frugal sightseeing Archives - Page 30 of 32

Soundsuit Up!

October 28, 2016February 2, 2025Silvia

When I saw pictures of the new exhibit at the Anderson Collection at Stanford I was confused. Nick Cave an artist, okay. But these colorful costumes from the man I knew who ‘really didn’t want you to know about a girl’. (Watch Wim Wenders movie Wings of Desire, if you are not sure what I’m talking about or this clip on YouTube)

Of course there are two famous Nick Cave! They even met, at least once, in New York.

Well this Nick Cave is a dancer, a collector and an artist. The suits are whimsical, they contain a lot of things he found in flea markets. But they also hide the person, they are true color-blind.

Nick Cave created his first soundsuit after the Rodney King beating. From twigs he collected in a park, where he tried to reflect on the beating and the riots that followed the police officers acquittal. He made a sculpture that would strike him as a “second skin”. “I started thinking about the role of identity, being racially profiled, feeling devalued, less than, dismissed.”Cave said. While the first one is not wearable, it striked the creator as a form of armor. He liked the sound the twigs made, so he named it Soundsuit.

There are eight Soundsuits and a video installation where people actually dance in the suits, that you can scrutinize at the Anderson until August 2017.

Just to see them is impressive.

What is your costume?

Be Bamboozled, Foothill College Bamboo Garden

October 21, 2016February 2, 2025Silvia

No, it doesn’t have to do with alcohol. I just thought it would be a fun new word for this cool hidden garden.

The Foothill College bamboo garden is with over 70 species one of the largest gardens for bamboos in the United States. You can find it below the Japanese Cultural Center on the Los Altos Hills campus. It is only 2 acre, but because of the layout with hidden pathways, it appears much larger.

This is an amazing place to escape and find some quiet time.

Thanks to Gerhard Bock’s blog you can look up the diffferent varieties on his site: http://www.succulentsandmore.com/2012/05/foothill-college-bamboo-garden-part-1.html

http://www.succulentsandmore.com/2012/05/foothill-college-bamboo-garden-part-2.html

The Azumaya, a Japanese garden pavilion was fenced off when I was there. But hopefully they will open it up again, since it seems a great gathering place for the students and visitors.

Have you been bamboozled lately?

Celebrate One Less Wall, Part of the Berlin Wall

October 14, 2016February 2, 2025Silvia

The Berlin Wall was almost 28 years a divider between East German Berlin and West Berlin. An 87 mile separation between a city and it’s people.

The fall of the wall on November 9th, 1989, was one of the most amazing and greatest historical incidences of my lifetime. After the peaceful revolution, an inner movement for freedom, the border to the West was opened and almost a year later the German Reunification was concluded.

Today, probably the best use of it, makes up the East Side Gallery, in Berlin, the longest open air gallery in the world.

But if you don’t have time and/or means to go to Germany, you can view part of the Berlin Wall in Mountain View in front of the public library. Generously donated by the Golzen Family.

Can you remember where you were when the wall came down?

Let’s Not Forget the Rosie’s, Rosie the Riveter Museum

September 30, 2016February 2, 2025Silvia

We can do it! The image of the woman in a blue worker outfit, flexing her biceps, was for me always a symbol for equal rights in the workforce.

Little did I know that this was a propaganda poster in World War II to get the women in to substitute for the men and outproduce war materials. About six million women would prove that they could do what was considered men’s work, like welding and riveting.

The Rosie the Riveter Museum in Richmond does a great job remembering the Rosies, their accomplishments in welding and other jobs, it also mentions new achievements like day care. But they also talk about some lesser popular subjects like race inequality and the housing crisis.

Richmond got chosen to be the National Park Memorial for Rosie the Riveter because of the large Kaiser shipyards building warships, where a lot of Rosie’s worked.

On Fridays you can see some Rosies (and a Roger) gladly explaining what it was like for them.

Do you know any Rosie’s?

Be a Love Detective for Beethoven

September 9, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Well I guess Beethoven knew who he was writing to in his letter to the immortal beloved.

For researchers and everyone else this is still a mystery. In the exhibit: Beethoven in Love, from the Beethoven Center at San José University, you can educate yourself about all the people that played a significant role in Beethoven’s life. If you come to a conclusion about who was the immortal beloved you can also vote – voting booth and exhibit is open until December 17th, 2016.

But the Beethoven Center also has the largest collection on Beethoven memorabilia and books outside of Germany. I admit I came for the hair, a lock that has been tested, and is currently undergoing DNA testing, to uncover more mysteries about Beethoven’s life.

Our docent, Adriana was very knowledgeable about Beethoven and everything concerning him. We had a great time and as a special treat she also played on various instruments explaining the particularities about the instruments.

Do you have a favorite composer?

Presidential Digs, Hoover Tower

August 26, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Stanford’s most iconic structure is the Hoover tower. The observation platform on the 14th floor is a nice place to comfortably see the whole campus and beyond, even for someone who is afraid of heights.

The entrance hall showcases the careers of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the US, on one side, and his wife, Lou Henry Hoover, on the other. Both were alumni of Stanford. The entrance fee is $3. For more information you can visit the Stanford site: http://visit.stanford.edu/plan/guides/hoover.html

Another presidential dig is a bit harder to spot since it is a floating fully functional ship. The Potomac used to be called the floating White House for President Roosevelt. He apparently hated flying and used this accommodation quite often. Like I mentioned it is still in service, you can rent it or take a cruise, so it wasn’t available on my recent visit to Oakland. To check availability, visit their website: http://www.usspotomac.org

Do you know of other presidential digs in the Bay Area?

Pop into a Park, Pop-Up Park in Los Altos

August 19, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

I have heard about pop-up stores before. Some fun way to test run your retail ideas.

When I came across a pop-up park I was naturally intrigued.

On Third Street between State Street and the North Parking Plaza in Los Altos you can experience a pop-up park for the month of August. They rolled out the turf, put up some comfy lawn chairs, lots of kids toys, and a ping pong table!

They also offer teen nights, movies, and live music, and more. For a full schedule of events visit their calendar at thirdstreetgreen.com

Even when there is no program the park it is well received. Especially for the little ones, this is a great hangout spot.

Have you ever been to a pop-up park?

Discover the Sound of Joy, Musical Swing

August 12, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Can you remember the last time you were on a swing? The tickle you felt going up into the sky?

Now imagine a swing that makes a pleasant sound, different by how fast you go. But it gets even better, it’s a collaborative tool to show that you can make great music working together.

In San José, at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, a new installation provides exactly this experience.

Ten seats, four instruments (piano, harp, guitar and vibraphone) and fun for all ages provided by the Musical Swing:

http://www.musicalswings.com/

A project from Daily tous les jours, an interaction design studio bringing us collective experiences in public spaces. San José is the last stop in this traveling exhibit, ending October 2, 2016.

Mixed in with airplanes and construction noise, I felt happy.

Swing on by!

When was the last time you were on a swing?

Sunnyvale Orchard Treasure Hunt

August 6, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Before Silicon Valley this area was mostly orchards. There are still some places where you be reminded of this. I made a treasure hunt taking you to some of these places. Enjoy!

You can do this alone or in a group, or even with competing teams. I attached the questions as a pdf, so you can print them out and off you go!

Please don’t google the questions – where is the fun in that?!

Duration: about 1 to 2 hours

Distance: about 2 miles

Starting point: 490 W California Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (please obey parking restrictions)

What is the Historical Landmark at your starting point?
How old is the current structure?
The neighborhood between Matilda, Maude, Bayshore Freeway and Fair Oaks Ave is named after a garden pest. What is it?
Continue south towards El Camino. On the corner is a shopping center. What is the name?
Write down the year C.J. Olson opened.
Who is quoted saying the following: “My parents moved from San Francisco to Mountain View when I was five… Silicon Valley for the most part at that time was still orchards — apricot orchards and prune orchards — and it was really paradise.”
Find the Heritage Museum of Sunnyvale. What trees are preserved in the Heritage Park?
Make a picture of you / your group as a tree.

Send the answers to untilsuburbia AT gmail.com

Here is thePDF: sunnyvale orchard

I’d love your comments if you did this treasure hunt. Thanks!

Give the Founding Father the Finger, Junipero Serra Sculpture

July 16, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

By now you might know I have a thing for giant sculptures. This figure of Junipero Serra is something between landmark and kitsch and can be seen from the 280 going north right after the 92. If you feel ready for a close up, get off the visitor center exit at Hillsborough. Here right of the restrooms is a small path going up to the pointing monk.

But watch out for snakes! While we were walking up to the padre we saw a snake and a few lizards.

Junipero established nine missions in (Alta) California. In spite of protests that he mistreated the native Indians, he became a saint in 2015.

More information on Junipero Serra:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jun%C3%ADpero_Serra

www.californiafrontier.net/who-was-junipero-serra/

www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/23/pope-francis-junipero-serra-sainthood-washington-california

What is your relationship with the founding father?