until suburbia!

Have a Picnic Weekend

July 1, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Oh it is the season! Close your eyes and smell the burn.

So yes, BBQ season is upon us with the major holiday of Independence Day taunting you to picknick and eat the perfect hot dog.

In most parks around here, if you are a small group, it is first come first served for the tables and grills. With larger groups you have to plan way in advance and make reservations.

My favorite gathering spot here in Mountain View is Cuesta Park with huge grass fields to play in and picnic tables to hang. If you like a view with your hot dogs, I’ll recommend the Half Moon Bay State Beach. You can set-up right next to the ocean.

If you are looking for a cultural setting for your picnic, the City of Mountain View presents children’s theatre in the park every Friday at 6:30.

Cupertino offers, on selected dates, Shakespeare in the park.

And of course, there are free movies in the park. For a comprehensive list check out a fellow blogger of bayarekidfun:

http://www.bayareakidfun.com/outdoor-movie-nights-in-the-bay-area/

Whatever the setting, enjoy the summer!

What is your favorite picnic spot?

Repository of Fun, Playland not-at-the-beach

June 25, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Playland not-at-the-beach was founded out of fond memories from the Playland near Ocean Beach in San Francisco that closed down in 1972.

We started our visit with the magic show. A 20 min show with great tricks and fun jokes. Down the hall are memorabilia from the Cliff House and the Sutro Bath with posters explaining their history.

But of course we came here to play! There are several rooms with pinball machines. Sadly our favorite pinball the Addams Family had a flipper brocken. Not one of the major two flippers (I saw a machine where that was the case) but still it took away from the fun. Besides pinball, there are a lots of arcade games, some our grandparents might remember.

A few rooms are dedicated for miniature houses that light up when you press a button and some things move.

One cabinet I saw with a lot of curious things.

There is a lot to discover and fun for a large group to enjoy themselves.
Do you remember the amusement park at the ocean?

Lace it Up, Lace Museum

June 18, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

When I saw that there is a Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, I put that on my list on things to explore.

I hesitated to go in at first because it said on the front door to call (408-730-4695) if you like a tour. But, since I was there I might as well check it out, right?

(It turns out I misread it, you only need to call if you are six or more, they will give you a tour if you are a smaller group, or even by yourself.)

I got greeted with the words: “Welcome to the Lace Museum. Would you like a tour?” Perfect!

I have to say, I learned so much! Thank you. I still have a hard time picturing how people make these delicate laces by hand. They do classes and I will definitely check out their Christmas fundraiser, where they sell ornaments made with old lace.

They have one exhibit piece that uses hair and silk as the lace material. And on another piece there are scarab beetles incorporated into it. I had no idea they are so shiny!

Currently they have an exhibit about wedding dresses. But, these special exhibits change.

This museum is an all volunteer base, so please come by, get the inside scoop on lace and donate, because they do a mighty great job.

Have you done lacing before?

Summer Water Fun

June 10, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Growing up in Germany summer break always meant hanging out at the pool. So my first idea for my sons summer break was this indoor pool I always wanted to check out. Luckily I did some research first and found out that this particular pool is right now only open Friday thru Sunday for recreational swim.

Well the weather is pleasant and warm enough for an outdoor pool.

Have you ever seen Bill and Ted’s excellent adventure? Remember San Dimas?

We are right next to Raging Waters, part of the trifecta water parks.

It was excellent to go on the first day of summer break since not all schools are on break at the same time. We mostly enjoyed the wave pool. But when we were ready to slide we walked right up to it! Excellent start dude!

Now let’s see what we’re going to do with the rest of the eleven weeks.

Do you have any fun activities planned for the summer?

Where the Giant Buddhas are, Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple

June 3, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Stockton might not be on everyone’s radar for a short day trip. (If you are from Stockton, I welcome comments below. )

We came from Davis and had time for a short sightseeing stop. This one was a bit hard to find but impressive nonetheless.

The Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple allows visitors to view their giant sculptures. I do not know the stories they depict but they made me surely curious. (Actually their website summarizes some of the stories.)

And they are truly giant!

One little girl said to a statue: “Bye. I won’t see you again.” I turned around and saw a slaughtered figure on the ground. I smiled to myself at such carefreeness.

Everyone here was smiling and waving. Truly an enchanted place.

My son even saw the soccer goddess. 🙂

Have you seen giant Buddha statues?

Big white birds

May 27, 2016January 17, 2022Silvia

The other day I saw a big white bird landing on a tree. “Is this a stork?” I asked amazed. Where I am from the big white birds are called storks. “No, an egret. “ someone from my group replied. “They are nesting right now where I work.”

Oh yeah, I knew exactly where she works! Google closes off Shorebird Way from April to October for the egrets to nest.

I went there to see and boy what a spectacle! Some are building a nest, some trying to find a mate, some appeared annoyed finding me looking at them! Their gobble is too cute. I think it is a mixture of what would come out of a chicken paired with turkey.

And then I DID see a stork!

Have you ever heard the gobble of egrets?

Do you know of any other breeding spots for egrets?

It’s all Digital History to you, Intel Museum

May 20, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

You probably heard about the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. A lot of memories, from punch cards to the old mac computer.

This is definitely the place to take your in-laws – they’ll remember all the times they used to program with the punch cards and every time they made a mistake they had to do all over again. This is impressive, but if you have a 11 year old with you, not too much.

Also, there is the Intel Museum, a free museum about what gave Silicon Valley it’s name. Here are the most enthusiastic people working I have ever met in a museum. I tagged along for a bit while the guide explained everything about semi conductors to a bunch of 5th graders. Believe me, everyone learned something cool.

You have to call to make sure they are not booked for some event, and yes the recording starts with the well known jingle: (408-765-5050).

If you and your 11 year old are lucky, the Digital Game Museum will have an exhibit somewhere near you. Right now they are only open Saturday’s from 10 to 4 in their Santa Clara location. Here, your parents might recall how they played pong and then moved up to more innovative and challenging games.

This weekend you can make your own forthcoming. Go to the Maker Faire May 20 – 22 in San Mateo to get some ideas. This is great fun for all ages.

Will you go to the Maker Faire? What is your favorite digital recollection?

Art in the Park, Lincoln Park in Los Altos

May 13, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

When you drive by Foothill Expressway in Los Altos I urge you to take a break and see the public art in Lincoln Park. This is a long strip of grass with multiple sculptures.

My favorite are the three doors. I am not sure what their official name is, I think it should be three doors. They open up, so I am sure if you have little kids this can entertain them for quite some time.

I also liked the Musical Gambol, a vibrant display that unfortunately does not make any noise.

This weekend, May 14 & 15 Lincoln Park will be the location for Fine Arts in the Park, from 10 to 5:30. The Rotary Club will present over 170 artists. Proceedings go to various socially significant projects.

Do you have a favorite public art piece?

For a list of all public art in Los Alto you can visit this web page: http://www.losaltosca.gov/publicartscommission/page/public-sculpture

Transport Yourself to Arizona, Stanford’s Arizona Garden

May 6, 2016February 3, 2025Silvia

Why Stanford’s Arizona Garden is also called Cactus Garden is quite obvious when you come closer. Here are more than 500 species of cacti and succulent. In fact, these species are from around the world, not just local to Arizona.

I was there when some of them were in bloom; what a spectacular site!

While lizards are native they tend to be rare to find, but here you have a great chance to see them. We saw at least three on our little excursion.

You can find this free garden between Campus Drive and Arboretum Road. It is a bit of a hidden treasure; when I asked about this in the visitor center, the students had to ask around to find out where it was.

Have you ever been to this garden? What did you think?

Do you have another favorite public garden?

When it rains – enlighten yourself

April 29, 2016April 30, 2024Silvia

The day I explored Los Gatos it was raining. So, the cute upscale outdoor shopping district wasn’t too much fun.

But what is the cultivated person supposed to do when it rains? Right, go to a museum. The NUMU is a little gem. (Not only on rainy days!)

The high school exhibition Social Matters blew me away with the depth of the pieces. High schoolers from around the area painted, photographed, sculpted and wrote a piece about the art and the social matter that they were depicting.

Take for example Adi Lahav’s Fetal Position, a piece that speaks for itself.

Next was the hat exhibit, different hats with tools to make them. Although just a one room collection a very interesting look at the history of different headgear and tops.

The More Than Your Selfie exhibit has, amongst other pieces of various techniques a very emotional video from Christina Nunez.

She tells her life story and how she used selfies as a therapeutic device.

As a special treat you can buy yourself some little art from the art-o-mat. I did not have $5 in coins, but sure will bring some next time! Have you ever used an art-o-mat?

You can visit the NUMU on 106 E. Main Street, Los Gatos, CA. Opening hours are Friday to Sunday from 10 am until 4 pm.

What is your favorite museum?