The other day we decided to do some Halloween shopping and go to the Contemporary Jewish Museum. It looks so cool, but we never made it a point to go there. It was me and the kids on a weekday, hungry for adventure and a change in our usual routine. We were glad we did because it was such a pleasant experience. We learned about Mah Jongg, an artful Chinese game that was enthusiastically embraced by the Jewish people in America around the 1920's. Today it's still part of their culture. It was so awesome to watch vintage pictures of Jewish ladies wearing Chinese hats and playing Mah Jongg at the pool, at their houses, backyards and wherever they fancied. Such an eclectic mix!
There is a lot of history related to the game, its quite interesting. In the Bay area alone there are specialized artists that make the parts of the game and reinvent it in new ways. How cool! You can read more about it here
There is a children's play area that the kids loved for it had a puppet theater, craft table amongst other things. They didn't allow pictures taken in the other areas but it was a beautiful and interesting place to visit. There was an area that allowed people to listen to Blue grass music and Mark Jacinto loved it. He is a huge music fan.
In our home we have after dinner dance parties were he plays a record such as flamenco or mambo or Neapolitan songs and we just invent our own little dances. I truly love this time in my life, even if small children require so much time and dedication; children are truly a gift from above. Their simplicity, their purity of heart, their joy simply make my heart so full.
The picture above shows how Marky is my little Baryshnikov;)
Take care