Shamu

Shamu is a lover of all things Latin American (he’s especially partial to things Mexican). One of his favorite places in Washington is the beautiful Art Museum of the Americas, and this past Thursday he attended its first Art After Dark, thrown by the board of the museum’s Friends group. The festive event featured, amongst other things, video and performance art (participants included the artist Carolina Mayorga), an Argentine percussionist and music by DJ Smudge. Shamu thoroughly enjoyed the cultural offerings as well as the socializing, although he might have had a glass (or two) of wine too many (especially on an empty stomach). As a result Friday was not the most productive of days, but Shamu believes there is nothing wrong with sacrificing productivity in the name of a good night out, and he is very much looking forward to attending the September 15 opening festivities of the museum’s upcoming exhibitions, Argentina in Focus: Visualizing the Concept, and Emilia Gutiérrez, Drawings and Paintings.


Shamu was very happy that the long weekend brought with it much more civilized weather, and he was keen to get out and about. Saturday he took a trip to Kensington, Maryland, to check out the antique shops. He didn’t have much luck with furniture (what he really needs), although he did find some fabulous penguin pins (he knows the importance of good accessorizing) at the very fun shop Flotsam and Jetsam. After the shopping excursion he went in search of a Dairy Queen, and while he found one he was disappointed to learn that it didn’t serve peanut butter sundaes. Luckily the strip mall it was located in offered him other choices, so he instead opted for a tamal de elote at the rather amusing Tijuana Mexican Café, followed by a slice of tres leches from the bakery next door.


Shamu spent the evening with a few friends in his tiny, but very charming (if he may say so) backyard, enjoying bubbly, wine, various treats and his friend’s delicious pineapple upside down cake (something he had never tried before but will happily eat again). They gossiped late into the night, so Shamu decided a lazy Sunday was in order. He did, however, find the energy to head to Georgetown for the divine peanut butter frozen yogurt at Thomas Sweet.


He enjoyed his treat while reading Washington Life’s 2010 Balls and Galas Directly and pondering his social schedule for the upcoming months. He needs to be prepared as he certainly wouldn’t want to miss a good party.