Bruce Munro's Light (at the Hermitage Museum)

EVERYONE has been telling me that I have to go see Bruce Munro's Light installation at the Hermitage Museum and Gardens, and finally, the day after Thanksgiving, we listened and went.

Light is magical -- there's no other word for it. A field of floating colored globes takes up a huge field in front of the Arts and Crafts mansion, spreading out like wildflowers, the lights changing hues slowly from green to orange to purple. A ring of neon towers shine from between the trees like standing stones from another world. Inside the Hermitage, delicate teardrops hang from the intricate ceilings, casting swaying shadows on the paneled wood. Reading about artist Munro's vision for each piece, and how he and his team brought it about, was a treat, a full look inside a concept from beginning to end.

Anouk and her friend T. loved it. Even though they were bundled up in their strollers against the cold with coats and hats and blankets, they took in everything. We all especially enjoyed getting to roam the Hermitage at night -- to see it lit up so dimly was kind of spookily awesome.  The exhibition was tailored specifically for the Hermitage to highlight its spaces and gardens, and the moving, living lights made us notice details that we hadn't really seen before. (We adults were also big fans of the bar set up on the edge of the property -- festive hot toddys FTW!)

Admission was steep -- $15 per adult and $12 per child under 6, but worth it. The Hermitage is a special place at any time of year, but with the ethereal lights everywhere, it was even more so. We highly recommend a visit before Jan. 10 -- the day when Light leaves! It's the perfect way to celebrate a season marked by darkness and experience a new way of seeing an old familiar favorite place.