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…
Category: SF Bay Area
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…
Awesome Trailer for New Earthquake Planetarium Show at Cal Academy (video)
Check out this awesome trailer for the new planetarium show at the California Academy of Sciences called "Earthquake: Evidence of a Restless Planet." Combining real world footage, 3D digital animation, and scientific data from institutions like the NOAA, "Earthquake" is much more than a movie. And because it will be shown on the largest all-digital…
Freeplay Dance Crew at Dance-a-Rama Dance Fest in Berkeley (video)
Here's some nice video of the Freeplay Dance Crew doing our thing at the "Dance-A-Rama" dance festival in Berkeley earlier today. It was a pleasure getting to perform with a diverse range of dancers in a beautiful studio space. I love how the natural light in the room changes as we do our piece…
Berkeley Vintage Shops Make Me Nostalgic
In high school, I was a shy, bookish, awkward child. I didn't do much besides go to school and study. My entire world was contained within the couple of miles between my home and my small Christian private school, in the sleepy suburb of Pleasanton in Northern California. A pivotal moment that broadened my vision…
Freeplay Dance Crew Performing for Bay Area Dance Week April 29
I'm excited to report that the Freeplay Dance Crew will be performing as part of Bay Area Dance Week on April 29th in Berkeley. This is our first time doing a BADW event, so we are super-psyched to be involved. Specifically, we are dancing as part of "Dance-A-Rama," an afternoon of various dance performances organized…
Cherry Blossoms in Cemetery: Beauty and Transcience
In Japan, cherry blossoms are symbols of the fleeting nature of life, since they bloom so quickly, and are gone just as fast. So it's appropriate to see a cluster of them at the Mountain View cemetery in Oakland, where I run a couple of times a week. Seeing the blossoms in bloom this morning…
Visiting a Packed Cal Academy on a Rainy Saturday Afternoon
Yesterday, I got to take some family members to the California Academy of Sciences for the first time as a staff member. It was really fun showing them my favorite exhibits and giving them a bit of the insider perspective on the Academy. It was also the first time I have been to the museum…