Pillow Fight in San Francisco
Monday, February 16th, 2009
I love San Francisco…
Archive for the ‘Scene’ Category
California Academy of Science – Superb!
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
Today, I had a wonderful experience at California Academy of Science’s new pre-opening event. I’m so much in love with this city (and inner Richmond) again.
California Academy of Science consists of Acquarium, Planetarium, and exhibition of many interesting creatures such as aligators and penguins. Today, Planetarium was still not open. But I am very interested in going back there again to see it. They also have an educational space for people to make a research. They are going to open for public for free on their grand-opening day, which is September 27th Saturday. So, don’t miss it!!
For more information -> California Academy of Science Homepage
First time I heard they are making acquarium in Golden Gate Park, my cynical side thought “another waste of money…first of all, what kind of acquarium can they make in a middle of park?” Well, they made one of the best acquarium I’ve ever been in my life!!! While I was in the building, I completely forgot that I was in Golden Gate Park.
One of the factors contributing to the success of this museum is that it takes you to the great scientistic world. There are so many undiscovered things in this world. And people romanticize them, and try to find out. I think that’s what is science is all about. Even though I am not the “scientist type,” and certainly all the science classes (physics, chemistry, biology) weren’t my favorites, I felt like I became a kid again, who is wondering and excited about all the mysteries in this world.
Here’s alittle preview for you.
There are many many kinds of creatures from ancient period.
You also can have a view of the fish tank from the bottom, which is very cool and surrealistic view. It looks like fishes are flying in the sky.
I’ve been a huge fan of acquarium. I can spend hours and hours just looking at fish. But I think in this acquarium, anybody can spend hours.
For more pictures↓
Fallfest
Saturday, October 6th, 2007
I attended Fallfest, where a number of fine restaurants and wineries from bay area are gathered in one place in San Francisco and hold booths passing out foods, pouring wine into people’s RIEDEL glasses, which was awesome. There were over a thousand kinds of foods and wines that you can taste and criticize, and chefs are demonstrating in front of people. Following is my top 5 dish at Fallfest.
1. Beef Short Rib – Ora
Looking at their menu, I gathered that these short ribs are usually part of a stew. For Fallfest, however, the meat was served as a single rib on a dish. Relative to how stews usually look, it was actually presented in a much more attractive way, with potato purèe, and an unidentifiable — but delicious — green oil draped upon it. Unfortunately, I was unable to take a picture of that since by the time I went back to the booth with my camera, the server had started unceremoniously plopping short ribs on people’s plates instead of creating a visually appealing placement. It might be reasonable to say that I ranked this short rib dish as #1 at Fallfest after I heard the server say it took 8 hours to cook. The meat just melted in my mouth and scored a home-run with many people at Fallfest.
2. Ahi Gelée – Postrio
When I tasted this Ahi Tuna inside of gelatin with crème fraîche and tobiko on top, it blew me away. How could this make me feel the freshness of tuna? How could this make me, Japanese guy, feel like I don’t need a sushi anymore if I have this? All the answers are condensed into this small gelatin square.
3. Dungeness Crab Cake – One Market
I’ve been to One Market a couple of times for happy hour, but strangely hadn’t had as delicious a dish as this. I sampled real dungeness crab with a little bit of spicy cream on the bottom. The crispiness on top was a plus.
4. Duck with Pomegranate – Faz
Faz’s duck was absolutely one of my favorites that I had at Fallfest. Duck and the pomegranate glaze were absolutely good combination.
5. Poke – Pacific Catch
An exemplary poke dish, as delicious as you would expect.
Matrix Fillmore
Saturday, September 29th, 2007
Kevin and I went to a bar called Matrix Fillmore about a couple of weeks ago after we had a dinner at Plump Jack cafe, which wasn’t as great as we expected. These stores used to be managed by a current San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, and his fellows. Well, I have to say they got an excellent taste in everything including food, cocktail, service, and design (except for the awkward noisy chair at Plumpjack), if you like white yuppie culture. Anyway, the purpose that I thought to post review about Matrix Fillmore is that I found an interesting and funny review about Matrix Fillmore in Yelp.com. Here’s the review.
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MatrixFillmore
3138 Fillmore Street San Francisco, CA 94123
Reviewed by Rockell G.
I wasn’t the coolest kid in high school. I know. You’re surprised, right?
You’re not? Ummmm, anyway…
I had an internet boyfriend (Hi Rich!) and when M&M’s wanted the public to vote for its new color, I signed into AOL and voted Purple about 100 times. What? I just really wanted to rock the vote. (As I’ve suspected all along, my vote does NOT count. The new color was decidedly Blue. LAME!)
I really didn’t come into my own until senior year. It was a bumpy road to this class act you see today.
Every time I go to the Matrix I feel catapulted back to sophomore year at Marin Catholic, where I have really bad hair and a propensity for sarcasm and exaggeration (haha. OK, I still have that). The place is like a breeding ground for Coach Bags and too much mascara. I don’t feel cool enough to sit on the hip purple banquettes and warm myself by the magical fireplace, although the drinks of which there are many seem to help as the night wears on.
Marina Girls are like the bitches I hated in high school; blonde, put together, and tedious. Marina Guys are like the assholes I wished I could have slept with in high school; football heroes, gay jokes and small penises.
In the Marina I tend to revert to my “I’m not pretty enough, don’t look at me, don’t talk to me” 15 year old self. So pathetic.
So Monday night I went for a cocktail w/ my favorite plus one and get this, the asshole jock that I always wish I could have slept with, well he was there. Who would have thunk that half the guys from my senior class would become striped shirt jockeys and set up shop in the Marina spending their weekends taking advantage of 21 year old bottle blondes with low self esteem? Shocking.
Confronted w/ this tall drink of hotness, I lowered my eyes. But something strange happened. I think they call it the moment of clarity.
I am blonde, I am put together, and I am not tedious in the least bit. I am actually smart. And witty. And I’ve got jokes (sometimes)!
I looked that jock in the eyes, and I smiled. I was instantly celebrated for my bravery, because he looked good, and he came over to talk. We caught up for a few minutes, and just as I suspected all along he was actually smart, funny, and nice.
I was ready to run away with him and have freakishly tall blonde babies when he made a subversive gay joke. I excused myself, feeling glorious. No big loss, anyway.
Like I said, small penis.
