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"
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
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!
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!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
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!
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!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)