Bay Curious

Latest Episodes:

Wanna Try Roller Skating in San Francisco? Better Head to Church Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

Bay Curious listener Katie Talda recently visited San Francisco's only indoor skating rink, the Church of 8 Wheels. The novelty of skating inside an old Catholic church left her wondering how the building went from house of worship to roller disco. We dig into a bit of San Francisco's skating history, and meet the man behind the Church of 8 Wheels, who's known by many as the 'Godfather of Skate.'

Additional Reading:

Wanna Try Roller Skating in San Francisco? Better Head to Church
Read the transcript here
Want more answers to your questions? Sign up for our monthly newsletter!

This story was reported by Amanda Font. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, and Brendan Willard. Our Social Video Intern is Darren Tu. Additional support from Kyana Moghadam, Jen Chien, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Jenny Pritchett and Holly Kernan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long Gone Amusement Parks That Captured Bay Area Hearts Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

This week we remember two amusement parks that have etched themselves into the imaginations of generations of Bay Area residents: Idora Park in Oakland and San Francisco's Playland at the Beach.

Additional Reading:

Idora Park and Playland-at-the-Beach: Bay Area Amusement Parks of a Bygone Era
Read the transcript here
Want more answers to your questions? Sign up for our monthly newsletter!

Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts

This story was reported by Christopher Beale. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Amanda Font and Brendan Willard. Our Social Video Intern is Darren Tu. Additional support from Kyana Moghadam, Jen Chien, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Jenny Pritchett and Holly Kernan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Purissima: The Ghost Town Hidden Near Half Moon Bay Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

Bay Curious listener Julia Thollaug is a teacher in the coastal town of Montera. She stumbled on the remnants of a little town called Purissima, just south of Half Moon Bay, and wondered what happened to its residents. It's a ghost town now, but what went on there when it was thriving, and why did it die out?

Additional Reading:

Purissima: The Ghost Town Hidden Near Half Moon Bay
Read the transcript here
Sign up for the Bay Curious newsletter for more answers to your questions
Submit your question to Bay Curious!

If you love Bay Curious, consider donating to KQED podcasts for more great content!

This story was reported by Rachael Myrow. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Amanda Font and Brendan Willard. Our Social Video Intern is Darren Tu. Additional support from Kyana Moghadam, Jen Chien, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Jenny Pritchett and Holly Kernan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Animals Lived in the Bay Area Before European Settlement? Aug 25, 2022

Show notes

Bay Curious listener Isabel Guajardo has long wondered what the Bay Area would have looked and felt like before European colonization. Specifically, she's curious to know what animals would have thrived here and what happened to them. It's a story of how attitudes about wildlife and land management practices profoundly influenced habitats.

Additional Reading:

Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by donating to KQED!

This story was reported by Amy Mayer. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Amanda Font and Brendan Willard. Our Social Video Intern is Darren Tu. Additional support from Kyana Moghadam, Jen Chien, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Jenny Pritchett and Holly Kernan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The San Francisco Years of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

Bay Curious listener Erin Al Gwaiz wanted to know more about the time that famous Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera spent in San Francisco. In this episode, which originally aired in December, 2020, reporter Marisol Medina-Cadena immerses us in their world — exploring who they were, how they spent their time here, and ultimately how their legacy still resonates today.

Additional Reading:

Reported by Marisol Medina-Cadena. Frida Kahlo voice acting by Maria Pena. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, and Brendan Willard. Our social video intern is Darren Tu.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Story of Russell City, the Town that Lost the Blues Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

Russell City used to be a thriving community in the 1940s and 50s. But in the 1960s Alameda County and the city of Hayward used eminent domain to seize the land, evict the residents and build an industrial park. We hear stories from former Russell City residents about what it used to be like there.

Additional Reading:

Reported by Spencer Whitney and Katrina Schwartz. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Amanda Font and Brendan Willard. Our Social Video Intern is Darren Tu. Additional support from Kyana Moghadam, Jen Chien, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Jenny Pritchett and Holly Kernan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Labyrinths Everywhere! Why Are There So Many in the Bay Area? Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

If you do a lot of walking or hiking in Bay Area, there's a reasonable chance you've stumbled upon a labyrinth—a large, winding, self contained path lined with stones or bricks. Bay Curious listener, Kate, noticed there seemed to be a lot of them in the Bay Area, and wanted to know if there's any connection between them and why there are so many out here. This week, Amanda Font takes us on a journey into the labyrinth.

Additional Reading:

Why Are There So Many Labyrinths in the Bay Area?

Reported by Amanda Font. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Amanda Font and Brendan Willard. Our Social Video Intern is Darren Tu. Additional support from Kyana Moghadam, Jen Chien, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Jenny Pritchett, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and Holly Kernan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Story Behind Those Giant Paintings Off Central Valley Highways Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

Listener Nick Loey often drives between the Bay Area and Southern California. He's long wondered about the giant paintings that dot many Central Valley highways depicting scenes of farming and Americana. We talk to the artist who made them famous and get reaction from people living and working in agricultural communities about the art.

Additional Reading:

Is There A Story Behind Those Giant Paintings Off Central Valley Highways? Yes, and It's Fraught
Center for Farmworker Families
United Farm Workers Foundation
Join us in August for Bay Curious Trivia! We've got two dates: August 23 and 24.

Reported by Cesar Saldaña. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz and Brendan Willard. Additional support from Kyana Moghadam, Jen Chien, Darren Tu, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Jenny Pritchett, Vinnee Tong, Ethan Lindsey and Holly Kernan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Farallon Islands: Nice Home For Birds, Less So for Humans Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

Twenty-seven miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Farallon Islands jut out of the Pacific. On the clearest of days, the grouping of 20 islets is visible from shore. We dive into the history of these islands — from their earliest human visitors, to the people who have called them home over the decades. Then, we take a trip to the islands with reporter Izzy Bloom to learn about the animals that are thriving in this wildlife refuge. This episode answers a question from Bay Curious listener Ali Moghaddam.

Learn more:

Reported by Olivia Allen-Price and Izzy Bloom. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Darren Tu and Brendan Willard. Additional support from Kyana Moghadam, Jen Chien, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Jenny Pritchett, Vinnee Tong, Ethan Lindsey and Holly Kernan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Were Many SF Hospitals Once Affiliated With Ethnic Groups? Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

Bay Curious listener Ken Katz noticed that many of San Francisco's current hospitals used to have names affiliated with ethnic groups, like the French hospital or the German hospital. We wondered why that trend existed and when it changed.

Additional Reading:

Reported by Katrina Schwartz. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz and Brendan Willard. Additional support from Kyana Moghadam, Jen Chien, April Dembosky, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Jenny Pritchett, Vinnee Tong, Ethan Lindsey and Holly Kernan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices