Art and Culture and Food

I had opted to stay in Williamstown because I wanted us to see Ground/work 2025, a site-specific set of 6 large sculptures, each made by a different artist using a craft from her or his culture. Woodworking, fabric dying, sculpture, basket weaving, mosaic tile, and ceramics. Marvelous, but I hadn’t considered that not all places are flat like Florida. As we trudged uphill, Grant struggled to catch his breath. However, with a rest at a picnic table, he was able to get to the top of the exhibit layout. Downhill is our friend.

On to the New Haven, CT airport to turn in the truck and be picked up by Deb and Rob. Note on the truck which we should have inspected better before driving away: there were no dents on the outside, Grant had checked. However, once I began driving, I realized my boot heel stuck to the flood when I wanted to move from gas to brakes. As soon as I found a pull off, we stopped. No floor mat, and perhaps glue or sticky tape where one had been. I got a handful of straw at the parking lot edge and made a little barrier between my shoe and the floor. Ugly but safe. I found the crackers and chips under the front seat and the mud on the rear seatbelts later. 57k miles. I suggested to the attendant that we be given some money back for such a wreck. We shall see.

What a charming New England town Bandford is. We walked around in the fall weather, admiring cute houses, waterfronts, and downtown stores. Much of the Halloween decorations were gone, but pumpkins and fall colors remained many places. Dinner at home, breakfast the next morning at G Cafe (almond croissant for me, powdered sugar a bad idea when one wears all black). A visit to the Peabody and a late lunch at Modern Apizza in New Haven, half veggie bomb, half meat bomb plus a Caesar salad.

With all that, we weren’t really hungry when we arrived for our dinner reservations. I opted for a cup of New England clam chowder, Grant the bowl size, and fabulous home made potato chips. At the Kate Theater, we heard the Pasquale Grasso trio play jazz and bebop. All I could think of was carpal tunnel syndrome as I watched their fingers fly.

Wednesday morning, we took the Acela to DC. I bid $135 each for the upgrade to first class, not thinking we wouldn’t be seated together. Ah well, good lunch of beef short ribs (the ladies I was sitting with gave me their pumpkin cheesecake desserts) and wine, of course.

Washington with Jamey and April began with dinner (a falafel wrap) at the Elephant and Castle, a bar where we didn’t hear a word said, then to the  Warner Theater to hear a live Pod Save America. When Barak Obama came out to open the program, the audience went crazy. Democrats had just had a good election the night before, so the audience was celebrating.

Drinks at Barca on the Potomac, dinner at Piece Out (Detroit style pizza), Manny and Tony’s in Del Ray, wine tasting at Sunset Hills Winery (rosé and prosecco plus cheddar and crusty bread), dinner with Nick at Mussel Bar and Grille (flatbread with mushrooms and anchovies), pumpkin scone at St, Elmo’s, more drinks and wine at home and the leftovers from all our meals. I’m surprised the damage was only 4# when I weighed myself at home.

We did do a few easy walks including back to the Torpedo Art Center where Grant bought me 3D printed acrylic painted earrings for my birthday. The artist said the tedious work was not relaxing.

Sunday we met Paula for lunch at La Casa (Greek salad with chicken). Dave had started chemo last week and was too fatigued to join us. Probably good because Grant has a runny nose, and we would be devastated if he passed it along. We are crossing our fingers Dave’s saga including a bite from a brown recluse spider will start on an upward trend.

With the government shutdown (no National Gallery or Smithsonian for us) and our dear leader’s call for the airlines to cut back on flights, I was a tad worried about getting home. However, all went well including having JetBlue realize I had in fact paid for 2 seat upgrades. This morning in Windermere, it is 37°, colder than we had any day on our trip. Gracie even slept under the covers, glad to see us back.