holidays are complex. simply going on an family outing during this season can be challenging. especially when you have a somewhat large three-generational group of people with different needs, tastes and ideas of fun. splitting up can be a practical solution, but sometimes sticking together is the only option.
such a situation arose this past thanksgiving, which panzón, coco and i spent in san francisco at my sister's, with her husband and toddler, her in-laws and our parents. what were we to do that saturday, when the turkey had been eaten hot, surrounded by yummy trimmings, and cold the next day, between mini baguettes? we had to get out and do something. but what? and then i remembered: curious george saves the day at the contemporary jewish museum! something for the museum-lovers, the architecture enthusiasts, the young children, and of course for all curious george admirers, which most of us already were.
the building, an architectural gem designed by polish-born daniel libeskind, is a reuse project in which a contemporary program is adapted to the historic pacific gas & electric power substation, built in 1907. libeskind also designed the jewish museum berlin, a striking work of architecture of larger scale and force.
so what was curious george doing in such a place? it turns out his creators, margret and h.a. rey, a married couple of german jews, had quite an interesting story of love and adventure and narrow escape from nazi-torn europe in 1940.
that saturday, we all walked out of the museum inspired and pleasantly surprised that we had found something we all had enjoyed together. and that's how curious george saved the day!
