until suburbia!

Admire From Life at the Mare Island Art Studios

March 21, 2025March 21, 2025Silvia

The art show From Life, at the Mare Island Art Studios, curated by Jean Cherie, is open to visitors each weekend in March from 11 am to 4 pm.

The exhibit shows works of art inspired by life models. I had the pleasure to meet Jean Cherie, one of the main artists in this show and curator. She pointed out how one model was sculpted and painted by different artists. This arouses different viewpoints of this model and puts the observer in a situation detecting similarities.

Besides the exhibit, they offer quick draw and sculpture sessions. A great hands-on approach to create art from the model yourself!

Jean also took me around to see some of the artists of the Mare Island Art Studios works. There are a variety of media being displayed, from pottery to mixed media. I was especially impressed by Priscila Soares mixed media work where she used wings on the ears of a woman to illustrate her own experiences of being hard of hearing.

I also enjoyed the outside area with sculptures, a succulent garden, and a beautiful view of the Bay.

The Mare Island Art Studios are on 110 Pintado Street in Vallejo, CA. The gallery is open on weekends from 11 am to 4 pm for the art show, regular hours are Sundays from noon to 4 pm.

Shop at the Urban Ore, Berkeley

March 14, 2025March 21, 2025Silvia

Did you participate in the buy nothing event on February 28th? One of the ways to save the environment and take a stand on consumerism is to shop second hand. An awesome place to find furniture, building materials, household and art supplies, and so many more things is the Urban Ore in Berkeley. Their motto is to End The Age of Waste. On 3 acres you can browse through a mass of recycled goods.

Here you might find something unexpected or practical. It is fascinating to see the stacks of doors and building materials like the rows of toilets. They have a first timer guide that gives tips on what to expect at the Ecopark (official name for the Urban Ore). Among other things they advise you to wear something warm that you don’t mind getting dirty.

I loved the posters and the old signs. At every corner there is something new to discover.

You can also drop off items that are in good condition. For a list of what the Ecopark accepts or not accept visit their website: https://urbanore.com/ecopark-store/drop/drop-off-rules/

The Urban Ore is located at 900 Murray Street in Berkeley. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 8:30 am – 5 pm, Sundays 10 am – 5 pm.

Are you into salvaged goods?

A bench overlooking the Bay at Point Pinole park

Visit Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park

March 7, 2025Silvia

The first thing I noticed while hiking the Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park was the typical Bay smell. Thankfully, it wasn’t persistent, and for me, it was an occasional whiff of offense. The smell is due to the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in the sediment. I guess one can call it the smell of the low tide.

What struck me next were the many eucalyptus trees. Usually, you’ll find native oaks in parks, and eucalyptus is considered an invasive species. As the Oakland Side warned in an article in October of 2024, “Eucalyptus trees are simultaneously dry and filled with flammable oil. They shed long, shaggy debris, covering the ground with dry fuel for wildfires, and when they catch fire, the oil in them burns hot and fast. Their seed pods can explode in a wildfire, shooting embers across the landscape.” (https://oaklandside.org/2024/10/29/oakland-eucalyptus-trees-wildfires-history/).

But here in the park, the eucalyptus has an interesting history. They were planted as a buffer for explosions. From 1881 to 1960, this site was used as a dynamite manufacturing company, the Giant Powder Company. Dynamite, the invention of Alfred Nobel, was essential in the development of California, blowing through mountains and building roads. Nowadays, the eucalyptus are home to many wildlife species, like deer, hawks, owls, and Monarch butterflies.

The park was well attended on a weekday. Lots of people were exercising and enjoying the view of the Bay.

Point Pinole has two entrances. One is on 5551 Giant Highway, Richmond, and the other parking lot is on 3000 Atlas Road, Richmond. Parking is $5 between April and October.

Relax in a Native Garden, Martha Walker Gardens, Napa

February 21, 2025Silvia

It’s almost spring and time to think about your garden again. I always love to see other gardens to get ideas or to just relax. Martha Walker Gardens in Napa, a California Native Habitat Garden is a perfect place to relax. Part of Skyline Park in Napa, the garden, a 2.5-acre site, is a tribute to Martha Walker. She was a beloved resident and naturalist of Napa. She taught classes and even had her own radio show: “Let’s Go Into the Garden”.

The garden invites school groups, hikers, and natural lovers to explore. Almost 200 different species have been planted. I especially enjoyed the little redwood grove. Even if it is just a small part of the park, the garden has a lot of paths and benches to enjoy peace and quiet. The Napa-Solano Audubon Society donated fruit trees to attract birds.

The entrance to the garden is gated to keep the deer out. But the gates themselves are really beautifully crafted, just a little tricky to open.

Skyline Park is located at 2201 Imola Ave. Napa, CA and open 7 days a week. Parking is $6. They don’t allow dogs on trails and close the park at sunset.

What is your favorite garden to relax in?

Visit Historic Locke

February 14, 2025Silvia

Locke is the only town in the United States built by the Chinese for Chinese people. The first buildings were established in 1913. Due to California’s Alien Land Law of 1913, which prevented all foreign-born aliens from owning land, Locke’s residents rented the land from George Locke, Jr. Because the people hoped to return to China, these houses weren’t built to last, with cheap materials and metal roofs.

To experience how the people of Locke lived, you can visit the living museum town north of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. There are multiple museums, like the Locke Boarding House, the Chinese School, or the Dai Loy Museum, the former gambling hall. In 1990 Locke was made into a National Historic Landmark.

The boarding house offers a peek into the daily lives of the visiting farm workers. During its heyday, there were multiple restaurants, hotels, rooming houses, a grocery store, a fish market, a dentist’s office, and a Chinese school. But behind the storefronts, there were also gambling halls and opium dens. It became known as the “Monte Carlo of California”. When prohibition ended and the asparagus industry declined, Locke lost its visitors.

There are many fascinating facts about Locke. On Saturday, February 22, 2025, 12pm – 4 pm, the Locke Foundation invites you to celebrate Chinese New Year in Locke.

The Boarding House Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays 11am – 3pm, 13916 Main Street, Locke.

The Dai Loy Museum is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 12pm – 4pm, 13951 Main Street, Locke.

Entrance to Preservation Park in Oakland

A Peaceful Park in Oakland, Preservation Park

February 7, 2025February 7, 2025Silvia

We found this interesting park by chance the other day, after visiting the African American Museum and Library. Preservation Park is a two block neighborhood in Oakland with 16 historic buildings, five of them in their original location. The houses were arranged to represent a condensed version of a 19th-century neighborhood. We entered on Thirteenth Street and sat a short while on a bench facing the fountain of the rotunda.

Following the Preservation Park Way, we were able to see most of the historic homes. The architecture ranges from Victorian (Italianate, Stick, and Queen Ann) to Classical.

While most of these buildings house non-profit organizations, some are actually event rentals. Event Rentals are private properties that allow daytime use, but kindly ask to keep your dog at home.

Resources

https://www.preservationpark.com/about-us/story

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preservation_Park

Educate yourself on African American History, AAMLO, Oakland

January 31, 2025Silvia

Oakland stands for a rich culture and history of African Americans. The African American Museum and Library (AAMLO) preserves this history with its ongoing exhibit and events.

I’ve become a fan of the Carnegie Libraries and the AAMLO is a stunning well renovated example of these philanthropic buildings. Oakland’s first Carnegie library, built in 1902, the building greets you with the slogan “Free to all” above the entrance. It was renovated after the 1989 earthquake and reopened in 2002 as the new African American Library and Museum.

Upon entering we were greeted by a friendly staff member who gave us a quick overview. The self-guided tours are for the permanent exhibit upstairs: Visions Toward Tomorrow: The African American Community in Oakland 1890 -1990.

The pompous barrel-shaped ceilings in the Beaux Arts style give the room an airy appearance. All around are information posters conveying the extensive history of people of African descent in the East Bay. Women, war heroes, and sports celebrities are next to the revolutionaries of the Black Panther Party.

The interior is set up for events. For example, you can join Zakiyyah G.E. Capehart for an afternoon of poetry on February 8, 2025, from 2 pm to 4 pm. Registration is required.

Visit the AAMLO at 659 14th Street in Oakland California. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday 10 am – 5:30 pm, Friday 12 pm – 5:30 pm, and Saturday 10 am – 5:30 pm.

Admire the Lights, Napa Lighted Art Festival

January 24, 2025February 3, 2025Silvia

From now until February 16th, 2025 Napa illuminates their downtown in their annual Lighted Art Festival.

Most of the holiday lights are taken down these days, but it is still getting dark around 5:30. Napa is taking advantage of the early sundown and lights up the night with eleven light art installations. Until January 26th you can also marvel at three projection artworks. The projection art is displayed at the Presbyterian Church, the Napa County Historic Courthouse, and the Native Sons. The church was especially impressive with a technical beautification by artists Leslie Epstein & Camille Gross. Elementa is a projection mapping artwork that presents a symphony of earth, wind, fire, and air fresco-like images.

[Due to rain this event has been canceled!]

On February 1 from 5 pm till 6 pm, Bookmine, Napa’s independent book store, will hold a storytime in front of the Oxbow Public Market. The Glow Party on February 8th, 2025, is a family-friendly art after dark experience. Find the party at the Pearl Street bus depot from 6 pm to 8 pm.

All of these ambient displays are fun to scavenger hunt all around downtown. You might even see an art installation that is there year round.

Download the map for the Lighted Art Festival and enjoy a fun free activity!

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.