Happy New Year to One and All!

Travel Journal 07: Washington, DC - Union Station

“Short and sweet” is how we described our trip to DC. We had 2 full days and 2 evenings to capture the highlights of DC – from the museums to the new places to eat and a new neighborhood to explore – Mt. Vernon Square.

Our mode of transport to and from DC was the Greyhound Bus. I preferred to ride the bus than drive for 2 reasons – the weather and the price. It was a good deal for the price was reasonable and the bus ride was comfortable. More importantly, we got to our destination on time safely.

Travel Journal 07: Washington DC - Edward Hopper at the National Gallery of Art

We were blessed with beautiful weather while we were in DC. On dad’s birthday, the 28th, we went to the National Gallery of Art – East Building to see Edward Hopper’s mostly oil paintings from 1930’s – 1960’s. It was so amazing to see iconic works of art right before you. He painted urban scenes, specifically of New York City. In fact, his studio was in 3 Washington Square and it still stands to this day. Many of the visitors at the exhibit were not from New York City and only Mark and I found an affinity for the scenes that he depicted in his oil paintings. His paintings were often brooding and somewhat lonely and yet the colors he used were vibrant. He mastered the contrast between shadow and light which provided his paintings with that layer of introspection.

I strongly suggest that you go to the http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/hopperinfo.shtm and watch a film clip of the exhibit Mark and I saw. It's like being in the museum!

Travel Journal 07: Washington DC - JMW Turner at the National Gallery of Art

On the West building, we saw a completely different painting created in the early 1800’s. JMW Turner was a Royal Artist from the UK and his watercolor paintings were large, historic with a touch of fictional exaggeration but overall highlighted the British Naval power and infused most of the paintings with the power of religion. These almost 200 year-old paintings looked fresh as if they were painted yesterday. His paintings of battles at sea were more dramatic than his landscapes but both had the same gravitas in terms of history and religion. The paintings took pains to tell you a story.

To download a PDF of the Exhibition Brochure, please go to: http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2007/turner/turner_brochure.pdf

Travel Journal 07: Washington DC - Air & Space Museum

Our third museum was the disappointing Air & Space Museum. Since our visit to this Museum in 1998, nothing substantial has changed except for a most recent exhibit that chronicled the history of commercial flights. It was a previous exhibit but this time they wanted to make it more appealing by adding sections of what stewardesses wore from the 20’s, 30’s till now and also what the passengers wore during those times too. Truly, in the 70’s, things went downhill as travel became more and more available to everyone. It was no longer a big deal to “dress up” and travel. It’s just one big commuter bus on air, much like the Greyhound. Their high-tech exhibits are not as high-tech compared to what the average child carries with him – a Wii, an iPod or a DVD player. It was really behind the curve, considering that this museums goal was to inspire the future – young children – to explore science and outer space.

Travel Journal 07: Washington DC - Interior Details of the American Art Museum

I was not willing to be let down by a lousy museum on my last day in DC. So, we tried a museum that clearly was “out of the way” – the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This is a new extension of the Smithsonian and clearly when you enter the building – what was once the US Patent Office – you will see corridors and open floors with modular High Density Movable Shelving on wheels. Like a filing room of a law firm. The filing cabinets are all upright, from ceiling to floor. But this one had paintings and various artwork stored in cabinets.

I was fascinated by the cupola, tilework, floor pattern and painstaking restoration they made to the interior of this building. It was just beautiful.

Travel Journal 07: Washington DC - Collection of the American Art Museum

The museum had a hodge-podge of a collection. It was not a solid collection of art or artwork. It was really more of a repository of artwork to me. It was actually confused between depicting history using art and / or art using history. This resulted in several disjointed exhibitions: from portraits of famous Americans from presidents to sports heroes to modern day “pop” icons; a landscape artist, Asher Durand (similar to JMW Turner but the Yankee version); an eclectic mix of Modern Art and WPA (Work Progress Administration) artists who were paid for their art. [The WPA projects represented a sequence of programs and promises initiated between 1933 and 1938 with the goal of giving reform to the people and economy of the US during the Great Depression], and the weirdest thing of them all, a collection of World War I Posters selling mostly bonds to finance World War I. It just didn’t have a theme. It was a huge building with so many rooms that they had to fill it with many exhibits of various types. Sadly, it looked to me like a flea market. You can see for yourself by going to their website at http://americanart.si.edu/collections/exhibitions.cfml

Travel Journal 07: Washington, DC - American Art Museum

But it was not a let-down. I felt that given the 1 ½ hours I have to roam around, there was a lot to see and appreciate. But digesting what you see required you to sit back and relax in their comfortable chaises from time to time. It’s like having too much dark chocolate. You can only have it one at a time and not all the time. I also liked the fact that the tired (and confused) viewers were treated to a wonderful indoor courtyard filed with ficus trees, low lighting and “pools” of water, which are only a quarter inch deep. It gave you a chance to rest and reflect on what you experienced.

Travel Journal 07: Washington, DC - La Tasca

Evenings were dedicated to gastronomic adventures. Our first dinner was at a Spanish restaurant La Tasca. We had paella valenciana which we hardly have, and tapas. It was a treat!

Travel Journal 07: Washington, DC - Acadiana

On Dad’s birthday, we went to Acadiana which highlights a contemporary interpretation of New Orleans cuisine. It did not disappoint. The food was presented very well, the spice just enough for you to appreciate but not overwhelm the palette and the service impeccable.

Here's to Daddy!

Travel Journal 07: Washington, DC - 12/29/07

On our last day we used the day-pass to a local health club for a sauna and steam bath. Mark tried those deep Japanese soaking tubs while I played in the shower with those pump dispensers that dispensed what smelled like fruit jellies but were actually soap, shampoo and conditioner. I wanted to spread them over my buttered toast.

Travel Journal 07: Washington, DC - 12/29/07

Our last pictures were taken at a landmark historic Victorian hotel, the Morrison Clark Hotel.

I think I celebrated Daddy’s birthday with panache and hope to do the same again next year!

TGIF in 811 - Mark the King of Epicurean Bargains

Mark is the king of epicurean bargains. Above are his spice collection from Carrefour in Dubai. We consolidated the spice collection in beautiful old glass jars for only $10 from the thrift shop. On the Friday before Christmas, he bought about 2 pounds of ham plus the bone for soups and stews for only $10 at Zabar's! We had so much ham for the holidays at a bargain price and we had a good soup base thanks to the ham bone!

TGIF in 811 - Channeling Martha Stewart

I love the kitchen that Mark designed for 811. It's a small kitchen but it has lots of counter space to lay things out and cook! You can see me whisk up a dressing for the Waldorf salad while behind me is the slow cooker (my favorite kitchen equipment) slow cooking my signature pot roast. Cooking both this main dish and appetizer are easy, ingredients are readily available and recipe always on-hand if you email me!