Weekend in D.C.

This past weekend, a few of us got timed entry tickets to the National Gallery of Art. On Friday the museum reopened after a six-month hiatus due to a surge of varying viral strains. There were no current exhibitions to view, but while triangulating the galleries one can always find something exciting to see within their “special installations” such as, Marc Chagall’s Orphée mosaic wall c.1968 which was a gift to the Nef family for their Georgetown garden. The artist project — SORRY outside the East Wing by Sarah Cain, Avish Khebrehzadeh, and Kay Rosen. The East Wing is undergoing transformative construction and this artist sign will be up until summer. I’ve listed a few favorites from the outing starting with the colorful banners brightening the outside of the gallery.

The National Gallery of Art and East Wing located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets, NW in the District of Columbia. Still life with figs and bread by Melendez c.1770. The Game of hot cockles by Fragonard c.1775/1780, the colors in this painting are intriguing and make for a summer palette guide.  

The Empire Style has always intrigued my attention, especially since visiting the Borghese Gardens in Rome. Seeing Paolina Borghese reclining [nude] in Canova’s depiction of Venus is breathtaking. The Classical world greatly influenced France and its new emperor, Napoleon.  This settee or couch by Hugh and John Finlay is Greek inspired from the 1780’s, and lastly The Square of Saint Mark’s, Venice by Canaletto c.1742/1744.

  • The 33-foot Buddha heightens your dining experience, as well as adding a level of charm.
  • Lunch at Grace’s Mandarin on the National Harbor
Grace’s Mandarin
  • Shanghai Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings
  • Szechuan String Beans with Shrimp

After several hours of perusing art, it was now time for a bit of Pan-Asian ambiance from Grace’s Mandarin. We ordered appetizers; shanghai chicken wings, salt & pepper wings with popcorn shrimp to share over glasses of Sauvignon blanc and martinis. Lunch was the Szechuan string beans with shrimp and the jumbo lump crab-meat fried rice. I even ordered a few items to take home for dinner to share with family, which by the way was the perfect end to an extraordinary Saturday!

Venture out safely,
Kathleen

Kathleen7 Comments

Weekend in NYC

HOPE sculpture on W 53rd Street; Carol Bove sculpture at The Met; Patience and Fortitude the renowned pair of lions at the 42nd Street Public Library and artwork in our hotel lobby at the Andaz on 5th.

Arriving at Penn Station on Thursday afternoon around 1:23 P.M.

This past weekend, as temps began to rise a few of us hopped the Amtrak from DC to NYC to partake in the reopening of the city after a long, challenging winter. We still had to do our part by social distancing, as there were several exhibitions worth masking up for this spring: “Goya’s Graphic Imagination” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art [through May 2]; “Niki de Saint Phalle: Structures for Life” at MoMA PS1 in Queens [through Sept. 6th], and Frick Madison just re-opened in March and will house the collection and staff during the renovation of its historic buildings on East 70th Street.

Travel safely,
Kathleen

Kathleen4 Comments