Here's your daily adorable-ness. A baby ostrich on its first exercise run outdoors chases Tim Steinmetz, resident ostrich (ratite) expert at the California Academy of Sciences. As their first and main caretaker, Tim functions as a mother figure for the ostriches, who are under the Academy's care for a short spell, as part of…
Category: SF Bay Area
Support SF Gypsy Jazz Band Gaucho’s New CD “Part-Time Sweetheart” (UPDATED)
Gaucho is one of my favorite bands, period. Playing in the gypsy jazz tradition, Gaucho puts out an inspired, Django-esque groove that has been entertaining San Franciscans for years. Some of my favorite nights of dancing has been to Gaucho, who perform every Wednesday at Amnesia Bar in the Mission. Gaucho has a new CD…
Newt Crossing! First Visit to Mount Tamalpais
Yesterday, I and a colleague did a quick trip up to Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California, to scout out the site of a bio-blitz we are organizing for a group of students later in the month. We were fortunate to come across a couple of what we think were rough-skinned newts just hanging out…
Why It Took Me 13 Years to Learn “The Big Apple” Dance
The "Big Apple" circle dance is one of those lindy hop traditions that I never got on the bandwagon about, despite seeing it performed countless times in my 13 years of lindy hopping. Last night, I finally got the wherewithal to learn the full choreography and performed it with twenty or so others at…
Adorable Ostrich Chicks Are Adorable
At the California Academy of Sciences. Where cute animals and solid science education come together.
Why is the Cal Academy Putting Baby Ostriches in an Earthquake Exhibit?
Hint: It's not just because they are super cute! ABC news has a sweet story about one of the California Academy of Science's newest additions to the public floor: baby ostriches. The cute little guys are there to help illustrate a story about the earth's evolution, and how tectonic movement has contributed to biodiversity over…
My First Maker Faire: Geeking Out at the Mecca of Makers and Hackers
On Saturday, I had the pleasure of experiencing my first Maker Faire , an annual gathering of 10,000+ DIY enthusiasts, hackers, crafters, artists, cosplayers, and citizen scientists at a huge fairground pavilion in San Mateo. Described as a "festival of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement," Maker Faire is a…
Watch Out for These Pretty Hitchhikers at the Cal Academy of Sciences
One of the coolest things about the rainforest exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences are the hundreds of butterflies flitting around you as you stroll around the different layers of this simulated forest. Great photo opportunities everywhere, and really magical for both children and adults. That said, some of the butterflies are more "interactive"…
Bad Ass Salsa at Cal Academy Last Night by Salsamania! (video)
Here's some ridiculous salsa being performed at the California Academy of Sciences' "Nightlife" program last night. No idea who these cats are, but damn, just damn. Check out two more videos of another group choreo and 2 ladies doing a salsa routine together. Great stuff. UPDATE 5/7: Apparently the performers are the pro-am team…
Two Youth Digital Science Programs at the Cal Academy This Summer!
If you know of a middle school or high school age young person who might be interested in engaging with science using technology, the California Academy of Sciences announces two summer intensives taking place in June and July! The Pearson Young Scientists Program is a two-week summer intensive from June 19-29 for 5th to 8th…