We love living in paradise … but sometimes we crave the excitement of new sights and sounds, whether it be the upcoming migration of thousands of Sandhill cranes in the Delta wetlands, or a renowned art exhibition, fantastic theater production on the big stage or just a simple change of scene to recharge our batteries and sate our wandering spirit.

From Los Angeles to San Francisco, and occasionally beyond, we’ll highlight and preview cultural happenings of note—as well as little-known places and events along the way—while providing the details you need to escape on a whim and come back refreshed and rejuvenated. We welcome tips and suggestions on weekend destinations you may want to share.
– The Editors

Photo by Brigitte Clough, captivatingphotos.net

By Teresa Allen
Oct. 24, 2011

Their unified trilling can be heard even before they appear on the horizon, as thousands of vocalizing Sandhill cranes suddenly fill the sky on their winter migration to the open grasslands and meadows in the wetlands that surround Lodi, California.

Those who study these long-legged birds say they stay in touch through a unique sound heard from vast distances. Even in large flocks, according to bird expert Bruce Forman, lost family members re-unite after making their “trilled” cry. Once landed, a dance begins with the courtship posturing of a choreographed recital, their crowned heads—topped with a tuft of red—bobbing and weaving in hopes of attracting a potential mate.

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway for the entire family that carries heavy memory gravitas, the annual Sandhill Crane Festival should not be missed. Past spectators say the stunning visual of thousands of cranes taking flight is a sight not easily forgotten.

The annual festival takes place the weekend of Nov. 4-6 with guided tours, photography classes and other workshops, seminars on cranes, an art show and various crane sighting options.

One of the most popular tours, the “Crane Fly-in” (offered numerous times during the festival), puts spectators at the right place and time to see hundreds to thousands of cranes fly into wetlands where they spend the night. Another tour, in the early morning hours, places participants near the birds when they wake up, interact with each other, and then fly out to areas where they feed for the day. The tours, via bus, last from two to three hours and are accompanied by guides from the Department of Fish & Game and docents from the Lodi Sandhill Crane Association.

There also are opportunities to cruise the crane feeding habitat on scheduled guided boat tours and kayak trips. And a number of photography seminars will be offered with specific festival aims, such as “How to Photograph Birds in Flight.” See our calendar for more details.

The Cornel Lab of Ornithology describes the cry of the Sandhill cranes as a “deep rolling trumpet and rattling.” Listen here.

If you go

What: Sandhill Crane Festival, giving visitors the rare opportunity to see thousands of cranes up close as they interact and fly in and out of winter feeding grounds near the Delta.

When: Friday, Nov. 4 through Sunday, Nov. 6.

Where: All tours start and end at Hutchins Street Square (125 S. Hutchins Street, at the north entrance, off Oak Street), Lodi, California.

Distance from SLO: 257 miles or about 4 hours by car. You can also fly into Sacramento, about 30 miles north of Lodi. (Driving directions)

Fee: General admission is free, including workshops and presentations. Costs vary per guided tour and average $20-$30 per adult. The Crane Fly-In tour fee is: adult, $25; youth, $10; child, $5. This tour lasts approximately 3 hours.

Children: Yes.

Reservations: Highly recommended. Reserve online or call 800-581-6150.

Details on all tours and an overview of the festival can be found at cranefestival.com.

Where to stay and nearby activities: cranefestival.com/visit.html

Insider tips: Book early. Many popular tours sell out quickly. And consider making time during your trip to sample the many stunning wineries in the Lodi area.

We love living in paradise … but sometimes we long for the excitement of live theater on the big stage, or a renowned art exhibition, or just a simple change of scene, to recharge our batteries and sate our artistic spirit. From Los Angeles to San Francisco, and occasionally beyond, we’ll highlight and preview cultural events of note, and also special, little-known places along the way, while providing the details needed to escape on a whim and be back in time to begin again, refreshed and rejuvenated. We welcome tips and suggestions on weekend destinations you may want to share. – The Editors

By Teresa Allen
June 26, 2011

'The Pirates of Penzance' photo by Charles Erickson

Julius Caesar as a woman? A lively mariachi band chosen to set the opening tone for the age-old Shakespearean chestnut, “Measure for Measure”? And what to make of the pompous Major-General Stanley from “Pirates of Penzance” (set in late 19th Century England), who blurts out in exasperation, “Oh, just Google it,” when a word he uses on stage draws blank stares from his fellow actors?

For this repertoire theater established in 1935, (with the oldest existing full-scale Elizabethan stage in the Western Hemisphere), the ability to stay fresh and take some creative risk, yet not alienate its loyal following, is always a balancing act for this much-beloved festival.

The line-up for the summer season succeeds by combining a number of straight-forward classics (“To Kill A Mockingbird,” Henry IV. Part 2) with some provocative renditions of Shakespearean staples that, at least during a recent visit, had audiences appropriately abuzz during intermission. The festival, which stages from three different theaters, also includes a number of contemporary productions located in the newest and most intimate “New Theater” to round out the playbill. The witty, dark comedy, “”August: Osage County” is a stand-out there.

Just across the Oregon border, Ashland, with a population of around 25,000 and the home of Oregon State University, can be a pretty sleepy town off-season. But it’s all theater, all-the-time, during the summer season that opened mid-June and ushered in the kind of pomp and ceremony befitting a major Shakespearean festival. Leading into town, streets are festooned with colorful flags heralding the upcoming festivities. On opening night in charming Lithia Park, just steps from the theaters, hundreds of theater-goers sat down to the traditional communal dinner while being serenaded by strolling Elizabethan singers.

And for the rest of the summer and fall, don’t be surprised to walk among the costumed actors, minstrels and other entertainers who become part of the local cityscape during off-stage hours.

For those planning to escape for the weekend, most hotels offer theatre package-deals, and restaurants plan special seatings to make it easy to attend the 8:30 p.m. performance. And because of the late last curtain, many bars are open into the early hours to accommodate the festive after-theatre crowds that flow into downtown like a river of people.

Diehard theater buffs can attend five plays in a long weekend (I did) and still not see the entire bill of rotating productions. But most who travel to the festival also come for the ambience of the charming creek-side town, first-rate restaurants and wine tasting (Pinot Gris is an Oregon specialty and markedly different than its California sibling). And there are many worthy side trips, including the historic city of Jacksonville and also rafting on the nearby Rogue River.

You can see more photos from the 2011 Oregon Shakespeare Festival on our Facebook page.

Play recommendations:

• “Pirates of Penzance” – A Gilbert & Sullivan raucous musical, imaginatively staged in the outdoor Elizabethan Theatre with innovative special effects having to do with sea birds and waves that almost make you believe you’re out to sea.

• “Measure for Measure”- A creative departure of this Shakespearean favorite where action takes place, (among other places), in a strip joint; and love, marriage and a discussion of the modern death penalty undergo comedic scrutiny.

• “August: Osage County”- A dark comedy with witty, fast-paced dialogue that keys in on a dysfunctional family and their life set in a large country home in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. No one leaves unscathed.

• “To Kill a Mockingbird” – A traditional rendering of the classic Southern novel by Harper Lee.

Also, the production “Ghost Light” was recently added to the season’s line-up and should be well worth the ticket. The play is inspired by the tragic killing of George Moscone, who was mayor of San Francisco in the late 1970s when he was gunned down by Dan White, along with county supervisor and gay activist, Harvey Milk. The mayor’s son, Jonathan Moscone, directs the production.

If you go, make sure to book in advance a theater performance in the vast, outdoor Elizabethan Theatre, only open during the balmy summer months. Whether it’s a Shakespeare mainstay, or a musical like “Pirates from Penzance,” the experience of sitting under the stars (with an occasional bat darting in and out, or a thunderstorm adding to the special effects), is a festival highlight that needs to be experienced. It gets chilly, so bring a jacket. Or snuggle up under a blanket handed out at the concession stand, first come-first serve.

For a complete schedule of the 2011 season, click here: http://www.osfashland.org/plays

If you go:

What: Oregon Shakespearean Festival

Where: Ashland, Oregon

When: Varies by individual production, check schedule

Getting there by car (map): It’s a long drive, but it helps to break up the approximate 8-hour trip from San Luis Obispo by stopping mid-way in the Sacramento area. Then it’s just a 4-hour sprint to Ashland. The drive from Redding and on couldn’t be more beautiful, with spectacular views of the Cascade Mountain Range and Lake Shasta. For lunch, stop in the tiny City of Shasta (about a hour’s drive from Ashland) where the “Harmonic Convergence” was held in 1987 and almost every shop sells crystals or serious outdoor apparel. The always snow-covered, 14,000-foot peak of Mt. Shasta, magically looms from every corner of the city.

By airplane: It’s at least a two-stop flight from the San Luis Obispo Regional Airport (with a long layover usually in Portland, Oregon). Then, because Ashland doesn’t have an airport, you must fly into Medford, Oregon — about 15 miles north of Ashland. Then you need to decide how to get to Ashland. Roundtrip airfare from SLO to Medford is around $400. It’s easier and less expensive to drive.

Theater tickets: $20-$103 with discounts for youth and groups

General festival information: http://www.osfashland.org/index.aspx

Tickets: http://www.osfashland.org/plays/boxoffice/pricing.aspx

Where to stay: Ashland has a full range of accommodations, including most motel chains and also a number of upscale hotels and both fussy and funky bed-and-breakfast opportunities. For theater convenience and a special treat, try the Ashland Springs Hotel (formerly the Marc Anthony), just steps away from the theatres and specializing in pampering and general comfort. The newly remodeled rooms are light and airy with views of both street bustle and also the nearby scenic hills. There is a full spa on the premises and the hotel is home to one of the better eateries in town, Lark’s Restaurant. Continental breakfast and late evening snacks are also part of the stay. $89-$269 (high summer season). Also within walking distance of the theatres (one block), but with an European flair, is the Columbia Hotel, offering claw foot tubs, period furniture and overall comfort, $59-$125. And the Stratford Inn is a mainstay for many who make the annual pilgrimage to the festival, offering kitchenettes, suites and deluxe rooms. It’s an easy walk to the theater – four blocks – but is away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown. And it’s across the street from a major supermarket. $65-$165.

For a full list of accommodations, go to http://www.osfashland.org/visit/accommodations/index.aspx

Insider tip: Both hotels and popular plays sell out weeks in advance during the summer. Book early.

We love living in paradise … but sometimes we long for a big-city art exhibition or dance performance, or just a change of scene, to recharge our batteries and sate our artistic spirit. From Los Angeles to San Francisco, and occasionally beyond, we’ll occasionally highlight and preview cultural events of note, and also special, little-known places along the way, while providing the details needed to escape on a whim and be back in time to begin again, refreshed and regenerated. We welcome tips and suggestions on weekend destinations you may want to share. – The Editors

Pablo Picasso, Le Baiser (The Kiss) © 2010 Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

By Teresa Allen
May 17, 2011

Need a good excuse for a quick foray into “The City” for a much needed museum fix? And do you love Picasso?

Beginning June 11, the de Young Museum in San Francisco will showcase a rare opportunity for the public to view more than 100 masterpieces by iconic Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Paintings, sculptures, informal sketchbooks and prints from every phase of the artist’s life will be on display in chronological order. The works are normally only on view at the Musée National Picasso in Paris.

The San Francisco exhibition of “Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris,” is part of a world tour while its home museum is closed to undergo a major renovation. Other tour stops will be Madrid, Helsinki, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sydney, Seattle and Richmond, Virginia.

The works on view “demonstrate the wide range of artistic styles and forms that the artist mastered,” say museum officials, and include, among other pieces: Celestina (1904), from the artist’s Blue Period; Two Brothers (1906), from the Rose Period; Expressionist studies for Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907); the Cubist Man with a Guitar (1911), the Neoclassical Portrait of Olga (1917), the artist’s wife; the proto-Surrealist Two Women Running on a Beach (1922); Portrait of Dora Maar (1937), the artist’s lover and famed French artist; six Surrealist bronze heads of the artist’s mistress, Marie-Thérèse Walter; the Head of a Bull (1942) fabricated from a bicycle seat and handlebars; the bronze Goat (1950); the six life-size bronze Bathers (1956); and the late self-portrait The Matador (1970).

To enhance the art viewing experience, the de Young will offer various lectures on Picasso and his work and also a special ongoing Wednesday evening discount event called “España at Twilight,” where participants can feast on a prix-fixe Spanish-inspired menu (cost yet to be determined) in the museum café before a special exhibition viewing without the crowds.

Throughout the year, the very socially inspired “Friday Nights at the de Young” offer various lectures, music and poetry events along with special food offerings at the café. For a list of upcoming Friday events, visit famsf.org.

The de Young was renovated in 2005 and is a work of art unto itself, drawing lavish accolades and also wide-ranging criticism for its somewhat austere architectural style. After a morning’s viewing, the museum café is a great place for lunch or to simply grab a cup of coffee and stroll through the nearby outdoors sculpture garden.

Other nearby places to visit:

The De Young is a convenient springboard for other attractions within walking distance including the San Francisco Botanical Gardens and the newly renovated Academy of Sciences. In particular, the science museum is well worth a visit, especially for children, with many interactive science displays and fantastic animal exhibits.  There are also several walk-through ecosystems, including the muggy four-story, glass-encased tropical rainforest complete with a diverse and colorful collection of butterflies that float in and out at will. Also, not to be missed, the spectacular “living roof” now in bloom. The science museum also offers a weekly event for those 21 and older called “Nightlife,” where a younger crowd can enjoy different music, science and entertainment venues-all the while sipping cocktails. For a list of upcoming “Nightlife” activities, visit calacademy.org.

And just a taxi ride across town is the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) with an eclectic mix of exhibitions slated throughout the summer. One of interest is Bill Fontanta “Sonic Shadows” (through Nov. 6) is a site-specific installation by San Francisco-based sound art pioneer Bill Fontana that explores both visible and invisible features of the museum building.

If you go:

What: “Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris”
Where: de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
When: June 11 to Oct. 8, 2011. Tours 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Wed. – Sat.
Getting there: About 215 driving miles one-way from SLO. SFO is about a 90-minute flight from the San Luis Regional Airport. Airline prices vary but sometimes can be had for less than the price of gas.
Address: The de Young Museum is located at 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, at John F. Kennedy Drive, in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Click here for driving directions.
Parking: Click here for garage parking options.
Visiting hours: Tues. through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.; Friday (mid-January through November only) 9:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.; closed Mondays.
Cost: adults $25, seniors 65+ $22, students with current ID $21, youths 6–17 $15, members and children 5 and under free.
Tickets: Click here to order tickets.
Wednesday Night Discount: $18 (adults/seniors) $10 (youths), 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., June 15 to Aug. 31.
Insider tip: Tickets are already on sale and should be reserved much in advance. Try going during non-peak days and hours.