Saturday, January 26, 2013

Washington, DC - Friday

Have you ever been to Washington, DC? It is one of my favorite cities. There's an energy that is infectious as is the friendliness of the people. I love DC.

In fact, I grew up in the area, mostly in Virginia, and still consider it home. Also worked in the DuPont Circle area for 5 years...which could be why that's the area chosen to stay in this weekend. Well, that and the really good rate on the hotel.


Thursday's train ride offered a good stretch of time for stitching while listening to an audio book.

Once settled into my hotel, it was off to The Renwick Gallery to see 40 Under 40.

40 under 40: Craft Futures features forty artists born since 1972, the year the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s contemporary craft and decorative arts program was established at its branch museum, the Renwick Gallery. The exhibition investigates evolving notions of craft within traditional media such as ceramics and metalwork, as well as in fields as varied as sculpture, industrial design, installation art, fashion design, sustainable manufacturing, and mathematics. The range of disciplines represented illustrates new avenues for the handmade in contemporary culture. *

 Unfortunately, photos were not allowed so there are no shots of my favorite pieces in the exhibition.


It was possible, though, to get a shot of a tapestry by one of my favorite weavers, John Eric Riis. Pair of Prickly Pears (detail above) was woven in 1998 of silk with metallic threads and glass beads.


Yesterday, Friday, I decided to wander the DuPont Circle.


The ginger scones and jasmine tea at Teaism are delicious.


The Phillips Collection was just around the corner so it only seemed right to stroll on over.



The Rothko Room was heavenly.


  reflection of glass on The Phillips Collection gift shop wall 1

reflection of glass on The Phillips Collection gift shop wall 2

 


 embassy flags

 mural on P Street



My Friday ended much as it began...with a bit of stitching.

19 comments:

  1. What...no phone call or email!!! When do you head back north?

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    1. I know...shame on me! Needed a bit of alone time. No one knew I was coming until I posted it on FB on Thursday. Train leaves very early tomorrow morning...like 6:20 am type early.

      Next time!!!

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  2. those close-ups of road paint vie with the Rothko work for contemplative magic

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    1. Thank you India! Crosswalk patterns fascinate me. Gives friends a fright at times when I pause to photograph them...while keeping an eye on traffic.

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  3. lurve these photos -- the first one I glimpsed as a thumbnail in my blog feed and I thought it was rows of apples (I kid you not!) -- the view up the staircases positively gave me vertigo though...

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    1. Apples? Too funny Ronnie. Sorry about vertigo!

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  4. Thanks for the fine day out [as I sit here in my desk chair while it pummels with rain outside]!
    I got that vertigo-thing too, but sailed smoothly across your stitches ;>]]

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the day in DC. My apologies for the vertigo! Hadn't thought the photo would have that effect.

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  5. I loved Washington too. Stayed in a fabulous character hotel in the Adams Morgan (is that right?) which was very cosmopolitan. Spent most of our time wandering around the beautiful city and monuments. Your photos are super - love the red thread and red Rothko most!

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    1. DC is a wonderful place. As a child, all of our school field trips were to the Smithsonian museums - all of which are still free. Boggled my mind the first time John took me to NYC and we had to pay to enter a museum. That's when I realized just how special the Smithsonian is.

      The fact that DC is so walkable just adds to its appeal for me. Despite the cold temps, I walked everywhere and enjoyed every second...especially the stops the hot tea!

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  6. What a fun couple of restorative days - thanks for taking us along for the ride! Time on your own, following the whims of only yourself, is so necessary. You seem to have found plenty of inspiration along the way. And I just love your stitching...it has a very meditative & calming effect.

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    1. I totally admit to being an introvert. A few weekends away by myself each year are a must and, thankfully, my husband understands. Usually, I hop the train the Philadelphia, but this time was feeling a bit homesick too so...well, DC it was.

      Glad you like the photos! I'll be back in April when spring is in bloom. DC is lovely then too.

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  7. thank you Jennifer
    so nice to re-visit DC
    yes - I too love this city
    I spent a summer
    staying both in the Dupont circle area and Chevy Chase
    working as an intern at the African Museum
    back in the day...

    sipping tea with you,

    xox - eb.

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    1. Oh! The African Museum is one of my favorites. To have interned there must have been wonderful.

      Happy to have had your company while sipping tea and stitching!

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  8. perusing again
    what wonderful images
    thanks for bringing us along

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  9. Wonderful tour. Thanks for taking us along. And those Rothko's...wow!

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    1. I hadn't been to the Phillips Collection in far too long. In fact, I didn't remember the Rothko Room at all. Sitting there, alone, soaking in the energy in those paintings was almost surreal.

      Glad you enjoyed seeing my DC.

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