Plasma Ball at Fernbank

One of the things that I love about the Fernbank Museum of Natural History is all the surprises around every corner. One that I rediscovered on a recent visit is their Plasma Ball...I totally want one!

Plasma Ball at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History

This particular Plasma Ball is in the Museum's Sensing Nature permanent exhibition. That gallery has tons of learning experiences, including a display that demonstrates how tornadoes form, another that shows how sound travels, and lots of other hands-on activities that reveal the delicate relationship between nature and human senses.

From the Fernbank website on the gallery...

"Sensing Nature playfully demonstrates the role of our senses in interpreting our environment. Interactive stations demonstrate how our senses sometimes interpret visual and audial cues, which can sometimes lead to false perceptions. As you gain a better understanding of how your senses work together to understand the environment, learn how your senses work together to understand the weather."

So, when you're next at Fernbank, explore, explore, explore...there's LOTS to see and do!

World of Shells

I love Atlanta, but I do miss the beach. Fortunately, we're far enough south that beach season lasts considerable longer than for our Northern friends, and few annual trips to the Gulf or Atlantic is relaxing and always welcome.

As a kid, I enjoyed collecting shells while walking along the shore or in the shallow waters. I don't think I ever went home with out at least a handful. That gave birth to a lifelong fascination of shells and their amazing diversity!

World of Shells at Fernbank

The World of Shells exhibit at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, one of their permanent exhibits, is an exploration of the formation of shells and shells from around the world.

World of Shells at Fernbank

The shells on display range in size—from tiny to several feet wide—as well as in color and shape.

World of Shells at Fernbank

They have some that are so bizarre, they'd probably be as frightening as they are fascinating...at least until you figured out that they're shells and not something from outer space.

World of Shells at Fernbank

The displays are mostly in cases, with a few free standing specimens. The cases also feature water fowl from various regions of the world—an ingenious accompaniment, I think. 

World of Shells at Fernbank

And of course they have a number in the collection that we East Coasters are quite familiar with, but remember that Atlanta gets a LOT of international visitors, so some of the ones that we think of as "everyday" may be as bizarre looking to them as others look to us. Either way, fascination all around!

World of Shells at Fernbank

There are at least a couple of displays that show the range in size, or at least a sampling in range, of a particular variety of shell.

World of Shells at Fernbank

One of the really cool things about getting to the World of Shells exhibit is that you have to walk through the Star Gallery to get there. That's a gorgeous space with a star field ceiling that changes color and there's a video wall with space themed video running. It's also a great space for a reception!

World of Shells at Fernbank

The pièce de résistance in the gallery is the shell of what was a living 300-pound giant Tridacna Clam! The largest known to exist was 500 pounds, but ours is significant and a beautiful specimen nonetheless. This particular species is native to shallow waters in the Indian and southwest Pacific Oceans.

So, there you go...proof that there's more to a natural history museum than dinosaurs. The great news is that there is a LOT beyond dinosaurs. But let's be real...the dinosaurs are super cool and definitely keep us coming back.

Be sure to check out the shells on your visit—next or first—to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

You Know There's a Millennium Gate Museum, Right?

I just wanted to share a reminder that there's a fabulous museum "inside" the Millennium Gate at Atlantic Station. I've been through more than once and I'm so glad to have discovered it...highly recommend checking it out!

Millennium Gate at Atlantic Station

You're over there shopping, going to the movies, or checking out the exhibits inside Atlantic Station anyway, so check out the museum. It offers a unique perspective on Atlanta history. I think you'll be glad you did!

Chosen Food...at The Breman

I've long been fascinated with the Jewish culture. I read Night by Elie Wiesel years before it (and his amazing work) won him a 1986 Nobel Peace Prize and became required reading in American schools; I have an autographed copy of After the Darkness by Elie who signed it for me personally; and I have an autographed copy of Shekhina, Leonard Nimoy;s first photography book. I've immersed myself in the Jewish culture (somewhat) since childhood, mostly through books I read.

Jewish food has long fascinated me...mostly because it's been a mystery to me. "Chosen Food: Cuisine, Culture, and American Jewish Identity" at the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum cleared up a few things and shed light on others.

"Chosen Food" at the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

One of the most fascinating aspects of Jewish cuisine that totally spoke to me, while exploring this exhibition, was not the lox and bagels or the matzo ball soup that's so associated with the culture, but that the culture is so incredibly international.

"Chosen Food" at the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

Of interest, but not surprising, many of our Chinese restaurants are, historically, filled with Jewish patrons on Christmas Day. One part of the exhibition questioned, given the Jewish calendar predates the Chinese calendar, what Jews ate before there was Chinese food. Humor is tastefully peppered throughout the exhibition.

"Chosen Food" at the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

I'd never give it much thought prior to it being pointed out in this exhibition, the desire for one's own food, following immigration, was driven by the flavors of home, wherever that country might have been. Jewish cuisine is truly international!

"Chosen Food" at the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

The exhibition also pointed out that Jewish kitchens are largely the kitchens of their mothers. When Jewish immigrants arrived in the United States, a significant portion of belongings that came with them were their family's dishes and pots and pans. I knew family ties are strong in the Jewish culture, but hadn't made the obvious connection to the kitchen...I'm learning a lot here!

"Chosen Food" at the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

One quote in the exhibition reads, "There's nothing that two Jews like more than sitting around in a diner late at night and talk about what they're eating." That was comedian Jon Stewart.

"Chosen Food" at the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

As in every culture, Jewish holidays are steeped in food traditions. For example, exchanging gifts of food is one of the primary observances on Purim, 

"Chosen Food" at the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

Catering takes on a whole new dimension when serving the observant. The exhibition goes into Kosher catering and Kosher-style catering...two very different things. Atlanta has a very rich catering history and industry, many of which offer Kosher catering.

"Chosen Food" at the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

The exhibition displays several wedding cake toppers, including this one from 1904.

"Chosen Food" at the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

The one thing, and probably the most important, that I garnered from the exhibition is that Jewish cuisine goes far beyond its religious aspect...it's about family. It's about shared traditions, shared experiences, enjoying each other...food creates opportunities to share in and strengthen the bond of family.

I highly recommend visiting this exhibition, and the rest of the Museum. But get there soon; it finishes at the end of this month.

When you're done here, head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page for more photos from the exhibition. 

Mazel tov!

The Delta Heritage Museum

The Delta Heritage Museum, yet another of Atlanta's hidden gems, is without a doubt a must-see, but if you're to see it this year, you're going to have to go very soon. The Museum, housed in two 1947 hangars, will soon be undergoing a massive renovation. Ex-ci-ting!

The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum

The Museum houses the above Boeing-767 Ship 102, which was purchased by Delta's employees, retirees, and friends of Delta who raised $30,000,000 for the acquisition and gifted it to Delta in 1982. 

The plane was Delta's first 767, which exactly 24 years after its dedication as "The Spirit of Delta", on December 15, 2006 was opened as a quite unique piece of memorabilia—it had been retrofitted to be not only a 159 feet long airplane, but a museum within a museum!

The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum

The Spirit of Delta is actually in Hangar 2 of the Museum. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's the most photographed airplane in the Museum, especially given that there's a staircase in front of one of the engines that's perfect for group photos. There was a school group visiting when I was there and they indeed made a group photo here.

The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum

The exhibit space inside The Spirit of Delta is amazing! The docent on duty when I visited, Tiffany, was super nice and eager to share information about the 767 and the Museum. There has to be thousands of artifact in this space alone!

The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum

Some of the more fun artifacts are the uniforms that space the decades. The Delta Heritage Museum is home to one of the largest collections of airline uniform in a museum.

The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum

High on the cool-factor scale are a number of the models on display in the 767, including these...models of Boeing's proposed Super Sonic Transport (SST). The American SST was designed to carry 250 passengers—more than twice as many as the Concorde (which I've seen on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Dulles, Virginia...amazing!) and would have flown at Mach 2.7-3.0. 

Delta had ordered three of these beauties in 1964, but government funding stopped in 1971, before a prototype could be built. Wouldn't it be cool if this project was resurrected?!

The Spirit of Delta, Boeing-767 Ship 102, Delta Heritage Museum

There are a few other artifacts on display in Hangar 2, but The Spirit of Delta takes center stage. Be sure to check the Museum's website before heading to the Museum. The exhibit space in The Spirit of Delta is open on certain days/times.

The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, DC-3 Ship 41

Back over in Hangar 1, there is lots more 'cool factor' going on, the Douglas DC-3 Ship 41 being my favorite in this space. This particular airplane first carried Delta passengers in 1940...it looks sturdy enough that I would totally be comfortable flying in it even today! It's a beautiful plane...who wouldn't want to fly in it?!

She was also the very first aircraft to be presented a National Trust for Historic Preservation award. Lots of 'cool factor' going on here!

Oh, and I didn't know this when I visited...you can tour (inside) the DC-3 on the second Tuesday of every month at noon. These tours are docent-led and start on time...be punctual or wait another month!

The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, Stinson Reliant SE

This 1936 Stinson Reliant SE was an instrument trainer for Northeast Airlines pilots in 1941-1942. Northeast was merged into Delta in 1972. You're very likely to be blown away at the pristine condition of most of the Museum's aircraft...I totally was.

The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, 1928 Waco 125

Going even further back in aviation history, this 1928 Waco 125 plane belonged to Northwest Airways, but instead of being part of its fleet, she was used for promotions, flight instruction, and charters. Northwest Airways was merged into Delta in 2008.

This particular airplane was restored and donated to Northwest Airlines by Capt. Daniel F. Neuman, Ret.,in memory of his wife, Vona Jean Neuman, in 1985. Don't you love those stories. She must have been a very special woman.

The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, Exhibits

Hangar 1 of the Museum has quite a lot of exhibit space like this and the artifacts and history range from uniforms, to serveware, to stories of aviation professionals, to model airplanes. You could easily spend hours and hours and hours exploring this museum!

The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, Chilkoot Totem Pole

This 14-foot tall, solid Alaskan red cedar 1,300 pound totem pole was carved by Chilkoot Native American craftsmen in 1969. It resided in Los Angeles until 1987.

There are so many unique artifacts in this Museum...just plan on being here for the duration of their open hours if you're as curious and fascinated by aviation as I am!

The Delta Heritage Museum, Hangar 1, Delta Aircraft Model

Well, here's the deal. The Delta Heritage Museum is on the Delta Headquarters campus and it is in fact open to the public, but only by appointment. That means, you can visit during certain hours, just call ahead to schedule your visit and know that you'll need to present a government issued photo ID at the Delta security entrance.

Also, I mentioned a major renovation. I'm told that the Museum's Hanger 2, where the Boeing 767 (The Spirit of Delta) resides, will be closing this month—in less than three weeks as of this writing. Hangar 1 is slated to remain open through September or October with the Museum reopening later in 2014.

So, if you can make the time to see The Delta Heritage Museum in the next couple of weeks, I think you'll find it well worth the time...there's a lot more going on than what I've mentioned here!

Now, head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page for lots more photos from my visit to The Delta Heritage Museum!

The National Museum of Decorative Painting

PERMANENTLY CLOSED as of April 2018.

Atlanta is a treasure trove of hidden gems! The National Museum of Decorative Painting is yet another hidden gem that I found quite accidentally during a random Internet search. And that it's right around the corner from my office was a bonus.

National Museum of Decorative Painting

The Museum boasts an impressive collection of 1,500 artifacts and the range of painted items is equally impressive. And some of the artifacts date to the 18th Century!

National Museum of Decorative Painting

The styles of painting also vary in range, although much of it is realistic in some fashion or another. You'll see lots of floral, people, and scroll painting, with lots of surprises mixed in.

National Museum of Decorative Painting

When we went, we were greeted by the Museum's executive director, Andy Jones, who also served as our tour guide. He reminds me so very much of my brother Russell in Miami that I couldn't help but feel relaxed and had a great time.

Andy was very polite and quite funny. With a great laugh, his passion for the museum collection and its mission comes through with obvious grandeur.

National Museum of Decorative Painting

To take from the Museum's website, the museum was created in 1982 "for the purpose of collecting, preserving, and displaying the art of decorative painting...the Museum also provides exhibitions and educational programs for the public to increase their appreciation and understanding of decorative painting, its heritage, methods, and techniques."

National Museum of Decorative Painting

After we toured the main part of the Museum, which was more modest than I expected given the size of their collection, Andy invited us to the open storage area where they have the balance of the collection, sans any pieces that are at the time on a traveling exhibition.

Very tall rows and rows of artifacts...small, large, subtle, extravagant...and it's all painted!

National Museum of Decorative Painting

Adjacent/part of the storage area is a very large catering kitchen—they have special events at the Museum from time to time—and the Museum's gift shop, which is nicely appointed.

National Museum of Decorative Painting

The beauty in this Museum is surprisingly free of charge for all visitors. I was used to that when I lived in Washington, D.C., but not here in Atlanta, so that was a pleasant surprise. The one catch is that it's only open Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or by appointment.

National Museum of Decorative Painting

The Museum also offers workshops, classes, and shows. I didn't ask about those, but I do know there's a classroom upstairs at the Museum, but for additional information, visit the Museum's website or just give them a call.

National Museum of Decorative Painting

If you're a local tourist, it's quite possible you've seen artifacts from the Museum before...they do exhibit around town from time to time.

National Museum of Decorative Painting

Next time you're in West Midtown, during the day, stop by the Museum and visit with Andy. If you're planning a trip and the National Museum of Decorative Painting is on your 'to see' list, call ahead to let them know you're coming—just in case they might be out installing an exhibition.

One word of caution, be careful parking. The parking is complimentary—again, a rarity in Atlanta—but the front parking lot is tiny, but there's some parking in the back.

Now, head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page for even more photos of this beautiful museum.

Bright White Peachtree

You would have almost though it was summer earlier today (alright, maybe spring). I love how bright white the High Museum of Art is on these days. The Museum just beckons to be visited. At the very least, it's not going to be ignored.

High Museum of Art

The newest exhibition a the High, "Frida & Diego: Passion, Politics, and Painting," opened yesterday. It runs through early May, but I recommend resisting the urge to put it off until later. How many times have you done that and next thing you know you missed the exhibition?! 

If the answer is "more than once," may I recommend marking your calendar right now? You can always reschedule an outing already on your calendar, but you're much more likely to miss something completely if it's not on your calendar to begin with. Or is that just me?

Have a great weekend and I hope you get to see the new exhibition at the High!

Cover: Tufted Blue

I'm totally in love with the new exhibit at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA). With that, here's a pre-sized Facebook Cover Photo from one of the 17 vignettes at MODA's "The South's Next Wave: Design Challenge"...Vignette #6: "Darkly, Deeply, Beautiful Blue".

"Darkly, Deeply, Beautiful Blue"
Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

"Darkly, Deeply, Beautiful Blue" was created by cg creative interiors' Caryn Grossman & Chris Buxbaum and the cakes are by Lisa Humphreys of Couture Cakes. This vignette, which subtly features cakes, is a nod to a Parisian salon, with a clever inclusion of Marie Antoinette.

There's a LOT going on in this vignette...including photos and a video of performance artist "Baby Doll" who attended opening night. It's nearly like observing a Salvador Dali painting in its infinite details...you could explore for hours!

Shared in a tour by exhibition curators Tim Hobby and David Goodrowe, of Goodrowe | Hobby, the artists of this vignette started as soon as the set-up period began and worked through the meager one-week time frame to prepare for the exhibition opening.

The exhibition is indeed a "challenge"...visitors get to vote on their favorite vignette. I like so many of them, I've not yet cast my vote. I need more time to deliberate. But...don't wait too long. The winner will be announced well before the exhibition concludes, so visitors have time to check out the winner(s).

Check out my previous post of this exhibit and then add a visit to MODA to your calendar. There's no other museum like this in Atlanta and it's one of the very few in the area that's also a Smithsonian Affiliate museum.

Now, head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page for more of what's going on in Atlanta!

ATLANTApix: Tom Wesselmann's Mouth

Tom Wesselmann's "Mouth #15"

Originally displayed in an exhibition in 1968 in Kassel, Germany, Tom Wesselmann's "Mouth #15" today hangs in Atlanta's High Museum of Art.

Wesselman, 1931-2004, was an American artist who studied at Cooper Union for Arts and Architecture (establish 1859) in New York and began an illustrious career with the initial success of his his Great American Nude Series.

You will find Mouth #15 in the High's Modern & Contemporary Art gallery, near Andy Warhol's 10-panel Marilyn Monroe painting. 

Don't be fooled by the size of this photograph. The canvas that Mouth #15 calls home could swallow me whole!

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTAvidz: Goddess, Lion, Peasant, Priest Extended

The Oglethorpe University Museum of Art's current exhibition, Goddess, Lion, Peasant, Priest: Modern and Contemporary Indian Art from the Collection of Shelley and Donald Rubin, has been extended through Sunday, September 4, 2011. This is one that you want to see!

The exhibition features 50 modern and contemporary works by 28 artists from India, created since independence from British colonial rule in 1947. 

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTAvidz: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids Make Room for Darwin

Today is the final day of the "Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids" exhibition at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. The exhibit is stunning, clever, and brilliantly mastered...and you'll have the opportunity to explore quite a few popular 'myth vs. fact' stories.

If, sadly, you're not able to venture over to Fernbank today and you have not already seen Mythic Creatures, please enjoy this brief video and my former post to see just how fantastic this exhibit was.

What's next? "Darwin" (opening Saturday, September 24, 2011)...an exhibition about one of the greatest, and one of the most controversial, scientists known to mankind.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Mixing Metaphors

"Mixing Metaphors" at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum

Currently on display at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum is an outstanding art exhibition called "Mixing Metaphors: the Aesthetic, the Social and the Political in African American Art." Depicting extraordinary moments to the mundane, the more than 90 works reflect the artists' emotions relative to politics, race, class, and gender.

The works of art, in the mediums of paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, sculptures and mixed media, are from the Bank of America collection and will be on display through Sunday, July 31, 2011.

Other highlights of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum include an exact replica of the Oval Office as it was during the Carter administration (1977-1981). There are also regular speaker and author (book signing) events, including President Carter himself, from time to time.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Stegosaurus

Stegosaurus at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History

There's a life-size Stegosaurus behind the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Be sure to go out on the back patio area or at least peer out of the windows on the ground floor level or you might miss this spectacular giant. And this Stegosaurus is special.

Crafted by Jonas Studios, this Stegosaurus is a replica of the Stegosaurus that debuted at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, along with eight other also life-size dinosaurs. The exhibition, Sinclair Dinoland, spawned greater imagination and interest in the giants who once ruled the world.

The original Stegosaurus model, after a national tour, took up residence at the Dinosaur National Monument on the Colorado and Utah border, which is within the area where Jurassic Period Stegosaurus fossils have been found.

At the same World's Fair, Ford Motor Company debuted on April 17, 1964, in the Ford pavilion, their brand new car, the Ford Mustang.

ATLANTApix and ATLANTAvidz of the tourATLANTA blog features a daily photo or video relative to Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Georgia Marble

Georgia Capitol Museum (Georgia marble)

Did you know that the world-famous statue of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. was made from Georgia marble? It was! As were the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, the East Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta.

You can learn facts similar to these on a free tour of the Georgia Capitol Building, specifically in the Georgia Capitol Museum on the fourth floor.

The four columns pictured here, each made of Georgia marble, with their intricately carved Corinthian capitals, have been part of the museum collection since at least 1909. Left to right, the marbles represented here are: white Cherokee marble, Etowah pink marble solar gray marble, and white Georgia marble.

And speaking of where the Governor works, did you know that it was on this day in 1995 that Governor Zell Miller designated the peach as the official Georgia state fruit?

ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!

ATLANTApix: Ducati in Atlanta

Ducati at the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

The Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) opened its doors at its new Midtown location a mere two weeks and an opening to great fanfare it was! For me, seeing so many Ducatis and Agustas rekindled my attraction to and lust for motorcycles!

You know how when you buy a new car and for the following several weeks, you notice every car on the road that is the same make as the one you just bought? Well, since going to see Passione Italiana: The Design of the Italian Motorcycle I've seen dozens and dozens of motorcycles driving around Atlanta! I wish it was because I had just purchased a new Ducati (photo), but it must be the influence of having seen the MODA exhibit.

They're also engaged in a number of events, including a now weekly "Drink in Design" program on Thursday evenings. Last week's DiD included a guided tour by the curator of Passione Italiana and this week's will feature performance by Dance Truck! (not sure what that's about, but will find out through email, their website, Facebook, or Twitter - all of which you can easily sign up for!).

ATLANTApix of the tourATLANTA blog features a "photo-of-the-day" of Atlanta. Come back tomorrow for a new one!