home away

At the end of the day after running errands I made my way up to 18th Street (SF) in perfect time for a cuppa jo.  The little white lights were turning on and the setting sun illuminating the buildings (I had to pull out my camera).  After absorbing what I could of the great outdoors I settled into the cafe and caught my breath.  The cafe, my cafe ... a sanctuary away from home.  A quiet corner of the universe free of crazed shoppers and tacky holiday music.

   

Goodbye November

The last evening of November came with a mid-week date.  First coffee by the bridge,
then an interview/conversation event with film maker, author, and performance artist,
Miranda July.  Interesting discussion about her current work and creative process.
Such a brilliant-nutty-original mind.  Can't wait to get her new book,  It Chooses You.

..........

(mmm, smell the crayons)

a lost sketch found between pages of a book

Years ago I worked at the San Francisco Design Center in lower Potrero which is an area mostly of warehouses, converted design studios, and old victorian apartments - a texturally interesting place, gritty, with lots of urban decay.  One day while on a lunch break I came across this massive woman sitting on the steps of an apartment building holding a tiny baby on her lap.  There was something that excited me about the volume, the contrast, the shape, the tenderness...  I rushed and found a piece of scrap paper and sharpy pen to get it down.

dias de los muertos

Last night in the mission.  Dias de los muertos (day of the dead) San Francisco style

 ............................

Next post I will share more of the crepe paper headdress I made (first photo), and also the Indian jacket I recently bought at an ethnic textile bazaar.  They looked great together, very Frida-like.   

Bloomsday

An actress in the mirror reading from Ulysses 

and a scene with Leopold and Molly Bloom.

 After the reading

a stroll and a bite

in the city.

"What is a home without Plumtree's potted meat?  Incomplete!  With it, an aboad of bliss"

                                                                                  -Ulysses

 

Bloomsday, June 16th, is like Christmas to people who love the writing of James Joyce and especially the book Ulysses.  I would never have known this except that Mr. Husband is one of them.  The scene:  Joyce enthusiast gather for readings of Ulysses in locations all around the world.  Sometimes the excerpts are read aloud, and sometimes they're read and acted out like here in SF. Who knew?  Even if you have never read the book (like me) it is still an interesting scene, unusual, and something out of the ordinary to see.  My favorite parts are the old library where it's held, the wooden spiral staircase, the tiny scones and strawberries, the period costumes and theatrics, and crowd watching.  Afterward it's mandatory to stroll slowly and search for dinner.

More on Bloomsday here and here.