Museum Magic!

Museum magic! If those words don't get a child excited about museums then I don't know what will. Anything sounds exciting with the word magic attached. At my place of employment, we create museum magic by showing the children what the museum has to offering a way that they can comprehend. We teach. We engage them. We get them excited about what is around them. I learned all about museum education and resources today in my staff training today. I also realized that I think I could be happy working here for at least several years. It is a high quality educational model that doesn't have to teach by a book. We use the resources at our disposal and expose kids to history, art, space, different cultures and much more. I am so fortunate to have found a place where I truly believe in what we do. I am so excited- and that's a good sign for my first day of staff training.

Back Tracking

I was going to write another paragraph about the rest of Thursday and Friday but let's face it- I want you to want to read this blog. I feel as though my wit and skill are dwindling. So instead I will zip through the past 2 days.
Adventures include:
Watching Ferris Bueller's Day off at a bar with tattooed bartenders ( kind of comforting in a way...) and a ceiling covered in draping red fabric,
Eating a jumbo Slice of Pizza (shared with Keeley)



Exploring the Hirshorn in depth for 2 hours

walking, walking, walking
eating
breathing
biking to Harris teeter to buy silken tofu for "tofredo sauce"- thanks to Tyler's sister who gave us the recipe as well as frozen spinach
Cooking said tofredo sauce with pasta and consuming
watching Law and Order online

sleep
wake up
eat delicious egg a-scrambled with cheddar cheese
and that brings us to SATURDAY!!!!!!!

The day started off with a trip to the Corcoran Gallery of Art to take advantage of the last free Saturday, a perk offered during the summer months. There was small collection of American art as well as some special photography exhibits which were very cool. Next we wandered as we have become quite good at doing- mostly around the historic Dupont area. We even tracked down good old Whole Foods-which was overwhelming. Unless I'm buying bulk food, it isn't worth the trip. Well, I say that now, but when I'm feeling homesick, I can always go if I want.After several hours of wandering, we came home, passing through the market on the way and hung out at home before venturing out for a wine and cheese extravaganza- It was hosted by my friend who I studied abroad with. It was an early birthday party and very fun. She provided cheese and snacks and everyone else brought wine to share. We had lots of fun and met new people. After a few hours there I briefly met up with some other friends who are in town visiting (Keeley and Mallory) as well as with Palmer and Amanda. Overall, a good night.

COLOR

I'm playing around with color combinations. warm or cool colors dear readers? Suggestions?

EUPHORIA of FRIDAY

FRIDAY! A beautiful word. Though I don't feel the same joy today as many people feel at this very minute of the 5 o'clock hour, (simply because I have been on vacation) I am excited for what the weekend has to offer, and excited to share my weekly adventures with you,

Following dearest mom's visit I had a visit form my friend and former roommate Keeley. She took a vacation this week which was perfectly timed to coincide with mine! I met her Thursday afternoon near Chinatown where the amazing Bolt Bus drops off and picks up for trips to and from NYC. It is orange and very cheap. Win win. I spent the morning walking from my apartment to downtown near the National Mall and it's environs. ( I like to throw around a french word from time to time) I also went to the National Portrait Gallery and saw many neat photographs. it is a place I would go back to because there is a lot to see- part of it houses the Smithsonian American Art Collection. I also got to see a huge photo of Obama and there were people there filming the museum visitors. But I digress....I picked Keeley up, we hopped on the mtero, dropped her stuff off and went to explore the U street area of the City. I had eaten dinner and had a drink in the area last weekend, however, the restaurant and bar were side by side and so I didn't really explore much. At first glance, we seemed to choose the wrong rode to walk down. Very few restaurants were around,and those that were did not suit our lunch budget. Finally we found a nice falafel shop. On the way there we did stumble upon a vintage clothing store as well as a vintage furniture store. Of course, we were weak from hunger and one cannot properly appreciate or shop for vintage on an empty stomach. After inhaling falafel pitas we went back to said stores and made friends with the owner, saw very cool furniture pieces and had a pleasant experience overall. To top it all off, we experienced the deliciousness of "Cake Love" one of several cupcakeries (thanks magnolia bakery for jumpstarting this trend) The owner/chef was there- he was very nice and we actually ended up in the actual bakery as opposed to the love café across the street. If you want to know more about him, google Warren Brown. he has cool hair also. Well dear readers, this post must be posted before my friday theme is no longer accurate as Saturday is quickly approaching.

To Be COntinued

'Ello Mumsy!

Moms are great. They bring you things you leave at home when you move: like a laundry basket, dresser, socks, an iron. They invite you to dinner and the yummy hotel breakfast where you can stealthily put extra fruit, yogurt and cream cheese packs in your purse. If you are me, you learned that from your mom. They go places like the George Washington Masonic temple- a place many people would overlook. They poke around strange thrift stores with you. And of course, they send you off with a hug and lots of love. That's about as mushy as I can get. I will save the more sentimental stuff for a personalized note to mumsy (another thing learned from mom)

I guess this means I should do a "dads are great" "sisters are great" and "boyfriends are great" and "friends are great" post..... stay tuned....

Mission Valentina

For those of you who are unaware of Valentina, just ask Tyler. It is his hot sauce of choice, available to Cosmic patrons in Chapel Hill as well as those bold enough to enter the world of a Mexican Tienda. So far, it has not graced us with it's presence in DC. We also haven't tried very hard. So, what ever shall I do during my week of vacation? Well, suggests Tyler, how about searching for Valentina up in Columbia Heights ( we know this area to be culturally and ethnically diverse, and this sweat inducing sauce isn't found in any old grocery store). I am already out and about and after an embarrassing failed attempt at faxing...(perhaps it was just busy, but that has nothing to do with the fact that I can't quite figure out how to place the pages in the machine...) I say, sure. Having read my handy "Not For Tourists: Washington DC edition" (though, it really is for tourists, like me, who don't want to feel as much like tourists) I know of a Latino grocery store somewhere near Columbia Heights. I am nervous, knowing well that I will stand out upon arriving, but I carry on. When I get outside, I immediately get lost. It is a somewhat familiar area but I cannot locate the road I was supposed to take to get to another road to get to the grocery. So I quickly wimp out and give up ( I am still slightly uncomfortable alone in areas I don't know well) As I pass a Giant (the brand) Grocery I think, well there is a large Hispanic population up here, maybe there are more Hispanic Food options. And I am correct! so what do I do? oh, buy 5 bottles of Valentina of course, so that Tyler can pour it over food and put himself through the joy/pain of eating Valentina. And then I hop over to Target. Now it's home sweet home again. Going running with Tyler tonight, brainstorming future blog plans (maybe) and most likely eating leftover beans and rice that Tyler can happily douse in Valentina. Thanks to me!

Blogging?

Fresh-faced, wide-eyed, new Washington DC resident seeks way to keep family* informed of activities and adventures and interesting tidbits of city life. Note*:(and possibly friends, if they want to read what I write- parents and sisters are obligated).

Je t'aime, Smithsonian

What to do, what to do..... Imagine it's Sunday and after taking advantage of various outdoor markets, cooling off and reading, and eating lunch you are left with an evening full of possibilities. Finally, it is decided. We shall bike ride to a Museum. A free Museum. A Smithsonian Museum. Ahhh sweet DC. One of many perks to living in the city, specifically, close to the National Mall, is the accessibility of Museums. Feel like learning more about fish and sharks? Visit the new Ocean Hall in Natural History. Need artistic inspiration? Visit the National Gallery of Art. Want to see a giant missile? Visit Air and Space. These jaunts are things I have both envisioned and succeeded in doing. It is a great feeling to have these museums so close by and an even greater feeling not to rush through because you are trying to see 6 museums in 2 days.