Miss Jo's San Francisco

IT’S HARD NOT TO FEEL LIKE A KID WHEN YOU SEE THE MODEL RAILWAY of San Francisco landmarks at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.  Made of recycled bits and pieces,  the newly opened exhibit is the perfect antidote to Christmas shopping hype and the uncertain economy.

Miss Jo and Jeff went during one of the two times daily when fog rolls across the hilly wonderland. They oohed and ahhhed when the fog horn sounded, cable car bells rang and the sounds of an organ spilled out the Castro Theater door. They were thrilled to spot the Giants’ baseball stadium made of metal dish drains and Coit Tower of  mini blinds and rulers.

There are green electronic circuit boards, ma jongg tiles and dice used in the Chinatown Gate. The Golden Gate Bridge is replicated in milk crate pieces, ketchup bottles and Mardi Gras beads.

The Old Federal Reserve Bank has white cassette tapes for bricks. The food-loving Ferry Building uses silverware in its arches and a cheese grater and kitchen timer for the tower. A computer keyboard is City Hall’s doorstep.

In its second year with eight new buildings, the Golden Gate Express Garden Railway, runs through April 18, 2010. The conservatory is free on the first Tuesday of the month. The fog rolls in @ 11:15 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Exhibit photos by Miss Jo