Neighborhoods to Wander
The best neighborhoods to wander around the world.
-
On Location: Exploring Stateline North Lake Tahoe
Stateline North Lake Tahoe is one of my favorites spots on Earth! I’ve been vacationing summers and winters here since I was a tiny baby. I even lived at Lake Tahoe for 2 years and worked as a designer just inches from where this map depicts. Many come to visit Lake Tahoe and only visit South Shore (the more built up and commercial side of the Lake.) Although South Shore Lake Tahoe offers great attractions, the North Shore should not be missed. This side of the lake is filled with old Tahoe charm, incredible beaches, natural hot springs and even old fashioned casinos reminiscent of the 1950’s. Below is an itinerary…
-
On Location: Sketching a Serene Spot in the Middle of Bustling Tokyo
Going on an urban adventure at dawn was definitely something different for me and my family. After we observed sumo training at a local stable, we arrived early to our next stop, the Edo-Tokyo Museum in the Sumida district. Unfortunately, it had not yet opened for the day and we were stuck trying to decide how to cope with the unbearable humidity as we waited. We chose to walk around the block, and amazingly found a little slice of paradise in the middle of sweltering Tokyo, a serene Japanese garden. Our Japanese friend who was taking us around for the day mentioned this garden was privately owned, but free to the public to explore. We…
-
On Location: Sketching at Filoli Country Estate
Filoli is a historic country estate open to the public in Woodside, California, about 25 miles south of San Francisco. Sitting on over 600 acres of pristine California land, in the heart of the Bay Area, it is a true treasure to visit. From the classic European style mansion (built in the early 1900’s and most notably known for the mansion of the 80’s television show Dynasty) to the acres of traditional gardens and grounds, it truly is a paradise setting. Filoli offers estate and garden tours, and also hosts many other exhibits and events including a quarterly Artist access day. Being so close to my home, it’s a wonderful way to get out…
-
On Location: Neon Heaven at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada
They flashed and illuminated the Las Vegas skyline for years. They told weary travelers to stop and get some rest. They pointed hungry patrons to grab a bite. They lured eager gamblers to spend their hard earned money. There’s nothing more mesmerizing than a bright neon sign to tantalize your eyes and possibly make you do things you didn’t plan to do. But, at one point, the hotel closes, the restaurant shuts down, or the decrepit casino implodes, making way for something more modern, something new. So where do these iconic signs go to die? Fortunately not all are left for scrap and destroyed. Many headed to a boneyard owned…
-
Travel Stories: The Bouquinistes of Paris
I can still vividly remember the first time I visited Paris. I flew solo as a teen from San Francisco to Charles de Gaulle to meet up with my parents who had already been traveling in Europe for 2 weeks. We took a cab back to the hotel to drop off my bags, and then they whisked me to the Seine for a classic boat tour down the river. They hoped I’d get a good overview of the city but in actuality all I got was a wonderful nap instead. The sticky summer heat, and motion of the boat was the perfect cure for jet lag! When the boat ride…
-
On Location: Bauhaus Design on a Random Munich Street Corner
Tucked off the main thoroughfare, in a maze of alleys far from foot traffic and cars to admire, three gleaming cylindrical pillars stand tall and proud against the corner of a modern building. They prominently flank the clean lined siding as if performing a function that we should all understand. At the top of each pillar is a black accordion detail, adding another unknown function, yet graphic element to the entire look. In front of the cylinders is a street pole, disseminating important information to anyone who cares to read. Einbahstrasse states the blue arrow pointing right, signaling the start of the one way street. Feuerwehranfahrtzone labels the red x…
-
On Location: Gas Works Park, Seattle, Washington
An Industrial Past Adds Modern Whimsy to this Popular Park Rising above the verdant lawn, in the center of an open park lies what many would say an eyesore, 2 large brown cylindrical towers, scarred with graffiti and surrounded by a barbed wired fence. These defunct gas generator and processing towers by most urban planning standards would have been removed as soon as the plant shut down and the city bought the space to use as a park. Most city parks I’ve seen try their very best to conceal the visitor of any urban plights it may have once faced. In fact, many cities strive to provide greenery, vegetation and…
-
Travel Story: The Bells of Notre Dame
Paris is such a magical city. The monuments are icons known world wide; the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, L’Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame. Regardless of where I am, I can close my eyes and picture these sites. So when I opened the door to our rented apartment in Paris, how enchanted I was to look out the kitchen window and see the Notre Dame. It was something straight out of an opera set of Verdi’s La Bohème. Roof tops galore, rows of chimneys, windows into other people’s worlds, and the Notre Dame. But that’s not all. Later that afternoon as we relaxed in our new surrounding the real magic began.…
-
On Location: Seattle’s Gum Wall – Abstract Art or Janitor’s Worst Nightmare?
After a wonderful walk through lively Pike’s Place Market, my nieces were eager to show my family and I more Seattle sites. Outside the market place we went, and onto adjacent Post Alley. I see the dutiful graffiti and bills posted for this concert and that political message. It doesn’t take long though to get past the typical “alley” graffiti and come face to face with a janitor’s nightmare. Gum. Loads and loads of gum. Gum smeared inches deep in some parts. Plastered on the wall for all to enjoy. My daughter’s expression sums up my initial feeling of Gum Alley as it is affectionately named. Eeeewww. To think how…
-
Palette+Place: The Colorful Mission District, San Francisco
Even on a foggy day, the Mission District in San Francisco shines with color. The streets and alleys of this hip and trendy neighborhood are filled with murals and street art reflecting the artistic and diverse population that reside here. Although I lived in the city for over 10 years, and have spent many-a-night out at the bars and restaurants in this neighborhood, I had yet to photograph the amazing street art during the day. What a treat I was in for. There are 2 alleys in “the Mission” that are most popular for the murals and street art, Clarion Alley and Balmy Alley. Most of these photos below are…