Reading Circle Oleanna

Our SON Reading Circle met to discuss Oleanna, a novel about two sisters of a Norwegian family who decided not to emigrate to America as their brothers had done.

Ginny's DCDC Tour

What a special tour it was! Our friend Ginny is a docent at the Kreeger and she gave us an incredibly interesting and exciting personal tour of the museum. We learned so much about the Kreegers and their fantastic collection. Personally, my most lasting impression will always be of the Monet Room.


In front of the museum: Jodi, Mary, Ginny, Synthia, Christine

                      Across from the entrance to the museum: Christine, Synthia, Ginny, Mary, Jodi


After the fantastic tour of the museum, we went to lunch at Chef Geoff's. 

                                     Ginny enjoying a video of Synthia's adorable grandchild

                                             Jodi basking in the delightful spring air

                                Mary feeling relaxed with good friends on a wonderful day

                                               Synthia sharing great stories about little Maja


  
Christine's lunch: a grilled artichoke

Art and Lunch

                George at the entrance to the Phillips

George and I met this morning at The Phillips Collection to view the current exhibit, "Made in the USA: American Masters from the Phillips Collection, 1850-1970." More than 200 artworks by 120 artists are featured on all three floors of the museum. It is a marvelous exhibit but too much to take in on one visit. We covered about 60% of it. We have until August to go back several more times.

After viewing the exhibit, we had a delightful lunch at Eli's Restaurant, one of the few kosher restaurants in DC and located at 1253 20th St NW near Dupont Circle.


                          George and Christine


                                         George

I had a delicious California Salad which contained greens, grilled pineapple, avocados, kernels of corn, tomatoes, and tortilla strips.

                                                                    California Salad

Roaming in DC

I met my two friends, Sonia and Nancy, at Le Pain Quotidien for lunch.

                                                                    Sonia and Nancy

My lunch was delicious! I had a tartine, one of their signature Belgian open-faced sandwiches served on organic wheat levain. It was the "Hummus and Shaved Vegetable Tartine" with hummus, arugula, carrots, raisins, walnuts, and harissa tahini.


                                     My tartine

After lunch I went to an art exhibit at the Edison Building. This exhibit featured drawings by children in DC public schools based on the theme "Step into Spring" and most were related to the Cherry Blossom Festival. Here are a few drawings that I particularly liked:

Easter

We had a lovely Easter Day this year. We began with a glorious Easter service at our church, St. Christopher's.

Our friend Florence graciously invited us for a delicious Easter brunch at 701 Penn, one of our favorite DC restaurants.


                        Our gracious hostess Florence


        Florence with her great kids, Chipo and Perry

  

 

Christine and Andrea

 

Florence's Friend Emily

 Rafael, Chipo. and Perry

                                                           My appetizer, beet salad

Before brunch, we took Perry and Chipo to see the Fire Dog Monument.

Perry and Chipo at the Fire Dog Monument

After brunch, we went home. Marcello and the boys came over for dessert and a spirited Jelly Bean Hunt.

 

        Marcello and Christian looking for jelly beans

Theater Outing

Kate and I had a nice lunch in the Center Cafe of Union Station before going to the Folger Shakespeare Theater on Capitol Hill.


                Kate had chicken noodle soup.
 

                                                                       I had beet salad.

Union Station suffered quite a bit of damage in the earthquake of 2012 and the repairs are ongoing. Here are some photos showing the work in progress.

 

                                   We saw a hilarious production of "The Two Gentlemen of Verona."

After the play we went to the Postal Museum. Here are some of the interesting exhibits:


                      Delivering mail by stagecoach


                                   Mail planes

  

                                                                Mail delivery truck

Another Birthday Celebration

We have three special family April birthdays: Andrea, Arthur, and Marcello. To celebrate, we went to Clyde's Willow Tree Farm restaurant.


                         Birthday Boy Andrea


                   Andrea blows out a candle

Arthur was present in a photographic format with Marcello in real time behind him. Michelle has joined the two birthday boys.

Christian enjoys the birthday celebration.

 

                           Colin enjoyed a tour of the vast restaurant and especially liked the horse.

Christine, the wife of Birthday Boy #1, the grandmother of Birthday Boy #2, and the mother of Birthday Boy #3. She had a lot to celebrate! In the photo above she was enjoying the Willow Farm's signature dessert, a brownie with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Oh, so decadent!

Andrea's Birthday Day

  We began the birthday celebration with a leisurely lunch at the Carlyle Grand Cafe. Above you will see the Paris mural in the restaurant.

                                               Playful Andrea plays peek-a-boo with his menu.

He finally chooses a cheddar cheeseburger and fries (not the best choice on the menu but ....)


 After lunch we went to Caribou so Andrea could have a double espresso.

One of Caribou's mottoes is, "Life is buying coffee for a friend."

But my favorite one is: "Life is short. Stay awake for it." I try to live by it!

                Then to see the movie "Le Week End." It was a depressing but sometimes amusing movie about two English senior citizens who go to Paris for the week-end of their anniversary to try to add spark to their boring marriage.
                     

                                          A smiling Andrea hugging his gifts from Nik, his favorite gifts to date

Celebrating Perry

Perry and Andrea share the same birthday but Sunday was all Perry!

We had lunch in the KC Cafe on the Terrace Level of the Kennedy Center. The two Birthday Boys are in the photo above.


 After lunch we went downstairs to the Family Theater to see a very hilarious presentation of "Robin Hood" by two actors from Scotland. These two men played all of the roles, and the only props on the stage were cardboard boxes and a shopping cart.

Perry is standing in front of the bust of JFK in the Main Foyer of the Kennedy Center.

We went back to our house afterwards for birthday cake and presents. Perry loves baseball and his piece of cake is adorned with baseball candles.