Today I headed to Peru and found art, history and food all within a block of each other. My first stop was Toro Mata which is a great Peruvian art boutique in Adams Morgan. While I perused the store I saw a wide variety of art which highlighted the geographic, cultural and historic diversity of Peru. The trick here is figuring out how best to bring a group of students. I spoke with James Nixon and he was very open to having a small group of students visit the store. He mentioned how he could walk the students through the various art styles (Ancient Incan Art, Spanish Colonial Art, pieces that highlight Andean and Amazonian cultures) and also talk about some of the materials like alpaca wool versus alpaca fur. He even mentioned that it would be nice to have Inca Kola and alfajores for the students to sample while they visit (great idea and I would clarify and offer to pay for this treat too). The space is very small and I would only take 10 students max to accommodate the fact that it is an art boutique. Definitely call ahead to plan out everything.
Just a quick note about what I am thinking after this visit. I loved looking at all the alpaca scarves on the second floor. This made me think that I should contact the Textile Museum to see if they would be able to do a cultural presentation based on a region of the world. So that will have to be another field trip in the future. These scarves also made me think about how great it would be to incorporate a visit to the zoo or even a farm for kids to actually learn more about alpacas. I do know that there are alpacas and llamas at the Kids Farm at the zoo which is also in walking distance from Adams Morgan. You could walk there after having lunch at Granja De Oro.If you leave Toro Mata and head up the alley right next to it you will come to Columbia Road. Turn right and in about a block you will come to Granja De Oro which is easier to find by looking
for the awning that says Original Peruvian Chicken Rotissere. This is actually one of my favorite cheap eats in Adams Morgan and I am so glad that it can be combined with Toro Mata. This would make for a very cheap lunch a for a group of students. For $15 you can get a whole chicken with a salad and yucca fries. You could have the students practice their Spanish and have them order for you too. This should feed 4 students which breaks it down to under $4 a person. But with those savings you should have students order Chicha Morada which is a
sweet purple drink flavored with cinnamon. This would be a great opportunity to talk about purple corn and the more potent Chicha of the Andeas which middle schoolers would appreciate since it is fermented by women chewing the corn and spitting it into a vat for processing. But you can assure them that this didn't happen for their Chicha at La Granja De Oro. There is no need to call ahead for this lunch since it is a pretty quick service place and you could fold in the opportunity for students to order in Spanish. You can sit outside and talk about chicha while they wait! Again I am thinkng mainly about smaller field trips of 10-12 students. If you went larger you may have to prep them. If you had a group of say 25-30 you could split them maybe between eating and touring Toro Mata but again you need to call ahead to make sure that James is ready for you. Then head to the zoo afterward to pet the Alpacas!
Contact Info
Toro Mata
James Nixon
2410 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 232-3890
jnixon@toromata.com
http://www.toromata.com
La Granja De Oro
1832 Columbia Rd. NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 232-8888/89
No comments:
Post a Comment