until suburbia!

Acquire Crystals, Rock Shop in Vacaville

January 18, 2025Silvia

It was on a hunch that we stopped at the Rock Shop in Vacaville. Mainly we liked the name and it looked intriguing from Hwy 80. Entering the place you immediately know that it is quite an attraction.

The Rock Shop is possibly the largest rock and mineral store in the world! There are beads and spheres, geodes, chrystals, and clusters.

Rooms reserved for amethyst cathedrals, each priced so high I’d advise you not to come with little kids. But if you have a little explorer they might like the fossil stones.

One room is dedicated to the fish of Fossil Lake. This lake is known for its abundance of fossils and is located within the Fossil Butte National Monument, in Wyoming.

I also like the jewelry and little trees made from polished stones. One of these trees near the entrance is possibly over 15 feet!

The Rock Shop is open Monday – Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm. Located on 5115 Quinn Rd, Vacaville, CA.

Do you enjoy the look and feel of rocks?

Sign in front of the Arts Guild announcing that the gallery is open

Be Enriched by Art, Arts Guild of Sonoma

January 10, 2025Silvia

The Arts Guild of Sonoma is one of the oldest continuously operating artists cooperatives in California. You can find the Arts Guild at 140 East Napa Street southeast of the main plaza in downtown Sonoma.

With changing exhibits throughout the year, visitors are introduced to Sonoma’s residing artists. The current exhibit “Past, Present, Future” runs until January 27th, 2025 with an artists’ reception on January 18th, from 5 pm to 7pm.

I loved the spacious gallery space with a myriad of artworks of paintings, jewelry, and pottery.

The Arts Guild participates in the First Thursday Art Walk, a monthly celebration of local art. Each month a different location hosts the Art Walk, but you can stop by the Arts Guild and pick up a paper map.

Visit the Arts Guild of Sonoma at 140 East Napa Street from Thursday through Monday 11 am to 5 pm.

Climb up to See the Wave Garden, Point Richmond

January 4, 2025Silvia

The Wave Garden in Point Richmond, built in 2007, is a privately owned succulent garden with a unique design that is open to the public. I was a bit rushed looking at the amazing view of the San Pablo Bay since the address for the garden, 607 Grandview Ct, Richmond, CA, does not allow you to park. I recommend that you park legally and walk up to the garden.

Nevertheless, the garden itself is worth it! The aesthetically pleasing concrete curves were designed by artist, Victor Armador. The fencing and ironwork, equally artistic, are by the late blacksmith, Robert Sharpe. The gardener Kellee Adams filled the structure with waterwise plants.

While the plants are in need of some TLC, the overall experience is well worth the hike up to Grandview Ct. The view is stunning and the generosity of the owners to allow people to enjoy this is heartwarming.

Some websites give the address as 615 Western Drive in Point Richmond. Like I said before, please park somewhere legal and walk up to the garden.

Have you seen the wave garden?

Visit the Fairies in Little Point Richmond

December 27, 2024Silvia

The fairies in Little Point Richmond have been on my bucket list for a while. It was magical to see the entire block of 300 Washington Street accommodate these little habitants.

Right at eye height for the youngest humans, the fairies invite you to open the doors and look inside their homes. How do the shy magical fairies live here? Your imagination is ignited by a hardware store, the school of magic, the little point fairy library, and of course their residences.

Start exploring on the north side of Nicholl and Washington. You’ll notice the ‘Welcome to Little Point Richmond’ sign. From here it is a relatively steep climb up Washington Street. It is doable because you move slowly and stop at each little house. And, fear not, you can return down on the other side of the street for more of the tiniest of houses.

The village was created by Jimmie Robinson, a comic artist. Apparently, the houses match his neighbors.

Have you seen any fairies lately?

Paper bags filled with produce from the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), Urban Tilth

Seed Power and Grow Justice at Urban Tilth, Richmond

December 20, 2024Silvia

When we arrived at the Urban Tilth, an urban farm in North Richmond, we struggled to find the entrance. But after we walked around it was clear we found much more than just a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce distribution center and urban farm. Urban Tilth’s vision is to be North Richmond’s farm and a neighborhood anchor for the whole community.

Multiple information signs show the future farm. Here are architectural drawings of a cafe, a native plant nursery, a workshop area, and many more ideas. You can see some of the buildings already in place. It was exciting to see how this idea takes shape. We also met some people working for the CSA. Everyone was passionate about being here. The produce looks great and walking around the old greenhouses we could see the potential.

They are not just organizing a fair food system. They want to transform it into a life-affirming system that creates a healthy, sustainable, and just community. I know they have the power to drive for change.

There are so many ways to become part of this movement. You can support Urban Tilth and get involved as a volunteer, learn about their educational programs, order their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce, or donate.

A sign at the entrance of the Community Mercantile reads we're open

Shop Sustainable, Community Mercantile in Davis

December 13, 2024Silvia

The Community Mercantile in Davis is a shop that retrieves, recycles, and reuses cool stuff. The mission of this non-profit is to save items that would otherwise go into the landfill. You can find everything from clothes, and kitchenware, to furniture. A great place to look for inexpensive gifts, or items to use in projects.

I was impressed by their library of things, a tool library. If you have home-improvement projects this is a great place to rent some tools. For $10/ year you can typically rent the equipment for one week. There is no limit on how many tools you can rent.

You can also volunteer here. For example, you could help clean the merchandise, or give a workshop. They just held their 3rd annual workshop on Holiday wreath making.

The hours to shop at the Community Mercantile are Thursdays and Fridays 2 pm – 6 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 12 pm – 5 pm. The shop is located at 622 Cantrill Drive, Davis, CA.

Would you bring clothing or objects you no longer need to the Community Mercantile?

Would you buy from the Community Mercantile?

Redefine Contemporary Art at the NIAD in Richmond

December 6, 2024Silvia

‘Art is what you like,’ is a German proverb. When the NIAD Art Center in Richmond proclaims that it redefines contemporary art I wonder if they also had this liberating view of art in mind.

NIAD stands for Nurturing Independence Through Artistic Development and is a progressive art studio for adult artists with developmental disabilities. For more than 40 years this place has given opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. NIAD artists have been recognized by the Whitney Museum, the Studio Museum of Harlem, and OMCA. They are part of the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, SFMOMA, MADMusée, Belgium, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami.

I felt the art come to life when I visited NIAD. There were many vibrant pieces, including the Pom-Pom Wallhanging by Felicia Griffin. In addition the space and the people were welcomed us warmly. The only thing I was disappointed about was the fact that the nice outside sitting area didn’t offer coffee, but it invites you to sit down and admire the fountain.

The founding couple, Dr. Elias and Florence Ludins-Katz, believed strongly in the Progressive Art Studio methodology, to focus on acceptance rather than assimilation of artists with disabilities. It also allows the artists to earn from their art sales.

Current Exhibit

From December 7th to the 27th, 2024 More than enough is NIAD’s Holiday Shop. This celebration of community and art is inspired by a collectively written “Abundance Poem”.

NIAD Gallery Hours are from Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm and every second Saturday, 1 – 4 pm.

For the Holiday Season there is a special gallery open hour on December 7th, from 1 – 4 pm. On December 21st, from 1 – 4 pm, there will be a Holiday Spectacular.

You can visit NIAD Art Center at 551 23rd St. in Richmond, CA.

Shop for Local Art, aRt Cottage Gallery, Concord

November 22, 2024Silvia

The aRt Cottage Gallery is a charming gallery and art workshop space near downtown Concord. When I visited I was warmly invited to look at the current exhibit of Mark Jezierny and his Students. I entered the cottage while there was a class in progress, but everyone smiled at me and assured me that they did not mind the interruption.

There is much love for art in this place – from the cozy planters outside to the white wood-paneled rooms decorated with art. And love for the owner FROgard Schmidt who shares her space and this love for art with all visitors. That’s why aRt Cottage is spelled with a capital R for ours, stressing the importance of community.

If you like to gift local art you should visit the aRt Cottage during the Holiday season for their 13th Annual Holiday Boutique. Shop for large and miniature paintings, jewelry, tree ornaments, and much more. All items will be available until December 22, 2024.

The aRt Cottage is located at 2238 Mt. Diablo Street in Concord. You can visit Wednesdays – Saturdays 11am – 5pm.

Do you shop for local art?

Not Just Peanuts, Charles M. Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa

November 15, 2024November 16, 2024Silvia

Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts, knew from early on that he wanted to be a cartoonist. On February 12, 2000, he died peacefully in his Santa Rosa home. Two years later the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center opened in Santa Rosa.

The museum “has the largest collection of original comic strips on display at any given time,” and hosts Cartoonist-in-Residence “as part of its mission to build an understanding of cartoon art.”

The current exhibit features 50 years of Beagle Scout: Here Come the Beagle Scouts! You can look at the cute beagle scouts until March 12, 2025.

The second exhibit features over 50 original comic strips explaining the 1970 from the eyes of the popular characters like Snoopy’s transformation as Joe Cool. Peanuts Evolution: The 1970s will be on display until May 5, 2025.

On the first floor is a re-creation of Charles Schulz’s art studio, a timeline of his life, and a Wrapped Snoopy House by Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

There are plenty of photo ops, like Lucy’s booth. I especially enjoyed the small sculpture garden with a real giant pumpkin!

The museum is open weekdays, except Tuesdays, from 11 am – 5 pm and weekends from 10 am – 5 pm. General admission is $12, but there are discount options for seniors, students, youth, active military, and EBT cardholders. The location is 2301 Hardies Lane in Santa Rosa, CA.

Which Peanuts character is your favorite?

Multiple pinball machines at the Flipper Room

Flipper up at the Flipper Room, Concord

November 8, 2024November 7, 2024Silvia

When I came across the Flipper Room online, I knew exactly how to end our day in Concord. With over 30 pinball machines, this was reliving our youth. Bring all your quarters or some dollar bills to feed the games because it is cash-only.

All machines are in pristine condition, no stuck flippers here! No matter where we go to play pinball, if there is an Addams Family machine the place automatically wins our hearts. And yes, the Flipper Room has One!

The price per game is between 25 cents and $1, depending on the age of the machines. They also have a few arcade games. You can check online to see the current lineup.

If you need to give your wrists a break look around for their psychedelic art. My favorite piece was the NU-LOOK nose of a movie star machine. A nice comment on plastic surgery combined with an antique arcade game. And no, it won’t change your nose.

The Flipper Room is located at 1033 Shary Circle, Concord. Hours are Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm, no play on Sundays.