The National Mall, Washington DC

America! America!

The National Mall on Boxing Day was briskly cold but stunning - with the State Capital at our backs, we stood beneath the Washington Memorial, gazed across at the White House as the sun set and marvelled at the galleries - from the outside!

We rode on an old-school carousel and warmed our hands on super-sweet hot chocolate.

The best tourist destination so far and we're kind of local, if you ignore the appalling traffic and the endless Route 95.

Hirschorn Sculpture Garden, Washington

Much smaller than it's original design and fantastic for it - this almost domestic garden, albeit one with strong concrete edges, ramps and levels, sits in the National Mall. It was designed in the early 1970s by Gordon Bunshaft - who is responsible for the cylindrical Hirshorn itself. 


It has everything from an unfussy but considered setting to great art from Rodin to Miro and on through to the magical Susan Philipsz' 'Sunset Song', last heard under a bridge in Muenster with 'The Lost Reflection' (2007). A reflective and curvy Dan Graham sits at its centre, not unlike it's big brother - the Waterloo Sunset pavilion at the Hayward Gallery (2002-3). 


Finally, if you get a quick (and illegal) turn on a fellow kid-tourist's scooter, it is the ultimate playground, until the guards get you!

Tacky Light Tour, West End, Richmond

A drive-through front garden of festive lights welcoming all with 'Happy Birthday Jesus' and 'Christmas Rocks' signage and a chuffing train, nodding pink deer and plenty more delights... then onto a lakeside home whose lights reflected in the still water, with the odd duck bedazzled below.

We thought these couldn't be topped but then we reached Ashbury Court and had to step out of the car to savour the full-on insanity that is No. 9604 and 9606. A Santa's toy workshop in the florida room aka conservatory, multiple nativities, aglow pink pigs and a giant tree gleaming with fairy lights up in to the night sky and hordes of folk strolling amongst the flower beds admiring the penguin who popped out of the post box, amongst the cast-off festive lights donated to the family, who for 37 years have embraced this electric love-in to festive cheer.

Have yet to see the location that won the, 'most likely to be seen from space award'!

Tacky Light Tour

Richmond Nativity Pageant, Dogwood Dell

Down in the woods we found thousands of folk gazing upwards... towards the Dogwood Dell war memorial. On which 200 local church goers of every age, re-enacted the nativity for an 80th year. A gentle spectacle with the most fantastic heavenly host who popped up in the 'Gloria' strumming golden harps - camp and glorious, however some distress for M as the baby Jesus lay below the parapet and out of sight. Finally carols in the still, open air and sung with real panache.

Richmond Nativity Pageant

Japanese Garden, Maymont Park

A still and sunny winter's day - the magnolia was out, the birds were calling, plus a little boy tortoise was on the loose. The girls fed the rather over-sized goldfish from a pagoda, eventually resorting to organic popcorn. We escaped their insatiable appetites and found a summer house above the dry waterfall and finished off the popcorn ourselves, before a dose of tree climbing. M spotted a fairy arch, but even J's head couldn't fit through.

Monticello, Charlottesville

The closest we've got to the National Trust out here in the hills of Charlottesville. Thomas Jefferson's home was chilly but bright in the winter sunshine, with idyllic views towards the Appalachians and our piedmont region, as well as over an amazing vegetable garden. We wandered down past his grave and savoured the new, wood-clad visitor centre with its cafe and children's discovery centre - classy content and aesthetics - we will return in the Spring.

Monticello

Build-a-Bear, Short Pump Town Center

... when your mum's not in charge and you've got your favourite neighbour by your side you can sometimes get to make your dreams come true. So on Tuesday 13th December Ameigh, the Smurf and Rosie the pink bear were born. They were handpicked, stuffed with fluff and given their own, specially selected giggles and finally a heart, before being fluffed under a dry shower. Birth certificates now on display.

Build-a-Bear

M's official 6th Birthday - All Fired Up, Carytown

                                                                                                       So the official 6th Birthday has arrived and it was to All Fired Up we headed for a bit of wet clay creation with a fabulous assortment of new friends - the country neighbours, the town neighbours, the park pick-up, the potential school buddies and the most recent arrivals from the UK. It was fantastic moment of feeling at-home and the monkeys and other animals that emerged were Picasso-esque joys. 

And the lake has alligators, Colablablab, Sponge HQ, Anderson Gallery

The Sponge HQ semester is over and the cross-over biology/art students have emerged... We got to savour hearty art soup, add our mood colours to the collective and rearrange the library installation (not intentionally part of the participative offer).

Jars of deep colour dyes etched with their plant source and botanical drawings morphed into sexual organs added a dark twist to proceedings, though the bees in their raised shelter still held their place at the heart of it all.

Sadly the promised cocktails project had not been authorised in time.

VCU Arts
Hope Ginsberg

Lincoln - The Movie, Capitol Area, Downtown Richmond

Just before Spielberg's epic about the last four months of Abe Lincoln's life finally moves on, we went on location on Capitol Hill in downtown Richmond. Amidst tent encampments, fake snow and a polystyrene White House portico we roamed... James Spader, Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field were not in residence, as a big night shoot was scheduled, but we got to chat to production staff and reorganise wood piles and marvel at ammunition boxes. Released in November 2012, once we have a new president on this side of the pond (or perhaps the same one), this will be essential viewing for all!


Designer's Lincoln blog entry

On the road... Virginia DMV

One of us made it straight through the test, including the additional questions on The Cure and other UK 8Os pop trivia. The other one of us gets to multiple choice road signs again at dawn. In the mean time we spotted some seasonal car decor that stopped us in our tracks, though not without paying due attention to the rules of the road, of course.

Update: Successful at dawn.

Winter Wiggles, Maymont Nature Centre

We actually, really did touch a snake... cool and smooth and keen on armpit warmth. Not our ours though!

Unimpressed J quickly moved on to her craft-making snake activity before recruiting a fellow toddler to redistribute the entire (and not insubstantial) soft animal collection. Flying squirrels on menu for next time.

First Fridays, Downtown Richmond

Either side of a 6 lane city street are private galleries and musicians and a festive food fair and fantastic design store, all overseen by two cops in the middle of the road guiding art-goers with necessary care between venues.

The highlight was the 1708 not-for-profit space with puff-blown (ours) and motion-sensored pieces of marine materials formed into such satisfying shapes. A relief after J's sweaty-hand interaction with some shiny photographs -  we exited at speed. An earthy, mythical installation at the ADA gallery almost had potential, particularly its watercolour animal bunting.

Then we roamed free in the outdoor food market for sweet pizza (Nutella, strawberries and cream) and South African red wine grown locally in Gum Springs by Dion and family. In the darkness the lights twinkled, the Mormons handed out hot chocolate and a family gave us home-baked nougat - this certainly wasn't your regular art trawl.

1708 Gallery
First Fridays
Grayhaven Winery
Quirk Gallery
ADA Gallery
Pizza Tonight