kmbearden's Open Salon Blog

San Francisco: day 2.0 - Aimless Wandering, Wharf edition

Thu, 19 May 2011 16:05:14 -0400

^{San Francisco, California - April 2011}

As on the first day in the city, I left My Cartoonist at the convention center to put in his time at the SLG booth while I wandered aimlessly.

I decided that since going somewhere entirely different had worked so well on my first day's adventures, that I would put that idea back in effect for the second day. I decided that walking toward the water might be just the thing, as I hadn't been on the Embarcadero since 1993.

So, I walked.

^{San Francisco, California - April 2011}

Eventually, I found myself down at the wharf.

^{Alcatraz - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

^{San Francisco, California - April 2011}

I heard and smelled the sealions long before I managed to see them....

^{San Francisco, California - April 2011}

The weather was warm and fairly sunny, and they were stretched out on wooden platforms, making noise, occasionally fighting....oh, yeah - and stinking.

Very smelly creatures.

^{San Francisco, California - April 2011}

After seeing all I cared to see at the wharf, I began my trek back to the convention center....but first I just had to see if I could get all the way to the top of that hill with the tower on it.....

^{to be continued}

San Francisco: night 1.1 - Signs Signs Signs

Thu, 19 May 2011 15:05:07 -0400

^{San Francisco, California - April 2011}

Surrounding our walk through Chinatown, we noticed a lot of signs.

I am quite fond of signs.

Advertisements, murals, street art...any attempt to visually communicate an idea or an impression of something....even to sell things....doesn't matter to me.

I like signs.

^{San Francisco, California - April 2011}

^{day 2 coming soon....}

San Francisco: night 1 - Chinatown

Tue, 17 May 2011 16:05:48 -0400

^{Chinatown - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

We were on our way to North Beach to meet up with some folks for dinner, so we walked through Chinatown on our way.

^{Chinatown - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

The streets were strung with red lanterns, and a group musicians were performing traditional Chinese music. I gave them a donation in exchange for a photo.

^{Chinatown - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

Chinatown - San Francisco, California - April 2011

We were early, so decided to stop for a cocktail.

Chinatown - San Francisco, California - April 2011

After a lot of searching we finally came across our favorite bar in Chinatown...

^{Chinatown - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

^{more to come....}

San Francisco: The City, day 1

Tue, 17 May 2011 13:05:56 -0400

^{San Francisco, California - April 2011}

San Francisco.

One of my favorite cities to visit. And one in which I get to wander about at least once a year while My Cartoonist is attending various industry conventions. This year, we were in The City during the first weekend of April for WonderCon.

^{King George Hotel - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

We had coffee. Good coffee. Very good coffee.

^{San Francisco, California - April 2011}

And generally wandered about, looking at people and things and stuff.

^{Union Square - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

My Cartoonist went off to his responsibilities at the convention, while I met up with a long-ago friend whom I hadn't seen since just after high school (this sort of reunion is exactly what facebook is good for).

My long-time friend decided to take me somewhere I had never been before, in all my visits, and we ended up at the Park Chalet.

^{Park Chalet - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

We had a nice lunch of fish and chips and a dark micro-brew, and an incredible view of the ocean.

^{View from the Park Chalet - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

Eventually it was time to return me to My Cartoonist...

^{View on the way back from the Park Chalet - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

...and as soon as we were back in the city, I immediately felt more in my element. The beach is amazing, but I love the grit of a city.

^{"Anti-Saloon League" - San Francisco, California - April 2011}

^{(Next installment: Chinatown)}

fog

Mon, 16 May 2011 18:05:02 -0400

^{Cheesman Park, Denver, Colorado - April 2011}

we so rarely get fog in Denver...when we do, i like to walk through the park on the way to work. the call of the crows is muffled and muted, and even my footsteps on the frosted grass sound far away.

fog.

^{Cheesman Park, Denver, Colorado - April 2011} ^{Cheesman Park, Denver, Colorado - April 2011}

God is the friend of silence. Trees, flowers, grass grow in

silence. See the stars, moon, and sun, how they movein silence.

~Mother Teresa.