Went to NY with my Garden Gals—all friends who graduated from Moore College of Art together. (Louise dubbed us the Jolly Garden Gals.) We try to go every year if possible. Last year it was the Maine Botanical Gardens and this year we visited the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. We all like gardens but it is also a great chance to eat, drink and catch up. Stayed at the new Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg and everyone made it this year. Jane and Jane, Sally, Mike, Elyse, Pam, Marge and I all met at Jane’s place in Dumbo and took the Ferry to Williamsburg.

My Room, (behind the “L”) and Macdonian Scabious at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.

Hotel has only been open for 5 weeks and is a project of Jane’s son so we were treated to a behind the scenes tour—kitchens, screening room, basement and roof deck, bar on the 6th floor. Wonderful combination of minimalism and textures. Could stay in the shower all day. But up early and off to the gardens.

Later lunch at Cafe Mogadon and then a ride up and down the river on the ferry. Beautiful day and more chance to gab. Shower and change and another wonderful dinner. Both nights at the hotel dinning room, Reynards. Small excellent menu, good wine list and the staff at both the hotel and at the restaurant couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly.

This yearly get together is important to me. Scattered up and down the north eastern US we don’t see each other that much but having graduated together we are all going through similar life events at the same time, each in our own way. Just being together and being able to talk (or not) about our families, our work, our ideas and lives in general with someone we care about but aren’t involved with day to day is a most wonderful thing.