OK, so I don’t collect actual doors… But when I travel to a new city or country, one of the things I love to do is to get well away from the main thoroughfares, to explore interesting smaller side streets and alleyways in older neighborhoods. People are friendlier, and often take time to stop to …
Sometimes we are so busy with our daily lives, that we forget how much fun it can be to slow down, and explore the world at our own doorstep. Yesterday I got to do just that for a few hours. My colleagues and I took an afternoon off work to go bo nd in the …
So I know I can’t complain about living in the San Francisco bay area! But even though we don’t get snow, and rarely even need to scrape ice off our windshields, winter can still be wet and (for us at least!) relatively cold! And yes, I know we need the rain, but when it’s coming …
We’ve all had it happen. A flight is canceled or severely delayed, and our “best-laid schemes” are truly shot. I was just on the East Coast, visiting schools with my high school senior daughter. We had a flight canceled due to bad weather, got re-booked on a flight the next morning, only to have it …
Friday I went to the Paramount Theater in Oakland with some friends to see Youssou Ndour and Angelique Kidjo. Wow, what a GREAT show!! Kidjo did an amazing job of warming up the crowd, and (of course!) she encouraged everyone to get up and dance, and to come down to the stage. Those of you …
June is normally a very dry month here in the Bay Area. Even though rain forced the action indoors this past weekend at the Berkeley World Music Festival, it did nothing to dampen the spirits of the performers or the crowds that packed into music stores, cafes and pubs to watch them play. A dozen …
For me, planning a trip is fun. Excitement builds as the departure day approaches, and there is always a last minute rush to get everything done before heading to the airport to embark on a new adventure. Researching authentic places to stay, deciding which interesting towns or villages to include on your itinerary, figuring out …
Taking in the local music scene when you travel is a great way to get a better feel for the local culture, and an excellent way to meet people, and just soak up the vibe. And in those long, dry spells between big trips, it’s always great to catch visiting bands that bring colorful culture …
OK, this was originally going to be a Top 10 list, but that proved too hard. So here they are, my Top 15 Travel Songs. And yes, this is my personal, totally subjective list. Some of these songs I have been traveling with for a VERY long time (like ‘Mama hated Diesels’, my ‘special mention’ …
In the San Francisco Bay Area? Want to check out some “hidden” waterfalls in Berkeley? From the northeast corner of Codornices Park, opposite the Berkeley Rose Garden, look for the curving concrete steps, and head up the steps past the elephant… Just a few feet later, take a left thru the gate marked Private Property… …