San Francisco, June 13-14
Dear Relatives and Friends,
Off again on another adventure--back to San Francisco to visit with friend and former colleague at St. John's, Maureen Fromme, who picked me up at the airport soon after I landed, to a flawless, 65-degree day with light winds. What a welcome respite from the heat and humidity of the Dallas scene! Maureen's commute to the airport from her condo is about 12 minutes, and when we returned, we had a wonderful lunch of chicken salad, sliced tomatoes, zucchini soup, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. We spent the afternoon enjoying the joys of being homebodies, reading, and engaging in good conversation. That evening, we had a dinner of pulled pork, baked beans, and cole slaw and enjoyed the shank of the evening before engaging in more talk and reminiscing. Maureen's condo is beautifully situated on SF Bay, and the quietness of the place and the light winds, making for an un-airconditioned environment, was so conducive to good sleep.
Today broke gloriously, to another flawless day. Maureen had baked a strawberry-rhubarb pie, and we had that and coffee for breakfast. After a good bath, we got ready and left the house for the de Young Museum, where a very special exhibit was taking place that we wanted to see: "The Summer of Love Experience: Art, Fashion, and Rock and Roll." The eyes of the world were on SF in the year 1967, when about 100,000 young people converged on the city to become a part of creating a new social paradigm. The Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in particular was the epicenter for seekers, non-conformists, and the curious. The nearby Golden Gate Park was their playground. It was a pivotal moment in the development of 60s counterculture, in which writers, actors, musicians, and visual artists worked to awaken a new consciousness, driven by such influences as Eastern philosophy and spirituality, sexual liberation, experimentation with drugs, and ecological awareness.
The Summer of Love represented a colorful moment when creativity flourished and reflected the ideas of a new generation. This exhibit is an immersive one that explores the visual and material cultures of the SF counterculture and features a wide array of iconic rock posters, hippie fashions, period photographs, interactive music and light shows, and avant garde films celebrating the full range of artistic expression during the latter half of the 60s. Fabulous exhibit! I bought a softbound catalog at the end of the exhibit as a memento.
As the day was gorgeous, Maureen and I had lunch al fresco at the museum. We both had pasta salads and root beer, and afterwards we took the elevator up the Hamon Tower 144 feet or 9 floors to the glass-enclosed observation deck, which often hosts dinners and receptions. There we were treated to a grand, 360-degree view of SF, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Afterwards we walked through the park between the de Young and the California Academy of Sciences, and then to the parking garage, where we had parked. We motored to the Glen Park area and parked in the vicinity of BART, then took the subway to Powell St. in downtown SF, and then walked to 450 Sutter, where Maureen had her dentist appointment (fitting of a new crown). The building was constructed in 1929, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It sports 26 floors, and was built in a neo-Mayan Art Deco style, designed by Timothy Pfluger. On our way back to the subway after the appointment, we walked through Union Square, mainly focusing on the beautiful new Apple store, courtyard, and fountain. The store faces Union Square and seems almost like a temple in which reverential disciples silently move back and forth, sampling the newest in technology!
We subwayed back to Glen Park, then drove home and had leftovers from last night. Now it is almost dark, and we plan to look at either photographs or a film tonight. Off to San Jose tomorrow! Great day!
Off again on another adventure--back to San Francisco to visit with friend and former colleague at St. John's, Maureen Fromme, who picked me up at the airport soon after I landed, to a flawless, 65-degree day with light winds. What a welcome respite from the heat and humidity of the Dallas scene! Maureen's commute to the airport from her condo is about 12 minutes, and when we returned, we had a wonderful lunch of chicken salad, sliced tomatoes, zucchini soup, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. We spent the afternoon enjoying the joys of being homebodies, reading, and engaging in good conversation. That evening, we had a dinner of pulled pork, baked beans, and cole slaw and enjoyed the shank of the evening before engaging in more talk and reminiscing. Maureen's condo is beautifully situated on SF Bay, and the quietness of the place and the light winds, making for an un-airconditioned environment, was so conducive to good sleep.
Today broke gloriously, to another flawless day. Maureen had baked a strawberry-rhubarb pie, and we had that and coffee for breakfast. After a good bath, we got ready and left the house for the de Young Museum, where a very special exhibit was taking place that we wanted to see: "The Summer of Love Experience: Art, Fashion, and Rock and Roll." The eyes of the world were on SF in the year 1967, when about 100,000 young people converged on the city to become a part of creating a new social paradigm. The Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in particular was the epicenter for seekers, non-conformists, and the curious. The nearby Golden Gate Park was their playground. It was a pivotal moment in the development of 60s counterculture, in which writers, actors, musicians, and visual artists worked to awaken a new consciousness, driven by such influences as Eastern philosophy and spirituality, sexual liberation, experimentation with drugs, and ecological awareness.
The Summer of Love represented a colorful moment when creativity flourished and reflected the ideas of a new generation. This exhibit is an immersive one that explores the visual and material cultures of the SF counterculture and features a wide array of iconic rock posters, hippie fashions, period photographs, interactive music and light shows, and avant garde films celebrating the full range of artistic expression during the latter half of the 60s. Fabulous exhibit! I bought a softbound catalog at the end of the exhibit as a memento.
As the day was gorgeous, Maureen and I had lunch al fresco at the museum. We both had pasta salads and root beer, and afterwards we took the elevator up the Hamon Tower 144 feet or 9 floors to the glass-enclosed observation deck, which often hosts dinners and receptions. There we were treated to a grand, 360-degree view of SF, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Afterwards we walked through the park between the de Young and the California Academy of Sciences, and then to the parking garage, where we had parked. We motored to the Glen Park area and parked in the vicinity of BART, then took the subway to Powell St. in downtown SF, and then walked to 450 Sutter, where Maureen had her dentist appointment (fitting of a new crown). The building was constructed in 1929, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It sports 26 floors, and was built in a neo-Mayan Art Deco style, designed by Timothy Pfluger. On our way back to the subway after the appointment, we walked through Union Square, mainly focusing on the beautiful new Apple store, courtyard, and fountain. The store faces Union Square and seems almost like a temple in which reverential disciples silently move back and forth, sampling the newest in technology!
We subwayed back to Glen Park, then drove home and had leftovers from last night. Now it is almost dark, and we plan to look at either photographs or a film tonight. Off to San Jose tomorrow! Great day!
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