2019/07 Moments July 2019 – Distractions, reflections

Goss Stadium: Canada Day, but @ISSSMeeting ball game @CorvKnights and @HvilleHammers @GossStadium sing local anthem of the Star Spangled Banner. Our group enjoyed the luxury of the Omaha Room box, theme days with additional characters dressed up in Wizard of Oz costumes. OSU not only has a stadium for baseball, but additionally for football and for basketball. (Goss Stadium, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon) 20190701

South Falls: Small detour to Silver Creek @ORStateParks for shortest hike to walk underneath waterfall. Only enough time to view the end of the Ten Falls Loop Hike, joining many families on the gentle incline down to river bed. History reveals the public funding behind the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Projects Administration between 1935 and 1942. (South Falls, Silver Creek State Park, Silverton, Oregon) 20190702

Seasons and Regions: Catching up on 6 years of lives, since the last time we met was at the alumni weekend in Illinois. Children have grown up, allowing us options in our choices of how we spend our time. Enjoyed Copper River salmon in a restaurant with the Oregon style. (Seasons and Regions Seafood Grill, SW Capitol Highway, Portland, Oregon) 20190702

International Rose Test Garden: Voluptuous hybrid tea rose is one of the many varieties in bloom, on the high slopes of west Portland. Busy summer day with lots of families speaking foreign languages, appreciating the natural beauty. Not much time to linger in the garden, on our way to the airport. (International Rose Test Garden, Washington Park, Portland, Oregon) 20190703

Taqueria La Bamba: Intercept dinner, direct from airport, with relatives due to fly out early next morning. All of us live on the Internet, so conversations online just continue in person. Coming to California presents the local opportunity for Mexican (Salvadoran) restaurants that we don’t have in the north. (Taqueria La Bamba, Rengstorff Avenue, Mountain View, California) 20190703

Henry W Coe State Park: Short hike of 1 hour, paused to look at Manzanita tree, with red bark cool to the touch, sometimes called a refrigerator tree. Views of both Anderson Lake where we had driven by picnic visitors, and Coyote Lake to the south. Had refreshments at a farm halfway down the hill, both before and after the walk on a warm summer day. (Henry W. Coe State Park, E. Dunne Avenue, Morgan Hill, California) 20190705

Yoda Fountain: Sought out obscure installation on the campus of Industrial Light and Magic, at the northeast corner of the Presidio lands. Happened across the Skywalker Room, as we wandered about the site. Relaxed day hopping around the city, from SoMa, Marina, Presidio, Sutro Baths, and Sunset. (Yoda Fountain, Letterman Drive, San Francisco) 20190705

East Ocean Restaurant: Meeting with maternal Yee aunts, uncle and cousin for dim sum in the East Bay. Mishmash of languages with English, Toisan and Mandarin mixed across generations. Years between gatherings of elders, more opportunities for the young who travel more. (East Ocean Seafood Restaurant, Webster Street, Alameda, California) 20190706

Westbrae neighbourhood: Convening #SystemsThinking salon @MitroffCrisis @bortseb opportunistically expanded with social ties for talk and pizza. Practical questions with theoretical and philosophical back stories, through histories of science. New house is more centrally located in town, conveniences within walking distance. (Westbrae, North Berkeley, California) 20190706

Hummus Mediterranean: Early lunch to see @ckensek, maintaining the pattern of visits on practically every Bay Area visit for decades. Small additions to an ongoing conversation, we’re well-connected on social media. Beginning of a full day of activities before heading home tomorrow. (Hummus Mediterranean Kitchen, E. 4th Street, San Mateo, California) 20190707

Fillmore Jazz Festival: Quartet led by #MichaelZilber, with #OsamEzzeldin #JeffChambers #JeffMarrs, reinterpreting tunes from early #WayneShorter #MilesDavis. This performance was at the California Street Stage located northmost of the festival, a destination as we bypassed multiple other musicians from the south. Explained modal scales to a classically trained musician, puzzling over how an ensemble plays together well. (Fillmore Jazz Festival, Fillmore Street at California Steet, San Francisco, California) 20190708

Neck of the Woods: Emcee Chrissie #CrazyFunnyAsians Comedy Showcase #Hellafunny standup comic @nowmusicsf downstairs, on being a 4th-generation Japanese American now totally Westernized, except her face. First of seven on stage, most living within a few blocks of the venue. Venue almost full on for an Sunday early evening show, great for audience members with a day job. (Neck of the Woods, Clement Street, San Francisco, California) 20190707

SFO Gate G94: Porcelain enamel on steel @squeakcarnwath (1999) Fly Flight Fugit. End of a good visit to the Bay Area, DY says that there are still many places to visit beyond the tourist places. (San Francisco International Airport, California). 20190708

Chow Optometrist: Imaging of gas-permeable contact lens fitting explains why my vision is foggy in the left eye. Incomplete wetting means that there are dry spots behind the lens. Remedy is to take a few more minutes to more diligently rub wetting solution into lens, or else switch to an alternative hydrogen peroxide formulation that coats the surface with a moisturizer. (Chow Optometrist, Ferrier Street, Markham, Ontario) 20190712

Scrap Metal: Plexiglass and formica sheets curved in resistance @juliadault (2013) Untitled 26 is bound stably in curves with Everlast boxing wraps below, and cotton cord above. A cautious engineer might suggest staying at a distance in the case the bindings snap. Intermittent rains, pitter-patter on flat roof of the venue. (Scrap Metal Gallery, Dublin Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20190713

Christie Pits Park: Picnic @TheLeadersExp Toronto Local Circle, @HCrochetiere reserved ahead for the shelter, removing stress when rain materialized. A small social project for the summer, our first together! Random potluck sharing, leftovers to take home. (Christie Pits Park, Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20190716

CSI 192 Spadina: Design Session for Social Innovation in Canada @SICanadaTeam @csiTO, attendees introducing selves and sharing breakout conversations. Outline of progress since preliminary consultation late last year, seeking input into beta-beta thinking on pan-Canadian programs under development. Given timeboxed scope for questions, meeting innovators with mutual interests, we barely had time to get past introductions. (Centre for Social Innovation, Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20190718

CSI Regent Park: Serving #csiPattyonthePARTY-O @csiTO annual celebration of summer. Pre-count of barbeque food preferences this year, found vegetarians served before omnivores. Enjoyed music outside, watermelon inside. (Centre for Social Innovation Regent Park, Dundas Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20190718

Xpace Cultural Centre: Art installation @sangminl (2019) How to Fix a Broken Home, fills project space @xpacecc . Subtle East Asian influences with bananas of varying ripeness, large bags of rice, and Bart and Marge Simpson with bright yellow skin. Wooden frame with a pitched roof outlines the larger context, we view from the outside. (Xpace Cultural Centre, Lansdowne Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20190720

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema: Panel @KGreenbergTO @ThisTechGirl @JohnLorinc on relevance of film Our Beautiful City, on the Minnesota Experimental City 1960s-1970s, to Toronto today. @WaterfrontTO cited as one of world’s best multi-level government corporations. Clarification of @SidewalkToronto as responding to urban issues including traffic congestion and affordable housing. The phrase “smart cities” is not used by the organizations. Difference in opinion about process, consultation and transparency on a 2-year schedule. (Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20190724

Perfect Chinese Restaurant: Weekday dim sum, taking time out since we haven’t seen each other in a while. Hadn’t appreciated that one room of the resto charges slightly less per dish, that’s posted on Chinese in the wall. Artful dodging on menu for vegan diet relaxed with fish, selected too many choices and brought home leftovers. (Perfect Chinese Restaurant, Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough, Ontario) 20190722

Beaches Jazz Streetfest: Evening set @robnchrisca @quincybullen on street closed off @beachesjazz . A few women stepped out in the clearing to dance; the majority just watched. Heavy crowds roaming in packs, bands alternating times to minimize crosstalk. (Beaches Jazz Streetfest, Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20190726

Yonge-Dundas Square: Midday set @tastemiddleeast #Sephardic fusion @Avivachernick @ozereband @justingraybass previewing #BalkanLadino style in recording fall release. Rain subsided just as band started playing. Plaza full of kiosks and visitors, hot sun returned an hour later. (Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto, Ontario) 20190727

Sushi Bistro: Post-sushi lunch, 3 ex-Vancouver natives stepped out into a hot day, two had sun hats. We live relatively close to each other, just needed follow-through to pick a time and place. Checking in on news of family and friends. Food constraints were less restrictive than our last visit. (Sushi Bistro, Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20190729

AGO: Audience on benches @agotoronto watching screens of #BrianJurgen (1998-2019) Archive of Nike Air Jordan shoeboxes. Shelves are on the side wall, but videos show contents inside of everyday items and source materials. Larger Friendship Centre exhibition of sculptures made from consumer products, and showing of a recut film. Arrived at building just at 6pm, to join teeming crowds queued up for free admission. (Art Gallery of Ontario, Dundas Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20190731