Museum Community

Secrets of the Silk Road

2011-04-13T23:08:00.003-04:00

The time is upon us again. Museum season is in full swing bringing with it the fascination and wonder that keeps us coming back for more.

The Penn Museum (the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology) in Philadelphia is now running an exhibit called Secrets of the Silk Road. Likely the name takes you back to your high school history days when you learned about this area in Western China situated at the crossroads of the East and West.

But if that's all you think this is about, then you would be sadly mistaken. See for yourself by paying a visit. Open your Museums In Philly Android app. Select List Science and scroll down to University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. From here you can get one-touch navigation by touching the address. You can even call or email them by touching the respective link. Admission cost and hours are easy to see too.

If there are events you would like featured here in the other supported cities (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York & Washington D.C.), send an email with the museum name and exhibit to androidboy7@gmail.com and we'll make sure to get it posted.

When Art and Jewels Merge...

2010-12-28T18:18:00.002-05:00

The saying goes that "diamonds are a girls best friend". If that's true, any girl who like diamonds or precious stones in general needs to be at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA (near Boston) as they present Atelier Janiyé and the Legacy of Master Jeweler Miyé Matsukata.

Normally I try to whet your appetite for the exhibit being featured. But this time, words alone just won't do it justice. To compensate, read the press release and marvel at the art you will experience during the exhibition starting January 22, 2011 and running thru July 24, 2011:

Fuller Craft brings together for the first time a retrospective selection of Matsukata’s work alongside the work of her colleagues Nancy Wills Michel, Alexandra Solowij Watkins, and Yoshiko Yamamoto. These artists are known for combining precious and semi-precious stones along with found objects and antiques with high karat multi-textured gold; in life Matsukata contributed to changing the profile and reception of one-of-a-kind art jewelry and the jeweler as artist.

Matsukata was at the vanguard of studio jewelers who, responding to the abstract expressionism of the period, began constructing painterly jewelry, composing abstract compositions in gold, semi-precious, and precious stones. Matsukata is best known for her use of fine gold and a liberal use of stones and other objects. Her travels in Egypt and Greece resulted in the collection and incorporation of Egyptian faience into her compositions, expanding to include a variety of ancient artifacts from Chinese coins to Mayan figurines.

Matsukata is known for a degree of informality towards her use of precious materials. Diamonds and rubies, often provided by clients, were given no more emphasis than beach glass or tourmaline, and each was subservient to the expressive and open compositions of her forms.

You know you want to see this. The public reception is on Feb. 27, 2011, 2—5 p.m. at the Museum. The reception is free for members and free with museum admission for all others. For more information, including directions, open your Museums In Boston app, select List Art and choose Fuller Craft Museum. Simply touch the phone number to call Fuller Craft or touch the address for instant navigation via Google Navigation.

The President's House In Philadelphia Pennsylvania

2010-12-21T22:28:00.006-05:00

If you're thinking, "President's House? As in President of the United States?" You'd be right.

What many American's don't realize is that the first capitol of the United States was not Washington, D.C. but was in fact in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That's right. In addition to the Phillies, Eagles and Flyers Philadelphia was home of the first capitol of the United States and therefore home of the first White House.

But there's more than a simple history lesson here.

Of course, it wasn't called the White House. But it was home of the first two presidents George Washington and John Adams. There's a lot of history behind this. For a history lesson you probably didn't get in school, click here and be rewarded with the details of this historic house. However, what makes this house so interesting isn't because of the presidents that lived there.

The Pennsylvania state government was one of the first in the western hemisphere to abolish slavery - specifically in 1780. Nonetheless, despite the law, George Washington, first president of the United States, upholder of the Constitution that says "all men are created equal" had slaves even though the law prohibited it. This is where things get interesting.

The house no longer exists but there is now a monument to the house located in front of the Independence Visitor's Center. What's more is that it's right on the street and is free. If you have not downloaded the latest Museums In Philly, please do so. After installing the update, select List History then select The President's House. Scroll down to the line that reads "Touch *HERE* for Collections, Events, Membership and Parking info". The Collections tab will provide more mind expanding knowledge regarding The President's House. And of course, if you're not familiar with Philadelphia, just touch the address to be automatically routed to The President's House.

History Woven Thru Thread

2010-12-12T21:20:00.000-05:00

When most think of history, visons of mind-dulling lectures replete with books so big and boring they make reading the dictionary seem like a day at the water park.

Fortunately, the Concord Museum in Concord, MA outside Boston can give you that history lesson without the sleeping pills. If the opportunity to indulge in history and view rare works of art sounds like the type of thing that you want the kids or even yourself to experience, the Concord Museum is where you want to be anytime between now and March 27th, 2011.

But what exactly will you enjoy when you get tot he Concord Museum?

We could tell you about the well-used cradle quilt passed down in the family of a patriot of the American Revolution or the large quilt commemorating the 1975 Bicentennial of that war. We could tell you about that, but then you'd miss out on all this:

A signature quilt made for Rebecca Brooks and Joseph Allen Smith on the occasion of their Concord wedding in 1849, made up of 96 squares signed by friends and family, each “a little scrap for recollection’s sake.” Like most of the quilts at the Concord Museum, this quilt was passed down in the family and in the 1960s—an era of renewed interest in quilting and women’s work—was donated to the Concord Museum.
A quilt from the collection of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, attributed to Abigail (Abba) May Alcott, mother of the famed author of Little Women.
A quilt featuring an early example of the “Pieced Pineapple” pattern in vivid colors of “turkey red,” “cheddar” and “poison green”.
A friendship quilt made for Margaret Wyer Locke that is the earliest-known example to date constructed using quilt-as-you-go techniques.
A crazy quilt celebrating the work of 19th-century children’s book illustrator Randolph Caldecott

Getting to the Concord Museum is easy. Open your Museums In Boston Android app. Select List History, Concord Museum. Click the address and Google Navigation will automatically kick off sending you on your way.

"Museums In Washington D.C." Now Available!

2010-12-08T17:38:00.007-05:00

Click here to install

I apologize for the delayed post. Some pretty exciting things are coming and I've been reaching out to bring you the best of them beginning with Boston. But for now, I've got some really great news for you....

Museums In Washington D.C. is available in the Android Market! And of course, it's FREE. Aside from a new city, there is a major difference between Museums In Washington D.C. and the other cities.
Navigation is as easy as it's always been. You can still search by Art, Free, History, Science and Mansions (although technically, they're "historic houses". Not all are mansions. But space was at a premium :-) If you need to find someplace to intern or host your next event, that's right up front as well.

What's different is that there is no CityPass link. That's because City Pass does not offer anything for Washington D.C. One thing Androids Future intended from the outset with Museums In... was to make museum going easy so as to encourage/reignite interest in the arts and sciences.

One of the unique things about Washington D.C. is that it has the highest concentration of Smithsonian Museums in the United States. Therefore, since there is no City Pass for D.C., that link has been replaced and will display all Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C. regardless of category!

Now, whether you're a teacher planning a class trip or just want to take the family out for a road trip, Museums In Washington D.C. is at your fingertips with turn-by-turn navigation by simply touching the address of the museum of your choice.

More cities are on the way. And if you like this or any of the Museums In... apps, please give it a star rating in the Android Market and tell your friends on Facebook and Twitter too.

Technology, Tombs, and Texts: Uncovering the Ancient Maya Past

2010-11-28T23:43:00.001-05:00

Subjects like this make me sorry I won't be able to get to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology on Thursday, December 9. In an illustrated lecture you'll learn how LiDAR (Light Detecting and Ranging technology) images were used to map the area as well as see how 3D versions of the images allowed greater detail than previously possible.

If you're in the Boston area on December 9th, I highly recommend you make this presentation. Open your Museums In Boston app, select List Science, then Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology. If you'd like more information, touch the email address to automatically send them an email. Or, if you'd prefer to call, touch the phone number and it will automatically open the dialer with the number pre-populated.

Don't have Museums In Boston? Just go to the Android Market and search for "Museums In Boston". The app is FREE so there's no cost to you.

Grand Opening - National Jewish History Museum

2010-11-22T20:27:00.001-05:00

One of the biggest events in museum news in Philadelphia during the month of November is the grand opening of the National Jewish History Museum. So big was the grand opening it was attended by the likes of Jerry Seinfeld and Bette Midler. But what can you expect to find on a visit to the National Jewish History Museum?

While I could summarize what the museum is about, it's probably better you read it yourself. Here' is a quote from the Core Exhibition link from their website:

The core exhibition will be the first major exhibit devoted solely to the experiences of Jews in North America, from the 1654 arrival of Jewish refugees from Recife, Brazil, to today. Beginning on the fourth floor of the exhibition, entitled Foundations of Freedom, 1654-1880, visitors will examine the democratic principles that early Jewish immigrants embraced and incorporated into their own emerging communities. The Foundations of Freedom profiles the earliest Jewish communities and captures the flavor of everyday Jewish life in America from the colonial era through the late 1800s.

Foundations of Freedom reflects the process by which a tiny minority sought, defended, and tested freedom—in political affairs, in relations with Christian neighbors, and in their own understanding of what it meant to be Jewish. It will explore issues that are at once historical and familiar: creating new communities, intermarriage, integration, preserving faith, and maintaining rituals in the absence of Jewish institutions and services. This floor will introduce the lively tug-of-war between religious innovation/experimentation and continuity, and will raise questions about what it meant to be a small minority in a young and still-evolving nation. The chapter ends on the eve of the great migration from Eastern Europe that began in the late 1800s, a point at which the Jewish community had gained a measure of security and acceptance, but was about to undergo a tremendous transformation.

There's more. A lot more. But to truly get a feel for what you will experience, open your Museums In Philly app, select List History, then National Museum of American Jewish History. After making this selection, scroll down to "Touch *HERE* for Collections, Events, Membership and Parking". From here click the Core Exhibition link to read the rest.

And of course, when you're ready to visit, simply touch the address for navigation and you're on your way.

Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta - Keeping the Beat

2010-11-15T20:49:00.001-05:00

Today's music scene isn't what it once was. There was a time when kids played instruments (real ones, not just keyboards) to stay off the street and out of trouble. Wouldn't it be nice if children could kindle a love of music before getting corrupted by what's passed off as music today?

If you're in Atlanta or the Atlanta area, take the kids to Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta. Every Tuesday thru Friday during the months of November and December starting at 2PM your children can learn about learn about rhythm and syncopation with percussion instruments. They'll have a blast and learn about music at the same time. We're not promising they'll be the next American Idol. But maybe they'll play in the American Idol band (Androids Future and Museum Community is not responsible for loss of sleep resulting from hours of learning the drums or the eventual garage band that follows). And the best part is that all this is included with the cost of admission.

If you don't know where Imagine It! is, open your Museums in Atlanta app and select List Science. Scroll down to Imagine It! and select it. Touch the address and you'll automatically be routed to the museum.

When you get there, tell them Museum Community sent you :-)

Wine Country - A Perfect Complement to Museums In...

2010-10-18T19:18:00.005-04:00

"I explored with my heart by cheering my flesh even with wine" - Ecclesiastes 2:3

Click image to install

Indeed, who doesn't like wine? The problem is finding one that elicits that type of response in ourselves.

"But this is a museum blog", you say. "What's it got to do with wine?"

As many of you know, some museums have wine tasting events or wine is served at special unveilings of exhibits. But where do you go if you want a good wine? Wouldn't you like to go straight to the source to satisfy your palate? That's where Wine Country comes in.

Most of us have our favorite wine. We may even enjoy wines from regions not even in the U.S. But how many are aware of the wonderful choices available locally? Wine Country seeks to bring these local wineries closer to your heart.

The first thing you'll see when you open this Android app is a simple interface displaying Wine Regions, Events and Pairing. The purpose is to present you with things you most likely will use frequently.

Let take a look at them one at a time.

Select Region

Notice that you are presented with all the wine regions in the state without transferring you to a different screen like most Android apps. This is so you can easily navigate. And works the same with the Wine Pairing button (which we will discuss momentarily).

After making a selection, you're presented with a list of the wineries in that region with a subtle animation just to add some polish. The list is presented in alphabetical order. Simply select the one that appeals to you. After you do this, the fun really starts.

Each item presents the name of the winery, the address (physical and email), the website, phone number and hours of operation. Where every Wine Country app differs from most is that once you reach this screen, you have 1-touch access to all pertinent information. This means when you touch the physical address, Google Navigation (or whatever you've decided upon as your default navigation app) is automatically opened with the destination already populated. All you have to do is get in the car and drive.

The same is true when touching the phone number. Your dialer opens with the number pre-populated. Just hit Send and you're talking to your winery.

Wine Pairing

You've made the journey. You've tasted the wines. You've picked your favorites. What do you pair with your new bottle of wine? Some of you are very good at marrying wines with food. Others not so much. But don't fret. Wine Country has you covered.

On the right side of the page you're presented with the wine pairing list. From here it's simple. Just select the wine you plan to drink and a list will appear to help you easily pair.

No need to do a lot of reading. Icons depicting meats, sauces, cheeses, seafood and vegetables makes it easy to see what wine goes with what food. Two clicks and you're ready to eat.

Additional Features

The middle button is Wine Events. This is a link to the website LocalWineEvents.com. Once you select your area, you can keep track of local wine events with the touch of one button. The Menu button has a Wine Tasting link that sends you to PennsylvaniaWine.com. If you're not an expert, you'll learn what things to keep in mind while tasting. As an added bonus, the link has guide to wine terminology. What's meant when a wine is described as bold, complex, firm? What's tannin, soft, and finish mean? All your questions are answered from this link.

As with all Androids Future apps, you can express your thoughts or suggestions about the app directly to me. You can also let your friends know about your new app. Finally, there's a link to other Androids Future apps, some of which go perfectly with Wine Country.

Enjoy your new app and feel free to share what you think will make it better!

Download Your Copy of Wine Country!

If viewing on an Android device with the Android Market installed, just click here to download the app. If you're on a desktop, use the app Barcode Scanner or similar and scan the barcode below:

Click to install

Museums In NYC - Finally Here!

2010-10-01T23:42:00.002-04:00

As promised, the Museums In... series is continuing. And the latest out of the gate is Museums In NYC or for those who don't know what the initials are, Museums In New York City.

This app doesn't cover only Manhattan or Brooklyn. No, but it has museums and historic mansions from all 5 boroughs. That means you'll have access to over 80 different museums and mansions in the New York area. As with all Museums In... apps, you can list all entries, all free, all art, history and science museums.

But it doesn't stop there. You can also search by what's open on any day of the week. Getting married? Having an anniversary party? Company throwing an unveiling parting for a product? Open Museums In NYC (New York City), select Menu, Search for Rentals. You'll be presented with a list of all the museums in the database that allow rental of their facilities.

Android's Future goal isn't just to show you where museums are located. The first time you use it you'll see that everything you need is no more than 3 touches away. That's by design. If the museum has a phone number listed, just touch it. There's no need for you to remember the number. Have you decided on a particular place? Seeing it on a map is nice. Having it automatically open Google Navigation to route you from your present location is even better. And this is exactly what every Museums In... app does after touching the address.

If you are a serious museum goer, there's more information you need than simply address, hours and admission. You want to know what collections that museum is known for, any special events, membership and special parking instructions. Once again, as with every Museums In... app, after you select an item and scroll to the bottom of that screen, you'll see a line that says "Touch *HERE* for Collections, Events, Membership and Parking". This will take you directly to that museum's corresponding page. And because it's in a tab layout, navigating between the four of the tabs is easy.

Finally, don't forget to use the City Pass link off the Menu. It will take you to the City Pass website where you can purchase coupon books for museums in New York or any of the currently supported Museums In... apps. And of course, Museum Community will be here to help you discover museums you may never have known about. And it too is easily accessible off the Menu button within the app!

Museums In NYC is easy to obtain. For starters, it's FREE!!! Simply go to the Android Market, search for "Museums In" and you'll be directed to Museums In NYC as well as all the Museums In... apps by Android's Future.

Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology... Bring the Family!

2010-09-19T23:04:00.001-04:00

Seems kids have every other week off from school these days. Where can you take the kids this Columbus Day where they can learn and have fun at the same time? Here's one suggestion: the Zooarchaeology Lab Open House at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

But exactly what will they learn?

Have you ever watched something on the Discovery Channel or perhaps the History Channel and wondered how scientists know what food a particular people ate just from the bones left behind? Or perhaps finding a connection between modern animals and their prehistoric counterparts intrigues you. If you've ever wanted answers to these questions and are in the Boston area on Columbus Day (Monday, October 11) swing on over to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and get your answers!

Don't know how to get there? It's simple. Open your Museums In Boston app you downloaded from the Android Market, select List Science then select Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Touch the address and you will be automatically routed from your location to the museum via Google Navigation.

You say you can't make it there on Columbus Day? No problem. Did you know that the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology has the oldest and largest collection of cultural objects in the Western Hemisphere?! To see what's there, follow the same steps above. Except this time, after you select the museum, come down to Touch *HERE* for Collections, Events, Membership and Parking. The first tab to open will be the museum's Collections page. Peruse around and see what you may have been missing!

Don't forget to let them know you read about it here!

Major Update To All "Museums In..." !

2010-09-05T22:10:00.000-04:00

This weekend brings exciting news for all who have or yet will install any or all of the "Museums In..." apps. New search features have been added to make searching for your favorite museum easier. The normal options remain the same but these new features are accessible from the Menu button. So let's look at some of the new features and how they can benefit you.

Search "Open On..."

One of the reasons I wrote the Museums In... apps is because I was frustrated trying to find museums. None were around me and when I used apps that searched within a particular radius, I didn't know which one to pick. Are these results science museums, history or art? Which ones are free? How do I get to it? How can I contact them? All these things are answered when using Museums In... as hopefully you have experienced.

But have you ever wanted to visit a museum on the spur of the moment just to find out once you get to the door that it's closed? I had this experience when out of town guests came and we wanted to show them around town. We didn't know what was open. And using 'here you are, here's what near you' apps were too frustrating.

To address this, Museums In... now allows you to search by the day of the week. Let's say it's Monday (many museums are closed on Mondays) and you want to show off your town to your guests. Now it's simple.

Hit the Menu button. Select Open On... which will bring up the menu options on the left. Select the day of the week - in this case Monday - and a list of all museums open on Monday will be displayed. Currently this search only displays what is open on these days. It's not categorized by free, art, history, etc... yet. But you now have the ability to see what's open without that sinking feeling you get when you realize the doors are locked.

Search for Rentals

Another thing I took into consideration when writing this app was if the museum allowed rentals. Now why would you need this? I dunno, maybe to get married? :-) Perhaps your planning a major event for your job or some other group that interest you. When you hit the Menu button and select Search for Rentals, you'll get all the museums in the database that will allow you to rent their establishment.

Search for Internships

With school about to start one of the things students may be looking for are internships. I had a friend who's daughter attended an Ivy League school and needed one. You wouldn't believe the difficulty she encountered. With Museums In... you can find every museum in your city that will allow you to intern at their place. Simply hit Menu then select Search for Internships.

What's Old Is New

These features have always been in Museums In... Now they've been made easier to find. And as has always been, when you select one you have the option of emailing, calling or navigating to it all with one touch. Selecting "Touch *HERE* for Collections, Events, Membership and Parking" will bring you to the tabs to give you more information that will help you as you choose your museum.

And don't forget to use the City Pass link off the Menu button on the main screen. You'll get discounts on many of the museums found in the database making your visit easier on your wallet.

So that's it for now. If you haven't already downloaded the update, go to the Android Market and get it now. Even as before, all of them are FREE. If you have ideas for these or new app ideas, drop me a line at androidboy7@gmail.com

McMullen Museum - A Not Cheap, Cheap Date

2010-08-29T22:05:00.002-04:00

Hey folks! Times are tight. That doesn't mean that you can't take someone out on a cheap date. Not cheap as in "Baby, you can have anything you want as long as it's from the dollar menu". No. We mean cheap as in "inexpensive" (although one might make the same claim about the dollar menu).

If you live in or are visiting Boston, how can you impress your date without seeming like a tightwad? Why not take her to McMullen Museum at Boston College? Admission to the McMullen Museum is FREE! But how do you show that this isn't a dollar menu date?

Open up your Museums In Boston Android app. Don't have it? Go to the Android Market on your Android phone and do a search for "Museums In Boston" (the app is free too). After the install completes, open the app and select List Free. The first entry will be Boston College McMullen Museum of Art. Select this then scroll down to bottom of the page. Select the link: "Touch *HERE* for Collections, Events...". The second tab is the Events page. From here you can see what special is going on on the day you plan to vist.

If you plan to visit other cities (specifically Atlanta, Chicago or Philadelphia (Philly)), simply go to the Android market and search for "Museums In". The format is the same for each; so the learning curve is zero. If you like these apps or have an idea to make them better, drop me a line at androidboy7@gmail.com.

National Constitution Center

2010-08-23T23:56:00.000-04:00

Hope you had a pleasant week as I took last week off. I apologize for the lack of posting as a result. But I want to make it up to you.

If you plan on visiting Philadelphia, you absolutely MUST make a stop at the National Constitution Center. Only a few blocks from the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center will leave a lasting impression in your mind.

The core exhibit - Freedom Rising - takes you on a journey from the pre-Revolutionary War era to the present. It consists of a multimedia presentation featuring a live actor, film and video projection that will have those with the shortest attention span riveted to their seats.

You'll want to bring the whole family for this one! And to help you out, Android's Future is going to give you an insider's tip. Open your Museums In Philly app found in the Android Market. Hit the Menu button and select the City Pass option. Select Philadelphia. From here you can purchase a City Pass - a coupon book with discounts to the National Constitution Center as well as many other attraction, most of which can be found in your Museums In Philly Android app.

Now, here's another insider tip: along with an appreciable discount by using City Pass, go to this exhibit weekday afternoons after 12:30. The crowds will be gone so you can enjoy the Freedom Rising exhibit in a relaxed environment.

If you need directions to the National Constitution Center from your hotel, open Museums In Philly, select History, choose National Constitution Center and simply touch the address. It will automatically kick off Google Navigation for door-to-door directions.

I am absolutely certain that if you take advantage of this, it will make up for not posting last week :-)

YOU! The Experience - Museum of Science & Industry

2010-08-08T21:02:00.001-04:00

Up to now we've been focusing on adult oriented museums. So this week we're going to look at something for the kids. And let's face it: we're all kids at heart (some of us bigger kids than others). Besides, who says learning can't be fun?

If you agree, take a trip over to the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago. And don't forget to bring along the kids (or rent your nieces and nephews to *explain* why you're going). You'll learn things about yourself you never knew. Plus, much of the exhibit is interactive. So you (sorry - I mean the kids) will be entertained while they learn.

There's waaaay too much about this new exhibit to mention here. So let's make it easier. Open your Museums in Chicago app available from the link in the upper right-hand corner of this page or do a search for it on the Android Market. Select List Science and then choose Museum of Science & Industry. Scroll to the bottom of the page & click "Touch *HERE* for Collections, Events, Membership and Parking". After the page loads, look for the YOU! The Experience exhibit to get more information.

If you plan on visiting Atlanta, Boston, or Philadelphia (Philly), download the Museums In... for those cities. For discounts on admission to museums in any of those cities, don't forget to use the City Pass link accessible from the Menu button in the Museums In... app.

"The Garden Chef" At Atlanta Botanical Gardens

2010-08-01T11:30:00.001-04:00

If you're like me, you like to eat (ok, you LOVE to eat :-) . I even like watching other people cook. After all, someone's got to get the food to the table. But seriously, if you like cooking and want to give yourself and/or your family fresh alternatives to foods you already eat or experiment with new foods, then head on over to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

Every Saturday and Sunday at noon and 1PM in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen, you can be personally taught by The Garden Chef. And best of all, it's FREE with your admission to the Botanical Gardens!

"What will I learn to make?", you ask. Take a gander and see if these appeal to you:

Beet Tabbouleh with Yellow Leaf & Red Velvet Lettuce
Grilled Vegetable Gazpacho
Kale Quinoa Salad
Garden Greens with Beets & Goat Cheese
Veronica Cauliflower & Kale with Orzo
Pineapple Guava Mint Iced Tea
Roasted Beet & Yogurt Party Dip
Pineapple Walnut Coleslaw
Citrus Marinated Fennel Slaw
Caprese Picnic Salad
Walnut Feta Pesto
Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad
Grilled Watermelon Salsa
Basil Butter

Check out the live instruction in action:

I see you salivating already. If you live in the Atlanta area or are visiting anytime between now (Sunday August 1, 2010) and October 31, 2010, take one of these beautiful weekends and be taught by The Garden Chef.

Don't know how to get there? Open your Museums in Atlanta app. Don't have it? Use the link in the upper right-hand corner if you're viewing this page on an Android device. If not, just go to the Market on your Android phone and search for: "Museums in Atlanta". The app is FREE.

After you open Museums In Atlanta, touch the List Science link. Select Atlanta Botanical Gardens and touch the address. It will automatically open Google Navigation and take you to the front gate. All with one touch. It's that easy.

If there are events at your favorite museum that you would like the rest of the Museum Community to know about, send an email to androidboy7@gmail.com so we can share with everyone!

Ocean Voices - Museum of Science

2010-07-26T00:00:00.001-04:00

As we watch the news about the oil spill in the Gulf, we're constantly reminded of the damage inflicted upon the way of life in the region. Perhaps now is a good time to remind ourselves of what's going on under the surface and our relationship to it.

Why not take this Friday either at 1PM or 6PM to visit the Ocean Voices exhibit at Boston's Museum of Science. It's not your typical undersea exhibit:

Oceanic issues are rife with nuance, filled with emotion, and broad enough to affect all life on this planet. Musician and sound artist Halsey Burgund has collected audio recordings from people around the world as they reflect about the ocean. In collaboration with marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, Burgund has used these stories — including visitor reflections recorded at the Museum of Science — to create Ocean Voices, which premiered at the California Academy of Sciences in June.

Interwoven with live music by Burgund and his band, aesthetic evidence, and video footage of underwater scenes, these audio recordings create an inspired and inspiring performance that represents a collective human response to the ocean. Audience Q&A follows the performance.

For more information on this exhibit, open your Museums In Boston app (if you don't have it, click the link in the upper right corner or search for "Museums In Boston" in the Android Market). Select List Science then choose Museum of Science. Click the address for 1-touch turn-by-turn navigation from your home to the museum.

Special thanks to Dan for the heads up to include the Museum of Science in the app. If your favorite museum isn't listed, send the URL to androidboy7@gmail.com and it will be included in the next update.

Art After Dark - Joanna Pascale Tribute to Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley

2010-07-19T00:03:00.002-04:00

Ahh, music and art. Goes together better than chocolate and peanut butter. How could one possibly improve on that?

How about giving it to you EVERY Friday evening?! That's exactly what you get at the Philadelphia Museum of Art every Friday night.

Art After 5 features tributes to jazz musicians who helped shape the sound of 20th century music together with the artists that shaped the world in previous centuries.

This Friday (July 23, 2010) the tribute is to the phenomenal Nancy Wilson and the mesmerizing Cannonball Adderley. The task of bringing this music to life rest upon Joanna Pascale. Don't know who she is? Read on and I'm sure you will want to learn more about her:

Described as “stunning, sophisticated, and extremely soulful” (Philadelphia Weekly), Joanna Pascale has established herself in Philadelphia's jazz scene as a compelling and skilled vocalist. According to All Music Guide, “She not only has solid vocal chops; she has soul.” In this tribute to jazz songstress Nancy Wilson and alto-saxophone player Cannonball Adderley, Pascale evokes the greats while incorporating her own interpretations....She has appeared and recorded with jazz giants such as Cyrus Chestnut, Terell Stafford, Nicholas Payton, Tim Warfield, Mickey Roker and others.

For more information, open your Museums In Philly app, select List Art then select Philadelphia Museum of Art. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select the link: Touch *HERE* for Collections, Events. Select the Events tabs and Art After 5.

Don't have Museums In Philly? If you're viewing this from an Android device, simply click the link in the upper right portion of the screen (link will not work if not viewed from an Android device). Or go to the Android Market and search for "Museums in Philly" to download the app.

Treasured Lands: The Fifty-Eight U.S. National Parks in Focus

2010-07-12T18:06:00.004-04:00

If you've ever been to a national park, you were left awestruck by the beauty of the surroundings. But did you know there are 58 national parks in the United States? That's one park per state with 8 left over! With so many, it's unlikely you'll experience all of them in your lifetime.

Don't fret. Through the eyes of photographer Quang-Tuan Luong at The National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Massachusetts, you can experience these parks in all their glory. But enough of me; here's what the National Heritage Museum says about the exhibit:

“Treasured Lands” offers the perspective of a world traveler who is deeply committed to preserving America’s beauty and natural resources. By capturing the distinguishing features of each national park, Luong developed an exceptional understanding of what makes a particular place unique....He initially planed to stay in America for only a few years to explore Yosemite. His discovery of the beauty and variety of the U.S. national parks led him to make the United States his new home.

Experience these parks for yourself. Open your Museums In Boston app, select List History then select National Heritage Museum. Oh, did I mention admission is FREE? Touch the address and you'll get 1-touch navigation using Google Navigation from your location to the front door.

Don't have Museums In Boston? If you're viewing this on an Android device, simply click here or click the link to the right (if you're not viewing this on an Android phone, the link will fail). You'll be directed to the Android Market where you can install this FREE app. If you're viewing this on a regular browser, do a search for Museums In Boston in the Android Market.

Cleopatra - The Story That Hasn't Been Told

2010-07-06T23:52:00.014-04:00

The story of Cleopatra has been told throughout the ages. Yet much of what is known about her is from the standpoint of the Romans who understandably hid much of the truth. In fact, much of the queen's history was buried under the sea.

Until now.

In its world premiere exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the world will finally gaze upon objects seen only by humans who lived during the time of their creation. Instead of attempting to describe it, here are the words from the Franklin Institute exhibit:

"The world of Cleopatra, which has been lost to the sea and sand for nearly 2,000 years, surfaces in this new exhibition, Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt, making its world premiere at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Organized by National Geographic and Arts and Exhibitions International, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), the exhibition features never before seen artifacts, and takes visitors inside the present-day search for Cleopatra, which extends from the sands of Egypt to the depths of the Bay of Aboukir near Alexandria."

For more information, open your Museums In Philly app, select List Science and select Franklin Institute. From here you'll be able to call the museum directly, send an email directly, see hours of operation and price of admission. Touch the address and you'll automatically be routed to the Franklin Institute via Google Navigation.

Don't have Museums In Philly? If you're viewing this on an Android device, simply click here or click the link to the right. You'll be directed to the Android Market where you can install this FREE app. If you're viewing this on a regular browser, do a search for Museums In Philly in the Android Market.