another SF museum

WMD: Remembering Sandanapalas ~ Robert Colescott

Museum of the African Diaspora

Ginger emailed me to be sure and catch the exhibit here down on
Mission near 3rd. I have my magic museum badge which allows me
free entrance and took advantage of it yesterday. MoAD is a delight
so I went to see two of my favorites ~ Joan Brown and Squeak
Carnwath. And I loved them, as always, but then I found this piece
by Robert Colescott and I just couldn't seem to leave it. Amazing.
Next I went down to the second floor into a completely dark room and
listened to authors reading about the lives of slaves ~ one was Maya
Angelou and that certainly was moving and profound. This particular
abstract exhibit ends in two days and yes, I highly recommend it.

dinner for four, please

When I was young (and not exceedingly bright) I liked the BIG parties
with too much food, music and booze. That could be true of all of us,
but I can only speak for me and besides, it's MY blog, so there. Now
I so look forward to close friends, good food and pleasant conversation.
I like puttering around the house all day getting strange corners and
shelves dusted, buying flowers, setting a blue table, crossing things off
my list and answering the doorbell after I put on my shoes. The Great
Plotniks came for dinner last night (putenesca, salad, many berry pie)
and it was every bit as delightful as I had anticipated all through the day. 

distracted and concerned

I can't seem to think about anything other than the fact that our friend
Charlie Dowd has gone missing from an Amtrak train. He was last seen
on Thursday, and they found his luggage and cell phone in his sleeper
room. His family is searching in the midwest currently with fears that
he might have fallen from the train, but let's try to stay positive. This is
when social media shines ~ there is a special Facebook page that his son
and daughter update constantly and there are almost 3,000 followers, many
in the small towns where the train stopped. Charlie could have been dis-
oriented from assorted medications or lack of sleep. In the 20 plus years
that I've known him, insomnia was a way of life for him. Strangers doing
their best to help, this is when my faith in humanity is restored. But, I am worried...

no more grey buildings!

A brand new paint job for the photo business on Bryant and Mariposa
(I think). I walk by it when I go to the SPCA and I finally stopped to
snap a few pictures. There are always other awe struck people out there
with their cameras and iPhones because it is such a spectacular sight. 
There, your treat for Tuesday.

a salute to creativity

First, thanks to Paul Madonna for letting me borrow (ahem) the above.  He
is celebrating his 600th strip and his email today inspires us all. I have loved
his drawings constantly for the nine years since he was first published.

Yesterday was a quite wonderful gathering of Round Robins and I'm glad
I went to talk, read and comment. Jane and about 10 of us, and I think we
all left with gratitude and justifiable pride. The Writing Salon has forced
me to keep writing and I have met some very special new friends along
the way. I'm one of millions who just would not write unless I am pushed
with deadlines and the necessary "rah, rah, you can do it!"

mostly from the sea

outside

inside

OK, back to salads today. Last night Jack took us to the Waterbar down
on the Embarcadero (at Harrison). It was wonderful ~ oysters, crab,
duck, steak, more. So pretty with the Bay Bridge in the background
and the cylindrical fish tanks right inside the restaurant. All very,
very nice and we felt spoiled in our own city.

very special indeed

Last night Husbando's friend Jack treated us to a lavish dinner at Quince on
Pacific Avenue. It's one of those famous restaurants where little plates of
unusual perfection keep appearing and waiters explain everything and you
aren't afraid to ask if you use a fork or a spoon. See the woman standing
over in the corner? That was our table, but it's not the sort of place where
you take flash photos, so I restrained myself. And it's quiet, so we could all
hear each other. Jack's woman friend Barbara is a writer and she and I had
lots to talk about as we ooooohed and ahhhhhhed over every morsel.

OK, the food (in no particular order here): rigatoni and rabbit, tomatoes
and figs, suckling pig, crab risotto, luscious lamb chops, sorbet for
dessert and the strongest and tastiest coffee imaginable.  I could not
restrain myself and was forced to pick up the lamb bone for one last
exquisite bite. I know better and yet I'm sure the chef was beaming in
the kitchen. Really, it was a glorious evening and the glow remains today.

thanks, Mr. Paley

Woman with a Veil by Matisse

There is a small new exhibit at the deYoung ~ A Taste for Modernism,
from the NY MoMa. There are only about 60 pieces but they include:
Cezanne, Picasso, Derain, Gauguin, Bonnard and Matisse. William S.
Paley founded CBS and he purchased paintings to hang in his apartment
and then bequeathed them to MoMa with the request that they travel
every eight (I think) years. We are lucky to have them here through
the end of 2012.

Chef Pickle's secret ingredient

I'm sure she renders (ahem) her own, but Husbando spotted this treasure
at the cheese store on 24th Street in Noe Valley and brought it home,
despite the price. He's usually so frugal, but Chef P has convinced us
all that it is an essential part of great cooking, especially her matzo
ball soup every Passover. She is the daughter of a Presbyterian minister
and yet all Jews everywhere think her soup is the best. We already used
it in a potato/lemon/garlic recipe and it made all the difference in the world.
Alas, I can't justify the cholesterol business yet, but I will. Maybe
walking an additional 10 blocks?

my city at its best

First ~ a walk along the Embarcadero (Bay Bridge)

Huge new photo exhibit at Pier 24

Back to the Mish for Mr. Pollo lunch

We three (Husbando, Ginger and your intrepid blogger) had reservations at
Pier 24 for the new photography exhibit which includes Avedon, Friedlander,
Arbus, etc. ~ the best of the best. This site is directly (almost) under the Bay
Bridge and it's free (!), but you need to sign-up online. We spent about two
hours wandering around appreciating the amazing talent.

Back on BART to 24th and Mission for a lavish lunch at Mr. Pollo. The
two young guys here so love being chefs and even though the restaurant
looks seedy, the food is fresh and unbelievably delicious. Yesterday we
had chicken arepas (sort of like sandwiches) and some unusually yummy
fruit drinks. Outstanding.

We reminisced about 9/11 eleven years ago. Everyone did, and should.

as predicted...

Hannah

Pooky

Cody dog was adopted last week and of course I'm happy that he is in
his forever home, but I miss him. Sort of like when we used to have
intense crushes and the object of our desire didn't appear when we had
dressed especially for him.( Not ever, of course, once we were married,
I'm talking about before.) Anyway, at least I didn't wear my best jeans
for yesterday's dog feeding. I also visited a couple of cats ~ Pooky is
the size of Michael's (Seahorse) cat, he was also named Cody. And
RR's all-black Cody kitten ~ the world is a-whirl with Codies lately.

my friend the robot

Frank Langella is terrific here as he copes with memory problems. Of
course it's not a funny subject, but there were some amusing scenes and
some very sad ones too. I had a few questions about a couple of the plot
twists and turns, but the best part of the movie is the relationship of
Robot and Frank ~ his little helper keeps Frank on schedule and makes
sure he eats healthy foods. At one time Frank was a jewel thief, so
that keeps us all on our toes, including Robot. Yes, see it!

made in Norway

 

 

 

We loved the first half of this Flix® film, but then it became surprisingly

violent and some reviewers compare it a Tarantino movie. It does move

a long quickly and somehow even when we knew we were being manipulated,

it was still fun in an unbelievable way.  Here is a professional (stolen) review:

Headhunters stars the talented Aksel Hennie ('Max Manus') as Roger, a 

charming scoundrel and Norway's most accomplished headhunter. Roger 

is living a life of luxury well beyond his means, and stealing art to subsidize

his expensive lifestyle. When his beautiful gallery owner wife introduces

him to a former mercenary in the possession of an extremely valuable 

painting, he decides to risk it all to get his hands on it, and in doing so 

discovers something which makes him a hunted man.

back to yarn bombing

The Great Blogmaid sent this photo from last Halloween and I am so
very grateful because I had NOTHING to say today. This is a mother and
her son and the costumes button in the back, just in case you think she
knitted or crocheted herself into hers. I hope they are not scratchy, but then
I don't really care because I could never wear such a thing without
feeling way too claustrophobic for words. But I admire yarn people,
I do indeed...

dinner with fellow workers

view from 2nd floor

Every year the museum treats us to a dinner party. Last night it was at
Don Ramon's (11th and Folsom) and really, the buffet food was
excellent. We had the whole second floor to ourselves and because
everyone was eager to watch the DNC, we were out of there by 7:30pm.
It's really a lovely gesture and appreciated by everyone. (I'm a sucker
for little white lights, by now you must know this about me.)

drama in the sky, on the podium

The sunset became a glorios palette of pink and orange the moment President
Clinton hit the stage last night at the DNC. I had almost forgotten how very
persuasive this man can be. He was at his best and so, I hope, are the Dems.

in any language...

This is a powerful story of a couple's separation and how it hurts their
child and each other. Even though it takes place in Iran, A Separation
is so universal that it will stick with you for a long time. We rented
it from the Flix® and you should too.

scenes from the SPCA

Room service food cart

Well-stocked pantry

Note tails hanging down

We still have kittens!

Black on orange

True love ~ Cody

Oh boy, Cody is just about perfect

Other than falling into the pit of overwhelming dog love, I had such a
fine morning at the SPCA. I enjoy fixing the food while listening to NPR
and then visiting the cats while the dogs are fed. Then I do the dishes
and stop for a latte at Peet's before walking home.

The most exciting Giants game yesterday afternoon and we won in the
bottom of the 10th. So satisfying, the entire Monday...

blue skies, blue sea

the pier with Bay Bridge in background

Coit Tower

the Transamerica Pyramid

Acme Bread ~ Ferry Plaza

Yesterday Husbando and I walked down at the Embarcadero ~ it was a
destination because Acme is the only place in the city where he'll get his
NY rye bread. This store is always busy, but it's worth the wait. We buy
it last because the aroma overwhelms, in a good way. So first we joined
the other tourists and natives for a walk, I had a latte (of course) and
we sat on a bench and studied our surroundings. Sundays are still an
unbelievable treat for me to be off and the sunshine makes them even better.

friends, birds, dogs, skirts & sunshine

all aboard with the Plotniks

Yesterday we met our friends on BART and sought the sun out in Pleasanton
for the Scottish Highland Gathering and Games. The free shuttle service was
dodgy, but other than that we had a fine time, meeting up with Ginger and her
sis, Amy. Lots of clan booths, strange costumes and not expensive food.
It was a good, long day and although we were a little disappointed in the sheep
dog trials (these were newbie Border Collies), everything else was more and
better than we expected, including all the music and dancing.

watching Scots throw poles and heavy things

horses!

sporty cars!

fierce birds!

lots of plaid skirts!

bagpipes! (I ran out of exclamation points)

from the mouths of babes...

My friend Susan's young daughter saw triplets once and said, "look,
three twins!" and her voice was heard. So I post this photo for you, SBC.

Thanks to Anna I did Google yarn bombing ~ it's also known as
guerrilla knitting and I think it's quite wonderful. I hope to see more
of it. When I was walking yesterday morning the pole covers were all
GONE and it made me happy that I had photographed them and
now I know something new and strangely delightful.