Posted on by sanjotown

Closed Due to the Coronavirus

sjsu

 

San Jose State University is my alma mater. Left is Spartan Recreation & Aquatic Center. Right is Provident Credit Union Event Center at SJSU.

 

San Jose State University was one of the institutions in California that was closed due to the “shelter in place” order by California governor Gavin Newsom because of the Novel Coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic. This mandate prohibits California residents from leaving the house except for health care visits, grocery shopping, picking up food, medication, going to the bank, laundromats, or exercising. People are now trying to adjust to this new temporary public policy.

 

Posted on by sanjotown

Life of Birds

salt pond

Alviso Slough Trail at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Alviso, San Jose

 

Birds mostly fly

 

 

When they don’t

 

 

They hang out

 

Posted on by sanjotown

Negi Soba

negi soba ouchijuku

 

You can find Negi Soba 高遠そば in Ouchi-juku 大内宿 in Fukushima Prefecture. It is eaten with a long green onion (negi) instead of chopsticks.

 

Soba eaten with negi

 

Sounds strange

 

But very delicious

 

Posted on by sanjotown

The Invisible Becomes Visible Mural

friends of adeline

The Invisible Becomes Visible is a mural created and organized by Edythe Boone a local artist and community activist. The mural, created in 2018, highlights the timeline of South Berkeley from history of the Ohlone Indians, to the internment of Japanese-Americans, the fair housing act, people’s free food program, and protecting Ohlone sacred sites. This project was directed and supported by the Friends of Adeline that originated in 2015 and began by interviewing community members and recording their stories. The mural is located on the corner of Ashby & Ellis across the South Berkeley Senior Center and one block west of Ashby BART.

Friends of Adeline are a diverse group of South Berkeley residents, businesses, and nonprofits working to make Berkeley a more inclusive, and just place for all people. Purpose:  1. We Shall Determine Our Own Future  2. Affordable Housing is A Right  3. Development Must Be Used To Increase The Health Of Our Community  4. South Berkeley Jobs, Businesses, and Nonprofits Should Benefit Existing Residents Of All Income Groups, Backgrounds, and Ages  5. The Arts Are Integral To Our Culture and History As A Community.

http://www.friendsofadeline.org/

 

Posted on by sanjotown

Arakawa City Tokyo

arakawa-ku

 

In the Northeast corner of Tokyo lies Arakawa City which is called the “City of Manufacturing.” But it also has a rich history, culture, and charm. Some of the features of Arakawa are the Toden Arakawa Line or Sakura Line which is the only streetcar in Tokyo, Arakawa Yuen an amusement park, and the Sumida River. Arakawa City is where one can experience everyday life in Tokyo.

Posted on by sanjotown

Art Palette

fountain-alley-sj

This mural at fountain alley in downtown San Jose was painted by Lili Gemellos. Lili is a muralist in San Jose who has painted San Pedro Square, Bank of Italy, and Museum of Modern Art around downtown San Jose. The dripping paint of the mural symbolizes the melting of cultures in San Jose.

 

Posted on by sanjotown

Mural in Shimokitazawa

mural shimokitazawa

Shimokitazawa is a mini town in Setagaya, Tokyo with small and independently owned stores and businesses. There are many vintage shops and second-hand clothing, stylish cafes, small theaters, and unique snacks. One section of Shimokitazawa are decorated by mural artists. The business owners asked artists to draw murals on the shutters to brighten the neighborhood.

 

 

Posted on by sanjotown

The Grinch at Christmas in the Park San Jose

christmas in the park grinch

Christmas in the Park, a non-profit organization in San Jose, is a yearly holiday tradition consisting of over 40 musical and animated exhibits, glittering lights, community decorated trees, and the 60-foot Community Giving Tree. For over 40 years 750,000 people annually visit the holiday decorations from all over the Bay Area and beyond. The history of Christmas in the Park started when Don Lima owner of Lima Family Mortuary in San Jose built a Nativity display in front of his business. Eventually the displays and the crowds grew bigger and bigger so in the 1970s Lima donated the displays to the City of San Jose. Since 2012 Christmas in the Park took full ownership of this event with assistance from the city with paid staff and countless volunteers to make this event a success every year.

https://www.christmasinthepark.com/

 

Posted on by sanjotown

Ouchi-juku

ouchi-juku fukushima prefecture

Ouchi-juku 大内宿 is a historical town that have preserved structures with traditional thatched roof buildings that are over 300 years old. In the Edo period (1603-1867) Ouchi-juku was a town that served people traveling between Aizu and Nikko. Ouchi-juku is also famous for handmade soba noodles eaten with negi (onion). Ouchi-juku has several annual festivals, one during the second weekend of February for the Ouchi-juku Snow Festival, and the Hange Mid-Summer Festival in July. If you have time please visit and support Ouchi-juku located in Fukushima Prefecture.

 

https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/portal-english/list383.html

 

Posted on by sanjotown

Cobre

cobre

Cobre painting a mural (his son) at Pow Wow San Jose 2019.  The mural is at UA 393 Union Hall, 6293 Ignacio Ave San Jose, CA.  powwowsanjose.com

 

Andres Iglesias AKA Cobre is a self taught muralist from Santa Fe, Argentina. He started painting by tagging, making letters, and characters anywhere. Andres roots are as a filmmaker and animator but painting was his passion and he developed it into an art form through much practice. Cobre’s style is realism and he has painted Robin Williams in San Francisco, Mario Benedetti in Uruguay, and Frida Kahlo back home in Argentina.  He has also painted in Dubai, France, Spain, Netherlands, Brazil, Uruguay, and the United States.

 

https://www.instagram.com/cobreart/