An Amoeba of Music

I remember growing up, my friends and I would hit up the music store after school. We would hang out, listen to new music (that our parents didn't approve of), and buy the latest tracks with the money we would save up. I remember movies like High Fidelity and Empire Records, where locally owned records stores where fighting the corporate giants. They were the renegades and I thought working at a record shop would be the life... Listening to new and old music, sharing it with whoever walked through the door, working against the grain of society and giving it to the "Man."

One of my favorite scenes from Empire Records.

Sadly, after the mp3 boom, most independently owned record stores went out of business... However, here in San Francisco, the independent record stores are still alive and kicking. They are sprawled throughout the city and the Bay Area. One record store in particular is Amoeba Records. Located in the Lower Haight, in an old bowling alley. Amoeba records was established in 1997 and is locally owned and operated. They house over 30,000 new and used CDs, DVDs, and vinyls. An encyclopedia of music. Although the movie section of the store is nothing compared to the rest of the store, they have an excellent selection of documentary films. 

Anyone looking for a new addition to their music collection or want to take a walk down memory lane, Amoeba is a must. Also, don't forget to check the sales rack for tons of CDs in the $1.00-$5.00 range. Buy 4cds on sale and get the least expensive cd for free. what a deal!

The first day walking into Amoeba Records, I was astonished and slightly overwhelmed seeing the large isles packed with music, wall to wall, front to back. I'm sure my eyes where as big as a kid in a candy shop. You could easily spend a whole day going from isle to isle and still not get through them all.

I knew I was there longer than anticipated when I heard over the loudspeaker, "please make your way to the concert stage at 6pm for album release performance of "Watsky."" I looked at the time and realized I had been there for a couple of hours already. So, I decided to stick around for a few more minutes and listen to some new local music, and may I add, some good music! Check out this video from Watsky (<CLICK ME) and hear some new SF local sounds.

Amoeba Records is constantly pushing the local scene by putting on shows weekly. Check out their website for shows and special events. I'm sure you will find a gem or two in this locally ran store... I know I found about 8, all on sale... Score!

Are We Being Attacked? Tuesday Sirens at Noon

It's Tuesday here in San Francisco and anyone that's been here on a Tuesday knows what that means... Air Raid Sirens at Noon!!!

When I first heard them, I was not sure what was going on. Should I run for cover? Should I run to higher ground? So I asked a guy walking down the street what the sirens were all about. He looked at me, almost in disbelief that I would ask such a question and said "Those are the air raid sirens... If you hear them anytime other than Tuesday at noon, we're dead!" I laughed and thanked him for filling me in. Kind of a sobering thought. These sirens if heard on another day or at some other time could mean a disaster of some sort is about to happen or had already happened.

During World War II, fear of an impending attack from Japan was the norm. "Pearl Harbor was recently bombed so why wouldn't San Francisco," was the current thought. People knew it was a possibility. So our armed forces put up air raid sirens throughout the city as a form of public defense to warn people of the possible air attacks.

During the Cold War, they only tested out the system on a monthly bases, but after the 9/11 attacks here in the US there was a need to engrave in our minds that something could and would happen at any moment. So the weekly raid sirens came back into affect. In case of an attack (from the sea, land or air, or a natural disaster like a tsunami or an earthquake) the sirens will be played to inform us on where to go for help or safety.

Luckily for me, since I've been here, it has always been... Just a test! And I hope it stays that way.

Here is a short documentary style video on the Tuesday Air Raid Sirens here in San Francisco. What other city do you know has weekly air raid sirens? A little gem that everyone hears but little acknowledge.

Enjoy.

The Tuesday Noon Siren from kris vala on Vimeo.

The Labyrinth of Lands End

Yesterday, I went in search of some peace and solitude. Saying I had a hard week is sort of an understatement. My nerves and patience were pushed to the limit. And that says a lot about me. I think of myself as a pretty calm and mellow person. I like to go with the flow of the river, but man were those rapids rough this week.

So I took off for some calmer waters... A spot were the earth ends and the ocean begins. Lands End! With great views of The Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands, it's almost surreal.

Getting there is easy. Enter at the Sutro Baths/Cliff House area and walk east on The Coastal Trail till you see the set of stairs heading down to the left. Now, a heed of warning... The stairs take you down to Mile Rock Beach... It's more like a mile of walking down stairs... but so worth it!!! As you make your way down, you will see the stairs sharply turn left... Continue straight ahead on the dirt path and it will bring you right out onto an rocky point. You won't see the Labyrinth till your right over it.

This little cliff face used to house cannons for the military during the WW's and you can still see the rusting bolts and piping left over from that lost era.

As I made my way down the stairs I started to prepare my self for my journey through the labyrinth. Every step I took, every breath I took, all came together in a meditative rhythm. I began to think of my journey on this path. Where it was taking me, with no expectations, knowing it would bring me out the other side.

The labyrinth, unlike a maze, is a wallless path that is not trying to confuse the mind but allowing the mind to be open. Winding in big circles and short left and right turns, the labyrinth brings you to the center of it all. Allowing you to see and hear all around. The walk out is just the same.

With the steady blowing wind and the rhythmic crashing of waves, it sounds as if the ocean is breathing. I became in tune to the breathing earth, giving me peace and harmony.

Walking the labyrinth a few more times, each exit a rest, admiring my surroundings, it allowed me to free my mind and clear my thoughts even more. It was exactly what I needed. Such a relaxing afternoon. I left felling calmer and my thoughts clearer.

If ever in this area, I highly suggest making a visit to this hidden gem on the cliff side of Lands End.

A Unique View of San Francisco from 1958

This week has been a challenging one. I came down with the flu, I'm moving to another part of the city, and a few other things that have been heavy on my heart and mind. Trying to venture out has been a difficult one, to say the least, but I do have a few fun things lined up for the future.
So for my lack of time and health, I leave you with a beautiful short edit from Jeff Altman. He had acquired some old film that was shot by his grandfather. This edit was from a trip his grandfather took in 1958 to San Francisco. Altman produced a great edit with a great musical track. It gives great insight of how life here in the city was over 50 years ago.
Enjoy!


San Francisco 1958 from Jeff Altman on Vimeo.

Here is a description of the video by Jeff Altman:
"More surprises. A reel labeled "Alameda 1958" happened to feature quite a few urban scenes set in San Francisco. This footage features only my grandfather; both behind and in front of the camera. Preceding this piece of film was a document of his travel there; aboard a Navy Aircraft. That will be posted soon."
Music by Air "Alone In Kyoto"

Hidden Farnsworth Stairs: The Gateway to Forest Knolls

Earlier this week I had met up with a fellow named Cam to do some street skating on Haight st. Cam, an artist originally from Australia, has been in San Francisco for a couple of months now and has truly enjoyed discovering this city as much as I have. It was to no surprise a week ago we had cross paths in Golden Gate Park while both discovering the wonders of the park.
After a couple of hours of skating we went into a café to relax for a bit...
While there I had mentioned there were some hidden steps not too far away. He was down to go find them. We took off on our skateboards bombing hills and pushing through lights. We got to were I thought the steps where supposed to be and couldn't find them. Walked up the street and skated back down. Still nothing...
I decided to ask people passing by if they had ever heard of the Farnsworth stairs and where I could find these stairs. I wasn't too surprised no one knew what I was talking about. Finally a young girl told us that there are a set of steps right around the corner. Lo and behold there they were!!! If the stairs where a snake it would have bit us... A number of times!
The Farnsworth stairs where dedicated to Philo T. Farnsworth, who in 1927 invented the all-electronic television. He was only 21 years old at the time and Farnsworth's ideas, vision and inventions paved the way to how we see television today. He also invented and patented many other devices like a nuclear fusion device. Farnsworth held a total of 165 patents mostly in radio and television. This guy was a true genius. Its no surprise that this city would dedicate and erect a set of stairs in his honor.
I was excited to have finally found the stairs but little did I know of the discovery still waiting for me at the top...
The stairs where great, passing houses and yards. The view of the city was quite beautiful, even saw a humming bird looking for some sweet nectar. But once I reach the top I realized there was more to this place than just stairs...
The stairs became the gateway to one of the most beautiful parks I've seen. I'm not talking about a grass and benches park, but instead, undisturbed forest. Forest Knolls, full of eucalyptus trees that reminded my new friend Cam of life in Australia and I think it even made him both a little home sick and a little comforted to be in the midst of all these trees. Trail after trail we took till we found a little opening to sit and take it all in. Here we were able to get away from the faster pace of the city and get in tune with the pace of the trees and move slower with the earth and the clouds. It was hard to believe we were still in the city.
If ever in San Francisco, check out The Farnsworth Stairs, what I call The Gateway to Forest Knolls. A definite hidden gem!

Welcome!

My name is Gabriel Gonzalez. I'm currently a bike mechanic for one of San Francisco's largest bicycle rental companies. I grew up in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, PA.
When I was 18, I had the amazing opportunity to go visit the Eastern Sierra Nevada's. I was there for only a week and fell in love with those mountains. I quickly moved there a month later and never left. As you can only imagine, a kid growing up in the heart of a major city, I had never seen such magical beauty as the Lake Tahoe area and it quickly became my new home.

With the joys of being able to explore, to discover new and amazing places, I found my self sharing very often with friends and family, from out east, my daily adventures. I found that making new discoveries of my new home and sharing its beauty helped me grow closer and appreciate the area that much more. The Lake Tahoe area will always be the place that captured my heart.

Now fast-forward 8 years and here I am. Living in a new city and constantly making new discoveries of the place I live, San Francisco, CA. I've been here for just about 4 months now and this city just keeps getting better and better.

The culture here stems from all around the world. You can go down one street and the character and atmosphere will change as often as every passing street sign. Never have I felt uncomfortable or threatened in this city and that makes me feel confident to try to discover every nook and cranny of my new home.

Since I already have a full time job and a life... I will make it a point to try adding one new place every week. This will be an outlet for me to share the wonderful things I discover. A form of creativity. My reason to go and explore.

I will be traveling majority of the time by bike, that way I have an opportunity to stop and take it all in. Not to mention that my bicycle is my only form of transportation other than the amazing public transit system here in the city.

I want to share with you about where I live, about the beauty, the melting pot of cultures, the amazing art, the great food, the history that made this city what it is today, about the cool little hang outs, the people that make up this city and maybe even give you some new light on the city you already know or are planing to visit. I want to show you a different side of San Francisco from a fresh set of eyes. The Hidden Gems of The Foggy City.

Maybe it might be just what you need to set out on an adventure of your own.

I encourage you to do so, it will change your life!