SF Trip Installment Two: Modern Art, A View and California Cuisine

So, when I last posted, I was walking to the SF MOMA, and seeing some interesting sights along the way, including these:









I learned that the SF MOMA is open late on Thursday nights, a wonderful thing, with reduced entry fees after a certain time, an even more wonderful thing. The crowd milling about the place began to pick up later and was quite diverse, if a bit on the young (20-something) side. Photography is not allowed in the SF MOMA galleries, so I contented myself with photographing the architecture and various non-art or -architecture related things in the atrium (which was permitted):











The art was nice, too. I focused on the photography exhibit, which was Taking Place: Photographs from the Prentice and Paul Sack Collection. The exhibit featured both wonderful photographs and information on the evolution of photographic processes, confirming what I already suspected, which is that I enjoy the fruits of the photographic process and could take or leave any learning about the technical aspects of photography. After a run through the photography exhibit (saving the remainder of the museum for another day), I headed out for the Buena Vista Gardens, which were just across the street.

But first, I stopped to take this shot of the SF MOMA:



I also took some interesting (to me) shots of this sculpture at the Gardens:





It reminded me a bit of a shark.

I could not resist this nun photo:



or the surrounding contrasting buildings and MLK Memorial:











Then I headed over to the San Francisco Art Institute, which is located on such a steep street that I was nervous just driving up to it! Thankfully, the parking is at a right angle to the curb, so it felt a bit less dangerous than heading downhill or uphill. One enters the Institute through a beautiful courtyard:



After passing through the courtyard, one finds student hieroglyphics, a great view near the bike rack and a man and his dog below:







There was a bit of fog, but it wasn't too chilly . . . just the right weather for a light wrap:



There is even a higher patio, reached by climbing a narrow and steep metal set of stairs. If you can brave the stairs, there are even better views to be found, especially at sunset:











I reluctantly tore myself away from the beautiful sunset, in order to tuck myself into my car for the drive to Berkeley, where I would dine at Chez Panisse:



(Photo from the Chez Panisse web site).

Those who know me will see great significance in the fact that I so anticipated this dining experience that I was one hour early to the place, leaving me time to try a French sour drink at the bar next door. (Hint: I am almost never early, and seriously, never one entire hour early for anything!) Here is what I wrote about my Chez Panisse experience in correspondence to a new-but-already-dear friend:

Chez Panisse was wonderful!  For my salad, I enjoyed greens with warm goat cheese.  The entree was duck
made 2 ways with mashed potatoes, which took me back in my memories to a meal I experienced in Rocamadour,
France (the hostess of my chambre d'hote prepared duck from a duck that she raised).  Dessert was a small
scoop of vanilla ice cream with espresso drizzled over it . . . the perfect ending to an excellent meal.  My
waiter was fabulous . . . knowledgeable and with just the right touch of attention/flirtation and leaving me
alone with my own thoughts.

While I almost always read while eating (unless with friends, of course), last night I simply enjoyed my
meal, taking in all of its details, and watching the other guests in the restaurant.  I tried to reflect on
how I feel about my first 35 years and what I want from the coming years, but I found I was too tired
(mentally) for that last night.  So I simply took in the scene around me and saved the reflection for
another day.

. . .

When I think of Chez Panisse, I think of an old world kind of place, where skilled people take pride in preparing simple,
delicious, healthful and socially responsible food for those who appreciate it.  I noticed last night that
there was a serious lack of "trendy" kinds of people there . . . rather, the guests, who were young and
old, hip-looking and traditional, all seemed just to be enjoying the meal and their dinner companions.
Wine is chosen there because it pairs well with and complements the food . . . no "guzzling" just for the
sake of drinking.  

After this delightful dining experience, I slowly drove "home" over the Bay Bridge, savoring the look of the night-lit city and looking forward to the next day and, with it, my 36th year.