5

Although somewhat new to the Washington D.C. area I have gathered a few diamonds, equally through investigation and recommendation, and thought I would share. These are 5 of my favorite places so far (in no particular order);

1. The Museum of the American India food court Mitsitam Cafe

From the Museum website…

“Mitsitam” means “Let’s eat!” in the Native language of the Delaware and Piscataway peoples. The museum’s Mitsitam Native Foods Café enhances the museum experience by providing visitors the opportunity to enjoy the indigenous cuisines of the Americas and to explore the history of Native foods. The café features Native foods found throughout the Western Hemisphere, including the Northern Woodlands, South America, the Northwest Coast, Meso America, and the Great Plains. Each food station depicts regional lifeways related to cooking techniques, ingredients, and flavors found in both traditional and contemporary dishes. While seated in the café, visitors can look out a wall of windows to view the Native habitat and water features of the museum’s landscaping.

2. The Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery

The Norman Foster designed courtyard opened on November 18, 2007. The architecture and exposure is intensely elegant and the sheets of water on the stone floor is like a magnet. Photos don’t do this place justice… go see it! (the museum is quite good as well)

3. Venice

It’s not quite Venezia, but its as close as I’ve seen. I only lived in Venice for a few months, but it’s not an easy place to forget. The landscape is so wonderfully layered in section from the tree trunk foundations to the pink and blue sky. Canaletto does the latter with unmatched skill at the National Gallery.

4. Dumbarton Oaks

If you are going to pay to see a garden, it may as well be as beautiful as this one. Although relatively small, the garden is incredibly rich. You can download a copy of Beatrice Farrand’s plant notebook for the garden here, and note the changes since it was built. When I become a kabillionaire I plan to have a personal orangery similar to the one at Dumbarton.

5. The capitol columns at the National Arboretum

The columns were moved here in 1990 after being stored since 1958 following the addition to the East portico of the Capitol. The site was chosen by Russel Page. It’s a Room With a View you don’t often get.