the journal

Getting to the Giants game was so fabulous.  Since we were in Oakland I knew we had to take public transportation and we’d already done BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).  After some research I found the ideal way to get there.  How cool is it that the Giants park is on the water, in the harbor and a ferry from  Oakland docks there.  Peggy and I had such a good time coming and going on the boat.  The views were great.  The most interesting scene that we kept seeing in Oakland was the harbor with these enormous machines to unload the ships (Harbor Animals).  The game was also fun and you know I really enjoyed the cold weather.  The entire time we were in the bay area it was cool.  YEAH.

My last couple of days in the Bay area I moved from Oakland to San Francisco and stayed in an interesting old Deco hotel.  It bordered on charming and kinda scary.  But I love the old, boutique hotels with some character.  I went to a dance performance on Saturday night at the S.F. Conservatory of Music.  Really great building and I loved having the opportunity to see a recital there.  I saw an ad when we were in the Castro District for the world premier of “ManDance” – a company of male ballet dancers.  When in Rome…    San Francisco is so supportive of the gay and lesbian community and I thought I should be as well.  The show was really interesting and the choreography innovative… especially the dance to the music from Brokeback Mountain.  To continue my cultural experience I went to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the Jewish Contemporary Museum (JCM) on Sunday.  SFMOMA had two fabulous special exhibits – Georgia O’Keefe paired with Ansel Adams and the photography of Richard Avedon.  The art museum had some really cutting edge modern art.  After checking out all four floors and the sculpture garden I went across the street to the Jewish Contemporary Museum.  There was a special exhibit – “Jews on Vinyl”, curated by Roger Bennett, one of our guests at the Tampa JCC Jewish Book Month Celebration last year. In the exhibit hall there was a listening area set up like the fifties and on the record player was the Temptations Motown version of “Fiddler on the Roof’.  Wish I had that recording.  After the JCM I went to the park across the street where the S.F. Opera was holding a free performance.  As I was leaving I stopped to chat with a very nice man who saw me studying my map and offered some directions.  While chatting with him I was so excited to see some folks that I know from Tampa.  Stuart and Cindy Novick were visiting their daughter who lives in S.F. and went to SFMOMA as well. Stuart and I have worked together for about four years on the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival.  After 11 days I said goodbye to the Bay Area.

Deciding to take this class was a very good choice.  Peggy and I drove to the warehouse district of Emeryville, near the bay in Oakland, and we were greeted with this wonderful building that had mosaic masterpieces on the outside and inside.  It was overwhelming at first with so much visual stimulation but I got used to it during the week.  The Institute of Mosaic Art (IMA) is the brainchild of a truly accomplished artist and businesswoman – Laurel True.  She was a GREAT teacher.  The kind you listen to every word and soak up all she has to offer.  Her artwork and mosaic projects are beautiful.  Laurel also does public art projects in Ghana in western Africa.  I really learned a lot.  Mosaic art is part craftsmanship and part artistic inspiration.  Take a look at the photos and you will quickly decide on your favorites.  I worked on a cake plate for the first project and was truly challenged.  For my second piece I envisioned the design in the middle of the night and was inspired to interpret one of my “Shirley Style” photos (see the post “Risky Business”.  It was a great choice and it came together quickly.  Grouting was our last activity and we learned great tips on how to make this easy and beautiful.  ENJOY.

Lake Tahoe is truly majestic.  This place is overrun with very tall pine trees and then you go down to the lake.  It has crystal clear water and you can see all the way down about 30 feet.  I had a phenominal lunch on the lake and took a little walk down there.  Unfortunately I had to leave for the next city before I could spend any more time on the lake.  But you should definitely go to Lake Tahoe sometime.

What else to see but Temple Square – the home of the Mormons of Salt Lake City.  Sorry for the multitude of photos but there were just so many good shots.  Debbi and I got up early and walked the downtown to the state capital.  Great old homes, steep hills, historical sculpture and the Visitor Center.  It’s a beautiful downtown.  Unfortunately it was really hot.  So we packed our bags and went to the next post (Park City).  See you soon at the home of the 2002 Winter Olympic games.