who is the villain?

 We had never been to the Creativity Theater in Yerba Buena Gardens before, but it was an excellent experience when I met Neti here yesterday to see R.O.I. a one act play that is just so timely and interesting. The Elizabeth Holmes character really does want to save lives but of course money and power have a way of messing everything up. I had not been able to walk around the Gardens in quite sometime and that was so enjoyable (bottom photo). Lots of changes, all for the good. And what? Sunshine?

we keep walking

 A few aches, pains and "mobility issues" these days, but there is always something to see and yes, I often have to force myself out of this comfy house with the non-stop lap cat. Fogust is a challenge but there is usually a bit of sunshine in the early afternoon. And always, the many joyful sights in this crazy city.

Sunday on the Embarcadero

 Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid kindly included me in their adventure to the Ferry Building yesterday. SF was a bit messy thanks to the Marathon, but we made it in time for lunch at Gott's and then to Book Passage for an author event, a friend and neighbor of the Blogmaid Family. Callisto Lodwick and her first novel. The top photo is a brand new and very cool mermaid next door to the Ferry Building. It was adorned and appreciated by the Blogmaid yesterday. A very nice SF day. 

the house on York Street

 Remember when I used to take the bus out for my museum job? Well, I passed this colorful house every time and I'm sure I posted about it. Anyway, it's a tribute to local Mission District rock musicians and now the city is going to give it some sort of Landmark Status and the owner (who has lived in this house forever) is ecstatic. Not everyone loves this wild house, but I do. 

the local news

 This was horrible, and unusual. The SF Bay is usually calm and boat accidents are rare. And this was a 49 foot cabin cruiser with three decks that capsized and sank quickly last Tuesday afternoon. Local boaters and fishermen and the Coast Guard rushed to help but it seems like 4 died while 17 were rescued. Such a tragedy for the passengers who were scattering aches and honoring someone who had passed away.

good Friday morning

 You can see the bank of fog out there which keeps SF so pleasant this week. But it is warm enough that we are here in the back room again. No fireplace for two mornings in a row. Annabelle is discombobulated and sitting on the laptop, making my morning reading and writing a bit difficult. I spent all of yesterday afternoon in the dental chair and today will be ever so much better. Back to Matisse!

a gentle June Sunday

 Top photo: the pink triangle for Pride month is installed up on Mt. Sutro, not that you can see it here. 

Middle: Precita Park with a little jam jazz band (on the right) and dogs and people and gorgeous weather.

Bottom photo: my garden from a new shady area that I created for tenants and now that I enjoy.

my city of color

My BFF Ginger used the expression "the tyranny of beige" from time to time and we have certainly avoided that here in San Francisco, thankfully. The purple jacaranda trees are in bloom and big and small houses add just the right amount of color, in my opinion. I am back to walking about 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day and there are always visual rewards.

this time of year

 Beautiful days and nights here in SF. This was from my back room at sunset ~ the photo doesn't really do it justice, but it wasn't touched up. My French tenant, Ari, heads back to Paris next week and I hope he only has wonderful memories of his stay here. In the Fall he will attend MIT. This has been such a good experience for me. I am adaptable after all (sort of). 

my sunny city

 Step daughter, Nancy, and her husband, Scott, left a cold and rainy Illinois yesterday morning and all they wanted was sun. Success. We had a good walk at Fisherman's Wharf and an early dinner at the Crab House at Pier 39. Of course it's a "tourist place" but we were impressed and happy with the food and service. I look forward to taking Sister Jane to the Crab House on her next visit. The "kids" will be here for a week but plan to visit their daughter Ceci up in Nevada City for a few days. 

lazy (but pretty) mornings

This was sunrise yesterday ~ purple haze. Sun reflecting off our skyscrapers. Rain then sun then more rain. One of my exercise gurus on Instagram warns me that sitting is the new smoking. And so I push myself out of the comfy chair and turn off the fireplace, displacing and displeasing Annabelle.
 

very bad timing

 Poor merchants, symphony, ballet, theater, restaurants, tourists. This time we are fine here in Bernal Heights but much of my city still suffers this morning. It started yesterday about 3:30 pm and what a mess. All the Waymos were confused and called home (wherever that is) and a few BART stations were closed. Some sort of fire in a PG&E substation. Drat.

like a bird on a wire

 I snapped this photo yesterday before sunset because the crows were all lined up there on the right. This city has magical light this time of year, in my opinion, and that is one of the reasons artists flock (get it?) here. This Leonard Cohen song from 1969 has always appealed to me:

Like a bird on the wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free
Like a worm on a hook
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee

lunch at Perry's

 I met Ken (the Person) down on the Embarcadero for a really nice lunch after a fine solo walk from 4th Street to this classic (dare I say iconic?) restaurant. Good food, good conversation and I'm happy to report that Perry's was packed and my SF streets bustling with people. An excellent Wednesday.

simple pleasures

 Doesn't this look like a painting? Yesterday afternoon I walked in the nabe and stopped for an overpriced latte on 24th Street. Worth it. I did some serious people watching and read my July 28th New Yorker and let my iPhone count my steps. I love this city, but you already know that...

random SF scenes

 The top photo is from Neti's kitchen window ~ she lives in Twin Peaks. Gorgeous. Then this brand new Lili's Candy Shop on 26th Street, right across from a school. I bought a little sweet and talked to the owner  and admired her fun and colorful store. I hope she succeeds. 

guerrilla benches

 The San Francisco Bay Area Bench Collective has built and installed eight wooden benches near bus stops where we need them most. Of course the city officials are having a fit and worrying about law suits and insurance and paperwork and blah, blah. But it sure feels good to sit some days, right?

Treat Street

 In the middle photo you can see me admiring the big white cat garage door art yesterday. Jen and her two dogs snapped this one and I took the other two. So beautiful. This kind of street art is something I did not see while driving around neighborhoods in Chicago. But maybe I just missed it? It's always such a happy surprise when artists share their work with us in the big, bold fashion.

we did Dogpatch

 Doug and Barb have been traveling a lot, but we got together yesterday to enjoy a fine serendipitous lunch at Guilianna's Just for You Cafe on 22nd Street in the Dogpatch district of SF. None of us had been here before, but Doug found parking across the street, so of course that was such a good sign. Excellent burger and sandwiches and beignets for dessert. So lovely being with my friends again and very nice of them to treat, even though I offered. Honest.

Japantown Rainbow Coalition

 Amy and I were surprised and delighted by this happy celebration in Japantown yesterday. We were unclear on the concept of Japanese German Shepard dogs, or maybe this guy was just a dog walker or who knows? San Francisco is a strange and wonderful city. Lovely weather too!