Mike Ventrella
Paragon
It's my first time on the left coast, and I'm enjoying it. The weather has been great, especially when I read about the massive heat wave back east that I am missing.
I'm visiting my brother Jeff (http://www.ventrella.com) and his wife Nuala (http://www.nualacreed.com). They live in Petaluma, north of SF. Jeff is a computer graphic artist guy who was working on artifical life and whose last big job was working for Second Life. Nuala is an artist of note.
Heidi has been enjoying talking art with her (and in fact, Nuala was once a student of Heidi's -- one day she was talking in class about this great guy she met, and it turned out to be my brother).
So far here is what I have done:
Gone to Muir Woods to look at all the giant redwood trees. Very cool.
Walked around Petaluma. Great little town, great used bookstore!
Went to the de Young museum in SF to look at the art.
Went to some big flower conservatory building nearby to look at plants (that was more for Heidi than me)
Visited Haight/Ashbury, had lunch
Walked in the Pacific Ocean
Drove down the big windy road -- you know the one I mean
Walked up Telegraph Hill, looking for parrots (after seeing that documentary that came out a few years ago). Didn't see any, but saw lots of hummingbirds
Took lots of pictures, will post later.
I will be meeting with Harry McCracken (http://www.harrymccracken.com/blog/) on Thursday. He used to be an editor for my animation magazaine and then went on to become editor of PC World, which he did for 13 1/2 years until he resigned this week! We're going to visit the Cartoon Museum and the Schulz museum.
I'm having a great time at my first real vacation in years.
I'm visiting my brother Jeff (http://www.ventrella.com) and his wife Nuala (http://www.nualacreed.com). They live in Petaluma, north of SF. Jeff is a computer graphic artist guy who was working on artifical life and whose last big job was working for Second Life. Nuala is an artist of note.
Heidi has been enjoying talking art with her (and in fact, Nuala was once a student of Heidi's -- one day she was talking in class about this great guy she met, and it turned out to be my brother).
So far here is what I have done:
Gone to Muir Woods to look at all the giant redwood trees. Very cool.
Walked around Petaluma. Great little town, great used bookstore!
Went to the de Young museum in SF to look at the art.
Went to some big flower conservatory building nearby to look at plants (that was more for Heidi than me)
Visited Haight/Ashbury, had lunch
Walked in the Pacific Ocean
Drove down the big windy road -- you know the one I mean
Walked up Telegraph Hill, looking for parrots (after seeing that documentary that came out a few years ago). Didn't see any, but saw lots of hummingbirds
Took lots of pictures, will post later.
I will be meeting with Harry McCracken (http://www.harrymccracken.com/blog/) on Thursday. He used to be an editor for my animation magazaine and then went on to become editor of PC World, which he did for 13 1/2 years until he resigned this week! We're going to visit the Cartoon Museum and the Schulz museum.
I'm having a great time at my first real vacation in years.
