2024 Top 10 — The Journalism Of Karla Kane, Part 2
If there's one defining characteristic of life in the late-middle internet age, it's that there's just too much. Too much news, too much free music, too much video, too many people vying for your attention, too many memes, and too many stupid trends. There doesn't seem to ever be time to look back or listen twice. Only at the end of the year do we allow ourselves to do this. One thing I know for sure is that if something says "Karla Kane" in the byline, it's going to be worth reading. Here are 10 more of my favorites from 2024.
- All ears: Tune in to these 8 noncommercial Peninsula radio stations — Looking to embark on an audio adventure? Tune in to a local, noncommercial radio station. Each listening session can have the thrill of a treasure hunt – you never know what gems you may discover or interesting folks you might come across. From the cutting edge to the classic to the gleefully weird, noncommercial radio stations have something to suit every taste (and while there is definitely enjoyment to be had in turning a physical radio dial, you can also usually listen live over the internet)
2. Installing a rain garden? Here’s where to find rebates, resources and inspiration — Whether you’re looking to make your landscaping more eco-friendly, trying to save money on water bills or hoping to prevent flood damage, adding a rain garden could be a great option, experts say. Some cities and regions even have offered incentives for residential rain gardens meeting their standards. Palo Alto residents, for example, can receive a rebate for adding a rain garden. (The garden must be installed by a licensed contractor and inspected by City of Palo Alto Watershed Protection staff. The rebate also must be applied for before the garden is installed.)
3. A place to play: Sound Union in Redwood City is a private club and a public concert venue — John Avilla has been playing music since childhood and still cherishes it for the emotional, mental and social boosts it provides. But, as a bassist who thrives on collaborating with others, finding the right space to do so hasn’t always been easy. “‘We always have to go to some guy’s garage, bring in all our gear, set it all up, play for a bit before the neighbors start complaining at 9, shut it all down, pack it all up and leave,'” Avilla’s friend and business partner Tom Zazueta recalled Avilla saying. “He looked around and was like, ‘… How do we create a space that’s a great place for musicians to go play and meet other musicians?'”
4. Books and beyond: Longtime Menlo Park bookshop Feldman’s has become a flourishing community hub — For more than two decades, Feldman’s Books in Menlo Park has been a favorite spot for local readers, a treasure trove of second-hand books. But the shop, which moved from its location on El Camino Real to Curtis Street in 2021, also has increasingly become a community gathering space and a venue for a variety of live events, including musical performances, author visits, discussion groups and more. “At a time when many feel disconnected from community, these events offer an opportunity to interact with one another, and a welcome sense of human connection,” Menlo Park accountant and friend of Feldman’s Laura Redmond told this news organization in an email. Redmond co-hosts the monthly Stoic book club and has helped host other Feldman’s events as well.
5. Local author takes readers back to the ’90s with ‘Lily Xiao Speaks Out’ — Lily Xiao, the 12-year-old protagonist of local author Nicole Chen's latest novel, "Lily Xiao Speaks Out," is a model student, the favorite of every teacher for her hard work and always-perfect behavior (her peers call her the class robot). At home, she's obedient to her Taiwanese immigrant parents and beloved grandmother, and her family pressures her to prioritize her studies ahead of everything else and never rock the boat when it comes to authority figures. The year is 1993, and shy Lily has a big dream – to sing and play guitar in a grunge band.
6. How motherhood inspired a San Mateo company that helps take meal prep off parents’ plates
7. How a layoff, a library and a laser cutter led one Redwood City artist down a new path
9. Spiritual shelter: Stanford exhibition explores hauntings, inheritance and the deep power of art