frugal sightseeing Archives - Page 4 of 31

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?

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?

Sign for the Flea Market at Berryessa, San José

Go bargain hunting, Flea Market at Berryessa, San José

July 5, 2024July 5, 2024Silvia

The Flea Market at Berryessa in San José is an institution established in 1960. On our last visit to San José I finally got to check it out. We were there late, close to closing time on a Friday. While some stores were already shutting down it was great to enjoy some stalls without hordes of people.

I got the impression that many of these goods are made in China. If you have someone in your life that collects Miss Kitty, for example, this is the place to go for gifts. I marveled at the cookware – restaurant–size pots and sieves! You can also find fruits and vegetables, and I heard, great Mexican food. I also loved the different types of piñatas!

The Flea Market at Berryessa is located at 1590 Berryessa Rd. San José. Opening hours are Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from dawn to dusk. Admission is bundled with parking (Wednesdays free, Fridays $5, Saturdays $10, Sundays $20). If you decide to walk in you must enter through the Garden at the Flea entrance next to the Berryessa BART Station. Walk-in entry fee is free on Wednesdays and Fridays, and $3 on Saturdays and $5 on Sundays.

While someone once said to me that flea markets were their version of hell, I do enjoy finding treasures and bargains.

What is your take on flea markets?

Admire a Small Rose Garden, San José

June 8, 2024Silvia

Did you know there was a hidden gem rose garden on the outskirts of San José? I have talked about the two major rose gardens downtown before, but there is a third rose garden in the San José hills. Joseph D. Grant County Park, Santa Clara County’s largest regional park, can be reached on the winding Quimby Rd.

While spring is an excellent time to see the wildflowers bloom in the park, May and June are best to discover the small rose garden that Joseph D. Grant cultivated next to his ranch. A quiet place with a fountain in the middle.

Adam Grant, Joseph’s father, made his fortune selling supplies to gold miners. Joseph later managed his father’s dry goods business. He was also a member of the Sierra Club, and president of the Save-the-Redwoods League for 21 years. On this ranch he entertained among others Leland Stanford and Herbert Hoover. In fact Hoover stayed at the ranch after his election loss to Franklin Roosevelt.

If you would like to, you can tour the ranch house this Saturday, June 8th, 2024 from 1pm to 2:30 pm. Other tour dates for 2024 are Saturdays, July 6th, August 3rd, and September 7th.

Joseph D. Grant County Park is open year round from 8 am until sunset. It is located at Yerba Buena Trail, San José, CA 95127. Daily parking fee is $6.

Did you know about the rose garden in the San José hills?

Resources:

Joseph D. Grant County Park Cultural History

https://parks.sccgov.org/plan-your-visit/activities/cultural-venues/grant-house

Three concrete boulders with glass ornaments

Tour the Public Art at the Tannery Arts Center, Santa Cruz

June 1, 2024Silvia

The former tannery in Santa Cruz kept the name but is now known as the Tannery Arts Center. The eight-acre campus is an interdisciplinary and multicultural art space with twenty eight studios and affordable living apartments for about one hundred artists.

If you are not there for one of their open houses, theater productions, or classes, you can still wander around and enjoy the public art. In partnership with the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County, over twenty public art projects have been created between 2022 and 2023.

You can still find a map for last year’s art tour of ten public art projects. I find it exciting that there are not only sculptures and murals but also a tour of the sound history of the tannery. exTANt is a sound installation that is a collaboration between public historian Kathleen Aston and media artist Yulia Gilich. You can listen to the tour on their Spotify channel.

If you are in Santa Cruz during the First Fridays, some of the Tannery Arts Center galleries will be open on June 7th, 2024. I enjoyed the fact that the studios utilized the outside walls, too. So if they are not officially open you still can view art.

An organist playing the Mighty Wurlitzer at the Grand Lake Theater, Oakland, CA.

Listen to a Mighty Wurlitzer before the Movies

May 24, 2024Silvia

At the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland you are treated to an organ concert every Friday and Saturday evening. The concert lasts between 10 to 30 minutes and is performed twice before the main auditorium movie.

I found this to be a real treat in the beautifully restored historic theater. These organs used to accompany silent movies and were produced by the thousands. Today only a few hundred remain.

When we entered the theater the organist was already playing even though we were the first audience. My clapping after a set was taken with humor amidst the scarce crowd. But he persisted and a few more people filled the auditorium. I can’t tell you if this is the rule or an exception. It might be the choice of movie? We saw IF, a children’s movie and I think we were the only adults without minors.

Nevertheless I enjoyed both the performance and the movie.

The Northern California Theater Organ Society will at times perform early weekend morning concerts. You can find details on their website.

Have you ever heard someone play a mighty Wurlitzer?

I have a few short video clips of the organ being played on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCQoyrqaGw38KaO6XVeeceqCp85eorm84

Look Down While at UC Berkeley

May 12, 2024Silvia

I always encourage you to look around. It makes sense that you do this on the UC Berkeley Campus, too. There is plenty to admire, like the Sather Tower, Cal’s well-known symbol, or the Doe Library with its impressive internal architecture.

But there are also some interesting marks at the tip of your foot. When you enter Cal from Telegraph Ave right before you pass through the ornate Sather Gate, you should look down for the round plaque on the ground. You will encounter the Free Speech Monument.

The Free Speech Monument with a six-inch hole and concrete circle represents a protest autonomous zone. Its inscription reads “This soil and the air space extending above it shall not be a part of any nation and shall not be subject to any entity’s jurisdiction.” This public art by Mark Brest van Kempen, installed in 1991, commemorates the Free Speech Movement that started in the 1960s at Sproul Plaza. Named after the first act of civil disobedience on an American College Campus the Free Speech Movement in 64/65 was protesting the right to protest on a college campus.

When I came up with the idea for this blog post I had no idea how timely this would be.

Are you protesting right now?

http://www.weirdca.com/location.php?location=705

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/30278

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

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

People entering the California Honey Festival in Woodland (2023)

Taste some Honey at the California Honey Festival

May 3, 2024April 8, 2024Silvia

In February there is the Almond Festival in Capay Valley. Honey Bees are a business related to almonds and other orchards. These flying workers ensure that the almond blossoms get pollinated. A valuable byproduct is the honey that the bees produce.

The annual California Honey Festival on May 3rd, 2024 along Woodland’s Main Street celebrates everything honey related. From 10 am to 7 pm you can learn about honey bees, games for the kids, and honey tastings at every stand that sells the golden nectar. They have a stage for speakers and you can also meet the current Honey Queen.

The California Honey Festival is happening on May 3rd, 2024 along Woodland’s Main Street. The admission is free.

Bells from the Sather Tower, UC Berkeley

Admire the View, Campanile, UC Berkeley

April 26, 2024April 7, 2024Silvia

There are two things I find iconic visiting the UC Berkeley campus. First is the Sather Gate, the gate that greets you when you enter the campus coming from Telegraph Ave. The other being the Sather Tower, also known as the Campanile because John Galen Howard the architect was inspired by the Campanile di San Marco in Venice. He left a huge mark on campus both because he was the supervising architect for the design of the University of California, Berkeley from 1901-1922, and he was the founder and Director of its School of Architecture from 1903-1926.

Built in 1914 with the addition of the clock tower in 1926 it is now, with 307 feet, the second largest clock tower in the world. This makes it easy to orient around it while visiting the campus. Of course it is even better to take in the view from the observation platform. General admission is $5 per person, but there are discounts available and if you are faculty or a Cal student you can enjoy the views for free.

Payment method is only credit card or Apple pay, no cash. They do ask you to check larger bags, and food and drinks. After you pay you will enter the elevator and can chat with the elevator operator. Because it takes 38 steps after you leave the elevator the Campanile is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.

I am not a big fan of heights, but I knew already from the time I visited the Hoover Tower in Stanford that I felt secure being that high. The reason might be that the columns start from the ground and end in a kind of windowsill which made me feel enclosed. Also the metal bars, which surely prevent you from ending your life at this location, give you a sense of security.

The view is spectacular! I also enjoyed the Carillon in the middle with its 61 bells. I’m not sure how loud they are if you happen to be there during the concert, but there are three daily carillon concerts at 7:50 am, 12:00 pm, and 6:00 pm.

The opening hours for the Sather Tower are:

Monday-Friday: 10 am – 4 pm

Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm

Sunday: 10 am – 1 pm and 3 – 5 pm (it is closed for the 2 pm carillon concert)

Please note that they might close on short notice.

Admission is $5, credit card only, discounts available.

Here is a short video from a carillon concert.