I drive past this Bank of the West branch everyday on my way to and from work. It’s mid-century design frequently catches my eye as I drive past. According to this San Jose Mercury article on the 50th anniversary of the building, the postcard introducing this branch of First National Bank of San Jose in 1963 said “A space-age bank for a space-age community”. Funny how a design intended to be futuristic in 1963 is nostalgic in 2014.
A bit more history on the building at recentpast.org.
Between Hearst Castle and Citizen Kane, William Randolph Hearst has loomed large for me as a historical figure. I’ve visited Hearst Castle several times and always marveled both at its sheer opulence and outright garishness. Hearst Castle is famous for its splendid pools but those were more famous architect Julia Morgan’s creation rather than that of Hearst. For all his money, he didn’t have good taste. His yellow journalism was both distasteful and a had a major impact on country.
I wondered, where does a man like this end up buried? Hearst is buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in the city of Colma. Colma, just south of San Francisco, is a city with many more dead people than living ones. The Hearst Family Crypt is an impressive structure but doesn’t live up to the grandeur of Hearst’s Castle though it’s certainly more tasteful. For a man who was larger than life, his final resting place is only just typical for a wealthy family’s crypt.
Yesterday, I visited St. George Spirits in Alameda. St George is located in an old airplane hanger on what used to be Alameda Naval Air Station. The spirits were excellent. I particularly liked their Terroir Gin. All the liquor is made in the hanger and their vodka’s are called Hangar One after the number of the hangar.
These balloons caught my eye as I looked out from my living room this evening. It’s six weeks after Valentine’s Day and these balloons are stuck up in a tree and being blown about by the wind. Everyone has forgotten about V-Day at this point and the balloons have lost their meaning and have become detritus. I wonder if their recipient even knows they are gone.
It’s always surprising to discover something really remarkable in an area that one knows really well. Stanford Masolueum is a recent discovery for me and very close to locations I’ve frequented for decades. It’s on the Stanford Campus and only a short walk from Stanford Shopping center.
The Arizona Cactus Garden is a recent discovery for me. It’s on the Stanford Campus, only a short walk from Stanford Shopping Center. The garden has a wide variety cactus and is a surprisingly peaceful spot.
The unusually warm winter made me concerned the flowers would already be gone but the tulips are still in bloom.
Created at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto
