Objx
531 Second Street, Eureka, CA (707) 476-9058
What do old animal skulls, glass eyeballs, test tubes, vintage postcards, big plastic letters, and rusty garden tools have in common? They all can be found at Objx. If you find yourself up Humboldt County, you've got to go to this cool old junk place. The only bummer is it ain't cheap. Found a few good buys, but had to do some major searching. I didn't mind though, cause the stuff I was rooting through was all neat-o and totally my style.
Museum of Glass
Tacoma, WA (253) 284-4708
My dad likes to take me to one cool place each time I visit. This time I was lucky enough to see the Museum of Glass. We began our touring , with a trip to the glass blowing studio where you get to sit in stadium seats and watch glass blowing up close and personal. For the lay folks, like my pop and me, there was an announcer telling you every move that was going on. It was total sports event like. You could even watch up close live shots on the overhead screen. Thus was my introduction to the world of glass. Watching the blowers, definitely helped me appreciate the rest of the Museum. There is a room with a permanent collection of glass from the early 1900's till today. Also a room that had 3 different modern exhibits. If you were feeling artsy, they have a room where you can create a piece of your own. When I was there, the project was painting on white tiles with black ink. You were to be inspired by the photographs that were in one of the exhibits. This museum was extremely interactive and awesome. Next time you're in the Seattle area, you must check it out. Well worth the eight bucks!!
Let me take a peek at this raaaad museum Otsu: Vegan Stlye
3253 16th Street @ Guerrero, SF (415) 255-7900
Can you say VEGAN? For those unhip people, or folks who don't live in California, vegan means living life without any animal products. No leather belts, no cheese puffs, no angora sweaters, no ice cream. Lots of NO's, but you wouldn't notice that at Otsu. This miniature store is packed with tons of cooooool stuff, all made without Bambi or Hilda the cow. You can buy belts, shoes, bike messenger style bags, cute lunch satchels, rad crochet dolls, good lookin' books and journals with kick ass graphics. I strongly suggest that you look at their web site to see their style, cause it rocks!!
OHHH wanna see some of that vegan stuff: Needles and Pens: Zines and Clothes
14th St @ Guerrero, SF
(415) 255-1534
Super tiny store (think closet size) packed with goodies. When you enter, a whole wall of zines are to your right, and a cute home sewn clothes and artsy do-dads to your left. One of the owners (Breezy) makes adorable clothes with silk screened images. There are some underwear made from t-shirts, complete with funny pictures on the crotch. You've got to check this place out, it's got tons of good stuff and it's CHEAP. I bought a print for $2.00 and my friend Tia dropped a mere $12 for a fake leather bracelet with red stitching in the shape of a heart. A great spot for an economical gift, plus it's owned by a young indie-rock couple. Support the artist and the young business owners, spend a few bucks there.
HANG Art Gallery
556 Sutter @ Powell SF (415) 434-4264 OR 432 University Ave. @ Waverly, Palo Alto (650) 752-0250
This is not your typical art gallery. I HATE so many of the galleries here, bad glass sculptures of lovers embracing in mad passion. Ugh. This gallery is NOT like that. It's got my style of art: found object projects, paintings with text and ol' time images, and great photography of city life and blurry images. I suggest you look at their web site, because I just realized I can't describe art worth a darn. Trust me, the artists they choose are rad. But take a look first to see if it's your style. Oh yeah, and if you really like something, you can rent it for a couple of months instead of buying it!!! What a great idea.
OHHH I've got to see some art:
FabriX Fabric Store
101 Clement St., SF (415) 221-4111
In one word: CHHHHHEEEEEAAAAPPP. Nintey-five percent of the stuff at FabriX is under $5.00 a yard. There are bolts upon bolts of $1.99 /yd fabrics that, believe it or not, are actually cute! They have buttons for a buck a bag, silly patches, ribbon and ric rac (25 cents /yrd), and FREE patterns. Please note that the patterns are from the early to mid-eighties, but they are good for a laugh at least. The next time you get an urge to sew or just want some frabic for improv curtains, swing by FabriX. You won't spend much, and you'll get a whole bunch. Open every day of the week too!
San Gregorio County Store
Highway 84 and Stage Rd., San Gregorio, CA (650) 726-0565
This is one of my favorite field trips. You get to do a beautiful drive down Highway 1 towards Santa Cruz. Whoa Nelly, that California coastline sure does knock my socks off. San Gregorio County Store is tucked in the purty-est suroundings. The clientel is very diverse: everyone from local red-neck cowboy types to happy-go-lucky hippies. Free music on weekends (check their site or give them a call for more info). No matter what you want to buy, they have it. Gold mining pan, Yup. Coloring book, Yup. Cast iron pot, Yup. Cheap bag of local produce, Yup. Silly postcard, Yup. Snacks, Yup. Stiff drinks, beer, and tea, Yup. Go there with some friends for a jolly good time. Great book selection and tons of random stuff. Get out of the city, for Christ sake!
Let me peek at the cute old store