2025 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 2025.
- Finding the right path: Meet the master builder who designs labyrinths on the Peninsula — Have you ever walked a labyrinth, finding your way along its winding path to the center and back? Perhaps you’ve associated labyrinths with ancient tales and far-off lands (or Jim Henson’s 1986 fantasy film starring David Bowie), or maybe you’ve encountered one at a place of worship or park near you. Some folks have even added them to their own residences, creating a private, appealing space for contemplation and reflection.
- Spring greening: 8 great places to get plants around the Peninsula, from funky shops to speciality nurseries — Spring is here! And with the world in bloom, you may be getting inspired to add some more greenery to your own home, inside or out. Whether you’re a total newbie or an experienced plant parent, there’s always room for some more botanical buddies to liven up your space. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite places on the Peninsula to get plants, from quirky coffee shops to historic nurseries.
- Talking, teaching, and even recognizing dogs: Meet the Peninsula’s lifelike robots — In the 1999 film “Bicentennial Man” (based on a novelette by Isaac Asimov), Robin Williams plays an advanced humanoid robot called Andrew. The part of the story set at the fictional robotics company that produced him was filmed in Redwood Shores. While it would be wildly inaccurate to suggest that the sci-fi world of “Bicentennial Man” was becoming a reality any time soon, a cutting-edge humanoid robotics company does, in fact, have its U.S. headquarters in Redwood Shores.
- Lights, camera, action: How to make your Peninsula home available to filmmakers (and what to expect when they’re there) — Have you ever wondered if your home has what it takes to be a movie star? Or, at least, a movie set? While Hollywood may still be the center of the U.S. film industry, movies and videos are also shot right here in the Bay Area, including in local residences. From fancy estates to humble flats, filmmakers seek all kinds of spaces for their projects, depending on what makes sense both creatively and practically. Homeowners can get in on the action by making their space available for film shoots.
- Meet the South Bay company designing fire-resistant, eco-friendly homes — Living in California, the possibility of catastrophic fire is never too far from many residents’ minds. But what if there was a way to build homes so that the risk of fire was much lower while also lessening the environmental impact that contributes to climate change in the first place?
- Peninsula author Betty Shamieh publishes debut novel
- ‘One oil to rule them all’: San Mateo’s Zero Acre Farms offers restaurants and home chefs an all-purpose cooking oil made from fermented sugar cane
- The Chai Lab gives Menlo Park’s Roshni Madhvani a chance to blend her love of tea, science and books
- Jam session: Meet the local company making all-natural jams, syrups and more in a myriad of flavors
- ‘Food for Thought’ installation honors farmers and food workers