Laser cutters, 3D printers, sewing machines, injection molders, welders, notchers, planers, lathes, hand tools, computers. Enter TechShop, San Francisco—three vast floors of every kind of maker’s tool imaginable. TechShop is a community based workshop on a mission to democratize access to the tools of innovation. “Any given day its a mix of hobbyists, artists, people who … more…
Beck’s latest album, Song Reader, echoes the time when popular songs were played at home, around the parlor piano, porch guitar or grandpa’s harmonica. Existing only as loose-leaf sheet music, Song Reader is an album for listeners to play for themselves. Since Song Reader’s release in December 2012, Beck fans all over the world have … more…
If you had one hour, one table and a rapt audience, what would you demo at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art? On Thursday & Friday, May 30 and 31st, The Making Of… goes live at SFMOMA. In the final days before their three-year expansion and renovation project, SFMOMA is planning a museum-wide extravaganza … more…
We visit the studio of Berkeley-based painter Judith Belzer as she prepares her new show, Edgelands, up now at the Morgan Lehman Gallery in New York through April 27. This story was produced by The Kitchen Sisters and Lauren Benichou & Ashley Richardson. See the paintings from Edgelands and more of Judith Belzer’s work at … more…
Treatbot, the karaoke ice cream truck, is a silver bullet on wheels that churns out gorgeous ice cream and hot music as it plies the streets of San Jose. The flavors they make from scratch reflect the founder’s Filipino heritage and the cultural diversity of the neighborhoods in and around San Jose. So, grab a … more…
This story was produced by Lauren Benichou for The Making Of… “Paul’s Hat Works is a 100-year-old hat shop in San Francisco’s Richmond District. Four ladies run the shop and fabricate custom-made men’s hats. One of the owners, Olivia Griffin, took me on a tour and shared the secrets of her craft. I spent two … more…
Tad Hurst, an ER physician, called The Making Of… Storyline to tell us about the line of bags he makes from the straps used by paramedics. Listen: See some of Tad’s bags here. more…
Anyone who has been involved in the Bay Area indie rock scene over the past decade probably knows George Chen. He’s booked countless shows, played in tons of bands, and released dozens of records on his Zum imprint. Last year, Chen turned his gaze to comedy. He began performing standup, started a multimedia comedy show … more…
Traverse the 600-mile trail that connects California’s 21 missions. Peer behind an ornate mission altarpiece that, for more than two centuries, has hidden murals painted by the Ohlone Indians. Uncover the mysteries of Mission Dolores’ ancient cemetery. CyArk, a non-profit digital scanning company based in Oakland, is creating the digital El Camino Real, documenting some of … more…
Tonight, the City of Berkeley will designate January 22, 2013 as “Les Blank Day.” The proclamation they wrote in his honor is beautiful and we asked permission to print it on The Making Of… blog: IN HONOR OF LES BLANK WHEREAS, Les Blank was born in Tampa, Florida and attended Tulane University where he played … more…
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MindShift reports on technology and education from KQED in San Francisco