Washington, D.C. - June 30, 2006

The Shock of the New

Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery

Old dogs touting new tricks can be unsettling. If Great-Aunt Zelda showed up for brunch hungover and sporting Loeffler Randalls and an iPod, you might be a tad surprised.

So steel yourself for tomorrow’s reopening of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. These old-timers have just received an upgrade of the most modern variety.

Gone are the tiny spaces. In their place: huge exhibition halls (with five times the amount of art), a glass-walled conservation lab (so you can watch the Mizrahi-smocked conservators do their thing), high-tech storage cases (accompanied by audio and video description), and later hours. Making it more fun to see the collection of portraits, folk art, photographs, prints, drawings, jewelry, glass, video installations, and new acquisitions by everyone from Abbott Handerson Thayer to Nam June Paik.

Don’t forget to stop at the column-surrounded cafe, which hosts weekly parties, live music, late hours, and cocktails.

’Cause with the shock of all of this, you could definitely use a drink.

Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets NW (202-633-1000).

  Artsy