speaking of hands

[BPC.APA@email.apa.org (Considine, Blaise)]

While we're talking about hands, what's the deal with the "mitten" hands 
of hadrosaurs? Were they in the process of turning into something 
hoof-like? Was this an adaptation for an increasingly quadrupedal 
lifestyle (if hadrosaurs were grazers, why be bipedal?)  

On a different topic, I enjoy reading about all the museum displays and 
fossil sites to visit, but have noticed a lack of references to places on 
the east coast other than the AMNH. I live in DC and frequent the 
Smithsonian, but can anyone recommend other places of interest that I 
could hit on a (long) weekend? (BTW, last time I went to NYC I was 
unaware that the dino hall was closed for revamping and had to satisfy 
myself with the barosaurus/allosaurus display in the front entrance, 
when, exactly in 95 is it slated to reopen?)
Blaise Considine [bpc.apa@email.apa.org]