Fall days in DC

One of our business clients asked us to facilitate a team retreat at their beautiful, historic office in Washington, DC. I took the opportunity to stay in the city for a few days, and it was a real treat.

Not only is this client’s work closely aligned with my core values and making a meaningful impact in the world, but I was also met with a few days of that unique autumn sunshine—the kind that makes you want to skip under the slightly changing leaves.

I stayed at Yours Truly DC, which has a lounge area designed for gathering and connecting. The cozy, oversized couches were set up perfectly for lingering and enjoying time with others. Normally, I’m not impressed with hotel restaurant food, but the meals here were surprisingly good.

I appreciated the minimalist yet warm approach to the hotel room.

I met my friend E for dinner at Pisco Y Nazca to give her the portrait I painted of her. It’s such an odd feeling, handing someone a rendering of them that you created, not knowing if they’ll actually like it. I’m realizing I may not want to paint portraits of anyone outside of my husband and kids. I feel that portraits call for a level of realism that I don’t want to commit to.

One of my favorite things to do when I’m away from home is try out local yoga and Pilates studios. I stopped by Epic Yoga DC, and it did not disappoint. The space was warm and inviting, and the morning light streaming through the skylights heightened my sense of presence on the mat.

And of course I had to see some art. I stopped by the Phillips Collection which is a small private museum in DC.

I enjoyed seeing Jacob Lawerence’s work. In 1941, at just 23 years old he knew to capture the Great Migration of Black people moving from the South to the North beginning in 1915. He tells the story in a series of 60 paintings.

During my trip to Norway, I had the chance to see Mark Rothko’s work at the National Museum. Earlier this year, the DC National Gallery of Art also had an exhibition of his pieces, but what really moved me was how the Phillips Collection displayed a small body of his work in an enclosed room. It felt so intimate.

A few other pieces I enjoyed - Alma Thomas’s abstract work and Georgia O’Keefe’s landscape.

Had the best veggie sandwich ever nearby at the highly voted Compliments Only sandwich shop.

It was a good few days in the city, and this suburban gal definitely needed the change of scenery.

P.S. I wore this thrifted silk shirt I recently thrifted and the way I love the collar details.