Gift Shopping

Art By the Yard at the Textile Museum; Find Stylish Items at the Museum Shop

Current exhibitions at Washington, DC's Textile Museum include Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britain. "The art of textile design changed radically after World War II as Britain was transformed from a country devastated by war into an optimistic consumer society. Three women designers were pivotal in this artistic revolution: Lucienne Day (1917- 2010), Jacqueline Groag (1903-1985) and Marian Mahler (1911-1983). Incorporating dramatic saturated colors and bold motifs inspired by artists like Alexander Calder and Joan Miró, these young designers transformed the market by inspiring elegant yet affordable product lines that brought the world of contemporary art into everyone’s homes."

Scandal! The Financial Crime Exhibit and Shopping for Gifts

The Museum of American Finance, an affiliate of the Smithsonian, is presenting an exhibit that chronicles the most notorious of American financial scandals. The following Exhibit Excerpts from Scandal! Financial Crime, Chicanery and Corruption that Rocked America have been written by the Museum of American Finance:

The King of the Alley: William Duer and America’s First Financial Scandal
On April 19, 1792, a mob of angry rioters surrounded the jail near City Hall in New York City, chanting “We will have have Mr. Duer, he has gotten our money!” William Duer, former member of the Continental Congress and once Alexander Hamilton’s right-hand man at the US Treasury, was imprisoned there for playing a key role in the Crash of 1792. The sheriff dispersed the crowd, but the city was in a panic — Duer had attempted to corner the market in government bonds and shares in existing and proposed banks by borrowing as much money as he could, from everyone he could.

Shop for Home at HausInterior

HausInterior.com: For a shopping experience which relies on the out-of-the-ordinary gift choices, start with a blueprint pad for $11, resin antlers for $38.50 apiece, and a blue striped pillow for $58.00. A super-absorbent towel can be used as a beach towel or outdoor throw, measuring 78 x 38 inches (with different color combinations available) for $74. Classic plaid and striped rugs are perfect for cottages, entries and bedrooms require a phone call to determine size and price. A canoe wire basket holds all those extras in the bathroom ($35.00) and wallpapers are subtle in color and tone but amusing for adults and children, featuring polar bears, cricket bats, zebras and appropriately hued pink ostriches . For vintage Navy ribbon-award inspired pillows, pick a deserving recipient.

Nina Freudenberger graduated with a Bachelor’s in Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. Nina opened Haus Interior in 2007 and in June of 2009, Haus Interior opened a flagship retail space and studio in the heart of Nolita, NYC.

Daring Pairings: A Master Sommelier Matches Distinctive Wines with Recipes from His Favorite Chefs

Book Review by Sharon Kapnick

by Evan Goldstein
Published by University of California Press, hardcover, 353 pages