Visiting Salem

On the Tuesday before Christmas, Jake and I took a day off together (with Lucy at school) and went to Salem for two things we've been wanting to do there for a while (no, we did not have any witches in need of hanging).

1. First we visited J & A King Bakery, an absolutely amazing bakery. We had breakfast and lunch there, and also brought home plenty of bread to have with our soup for dinner. They make amazing stuff. Here is a list of the things that we had and can fully endorse:

• ham & cheese croissant
• sticky bun
• apricot danish
• French ham & cheese sandwich (on baguette)
• roast beef sandwich (their own roast beef, also on baguette)
• ciabatta bread
• some other kinds of bread, can't remember what kind but it's all amazing
• peacan shortbread cookies
• peanut butter cookies

If you are in Salem, or anywhere in striking distance, go there. Eat there. You will be joyful.

2. We have long been wanting to visit the Peabody Essex Museum, specifically their exhibit, Treasures from the Forbidden City, which is only there until January 9th, so if you can swing it, you really should go! Now! What are you waiting for?

The exhibit features an 18th-century royal compound that is on its only visit outside of the Forbidden City. Ever. They're restoring the whole area of the gardens, and making some awesome discoveries (like beautiful panels hidden behind other beautiful panels), and really, it's just cool stuff. The specific stuff in the exhibit is from the Quianlong Garden, also known as the "Tranquility and Longevity Palace Garden," which was a private retreat for the emperor within the Forbidden City. So it was on like super-secret probation.

I was particularly taken with the names of the rooms and buildings found in the Forbidden City and the Palace. The signage in the exhibit indicated that certain objects came from "The Palace of Earthly Tranquility," "The Hall of Mental Cultivation," "the Belvedere of Well-nourished Harmony," "the Hall of Wish Fulfillment," "the Pavilion of Expecting Good Omen," and perhaps my favorite, "the Studio of Exhaustion from Diligent Service." I am thinking that we need to re-name the various rooms of 83 Durant more appropriately. I'll start with "the Chamber of Procrastinative Internetting."

Our other favorite exhibit (one that we didn't know about before we arrived) was an installation by Charles Sandison. He used a space in the museum (East India Marine Hall) that has been there for a long time and is filled with various marine-related art and archives, and installed I don't know how many projectors in it. He went through 18th-century logs from ship captains and then projected the text of the logs all over the walls, in their original handwriting. The effect is very cool, because added to it is the fact that the texts move all over the place, tracing a trail that corresponds with their sailing of trade routes. It's difficult to describe, but if you follow the link above, take a look at the video, which will give you a better sense of how awesome this installation is. Better yet, go to the Peabody Essex Museum and see it -- it's really terrific!