until suburbia!

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.

Drive up to Mount Diablo’s Summit

October 25, 2024Silvia

To take a drive up to Mount Diablo’s summit was on my bucket list for a long time. Mount Diablo with its 3,849 feet isn’t considered particularly tall, but the extensive views you might be able to enjoy are spectacular!

Check the weather before you go so you’ll be able to enjoy views that might stretch 100 miles! Winter and early spring, especially after a rainstorm, are recommended. You will be able to see San Francisco, the Sacramento Valley, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. You can pick up a map at the visitor center to help you identify landmarks.

The visitor center also has a short video presentation of the history of Mount Diablo. When we stepped inside, a tarantula (fixed in resin) greeted us together with the ranger. The tarantula was not a Halloween decoration, but a warning that you might encounter these spiders if you hike about.

We also hiked the short 0.7 mile Mary Bowerman Trail just below the summit. This partly accessible trail, not only, has more of these spectacular views but also an interpretative nature walk. I enjoyed the free binoculars at the end of the accessible trail.

Make sure to pick up the brochure at the visitor center. The Summit Visitor Center is open 7 days a week from 10 am – 4 pm.

When you drive up to Mount Diablo summit take your time and yield to bikers.

There are four entrances to Mount Diablo. The fee per vehicle is $10 at the North Gate Road and South Gate Road Entrance; $6 at Macedo Ranch Staging Area and Mitchell Canyon Staging Area. It’s best to bring cash to pay the fee. Gates open at 8 am and close at sunset. Visitors should plan to be in their vehicles by sunset and head out to avoid being locked in.

Celebrate October with a Cake, Alpine Pastry

October 18, 2024Silvia

This might not be a traditional Oktoberfest treat, but coffee and cake is always on the menu in Germany. As a German expat, I’m always on the lookout for good German cakes in the U.S. One bakery I highly recommend is the Alpine Pastry Shop in Concord.

They have a special Oktoberfest menu and a great cookie selection for the spooky season. And, it looks like they have tasty treats year-round. Still, if you are on the hunt for Bienenstich, you should act this month and order ahead.

The Alpine Pastry Shop is located on 1848 Willow Pass Rd in Concord, CA. Opening hours are Monday through Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Do you have a favorite pastry shop in the Bay Area?

I did not receive any compensation from the mentioned business.

Watch a Free Movie at the Odd Fellows in Davis

October 4, 2024Silvia

I must admit I’m highly suspicious of the organization of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Although I really like the name – a fraternity with a motto of “Friendship, Love and Truth” can’t be that bad, right? Well, their highest members are called the Patriarchs Militant, which makes me think their principle only extends to their tribe.

Anyway, please comment below if you would like to enlighten me on the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF).

The IOOF is the organizer of Davis’s Classic Film Festival. Each year since 2014, except for 2020, they have shown three classic movies in the Upper Hall of the Lodge. Derrick Bang, film reviewer for the Davis Enterprise, delights the audience with the film’s backstory and other anecdotes.

This year’s Classic Film Festival is showing “1960s Heist Classics”. It starts with The Italian Job (1969) on October 6th featuring a young Michael Caine as the heist mastermind. Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway will head the romantic heist movie: The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) on October 13th. The final showing will be on October 20th: How to Steal a Million (1966) In here Audrey Hepburn and Peter O”Toole will entangle in heist and romance. All shows start at 7:01 pm. Doors open at 6:29 (odd it is!).

You can find the Odd Fellows Hall at 415 2nd St in Davis, CA. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. You can also support this festival by consuming beer, wine, or soft drinks from the bar while you enjoy their free popcorn.

I am intrigued by this film festival and will report back.

Are you supportive of the IOOF? Do you like film festivals?

Admire a Roadside Attraction

September 6, 2024Silvia

It’s summertime, a good time to explore. Sometimes quirky roadside attractions will guide you to new understandings or a new city close by.

The ultimate roadside attraction is the Grand Opening in Berkeley with its famous Illusion Room. This place has it all, off the beaten pass, but close enough to amenities, interesting things to look at, bathroom and a sample of local tea!

Drive another 20 minutes east to the center of Walnut Creek and admire the Fountain Head. Seyed Alavi’s Fountain Head was selected by CNN.com’s Travel page as one of the top 15 fountains in the world. Because it’s right on Main Street, the serene looking bald head sculpture acts as a meeting point for locals.

The large gorilla statue on 3885 Broadway, American Canyon is a show stopper and an invitation to check out the outdoor living and pottery store.

What other roadside attractions do you know of in the Bay Area?

Locations:

Grand Opening 1220 Fourth St, Berkeley

Fountain Head 1350 N. Main St, Walnut Creek

Large gorilla statue on 3885 Broadway, American Canyon

Celebrate Summer at a County Fair

August 16, 2024Silvia

Summertime can mean a lot of things, like traveling, swimming, eating ice cream, or meeting up at a county fair. Some of these fairs have already passed in the Bay Area, but Woodland, head of Yolo County, has its fair this weekend.

This is the largest and oldest free gate fair in California; meaning there is no entrance fee. They prepared a lot of fun activities, from live music to family fun. I can’t wait to see the racing pigs! Of course they also offer everything you expect from a county fair, like rides for all ages, delicious food options, and don’t forget to check out the livestock.

Don’t miss a visit to the Yolo County Fair Museum and learn about the county’s history and important figures as well as seeing artifacts from the opera house.

The current 55-acre fairgrounds site, which was the former “Blowers Ranch,” is located at 1250 E Gum Ave, Woodland, CA 95776. The 2024 Yolo County Fair will be held from August 15th to August 18th.

Watsonville will host the Santa Cruz County Fair from September 11th to September 15th.

Mark your calendar for next year to visit other Bay Area county fairs:

Contra Costa County Fair – Antioch
San Mateo County Fair – San Mateo
Solano County Fair – Vallejo
Alameda County Fair – Pleasanton
Marin County Fair – San Rafael
Santa Clara County Fair – San Jose
Sonoma County Fair – Santa Rosa
Napa County Fair – Napa

Order an Ice Cream Sundae, Fentons Creamery

August 9, 2024Silvia

Whether you believe that Fentons Creamery is the inventor of the rocky road flavor or not, you have to admit their small-batch, handmade ice cream is delicious. Bay Curious, a KQED podcast, demystifies the rocky road ice cream legend. But in the end even they can’t tell you for sure the true inventor of the flavor.

Personally, I am not the rocky road flavor type, so I won’t chip in here. Nonetheless, if you are a lover of decadent sundaes you should visit either the Oakland or Vacaville Fentons Creamery. They do serve diner food, like burgers and shakes, but make sure you leave plenty of room for the massive desert. Of course you can also join the line for getting a scoop of your favorite flavor. Just like the ending of the Disney movie ‘Up’ you can take your ice cream to go; or hang out outside.

According to their Wikipedia page Fentons is the “state’s longest continually operating creamery, with a small herd of dairy cows in West Marin.”

Fentons in Oakland is located at 4226 Piedmont Avenue. The Vacaville location is at the Nut Tree Mall, 1669 E Monte Vista Ave.

Other Bay Area must-try ice cream spots are:

Rocko’s ice cream tacos,

It’s-it ice cream sandwiches, and

Marianne’s

What is your favorite spot for ice cream?

Take a Ferry to San Francisco

July 19, 2024Silvia

I think ferries are a great way to use public transportation. I remember visiting New York City, a much younger me, and enjoying a view of the Statue of Liberty.

In the Bay Area you can see Alcatraz or the Golden Gate Bridge from a distance. And if you want to go to Alcatraz, you have to take a ferry. One of my greatest Ferry outings was with a city friend: we rented bikes; biked across the Golden Gate Bridge; and took the ferry back from Sausalito.

Most of the ports here are used for commuting. You’ll find the schedules serving the working community, most likely not running on the weekends and mid day. But many people take the ferries to visit the city. They do have seasonal sport routes for seeing games at Oracle Park and Chase Center.

The San Francisco Bay Ferry serves the terminals of Alameda, Oakland, Richmond, South San Francisco, and Vallejo. The Golden Gate Ferry will connect Larkspur, Sausalito, Tiburon, and Angel Island. Both of these companies accept Clipper cards and credit card payments. The shortest ferry ride is from Treasure Island to San Francisco. In 8 minutes you can hop over to the artificial island that was created for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. This ferry is not part of the Clipper system and accepts cash and credit cards.

Do you enjoy ferry rides?