NEW PHOTOS: DC This Weekend (updated 2/19/08)- Page 2

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:20am

Hopefully, cubanpab, you will still be here in early April to photograph the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom. As Mamie can confirm, it's an experience like no other.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 10:08am

Absolutely. I've gone down in the pouring rain just to see them at their peak. (Although I definitely recommend a sunny day!)

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 11:06am

Mamie, I've been here for almost 8 years and haven't seen all the sights. I was good when I first moved here, but have been really complacent as of yet.

One of my favorite exhibits was the piano one at one of the Smithsonian Buildings. I also enjoyed the Jackie Kennedy exhibit at the Corcoran a few years ago. I work right across the street from the National Portrait Gallery, so I've been exploring that during my lunch breaks.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 11:37am

That's where I worked for the opening and until I had to quit. I love that place! (The Portrait Gallery).

Are you talking about the piano exhibit down in the Ripley Center? Where they had all the special pianos on display? That was a HUGE hit. Folks loved that rhinestone covered Liberace piano.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 11:54am

I can't remember where the piano exhibit was, but it was temporary. I don't remember seeing Liberace's piano there. But it was just very simple and sweet. It was actually the first exhibit I saw when I moved here.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 12:51pm

I'll bet it was that one. The Ripley just has the one room. You go down a hall to enter it and they had a piano's sound board with strings mounted on the wall. The sign encouraged everyone to strum the strings - like a harp. It was wonderful watching the people go past it. The adults, used to seeing 'do not touch' signs, would very carefully touch one or two strings and then look around to see if anyone saw them. The children would go at it with both hands running back and forth across the strings. I believe that the Liberace piano came in late and left early. The whole display was so popular that they held it past the original closing date but that particular piano had to go back to the Liberace museum.

[cubanpab]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:13pm

i love cherry blossom time!! we go every year. here are a few photos i took last year:







i took those last year before i was able to get the much nicer gear i have now, so this year i'm hoping my photos will be much better! i really hate to leave this place... maybe we'll come back in the future and just stay

[cubanpab]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:15pm

mamie u worked at the portrait gallery? i think thats one of the only museums i have not been to yet...

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:17pm

cubanpab, that museum was closed for the longest time because of renovations. I like it a lot.

[cubanpab]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:20pm

my name is pablo by the way... lol... seems crazy that we all call each other by our usernames.

hmm... closed? i have to look it up online. the only art musuem i recall ever going to was the one that had van gogh's self portrait. which museum was that? i cant remember

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:26pm

Half of that building contains the American Art Museum and the other half is the Portrait Gallery. I was a Smithsonian 'floater' - meaning I was able to work at any of their museums. When the building reopened they had a hard time getting folks to work there so I ended up working there as often as anyplace else. I love it because it isn't too big and it contains such a wide variety of art. It's my favorite gallery in DC.

[cubanpab]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:30pm

if its the same building i remember visiting then i think i've been already... half the building was very modern and then there was a big tunnel that connected you to the other half and it had older work?

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:37pm

No - that's the National Gallery of Art. It's located right on the mall - just west of the Capital. The new, modern building contains primarily modern art while the original building contains more traditional works by the old masters.

The Donald W. Reynolds Center (the actual name of the Smithsonian's building) is located at 8th and F Sts, right by the Gallery (duh?) Place Metro stop. The American Art Museum contains all types of works by American artists while the Portrait Gallery contains portraits of Americans OR (BIG OR here) anyone who's had an impact on American history. You'd be surprised who shows up here!

Updated On: 2/12/08 at 01:37 PM

[cubanpab]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:40pm

mamie... oh yeeeeaahhhh i totally know which one you're talking about now. i have never been there myself but its on my list of places to photograph. thats the one that has a really big wide room with glass ceiling that looks beautiful at night. i cant wait to go snap some pictures there.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:42pm

Right. All of that was part of the big redesign the building went through. That's what Dottie was talking about. The building was closed for something like 6 years while it was going on.

[cubanpab]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:45pm

awesome! cant wait to go back...

my favorite museum of all the smithsonians is the "Museum of American History". and its been closed for so long now that i wont get to photograph it before we move. depressing.

they have a temporary exhibit at the air and space museum but it truly sucks. i had no idea the renovations to these places could take so long.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:58pm

They're almost gutting the American History museum and redoing it so the layout makes some sense. There's no sense to it now and it's very hard to find your way around in there. That building was originally the Museum of Science and Technology. Gradually the thrust of the items in the collection moved over to American History and finally they formalized it by changing the name. Unfortunately by that time the things that were in there were pretty much just assigned to whatever space was empty at the time the pieces moved in. The new layout will follow more of a chronological path (if I remember it correctly) with special collections set aside - like the First Ladies Gowns. Both these and the original Star Spangled Banner will have special permanent displays that will help preserve the fabrics while allowing the people to see them. I know it's a terrible disappointment not to be able to go in there and see it but any changes they make will have to be an improvement over what was there. (I've always loved that museum but I absolutely HATED to work there. It was almost impossible trying to explain to people how to find their way to their favorite exhibits!)

[cubanpab]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 3:40pm

lol... yeah... i guess once it opens it will be a good excuse to come back for a visit!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 3:58pm

Did I miss something? Pablo, you're moving? Where? When?

Mamie, I agree, the layout of that building never made sense.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 4:25pm

The National Portrait Gallery is a block away from the Gallery Place station. I was just there yesterday; I'd actually never been before. I spent most of the time looking at the presidents' portraits and the current Civil War exhibit. And of course, Stephen Colbert's portrait, currently hanging outside the second floor bathroom.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 4:44pm

Orangeskittles, had I known you were there you could have waived as you walked by my building.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 5:04pm

Next time; I have to go back and check out the rest of the museum. Preferably in warmer weather.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 8:08pm

You definitely need to go back - if for no other reason than to see The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly!

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 8:18pm

Updated On: 1/27/09 at 08:18 PM

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 8:26pm

It really is a very beautiful place.