Vespertine Circus, Nopasf

The strength and agility we witnessed two nights ago at the Vespertine Circus performance inspired me to get back on my training in attempts to obtain a fraction of their muscle control and athletic ability. A relative of a friend runs this circus show and performs as well. They ran "Important Business" at the Children's Creativity Museum for its final three days before they change it up. 

Based in the office at a toy creation company, the employees, full of unique personalities, interact with astounding acrobatic moves with each other and their individual acts. From Fabrics to Flying Trapeze to a hula hooping, each segment was as impressive as the next. So glad to do something a little different in the city! Like i said, very motivational - I wish I was that flexible!

Although we had grabbed a quick drink and appetizer at Tropisueño, after the show we craved a full meal. Everyone constantly reminds me of how amazing NopaSF tastes, so the opportunity finally arrived. People make reservations here up to 6 months in advanced, but they welcome walk ins, if you're willing to wait. Our predicted wait time? Two hours. Option number two: wait for someone to get up from the communal table or bar. Ten minutes later, I snagged a bar stool and F stood beside me.

The food definitely lived up to the hype. Everything tasted fresh. We ordered broccoli, cucumbers, and the pork chop to share. Not a single dish disappointed. We both love our veggies, and when prepared properly such as here, anyone would turn a veggie lover too. Finish off with a perfectly most cheesecake and good night :)

Cartoon Art Museum, Bar Tartine, Dolores Park

Real Talk

Here we are, first Tuesday of the month: free museum day! Today a friend and I checked out the Cartoon Art Museum. I was not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised! Displays from different time period of various cartoons, books, and comic strips line the walls in the smaller sized, three section museum. My favorites were all of the cartoon art we know and love directed by Chuck Jones: Bugs Bunny, The Coyote and the Road Runner, the little alien helmet guy, etc... They even had an original script from one of the episodes which must have been Elmer Fudd's because all of his lines were marked. All ages stopped to watch cartoon episodes,  they just don't make them like they used to!

After stopping at the MoMA around the corner, which had slightly changed since my last visit, I enjoyed an extremely lazy afternoon before dinner.

         

      

A friend and I grabbed seats at the bar of a restaurant called Bar Tartine. Such a cool vibe from the overall atmosphere and staff. I have to mention our bar tender/server because she was absolutely adorable; black hair,  cat eye framed glasses with gold on the wings,  bright red lipstick and tights with Snow White's skin and hipster style. I mention this out of jealousy because I really don't have a style and she rocks hers. Anyways, the kitchen is open into the restaurant, So we could watch as they nearly prepared dish after dish.

Their menu is short and uses as much local and in season product as possible. We ordered four items to share: the halibut, pea and goat cheese dip, smoked potatoes, and blood sausage.  The halibut dish was so so,  the others were great. Blood sausage came nice and spicy;  I'd go back just to snack on the potatoes.

What better way to work of dinner than to take a walk to the top of Dolores Park for a foggy but beautiful city view, followed by playing on an "adult" playground. Swings, slides, the works :)

Sorry for a second late posting. Having too much fun to keep up!

Awesome...

De Young Museum

Back in San Francisco! 

It was a little hard to leave the house today - with all the laundry and sleep I needed to catch up on from the trip (and from days prior!), but the first Tuesday of every month, museums around the city have free admission, and I have been meaning to check out the De Young Museum for quite some time. So, I headed to Golden Gate Park. I first check out the observatory tower, overlooking the park and the city beyond, before moving on to the exhibits.

View from the observatory - looking at the California Academy of Sciences
and the park that the Wedding Planner final wedding was to be held in!

I loved it.  The museum's current main attraction is "The Girl With The Pearl Earring," which unfortunately was not free (makes sense, but I didn't have time to do both anyways). Even without see that famous work of art, the De Young is a worthwhile stop. Such a nice building! I'm not a fan of the way it looks on the outside, but the inside gives a different vibe. Normally all museums feel the same, but each room in the De Young felt differently. They currently have "Objects of Belief from the Vatican" on display on the second floor, and the warm woods compliment the ancient tiki-like, wood pieces of art perfectly. Another moving sections was photography from Iraq - not of American soldiers - but of the lives of the people before the US came and during the first few years after we arrived. I highly recommend checking it out. The rest of the artwork ranged from paintings and sculptures, to glasswork and furniture. Truly, anyone could find a room they enjoy and spend hours looking over the pieces. See my favorite painting from today, below. 

        

My favorite painting. "The Sonata" 1889 by Irving Ramsey Wiles

SF Museum Of Modern Arts

Every first Tuesday of the month, museums all over the city have free admission. I can't believe I didn't know this until now! Today I left work a bit early to explore the MOMA on 3rd & Mission. (I also stopped in the Yerba Buena Contemporary Art Museum, but several exhibits are under construction,  and the ones I saw creeped me out a bit)

MOMA is great! The friendly staff pointed me in the right direction and made exhibit recommendations. I can't pretend to know a great deal about art,  but definitely appreciate [most] of it. Some of their permanent collections include works from Matisse, very whimsical and full of color (I get it), but also Paul Klee, who has some interesting pieces and some simplistic pieces (which maybe I just don't understand). By simplistic I mean a young child may have also come up with the same picture. (See picture below). Currently on the 3rd floor, you will find an Apartheid in South Africa photo gallery. This was by far the most moving, displaying photos from three photographers: 1. a privileged, white male, 2. a working class, black male 3. a bouncer at a popular club in Cape Town. It was very moving, and I definitely recommend it. On the 5th floor, there is a coffee shop and roof garden with a few outdoors-y exhibits.

Moma made for a pleasant afternoon - check it out! (I'll have to report back on Yerba Buena when I see the full exhibit- although I can already tell it's not my thing)



I really like this one - each shot is the sky line of different
parts of San Francisco. If you take the time to look, you can
clearly see some of your favorite, memorable skylines!



Paul Klee... Forgive me, I just don't get it

Picture from the club in the Apartheid exhibit

  

By the line at the coffee shop



5th Floor Rooftop garden exhibit