Green summer bonnets atop the wigs

Well the enchanted forest has broken out of the gray gloom of City Hall and I was quite surprised to see there has been no attempt yet to pull out all the wicker weaves. It will be interesting to see how far things will go. Maybe no-one has noticed.

Kool radio widget gets my attention. Yours too.

Hover over an image on the quilt and see info on one of my 'plays'- then you can sing along with me too! As long as the tab is open in the background you can carry on browsing on your usual stuff as if I've taken over your radio - What Cheek!

Wigged-out trees invade San Francisco City Hall.

This is one of those 'double take' moments. Seeing as every tree in the square has had the stuffing pollarded out of it. Suddenly you get an uncomfortable feeling – something ain't quite right – and it takes a moment to realize that this is indeed, intentional.



In fact, there is quite a fantasy fairyland feel to the dozen or so trees a cross-walk away from the doors of San Francisco City Hall. Artist Patrick Dougherty has woven 18,000 lbs. of freshly cut willow saplings atop the Sycamore trees. This is an installation/sculpture experience worth a couple of trips under different daylight conditions to really sense the magical 'Harry Potterish' quality of the intricately woven branches embracing and provocatively probing each other, while in the background the preposterous, domed edifice of City Hall aloof – undecided.

Cast adrift at sea – what do you think about?

It never fails – 20 minutes splashing about in open water in a flimsy bathing suit makes a quick lunch at my favorite fast food joint a real treat and despite the fact that Fisherman's Wharf is a mob scene, I find myself soldiering on through the noisy rabble to order. Eons pass and my number is called – a tray of greasy goodness is thrust my way. The 10 minutes wait has allowed a miserable chill to now visibly take hold of me and I can barely subdue the shaky knees and wild watery eyes. Finding an unoccupied table is all but impossible - especially when looking as unwelcome as a hyena, so the option is to head outside, past the street hucksters and entertainers skillfully snaring willing tourists, and dive up an alley before I can tuck in.

Is it really is worth it? You betcha – for the visual effect alone.

NYTimes: 365/360 - 2008

NYTimes: 365/360 - 2008 (in color), originally uploaded by blprnt_van.

This is more of a mental map - still an island. A visual correlation of news items from NYT. You can download a decade of these and print out a large 10x10 inch version. I just really love this idea.

What's this got to do with Beaches?

Well, how do you make glass anyway - with hot sand, right?
So, you can't find cooler tumblers than these Frosties from the 50's. And what better to snarf down a cool Mai Tai and a jellied-eel sandwich! The patent, frosted glass is cool, even with a Brit Ice cube - (Remember, you're only allowed one - luke warm and teensy).

Hand it to the Brits- jellied (yuck) eels

Seems like you can do eels about any which way you fancy. 'Cept none of them really quite gel with my friend Nick. Guess he's seen 'The Godfather, part 1' one too many times. 'Course the Brits probably don't remember a thing after a bellyful of that 'special' bitter and tying another one on for the 5th time in one week.

Venice Beach Skaters -LA

Serious stuff. There isn't one skater here who hasn't ruled out 'going pro'. This is more than just fun, this is all about being a class act in a beachtown community where image is everything.

Crissy Field, SF-Coastguard Station

Really. I've always loved this spot. Must have walked there a million times, and swum right there many times as well. Good ghost of the GG Bridge behind. Now there's a very handy cafe close-by with half decent cup of Java, so on those days of frozen toes, relief is a breath away. Since they smartened up the walking path to the bridge it's become very popular - but the station remains fairly anonymous.

Harrison St., SF mural

This is a cool painting covering the side of a large commercial building on my street and was inaugurated with a dance performance by acrobats suspended on cords from the roof and precariously swinging at each other like a circus act. Bit 'artsy' but really well thought out. Wonder where they are now?

Cowes, IW 1998 boat race

Around the Island on a sail boat sounds cool until you find out you're there, clawing your heaving stomach for 10 hours straight. Right about now the reluctant crew was getting mighty bored, and tired. The beer was warm, the sandwiches a mere shadow of their former glory. Unless you know a cute Mermaid, the Needles lighthouse and limestone caves are to be avoided, despite the alluring tease of nipping through the middle to cut a corner.

Appley Slip, Ryde, circa 1966

These are the days when the beach was relatively narrow and we all crowded up near the wall.
Day trippers, locals and foreign students.

Ryde, IW beach circa 1944

Blimey, Pip! - 7 miles across the Solent in Portsmouth and all along the South coast, a massive allied invasion force of US, Canadian and Brits are preparing to attack the beaches of Normandy - aren't you even a little nervous?