The Weekend

1. The Museum. The Hirshhorn, where we saw two closing exhibits, one called John Baldessari Explores the Collection, where the museum is giving various artists and critics the opportunity to choose works belonging to the museum which are held in storage to be put on display. Our reaction was that most of them should remain in storage, particularly Man Ray's Blue Bread (a sculpture which looks like a blue baguette), which should probably be sent down the garbage disposer. There were works of art by many well known artists (including Karl Appel, Claes Oldenburg, Joan Miro, Thomas Eakins, Mary Cassett, Jean Dubuffet, Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Rene Magritte and Milton Avery), but no well known works, and no works which would have given the artists any degree of fame (well, maybe one or two exceptions). The second exhibit was an exhibit by a number of modern sculptors (may their names soon be forgotten), who not only had their own works displayed but were able to select works by other artists who influenced them. This exhibit made the Baldessari look good.

2. The Restaurant. This time it was Zaytina, and everything was excellent, the salmon, the bronzini, the ground beef and lamb, the imam balydi, the fritters, etc. Everything but the Turkish coffee.

3. The Game. Caps 3 - Thrashers 2 in overtime. Semin scored with 17 seconds left. Went with friends Steven and Rene. Terrific game.

4. The Sale. The $1 per book moving sale at Wonder Books in Hagerstown. I saw very few books which approached $1 in value.

5. The Book. Nina Burleigh's A Very Private Woman, the story of Mary Meyer, wealthy young woman, wife of diplomat/CIA official Cord Meyer, mistress to John F. Kennedy, friend of Jackie, artist member of Washington Color School, friend of Timothy Leary (and advocate of LSD), and victim of murder on the C and O Canal Towpath. More insight into the Kennedy years. Nicely written book. Makes you shake your head and wonder.

I had read Burleigh's other books about Smithsonian founder James Smithson. Enjoyed that one, as well.