We went to the Gregangelo Museum with deliberately limited knowledge about what to expect. I had a vague idea that it was some kind of interactive interior tour, but resisted looking at reviews (like this one!) so as to go in fresh, as unbiased as possible. My wife and i joined three strangers and enjoyed the truly fabulous interior design, and the “Facilitator” guide’s use of docent-like explanations as opportunities for probing therapeutic exercises (such as using interior props as encouragement to discover and publicly express specific stresses and personal resolutions). As an “Alice in Wonderland” fan, i appreciated occasional references to Wonderland, the Looking Glass, and the Rabbit Hole. Lots of deliberate whimsey on display.
The location is a bit off the beaten tourist tracks, but we could get there easily by Muni, SF’s under-appreciated transit system. Frankly, the admission ticket might be a tad much for normal tourists. The performance artistic tour isn’t for everyone, but it was for us. For whatever reasons, i hadn’t known about some worries of my wife until she was prompted to reveal them to our group, and such insight alone was worth the price of admission. Our guide (from Silver Spring, MD, not far from where i grew up) was engaged and experienced, using improvisational theatrical skills to enable introspection and sharing among the guests.
I think that the house interior is too precious to admit street shoes (did the owner really wear his roller skates into the house?!), and that tours should have guests change into or bring their own indoors slippers. (I live in Japan where that sort of thing is common.)
The official web site, which i browsed afterwards, is attractive and creative, but, curiously, the “Frequent Asked Questions” (sic) is empty.
We’ve been to comparable curated homes filled with idiosyncratic collections (such as House on the Rock in Wisconsin and the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City, LA), and although they are quite different from each another, i’d include this alongside them as a campier alternative with active guidance. They are hard to describe, which uncategorizability is part of their charm.
Some aspects were invariably a little bit disappointing, or even forced, but overall experience was generally positive, a high-bandwidth multisensory tour cum shallow counseling. When we get a chance next time we visit the Bay Area, we hope to do the parallel outdoor tour of the same home.
Response from Host
Apr 2023
Hi Michael ,
I appreciate you taking the care and time to share such personal detail of your experience here. I look forward to you returning for our private outdoor tour.
Though my personal favorite is “ Let’s do Lunch”
And yes it’s true , to this day , I still wear my Roller Skates inside the house. Though I consistently evolve the artistry , the only thing I really consider precious here are our guests like you.
Grateful
Gregangelo