Make a Plan to See Smithsonian Museums in D.C.

If you’re traveling to Washington D.C. for the first time and your list of things to do includes “see the Smithsonian,” you might be in for a surprise.

The Smithsonian Institution is not a single sight you can check off in an afternoon. It’s a collection of 19 different museums of varying sizes, research centers, gardens, galleries, and a zoo. There’s just way too much stuff to see it all in one trip, let alone a day.

In fact, a couple of the museums aren’t even in D.C., they’re in New York. A few more are scattered throughout the D.C. metro area. However, most of them (13 or so) are clustered right around the National Mall.

I’m calling them the “Mall Smithsonians” for short.

In the coming weeks, Phillip will be sharing what it was like inside the Mall Smithsonians he was able to visit during our short D.C. trip – specifically, the American History Museum, Air and Space Museum, and café of the Native American Museum.

But, first, I wanted to give you some practical information about how to tackle the Mall Smithsonians.

Depending on how much time you have, you’ll probably want to pick 1-3 museums and prioritize the parts of each you want to see most. Choosing what you’re interested in is the easy part, though. Figuring out how to get there, when you can go, and where you can eat or find wifi or store your stuff gets a bit more confusing.

So here are some tips to help you make the most of these Mall museums.

6 Things to Know about the Mall Smithsonians

1. Admission is free.

Donations are, of course, accepted and appreciated.

Since you’re not tied to paying a daily entrance fee, you can be more flexible in how you experience the museums.

You don’t have to spend the whole day in one museum…

If you’re short on time, stop in for an hour or two. Or just long enough to see whatever you were dying to see before leaving town.
If you’re tied up during the day (with business, a conference, or other obligations), check the hours. You may be able to do an evening visit.
Go museum hopping, seeing just the exhibits you’re most interested in at each.

You don’t have to see it all in one day…

Take your time checking out a museum you’re particularly interested in. Come back the next day if there’s more you want to see.
Instead of one long day, break a visit up into two weekday afternoons or weekend mornings, when crowds are typically lighter.
Leave when your (or your kid/s, travel companion/s, etc.) energy begins to wane, knowing you can pick up where you left off after a nap, a change in activity, or another day.

There are a few activities that do require free or paid tickets (like the IMAX theaters), but these are the exception rather than the rule.

2. They’re open daily.

Mall Smithsonians are typically open every day, unless it’s Christmas (December 25) or if they’re closed for renovation.

Most have opening hours from 10am to 5:30pm (exceptions below).
In addition, some have extended hours on certain days or close early for special events. Double check the Smithsonian Special Hours Calendar to see what’s up before you go.

3. Large bags are not recommended.

Some museums (noted below) have storage lockers available for smallish items (like maybe under-your-airplane-seat sized bags).
For larger luggage, ask if you can leave it where you are/were staying (most hotels and Airbnbs will allow guests to store luggage before check in or after check out).
Otherwise, your best bet is the Tiburon Lockers Baggage Check Counter at Union Station, Gate A ($6/hour). (From there, you can take the DC Circulator to the Mall.)

4. You’ll need to go through security as you enter.

Bags will be checked either by hand or X-ray machine, even if you’re planning to store them in a locker.
During peak times, this can cause lines, especially at the Air and Space Museum. So, even though you don’t have to pay admission, you may have to wait to get in.

5. Many of the museums have a café or food court.

You can also bring your own food for a picnic on the Mall’s lawn or in the Portrait Gallery’s courtyard.
As long as everything is sealed up well, you can carry food and water with you in your bag or store it in a locker.
Map of food vendors on the National Mall – with menus. Or check the list below.

6. Parking: don’t count on it.

None of the Mall Smithsonians have their own designated parking.
The Smithsonian Parking Map (PDF) lists other local lots.
Consider alternative transportation, like the DC Circulator (which stops near all the Mall-area Smithsonians) or the Metrorail (which has a stop – literally called “Smithsonian” – that exits onto the Mall itself in the middle of a bunch of museums.)

With this in mind, driving (and attempting to park) in the area may be more trouble than it’s worth – unless you need a place to stash your oversized luggage (see #3).

Museum by Museum Guide

Here are the Smithsonian museums located around the National Mall listed geographically, roughly west to east – from the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol Building (Smithsonian National Mall Map PDF).

I’ve gathered information about each to help you with planning:

Nearest Metrorail stop/s and where to exit*
Nearest Capital Bikeshare rental station/s and station number/s*
Hours (if different than 10am to 5:30pm)
Important things to note (closed to the public, requires a timed ticket, etc.)
If there are cafés (or food courts, carts, kiosks, etc.), wifi, storage lockers, and/or bike racks on site.
Other features (garden, planetarium, etc.)

*More info in our post on transportation tips for the National Mall!

On the Mall –

National Museum of African American History and Culture

1400 Constitution Avenue, NW

Metro: Federal Triangle or Smithsonian (Mall exit)
Bikeshare: 15th St & Constitution Ave NW, Bike station 31321
Requires timed ticket.
Café

National Museum of American History

1300 Constitution Avenue, NW

Metro: Federal Triangle or Smithsonian (Mall exit)
Bikeshare: 10th St & Constitution Ave NW, Bike station 31219 or Smithsonian-National Mall / Jefferson Dr & 12th St SW, Bike station 31248
Cafés on lower level and 1st floor
Wifi in Welcome Center and cafés (free)
Lockers available
Bike racks outside

National Museum of Natural History

10th St. and Constitution Ave., NW

Metro: Smithsonian (Mall exit)
Bikeshare: 10th St & Constitution Ave NW, Bike station 31219 or Smithsonian-National Mall / Jefferson Dr & 12th St SW, Bike station 31248
Butterfly Pavilion – tickets $6. Free admission on Tuesdays with timed ticket.
IMAX Theatre – tickets required (about $9-15/adult).
Cafés on ground level, food carts outside
Lockers available
Bike racks outside (Constitution Avenue entrance)

Freer Gallery of Art (Asian art)

Jefferson Dr. and 12th St., SW

Metro: Smithsonian (Mall exit)
Bikeshare: USDA / 12th & Independence Ave SW, Bike station 31217 or Smithsonian-National Mall / Jefferson Dr & 12th St SW, Bike station 31248
Closed to the public until October 14, 2017.
~~Lockers available~~

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Asian art)

1050 Independence Ave., SW

Metro: Smithsonian (Mall exit)
Bikeshare: Independence Ave & L’Enfant Plaza SW/DOE, Bike station 31633
Closed to the public until October 14, 2017.

National Museum of African Art

950 Independence Ave., SW

Metro: Smithsonian (Mall exit)
Bikeshare: Independence Ave & L’Enfant Plaza SW/DOE, Bike station 31633
Lockers available
Bike racks outside (between African Art Museum and Sacker Gallery, outside Haupt Garden gates on Independence Avenue)

Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)

1000 Jefferson Dr., SW

Metro: Smithsonian (Mall exit)
Bikeshare: Independence Ave & L’Enfant Plaza SW/DOE, Bike station 31633 or Smithsonian-National Mall / Jefferson Dr & 12th St SW, Bike station 31248
Smithsonian Visitor Center
Daily hours: 8:30am – 5:30pm. It opens earlier than the other museums, so you can start there and get oriented.
Café, food carts outside seasonally
Wifi (free)
Bike racks outside

Hirshhorn Museum (international modern and contemporary art)

Independence Ave. and 7th St., SW

Metro: L’Enfant Plaza (Maryland Ave. exit)
Bikeshare: L’Enfant Plaza / 7th & C St SW, Bike station 31218 or Independence Ave & L’Enfant Plaza SW/DOE, Bike station 31633
Sculpture Garden – open 7:30 a.m. to dusk
Café (dessert and coffee)
Wifi (free)
Lockers available
Bike racks outside

National Air and Space Museum

Independence Ave. and 6th St., SW

Metro: L’Enfant Plaza (Maryland Ave. exit)
Bikeshare: Maryland & Independence Ave SW, Bike station 31243
Open until 7:30pm on select dates.
Entrances on Independence Avenue and the Mall/Jefferson Avenue. If lines are long at one entrance, try the other.
IMAX Theatre – tickets required (about $9-15/adult).
Planetarium – tickets required (some shows are free, others may be about $9/adult).
Observatory
Food Court (First Floor-East Wing), food carts outside
Bike racks outside
Wifi (free)

National Museum of the American Indian

4th St. & Jefferson Dr., SW

Metro: L’Enfant Plaza (Maryland Ave. exit)
Bikeshare: Maryland & Independence Ave SW, Bike station 31243
Café, espresso bar
Wifi (free)
Bike racks outside

Near the Mall –

Renwick Gallery (contemporary craft and decorative art)

1700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Metro: Farragut West or Farragut North
Bikeshare: 17th & G St NW, Bike station 31277
Barrier-free access at 17th Street entrance.

Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery

8th and F Sts., NW

Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown (9th St. exit)
Bikeshare: 7th & F St NW/Portrait Gallery, Bike station 31232
Both museums are inside the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture.
Daily hours: 11:30am – 7pm
Kogod Courtyard – bag lunches allowed.
Café
Wifi (free)
Lockers and self-check coat room (near the F Street Lobby) available

National Postal Museum

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE

Metro: Union Station (Mass. Ave. exit)
Bikeshare: North Capitol St & F St NW, Bike station 31624
Lockers available
Bike racks outside

Have anything to add? Did you use this on a trip to D.C.? Leave a comment and share your experience!

December 30, 2016May 23, 2019

7 Vegas Things to Do Off the Strip

When we took our road trip to Las Vegas, our brief Bellagio Fountains visit was the most time we spent on the (in)famous Strip, where the supersized casino-resort properties (and, yep, lots of places for weddings) are clustered.

Instead, we played retro arcade games, found some art, explored the desert, and ate some really good food.

So, if ginormous casinos aren’t your thing, read on for awesome places to go in Downtown, near UNLV, and outside of the city altogether.

Downtown Las Vegas

Just north of The Strip is Downtown Las Vegas, which was built first, with casinos along its historic Fremont Street in the wild west days before Nevada was even a state. Today Downtown includes the area between Washington Avenue and Sahara Avenue, Valley View Boulevard and Eastern Avenue. There is an effort underway to make it more welcoming and walkable, as well as focused on arts and small businesses. You can still find casinos downtown too. Several of them are linked by the Fremont Street Experience pedestrian walkway, such as Binion’s (home to a free-pull slot machine) and Golden Nugget (home to a waterslide that goes through a shark tank).

Downtown Parking

There are several paid parking lots in the Downtown area.

The best deal we found was at Llama Lot ($1/hour).
Fremont Street Experience parking garage offers 3 hours free with validation at Binion’s, The D, Four Queens, Fremont Hotel, Golden Nugget or Golden Gate casinos. ($2/hour without validation.)
Golden Nugget also has its own parking (in case you’re headed there anyway for food at Grotto or drinks at the shark tank/poolside H2O Bar), where you can get 3 hours free with validation. ($2/hour without validation.)
Interactive parking map.

If you’re parking or staying on The Strip, you can take the Deuce bus from there to Downtown. ($8 fare for unlimited rides during a 24-hour period.)

1. Stroll through Downtown Container Park.

What it is: Three storeys of shipping containers repurposed into locally-owned stores and restaurants surrounding a central plaza and Treehouse playground. Where: 707 Fremont Street, Las Vegas Parking: Llama Lot and Fremont Street Experience parking garage (mentioned above) are each about .25 mile away, and you’ll save a few bucks over the Container Park’s own lot ($3/hour). Less money parking means more for things like cheese boards and bath bombs. Hours: Shopping Center – Monday – Thursday: 11am to 9pm Friday – Saturday: 10am to 10pm Sunday: 10am to 8pm Restaurants + Bars – Monday – Thursday: 11am to 11pm Friday – Saturday: 10am to 1am Sunday: 10am to 11pm

We liked…

Art Box for jewelry and artwork from 35 local artists.
Natural Earth Cosmetics has handmade natural bath products and cosmetics, knit wash mitts, and other unique gift items – most of it handmade by the owner Michaela.
Bin 702 for delicious and adorable montaditos (mini-sandwiches).

Tips:

Phillip wanted me to remind you not to miss the second and third floors. There is more food, more jewelry, clothing, and a cool pet store with reptiles, fish, and seahorses.
On the second floor next to The Perch, there’s what looks like a gallery container with a few places to sit, some local artwork, and a view overlooking the courtyard and stage. It may actually be the smoking section and not a gallery. However, when we were there, people were hanging out, eating, and watching the costume contest happening on stage, but I don’t remember seeing anyone actually smoking.
The Fire Mantis sculpture in front of the entrance periodically lights up, plays music, and shoots flames from its antennae.
Kappa Toys has their own custom pogs and slammers.

A video posted by stephanieliebold (@stephanieliebold) on Nov 19, 2016 at 6:17pm PST

2. Find restored historic signs in Downtown’s outdoor Urban Gallery.

What it is: As far as I can tell, this is not a single spot but several outdoor installations. Nine of the Neon Museum’s vintage signs have been restored to working order and installed around Downtown, including at the Fremont Street Experience pedestrian walkway. Since they’re outside on public streets, you can visit them anytime. Just download a map of their locations and go on a self-guided tour. Along the way, you’ll probably spot other public art like Bordalo II’s Meerkat mural on the side of an old bus or the world’s largest working fire hydrant in front of a doggy daycare center.

Where: Downtown Las Vegas, especially around Las Vegas Boulevard (See PDF map.) Parking: Fremont Street Experience parking garage or any of the Downtown Parking options above. Hours: Always open. Cost: Free.

Around UNLV

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is east of The Strip and directly north of McCarran International Airport. One of the items below is actually on campus, while the other two are nearby.

3. Visit the Marjorie Barrick Museum at UNLV.

What it is: Small art museum with rotating exhibits inside a former gymnasium. Where: 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas Parking (PDF map):

Lot I (metered, $1/hour, right outside Musuem)
Visitor Lot V (metered, $1/hour)
Lot S (free, about 0.7 mile from Museum)

Hours: Monday – Friday: 9am to 5pm (Thursdays until 8pm) Saturday: 12 to 5pm Closed Sundays Cost: Free. Suggested contribution: $5.

We liked…

Current exhibitions –

In Transition: Ceramic figurines of women in different stages of life from pre-columbian Mesoamerica, South America, and Central America. September 6 – March 30, 2017.
Edward Burtynsky: Oil: Photo series on the effects of oil extraction and consumption around the world. September 23 – January 14, 2017.

The ArtBar, where you can create your own art in response to the work on display. A xeriscape entry garden wraps around the outside of the building with pathways through desert plants.

4. Play games at the Pinball Hall of Fame.

What it is: Not-for-profit, volunteer-run arcade of working (mostly) vintage pinball machines and games like Pac-man, Tetris, and Star Wars. Where: 1610 E. Tropicana, Las Vegas (North side of Tropicana between Maryland Parkway and Eastern Avenue, about 1.5 mi from The Strip.) Parking: Free lot on-site. Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11am to 11pm Friday – Saturday: 11am to 12am Cost: Free entrance. Games are 25 cents to $1.

We liked…

Playing pinball! We enjoyed the analog machines, as well as the newer movie- and t.v.-themed ones (The Lord of the Rings, Gilligan’s Island, etc.).
Indulging our nostalgia for video games we grew up with.
Phillip found some quirky old mechanical games, including one where you fly this little metal spaceship and one with a dancing clown that creeped me out.

Tips:

Machines are old and finicky and may eat your quarters. Let the attendant behind the counter know which game it is right away, and they’ll attempt to fix it or refund you.
There are change machines near the back.
Contrary to rumors that they’re about to close, the Pinball Hall of Fame is actually in the process of expanding into a bigger facility down the street.

5. Enjoy small plates at FiREFLY* Tapas Kitchen & Bar

Where: 3824 Paradise Road, Las Vegas Parking: Free lot on-site. Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:30am to 1am (Happy hour 3pm – 6pm, 11pm – 1am) Friday – Saturday: 11:30am to 2am Sunday: 10am to 1am (Brunch 10am – 2pm)

We liked…

Sangria, croquettes, bacon-wrapped dates, merguez – everything was so good and reminded me of the flavors of Spain!
We ordered a few (5ish) tapas to share. The small plates were great for sampling a variety of things and made a great lunch.

Outside of Town

6. Explore Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Where: 3205 State Route 159, Las Vegas Parking: Free lot on-site. Hours: Visitors center – Daily 8am to 4:30pm Scenic drive – Daily 6am to 5pm Cost: $7/vehicle for entry to Visitors Center and scenic drive. Red Rock Scenic Overlook is outside of the fee area, so I believe it’s free to stop there.

We liked…

45-minute scenic drive loop with plenty of places to stop, check out the view, hike, or picnic (see below).
Visitors Center with a great picture window and extensive exhibits outside.

Tips:

There’s a desert tortoise habitat outside the Visitors Center, when it’s not too cold for them.
We had no cell service out there.
While the scenic drive was beautiful at every turn, if you were suuuper pressed for time, you could at least stop at Red Rock Scenic Overlook. You won’t get to see everything, but it would be better than missing out altogether.

We had hoped to squeeze in a quick hike and/or picnic, so I picked out a few options, and then didn’t have time to do either. Anyway, here’s what I found.

Easy hikes (and trail map numbers):

Overlook Trail (22): Paved, wheelchair-accessible path leading to the top of a small hill with a view of Red Rock Canyon. 0.25 mi.
Lost Creek Children’s Discovery Trail (8): Goes from the Lost Creek parking area to a seasonal waterfall. 0.7 mi.
Moenkopi Loop (1): Loop from the visitor center with fossils and panoramic views of the Wilson Cliffs. 2 mi.

Picnic areas: There are 4, and all have tables, trash cans, and nearby restrooms.

Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center Picnic Area: West of the Visitors Center parking area (with access to Moenkopi and Calico Hills trails).
Willow Springs Picnic Area: About halfway around the Scenic Drive (with access to Lost Creek and other trails).
Red Rock Scenic Overlook Picnic Area: On State Route 159 with access to Red Rock Scenic Overlook Trail. Some covered tables.
The Red Spring Picnic Area: On State Route 159 on Calico Basin Road, two miles east of the Visitors Center. Covered tables.

7. Drive out to Seven Magic Mountains.

30-foot-tall stacks of neon-painted boulders in the desert, a large-scale art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone on display through ~~May 2018~~ ~~December 2018~~ December 2021. [UPDATE: The installation has been extended to remain on view at least through the end of 2021.]

Where: 10 miles (about 30 minutes) south of Las Vegas off I-15 near Jean Dry Lake.

Take Exit 25 at Sloan Rd.
It’s on the way to Los Angeles.
If you’re headed to Phoenix or just about anywhere else, it’s not on the way, but we thought it was worth the detour!

Parking: Free lot on-site. Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset (recommended). Cost: Free.

We liked…

Seeing the vibrant colors against the muted landscape.
Experiencing art large enough to crush us.

Tips:

You can get some background information from either the signage near the parking lot or by calling (702) 381-5182 (English or Spanish).
There are no restrooms, water, tables, benches, shelters/shade covers, or anything else on the site. Just you, the art, and the elements in the open desert.
The closest public restrooms are 5 miles away in the town of Jean.
It was very windy the day we were there. A woman showed up with a yoga mat but didn’t stay long because it was so dusty. Plan for the weather. Don’t plan on doing yoga.

Bonus

A few more Off-Strip eatery options:

Delices Gourmands French Bakery (3620 W. Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas) – Stopped here for a pastry and coffee.
The Sparklings (8310 S. Rainbow Boulevard, Ste. 100, Las Vegas) – This is where our friend’s wedding was, so we didn’t visit during normal restaurant hours, but it seemed like a neat place.
KJ Kitchen (5960 Spring Mountain Road, Chinatown, Las Vegas) – Our Las Vegas friends’ pick for “real Chinese food.”

There are also lots of places to stay that aren’t on The Strip. We opted for a great little Airbnb casita rental near Red Rock. [UPDATE: You can get $35 off your first Airbnb stay and help us keep traveling by signing up via my referral page.]

What are your Off-Strip tips?

November 21, 2016

ArtBar

The ArtBar at UNLV is self-serve.

Instead of mixing yourself a cocktail, you make your own artwork. The block semi-circle in the lobby of the Barrick Musuem is stocked with supplies and a prompt inspired by a current exhibit.

In conjunction with a powerful series of photos now on display – Edward Burtynsky: Oil – the ArtBar invited visitors to “reflect on process and change.”

There were charcoals, pastels, pencils, crayons, and cardstock in a neutral palette of tans and grays, black and white. I decided to take a few minutes to put pastels against a page and see what would come out. So I pulled up a stool, contemplated change and erosion, and made mountains.

Marjorie Barrick Museum at University of Nevada, Las Vegas is free (optional $5 donation), and the ArtBar is in the lobby and open to anyone. There is metered parking in the lot just outside the museum.

September 15, 2016September 15, 2016

Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena

Norton Simon - sculpture garden

Before Norton Simon the art museum, there was Norton Simon the entrepreneur and art collector.

Norton Simon museum

He started with works from European Old Masters, Impressionists, and Post-Impressionists and then began collecting works from Asia after a trip to India. He eventually added his collections to what was then the Pasadena Museum of Modern Art, which he was director of until his passing in 1993.

Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, California

Museum

Now known as Norton Simon, the museum in Pasadena houses collections of 14th century to contemporary European art, Asian art spanning two millennia, and a sculpture garden.

Even the walkway to the entrance is surrounded with works of Auguste Rodin – the anguished faces of The Burghers of Calais, The Walking Man mid-stride, Saint John the Baptist with sinewy arm outstretched, The Thinker pondering Colorado Boulevard.

Norton Simon museum

European Art

Inside, the 19th century European art gallery just off the foyer immediately drew me in, and I found myself face-to-face with some of Degas’s bronze ballerinas, frozen in their moments of stretching, posing, preparing to dance.

Norton Simon art - degas

The collection actually includes over 100 of his paintings, drawings, and sculptures, as well as work by Cézanne, Gauguin, Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, and Goya.

Norton Simon Museum art

Norton Simon paintings

The 17th and 18th century galleries hold still lifes, Rembrandt portraits, scenes from history and mythology.

Norton Simon painting

Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, California

Sculpture Garden and Cafe

I took a break in the outdoor Garden Cafe. On the menu are sandwiches, salads, tea, and bottled cold brew (inexplicably imported from Austin, Texas).

Norton Simon Cafe

It’s a lovely place to take in the view of the Sculpture Garden and to people watch. That particular sunny day, museum-goers were spilling out into the Garden in regular bursts, bounding, striding, or strolling the path around the pond. A group of giggling teens hunted for Pokémon. A man pulled his elderly mother’s wheelchair up to a table by the water, and she shakily stood up to stretch while he got them lunch.

Norton Simon Sculpture

Norton Simon Museum

Duchamp Downstairs

The lower level is primarily devoted to the museum’s Asian collection with a gallery for rotating exhibits, such as Duchamp to Pop. So I stepped from amongst statues of gods into the bright, irreverent world of pop art. It was a bit jarring. But, then, pop art was meant to be jarring, wasn’t it?

Norton Simon museum

Duchamp to Pop showed how the work of Marcel Duchamp influenced pop artists, such as Andy Warhol, whose Campbell’s soup cans and Brillo boxes are part of the museum’s permanent collection (but not always on display).

Norton Simon museum

Norton Simon Asian Art

Asian Art

Much of the museum’s Asian art collection comes from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. There are also Japanese woodblock prints that belonged to Frank Lloyd Wright.

Norton Simon museum

Starting at the foot of the stairs, you walk by stone, bronze, and terra cotta pillars, altarpieces, and statues depicting heroes and gods from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions, especially the Buddha. It was fascinating to see the how portrayals change in different eras and geographic locations. (More in the museum’s video on their Asian Art collection.)

Norton Simon art - Buddhas

Looking at these ancient figures with heads, torsos, arms, and legs posed in a moment of sitting in quiet reflection, embracing, or dancing, I was struck by their humanness, by how much we had in common.

Norton Simon Museum art

Those ancient subjects really weren’t so different from the ballerinas that inspired Degas or the woman stretching by the pond or the teens playing Pokemon Go or me or you. We’re pretty much all the same.

Norton Simon art

We still sit and reflect, we embrace, and we dance.

Norton Simon Museum art

Norton Simon Art

————
The Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau provided us with complimentary press passes to Norton Simon Museum.

July 18, 2016July 25, 2016

Garden Sculptures at Norton Simon

One of the things that really struck me as I was wandering through the Sculpture Garden at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California was the interplay between the sculptures themselves and the natural elements surrounding them. Smooth tree trunks, twisted branches, round lily pads, and even afternoon sunbeams beautifully echo (or are echoed in) the artwork.