A Very San Francisco Thanksgiving

On Thursday morning Michael and I left to spend four days in San Francisco visiting with my brother, touring the city, and seeing friends. We drove most of Thanksgiving Day through southern Oregon and northern California, driving through Grants Pass and past Shasta Mountain. Lovely. After arriving in the city around 6pm we met up with my brother, found Thai for dinner, and talked about tentative plans for the weekend. The next morning we walked around the North Beach neighborhood, ate bagels, then watched and listened to my brother's friend who busked on the streets with her accordion.

We stayed for a few songs then wished them well. Michael and I were super excited for our visit to the Academy of Sciences museum. It has a planetarium, aquarium, a natural history museum, and lots of weird, cool things to look at and (sometimes!) poke. We spent most of our afternoon there on Friday. And since it's located in Golden Gate Park we found it convenient to stop by the tea garden too.

The live roof of the Academy of Sciences building

 

The Japanese tea gardens

My brother and I walking through the tea garden.

The rest of our day was not, unfortunately, captured on film. We met up with one of my beloved Bennington friends, her husband, and sister-in-law for dinner at the Stinking Rose, an Italian restaurant that isn't modest about its love for garlic. I am most lucky, having been able to see this friend on both sides of the country within the last couple months. After dinner, more wandering of the streets. This has turned out to be my favorite activity when traveling. We walked around Union Square, which earlier that night had their annual tree lighting ceremony. We watched ice skaters. We talked. We got tired and we said our goodnights.

The next morning we started our day with a climb up Nob Hill. We stopped in at Grace Cathedral before continuing on to the Cable Car museum. The museum, which sounds touristy, is really interesting. All the cable car lines are directed through the museum, and it offers a lot of history on the city. Especially the earthquake and fire of 1906.

Grace Cathedral

Inside the Cable Car museum

Little Mackenzie shout out!

We spent the rest of the day doing my most favorite thing, wandering around the city. My brother is a most excellent tour guide! We visited the famous Lombard street and walked UP it like the badass siblings we are. We then meandered south toward Castro, where I stopped to buy a belt at a thrift store called Out of the Closet. We walked through Castro and I was very excited to see the building that was once Harvey Milk's camera shop. It was actually the 33rd anniversary of his death on Sunday. A crowd honored him with a vigil. 

Brother bear and Sister bear!

A view from the top of Lombard street

The doors to Castro Theatre

We meandered on to Dolores Park, one of my favorite parts of the city. It had gorgeous views and offered us time to relax in the sun (sun!!). That night we had dinner in the Mission neighborhood with my brother's accordion-playing friend. We ate the biggest burritos of our lives. Michael and I then went to Oakland to see Bennington friends. 

Michael, myself, and brother (our shadows anyways) in Dolores Park

Sunday was our last full day in the city so we packed in the touristy events. We played at the Ferry Building, barked at the Sea Lions at Pier 39, and thought about souvenirs (I decided against it):

A Whale of a Hat!

Sunday was also our scheduled visit to Alcatraz. Did you know it's a national park? It's beautiful! Not only does it afford stunning views of San Francisco, but has gardens and greenhouses throughout the island. I knew the cell block tour would be fascinating (it was!), but I was surprised by the winsomeness of the island. Pictures of our tour:

The greenhouse and gardens

 

A view of the city from the cell blocks

Of course, it did have it kitschy moments. While waiting in line to board the ferry everyone steps in front of an alcatraz backdrop to have their picture taken. These photos are then for sale later--two for 22 dollars! We passed on buying ours, but took a picture of the picture. It's maybe my favorite picture from the weekend:

We concluded our trip with pizza, beer, and movies at my brother's apartment. It was a great way to end our time together. Michael and I cannot wait to visit again, to see even more of the city.

More soonish.

Love from the west,
Katie and Michael

Just a Few Things

Michael and I have just a few updates today. Let's start with the most important! His sister had a baby boy this week! We lament being so far away, but were grateful to meet him via Skype. Oh technologies.

A friend and I worked on a poem together this fall and it was published! You can read it here: http://whistlingfire.com/2011/11/15/radio-phobia/ Most credit is due to my friend. Even my bio. She's awesome and I get to see her next week in San Francisco when Michael and I visit my brother!

Also, I woke one rainy morning after Michael left for school and found this on our skylight.

Those are the important things.

Love from Eugene,
Katie and Michael

A Tour

I thought I'd give you alls a little tour of our neighborhood. Some of you asked for it, so let's begin with where we live: 

790 W. 5th on the corner of Monroe. When we tell people where we live they've been known to say "oh, that big red house?" Indeed! We inhabit the top floor with two wonderful neighbors downstairs. One has two cats who are often leashed on the porch while she's raking leaves. Of course, I think this is great. Apparently the history of this house is that it was a hippie commune until recently when our landlord bought it and shooed away the riff-raff.

Here is a glimpse of 5th Avenue. We are blessed with an abundance of fall colors on our street, making us feel right at home:

The Washington/Jefferson Park is three blocks to our east. This is where the Occupiers have landed, until December 15th when the city will be forcing them to vacate. 

"Minimum wage? How about Maximum Wage?" That's what that little sign next to the tree says, which I read everyday on the way to work.

Farther east we have Allan Brothers Coffee, where I spend many of my afternoons. They have something like 30 kinds of loose leaf tea and they play 90s music consistently. I'm also enamored with the people, who are mostly regulars there to write in notebooks and read actual, physical books.

Smith Family Bookstore. My favorite bookstore. Can you even see me in this picture? I am swallowed by books. I've never had a problem finding what I needed and since they're used they are super cheap. And...

Their poetry section makes me swoon!

Michael and I are serious about breakfast. Our strategy is usually to eat enormous amounts of food in the late morning then not have to feed again until late that day. Saving monies! Keystone Cafe is legit. Breakfast burritos and the best damn homefries this side of the Williamatte.

 We are also very serious about beer. Sam Bond's Garage has a rustic atmosphere and good beer, which they change up all the time. In a week Chris Bathgate will be playing here. At our bar! It's only two blocks to our west so we always walk. Which you know, helps.

Michael and I tend to find places we like and stick to them. This is not always great strategy for newbies, but as Michael  said the other night on our walk to Sam Bond's "It feels like a bit of home." By which he didn't mean it felt like Grand Rapids or the midwest, but it's familiar and we have memories there. Like the time we heard Tony Furtado with my Uncle Kurt. Or on Halloween when we cheered adamantly for the kids in the costume contest, the sea turtle specifically.

Well, not much new to report. Michael is kicking A in school, despite the cougars and bears stalking his campus. I've had a couple poems published. And we're going to the coast to spend New Years in a yurt whale-watching. The living is good.

Love and hugs from the west,
katie and michael