Sir Aaron

Went to see the VORTEX for the second time this weekend with my relatives. It is intriguing.

“It is said to be at the intersection of ley lines, at the boundary of geomagnetic fields, and in an actual gravity anomaly. The effects are said to be strongest when the moon is full.”

This trip was much more eventful seeing as the tour guide was blatantly picking up on this single gal from L.A. He used her in almost every demonstartion and would constantly be chatting her up inbetween destinations along the short tour route.

Then at the end he was asking for her number and she was asking if she could fill up her bottle of water and as my grandma and uncles were laughing about for ages THEY DISAPPEARED INTO THE WOODS. It was of course the subject of discussion the rest of the day.

“Oh, there’s magnetic attraction going on with that Vortex alright.”

One of the best performance pieces I have ever been involved in was a four man version of Midsummer Night Dream. Three of the best actors I have ever worked with and myself performed it in California at the Renn Faire and the next summer in New York off-off braodway as well as gaurilla style in Central Park.

The above pic is of the rooftop in Queens where we rehearsed every night. Somethin I shall never forget, especially since my greatest friend Robert Prentice (far left) was not only the best thespian I ever shared the stage with but unfortunately he passed away several years ago and I often miss him imensely.

I have dedicated many performances to the memory of Robert and will always think of Queens fondly for spending one of the best times of my life there.

Not going to name any names, but somebody has gotten me all intrigued about learning more on the culture/history/beauty of Singapore.

It really had not crossed this us/euro/canadia-centric mind of mine until now.

Amazing what a stylish chic can do to sway ones mind.

I am almost hesitant to post this spot because it is so amazingly beautiful and so few people seem to know about it. I would hate to see it become overrun with tourists, but I suppose its distant semi-rural location keeps it a bit off the beaten track of travellers.

All I can say is that these gardens are up there with the Butchart and a couple in Europ as far as pure mind-blowing brilliance.

Or then again, I probably don’t know what I’m talking about. Just another dumb American. Skip this spot. Nothing to see here. Please move along.

Forget Starbucks, Peet’s is the real deal !!!

As a diehard Peet’s fans I have always had a problem with Starbucks since the guys who started Starbucks learned everything they know from Peet and then agreed not to expand into Peet’s area for the first ten years. Well, the ten years have been up for quite awhile and now the infernal green mermen of coffee are on every damn corner and in every nook of every grocery store.

From wikopedia:

“Alfred Peet started Peet’s Coffee & Tea as a single store in 1966 in Berkeley, California. Known as the “grandfather of specialty coffee”, Peet’s original outlet is still located on the corner of Walnut and Vine in Berkeley, close to the University of California. Peet grew up in the coffee business while living in Holland as a child. Moving to San Francisco, California when he was 35, he began roasting coffee as he knew it. Peet’s now roasts at a small plant in nearby Emeryville.

Peet’s was the inspiration for now-rival Starbucks. The three original founders of Starbucks knew Alfred Peet personally, founded Starbucks in Seattle as kindred spirits, and bought the coffee beans for Starbucks directly from Peet’s during their first year of business in 1971

When my dad was living in Stockholm and I was visiting he took me here one weekend. I was pretty sure he was taking me because of the goofy name, seeing as how my dad has a rather strange sense of humour, but when we got there I was in awe. The little port area in Visby really feels like a place from an ancient time. It really is a place you would expect to be in a Viking movie.

“Gotland, the largest of the Baltic islands, was an important trading post from long before Viking times and became a major power base of the Hanseatic League in the 12th and 13th centuries. Start your trip at Visby, the main port and town of the island, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk around the magnificent three-kilometre city wall, which dates from the end of the thirteenth century. It was built to isolate the city’s foreign traders from the islanders and has over 40 towers. Take your time to savour the atmosphere of Visby and wander around the many narrow roads and lanes. Visit one of the many ruined medieval churches inside the city walls. The Cathedral of St Maria is especially worth a visit, as much for the building as for its stained glass windows.”

One could easily spend days here. I sure did. And it is alwyas free. Gotta love the Brits for their support of having free museum admission for all.

I went on a pleasantly disatrous date to the Conservatory of Flowers many months ago. We met in Gloden Gate Park in the Botanical Gardens for a picnic. Twas nice. The flowers in the conservatory were amazing and at times I felt like I had entered a faery world of beauteuos floral designs.

In a seperate viewing area, the world renowned death flower, which emits an odor of death to attract the correct insects to be polinated, was there at the time but the gal was not into seeing such an amazing aspect of nature. I’m guessing that possibly it is the most unromantic flower ever.

Note to those concerned: the death flower is no longer on display and so this could very well be a romatic place once again.

I love amount the of light and vast spaces in this new museum. The opening travelling exhibition “Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh,” was a fitting start. The observation tower overlooking Golden Gate park has a breathtaking view and worth admission on its own. In fact with the stunning hard wood floors, I could easily put on an Ipod and spend hours up there. While I always prefer classical architecture, the modern design that so many people have complained about, is majestic in its sheer copper statement. If you want to see modern architecture to truly complain about just head south to San Jose and witness the Barney inspired purple museums that litter the landscape.

They re-opened the newly remodeled de Young Fine Arts museum and I cannot wait to go. I her it is great!!! I have been to the de Younf many times over the years and I always get lost in the pieces for hours. The new exhibit is of Hatshepsut, the only Egyptian queen to become a Pharoah. Also the new building should be interesting to see. The new building was the vision of a Swiss architechural firm.

“The proposal stirred emotions. But it was the twisting tower - the iconic image of the museum - that generated the strongest criticism. It was likened to many things, all unflattering: a “huge shed,” an “Internet start-up company,” an “aircraft carrier,” a “Howard Johnson’s of the future,” “atrocious” and “ugly,” to name a few.

I hope the snobby art critics are wrong, I love it when I like art that critics make up insulting comments about. They usually eat their words ten years later.