My Happy Place
One advantage of being a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom is the odd day when you can hold off on your to-do-list just that day and not be anywhere for a good hour or two. That's when I head to the Huntington (or if you're not on a first name basis with this great place, the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens).
I first discovered the Huntington as a tourist visiting from Manila in 1986, wowed by the sheer expanse of the gardens and hypnotized by their literary collection ( the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales! A copy of the Gutenberg Bible on vellum! Scrawled letters from literary giants!) I rediscovered it as a college student at Pasadena City College, when I had to write a story on muralist Betty Dore, who just happened to work at the Huntington Tea Room. It has since become my happy place, my cheering-up corner of the world.
I first discovered the Huntington as a tourist visiting from Manila in 1986, wowed by the sheer expanse of the gardens and hypnotized by their literary collection ( the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales! A copy of the Gutenberg Bible on vellum! Scrawled letters from literary giants!) I rediscovered it as a college student at Pasadena City College, when I had to write a story on muralist Betty Dore, who just happened to work at the Huntington Tea Room. It has since become my happy place, my cheering-up corner of the world.
I took my then boyfriend here in the 90s, expecting him to rhapsodize
about the Japanese Garden, or to break into song about my secret corner
(not so secret anymore, since the recent remodeling of the old
Huntington mansion kinda brought too much light into it). Anyway, all
Hubby could say was, "This place has a lot of trees!"
Dear Reader, I married him anyway.
Today, my boys and I (and Papa, on weekends) regularly haunt the place. There is something about the gardens, from the blooming roses (come mid-April for the riot of color) to the precious little nooks with benches just begging you to sit and reflect. My boys love running down the south lawn, hopscotching on the stone pavements, examining the sculptures, and of course, their own little children's garden, opened a couple of years ago. The classical Chinese Garden is open now too, known as Liu Fang Yuan, the Garden of Flowing Fragrance but I haven't had time to walk 'round it properly.
The staff are unfailingly friendly, from the guards and gardeners to the wandering scholars to the bookstore folks to the curators. (But please don't let your kids touch the gallery art, and save the guards from heart attacks. The horror!) I love the bookstore with beautiful items, a generous kid's section and shelves full of books!books!books!) and the tea room with it's roses and pretty and yummy sandwiches.
I love the cool darkness of the library, each changing exhibit, the movie-famous gardens, the classes for kids and grown-ups, the lectures and plant sales, the summer picnic concerts!!! The Huntington also has exquisite, grown-up events for members but we don't go to those (see two gamboling boys for reason.)
Our membership is worth every penny.
Sandro and I are enrolled at the Huntington's preschool series this coming March 20, four Thursdays from 10-11:30 a.m. We went through and loved their "Face to Face" series last month, taught by Ms. Jonelle Picket, whom Sandro loved. She was able to wrangle 3-4 year olds with patience and love, and got them excited about art. She even graciously let me play arts and crafts too! Ms. Jonelle will be teaching this session also, "Skipping Into Spring." We're excited!
What is it about the Huntington that you love?
Get acquainted here.
Dear Reader, I married him anyway.
Today, my boys and I (and Papa, on weekends) regularly haunt the place. There is something about the gardens, from the blooming roses (come mid-April for the riot of color) to the precious little nooks with benches just begging you to sit and reflect. My boys love running down the south lawn, hopscotching on the stone pavements, examining the sculptures, and of course, their own little children's garden, opened a couple of years ago. The classical Chinese Garden is open now too, known as Liu Fang Yuan, the Garden of Flowing Fragrance but I haven't had time to walk 'round it properly.
The staff are unfailingly friendly, from the guards and gardeners to the wandering scholars to the bookstore folks to the curators. (But please don't let your kids touch the gallery art, and save the guards from heart attacks. The horror!) I love the bookstore with beautiful items, a generous kid's section and shelves full of books!books!books!) and the tea room with it's roses and pretty and yummy sandwiches.
I love the cool darkness of the library, each changing exhibit, the movie-famous gardens, the classes for kids and grown-ups, the lectures and plant sales, the summer picnic concerts!!! The Huntington also has exquisite, grown-up events for members but we don't go to those (see two gamboling boys for reason.)
Our membership is worth every penny.
Sandro and I are enrolled at the Huntington's preschool series this coming March 20, four Thursdays from 10-11:30 a.m. We went through and loved their "Face to Face" series last month, taught by Ms. Jonelle Picket, whom Sandro loved. She was able to wrangle 3-4 year olds with patience and love, and got them excited about art. She even graciously let me play arts and crafts too! Ms. Jonelle will be teaching this session also, "Skipping Into Spring." We're excited!
What is it about the Huntington that you love?
Get acquainted here.
e. hartford Huntington