I've always wanted to go to Cremona, Italy - birthplace of the great violin maker Antonio Stradivarius (1644-1737). It's a place that has re-emerged now in the 21st century as a center of fine violin-making, as well as an entire museum dedicated to the violin - the Museo del Violino.

Fortunately, a little bit of Cremona is coming to the Los Angeles area on Feb. 18-19, when some 50 stringed instruments made by 40+ living luthiers from Cremona will be featured at Metzler Violin Shop in Glendale in its Cremonese Violin Exhibition & Sale.