visiting in-laws Archives - until suburbia!

Babi Yar is the site of a mass killing by the German Schutzpolizei in WW II

Discern Beauty and Terror, Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View

January 4, 2026Silvia

Beauty and Terror is the current exhibit in the Center for Performing Arts lobby in Mountain View. Robin L. Bernstein’s beautiful creations using strings pressed into wax reveal, on closer inspection, an ugly truth. 18 artworks telling us about the Holocaust and its many awful atrocities.

Every piece is accompanied by a fact sheet detailing an awful occurrence of genocide during World War II. One features the resistance of the White Rose, another denounces Germany’s handling of its Nazi past.

I think I would title Robin L. Bernstein’s exhibit Strings Attached. Such a fascinating medium- she uses wax and colorful strings for her artwork. Many of the strings are vintage and of European origin.

On her website, she says:

“Dwell on the past, lose an eye.

Forget the past, lose both.”

With Beauty and Terror, she reminds us that we are able to create beautiful things; nevertheless, humans are also capable of killing each other in the most horrendous ways. Being human, we should fight every day to be able to live in peace and not slaughter each other. Learn from our history and never forget.

The beauty of the artworks draws us in to look closer and discover underlying ugly truths. We are capable of both.

This free exhibit runs until January 25, 2026, and is open Wednesdays thru Saturdays from 12 pm to 3 pm. Ask to be let in at the ticket office.

Some of the information might be distressing for people since the descriptions are very graphic, dealing with genocide and horrific acts of violence.

The Years in Review – Untilsuburbia’s 10 Year Anniversary

December 27, 2025Silvia

In November 2015, a new blog was conceived: untilsuburbia.com.

The idea: What can you do in the Bay Area outside of San Francisco? It turns out a lot!

Here are a few numbers from the last 10 years:

Over the last 10 years, I posted

487 blog posts
9 collections about 50 things to do in Bay Area cities

With an average of 240 words, each blog post isn’t extensive, but it presents you with an appetizer version of what you will find.

A huge thank you to Sharon, who reads every blog and makes the best suggestions! Many thanks go to the people who join me on my exploration adventures – you know who you are! And last but not least, thank you for reading this blog. Please like and subscribe!

For 10 years, this has been my hobby. A way to keep me writing and committed to an (almost) weekly blog post. I haven’t gotten any compensation for it. In fact, the frugal sightseeing category is part of the concept. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. The most expensive experience was the oyster shucking at Tomales Bay, a birthday gift for my husband.

Over the years, I wrote about 90+ cities. In addition to the Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma, I recently added Yolo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey County.

My favorite find

My personal favorite find was Victor Arnautoff’s murals on the former Palo Alto health clinic. Arnautoff was a disciple of Diego Rivera. His depiction of medical procedures caused a traffic jam in the 1930s, mainly because of the topless woman in one mural.

I only posted twice about the same place. Both are special finds! The first is the Arizona Cactus Garden on the grounds of Stanford University. A fascinating, if not magical, place with a myriad of cactuses and succulents. The second place also has magical qualities. The redwood grove in Los Altos is a truly hidden gem. Not many people frequent this grove, and it is a quick, meditative, and calming place.

Do you have a favorite post?

Did you ever get inspired to explore after reading one of my posts? Let me know in the comments!

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.

Visit the Pedrick Produce, Dixon

November 7, 2025Silvia

Last week I talked about seeing the Minions going south on I-80 from Sacramento near Dixon. And we are in Dixon, again! You might notice signs advertising fresh produce around Dixon. These signs will lead you to Pedrick Produce. For over 30 years, Pedrick Produce has served the community with fresh, locally grown produce.

Huge bins greet you – pumpkins and other seasonal items – with great prices before you even set a foot into the store. Their selection of dried fruits and nuts is incredible. In fact, this is a great stop if you have out-of-towners looking for something Californian to bring back home. Their website has a coming soon label on their seasonal gift boxes. But of course, you can put an assortment of pistachios and dried fruits together yourself. To spice it all up, you might want to add different hot sauces from the Wall of Flame.

Pedrick Produce is open 7 days a week, year-round, from 7 am to 7 pm. It is located at 6850 Sievers Rd, Dixon, CA, right off the I-80 exit.

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.

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.

A door painted in brown with Kollar Chocolate written on it

Indulge in Chocolate, Kollar Chocolates, Yountville

August 29, 2025Silvia

The smell of rich chocolate greets you at Kollar Chocolates, a small artisan chocolatier in the heart of Yountville. Located at the V Marketplace, a historic winery, now an upscale place for fine dining and wine. The award-winning pralines are works of art crafted with ethically sourced ingredients. Kollar dove into the chocolatier artistry in Europe, and his research paid off. He was named one of the Top Ten Chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional Magazine.

On our visit, we were given a red wine truffle to sample and enjoyed an affogato. Both were excellent!

Given the current temperatures, chocolate seems a hard sell. But the descriptions from Chocolate By the Bay made my mouth water and I definitely regret not trying more of these artful bonbons – especially the chopped truffle, a concoction created after winning the 2020 Food Network’s Chopped: “It’s a white chocolate ganache flavored with miso paste and cayenne in a dark chocolate shell.” Sounds salty, lightly spicy, surrounded by chocolate. What could go wrong?

Kollar Chocolates is located in Yountville’s V Marketplace on 6525 Washington Street in Yountville. It is open every day from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.

Where do you indulge in chocolates?