DeYoung Museum - Golden Gate Park11/3/2011 At first glance, you might think this was taken at a winery in the California wine country. The setting seems bucolic, but the photo was actually taken in the middle of San Francisco at the outdoor cafe of the DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park. The new museum design by the Swiss architectural firm of Herzog and De Meuron is a dramatic change from its previous stogy incarnation. Its dimpled copper sheathing has weathered now and the museum seems to have settled-in.
On nice days, the outdoor cafe seating is popular and the dramatic overhang frames the sky and space nicely. On rainy days you can even park in the underground garage and enter the museum directly without getting wet.
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Outerlands Cafe - Chemex Coffee Maker10/29/2011 Sunday Brunch at Outerlands Cafe - way out in the outer Sunset on Judah Street is a real treat. There was already a crowd of people waiting for the 10:00 AM opening. Luckily we made the first seating. Individually dripped coffee seems to be popular in all the cafes these days and at Outlands, they individually drip a pot of coffee for you using the mid-century modern classic Chemex coffee carafe.
I'm told there is a relationship between Tartine Bakery and Outerlands and it shows. Their bread is great and they also sell it by the loaf while supplies last. Ferry Building Farmers Market Mosaic10/25/2011 There are lots of things to like about the renovated Ferry Building. This small decorative detail above is especially nice. Timeless in appearance, it could be a detail from Roman times. Before the San Francisco Bay Bridge was built in the 1930's, the Ferry Building at the end of Market Street was a bustling center of activity for people coming into San Francisco by ferry. After the bridge was built, the building slowly fell silent as people stopped taking Ferries. The building was converted into office spaces and there was a mezzanine built above the ground floor. The mezzanine was later removed to reveal the skylit space. The interior and surrounding area is now a Farmers Market featuring local sustainable specialty produce. Immediately embraced by local foodies, it is jammed on Saturdays when people flock there to shop. Michael Ondaatje at the Herbst Theater10/22/2011 Michael Ondaatje signing books Michael Ondaatje is probably best known as the author of "The English Patient", a novel that was made into an Oscar winning best movie in 1996. One of Chris' favorite author's, I tagged along to hear him speak at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco. It was interesting to hear about a writer's creative process compared to what I am familiar with as an architect. Like many things worthwhile, it takes hours of hard work for a few moments of pleasure. After the interview, a long line of admirers lined up to have Ondaatje autographed his latest book, "The Cat's Table". San Francisco Sunset10/21/2011 There must be something deep in the human psyche that is programmed to respond to the sunset. It's a dramatic transition from light to dark and the dissolution of our earthly surroundings. Our attention is drawn to fading light and other places, a sense of time passing, --- a sense of longing. Even the ugliness that may surround us is gone for a few hours to be refreshed in a new day, perhaps washed clean from the morning dew.
Frank Brangwyn - Muralist Early 20th C10/19/2011 Detail I was attracted to these 8 large murals in the Herbst Theater in San Francisco's Civic Center because of their warm vibrant colors. This one is titled "Primitive Fire" by the artist, Frank Brangwyn. When I was looking at the history of the building, I noticed construction started in 1930 and I thought it was strange because the murals didn't look as though they came from that time period. I did a little research and discovered the paintings were actually painted at least 15 years earlier for display in the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco and later re-installed in the Herbst Theater. If our're there for an event, be sure and take a look before leaving. Potrero Hill View10/13/2011 There no shortage of fantastic views in San Francisco. The hills help to create great vistas framing the beautiful bay and bridges. This one is taken near the top of Potrero Hill looking north toward downtown. It's a terrific location being close to the freeways to zoom down to the airport and the peninsula as well as being close to downtown and the bustling SOMA area.
Discovered long ago by people looking for great value, it's no longer the affordable working class neighborhood it once was. Disembodied Columns10/3/2011 8th and Folsom Building Don't know why but I like these decorative "columns" on the second floor of this building at 8th Street and Folsom in San Francisco. It breaks the "rules" as a column is supposed to be a weight bearing entity, but here it seems to be floating in mid-air. To make matters worse, the top of the column or capital is separated from the fluted trunk. Still those Victorian designers were having fun and managed to create some interesting things. Chez Papa - Potrero Hill San Francisco9/30/2011 Chez Papa Window I always thought mussels and french fries were a strange combination until I went to Brussels and saw that they seemed to be almost a national dish! Now I see why - it's good. Chez Papa Bistrot in San Francisco's Potrero Hill makes an excellent rendition. Chrysler Building - NYC9/26/2011 The Chrysler Building in New York's Manhattan seems to endure with timeless grace. The gray building set against a gray sky enhances this feeling of grace. If I were to analyze the design of the building, I would probably tell the architect it should be more restrained and will look old fashioned and dated after a while. Well it does look "dated" in the best sense of the word, as it is a masterful design with beautiful proportions showing that the rules of "good taste" don't always apply. Rising on the horizon, it seems to wink a welcome to me whenever I visit. It's no wonder it's a favorite and instantly recognizable. San Francisco Marriott Hotel Contrast the Chrysler Building with this hotel in San Francisco built about 30 years ago. It uses some of the same curved elements at the top. Which do you think is the most successful? AuthorCatagories
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