On location with Artist Anthony Holdsworth — at The Golden Gate Bridge

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Diane Harrigan

Anthony Holdsworth is a well-known San Francisco/Oakland artist who’s been commissioned to take part in an exhibition celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge. SFMOMA Gallery will present a collection of tributes to this iconic structure in May. I had the good fortune of catching up with him as he embarked on the second in a series of three paintings he’s putting together for the show. For Holdsworth, it’s about ‘catching the right wave’. He comes to the water’s edge at sunrise and right before sunset to capture the most brilliant light of the day. He shared with me a little of what goes into making his pieces truly unique during the creation of his latest masterpiece.

Filed under: San Francisco Artists, Video Postcards of San Francisco | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Big Fanfare for Mayoral Inauguration

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Diane Harrigan


What was touted as an event ‘open to the public’, could have been better staged for crowds of constituents who made their way to City Hall to watch San Francisco’s 43rd Mayor be sworn into office. Upon arrival, they were greeted by Security directing them to a bank of crowded elevators far from the festivities. Viewers were four and five rows deep leaning off balconies for a vantage point to see Mayor Ed Lee take the oath of office administered by Senator Dianne Feinstein. The entire first floor seats were ‘invite only’ much to the public’s dismay. There were two rooms with big screen TV’s – but those were coveted seats as well. People were hanging over yellow taped off areas that were technically designated for heavy lighting equipment — with their iPhones and iPads dangling. I managed (with quite a challenge) to inch my way to the top of the stairs to capture these memorable moments with the Mayor, Senator Feinstein, former Mayor and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, and Master of Ceremonies and former San Francisco Mayor – Willie Brown.

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Filed under: Celebrities in San Francisco, Family Events in San Francisco, Top Pick, Video Postcards of San Francisco | 1 Comment »

Dare to Soar in 2012

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Diane Harrigan


What better way to start off 2012 than to reflect on the pearls of wisdom from brilliant minds of centuries past? In the words of Emerson, …”then in a moment, and unannounced, the truth appears.” I embraced the first day of the New Year with a walk along Crissy Field and felt so much creative spirit along my path. Whether it was a bird sanctuary created by a child in the sand, dogs dancing in the ocean, power kiting or wind surfing, it was all poetry in motion. And how fortunate are we – the passers by – to grab a glimpse of the infinite spirit of those who dare to dream?

To see more photos from Crissy Field New Year’s day, click here.
For more on San Francisco’s Kite Festival, click here.

Filed under: Family Events in San Francisco, San Francisco Holidays, Top Pick, Video Postcards of San Francisco | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

The Allure of John Vicino

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Diane Harrigan

John Vicino is an enchanting and memorable gift to tourists winding down their San Francisco holiday. As 2011 comes to a close, all the streets are wet and the skies are gray, but that only enhances the atmosphere as one soaks up the soothing sounds of this compelling musician — especially against a backdrop of European streetcars.

Vicino’s genre is “Acoustic and Beyond” according to his Facebook page, and he’s gaining quite a following through social media. Vicino posts his YouTube channel and even his gmail for anyone to jot down as they drop a dollar into his guitar case. He enjoys the camera and it’s amazing the attention and publicity he generates from passers-by with a camcorder or iPhone capturing clips and posting his music online. Here’s to a self-made success story in the making and my good fortune to see John Vicino perform at the onset of what is destined to be a brilliant career.

Filed under: San Francisco Artists, San Francisco Holidays, Top Pick, Video Postcards of San Francisco | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

A Musical Family’s Christmas Dream

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Diane Harrigan

The O’Brien family is the trumpet playing equivalent of the Von Trapp family of singers. The children range in age from 12 to 17 — all accomplished musical artists with a dream. Their father instilled in each of them a love of melody from an early age, and they’ve taken his inspiration to new heights. Each has bragging rights to a host of musical honors.

Rising to the top takes more than talent and dedication though. Whether it’s a tour with the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra or attending college, the climb costs money. And so the O’Brien’s are composing their own strategy for success. This weekend they took their talent to the center of the holiday rush in San Francisco. The children’s father helped to orchestrate fan enthusiasm – and shoppers, cab drivers – even cable car operators became part of an ensemble of holiday magic.

Filed under: Family Events in San Francisco, San Francisco Artists, San Francisco Holidays, Video Postcards of San Francisco | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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