Saturday we went to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh.

The museum was recently renovated, and to celebrate they purchased several works by Rodin, the French artist. The new building is beautiful, and we spend had a nice time in the museum and afterwards with a drive through downtown Raleigh.

We had teleshko vareno for dinner, a delicious beef stew.

A nice selection of 16th century Dutch art, including a painting of Haarlem's Grote Markt by Gerrit Berckheyde.

Last weekend we celebrated Sasha's graduation; she now has a PhD in Economics from Duke!

Milan, Nadia and Irena attended the festivities, and we had a very fun weekend. Here you'll find some pictures of the various ceremonies.

The weekend started with a Baccalaureate service at the Duke Chapel, followed by the PhD hooding ceremony. On Sunday was the diploma distribution of the Department of Economics.

Preparations...

Baccalaureate service at the Duke Chapel

One of the highlights of Commencement Weekend is the Baccalaureate Service held in the majestic Duke Chapel. The ceremony features a procession of the degree candidates in academic attire. The service includes a sermon by the Dean of the Chapel, and the President’s Charge by Richard H. Brodhead.

PhD hooding ceremony

The Hooding Ceremony is a special recognition ceremony for doctoral degree candidates during which a faculty advisor and the Dean of the Graduate School place the doctoral hood over the head of the graduate, signifying his or her success in completing the graduate program. The ceremony is similar to a graduation in that faculty and students are dressed in academic attire.

Diploma distribution

Diploma distribution of the Department of Economics.

Friday night Milan and I went to see a Durham Bulls game.

We saw the Louisville Bats beat the Durham Bulls with 9-8, but it was a fun evening.

Milan at the Durham Bulls.

Durham Bulls stadium.

Life is good. This morning Nadia made banitsa, a Bulgarian specialty with filo-dough and feta cheese.

It was delicious, and we took notes on the recipe so we can make it ourselves also.

Last week the Peter Minuit Plaza and New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion were inaugurated with a ceremony. Several dignitaries from New York City and the Netherlands officially opened the Plaza and Pavilion on the most southern tip of Manhattan in New York City to the public.

Part of part major project that includes a complete overhaul of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, the Peter Minuit plaza is a transportation hub and public area located directly in front of the ferry terminal.

The New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion anchors the north end of the plaza. This $2.3 million gift from the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's arrival into New York Harbor honors four centuries of Dutch-American friendship and a mutual passion for the values of innovation and creativity, diversity and openness, entrepreneurship and progress.

Design by Ben van Berkel

The Plein and Pavilion was conceived by the Battery Conservancy to create an "outdoor living room for spontaneous and scheduled activities, public markets, seating and shade". The gleaming white pavilion on the plein was designed by Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, Amsterdam.

The design for New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion creates a 5,000-square-foot programmed space housing regional organic food by Merchant’s Market, as well as the Alliance for Downtown New York’s Visitor Information Booth.

Official opening by Prince Willem-Alexander and Máxima

In September 2009, during the celebrations of NY400, there was an official opening ceremony of the Pavilion with Prince Willem-Alexander and Máxima, but the actual construction of the square and pavilion was not completed at that time.

Photograps on Dutch Arts Events
The Battery Conservancy: http://www.thebattery.org

So proud!

Sasha's graduation ceremonies will start at 3:00 pm, we're getting ready to leave.