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Washington, DC
Daddy wrestles alligators, mama works on carburetors, her brother is a fine mediator for the President
We’re actually going somewhere now. This is the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, one of the most popular Smithsonian Museums and, to be honest, probably one of my least favorites. Sure, the collection is fun but it’s always so damn crowded and honestly that space ice cream is kind of awful. Still, it does photograph well, which may be one of the reasons it’s always so damn crowded to begin with.
Washington DC in 2004 looks to be a lot more interesting than Washington DC is 2003. First at the Capitol end of the National Mall, the Museum of the American Indian is under construction, and it looks pretty promising. Not sure what it’s going to be like inside or what exhibits there will be to see, but on the outside at least it’s looking pretty interesting.
Meanwhile at the other end of the mall, just west of the Washington Monument, is the far less promising World War II Memorial. I’m not a fan of this so far- it seems unnecessary and as if it’s going to screw up what I like about that part of the Mall, but I’ll reserve final judgement until ita actually opens sometime next year.
One of the reasons to visit Washington DC this year is to stop by the Corcoran and see the Seward Johnson exhibit which, the Washington Post art reviewer called the “worst museum exhibition I’ve ever seen.” I’m with him on this, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to share a picture anyway. Seward Johnson (he’s a kid or grandkid of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical and shampoo robber barons) has one gimmick, and that is taking famous and beloved artworks and then turning them into creepy dioramas, just like this one. Enjoy!
Let’s go from the worst art exhibit ever to the best aquarium ever (sorry, Monterey Bay). This is the National Aquarium in Baltimore, which is always better than you remember.
Just outside the splash zone, my niece looks in wonder as a marine biologist shows off some marine biology.
