Debbie and Brooke Do Dallas

 

In front of my 8th Presidential Library- George W. Bush!

 

In true mama daughter tradition, we hopped on a plane in January 2016 for a long weekend and headed south to the Big D…Dallas, Texas! Dallas is the whole (Heidecorn) girls trip package- good food, good history and good shopping! You do not need to rent a car while visiting Dallas. Just use Uber!

Accommodations

We decided to be super chic and stay at The Joule. The location is perfect as a jumping off point to get to most destinations in the city. We found the rooms to be spacious and stylish however fashion was sometimes put before function as light switches were hard to find and electronics in the room were not intuitive to use. The hotel boasts a fabulous art collection worthy of a viewing. Across the street from the hotel is Dallas’ strangest and most voyeuristic art sculpture, The Giant Eye, which stares at you longingly while you enjoy breakfast at their in-hotel restaurant, CBD Provision. After snapping a photo with the sculpture, head next door If you want some high end shopping at Forty Five Ten.

Food

Filament– The restaurant has since closed (which is a bummer because it was our favorite meal) but I wanted to include it on the blog because it’s located in a great neighborhood with other noteworthy restaurants. Check out this list to find out where to eat in Deep Ellum.

Veracruz Cafe– While walking around the Bishop Art District we stumbled upon Veracruz and we had a most delicious meal. Traditional Mexican and Meso-American cuisine hit the spot for lunch! After lunch, we wandered the district that we heard had great shopping and art but, truthfully, we were underwhelmed.

Smoke– It’s in a random location and for some reason, the place was empty when we ate there. It was pretty good but we weren’t blown away. I’d eat at Knife, Top Chef alum John Tesar’s steakhouse, instead.

The Theodore– Our flight to New York got canceled so we got an extra night in Dallas. We decided to head to the infamous NorthPark Center to have dinner. The Theodore turned out to be delicious and I would highly recommend!

Things to Do

 

If it’s a beautiful day and you have some time to spare check out Klyde Warren Park. Think of it as Dallas’ version of NYC’s Highline.

 

Arts District Architecture Tour– This is the tour we had booked in advance and I’m happy we didn’t miss it! Our docent was fabulous and she pointed out the architecture that we surely would have missed if we had been rambling around the neighborhood. She also told us how the neighborhood was designated for the arts has transformed as the city blossomed.

George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum– Honestly, it was very strange to visit

Father, Son. Mother, Daughter.

my EIGHTH presidential library on Trump’s Inauguration Day. The museum wasn’t afraid to showcase uncomfortable moments during his presidency, such as the attacks of September 11th, nor did it sugarcoat some of his missteps, like those during Hurricane Katrina, and in doing so, I found the museum to have a lot of integrity. In fact, I believe it paid tribute to Bush in a way that allowed for me to respect him more than I previously had. I also found the museum to give insight into Bush as a person and First Lady Laura Bush’s education initiatives which were often overshadowed during his presidency. We enjoyed a yummy, albeit it pricey lunch, at the restaurant Cafe 43 since the museum is located on the SMU campus without many food options.

 

 

Ready to be sworn in. A replica of the Oval Office when Bush was in office is in the museum and it makes for a great photo op!

 

Nasher Sculpture Center– A spectacular museum of Raymond and Patsy Nasher’s private collection. The building is very manageable but the highlight is the sculpture garden out back which is filled with Picassos, Calders, and Serras, to name a few. Do not miss this museum and plan to spend some quality time.

The Sixth Floor Museum– Book your tickets ahead of time for this sobering museum which is located inside the former Texas School Book Depository and chronicles the assassination of President Kennedy. I highly recommend getting the audio guide. The museum does an excellent job giving you the history leading up to the assassination and what occurred afterward as well. You can even get a first-person point of view where assassin Lee Harvey Oswald shot from. After leaving the museum, walk along Dealey Plaza to see the “X” where Kennedy was shot and stand on the Grassy Knoll. You can walk about 5 minutes from the museum to the JFK Memorial.

Dallas Holocaust Museum– Though small, this museum was impactful and impressive. It didn’t take us long to wind our way through the exhibits but we were glad to support an important museum devoted to the victims of the Holocaust and the survivors that made their way to the Dallas area.

Perot Museum of Science and Nature– With our extra day in Dallas we decided to head over to this spectacular museum. It’s large and new, and although it caters to children we still had a great time checking out the exhibits on the solar system and prehistoric animals.

NorthPark Center– Truthfully, it’s not just a mall. Developed by Raymond Nasher (see Sculpture Center above) the mall was ahead of its time when it was built in 1965. While the shopping is great, the art collection is even better!

All in all, I would highly recommend Dallas as a long weekend getaway. My mom and I had a great time exploring and eating in true Big D fashion!

Mom, Jeff, Whitney and Michael Jackson

I’ll make this post short and sweet…Go to the Whitney Museum of American Art and see the Jeff Koons: A Retrospective exhibition, http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/JeffKoons . Say your farewell to the Whitney since it will be moving to the Highline in 2015 and this will be its last exhibition. Here’s a few tips you should know before you go:

– Buy your tickets online ahead of time. The line was around the block but we had prepaid tickets so we strolled right on in!

One of the iconic Balloon Dogs (Yellow).

– Pick up the free audio guide. They seemed to be a bit finicky so make sure it’s working correctly before you head upstairs. I’m suggesting the audio guide because the crowd seemed to flock to all the text around the exhibition making it difficult to read everything in peace. The guide was very informative and included interviews and explanations with Koons himself.

Michael Jackson and Bubbles. Probably one of Koons’ most famous works. Here he’s playing with our concepts of idolatry and kitsch versus fine art.

– Start on Level 2. We thought to go to the top and work our way down but if you want to go chronologically, and leave the large scale sculptures for last, then walk up to the second floor.

From his Hoover series. Koons was inspired by Duchamp and the concept of the ready-,made. Koons also is constantly asking the viewer to consider the role of the artist versus the role of industry.

– Be prepared for nudity, and lots of it. So when considering whether or not to take the kids, just be ready to do some explaining on the third floor.

– Read this article from Time Out New York, http://www.timeout.com/newyork/art/jeff-koons-a-retrospective

Mom in front of Rabbit. Koons plays with the idea that his inflatables could deflate in an instant and yet the strength of the material would prevent that. Equilibrium  is a constant theme throughout his retrospective.

Split-Rocker, Koons says, was influenced by Picasso and his physical separation from his son. Go to Rockefeller Center to see the large scale garden version of this piece of art.

You’ll love it! Head to the Upper East Side and enjoy it. And maybe you’ll get lucky and see Paul McCartney at lunch afterwards like Mom and I did!

Flashback Friday: Cinciville Part 2

Part two of our trip from Louisville to Cincinnati started quite precariously. It should have been an easy 90 minute drive north on I-71. However we got caught in a flash snowstorm that mom drove through like a champ! After 2 and a half nail biting hours in the car we made it to the Queen City, Cincinnati. 

Accommodations: 21C Cincinnati http://www.21cmuseumhotels.com/cincinnati/, home of the yellow penguin, was fabulous. The location was central and the rooms were large. Remember this boutique chain is both a hotel and a museum and we enjoyed walking around the exhibits on display.

Look who we found in our room!

Favorite Sights…

William H. Taft Presidential Home: We thought it was well worth it to take the drive to the 27th President’s home. The park ranger gave us a thorough tour of the home and I learned so much about an often forgotten about president. He should not only be remembered for allegedly getting stuck in the White House bath tub. Taft was our only president to also serve as a Chief Justice on the Supreme Court! http://www.nps.gov/wiho/index.htm

Get on the raft with Taft!!

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center: This is a huge and impressive museum nestled between the baseball and football stadiums on the waterfront and across from the Roebling Bridge which looks like the Brooklyn Bridge (because they were both built by Roebling!) The museum itself is filled with a lot of information so I would suggest taking a tour that way you get the most comprehensive understanding of the history both before and after the civil war. http://freedomcenter.org/

American Sign Museum: You must be thinking I’m crazy right about now to suggest a museum dedicated to signs but it was absolutely fabulous. We took a tour and I learned more about signs than I ever thought possible. It seems farther on the map than it actually was so jump in the car and head out to this very unique museum. Take the weekday tour if possible because you get to see how neon signs are still made at their onsite shop.  http://www.americansignmuseum.org/

 

 

 

 

 

Contemporary Arts Center: The Zaha Hadid designed museum has a clear vision of modern and postmodern art. We arrived and took the elevator up with a man who turned out to be an artist and the curator of a new exhibit. Michael Stillion gave us a sneak peek tour of “Shall I Tell you the Secret of the Whole World”. We felt like VIPs and the exhibition was very impressive. The rest of the museum was very contemporary (maybe a little too contemporary. There were moments when we both looked at the art, then each other and said “huh?”) The gift shop was great! http://contemporaryartscenter.org/

Dining…

Metropole: 21C’s in house restaurant was yummy and as always the best part was sitting with the yellow penguin. The wait staff was particularly attentive to my gluten intolerance and they went out of their way to modify dishes. http://www.21cmuseumhotels.com/cincinnati/eatdrink/metropole/

Boca: It was highly recommended by locals and the design of the restaurant was stunning. We liked our food and I enjoyed the fact that you could get entrees in smaller sizes. http://bocacincinnati.com/

Taste of Belgium: Mom and I enjoyed walking around the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood for it’s shopping and food. Unfortunately I couldn’t taste a waffle but mom said it was delicious. http://www.authenticwaffle.com/

Jean-Roberts Table: This was our least favorite meal of the trip. We went for brunch but the food was bland and we were disappointed. Skip it. http://jrtable.com/

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!

Oh I forgot! In Louisville we also went to the Muhammad Ali Center (http://www.alicenter.org/) Give yourself a lot of time to look through everything. You even get a chance to take off your shoes and get in the ring and box!

 

 

Cinciville was a wonderful trip and, as always, we had a blast visiting cities that have so much to offer. If you have any questions about the trip, write to me in the comments section!!

Our 12th Mother/Daughter trip was an absolute success!

 

Pack Your Knives and Go…to Brooklyn Kitchen

When I’m thinking of a birthday present for my mom, I try to pick out something that she would never get herself- something a little out of the box, a little trendy and a lot of fun. A knife skills class at the Brooklyn Kitchen in Williamsburg completely fit the bill! I highly recommend taking the L train out to Lorimer Street and trying out this or any class at the Brooklyn Kitchen. Here’s why:

1. As the website says “No matter the cuisine, a chef is only as good as their knife skills”. My mother is a wonder in the kitchen and over the last year I’ve been cooking her recipes in the hopes that one day I’ll be half as good as she is. I figured that a little back to basics knife practice could only make us better in the kitchen!

Our chef instructor, Ken Weinrich!

2. Ken Weinrich, our instructor, was knowledgeable and funny. From one teacher to another, he got top grades in my book. The 2 hour class flew by!

3. I still have my 10 fingers.

4. My mother answered every single question correctly. Ken: Why do you pinch the heel of the knife? Mom: For support. Correct! Ken: Why is there a moat around most cutting boards? Mom: To collect the juices from the meat or water from the vegetables. Correct! Ken: What is it called when you roll up your basil and cut it so that it becomes like confetti? Mom: Chiffonade. Correct!

Mom working on her mise en place!

5. I learned that you should keep all your veggie scraps in a gallon zip-loc bag in your freezer. When it’s filled up, turn it into stock!

6. Did you know you need to buy a honing steel? It’s that rod-like utensil that keeps your knife sharp. If you hone before each knife use, you’ll only need to get your knives professionally sharpened every 8 months. Otherwise, you’ll need to sharpen every month. As Ken said, “A dull knife, is a dangerous knife”.

7. Keep your meat and veggies separate! Well, obviously. If you only have one cutting board mark an X in the corner. Use that side for meat and the other for veggies. No need to give your guests food poisoning.

8. I can now confidently and correctly cut carrots, celery, peppers and onions. Ken also taught us tricks for ginger, basil and garlic as well as how to break down a chicken!

No crying over this chop job. Ken taught us a great technique to chop onions quickly, safely and easily.

Crocodile Dundee and I know, “Now THAT’S a knife!” A chef’s knife to be exact!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.By attending a class you get 10% off the gift shop. Unfortunately we were running late for our dinner reservation at the Wythe Hotel’s restaurant, Reynard (http://reynardnyc.com/), so we didn’t have time to shop. Give yourself an extra 10 minutes before or after class to take advantage of the discount. Turns out dinner was unimpressive (loud, hot, bad timing of food, overpriced) so it would have been worth it to shop around and skip out on the reservation.

 

 

Check out the Brooklyn Kitchen’s website at http://www.thebrooklynkitchen.com/ to find a class to attend either at their Williamsburg or Midtown West location. You won’t regret it! Oh and happy birthday mom! Chop chop!

Mom is all smiles at Brooklyn Kitchen!

 

Flashback Friday: Cinciville

I have been very lucky to go on great trips with great people. I’d like to start a Flashback Friday series to tell you a little bit about these wonderful experiences and let you know what made them exciting (and what you can probably skip).

Here’s the 411 on my most recent trip with my most fabulous traveling buddy, my mama! We flew into Louisville, Kentucky, spent two nights in the city and then drove the two hours (well it should’ve been less but we went right through a snowstorm) to Cincinnati, Ohio for another two nights. Today I’ll just post on our first part of the trip, Louisville.

Accomodations: 21C Louisville (http://www.21cmuseumhotels.com/louisville/) This was our second 21C hotel stay and probably my least favorite. However, the boutique chain is amazing as it operates as a both a hotel and an art museum with changing exhibits. Each hotel features a different color penguin that is a site specific art installation. Louisville features the Red Penguin and if you eat at their in house restaurant (which we did, yum!), Proof on Main, you can ask for a penguin to sit with you!!!

21C Museum Hotel Louisville. Changing art exhibits by emerging and veteran artists.

Favorite Sights…

Churchill Downs: Go on the tour that includes an opportunity to meet a horse. Also takeyour time in the Kentucky Derby museum (tour is free with museum admission). It’s interactive and tons of fun! http://www.derbymuseum.org/

Outside Churchill Downs where California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby this year.

Louisville Slugger Museum: Great tour and museum. We also decided it would be fun to hit a few balls in the batting cage (I couldn’t resist using Derek Jeter’s model of bat) so don’t miss out on that hilarity. FYI, you get a free mini bat for taking the tour however you cannot take it in your carry on luggage. The museum will ship it home for you if you ask at the gift shop. http://www.sluggermuseum.com/

Outside the Louisville Slugger Museum. This bat is 120 feet tall and weighs 68,000 lbs.

Mama ready to hit some homers in the batting cage!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready to take a sip of our bourbon at the Evan Williams Experience! Did you know that bourbon is often referred to as “America’s Native Spirit” ?

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience: You can’t go to Kentucky without enjoying some bourbon! We didn’t have time to drive along the bourbon trail, which weaves it’s way outside of Louisville towards Lexington. Instead we took a tour right in the middle of the city at the Evan Williams visitor center. The tour includes a history of bourbon distilling and a generous tasting. You may see me drinking bourbon a bit more these days because of it. http://www.evanwilliams.com/index.php

Dining…

Proof on Main: Delicious! My mom ordered a ginger ale and bourbon based on the waitress’ recommendation. Mom said it was not to be missed! http://www.proofonmain.com/

Wild Eggs: Yummy and cheap. Perfect brunch spot. Lots of gluten free options! http://www.wildeggs.com/

Decca: Pretty good. In a great neighborhood. Cool decor. http://deccarestaurant.com/

Hillbilly Tea: A lovely brunch spot. Amazing selection of hot and iced teas. http://www.hillbillytea.com/

Mayan Cafe: Interesting and inventive Mexican food. Filling lunch spot. http://themayancafe.com/

Overall, Louisville was a cute city with yummy food and just enough to do. I highly recommend! Stay tuned for part two of our mother daughter trip I like to call Cinciville!

Just a casual dinner at Proof on Main with a red penguin!