Lotta's Fountain NRHP #7500475

"Lotta's Fountain"

San Francisco, Califonia

"An earthquake is such fun when it's over"

~George Orwell

This is Lotta's Fountain, and it is located where Market, Geary and Kearney streets meet in San Francisco, but it's original placement was at 3rd, Market and Kearny streets. Lotta's Fountain was dedicated to the people of San Francisco by Lotta Crabtree, who was considered the "IT' girl of her day! She was an actress, comedienne and philanthropist, and she loved San Francisco. In fact, the love between San Francisco and Lotta was mutual and the city celebrated her as their very own star! After her retirement from the arts, Lotta made a final appearance on stage in 1915, at the Pan-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, for Lotta Crabtree Day!

Over the years Lotta's Fountain has come to mean more to San Francisco than a piece of amazing pubic art, indeed it became the meeting place for displaced individuals and families after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Notes and pictures were placed on the fountain, in an effort to locate missing relatives and friends. As sad and desperate as that seems, many folks were reunited so Lotta's Fountain became a place of comfort for weary San Franciscans. The fountain also served as a happy meeting place, when Luisa Tetrazzini sang for the people of San Francisco on December 24th, 1910.

Each year on April 18th, at 5:13 a.m., people gather, including some original survivors of the earthquake of 1906, and revisit Lotta's Fountain in remembrance of that day, and the quake that moved and shaped the city of San Francisco. As of this past April, there were only two survivors remaining, and both declined to visit the memorial, opting instead for sleeping in! Good idea! And while completely understandable, I think it would like to attend the ceremony one year. Who knows... maybe next year! If nothing else, the recent Napa quake reminds me yet again... take nothing... nothing for granted!

National Register Of Historic Places - #75000475

Mood: Happy/Inspired

~Me :)

Night Lights... Mel's Drive-In, San Francisco

 

 "Most love stories are nocturnal. That's what makes them so fascinating"

~Raymond Federman, 

Smiles on Washington Square

I have been eager to do this series for a long time, finally I think I am ready to give it a try. Welcome to my new project, Night Lights.

First up is the gorgeous retro eatery, Mel's Drive-In. I love this place for it's awesome comfort food, it's retro decor and it's friendly waiters and waitresses! But the most interesting element to Mel's is it's rich history, and it's connection to the films American Graffiti and Guess Whose Coming To Dinner! Both of which were filmed at Mel's and which just happen to be two of my very favorite movies!

You know how much I enjoy visiting the sites of where movies and TV have been filmed around the Bay Area, so visiting Mel's Drive-In was a natural choice. My experience was so positive that Mel's may, in fact, end up in more than one of the different photography projects I have planned, but for now, just look at the beautiful light it shines into the night!

And think to yourself... yeah, I could go for some eggs!

Mood: Happy/Inspired

~Me :)

Visit the official website for Mel's Drive-In to peruse their delicious menu, or learn more about the history of their restaurant!

Ginger Ale...

"It's not what you have on the outside that glitters in light, it's what you have on the inside that shines in the dark."

~Anthony Liccione

Okay, so in a mad fit of photography boredom, I decided to return to a project I began in the spring of 2013... photographing food and beverage in an exaggerated and filtered light! I began that project because I somehow managed to contract a nagging cough. According to my doctor it was one of the harshest coughs the medical world had encountered, and it would just have to run it's course. And it did... eventually... 6 1/2 weeks of hacking later it was gone! But during the time I was ill, I saw very little of the outside world, so what could I do? I picked up the camera and did some experimenting with the lighting available to me indoors. I came up with a few photos that came out to my liking, then I added in some special effects that really made the photos POP. 

I had fun with that project, and while I was thinking about it the other day, I decided revisit that project, and I began to experiment with a glass of ginger ale. I liked the dark amber color, and was surprised at how lovely the tiny beads of effervescence looked in the glass! The bubbles didn't last as long as I hoped they would, so I may do this one over at some point. We'll see. I am waiting on the delivery of a new camera, so I might redo it with new one. It has a slightly higher megapixel number, so I am counting on that to bring my photos to the next level. Photography takes a lot of concentration, some planning, but mostly luck. Sometimes I think I use up every bit of my allotted luck in life, being in the right place, at the right time, with a ready camera in my hand. That's what I get for taking my cameras everywhere I go!

                                                                                     :)

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Three Different Cats... One Week!

"A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, 

for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not."

~Ernest Hemingway

It's been quite a week for our three little furbabies. Dylan, that you see above, has finally begun to understand that our kitten Joey is a part of the family, he isn't going anywhere, so it's okay if Mommy plays with the little brother, because she still loves her Dylan. Believe me, bringing Joey into our family went a lot better than I thought it would, but there was some hissing and hostility. we were ready for it, that's a normal thing, and thankfully that behavior didn't last long, so I guess I am saying that all considered... it's apparent that Joey coming to live with us it was meant to be.

And isn't Dylan's fist and tongue cute as can be?

That's how he looks when he wakes up every morning!

:)

 Now Joey's Story...

Our kitten Joey almost isn't a kitten anymore! He turned 10 months old this week, and isn't he amazing? Honestly, he has the most beautiful eyes, and he has a really kind heart. He loves to engage in play, and tries really hard to learn things. He is quick, and playful, and very, very cuddly. He is just a joy to have around. We were happy with our two little boys, Hendrix and Dylan, and the last thing we were looking for was another cat, but now we can't imagine our family without Joey. He isn't the baby, that will always be Dylan's nickname, but he is the little brother, and that fits him perfectly, because that's how is siblings treat him... like he is the little brother!

And Now Hendrix...

 

Ut Oh... Guess who has worms? Yep, poor little man has worms, for the second time in a month! Sometimes these things happen... at least it's an easy fix. They should be gone by tomorrow afternoon, but in the meantime he isn't allowed on the furniture, so cuddling is discouraged. And honestly, I don't know who it's harder on, Hendrix, or me! I adore the attention his lavishes on me, he loves me...and snuggles into me...and watches over me... like no pet or human I have ever known. I didn't think another cat could possibly beat my cat Elvis in the affection department, but Hendrix does. He has three main priorities in his life. Eat. Play. Love.

Although not necessarily in that order!

Love always comes first. He is extraordinary!

It's amazing how much love is in our house!

:)

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

One... Sir Richard Attenborough

"They criticize the films they think you ought to have made, not the films

 you wanted to make and did make."

~Sir Richard Attenborough

I went to see A Chorus Line when it came out in 1985. I hadn't seen the stage play, but I had been reading about it for years! I looked forward to the film adaptation of the stage play with enthusiasm. I liked the movie very much, and in fact, had "One" stuck in my head for weeks. Now when it is on TV, I never miss it. It's one of those movies I would love to catch on retro night at the theater. 

Unfortunately, the film critics in 1985 didn't care for the movie as much as I did. Shrug. It's my opinion that film reviewers are sometimes snobby about things, and by the time that these people actually make a living at tearing apart a film, they have long since forgotten how to simply sit back, and go with it! Never underestimate the power of pulling the stick out of your ass and just enjoying a film for what it is. 

Still, I suppose I understand the need for a paid film reviewer to tell it as they see it, after all people do spend hard earned money to go out and enjoy a film. 

But if I had a free movie ticket for every time I have completely disagreed with a professional film critique, I would have free movies for life. 

I must have really bad taste in art.

 :)

Let the critics criticize, I will just enjoy the film!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Don't Put Off Till Tomorrow... No Really... Don't.

"If you're tired you take a 'nappa.' You don't move to Napa."

~Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw

~Sex And The City

I don't think I agree with Carrie about that, Napa, and the wine county in general, is the perfect place for the weary soul. First of all, you have vineyards to stop in and do some wine tasting, but if that's not for you, there are the vineyards for photographing! Oh my, the colors you will see! If you aren't all that into photography, then perhaps a hot air balloon ride over the valley, speaks more to your romantic heart. Sigh. All I know is... Napa, Santa Rosa, Glen Ellen, wherever you prefer in the region, is some of the most beautiful places in California, if not on earth!

I feel kind of bad tonight, because I had planned to visit Napa in October to do some photography, and chase down some public art. I planned to photograph the beauty of the town as well, but now I fear some of the very buildings I was going to photograph may have been hopelessly damaged in Sunday's quake! I am keeping a good thought, and with a little luck I will be able to get up to Napa to do some documenting of the quakes aftermath, but I find myself once again, wondering why I am taking life for granted. Why didn't I go sooner? Why was I waiting for October?

Why do I procrastinate, even while lamenting the losses of this year?

Mood: Quiet

~Me :)

Bristol Fleck Dahlia

 Bristol Fleck Dahlia

Golden Gate Park Dahlia Garden

San Francisco, Ca

August 18th, 2014

"What a desolate place would be a world without a flower!

It would be a face without a smile, a feast without a welcome.

Are not flowers the stars of the earth, and not stars the flowers of Heaven?"

~A.J. Balfour

Isn't that a beautiful dahlia? It is called Bristol Fleck. It is just one of the many varieties of the flower that has been planted in the Dahlia Garden (Dell) in Golden Gate Park, next to the Conservatory of Flowers! A project that was first planted back in the 1920's.

It's one of our favorite places in the park, and it's where we eat lunch at most often when we are in San Francisco! It's amazingly beautiful, and peaceful. Although, if you are lucky, you might be serenaded by the sound of bongo drums or a wandering musician playing his sax.

I love San Francisco, and Golden Gate Park.

:)

And the Dahlia Garden.

I think this year I will begin an in-depth catalog of the gorgeous dahlias in the garden!

Stay Tuned!

Mood: Quiet But Content

~Me :)