Being a Tourist

Sometimes when one visits a city, it is important to play it cool, fulfill one's obligations, re-pack and head home. When I recently traveled to San Francisco, this meant I wanted to see certain friends, attend another friend's wedding in Berkeley, and then head out of town for a relaxing week in Chico. At the same time, it was important for Molly and me to play tourist and see the city as millions do every year. On our first full day in the Bay Area, we browsed the San Francisco Zoo (more on that later). And Day 2 brought us miles of walking and riding around downtown.

San Francisco is a vibrant city - dog walkers, business persons, tourists snapping shots, and fast buses and cars criss-crossing town. But if one slows down, there are treasures throughout to be found. I absolutely loved the quirky sculpture below, near the gate to Chinatown.

Also, while waiting to cross the street, I noticed this gem.

We even went so far to ride the San Francisco Railway Cable Car. Few things signal this city more than the cable cars, rivaled only by the Golden Gate Bridge in my opinion. It was enjoyable, thrilling even, and a great way to get from downtown to Fisherman's Wharf.



I'll leave you with two of my favorite captures from downtown San Francisco. The first is a tribute to my love for unique architecture in urban settings, and the latter a close snap of some of nature's finest near Fisherman's Wharf. Stay tuned for additional posts from our trip!

Thanks!

Eric

Kitchen 2.0

I just returned from vacation in the Bay Area and at Molly's parents' home in Chico, California. It was a wonderful time away from Madison, with great weather, terrific food, and even better friends and family. More on that in the coming days, especially after I have a chance to look at my many photos.

While in Chico, I took the liberty to sleep in, cook fantastic meals with Molly and her family, and relax by the pool and around downtown. The weather was cooperative for bike rides, shopping, and sightseeing. One obligatory stop in Chico is always Zucchini & Vine, one of two stores that Molly's mother Nancy owns downtown. My previous visits to the North State have included just brief stops at Z&V to meet the helpful and informative ladies that man the counter or to quickly pick up a caesar dressing or some fromage for a cheese plate. This time, however, I brought my camera as I explored this gourmet kitchen store and sought to come to terms with the shopping experience Nancy had spent her life crafting.

Zucchini & Vine is magical. Not only does it have probably the best selection of top of the line items for the kitchen, but the care with which they are chosen and displayed for customers is unique. Perhaps we can chalk it up to the fact that Z&V is a small business and these sorts of things are just necessary. I think it is because Nancy wants the best for everyone who walks in the doors of Zucchini & Vine. And it all starts with the handwritten signs for the selection of local items throughout the store.

Even Nancy's attempts to keep these same customers informed via an email listserve is creative, direct, and quirky.

If you ever find yourself in Chico, stop by Zucchini & Vine at 2nd and Main. You certainly will not regret it. Nancy will dig deep to find out much about you, why you're in Chico, and connect with you in unexpected ways. Don't miss Z&V's first-press olive oil (also in lemon and orange varieties), delicious cheeses from the West Coast and abroad, bowls, glasses, and cutting boards from local artisans, and an amazing coffee wall.

Madison's Zoo: What Happened?

Madison has recently had an unusual streak of warm temperatures and sunshine. While I'm glad that winter is over and things will begin to bloom, abundant sunshine and temperatures up to 75 caught me off guard in mid-April. Since the clouds were set to roll in last night and rain will grace our presence today and tomorrow, the Henry Vilas Zoo seemed like a fitting activity after strolling the first weekend of the outdoor farmer's market around the Capitol Square.

Madison's Henry Vilas Zoo is a free zoo located just about a 5-minute walk from our current residence. It features a variety of animals who, on a warm and gorgeous day like yesterday, couldn't help but be playful and energetic, a fitting tribute to Spring. My favorite playful creatures included the penguins (of course), a seal, and the flamingos.

Others simply tried to stay cool, enjoying a quick swim or relaxing in the shade.

All in all, it was a wonderful walk and trip to the zoo. Our last zoo experience was the impressive Milwaukee Zoo, which, with parking and admission, cost us about $35 to enjoy. With the Henry Vilas Zoo's price tag of free, we saved a great deal of money in this struggling economy. Nevertheless, the low price of admission is reflected in many ways at the zoo. Our last visit included unhealthy animals: giraffes that eventually didn't survive and two crocodiles we were pretty sure had already kicked the bucket. While most of the animals appeared to be healthy and enjoying themselves on this trip, the overall experience was a pretty unmagical one.

It didn't take long for us to realize that some of the visitors to the Henry Vilas Zoo use their trip for babysitting purposes (send them to the play structures with little supervision) or are completely ignorant of proper zoo etiquette (no matter how awesome you think you are, DO NOT reach over the fence to touch that bird). Mostly gone are parents taking advantage of the educational opportunities a zoo provides: a chance to teach kids not only about animals and habitats, but also about proper behaviors when viewing such creatures, such as refraining from taunting and sharing observation opportunities with others.

All of these reactions led to a discussion that Molly and I had and I now throw out to the blogosphere: would the Henry Vilas Zoo, both the experience of visiting it and the animals it offers, be better if even a small entrance fee were charged? Does the fact that this zoo only accepts donations result in a lack of respect for its premises and purpose? Feel free to leave your comments as I'm intrigued by your thoughts on this topic. For now, I'll leave you with my favorite photo of the day:

Happy Green Day!

Well it has been a long time since I posted a blog entry. To be exact, I think the last time you saw me here was a post celebrating dressing my dog up for Halloween! Now I'm back and here to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. My celebrations today include a new green polo that I'll wear to work, wishing numerous people a happy holiday, and enjoying a few beverages at the end of the day with co-workers. I doubt I'll get to partake of corned beef and cabbage, haggis, or Guiness, but that's probably just fine by me.



Molly and I joined Jim and Angela for Madison's St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday. It's a festive time that directly followed the Shamrock Shuffle, a 10K run/walk, and State Street Brat's and Brothers's parodied .10K run between the bars on Saturday. Many of all ages arrived to watch the parade go round, including the Irish man and his canines above.



I loved all the characters walking round the Capitol Square. The Emerald Duchess was a hoot! It didn't take long to realize what the parade was really about: certainly the Irish, but really the candy. Tons of kids surrounded us and bolted into the street to grab Smarties, Tootsie Rolls, suckers, beads, and more. The candy-throwing was so intense that one poor little kid in the parade had to reload in front of us.



In the end, it was a great day for a parade. The sun was out, the candy was plentiful, and we were all decked out in green. The weather cooperated, even to the extent that I got a sunburn. In March. IN WISCONSIN! In closing, I hope you all have a great St. Patrick's Day in whatever way you celebrate. Oh, and Happy Birthday Colin!

Halloween

Well I'm officially one of those people. Not only did I buy my dog a Halloween costume, but I'm convinced he loves wearing it.

Above: Drifter patiently waits for trick or treaters!

Below: Drifter expresses his pleasure with wearing his skeleton costume!

Feeling the Need (For Speed)

To those of you I've recently spoken to, meaning you are immediate family or live nearby, you are probably aware that I recently purchased a vehicle for commuting purposes to work during the summer and campus during non-winter time periods. I am now the proud owner of a Genuine Scooters Roughhouse R50 moped!

Not too long ago, Molly and I were looking at purchasing a new (to us) vehicle, one that would either replace our aging, but still reliable, Elian (a minivan with a Cuba bumper sticker). We ended up not purchasing a car, even after researching and test-driving several models. Time passed and we both forgot about the need for an additional method of transportation, as I mostly ride the bus to and from campus to get around.

However, come summer, I began to crave the convenience of an auto. With high gas prices and limited income, it just didn't seem prudent to purchase a car, make payments, and attempt to keep fuel in it without having to make midnight siphoning trips in nearby neighborhoods.

Lucky for me, Madison is a very moped-friendly town. Campus is filled with students busily zipping from here to there on their scooters, quickly swerving in to designated moped parking spots conveniently located outside many academic buildings. I always thought I would just look silly on a scooter, and that I'd never find one with enough juice to even realistically count as a mode of transportation. But Molly patiently went with me to Scooter Therapy, UW-Madison's preferred moped store, and waited as I probed about mopeds vs. "motorcycles," attempted to find out if I needed more power than a 50cc engine, and contemplated the parking convenience that a moped would afford on campus and around town.

Now I can successfully report that I have joined the ranks as one of thousands of happy moped owners. Now that I use my trusty steed (yet to be named) to run errands, get to work, and drive on over to campus, I notice other moped riders more. Sure, there are tons of people my age that drive scooters around downtown Madison, mostly recklessly and without helmets. But I have also seen an increase in the diversity of ridership, with more and more adults commuting via scooter. The obvious reason must be gas mileage, as 80-100 miles per gallon is hard to beat. Moreover, the range of scooter models and styles allow riders a comfortable and safe way to commute while being able to steadily keep up with other vehicles at 45+ MPH.

The most remarkable thing I have noticed about riding my moped is not how different and much more exciting driving is on two wheels, but the new ways in which smell has been incorporated into my driving experience. A quick trip to campus takes me through the neighborhood, where I am often overcome by the sudden smell of person's flower garden or blooming dill. As soon as these fresh scents arrive, they are gone. Stoplights are no longer an opportunity to change radio stations or mess with my cell phone, but now involve the oil from my 2-stroke engine and the aroma of hot pavement. Commuting to work is made more interesting on the days when the lawn is mowed at the nearby cemetery, and the smell of freshly cut grass lingers for a full two blocks.

I look forward to whatever adventures my new moped brings, beyond the practicality of using it to commute and run errands. Perhaps these smells will change with the season, and perhaps I will discover that there is even more to two wheels than I had initially anticipated.

Experiencing Freshness

I like to visit Madison's Dane County Farmer's Market as often as time permits. During the school year, this is usually less often than not given my part-time work schedule that requires me to work many Saturdays and I often need those precious hours to run errands and get a start on my homework and studying for the weekend.

The summer, however, is another story. Long summer days and a somewhat freer study schedule provide me with the opportunity to frequent the farmer's market on a more regular basis. And these regular trips allow us to count on the market to supply our week's worth of delicious produce, meat, Saturday morning snacks (read: breakfast), and even the occasional splurge, such as a bouquet of flowers or a delicious pie. Even more important, the experience of visiting Madison's farmer's market is one to be treasured: one walks in pace with the crowds counter-clockwise around Wisconsin's impressive state capitol, a majestic granite structure with a dome topping over 200 feet in height, while absorbing the fresh offerings in each booth and the picture of Madison's unique population that presents itself each Saturday morning.

As I walk the capitol square peering into each booth and snacking on my cheese curds, my eye is always drawn to large collections of fresh fruits and vegetables. Something strikes me about the overwhelming nature of an amount of produce that I cannot fathom being consumed at one time or even cultivated from the earth. As I am stunned by the volume, color, and vibrance of these fruits and vegetables, I always fail to neglect the hard work of those who brought this produce to the market, often the same folks that were up early to set up their booth and provide me with tasty morsels for the week.

The market provides many other wonderful items to take home. When I have my camera, my favorites are always the fresh flowers, so colorful and diverse from booth to booth. Additionally, I always find myself susceptible to the sweet treats, whether for a quick snack as I walk or for a more substantial and lasting dessert option at home. The market on Independence Day weekend featured perhaps the summer's last beautiful plants and flowers, including the red gem seen below, as well as an Amish booth which I can always count to have piles of delicious cookies and mini pies for sale.

Perhaps my most favorite moment of the market is not celebrating the goodies we bring home, but enjoying the crowds and personalities that show up to entertain and draw attention (and coins and bills as well in some cases) to themselves. Several characters dot the market landscape, including the scruffy gentlemen below adorned with old-fashioned washboard and steel guitar.

And who could forget The Raging Grannies, a group of elderly women that emphasize their age through stereotypical dress while singing about social and political issues salient and especially important in this election year. I love the message and method with which they deliver it. One even uses a wooden spoon to conduct the group!

Lastly, the most recent market I attended featured street artists at the end of State Street, carefully perfecting their craft as crowds circled the square. Both gentleman worked in the medium of sidewalk chalk, creating their versions of the same woman mirrored on the same ground that supports pedestrians, government vehicles, and public transportation daily. I have seen sidewalk art in progress several times before, often by student artists seeking practice, and some extra income, outside of the studio and classroom. Nevertheless, these really are temporary works of art, carefully perfected knowing it will never be preserved or sold to be placed above one's mantle. Despite this, I was taken aback by the recent art I saw coming together at the market. I've attempted to capture these gentleman in the progress of sketching these ladies, and hope you enjoy the vibrant, colorful, detailed, and nuanced art that was created on July 5, 2008, and has since been lost except in the mind's of those present and in the appreciative photos from those like me.

I will continue to visit the Madison Farmer's Market as often as I can for the fresh produce and goodies. But more importantly, I will stay devoted to this market for the freshness of social interaction and personalities with whom I will come into contact as I browse the booths. I hope to be as satisfied and entertained as I was on the market on Independence Day weekend.