Earth Day 2012

Southside Park Neighborhood Association volunteers welcomed people to our park today for the annual Earth Day festival.

The hot, hot weather prompted festival goers to join in the movement to re-open Southside Park Pool.

Shade trees underscored the message of a green planet.

While most of the booths were what one would expect to see at Earth Day...

... can someone tell me how this booth fits in with the theme?

One Park, Two Views

I received this email today:


"I was taking a walk around Southside Park last evening and came across this incredible flowering bush near the Horseshoe Pit by the water's edge.  The incredible fragrant blossoms about knocked me off my feet."

Photo by Jay Hansen

Contrast that to what I saw on my walk around the park yesterday:

These trees were being removed in preparation for the final leg of the fence installation around the lake. Fair enough, but I'm not sure why they had to remove these street-side trees, as well.

Sadly, with nine less trees there is now less of a barrier of sound, noise and dust between the neighborhood and the freeway.

Nevertheless, the lake remains gorgeous. Guess I'll walk around it to the horseshoe pit for a whiff of spring.

Saturday, Southside Style

The neighborhood is absolutely exploding with events! This afternoon walking through the park I came across the Xipe Ceremony, an Aztec tradition celebrating the breaking through of spring to a new season. Lots of drumming, dancing and color.

Then tonight when I was leaving the Fuller building this was parked outside.

Owner Bridgette Maldonado is on to something. Park a truck with cute clothes and accessories where the crowds are out enjoying the Second Saturday Art Walk.

Heading home I passed Insight Coffee. The normally sleepy little corner was jumping!

There was art - on the walls, on the sidewalk, tables full of people making art.

And not one, but TWO bands wailing, one inside and one outside.

Southside Park rocks. Who needs Midtown?

Alley Secrets

I live on a Southside Park alley but I don't walk on other alleys nearly enough. I need do that more because nearly every time I do I find another surprise. Like this Austin Healey collection.

I wonder what the story is behind this...

What a Difference a Week Makes

Last Saturday's downpour didn't dampen the determination of folks gathered in the park to commemorate Cesar Chavez Day. How did these dancers keep their footing in all that rain?

But there was no slipping in puddles this Saturday during the annual egg hunt.

The only problem was a few confused squirrels trying to open extra large, extra colorful "acorns" while the kids waited to start the hunt.

Since there are not a lot of places to hide the eggs, they are scattered around the ground and everyone scrambles to gather as many as they can.

And they're OFF!!

I propose that next year we call it the Egg Scramble.