.jpg)
The San Francisco Mission neighborhood's love affair with murals stems from the Mexican roots of the Mission District community. The Latino community took up residence in the Mission neighborhood in the early 1970s and they brought their muralist traditions with them...resulting in over 600 murals.
Photo top: "SF Mission District", Silke D'Alessandro, 2011 Read more...
Mime Artists in San Francisco at Fisherman's Warf seem to have tripled in numbers over the last few years, resulting in some unusual charcters ... who prefer only to be photographed when they are perfectly "composed" as opposed to when they are "on break"... as the photo on the right shows an obviously unwilling subject.
Photo right: "Mime", Silke D'Alessandro, 2011 Read more...
San Francisco has to be one of the greatest cities to see through a lens. The art community is fantastic. The photo attached is Michael Stutz's welded bronze sculpture on top of the W Hotel (next to the SFMOMA), called "Pneumatic Dreamer".
Photo right: "Lady W", Silke D'Alessandro 2011 Read more...
Where All the Life is
There are certainly many great sections of Manhattan: I love Central Park , I really like the elegant, civilized calmness of the Upper East Side - especially during the day. But when you are looking for life (and I am not talking about the tourist-craziness of Times Square), great boutique shops, galleries, charming restaurants and an abundant choice of music at night, you should spend some time in SOHO (Prince St., Broom St., Spring St., West Broadway and the surrounding area).
Photo Above: NY - SOHO, 2011 Read more...
Experimenting With 400 Film
I spent the the last 3 days in NYC and Philadelphia on a business trip. Glorious Summer weather: Hot, sunny and everyone who could walk, out on the street, fighting for a little piece of sidewalk. I discovered a new restaurant in SOHO: "Raoul's", which I can recommend for food and ambiance: The food is French-Bistro-Style and Zagat-rated (the duck with raspberry sauce is fabulous), the ambiance is rustic, French with risque paintings and a funny twist: In order to get to the back courtyard/garden, one has to walk straight THROUGH ... Read more...
Anyone who has never been to Bermuda would find it surprising and startling to witness something very odd at sunset every night: slowly the strangest sound starts to swell up, until it is so loud that it can make outdoor conversation difficult. The sound is somewhat like a ship's horn: monotone, loud, attention-getting. It is the sound of thousands of bull frogs and tree frogs that start up every evening and continue throughout the night.
About 3 years ago, several frog couples, decided to make our pool their home (= breeding ground). It makes for a nice home: steps to easily get into and ... Read more...
So much rain. Every day. It's impossible to do any yard work without getting carried away by the mosquitoes. Change in plans: Inside projects, in air-conditioning and enjoying the yard by looking out the window.
Photo Right: Dreams, Santa Fe, NM, 2011 Read more...
6 Weekends Away from Home - A Jungle Outside - Where is the House ?
Traveling is a privilege, an opportunity to see new new places, things & people and to open one's mind. And despite the hassle that goes with it (overbooked planes, late flights), I thoroughly enjoy seeing new places and meeting new people.
The last few weeks (travel every week since Easter and 6 weekends away from home), have come at a cost: I have a jungle outside and can't find my house ! Time to spend on my "other" hobby: gardening.
Photo Right: Hibiscus, Stuart, FL, 2011
The Secret Sauce: Sleep !
I knew I could do it. I had done it once before for the 90th birthday of my grandmother: Leave Friday, spend Saturday & Sunday in Europe, fly back Monday. It really was not difficult...but then again, I slept 8 hours coming and going on the plane :)
The weekend was wonderful: It was all about visiting with family and friends. In the end, quality time will always outperform quantity. It could not have been a nicer weekend.
Photo Right: Sunrise, Atlantic Ocean, 2011
Some men seem to live in their cars .... this one sure looks like it ... and he seems very content that way.
P.s. He is also an awesome harmonica player and the leader of a band in Santa Fe.
Photo Right: The Doghouse, Santa Fe, NM, 2011 Read more...