2018-12-17 19:17:30
SENIOR SCIENTIST AT THE EXPLORATORIUM San Francisco is known for its independent spirit and history of innovation. As a Senior Scientist at the Exploratorium, Julie Yu helps keep this legacy alive, providing science content support throughout the museum and working with teachers to facilitate inquiry-based learning. Julie also enjoys doing science in her kitchen, always in pursuit of the perfect soufflé or tender roast. Read on to discover her recommendations for exploring San Francisco. Favorite Place to Explore: Golden Gate Park. You can walk from the center of the city all the way to the beach. Along the way, you can check out the park’s American bison, sculptures by Ruth Asawa, or outdoor pianos in the Botanical Gardens. Favorite Piece of Public Art: MaestraPeace Mural on the Women’s Building in the Mission. My friend Edy Boone was one of the original crew of women who created this iconic piece. Now more than 80 years old, Edy still teaches art and is a living embodiment of the power of art in a community Favorite Rainy Day Activity: I’m clearly biased since I believe exploring science at the Exploratorium is one of the best things to do, rain or shine. I also generally recommend taking advantage of any one of the city’s world-class museums. The Asian Art Museum encompasses a breadth and depth that might be relegated to just a single wing of another city’s art museum. The Museum of the African Diaspora pushes one to consider the nature of origin. And even though I work in a museum, it was an exhibition on furniture at the de Young Museum that really opened my eyes to the power and potential of curation. Favorite Place for an Evening Culture Fix: My favorite way to connect with overall culture is through food. We are privileged to have so many different cuisines available in San Francisco, and you can learn a lot if you take the time to appreciate the story behind what you’re eating. Whether it’s a $2 Salvadoran pupusa at La Santeneca or Michelinstarred Thai food at Kin Khao, you’ll find authentic, delicious food ranging from rustic to refined that connects you to others in the world. Favorite Spot to Observe San Francisco’s Famous Fog: The East Bay hills. If you can get yourself across the bay and up, you will be treated to a gorgeous view of the city where you can watch the fog crawl through the Golden Gate. You might still see clear skies above the fog, and the scene provides a visual map of the temperature and condensation patterns above and across the bay. THE EXPLORATORIUM The Exploratorium is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2019! Founded by physicist Frank Oppenheimer in 1969, the Exploratorium is San Francisco’s museum of science, art and human perception. Along with hundreds of fascinating exhibits throughout the museum, you’ll find immersive art installations, such as Fog Bridge #72494, a fog environment that stretches across a 150-foot-long pedestrian bridge, and exciting live demonstrations to spark your curiosity.
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