San Francisco Day 2

Wednesday | March 16

By Tuesday night, I had planned out areas to check out for Wednesday and Thursday. Thanks to my obsessive checking of the weather, I decided to keep my bike riding for "sunny" Thursday. So Wednesday was set for exploring the Mission area.

If you go to The Westin San Francisco Market Street, you can ride the exterior elevators up to Floor 32 to see a grand view of San Francisco. (I went up and down about 4 times.)


I love this sign at a busy playground. It's a warning for predators—"HEY YOU CREEP, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!" It's also empowering for children to know that THEY run the playground and have authority in creating a safe space. (I also think that it's a way for the law to restrict homeless people to occupy the space and make children/caretakers wary.)


I'm walking down Mission Street and I spot this amazing looking church in the distance. It's like a pink sand castle. It turns out to be Mission Dolores, the church that basically started San Francisco.


So as I headed toward the church from Mission street, I stopped at a gallery. I wasn't sure whether to go in or not because I was so drawn to the church, but I spotted a very small etching that that I enjoyed and walked in. Little did I know it was Creativity Explored!!

"We are a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art."

When I saw the book "Fears of Your Life" by Michael Bernard Loggins, I freaked out. I had recently listened to the rebroadcast of his act in This American Life Ep. 234: Say Anything. I walked around the studio area in awe, talking to several artists and experiencing their work.

I was so incredibly happy.


Michael was there and dedicated a copy of his book to my friend Maryann!! I talked with him and Melody Lima, who is CE's first studio artist, for a pretty long time. I kept saying that I was leaving, but I just couldn't! The energy there was so alive.


I can't get enough of these pretty houses.


I had to get some Mexican Food as recommended by a local. This shrimp burrito was banging at El Toro Taqueria. When you pay at the register, they ask if you want tortilla chips, which you can't really say no to because they're RIGHT THERE. For $0.50, they're worth it as there's a free "toppings" bar with at least 5 types of salsa, slices of radish, fire-grilled jalapenos, etc. etc. Fuck Chipotle.


There's an alleyway across the street from El Toro covered with murals, tags, and stickers.






Oh Mission Bicycle Company, your bikes are so damn pretty that I can't even look at or touch them in fear of this overwhelming wanting of creating one for my own enjoyment. BUT, I already have a beloved bike and at the starting rate of $750, it's an unneeded luxury item.

OVERHEARD: "Dude, we haven't sold a frame all this month." To be honest, I didn't more than 2 cyclists ride "could-be Mission" hipster bikes during my stay. Unless they're selling to people outside of SF, SF people really need gears to commute.


I spotted a cheesy pair of snake skin pants in the "CLUBBING" section of a thrift store. HILARIOUS, thrift store, HILARIOUS.


Mission Dolores Park. Extremely nice place to chill.


My bounty of books for Day 2!!
Creativity Explored
Needles & Pens
Paxton Gate's Curiosities For Kids
Mission: Comics & Art


I was so pooped from carrying all my new books while walking all around that I just needed to rest after coming back to the hostel.


Tom Yum Noodle Soup with mixed seafood at Osha Thai Noodle Cafe
Waiter: How spicy?
Me: Ehhh, pretty spicy. I give him a squint and nod.
This was by far the spiciest thing I've ever had in my life. It was practically burning my stomach lining. It was delicious. I'm salivating for it right now.

Successful end of Day 2 in San Francisco.
Never been so happy in my life.

San Francisco Day 1

Tuesday | March 15

Going to Vegas was my first trip out west, so why not spend a few days in San Francisco? I've traveled to/explored other cities before, but this was my first solo trip. I had no plan except booking one night at a hostel. At the hostel, I looked at a few maps and points of interest and came up with a mental 3-day plan of what neighborhoods to visit and sights to see (and foods to eat).

First stop—SF CHINATOWN! Lots of colorful narrow streets. I just finished my morning coffee and now I'm searching for a bowl of soup noodles. I ask a few shopkeepers where to go.


Seafood noodle soup at Golden Star Vietnamese Restaurant. The noodles are quite different from the rice noodles at the many Pho places I've eaten at in NYC. They're al dente, thinner, and have a nice chewy bounce.


I loved walking down the streets and seeing houses on higher or lower streets in the distance.


A few book covers caught my eye at City Lights Bookstore. There's a nook filled with DIY zines in the back.


At Fishermans Wharf.


Musée Mécanique is a cute place to visit at Fishermans Wharf. I stumbled through the back entrance having no idea what I walked into. It was like an era throwback.


Even the cute boats match the cute buildings in San Francisco.


Lombard Street, the "crookedest street in the world". So I guess going there during shitty weather was a plus since this place is a crazy popular tourist spot. I got a glimpse of it on my way to Fishermans Wharf having no actual interest in going, but decided to go for the hell of it on my way back to the hostel. I trekked uphill from several blocks away.


USA Hostels San Francisco—user-friendly and inexpensive. On the first night, the girl at the front desk, Brooke, drew a few places on the map and told me to avoid "this area", circling the Tenderloin area, which I walked through to get to the hostel. "That's why you smelled all the pot and piss while walking here." Yes, the smells of freshly smoked pot and the stench of old urine will always take me back to San Francisco.


"There's nothing good on that," says the sushi chef as I ordered the sashimi plate at Ryoko's Japanese Restaurant & Bar. "I'll make you a plate with the specials straight from Japan," he continues pointing at "Specials" board. "Okay, sure, why not?" I reply shrugging. The food was delicious! There was also a bowl of rice and a bowl of the creamiest Japanese tofu. He also served the tastiest homemade Ponzu sauce I've ever had with the halibut. I was very full in way that I never experienced before. Maybe it was a "healthy, satisfying" full, instead of my usual "I think I need to barf and/or lay down because I seem to have no control of the amount of food I'm stuffing myself with" full.

Successful end of Day 1 in San Francisco.

Coverings 2011 in Las Vegas

Yay I got to spend a few days in Las Vegas setting up a meeting room suite with my boss and coworker for the annual tiles show "Coverings 2011". I think I would go back to Vegas to see some shows (maybe some Cirque du Soleil shows or even that Jabbawockeez dance show, and OF COURSE, PEEPSHOW) and eat at a lot some buffet places. I only regret not seeing the Bellagio Fountain Show, BUT I guess there's always next time(?) Picture highlights:

Hanging by the Palazzo pool in our street clothes.


My co-worker Nancy made this! At the Palazzo Pool Shop.


Everything is CASINO-ized!! Even breakfast foods!


Nobody can resist putting a Benjamin in this baby.


My co-worker Howie made this!


Our meeting suite. Bling...bling. (Maryann's butterflies, Kat's Tiger)


Our new water cut dirty antique mirror tiles.


Sicis! Not as impressive as two years ago in Chicago.


That is all.

2-6

Thank you dear friends and family for coming to my birthday party, celebrating the 26 years that I have managed not to die. Thank you for having fun, eating heaps of food, drinking endless bottles of beer, sweating it out in the saunas, AND all the kind words and versions of "Happy Birthday" and other ridiculous irrelevant songs you decided to sing on mic. I had a blast.

Thank you Mom for the 2-pound cake that was set on fire.
Wishing the wishes that a Sandy would wish for.


LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!