Celebrating the Season in San Francisco

 "City sidewalks, busy sidewalks,

Dressed in holiday style,

In the air there's a feeling of Christmas!"

That was the song playing in my head as I spent the weekend with my daughters in San Francisco this weekend. We began with dinner out, then Christmas movies in our pj's Saturday night, for some cozy catch-up time. Who needs a real fireplace when you can set the Christmasy mood on TV via Netflix, complete with crackling and popping sounds?

Sunday morning arrived in a rainy, blustering fashion, but we made our way downtown to the Hyatt to enjoy their beautiful display... or so we thought.

 The Ferry Building across the street matched the gray skies.

 We were glad to get out of the rain and into the lobby.

To our disappointment, however, the lobby was undergoing renovations and there were just a few decorations and the large Christmas tree at the top. So after grabbing hot drinks and bagels at Starbucks across the street, we got back in the car and drove to Golden Gate Park's Museum of Natural Science. Now we were in for holiday treats!

We knew we were in the right place when we walked through the front doors 

to face a dinosaur skeleton surrounded by giant snowflakes!

 

 We entered the first exhibit hall and were greeted by carols playing, 

snow flurries falling around us, and a big snowman theater!

 Hands-on educational exhibits about reindeer lined the glass walls...

 ...and outside were two beautiful live reindeer -- Frosty and Holiday. 

My, what big antlers you have, Frosty!

 

 We learned a lot about reindeer. 

As hard as those antlers are, they feel velvety soft to the touch!

 We also enjoyed the penguin display with several adorable penguins.

This one kept everyone entertained by getting right up to the edge, but never quite taking the plunge.

 We decided he knew exactly what he was doing!

 

 The rain forest is a favorite exhibit, with many tropical animals and butterflies!

 

 With temperatures in the 80's, we were shedding our coats 

as we advanced the walkway up three floors, through the forest.

From there we descended to the aquarium with the tunnel 

that allows huge fish to swim over your head.

 By the time we left, the rain had lifted.

"Soon it will be Christmas Day!"

Going in Style!

Last weekend, while in San Francisco, my daughters and I took in the High Style exhibit, from the Brooklyn Museum of Art, at the Legion of Honor Museum.  What a treat! Historical, fascinating, gorgeous gowns were on display. Come along -- I'll give you a taste of what we savored....

 We began with a gown in the Victorian period, wtih high neck and lots of lace...

 This gown was unique...

 Flappers were also represented....

 Love the detail on the skirt of the pink dress -- scalloping, beads, lace...

 If we thought shoes now days were unique, you should have seen the wild heels on display!

 ...and if someone has lots of shoes, well, they simply need a large traveling case for them!

  From all covered up in the Victorian period, to revealing shoulders and necks --

 it all reminded me a bit of the changes we see in fashion through Downton Abbey.

 These were simply gorgeous gowns, fit for a red carpet.

 Oh-la-la -- pants arrived on the scene in a glamous way.

 So pretty in pink...

 Animal prints may have come into style in recent years, but they were also stylish in the late 40's.  This gown was known as "The Tigress."

 Recognize this period?  The 50's, of course! 

These are the kinds of dresses my mom would have worn.

 More 50's...

 Bathing suits became more flattering and fashionable...  Isn't this darling?

 Extreme run-way styles, the polka dot number on the left is from the 1960's

 and the big flowers are from the 1980's.

  We all fell in love with this little black number -- something that could be worn today.

 We tried to figure out how a person would sit in this gown. Notice there is a layer of brown below the pink and black lace layer. It's all constructed with wires.

 Va-va-voom! This gown was highly structured and quite involved in its "architecture," 

but isn't it to die for, dahling?

 

Hope you enjoyed taking this little museum tour. It was fun seeing it all again! 

~Brenda

A Night at Opera in the Park

Hope all my American friends had a wonderful 4th of July weekend! I certainly did! I spent the weekend in San Francisco with my daughters, and we started celebrating Friday evening with the Opera at the Park performance. Each year the San Francisco Opera partners with the Giants baseball team to live stream one of their performances from the SF Opera House to the AT&T ball park for free, so everyone can enjoy it. There is something about sitting outside, overlooking the bay, watching the birds, eating hot dogs and fries, and listening to fabulous music as dusk settles in. This year they performed The Marriage of Figaro, and it was charming! The acting and singing were impeccable. You can read all about it here:
Opera at the Park

If you want to hear a little of the enchanting musica (I'm sure you will recognize some of the melodies, especially if you have ever watched the movie "Amadeus"), click here:
Highlights from Marriage of Figaro

Speaking of "Amadeus," if you have never seen it, well then you simply must spend a wonderful summer evening doing so! Fascinating storyline, gorgeous costumes, and soul-tingling music.

Here was our view:

And if it seems a little far away, it was actually considered very good seating, and they have television screens overhead, as well. Thankfully, subtitles were provided.

Wish you could have all been along in my coat pocket.  Maybe next summer! Stay tuned for more pictures of my weekend in the city -- I have an exciting surprise post coming that I know you'll love!

~Brenda

We Are Giants Fans!

There is a whole debate about using the term "Gamer Babes" to identify women (especially young women like my daughters) who are San Francisco Giants fans. Some find it "cute," some find it sexist. We find it mildly sickening, but whenever I don my orange and black scarf and baseball cap, they don their Pence and Lincecum jerseys, and we grab our rally towels and head for AT&T Park, one thing we do know -- we are Giants fans!

So that is how we spent Mother's Day this year -- at a Giants game. 

AT&T Park becons us!

 

 Walking over the bridge to the park... 

Love the huge mural and once you see that scoreboard, you are in game mode!

 It was a full house for Mother's Day!

 Often we are sitting in the second or even third tier, but this time we had great seats in the bottom section, overlooking the diamond where we could catch all the action easily.

Lou Seal, the Giants mascot, drove around with his "mom," tossing out goodies.

You can't beat Lou Seal as a mascot! He never speaks a word, but he has the moves! Here's a little clip of him getting his dance on with Keenan Cahill and Giants players Brian Wilson and Cody Ross: Dynamite! In case you are not familiar, Keenan Cahill has a unique story of his own. He was diagnosed with Maroteaux–Lamy syndrome and some of his lip sync videos are to promote fundraisers for his condition.

Lou Seal has been inside that 25 lb. head for many years now! Want to know more about this devoted man? Read this entertaining interview: Inside the 25 pound face!  Hey, who can't love a guy who's flirty with women of all ages!

It was fantastic, as always! Behind the Marlins many innings, and then in the last inning the Giants came through and won the game!  Whoo-hoo! Baseball season is in full swing and we're lovin' it!

French Soul Food and Scottish Art

Like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, "The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!"  I can't believe it is the last day of May already, so get ready for some catching up posts here on the Bloomin' Words blog!
 
Ash's birthday was in April so we celebrated her special day on Easter this year. Ash, her boyfriend Rob, Lys, and I all met up at Brenda's French Soul Food Restaurant in downtown San Francisco for Easter brunch!

Despite it's modest appearance and the line to get in, the food was delicious and worth the wait! I had the french toast with butter-pecan sauce. We all indulged in apple filled and chocolate filled beignets! Yummy!

Photos from Brenda's French Soul Food Facebook site.

Then it was on to Golden Gate Park to take in the Botticelli to Braque exhibit at the De Young Museum! We all love art and strolling through museums on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Featured were masterpieces from Scotland including works from Rembrandt, Botticelli, Raeburn, Monet, Picasso, and Braque, among others.  We all looked for the rainbow in the painting of Niagra Falls by Church...

 Many of us recognize Skating on Duddingston Loch by Raeburn...

 

I'm fond of Monet and have several framed prints of his in my home...

 

After reviving ourselves with refreshments in the museum cafe, we took the elevator up into Hamon Observation Tower for a view of the city. The floor to ceiling windows offer beautiful vistas.

 View of the Living Roof at the California Academy of Sciences...

 and a peek of the Pacific...

 It's always fun to figure out where familiar places are on the huge map on display...

It was a lovely birthday for my daughter and a lovely Easter.