CALIFORNIA: Central Coast

Don't worry, this massive crowd of elephant seals are perfectly ok.  In fact, they are enjoying a natural spa day by lying in the sun and experience a badly named "catastrophic molt".  They are shedding their fur for the season which is expected for this time of year.

They are a common sight along the beautiful ride up Route 1 along the Central Coast highway.  If you want to learn more about them or help with their preservation, you can check out the Friends of the Elephant Seal organization.

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CALIFORNIA: Ojai

CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles Star Gazing

Washington DC: Flowers in Wonderland

 
I grew up loving the productions of the National Ballet of Canada.  I heard amazing things about their Alice in Wonderland production late last year and was very sad to have missed the opportunity to see them in Toronto.  Lucky me, my wonderful Hubby gave me tickets to their performance at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington as part of a romantic weekend...

The staging and design were spectacular.  The costumes were gorgeous (I already wrote about them in this post).  It was also a treat to see my Rex Harrington, (also known as Sexy Rexy) a dancer that I used to crush on 25 years ago in an artist-in-residence role.

More beauty was to be had the next day when we visited the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. You can find all sorts of bones and biological specimens (many made cameos in the movie "Night at the Museum Smithsonian").   The exhibit I liked the most was the orchids of Latin America...

I read the Orchid Thief several years ago and was fascinated by intense culture of orchid-lovers.  I was also intrigued by the diverse variety of scent, look, size that this flower had.  Here are a few of the pretty ones:

Washington DC: Foodies and First Ladies

In Washington D.C. for less than 36 hours for a romantic getaway with my Hubby... The first thing we did when we hopped off the train at Dupont Circle was to treat ourselves to a latte and cupcake at Hello Cupcake.  They had a tasty Peanut Butter Blossom and Samoan cupcake special.  The boutique itself is girly and cute, which Hubby said looked like what he pictures as the inside of my head... (?) 

To grab a quick dinner before the theater, we strolled over to Hank's Oyster Bar.  Great selection of oysters from both coasts and a killer lobster Roll.  The server was friendly and helpful.  Casual and Cozy.  

If you're in DC on a Sunday morning, be sure to check out the farmer's market in Dupont Circle.  One stand in particular, the baked goods of Bonaparte Breads had a long line gathered before the opening bell even rung.  Our favorite was the apple turnover, though we never even got to try all of their flaky tarts an savories...  Also sampled some artisanal cheeses from  Keswick that we took home.  MAP

For some culture and style, I took myself over to the National Museum of American History.  They had their exhibit of the First Ladies.  While the exhibition had artifacts ranging to their dinnerware to personal effects, the highlight was clearly their gowns.  Not all of them were the inaugural gowns, but they represented the style each of them possessed.  Michelle Obama's famous white Jason Wu gown were on display.  Gowns from Oleg Cassini for Jackie O, Laura Bush, flapper style from Grace Coolidge, etc.  Judith Leiber clutch handbags were clearly the favorite of contemporary First Ladies.  

TORONTO: Frida and Diego

I love my home city of Toronto.  In the last few hours of my trip here before heading back to NYC, my Dad arranged for a trip to my old stomping grounds of the Art Gallery of Ontario.  There was a fantastic exhibition of Frida & Diego: Passion, Politics and Painting in Toronto.  The tagline was "He painted for the people. She painted to survive."  It was a multi-media exploration of their dramatic relationship and how their personal lives or politics affected their art.  

I was impressed at how thorough the exhibition was.  In addition to their artwork, there were films and photographs of others to document the lives of this couple, including their affairs.  You could listen to music that they listened to in their home.  I enjoyed how the gallery engaged young children by offering stations to create artistic portraits inspired by Frida and Diego, as well as make tissue flowers to offer up to them on their Dia de los Muertos altar.  The gallery brought in related exhibits of Catrinas from Mexico that honored them.

I had a fantastic lunch at gallery's restaurant, Frank.  They offered a prix-fixe themed menu of contemporary Mexican dishes in honor of the exhibit.  My review on Yelp here.  
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Picton: Winter Wonderland

I spent Christmas day with my family at my sister's in-laws.  They have a beautiful home on a lake in the picturesque town of Picton, Ontario.  Unfortunately, we arrived in the evening, so I couldn't get a photo of their house for you, but I did snap a lovely photo of my Dad next to a far with a curving fence in the snow...

Picton is a small town, known in its early development for strategic military history.  Now a popular resort area and agricultural industry.  We stayed at the lovely Inn at Huff Estates that was also a winery and art gallery (in warmer weather).

I loved Huff Estates little suites... They had a 2-sided faux-fireplace that was easily operated.  A huge DVD selection to borrow from for guests (and a basket of microwave popcorn for purchase).  They have an extensive breakfast buffet in the mornings.  The huge jacuzzi tub and flat screen tv was something I headed to  as soon as Christmas dinner was over... So healthy right?

Here is a photo of my sister's Mother-in-law's pretty Christmas centerpiece. She also had traditional English crackers at each setting, which I love and wish more people would bring back for all dining events...