What I Did in Washington D.C.
On Thursday, November 17th, my traveling companions and I, flew out of White Plains airport in New York at 3:30 PM. We flew an estimated distance of 234 miles in 58 minutes, and landed at Ronald Regan Airport in Washington, D.C. There, we were met by a driver, who took us to the National Public Radio Studios, where I gave a taped interview with Linda Wertheimer for “Morning Edition.” It was wonderful meeting the iconic Linda Wertheimer, whose voice I’ve been listening to for more than thirty years! At 5:35 PM, we departed National Public Radio for the Smithsonian’s “in Conversation with Martha Stewart” Event at Daughters of the Revolution (DAR) Building, Constitution Hall. The evening began with a donor reception in the O’Byrne Gallery where I chatted and signed books. We then moved to the great DAR Constitution Hall, where I gave a presentation on American Style, followed by an onstage Q&A with interviewer Marc Pachter, the Interim Director of the National Museum of American History. It was wonderful to spend some time in the DAR building. The DAR was founded in 1890 and is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children. The DAR building also houses a fabulous museum of 31 period rooms and 2 galleries and is certainly worth a visit!
Update: If you would like to read my speech, you can read it here.
1 At precisely 4:55 PM, I arrived at the National Public Radio Studios in Washington DC.
2 I was there for a taped interview with Linda Wertheimer, the iconic newswoman. It will air in early December.
3 Linda Wertheimer is NPR's senior national correspondent and has been reporting the news for NPR for the past thirty years.
4 Linda, of course, received a signed copy of my book and I was presented with 'The Nina Totin' Bag,' so named for Nina Totenberg, NPR's award-winning legal affairs correspondent.
5 Posing with Renee Kelly, Public Relations Manager for NPR
6 The map of NPR stations is very impressive.
7 Next, at 6:10 PM, I arrived at the Smithsonian's 'In Conversation With Martha Stewart' event at Daughters of the Revolution Building, Constitution Hall. This is the O'Byrne Gallery, where a donor reception was held.
8 Stacks of my book were ready for signing.
9 Meeting Alison McNally, Special Advisor to the Secretary, Financial Projects and her husband, Bobby German
10 During the reception, I sat down to sign books for 40 - 50 donors.
11 Here I am with caterer Susan Gage, whom I have known for many years and have attended many fine dinners catered by her.
12 Dr. G. Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
13 Posing with Barbara Tuceling, Richard Kurin, Wayne Clough and his wife Anne, Marc Pachter, Alison McNally, and Bobby German
14 The smiling bartender
15 Kate Tyler of Clarkson Potter, my publisher, has been a big help on this latest book tour.
16 Walking through the DAR to the next event - The Tennessee room represents a parlor in a wealthy American home between 1828 and 1836, the years of Andrew Jackson’s presidency, the seventh president and a Tennessee native.
17 The mahogany and gilt or golden armchairs where made for the White House after it was burned by the British in 1814. The portrait over the chair is of Jackson, painted in 1830 by his close friend and painter Ralph E.W. Earl.
18 The Maryland room, a late 1830s parlor in a wealthy household, has been decorated with visually striking scenic, hand-painted wallpaper. Made in France, this paper shows one of the many uprisings in Paris during the 1830s.
19 The Maryland room s designed to show a family member entertaining guests on the Grand harmonicon. This instrument is comprised of any number of wine glasses which may or may not require water for tuning.
20 The sound is typically produced by rubbing the rims of the glasses with wet fingers. Harmonicons had been popular in wealthy circles since the 18th century, when composers like Mozart and Beethoven composed music for it.
21 An old membership Application for DAR
22 I then moved to Constitution Hall, built in 1929 by the DAR to house its annual convention. After an introduction by Barbara Tuceling, Director of the Smithsonian Associates, I gave a presentation on American Style.
23 Here I am with Marc Pachter, Interim Director of the National Museum of American History.
24 After my talk, I sat down with Marc Pachter on the stage of the largest auditorium in Washington DC.
25 We had a very interesting talk about my influences and inspirations on American culture and its continuing evolution.
26 As you can see, the hall that seats 3,702 people, was quite full.
27 Above us was this fantastic mural of a bald eagle, the national bird and the symbol of the United States.
28 Afterwards, book signing again! This is my friend, Adiam, who lives in Washington DC and came to the event with her nephew.
29 With Jennifer Levin, who worked with me many years ago in my kitchens at Turkey Hill. She now lives in the DC area and it was great to see her again.
30 After my talk and book signing, we went to Founding Farmers Restaurant, where we ate some delicious food! It is owned by a collective of American family farmers and was designed to look like an old farmhouse. http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/
31 I was so impressed with this display of large jars filled with canned and pickled produce.
32 Susan Magrino, my publicist and Daisy Schwartzberg, my makeup artist perusing the menu, which sources fresh products from family farms, ranches, and fisheries from across the United States.
33 Kathy Sloane, my friend and a great real estate broker at Brown Harris Stevens - Kathy lives in NY and Washington DC and met us for dinner.
34 Kelly Galvin, who works with Susan Magrino
35 Kate Tyler, from Random House, my publisher
36 I had the Southern pan-fried chicken, which came with waffles, mac 'n cheese, and green beans. It was very, very good!
Martha Pins
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Wow!! You get around more than any one human I've ever heard of. I don't know how you know if your coming, or going, or already been there and on your way back. Martha, have you ever met yourself coming from one event while going to another one?
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | November 29th, 2011 at 1:42 am
Traveling gives much pleasure and nothing better than visiting our nation's capital.Great to see your activity with NPR and DAR as well.Happy that you ate at FOUNDING FARMERS RESTAURANT 'cause North Dakotans feel that we are part of that great collection of family farmers.
Posted by: ann | November 29th, 2011 at 5:43 am
As usual you looked lovely Martha! Love the display of canned food in the Founding Fathers Restaurant. It looks so homey and comforting, like being in grandma's kitchen! By the way, I so enjoyed seeing Francesca, Sharkey and GK on your show yesterday. They are so well behaved!!
Posted by: Cindy F | November 29th, 2011 at 9:07 am
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog. The chicken and waffles looks so good!
Posted by: KLBrown | November 29th, 2011 at 9:53 am
Hi Martha, That was a pretty fast flight from White Plains Airport to Ronald Reagan airport in Washington D.C. in 58 minutes! What a fascinating place NPR is! I recall seeing your twitpic about the interview by Linda Wertheimer and sure would love to hear it and see it if possible! What a lovely lady she is and how great that you finally got to meet her! All of these photos were fabulous! Meeting Alison McNally was another great event as was seeing Susan Gate, Dr. Wayne Clough, and many others! What a lovely place DAR is. also! How fun it is to see so many historical places that you visited and so many of your friends! Loved that Founding Fathers Restaurant, also! The food looked delicious! Having been in D.C. so many years ago it is so much fun to see all of the places I hadn't seen back then-thanks so much for this terrific tour! Now have to go to The Daily Wag and see all of the beautiful ribbons handsome Ghenghis Khan got over the weekend! Have a great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | November 29th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Hi Martha, could you please post your presentation on American style on your blog? I would love to hear it. Thanks!
Posted by: Karen | November 29th, 2011 at 10:38 am
You look amazing Martha, good luck in your trips and book signing. The DAR building looks beautiful, love the decor of the rooms.
Best Wishes xo
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | November 29th, 2011 at 11:21 am
Martha...I like your speech. Could you post the interview with Marc too? I think about those broader issues all the time...I do believe that you have helped our culture immensely...please post that segment if you can. Also I will keep my eye out for the NPR interview. Stay well...30 more years Martha...I saw BIG MARTHA on a holiday cookies piece on the Cooking Channel yesterday. I miss her!! And I hope that you will have a long life like her!
Posted by: Teresa Touey | November 29th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Hi, Martha,
Thank you for posting your speech. I really enjoyed it. I saw your new entertaining book at Barnes and Noble last weekend. It's truly amazing....so very many new, clever and creative ideas. Thank you!
Posted by: Bobbie | November 29th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
I am so glad I checked the blog again! Thank you Martha for posting your speach at the DAR. I love entertaining and no one more than you Martha shows us how to do it well.
Posted by: Cindy F | November 29th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
I am so sad that i can't get your tv show anymore i miss it so much but i do visit your website often Happy Holidays
Posted by: Claudia | November 29th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Good for you for doing this Martha! I am working on becoming a member of DAR. I earned a scholarship from DAR while working on my first Master Degree in Health Administration at the University of Washington in Seattle. Now, I am learning about my family history and my grandmother saved me a picture of my great, great, great grandfather - Thomas Jefferson Harrison. Incredible journey.
Posted by: Soraya Jane Kanakis | November 29th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
Wow, I'd give just about anything for those little metal cartons to pour syrup out of!
Posted by: Brenda Knowlton | November 29th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
I am a first time Author of my children's book called" Jenniflower's World of Enchantment" My publisher has started the promotion part of it now, and then they send me their book called the " The Next Chapter", Its a book about being an effective partner in promoting your book. Martha can you remember back that far, one your first book. I guess things are really different now. I don't know the first thing about getting a book signing or a book event started. Can you give me ant hint's PLEASE... Thank You
Posted by: Patricia J. Prettyman | November 30th, 2011 at 3:35 am
Good Morning Ms. Stewart,
Wanted to give you heads up on new artist Rodney Harris expoing with Potter's Market. A Martha Stewart must watch today channel 7 Detroit Metro Area at 12. Thanks for all the great everyday ideas!!!!
Posted by: Carla | November 30th, 2011 at 10:23 am
Thanks for the publicity for DAR, but I have to point out that DAR stands for "Daughters of the AMERICAN Revolution"!
Posted by: Anne Lurie | November 30th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Isn't DAR Constitution Hall fabulous? As a long time DAR member, thank you for visiting the Hall and Museum and your comments on our organization. And thank you for posting your speech.
Posted by: Annette E. Smith | November 30th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Please see Orange HOWELL's custom D.A.lR snowflke ornament made in hte USA...well designedin NYC and handmadein New England. VIsit us this weekend at NY Junior League's Golden Tree on East 80th Street.
Cheers!
Posted by: Paula Zanger | December 1st, 2011 at 1:56 am
I didn't know DAR Hall had all those rooms in it! I've only ever been to the auditorium.
What are those metal things on your fried chicken dinner plate?
Posted by: ps | December 1st, 2011 at 5:19 am
Thanks for joining us in DC. My husband and I were in the audience and were delighted with your presentation. My husband is from Detroit and I had to wrestle Martha's Entertaining away from him when he saw the Edsel. A delightful evening, thanks so much.
Posted by: Karen wolf-branigin | December 5th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
Hello Martha! I recently came back from Washington DC and fell in love with the area! I am an interior design student (albeit the oldest one at 43 -lol) at Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, and went to DC to celebrate my 16th wedding anniversary. I loved all the Smithsonians and the food was FABULOUS in the city. Founding Farmers was one of our favorites! I had the Cheese Ravioli in this wonderful white bean reduction. The price was so reasonable too! We also found some other reasonably priced restaurants that the food was fantastic. Fujimar is an asian-fused restaurant and the decor was so original - loved it! We also enjoyed lunches at Elephant and Castle (1 blk from Smithsonians) and dinner at Tuscana West. We are definitely going back!
Posted by: Cheryl Jones | October 10th, 2012 at 10:46 am