Photos by Cheryl Landes The Sierra Nevada and and El Paso Ranges converge at Red Rock Canyon State Park, on California State Highway 14 north of Cantil. The park is a colorful, picturesque desert with cliffs, buttes, and rock formations. During a trip to the Antelope Valley to see the California poppies bloom in the … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Red Rock Canyon State Park in California
Photos by Cheryl Landes Old barns and other abandoned buildings are among my favorite photo subjects. The weathered walls, fading and flaking paint, rusty metal roofs, window reflections, and doors create interesting, captivating compositions. While driving in the Antelope Valley to see the California poppies bloom in the spring of 2017, I spotted Bob's Hi-Way … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Bob’s Hi-Way Service
Photos by Cheryl Landes In the spring, about a 90-minute drive northeast of Los Angeles, a thick carpet of California poppies brightens the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. Beavertail cactus bloom and Joshua trees bloom in front of the reserve’s visitor center, as well as the Acton encelia and buckwheat at the Kitanemuk Vista Point. … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
Photos by Cheryl Landes Some of the sparsest deserts can have a fantastic show of color in the spring, especially after a winter with enough rainfall. In 2017, the Southern California deserts received record rainfall—a welcome change after five years of drought throughout the state. In March, thousands of flowers started appearing at Anza-Borrego Desert … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Photos by Cheryl Landes The Magenta Theater in Vancouver, Washington, is celebrating Cinco de Mayo by launching its first virtual production—an original interpretation of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest titled Cinco de Earnest. Directed by Sarah Coombs and edited by Joe Coombs, Cinco de Earnest features clips ranging from one to five minutes, … Continue reading The Magenta Theater celebrates Cinco de Mayo with its first virtual theater production
Ranunculus in full bloom at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California Photos by Cheryl Landes I discovered The Flower Fields at the Carlsbad Ranch while searching for places to see flowers during the superbloom in Southern California in 2017. Fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers in 13 colors, including a variegated variety called picotee, … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: A stroll through The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay We need laughter now more than ever. Laughter has endless benefits, such as relieving stress, reducing pain, relaxing the muscles, increasing personal satisfaction, and improving our moods. And it boosts our immune systems. Who doesn't need better immunity these days? Did you know there's a day to celebrate laughter? There … Continue reading Laugh it up tomorrow, because May 3 is World Laughter Day
Kate Olson plays saxophone with her band on April 18 at Livestream Saturdays at Town Hall Seattle (photo credit: Town Hall Seattle) Despite the shelter-in-place rules in most states, jazz is alive and well with shows streamed live or recorded from many locations countrywide. In Seattle, Earshot Jazz and Town Hall Seattle started a partnership … Continue reading Earshot Jazz and Town Hall Seattle present Livestream Saturdays
Image credits: City Brew Tours Have you ever wanted to try homebrewing? Are you curious about the best beer-cheese pairings? Now you can explore both experiences this month with City Brew Tours' beer events at home and fight hunger at the same time. Five percent of the proceeds from all ticket sales go to Feeding … Continue reading City Brew Tours offers beer experiences at home through May, maybe longer
Great Scott in Allston, Massachusetts (photo credit: Great Scott) When rock club Great Scott closed in March after Governor Charlie Baker announced the stay-at-home orders from the COVID-19 panedmic, the owners planned to reopen. But that changed yesterday when the landlord informed the club that its lease would not be renewed. “It is with a … Continue reading Rock club Great Scott will not reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic
Tabby Cat's Pawprints 