Lunch at BB&P with Florence

My friend Florence and I went to one of my favorite places for lunch - Busboys and Poets. The boys were away for the holidays so we had a rare adult meeting. Food and conversation wonderful!

 Florence with her lunch

My beet salad

SON Reading Circle Solstad

The Washington, DC lodge of the Sons of Norway met to discuss Shyness and Dignity by Dag Solstad. The discussion was very lively and very interesting. The holiday refreshments were also delicious!

A Norwegian Christmas Party

A wonderful evening with Norwegians and Americans! Most of the conversation was in Norwegian. The Scandinavian table was impressive.

Museum and Lunch with Nancy

I met my friend Nancy at the Phillips Collection. We had a wonderful time viewing two interesting exhibits.

The first one was "Neo-Impressionism and the Dream of Realities." This exhibit had more than 70 works, featuring 15 artists including Seurat, Signac, and Pissarro.


The second one was Bernardi Roig's NO/Escape. The Mallorcan artist Bernardi Roig installed six sculptural works in the museum, 3 inside and 3 outside. He challenges us to rethink the concept of the museum and he encourages us to think about the dualities of entrapment and liberation, absence and presence.

Here are some photos of Roig's Sculptures:

1. ACTEON

2. The Small Man frustrated at his inability to escape from the Blah Blah Blah of modern life

3. THE MAN OF THE LIGHT

 4. AN ILLUMINATED HEAD FOR BLINKY (THE GUN)

5. WHITE CAGE

LUNCH

After a few hours at the Phillips, we walked over to Levante's (Greek and Turkish cuisine) for lunch - in the midst of a freezing snow flurry!

               Our appetizer bread - delicious!

                          Nancy with her lunch

 

              My lunch - spinach and feta with yogurt sauce

Lunch with Betsy; Birds

I met my friend Betsy for lunch at Jaleo's in the District. We had a wonderful conversation and a wonderful lunch of delicious grilled cheese sandwiches.

I forgot to take a photo of Betsy!

Betsy gave me a lovely Christmas present. She found it in a Scandinavian shop in Rehobeth. It is the Julenisse wishing you God Jul! Isn't he adorable?

Then I walked a block away to the two Smithsonian museums - American Art and the Portrait Gallery.

 The courtyard between the two museums was decked out in floral Christmas splendor.

My primary objective was to visit the bird exhibit.

This mural of the extinct passenger pigeon was at the entrance. This bird became extinct in 1914, exactly 100 years ago.

Passenger Pigeons

I could not take any photos inside the exhibit unfortunately but you can go to the website and see the incredible art for yourself. My favorite artist was Tomaselli. My favorite work of art: "The Migrant Fruit Thugs" (two Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks are stealing the fruit from the artist's fig trees).

Go to http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/birds/index.cfm

If you live in the DC area, go to see this beautiful exhibit. I plan to return. It is marvelous!

Bicentennial Celebration

I was invited to a reception at the Royal Norwegian Embassy to conclude the year-long celebration of the signing of the Norwegian Constitution in 1814.

A very special book that commemorates this special event was presented. The book contains essays about the Constitution and art work by artists who were charged with reflecting on the meaning of the Constitution.

All of the art works were on display. It was a very interesting and impressive exhibit.

Holiday Lunch with George and Dal

Andrea and I took George and Dal to Assagi Osteria, our favorite Italian restaurant today. Wonderful company and delicious food, as usual!


              Andrea, Christine, Dal, and George

 My marvelous antipasto - burrata with melanze

 Dal's veal chop

My superb gobboni - lumache with shaved cauliflower, golden raisins, and pine nuts

Norwegian Christmas Tree

Andrea and I went went to Union Station for the annual lighting of the Norwegian Christmas Tree.

The magnificent 32-foot tree

 Polar bears on this year's tree

We met Larissa and Ivan there.

 Sara Oskal, Sami performer, singing yoiks

We met Larissa and Ivan there. We all talked to Sara Oskal after the program.