This is hike number 7 in my series of 50 hikes during my 50th year. A couple of posts back, I mentioned this book, which I just finished reading: The premise is a Minnesota woman whose life basically has gone off the tracks. She has just divorced, lost her mother, is estranged from the rest … More The Pacific Crest Trail
I walk everywhere, and sometimes I think I’ve walked every block in the city. And then, I’ll discover something I’ve never seen, and realize that’s not the case. Here’s the latest example. Now, I really like the Tenderloin, but I guess there hasn’t been much call for me to be on the 600 block of … More Tenderhouse
Last week, Urban Ambles wandered down to the Transbay terminal for one last time. The terminal has been , for years, the terminus of transit to and from the East Bay, and the terminal is slated for demolition. In its place is planned a spectacular new station that is hoped to be a nexus for … More Last Call For The TransBay Terminal
Commuting via Muni or BART for us means walking down from Nob Hill to the Powell Street BART Station. Descending to the station, one passes through a dense neighborhood of retail with apartments above, and interspersed amongst these buildings are a collection of noble brick buildings that are almost civic in their character; modern-day urban … More Welcome To Clubland
Unlike what we saw in part 1, Christmas in the city is a study in contrasts. At Thanksgiving, I walked through the streets en route to dinner, and the streets were delightfully quiet, revealing both sights of joy, as well as desperation. A similar experience could be seen on Urban Amble’s mad dash through the … More Holiday Tales Part 2: The Urban Amble
A common lament of those of us who were raised in the northeast is that “while I love California, I do miss the fall”. And I certainly have uttered that phrase many times, although lately, I have found my love of California wavering, its been more tough love given its current dysfunctional state. Last month, … More Traveling Up The Hudson River
I have many favorite places in San Francisco, but one stands above all the rest, the San Francisco Art Institute on Russian Hill. The Art Institute, founded in 1871, is one of the oldest and more prestigious art schools in the country. Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Bruce Nauman, and Clyfford Still have taught there, Joan … More The San Francisco Art Institute
Do not fear loyal reader -The Grand Tour (Recession Version!) continues, after a brief hiatus. To recap, we have made our way south from the Golden Gate Bridge,to the south bay, and back up to the through East Bay. Part 9 takes us to our second island on the tour: Treasure Island. Here’s the route: … More Grand Tour.9-Escaping To Treasure Island
The second part of the road trip took me from Bakersfield down into the desert. The route takes us down into the LA area, then east on Route 66, and then on to Palm Springs. After a few days of R&R, the leg continued north, some more time on 66, then up into the Mohave … More California Road Trip-Part 2: Route 66 and Other Blue Highways
Do not fear intrepid reader, the popular Grand Tour (Recession Edition) of San Francisco Bay has continued unabated. The author has just been … More Grand Tour.6- Alviso and the Slough
urban ambles 