Day 2 of Happiness Meme

[fabrisse]

I actually have several things today.

1) Last night I took the bus to see a friend of mine. Metro is marginally less time consuming, but the bus is cheaper and requires no transfers. I discovered that it goes right through Georgetown. It also passes National Cathedral, National Presbyterian (my childhood church), and several stores that I have no other access too. Cool!

2) I took a walk to the Renwick Gallery today. 9/11 changed certain things about DC, and I couldn't work out why I couldn't find the Renwick. The answer is, the street is so close to the White House it's blocked off from anything other than foot traffic. I hadn't seen it when driving or being driven because it's not accessible. I still love the Octagon room there, and there's a terrific exhibit about Architects Greene and Greene.

3) There were masses of red tulips and grape hyacinths in the beds of Lafayette Park (right across from the White House). It was startlingly beautiful.

Comments

[snopes-faith.livejournal.com]

Is the Renwick Gallery the one with all the Whistler paintings? It is one of my big regrets I never got around to seeing all of those.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

No, that's the Freer which has the advantage of being right on the Mall. The Renwick is a very small (for a museum) converted private house, and it's dedicated to American Crafts. It's ground floor has special exhibitions and the upstairs rotates through its collection since there's not much space.

One of the coolest things I saw there was a marquetry table called "Bad Hare (sic) Day" which showed a bunch of bunnies chasing a fox. The wood working and inlay were gorgeous.

[tijmetje.livejournal.com]

3) sounds most pretty.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Not up to keukenhof standards, but it made me grin. It's been a very Low Countries spring here. Since it's cooler things are staying in bloom much longer than usual for this part of the country.