MICHENER ART MUSEUM

     Sunday, April 7, 2019: About 10 years ago, I visited the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. (I have a report about this place in My Blog under the year 2009.) Meanwhile, across the street has been the location of a smaller museum: the Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown (215-340-9800) in central Bucks County. Although this museum was smaller compared to the Mercer Museum, the Michener Art Museum was really a mid-sized art museum. Before entering here, I saw some pieces of modern art sculptures outside. Once inside, the museum honored its namesake by recreating James A. Michener’s Bucks County, PA, office. I learned that this Doylestown native was more than a writer. He also served as a public servant, art collector, and philanthropist, as well as a civil right supporter. Another interesting room honored a Bucks County woodworker, George Nakashima (1905-1990). Nakashima’s daughter, Mira Nakashima-Yarnall, designed this Japanese-styled room. As to the galleries of art themselves, the permanent collections included paintings, sculptures, and crafts done by Bucks County artists; these artists either were born in Bucks County, lived in Bucks County, or both. My favorite room displayed paintings of Bucks County landscapes—much of it in the Impressionists-style that started in France. Most of these paintings dated from the late-19th century and early-20th century. In addition to the permanent art, I noticed five temporary exhibit areas. When I was there, the museum presented the following subjects: Poetry of Light, murals, and the Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design, as well as studio furniture and photos of Bucks County. Anyway, no matter what temporary exhibits are shown here, between the temporary art and the permanent art, the museum will be worth a visit in this former prison that is now an art museum and a fitting memorial to James A. Michener (1907-1997)!

QUAKERTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

   

     Sunday, March 31, 2019: I haven’t been to the Quakertown Farmers Market, 201 Station Road, Quakertown, Pennsylvania (215-536-4115) since 1970 when my aunt & uncle who lived nearby, and my parents took me here. This farmers market has been around since 1932, and upon entering on the date above, I noticed that this place had shopping carts to use inside, and I got a good look at how big it is. The main building contained close to 150 vendors, and if you could wear it, use it, or eat it, they most likely had it—at a discount. Meanwhile, the merchandise looked very diverse and international. I saw items for sale from different parts of Europe, Asia, and Latin America, as well as the USA, including local stuff. If you got hungry, there were plenty of places to sit down or stand up and eat at from different ethnic cuisines from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and local stuff, including Pennsylvania Dutch food. The food prices here were also reasonable. If the main building at the Farmers Market wasn’t enough, then outside, there was the indoor/outdoor flea market! On over 225,000 square feet, this flea market could hold up to 120 indoor vendors and 400 outdoor vendors—depending on the weather. Those merchants sold new & used stuff, and from antiques to collectables to junk. You may have to take a second trip to see almost everything.

DDTC2019

 

THE COLUMN SERIES is a twice-annual column.
2019 - UNION COUNTY

⤓ Issue #15
01. TRAILSIDE NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER
02. LIBERTY HALL MUSEUM
03. MILLER-CORY HOUSE MUSEUM
04. MERCHANTS AND DROVERS TAVERN MUSEUM
05. WOODRUFF HOUSE/EATON STORE MUSEUM
06. DRAKE HOUSE MUSEUM
07. SHORE LEAVE 2019

⤓ Issue #16      END OF SERIES
01. DR. ROBINSON PLANTATION, CLARK, NJ
02. CANNONBALL HOUSE, SPRINGFIELD, NJ
03. OSBORN-CANNONBALL HOUSE, SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ
04. WARINANCO PARK SPORTS CENTER, ROSELLE, NJ
05. CRANE-PHILLIPS HOUSE, CRANFORD, NJ
06. REEVES-REED ARBORETUM, SUMMIT, NJ
07. PHILCON 2019

DDTC2018P

2018

Issue #13

Newark, NJ, Library

Ballantine House

Issue #14

Wigwam at Essex Co. Env Cen

Black Maria at Edison's Lab

DDTC2018

 

THE COLUMN SERIES is a twice-annual column.
2018 - ESSEX COUNTY

⤓ Issue #13
01. NEWARK, NJ, LIBRARY
02. MORGAN LIBRARY, NYC
03. USA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FESTIVAL
04. NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM
05. NJ HISTORICAL SOCIETY
06. BALLANTINE HOUSE
07. BALTICON 2018
08. IRONBOUND DISTRICT
09. MILITARY PARK
10. GRAMMY MUSEUM, NJ

⤓ Issue #14
01. ESSEX COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
02. GROVER CLEVELAND BIRTHPLACE
03. ISRAEL CRANE HOUSE
04. EAGLE ROCK RESERVATION
05. THOMAS EDISON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
06. TURTLE BACK ZOO
07. GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, MD
08. PHILIPSBURG MANOR, NY
09. FRAUNCES TAVERN MUSEUM, NY
10. READING TERMINAL MARKET, PHILADELPHIA
11. PHILCON 2018

DDTC2017P

2017

Issue #11

Hoboken Museum

Liberty Science Center

Issue #12

Weehawken Public Library

Kerasotes Showplace 14 Theater

DDTC2017

 

THE COLUMN SERIES is a twice-annual column.
2017 - HUDSON COUNTY

⤓ Issue #11
01. THEODORE ROOSEVELT BIRTHPLACE
02. PORT IMPERIAL TERMINAL
03. LUNACON 2017
04. LIBERTY STATE PARK
05. HOBOKEN MUSEUM
06. BALTICON 2017
07. LINCOLN HARBOR
08. LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER
09. HOBOKEN SPRING ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

⤓ Issue #12
01. WEEHAWKEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
02. ST. ANN'S ITALIAN FESTIVAL
03. NEWPORT CENTRE MALL
04. PLAZA AT HARMON MEADOW
05. KAEASOTES SHOWPLACE 14 THEATERS
06. MILL CREEK
07. KIMMEL CENTER
08. KYKUIT
09. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART
10. MUSEUM OF CITY OF NEW YORK
11. PHILCON 2017