Sunday we met up with my brother Jim and his girlfriend Toni at Toni's house in Albany and had a good visit catching up. They took us for Korean lunch and then to a play at the Live Oak Theater in Berkeley. One of the actors in the play was a fellow I sang with in High School, Robert Sicular. Then back to our house in Berkeley just in time to greet our College friend Jo who will be staying with us this week
As some of you know, Linda is quite a talented photographer. However, if you want to know what we saw and where we went, you'd be better to look at my not so expert shots. Linda's interest is largely in the abstract aspects the visual experience. Here she is rowsing from her morning lounging with coffee to capture the essential pattern of light on the drapes. Probably be a great photo, but you see what I mean about the travelog aspect of our trip.
Saturday was spent mostly settling in to the house and exploring the immediate neighborhood. It's the typical "flats" (i.e. Not the hills part of Berkeley) hodgepodge of architecture. Some Spanish-themed, some craftsman type, some ugly, unremarkable apartment buildings that have acquired personality via their expressive inhabitants. Loving the exuberant bougainvillea around the house which is lovely and comfortable.
Acme Bakery Is only a block Away. Little hole in the wall with sign so you have to be in the know to find it, but that doesnt seem to be a problem - there was quite a line when we visited mid-day. We had a lovely sit in the outdoor garden of the Laila Cafe while waiting for the house to be ready. Later we had some really good Mexican food at Casa Latina. No liquor license sadly, but the food made up for it. Might be the best tamales I've ever had. Linda sampled the panaderia (bakery) part of the establishment afterward we'll be going back I suspect.
Uber and its ilk firmly entrenched here.
One of my favorite blocks in our neighborhood (actually in Cobble Hill)- Verandah Place. Line of mid-nineteenth century buildings which apparently used to have verandahs. Now facing a lovely pocket park. Thimas Wolfe once lived in one of them.
this past Saturday, Linda and I finally made it to the dragon boats races in Queens. In previous years we'd always managed to hear about it only after it was over. So we trekked out on the 7 train to see it this year. And it was ...just OK. Mostly because you can't get very near the boats. It's hard even to find a vantage point where it's possible to see who wins. Still it was a beautiful day for a trip to Flushing Meadows.
This is the Saw Lady. She was playing a musical saw at the Union Square station
I do a chiropractic trade every other week with my friend Michael. His office is close to Union Square. It's pretty much a given that there will be something to take note of. This week I unfortunately missed getting a shot of the tall skinny guy with the Jesus hair and beard, dancing to New Age music, clad only in a green sequined Speedo (reminded me of old Telegraph Ave. days in Berkeley). But I did get a shot of these pigeons made of felt and their intriguing patron.
No idea