I really don't need any more reasons to love San Francisco and the Peninsula.  But San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has an attraction few airport share: a museum... several in fact.  SFO Museum curates outstanding exhibits.  The museum spaces are located in the various terminals of SFO.  

The current exhibit in the North Connector Gallery (United - Terminal 3) Television: TV in the Antenna Age walks you through the inception of television (the opiate of the masses, the cathode ray nipple) to the beginning of the cable age.  Skip the moving walkways, get a litle exercise after that 5-hour flight from the East Coast, and enjoy an outstanding exhibit.

Channel surfing in the pre-remote control days was actually preparing our thumbs for gaming.

Ukuleles from the Golden Age of television.

These must have been the TV's Daft Punk had growing up.

M*A*S*H defined a generation.  Glad I was there for this one.

So hot, 70's style!

If you're old enough to remember be up so early on Saturday mornings for cartoons that even the networks weren't awake, this is what you saw - TV test patterns.

This was also what inspired the parachute I flew when I was a skydiving videographer.  Ironically, I purchased from a videographer before I ever started flying video.

Is it just me, or does this old school TV antenna look like Katamari Damashi?

If you're ever at SFO, plan a little extra time to enjoy an outstanding museum experience.

What other airports have unexpected cool attractions?

Bar Harbor has a unique and charming feel.  Perhaps that is because the tourist season has yet to begin.  Most of the stores and restaurants are still closed.  Everything here is one-of-a-kind.  Coffee shops, art/craft stores.  Nothing mass market.  I found a restaurant called 2 Cats Restaurant and Inn.  I have heard from locals that the waffles and blueberry pancakes are very good.  Given my love for waffles and cats, it seems like a perfect combination.  Unless they include cat hair for realism.  I'll walk into town one morning and see.

The welcome reception for the National Tribal Environmental Council's annual conference (http://ntec.org/) was held at the Abbe (pronounced "Abby") Museum of Maine's Native American Heritage http://www.abbemuseum.org/ in Bar Harbor.  What an unexpected find!  Not only is the collection extensive and varied, but the facility is quite remarkable. I was impressed with the children's activity room.

The current exhibition is called "Twisted Path: Contemporary Native American Artists Walking in Two Worlds" http://www.abbemuseum.org/pages/exhibitions/exhibitions-overview.html#.  It showcases modern art by native artists; "personal stories about tribal identity and balancing life in a complex world."

The museum contains a circular room called Circle of the Four Directions.  The room was designed and built for the museum.  Circles have a deep significance in native culture.  The space not only showcases art, but is also used for music, traditional events, and even poetry.  When not in use, the room also serves as a contemplative space. 

Shear white panel overlap in the vertical space creating the impression of clouds or perhaps even sails.

The centerpiece is an eagle in flight carved from Moose antlers, with a Medicine Wheel.

After a private tour by one of the museum's currators, we we treated to delicious hors d'œuvres.  Though, after my third trip back, it would be more accurate to call it a meal.

As I left the reception, the sun was setting behind a church and bell tower across the street from the museum.