Today we took a late-morning flight to San Francisco, through Salt Lake City. We got in around 3:30, and caught the BART into town. I'm a big fan of the SF BART to the airport. Unlike the irritating NYC AirTrain system, where you pay a stiff premium for the airport monorail (which replaces a free bus!) the SF system is standard price to the airport. Though it sure took them long enough to get it together. We got off at Montgomery and dropped our bags at the hotel, across from the Chinatown Gate.
Then we walked up Grant Street, destination House of Nanking. Used to be my favorite restaurant in SF. But - nostalgia talking? - it no longer seems as good. Though it's certainly swankier. Used to be a real dive. One room, counter and a row of tables. Eat and get out. Now it's a real restaurant. And the presentation has certainly improved. But the food seemed less inspired. Still good, but a little flat. But anyplace that can get me to eat yams - and like them - is doing alright. On the way we stopped at Eastern Bakery, another favorite destination.
Apparently, it's the oldest Chinese bakery in San Francisco. But I love it just because its so grotty. And I especially love its funky poster-image of Bill Clinton visiting in 1996. Somehow it really seems to capture the essential quality that made so many people like him so much. Couldn't help but recall all the nasty Bush caricatures on sale in China, for tourists no less. I suspect Clinton got gentler treatment. But then again, I could be wrong.
Anyway, Clinton got a Lotus Moon Cake. And who am I to quibble with the Commander-In-Chief? They're pretty damn good, too. Though I think the pastry-dough at some of the NYC bakeries is better. And walking down Grant Street, I saw a line of locals outside another bakery. Raising suspicions that I could find better with a little effort... Carrie'd never had one before, so she lacked a point of comparison.
After dinner, we walked down Columbus Street to the Art Institute. Ultimate destination: the Musee Mechanique, which was recently relocated to Fisherman's Wharf. I showed Carrie around the Art Institute for a bit. Unexpectly, the film department had a display listing what various graduates had been up to over the last year or so. And there I was. The only law clerk in the bunch. Wish there would have been some new movies for them to mention. Unfortunately, the Musee Mechanique was closed, but we noted it's new location (behind Alioto's), and planned to return tomorrow. On the way back toward the hotel, we came across this odd window display, near Union Square. I shot some digital video too. The display itself was actually kinda tacky and cheap looking. But it came out great in pictures...
We stayed at the Hotel des Arts, in Room 403, painted by Bryan Dawson. It's an old, low-rent SF hotel, which invited artists to decorate several of the rooms. The entire hotel was filled with artwork by youngish local artists, some of it quite good. The rooms were a little spartan, but the painting was great. We got the last one available. Usually you can pick. Anyway, ours included a painting of a sleeping king. And over the bed, a frog jester...
... juggling nudie-cutie playing cards. No quarrel with that.
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