Friday Morning Music: Better Things

"Learn from yesterday,
Live for today."

The best way I can think of to end this particular week is to look ahead. So turn up the volume and enjoy the most optimistic, hopeful song I know of:  "Here's wishing you the bluest sky, And hoping something better comes tomorrow." The Kinks, 1981. Thanks, Dave and Ray!

Glover Park Mystery

One could be forgiven for thinking Washington, D.C. has turned into London, England. A heavy fog settled in over the weekend. The sun did appear Saturday afternoon for a few hours, however, and brought out lots of pedestrians and cyclists in my neighborhood. I took an opportunity to explore the woods next to my building for the first time since moving in. As I walked along the quiet trail in this section of Glover Park I came across this stone structure. I have no idea what its original use was. It has been turned into some sort of meeting house for ceremonies involving .... what? .... white-tail deer worship? I'm not quite sure, but students at nearby American University may have something to do with it.

 

Friday Morning Music: The Jetsons

While driving home this evening, I learned on NPR that The Jetsons are celebrating their 50th anniversary. The report focused on the cartoon characters, but I couldn't help thinking, "Hey, that was a great theme song." Just listen to those strings! 

The music in the closing credits is ten times more awesome. What a sassy horn section!

Beatrix Potter: The Picture Letters

This past weekend I returned to The Morgan Library and Museum, this time in the company of Claire and Jenna. The exhibit featuring Beatrix Potter's picture letters was the primary draw, although we also enjoyed a trip through Pierpont Morgan's study and library. It was during my first trip to the Morgan last April that I spotted one of her picture letters ("The Big Elephant is Dead"). That particular letter was not displayed in this exhibition; however, we left with an even greater appreciation of Miss Potter's craft and devotion to the minute visual details of the natural world.

Since this was just an eight-hour day trip, we saved time by taking a cab down to Tribeca for lunch at Aamaans-Copenhagen (New York City cab rates are a bargain for DC residents, anyway). There we enjoyed Danish Smørrebrød accompanying our fish entrees, rounded off with a tasty platter of three cheeses, spreads and more of that delicious brown bread. Claire and I selected a Prosecco to go with our brunch; Jenna ordered a hot chocolate. 

Claire and I then capped off the afternoon with a fascinating tour of the scandalous world of art forgery at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. With great enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of ancient cultures, our brilliant tour guide, Erin Thompson, showed us how to spot a forged work of art. We left the museum with a completely new appreciation for the cutthroat business of acquisition and the shadowy practices that sometimes accompany the need to establish provenance. Yes, folks, that ancient Greek statue may not be all it seems ....

Brad Ascalon for DWR

This week Design Within Reach features designer Brad Ascalon's Atlas coffee and side tables and his Ascalon Menorah with Candles. Brad discusses the process he used to design the menorah in the video, above. It's fascinating to hear Ascalon explain how a seemingly simple object can undergo a fairly complex design process. Then there's still the issue of selecting and sourcing materials as well as having the piece manufactured and distributed. So many steps to deliver such a simple object.

I like the purity and balance of Ascalon's coffee and side tables. The travertine top is much thinner than you'll see in most occasional tables. Presumably it is well supported by the black walnut base to prevent cracking. In fact I'm really focused on walnut right now:  My grandmother's antique Singer sewing table base, Eames round molded plywood coffee table and new bar cabinet are all crafted from walnut. Even the base on my Ikea chair in the living room is made from walnut.

Friday Morning Music: Move On Up

Here's some funk and energy from Curtis Mayfield to liven up the end of the first week of 2013. At nearly nine minutes, it's a long one, so enjoy!

I'm taking liberties with the order of the lyrics here, but this song really resonates:

Though there may be complications .... Remember your dreams are your only schemes .... Take nothing less, not even second best .... if you put your mind into it, you can surely do it .... Just move on up towards your destination ....

According to Mayfield's Wikipedia entry, Curtis Mayfield was "inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 1999 .... [with] fellow inductees Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Dusty Springfield, [Beatles producer] George Martin, and ... The Staple Singers." He also holds the distinction of being one of Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Take a moment to check out his impressive list of professional achievements near the bottom of the entry. Best known for the album that formed the soundtrack for the 1972 movie Super Fly, Mayfield was a leader in the Black Power Movement. A singer-songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist, Mayfield, along with James Brown, Sly Stone and others, was a pioneer of R&B, Funk and Soul. His music continues to influence Rap and Hip Hop to this day. 

Telluride House

Photo credit:  Jane Messenger

Stunning canyon views and amazing use of the site and indigenous materials. This residence lies partially underground to minimize its exposure to the elements - wind, snow and sun - but still manages to contain 8,000 square feet of space and light.

Telluride House | Anmahian Winton Architects | Telluride, Colorado | House of the Month | Architectural Record