Al Grumet's Upcoming Art Shows

Al Grumet (www.algrumet.com) who, along with his wife Sonia, hiked with us back in 2011, has two upcoming art shows in San Francisco.

SF Open Studios

The first show is part of the SF Open Studios weekend. He will have two works in a group show at Big Umbrella Studios, a small gallery located at 906.5 Divisadero Street (at McAllister). The opening is this coming Friday, October 11, 7pm-11pm.

He will also be at the gallery for full-day studio visits (11am-6pm) during the first SF Open Studios weekend of October 19 and 20.  Feel free to come to the opening or to visit him during studio hours on Saturday or Sunday (which will be more mellow).

Al says:

"The opening this Friday (7pm-11pm) is likely to be an insanely crowded hipster scene.  I am not sure how a hundred hipsters and thirty artists can possibly fit into the space, but I guess we will find out.  Unless you are in the neighborhood or like that kind of scene, you probably should not make a special trip for the opening.   A better bet would be stopping for a studio visit between the hours of 11am and 6pm on Saturday or Sunday during the following weekend (October 19 and 20)."

The Grotto

On November 15 (a Friday night) from 5:30pm-8:30pm, Al will be in a two-person show at The Grotto with his friend Tracey Kessler (www.traceykessler.com).

The Grotto is a writer's space near South Park at 490 2nd Street, 2nd floor (between Stillman and Bryant).  It is a pretty big space and should be a good show.  (Al says that "Even if the art sucks, hanging out with the writers should be cool.")  The show is open to the public for that night only.  Al will follow up with Dick Jordan on the times for the opening.  

Estero Trail Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during the September 24th Estero Trail hike are now online!

View them on the Meandering blog or click here for the on-line album.

(Theresa's photos from the latest hike at Samuel P. Taylor State Park will be posted later this week.)

Indian Tree Open Space Hike (10/8) Preview

Because Point Reyes National Seashore is closed (and the road to Limantour will be even if the park is open), this week we head north and east to the Novato area to hike in the Indian Tree Open Space Preserve.
  

Here's Wendy's hike description:  "We hike a pretty loop trail with views and then lunch in a redwood grove. We should see early wildflowers like Bee Plant, Popcorn Flowers, and Mission Bells.  We'll also be listening for spring bird songs.  This hike is often muddy so waterproof your boots!"  (Click here to read the recap of our hike in this area on February 3, 2009).

Directions: Take Highway 101 north. Exit at San Marin Drive and go west. San Marin becomes Sutro Avenue after if crosses Novato Boulevard. Turn right (west) onto Vineyard Road. The trail starts where the paved road turns into a dirt road.

Time: 35 minutes from College of Marin. No restrooms at trailhead.

Carpoolers meet at 9:15 am at the Park & Ride lot on the east side of Highway 101 at Smith Ranch Road in the Terra Linda area north of the Marin Civic Center and downtown San Rafael.

Weather forecast: As of Sunday, October 6th, the National Weather Service forecast for Tuesday's hike was sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind. . (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The Marin County Open Space District operates the preserve on a portion of this area (the North Marin Water District owns adjacent land) and its Web site provides a viewable/printable trail map and a list of the species of various critters we might encounter.

Barry Spitz's book, Open Spaces (Marin County Open Space District, 2000) describes the area and contains a map similar to that found on the MCOSD Web site. The "E9 Deer Camp - Big Trees Trails hike in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, is much longer (7.2 miles) than the one we'll actually take, but shows the general area where we'll be hiking.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park Hike (10/1) Preview

Here's how we'll kick off the Fall 2010 "Meandering" hikes: "Today we explore the redwood habitat, visit the Pioneer Tree which is over 500 years old, and learn some history of the area at the mill site. We’ll also see one of Marin’s few 'ghost trees,' a white redwood. We’re doing two separate loops, so you can leave your lunch in the car. We'll have a civilized lunch today with picnic tables and restrooms!"
 
(Click here for a recap of the hike we did on September 2, 2008).

Directions to trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to the main entrance of Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Parking fee: $8 unless you have a State Park Pass (or a day pass from the California State Parks Foundation). 35 minutes from COM; carpoolers can meet at St. Rita’s at about 9:20 am. Restrooms at trailhead and at lunch.

Weather forecast: (Dick Jordan will be in Denver, so click here for the weather forecast).

More on this hike:  Hikes "D7 Creek – Ox Trails History Loop" and D8 "Pioneer Tree – Barnabe Creek Trails" in the Martins’ book, Hiking Marin, show the area where we will be hiking.  (Click here to view and download the brochure for Samuel P. Taylor State Park; the trails are shown on page 4).