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East Coast Summer Trip
  • Linda Ginenthal
juil. – sept. 2018

East Coast Summer Trip

I’m recapturing summer with a 6-week+ trip east to see old friends and family. From Ithaca to Swan Lake to New York City to Margate NJ to Bryn Mawr to DC to Boston and finally Cape Cod. En savoir plus
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  • Début du voyage
    23 juillet 2018
    Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    Getting Ready

    20 juillet 2018, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Packing for a six-week trip is an exercise in restraint. One rolling carry-on and tote bag is my limit. Music downloaded, check. Tickets, gift cards, and museum list, check.

    I have two more big things to do before heading out - try out a kayak to purchase and do the Green Loop Sunday Parkways! Two pre-trip joy rides.En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    Feet on the carpet

    23 juillet 2018, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Nothing wonderful about waking up at 3:50am for a 6am flight, but here I am, at 5am waiting for my trip to begin.

    While staying with my friend Stephen Howard in Vancouver (BC - not the “Couve”) I said, “Having fun is a lot of work. You have to have a real commitment to joy.”

    Since retiring about three months ago, I’ve been hard at work playing, traveling and taking care of projects around the house. I’m super excited to embark on this next journey. Thanks for coming with me.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    Well, How's About Seattle?

    23 juillet 2018, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    I seem to be having bad plane karma in retirement. Flight from Seattle to Philadelphia (to connect to Ithaca) was cancelled. After the able assistance from my resident travel agent, you know who you are, she found a flight that gets me to Ithaca tomorrow at noonish. Hoorah!

    So, Seattle! They have a train! into town for a mere $6 round trip. Who knew? Did the obligatory walk through Pike Place Market and went to the art museum. They have the amazing and controversial Edward Curtis photography exhibit depicting the “disappearing” aboriginal people in North America in the early 20th century. It is coupled with 3 contemporary indigenous artists in both response to and their own impressions, experiences and expressions. Beautiful and moving.

    Found a mishmash of architecture and a hidden public park replete with its own waterfall. Now back at the airport. Nice day.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Leon and Renate's Wedding Day - a long time ago.
    Cornell garden viewSylvie and Leon1

    Finally Made it to Ithaca

    24 juillet 2018, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    I’m here in Ithaca staying with my dear cousin Leon and his beautiful wife Renate and their daughter Sylvie. Leon and I grew up together in the Bronx and spent glorious summers in Swan Lake. He still looks at me funny sometimes - now that I’m all growed up.

    We went over to Cornell to take in some of the spectacular gardens. Lee is quite the plant maven, especially roses and bonsai. I’m spending a few days so I’ll get some nice shots of their 3-acre property later. Today was catching up, telling stories, looking at photos as well as popping into town for a drizzly stroll.

    Renate cooked up a famous Cornell marinaded chicken with their first basil pesto of the season for dinner. Delish.

    Looking forward to my first good night’s sleep in two days. Sleeping on a red-eye and on the floor at the Detroit airport for my layover just didn’t quite do it.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Leon - Der Rosenmeister

    Der Rosenmeister Estate

    25 juillet 2018, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Ollie, Lee and Renate’s grandson, spent the day with us. What a cutie pie. We took a short hike up to Taughannock Falls Park. Gorgeous gorges. (Sorry, I had to do it.) The visible geology shows the layers of inland sea sediment from thousands of years carved out by water and ice. The falls were muddy brown from all the rain. It has been beautiful, but I wouldn’t be unhappy to see some sunshine.

    After lunch, I asked Leon to take me on a tour of the property. One of the design elements central throughout the gardens incorporates the Fibonacci spiral echoed in the architecture, rocks and planting beds and also in the selection of trees, shrubs and flowers. Impossible to capture in my photos, the Fibonacci spiral of huge boulders and plants begins with a small Norway Spruce Acrocona at the center and whirls outwards for about 40 feet. At the stones’ end, the pattern continues around the property to a second row of trees, flowers and sitting areas. (A drone camera would work well here.) Each seating area is carefully placed to give the viewer a vantage point to discover the beautiful, whimsical and lush garden features plus a hint of what is only partially visible from that spot beckoning you to visit another part of the garden. It is really quite magical. And who can resist a flock of pink flamingos?

    Renate has a big food garden with garlic, basil, rhubarb, beans, tomatoes, and a pile of other edibles. They also have blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, strawberries and a few I don’t remember. So much good food. The roses are not at their best at this point in the season, but none, and I mean none, have black spots. He really has found all the right roses to plant in the right locations. Jealous.

    They have a meandering creek on the edge of the property where Lee has hand-built a couple of bridges and seating areas. Each of the structures’ ironwork, wood, stone, and tile throughout the property have been collected over the years - one from the New York Worlds Fair - and make up a rich portfolio of stories to go along with their thoughtful composition. All of this was built and dreamed up by Leon out of 3 acres of hay fields. They started with a blank slate.

    Tomorrow I believe we might have some sun for a change.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    Road Trip!

    26 juillet 2018, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Mr Sunny was out today! We decided to see some of the surrounding sights. First stop was the Women’s Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls where the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention was held. I have to say that I was underwhelmed. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it was not well done - sadly. Quotes were mismatched with with historical photos of other women. The nearly life-sized sculptures of some convention attendees were places in the middle of the floor with no note about who was whom and even why the statues were there. Disappointing. I got a copy of the Women’s Declaration of Sentiments modeled after the Declaration of Independence to read. I’m still glad I went as I have thought about going for a long time.

    We stopped for lunch at this amazing old-fashioned diner called Connie’s Diner. Very kitschy. Most of the clientele fit right in. They had photos of famous people and old movie and tv posters. The food was pretty good and very inexpensive. Good times.

    After lunch we drove up to Chimney Bluffs State Park on Lake Ontario. This strange landscape of skyscraper-tall mounds of clay embedded with smooth river rocks are slowly eroding leaving jagged spires and pointed towers. It was beautiful and puzzling looking. Glaciers dumped a pile of this debris, and water has carved out these sculptures in the sky. I was a bit torn whether to look down at the stones or up at the formations. It was fun to walk along the lake’s edge with Renate, Leon and Sylvie.

    It was getting hot so we drove back to the house with a quick stop at Harriet Tubman’s house. It seems that there are very many famous people from this area. I loved driving through the little towns and villages with the east coast architecture and gardens. My hosts are a font of knowledge about the history and who’s who around here.

    We took a quick break at the house before heading back out to visit with Lee and Renate’s son, Jules and his wife Jean, and Ollie at their house. Jules and I have been connected for a little while on Facebook but have actually never met. He is into bicycling, makes beer, and loves the forest. It was a treat to finally meet and chat. Jean is the City Forester for Ithaca. They are a lovely couple. They will be joining that gang at the end of my east coast trip on the Cape.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    Family, Art, Good Food, and Fun

    27 juillet 2018, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Leon is the keeper of the family lore. He spent his youth visiting with our older relatives learning their histories and stories. We spent the morning flipping through his papers and photos. When and why they came to the US, what political and union work they were involved in, and some of their great arts and artist’s circles they ran in. Fascinating stuff.

    I also got to see some family photos I had never seen before - some of me.

    After lunch, we visited an arts fair - I took no photos - but thoroughly enjoyed the art and watching both Lee and Renate run into a dozen people they know. They are well regarded in this town.

    Leon repotted a bonsai apple tree from a tall pot to a new shallower one. It’s not about trimming the roots; it is all about pruning. While learning the bonsai process, I got a better shot of the spiral from the side porch. Looks pretty cool.

    We went to dinner and a play, Pride and Prejudice. It was funny with lots of kooky slapstick humor. Very entertaining.

    A nice, relaxing day.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Dad (Karl), and Chris
    RobinMichael (my twin)Laura and her husband MichaelJenny and her husband JimmySwan Lake - not a real swanHidden in the growth the old driving board platform from the Swan Lake HotelJenny and LauraLindaBeaverwood Farms

    Family Gathering at Swan Lake

    29 juillet 2018, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Leaving Ithaca was made much easier because it was a see-you-later goodbye instead of a goodbye goodbye. I will see the whole bunch - Leon, Renate, Sylvie, Jules, Jean, and Ollie - later in August at Cape Cod.

    Drove to Swan Lake with the music I bought from the Vancouver Folk Fest a couple weekends ago blasting in the car. Most of my six siblings were there with their respective spouses. Only Ron and Jeremy were missing. We laughed, sang goofy songs my dad wrote when we were kids, ate delicious grilled food, and connected across the miles and years.

    Today I finally got in an east coast lake to swim. It was delightful. The sun was warm as was the water.

    Robin and I stayed at an AirBnb on the site of the old Swan Lake Hotel. My dad and Leon worked many summers at the hotel pool. We found the only remaining remnants of the pool - the high diving platform metal frame. The rest is overgrown.

    Part of the land was turned into an animal farm where families can pet and interact with cows, horses, chickens, pigs and more. Most of the families that come to the area to visit during the summer have little to no contact with farm animals. They are also mostly Hasidic Jews. Farmer Paul squirts the kids faces with the milk from the cow’s teat as part of their tour. Since they can see where the milk comes from (the actual cow’s udder), the milk is considered kosher. They also pet the pigs which is a very big deal for Jewish children. Such a wonderful experience for the kids and their families.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Ivy, Pearl, and Jason

    Another Lake Day and Carefree Acres

    31 juillet 2018, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Everyone went home yesterday, so it’s just me and my dad and his wife, Chris. After a quiet morning, I took a walk up to Carefree Acres, a bungalow colony where I spent summer days swimming, playing games, finding first boyfriends and girlfriends the way that kids do.

    It was mostly deserted with only Pearl and Stanley, now in their eighties holding down the fort. Ivy, their daughter and her husband Jason were there too. Nice to visit with folks who knew me when.

    Ivy reminded me of trips she would lead with all the kids down to the waterfall about a quarter mile away to climb around. We were wild. No adults around. Ivy was about 12 and was the oldest. Different times.

    I stopped in on the kosher bakery. Take a look at their black and white cookie. Also on the way back I noticed the wetlands behind my grandparents’ house in town (now an apartment building). Lots of bird life and flowers.

    After lunch I gathered my dad and Chris to get to Kauneonga Lake with a nice, easy walk in to the water. Dad did a little swimming. Oddly, they wanted to sit at the back of the parking lot about 100 feet from the water. Ok.

    It was nice to have a relaxing day.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    Arrived in the Big Apple

    2 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ 🌧 24 °C

    It rained my last day in Swan Lake so I got a chance to nap, read and do laundry - getting ready for my New York adventure.

    I met up with Arif Khan, an old friend and bike advocate. He and his lovely wife Sabeen own the Hoot Owl restaurant in Pine Bush, NY not far from where Arif grew up. We had a delicious chicken curry lunch then broke into their new home (Arif forgot the key). Sabeen is an architect so has grand plans.

    The restaurant is doing well - partly because of the new Jehovah’s Witness facilities nearby. Thousands of “pioneers” come to Wallkill for training. Arif asks them lots of curious questions - which has endeared him to the resident JWs. My brother, Michael, had waxed eloquent about his training there. He is a full-time “pioneer” himself. I’ll have to tell him about the restaurant. It was fun swapping our stories and all the twists and turns. I left vowing to return to spend some more time with these wonderful people.

    The drive was ferociously wet. I took it slow, but it really was coming down. I was thankful for a good music system and Google directions. And I found parking right in front of the place I am staying! OMG! I couldn’t believe it. It got crazy humid and hot towards evening: I'm thankful for the air conditioner. I dropped the car off and headed out to take in the sights. I happened upon Rockefeller Center (pronounced it Rock-a-fella). I got myself a pretty darn good mojito and Ropa Vieja from a Cuban restaurant. Yum.

    Tomorrow I meet up with my friend Bob Dardano to continue rediscovering the east coast.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Great Hall on Ellis IslandGlimpse of the Brooklyn BridgeConfucius

    Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island And

    3 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Started the day meeting Bob Dardano, a friend from DC. We decided to go to one of the things included in my NYC FlexPass (thanks to friends and family for this retirement gift). We were supposed to go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island all before lunch. Well, we got there at 10am and returned to Battery Park after 4pm.

    The New York skyline did not disappoint. Lady Liberty stood tall and majestic. I learned quite a bit of history.

    The information about all those immigrants who came to the USA with nothing and how 98% were passed through was a bitter reminder of what the current newcomers to this country are facing.

    We walked from Battery Park along the waterfront up through Chinatown. It is not how I remember it. So much more vibrant now. We bumped into the Titanic Memorial that called the folks who died “heroes”. Seems like a loose interpretation of hero to me...

    We got some outstanding pizza and gelato in Greenwich Village. On the way back to the subway, we passed by the Stonewall Inn where on June 28, 1969 those wonderful drag queens said “no more” and staged days of riots. Pretty inspiring.

    My dogs are tired.

    P.S. thank Bob for some of theses photos.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    Whitney, Highline, and Met

    4 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Why have I never visited the Whitney Museum? It was incredible with powerful modern art with political sensibilities. It was also situated at the foot of the Highline. What a fantastic idea to place a garden on top of an abandoned rail line.

    After the Highline, I said see you later to Bob and Citibiked uptown to the Met. They have an exhibit of fashion inspired by Byzantine through today’s Catholic symbols.

    Tomorrow is Summer Streets! Can’t wait!    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Hudson River Parkway View

    Oopsie! But a Fun-Filled Day in NYC

    5 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Summer Streets happens on Saturday here, not Sunday. Sad face. I made it a bike day anyway riding around Manhattan. Hudson River Parkway is beautiful. The eastside, not so much. Bicycling Magazine was either a) heavily bribed; b) highly medicated; or c) out of their minds when they declared New York the most bike-friendly city in North America. Bike lane deserts, routes that end without warning, no detour signs, giant cyclist-swallowing potholes. 1st and 2nd bike lanes were nice but often had wrong-way riding, wandering pedestrians, and turning vehicles.

    I rode for about 25 miles from 87th and East End Ave to the bike rental place in midtown (on a Citibike). Then down the Hudson River Parkway to the tip of Manhattan and back up on the East River side to the top of Central Park. New York has been so gussied up. Getting up to 110th looked more like the Manhattan I lived in.

    I took Central Park back downtown. It is hilly! It was getting hot and tired. But I returned the bike, sat for lunch to cool off, and Citibiked back to my place on 87th.

    I had a few hours to relax and get ready to go to the thee-ate-ter. Saw the Book of Mormon. It was a hoot. It has been a long time since I went to a Broadway play. The theater was pretty small - intimate. The actors all wore mics that gave it a movie-like quality. Loved the singing.

    Good day.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Gordon Price
    More of CornellThese are paintings at the Met - see the head angles and content in the series.

    Gordon Price Visit & Back to the Met

    6 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    I took a relaxing morning to sit out in the tiny back yard to do a little reading with my French press coffee and yogurt and blueberries. I don’t think I have ever stayed anyplace that had such a beautiful little garden with seating and fireplace in New York City. It was quiet except for the birds chirping!!!! What a treat!

    I met Gordon Price and his husband Len at the 2nd Ave Deli. Both locations of this place are not on 2nd Avenue. Go figure. 2nd Ave Deli has the best pastrami sandwiches in New York - outrageously expensive but perfect rye bread, fall-apart pastrami that was not greasy, fatty, or stringy. Kenny and Zuke’s have nothing on these guys. We took our sandwiches to Roosevelt Island - in the middle of the East River - to walk to the Louis Kahn Park dedicated to Franklin D Roosevelt. They added some “wild” space too with a warning. The park is modern and sleek and was part of the original concept for the whole island. Most all of the buildings on this sliver of an island were completed by 1975. Cornell is constructing a new facility here. It is beautiful.

    Gordon and I talked up a storm. Gordon does a blog of sorts called aptly “Price Tags”. He is a former Vancouver BC City Councilmember and professor at UBC who studies and explores urban design from an architectural and human perspective. He articulates what the urban design and development mean and what it says about the times they are built in. Wonderful and timely stuff these days with the pressures on cities. Len was patient with our discussions. In our stroll, we discovered that the island now has a ferry boat landing that will take you to Wall Street and other parts of the City. It is a nice addition to the transit system - Not sure why this hadn't happened sooner. Brilliant.

    It was also blistering hot. I was planning on heading up to the Met Cloister, but I just could bear to be outside. I sweat through my shirt. I never do that... Gordon, who had taken his shirt off in the heat wanted to play outside at Governor’s Island, so we parted ways. I took the tram over to 59th right outside of Bloomingdales and took the subway up to the Met (again).

    The Met is gigantic. I had only gone to a small part of the museum the other day - and a ticket is good for three days! This time I thought I would visit the European paintings and sculpture - loved it. I bought an audio tour thing so I could learn more about the art and artists. What just slays me is the curation of the place. Every painting and series of paintings finds themes, similar subjects, landscapes, facial expressions - paintings that respond to each other as inspiration and opposition. Every piece in every room is carefully chosen and displayed to tell their stories singly and together. It was 2.5 hours just in that section before it was closing time. I was punch drunk on the art and freezing. They air condition for the crowds. The wall of heat I ran into while leaving the building was stifling.

    I did some searches to find a good restaurant nearby and found this amazing Turkish place. Crab cakes, hummus and spinach with yogurt sauce and a lovely glass of rose. Took a CitiBike back to my place. Life is good.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    The Cloisters and The Guggenheim

    7 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    I don’t remember visiting the Met Cloisters before. I always thought it was too far uptown in too rough an area. Well, I’m glad I went. The medieval art was exquisite. Tapestries, cloisonné, painting, and, of course, the gardens. The garden tour was “meh” but the gardens themselves were wonderful.

    This old monastery is in the middle of a park with nothing close by. Hence, the cafe on sight was wildly overpriced and mediocre for lunch. At least the views were lovely. You get some stunners of the Hudson River nearby.

    Next and last museum for the New York leg of my trip was the Guggenheim and it did not disappoint. The building alone is a sight to see. Gorgeous light and slanted walls and floors. Giacometti was the main exhibit. The audio guide was really interesting. I also went through the permanent collection and two other smaller galleries. I did the whole darn thing!

    I had dinner with an old friend. He was a dancer who went to my performing arts school, Talent Unlimited HS. He went on to dance with several ballet companies and traveled around both performing and teaching. Lots of old memories.

    Tomorrow I’m headed to Margate to visit with my mother-in-law. And get some chocolate. And swim in the ocean. Stay tuned.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    On the Boardwalk
    ZoeyEvening MCJeanne at the Ocean casino

    Atlantic City with Jeanne

    11 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    The ocean in Margate is so lovely. Every morning after a leisurely breakfast, I collect my sarong, sun hat, and beach chair and walk the 8 blocks to immediately get in the water. So cool with soft sand and no crowds.

    Jeanne, Sheryl’s mom, has never been very fond of the beach and any way it has been too hot and muggy for her to join me. We have been doing a few chores but mostly enjoying each other’s company and eating ice cream.

    I’m always impressed by how vibrant and interesting Jeanne is at 93. She still works part-time and drives and can more than keep up her end of a conversation. Tomorrow she gets the rest of the Sunday New York Times. A treat for me as I am all digital.

    Tonight we went to an Indian Independence Day Festival at the Showboat, a former casino on the boardwalk. We ate samosas and watched a hometown celebration with dancing and music. We were one of only a few white attendees. We had fun.

    And while in Rome... as they say, we went to the Ocean casino to throw our money away on slots and poker machines. Between the two of us, we spent $35 bucks. High rollers we are not.

    Tomorrow we have dinner reservations at a nice restaurant. And I’m predicting there will be chocolate in my future...    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Self-protrait - 1981
    Vicky and me - TodayJohn Muse15 year old Celeste (Chelly)InspirationVisual Culture Arts and MediaPool TimePig Aly as opposed to PigalleHaverford College

    Old Friends - Visiting Vicky Funari

    14 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    You know those friends who you haven’t seen for years and you get together and it is as if no time or gap exists between you? That describes my relationship with Vicky. We were roommates back in 1981 in northern Virginia when I worked for NOW.

    She and her partner John are both artists - Vicky is a filmmaker and painter - her Haverford College business card says “scholar”. Her work and reputation has helped establish the new Visual Culture Arts and Media center. The campus is just how I imagine an old east coast college would look like: quaint and well manicured.

    I sat (stood) for an early self-portrait she painted. It’s a pretty good representation in likeness and attitude at the time.

    She is currently working on a film about a group of women (age 50 to 90) who do water aerobics together. It tells their stories of strength and transition into being older adults. Resonates for me, certainly.

    We reminisced some and shared our horror that we are fighting the same fights we did 40 years ago! Mostly though we shared our life stories over the last couple of years and what is on the horizon.

    These are the things that have made this trip east so deeply satisfying. I’m getting to know who I am by remembering who I was.

    Next up, DC.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    Halfway

    14 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Just passing the halfway point in my trip. Already destroyed one pair of shoes. RIP comfy brown sandals.

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Joanie Loves Bocce
    Virtual RealityMayor for Life - Marion Barry

    Bocce, Aquatic Gardens, & Burning Man

    15 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Bob’s bocce ball team, Joanie Loves Bocce, won their match on Tuesday night. I tried my hand at the game. It was kinda fun.

    We took the bus up to U Street. Crazy dude on the bus called Bob and I and the other white folks “crackers” and was quoting old tv shows. Very bizarre. One of the many reasons I never took the bus in DC when I lived here. Too much adventure for me.

    Today we went to one of my favorite hidden DC spots, the Aquatic Gardens, located on the other side of the Anacostia river. The lily pads and flowers were beautiful. Such a special treat.

    The Renwick Gallery had an amazing Burning Man exhibit. The interactive installations were great. We did a virtual reality tour on Black Rock City (Burning Man City). Cool.

    We walked tons making our way by the White House, Trump Hotel at the Old Post Office, sculpture garden, botanical garden, and lots of other sights. We found the statue of Mayor Marion Barry under wraps. Bob was able to get a good shot under the plywood.

    Dinner at the house. More fun for the whole week!    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Ebenezer Church
    New pedestrian road called Transportation walkThis is what became or the corner that housed my favorite gay dance club, Tracks.Bob at the waterfront. Hello!Our MichelleBehind the Myth of BenevolenceWomen Supremes196819681968

    Walking, Portraits, & the Wizard of Oz

    16 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    It was a 24,000 steps day. We walked all over SW DC that was non-existent when I lived here. Whole neighborhoods have been created that were rather unsavory and where I would dance the night away at the gay clubs. Incredible transformation.

    Bob suggested the Portrait Gallery. Saw all the Presidents, Michelle, and the women Supremes. They spotlighted 1968 - a consequential year. The whole gallery was great.

    We capped off the night with an outdoor showing of Wizard of Oz. It is better on the big screen.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Back row: Chris, Judy, Mary Jean, me, and Peter. Front row: Tatiana, Barbara, Morgan, and Bob
    Look at this building!!!Inside the reading room.Card catalogs. Note the drawers are too big.The reference stacksLOC meeting roomShiny halls in the CapitolWyden's officeBelmont-Paul Women's Equality Monument

    Library of Congress and ERA Friends

    17 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    I got a personal behind-the-scenes tour of the Library of Congress by Bob (a former staffer). This amazing book-lovers dream is a glorious architectural and art-filled wonder. I saw the stacks, the actual card catalogs, and the reading room. Not usually on the tourist list. But go.

    We stopped in at Representative Blumenauer’s and Senators Wyden and Merkley’s offices to lobby and say hello. They have PDX carpet! Non-Oregonian’s don’t get it.

    I had dinner with people I worked with from as early as1979! Barbara Helmick started the first canvassing operations in the country. I canvassed for Women’s Resources for Action to elect ERA-supporting women candidates. Today she works for DC statehood. Wyden is not a co-sponsor. Why? Two Democratic Senators, people!

    Mary Jean Collins ran the Illinois campaigns in 1980 and 1982 to try to pass the ERA. She has been one of the most influential women in my life. She taught me how to fight, be strategic, and enjoy the journey. And keep going. At 78 she is still as vital and fun as ever.

    Chris Riddiough, Judy Nedrow and I helped integrate the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club that was all white gay men back in the early 80’s. I met them both in Chicago in 1982 working and volunteering for NOW.

    It was a delightful evening sharing old stories and hearing about who was doing what now. Earlier in the day Bob and I went to the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument. I got to see original banners and displays about the brutal fight for women’s suffrage. The British and American women were beaten, force-fed, and tortured in their quest for the vote - and still they persisted.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    MLK Jr Memorial
    American Indian MuseumAmerican Indian MuseumLooks like the Guggenheim, no?

    Touring around by Bike

    18 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Started the day on the terrace for breakfast with Bob and his building neighbors. Weather is sticky even at 10am. I still just sweat it out and took a BikeShare ride to the MLK Jr Memorial. It was, frankly, boring. Monotone color stone, several carved quotes, it just seemed unimaginative. I guess I expected something that would show the brilliance of the man.

    I biked back to the mall and had lunch at the National Art museum. Afterwards, I wandered over to the American Indian Museum. Great exhibition.

    I biked back to Bob’s for dinner and out again to stroll around the neighborhood. Gelato was involved.

    Tomorrow we have more fun, fun planned.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    Hillwood House Visit

    19 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Another hidden gem in D.C. that I never visited before - Hillwood House. Marjorie Merriweather Post’s father started Post cereal and Postum (coffee substitute that my dad drank until it was discontinued). She bought this elegant Hillwood house and land in northwest Washington and lived their until the 1970s. She went to Russia in the late 30’s and purchased the most comprehensive collection of Russian imperial art outside of Russia. She also acquired an eighteenth-century French decorative art collection. The gardens are incredible with a Japanese, rose, and cutting gardens and greenhouse. After collecting all this exquisite arts, she donated it to the public to enjoy. Pretty spectacular. They also had a collection of Fabergé eggs on-site. Wonderful docent gave a great tour of the details of the place and special stories. The mid-century kitchen and “massage” room with the hair dryer and electric curler are just perfect 1950’s.

    I must say, this had a decidedly “gay” feel. Purple velvet drapes, opulence (or as Bob says - decorations up the wazoo), and my favorite, the entrance pins say “Fabulous”. Need I say more.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip
    Mary Gill and me
    National Geographic Titanic exhibit. It seems dresses are how women are portrayed in museums now.View from the African American Museum with the Lincoln Memrial in the background.Youngest student to integrate the Little Rock School.Oprah's dressDress Rosa Parks was making during the time she was arrested.Michelle Obama's dress

    African Amer. Museum & More Old Friends

    20 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    It has been too long since I have spent time with three old friends: Mary Gill, Judy Nedrow and Chris Riddiough. Mary and I were co-workers at NARAL and good friends. She has battled breast cancer and then a brain tumor. She has been cancer-free for 9 years on an initial 3 years survival expectation for her diagnosis. She is mighty if a bit wobbly. It was good to hear about her progress on writing and publishing her book about her ordeal(s).

    Dinner with Chris and Judy was a fun romp. Swapping travel stories and kitchen remodeling woes. I am finding that having been the youngest in my circle of DC friends, everyone is still older. Yes, that is the way it works, but in my head, they’re all the age they were 25 years ago when I left DC.

    The National Museum of African American History and Culture was so well done and so terribly sad. First because of the brutality and dehumanizing of a whole people so that whites in America specifically could become wealthy and comfortable. Secondly because the issues continue with police brutality, white supremacy, and white Americans living off the cheap/free labor people of color are still doing. These are so alive and relevant today. It’s not nuanced or micro.

    It was wonderful to see so many intergenerational African American families in the museum. As should be expected, but I have gone to a dozen museums on this trip and people of color were always in the minority. It was fun to hear parents explaining things to their children.

    It was odd that the museum made an announcement about once an hour to remind folks not to run around and engage in horseplay in the museum. I’ve never been to a museum that did that. And everyone was behaving, well, like they were in a museum. Concerning.

    I went through most of the floors but wanted more time to absorb and read and process. I will need to return.    En savoir plus

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  • Linda GinenthalVoyageurEast Coast Summer Trip

    Sister, Brother and Frankie Time

    23 août 2018, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Got into Boston and have been gabbing ever since. When cell phones first became a thing, Robin and I would talk until one of our phone batteries would die - a good three hours. Now, with cell phones the way they are, we are in deep trouble. Ron has been working but we got to see Second City comedy last night and laughed our asses off. Frankie (and Robin and I) have gotten in a couple of nice hikes in some beautiful east coast parks around Boston. The terrain is just incredible. And so are the bugs. Ack! I do forget about that.

    The last time I was here Robin hadn’t moved in yet. Robin has done a lovely job decorating and making it a cozy home. The garden is shaping up nicely and the birds have discovered the feeder in the back window. Ron cooked a delicious tomato sauce for dinner my first night. Looking forward to some good weather (without the stifling humidity) over the next few days.    En savoir plus

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