Q and A
Windsor's Royal Celebration
Q.  I understand a major equestrian event is planned in honor of the golden wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Please provide details. -- Robin H. Goldberg, New York, N.Y.
A.  'Major' might be considered an understatement. The Royal Pageant of the Horse, scheduled for July 5, is being billed as the largest equestrian event ever staged. It will be held at the Queen Victoria Review Ground at Windsor Great Park, a former hunting ground in view of the royal residence, Windsor Castle, 22 miles west of London.
More than 1,300 horses, 120 carriages, 600 musicians and singers, military bands and entertainers from all over Britain will take part. The Gold State Coach with a full Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry will make a rare appearance. A musical production of Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyries,' which will include the King's Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery, the Massed Bands of the Household Division and the Bach Choir will be conducted by Sir David Willcocks. Equestrian events in the Royal Pageant of the Horse aim to illustrate all aspects of horsemanship from racing and polo to show jumping and leisure riding. Working horses such as the heavy shire breeds and horses used in transport and the army will also be  represented.
The hour-and-a-half pageant, which will offer seating for up to 28,000, will start at 9:30 P.M. Tickets will cost about $68, $85 and $102. Parking will be provided for ticket holders.
Windsor Great Park will be open from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. during which time viewers will be entertained with  jousting and other diversions, including a display of vintage Rolls-Royces.
To make reservations, which are required for both the daytime and evening events, and for information, call (44-1604) 831889.
Colonial Splendor in Morelia
Q.  My husband and I are planning a trip to Morelia in Mexico, and we would like some general information about the city, as well as some tips on mid-priced hotels. -- Carrie Dobbs, Pittsburgh
A.  Morelia, the capital of Michoacan in central Mexico, was founded in 1541 as Valladolid, but was renamed in the 19th century after Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, an Independence War hero who was born there. The city, graced with some of Mexico's loveliest colonial buildings -- many of them constructed of a pale, rose-colored stone -- is a lively market town with a university, several Spanish language schools and an active arts scene. It is known for its sweets -- honey fudge, crystallized mangos and tamarinds -- which are sold in abundance on the streets and in the Mercado de Dulces, a market on the western arcade of the Clavijero Palace near the main square. Morelia is also known as a central marketplace for regional crafts: lacquerware, handmade guitars, copper pots and ceramics.
Most of the city's sites are within walking distance of the central zocalo, which is known by several names, including the Plaza de Armas. The most famous building is the 17th-century Cathedral overlooking  the zocalo. The Cathedral, built in a combination of styles, most prominently Baroque, has twin, 200-foot bell towers, the tallest in Mexico. The sanctuary contains a 4,600-pipe organ.
Inside the 18th-century Palacio de Gobierno, at 63 Avenida Madero, (52-43) 12 78 72, are murals by the artist Alfredo Zalce. Morelos was among the graduates of the seminary that was once housed here.
Another worthwhile site is the Casa Museo de Morelos, 323 Avenida Morelos Sur, (52-43) 13 26 51, the former home of Morelos, with exhibits related to his life and his involvement in Mexico's struggle for independence. Admission is $1. It is open daily from 9 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.
Among the midpriced hotel options is the Hotel Posada de la Soledad, 90 Ignacio Zaragoza, (52-43) 12 18 88, which has 58 rooms ranging from about $50 to $80. It occupies a restored 17th-century mansion. The rooms on the front section, facing the Plaza de Armas, are surrounded by a patio with fountains and bougain villea. All the rooms are decorated with Colonial-era memorabilia.
Hotel Catedral, 37 Calle Zaragoza, (52-43) 13 04 06, is a 44-room inn housed in a restored colonial building. Rooms surround a courtyard and some have views of the Plaza and the Cathedral. Double rooms also range from about $50 to $80.
Pollock's Hampton Domain
Q.  I understand it's possible to visit the former studio of Jackson Pollock in East Hampton, L.I., but that visiting hours are erratic. Will the studio be open in June? -- Irene Maddox, Cincinnati
A. Yes, the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center will be open when you're in the area. The site is a National Historic Landmark, situated in the Springs section of East Hampton at 830 Fireplace Road. It may be toured by appointment from May through October on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The site's research collection, which focuses mainly on the development of the Abstract Expressionist movement -- of which Jackson Pollock was a leading member -- is open year round, also by appointment.
The cedar-shingled, 19th-century farmhouse, along with Pollock's paint-splattered studio in a converted barn, overlook Accabonac Creek. Jackson Pollock and his wife, the artist Lee Krasner, bought the property in the 1940's. Jackson spent the last 10 years of his life there (he died in an automobile accident in 1956), producing his best-known works. In the process, he and other noted artists, including the late Willem de Kooning, established the surrounding area as an artists' colony at a time when what is now known as the Hamptons was a quiet string of fishing and farming villages surrounded by agricultural fields and wetlands.
In the studio, whose floor is still caked with paint, you'll find a series of photos, chronicling Pollock and Krasner's artistic careers, and a collection of both artists' implements. The house, left as it was in the 50's, contains their Victorian furnishings and personal library.
The Stony Brook Foundation, which is affiliated with the State University of New York at Stony Brook, operates the House and Study Center. Admission is $5, children are admitted free. For appointments and for information on lectures and special exhibitions, call (516) 324-4929.
SUZANNE MacNEILLE
Q and A