Friday, July 29, 2011

Silicon Valley: Paypal - Ebay Headquarters 2011

Fun Friday Foto 


This week's image as I roam around Silicon Valley.  This headquarter campus is larger than appears.  I thought you might enjoy.

Paypal - Ebay Headquarters,  San Jose CA




Which Silicon Valley company do you want to see next? ~ The Fun Tour Guru



Thursday, July 28, 2011

Grapes & Glass Art Design Tours - at Annieglass Studio, Watsonville, CA

Made in USA 

I enjoy this half day trip to visit this well known, local, Smithsonian Artist and entrepreneur, Annie Morhauser and her studio.  Most people know about the Annieglass production studio in Watsonville, 310 Harvest Drive. (one half hour south of Santa Cruz, one hour from San Jose), when was your last trip?

I have seen glass blowing artists many times – two recent trips were to Vecchia Murrano in Venice, Italy and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington.  Wow, what a discovery and a local gem nearby!   Why is this local glass art so different?

Annieglass Production Studio in Watsonville, CA

Summer of Love with Annieglass Studio Tours

A must see is Annieglass events – yes, even wine tasting is available. You may go on their free glass art studio tours at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on these weekend days. Call to get more information about the events. (831) 427-4260

Update:  Please call Annieglass to find out about all events.  



Annieglass Production Studio

I found out about this insider secret on my trip – Annieglass is not made by the common method of glass blowing – Annie developed a process called “slumping.” Starting with a sheet of flat glass that is cut into a circle, the glass is melted in a ceramic mold in a kiln to take shape.

Please ask about this process and any of the technical artist details when you go and let the experts tell you in their own words.  Information is on the Annieglass website and these tours have in depth, excellent information.  (Sorry, no pictures were allowed to be taken inside.)

Even though joining individual public tours is fun, I enjoy arranging private small groups and you learn so much from everyone's curiosity and questions. 
 
The guide, Joseph, showed us the glass plates they purchase and we watched Joseph actually cut a small piece of glass by hand. You get to walk through the entire studio (15,000 square feet) and see each of the machines, tools and equipment where Annie and the other artists make the individual glass art pieces during the week.

Each piece is inspected when it is finished and has an authentic signature etched with name, number, and date.  Annie is an  artist and business woman who employs a expert team of artists year round along with other valued employees to make their production goals. Annie continues to share her stories of how she started her business today.

I learned how this was developed as a different process.  Annie's first piece that she created in her studio in 1983, was a simple circle of glass with a 24k hand painted gold rim before firing in the kiln, titled Roman Antique. This actual process you discover on your tour ensures each piece is dishwasher safe and with chip and tarnish resistance.  

There is another Annieglass store in downtown Santa Cruz for shopping if you don't have time to drive to the studio.  Of course, glass art enthusiasts already know Annieglass is sold at many luxury retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdales. You will also find Annieglass in prominent hotels and restaurants like the Bellagio Hotel and Casino and Ritz Carlton. Yes, there is a piece on exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. And we now have a store at Santana Row, San Jose, CA.

Can you name 2 famous people who have Annieglass in their private collections? 



Don't Forget the Wine Tasting, Windy Oaks Estate

During my visit, I found this fun and unique story of this local winery. There were Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from Windy Oaks Estate in Corralitos, CA. One of my favorites, 2008 Estate Pinot Noir, Cuvee, was awarded 91 points, 2011 Gold Medal, beverage Tasting Institute, with a bright fruit flavors.

Windy Oaks Estate, Corralitos, CA

I had a private conversation with the Assistant Winemaker (yes, he is a son of the Winemaker) about the crush process, the acres where their grapes are located (two locations nearby), and the global history trail starting in the central USA of how this family of tech workers started the winery. Windy Oaks Estate just opened their new tasting room – Saturdays from 12–5. (831) 786-9463  I will return for a second story.



Tell us below in the comments of your Annieglass pieces you have. 
Just another fantastic trip of discoveries off the beaten path ~ The Fun Tour Guru 

*This is not a sponsored post, I simply followed up on news which I received and went to see for myself. I even became a buyer with my new knowledge.  Although advertisers are always welcome!

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Friday, July 22, 2011

Fun Fridays: Salt Water Taffy, Chocolate, Wine Tasting, Shopping

Fun Fridays

What can go wrong with salt water taffy, chocolate, ice cream, expresso, and wine tasting? Remember shopping next door for fun stuff at Made in Santa Cruz.  My favorite stops! 
  
(Marini's, Vino Prima, and Made in Santa Cruz are separate entities, of which I have been a *silent* regular customer for many years, meaning they don't know me, I know they love my shopping sprees)

Its okay to use with moderation with these.  Remember, use everything with moderation.


Santa Cruz, CA



Santa Cruz, CA


My insider tip - head over the hill to Santa Cruz on Friday mornings before the weekend rush. 

Where will you be going?  Share with us in the comments below and on social media - and click to the icons in the sidebar!

 Sharing Favorite places! ~~ The Fun Tour Guru

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

What is there to do at Palace of Fine Arts, Marina District, San Francisco

In San Francisco, I drove to another favorite spot away from traffic.  Admittedly, I find these places as I try to avoid some of the San Francisco hills when I drive my standard shift car using a clutch.  Driving these hills is not always easy for me. 

So I found how to drive around some of the steepest places.  By the Marina, an area where the tour buses cannot go –  there were more amazing views of the bay. But wait, don't forget to turn around. You'll see another San Francisco attraction, the Palace of Fine Arts, rising above the homes.  

The Marina District was created from landfill for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition.  Today, this area between Fort Mason and the Presidio, you will find these Mediterranean rival homes. And, a leisure place for walkers, joggers, and cyclists. 

Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

Palace of Fine Arts from the Marina

We now enjoy the 2010 restoration of the Palace of Fine Arts.  This is the only remaining building from 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition, when San Francisco celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal after recovering from the 1906 earthquake. San Francisco kept this favorite building after the fair, which was originally designed to look like a Roman ruin. 

Yes, another view of the Golden Gate Bridge by the Yacht Harbor

I enjoy walking and sitting by the lagoon at the Palace. A couple of things you might find interesting to do.
   
A fun, geeky attraction (found at Pier 15 now) for the entire family is the Exploratorium. I have been and found that you will stay the entire day exploring. The science and technology museum is where over 500,000 visitors each year explore the hands-on exhibits. Visitor information may be found at the website.

Don't forget you may attend events at the Palace of Fine Arts TheatreFind information about different events and tickets, prices, and dates at their website.  




 Insider secrets:

Have you found the miniature replica of the Palace of Fine Arts, as a symbol of San Francisco, located in Disney’s California Adventure?

And, did you know a 1976 presidential debate between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford was held at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre?

Do you like this article?  Please leave answers to the above quiz in the comments below.  And share with your friends.  

Just another day finding things to explore!  
~~~The Fun Tour Guru

Friday, July 15, 2011

Fun Friday Foto - Linked In, a Silicon Valley Company

Fun Friday Foto

It was fun to snap this picture yesterday and share from Mountain View, CA. These are favorite Silicon Valley companies.  This particular company has been in the news quite a bit because of their recent IPO (update) and now with the Microsoft acquisition.  I access their network everyday, I don't really think about the several office building locations.  

This article by Sharon Machlis is an interesting comparison of three famous Silicon Valley companies. Of the sizzling three, Facebook, Linked In, Twitter – 2 of the companies located 10 miles of each other (Mountain View and Palo Alto) and with Twitter is in San Francisco.  I agree with how Machlis summarizes each. 

I admit, I am an early user with some success of all three networks, as each company started. Am I amazed all 3 are super star businesses now?  How will they evolve? As these networks seem to be over crowded now, I search for the next rising star.

Linked In is located only 2-3 miles away from the Google campus.  Don't forget the growing Apple Computer, although much, much older in years, is nearby in Cupertino, 15 miles south.

As I mentioned many times, Silicon Valley is consistently changing, and you may this as soon as overnight when you drive by and see a temporary cover over a company sign because of an acquisition.

This is Silicon Valley!  


Linked in, less than 5 miles from Google campus, 10 miles from Facebook

 
How do you use each of these social networking companies?

What is the new rising star now? Chat with us below in the comments. 

Out and about, Silicon Valley ~~~ The Fun Tour Guru

Friday, July 8, 2011

Fun Fridays May Bring California Gold To You

Fun Friday Foto

My Fun Friday on Twitter has become a ritual (before hashtag trends).  I enjoy listening to the stories of everyone's plans for the weekend. Sometimes they are short – tweets, and others will go into the longer, descriptive narratives. Every story is unique.  Fun Friday continues here, as I share this Foto I took a couple of weeks ago in Santa Cruz.
"While you are looking around, don't forget to look down. Found gold by my feet today!"

Pot of Gold






Where YOU are going this weekend?  Comments?      

Tell us in the comments below.  And check out the other pages above and our side panel. 

Out and about, The Fun Tour Guru
 

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Don't Forget About Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Passport Day

Update:  Passport weekends are still available - prices and rules have changed. Be sure to verify of the wineries available directly with the Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries Association.     

“Summertime and the livin is easy” by George Gershwin lyrics are playing over and over in my mind. It is July already, boy the years zoom by.  I always remind everyone each summer of this favorite event, wine tasting on Passport Day, in July, in the Santa Cruz Mountains.   

By now you know that I am a wine enthusiast, yet I am not a wine sommelier.  I have my own ways to taste wine and enjoy traveling (and writing) in many regions. Yes, I do visit many Napa and Sonoma wineries for the day or weekend getaways, and I visit other favorite wine regions around the world. 


David Bruce Vineyards - Santa Cruz Mountains
I am very partial and passionate of our Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries. One of the oldest Appellations in USA, and of course, many of these wineries are close in proximity – less than 30 minutes away from Silicon Valley (San Jose). The wineries are smaller. You may even be able to talk directly to the wine owners and wine makers when you visit Monday – Friday. 

These Wineries are sprinkled throughout mountains, be careful, as sometimes they are difficult to find on these windy, mountain roads – each winery has a unique ambiance of their own.  The mountain roads definitely made arranging group wine tasting trips a bit of a challenge.

Currently, I write and taste about wine now, (what a life, heh?) and I only arrange a handful of small group wine tasting tours. I do know excellent local wine tour companies which I refer smaller groups less than 14 people that want to visit these mountain wineries.

Wine Passport Day, 4 times a year

Passport Day on Saturday four times a year and used to be one of the best kept secrets of the Santa Cruz Mountain Wine region.  It is the third Saturday of January, April, July, and November. 


Byington Vineyard & Winery, Santa Cruz Mountains - Pacific Ocean view (maybe)
Passport Day is when wine enthusiasts, like me, may take their wine passports to get commemorative stamps from favorite wineries. You may visit each winery once, get your stamp, and the passports never expire.  Purchase the official wine passports through the Santa Cruz Mountain Wine Association, (831) 685-8463, with a donation, or at the wineries the day of, while their supplies last.  Each passport covers tasting fees at participating wineries for one person on these special Saturdays (only) four times a year.

This is a special day because a few of the boutique wineries are not open to the public except on these Saturdays and many of the wineries offer special pours or barrel samples.  I highly recommend these special events. 


Santa Cruz Mountain Grapes
Insider secret, my favorite Santa Cruz wineries:

Bargetto Winery, Beauregard Vineyards, Burrell School Vineyards, Byington Vineyard & Winery, Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery, David Bruce Winery, Clos LaChance, 
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyard  (let your kids ride horses here), & Winery, Ridge Winery, Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards, and Thomas Fogarty.


David Bruce Winery, Santa Cruz Mountains

You may find more participating wineries during Passport Day. 

Don't miss these other wine regions nearby:

There are more wineries in Santa Clara Valley (near Morgan Hill and Gilroy), Monterey and San Benito counties.  So be prepared to include more wine tasting trips to keep you busy this summer.

Which of these Santa Cruz Wineries are you acquainted with and have been to? Comment below.

Be sure to get updated with more information the Santa Cruz Mountain Wine Association website.   

Love Santa Cruz in the Summer! 


Need to contact me?  Be patient, I may be out tasting wine
this summer!  The Fun Tour Guru