5 Places to see in DC that don't feel like DC

I am a lover of cities. I love the diversity, unique flavor, and wealth of culture each one brings. But after living in DC for a year after undergrad it because the exception to the rul for me. 

I never really like DC. But now that I have matured and visited again I realize that may have been my fault far more than my nation's capitals. 

I had a short business trip to the city recently, but was determined to squeeze in a little fun. After a few hours of research I discovered more places than I could fit in to such a short trip. Here are just a few not to miss spots of you are like me and want to skip the mall and experience some great food, awesome art, and a touch of nature.

Kreeger Museum

Image courtesy of the Kreeger Museum

National Botanic Gardens

Renwick Gallery  

Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery

Blagadon Alley

Weekend Getaway: Palm Springs

This past weekend was my partner’s birthday and to celebrate I wanted to take our first weekend getaway to Palm Springs. As we have only been in LA for less than 2 months (and most of those months were packed with the apartment hunting, furnishing, buying a car, job starting, and end of year holidays shenanigans), my guy was a bit resistant to planning a trip for his special day. But after my insistence and incredible sale of a place I'd never been he gave in 😉.

As part of the deal I promised him a super chilled out and easy weekend, and that’s where I delivered. We left our house around 9am with a short 2 hour drive a head of us. Given that in LA it takes 2 hours to get from our apartment to downtown during rush hour, I knew this would be a piece of cake. The drive was more scenic than expected, much of it you are nestled within mountains and vast empty landscapes as you approach the desert. We both absolutely adored it and cruised along in the carpool lane the whole way.  

Our very first sight was a wind farm just outside of Palm Springs. For an easy vantage point you can stop by the Amtrack station (PSP) to take in all the spinning turbines. Beware, it is very windy when they are all on! After a bit of train spotting, windmill watching, and photo taking we headed to our hotel.  

STAY

I booked a night for us at V Palm Springs Hotel. It was a toss up between the famous Sagauro, Ace and V hotels when deciding, but in the end I took a chance on the V hoping it would be the quieter of the three on this particular weekend. And it was just quiet enough without feeling desolate. Our room was super efficient, clean, and comfortable, equipped with cozy bath robes and a swinging chair on the balcony overlooking the pool and out onto the mountains beyond. Honestly, I could have skipped all activities and spent the entire weekend right here.

Hands down the best part of the stay was lounging by the pool and relaxing in the hot tub. After checking in early we lounged here for hours, riding bar snacks and turning over every so often to get an even amount of sun!

EAT

There are quite a few restuarants I wanted to try out in Palm Springs, but there are but so many meals in one weekend! Fortunately I know I have many more weekends ahead here. These are a the few I will certainly return to... 

• Elmer’s Reastuarant; a classic diner well worth the wait. The German pancake may look wierd but it is not to be missed.
• Evzin; a Mediterranean spot that feels more like a chic gallery than a restaurant. And save room for their only dessert, it was better than expected. 
• Lappart’s Ice Cream Shop; try the date and caramel ice cream and thank me later...

DO

Aside from lying pool side and eating, we were able to squeeze in a few other activities. On the way into town we checked out the wind farm. After checking out of the hotel on Sunday we made our way downtown to see the Palm Springs Art Museum. First stop the architecture and design center which was in between exhibits, but the docent was kind enough to give us a history of the building. We walked 15 minutes to the main museum which has two lovely sculpture gardens. And then we popped in and out of shops along the main drag until we decided to check out some mid century home in the residential area. On our next visit I'd like to do more of this beacuse the houses are just so inspiring. Never have I wanted to own property more than after seeing these super efficient and minimalist homes. Ginally, just as we were leave town we stopped off to check out the great Cabazon Dinosaurs. They are such a quirky attraction (the world's biggest dinosaurs!) but a must see for us nonetheless.

Before we knew it we were home just after sundown getting ready for the workweek ahead and with just enough time to unpack and Netflix and chill on the couch. All in all a perfect first getaway and lovely weekend! 

Save this post for later

Our Los Angeles AirBnB: Apartment Tour

I have long been a fan of AirBnB. Since my partner and I last visited Europe I have become pretty savvy at finding great deals in lovely spaces (if I do say so myself). Our trip to LA in March was no exception, so I thought I would show you around the space! Read my post on how to decide if AirBnB is for you if you are having doubts of your own.

Welcome to Mar Vista! Adam and I were originally looking for a place in Venice (near the beach) but booked so late in the game that all the good (and affordable) places were gone. Nevertheless and fortunately, we were able to find a shared apartment with it's own private bath (and an amazingly hospitable host) in a neighboring area called Mar Vista. We ended up loving it here! The neighborhood was quiet enough that we were able to avoid the tourist congestion and find parking everyday. Not to mention the space itself is so California cool. The aesthetic is pretty different from our minimal apartment in NYC, but it made me rethink what home can feel like...

This AirBnB had a very easy vibe, from the enormous couch you sink right into, to all of the plants that absorbed all the incoming sunshine. I really loved how "lived in", yet neat the place was. Everywhere you turn there is something that catches your eye and tells a story about the person who lives there. No two items look alike, yet everything is cohesive.

As minimalists, I struggle with having things that are sentimental lying around (or even stored away). Adam and I keep these types of items limited, but we both were very inspired by the simple and natural way that all of the items (most very functional) were exposed. Each item was special and in a way felt celebrated. And after all that is the point of my minimalist lifestyle, to only have things that are of values to me, so why not celebrate them a little!

El Matador State Beach

I fell in love with Southern California, and it only took a week.

Last month my honey and I took a somewhat impromptu trip to LA. We usually mull over our destinations up to a year a head of time and then spend months planning. Maybe it was because of the tireless winter this year, or the depressing politics wearing away at us, but this trip was different. We decided in early February to get away and we on a flight in March. Let me just say, I could get used to this kind of spontaneity if this is what it produces.

We left California inspired and rejuvenated. And one of my favorite places was El Matador Beach in Malibu. The beach was a bit crowded, and the water freezing cold but nonetheless it was well worth the short drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. Just see for yourself...

I have more highlights from this trip to come, so stay tuned!

More Of California

Feb 12, 2018

A Minimalist's Thoughts After a Trip to the Flea

Feb 12, 2018

Feb 12, 2018

Jan 24, 2018

Weekend Getaway: Palm Springs

Jan 24, 2018

Jan 24, 2018

Apr 27, 2017

Our Los Angeles AirBnB: Apartment Tour

Apr 27, 2017

Apr 27, 2017

Apr 11, 2017

El Matador State Beach

Apr 11, 2017

Apr 11, 2017

Jan 25, 2017

Space Program Europa at the YBCA

Jan 25, 2017

Jan 25, 2017

Jan 18, 2017

How to Spend a Weekend in San Francisco

Jan 18, 2017

Jan 18, 2017

Jan 13, 2017

The de Young Museum

Jan 13, 2017

Jan 13, 2017

Jan 11, 2017

San Francisco in Pictures

Jan 11, 2017

Jan 11, 2017

Be Outraged and Resist

Trump has been in office for a week and the country is on fire. It started with limiting a woman's right to choose and an effort to start dismantling universal healthcare (see the reinstatement of the global gag rule), setting back climate change efforts and clamping down on science as a whole (see Keystone XL & Dakota Access pipelines and Federal science actions), and attacking immigrants on multiple fronts with a particular emphasis on Muslims (see the border wall and Muslim ban). I have been slow to accept our new reality. I tried to be cautiously optimistic the days before his inauguration, then I tried to avoid the news as my greatest fears were being realized, then I was just sad. Now I am really pissed off and ready to work. Trump and his hateful policies must go. So here is what I am doing and I encourage you to do to. And this isn't where I am stopping, if you have any suggestions of other actions we can take please leave them in the comments below so everyone who sees this post can take part too.

Let's be outraged. Let's resist. Let's take our country back.

Make Your Voice Heard

Call your representatives, write letters, sign petitions, demonstrate in the streets if you have to! Our representatives are supposed to represent us and so it is our responsibility to make our positions known and continuously apply pressure on them. Use Common Cause's representative locator to find out who your reps are. And if you need a little extra help on what to say, check out this article for some tips about how to talk to your representative when you do call.

Organize

When President Obama told us in his farewell speech to organize I had no idea where to start. Luckily I have some incredible friends who did. We have begun by sharing good information and finding ways to do the above (reach out to our representatives). One friend has offered up her apartment on a weekly basis as a hub to create call scripts, make calls, write letters and keep information sharing. There is also an incredible guide and directory of how and where to get involved called the Indivisible Guide. Start with this and you'll be good.

Share Good Information

This requires staying informed and not propagating "alternative facts." Misinformation/fake news is a dangerous thing as we have already seen with this administration. We need to armor ourselves with the truth and be cynical with the media we consume. Also, good information is power. Articles like  what to do if ICE agents come to your door should be widely shared so that everyone has the knowledge they need. 

Donate

A little can go a very long way if we all chip in. I am personally giving to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Planned Parenthood and Justice Democrats(at minimum). I will be cutting out my work lunches, extra coffees, and any other frivolous spending to give all that I can. This is an investment in a country I want to live in and society we can be proud of after all!

Stay Positive

If we stop believing in the power of the people and democracy there is not way we can win. So please take care of yourself and those directly in front of you first. Practice self care and go at your own pace. Do what you need to in order to feel like you (and not a hopeless shell of you), feel strong, and remain hopeful. We could be in for the long haul and everyone of us needs to be able to take some time for ourselves.

"if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."

-desmond tutu

That is all I have, again please add ideas to this list. I want to know what actions you are taking and how you are taking care of yourself. Now is the time more than ever to spread love, count our blessings and support one another to ensure this time does not become our new normal! 

XO

Space Program Europa at the YBCA

I haven't been up for writing over the past week or so. I have some serious new administration blues that seem to worsen with each press release. So until I get my attitude together and figure out a way to contribute positively I will post about other's beautiful contributions to society! Today I want to share with you a few photos from the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) in San Francisco.

Sharing this feels particularly relevant for me considering all of the political actions against the federal science agencies and anyone federally funded in the sciences (especially working on climate change and sustainability). As a climate scientist who relied on federal dollars for all of the research I have ever been involved in I feel the hurt. I hurt because this work, work seeking to help humanity and the most vulnerable communities do not receive significant funding from other sources, certainly not from private one. So this post is dedicated to the determined scientists out there, inspiring hope, art, and a better society for all on a daily basis. We shall resist, we shall overcome.

Landing Excursion Module (LEM), a 1:1 model of the Apollo lunar module

While at the YBCA I examined in depth Tom Sachs' third Space Program, Europa which ran through the 15th of this month. In the introduction to this work Sachs writes, 

In our age of disaffection, the sculptures in this exhibition are also objects of love that support the rituals of studio practice, all things analog, and the handmade. Their meaning is born out of action in time - the original act of their making, and later their use, charges them with purpose beyond art for its own sake.

That's it for my little glimpse into this intricate exhibition and truly hope you get to see some of Sachs "postindustrial mashup of high and low culture" (as he has said) in the future! Save a few hours to if you do, it is very thought provoking and such a spectacle to see.

How to Spend a Weekend in San Francisco

Weekend trips are so hard for me to plan, there just ins't enough time to see all I want to see (story of my life)! So I put this little guide together of my hit list of places to stay, eat and see from my recent trip to the Bay Area.

Stay

The Kimpton Buchanan Hotel

The Kimpton Buchanan Hotel

The Kimpton Buchanan Hotel

The Kimpton Buchanan Hotel

The Kimpton Buchanan Hotel

The Tilden Hotel

The Tilden Hotel

The Tilden Hotel

My first two nights I stayed at the Kimpton Buchanan Hotel, a super cute boutique hotel at the nexus of Japantown, Fillmore and Pacific Heights. Stylish and super hospitable, this hotel was offered a wine happy hour in the lobby each evening which is a added bonus! On my last night I stayed at the recently renovated Tilden Hotel. The Tilden is simple, budget friendly and located within walking distance of downtown and shopping districts.

EAT

Sweet Maple

Flora Restaurant

Flora Restaurant

Flora Restaurant

Akiko's Sushi Restaurant

A kik o's Sushi Restaurant

San Francisco has many great restaurants, all of which I was dying to try! But between all of the running around and the conference I attended there were three stand out meals from my visit. One brunch spot I really enjoyed was Sweet Maple. Sweet Maple is in between the Pacific Heights and Fillmore neighborhoods and truly feels like an institution there. The all american menu gave me diner vibes with a Californian-freshness. One morning I popped over to Oakland (another place I am dying to get back to!) for brunch at Flora with friends. Flora is a stylish, art deco spot with an elegant and delicious menu. Finally, Akiko's Sushi Restaurant. Althoughquite the splurge this is some of the best sushi I have ever had (this coming from someone with a Japanese Grandmother!). I suggest sitting at the sushi bar and asking for omakase (chef's choice) and just letting them know about how much you'd like to eat/spend (scope out the menu ahead of time to get a feel for the prices.) Then sit back and be spoiled! 

Do

The Painted Ladies

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts

The de Young Museum

The de Young Museum

The Golden Gate Bridge

If you've been following me here you know how much I lovemuseums and my first recommendations won't surprise you. The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is a contemporary arts space that aims to show socially impactful exhibitions while making sure it is affordable for all to see. On my visit I had the fortune of experiencing Tom Sachs' Space Program: Europa in all of it's toolshed fusion glory (read more here!). Just across from YBCA and the Yerba Buena Gardens it is nestled in is the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). Unfortunately I didn't get to pop in on this trip but I definitely will next time, I noticed they have several Richard Serra works (which I fell in love with since my visit to Dia: Beacon!). And finally, the de Young Museum of Fine Arts. From the architecture to the art within, the de Young is a must see destination. Read (and see) more about it in my last post.

As far as the traditional sights, I made my way to the Painted Ladies, drove down the crooked Lombard Street, and admired Crissy Field and the Golden Gate Bridge. Honestly, the painted ladies and Lombard street are tourist traps. If I had it to do over again I would spend more time hiking the trails on either end of the bridge.

And thats about it! Tell me, what have or would you do in in the Bay Area for 48 hours?

The de Young Museum

Situated in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is the de Young Museum of fine arts, known for near panoramic views of the city as stunning as its collections.

On my first day sightseeing in SF my first stop after brunch was to this museum. I was eager to see the beautiful gardens, building and of course artwork and this turned out to be the perfect activity for what was a very chilly morning. 

The majority of the museum is contained in just a few floors with wide, geometric galleries that transition one to the next with such ease that I would forget where I was coming from by the time I arrived at the next exhibition.

As a visitor to the city I was very eager to see the views from the museums twisted tower. From the glass walled observation deck I admired the hilly, yet very flat and brightness of San Francisco (a stark contrast to my tall and grey New York).

After admiring the view from above I was eager to see the sculpture garden I have been glimpsing through the gallery windows all morning. From there I could admire the work of architects Herzog and deMueron against the bright blue sky. The sharp geometry of the building and perforated facade created so many dramatic and subtle shadows as we approached midday.

A morning well spent in the company of lovely art, inspiring architecture, and beautiful foliage. What more could I have asked for!

San Francisco in Pictures

In December I was giving a short talk at a conference in San Francisco for some research I have been involved in (yay! my first oral presentation!!). Since I was already making the trip to the west coast I extended my stay to include the weekend. Here is a tiny taste of what I packed into those two days!

deYoung Museum

Silhouettes and city views

California Academy of Sciences

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

View from Lombard Street

The Painted Ladies

Chrissy Field

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge

Isn't this city so pretty?! Very different from NYC thats for sure. Look out for my San Francisco weekend guide, I will be posting it later this week!

travel on!

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

I am a total plant lady 🌿 , so my visit to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden totally made my heart swoon. The gardens opened over 100 years ago and my two favorite features are some of oldest parts: the Japanese gardens (opened in 1915) and the Conservatory (constructed in 1917). If you could use a little more greenery in your life right now please enjoy an overload of it below!

Japanese Hill & Pond

Aquatic House

Tropical pavilion

Desert pavilion

Greened out yet!?! I hope you loved it, I personally was inspired by the aquatic house to add a couple of orchid plants to the apartment and am on the lookout for some new cacti varieties!

Kings County Distillery

When I am not traveling I love to spend my weekends exploring new places around me in NYC. Recently the city had Open House New York (OHNY), and annual event where institutions and businesses open up their doors for exclusive for discounted tours that highlights design and planning around the boroughs (so cool right!?). My partner and I decided to cross over to Brooklyn to tour Kings County Distillery.

Kings County Distillery is the oldest distillery operating in the the 5 boroughs, but that isn’t saying much because it opened in 2010! It was the first post-prohibition era distillery to open up and has become a whiskey lover's favorite. I personally am not a whiskey kind of girl (I much prefer a spicy gin or full bodied glass of wine) but I had gifted my partner a small bottle of the bourbon a year or so ago based on the beautiful look of the bottle. He was immediately smitten.

The distillery is located in Brooklyn’s historic navy yard in the relatively small former paymaster’s building. Because of their artisan small batch roots this is not a problem for the whiskey and moonshine makers. What they lack in volume is more than made up for in quality. Over the course of the tour we learned that the founder, originally from Kentucky, began making moonshine with a roommate after college, and later decided to move their small illegal operation to the navy yard once demand exploded and the FBI caught wind.

We toured the basements where the mash is fermented in open air vats and then made a spirit by the stills. And then went upstairs to where the bourbon is barrel aged in a delicious smelling room. We ended our tour with a tasting of the classic moonshine, seasonal spiced moonshine, classic bourbon, and chocolate whiskey.

In all it was a lovely to see how a product I respect so much is made, and meet some of the people part of that process. It really sparked my desire to learn more about other local products!

10 Autumnal Activities in NYC

Tomorrow is the first day of November and I am in a bit of a pre-winter panic! I feel like autumn passed in a blink and I don't feel like I have done enough during my favorite season. So I compiled a list ten things to do in the New York City area that celebrate the crisp weather of the season, as I make my way down the list I thought you may be inspired by it too.

Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden

Central Park

Number one for any season is Central Park. Central Park is one of the city's most treasured public assets and accessible to everyone in the five boroughs. Sign-up for the park's seasonal guide for info on events happening in it many corners. I personally just like to wander and admire the foliage this time of year.

Dia: Beacon

I visited Dia: Beacon at the end of the summer and have to say I became smitten. While I was there the trees were still green, but on the short metro ride up from the city I saw some leaves had begun to turn. I am sure the museum is decked out in autumnal colors too by now!

Dia: Beacon Lower Level

Storm King Art Center

Still lingering on my bucket list is the Storm King Art Center in New Windsor, New York. This premier sculpture park is located not far from Dia: Beacon on the opposite side of the Hudson River surrounded by the natural beauty of upstate New York.

Grace Farms 

Grace Farms is a cultural space in New Canaan, Connecticut that I completely fell for last Autumn. Just an hour metro ride outside of the city (plus a short uber ride) and you are in one of the most serene and exquisitely designed spaces in the NY metro area. 

The Court at Grace Farms

Queens County Farm Museum

Queens County Farm Museum hosts an incredible "maize maze" each year and haunted house through Halloween weekend. This site is NYC's last remaining unaltered farm housing livestock, produce and more. It is open year round with free general admission so even after the Fall festivities end doors will still be open.

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens is a hidden gem for Manhattanites. I recently went on my inaugural visit and know it will be a frequent on the list. There is a wide range of gardens that are open year round but I highly suggest visiting the native flora garden for some serious autumn vibes.

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Sculpture

The Cloisters Museum

The Cloisters Museum located at the northern tip of Manhattan is nestled in Fort Tryon park overlooking the Hudson River. Head up there to step back into medieval times and enjoy the gardens before it gets too cold.

Open House New York  

Although Open House New York (OHNY), an urban planning and design event that opens some of the city's greatest designs and infrastructure up to the public passed earlier in October, the list of open houses is still inspiration enough for some last minute fall fun. Look out for a post later this week on what I did for OHNY (hint in the picture below!) and be sure to mark you calendars for next October if you did't take part this year!

Governors Island

This summer I had my first visit to Governors Island and I have been looking for another weekend to go back. The island is a beautiful conservation area packed with history, activities and amazing views of Manhattan.

The High Line

Last but certainly not least the High Line. NYC's elevated park may not have tons of mature trees like Central Park but you can still feel the transition of the seasons and enjoy the revolving art exhibits while you're at it! 

The High Line at sunset

Hometown Tourist: Reynolda Gardens

I recently went to visit my Grandmother and parents in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Although originally from NYC, I spent most of my childhood growing up there. I always thought of Winston-Salem as home and not a place to discover and explore, but on this trip I recognized that is not so. On this trip I took a few hours with my mother and sister in tow to wander about Reynolda Gardens, a place I know but never really appreciated. That changed on this visit...

Reynolda Gardens is part of the former estate of tabacco magnate and businessman Richard Joshua Reynolds. The grounds were developed in 1906 during a period called the Country House Era where wealthy industrialists would build lavish estates to which they could retreat to for fresh air and relaxation. Now the garden's 129 acres are maintained by Wake Forest University and used for educational and public purposes. While there we strolled though the gardens near the greenhouse (above) and the Reynolda House museum (below), and on my next trip I plan to explore the boathouse and meadows. And as you can see we also took lots of selfies and pictures of the beautiful botanicals!

Just writing this post is exciting me to get back soon and see so much more of that Winston has to offer!

A Day at Dia: Beacon

Dia: Beacon has been on the list of places to visit for many months. This weekend my boo and I finally made it, and let me just say it was inspiring and a little magical.

Robert Irwin's landscaping, vestibule and forecourt

We took Metro North from NYC up to Beacon, NY to the former Nabisco box-printing factory turned museum. Master planner and featured artist Robert Irwin intended the experience of Dia: Beacon to begin at Grand Central and continue on the train as the city dissolves away to suburbs. The museum is located just off the banks of the Hudson River and is only a 10-minute, sign-guided walk from the train station.

John Chamberlain

Michael Heizer's North, East, South, West

I quickly fell for the massive windows that perfectly daylit the brick walls, concrete floors and art (of course). Irwin's partly frosted windows allowed for only peaks of his beautifully landscaped grounds.

The babe's favorite exhibit was Richard Serra's and although I was only mildly impressed at first the more I looked and and explored his work the more I appreciated it's thoughtfulness.

Lawrence Weiner, 5 Figures of Structure

Robert Smithson, Map of Broken Glass (Atlantis)

I think exhibits I enjoyed most were Michael Heizer's permanent exhibit North, East, South, West which is very reminiscent of the World Trade Center Memorial reflection pools, and Dan Flavin's neon sculpture installations.

We spent five hours wandering, lunching, enjoying the 1pm tour  (hich is available on weekends and I highly recommend), and lounging in the grass. It was such a lovely day in a beautiful place filled with interesting ideas.

Governors Island in Pictures

Last Tuesday I spent a beautiful NYC Summer day on Governors Island with couple hundred colleagues. While there is so much I could say about this work event, or mandatory fun days in general, I would rather share a few of my most favorite pictures of the day. 

Jersey City peaking out from behind Castle Williams

The island has a long history of serving as a military base, strategically located just off the tip of Manhattan, during the colonial period and American Revolution. During the Civil War it housed prisoners of war in two primary fortifications, Castle WIlliams (above) and Fort Jay (below). Now it primarily serves as a public historical and recreation space.

The pretty flower boxes of Fort Jay

Colonels Row

Governor's House

View of Manhattan from the Hills

Nolan Park and Officer's Quarters

Missing from this post (and my visit) are the hammocks and adult slides, two very alluring attractions that ensure another visit soon!

The New York Public Library

This weekend I desperately needed some museum inspiration but was having such a hard time deciding on one to visit (I know tough life, right?)... The Met? The Whitney? MoMA? The New Museum? So many places were crossed off of the list because either I had been recently or the current exhibitions weren't quite doing it for me. I had near scrapped my museum plan when I saw an obscure photo of marble walls on instagram geotagged at the New York Public Library. Although not a museum exactly, it had all of the museum like qualities I was looking for and believe it or not despite being a native new yorker I had never been inside the flagship site at Bryant Park! 

Often I have had a coffee or lunch just outside the building at the dark green cafe tables found throughout Bryant Park, but on this visit I noticed the pristine landscaping and appreciated the beauty of the public space. 

The entrance to the library was simply magnificent. The intricate details carved into marble and grandiose columns somehow welcomed me and prepared me for an experience greater than my expectations. The museum offers a 30 minute video discussing its history and collections which I highly recommend sitting through. It was there that I learned more about the site's construction (1902-1911) which was atop the former site of the Croton water reservoir among many other things.

The library had an interesting start. It was 25th Governor of New York, Samuel J. Tilden (for which Fort Tilden in the Rockaways is named for), who left much of his fortune after his death to create "a free library and reading room in the city of New York." It was his gift and an agreement with the Astor and Lenox libraries of the time that created NYPL. I realized what a huge gesture this truly was at the time and still today to offer everyone a place to learn and develop. And for this to be such a magnificent space it truly speaks to the mission of the library.

Now that I have discovered the main library I plan to go and take advantage of the space and collections in addition to my local branch. On this trip the Rose Reading room, an even more grandiose space the size of a football field, was closed for renovation but will be opening again early next year. I am looking forward to discovering that as soon as it does!

Click here learn more about the libraries history. Also fun fact, did you know that the Bryant Park Lawn sits a top underground stacks for the library!? In the 1980s when the Park was in disrepair the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation renovated the park to include this subterrane for the library!

The River Building at Grace Farms

Last Fall a few of my city-folk friends and I went up to New Canaan, Connecticut for the unveiling of one of my partner's projects, Grace Farms. The River building, designed by renowned Tokyo-based architecture firm SANAA, is an fluid indoor-outdoor building that hugs the natural landscape that complements this church/community center created for the public. My friends and I fell for the tranquility and beauty of the site and each of the five unique spaces.

The Court

Our first stop was the court, a massive gym that is partially below grade.

The Commons

The Commons is a cafeteria and social space with cafe where we had a simple and tasty lunch.

The Library

The Library was a cozy area with a small but well curated selection of literature that is both available for reading there or for purchase.

The Pavilion

The Pavilion was probably my favorite space. Nestled between the Court and the Commons it is a welcome center where we learned about the mission of Grace Farms and participated in a tea ceremony.

The Sanctuary

Finally the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is located at the top of the hill over looking most of the grounds. It is here where Sunday services and other larger events are held.

I am looking forward to returning this Spring to see how this beautiful place looks in another season and escape the hustle of the city for some hours.

The of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

I love the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I think one of the greatest assets of living in a big city like New York is the access to institutions like these, so I try to visit the Met specifically at least 2 times a year. Last week was one of those visits and I decided to document my favorite places in this massive museum.

THE TEMPLE OF DENDUR

I think most people are completely in love with this Egyptian temple and the wall of windows that light it. I personally love to sit near the reflecting pool and at this time of year I could see the colorful fall foliage of Central Park.

THE AMERICAN WING

I love the American Wing on the first floor and Mezzanine. I think I have a thing for great windows and this atrium definitely has that.

THE EUROPEAN SCULPTURE HALL

My favorite place to go and people watch, after sculpture watching of course.  It's guaranteed you're going to spot someone with their sketchbook, the trick is to see what they are sketching.

QUIET WATER FEATURES

I love the Patti Cadby Birch court and appreciated the true art, craftsmanship and detail even more after seeing this video of the making of the Moroccan space.

A newer favorite is Water Stone by Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi. If you are lucky and you visit on a quiet day you can listen to the water and be transported to the wilderness.

ASTOR COURT

Possibly one of the most shocking galleries is that of Astor Court. It truly transports me to ancient China. I also love the skylight that makes this tucked away space feel like it is outside.

The Met is truly magical place packed with beautiful art and history. These are just a few of my favorite places and I realize after writing this that these favorite places don't correspond to my favorite styles of art or periods of history. Just goes to show how a museum can really help you broaden your horizons.