The SF Zoo's Newest Flamingo Chick Has Had It With Your Shenanigans

Considered a "near threatened" animal by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Chilean flamingo is known (I am told apocryphally) as one of the more personality-laden representatives of the species. Nowhere is that more clear than in the demeanor of one of the SF Zoo's newest residents, a chick who as you can see from the photo above is completely over whatever it is that you think you are up to.

According to the SF Zoo, their first flamingo chick of the season was born on September 17, and has already doubled in size. The second one hatched last weekend, and given the number of eggs their adult flamingos have laid more are likely to follow throughout their breeding season, which runs through October.

Speaking of the breeding season, here's some hot Chilean flamingo sex prose, via Wikipedia: "During breeding season, males and females display a variety of behaviors to attract mates, including head flagging — swiveling their heads from side-to-side in tandem — and wing salutes, where the wings are repeatedly opened and closed."

Once the wing salutes, head wagging, and inevitable shagging reaches its natural conclusion, "Males and females cooperate in building a pillar-shaped mud nest, and both incubate the egg laid by the female...Both male and female flamingos can produce a nutritious milk-like substance in their crop gland to feed their young." In other words, flamingo dads are more involved parents than many of ours were.

And before you start spreading paternity rumors based on the babies' lack of resemblance to their parents, let the Zoo straighten you out: Baby flamingos, they say, are all born with that fluffy white and gray covering, which they lose by the time they're three years old. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo explains further, saying that the adult flamingos' "pink coloring comes from a carotenoid pigment consumed through its food. In most captive populations this pink color must be artificially added to the diet, or else these birds would appear a significantly duller color."

"Duller," eh? Who you calling "duller"?????

Marianne Hale/SF Zoo

Article and images sourced from http://sfist.com/2016/09/30/the_sf_zoos_newest_flamingo_chick_h.php%23photo-1#photo-1

There's Now Proof That Eating Cheese Makes Wine Taste Better

Snacking on cheese can increase the aroma of wine and decrease the duration of its astringency.

Confirming what we've suspected for years, a group of researchers have found that eating cheese alongside your vino can make the wine taste even better.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Food Science, tasked locals from the wine-loving town of Dijon, France with the tough job of snacking on cheese in between sips of wine and giving feedback on the sensations they experienced with every taste. Each of the wines, which included Pancherenc, Sancerre, Bourgogne, and Madiran, was evaluated alone and then in between bites of a variety of cheeses.

Following the taste test, the researchers at France's Center for Taste and Feeding Behavior came to the conclusion that none of the cheeses tested—which included epoisses, compte, Roquefort, and crottin de chavignol—had a negative effect on the taste of the wine and the preferences of the drinker. In fact, the sipping sensations were improved for a number of the wines when snacking was thrown into the mix. The cheese was shown to increase the aroma and decrease the duration of astringency for both of the red wines tested, and boosted the aroma of another. The only wine that wasn't impacted was Pacherenc, a sweeter variety.

"We learned that the duration of the perception of astringency of a certain wine could be reduced after having cheese and that the four evaluated cheeses had the same effect," lead author Mara V. Galmarini said in a press release. "In short, when having a plate of assorted cheeses, the wine will probably taste better no matter which one they choose."

Beyond making dairy lovers everywhere happy, this data could also encourage marketers to take into account how one food or beverage's profile changes by the addition of another. And if nothing else, it's a great excuse to eat more cheese—something we support wholeheartedly.

(h/t International Business Times)

Article and images sourced from http://www.foodandwine.com/news/theres-now-proof-eating-cheese-makes-wine-taste-better?xid=soc_socialflow_facebook_fw

Bay Area Home Styles: Spotlight on the Ranch-Style Home

This is the seventh installment in a series of bimonthly posts about architecture styles, each dedicated to a popular home type that can be found in the Bay Area.

A ranch-style Home in Palm Springs, California

The all-American ranch home was born in the 1920s and became a popular post-World War II residential building style in America in the 1940s through the 1970s. Their cost-effective construction especially appealed to middle-class homeowners. In fact, ranch homes became the dominant American home style from California to New Jersey through the 1950s and 1960s. Ranch homes are usually one story (sometimes split- level), often feature a finished basement, and typically have the bedrooms away from the living area.

Other common features of ranch-style homes include:

• Brick construction
• Often shaped like an L or a U
• Minimal decoration
• Low-pitched roof
• Horizontal layout
• Simple, open floor plan
• Indoor/outdoor flow
• Attached garage

The ranch home personified an informal, casual living style. According to this Houzz article, the ranch-style home “celebrated the postwar profusion of cheap land and sprawling suburbs, with a horizontal footprint that turned its back on the streetscape to focus on backyard living.”

And speaking of backyard living, one popular feature of the ranch-style home is the sliding glass door, leading most often to a back patio. The house was meant to be a blend of modernism and the style of the American West ranch, and access and connection to the outdoors was an important element.

Clifford May was the man behind the popularity of the ranch home. According to this The New York Times article about May, “The ranch house was everything a California house should be — it had cross-ventilation, the floor was level with the ground, and with its courtyard and the exterior corridor, it was about sunshine and informal outdoor living.”

The first home May sold went for $9,500 despite the Great Depression. He went on to sell plans for approximately 18,000 ranch homes. The Eichler home was actually a version of the suburban ranch house popularized by designer May and others.

The ranch-style home’s popularity began to wane in the late 20th century, as “neoeclectic architecture” — homes with a wide array of decorative techniques — were revived.

Haciendas, the modern ranch, the suburban, and the tract ranch — the ranch-style home does have a few different incarnations. You can read more about the evolution of this house style and its characteristics at Old House Online.

Visit this Pinterest page to see 1,000-plus photo inspirations based around the ranch-style home. This Houzz page is filled with ranch-style home design photos. To learn more about the ranch home’s characteristics, visit this Mid Century Home Style webpage.

(Photo: Flickr/JoeinSouthernCA)

Article and images sourced from http://blog.pacificunion.com/bay-area-home-styles-spotlight-on-the-ranch-style-home/

Nine Bay Area Halloween haunts and pumpkin fests

There are few things more delightful than fall, the season that segues straight from Oktoberfest suds to Halloween shrieks. Pumpkins proliferate and zombies appear. And all those candy-seeking, pint-size ghosties of yore have been joined by grown-ups — the latter trick-or-treating for pumpkin ale, of course.

Here are just a few ways to play this Halloween season, from a venerable great pumpkin fest to a “Harry Potter” symphonic bash.

Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival

Linus would surely approve of this coastal town’s doings. This year marks the 46th annual Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival, which showcases great pumpkins (and smaller but equally great squashes), a haunted barn populated by undead pirates, live music, crafts, games, bungee jump and zip line attractions and, of course, pumpkin-spiked sips and bites.

Among the latter: pumpkin pies, pumpkin pie soda, pumpkin chili, chicken-pumpkin sausages, pumpkin smoothies and Half Moon Bay Brewing’s Pumpkin Harvest Ale. Plus a pancake — pumpkin, of course — breakfast that starts at 7 a.m. at Mac Dutra Park.

Family-friendly factor: Delightful fun for all ages.

Details: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 15-16, Main Street, Half Moon Bay. Free admission;  pumpkinfest.miramarevents.com/

Annie Basler, 8, and other members of the Dia de Los Pumpkins danced before the costume contest at the 2015 Art and Pumpkin Festival in Half Moon Bay. (John Green/Bay Area News Group) 

Halloween Haunt at Great America

Santa Clara’s Great America theme park goes all out with its Halloween Haunt attractions, which include eight haunted mazes – Zombie High, Wax Museum Chamber of Horrors, Madame Marie’s Massacre Manor, Dia de los Muertos and more. There are also some new themed “Skeleton Key” experiences, boasting such terrifying titles as Sorority Slaughter, Hoarder House and Bone Crusher.

The park’s new, highly hyped FearVR attraction, a Samsung and Oculus-technology driven horror experience set in a hospital, was shuttered within a few days of opening after concerns were voiced from the mental health community.

Family-friendly factor: Not for tots — or easily frightened grown-ups. You read the part about zombies and massacres, right?

Details: From 7 p.m.-midnight Oct. 9 and Sundays through Oct. 30, open 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 14-29. Halloween Haunt tickets start at $32, but admission is free for 2016 gold pass holders; www.cagreatamerica.com

Pirates of Emerson in Pleasanton

This Halloween extravaganza offers up six haunted houses, including such scary destinations as the Laboragory, the Hackshack and the Dark Gauntlet. Other attractions include Clown Chaos, the Misfortune Teller and Melted Metal.

Family-friendly factor: This one’s scary. Very scary. Impressionable youngsters and clown-phobic adults should stay home.

Details: Through Oct. 31 (hours and days vary); Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton; $30-$80; www.piratesofemerson.com.

Fright Fest at Six Flags

The 135-acre Vallejo theme park’s annual Halloween extravaganza includes kid-themed shows, pumpkin patch and, of course, haunted houses and mazes — including Captain Bloat’s Shipwreck of Horror, Nightmare Manor and the new Dark Oaks Asylum.

During daylight hours, the park is a family-friendly Halloween party. After sundown, though, it becomes a zombie-filled fright fest with various thrills and chills and plenty of gore. Be sure to check out the Rage of the Gargoyles, an immersive, virtual reality ride that marries Oculus technology to the looping course of the Kong coaster.

Family-friendly factor: Loads of fun during the day; loads of horror-stricken screaming at night

Details: Open Fridays-Sundays through Oct. 30. Tickets $73 and up;www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom

Winchester Mystery House in San Jose

It’s always ghostly good fun to tour Sarah Winchester’s mysterious mansion, but the staff goes all out during the Halloween season, with 10 Halloween Candlelight Tours offered during the month of October.

Family-friendly factor: Spooky, not scary — unless you’re scared of spooky ghosts, of course. Note that these tours require a lot of walking and stairs.

Details: Hour-long Candlelight Tours ($35-$49) are offered in October on Fridays, weekends and Halloween night. Regular mansion tours ($26 and up) are offered daily all year; www.winchestermysteryhouse.com.

More spooky doings

Prefer your hauntings in a more refined — or boozy or less zombie-plagued — atmosphere? Here are a few more options:

“Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone” in Concert: Symphony Silicon Valley and Choral perform John Williams’ signature score while family-fave film flickers to life on a giant screen during four matinee and evening performances, Oct. 29-30 at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets $45 and up; www.symphonysiliconvalley.org

San Jose Broofest: This Halloween-themed brew fest on Oct. 28-29 is subtitled “A Nightmare on Alma Street.” Sample more than 80 craft brews, enjoy tasty noshes, pose in the photo booth and enjoy other adults-only fun at Municipal Stadium. Tickets $45-$65; http://bit.ly/2dDqhmY

OMCA Day of the Dead Fest: The Oakland Museum of California celebrates its 22nd annual, family-friendly Dios de los Muertas fest on Oct. 16 with calavera-inspired face-painting, a mercado, live music and dance, tortilla-making demonstrations and an Off the Grid food truck mini market. Tickets, which include museum admission, are $12 and up; museumca.org.

Symphonic Day of the Dead: The San Francisco Symphony’s annual Dia de los Muertos community concerts Nov. 5 will feature Grammy-winning ensemble La Santa Cecilia, plus dancing, colorful altars and traditional crafts. The matinee is particularly fun for families. Tickets $10 and up; www.sfsymphony.org

Article and images sourced from http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/10/05/nine-bay-area-halloween-haunts-and-pumpkin-fests/

Halloween Recipes

Throw a party with these Halloween party treats and easy Halloween snacks from Food Network.

1. Graveyard Cupcakes : Although it looks almost like a cake, this graveyard is made up of individual cupcakes, making it a perfect self-serve Halloween party treat. Just grab your cupcake and go — no knives necessary.

  

2. Foam Tombstones : Whether you choose to add funny sayings or be deathly serious with traditional designs, our tutorial will show you how to turn inexpensive foam boards into realistic-looking grave markers. Get step-by-step instructions.

3. Spider Bites : Three ingredients are all you need to make these easy spider bites. The chocolate-covered pretzel critters are just creepy enough for young kids to enjoy.

4. Spider Napkin Rings : Spook up your Halloween get-together with these cute, easy-to-make felt and pompom napkin rings — a perfect project to craft with the kids. Get step-by-step instructions.

5. Ghost Pizzas : Classic white pizza takes a ghostly turn with this recipe, complete with three cheeses and pitted black olives. Using prepared pizza dough makes it even easier, and no sauce to simmer makes it simpler still.

6. Levitating Ghost : Turn craft-store materials into a life-size (or at least afterlife-size) ghost that appears to float several feet above the ground. Get step-by-step instructions.

7. Phyllo-Wrapped Mummies : There's no need to be too meticulous when wrapping these spooky versions of pigs in blankets, as the raggedy look suits the mummy theme to a tee.

8. Mummy Candy Cans : These adorable treat cans make upcycling look great! Kids will love helping you craft these cans almost as much as they’ll enjoy devouring their sweet contents. Get step-by-step instructions.

9. Vampire Blood Soup : Halloween cookie cutters (think ghosts, pumpkins, bats or witches) are all you need to dial up the fun factor with these mini sandwiches. For an extra-spooky presentation, serve the “bloody” tomato soup alongside in vials.

10. Vampire Place Setting : Put plastic vampire teeth to work as clever place card holders. Just open them up and pop in a handwritten card. Leave them as is or go glam with metallic spray paint. Get more tips for hosting a stylish monster mash.

11. Maple Cinnamon Spider Web Fritters : Put a Halloween spin on a classic carnival treat, the funnel cake. For a spooky-yet-sweet surprise, garnish the fried dough webs with creepy-crawly garnishes like jelly spiders.

12. Spider Web Pillow : Give arachnophobes a case of the heebie-jeebies with this realistic looking (but thoroughly harmless) pillow. This project involves basic machine- and hand-sewing, so it's a snap to make, even for beginning crafters. Get step-by-step instructions.

13. Angel’s Food Cupcakes : A pillowy meringue frosting and white candy halos make these super-light cupcakes especially angelic. Serve them alongside their sinful counterpart, Devil’s Food Cupcakes.

14. Costume Angel Wings : These feathered wings are perfect for occasions that require a costume, like Halloween or a Christmas nativity play, but they are also sturdy enough to be worn for everyday imaginative play. Get step-by-step instructions.

15. Pecan Caramel Spiders : Chocolate-caramel nut clusters turn into these creepy-cute spiders with the help of licorice legs.

16. Glittered Treat Bags : Give plain muslin bags a trendy custom touch with one of our free printable patterns. These little sacks are just the right size to give out as party favors, take to the kids at school or use to surprise your favorite trick-or-treaters. Get step-by-step instructions and download templates.

17. Mummy-aki Chicken Fingers  : Mummify chicken tenders with strips of phyllo dough and bake them until golden brown. Then they’re ready to skewer and dip in “bloody” sweet-and-sour sauce for a kid-friendly Halloween dinner or a party appetizer for all ages.

18. Mummy Makeup : Basic makeup, coffee (yes, coffee!) and spirit gum are all you need to turn your kid into a card-carrying member of the undead. Our step-by-step instructions show you how to perfect the sunken-eye look.

19. Witch Finger Cookies : Giada De Laurentiis transforms classic ladyfinger cookies into spooky witch fingers by adding almond fingernails and dipping the blunt ends in jam.

20. Witch’s Broomstick Place Cards : Made from just a twig, some raffia and a scrap of paper, these diminutive brooms will cast a spell over your Halloween guests. Plus, they're a fun party favor that guests can take home with them. Get step-by-step instructions.

21. Black Cat Pops : A little crafty decorating transforms chocolate-covered fruit balls into cute black cat pops. Use fruit leather for the kitties' ears and noses, and use piped white chocolate for their eyes and whiskers.

22. Black Cat Pumpkins : Welcome trick-or-treaters and Halloween guests with a litter of black cat pumpkins. These carve-free kitties are easy to craft, making them a fun project for older children or small kids with a little help from a crafty adult. Get step-by-step instructions.

23. Witch’s Brew : This adults-only punch will be the centerpiece of any Halloween bar. A little dry ice is responsible for the steamy special effects — you can find it at many supermarkets, or ask your local ice cream shop.

24. Witch Pumpkin : Create this not-too-scary witch for your front porch or entryway using a faux pumpkin and basic supplies from the craft store. Create a friendly witch to welcome Halloween guests or a scowling witch to keep mischief-makers at bay. Get step-by-step instructions.

25. Pumpkin Cupcakes : Add pumpkin puree to store-bought yellow cake mix for this shortcut party-ready treat.

26. Glam Glittered Pumpkins : School glue and black glitter are all you need to give natural or faux pumpkins a fashion-forward makeover. Choose an easy pattern for crafting with kids, or go with a timeless design, like a monogram or graphic pattern, for a sophisticated look. Get step-by-step instructions.

27. Candy Cake : Kids consider their stash of hard-earned Halloween candy scared, so the concept of leftover candy is a fantasy in a lot of households. Before making spooky desserts like this candy-loaded cake, stock up on extra goods in advance, or hit the post-trick-or-treat sale aisles. Store-bought cake, frosting and brownies can be used as timesavers, or you can make your own. Do frost the cake and brownies yourself, though, because the frosting needs to be wet for the toppings to adhere pr...

28. Set Up a Trick-or-Treat Station : Weather permitting, bring a lightweight table or shelf outside then fill it with an assortment of kids' favorite treats packaged using one of our free printable templates. Have adults on hand to make sure everyone gets their fair share, and keep cameras at the ready to snap photos of the neighborhood kids enjoying the spread. Get more tips for setting up a Halloween candy station.

29. Halloween Popcorn Treats : Giada’s sticky treats contain chopped chocolate bars, chocolate chip cookies, salted almonds and Halloween-colored candies. Serve them at your Halloween party or pack them up in cellophane as favors.

30. Paper Treat Cone : Delight trick-or-treaters or Halloween party guests with this easy-to-create card stock cone filled with candy, small toys or trinkets. Get step-by-step instructions.

31.  Candy Bucket Cookies : Got anything left in the candy bucket once the trick-or-treaters have come and gone? Chop up the leftovers (anything with chocolate works!), fold into Jeff Mauro’s easy cookie dough, then bake up a batch of post-Halloween treats.

32. Pumpkin Candy Dish : Cut a faux pumpkin in half to create a cute lidded container for serving Halloween candy. The waterproof foam interior also makes these a great cooler when filled with ice and beverages. Get step-by-step instructions.

33. Monster Cupcakes : These more cuddly than scary monster treats are easy enough for kids to decorate. Pipe a monster face onto the cupcakes with green (or your favorite color) frosting, then make eyes with jelly candies and horns out of cashews.

34. Furry Monster Wreath : Faux fur, plastic vampire teeth and small balls in assorted colors make fairly realistic stand-ins for a friendly monster’s coat, fangs and staring eyes. Complete the look by using permanent markers to add black or white slits to the eyes. Customize your monster further with pipe cleaner antennae or a bow tie. Get more easy-to-craft Halloween wreath ideas.

35. Ghostly Pumpkin Puddings  : Top creamy pumpkin puddings with a swirl of light, fluffy meringue for a ghostly effect. Just decorate with candy eyes to complete these cute mini Caspers.

36. Ghostly Outdoor Draperies : Add a not-too-scary touch to your haunted house with these easy-to-craft billowing draperies made from budget-friendly cheesecloth.

37. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds : When you scoop out your pumpkins to carve jack-o'-lanterns, don’t forget to save the seeds! Roasted pumpkin seeds make a great snack and can be used to add crunch to salads and soups. Here’s how to roast them to crunchy perfection.

38. Easy Pumpkin-Carving Templates : What would Halloween be without a cleverly carved pumpkin? We’ve got you covered with HGTV-exclusive pumpkin-carving templates that are easy enough even for beginning carvers.

39. Ghost Cupcakes : Decorate chocolate cupcakes with meringue piping to make a dozen tasty ghosts or monsters of your choice.

40. Easy Billowing Ghosts : This quick-and-easy craft is a great Halloween project to make with the kids. Best of all, the inexpensive materials ensure you can whip up a whole gaggle of ghosts for your front yard. Get step-by-step instructions.

41. Candy Corn Cupcakes : Use yellow food coloring to match your vanilla frosting to the color of candy corn bottoms, then arrange candy corn pieces sticking up in a circular pattern until all of the spaces are filled.

42. Candy Corn Pinata : What's Halloween without the candy, right? Construct this colorful pinata to serve as both a party decoration and fun game for ghosts and ghouls of all sizes. Get our free templates and step-by-step instructions.

43. Eyeball Cocktail : This punch — a spookified version of a classic rickey — is a refreshing drink for kids after trick-or-treating. Add some gin for an equally refreshing after-dark cocktail for adults.

44. Eyeball Wreath : Make this playful wreath part of your Halloween decorations to keep a watchful eye on trick-or-treaters, ghouls, ghosties and anything else that goes bump in the night. Get more easy-to-craft Halloween wreath ideas.

45. Jack-O'-Lantern Cupcakes : These cute cupcakes look like they came from a bakery, but it’s actually super-easy to make jack-o'-lantern faces using orange fondant. Make a batch of your favorite cupcakes (or use store-bought cupcakes, we won’t tell!) and roll out orange fondant to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a round biscuit cutter, cut out 12 rounds and create face designs with small cutters or a clean X-Acto knife. Then simply lay the rounds on top of your frosted cupcakes.

46. Craft a Pumpkin Family : Instead of carving or painting your pumpkins, turn them into characters that resemble your nearest and dearest. Fresh produce, felt, a permanent marker and a few bits of clothing are all you need. Get step-by-step instructions.

47. Caramel, Chocolate and Candy Apples : Eating apples is much more fun than bobbing for them in a bucket, especially when they’re covered in caramel and chocolate! Giada rolls these in tasty toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles and candies.

48. Chalkboard Treat Bucket : Upcycle an empty paint can into a Halloween treat bucket that can be decorated and customized each year to coordinate with your child’s costume. Kids will love this interactive trick-or-treat accessory that can be topped with a lid to safely store their stash. Get step-by-step instructions.

49. Truffle Spiders  : Dress up store-bought chocolate truffles as creepy-crawly spiders for Halloween with just a few ingredients. For a fun party presentation, serve them on a “web” of cotton candy.

50. Pin the Spider on the Web Game : Turn everyday craft supplies into an interactive Halloween party game that's fun for all ages.

Article and images sourced from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/halloween-recipes.html