Are you ready for the weekend? For some reason I am not. The temp thing has been slow the last two weeks, and when I am not working the weekend just doesn’t seem as magical. Here’s to hoping that changes by tomorrow.

Some things going on in the Bay Area this weekend…

Do you have little ones that love books, or perhaps little ones that you wish loved books? Why not take them to the 9th Annual Dia de los Ninos, Dia de los libros, music dance and book festival in Delores Park this Sunday? There will be music, multicultural dance, story time, and each kidlet will walk away with his or her own book. Yay! :: SFfuncheap, Mission Learning Center

Speaking of dancing, in celebration of Bay Area National Dance Week the Dancing in the Park & Young Choreographers Festival will be happening on Saturday in Golden Gate Park. Why not go out and see some ballet or modern dance for free, and enjoy Golden Gate Park while you’re at it? :: SFfuncheap

If Samurais, blood and brunch are more your thing than Samurai Brunch at the Dark Room on Sunday should be right up your alley! They provide the gory martial arts flick, Riki-Oh: the Story of Ricky, and brunch snacks, your BYOB or Mimosas or Sake, or whatever strikes your fancy. It’s 5 bucks to get in, free if you happen to bring a gong (or so I read). :: SFfuncheap, the Dark Room

There are plenty of fine art galleries in San Francisco, and on Saturday you can explore and take a gander at 9 of them for free in the Yerba Buena area of the Soma. All galleries are within a 3 block radius and refreshments will be served along the way. ::SFfuncheap, Yerba Buena

And something I am hoping will be as awesome as it sounds is the Bus Obscura tours and Pinhole Camera Festival going on in the Soma on Sunday. I mean come on, a bus turned into a giant animated pinhole camera has to be awesome doesn’t it? Happening in honor of Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, there will also be two pinhole camera galleries, demos and a lot of fun. I will most definitely be at this, not that that’s another reason to come out or anything. :: SFfuncheap, Rayko Photo Center

Have an amazing weekend everyone!

photograph taken by Ric e Ette and used under creative commons.

Last night the dreamboat took me to my first ever ballet, and it was awesome and beautiful. I have always had an admiration for dancers, every since I was a child. Such grace, amazing lines and figures on ladies and gents in the dance profession. Not to mention the ability to jump 5 feet in the air without moon shoes, and the whole mind over matter up on your toes business.

If you have never been to the ballet I strongly suggest going, even if you don’t really think you’ll be into it. I found myself thinking about so many random things while I watched the men and women on the stage, some of which had nothing to do with the ballet itself and more with my future and getting where I want to be. Something about watching these dancers who have worked and practiced their whole lives to be doing this, dancing in front of hundreds of people, was quite motivating and inspiring.

Right now the SF Ballet is having their New Works Festival which runs from April 22 through May 6th, and features 10 world premiere ballet performances. We saw program A; Fusion, Within the Golden Hour, and Changes. I am no ballet critic, seeing this is my first in person ballet and I didn’t go to ballet academy, but I must say Fusion was fricken’ amazing! It was very much what I envision when I think ballet, but a little more fun and modern. It was excellent.

photograph taken by Mai Lirol Poni and used under creative commons.

Happy Earth Day everyone! I hope everyone gets a chance to get outdoors today to marvel at and be thankful for this wonderful planet of ours. So far it’s the only one in the solar system, and the known universe, like it, so keep that in mind while you go about your day today. We are experiencing a planet that’s totally unique in its ability to sustain as many life forms as it does, so we should take care of it!

Here’s a list of 5 super simple things to can start doing today to help keep the planet from turning into a cannibalistic concrete jungle full of deaf and blind to the world zombies…

1. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescents when they need changing, and be sure to turn off the lights in rooms you’re not actually occupying. They not only use less energy, they will save you money in the long run.

2. Turn things that you’re not using off. Make sure the lights, the TV, radio, computer, and anything else this is “obviously on” is off when you’re not using them.

3. Use a bike, your legs or public transportation instead of your car at least one day a week (or more if you’re able and willing!). You would spare the air toxins and pollutants 52 days a year! Imagine what could happen if everyone in the world did this?

4. Buy less. Purchasing fewer things results in having to throw out less. When you’re done with something, donate it, give it away, or sell it to someone else if it’s still in good condition. Try to keep things in the hands of people and out of our landfills. If its something that can’t be re-used make sure it’s recycled in the proper manner.

5. Opt for organic, natural, unpackaged foods when you can (and no, organic pancake batter in an easy cheese like can does NOT count!). Shop in the bulk food section of your market; don’t put your fruits and veggies in those plastic bags in the produce department, and take re-usable bags when you go shopping.

These are just a few little things you can do to start helping our planet get back on the right track. If we want lady earth to still be wonderful for the next 7 generations of all species we have to start doing what we can today. You don’t want zombies do you?

photograph taken by Jared Zimmerman.

So a couple days ago in my post “Be the Change” I said that I had found an organization in San Francisco called SF Connect that I felt was going to make my volunteering efforts go a little smoother. Well I am afraid that I may have been completely wrong on that front.

The dreamboat and I went out to volunteer this past Saturday morning and were greeted by what to us felt like chaos and complete disorganization. I couldn’t tell where the SF Connect people were so we stood near some people on parole. From a speech made by some big wigs in the city we learned SF Green Connect had teamed up with the SF Department of Public Works, and a local High School to tidy up the area around the school and plant some seedlings. Cool, not too bad, right?

The organizers started breaking people into groups and announced that the people from SF Green Connect would be a part of the painting crew. It was at this point that I was completely saddened and totally regretful that I had even gone out in the first place. Painting, last time I checked, is one thing that is completely the opposite of doing anything green. My list of gripes about the whole situation?

1. I volunteer to create additional positive impact. It’s about going beyond what’s done everyday. The people from SF Works just stood around talking and “supervising” the project (they just watched us paint). We basically just did their jobs for them. Nothing was done that wouldn’t have been done by them anyway.

2. We painted a lot of things that I feel it wasn’t the cities job to paint (mostly private properties) releasing more toxins into the atmosphere than necessary. The dreamboat talked to the landlord of one of the buildings who happened to be outside. He said the tenants get drunk and tag up their own front door on a semi regular basis, yet the city was the one doing the painting. A lot of the graffiti was also obviously done by kids that attend the school we were volunteering at, so they’re just going to end up in this cycle of painting, graffiti, painting, which is ridiculous.

3. When I asked for a trash bag or can so I could pick up the garbage around the area we were working on I was told that yes they had a trashcan, but it wasn’t their job to pick up the trash so I couldn’t have it. The woman watching me paint actually suggested I drop my empty water bottle that kept trying to blow away into this pit near one of the houses we were working on that was already full of trash. Uh, no? It’s already bad enough I drank out a plastic bottle to begin with! I need to get my panniers on my bike so I can take my Sigg bottle next time.

I felt bad after this whole ordeal. I appreciate the DPW efforts to keep our city up and running and beautiful, I just don’t think this is something SF Green Connect should have taken part in. I felt like we completely did the opposite of what Earth Day is about. I know in the grander scheme of things some planting got done with one of the other groups, but still. I got an email from SF Green Connect asking for feedback so I will fill that out and ask my questions. I am curious as to whether this is how it always is. I am going to give it another go next month, and if it is, I will have to look for another organization to volunteer with.

Kevin and John, it was awesome meeting you, thanks so much for volunteering! It was lovely to meet other people who care about the state of their planet enough to get out and do something about it. Maybe I will see you guys next month?!

photograph taken by Bree Bailey and used under creative commons.

I hope everyone has plans for this lovely weekend that quickly approaches. Me, I am going to a city clean up that’s going on Saturday morning, and then I’m off to a bridal shower for my awesome friend *E* that I haven’t seen in pretty close to a year. Hooray for friends from the Bay Area returning to the bay area for a day!

How about you? What will you be up to? Any plans? If you’re at a loss, here are a few environmentally themed things going on in the Bay Area this weekend, in honor of Earth Day next week.

1. If you’re willing to brave the largest tourist trap in our fair city on a weekend Earth Fest is happening on Sunday over on Fisherman’s Wharf. Grab the kids and learn a few things you can do around your home to help lady Earth. :: FunCheapSF, Aquarium of the Bay

2. Into getting down and dirty in the soil? Why not head out to Alemany Farm this Saturday and work your green thumbs magic? Help prepare plant beds and plant seedlings. Enjoy free food and music too! :: FunCheapSF

3. If hiking and trail running is your thing why not give back and head over to “East Bay Regional Park District presents: Earth Day and California Trail Days” over in Antioch on Saturday. Help tidy up the trails and park and mingle and have lunch with other trail lovers from the Bay Area. :: FunCheapSF

Additionally the “Earth Day on the Bay” Festival is happening on Saturday in Redwood City, and the 4th Annual Healthy Living Fair is going on here in Laurel Heights on Sunday. So get on out there, volunteer, learn, have a good time and do something for yourself and lady Earth.

All the best and have an amazing weekend everyone!