You can get bamboo in blue these days.
See?
Blue Himalayan Bamboo, Himilayacalamu S Hookerianus in Golden Gate Park*
What will they think of next?
*They charge admission to get into the area where this bamboo is. They didn’t used to. Remember to VOTE NO on Prop B come November 2012!
A brand-new, fenced-off, empty, manicured Zen Garden:
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Hurray?
Poor little critter.
This hawk wasn’t looking so chipper, so I told somebody at Strybing Arboretum about it and he called the “raptor rescue” people.
And then they put this animal in a box to get it to “raptor rehab,” someplace in San Mateo County.
I’m srsly, that’s what they called it.
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Poor little critter.
This shot of a crow hassling a red tailed hawk was taken before the boycott of San Francisco Botanical Garden, before the arrival of the paywall manned by minimum-wage workers.
Circling too close to the crow’s nest, Children’s Garden, near MLK Drive:
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They said they’d kill the fee if it didn’t work out. It didn’t work out but I don’t think that they’ll ever kill the fee. Oh well.
On some days, the fees generated by the paywall don’t even cover the cost of paying the non-union workers minimum wage to collect the fees.
Of course our Rec and Park considers the paywall a “great success.” Oh well.
[UPDATE: Barbara Taylor has the deets.]
[UPDATE II: And it should be noted that Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture designed the landscape for this project.]
Well here’s the news from last week:
“U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced the recipients of the 2011 Sustainable Communities Grants, totaling nearly $96 million. Twenty-seven communities and organizations will receive Community Challenge grants and 29 regional areas will receive Regional Planning grants. The goal of HUD’s Sustainable Communities grants is to help communities and regions improve their economic competitiveness by connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools and transportation.”
Our San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission scored $5,000,000 worth of these grants, so some feds dropped by to celebrate this afternoon.
San Francisco Mayor with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi greeting people at the brand new Drs. Julian and Raye Richardson Apartments for the formerly homeless on Fulton near Gough:
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Oh, here they are up at the Richardson’s awesome-looking rooftop garden:
And here’s Supervisor and MTC Commissioner David Campos. (To him, Nancy Pelosi “will always be Speaker Nancy Pelosi.”)
Remember this mural? I haven’t seen it in a while. Anyway, here’s where’s your Central Freeway used to be. Parcel G., specifically, per the Socketsite.
All the deets, after the jump
Get all the deets right here, and here at the Richmond District Blog, and below.
This show will run through April 15, 2012.
Check it, Playland at the Beach ephemera:
All photos by Nina Sazevich – click to expand
“Take a trip down memory lane as a bygone era of seaside amusement comes to miniature life in this season’s Conservatory of Flowers garden railway exhibition
November 18, 2011 – April 15, 2012
Step right up for a ride back in time as the Conservatory of Flowers presents an all new garden railway display celebrating the legendary Playland at the Beach and a bygone era of seaside amusement that was located on San Francisco’s West End. In a dazzling display landscaped with hundreds of dwarf plants, model trains and trolleys wend their way past the famed Sutro Baths, zip around a replica of the Victorian-era Cliff House and whiz through a fantastic mini version of San Francisco’s beloved Playland at the Beach.
Playland at the Conservatory, the conservatory’s 4th Annual Garden Railway, is an entirely new layout that resurrects the heyday of San Francisco’s west end, an area that flourished as a destination for fun and thrills after a new railroad built in 1884 made travel out to the ocean affordable. A dozen San Francisco landmarks, now mostly lost to time, are recreated in miniature and set in a landscape of hundreds of dwarf plants that bring the rocky cliffs and sandy shores of the area to life. Sutro Baths, the fantastical 7-pool swimming complex built in 1896 by eccentric mayor Adolph Sutro, nestles under Sutro’s other attraction, the Cliff House, which he transformed in that same year into a 7-story Victorian chateau.
No doubt the recreated Playland at the Beach will be the star of the garden railway. Young and old alike will marvel at the sight of Playland’s most famous attractions in miniature, all in swirling motion and bright with twinkling carnival lights, while the sounds of the arcade and even Laffing Sal’s boisterous voice transport visitors right back to the midway. Wee rollercoaster cars climb the steep tracks of the Big Dipper, Playland’s biggest thrill ride from the 1920s to the 1950s, while a mini Airplane Ride spins and spins in circles. Other attractions include the treacherous Diving Bell, the Fun House and Playland¹s famed food arcade where hungry revelers could grab an enchilada at the Hot House or a sweet at the Candy Factory.
As in past years, these replicas are all creatively crafted in miniature from recycled and repurposed materials. Playland’s historic 1906 carousel was created from a discarded light fixture, a slide carousel and a record player. The individual cages of the Rock-O-Plane are made from old pencil sharpeners.
The exhibit also includes real memorabilia and photographs from Playland and beyond in a fascinating display that tells the story of San Francisco’s lost ocean-front treasures. Original wool bathing suits from Sutro Baths, the toothpick amusement park made by San Quentin inmate Jack Harrington that was displayed in the museum at the Baths, a Dodger bumper car, an original Playland sign and more provide visitors with an engaging way to experience and learn about San Francisco’s past. Period arcade games offer a hands-on history lesson with a chance to get your future from Zoltar, step into a vintage 1960s photo booth or goof around in the fun house mirrors, while a special scavenger hunt spinning wheel is a great, interactive way for young children to explore the exhibit. Portions of the popular documentary “Remembering Playland” will also be showing in the gallery.”
All right, see you there!
Now, I guess that they still have free admission hours still, but the amount of time is about 90% less than what they had before.
That’s part of the reason why the Tea Garden is FOR TOURISTS ONLY these days.
And oh, admission is $7 a head nowadays. (What? They have a website now? Well, imagine that. They didn’t a few years back…)
You’re going to have to click to expand to see the effect:
Old school 24mm 3.5 – bought it used, played with it, sold it
Will I ever return to this place ever again in my life?
Probably not.
Get all the deets of the FREE FARM right here.
“The Free Farm is an urban farm founded in January 2010, by a constellation of non-profit organizations in San Francisco. We are located on a 1/3 acre lot on the corner of Gough and Eddy Streets on a parcel loaned to us by St. Paulus Lutheran Church. In our first year we have built a farm, grown and given away over 2,500 pounds of fresh organic produce, convened gardening and urban homesteading workshops, and hosted community, school, and religious groups. Come by on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am-2pm or the first Sunday of the month from 10am – noon, to visit the farm or lend a hand.”
Why don’t you check things out the next time you’re in the Western Addition?
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All the deets:
“Since its creation in January 2010, the Free Farm, as become many things to many different people.
These are some of our intentions:
-to cultivate the earth by growing fresh organic vegetables
-to cultivate ourselves by tending to the well-being of body and mind, soul, and spirit
-to cultivate society by creating a microcosm of mutuality, simplicity, generosity, and love
How we live out our intentions:
-grow and give away food, seedlings, and garden supplies to those who are in need
-offer garden, environmental, wellness education
-facilitate diverse spiritual practices
-advocate for environmental, climate, and food justice
-practice hospitality and host community events”
See you there!
Just hop on over to the Local Bites webpage at our California Academy of Sciences to see what they’ll have in store for you the afternoon of Sunday, August 21, 2011.
See?
“Get a taste of the Academy! Gather with friends and neighbors in the garden for a Sunday afternoon featuring local chefs, music, and fun for all ages. Sample tasty bites crafted by chefs who employ green practices and learn about local farmers markets, organic gardening, Academy landscaping and more!”
All the deets:
“Sunday, August 21
Celebrate the wonderful fruits of August! You’re sure to see and taste some crafty and delicious bites by our next set of famous local chefs – tomatoes, peaches anyone?
Schedule & Location2:00 pm – 5:00 pm |
Pricing |
||
| Combo GA Adult | $39.95 (includes Event & Academy General Admission) | |
| Combo GA Youth (4-17)* | $34.90 (includes Event & Academy General Admission) | |
| Event Only Adult | $19.95 (does not include admission to the Academy) | |
| Event Only Youth (4-17)* | $9.95 (does not include admission to the Academy) | |
| Member | $14.95 (for members and their guests) | |
| Member Youth (4-17)* | $9.95 | |
| *Children 3 and under are free. |
Please Note: JFK Drive is closed to vehicular traffic on Sundays. If you drive, we recommend you enter the Concourse Garage at 10th and Fulton.”
All right, see you there!
