It was a fun filled exhausting day - walking,walking . We happened upon a Deli in the Tenderloin area with lovely multiple salad selections. The owners were a couple that have owned it for 32 years - he appeared to be from one of the countries around the Mediterranean and she seemed to be Asian. It is a cash only affair. The real citizens of the city seemed to be the patrons. Mostly subsistence people - no money but what they do have they'll spend there in order to have food for the whole day. The owner took liberties with the rice lentil salad and insisted the only way to have it was slathered in his eponymous hot sauce and some lovely chopped cucumber/tomatoe thing on top. I appreciated his insistence. I got a kick out of the hot sauce plastic squeeze bottles by the till- the couple's happy faces smiling out from the label. If only I could have brought one home. How do people do it? Day in and day out for 32 years - only themselves working.
Feeling quite stuffed on the salad selection - the couple couldn't believe Kyr and I could eat the whole plate - we wandered over to the Asian Art museum. It was overwhelming. I was almost squirrelly by the end of it - all the art is so completely detailed - all the sculptures, the multiple deities. How does the brain absorb it all? For the first time in my life I was relieved to see the modern art section - finally something I felt I could understand - safety pinned black letters in the silhouette of the buddha. Kyr is a better man than his mom. He enjoyed it all and wasn't overwhelmed.
We stopped in Union Square and enjoyed a concert. Kyr was taken with the band Rupa and the April Fishes because they professed to be interested in World Music and Gypsy music - reminiscent of his hero Eugene Hutz. We were mesmerized by Merdith in the middle - completely obscured by her parka and hoodie and sunglasses. She never seemed to sing much either. The lead singer Rupa - the girl with the guitar was very impressive - writes all of her songs in multiple languages, had a lot of zip and a lovely voice. She was very political and I felt envious that she was so absolute in her pronouncements. The band will be playing at a demonstration against police brutality on the Bart. The police killed someone the other day that was brandishing a knife. As Rupa said - he was one of her patients and bystanders claimed that he didn't look like he was going to hurt someone. I was glad she was so sure he was harmless. I also wondered what type of patient he would have been to her. Brandishing a knife on public transportation doesn't sound too harmless to most Canadians - freshly remembering the Greyhound bus murder. When we got home I googled her and found out she is a internal medicine physician for 1/2 of her life, the other half a musician. Quite a fascinating woman. Her talents are a bit intimidating.
We finished off the night with a wild tropical meal at the Tonga room that is apparently fighting for its life against Condo developers. It is a well loved restaurant by the locals - a band boats out on a lake in the middle of the restaurant and thunder and rain storms punctuate the evening. Once again we witnessed some great dancing. It leaves you with the idea that Americans just live to dance.
3 comments:
Looks like a fun day and good descriptions, not to mention the pix. Wish I was there. Especially the Tonga room.
I had received a warning on my iPhone about that demonstration. It had potential to disrupt traffic in and out of SFO. At any rate I was gone before that.
SF looks so fun. Do you think living in such an invigorating culture is necessary to be vibrant and creative Are people in a cultural wasteland doomed?
T--so happy to see the Tonga pics--how I cherish my memories of the place. Love the pic of Kyr and the blue drink. I find Chinese Buddhist art to be overwhelming my self--fascinating but suffocating.
No way Miranda--just think of the Trani party I want to throw ;)
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