Traveller

Falling back in love with San Francisco, I have been exploring my city by foot and by neighborhood.  Recently I went to the re-opened and completely renovated California Academy of Sciences . This science hall could be an entire day if you want or a healthy four hours.  They have exhibits like this one, with incredible life-like lions and tigers.  If you stay longer, I suggest adding a visit to the Planetarium to rest your feet while you enjoy the view.

Day trips from San Francisco. Why leave this great city and head north? On a sunny day it would be a tough call but unless you left really early and plan to stay in Tahoe to ski, my favorite incentive to head north across the Golden Gate Bridge would have to be to check out Napa.  Downtown Napa around the waterfront has been getting a much needed face-lift since COPIA closed . COPIA was wonderful and I will miss Julia's Kitchen as well as the good intentions of this wine, food and arts center.  However what is a great surprise and treat is my discovery of the Oxbow Public Market across the parking lot. Fresh Oysters at Hog Island This marketplace reminded me a little of the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace.  The vendors are all local and focused closely on good quality products. They compliment each other and include: Ritual Coffee Roaster, Fatted Calf, C Casa Taqueria, Three Twins Ice Cream, Five Dot Ranch, Hog Island Oyster Co. to name just some of the great fo...

Photo courtesy of Mainichi Daily These are "shimekazari" -- traditional New Year's decorations made with sacred Shinto rope of rice straw and other ornaments -- in the shape of samurai topknots. When we lived in Japan you could find versions of these mounted on the sides of buildings and on someone's front door. I will never forget seeing the side of the Meiji-ya Grocery Store building in Hiroo.  Hiroo is a neighborhood filled with embassies and western families.  The Meiji-ya had both western Christmas decorations mixed in with the Japanese.  I love how uniquely Japanese these New Year's decorations are in their symbols.  Each section is specific in how it relates to the new year, prosperity, good health et al. What is a little sad is that the skill and knowledge on how to make something like this, is fading within the country. Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu Otoshi o yoroshiku onegaishimasu あけましておめでとうございます  

SWAGG is a free mobile app (download here) that lets you shop smarter using your mobile phone. Buy, send or swap SWAGG GIFTS and organize your old school plastic gift cards. For every download of the app between now and Dec. 31, 2010, SWAGG will donate $1 to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) , up to $125,000. Clever Girls Collective and SWAGG are sending a pair of movie fans to the Sundance Film Festival! Download the SWAGG app and then visit the Ultimate SWAGG Getaway Sweepstakes site to enter to win a trip for two to the Sundance Film Festival. Entry deadline is January 3, 2011, 11:59pm, PST. Giving Fearlessly: Cleo and the Song of the Sea We love taking our dog to the beach. On the edge of town, where the hang gliders soar off of wind swept cliffs, is a wonderful stretch of beach that allows off-leash play for dogs. Our big German Shepherd-Siberian Husky girl loves chasing shore birds and having loads of space to stretch her legs while running across the cool wet sand. One afternoon, ...

Recycling that is often condemned but rarely seen in daylight Here is one side of the green movement in San Francisco that you don't see very often, at least not in daylight.  Residential neighborhoods regularly get men and women walking the streets and plucking cans and bottles from public and private trash cans.  They carry their bags this way or if part of a larger crew, they will covertly meet up with a truck parked or idling further down the street.

Canine Cargo or Puppy Passenger?