What My Friends And I Did After Seeing The Ai Weiwei Exhibit
On yesterday's blog, I gave you a little tour through the Ai Weiwei exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC. After walking through that fantastic collection, my friends and I went on to explore other buildings and museums on the National Mall, that beautiful open-air national park that receives approximately 24 million visitor each year. There is so much history there and an incredible amount to take in. Washington DC is a great place to visit!
1 The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is part of the Smithsonian Institution. Designed by Gordon Bunshaft, the building is basically an open cylinder elevated by 4 cement legs with a large fountain in the center. This modern building houses modern art.
2 The most prominent structure in DC is the Washington Monument, built between 1848 and 1884 as a tribute to George Washington's military leadership from 1775-1783 during the American Revolution. It is currently closed after being damaged in the earthquake of Aug. 23, 2011.
3 The US Capitol sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. It is, of course, the meeting place of the US Congress. Construction began in 1793. Congress met in the first completed portion in Nov. 1800. Today, the Capitol also houses an important collection of American art.
4 This is the Smithsonian Institution Building, popularly known as the "Castle." Designed by architect, James Renwick, Jr., it is constructed of red sandstone in the Norman style and was completed in 1855. Located on the National Mall, it houses Smithsonian Institution's administrative offices and information center.
5 This is the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, which houses the largest publicly held collection of African art in the United States.
6 Also part of the Smithsonian Institution is the National Museum of the American Indian, dedicated to the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of the Native Americans of the Western Hemisphere. This curvy limestone structure was designed to evoke natural rock formations shaped by wind and water.
7 We ate lunch at the Mitsitam Cafe in the Museum of the American Indian. Here I am with Executive Chef Richard Hetzler.
8 Mitsitam means "let’s eat" in the Piscataway and Delaware languages and the Mitsitam Cafe Cookbook showcases the Americas’ truly indigenous foods in ninety easy and delicious recipes.
9 The cafe features native foods found through out the Western Hemisphere.
10 The fascinating menu is divided into five different regions: the Northern Woodlands, Mesoamerica, South America, Northwest Coast, and the Great Plains.
11 The Mitsitam Cafe’s offerings feature staples that were once unknown in the rest of the world. It was quite a pleasant dining experience.
12 Our next stop was the US Botanic Garden. More than 200 years ago, George Washington had a vision for the capital city that included a botanic garden that would demonstrate and promote the importance of plants to the young nation.
13 Established by the US Congress in 1820, the US Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic gardens in North America. Its collections date to the 1840s when 250 plants, and an unknown quantity of propagation material gathered by the Wilkes Exploring Expedition (1838-1842), were brought here.
14 This is a cacao (Theobroma cacao), native to the deep tropical region of America. Its seeds are used to make cocoa powder and chocolate.
15 Its flowers are produced in clusters directly on the trunk, which is also where the fruit forms. The ovoid fruit, called a cacao pod, contains 20 - 60 seeds, or beans, and are the main ingredient of chocolate.
16 A member of the orchid family, this is Eria lasiopetala, also called the shaggy petaled Eria because the underside of the petals are quite fuzzy.
17 This section of the conservatory is devoted to world deserts. It is filled with succulents, grasses, shrubs, and other flowering plants. This barrel cactus is Echinocactus grusonii and to its left-rear is a Parry's agave.
18 There were so many unusual ferns to look at. I believe this drooping fern is a type of Goniophlebium.
19 These are bromeliad plants called Tillandsia.
20 This is a lovely flowering plant called Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' that thrives in shade gardens.
21 Begonia Black Fancy - Black Fancy has a black palmate leaf with green marbling and I must get a couple for my begonia collection.
22 A very impressive papaya tree
23 I was especially drawn to this orchid - Dendrobium Spring Dream, which has pure white flowers with a soft blurry lavender color at the ouside edges.
24 Orchid Coelogyne flaccida - These flowers were quite fragrant.
25 Satin Squill (Drimia elata) is a perennial bulbous herb, native to South Africa.
26 Part of the hyacinth family, it has overlapping reddish scales on the bulb.
27 Our last stop was the grandiose Union Station to catch our train back to NYC.
28 You enter the station through grand archways.
29 This handsome building is constructed of marble and the vaulted domed ceilings through the arches were pieced together with amazing craftsmanship.
30 Another look - Union Station is the most visited destination in Washington, DC with over 25 million visitors a year. It houses more than 130 stores and also serves as a venue for world-class exhibitions and international cultural events.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
I do believe that you can go to Washington, DC 50 times and never see everything there.
Thank you for sharing.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | February 22nd, 2013 at 12:19 am
How great to visit our nation;a capitol. You looked wonderful with Chef Hetzler who does a wonderful job and food there is very good, probably the best of any museum cafe. Allen was surprised that I paid full price for Mitsitam Cookbook but it has wonderful recipes. Great inspiration traveling to the District.
Posted by: ann | February 22nd, 2013 at 3:06 am
Martha,
Thanks for sharing this blog. The food looks so good.
Posted by: KLBrown | February 22nd, 2013 at 4:03 am
Beautiful buildings and architecture. Delicious food.
Have a wonderful weekend Martha regards to Alexis, is she going to post on her blog soon? I really miss her posts
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | February 22nd, 2013 at 7:50 am
Thanks for sharing these pictures. You were able to visit spots we haven't been to yet. We visited Washington DC a couple years ago and found it a very interesting place to be, but couldn't see everything in our time frame. We will surely return again and take in more sites. Your photos express so much. Thanks again.
Posted by: DianeP | February 22nd, 2013 at 8:02 am
I was fortunate to visit DC before the earthquake in 2011 damaged the Washington Monument. The views from the top of the Monument are spectacular. You're inspiring me to return Martha with your pictures of the US Botanic Garden. What a beautiful orchid, the Dendrobium Spring Dream is a must have for your collection!
Thanks for sharing your visit to Washington DC, especially of the delightful Mitsitam Cafe in the Museum of American Indian. If I ever make it back to the area it's at the top of my list to try.
Posted by: Cindy F | February 22nd, 2013 at 8:31 am
Hi Martha...
...and thanks for the tour - I felt I was on my senior trip again except there is so much more to see these days. My son was there a couple of years ago and was in awe of all the new places to visit. He took hundreds of pictures. Like Gloria, he also emphasized that it would take many visits to see everything. I certainly was sad when the earthquake damaged the Washington Monument. For new visitors it is probably their first stop. The Mitsitam Cafe sounds interesting and thanks also for the Botanic Garden tour. We all know your trip wouldn't be complete without a visit to an interesting restaurant as well as a view of some flora. Enjoy South Beach - I'd like to come down to have you sign Meatless for me but I have a busy weekend at the rehab center with sister #2. I believe the weather is going to be ideal! Trish
Posted by: Trish | February 22nd, 2013 at 8:37 am
Whenever I go to DC I always stop at the Botanical Garden. The orchid room is one of my favorite places.
Posted by: homer | February 22nd, 2013 at 8:40 am
Hi Martha, Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful blog with these marvelous photos of your recent visit to Washington DC! You look so darling in photo #7 with Chef Richard Hetzler at the great Mitsitam Cafe! The food they presented looked delicious! These photos remind me of a trip I took to Washington DC with my oldest brother and his family way back in 1980 and my best recall was photos #2! We toured everything there and then I took that train and went to Connecticut to visit a friend I went to high school with! Now I love seeing how some things have changed and love the US Botanical Garden! Every thing in that special garden is gorgeous! How fun to see the Union Station again! It's obvious that you had a wonderful time visiting there and so did I!! The weather looked so lovely that day! I absolutely love all of your tweets and how fun it is to listen to you on SiriusXM 107 and how nice you had your nephew Dan Slater yesterday! Can't wait to hear you from Miami today! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Off to see the Daily Wag with F&S "Creating New Plants in the Greenhouse!" Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | February 22nd, 2013 at 9:10 am
I wish I had known you were going to be in town. I would loved to have walked through the Botanic Gardens with you.
Posted by: John Newman | February 22nd, 2013 at 10:02 am
Dear Martha,
I've never been to Washington D.C.. My sister went a few years ago and loved it. From your pictures and her stories and pictures, I know I need to go. There are so many treasures there for every American to see; for every person to see.
Posted by: Cindy M | February 22nd, 2013 at 11:35 am
Hi Martha,
I enjoyed seeing your pictures of Washington DC. It is an impressive place to visit. It makes you appreciate American history when you see it up close and in person. I'm still thinking about Ai Weiwei's exhibit though I have to admit. It really left an impression on me. Your blog these past few days have been so fun, delicious and educational to read. I learn from you every day. It's kind of amazing when you think about it. I never thought a blog would leave me feeling so enriched but yours does. Anyway, thank you so much for writing and keeping us informed about what you've been up to. It really is fun to follow you! Have a nice weekend.
xo
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa Gordon-Miller | February 22nd, 2013 at 12:35 pm
I have never been to Washington DC but would love to visit. It is so important to learn about the history of our nation and Washington is such a great place to do so.
Posted by: Laura Dembowski | February 22nd, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Another very interesting blog. Thanks for sharing, Martha.
Angela
Posted by: Angela | February 22nd, 2013 at 4:35 pm
I'm so glad you got the good kind of spring weather. DC spring can be so beautiful. Of course It can also snow in the afternoon when the morning had been 65 degrees which makes it hard to pack for.
Posted by: Ellen W. | February 22nd, 2013 at 5:21 pm
The gardens are beautiful year round..I go see them every visit there..Christmas in the gardens is spectacular. I recommend it to all! It is worth noting how accessible and free the US Botanical Gardens are for all citizens and visitors. My favorite eatery is the cafeteria at the US Supreme Court!! mmmm good and great to listen to the topics of conversation there!
Posted by: Teresa Touey | February 22nd, 2013 at 5:49 pm
That tree had fruit on it, when we were there 3 yrs ago. It is very prolific.
Posted by: Sandy Lingo | February 22nd, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Martha My Dear, Beautiful tour,let's hope it will
last another 300 years.
Posted by: Norman | February 22nd, 2013 at 9:04 pm
Dear Martha ~
Did you get to go to the Peacock Room in the Freer Gallery of Art? One of your green rooms in Cantitoe Corners reminds me of that very special space. When I lived in Annapolis I would occasionally drive to DC to visit that room.
Spectacular!!!
Posted by: Barbara Gookin | February 22nd, 2013 at 9:50 pm
I did not know that America had a National Botanic Garden. Thanks for teaching us that. Reading on your blog that the Washington Monument has been closed for two years is shocking. How are they progressing on fixing it? It makes me very grateful to have actually climbed the stairs on the inside and seen the individual block donated by the States. I didn't realize that would be an endangered experience at the time. It sounds like it is.
Posted by: Karen | February 23rd, 2013 at 2:22 am
Love these pictures! I look foward to seeing these places soon!
Posted by: Nelida | February 23rd, 2013 at 6:04 am
This has nothing to do with the blog but I cannot find any other place to "communicate" this: Where did my daily Sarah Carey cooking videos go??? I thoroughly enjoyed them and really miss then.
Posted by: Derrinda | February 23rd, 2013 at 10:54 am
Washington DC looks like such a beautiful place! I would love to go there and just play around with my camera sometime. Thanks for sharing the pictures!
Posted by: Jerry | February 25th, 2013 at 2:56 pm