Tourist Tings

Tim nerded out with me at two very important landmarks - the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress.

Tim thought the architecture was pretty impressive.

This is a photo inside the dome (which is actually made of cast iron, and not stone, otherwise it would be too heavy). The Apotheosis of Washington is the fresco in the middle. It is the size of a basketball court!

Here's Tim looking at another striking ceiling. This room had several statutes on display. The statutes were donated by individual states.

There's a tunnel that connects the Capitol to the the Library of Congress. Tim liked the beaux-arts decor at the library. The ceiling was a feast for the eyes!

Tim got up close and personal with the Gutenberg Bible. He said he could read some of the Latin.

The main reading room was stunning. Tim said that if he had to study, he wouldn't mind doing it in this room.

A few minutes away from the library is the Supreme Court. There were lots of press on the steps so I think Tim may be in the background in a newscast or two.

If you're looking for recommendations in DC, Tim's your bear!

Tim the Art Enthusiast

Our second day in DC was rainy as all get out. We had plans to explore the city via bicycle, but opted for the Botanical Gardens and National Art Gallery instead.

There are several fountains in the National Art Gallery. This one is the Mercury Fountain in the Rotunda.

This was one of Tim's favourite paintings, by Van Gogh.

Tim liked Degas' sculptures, including these horses (mostly because they were Tim's size).

The gallery's modern and contemporary art are housed in a separate building.

This painting by Jackson Pollock is called Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist).

And this one is by Piet Mondrian, a Dutch artist.

Kandinsky and Klimt. Tim liked the colours.

Art that goes pop!

There's a lovely exhibit until July 8th on portraits by Cezanne. Like the other museums on our trip to date, this one was fantastic, and free (even though not a Smithsonian)!

Face Time

After Tim's power nap, we walked up the street to the National Portrait Gallery. Tim met a friendly dinosaur named Conrad. Conrad documents his travels via photos, like us!

Can you guess who is the man above? He has a popular musical named after him...

Tim with the first president, George Washington...

...and with Barack Obama!

Oh, and Michelle too!

The museum is massive! We spent a solid three hours there. And like other Smithsonians in the city, the museum is free - woohoo!

Tim in DC

Earlier this month, Tim repped his friends on a trip to Washington, DC. Tim had his own seat on the plane, and spent the whole flight looking out the window.

Tim also had his own queen-sized bed at the Kimpton Palomar. We don't have cable at home, so watching TV in the hotel room was a real treat.

Tim visited several museums. The first one was the Renwick Gallery. It featured some cool art from Burning Man. One room was dedicated to a wooden temple where people could leave inscriptions on small wooden plaques. A temple is built at the festival each year.

To the left of Tim are the ten principles of Burning Man: radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy. The bus in the background has been converted into a mini movie theatre.

On our way to lunch, we made a quick pit stop at the White House for a photo op. No Trump in sight...

We had a great pulled pork sandwich at Hill Country. Tim had a few bites, and then took a power nap.

The Labbit Eats in DC

We had a 36-hour stopover in DC so we continued our foodie adventure while sightseeing in between. On our first night, we checked out the U Street Corridor. We grabbed pints and dinner at Busboys and Poets. It reminded me of my university days!

The next morning, we headed to Georgetown, and had cupcakes and lattes at Baked and Wired. I thought my cupcake order would be frowned upon at 10 AM, but apparently, cupcakes for breakfast in Georgetown is normal. Whew!

It was chilly out so we wanted a hearty lunch. We trekked to Founding Farmers by the IMF. The food hit the spot!

And despite it being chilly, I wanted frozen yogurt (I always want frozen yogurt). After a short rest back at our hotel in Dupont Circle, we went to Mr. Yogato.

I met up with a friend for dinner at Jaleo. We haven't seen each other in two years but it didn't seem to matter. We had a great time catching up and enjoying good Spanish tapas.

It's back to reality with 12 hour (plus) work days in Toronto. I can't wait 'til my current project wraps up!