Happenings List: Fall 2018 (September/October)

mural at mesa arts center

Fall leaves at arboretum

While they don’t get the fanfare that comes with summer or the holiday season, a lot of good stuff goes on in September and October!

A few notable dates…

 

Museum in Pine-Strawberry Arizona

The Happenings List is my hand-selected, seasonal roundup of notable goings-on around the world. While it’s heavy on Arizona events (hey, I live here!), you can also find out about festivals, workshops, art exhibitions, etc. in other states (California, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, Washington) and countries (Australia, France, Italy, Japan, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK).

So read on, venture out, and let me know how it goes!

The Happenings List

Mesa Arts Center mural

+Arizona

Scorched: a celebration of heat!

Now – Sep 21
First Studio, Phoenix
Art on the theme of heat or made with heat, including metal, ceramic, wood-burning (pyrography), fused-glass, encaustic, and paintings.

  • Gallery open for a Self-Guided Tours: Mon – Fri, 9-5pm
  • Sep 7, 6-10pm: Artists’ Reception
  • Sep 21, 6-9pm: Closing Artists’ Reception

Ida y Vuelta: There and Back

Aug 30 – Oct 6
Chandler Center for the Arts Gallery
An exhibition featuring the work of printmaker and performance artist Diana Calderon alongside the paintings and photographs of Oliverio Balcells. Both artists create imagery inspired by Mexican history, heritage, nature, and culture and personal migration.

 

The Loft Cinema Film Fest on the Road: Rumble

Sep 1, 4pm (screening at 7pm)
The Amerind Museum*, Dragoon
Outdoor showing of the documentary film Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World by the Loft Cinema Film Fest on the Road. Before the screening, there will be food available for purchase from the Wicked Burgers food truck, free museum admission, and a performance by The Ohitika Souls. Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World begins at 7pm. Bring a chair. Free.

[I watched Rumble recently, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it! It’s this fascinating look at the roots of American music that you don’t always hear about. If you can’t make a screening, it’s available on Amazon/Prime, Google Play, and iTunes. -S]

 

6 Airbnb Getaways in the Western US

 

Intro to Cookie Decorating Workshops

Smith-O-Lator Cookie Shop, Mesa
Instructor-led sugar cookie decorating class. You will decorate 6 cookies, using a variety of royal icing techniques. Classes last about 60 to 90 minutes. No experience necessary. Ages 18+. Advance ticket purchase required. $35

  • Sep 6, 5:30pm
  • Sep 7, 10am
  • Sep 11, 5:30pm
  • Sep 13, 5:30pm
  • Sep 15, 1pm
  • Sep 18, 5:30pm
  • Sep 22, 1:30pm

 

Astronomy Nights

Sep 7, Oct 5, Nov 2, + Dec 7, every 30 minutes from 6-10pm
Mesa Community College, Mesa

Monthly planetarium shows open to the public the first Friday of the month during the Fall semester. There is also telescope viewing (if the skies are clear) and hands-on activities. Free planetarium show tickets at the door (first come, first served, starting at 5:30pm). Advance tickets available online for $3 each.

  • You can line up for seating 15 minutes before the show starts. No late entry.
  • The planetarium is wheelchair accessible.
  • Free parking in the lots south of the planetarium, except in spaces marked “EMPLOYEES,” which are reserved until 6pm.

Local Art Loves

Ballet Under the Stars

7pm. Outdoor performances by Ballet Arizona. Free.

  • Sep 12. Tempe Sports Complex, Tempe.
  • Sep 13. Fountain Park, Fountain Hills.
  • Sep 14. Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater, Goodyear.
  • Sep 15. Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix.

Ballet Under the Stars and the beauty of free culture

2018 Furry Friends Fine Arts Festival

Sep 15, 8am–2pm
Shemer Art Center*, Phoenix
Animal-themed arts festival with paw readings, pet adoptions, animal-themed art, live music, vendors, and entertainment, as well as food and beverages from Black Cat Coffee and Short Leash Hot Dogs! Admission $5 individual / $10 family.

Guerilla Film making: An evening with Tony Topaz

Sep 20, 7pm
Tempe History Museum*, Tempe
To launch the Independent Filmmakers Tour, filmmakers Tony Topaz and Steve Wargo will share how they partnered up to complete Tony Topaz’s first film. This is part of the museum’s Third Thursday series, which offers monthly hour-and-half shows, each planned by a different local host to be interactive, entertaining and thought-provoking. Intermission features small batch artisan coffee and dessert.

Mighty Monarchs and the Plant Protectors

Sep 29 – Nov 18
Desert Botanical Garden*, Phoenix
Fall Butterfly Exhibit with Monarch butterflies and other beneficial insects. Included with admission.

Museum Day in the Garden

American Craft Week Show

Oct 4-26
Fountain Hills Community Center, Fountain Hills
Showcase of artwork by Fountain Hills Artists’ Gallery artists and workshop participants to celebrate American Craft Week.

  • Oct 4, 5-7pm: Opening reception

The (Fountain) Hills

Dia de los Muertos Festival (Mesa)

Oct 27, 10am-5pm + Oct 28, 12-5pm
Mesa Arts Center, Mesa
Art and craft market, live entertainment, and artist demonstrations and altars. Free.

All Souls Procession

Nov 2-4
Downtown Tucson
Two-mile long procession to both celebrate and mourn of the lives of our loved ones and ancestors. Leading up to the procession are art exhibits, performances, and other Dia de los Muertos events. Free. (Donations accepted.)

 

DIY Día de los Muertos

Pineapple Triangle

Nov 3, 10am-4pm
DeSoto Central Market, Phoenix
Event with Arizona-based artisans, food trucks, and live music. ​20% of event proceeds benefit local non-profits. Admission: $10 /adults, free for kids (12 + under).

Shemer Arizona Arts Festival

Shemer Art Center*, Phoenix
Nov 3-4, 10am–4pm
Two-day holiday shopping event to benefit the non-profit Shemer Art Center.  one-of-a-kind works and demonstrations from 40 Arizona artists. Plus, live music, food and beverage vendors, a silent auction, and opportunities to create your own glass, blacksmith, or ceramic gifts! Free festival admission, $5 Kids Zone.

Camelback Studio Tour and Art Sale

Nov 2-4
Scottsdale
Visit artists’ studios, see artists at work, and purchase art. Free admission.

Tucson Comic-Con

Nov 2-4
Tucson Convention Center, Downtown Tucson
Community-based pop culture convention with a mission statement of “Pop Culture For All!” Full weekend passes $35 through Sep 29 (early bird pricing).

Hidden In The Hills Studio Tour and Sale

Nov 16-18, 23-25
Cave Creek, Arizona

Self-guided tour of open artist studios in the Cave Creek and Scottsdale area with demonstrations and art for sale. Free admission.

Hidden in the Hills Art Show Returns

10th Annual Grand Avenue Festival

Nov 10, 11am – 8pm
Historic Grand Avenue
Art-centric, non-traditional walking Festival that highlights arts, small businesses, adaptive re-use, recycling, and the unique history of Grand Avenue. It includes local music, outdoor art installations, free historic building tours, mural projects, pop-up galleries, kid’s activities, artist-designed “selfie stands,” wandering performers (stilt walkers, poets, dancers, balloon twisters, clowns, face painters), arts/craft vendors and food trucks. hands-on, make-and-take arts and crafts booths this year, headed up by art teachers, artists, and makers.

  • 3-4pm: Trashy Hat Promenade and Untrashed Recycled Fashion Show – Participants Make and model clothing from recycled materials. Make your own trashy hat at the festival for free (supplies provided).
  • 8-10pm: After Hours

Phoenix Pizza Festival

Nov 17, 11am-5pm
Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix

Festival of top pizza makers, featuring live music, lawn games, local vendors, and craft beer and wine bars. Food and beverages (including $2-4 slices) available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Downtown Phoenix Inc. Tickets: $10 advance / $12 at the gate / free for kids under 5.

Phoenix Pizza Festival

 

Museum of Man, San Diego

+California

PostSecret

Now – 2020
Museum of Man, San Diego
A collection of the handmade postcards submitted to the PostSecret community art project from millions of people from all over the world anonymously sharing their secrets. You can submit a postcard of your own or share you secret by leaving a voicemail at 619-269-3894. Included with admission ($13).

  • Open late on Labor Day (Monday, September 3) – until 7pm.

 

Museum of Latin American Art Exhibits

Long Beach

  • Now – Jan 21: Ink. Photography exhibit exploring the histories of Long Beach, the US Navy, and LA Chicano culture through tattoo art and the personal stories of 6 community members. Ink looks at the importance of the tattoo art form in Southern California and throughout the world.
  • Sep 26 – Nov 12: DÍa de los Muertos Altar Display and Art Exhibition. Juried display of art and altars by Southern California artists.

 

Bedford Gallery Exhibits

Walnut Creek
Gallery dedicated to allowing the public access to learn about the visual arts, including the work of historic, modern, and contemporary artists. Admission $5.

  • Now – Sep 16: The World of Frida weaves juried and invitational shows that reference the artist with a national, traveling photography exhibit titled Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray.
  • Sep 15, Oct 20, Nov 17 at 11am: Public Art Walking Tour. One-hour docent-led walking tour of Walnut Creek’s downtown public art collection. $5 fee includes Bedford Gallery admission.

 

Sculpture Is: 2018 “In the Garden”

Now – Oct 31
Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens, Watsonville

Annual Pajaro Valley Arts sculpture exhibition of over 80 works in the two-acre Sierra Azul Nursery demonstration gardens. Free.

  • Picnicking is allowed!

 

SF Needlework Events

San Francisco School of Needlework and Design, San Francisco

  • Sep 5, 8, 12, 19, 26 + Oct 3 at 11am: Free Stitch-Ins. Bring your knitting, embroidery, or other projects to work on in the company of fellow enthusiasts.
  • Sep 18, 12pm: Lunch + Learn. Carol Ziogas presents on the origins and future of Japanese Sashiko. 19th + 20th century pieces will be on display. Tickets $10.
  • Oct 17, 12pm: Lunch + Learn. Artist Mary Teetor present on tessellation with shadow stitch. Tickets $10.

 

Brass in the Park

Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, San Diego
Interactive concert series by professional ensemble Westwind Brass.

  • Sep 13, 7pm: The Music of the Californias. Works include pieces from the mission era, the gold rush, and the golden age of Hollywood.
  • Dec 10, 7pm: Holiday Lights.

 

Roadworks Steamroller Printing Festival

Sep 23, 11am-4pm
San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco
Public printmaking and book arts extravaganza that includes free hands-on printmaking and book arts activities, demonstrations, 50 arts and crafts vendors, and art gallery and studio tours. Free admission.

Steamrolled Art

 

Denver

+Colorado

Broken Bone Bathtub

Sep 6-23
Secret location in The Lakewood Glens, Denver
Interactive one-woman show staged in bathrooms in homes around the world. Siobhan O’Laughlin uses the ritual of bathing to tell her story of a bike accident, a broken arm, and borrowed bathtubs. Tickets $36.

 

Pastels on 5th

Sep 8, 10am-5pm
Downtown Loveland

Sidewalk chalk art festival and fundraiser for Alternatives to Violence (ATV) victim services.

Sneffels Fiber Arts Festival

Sep 29-30
Ridgway, Colorado
Fundraising event for Weehawken Creative Arts, a non-profit arts education center in Ouray County. The festival features fiber vendors, food, workshops, classes, and demonstrations.

 

Moxie Craft Fest

+Georgia

SCAD FASH Exhibitions

Museum of Fashion + Film (Savannah College of Art and Design), Atlanta
Exhibitions are included with admission ($10 adults/free for kids under 14).

Moxie Craft Fest

Brunswick
Nov 10, 10am-5pm

Handmade Holiday Market by a group of eclectic makers. Applications will open in September.

 

House of Seven Gables in Salem

+Massachusetts

Fiber Arts Weekend

Sep 1-2
The House of the Seven Gables, Salem

Hands-on event exploring the historical methods of wool production, hand-sewing, rug-hooking, and card weaving. Included with admission.

Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park

  • Rock the Fort at Georges Island: Sep 1, 1-3pm. Free concert.
  • Jazz on Spectacle Island: Sep 2, 1-4pm. Free outdoor jazz concert.
  • Kayaking on Spectacle Island: Sep 3. Ranger-led kayak tours for those who want to try sea kayaking. Hour-long trial also includes park history and information. Ages 12+. Free.
  • Free Ferry Day: Oct 7. (2-for-1 passes are also available for library cardholders at participating Boston-area libraries.)

Exploring Salem: Day Two

 

2018 BIG E FAIR

Sep 14-30
Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield
Annual autumn extravaganza of entertainment, exhibits and the agriculture of New England. There are demonstrations of farming techniques and New England traditions (like pulling contests and cow milking); horse shows; livestock shows with more than 25 breeds of cattle, sheep, goats and hogs; a circus; band concerts; rides; a petting zoo; and a nightly parade. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and under.

  • Avenue of the States: Buildings for the six New England states that demonstrate each one’s architectural style and traditional foods and products.
  • Storrowton Village: recreation of an American village of the 1700s and 1800s.  Traditional Early American crafts and chores are demonstrated within the historic buildings that comprise the Village.
  • Craft Common: Exhibits of work by craftspeople and artisans.
  • Magic Midway: the world’s largest traveling midway – featuring the 115 foot high Giant Wheel, the Drop of Fear, and other rides, as well as games and other attractions.

The Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival

Sep 29, 12-6pm
Columbus Avenue, Boston (west of Massachusetts Avenue to Burke Street)
Annual, outdoor public concert on three stages with jazz, Latin, blues, funk, and groove performances, along with KidsJam, an instrument petting zoo, arts and crafts, and food vendors. Free.

 

Concept Art, Queen Amidala Senate Gown. Star Wars™: The Phantom Menace.

+Michigan

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Exhibits

Detroit

  • Now – Sep 30: “Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume.” Exhibition focusing on the creative process behind the costume design for the first seven films of the Star Wars saga. Includes more than 60 original costumes, as well as a multimedia tour that draws connections between the films’ costumes and works of art in the DIA’s collection. Advance ticket purchase recommended. Tickets $19 adults / $7 youth + museum admission. Free museum admission + $14 exhibition tickets for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
  • Now – Feb 17, 2019: Lost + Found. Exhibition showcasing the “accidental” art form of vernacular photography, featuring salvaged snapshots by amateur photographers, including over 500 of 1970s Detroit.

 

Bellagio, Las Vegas

+Nevada

Primal Water: An Exhibition of Japanese Contemporary Art

Now – Oct 21
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (in the Promenade Shops), Las Vegas
Exhibition of post-war Japanese art curated by Midori Nishizawa, who uses water as a motif to present a survey of Japanese Contemporary art history. Featured artists approach water by documenting its absence, capturing its abundance, decontextualizing its existence, or exploring its relationship with humanity. Nishizawa finds a meaningful connection between Las Vegas as an oasis in the desert and this very universal theme. General Admission: $14

 

Searching for the Fountains of Bellagio

 

New York airport

+New York

Beekeeper Tours

Storm King Art Center, Cornwall 
Now – October, Saturdays at 1pm + 2pm
A beekeeper leads tours of Peter Coffin’s Untitled (Bees Making Honey) (2012), at the apiary at the far edge of Storm King’s property.

Judson Dance Theater: The Work Is Never Done

Sep 16 – Feb 3, 2019
The Museum of Modern Art, Floor 2, Marron Atrium

Gallery exhibition, print publication, and performance program that celebrates the Judson Dance Theater, a group of choreographers, visual artists, composers, and filmmakers in the 1960s who would go on to profoundly shape all fields of art in the second half of the 20th century and expand dance in ways that reconsidered its place in the world.

 

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

+Pennsylvania

Festival O18

Sep 20-30
Philadelphia
This civic experiment, comprised of eleven days of opera and citywide events, transforms Philadelphia into an urban stage where diverse audiences gather to share an experience and amplify human connectedness.

  • Sep 20, 8pm:Sky on Swings” World Premiere at Perelman Theater

Apple Butter Frolic

Oct 6, 9:30am-4pm
Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville

Autumn festival with Mennonite folk craft and farming demonstrations, wagon rides, and Pennsylvania Dutch (German) food – like scrapple, ground cherry pie, and a large caldron of apple butter! Proceeds help support the Mennonite Heritage Center. Admission $8 adults / $2 children age 6-12 / free for children under 6

  • 7:30-10am: Pancake + Apple Sausage Breakfast
  • Parking with shuttle at Indian Valley Middle School.

Seattle

+Washington

Seattle Art Museum*

His and Hers: Paintings and Quilts Exhibit

Cascade Park Community Library, Vancouver
Sep 1 – Oct 31
Art by married couple Ned McConnell, a painter, and Joan McConnell, a quilter/quilt-designer. Free.

Knitting with Booze

Sep 4 + Oct 2, 6pm
Blue Star Cafe + Pub, Seattle
A self-described “welcoming group” that meets for “booze, fiber and inappropriate conversation.”

Wooden Boat Festival

Sep 7-9
NW Maritime Center, Port Townsend
Festival featuring more than 300 wooden boats that both honors traditions and invites energetic debate. Experts and enthusiasts give presentations and demonstrations on the latest innovations in boatbuilding, equipment, and skills.

Columbia Springs Guided Walks

Sep 12 + Oct 10, 5:30pm
Columbia Springs Visitor’s Center, Vancouver
Easy walking tour to learn more about Columbia Springs, the Vancouver Hatchery, and native plants and animals. Lead by volunteer guides, walks typically last 30 minutes to one hour and include trails that have uneven surfaces and steps. Register by emailing volunteering@columbiasprings.org. All ages are welcome. Free ($5 donation suggested).

Friday Harbor Film Festival

October 26-28
San Juan Island
Documentary film festival in the historic seaside community of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

 

art at NMWA

+Washington D.C.

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man

Now – Jan 21, 2019
Renwick Gallery

Large-scale, participatory artwork from Burning Man will take over the entire Renwick Gallery building, as well as extending into the surrounding neighborhood. The in-gallery exhibiton will include immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera, along with photographs and archival materials from the Nevada Museum of Art. Free.

 

Women in the Arts and a Pop-up Makerspace

National Museum of Women in the Arts*

These exhibitions and events are included with admission ($10).

  • Bound to Amaze: Inside a Book-Collecting Career – Now – Nov 25: Exhibition celebrating curator emerita Krystyna Wasserman, who assembled NMWA’s collection of more than 1,000 artists’ books over a thirty-year period.
  • Full Bleed: A Decade of Photobooks and Photo Zines by WomenNow – Nov 30: selection of photobooks and photo zines, created by an international group of women artists in the last ten years. These deliberate, ordered, and sometimes narrative arrangement of photographic images bound in a book with little or no text encompass photographs of American locations, digital photos snapped through a car window, and prints resulting from experiments with expired photo paper.
  • MakeHER MartSep 23, 10am-4pm: Pop-up artisan market, promoting local women artists and designers who create handcrafted art and merchandise, including jewelry, fine art, home accents, and personal accessories.

 

 

Roman Forum ruins

INTERNATIONAL

+Australia

Festival of Nature

Sep 5-9, 9am-4pm
Yankalilla, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia
6-day celebration of all things sustainable with guided walks, open homes and gardens, classes on health and longevity, panel discussions, guided Yoga and Wayapa Wuurrk sessions, pop-up workshops, and international visiting chefs.

  • Sep 9, 10am-4pm: Sustainable Living Expo.  Hands-on workshops, market stalls, guest presenters, Nature Playground, live music, and local food, wine and beer. Free.
  • Workshops on DIY topics: Home cheesemaking 101, make-and-take essential oils, Ingalalla tree planting, beeswax wraps.

 

+France

Parcours des Mondes 2018

Sep 11-16
Galerie FLAK, Paris
AfriCubism is an exhibition exploring the intersection of Ancient African Art and Cubism. It includes Senufo, Lwalwa, Dogon, Songye, Kota, and Tsogho masks and figures, along with drawings and paintings by Picasso, Léger, Braque, Gleizes, and Lipchitz.

  • Sep 11, 3-9pm: Opening Preview

 

+India

Bandishana – Indian Classical Music

Sep 15, 8:30pm
Harkat Studios, Versova, Mumbai
Evening of melodic compositions in various moods and time signatures with Indian classical vocalist Ronkini Gupta and musicians Adinath Patkar and Rupak Dhamankar. ₹350

 

cheese at FOTE

+Ireland

Aniar Boutique Cookery School

Galway City, Ireland
Classes are led by chef patron JP McMahon and include demonstration and hands-on activities for students to learn how to cook and engage with current trends. Each includes a light lunch with a tasting of the day’s produce and a glass of wine at the end of the day. Bring a container/lunch box to take home samples.

  • Sep 3 – Oct 8: Understanding food. 6-week course looking at the origin and traceability of basic food elements, as well as the seasonality of food, wild foods, and foraging in one’s own local environment. Course: €450
  • Sep 9, 10am-5pm: Vegetables, Wild Food + Seaweed. One-day workshop exploring modern approaches to vegetarian cooking, with a particular focus on Irish ingredients, such as local seaweed, wild mushrooms, autumnal fruits, and wild herbs. Class:  €195 / Class + Cava Bodega Tapas Cookbook: €215
  • Oct 14, 10am-5pm: Gastropub Classics. One-day workshop on the often over-looked classics of pub food, including steak, fish and chips, ham hock terrines, potted crab, and handmade burgers. Students will learn new cooking and culinary techniques with an emphasis on food provenance and sourcing from local suppliers. Class:  €195 / Class + Cava Bodega Tapas Cookbook: €215

Food On The Edge: The Future of Food

Oct 22-23
National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Galway City
Not-for-profit conference seeking to make good food accessible for everyone. Approximately 50 chefs speak over the two day symposium. €350

 

Venice

+Italy

Regata Storica 2018

Aug 30 + Sep 2
Canal Grande, Venice
Centuries-old parade of gondolas and other traditional boats, as well as the most important races of Venice’s rowing season.

  • Aug 30: Presentation of the teams and blessing of the gondolini.
  • Sep 2, 4pm: Historic boat parade on the Grand Canal, followed by races.

 

Mushroom Festival: Festa Del Fungo

Sep 29 – Oct 7
Montefeltro, Sasso Simone e Simoncello Nature Park, San Sisto di Piandimeleto

Week of mushroom-focused conferences, tasting events, mushroom picking competition, market of local products, and excursions within the Sasso Simone and Simoncello Park.

Japan

+Japan

Type Camp Japan 2018

Nov 5-11
Makabe, Ibaraki, Japan
Retreat focused on typographic concepts applied to traditional Japanese arts and crafts, including brush calligraphy, Shibori indigo dying, historic letterform carving, and sake labels. There will be daily trips from the camp in the countryside to workshops and activities, such as a Shibori dying studio and Shinto Temple. Registration $3650 (by 15 Oct).

 

+Netherlands

Zundert Flower Parade

Sep 2-3
Markt Street, Zundert
Corso Zundert is the world’s biggest flower parade and a tradition since 1936. You can see the floats on exhibition the following day. Parade: €9 advance / €10 at the gate

Dutch Design Week

Oct 20-28
Eindhoven
2500 designers – both established and newcomers – present solutions in the fields of product design, spatial design, textile + fashion, design management + trends and graphic design at more than 100 locations scattered across the city.

 

native new zealand parrot

+New Zealand

Ngāi Tipu Taketake – Indigenous Flora

Wellington Botanic Garden, Wellington
Now – Sep 9
Exhibition of over 40 works by contemporary botanical artists, showcasing New Zealand flora as part of the Botanical Art Worldwide Exhibition 2018. Artwork, prints, and cards will be available for purchase. Free admission.

PechaKucha Night Christchurch

Sep  19, 7:30pm (Doors at 6:30pm, with Ilex café open for drinks and snacks)
Christchurch Botanic Garden’s Visitor Centre
Short talks by local female scientists, writers, and entrepreneurs on the theme of “Women, Science and Conservation,” in honor of the 125th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage and Conservation Week. Tickets $18.

 

On an Uphill Track: Funiculars

Otari-Wilton’s Bush Open Day and Plant Sale

Sep 22, 10am-4pm
Otari-Wilton’s Bush, Wellington
Annual Spring Festival with guided walks, kids’ activities, and plants, food and handmade gifts for sale. Free.

 

 

Double decker bus London

+UK

Independents Biennial

Now – Oct 28
Williamson Art Gallery, Liverpool City 
Festival celebrating grassroots and emerging artists with a largely free program offering a fresh perspective on how we see, make and use art in the region.

Native Spirit Festival

Oct 11-21
Bloomsbury, London
Native Spirit Film Festival presents Indigenous Film, Native Media and Artists, with some focus on languages in the run-up to UNESCO 2019 Year of Indigenous Languages.

Northlight Studio Workshops

Autumn Term Workshops offer the chance to work with practicing artists. Basic materials are included in the price. Day workshops run from 10:30am – 4:30pm.

  • Oct 20: Making Books: Coptic Binding. £60
  • Oct 21: Mosaic on Slate. £60
  • Nov 11: Clay Sculpture from the Life model. £75
  • Nov 18: 3D Textiles – Insect Sculpture. £60
  • Nov 24: Winter Watercolor workshop. £60
  • Dec 8: Printmaking Card workshop.
  • Dec 15: Leather Belt Workshop. £75

Being Human

Nov 15-24
Universities of Dundee, Exeter, Newcastle, Queen Mary London, and Swanse
Festival of the humanities, which aims to make research in the humanities accessible to non-specialist audiences. The 2018 theme is ‘Origins and Endings’.

 

 




*Participating in the Smithsonian’s Museum Day.


Georgia image via Moxie Craft Fest.

Massachusetts photo by Jess Tennant.

Michigan photo via DIA. Concept Art, Queen Amidala Senate Gown. Star Wars™: The Phantom Menace. © & ™ 2018 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Ireland image via Food on the Edge.

Japan image via TypeCamp.

New Zealand image via WellingtonNZ.com.

July 2018: San Diego Shadows

Dragon tree shadows on the sidewalk

I think the fantastical plants I kept seeing around San Diego are called “dragon trees”.

coronado dragon trees

On the way back from Coronado Beach, I noticed the playful-looking shadows they cast on the sidewalk. So, once again, I stopped in my tracks to take a photo of the ground.

La Jolla Cove sunset

Other photo favorites from July include a sunset in La Jolla (San Diego) and Quijote looking at the ocean.

Dog at the beach

Have you seen anything interesting on the sidewalk lately?


Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

San Diego Sights Worth a Second Trip

palm trees in la jolla

While I’ve never spent more than a few days at a time in San Diego, it’s been part of some very memorable trips.

Windansea Beach San Diego

We camped at a State Park just outside of town on the final night of our trip down the coast in 2012.

Back when Phillip worked for an airline, we flew in just for an afternoon once, because we could go for free.

Another time, we took the San Diego Trolley south to the end of the line. Did you know it goes all the way to the U.S.-Mexico border? We crossed over to visit friends in Tijuana.

And, of course, there’s the trip I took with my grandma. We packed a lot of sightseeing into just a few days!

San Diego marina

 

Fast forward to this year.  When Phillip and I decided we’d join my brother, sister-in-law, their kids, and my parents on their San Diego trip in July, I started thinking about previous trips and what I’d want to see and do again.

Since I started writing this post before we left, I’ve kept a lot of those “first draft” thoughts in, so you can see what I was expecting vs. how it actually went.
La Jolla sunset

Thoughts before our trip in July…

We have another San Diego trip coming up. It will, of course, be different than past trips. We’ll be meeting my parents, brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew there.

We’re also bringing Quijote. It’ll be the longest trip we’ve taken with our dog. We’re excited – and just a little apprehensive – to see how that all works out.

Quijote stop en route to San Diego

Getting ready for the trip has had me looking at old maps and photos and thinking about the San Diego spots I’d like to revisit.

Geisel Library in San Diego

Geisel Library

This unusual-looking library building at UCSD in La Jolla that also has a collection of Dr. Seuss’s sketches. Phillip and I saw it from the outside when we were on the campus for a conference years ago but could never figure out when it was open.

Thoughts before July trip:

I’d love to actually go inside!

Geisel library from inside

Did we go this time?

Yep! I stopped in with my parents, and we perused the Dr. Seuss art on display on the main/entrance-level floor (technically the 2nd floor).

Artwork by Dr. Seuss

Visiting Geisel Library now:

  • Floors 1 and 2 (underground and entrance-level) are open for self-guided tours most days.
  • Typical hours – Mon – Thr: 7:30am-10pm / Fri: 7:30am-6pm / Sat: 10am – 6pm / Sun: noon – 8pm
  • Hours vary, but you can check the daily schedule online.
  • The library is closed to the public on major holidays and during exams.
  • Paid parking is available in campus visitor spaces. (No designated library-only parking.)
  • The Geisel Library Revitalization Initiative (GLRI) is a project to renovate the most-used areas of the library. They’re currently in Phase 2 and don’t plan to finish the final phase until 2020!
  • I recommend going straight to the Information Desk, so they can point you in the right direction. They also have tour brochure/maps available, which may or may not be up to date, because of the ongoing renovations.

Dr. Seuss display at library

Guided tours–

  • Tour schedules change each academic term.
  • Register at least 3 days in advance for a tour time.
  • Summer 2018 tours are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am and 1pm (through August 30).

 

San Diego Museum of Art

San Diego Trolley

Thoughts before July trip:

There were only two lines back in 2006(ish) when we rode the blue line to the border town of San Ysidro and then crossed into Mexico.

It was a fascinating trip south. We watched the lush city of San Diego give way to parched warehouse districts and then open desert. The tourists trickled out at each stop and commuting factory workers gradually took their place. It gave so much more context to the region than the abrupt transition of driving, where the freeway hides the landscape.

Road to San Diego

However, showing up with suitcases in this sketchy part of town without transportation arrangements was not a great idea then, and it would be a worse one now. (We thought we could just look for a bus stop once we got there. Our local friends were aghast and insisted on picking us up.)

All that to say, I would ride the trolley around San Diego again, but I wouldn’t recommend taking it down to the border without a Tijuanan friend that’s familiar with the route.

La Jolla palm trees

Did we take the trolley this time?

No. I don’t think there was a trolley stop near where we were staying, and we had our car.

Current Trolley info:

  • There are now four lines – orange, blue, green, and silver.
  • One of the trolleys on the silver line is a restored 1946 streetcar.
  • A one-way fare is $2.50 and doesn’t allow transfer to buses.
  • Some transit stations have free parking.
  • Pets are allowed, if they’re in an enclosed carrier on your lap.

Balboa Park carousel

Balboa Park

Phillip remembers reading somewhere that Balboa Park has the largest collection of museums outside of Washington DC. I would believe it.

The 1200-acre park is home to the San Diego Zoo, 17 museums and cultural sites, 10 performing arts venues, as well as restaurants, gardens, and trails.

Founded in 1898 (it’s celebrating its 150th birthday this year!), what really took the park to the next level was preparing to host the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Many of the Park’s features and European-style buildings were constructed for the Expo.

Museums in Balboa Park

Thoughts before July trip:

Phillip and I walked around there at night once. I don’t think the park ever closes. We saw a few other people, but it was really quiet!

Most of the outdoor areas are pet friendly, and there are 3 different dog parks, so it will be fun to explore with Quijote!

balboa park carousel

Did we go this time?

Yes! We had a picnic in the park, my brother and his family rode the historic carousel, and Phillip made a morning visit on his own to explore the park in the daylight.

I actually expected to spend more time there, since we were staying so close. But the rest of the family was staying in another part of town, so we ended up all over the place!

Organ concert

Spreckels Organ, a.k.a. the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ and a “world treasure for all people.”

Thoughts before July trip:

  • When I went with Grandma, they opened up a side door after the concert on and let people go inside to see the pipes and inner workings. I’m not sure whether they do that every time.
  • If we get into town early enough on Sunday, we could see the afternoon concert. Otherwise, maybe we can catch the Independence Day concert Monday evening.

Detail of Spreckels Organ

Did we go this time?

Yep! We actually rolled into town just in time to hear most of the Sunday concert. There was a medley from Westside Story, followed by part of Balboa Park Suite: A Celebration of Many Peoples, a piece commissioned by the Spreckels Organ Society.

And they did open up the side doors afterward, as well as doing a little demonstration where they let kids try out different musical instruments. Phillip went to check it out, while I stayed back with Quijote.

quijote and steph at organ concert

Current Spreckels Organ info:

  • They still do concerts every Sunday at 2pm.
  • During the summer, there is also a Monday evening series called The International Organ Festival.”
  • All concerts are free.
  • Kids, pets, and picnics are welcome.
  • You can buy snacks and souvenirs on-site to support the organ and its concerts (via the nonprofit Spreckels Organ Society).

San Diego Zoo

The Zoo

Thoughts before July trip:

The time I went with my grandma it happened to be the annual Founders’ Day, when there was free admission and so many crowds! Although we could only make it to a small part of the zoo, we did wait in line to see a baby panda. Worth it.

There is no longer an annual free admission day at the zoo – I’m sure it was a victim of its own popularity. There are still pandas there. The “baby” would be 14 now! They grow up so fast.

panda at San Diego Zoo

Did we go this time?

No. Group planning is a bear.

Current Zoo info:

  • Open every day.
  • Hours vary. Summer hours are generally 9a-9p. It closes earlier other times.
  • One-day admission pass: Adult (ages 12+) $54 / Child (3-11) $44 / Kids under 3 are free.
  • There may be coupons for $5-10 off on Retail Me Not or Groupon. You can also get a CityPass if you’re planning on seeing other sights with pricey admission, as well.
  • Parking is free in the lot in front of the Zoo. Additional free parking is available throughout Balboa Park.
  • You can bring your own food but no large coolers, glass, alcohol, or straws.
  • Picnic areas are located outside the Zoo’s main entrance. Get your hand stamped if you plan to go back in.
  • Quarter-operated lockers are located in the Discovery Outpost across from Poppy’s Patio. Small locker: $.75 (16x24x14); Large locker: $1.50 (29x15x23).
  • Luggage storage is available inside Front Street Rentals for $5 per piece.
  • You can rent strollers, wheelchairs, and electric scooters at Front Street Rentals.

 

Seaport Village

Seaport Village

A mix of touristy and specialty shops, as well as a starting point for tours. Not a bad place to wander around!

What I did not remember is that they charge for parking. There is a paid self-parking lot, meters, or valet. Even getting your parking validated gives you a discount, but doesn’t make it free.

  • Self-parking lot – Validated parking in the lot is $5 for the first 2 hours (or 3 hours Monday to Thursday) and $6/hour after that. Otherwise, it’s $8/hour.
  • For parking validation, you need to spend $10 or more at one of the shops or restaurants in Seaport Village.
  • Metered parking is $2.50 an hour. (No discount or need for validation.)
  • Valet parking is available on Kettner Blvd. or Pacific Highway weekdays after 4pm and all day on the weekends. Monday through Thursday rates start at $11 for up to 5 hours. Friday through Sunday, it’s $15 for up to 5 hours.
  • There is a trolley stop across the street, and that might be cheaper than paying for parking.

 

lifeguard station on San Diego beach

SEAL Tour

These are on amphibious vehicles. So you get a city tour, then it just drives into Mission Bay and continues on the water.

san diego seal tour brochure

Thoughts before July trip:

I think Grandma and I might’ve actually giggled when it splashed into the water.

It’s overpriced and touristy but I would totally go again.

Did we go this time?

No. And the more I think about it, maybe it was one of those things that was fun in the moment but maybe wouldn’t be the same a second time.

 

Upstart Crow books and coffee

Upstart Crow

Two-level bookstore and coffeehouse that sometimes has live music in the evenings.

Thoughts before July trip:

I discovered this place with my grandma and returned another time with Phillip.

Did we go this time?

Yes! Our whole crew met up for coffee, and it was cool to share this spot with them. The upper floor has been converted into a game room for kids.

 

San Diego tent camping

Campground at Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

If you’re up for pitching a tent (or towing a camper), this is a great way to stay in San Diego on a budget! It’s only about 20 minutes away from the main sights, but still feels more “naturey” than…city-y.

San Diego horse camping

Thoughts before July trip:

Worked out great when we were near the end of our epic California road trip! I would camp here again.

Did we go this time?

No, we decided early on that camping would not be ideal for this trip. Instead, we stayed at a nice little inn near Balboa Park.

Sweetwater campground info:

  • There’s water, power, restrooms, showers, trails, fishing, picnic pavilions, a playground and a kids’ splash park on-site.
  • Some campsites have corrals for those traveling with horses.
  • Camping fee: $29-36/night, +$1/night for pets, +$2/night for horses

Quijote at the ocean
Do you have any favorite spots in San Diego?

Everyday Magic

Vine on Pasadena wall

There are Instagram accounts where every photo looks a bit like a fairy tale.

Rain on window

I typically don’t follow them. It’s like they’re trying to create this illusion of perfection.

Instead, I want to see the real-world magic – the rain on the window, the dried vine that looks almost lacy, the pattern of the light through the blinds, the flowers my nephews picked for me. The beauty that’s all around us.

That’s what I want to share with you.

 


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