See?
Californian Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus pacificus) parent and chick nesting in GGP, as recently seen by photographer David Cruz:
Via Natures Lantern – click to expand
Posts Tagged ‘january’
Looks as If Great Horned Owl Season is In Full Swing in Golden Gate Park
Monday, February 6th, 2012Here’s the Reason Why the Cherry Blossoms You’re Seeing in the Late Winter of 2012 are NOT a Sign of Global Warming
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012So, yes, January is a very early time to see cherry trees start to blossom but what you’re actually seeing are plum trees.
Now both kinds of trees are pretty much the same thing, so no biggee, but plums come out earlier than cherries – global warming doesn’t have anything to do with that.
Oh, here’s what they look like, rather a bit more pink than cherry, in my experience.
Near Clay and Davis, Financial District:
And here’s a nice shot from Flickr:
“Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour” Finishes Up in Oakland Tonight – A Few Tickets are Still Available
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012Last night’s show at the huge Oracle Arena was 90%-plus full, so I imagine it will be the same thing tonight. The seats aren’t cheap, but this is the official show from Michael Jackson’s family, so there you go.
Fundamentally, this is a Michael Jackson show for Michael Jackson fans (as opposed to it being a Michael Jackson-themed Cirque du Soleil for a more general audience, if that makes sense.) For more on this topic, Chloe Roth does a good job of explaining things here in the Culture Blog of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Here’s another opinion: “It’s amazing. Long, yet spectacular.”
Photo: OSA Images - ©2011 Cirque-Jackson I.P., LLC
Anyway, you’re never going to see the THIS IS IT Tour, so this is it, tonight is your last chance to see the substitute, your last chance to soak up the experience.
ZOMG, “Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour” Graces Oakland Today and Tomorrow – A Cirque du Soleil Production
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012Well, this is something, huh?
Holy Toledo.
Photos: OSA Images - Costumes: Zaldy Goco - ©2011 Cirque-Jackson I.P., LLC
This looks sort of awesome, huh?
Tickets are still available…
All the deets:
“BAY AREA TOUR STOPS IN JANUARY 2012
SAN JOSE: From January 13 – 15 at HP Pavilion
OAKLAND: From January 17 – 18 at the Oracle Arena
San Francisco, CA – The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil are proud to present Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour™ in San Jose, on January 13, 14 and 15, 2012 at HP Pavilion, and in Oakland on January 17 and 18, 2012 at Oracle Arena. This once-in-a-lifetime electrifying production combines Michael Jackson music and choreography with Cirque du Soleil creativity to give fans worldwide a unique view into the spirit, passion and heart of the artistic genius who forever transformed global pop culture. Proudly sponsored by Sun Life Financial, the show is written and directed by Jamie King, the leading concert director in pop music today, and featured more than 60 international dancers, musicians and acrobats.
Tickets are on sale now for San Jose and Oakland performances of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour. Tickets are $50 to $250 each and are available at www.ticketmaster.ca or 1-800-745-3000. For additional information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/
A riveting fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael’s creative world and literally turns his signature moves upside down, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour unfolds Michael Jackson’s artistry before the eyes of the audience. Aimed at lifelong fans as well as those experiencing Michael’s creative genius for the first time, the show captures the essence, soul and inspiration of the King of Pop, celebrating a legacy that continues to transcend generations.
THE IMMORTAL World Tour takes place in a fantastical realm where we discover Michael’s inspirational Giving Tree—the wellspring of his creativity. The secrets of Michael’s inner world are unlocked—his love of music and dance, fairy tale and magic, and the fragile beauty of nature.
The underpinnings of THE IMMORTAL World Tour are Michael Jackson’s powerful, inspirational music and lyrics—the driving force behind the show—brought to life with extraordinary power and breathless intensity. Through unforgettable performances Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour underscores Michael’s global messages of love, peace and unity.
Writer and Director Jamie King has been called one of the most influential “movers and shakers” in the music industry, and the “Jerry Bruckheimer of tent-pole concert tours” by Variety. A multiple Emmy Award® and MTV Video Music Award® nominee, he has choreographed some of the most popular music videos and directed some of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time. For the past 12 years, he has served as Madonna’s creative director, and most recently directed world tours for Rihanna, Celine Dion, Spice Girls, Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne. King has worked with an array of superstars including Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Shakira, George Michael, Elton John, Diana Ross, Jennifer Lopez and even Ellen DeGeneres. This is Jamie’s first show with Cirque du Soleil.
Cirque du Soleil returns to the Bay Area with a new Big Top production!
TOTEM from Cirque du Soleil opens in San Francisco on October 28, 2011 for a limited engagement under the trademark blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) at AT&T Park; and in San Jose as of March 2, 2012 at the Taylor Street Bridge. For more information please visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/totem.”
Huge Anti-Abortion Rally Coming to Civic Center January 21st: Walk for Life West Coast Has a New Starting Location
Monday, January 9th, 2012The 8th Annual Walk for Life West Coast will start at Civic Center this year.
Will organizers lie about attendance by simply adding 5000 people to the previous year’s estimate as is their custom? We’ll just have to wait and see. Somebody will document the crowd overestimating, but I don’t know if it will be me this year…
Click to expand
All the deets:
“Due to a scheduling conflict, the Walk for Life will be unable to follow its familiar route from Justin Herman Plaza and along San Francisco’s waterfront to Marina Green. Instead, we will be gathering at Civic Center Plaza at 11:00 am for the Info Fair to be followed by the rally at 12:30 pm. At 1:30 we will start walking down Market Street to Justin Herman Plaza. There will be no additional events at Justin Herman Plaza.
We are excited about this new opportunity and believe that this new venue will give us the chance to grow our numbers. More information to come so please sign up for our email blasts to keep informed of these important changes.
HOTEL UPDATE: We have sold out of the rooms at the San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel. We were able to negotiate a discounted rate at the Kabuki Hotel in Japantown (very close to the Cathedral) for $139/night. For further options, gohere.
FLYERS: Color flyers are now availble for download. If you would like to receive copies of the flyers, please send us an email with your address and how many you would like. Help spread the word!
Confirmed speakers include: Lori Hoye, Dr. Vansen Wong, Rev. Clenard Childress and Jacquie Stalnaker.
Once again this year EWTN will be broadcasting the event live via satellite on TV andImmaculate Heart Radio will be broadcasting the event live on the radio.”
Today’s Fundraisers for the Victims of the Big Fire in the Western Addition from The Sisters and the AAACC
Saturday, December 24th, 2011Your District Five Blog has the deets on today’s events for the victims of the big fire in the Western Addition on December 22, 2011.
One fundraiser is being hosted by London Breed and the other by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
ZOMG, “Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour” is Coming January 2012 – A Cirque du Soleil Production
Monday, October 17th, 2011Well, this is something, huh?
Holy Toledo.
Photos: OSA Images - Costumes: Zaldy Goco - ©2011 Cirque-Jackson I.P., LLC
This looks sort of awesome, huh?
All the deets:
“BAY AREA TOUR STOPS IN JANUARY 2012
SAN JOSE: From January 13 – 15 at HP Pavilion
OAKLAND: From January 18 – 19 at the Oracle Arena
San Francisco, CA – The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil are proud to present Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour™ in San Jose, on January 13, 14 and 15, 2012 at HP Pavilion, and in Oakland on January 18 and 19, 2012 at Oracle Arena. This once-in-a-lifetime electrifying production combines Michael Jackson music and choreography with Cirque du Soleil creativity to give fans worldwide a unique view into the spirit, passion and heart of the artistic genius who forever transformed global pop culture. Proudly sponsored by Sun Life Financial, the show is written and directed by Jamie King, the leading concert director in pop music today, and featured more than 60 international dancers, musicians and acrobats.
Tickets are on sale now for San Jose and Oakland performances of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour. Tickets are $50 to $250 each and are available at www.ticketmaster.ca or 1-800-745-3000. For additional information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/
A riveting fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael’s creative world and literally turns his signature moves upside down, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour unfolds Michael Jackson’s artistry before the eyes of the audience. Aimed at lifelong fans as well as those experiencing Michael’s creative genius for the first time, the show captures the essence, soul and inspiration of the King of Pop, celebrating a legacy that continues to transcend generations.
THE IMMORTAL World Tour takes place in a fantastical realm where we discover Michael’s inspirational Giving Tree—the wellspring of his creativity. The secrets of Michael’s inner world are unlocked—his love of music and dance, fairy tale and magic, and the fragile beauty of nature.
The underpinnings of THE IMMORTAL World Tour are Michael Jackson’s powerful, inspirational music and lyrics—the driving force behind the show—brought to life with extraordinary power and breathless intensity. Through unforgettable performances Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour underscores Michael’s global messages of love, peace and unity.
Writer and Director Jamie King has been called one of the most influential “movers and shakers” in the music industry, and the “Jerry Bruckheimer of tent-pole concert tours” by Variety. A multiple Emmy Award® and MTV Video Music Award® nominee, he has choreographed some of the most popular music videos and directed some of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time. For the past 12 years, he has served as Madonna’s creative director, and most recently directed world tours for Rihanna, Celine Dion, Spice Girls, Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne. King has worked with an array of superstars including Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Shakira, George Michael, Elton John, Diana Ross, Jennifer Lopez and even Ellen DeGeneres. This is Jamie’s first show with Cirque du Soleil.
Cirque du Soleil returns to the Bay Area with a new Big Top production!
TOTEM from Cirque du Soleil opens in San Francisco on October 28, 2011 for a limited engagement under the trademark blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) at AT&T Park; and in San Jose as of March 2, 2012 at the Taylor Street Bridge. For more information please visitwww.cirquedusoleil.com/totem.”
Finally! It’s March, So Now Francisco’s Plum Trees Actually Look Like Plum Trees, Instead of Cherry
Thursday, March 10th, 2011See?
Click to expand
My campaign to get area residents to call plum trees “plum trees” is picking up steam. Now, remember back in aught-eight, when some people called mountain lions “cougars?” Good times,* right? Well, those days are history. And, similarly, tout le 415 will be calling cherry trees “cherry trees” by January 2014 at the latest.
You’ll see.
*”Cougar corners St. Mary’s Hoopster in Danville” – that kind of thing.
It’s Mid-Winter, So Our Flowering Plum Trees are Blooming – 2011′s Season is a Little Late, Actually
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011First started noticing these blooms a couple of days ago:
Click to expand
Some people think they are cherry blossoms. Check it:
Well it’s late January in San Francisco so it’s time for our sidewalk plum trees to begin blossoming. Yeah, they look a lot like cherry trees and that causes people around town to start talking about how global warming / climate change is making the cherry trees of April wake up three months early or something.
You can double-check with the Friends of the Urban Forest if you want, but I’ll tell you, those flashes of pink you see brightening up the otherwise-dreary Streets of San Francsico these days are early-rising Prunus blireiana, aka Flowering Plum trees, or something similar.
Be patient and you’ll be rewarded with real cherry trees in March – check out the sked at the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park.
If this January blossom is cherry, I’ll eat my hat:
This will be the scene in the Financh in a couple of months – our wild parrots love all kinds of prunus blossoms of course.
Take heart, Spring is just around the corner…
Photos From the Annual “Walk for Life West Coast” 2011 and Counterprotest in San Francisco
Saturday, January 22nd, 2011Maybe someday the liars over at Walk For Life West Coast will explain how a march that was only two-thirds the length of last year’s (48 minutes (or so) long in 2010 and 31 minutes long in 2011*) could have 5000 more people.
It’s a miracle!?
It’s worth noting that nobody had a crowd estimate of less than 22K last year and nobody independent from the movement has a an estimate north of 20k this year. I put it at 16k and KGO 7 ABC TV is saying “about 20,000.” The organizers, under enormous pressure to claim ever growing attendance, claim 40,000+. Oh well.
Anyway, here are a few shots from this afternoon, starting with the counters.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were on hand. I’d say 5000 souls saw this sister and a fellow sister today – they were the focus of the march, particularly on the right side of the river of people going by. Here’s your welcome to San Francisco:
The mise-en-scene:
Tax Church Property and INVESTMENTS! Sure, sounds good to me.
And here’s Frank Chu, in the middle, going on about the Galaxies, as per usual:
And here’s the main body, 16k or so marchers from all over California and beyond:
St. Patrick’s Teens, Sonora, in the hiz-ouse:
Some people from Fowler, CA? Sounds far away:
Yes We Can change:
Yeah BABIES:
“Flower” and “shears”:
A brace from Sacramento:
Save the human babies. Of course! Human babies, that changes everything!
And there you have it.
*We’re talking about at the start here, people. Ferry Plaza was a ghost town by 12:33 PM. If the same number of people showed up as last year, it would have taken until about 12:50 PM for everybody to get going. Obviously, the march will spread out over time and narrow due to the way the course is set up.
