Just returned from a visit to Washington, DC to visit my daughter. We visited the Phillips Collection near Dupont Circle, a gem of a small museum that contains many of my favorites. The entry way was flanked by large pieces by three women artists - Joan Mitchell, Joan Snyder, and Nancy Graves. There are some stunning Bonnards and Matisses as well.
One of the highlights for me, however, was a visit to the National Zoo. We spent a while viewing the bird section. I had never seen a cassowary, a rhea, or a bustard. The cassowary, with its blue feathered head topped by a dinosaur-ish ridge, lizard legs and feet, was especially intriguing. This guy was about 5.5 feet tall, and I could easily imagine his prehistoric ancestors.