I liked the 3-dimensions shown in this San Francisco Pacific Heights apartment building. To make it a bit more interesting I added some art effects.
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Here is an interesting dresser made out of rulers, spotted in a shop in the Hayes Valley area.
Here is some “hula art” hanging on a cyclone fence around some Hayes Valley restaurants.
After the 1989 earthquake, some of the freeway ramps in San Francisco collapsed. The city used the opportunity to relocate some of the ramps from gorgeous (the Embarcadero) or interesting (Hayes Valley) areas. They redeveloped the areas that were now free of transportation blight.
There’s a lovely park in the Hayes Valley with interesting shops and a coffee vendor serving cold-brewed ice coffee (delish) and an ice-cream shop.
I didn’t sample the ice cream, but the flavors looked interesting.
The park is a nice place to relax.
The stores are trendy. This clothing store is built out of shipping containers.
I’m very happy to be on a “writer retreat.” One of my critique partners moved away almost 2 years ago and is back for a visit. We’re spending a few days surrounding a Donald Maass workshop (The Fire in Fiction) to talk about our goals, projects and life. While technology has allowed us to continue meeting via Google chat, face-to-face time satisfies a human need for connection on a deeper level, I find. What do you think?
Although we haven’t earned spring or summer in California because we’ve had a long string of days like this (today):
Brisbane, California
I’m still excited by the first signs of spring. Look at this little visitor who came to our driveway a couple days ago.
We enjoyed a gorgeous day in San Francisco on Friday. I used to live there, but I didn’t feel like doing local things. I wanted to be near the wharf and I was longing for a loaf of San Francisco sourdough bread. We found a funky restaurant upstairs at Pier 39 with an outdoor area that was one long narrow table along the porch. We had garlic fries and onion rings, beer and lemon drops (respectively), and people watched. As an aside, it was a total junk food day for me but I managed to keep it vegetarian! Breakfast was an asiago cheddar pretzel at Starbucks. Lunch was fries, rings and lemon drops, and dinner was sourdough and butter.
We were allowed to sit as long as we wanted, no pressure. I was amazed to find this spot at such a tourist trap area. My hubby spotted it. It was called The Eagle Cafe. Here are views from our table:
We thought this seagull wanted a ride out to where the fish are, but once the ferry pulled out of the marina, he left his post and found another high spot. He just wanted to be up high.
Here’s the view from the entry to the cafe:
The sunset over the city was gorgeous as we drove out. It’s hard to get photos from a speeding car, but I did my best for you:
Love is what it’s all about–
but food is a close second.
Nia Simone, November 28, 2013
I was asking an Australian friend if they have any holidays that are basically about food. Not really. Okay, so I have several Australian friends, many of whom I’ve met through blogging, so pipe up if you disagree! Of course, as you know, the food in Australia is amazing, so perhaps we don’t need a specific holiday centered on feasting there.
Australia is my other home, and this is becoming clear as one fellow blogger thought I was Australian. I love Australia and my Australian friends. Today is an American holiday, though, and I’m going to celebrate it by starting this celebration of food off with home-grown and home cooked foods before moving on to some of my international culinary samples.
Home grown and home-cooked:
Vegan Thai
Lentil saladYummy ingredientsDinner time! (Very yummy)Vegan Thai with other veggies
Greenwich Village Manhattan:
Turophilia (excessive love of cheese) Greenwich Village, sign outside the cheese shopA bit of cheeseOctopus, beer and a dolmata at Boukies, Greenwich Village
Australia:
Barramundi at LorneStuffed squid at a tapas bar in Melbourne, DeGraves StreetJoe’s? I think, Sydney, by the riverSmoked salmon at Joe’s in Sydney
San Francisco:
Dessert at PiperadeAppetizer at PiperadePiperade Restaurant
Paris:
Christian Constant Restaurant startersI guess you could say wine was a big feature in Paris! This was dinner on the deck of our apartment.Veal — Opera HouseDeep fried Celeriac — Opera HouseCrepe de Frites Maison Robert on Champs ElyseesOpera HouseRolls, fresh, Opera HouseButter, Opera HouseTomato jam mozzarella bonito and basil sorbet, Opera HouseGreen pea soup cold with cream and goat cheese on toast, Opera HouseOpera House, Grey Goose is the house vodka
Rue Cler Produce outsideRue Cler Capuccino and Cafe Americain
Amsterdam:
Thai food
RijsstaaflAppetizers ready to go out to the deck of the houseboat
Texas:
The Brush FireTorchy’s Tacos, The Independent
More Manhattan:
Grilled camembert at The EateryMeat loaf ravioli mac and jack at The EateryLisa’s bagelSweet italian sausage risotto croquettesAt The Boathouse in Central ParkThe Boathouse, Central ParkFlor de Mayo, Peruvian restaurant upper west sideFlor de Mayo, Peruvian restaurant, upper west sideHot pretzel in Central ParkFlor de Mayo, Peruvian restuarant, upper west sideDeli, lower East sideSesame seed crackers at The EateryShmears at a deli in the upper west sideShmears, continued, at a deli in the upper west sideYet more shmears at a deli in the upper west sidePain au Chocolate at the Brasserie Pushkin across from the Museum of Modern ArtDining Room at Brasserie Puskin NYC
Blackbottom cheesecake from The Bake ShopGrasshopper (mint chocolate chip) from The Bake Shop
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