Ourpatchwork BayArea

BYTORHAUGAN

Even before I mademy westward relocation threeyears ago, Iknewalittleabout theBayArea. I couldtellyouthat Levi’s andWellsFargo,among the high-water marks of American consumerism andcapitalism, are headquarteredhere.

Butthe first interesting bitof trivia Ilearnedhad to dowith “Star Wars.”

Tomydelight,afriendtold me thatthe cranes thatstand at theOakland shorelineinspired George Lucas to create theAT-AT Walkers, whichfirst appeared in “TheEmpire Strikes Back,”the second filmofthe original trilogy. (If you don’tknow that“Star Wars” reference, youmaybeone of the four people whohaven’t watchedthe original trilogy.Do yourselfafavor, andcheckitout. Youcanthankmelater.)

Thattidbit satisfiedme on such adeeplevel—not only couldI sharethat knowledgewithvisiting familymembers and friends from out of town, but it gave me an odd senseofpride inthe regionIhad just embracedasmynew home.

Itseemedplausible, too. Lucas haslong livedin the BayArea. Lucasfilm andIndustrialLight & Magic, the effectsstudio founded by him,areheadquarteredinSan Francisco.

ButasIamassedmoreknowledge, I learned that the“Star Wars” “fact”was just asfictional as thestoryline ofthespace epic franchise itself.OthertidbitsIpicked up earlyon—including thatMark Twainsaid hiscoldest winter was a summer in San Francisco

Artist VikMuniz createdthe work at right by cuttingup postcards and assembling them into aniconic image. Thispiece, titled “Golden Gate Bridge,”is part of Muniz’s “Postcardsfrom Nowhere”series, which features notablecities andstructures fromaround theworld.

—turned outtobeequallyfalse (Twain never said that), however muchIwanted tobelieveinthem.

Happily, what I have learned about this area sincethenhas more than madeup forthat early disappointment. Turns out the cliche abouttruthbeingstranger than fiction is no fictionat all.

Thisis a placewheresuperlatives suchas “first”and“biggest”are commonlyused — and accurately so. A place where whimsy isbuilt into our homes. Aplacewhere the impossible — such as water flowing uphill —seems tohappenregularly.

Itis,in short,aplace brimming withhidden mysteries and little-known facts.

Thatgutter in thepark? That’s madefrom old headstones.That crackin the roadway? It was commissionedas apiece ofart. Thepicturesquebay you’velooked athundreds oftimes?It’s,on average,onlyabout as deepasa swimming pool.

Thetruthis, there aresomany interesting tidbits about the Bay Area thatweended upculling from morethan triplethe50 major factoids you’llseehere.And they’retrue — every lastone.

Prettysoon (assoon asyouflip thepage —faster than you can say “Sunol dog mayor”) you’llbe kneedeep in fascinatingmaterial about this region. Andthemore youlearn, the more you’llappreciate thiswonderful patchwork of culture, technologyand natural beauty we call home.

Curious?

Keepreading. Wehope youenjoy.

There are 12 images hidden in this illustration. Each represents acurious fact aboutthe Bay Area. Can you spot them?

Answers, Page82