops pulls up.

A couple of public programs will augment your education.

On April 18, “Models for Understanding Visual Representations of Roman Ritual” brings Annie Laurie Howard from the University of Texas at Austin, where she’s an art history professor.

And the Minneapolis Museum of Art’s Maxwell Anderson will regale you with “Ancient Rome to Today’s Antiquities Market” on April 25.

Exhibit tickets, available onsite or online, cost $20 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors.

Learn more at www.seattleartmuseum.com or (206) 654-3100.

Rose City strolls

They’re back. Portland Walking Tours, winner of the highly coveted “Best City Tours” bestowed by unnamed “national and local media,” just unfurled its 2008 lineup.

There’s something for just about everyone – lovers of food, wine, architecture and the disreputable alike.

Daily “Best of Portland” excursions survey the Rose City’s architecture, art, downtown shopping, elm trees and waterfront.

“Underground Portland,” also offered daily, explores the dark side, including crime, scandal, entrances to the “Shanghai Tunnels” below and more.

Give yourself a good scare on Friday and Saturday evenings on the “Beyond Bizarre” walk in search of the paranormal.

“Epicurean Excursions,” scheduled on Friday and Saturday mornings, will reward you for your exercise with visits to Bridgeport Brewery and the Pearl Bakery.

That will cost you $59; all other outings come in at $19 for adults and $15 for seniors and youth.

There’s more information at www.portlandwalkingtours.com or (503) 774-4522.

Regional events

•Oregon Ag Fest, April 26-27, Salem. Organizers are calling this a “fun and educational” festival, where you can learn about the importance of agriculture in our daily lives. ( www.oragfest.com/800-874-7012)

•International Wildlife Film Festival, May 10-17, Missoula. Wildlife and natural history films and television programs are coming from around the world for the 30th annual festival. ( www.visitmt.com/406-728-9380)

•Spring Barrel Tasting, May 16-28, Wenatchee Valley. Have a snack, listen to live music and be the first to sample the new vintage. ( www.columbiacascadewines.com/ 509-782-0708)