creative enlightenment Archives

Admire Old Toys, Hayward Toy Museum

December 12, 2025Silvia

We came for the giants and found the toy museum, too! Last week, I reported on the Muffler Man and other giant statues at Bell Plastics in Hayward. To my surprise, this is also the place to see toy banks, banned toys, and Pez.

If you missed your chance to go to the Pez Museum in Burlingame, head over to Hayward to see this extensive collection! Bruce Kennedy, the avid collector who acquired the plastic statues for Bell Plastics, got his collection bug started as a kid with toy banks. First, it was glass banks. But it evolved into all things antique. Now there are molds for antique toy banks, all kinds of birth banks, and glass baby bottles. When he took over the Pez collection from his friend Gary Doss, he installed a colorful floor that reflected the dispenser’s uniqueness. You can still take a photo with the world’s largest Pez dispenser. Also, the collection of banned toys is on display, with my favorite: the Atomic Energy Lab. This museum also holds some collector’s items like the first comic book (Famous Funnies No. 1) and the first wireless remote control (Zenith Flash-Matic).

I opted for the tour included in the price and received an extensive presentation. The museum is $10 for adults, $5 for kids 12 to 17, or $24 per car. You can find the Hayward Toy Museum on 2020 National Ave. in Hayward. Opening hours are Monday through Friday from 4:30 pm to 7 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am to 6 pm.

Look up at the Muffler Man, Hayward

December 5, 2025Silvia

Big Mike, aka the Muffler Man is, at 20ft, a true roadside attraction. At Bell Plastics in Hayward, many of the old fiberglass attractions found a second home. Collector Bruce Kennedy has been restoring and preserving these giants since 2011.

Big Mike was originally installed in the 1960’s on Mission Boulevard at the Morris Car Wash in Hayward. Kennedy, who has now quite a collection of these oldies around, saved him. From a waving Santa to the octopus that formally decorated a car wash, it’s a trip to yesteryear.

There is also a Paul Bunyan statue, a giant lumberjack. The funniest I found was the Alfred E. Neuman giant, of MAD comics fame (he is sometimes called Half Wit)! This one got restored with a Hawaiian shirt and was briefly featured in the 2008 movie “Semi Pro.”

All statues seem to be missing the axes they once carried. There is one axe in the office that was left there by an anonymous donor. But it was too big for Big Mike.

I’m so glad that these statues found a savior! What a great roadside attraction.

Big Mike and all the other statues can be seen for free at Bell Plastics, located at 2020 National Ave., Hayward, CA. Opening hours are from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and Saturday, 10 am to 6:00 pm.

Thank you, Joel Baker, the founder of American Giants, for the comprehensive article on Bruce Kennedy’s collection.

The entrance to the Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito

Value the Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito

November 28, 2025Silvia

Do you know you can visit the World’s Largest Marine Mammal Hospital right here in the Bay Area? It is in the Marin Headlands, a 15-minute drive from downtown Sausalito.

Visiting the center is free, but you have to reserve tickets through Eventbrite. To enhance this experience, I highly recommend you book a tour. They are participating in the Discover & Go program through your local library, and we got a 50% discount. Our tour turned out to be a private tour. We were taken to the hospital and the seal restaurant which prepares the specific food needed for each species to heal. Which animals you will see depends on the season. February to May is pupping season for the northern elephant seal and the California sea lion pups. June to October is sea lion season and November to January is usually quieter. Current patients are posted on the website. In addition, you can do extra things such as touch the various seal and sea lion skins to see how different they are.

They do amazing research and take in seals from Monterey Bay to San Lois Obispo.

Stop by the gift shop to give some extra love. You can also donate or shop online. For delivery before Hannukkah, shop before December 4th; for delivery before Christmas, get your order in before December 9th.

The Marine Mammal Center is open Friday to Monday, 10 am – 4 pm (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day). It is located at 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito. You must book a ticket online.

Extra Impact

For an extra impact, they asked if you’d like to leave a comment in favor of the Endangered Species Act. These protections are likely to be removed in order to allow oil drilling. The government is soliciting public comments on the four proposed rules now through Sunday, December 21.

Front of the Museum of International Propaganda

Find out about Propaganda, Museum for International Propaganda, San Rafael

November 21, 2025Silvia

When, in 2016, Tom and Lilka Areton opened the Museum for International Propaganda in San Rafael, some might have felt it was a comment on the political landscape. However, the museum’s focus is on the 20th century. Their fascinating collection takes you through 30 years of propaganda art for about 25 countries during the 20th century.

But their mission is also to inform you on how propaganda works. In their main exhibit, they display 7 propaganda ideas, from Leader Idealization to Vilification, all supported by posters that illustrate these ideas. At the end of the self-tour, you can look at the post–1989 area documented with posters and photographs. On their website you can also take a virtual tour, where Tom Areton walks you through the museum. But it is really impressive in real life.

They also have a room reserved for special exhibits. Right now, they are showing Robert Leon Bru’s collection of German political cartoons, saved while he was a POW in Germany during WWII. In the back library room, I was most impressed by a replica of Picasso’s Guernica.

What a great place to learn about propaganda!

Especially in a time of fake news and an overabundance of false information, we have to pause and consider, making sure we don’t get manipulated. Not an easy task.

The International Museum for Propaganda, located at 1000 5th Avenue in San Rafael, is free. Donations are welcome. Opening hours are Thursdays and Fridays, 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, and Saturdays, 11 am to 5 pm.

A Closer Look at Farm Workers and Other People on the Line, UC Davis Library

October 11, 2025Silvia

The UC Davis Shields Library is currently showing photos of farm workers by journalist David Bacon. This exhibit, In Camps, Under Trees & Evicted, documents farm workers and people without a stable place in Northern California. It will be up until March 30th, 2026.

With about 80 photos, Bacon introduces us to the work and living situations of people who are rarely seen in society. This exhibit spans 35 years of his black and white photos. They are sprinkled with biographies that dive deeper into the living situations of people on the verge of society. These texts are provided in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. The exhibit was brought to Shields Library by the UC Davis Labor and Community Center.

You can find the exhibit In Camps, Under Trees & Evicted on the first floor of the Shields Library at UC Davis until March 30, 2026. It begins near the archives section on the left of the main entrance and continues in the east wing.

There are a few other exhibits here that might pique your interest. Most of them change every 3 to 6 months. The permanent exhibit Student Live in Color, showcasing UC Davis’s diverse community, is in the hallway to the east wing.

Relax at Soul Food Farm, Vacaville

October 3, 2025Silvia

With a name like Soul Food Farm, it was no surprise that our first encounter following the signs to the farmstand was a group of watercolor painters. There is definitely a heart and soul present here. This place offers opportunities for people searching for relaxation and nature.

We strolled over to the farmstand, which is so instagrammable, you wonder where your big white hat is. But in all honesty, they offer wonderful produce, delicious little cakes, homemade jam, ACME bread, and so much more. The owner told us that her main business has now become olive oil.

As we indulged in the little berry pie in the dreamy setting in the olive grove, we connected with nature.

There is an attention to detail that shows in every corner of the little farmstand. For example, a vase with rose hips and a mannequin wearing dried flowers show off the attentiveness. As we were leaving, a family with young kids got out of their car. You could tell that the kids were excited to be there. Maybe on their way to pet some sheep?

I am amazed at their local partnerships and their commitment to issues such as community land use and workers’ rights. Alexis Koefoed, one of the owners, is the president of the Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association (PVAA).

I highly recommend stopping by Soul Food Farm! They are located at 6046 Pleasants Valley Road, Vacaville, CA. The farmstand is open April – December; Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. By the way, the watercolor group is there every Friday.

A sign at the driveway to Morningsun Herb Farm with their opening hours

Purchase Herbs, Morningsun Herb Farm, Vacaville

September 19, 2025Silvia

Fall is a great time to plant. And if you are in the Vacaville area, Morningsun Herb Farm is a great place to pick up all that you’ll need to beautify your garden, not only herbs.

The nursery can be quite overwhelming, with rows and rows of perennials and herbs, augmented with fruit trees on the side. I think I counted 4 double rows just for all the lavender varieties. My tip is to check out their website: https://morningsunherbfarm.com/ and come up with a plan. I ended up with two varieties of thyme and some lime mint.

As an extra bonus, the Herb Farm is having its plant sale – 35% off all plants until Sunday, October 12th, 2025. If you act quickly, they also have a sale on soil and amendments (10%) and garden art (15%) until September 21st, 2025.

Now, I do love a nice nursery, but I love this one even more. You can stroll through relaxing gardens, and you can feed chickens and donkeys!

On Saturday, September 20th, 2025, Morningsun Herb Farm will participate in the PVAA 9th annual open farm day. They present an all-day program featuring interesting talks and a demonstration on the distillation of lemon verbena.

Morningsun Herb Farm is located at 6137 Pleasants Valley Road in Vacaville. Their fall hours are Wednesday – Sunday, 9 am – 5 pm. The overflow and large vehicle parking lot is located at the second driveway at 6147 Pleasants Valley Rd.

I did not receive any compensation for this post.

Imagine Creatures, Alebrijes in San José

September 12, 2025Silvia

Alebrijes are brightly colored artworks from Mexico. Usually, they depict multiple animals painted with intense, intricate patterns. They originated in 1936 from a fever dream by the artist Pedro Linares. These days, they are a symbol of Mexican folk art. Although Alebrijes are attributed to Oaxacan culture, you can buy little wooden creatures in gift shops all across Mexico.

My first encounter with Alebrijes was in the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City. Of course, while the little representatives were in every gift shop, the large sculptures entrance you at a higher level.

To experience a group of 22-foot-tall mythical creatures, you can marvel at them at Plaza de César Chávez in San José until September 28th, 2025. This exhibition is in partnership with San Jose Jazz; they offer a lot of free events around the plaza to celebrate Mexican culture. While we saw the Alebrijes at the golden hour, San Jose Jazz recommends you see them at night, as they come to life glowing with vibrant, multicolored LED lights.

The fantastical creatures are on a tour. The next stop will be from October 10th to December 7th, 2025, at the Arte Américas in Fresno. At this stop, you will also be able to see the original, smaller hand-made sculptures.

Do you have a favorite Alebrije?

Experience Arts of Fire in Benicia, NY2CA Gallery

September 5, 2025Silvia

Every city in the Bay Area has a vibe. For Benicia, the art galleries on First Street communicate a welcoming vibe for art lovers to browse and discover new artists.

The most recent addition to the First Street art scene is the NY2CA Gallery.

With changing exhibits every seven weeks, this place will truly entice you to come visit often!

Currently, they show Arts of Fire – Clay. Glass. Transformation. This juried show featuring 36 artists is all about working with clay and glass in a contemporary and fantastic way. I found the Drops of Lights by Jenn Shiflett inspiring. A glass plate that looks like it captures raindrops, but also reflects everything. I have two photos, both somehow showed up as distorted selfies.

Arts and Fire will be open until September 21st, 2025. The NY2CA Gallery is on 617 First St in downtown Benicia. Opening hours are Thursday to Sunday from noon to 5 pm.

Follow the Art, Yountville Art Walk

August 16, 2025Silvia

Yountville combines food and wine culture with an advocacy for the arts. The Yountville Art Walk displays more than 30 outdoor sculptures. Many of these artworks are for sale.

We picked up a brochure at the community center. The community center is a great starting point for the art walk as a lot of sculptures are nearby. But you can really start this art exploration anywhere. Most of them are on a 1 mile stretch of Washington Street. At Van De Leur Park is another cluster of sculptures. The park is not very extensive but it offers shade and the possibility to sit and rest. It also has a little rose garden.

The Steve Rogers Gallery at the community center hosts six free exhibits a year. Currently, they are displaying painted trays, Midnight Snack Trays – A Feast for the Eyes by Seward Johnson. These trays can be viewed through September 12, 2025.

My favorite sculpture was this Yellow Sphere by Ivan McLean – a large yellow ball made out of woven metal.

We enjoyed our stroll while we discovered Yountville. What an excellent way to promote both the walkability of Yountville and the arts!

The Steve Rogers Gallery is located at 6516 Washington Street. Opening hours are Mondays through Fridays from 9 am to 4 pm. You can also listen to descriptions about the sculptures in an audio tour: https://youraudiotour.com/tours/yountville-art-walk/

Information about the art walk can be found on their website: https://ca-yountville.civicplus.com/238/Art-Walk