The 70's Brunch

We went to brunch at the Kennedy Center on Saturday.  It was a hot and lovely day.  We found a perfect parking spot and entered through the Hall of Nations.  We went up one level to the restaurant.  We were seated in a circular room with '70s decor- yellow and brown.  And the chairs- fantastic chairs- brown with oversized seats and padded armrests.  There was a keyboard player who occasionally serenaded us.

A glass of champagne- or a mimosa if you're into that kind of thing- is included in the brunch.  The buffet is laid out in the industrial kitchen behind a panel.  I felt like I was walking the wrong way but I was encouraged to persevere.  There were oysters, shrimp, crab legs, all sorts of rolls, ginger carrots, cheese & crackers, bacon & potatoes.  It was a lovely spread.  There is also a dessert bar with cheesecake balls, a monster creme brulee (I've had better in Boston), and mini cupcakes.  

The people watching was as good as you'd expect- all sorts of folks, all sorts of ages.  The couple sitting next to us was well into their 80s and he would cup his ear with his right hand to try to catch all of her comments.  There were blissed out kids around the dessert bar. 

I recommend this brunch next time the Living Social Deal comes around- our waiter spotted us as Living Social-ers right away.  After brunch we walked around and enjoyed the view.  You can't see the Capital from the roof but you can see Lincoln, Washington, and the poor rowers on the Potomac.  

Oh Hello Phillips Collection

I decided to check out the Phillips Collection at 21st and Q just because it's close to Dupont Circle and I wanted to also see Adams Morning during the day after going to a museum.  The neighborhoods are close to each other and I've just recently learned how to navigate between them- as long as I stay on Columbia.

I should've known that greatness was in store when the nice woman behind the desk told me that the museum was donation-only because they are between exhibits.  The Phillips Collection was acting like a Smithsonian and I was happy to play along.  

I turned an unassuming corner to see a Van Gogh, Monet, Cezane, and then taking up an entire wall was Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party.  They put a long, cushioned bench in front of the painting so you can sit and analyze all of the faces and conversations.

There is also a Rothko Room- only 8 people allowed in at a time to preserve the atmosphere.  I had never seen a Rothko before and it was wonderful to see 4 in person.  An artist named Heuser created a response to Rothko called "Pulse"- the 3-D paper images were hung along the stairwell.

My favorite painting was by Marcoussis- Painting #17 on Glass.  I also stood in front of Canyon by Frankenthaler for a long time.  Despite that fact that I was alone in the room with one of the Phillips Collection's many attendants.  That was the one downside of the collection- There were multiple attendants in every room.  All wearing black flats and stylish outfits with a hint of hipster.  I definitely felt watched.  And more than one judgy look was registered in response to a museum goers commentary.  But it was overwhelmingly worth it to see such a wonderful collection.  

I Assume You're all Good Eaters

I went to NYC with my family.  We went on a Pizza Walking Tour.  I love walking tours.  I walked around Europe with mine sister and I am filled with excitement with the week of free walking tours in D.C. comes around.  I have been given walking tours twice as presents.  I collect them.

I do not eat pizza.  I eat a bit of wheat but no cheese.  I do like tomato sauce.  So, the nice tour guide's assumption was wrong.  But mine family helped me out by eating extra pizza and stealthily passing the fresh, unsalted mozzarella cheese along to the next person.  Not eating pizza did not take away from the tour.  I had the chance to walk around Little Italy and the surrounding blocks on a beautiful NYC days.  I saw where they still build the pizza ovens sent around the world.  It was a great opportunity for people watching.  The tour guide talked some history which was awesome.  She was wearing a polka dot dress and transitions lenses.

I will say that I could not compete with the enthusiasm of some of my fellow walkers.  They gasped.  They laughed aloud and exclaimed "Really?"  They were overcome by joy from the tomatoes.  One of them said "Holy Cow" more than once.

As our tour finished, we noticed other groups of food walking tours around us.  I will definitely look into doing another one with my family- it was a great way to spend time together. Although we may never be able to find a walking tour where all of us want to eat what is offered.  

Who Says I Like Right Angles?

I went to the National Museum of the National Indian on a rainy Monday morning.  That L'Enfant Plaza station gets me every time, but eventually I made it to the front entrance.  

I went there specifically to see Brian Jungen's Strange Comfort Exhibit.  He turns consumer objects- golf bags, plastic chairs, Air Jordans- into pieces that look like Native American art. The golf bags become totem poles.  The Air Jordans become masks.  They become expensive and useless and beautiful.  I stood looking at each piece for longer than I expected.

I also saw the Indi(visible)- a small exhibition on African-Native Americans.  I think that term is contested.  It illustrated, through family pictures, maps, and sketches, the intermarriage of Africans and Native Americans during the pre-colonial period.  There was a video with African-Natives speaking about how they try inhabit both identities.  Publicly, they tend only to be identified as African-Americans.  I had never heard of African-Native Americans but, of course, it makes sense.  It made me think of an exhibit I saw at the Philadelphia Art Museum on early Spanish settlers in the Americas- they intermarried without much controversy with the Native population.  All sorts of families emerged.

I enjoyed the museum and the architecture is stunning.  And no right angles which gives me an excuse to use my first Ani quote.

You never want to be the guy marching into Russia

I wanted to see Babies since I saw the preview on Jezebel.  I find babies entertaining that's all. Plus I'm inclined to like documentaries.  So I had to find a movie theater in D.C. that was screening the film.  That search took me to Landmark E St Cinema on Saturday.

The movie, well I left about 10 minutes early because it was a beautiful day outside and I was kind of bored.  But the theater was a wonderful find.  They show movies I thought I'd have to wait to see till I visit NYC.  They sell wine and beer.

My fellow moviegoers were old and friendly.  One particular curmudgeon was conversing loudly with the man who took our tickets.  He was talking WWII strategy and suggesting alternate strategies that could have changed history.  He wondered if Hitler should have marched toward Moscow sooner.  The ticket guy responded: "You never want to be the guy marching into Russia." All of us seated on the bench, waiting to be seated, nodded solemnly.  You can't argue with that.  

George Washington Slept Here

The Mount Vernon Spring Wine Festival was held this Saturday and of course I was there. History and wine?  Be still my heart.  Mount Vernon is about 30 minutes from D.C., an easy drive on Route 1 and the grounds are stunning.  The house is right on the water and the weather was just right.  

17 Virginia wineries were set up under a bright blue tent.  Each gave samples of multiple wines and there was popcorn for sale.  Also, bread, cheese, and salami.  The wine was okay.  We found a couple of standouts- Rockbridge and Unicorn Winery.  Mostly they are standouts because we liked the people who were pouring our wine.  When wine tasting, I tend to choose buy wine based on the people who are selling them rather than the taste of the wine.  This tactic has some limits, but I'm not that picky (or my palate is not well developed).  I just appreciate nice people.

The organizers of the event did a good job of limiting tickets so there wasn't too much of a wait to try different wines.  But you should be prepared to be pushed around by all sorts of white people.  It was not dissimilar to the Orange line in Virginia at rush hour.

After we tried some wines, George and Martha Washington showed up!  Joy!  We were sitting on the porch, just to their right.  We raised our glasses in a toast (Huzzah!).  They were willing to pose for some "portraits" and I wish that I had waited in line to get a picture with my birthday buddy.

We took a tour of the mansion after dinner.  The living room was painted green- a sign of wealth- and the whole home was stunning.  We saw the kitchen with stuffed turkeys and George Washington's office.  Then we saw the actual room where he died.  The tour was narrated by charming folks in historic garb.  Someday I will be one of them.

If this event sounds like something you'd like to do, don't worry.  You don't have to wait till next Spring.  They are holding the event again in October.  Just remember to bring a blanket or a crazy creek to sit and enjoy the view. 

That's Bull(s)

Ceiba is located just one block from Metro Center and they have a $5 cocktail all night- a different one for each day of the week.  I was there on a Thursday so we drank sangria and dark and stormys.  I'd go back on a Friday to try the house margarita.  The bartender didn't tell me about this deal and it isn't listed on the menu (it is highlighted on the menu posted outside) so just a heads up.  I was saved from paying for a more expensive drink by a friend who arrived just in time.  The bartender said "Go Pennsylvania!" when he saw my license so no hard feelings.

Ceiba also has hooks beneath its bar for your bag which I love.  Chef Geoff's has this feature as well and it's just so convenient.  Your drink will come with a little plastic bull hanging off its side so you can add to your herd throughout the evening.  The sangria (we had white) was good and I was told that the dark and stormy was strong (oh hello rum).  During my walk to and from the bar, I saw the waiters and diners carrying what looked like delicious food which we didn't stay to sample.

It was a good happy hour spot for when you want to hear the people next to you and have a place to sit.  Plus they have hooks!  See you there next Friday?

The Art of Gaman

Yesterday I went to the Art of Gaman exhibit at the Renwick Gallery, one of the Smithsonians. The art was all created by those interned in American camps during WWI because of they were of Japanese origin (2/3 of the 120,000 were born in the U.S.)  

The boys interned in the camps were still drafted by the U.S. army.  Their mothers would create vests that included 1,000 knots.  Each knot was tied by a well-wisher in the community- each a promise that the boy would be remembered while he was gone, a hope he would return, and another set of fingers-crossed.  The one in the gallery had a ferocious tiger on the back.  It was worn by a boy serving in Italy. 

The art on display was made of toothpicks, firewood, and pipe cleaners formed into flowers stored under industrial sized empty mayo jars.  They drew mountains, barracks, and a man being shot.

I highly recommend this exhibit- it will take you only 20 minutes to see it all and it is free.  All you have to do is let the friendly guard search your bag.  I didn't have a chance to see the rest of the gallery but I'd go back.  It's location on 17th and Pennsylvania makes for great people watching and easy access.  Just remember- when you walk down Pennsylvania to see the White House, you'll be looking at the back of Obama's house.

The Old Yoga Try

Yoga is very intimidating to me.  Which is not surprising because most things are.  Grocery shopping is not.  Driving is not.  Directions and bicycling are.  So it goes.

Coming to enjoy yoga is one of my goals for this time off.  Mine sister is great at yoga and enjoys it and I trust her.  So I went to Yoga District for Flow Yoga 1.  I was immediately made more comfortable by the fact that my fellow posers wore unis with t-shirts and sweatpants with MINNESOTA on the back.  We smiled at each other.

Our teacher had hearing loss and read lips.  She spoke about her grandmother.  One day her grandmother accidentally put laundry detergent in the dishwasher and foam filled the kitchen.  But the dishes smelled wonderful.  This was part of a lesson on absentmindedness and the importance of laughing at yourself.  She was great and didn't do too much readjusting.

I enjoyed the class and I'll go back.  It was hard for me but also calming.  We did legs up the wall which is a yoga pose that I have already incorporated into my every day life (thanks to mine sister).  It was physical therapy for my shoulder and a reminder that I should do physical therapy for my shoulder.  

Just for Fun

Last Friday was my last day of work at a wonderful job.  I had about 107 days- give or take- until the start of law school orientation.  I don't have plans but I do have goals.  To go to yoga, to take golf lessons, to cook, and to write.  Mostly I want to hang out with the people I love and wander around.  Also, I'm a huge fan of D.C. and I want to take advantage of all of the (free!) things this town has to offer.  Here I will talk about what I've seen and what I thought of it.  If I figure out how to add pictures, I will.  I'm open to any ideas about what to do next.