The Peacock Room

Just this past Thursday, Diggory and I met up with our friend Colleen to take a quick stroll through the Freer Gallery of Art. I have to admit, it's one of my most favorite museums in the whole wide world, and this day was going to be extra special. Once a month, on every third Thursday at noon, the shutters in the Peacock Room are opened in conjunction with the exhibition The Peacock Room Comes to America. We met Colleen in the garden between the National Museum of African Art and the Sackler Gallery, between Jefferson Drive and Independence Avenue SW on the National Mall, and navigated our way through the Sackler and into the Freer Gallery of Art. I won't go into the nitty gritty details on how we did it. I've been to these two museums many times, and I still get a little turned around. Add in the stroller, and I'm a total mess. Luckily, with two people, if we encountered stairs, we just picked up the babe and kept going. But, if you'd rather go the complete stroller-friendly route, enter the Freer at the Independence Ave. entrance and use the elevator on the south side of the building to travel between floors. And if you need directions on how to get to the Sackler, ask at the information desk or speak with any of the friendly Smithsonian security officers.

Oh, and I should mention that the closest Metro station is the Smithsonian station. The station elevator is on Independence Ave., which will be about a half a block from the museum's entrance. If you get off the Metro at the L'Enfant Plaza station like we did, you'll want to follow the signs to the "Smithsonian Museums" and exit via the elevator at the 7th Street/Maryland Ave. entrance. You'll pop up on 7th Street, so just walk north toward the Hirshhorn Museum and turn left onto Independence Ave. Walk three blocks to the Freer.

We arrived at the Peacock Room just as the docent was starting her talk about the history of the space and why it appears as it does today. I won't go into the detail here. There's plenty of well-written information on the museum's website, as well as an image gallery and panoramic view tool. But, I do have to say, that having seen the Peacock Room with the shutters closed on numerous occasions, I was still completely in awe of how beautiful the space is, and how different it looks in natural light. Please go see it for yourself if you can. The next shutters opening is on April 19th from 12pm-5:30pm.

Diggory was well behaved through the whole talk. (I'm lucky. He usually is.) Colleen let Diggory play with her ID badge, though she may have regretted it after receiving it back in a slightly more moist condition. I didn't catch most of the talk as I was busy snapping pictures, and taking advantage of having another set of eyes to watch the babe. What I did hear, however, was fascinating, and everyone seemed genuinely captivated.

After the docent's talk, we took a few more moments to relish in the beauty and spot a few more details in the craftsmanship, ornamentation, various ceramics, and other splendid accouterments. There's even a tiny ceramic cat above the mantel, near the left corner of the frame surrounding the fantastic painting The Princess from the Land of Porcelain. And here's the cat. Then we took a quick spin through the permanent collection galleries, mainly for the purposes of being able to legitimately consider this a blog-worthy museum visit. We lingered longer in the two rooms of paintings by James McNeill Whistler, one of my all time favorite artists. Be sure to seek out more of his works at the Freer in the exhibitions Sweet Silent Thought: Whistler's Interiors, on view through this summer, and Freer & Whistler: Points of Contact, on view indefinitely.

We also slowed our pace in the room of Japanese screens. We were particularly drawn to a pair of six-paneled screens by Hokusai depicting each of the twelve months, titled appropriately Birds, Animals, and Plants Representing the Twelve Months. If Diggory were a few years older, we could have had a great conversation about this work of art.

Although I'm sure we could have spent much more time at the museum, we needed to grab lunch and return Colleen to her place of work. If you have a spare moment, be sure to grab a chair in the museum's lovely courtyard for a moment of quiet reflection. But, like I said we didn't have time! We marched straight up to the National Museum of the American Indian for a delicious meal of razor clam pot pie and huckleberry fritters in the Mitsitam Cafe. Yum. NMAI will be a future entry on this blog, I'm just sure of it.

And, one last thought... This doesn't count as a Museum + Momma entry, mainly because Diggory wasn't with me and we had already visited anyway, but also on Thursday, Daddy and Momma went to the opening reception for the new exhibition The Art of Video Games at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. I've never seen anything quite like it - it's the first of it's kind after all, and a definite must see! Plus, you get to play Pac Man and Myst inside a museum. Check it out, it's on view through September 30, 2012.

Until next time...happy museuming!

Fishes!

Diggory and I met up with our friends Rachel and Max today for a morning stroll through the National Aquarium in downtown Washington, DC. Located in a somewhat hidden location, in the basement on the Commerce Building on 14th Street, the aquarium displays more than 200 species of marine and freshwater fish, reptiles and amphibians. I've walked past the entrance several many times and always wondered what it was like (and I've heard more than a few less than glowing reviews), so I was happy to finally take the plunge. And I'm happy to report that we had a superb visit.

From the picture above, you'll notice that the Commerce Building is currently undergoing extensive renovations. The aquarium itself was revamped in 2008, and I'm told that it will get another makeover in the coming years. So, when you arrive, don't be put off by the construction and make your way through the tunnel and up the ramp. Once inside the doors (which are automatically operated and thus, stroller friendly, make your way through security and take the elevator to the basement, or "B" level. You'll pay your admission fee at the desk just outside the elevator. I found an excellent street parking spot on Constitution and 12th Street, and because I didn't have to pay upwards of $20.00 to park in a ramp, I didn't mind paying the $9.95 entrance fee. Actually, I don't really mind anyway. So many of the DC museums are free that I'm usually not annoyed to shell out a few dollars at the ones that aren't in an effort to support my local museums. Plus, your receipt will get you in and out of the aquarium all day long, so if you come in the morning, you can come back for the 2pm feeding. Check the website or ask at the admissions desk about what's on the menu and for what animals.

The gift shop and restrooms are near the admissions desk. The ladies room seemed a bit tight, but the changing table looked pretty accessible. If you want more room, find the family restroom on the ground level (where you came in) just behind the security desk. The main exhibit space is to the right of the elevator and past the restrooms. If you turn left, you'll find yourself in Sherman's Lagoon, a colorful and interactive space which presents information on shark conservation. There are also a few benches there, in case you need a place to rest. Interestingly enough, there's also an ATM, just FYI.

The main exhibition space is basically a big, dimly lit room with tanks around the perimeter and in the center of the room. The vast majority of the tanks comprise the main exhibit, America's Aquatic Treasures, which presents the species and habitats found in several of the nation's marine sanctuaries such as the Florida Everglades and Channel Islands. There are also several tanks of fish, frogs, and snakes from all over the world. The special exhibition, now on view through April 29th, is titled Secrets of the Swamp. It's just one tank, but it houses a rare albino alligator named Oleander. The tank is right at stroller level, and Diggory thought the little snapper was pretty thrilling.

Only a few of the tanks are viewable at floor level, but most of the other tanks have ledges where babies and toddlers can sit or stand to better see the species. In fact, one such ledge became the VIP viewing area for Diggory and Max to witness a frog feeding. Scamper away little buggies! Run for your lives!

Diggory, Max, and the other little kids I saw in the aquarium seemed most intrigued by the big tanks of big fish. There was a particularly entertaining white fish in one of the last tanks we stopped by. I, on the other hand, really liked seeing the tiny poisonous frogs. Or maybe I liked that they were in a tank. I recall telling Rachel I wouldn't last very long in the rain forest.

After our visit, we decided to enjoy the sunshine and feed the babes a snack in the courtyard of the Reagan Building, just across 14th Street from the Commerce Building. If you need food, there's all sorts of restaurants and coffee shops along Pennsylvania Avenue or points north, or inside the Old Post Office Building, at the corner of 12th Street and Pennsylvania Ave.

My meter was running out, so I headed home after our visit and quick picnic. If I had more time, I may have been tempted to check out any of the Smithsonian museums nearby. My car was directly across from the American History Museum, and I could almost hear it whispering my name. Next time perhaps, as I've yet to check that one of my Museum + Momma list. Stay tuned.

In Our Own Backyard

A few weeks ago, Diggory and I took a walk through our favorite park, the Dora Kelley Nature Park and Wildlife Reserve. It's just a few blocks from our house and runs alongside Holmes Run Creek. While I'm usually pretty good about stopping to look and ponder, I have to admit, that I never spent much time actually reading the park bulletin board. This time we stopped, and after I finished reading the posted newsletter aloud (about hibernating and migrating birds and mammals in the winter months), I noticed a flyer for the Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center, just fifty some odd steps up the hill and adjacent to William Ramsay Elementary School. What?! There's a museum this close to us that I had never heard of?! Whoa! Must...redeem...thy self...and go...soon.

So, that's what we did today. We took the stroller and walked, because really, even though there's parking, it's literally about four or five (longish) blocks from our house. Momma could use the exercise, and Diggory loves being outside more than just about anything (except perhaps raspberries and cheese sticks.)

The entrance to the center is located on Sanger Avenue, just past the elementary school employee parking. There is a ramp and automatic doors, super handy for strollering. The bathrooms do not have changing tables, but the counter around the sinks is plenty spacious, or you could just use the floor. (C'mon, we've all had to do that.) Inside, you'll sign in at the information desk and pick up a newsletter. You can also sign up to get the newsletter mailed to you for $5.00 per year. Also, ask for a self-guided tour of the Dora Kelley Nature Trail, a dirt and gravel path through the park marked with numbered posts. The nature trail is not paved and subject to muddy spots, uneven terrain, and stairs. It's not stroller friendly, by any stretch, so bring your baby carrier if your little one isn't of the walking variety. (Or, just stick to the paved path like we did. There's still plenty to see.)

There are several hands on activities for the wee ones, including a whole table of plastic animals (not terribly didactic, but still incredibly captivating) and a touch table with fossils and a squirrel tail. Fluffy.

There are also several displays of live animals, including fish tanks, snakes, and lizards. Diggory could spot the snakes, but he had a hard time focusing on the hissing cockroaches and the centipedes, not that I cared so much. For the most part, the displays focus on the flora and fauna of the nature park and of the region as a whole, but there are a few creatures from far and wide, like a turtle from Africa and a lizard from Australia.

Along one wall of the center, take a few moments to read about the geological, human, and natural history of the Alexandria area. There are some interesting maps of the region from the 1600s through the present day. I had fun playing, "Where's our house?"

At the back of the center, stroll into the greenhouse. It's probably 85 degrees in there. There's a parrot of some variety named Rio that makes a heck of a lot of noise. It's beautifully colored, and Diggory liked it.

After we thoroughly explored with center's displays, we briefly browsed through the research library nook, plentifully stocked with bean bags and children's books about animals. We also met the center's director, naturalist Mark Kelly, who encouraged us to walk through the park to listen to the wood frogs and spring peepers. He even had us listen to a recording of their rambunctious mating calls on his cell phone.

So, we had a choice, enter the nature park at the entrance near the nature center...and navigate our way down fifty steps with the stroller...or walk all the way back the way we came, down Sanger Avenue past the elementary school, south on Beauregard Street, and into the park through the trail just before Holmes Run (or even turning right on Morgan Street to come in through the main entrance at Beauregard and Morgan.) Never one to pass up a challenge, I decided to unstrap Diggory and carry him, while dragging our hearty stroller down the stairs. It worked out beautifully, and we saved A LOT of time.

We made our way to the pond, about halfway through the park on the paved trail. That's where naturalist Mark said the frogs would be. And he wasn't kidding about the noise either. Holy smokes! The wood frogs apparently sound like ducks and the spring peepers are more high pitched. Very cool. And, of course, momma knew there would be ducks too, so she brought some crackers. Tee hee.

And would you look at that, turtles too! I wanted to find some fiddle head ferns, but perhaps they're just not in season now. I try to show Diggory all sorts of things...making sure he doesn't put them in his mouth, of course...because I think it's important to know and experience what's in your own backyard. Even if you didn't know it was there.

Check out the center's website for more information on kid's and other nature programs. They apparently have a lot going on and a lot to offer! We'll definitely be back.

Looking and Legos

We took advantage of Daddy's day off for Presidents' Day and traveled downtown to the National Building Museum. Traffic wasn't as light as I expected it would be, but we managed to find a pretty fabulous parking spot only about a block and a half from the museum. And, better yet, parking enforcement was suspended yesterday...meaning no feeding the meter! Woot! If you'd rather take the metro, the Judiciary Square metro station is directly across the street from the museum's F Street entrance. Wheelchair and stroller accessible entrances are located on G Street and 4th Street, though if you find yourself at the F Street entrance (like we did) there really aren't that many stairs, and they are shallow. With a little caution, I could have probably wheeled or carried the stroller up the stairs myself...but Daddy to the rescue!


The building itself is a marvel. It was designed by architect Montgomery Cunningham Meigs and constructed between 1882 and 1887 as the U.S. Pension Bureau. The building's most stunning elements are the terra cotta frieze around the exterior designed by Caspar Buberl and the soaring Great Hall, with its arcaded columns and lively fountain. Access to the Great Hall is free, and you might even be able to catch a free docent-led tour of the historic building. Admission to the exhibitions is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children over the age of three. If you have an active child over the age of two, consider checking out the Buidling Zone. Access to the Building Zone is included in your regular admission or can be purchased separately for $3.00 per person.

If Diggory was older, I would have let him play with the foam arch building blocks and the items on the Discovery Carts in the Great Hall. But, as it was, he was perfectly content crawling around on the floor...and investigating the fountain.

After you purchase your exhibition tickets at the information desk, pick up a visitor guide, events calendar, self-guided tour brochure, and the drawing guide titled "Drawing Big," written by artist and author David Macaulay. It's a fun activity for older kids and adults on how to draw architecture, explaining one-point perspective, horizon lines, vanishing points, and perspective lines. There's also ample space for creating your own drawing.

We explored the first floor exhibition galleries first, starting with the temporary exhibition Unbuilt Washington, on view through May 28th. As the introductory text suggested, seeing models and drawings of "what could have been," often made me appreciate what actually exists even more. The exhibition begins with a more big picture view of the plans for the layout of the city itself, and moves into plans for the National Mall and other neighborhoods, before displaying plans for individual buildings and monument projects. The floating aquarium in the Anacostia River and the Dolphin America Hotel were particularly befuddling.

Before heading up to the LEGO exhibition, we peeked into the two long-term exhibitions of items from the museum's permanent collection. Cityscapes Revealed presents architectural fragments, photographs, and drawings of historically important buildings from across the country. Washington: Symbol and City explores the capital as both the hub of the federal government and a home to more than 600,000 people. In addition to federal buildings and monuments, the galleries also address residental structures and transportation infrastructure.

Take one of the two elevators to the second floor. Onview through September 3rd, LEGO Architecture: Towering Ambition displays fifteen large-scale models of famous buildings built entirely from LEGO bricks by LEGO certified professional Adam Reed Tucker. (I didn't know you could build with LEGOs as a profession.) I enjoyed seeing the several buildings from the Chicago skyline, including the "Corn Cobs." You can't take strollers inside the gallery, but there is clearly marked stroller parking just outside the entrance. After you explore the building models, try your hand at building your own architectural wonder. There are tables and thousands of LEGO bricks for your creative pleasures.

Nathan and I both wondered, "How many germs are on these things?" and "How do they clean this up every night?" Well, at least one of our questions was answered by seeing the gentleman with the large broom sweeping up piles of LEGOs. Diggory is, of course, too young to play with LEGOs. He would just eat them. But Daddy can't wait for him to be old enough to at least play with Duplos...maybe Nana will bring Daddy's bucket of LEGOs the next time she comes to visit.

Two quick points before closing out this entry. The restrooms on the first and second floors have changing tables, and there's a small cafe run by Firehook Bakery on the first floor. Also, don't forget to admire the Great Hall from the second floor balcony while you're up there. It's quite a lovely view.

Studios and Sunshine

Thwarted. That's the best way to describe my efforts to visit any museum over the past few weeks. Thwarted by nasty weather, a nasty cold, and a nasty stomach bug and "general malaise," as the symptoms were described on WebMD. But, at long last, we're all feeling better, and I decided it was high time to take advantage of the sunshine and mild temperatures and head to Old Town Alexandria to visit the Torpedo Factory Art Center and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum.

Our afternoon began with lunch with Daddy in Rossyln/Courthouse at the Bayou Bakery. With Mardi Gras coming up, we thought it was an appropriate venue. And we couldn't quite resist the lure of beignets covered in copious quantities of powdered sugar. After lunch, Diggory and I took the Parkway to Old Town, found an awesome parking spot on King Street, and strolled toward the waterfront. The Torpedo Factory is located on Union Street, between Cameron Street and King Street. The main entrance is located on Union, but the handicapped and stroller-friendly entrance is on the Potomac River side of the building. Follow King Street just past Union Street and hang a left. Walk along the "back" of the building with the water, sailboats, and ducks to your right. The automatic door is at the center of the building. Before or after your visit, take some time to enjoy the sights and people watching on the waterfront. In better weather, you could even hop on the water taxi (service resumes March 1st) and travel to Georgetown or even National Harbor, if you so desire.

Once inside the buidling, take note of the location of the elevator...directly in front of you. You'll need it to travel between the three floors of artists' studios and to get to the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, in room 327 on the third floor. Also, the ONLY changing tables in the building are in the third floor restrooms, located near the elevator.

The building is immense and filled to the brim with active studios and art galleries. The building itself is open daily from 10am to 6pm, and until 9pm on Thursdays, though individual studio hours may vary. There is an information desk and gift shop on the first floor. Pick up a visitor's guide and directory when you come in. The floor plan in the directory is color-coded by medium. Glass is pink, collage and mixed media is light blue, sculpture is green, etc. Also, take a moment to glance at the detailed timeline on the first floor near where you came in. There's a lot of information there and photographs of the building in it's torpedo-making heyday. And, if little hands need something to do, grab a piece of chalk and make your own art on the giant chalkboard opposite the timeline. (Also, I've never done this, but there are guided tours at 1pm on Fridays. Inquire at the information desk.)

The Target Gallery, located on the first floor behind the spiral staircase, is the dedicated exhibition space for the art center. Currently on view through tomorrow (February 19th), Fears and Phobias presents works that are both "introspective and personal" and express the themes within a larger social context. The subject matter isn't terribly appropriate for wee babes, but I'm not sure Diggory was actually paying attention. He was pretty much enthralled with his Cheerios at that point. Next up on the gallery's calendar is March Madness, an exhibition fundraiser benefiting the March of Dimes.

As you explore the studios, really take your time and don't be affraid to ask questions. The artists are usually really eager to engage in converstation about their work. My guess is that they wouldn't set up in a public art space if they weren't. Don't forget to check out the Art League Gallery too. This exhibition space (with works available for purchase) features works by local artists and students. The Art League offers classes in a wide range of media for all ages and skill levels. Pick up a course catalogue from the school's office on the second floor. (Mommy's currently enrolled in an oil painting class! See my latest creation below.) The painting studios aren't open to the public, but if you happen to stroll by during a class, you might get a sneak peak of some works in progress.

When you've had your fill of art (if that could ever happen), venture over to the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, tucked into the corner of the third floor. The oldest item on view is the 13,000-year old Clovis point. There is also a variety of other artifacts excavated from the city's many digs and sites over the years. The friendly volunteer staff will be eager to share their insight, and to give your kid a sticker..."I dig Alexandria Archaeology." Too cute. Pick up a scavenger hunt and word find too. Even the older "kids at heart" can learn something from these kid-focused didactic materials.

The museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 10am to 3pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. The 3pm closing time is a bit tricky, but at least it gets you out of the building and on the road well before the evening rush hour. The main exhibit, Archaeologist's at Work: The Lee Street Site, is displayed along the perimeter of the room and describes the city's efforts to explore its past through the objects uncovered during archaeological excavations in one city block. Smaller, table top displays and hands-on activities, such as putting a broken ceramic plate back together, fill the center of the room.

As I mentioned earlier, the waterfront area is great for loitering and people watching. And if you're lucky, you might come across a musician or two. Our favorite is the lovely, older gentleman who plays the water glasses. He's great fun, very talented, and he'll probably play a recognizable diddy for your little one. We got a symphonic version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Diggory loved it, and clapped his little hands in appreciation without Mommy even asking him too.

So, as always, we had a great outing. We had a few minutes left on our meter (I just can't not use it all up since you have to prepay now), so we walked up to Paper Source and the new Anthropologie store on King Street. Yes, it's a dangerous place...but I just can't help myself.

Where shall we go next?! The possibilities are nearly endless!

Tote Bags!

We went to two museums this weekend! But, alas, I am just now sitting down to write about the second of our two adventures. And, unfortunately, I only have a brief moment to write this post. I have a bit of a cleaning "to do" list before my mother-in-law arrives tomorrow! So, here we go. This past Sunday afternoon, my very awesome friend Julie and I took Diggory to the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, the home of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. The handicap/stroller entrance is at 8th and G Streets NW. You will NOT have to have your bags checked by security, a new policy instituted a few years back. Just FYI. But they won't let you use back carry baby carriers or wear your diaper bag on you back, lest you accidentally back into a painting. Gasp!

Our main motivation for heading downtown was the opportunity to make our very own silkscreened tote bag. The Luce Foundation Center (my former workplace) hosted an artist talk and silk-screening workshop as part of their Art+Coffee series, and we just couldn't pass it up. (Note: The Luce Center can be a little tricky to find. It's on the third floor of the museum, on the west side of the building. There are three levels of art work, on 3, 3 mezz, and 4. The information desk is on 3 mezz...take the tiny elevator between floors in the Luce Center if you have a stroller. The Luce Center staff and volunteers are a wealth of knowledge, and you can ask them any question you want. Believe me, when I was there, we got some great ones. You can also pick up the latest scavenger hunt, always a favorite for kids and kids at heart.)


The talk was given by Kristina Bilonick, a Washington, DC native and current resident artist at Pleasant Plains Workshop. She described her work, methods, and inspiration and led a hands-on silkscreening workshop where participants (including me!) were able to print our own tote bags with an image of the Luce Center's unofficial mascot, the Black Hawk Horse Weathervane. Diggory was a pretty good sport about the whole, "Please be quiet while mommy and Julie listen to this nice lady talk"-thing, until the end where he was squealing with delight (at something) and I was trying to shush him. (My guess is that he was making lovey eyes with Mary, the Luce Center staff behind the camera and creator of the image below. Thanks for sending me the photo!)

Diggory needed lunch, so while the first batch of tote bag makers took their turn with the silk screen and ink, Julie and I took a coffee break and the babe got some snacks. I asked my friend Bridget, and former co-worker at the Luce Center (and my former intern at the Society of the Cincinnati - Anderson House), if I was allowed to feed Diggory in the Luce Center space. The last thing I'd want to do is be "that mom" and "that museum person" who breaks the rules. She said, "Yes, we allow mothers and babies to eat in here." Awesome. You can't take food up to 3 mezz or the 4th Floor, but you can find a nice quiet nook on the benches between the display cases if your baby needs a cat nap.

The silk screening process was fun, and our bags turned out great. Here's a few photos of Julie and me making our bags, just to prove we actually did it.

While we waited for the ink to dry, we explored the rest of the museum, starting on the third floor and working down. There are two museums in one building, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. You can pretty much walk through the entire museum without noticing that you're in a different museum, unless you read the signs (which, let's face it, not many museum goers do) or really know where you are or where you want to be. It's a big building, and there's lots and lots to see. I won't go on and on. I encourage you to check out the museums' websites and calendars, or, better yet, just show up and explore on your own, with no particular agenda in mind.

First, we walked through the modern and contemporary galleries on the third floor. Big, colorful installations, sculpture, and paintings. Perfect for the wee ones. For all you breastfeeding moms out there, there is a bench inside David Hockney's Snails Space. Plus, it's really quiet and really dark, so dark, in fact, that you could practically sit on someone if you don't let your eyes adjust properly. Next, we took a moment to gaze at Electronic Superhighway by Nam June Paik. What's not to love about a neon map of the United States and hundreds of TVs showing images or videos reminiscent of each state. I especially like the seven TVs with videos of only potatoes. For Idaho, you see?! We made our way to the smaller gallery of video and time-based artwork, appropriately named Watch This! New Directions in the Art of the Moving Image. We were particularly drawn to the interactive nature of Kota Ezawa's LYAM 3D, which the viewer can watch with a pair of 3D glasses available in the gallery. When the time comes, March 16th, to be exact, these galleries will be an excellent transition to the upcoming temporary exhibition, The Art of Video Games. Shout out to my former boss and dear friend Georgina Goodlander, the exhibition's coordinator!

After a thorough review of the third floor, we ventured down to the second floor and made our first stop in the temporary exhibition, Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage, on view through May 20th. The grouping of photographs here is certainly a different approach than her usually carefully composed and dramatic portraits. There isn't a single portrait, and the artist lets the objects and places captured in her photographs speak for themselves as the things, places, and memories that have shaped her understanding of her self and cultural inheritance. I would have loved to linger and read each and every label, but the fact remains that the gallery was very crowded, I had a stroller, and Diggory was squealing. Needless to say, we moved on quickly. We made our way through some of my favorite spaces in the museum, the Early Republic, Impressionism, and Gilded Age galleries, then buzzed through the Portrait Gallery's temporary exhibitions and the America's Presidents gallery. Ah yes, and then we went back up to the Luce Center to pick up our now dry tote bags, and then all the way down to the first floor to the Folk Art galleries. Diggory was pretty impressed by the giant wooden animals.

No trip to the these two museums would be complete without spending a moment in the stunning Kogod Courtyard. The mix of modern and historic architecture is breathtaking, and the people watching is fantastic. Grab a snack at the cafe or just find a spot to sit and enjoy the scene. The children running through the ground level water feature is pretty entertaining too. And yes, I dipped Diggory's toes in, I just couldn't resist.

We quickly covered the rest of the museum's first floor, stopping to browse the gift shop and poke our heads into the small, but always exquisite temporary exhibition in the Archives of American Art gallery. Currently on view through May 15, 2012, the exhibition Memories Arrested in Space: a centennial tribute to Jackson Pollock celebrates the artist's achievements and legacy with over fifty photographs, letters and other documents. Fascinating, truly.

With our whirlwind tour complete, we decided that, yes, we were hungry and thirsty, so we ventured forth into the relative chaos of Gallery Place/Chinatown and settled on happy hour at Ella's. (Yes, they have happy hour on Sundays!) Diggory is great with these sorts of things, and he always makes friends with our server/the hostess/the bartender/etc. Plus, Julie and mommy needed more time to chat, for old times sake.

Party Hats and Cake!

On this beautiful, sunny, and unseasonably mild winter day, Diggory and I drove downtown to help the Renwick Gallery celebrate its 40th birthday. Happy Birthday Renwick! The Renwick Gallery is located on Pennsylvania Avenue, at the corner of 17th Street NW, just one block west of the White House. It's pretty easy to find metered street parking on the weekends. We found an awesome spot on G Street, just a quick block and a half stroll to the gallery. (Just be prepared to shell out $4 in quarters for two hours, though most of the meters take credit cards now too.)

Image above: Postcard design contest winner Becca Kallem's beautiful watercolor of the Renwick's stunning facade.

When my husband Nathan and I first moved to the DC area, I worked out of the Renwick when the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was organizing the exhibition Grant Wood's Studio: Birthplace of American Gothic. The Renwick, as a result, will always hold a special place in my heart. So when my good friend, Katie Crooks, a public programs coordinator for the Smithsonian American Art Museum, of which the Renwick is a part, invited us to a party, we enthusiastically accepted! Plus, there was music, a hands on "touch table," a party hat craft table, and, of course, CAKE! How could we refuse?!

As you can see in the image above, there are a good number of stairs leading up to the front entrance of the gallery. You can carry your stroller up the stairs...I've done it with two people...but it's definitely safer and easier to take the handicap entrance. The ramp is located on the west side of the building, parallel to 17th Street. You'll enter on the basement level, get the once over by security, and take the elevator up to the first floor. There you can grab a brochure and view the current temporary exhibition. Now through May 6, 2012, you can see Something of Splendor: Decorative Arts from the White House. The exhibition features 95 objects from the collections of the White House - objects as varied as a gilded armchair from 1875 to a service plate from Reagan's 1982 presidential china - arranged roughly chronologically, giving the visitor a better sense of how the collection was built and how the objects were used throughout the history of the iconic home. The exhibition ends with a short film, At Home in the White House, and then, not surprisingly, you find yourself in the gift shop. The gift shop is small (but awesome!) and is a great place to find unique gifts. Just inside the gift shop, you'll find water fountains and a large restroom, the only one in the whole building with a changing table.

Here is Diggory in his party hat!

My favorite spot in the Renwick, by far, is the second-floor Grand Salon, with it's mid-1800's decor and it's dense arrangement of paintings hung salon-style. Conveniently, there are four maps in front of each of the four walls which identify the artist, title, and date of each painting. You'll find your old, beloved favorites and maybe a new favorite or two. There are also a handful of printed gallery guides available to provide more information on the artists.

Diggory with my dear friend Katie!

The second floor also displays works from the museum's permanent collection of contemporary craft and decorative arts, as well as a selection of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century paintings along the walls of the grand stair hall and in the Octagon Room.

The contemporary craft and decorative arts never ceases to amaze me. The workmanship, creativity, and mastery of materials is truly something awe inspiring. The Game Fish and Ghost Clock are stand-by favorites for most visitors, but I find myself drawn to the more utilitarian pieces, such as Albert Paley's Portal Gates, in the image below on the left. But maybe I'm a bit biased because of Paley's Iowa connections. He designed the work Transformation for Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, my home town. He also has pieces in Perry, Iowa, at National Harbor in Alexandria, Virginia (my current town), and at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

With our exploration of the museum complete, we said our goodbyes, packed up our party hat, and headed back to the car, taking just a few moments to stroll past the White House to soak up some sunshine. All in all, we had a fabulous afternoon, and the cake didn't hurt one little bit.