An Afternoon of Vintage Planes

I finally got the chance to go out to the Schellville airport for the “demonstration days” weekend. It was great to see a bunch of vintage planes but it was much more low key than I was expecting. Basically, some people just had their hanger doors open so you could see their planes. There were planes in various states of repair. I was talking to one fellow who had a beautiful 1918 biplane that he had spent the last 30 years restoring. He was now working on anther plane that was just a pile of pieces of metal and wood in the hanger. He also directed me to the Sonoma Sky Park airport a couple of miles away that had a real vintage air show going on. I found lots of people and planes there. All in all, a very pleasant way to spent the afternoon.

Green Music Center

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to go on a tour of the new Green Music Center at Sonoma State University. The hall was not open yet so this was a great chance to see it before it was completely finished. Even unfinished it’s an awe inspiring concert hall. It’s like walking inside a fine musical instrument. The interior is constructed of 5 or 6 different kinds of wood, each chosen for their acoustic qualities. No detail was overlooked. The temporary folding chairs look out of place in this venue but they will soon be replace by seating being specially built for the hall.

There was a wonderful quartet playing there to demonstrate the acoustics of the hall. They played various pieces and even changed the hall settings (raising and lowering various curtains and panels) to change the sound of the hall and show its versatility. Very impressive! It will be nice having a world-class concert hall here in Sonoma County. I can’t wait to go to a real concert here though I’ll probably have to wait at least another year or two. While the concert hall itself is mostly done the lobby and other areas need to be finished (like the bathrooms which don’t exist yet).

The 3rd Annual 2010 Great West End & Railroad Square Handcar Regatta & Exposition of Mechanical & Artistic Wonders!

Just got back from the Handcar Regatta in Santa Rosa a little while ago. A wonderful event despite the heat (about mid 90’s but still cooler than last year!). Wonderfully creative devices and outfits abound. I’ve been looking forward to this event since last year and it did not disappoint. Also had a very nice lunch at Lococo’s Cucina Rustica right there on 4th street.

Downtown Petaluma

We were Sunday driving a couple of weeks ago and somehow ended up in downtown Petaluma. I snapped a photo of this Coca-Cola sign that I’ve always liked. The parking lot next to the brick building is the back end of the lot where they filmed the scene of the cop car losing its axle in American Graffiti. There a good map here that shows where many of the scenes were filmed around Petaluma.