GOLDEN PLACES: The Haunted Mansion...Right next to the Mall!

Within the heart of the Silicon Valley exists one of the most notorious mansions in American history.  The Winchester Mystery House has an eerie and (at times) frightening story to tell.  Sarah Winchester had become the widow of the famed William Wirt Winchester, the magnate behind the many rifles that became synonymous with the Wild West.  Sarah was convinced by a Boston medium to leave her New Haven home and travel to the West where she was to build a home for the many spirits that had lost their lives because of the Winchester rifle.  In 1884, she moved to the Santa Clara Valley and began the building process that would continue (day and night!) for years until her death in 1922.  Initially it was to be a seven story house, but after the great 1906 Earthquake it became a four story house.  The house consists of over 150 rooms (most finished, a few not!), almost 10,000 window panes, several fireplaces, two basements and three separate elevators.  But the thing that makes the house so infamous is its many small doorways (too small for any normal-sized human to fit through!) and its several stairways that seem to lead nowhere.  It is believed that Sarah Winchester had several of these features installed to appease the many spirits that she felt surrounded and haunted her family.

Today, the house stands on Winchester Boulevard in San Jose, California, which is now a modern-day main street within the Bay Area metropolis.  Right before you walk into the house to take the tour, you can hear the roar of the many cars as they whiz by and the hustle and bustle of the people either going to the movies at the Century movie theaters next door or at the Santana Row Shopping Center across the street.  Once you begin the tour and step inside the house, the ethereal and eerie feeling that Sarah Winchester herself must have felt is extremely palpable.  True, the many tour guides (who uphold Sarah's beliefs that the spirits wanted her to build the house continuously) could potentially be manipulating the atmosphere that the tourists feel when they enter the domicile.  But, the tour guides were not around when the several construction workers and carpenters who worked on the house and had the same reaction that many tourists have had.

The number 13 is a very important number within this household.  After Sarah Winchester's death, the groundskeepers created a topiary on the main lawn in the shape of the number 13.  Every Friday the 13th, the staff rings the large bell on the property at 1 PM (13:00 hours!) for exactly 13 times.  And for Halloween, the tour guides pull out all the stops.  Within the week leading up to the October holiday, the mansion hosts their annual "Fright Nights" where tourists can save up to $20 on admission to a tour of the haunted grounds.  Part of the event includes a walk through the Sarah Winchester "Halloween Maze."  The house has become one of the most cherished landmarks in the Bay Area and is constantly on a Top 10 list of the most Haunted places in North America.

GOLDEN PLACES: Scream for It!

You know you love it.  You know you want some.  So why try resisting it?  It's Ice Cream!  And it's there to be enjoyed and savored and consumed.  The people at the legendary and historic Fenton's Creamery in Oakland, California know this and have made a thriving business out of it for almost 90 years.

Located on Piedmont Avenue (a few blocks from the Kaiser Medical Center on MacArthur), the Fenton's story began back in 1894 when Elbridge Seth Fenton used to deliver dairy products to the Piedmont Avenue section of Oakland.  The family opened the Creamery and Soda Shop in 1922 and since then it has grown to a full restaurant with two other locations (at the Oakland Airport and in Vacaville, CA).  The Piedmont Avenue location has become practically an honorary historical landmark.  It has become a hub for families, tourists, Oakland natives, Cal Berkeley students and more.  It was even featured in the Disney/PIXAR hit Up in 2009 and gained a whole new generation of fans.  A visit to Oakland would not be complete without a visit to Fenton's.

I remember the first time my Grandparents (who lived in Oakland their entire 61 year marriage!) took my brother and me to Fenton's.  First of all, we were going to get Ice Cream, which is enough to get any child into a frenzy of delight.  Second, the joy we felt as we were served our (rather large!) portions of ice cream and we began tasting each other's choices was something you cannot buy nor duplicate.  All of my visits to Fenton's since (which, I will admit, have not been as many as I would like!) have not been the same, yet have still been quite as enjoyable because just being in that neighborhood and in that building brings back a kind of nostalgic high we all strive to hold on to.  Fenton's is truly one of California's GOLDEN PLACES and will always hold a special place in my heart and the hearts of my family.

GOLDEN PLACES: Shakespeare In the Park...In San Diego!

San Diego is the second largest city in California and it is one of Southern California's most influential.  It's proximity to the Mexican border and its diverse culture gives the city it's own personality that distinguishes it from the state's other major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco or San Jose.  And while the city is as well known for it's many marinas and beaches as it is for being the first sight of Father Junipero Serra's California Missions (Mission San Diego de Alcala), there is one major area of the city that is not as often given the kind of attention say that the Mission or Sea World or the world famous Zoo (which happens to border the area of which I am speaking!).  I am speaking, of course, of San Diego's Balboa Park.

The Balboa Park section of San Diego is one of the most beautiful Parks in California.  Named for Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the Park was the site of two very important Expositions: The 1915 Panama-California Exposition and the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition.  Each Expo had buildings created for them that have since become National Landmarks.  The architecture of these buildings is nothing short of breathtaking.  And within the Park are some of the most amazing Botanical Gardens, Museums and Tourist Attractions one could ever hope to enjoy.  Among the nine Museums to take in include the quite popular San Diego Natural History Museum (which featured a limited exhibition of the famed Dead Sea Scrolls when I visited!) and the San Diego Museum of Art (which highlights some of the world's greatest Spanish Art).  As I said before, adjacent to the park is the world famous San Diego Zoo, which doesn't need any explanation from me as to why it is so revered.

But the crown jewel of Balboa Park's many attractions (in my honest opinion), is the nationally renowned Old Globe Theatre.  The Theatre is a replica of William Shakespeare's famed Globe Theatre in London and was built in 1935 as part of the Exposition (where it featured several 50-minute versions of some of Shakespeare's most famous plays).  Almost 15 years later, the Globe launched its famous summer Shakespeare Festival, which still packs the house to this day.  An arson in 1978 practically destroyed the Theatre (necessitating an outdoor theatre to be built!) and in 1981, the Old Globe was rebuilt and has since become one of most prominent regional theatres in the country.  Some of the most influential plays and musicals got their start at the San Diego treasure (including Neil Simon's Rumors, Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods and August Wilson's The Piano Lesson).  The Theatre is part of the Park's Old Globe complex which also features a smaller Theatre In the Round, an outdoor stage and the Starlight Bowl Amphitheatre.  Plus, in the nearby Casa de Prado, the San Diego Junior Theatre (the oldest children's theatre in the nation) puts on free entertainment shows during the large Tourist season.

With the Theatre complex and the many Museums, Balboa Park has come to be one of the most culturally significant centers in California.  It is a place I am proud exists within a very diverse city, which in turn is part of a very diverse state (which happens to be in the most diverse nation in the world!).  It is a must for anyone's San Diego "To Do" List.

GOLDEN PLACES: Check Out the Exhibits, Charlie Brown!

If you were ask 100 people on the street to pick their favorite Comic Strip growing up, my guess is that over half of them would say the delightful gem that was known as simply: Peanuts.  The daily humorous happenings in the world of Charlie Brown and his circle was a pleasant addition to anyone's morning cup of coffee.  And it was all thanks to one man: Charles M. Schulz (nicknamed "Sparky").  Schulz began his strip back in 1950 and continued until his retirement (and eventual passing) in 2000.  In 1958, Schulz moved his family to Sebastopol, California (which is about an hour outside of San Francisco) and built his first studio.  Almost a decade later, Schulz moved to the nearby Santa Rosa and remained there for the rest of his life.

His influence on the culture of the town of Santa Rosa became clear.  He became owner of the Redwood Empire Ice Arena (he was a huge fan of both figure skating and ice hockey) and the Warm Puppy Cafe which resided within the Arena.  Schulz would have lunch at the Cafe every day.  Both the Ice Arena and the Cafe are still active today right across the street from one of the most impressive little museums I have ever had the pleasure of seeing: The Charles M. Schulz Museum.

The Museum is one of the best tributes to one of America's greatest artists.  Among the many fascinating exhibits are at 22 foot high ceramic mural made of Peanuts comic strips (making the image of Charlie Brown trying to kick the football that is held by Lucy), Schulz' personal home studio and a Research & Educational Center featuring a short demonstration on how to draw your favorite Peanuts characters.  The latter is intended primarily for children, but we adults who grew up with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus et. al. should get a kick out of it too.  The building's entrance and it's courtyard are filled with statues of Charlie Brown and Snoopy in various instances (i.e. Charlie Brown playing baseball, Snoopy on his doghouse, Snoopy as "the Red Baron" etc.).  One of the best statues is of Charlie Brown unsuccessfully trying to fly a kite which, of course, has landed in a tree.  The Museum docent told us that when the Museum hosts evening parties that the kite (which lies in the courtyard) lights up and provides a beautiful visual for guests and the Santa Rosa neighbors.  The Museum also features exhibits that remain for a limited time.  Our visit featured an exhibit devoted to how the strip displayed the relationship between siblings (Charlie and Sally Brown plus Linus, Lucy and Rerun Van Pelt).  The Museum was working on another exhibit (of which we had a sneak peek!) that featured the early days of the Peanuts comic strip in which Charlie Brown was not the prominent character but more part of a cartoon ensemble.  Check the Museum's website to see what their current rotating exhibits are and for future exhibits.

Overall, the atmosphere of the day at the Charles M. Schulz Museum was nostalgic and fascinating.  The night before I watched video clips online from A Charlie Brown Christmas, Snoopy Come Home and Bon Voyage Charlie Brown! just to get myself in the Peanuts mood.  On the way to the Museum, we listened to the Broadway soundtrack of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (for which Kristin Chenoweth won a well-deserved Tony Award as Sally, one of my favorite characters!).  And the Museum itself gave me such delight as we combed through the exhibits that featured some of the best moments in the Charlie Brown universe.  Thank You, Sparky, for everything you gave us.  Through your beloved characters, you shall live on forever.

GOLDEN PLACES: The (Northern) California Missions

10 FAVORITES will return next week and, from then on, it will rotate each week with a new column I am introducing today called GOLDEN PLACES.  With this new column, I intend to promote some of the most amazing places that are pretty much right "in my own backyard."  For those of you who have yet to realize, I live in the great state of California.  California has a rich history and a gorgeous landscape filled with different cultures, people and lifestyles.  The Golden State is the most populated state within the U.S.A and is the third largest state in geographical area.  Among its many sights include Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite National Park, Death Valley and Disneyland.  But in this column, I want to explore some of the places that don't usually get that kind of national (or international) attention.  I wish to explore the true GOLDEN PLACES.

Long before the California Gold Rush (and the original Forty-Niners!), the area that would become the state of California served as a launchpad of some of the oldest Catholic Churches in the western United States.  Beginning back in 1769, a Spanish-born Franciscan priest named Junipero Serra founded the Mission San Diego de Alcalá in what is now the northeastern area of San Diego (For the American Football fans out there, the Mission is situated somewhere near Qualcomm Stadium where the San Diego Chargers play!).  Mission San Diego became the first of 21 Catholic Missions founded within the state of California.  Mostly situated along the state's coastline, the Missions stretched from San Diego up to San Francisco (and beyond!).  Each of the 21 Mission sites have either the original church structure or a very well-constructed (and sometimes intricate!) replica of what once stood in the area.  I was lucky enough to have visited ALL 21 Missions within my childhood.  A couple of months ago, my father and I decided that we should revisit some of the Missions that are within our general area.  It just so happens that 9 of the 21 Missions are in the part of the state that is generally considered Northern California.  So, we visited these 9 Missions and I would like to share with you what makes each of these 9 Missions special.  Here they are, from the Southernmost to the Northernmost: 

Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Soledad, CA (about 25 miles south of Salinas, CA)
Located within the agricultural lands of the Salinas Valley, the original Mission itself fell into decline when the Mexican government began secularizing the California Missions in 1835.  It wasn't until the middle of the 20th Century (1954), that a restoration and reconstruction effort began to give tourists an idea of what the Mission was like for the native residents in the 1790s and early 1800s.


Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (pictured above)
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA (about 5 miles south of Monterey, CA)
The second Mission founded in the chain of 21, the Carmel Mission has quite an expansive operation going on down there (much like the ones at San Diego and San Francisco!).  The Mission was Father Serra's "personal favorite" and, upon his death in 1784, he was buried on the Mission site.  The historical landmark has four surrounding museums chronicling the Mission's several restorations, the history of the influential Munras family, several art exhibits and the room that served as Father Serra's home and deathbed.


Mission San Juan Bautista
San Juan Bautista, CA (about 15 miles south of Gilroy, CA)
In the quaint little town of San Juan Bautista is their crown jewel attraction of the Mission.  With a beautiful chapel and an informative museum, the Mission is a little gem that features a beautiful Garden that displays a quick history of each of the 21 Missions.


Mission Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA (located near Downtown Santa Cruz)
If you're going to Santa Cruz for it's Historic Downtown district or for its famed Beach Boardwalk, you must stop by the Mission to take a quick look at the quaint Chapel that sits across the street from the beautiful Holy Cross (Santa Cruz) parish.


Mission Santa Clara de Asís
Santa Clara, CA (located on Santa Clara University campus)
This beautiful replica Mission Chapel is situated on the Santa Clara University campus, which was one of the first colleges in California.  It also has the distinction of being the first California Mission named in honor of a woman, Saint Clare of Assisi (one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi).


Mission San José
Fremont, CA (about 15 miles north of San Jose, CA)
This one is practically down the street from where I live!  The Mission has the distinction of being the first Catholic Church within the San Francisco East Bay (the Oakland-Berkeley area) and was the primary parish for several influential families within the area (i.e. Livermore, Peralta and Vallejo).


Mission San Francisco de Asís (pictured below)
San Francisco, CA (located in San Francisco's Mission District)
Within the heart of the city's Mission District is this gorgeous Basilica (nicknamed Mission Dolores) that served as the first Mission within what is now the San Francisco Bay Area.  The Mission protected, taught and housed the native Ohlone people, whose tribes were once all over Northern California. 


Mission San Rafael Arcángel
San Rafael, CA (about 15 miles north of San Francisco, CA)
This Mission's chapel holds a special place in my heart as it was the parish that my Grandfather belonged to when he was a young boy.


Mission San Francisco de Solano
Sonoma, CA (about 40 miles north of San Francisco, CA)
The final Mission founded is one of two Missions that are owned by the CA State Parks Association.  When going to this Mission, you also get a look at one of the Army barracks and you get a tour of the house of General Mariano Vallejo.

Next week, 10 FAVORITES returns.  In two weeks, GOLDEN PLACES will explore the delightful and charming Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA.  Until then, take the time to explore some of the best (and sometimes unsung!) places in your state, province or country.