Create Art At Stanford's Cantor Museum, Explore The Anderson Collection, Enjoy A Classic Movie At The Stanford Theatre
A favorite rainy day weekend trip to get out of the house to enjoy some art and old movies.
This is part of a series of family-oriented day trip outings around the San Francisco Bay Area I look forward to enjoying once social distancing isn’t the norm any longer.
Cantor Museum at Stanford University by Cody Tolmasoff
Social Isolation — Day 3
First day with no school. My oldest had assignments from her high school, but my youngest is still waiting for more information from her school for distance learning so we learned about embroidery. Something to keep her hands busy.
Around noon there were reports of shelter in place orders pending. Feeling like this might be my last opportunity for a while to take care of things, I dashed out to pick up a prescription for my pop, and stop by the supermarket to get some fresh eggs and dairy. The lines at Whole Foods and another local Asian market I stopped at were significant. But I managed to finish up by the time the announcement came. Shelter in place order starting at midnight, lasting through April 7th (likely).
7 million people living in the Bay Area must stay home, and it’s so important. Who knew that staying home could save a life?
Today I imagined one of my favorite rainy day weekend outings, the Cantor Museum on the Stanford Campus.
Destination: Palo Alto
Check out an art box at the Cantor Museum
Explore the modern Anderson Collection next door
Catch a classic double feature at the Stanford Theatre
Two free museums, offering art supplies to your budding young artists. Then head down to University Avenue for a bite to eat and catch an inexpensive classic double feature with popcorn that won’t make you broke.
Cantor Museum
The Thinker by Rodin at the Cantor Museum by Cody Tolmasoff
Free weekend parking
Free entry
Free to check out an art box for your child
What a gem of a museum. I like to think of it as a smaller, friendlier version of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. This spot has so much win, and when you are stuck indoors on a rainy weekend afternoon, this is a great spot to take the kids.
What do we get visiting? First, free parking! What better way to start out your visit? Approaching the museum, you can encounter several notable installations. The primary entry has a classic look with a columned entrance. Once you are inside, be sure to check with the front desk and ask about checking out an Art Box. It will probably come with some paper and colored pencils, it’s a great opportunity to stop periodically through your visit and create your own art.
The Cantor packs in a lot to see, and on select weekends they offer some family programs. Their Rodin collection (both inside and outside the museum) is massive, including The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, and The Three Shades. African Art, Asian Art, Diebenkorn, Muybridge, Native American Art, even a serpentine sculpture by Andy Goldsworthy is out front. Be sure to check out Sequence in the courtyard between the two museums.
Once you wrap up with the Cantor, you can wander next door and spend some time with Modern Art at the Anderson Collection, you don’t even have to move your car.
Anderson Collection
Entering the Anderson Collection at Stanford University by Cody Tolmasoff
Modern and contemporary American paintings and sculptures. This collection is smaller than the Cantor, so you probably don’t have to spend quite as much time here. I enjoy asking my kids leading questions as we stroll around the collection. They have great reactions.
On the second Sunday of the month, they offer family hands-on activities, art boxes, and family-friendly museum tours, different themes every month.
Stanford Theatre
Double feature
Wurlitzer organ entertainment during intermission
Opening in 1925, this was Palo Alto’s premier movie house. In the late 1980s, David and Lucille Packard hosted a Fred Astaire Film Festival. Then, they purchased the theater, restoring it to its original glory.
It’s now run by the non — profit Stanford Theatre Foundation showing double features of classic Hollywood films.
Tickets are $7/$5 Adult/Youth & Seniors, cash only. Popcorn, candy, and sodas are affordable. And in their annex, you can find a great collection of classic movie posters.
Not all films are great options for kids, but keep your eyes open for some fun shows to enjoy with the family.
The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ — It literally pops up from the orchestra pit during intermission — by Cody Tolmasoff
Pro-Tip: Pizza My Heart is a great spot to grab a slice and a soda before the show.
Where are your go-to locations on a rainy day?
Cody Tolmasoff is an author and publisher for Adventuring.in. He is a recovering programmer and a San Francisco native, raising two daughters, and regularly finding new adventures around the SF Bay Area. This article is an excerpt from an upcoming book, 52 San Francisco Bay Area Weekend Adventures, Day Trips With Your Kids!
Find him on Twitter @codyo, and read his most recent title Adventures in Getting Out on Amazon, filled with advice on successfully getting your family out for day trip adventures.
Originally published on Medium on 16 March 2020