I took up writing so that I would paint more.  I figure that if I write about my process, it might give me some external accountability.  Even though, at this middle stage of my life, I have an intense urge to paint, I still need someone waiting for it on/… Read full post »

“You don’t have a soul.  You are a Soul.  You have a body.” –C.S. Lewis 1898-1963 

An old but recently found friend posted this C.S. Lewis quote on her Facebook page.  It resonated.… Read full post »

  ©2010 Suzanne Des Marais           First Painting of Detroit Ruins

I have a fascination with old buildings.  My father was an architect, as well as a professor, so I grew up being told to "look at this!" and "look at that!"&nb… Read full post »

    ©2010 Suzanne Des Marais           Sandals Island from RIU Beach

My undergraduate thesis show had been of paintings based on a trip I had taken to Jamaica.  Now, more than twenty years later, I returned wi… Read full post »

I have chills. I was walking my dog and we saw a dead body.  That’s not why I have chills though.

On my way home from a meeting near the U.S. Capitol building this morning, I drove up North Capitol Street and saw multiple police cars in close proximity to my… Read full post »

Giant Parrot Photos by my neighbor, Snorre Wik

Often over-shadowed by the national museums, the DC art scene makes a spectacular roar in the form of a huge and intense month long arts festival known as Artomatic.  Located this year literally on top of the Navy Yard Metro next to… Read full post »

More 100+ year old Grand Dames from my neighborhood. Read full post »

When it comes to winter, "Folks in Washington don't seem to be able to handle things," he joked. Maybe, he suggested, they need some "flinty Chicago toughness."

Later, at the Pentagon, he asked someone, "Aren't you a little surprised that they canceled school for my kids?"

President Obama, th… Read full post »

For many weeks preceding the Inauguration, Washington, DC anticipated record breaking numbers of people heading to the Nation’s Capital to join in this great celebration.  News stories, both local and national, highlighted logistics concerns including crowd control, safety, a… Read full post »

I live within walking distance of the National Mall, so I hadn’t thought too much about what time we were going to head in that direction on Tuesday.  As pronouncements came about shutting down parts of the Mall once they reached capacity, we decided it was impor/… Read full post »

Portapotties grace the National Mall in preparation for Americans to enjoy history being made.

The security brouhaha and constant media alerts regarding road closures do not excite Washingtons.  As far as we're concerned, it's just another day in the neighborhood.

The influx o… Read full post »

I took the above photo from the roof of a VIP condo building that I sold a unit in a couple of years ago.  This is a primo location above the parade route.  From what I understand, there will be snipers in this spot during the parade and anybody in the building… Read full post »

I've been feeling bad for being so out of touch with the Open Salon community.  Between work, parenting, volunteer work on several committees, and contributing regularly to a few local blogs, I just haven't had time to post here in a while.  I t… Read full post »

 I just came from drinks with some colleagues.  One is renting her condo in Dupont Circle out for $750. a night to an attorney from Florida.  Another friend is being put up in a hotel in Virginia for a few days while his landlord rents out the house for $10 gran… Read full post »

Charles and party guests taken from the second floor

This is the second installment in a verrrry slow moving series about a house that I helped my clients buy, which they are in the process of completely renovating.  Here's the previous post. 

Shortly after closing, I wrote th… Read full post »

Two Starfish   ©2008 by hipchickindc

As an artist, I find myself compelled to paint and draw objects that exist in the world, rather than purely abstract or imaginary subject matter.  Paintings of objects are often described as "Still Life".  Still Life painting… Read full post »

 As a kid in central Pennsylvania I came to Washington, DC for Museum field trips.  In the early nineties, I commuted from Baltimore City to DC for over two years for grad school.  I moved to the burbs and commuted in to downtown for work, and then finally, a few years/… Read full post »

I've been working way too much.  The news is freaking depressing.  I was supposed to go to museums today with my very good friend, Kirk, today but we decided to go paint outside instead.  Being outside and painting are both good for my soul.

I started out by m… Read full post »

I am the broker who represented the adventurous and creative people who purchased this house. I have something of a run down old house fixation, and it’s fun to see them made livable again (by other people). Because these were regular folks (I mean, not architects or developers) who bou… Read full post »

1st Street NW ©2008 by hipchickindc

I really need to get back in the habit of spending time in my studio.  This got done because I owed someone a painting from a show I had back in May (the painting they thought they bought got sold twice).  This is a… Read full post »

I posted this story yesterday on a local DC blog that I post to regularly and quickly saw responses targeting me for my "white liberal guilt".  We've had some interesting discussions on this topic here at Open Salon, so I am bringing it here as well.  The editor at the other… Read full post »

I’m a real estate broker in a large metropolitan area.  I have many years of experience, both in the actual business, and in committee work regarding ethics and public policy. Just when I think I’ve seen it all, something happens to show me that there is always a new situation to… Read full post »

I’m a 6 foot 1.5 inch tall woman and no, sorry, I never played basketball.  I’m writing about this now because my almost eleven year old daughter, who, one day, will likely eclipse my height, has basketball tryouts tomorrow. 

Earlier this evening, she said she didn’… Read full post »

I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but every once in a while, I google myself.  True, it's a bit vain, but I really only ever do it when I'm really, really bored.   I have an unusual name, so it's interesting to see how many of me there really are out there in the… Read full post »