We went to Providence over the weekend! I call it a Professional Development Weekend, Nick calls it "Providence Baby!" Most of you are in the same boat as me when it comes to art professional development at your schools (unless you are Jessica at
The Art of Education whose professional development I oogle over every time I read about it.)
Sometimes a girl has slow down and to take matters into her own hands. I've been running so fast this year that I wanted to pause and connect with myself, the reasons that I became an art educator, and my family. What better place to go then Providence. . . the place I started teaching (shout out to Ms. Harris at the South Providence Library my first teaching mentor), where I met my husband, and where I feel like I connected with myself as an artist. Not to mention, Providence has THE BEST FOOD! If you've been reading my blog you might remember my husband is a chef, so he knows all the best "hole in the wall" places to go as well as "fancy" places. We had the baby who is unpredictable so we stuck with all the "hole in the walls."
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| Frommage anyone? |
We started the day at our favorite date spot (okay MY favorite date spot), The Creperie on Thayer Street. I recommend the Betty (strawberries and organic honey.) You can eat crepes while listening to punk rock and checking out the flyers of "what's going on" in Providence.
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| The Betty |
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| Yeah. . . I was going to offer Nick the last bite, but. . . |
Next we walked and walked and walked. This is a town made for walking. We walked Brown University's campus and stumbled upon their community garden. If you've been reading my blog you know that art and environmental awareness go hand in hand for me. Update: We are half way to our $10,000 goal to build our greenhouse. Our Green Team has been on fire this year! I let myself in this building and tried to find someone to talk with me about the garden, but all the students were gone.
Of course we visited the RISD Museum. Side note: I used to work there creating programs for families and making money for all those crepes and lattes.
I saw some OLD stuff. . .
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THE BUDDHA! I used to go to this room to chill a lot. I was so excited to show Stella.
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Some NEW Stuff. . .
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| This video installation was something right up my alley. The artist let livestock and animals in an apartment and filmed their interactions. Amazingly no animal fought. They all got along peacefully, meanwhile, destroying the space. Stella was entertained with the large goat and kitty cats. |
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| Here is where I used to work! The children's wing. |
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| Loved these! There was no writing about what they were but. . . |
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I found these in the museum. The kids art must've been inspired by these. I have some knockers,
I might do this project next year. |
That's all for now! Off to a birthday party. . . check back later for more from PROVIDENCE BABY!
15 comments:
A visit to Providence - sounds great! I visited a l-o-n-g time ago when my sister lived in Boston. She took me on a 10 day tour of the best places around that region. We only spent a day in Providence but it was great. I'll look forward to more pix of your trip...
Wonderful! I love the buddha pic… Looks like you adn Stella found you zen:) I REALLY like the lion door knockers. Great project… I can see it as one of your projects next year:) Are you enjoying the summer?
I've only been to Providence once - we toured the Brown campus - it was my son's dream to go there. But after wait-listing him he was eventually rejected and 4 years later it seems it all worked out OK anyhow. Anyhow, we loved the campus but didn't get to see enough of Providence. I'll have to get back there!
I love the Buddha pic too - Stella is getting big already!!
Thanks for sharing - looking forward to seeing more!
Stella is sooo stickin' adorable!!!!! I love the community garden if we lived closer I bet we could really crank out a nice garden together! :) Glad you are having fun keep posting cute photos. I really like the buddha one especially! :)
Laura
What a fun trip! Your family is so cute. That looks like some mighty fine eatin' too! Stella is adorable, by the way.
Hellllooo friends,
Just got back from the birthday with all these wonderful comments. . .
Now I have tons of pictures to upload from the party that people are dying to see! So part two tonight or tomorrow. . .
Nancie: Boston is great too. . . I go for Red Sox games but there is sooo much more to do then just baseball! I'll have to go back and stay over next ball game.
Mrs. Hahn: Lion Door knockers definitely! Keep your eyes open at antique shops this summer if you plan to do this. . .that is where I found mine but I will still be looking:) Summer hasn't started for me yet. Two more weeks still! How's your summer has it started?
Phyl: It worked out just as it should for your son! I put in over ten applications and got a lot of denials back RISD was the last one to come in. I still remember reaching in my mailbox at school hoping it would be a thick letter. . . It was and after all the tears from denial letters I was finally able to call my mom (from a phone booth. . . saw your post:) with tears of joy. Your son traveled too which was something I was never able to do because it was cost prohibitive. . . paying for regular tuition plush travel. . . I think travel is the best teacher.
Laurel: I live in CT! The growing season is so short here. . . pray that the green house gets started soon! I love that you think Stella is as cute as I do! I will definitely post more:)
Janie: Thank You! More food picks on the way!!! Next up my favorite middle eastern place (I don't even like middle eastern food! Except from here of course)
Hellllooo friends,
Just got back from the birthday with all these wonderful comments. . .
Now I have tons of pictures to upload from the party that people are dying to see! So part two tonight or tomorrow. . .
Nancie: Boston is great too. . . I go for Red Sox games but there is sooo much more to do then just baseball! I'll have to go back and stay over next ball game.
Mrs. Hahn: Lion Door knockers definitely! Keep your eyes open at antique shops this summer if you plan to do this. . .that is where I found mine but I will still be looking:) Summer hasn't started for me yet. Two more weeks still! How's your summer has it started?
Phyl: It worked out just as it should for your son! I put in over ten applications and got a lot of denials back RISD was the last one to come in. I still remember reaching in my mailbox at school hoping it would be a thick letter. . . It was and after all the tears from denial letters I was finally able to call my mom (from a phone booth. . . saw your post:) with tears of joy. Your son traveled too which was something I was never able to do because it was cost prohibitive. . . paying for regular tuition plush travel. . . I think travel is the best teacher.
Laurel: I live in CT! The growing season is so short here. . . pray that the green house gets started soon! I love that you think Stella is as cute as I do! I will definitely post more:)
Janie: Thank You! More food picks on the way!!! Next up my favorite middle eastern place (I don't even like middle eastern food! Except from here of course)
Yay, Providence!! I <3.
One more thing I forgot to tell you - as of last weekend our school garden is now a REAL THING! My best bud the 4th grade teacher/cancer survivor is the driving force; I'm so proud of her. I have been promised sunflowers so it's VanGogh this fall for sure! So last weekend they built raised beds, a bunch of soil was put in, and there's crushed bluestone in between the beds so that our wheelchair student can get in. The garden design is beautiful. I'll admit I'm not a gardener (lousy back) but I am a big supporter. I'll have to post some pics as it gets going, or perhaps they will get a garden blog going and I can just link. Yeah, veggies!!
I can't wait to see your pics! You have a short growing season too. . .I know there's some colder root veggies you can grow longer, I'm interested to see what they decide to plant. We were considering what to plant in the raised beds outside the greenhouse that we can get the most time out of for the kids. YAY to your friend, it's a big accomplishment.
Ruth, Bet you know all the spots too:) There is an awesome new frozen yogurt place FROYO and the original flavor is pretty amazing. If you go back. . .
I love that - Professional Development Weekend.It's so great to get away and gain some perspective. And there's nothing like visiting old stomping grounds. Stella is such a cutie! :)
Erica,
Thanks for the shout out. Your Professional Development seems more fun than mine! hahaha! First of all sometimes just that simple act of getting away can really make us clear our minds, learn something new and break away from the everyday. Do you like your carrier? Is it a moby? Maybe this question is better served for the lamamamma blog... :) She is getting so big! Jessica Balsley
I love going to places I know Mary. I'm a little nostalgic! I also like knowing where all the nearest bathrooms and changing stations are. We'll venture farther as she gets older. Going to Jersey, Philadelphia and Nashville all in the next couple of weeks! She is such a good baby.
I LOVE the MOBY! It is a little bit of a pain because the fabric is so long so you can't just throw it on BUT it does save my back. The other carrier hurts my back while the MOBY distributes the weight better I think. There's my review. . . no more Lamamama boohoo hoo. if there was only a way to have a private blog so I can continue to write candid funny stories for moms but also have conversations with other moms (I had a non-mom stalker on the last blog which was just too weird for me). An opportunity to write mom stories will hopefully come to me soon!
Providence IS wonderful, isn't it? I was up at my alma mater, RISD, a few weeks ago for our reunion weekend. It was so wonderful to be back with old friends and in such a creative place! You are right---Providence has the. best.food.ever! I'm new to the blogging world, teaching art is a second career for me, but something I'm enjoying immensely. I enjoy your blog and wish you all the best with your new little one!
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