Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
:: Seahorses and Seadragons ::
i’ve recently captured more up-close shots of insects and aquarium life, so thought another posting in that vein should follow the recent butterfly post I did.
this is a leafy sea dragon, featured at the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seahorse exhibit

and these are Dwarf seahorses – locked to blades of grass

If you haven’t been to the Monterey Aquarium lately, I recommend getting down there for the Secret Lives of Seahorse exhibit before it ends — well, you have till Aug 2012
:: small distraction ::
just a small distraction from your every day routine..

nothing to see here.. move along

:: Nespresso : Art of Coffee ::
On June 19th the Nestle Nespresso Art Exhibit & Tasting bar, situated in an ersatz cast iron building, opened an exhibit at their new SoHo location. The artist which made this possible is Ricardo Bellino, a Brazilian born entreprenuer. Yes. That Ricardo Bellino of Trump Realty Brazil & the “original” apprentice of Donald “you’re-fired” Trump.

Bellino got his inspiration while in another Nespresso boutique over on Madison Avenue.

Nespresso donated 130,000 of their popular single-serving coffee capsules to facilitate these 6.5′ x 6.5′ pixelated creations which must have taken hours upon hours to construct

All the proceeds from the Tasting Bar go to four different partnering charities.



:: Post Secret ::
It all started in 2004 when Frank Warren handed out 3,000 postcards to strangers and asked them to mail back anonymously a secret that was not only true but had never been shared with anyone.

Later that year, after the first exhibit closed in Washington, D.C., the word spread quickly and he started receiving home made artistic postcards.

Now Frank receives nearly 1000 postcards a week, and has received overall nearly 250,000 postcards.
some were funny.



but many were not.



some were just down right insane.


im sure Johnny would be stoked on this.

His website www.postsecret.com has gotten over 100 200 million visits as each Sunday he posts new cards that are sent to him.
Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek is showing this for one more day if you have a chance to make it there. This is the only West Coast stop. Don’t sleep

:: overpass graff ::
recent excursion underneath a highway overpass produced these shots:







:: Kelinci Series : Switzerland: pt 4 ::
I knew he was up to something.. mumbling..between choking on cigs & slurping down 20-year old Scotch — but I didnt know quite what. As I last said , Kelinci had profusely declared he needed a break from SF — so away he went. jerk.
today he pops up in Verbier, a very famous skiing plateau nestled above the valley Val de Bagnes, in the Southwestern area of Switzerland.

i have a feeling he is nestled up with some snow bunnies right about now.
:: SF Pillow Fight 2009 – Return of the Feather Invasion ::
Last year we found ourselves in the middle of a pillow fight at ground zero – Justin Herman Plaza – this year we take an aerial perspective which I think you will enjoy.

click here for a large format pic of above
Pillow Fighting has been going on for many years — the most infamous one being in 2006 Atlanta where 10,000 people thwacked away with abundant pleasure.

you can read more about the Pillow Fighting phenomena here. Coincidentally if you are generally interested in flash mobs you can find stuff here and here.
flickr set of last night’s event here and watch a video snap here
:: Kelinci Series pt : SF : 3 ::
its been quite a bit since we last heard from my lil friend with his cigarette habit. He started exploring the city some and I havent heard back from him in a bit. This was the last sighting of him.


he mumbled something about taking off soon.. guess we’ll have to wait to see where.
:: Ahoy – me van ::

I think this van totally rocks.. with its post-fab-sea-farin’-observation-bubble-&-all
Yup!!
“Ahoy! I spot an exit cap’n about 10 knots to me starboard.. shiver me timbers there’s a White Castle there too .. yarrrrrrr”
:: Bad Vibes Bob ::

on January 8th, 2009, the Sherry Mae washed ashore at Ocean Beach. From the searches I did on teh google no one really knows if the Sherry Mae owners are aware that their 30’+ boat is now quite lonely (aside from the scavengers plundering her remains). Although I’m sure the Coast Guard and local officials have contacted them.
Many more people are wondering what exactly does “Bad Vibes Bob” mean? Being an Ocean Beach(er) I can tell you this — he was a legendary, humorous heckler amongst the surf krews here that would give newcomers a very hard time.

:: Sunsets and WordPress ::

catching Capitola Pier at Sunset


friend catches a sunball

amazing.
also.. i have switched over to WordPress..bare with me while I iron out any kinks.
:: Alabama Back Roads pt 3 ::
In part 2 of this series, we saw a severely damaged church … these next 3 pictures were taken in the back quarters of the building.
before you start jumpin’ to conclusions, let me interject a crucial piece of humility and customs here. This outhouse is for show (duh), but traditionally the outhouse would be placed behind the house, not out front as this is.
:: Alabama Back Roads pt 2 ::
We think some malicious foul play occurred here. Although the new church has been constructed about 30 – 40 yards to the right of this damaged old church, clearly razing and removing the debris hasn’t made it onto the “To Do List” yet.
Huge Victorian house in Red Level, AL a tiny dot on the map to which we set off in search of fabled wooden sidewalks; turns out we were probably 150 years too late. It’s possible my source was wrong, but also entirely plausible there was a tiny remnant of the wooden sidewalks in the town somewhere — however, we weren’t going to search for that needle that afternoon.
pecan orchard
:: Alabama Back Roads pt 1 ::
I casually make references to the Southeast section of the United States often in a joking manner e.g…Dirty Dirty, but in all seriousness, the Southeast has seen it’s intricately woven landscape slowly deteriorated over the last several decades.
With traditions that stood stoic and proud for so many people for so long, this area has finally started creeping into the shadows of modernization, concentrating on urban development often to revitalize sagging economy.
Don’t be fooled, there is LOTS and LOTS of old $$$ in the Southeast; afterall this area was starting to see settlement in the early 1700’s, and early profiteers in the cotton industry really banked. One of my WAY earlier posts reflects on this “white gold” trade.
Sugar Cane press
sidewalks in Atmore
The point of this “Alabama Back Roads” series is to just illustrate a glimpse of fading past and focus on some scenes and images you would only see on true Alabama back roads.
Grain silo’s and Purina Chow emblem… back in the day it was called the “Checker-board Store” where you could get feed for your horse that perhaps you had rode into town for school; the horse would get tied up at a nearby stable and after class you rode it home. horsey gotta eat. Checkboard Store is there for your feed needs.
:: Magnolia Cemetery ::
Early January 2008, I featured some pictures of the famous Church Street Graveyard, today we turn our attention to Mobile’s 3rd oldest municipal graveyard: Magnolia Cemetery
Originally established in 1836 on 36 acres of land, now spreads over 100 acres and contains nearly 100,000 burials. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, Magnolia Cemetery is the final resting place for interments dating back to the early 19th century.
Magnolia Cemetery features very ornate, resplendent architectural and artistic assets that heavily revolves around Neoclassical revivalism, but also features Egyptian and Victorian influences.
Situated across from Magnolia Cemetery is the National Cemetery where over 5000 fallen veterans of past conflicts are laid to rest. Here you can find over 800 Civil War dead, including 2 relatives of Geronimo and several other Apache Indians.
Additionally, I have also taken a few pics of Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago which you can view here.
If you are ever in Mobile I highly suggest stopping by this sprawling necropolis
:: Mobile Moon Pie and Mardi Gras ::
Mobile’s historical associations with Carnival and Mardi Gras is steeped in tradition that spans over 300 years. Of course now an integral part of this celebration is the sugary Moon pie which became the centerpiece (and somewhat controversial topic) for this year’s New Years Eve celebration. Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to downtown’s New Year’s Eve bash, but I was able to get an early sneak peek at it which you see above.
This 12 foot, 600lb Moon Pie was spear headed by Councilman Fred Richardson in order to bring attention and raise awareness of Mobile’s unique cultural standings with its heritage. Richardson main reasons for launching this project:
“It cuts across economic status. It cuts across race. The Moon Pie brings people together,” he said.
Since Fat Tuesday isn’t that far away, I figured I would go ahead and give a shout to Joe Cain and Mobile Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras was first observed in the New World in 1703 near “Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff” which is technically Old Mobile, 27 miles up the Mobile River.
Joe Cain was responsible for bringing Mardi Gras back to Mobile in 1866, which had died out in 1855 due to rowdy violent krewes in the parades.
Mobile Carnival Museum headquarters on Government Blvd.
:: SantaCon 2008 ::
Today was the 14th 15th!! anniversary of Santacon, originally sponsored by the San Francisco Cacophony Society, and at least 1000 Santas took over 3 areas of town today: The “Ho on Haight” covered Haight Street, “Mastrobation” focused on Mission and Castro, and finally the Klassik Kringle track which covers Fishermans Wharf and North Beach.

(Santas flask is big… gotta keep warm on the sleigh!)
I figured I would go where there would be maximum tourist shock factor and off to the Wharf I sprang this morning.
What can be said about Santacon? There’s lots & lots of Santas.
Departing Fishermans Wharf
sometimes as far as I can see …i just see Santa’s
Santas from above
Nothing can stop the RED TIDE! Ultimately this is split into 3 routes but merges later in the day — tonight at least close to 1000 Santiii converged into Yerba Buena Garden — (SFSanta tweets report terrorizing Westfield Mall and the Powell Street Cable car turnaround area)
Santa’s Agent force was definitely instrumental in keeping the Santa swarm from spilling into traffic, they assisted at crosswalks, and helped keep Santacon revelers from straggling off course.
Santa traffic helpers
Santas agents surround Mr. Chu — getting a briefing on the galaxies.
Santa agent helps maintain orderly conduct
Santa agent on guard at Pier 39
Santacon also has musical talent flowing abundantly through out it we found.
Banjo Santa
Santa Clarinet
ho-ho-hope
naughty and nice list
Santa Franklin
Santa has to break sometime … “ohhh yehhhh right here behind this tree where no one can see me”
Santa Dodgeball .. some eggnog will take away the sting Santa.
Santa was even spotted in trees
Santa be pimpin’
da ho tag
Could it be Sa-a-a-a-atan
rowdy santa!
Ninja Santa
I caught Miss Claus choking the chicken
Santa got ice!! and gold apparently.
Santacon invades Hooters
“not quite sure what to make of it are yah?” — yeh us either.
hooters girl and Tranny Santa discuss some wings
more of Santa’s agents
Reindeer dawgie!
Tranny Santa
Santa Elves
Flickr set here.
:: Mission Street Food meets Dirty South ::
Tonight, the folks over at Mission Street Food doled out the Dirty Dirty by unleashing some soul food goodies to the insatiable masses. The masterminds behind this, Bar Tartine cook Anthony Myint and crew, have cultivated quite a following that start lining up outside Lung Shan Chinese resto on Mission street, before 6pm.
What originally started as a mobile food truck experiment, back in early October, has steadily grown in numbers, and has now moved indoors (for a number of reasons). They have also started featuring weekly chef’s as their guests.
I got there this evening ready to reprezent! but alas, not only was I sooper hungry by the time I got there (admittedly later than I had expected), but there was a 45 minute wait.
I ate inhaled the PBQ-Kurobuta Berkshire Pork belly with Quince-onion sauce, potatoe salad and slaw on a fresh homemade flatbread.
Dirty Rice with rare beef and Smoke Duck beignet
All I can say is, this $6.50 pork belly sandwich (sorry no pic cus I ate it too quick!) is my new fav… the flavor just pervaded my palate and SWOOSH.. I had nothing left but crumbs and a big smile.
the Dirty South menu: butter fried cornbread, 40oz’s, mustard greens, Creole Catfish stew, grits, bacon and sweet tea.
past menu items have included brownies with brie, King Trumpet, asian pear slaw, and homemade scallion flatbread
:: Over to Columbia pt 2 ::
yesterday we took a look at the flight to Columbia, CA, and some scenes from the town itself.
Columbia is located about 170km East of SF. In the year 1850, a small group of men made camp near the site where Columbia sits.
Columbia yielded $87 million in gold at 1860’s prices.
They found gold in this area and a rush followed quickly. By 1852 more then 150 stores were doing quite well amongst the thousands of miners now occupying the area.
By 1860 after the easy gold had been mined, the town’s dimunition had started. In 1945 Historical Columbia State Park was born.
anitque bottles .. you can read more on Columbia’s history here and here
Oaktown!!
Mount Diablo
I dig this shot. Not sure which bridge this is.
we need more of these.
:: Over to Columbia ::
The last time we took to the Bay area skies we were in search of a hamburger — this time a Mexican restaurant situated in Columbia… NOT the country… but the town which finds itself situated in historical Gold Rush Tuolomne county.
We’ll look at aerial shots and pics of Columbia today and tomorrow.
foothills
does it even look real?
I feel like this is a live game of ‘Battleship‘
:: Irish Coffee Anyone? ::
Today a record was set by local Buena Vista Cafe, for serving the world’s largest Irish Coffee. Guinness Books personnel were on hand to verify and video record the event. It will take at least another 4 – 6 weeks before its official.
Having poured 10 litres of Irish whiskey, 10 gallons of coffee and dumping 4 pounds of sugar into a 12 gallon, 3 foot high container, and topping with some steamed frothy milk for the finale — the event was a success. It was certainly a frenzy in the tiny cafe-saloon that serves upwards of 2000 Irish Coffee’s a day.
This joint is famous for their Irish Coffee which has its roots forming in a November night of 1952, and today was the final run for a 3-day celebration marking its 56 year anniversary.
:: 16th Avenue Mosaic Steps ::
Out in Golden Gate Heights, above the Sunset, climbing up 163 steps on the western side of a hill, lies the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps. SF has probably 350 stairways in the city. Most are utilitarian by design. Not this one. This neighborhood project was completed in August of 2005, which galvanized over 300 neighbors to play a part in the creation, and sponsorship, of this artistic staircase.
This work was inspired by the Santa Teresa Mosaic stairs in Rio.
I definitely got a workout that afternoon having walked from the ocean all the way up to the top of the steps. But what a view you get.
:: Wine and Porsche ::
On Sunday we cruised up to the Ledson estate to soak up sum sun, wine and over 70 vintage and new Porsche’s as part of Ledson’s 9th annual Porsche at Palace event — which brought out the Porsche Club of America to handle judging. The sun was out in abundance, the wine was flowing, and we purred & drooled over sleek, svelte designs of Porsche’s past and present. I think for the whole group we were intensely vibing on the 50’s and 60’s coupes.
Speaking of coupe’s, its the cream 1955 Continental Coupe you see above & below that I happen to take the most pics of, actually wound up winning the People’s Choice award. But there were many, many different awards as there are many different classes, up to 15 I believe. Some cars drive in, some are brought in on flatbeds.
trunk tool kit. have the original set of tools and them not covered in rust? booyah bonus points.
There are also different types of judging, such as: the exterior only, the exterior and edges of underbelly, frame, and up-in steering wheel column area, to the utmost scrutinous of them all, the exterior, plus the underbelly, interior, etc.
Porsche Club of America judges in action
’55 Continental interior
:: Maltese Falcon swaggers into SF ::
Tom Perkins, as in Kleiner Perkins, decided at one point i just wanted the biggest boat , and spent 130$ million to build her in Turkey 2 years ago, however, he wants to sell it for a cool $223 million seeing how you know, there is a recession and all on luxury yacht sales… Alas..she makes her first entrance to the Bay Area.
here she comes
She reaches 289 feet long (almost as big as a foot ball field) and 42 feet wide. With its carbon fiber masts reaching almost 20 stories high, they had to time the under-crossing, of the Golden Gate, with low tides to not come too close.
The ironic thing is that she shares the same name as the famous book by Dashiell Hammet, in which the Maltese Falcon is a story about the psychology of greed. This boat is one of the largest yachts in the world. It is decked with a model Maserati car, two gi-normous VIP suites with 50″ TV’s, two smaller tenders 32 feet each to ferry passengers to and from shore when anchored, and is capable of traveling 3000 nautical miles at about 16mph. It has a crew of 20, and accommodates up to 12 guests.
Maltese Falcon side shot
Alcatraz and the Falcon
Maybe he should sail her around the Suez Canal where others say petrodollars are more, errr, abundant; but for now she will sit up in Belvedere so Tom can see it from his house.
:: Art Car Fest 2008 ::
This Thursday afternoon Art Car Fest again held a caravan from the Berkeley Amoeba to the San Francisco Amoeba. They have been doing this gathering for over 10 years. In between destinations today they stationed a parking lot pit stop at the Sports Basement in the Presidio. here is a sample of a few. They have other pitstops this weekend you can read about here.
this fella spends a lot of time visiting children’s homes and senior citizens. he’s a big hit!
uhh.. yehh hello?.. is Ray-Ray there?
Karkopelli
:: Cry Baby ::
seen at a recent San FranPsycho event here in SF.. Though not a fan of Cry Baby itself..You know you used to watch Officer Tom Hanson on 21 Jump Street wrestling with tough teenie-bopper topics… but spotting this cutie sporting 80’s garb I had to snap a pic
:: Buffalo Bill at Ocean Beach ::
Thomas Ross , a Bay Area native, now living & working in Seattle, recently put up an installation piece at Ocean Beach recreating a moment in history when Buffalo Bill Cody stood here with members of his travelling group, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.
This event took place in 1902 right out by the Cliff House (here’s a good rendition of what Ocean beach might have looked like in 1902 for the laying of the Pacific Cable)
Ross’s piece includes 120 pieces that were transported down from Washington, and continues through the remainder of this weekend.
This particular piece is called Buffalo Bill and the Indians on the Beach
small reprint of the 1902 photograph.. they wouldn’t let you photo the larger format piece.
closeup of original 1902 picture
:: Chi-Town pt 3 ::
tip jar at the Wieners Circle. aww yeahhhh….
crazy hand dryer at Lava Lounge (which Phantom45 owns now), stick your hands in, air blows on them. done. price tag ~ $1600 USD a pop
Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park has been spewing water since 1927
one of the spots we hit Friday night for the bachelor party was this heavy-metal-rocker-hipster/punk-hybrid laden bar called Cobra Lounge located in West Town, not only were we early, but the majority of the group seemed to be wearing striped and/or collared shirts. Clearly, we did not belong.
this place was great. Liars Club
Seen in Pilsen. Gun exchange program. Chicago has definitely seen its deluge of murders when just this past summer they had 350 people shot and or killed. Even here in SF we’ve had a bunch of activity in the Mission the past week or so. Of course no arrests have been made.
also seen in Pilsen. Pilsen is basically Chicago’s version of the Mission, but originally it was German and Irish railroad workers who settled this southwest Chicago area during the mid-19th century.
These are all over the place in Pilsen.
Cloud Gate Sculpture on the AT&T Plaza in Millenium Park . This thing weighs 110 tons and cost a whopping $23 million dollars.
:: Chi-Town pt 2 ::
Rosehill Cemetery is situated on 350 acres near Andersonville in the Chicago area. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Chicago having been established in 1859. Originally having been called “Roe’s Hill” it was mistakenly called Rosehill by a mapmaker and thus it stuck.
In Rosehill Cemetery you can find the graves of several famous Chicago mayors, Civil War generals, Oscar Mayer, Montgomery Ward .
skyline shot
Deep dish @ Giordano’s
mmmmm… so cheesy!
wash it down with sum Old Style
for dessert you can check out Canady Le Chocolatier’s behind the Essex Hotel on Michigan Avenue
how about some graff’ spotted over in Pilsen
:: Chi-town pt 1 ::
Crown Fountain in Millenium Park
the Green Mill Lounge that Al Capone used to own; this spot opened originally in 1907
gotta make this a short-posting as I’m heading out for some b’day rowdiness
:: Chicago dee-tox ::
recent posting hiatus due to being in Chicago over the weekend… so over the next few days we’ll take a look at some things I snapped while there
..but in the mean time..
it was super hot in Chi-town
this is Jillian – a current temporary resident on the roof of my friend’s condo
baby back ribs at Smoke Daddy’s… place is da b-o-m-b.
:: Gumball 3000 Rally 2008 : pt 2 ::
This is Gumball 3000 rally coverage part 2, for day 1 of the 2008 rally. The rally with 35 different nationalities amongst 121 cars, starts in SF and ends in Beijing – right in time for the finals at this years Olympics. Only slightly more than half of this years participants are actually making it to the Asia leg of this years rally.
Maserati GT
classic Ferrari Dino
Lambo on Lombard
Lamborghini with CB antennas
these guys were totally strapped in the electronics department.. GPS, weather, live cam stream, who knows
alfonso doing some crazy dance..
the driver was revving the engine for this shot.. of course
this Gumballer had on the same jacket as me, and we started joking around. I then noticed what he had on that I didn’t. ahem.
the Russian guys that push the Phantom… how gangsta in the matchin‘ track suits.
Ford GT cruising down Lombard with masked drivers
Classic ‘Vett
finally spotted the Tesla Roadster after looking fruitlessly for it earlier
camo’d BMW
this F430 Spider has police lights and siren installation that was pretty sneaky
dropped & waiting.
1967 Ford, Elanor from Gone in 60 Seconds
Ferrari Enzo
Enzo rear
RR x Gumball 3000 x Nixon
camo’d 360 Modena Spider
armor like Vitamin C on this Murcielago
closeup
$400K+ Porsche Carrera GT
The two Playmates (Team Blondes) that were going to be driving the Mercedes-McLaren SLR featured in the rear. There are 3 of them, the girls — triplets to be precise; guess the 3rd one was sick?
taken from inside the drivers orientation meeting Saturday morning (yup!)
Ludacrs?
like the matching orange calipers on this
this is Maximillion Cooper’s XJ220
Willie riding large in the Gumpert Apollo
this VW Samba has been retrofitted with a Carrera 3.2 engine
the taxi C6
Maximillion Cooper — the guy who started it all 10 years ago
Maybach 57 .. Gumball 3000 style (check out this Landaulet 62 also from Maybach, whom incidently may be calling it quits.)
the Fuel Girls with Frawggy
the Hoff giving interview while propped on KITT (which apparently didn’t make it all the way to L.A. on Saturday night due to mechanical issues).
Alfonso Ribiero and Joe Rogan in front of the Gumpert — wow everyone wanted to pose with this thing.
the skinny on the Gumpert Apollo (according to the driver standing to the left) is that this is the only Gumpert currently in the U.S. What you see before you is a production-demo that they themselves just got last week. The actual street release isn’t open to the public for another 2 weeks. This street legal car packs a 4.2 litre Audi V8 weighing in around 2400lbs and has a 6-speed sequential gearbox Formula1 style influencing. They just need to lift this sucker a few inches. it’s mad low.
baby on the ‘stang
this is part of the informational package you are given as a Gumball participant. For the Asia leg of the 2008 Gumball rally, there will be driving in China. So to assist with the interpretation of signs and general info — the Gumball staff had these handy image/sign translation cards on a ring made.
the Hoff trying to run us over!!
the Hoff says — YEAAHHHHHH!!!!
:: Gumball Rally 2008 in SF pt 1 ::
Bam! its been 5 years since the Gumball 3000 rally kicked off in SF — last time I missed it, so I was not snoozin’ this time. Tonight at the Fairmont the event was starting to slowly unfold. Go here for tomorrow’s coverage of the starting day of Gumball 3000 2008
chrome dipped Gallardo
getting out of the Gumpert Apollo. This car has top speeds of 224 mph, and 0-60 in 3 seconds.
This is THE original KITT from the classic 80’s TV show. Apparently the Hoff purchased it a long time ago. Seeing that he is participating in the rally this year (albeit only from SF > LA) he decided to polish it up, and bust it outta the garage. I hear that a few BMX guys are pinch driving for him after he stays behind in LA. rough life.
Frawggy.. comin’ up clean as #### in front of the Fairmont (special spotlight on Frawggy coming soon)
Ferrari F430 Scuderia .. shark styles. imagine seeing that coming up in your rear view mirror.
Gumpert. Only 1 in the country.
RR Phantom Drophead kickin it large. On the first day, of a previous Gumball 3000 rally, the owner of this Phantom crashed another identical model. So…. he turned around and promptly purchased a replacement, had her decals slapped on, and re-entered the race. ridiculous.
this is as close as I could get to the Hoff, cus you know, don’t mess with the Hoff.. berDerp!
XJ220 Jag
Puma is a big sponsor this year, as well as Nixon, Monster drink, Spy Optics and more. If you are wondering about the decals, they must be present on the car at all times during the rally. No trying to disguise yourself from the rest of the group.
inside of KITT

































































































































































































































