On our visit to Park Life last week, Grace and I came across this little jewel of a book called "Mundane Journeys: A Field Guide to Color" by Kate Pocrass. It's a cool little guidebook of San Francisco that takes you on a tour of the "easily overlooked, everyday details" in the city--from sending you to a corner on Geary and 18th to admire posters to going into building to stare at the floor numbers. It gives you an alternative, color-infused look at the city and an appreciation for the endless discoveries around you if you just paid more attention. Best of all, supported by a grant from the SF Arts Commission, the book is only $5. We found the book late in the day, so Grace and I didn't have a chance to embark on any mundane journeys. Darn.
To learn more about Kate's project: go to her website. She also gives bus tours and if that wasn't enough, she has a hotline you can call if you're just itching for a new mundane mission. Seriously, every city should have a guidebook like this. Hopefully Kate will expand into other cities!
On random side note: I keep imagining that the cover of this book should have a photograph of a flower-filled grassy meadow or a couple wheat stalks against a clear blue sky. Why? Because the title "Mundane Journeys" makes me think of "Deep Thoughts" by Jack Handy. Maybe there will be a sequels to Kate's books like Mundaner Journeys and Mundanest Journeys...(I know mundaner and mundanest aren't proper words. Just play along.)
Wow! What an awesome find. I'll have to check that one out.
Posted by: Prêt à Voyager | November 08, 2007 at 11:07 AM
this looks great! and you know i love the "mundane", hehe
Posted by: jon | November 23, 2007 at 12:51 AM
I am getting a copy of this as soon as possible!
Posted by: Adrienne Breaux | November 27, 2007 at 12:05 AM