Spanish Village Art Center at Balboa Park
May 10th
San Diego, CA -
Between the National Museum of History and the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park is the Spanish Village Art Center, open daily from 11am-4pm. Thirty-seven working artist studios/galleries host over 250 local painters, sculptors, metalsmiths, jewelry designers, clay artists, gourd artists, photographers, printmakers, fiber artists, basket weavers, mixed-media artists, glass artists, and more. All of these artists come from San Diego’s large artist community, and by purchasing a one-of-a-kind piece from one of the studios helps to keep creativity thriving.
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Since there are more artists than studios, many are shared by three or fours artists. All the pieces are tastefully displayed and sectioned off by artist, which makes it enjoyable to see the individual styles. Some artists even give live displays daily, for instance, at Studio 19 you can see the artist blow glass. The walkways are made up of cobble stones but for the most part the surface is even, expect for a few broken stones. A wheelchair traveler in a manual chair or walker should keep an eye out for such barriers to avoid getting a small wheel wedged.
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wheelchairtraveling.com
making adventure accessible
Visiting L.A.’s MOCA
Apr 28th
Los Angeles, CA -
In downtown Los Angeles there is an area where some of the tallest skyscrapers are found called Bunker Hill. The two major attractions that are wheelchair accessible is the LA Philharmonic and a little further up the street is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). If you are only into fine art then this is no museum for you, but for those who enjoy masterpieces of abstract expressionism and pop art then it is a must see. The MOCA’s permanent collection of American and European art created since 1940 consists of approximately 5,000 objects in all visual media. There are also recent works by young and emerging artists.Furthermore, like most art museums, there are special exhibits: see what’s there now and what’s to come.
On the weekend, this business district is almost deserted so street parking at a meter is very realistic. Even during the week you have a good chance; otherwise, there is a parking structure on the same side of the street as MOCA about 500 feet away. There is a handicapped spot directly in front of the museum, but ironically there is no curb cutout for easy sidewalk access; instead, one must travel up the street a ways to a cross walk or be assisted up the curb. Unless, of course, you have the skills to go up yourself.
After purchasing a ticket you can access the museum by taking the lift (shown in a photo below) up a level, then through the glass doors immediately to your right, and finally take the elevator down to the main floor of the museum. Each floor of the museum is completely flat and smooth. In one area there is a long ramp with a mid-point rest area. Along this ramp is the cafe on an outdoor patio. Wheelchair accessible restrooms are available.
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wheelchairtraveling.com
making adventure accessible
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The Best Wheelchair Cushion
Apr 28th
It should be no surprise that a wheelchair traveler needs a suitable wheelchair cushion. We’ve been around long enough for the marketplace to resolve this little seating subject. Why then, hasn’t some company made a single superior cushion model that will simplify the “What cushion do I get” decision? The wheelchair cushion expert – Wheelchair Cushion Sage – provided an answer to this question.
“If you have heard or read that some wheelchair cushions simply will not work for some people, then you got the right information. In fact, no single cushion model available today is an optimal purchase for everyone who needs a wheelchair cushion. The reason for the absence of a one-model-for-everyone superior cushion involves more than diverging personal preferences of colors and fabrics. Even the necessary variety of sizes is not the reason for the many wheelchair cushion options.”
“One good reason for the variety of wheelchair cushion types is related to the variety of human conditions associated with people who use wheelchairs. For example, consider a paraplegic wheelchair basketball player who desires the lightest and thinnest cushion possible. Also consider a high-level quadriplegic whose condition excludes the possibility of independent pressure-relieving movements and whose cushion must provide the absolute maximum protection against pressure sores. The specific materials and technologies that today make possible a superior cushion for the second scenario, do not produce a superior cushion for the first scenario. Given contemporary materials and technologies, a Stimulite Sport cushion may be ideal for the first case, while a J3 cushion or dynamic cushion may be ideal for the second case. These two example conditions highlight some of the real-life differences that currently thwart the existence of a single superior cushion.”
Experience LACMA on the Miracle Mile
Apr 24th
Los Angeles, CA –
On a small strip of Wilshire Blvd. there is an area referred to as the Miracle Mile. On the corner of Fairfax is a diner that is frequently used in movies, including Pulp Fiction. Along the street are nightclubs, restaurants, venues, television production offices, and even tar pits. Yes, smack in the middle of the Miracle Mile between La Brea and Fairfax are the La Brea Tar Pits. The oldest mammal that has been found is estimated to be aged 38,000 years and scientists are still finding organisms from the iceage period . Surrounding the La Brea Tar Pits is a public park with smooth, accessible walkways for a wheelchair user.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) shares land with the La Brea Tar Pits. LACMA is a world-class museum with an impressive permanent collection and an entire building just for special exhibits. There is plenty space, elevators, and accessible restrooms all around. Initially, to get a ticket, which is based on a donation, a wheelchair user needs to use the elevator to the right of the main staircase; there should be signs. Access to the special exhibit does cost an additional fee, so it depends on how much you love art and how much time you have. The permanent collection consists of some of the most famous artists in the world, like Warhol and Picasso, amoungst many others. There is also sculptures, Asian art, photography, modern and contemporary art. Seeing everything, not even including the special exhibits, can easily talk a couple of hours. There is a cafe if you get hungry or want a coffee break. In the evenings it is very common to have live band playing in the main courtyard, which usually consists of a jazz band of some kind.
LACMA is one of of a couple attractions in this area but its home is the Miracle Mile. A the block above it consists of the historic Farmer’s Market and the Grove. A short drive away is the Beverly Center, Restaurant Row, Melrose Ave. and tons more. Check out more wheelchair friendly spots in the Los Angeles area.
brought to you by:
wheelchairtraveling.com
making adventure accessible
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Access to SF Golden Gate Park
Apr 14th
San Francisco, CA –
Being 20% larger than New York City’s Central Park, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park has a number of treasures to explore for a wheelchair traveler. The park consists of 1,017 acres in San Francisco’s Sunset District, the largest in the city, and is close to Ocean Beach. Inside the park are a collection of attractions but the park is also occasionally used for special public events, like the music festival Outside Lands. You can enjoy an entire day at Golden Gate Park without spending a dime. There are miles of trails and pathways of all kinds that interweave between towering trees, gardens, picnic areas, and water features. It is almost impossible to explore all of the park in one day.The largest garden in Golden Gate Park is the SF Botanical Garden.
The Conservatory of Flowers is a beautiful green house that is accessible for a wheelchair user but has an entrance fee. Nearby are the two museums of Golden Gate Park that are equally interesting in their own way: the CA Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum. Both are located on very flat surfaces with elevators and wheelchair accessible restrooms.
What is NOT so wheelchair accessible is the Japanese Tea Garden, which is located near the museums. Since the majority of the garden is not accessible it is FREE to enter, so do not even bother stopping at the ticket booth to explain yourself. Though the Japanese Tea Garden is not entirely accessible, including the tea house itself, it is still worth spending at least five minutes in the accessible parts to enjoy the beauty of it and take a few photographs. Some will be able to go further than others. For example, if traveling on the left-sided path you will cross two stone bridges, the second one is extremely narrow. If exploring on the right-sided path one way will lead you stepping stones and the other to cobble stones. For those using an electric wheelchair, the cobble stones are not a problem, but it is a gnarly surface for a manual one. Other pathways in the garden will be immensely steep and not ideal for any wheelchair user but if traveling with a companion than certain obstacles in the pathways can be tackled, including accessing the tea house.
brought to you by:
wheelchairtraveling.com
making adventure accessible
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