the Jewseum on Friday

 My favorite (other then the bagel and lox lunch) was the bright pink/red/orange Star of David. I met Bev at the Contemporary Jewish Museum and learned a lot about neon art yesterday. It is almost as much about science as it is about art. Fascinating. We had both been warned by friends about protesters, but there weren't any there and it was a smooth a really interesting adventure.

Jim Henson at the Jewseum

 Thanks to my friend Bev (top photo) we had a splendid morning at the Contemporary Jewish Museum and the Jim Henson exhibit was way better than I had expected. So much talent and imagination and love of life. Then we had lunch at the Wise Brothers outdoor cafe and caught up on our lives. Wonderful! 

first we take Manhattan

 It will be impossible to describe the Leonard Cohen exhibit at the Juseum. Is is art? Not really. It is an experience and so profound and mesmerizing that all I can do is urge you to see it if possible. I'm still feeling a little wobbly from all my emotions. I remember the time that Dancing Jen and I saw Mr. Cohen in person ~ what a wonderful night that was. Gratitude abounds.

like a bird on a wire

 The Leonard Cohen exhibit isn't open yet at the Jewish Museum, but there were a couple of tribute pieces there by (ta da!) Judy Chicago who is one of his many fans. I had a delightful Downtown trip yesterday and am happy to report that the City is coming aive again. "I have tried in my way to be free." And bring your Vax card and ID, but that's OK.

Roz Chast rocks

Yesterday we hit the Jewseum and spent some happy/sad time with the work
of Roz Chast, one of our favorite New Yorker cartoonists. The above is
actually a subway car filled with shell-shocked life travelers. This is
an excellent exhibit and I recommend it highly, but there is a lot of sorrow
along with the humor. Just like life, no?

at the Juseum

On Saturday we visited the Contemporary Jewish Museum and enjoyed
this exhibit about books and the famous people who love (and donated)
their favorite for this show. Nicely done. Then we had lunch with our
friend Carlini across the street at the Buckhorn Grill. He has signed a lease
for two more years on his apartment in Walnut Creek and that makes us
very happy as he tends to move around a lot. Army brat. We love that he
is back in our life.

Sunday in the City

Salvador Dali by Arnold Newman

The Golden Star on Walter U Lum Place

...and right next door

Husbando and I thought the Arnold Newman exhibit at the Jewish Contemporary
Museum was quite fabulous. Some 200 black and white photos of famous actors,
artists, sculptors, writers, etc. - well worth seeing if you have the opportunity.
Mr. Newman was famous himself back in the 50's and 60's and many of his
photos were in Life and Look Magazines. Remember those publications?

Then I hiked up to Portsmouth Square to meet Dancing Jen. She treated me
to a delicious lunch at the Golden Star where the owner and all the waiters
treat her like royalty. I ventured downtown too and enjoyed myself, it isn't
crazy with holiday nonsense yet.

a trip to the Jewseum

We had a very pleasant time at the Contermporary Jewish Museum yesterday.
There were four REAL women playing Mah Jongg in the center of that show
and some delightful photos, art and actual Mah Jongg sets on display. I
especially enjoyed that exhibit. Designing Home upstairs wasn't my
of 1950's cup of tea, but people who appreciate architecture and home
decor would certainly enjoy it the many pictures and actual pieces of
stark and bland furniture from the past. The Wise Bros. deli was busy!

a day downtown (in the rain)

Kehinde Wiley in Israel

the art of Ezra Jack Keats

I met Ginger downtown for a long coffee-and-talk, then we marched to a
couple of stores, then to the Jewish Museum where we viewed these two
exhibits. By far we both loved the Keats paintings best, he was a fascinating
man. Wiley paintings are mostly Ethiopian Jews and Arabs living in Israel.
He's telling an all-male power story that doesn't really resonate with this
woman, but the colors are spectacular and worth seeing on Free Tuesday.

yet another museum?

The Jewish Contemporary Museum

Last Sunday Husbando and I spent an hour or so at this exhibit of black and white photos from the NYC group of artists, many of whom ended up on McCarthy's black list for being Communists. Their goal was to show a side of life that had not been highlighted before and there are some truly outstanding photographs. If you are a photography buff, you will appreciate this show.

california dreamin'

Handwritten wishes on the tree outside the CJM

Perfect weather for a museum visit

Tiny trees on the floor ~ don't miss this, 2nd floor

We were told that the California Dreaming exhibit at the Jewish Museum
was pretty special so yesterday morning Husbando said, "take me to my
people," and off we went for some interesting history of the Jews who
came to Northern California and were so very giving and influential. I was
entranced by some old grainy movies of people enjoying Sutro Baths
and walking on Ocean Beach in full dress about 100 years ago. We both
highly recommend this exhibit and then go upstairs for...

Trees. The one I've highlighted above is worth the whole trip. Walk around
the entire circle. There was a little girl lying on the floor studying every
single tree, it was so special. The Wishing Trees in front of the museum
were filled with lofty ones like World Peace, but my particular favorite
was "I wish I lived in San Francisco" and yes, I'm so glad we do.

no opera, but that's OK

To our amazement, Don Giovanni was sold out last night, so no
bargain tix available. Drat. Instead we decided to go to the Jewish
Contemporary Museum to see the Rabbi's son, but first and foremost
LUNCH. There is a new Turtle Tower at the unusual location of 6th
and Bryant, right next to all the bailsbondspeople and the jail and
all those lawyers. Very easy to get to on many bus lines, so we
took the #27 Bryant and had a fine and v. reasonable lunch. There
was a line outside at 11:45am, but it moved quickly. Good food and
we saw a woman with her own chopsticks ~ fold-up in a pretty case.
Ellen will like that!
This is an interesting exhibit. Houdini not only knew magic, he
understood crowds and our fear of enclosed spaces, heights and
drowning. At one of his events there were 80,000 watching him
dangle from a building. Fascinating stuff.

back to the jcm

The Jewish Contemporary Museum ~ Mission St. side

Yesterday Ginger and I "did" the JCM between lattes and lunch.
First to see Charlotte Salomon again and then upstairs for the
fabulous Gertrude (and Alice!) Stein exhibit. Lots of photos and
notes and artwork. I felt like I knew these women in a new and
more intimate way than I ever had before. Highly recommended!

I need me some downtown time

First stop yesterday was the magnificent Charlotte Salomon
exhibit at the Jewish Contemporary Museum. Do not miss
this chronicle of the life of a very talented woman who died
at age 26 in Auschwitz. I'll be going back next week. Husbando
met me here and then I had to dash off to my eye doc (all
fine there) while Hbo studied all 300 paintings.
This is my first DECENT photo using my iPhone. I have about
5 of various sidewalks about town. You can see the round
SFMoma yonder ~ I'm sitting in front of the JCM at this
point. Note blue sky.

After the eye doc (who chatters on and on) I had a latte and
did a Macy's run-through. Then I went back to catch the
Muybridge exhibit at SFMoma. The huge panorama of SF
from California Street in 1878 makes the whole show
worthwhile. Lots of people like the moving horse movie
thing (an entire room!), but that's not my shtick. The
talented photographer was a whack job, it appears, changing
his name about 4 times in his life. Closes June 7th.

What a great day I had in Frisco, how I needed that!