Grab Your Corkscrews and Tastevins, Its Food And Wine Festival Time In Charleston-March 1-4

As February unpretentiously leeps off the calendar, the arrival of March harolds the beginning of spring in Charleston. I write unpretentious, in reference to the weather. Although, it could have fooled this once-upon-a-time Northener. If it wasn't for the calendar, I would have thought it to be spring already. Aside from the few brief spats of cool weather, this has been the winter that never was. Admittedly, speaking from a Northeners point of view.

March springs in like a lion in Charleston. It sets in motion the beginning of the yearly round of festivals showcasing the reasons why it has become the number one destination of choice for travelers. So, let the festivities begin and what better way than the Charleston Food and Wine Festival, now in its seventh year. The Holy City's famous culinary traditions run deep and its "makes you weak in the knees" Southern cuisine stands in a class by itself. The chef's behind Charleston's prized culinary creations are noted among the best in the country and are the stars of this festival. Joining the best of Charleston will be a long list of guest chef's from all over the country.

Lest we not forget the wine that makes the heart rejoice, the perfect companion of great food. The varieties of wine are many, their names poetic, and to a commoner like myself, foreign. Chardonnay sounds like a name for a perfume to me and muscatel sounds like a men's after-shave. So, if you are like me, a person lacking in the fine wine skills of pairing the perfect vino to the meal, the festival affords you the opportunity to learn from the best sommeliers and wine connoisseurs. Local restaurant sommeliers as well as big name vineyards will offer you their expertise and knowledge.

Don't know what a sommelier is? Not to worry, I did't. That is until I came across the word while researching restaurants. A sommelier is a wine steward usually employed by fine restaurants who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food matching. A sommelier may also be responsible for the development of wine lists. They work along with the culinary team and also work on the floor of the restaurant and are in direct contact with restaurant patrons. Thursday March 1st, the Culinary Institute of Charleston Presents Charleston’s Top Sommelier Competition at the Palmer Amphitheater on Columbus Street. Unfortunately, it is an invitation only event. Last years Top Sommelier Champ was Patrick Emerson of Maverick Southern Kitchens.

The heart of the festival will be Culinary Village at Marion Square. Marion Square is a six and one half acre greenspace in downtown Charleston bounded by Calhoun, Meeting, and King streets. There will be 90 food, wine and spirit stations blended together throughout the Square, an open-air courtyard and an official Festival merchandise boutique along with the Grand Tasting Tents. Grilling demonstrations at the Outdoor Living + Grilling Area, food talks and hands-on demos, and the Thermador Cooking competitions are just a few of the attractions. The Thermador Cooking Competitions take place on Saturday, March 3 only in the Celebrity Kitchen. Lowcountry chefs will face-off against one other as they battle for the title of Charleston’s number one iron chef.

Something new for this years Food and Wine Festival is the Perimeter Pass at Culinary Village. It is an easy way to come to the Festival and enjoy the cooking demonstrations, competitions, grilling area, book signings and specialized seminars and talks. The ticket is $25 for the whole day. Times are 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on Friday and Saturday and Sunday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Each year a poster is selected to represent the Food and Wine Festival. Local artists are called upon to enter their inspirations into the competition. All entries were to be submitted by September 16, 2011 for a chance to win $1000 and the honor of seeing their creation featured at the Festival. The winner was chosen on November 17, 2011. Jessica Crouch became the first woman in the history of the Festival to earn the recognition.

So, hurry up and click on event tickets. They are going fast. Next, pack up your sommelier knife and tastevin and get yourself to the Food and Wine Festival March 1-4. Then, anticipate on having your taste buds not only tickled, but pleasantly roughed up. Celebrate life, celebrate Charlerston.

To conclude, here are some parting quotes. "Wine is bottled poetry." "Blind tastings are to wine what strip poker is to love." "Wine gives courage and makes men more apt for passion." "When it comes to wine, I tell people to throw away the vintage charts and invest in a corkscrew. The best way to learn about wine is the drinking." Cheers.

It Was A Third Thursday With The King Of Rock'n Roll And The James F. Dean Theatre

The rain and clouds had cleared out. The 6 o'clock skies were beginning to darken. The day was bidding a final farewell to the setting sun and embracing the arriving night. The air was comfortably warm for a February Thursday. "It's Now or Never." The downtown festivities were underway and no one would be asking "Are You Lonesome Tonight." Starry-eyed amatuer astronomers were setting up their telescopes on the corner of Old Central and W. Richardson Ave with hopes of catching a glimpse of a distant neighbor in the Milky way.

Happy patrons were already filling the restaurants and shops "You Can't Help Falling in Love" with along South Main Street. Sounds of "don't you step on my blue suede shoes" and "a hunk, a hunk of burning love" filled the courtyard near O'Lacy's Pub. A black modified zamboni operated by a man dressed in a star-studded white jump suit and cape with long sideburns, a funky black wig, and sunglasses breezed on by belting out tracks of "Fools Rush In" and "Love Me Tender." My "Suspicious Mind" arrived at the obvious conclusion it was Elvis Presley Night in Summerville. It was another edition of Third Thursday.

Third Thursday is an signature event sponsored by Summerville D.R.E.A.M. and celebrated each month throughout the year. The goal is to foster community spirit and ensure Summerville's economic vitality by promoting its businesses. Residents and visitors from throughout the Lowcountry and from around the nation come to experience its famed historic downtown district which offers live music and entertainment, fine arts and crafts and more. It begins at 5:00 pm and runs till 8:00 pm.

My focus this past Third Thursday was the historic James F. Dean Theatre near the corner of South Main Street and W. Richardson Ave. This old theater was built in 1935. It flourished as Summerville's movie house until the mid 1960's, then also known as "The Show." In 1976 the Flowertown Players bought and renovated the theater installing state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment with an emphasis on highlighting local talent. The theater group offers some unique opportunities for those interested in the acting arts and the processes involved in live stage productions. You can volunteer to help design the costumes, the building of the sets, or be an usher with the benefit of seeing the show for free. You can also audition for one of the acting parts.

I was taking pictures and making an attempt at politely soliciting some inside information on the upcoming production "Wait Until Dark," a play that was made famous by the movie bearing the same name released in 1967 just a few years after the Summerville theater closed as a movie house. So, it is likely the movie starring Audrey Hepburn was never shown at the downtown theater.

"Wait Until Dark" highlights one of the scariest movie moments in film history. When I heard the play was appearing at the James F. Dean Theater, my curiosity was peaked. During my visit, I got a preview glimpse of the set, which was receiving the final touches for opening night. Now, I am keenly interested in seeing how the play will duplicate the famous scary scene. The theater staff graciously offered me two complimentary tickets to the first showing. It opens March 2nd at 8:00 pm. It was a successful Third Thursday.

The next Third Thursday will be March 15th. Come and join the party. At some point in the night you will find me at Aura Lee's Jewelry, Handbags & Accessories making southern small talk and drinking northern beer, which is made available for free courtesy of Aura Lee's. Stop by and say hello. I would very much like to meet you.

The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition February 17-19-A Wild Great Time

Often, with our busy day to day lives manufactured to ensure our own survival, we are regrettably distracted from giving due gratitude to the seemingly lesser things of this often very cold, cruel world, and if I may add without hesitation, it would be a colder, crueler world if these lesser things didn't exist at all. They have no clue as to why they do what they do, they just do. Only we, who are the crowning achievement of a master plan, have been endowed with the capacity to comprehend and understand their impact on our world. Only we have been gifted with the aptitude to appreciate the awe and spendor they unknowingly grace our lives with. They sustain us. They entertain us. They enrich us. They inspire us.

The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition is one of those rare occassions afforded to us where we can pay tribute to the wildlife we coexist with on this beautiful blue jem in space we call Earth. Our natural environment has been under merciless siege for many years and wildlife habitats have been shrinking at alarming rates. One of the Expostions lofty goals is to increase our awareness of the natural gifts which are increasingly taken for granted with hopes of resulting in a new environmental morality. It focuses attention on local, regional and global issues presented in a forum which brings these issues "home" and personalizes them, with the hope that one day attention to conservation and environmental issues will be common place. Its other mission is to have a positive impact on the local and statewide economies through increased tourism. This is all achieved through art, exhibits, lectures, school programs, and financial giving.

The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, now in its 30th year, will host over 100 of the worlds finest wildlife artists, and that includes 23 local artists. There will be nearly 300 exhibitors. Marion Square Park will present a Birds of Prey Flight Demo each day. The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary Show will be featured at the Gaillard Auditorium offering audiences the chance to see some amazing creatures and learn about their habits. There will be an Auction following Quick Draw and Speed Sculp at Charleston Place February 17, 5:00 PM. Complete list of events here.

Jack Hanna will be in attendance for a special treat. Jack Hanna has been educating people across the nation about animals for years. He has been a regular on the David Letterman Show and Larry King Live. Other shows include The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Hollywood Squares, The Maury Show, Entertainment Tonight, FOX News and CNN programs, and various other news programs (as a wildlife correspondent). The Columbus Zoo in Ohio is his home base. He has transformed the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium into a state-of-the-art park  with the additions of Zoombezi Bay (waterpark), Jungle Jack’s Landing, and the Safari Golf Club. The zoo's newest expansion is the Polar Frontier region featuring brown bears, arctic fox and twin polar bears. Two shows at the Gaillard Auditorium February 17, 11:00 AM and February 18, 1:00 PM.

Charleston's Theaters Offer High Class Entertainment And Opportunity For The Talented

Dock Street Theater stage

I recently did something I don't normally do. I watched the SAG Awards. I don't know what came over me. The beginning of the program captured my attention and from there I just lingered. At the opening credits, different actors and actresses who were nominated for awards recounted how they got into acting.

Listening to the nominees speak of their first experience with acting took me back many years ago, back to my first part on a stage in a live performance. I was eleven years old. It was a school play. I played the lead role as Robinson Crusoe in an adaptation of the novel written by Daniel DeFoe called "Robinson Crusoe." I also played a minor role as a pirate in the play. In my role as a pirate I wore the typical pirate eye patch. There was this one scene where I got the two characters crossed. I stepped out onto the stage as Crusoe wearing the eye patch. I forgot to remove it after the conclusion of a previous scene as the pirate. I didn't realize my wardrobe mistake until I looked out at the audience, and there was no turning back. Somewhat embarrassed, mostly self inflicted, I muddled through the scene. My error went unnoticed, not a word was said about it. The play was a success.

Dock Street Theater mezzanine seating

If you enjoy acting and would like to participate in a live stage performance, Charleston theaters offer opportunities for individuals to audition for parts in upcoming plays. I have personally given consideration to auditioning. I think it would be an enjoyable experience. I am just waiting for a good pirate role to come available. On a recent outing into Charleston, I walked through two of its theaters, talked to some of the staff, and took pictures. It was richly informative and no, I didn't see or hear any ghosts.

Charleston Stage is the resident acting company performing at the Dock Street Theater. The Dock Street Theater was the first building in America built exclusively to be used for theatrical performances. The original building burned in the Great Fire of 1740, which destroyed many of the buildings in Charleston's French Quarter. In 1809 the Planters Hotel was built at the location. The Hotel ultimately fell into disrepair and slated for demolition. It was saved and efforts began to turn it into a theater once again. It reopened in 1937 as the Dock Street Theater. In 2007, it closed again and after a three year 19 million dollar renovation, the theater opened its doors again in 2010.

Dock Street Theater bar

The Dock Street, located at 135 Church Street, is a beautiful proscenium space theater with seating for 430 people--proscenium space refers to the front stage between the curtain and orchestra. The ornate wood interior gives it a warm, rich feeling. It has mezzanine seating with an excellent view of the stage and is outfitted with state-of-the-art lighting and sound. The theater hires actors from the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions for their Resident Acting Intern Program, which is held in February of every year. If interested contact Charleston Stage auditions. You can also volunteer to work backstage or on costumes and scenery. If interested contact Charleston Stage volunteer opportunities.

Footlight Theater stage

The Footlight Players are associated with the Footlight Theater located at 20 Queen Street. The building was originally an old cotton warehouse built in 1850. At first, it was only used for storage and scenery construction. After a dramatic renovation in 1986, the Footlight Players moved into the building for good. During my walk through, I noticed all the seats had a small metal plate mounted on the backs with names of people engraved on it, some stating "In memory of" and others "In honor of." They are individuals who made donations to the theater, some still living, some not. When those still living buy tickets for plays they can request their permanently reserved seat, if they choose to do so.

Painting on a wall in Footlight Theater

The Footlight Players are very similar to the Flowertown Players when it comes to auditions. It is open to the public. They are presently taking auditions for "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged)" scheduled for opening March 29 and will run to April 7. March 4 and 5 auditions will be held for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Six men and seven woman will be needed to fill the roles. March 18 and 19 auditions will be held for "Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)." Two men and two woman will be needed for that play.

The Flowertown Players, James F. Dean Theatre in Summerville, held open auditions on January 10th and 11th for the 1966 stage play written by Frederick Knott called "Wait Until Dark", which will be presented beginning March 2nd. The film adaptation released in 1967 starring Audrey Hepburn thrilled audiences and was ranked tenth on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments for its climactic scene. Perhaps, you remember the climactic scene when the theater dimmed its lights, then turned them off after each light on-screen was shattered one by one by Susy Hendrix(Audrey Hepburn), resulting in the theater being plunged into complete darkness. Seconds ticked off in that heightened state of suspense. Then surprisingly, the killer leaped from the shadows. My friends literally jumped out of their seats. It will be interesting to see how the Flowertown Players will duplicate that infamous scary scene.

So, join in the fun of acting, if you dare. If not, buy a ticket and enjoy the show. You can not beat the feel of a live performance. Maybe, you will see some crazy guy up on the stage wearing an eye patch, wielding a sword, and inviting you to "Drink up me hearties. Drink up."

The Broadway Musical That Is "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"-Now In Charleston

"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Even though the sound of it is something quite atrosicous! If you say it loud enough, you'll always sound precocious." Who could forget a word like that? For as long as it is, it is a simple word to repeat. Then there was "A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down."

Everyone remembers "Mary Poppins." She was the "Harry Potter" of the 1960's. Although, she did'nt fly around on broomsticks at the speed of sound waving a wand with magical powers. She floated around on a magical umbrella helping children everywhere when they were most in need and singing happy songs. Because Mary was "Practically perfect in every way."

"Mary Poppins" was a 1964 musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, produced by Walt Disney. It won the Academy Award for Best Actress and the film also won Oscars for Best Film Editing, Original Music Score, Best Song, Best Visual Effects, and received a total of 13 nominations. The movie was based on the Mary Poppins books series by P. L. Travers with illustrations by Mary Shepard.

As with all movies, the storyline sometimes goes alittle different than the book. In the movie, Mary was not only firm, but kind and gentle as well. In the book the character was strict and pompous. Not quite the kind of lead character you would see in a Disney movie unless you were casting for a cruel step mother or an evil queen with a magical mirror. And definately wouldn't be singing and dancing to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". Also, Mary Poppins was George Banks(the children's father) own nanny when he was a child, but was left out of the movie, except for few hints, you would miss it if you aren't paying close attention.

Mary Poppins is now one of the biggest stage musical successes to emerge from London and New York in recent years. It is now appearing at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center for a four-day engagement, February 1 to 4. The New York Post gives it a 4 out of 4 star rating. Variety raved about it saying, "This is the rare touring production that over-delivers on every level." So, gather up the kids and join in the fun. They will forget about Harry Potter, at least for a short time, and will be singing "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." Tickets and times.

Disney World Is Never Too Far From My Thoughts-Always Entertaining And Fun

It is amazing how certain smells and sounds can evoke memories. It is a sense similar to deja vu, but not as haunting. Deja vu is a sensation that a present experience you are undergoing has genuinely happened in the past, but the exact circumstances of the prior encounter are uncertain and were perhaps an illusion. It's the "I've been here before" syndrome. I have personally experienced such feelings, but I assure you it had nothing to do with having seen the future. Some things appear familiar because they remind us of a similar event or happening that resides deep in our memories and overtime became vague, but not forgotten.

There was a film, perhaps you have seen it, bearing the title "Deja Vu" that featured Denzel Washington in the lead role. In the movie he worked as an ATF agent, Doug Carlin, who was investingating a horrific bombing of a ferry in New Orleans. While investigating, a woman's body was found near the site of the bombing and he makes a connection between that and the ferry incident, even though the timming of the two incidents didn't corralate. Soon after, he is approached by a man, played by Val Kilmer, who was involved in a secret government project and asked if he would be interested in assisting the group in their investigation. The project experimented with folding time over itself through the use of worm holes, so they could view the past, and by such a method, solve the crime.

At first, Carlin thought he was just watching videos from cameras and satelites. He suggested they follow the woman's everyday past activities. He had a hunch it would lead them to the bomber. Then, he realized it wasn't just video tapes he was watching, but was the actual past. To make the long story short, he gets sent back in time, prevents the bombing, saves the girl, but he himself gets blown up in the process, that is, his future self. Then, his past self is called to the bombing scene and meets for the first time the woman his future self just saved, in the past. He experiences a moment of deja vu and ends the movie with the word, "Naw."

Well, that's deja vu. The feeling I am refering to is more likely a deja entendu. A response to a scent or sound that triggers a memory of a real past experience or place. You may wonder where am I going with this, and rightly so.

I get this overwhelming urge to travel, and more recently, I have been contemplating on taking a trip that is long over due. So, I have been preoccupied with thoughts of places I have been and those I would like to return to. Today, I had one of those captivating moments. I was at Starbucks and just put in an order for my usual green tea frappuccino. While I waited at the end of the counter for it to be blended, the store atmosphere and chatter of the patrons evoked a memory. For a brief interim of time I was transported to the dining facilities in the French Quarter of Port Orleans, Disney World Orlando. I think it was the sweet smell of the pastries more than anything else that summoned the recollection.

Then there was the other day, I was watching "Braveheart." The clansmen were playing the outlawed bagpipes in a tribute to William Wallace's father who was murdered by the henchmen of Longshanks. Suddenly, I found my myself, not literally but figuratively mind you, whisked away to Disney Worlds Epcot World Showcase area. I was sitting in the cantina by the water in Mexico, sipping on a margarita, listening to the legato sounds of Scottish bagpipes drifting over the water from across the way in Canada. The Celtic band, Off Kilter, were performing one of their nightly sets.

Disney World is never too far from my thoughts. I have traveled there often through the years and have built up quite a repertoire of fond memories with the family. The most memorable being the year I was in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney Hollywood Studios and also chosen to participate in the Studio Backlot Tour. Time marches on and all things change, even Disney.

All my kids are on their own now. That is good thing. As a parent, it is what you sacrifice for, to finally see them make their way in the world and succeed at it. I am now an empty nester and a senior citizen. It is strange to say that because I am truly a kid at heart and always will be. I am anxiously waiting for my grandchildren to become of age, so I can take them to "The Happiest Place on Earth."

Disney has long positioned itself as "The Happiest Place on Earth", and it goes to great lengths to maintain that illusion. I have watched and experienced its growth through the years with great enthusiasm. As the technologies advance, Disney embraces them with a ummatched passion dedicated to the idea, "If you can imagine it, you can do it." And 2012 is no exception.

Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland is undergoing a transformation and guests may get their first glimpse of the changes by summer. Star Tours re-opened May 20 to rave reviews. Its experience has been enhanced and now provides over 50 ride combinations, so riders will likely see something new every time they ride. Rapunzel, along with Flynn Rider from the Walt Disney Pictures animated feature "Tangled," are now greeting guests of all ages in a new interactive "play and greet." Two new eateries opened this past fall in Epcot's World Showcase Italy and Mexico pavilions. For the runners, there is Disney's Princess Half-Marathon Weekend-February 24-26, 2012.

Enough talk, enough dreaming, I'm ready to go. I just need someone to go with. Say the magic word and we are off. And when you do finally see me there, be sure to say hello.
Disney's Port Orleans Resort French Quarter
All Disney World accommodations

Take A Trip To Where "The Birds" Ruled The Skies

 

"It's the end of the world," said the man sitting at the end of the bar with a capricious smile and a drink in his hand. The place was Tides Wharf Restaurant located in Bodega Bay, CA. It was a scene from the Alfred Hitchcock classic thriller "The Birds." Bodega Bay was the place where Melanie Daniels(Tippi Hedron) was unexplainably attacked by a lone seagull while heading towards a dock in an outboard motor boat where her love interest, Mitch Brenner(Rod Taylor), awaited her arrival. The Tides Wharf Restaurant was where Mitch took Melanie to care for her bleeding head. Later, at the same restaurant, a debate ensued between some of the patrons as to the strange behavior of the birds. "Not likely," said a bird lover and amateur ornithologist concerning the likelihood of a bird exhibiting violent tendencies towards humans.

Birds have been known to swoop down on cats, and even people, if they consider them a threat to their nests. I have been a witness to such curious behavior. There have been times when I have observed a little bird menacing another bigger bird for some reason unknown to me, but to attack a human without provocation, that would be out of character in the world of birds. On one occasion, I was dive bombed by some seagulls while eating at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, but the birds were more interested in the food I was holding than taking out some anonymous vendetta against me. The family owned parakeets when I was just a toddler. I don't particularly recall any malevolent behavior on their part. Although, when it sat on my shoulder, it would peck my ear. It was somewhat bossy at times. Always told me to take out the garbage. Should I have been concerned?

The schoolhouse today

As the movie progressed the attacks from our fine feathered friends become more frequent and vicious. If you dare to watch the movie at some point in time you may want to close your eyes when Mitch's mother visits a neighbor friend. It isn't a pretty sight. Then there was the scene after the crows attacked the children as they left the schoolhouse. Mitch finds the school teacher(played by Suzanne Pleshette) laying on the ground outside her home. Let's just say the birds have a thing about eyes.

They seemed to defy the idea that birds of a feather flock together only. These were no mere random acts or isolated incidents. Their manuevers gave the appearance of being coordinated with one prime objective, punish man. The movie doesn't come right out and say that, Hitchcock leaves that up to us to figure out. At the climax of the movie, when Mitch and his family along with Melanie are forced to leave their battered home, one of the birds takes a parting shot with a peck to Mitch's hand as if to say, "It isn't over. It's only the beginning."

Scene from movie inside Tides Wharf Restaurant

  
Thus was the premace of Hitchcock's first horror/fantasy film that scared audiences back in the early sixties. Bodega Bay was the setting he chose. It is a real place just north of San Francisco in the Sonoma Coast region. Hitchcock chose it because of its foggy weather and skyline, which at that time was subdued and open. It has been about fifty years since the movies release and the Visitor Center in Bodega Bay receives thousands of Hitchcock fans every year.

You can visit the Tides Wharf Restaurant, it is a real place also, although it has been remodeled several times since and has expanded into a complex including an inn. The ranch and the dock where Mitch lived all burned down in the late 60's. The old Potter schoolhouse is the only original building used in the movie that stands to this day and you won't find it in Bodega Bay. It is located some six miles inland in the town of Bodega. The schoolhouse was an abandoned building when it was first discovered by Hitchcock and rebuilt for the movie. Years later, it became a bed and breakfast, but now is a private residence. You can take pictures of it, but no longer able to tour it. You could politely ask the present owner, but the response may not be as polite. I read that in a review. The school teacher's house next to the schoolhouse was only a facade built for the movie.

Some suspicous looking gulls in Charleston, SC

I was just a young man entering my teens in 1963 when "The Birds" made its debut. The movie has since been a favorite. My mother owned a copy on VHS, along with other Hitchcock classics, which were part of a collection. It came up missing quite frequently, but everyone in the house knew where it likely disappeared to. Hitchcock's spellbinding masterpiece has had an effect on my psyche. Whenever I see birds massing together I wonder, "Could this be it." There is a passage from the book of Revelation in the Bible that speaks of the birds being called to a great evening meal of God where they will eat the flesh of men. I wonder if Alfred had this text in mind when he was first inspired to write the script and storyboards?

One last parting thought. The ending we have become accustomed to seeing in the movie was not part the original script. The ending that was supposed to be was scraped due to costs. Picture in your mind the great Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco covered with birds. "It's the end of the world."