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.