While visiting friends in Sag Harbor, we took a drive to visit Madoo Garden. I’d never heard of it, but it’s a jewel. Though not very large in total acreage, it is laid out so ingeniously and whimsically that it feels much larger. Each small “room” has a unique character created by the layout, plants, and strategically placed, colorful objects, … Read More
Sag Harbor – Part One – The Ark
I just spent a few days in Sag Harbor (Long Island, NY) visiting my friends Pat and Sandra. Pookah came too and got to spend time with a new canine friend, Brody. On Friday morning we headed over to The Church, an art gallery with a fascinating history. In 1835 it began as a Methodist church. Since that time, it … Read More
Boulder, Colorado
By now you may have heard about the terrorist attack on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. Three of us were only a few blocks away when the attack occurred. The Pro-Israel protesters had peacefully walked past us while we were meandering. A few minutes later there were sirens, flashing lights, and a lot of commotion. Because firetrucks were on … Read More
Escape to Hyde Park, NY
Though this mini trip was planned a long time ago, the timing was perfect. I’m spending a few days with two friends who I’ve known since childhood. We’re doing everything possible to avoid thinking about the election. Dutchess County, NY is about a two-hour drive from NYC, mostly on scenic highways. The area is filled with historic sites, including FDR’s … Read More
Albuquerque, New Mexico
I’ve flown from the pancake flat land and water of Louisiana to the high mountainous desert of New Mexico. I’m here, staying with my friends Jeannie and Jack, for the balloon festival. Jeannie and Jack recently bought a new home with breathtaking views and frequent visits by wild horses, bears, and other wildlife. I’m staying in their casita, which in … Read More
Lafitte, Louisiana
I’ve known about the pirate Jean Lafitte for many years and have recently been running into him along the gulf coast, first in Galveston Texas and now in Louisiana. Lafitte’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the lore of the area, where he remains a legendary figure of adventure, rebellion, and piracy. But I never knew there was a town named … Read More
Grand Isle, Louisiana
I left Breaux Bridge early yesterday morning for the 3-1/2-hour drive to Grand Isle, Louisiana. The terrain through the first part of the journey was familiar to me. Miles upon miles of sugar cane, which at this time of year is beginning to be harvested. Even early morning trucks filled with cane were on the road, heading to the sugar … Read More
Washington DC – Day 3
After my late night at the Kennedy Center, and without needing to walk Pookah, I slept in this morning. For me, that means until 7:30. By 11am I was at the National Mall, heading into the Hirshhorn Museum. It was the exhibit of the work by Simone Leigh that attracted me. I’d read that she had represented the US at … Read More
Washington DC – Day 4
Yesterday I explored a neighborhood I’d never been to before—NOMA. NOMA, north of Massachusetts Avenue, is actually about a mile north of Mass Ave. There’s a good reason I’d never visited there before, until about eight years ago it was an old industrial area filled with warehouses and parking lots. Then gentrification and development began, and the neighborhood is rapidly … Read More
Washington DC – Day 5
Yesterday was my final day in DC before returning home. One of the great things about the Smithsonian museums is that they are open seven days a week, year-round, except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. My first stop was at the National Museum of the American Indian. This too is new since the last time I visited the museums … Read More