On kindness and Christmas

There's a nice man who works at the ticket booth in our parking garage. Whenever I swing by to leave work for the evening, he's there with a smile, a nod and a "have a good night!" It's a simple gesture, but it's become something familiar and pleasant. Sometimes I'll pick his line of cars at the exit just to wish him well and have him send me on my journey home. I don't know much about him. All I know is that his simple kindness makes a big difference... 

And speaking of kindness, our mantel (well, cabinet) with cards from family and friends reminds me how blessed we are. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! Andrew and I spent the weekend before Christmas in Los Angeles, visiting my aunt MaryAnn and her boyfriend Dominick and cruising through the crowded streets of Hollywood and Beverly Hills in her new car. We held a party (Kim came over!), went on a hike near Dodgers stadium, ate Mexican food on Olvera Street, browsed the Redondo Pier fish market and went on a long walk in Marina Del Rey with Andrew's brother Tony and his wife Jana. It was my first time meeting them and I couldn't have been happier to have an afternoon together! We spent Christmas in Grass Valley, opening presents, eating way too much as usual and watching "The Christmas Story" -- my favorite. :)

The first beer I ever liked

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a wine girl. Anything bitter and hoppy usually makes me pucker after one sip. BUT...that was before I went beer tasting (for the first time ever!) with Jeanne and Kim at Mammoth Brewing Company over Labor Day weekend and tried their Double Nut Brown ale. The brown porter ale has subtle yet sweet hints of dark chocolate and coffee, with a crisp roast finish. 

It won me over at the mention of coffee and dark chocolate. Plus, the beer won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup this past May. So it's officially a winner in my book. 

Their tasting room is in this big warehouse-type building right across from the Mammoth village with its string of high-end shops and eateries. Happily, tastings here are just $1 each!

Next time I'm down in the Mammoth area visiting Kim, we'll have to go back and pick up some more! (And try their celebrated root beer, which ran out that day.)

All in all, the discovery gave me some hope for my beer taste buds. Cheers!

Recipe for the ocean

A few weeks ago, Andrew and I visited the ocean, near the town out on the coast where we will marry. Here's what we found: 

Flats, of course, weren't the best idea for walking along the beach, but I couldn't resist. I miss living closer to the ocean. There's nothing like the big, beautiful, raging, calming sea to put life in perspective. :) Happy Friday, everyone. 

Foodspotting

Have you tried the new iPhone Foodspotting app? It allows you to browse through people’s photos of dishes at nearby restaurants and recommends actual menu items. You don’t just read the restaurant’s name and random reviews; you actually SEE the meals people have tried and loved. I just downloaded it, but it's already insanely addictive…and is making me hungry right now.

Taking photos of your food is a popular trend these days…and has been for a while now. Remember Tucker Shaw, the guy who photographed every bite, snack and meal he ate each day in 2004? His book Everything I Ate: A Year in the Life of My Mouth, was a fascinating meal memoir before the days of iPhones and Instagram.

As a side note, my best friend Jeanne just returned from a grand tour of Europe and when she came back, she posted an entire food photo album on Facebook solely of some meals she ate. I was drooling over the Italian dried figs, Belgium waffles and Greek baklava (that lucky girl)! At the top is her plate of calamari and French fries in Greece, where she says the "food defeated us. That was the fullest I'd ever been." :) 

*Photos by Jeanne McAteer

Just day dreaming...

...of traveling and far away lands. 

I wrote this poem in 2008 about ferrying around the world:

He took me as far as Baton Rouge
She drove me as far as Ghent

He took me as far as Lima

The furthest the river went

I told her I’d get off in Tulsa

That Third Street was close enough

I asked him to sing me a love song

His voice Venetian and rough

They brought me to Ambergate station

Came home for Christmastime

They took me 'cross Frisco bay

On a ferry when I was nine

A wayfarer, a crate, a stowaway

That’s how I made it through

A raft upon the Amazon,

Ask that man, it’s true

For all these traveler’s angels

I pray thanks for such fine deeds

And know upon this earth

Wherever we follow they lead

*Photo of Akaroa, New Zealand

Sacramento date day: Zoo + pizza

I work full-time in downtown Sac now, but I’ve barely scratched the surface of exploring the City of Trees. So, the weekend before last Andrew and I went on a little adventure.

We wandered through the Sacramento Zoo (where I hadn’t been since I was a kid) and checked out the lions and tigers and pythons, oh my! I also discovered my new favorite animal is a red panda. They were lazily hanging in the trees for hours on end.

For lunch, we stopped by Hot Italian and tried their pizza for the first time. Andrew tried one with prosciutto and I had the Murino, with sliced pears, gorgonzola and honey. But my favorite part of the meal was dessert—their carmel saluto (salted caramel) gelato with its burnt caramel flavor was to-die-for! We took a small bowl of it to go and ate it sitting in the grass just across the street at Freemont Park. :)

What are your favorite date spots in your home city? Hmmm?

New York pizza

I love the West Coast, but the East Coast makes much better pizza...

I heard about Di Fara (this teensy pizza parlor on a corner in Brooklyn) a while ago, and now I’m determined to try it next time I’m in New York.

Di Fara owner Domenico DeMarco immigrated to New York from Italy in 1959 and has been tossing pies into the oven for about 50 years. His pizza’s bubbly thin crust, minimalistic toppings and $5-per-slice price tag epitomize good-old-fashioned pizza the way it was meant to be.

Shockingly, last year, the Health Department shut down Di Fara’s for multiple health code violations, but after pushback from devout fans and a major cleaning spree, the kitchen reopened for business. Waits can extend up to two hours out their door each day!

Aspiring videographer Margaret Emily MacKenzie created this insightful documentary called "The Best Thing I Ever Done" about DeMarco and his methodical pizza-making last year. It’s worth a watch.

Road trip?

Don't you ever feel like just jetting off and hitting the road?

When I was a kid, my family used to have a motorhome and my parents drove us all over the country--from National Parks to crowded campgrounds to sandy beaches (where we once got stuck!) to Canadian mountains. The furthest I've ever been from home was during my trip to Australia and New Zealand. 

I kept a journal during that time and wrote furiously about the beautiful shorelines, funny cultural disparities (like driving on the wrong side of the road!) and encountering strangers. I got to go skydiving and see the Christchurch cathedral before it crumbled in the February 2011 earthquake. But what I remember most is feeling so FREE--despite craving one of my mom's home-cooked meals. That's the true beauty of traveling: Living outside of ourselves and everything we know, if only for a short time. 

I'm curious: Where are your favorite travel spots? I've always wanted to do this.

P.s. Here's a look at some other destinations I've written about: Chinatown in San Francisco and Los Angeles. 

Summertime films

Andrew and I rented The Way at Redbox last week. He had already seen it (like almost every movie out there! ;) but this one was worth watching again.

The 2010 film follows the story of Tom (Martin Sheen), who walks the ancient Camino de Santiago trail in honor of his departed son.

While watching, I became totally inspired to someday hike the pilmagrage across northern Spain, also known as The Way of St. James. Everything about it looks so adventurous! The tradition brings thousands of travelers to the route each year, ending after nearly 500 miles at a beautiful cathedral where the remains of the apostle Saint James are believed to be buried.

Check out the trailer:

What are your favorite summer films? I’ve always loved The Man in the Moon (with Reese Witherspoon as a kid!) and I could watch Midnight in Paris a bazillion times. I also really want to see Moonrise Kingdom soon! It looks so quirky.

Cheers to summertime!

*top photo from filminsider.net 

Tartine Bakery

On our last stop in the city (before heading home to tell my parents the exciting news!), Andrew and I stopped by Tartine Bakery in the Mission District. My friend Lindsay recommended the place months ago, and afterward I spent a good hour reading online about their bubbly bread and fascinating story.

The place was crammed with locals, travelers and people like us who wanted to taste for themselves why Tartine has developed a cult following. We ate standing by the window and shared a tangy lemon cream tart and the scrumptious Pecorino & Almond hot-pressed sandwich with chopped almonds and sharp, melted sheep cheese. Yes, sheep cheese (who knew?!).

I couldn’t resist taking this photo of the ring...

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Exploring Los Angeles

Hollywood walk of fame

For decades, Los Angeles has been the hub of America’s entertainment industry, known metaphorically as a land of milk and honey where celebrities roam the streets and film directors mingle at glamorous hotspots over glasses of wine.

Yet L.A. emits more than just stardust and smog into the atmosphere over southern California. As the most populated city in the western United States, its 3.8 million residents make up an eclectic composition of cultures and neighborhoods, backdropped by the iconic Hollywood sign glowing in a hazy distance. Among the constant buzz of music, movies and television, Los Angeles lays claim to international cuisine, high-end boutiques and a plethora of diverse art galleries. Year-round sunshine and long stretches of playful beaches make it a visitor’s paradise.

In short, L.A. is equal parts reality as it is fantasy. Coined the creative capital of the world, it is ever-changing, exceeding expectations and begging to be explored.

Attractions: Seeing stars

Writer Erica Jong once said, “Every country gets the circus it deserves…America gets Hollywood.” No visit to Los Angeles is complete without a glimpse of “Tinsel Town,” where tourists meander all day through the Walk of Fame, posing for pictures along sidewalks that sport over 2,000 shimmering stars to commemorate Hollywood’s most prominent figures. Find more star power at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, where movie buffs can match timeless celebrity hand and footprints to their own.

Keep an eye out for famous actors and actresses in living form as you take a stroll down Rodeo Drive, known for its high-end fashion shops, where Julia Roberts shopped in the film Pretty Woman.

Those still dreaming of seeing their name in lights spend their time across town along the Sunset Strip. Here, a hip counter-culture of struggling musicians and artists enjoy the nightlife at numerous music venues and nightclubs, like the Viper Room, once owned by Johnny Depp and still frequently visited by Hollywood’s A-list.  

If you weren’t lucky enough to spot any celebrities while cruising through the city, star-gaze instead at the Griffith Observatory, a popular tourist attraction for its impressive display of science and space exhibits. Settled on a hillside within sprawling Griffith Park, L.A.’s own larger version of Central Park, the observatory’s unique planetarium and family-friendly atmosphere make it a worthwhile stop.

Outdoors: Like, hit the beach, dude

Visit any of L.A.’s many beaches and you’ll understand why Angelenos have inherited a “work hard, play harder” mentality. Whether you’re chilling in the sun or catching a wave, this section of the California coast is the ultimate destination for relaxation and some world class people-watching.

Rent a bicycle and cruise down the South Bay Bicycle Trail that runs for 22 miles (35 km) along the sparkling sand, beginning at one of the city’s hidden treasures, Paradise Cove in Malibu and ending south of Torrance. Along the way, check out Santa Monica, famous for its carnival-esque pier, complete with ferris wheel, street performers and caricaturists. Join a chess game at the tiny International Chess Park or play on the nearby over-sized swing set.

Head south to L.A.’s quirkiest: Venice Beach, where an eccentric cast of characters, including tanned body-builders, snake-handlers and grungy skateboarders coexist. Lively volleyball courts and lifeguard shacks give the area a timeless feel.

On the “wrong” side of the road: driving New Zealand by rental car

From rugged coastlines, to city streets lined with cafés, to breath-taking views of snow-capped volcanoes, New Zealand has it all. More and more visitors that flock—pardon the sheep reference—to this tiny country in the South Pacific are discovering the rewards and surprising ease of renting a car or camper van to mosey their way through its attraction-packed North and South Islands.

Sharing the road with a truck is a common occurence through New Zealand's countryside

New Zealand, though grand in scenery and adventure, is a relatively small country. In fact, the entire landmass of New Zealand could fit inside the U.S. state of California. And with only 160 kilometers (100 miles) of multilane divided motorways, most of the country is comprised of two lane roads. Even for drivers who fear city streets, tackling major cities like Wellington are a cinch compared to enduring rush-hour traffic in LA or parallel parking in San Francisco.

Without any experience driving in Commonwealth nations, my two friends and I left California for a four-week tour of New Zealand this past June and took on the challenge of mastering the other side of the road. About 2,400 kilometers (1,490 miles) of winding roads, a couple hundred roundabouts (oh, and one tow truck) later, we conquered our behind-the-wheel fears.

The following is a list of “do’s” and “don’ts” for traversing New Zealand like any proper Kiwi.

• DO take advantage of a rental car

Renting a car was a terrific way to set our own pace while traveling. We hired two separate rental cars during our trip—one for the North Island and one for the South Island. Transporting a vehicle across the Wellington-Picton ferry is much more expensive. Located in airports, ferry terminals, and throughout most large towns, rental car companies are easy to find and eager to do business with tourists.

In order to rent a car in New Zealand, one must be 21 and hold a valid driver’s license from one’s home country. Yet, my friend Lindsay was just under the mark and they still gave her the keys. Rules were more relaxed than we were accustomed to at home, and the process at the counter was, for the most part, quick and hassle-free.

Many websites negotiate deals through rental car companies like Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz or Thrifty and allow car seekers to search by car, dates needed, or city for pick-up and drop-off. Try www.vroomvroomvroom.co.nz or www.nzrentacar.co.nz.

• DON’T skip out on the insurance. 

Better safe than sorry is a good motto here. Our first night with the rental car quickly turned into disaster when a sharp left turn put our tiny lipstick red rental on top of a large pile of rocks in a hostel driveway in Taupo (I won’t mention who was driving).

However, because we spent the extra money on rental car insurance, we avoided monstrous fees and only had to pay off the friendly tow truck guy who came to our rescue, shaking his head at us silly American travelers.

San Francisco's Chinatown: A Photojournal

A Case study of Old World vs. New World

Old man with cane in Ross Alley

San Francisco is steeped in various subcultures, living in nearly isolated modules within the city’s frame. One such subculture can be found in Chinatown, the largest of its kind in the world outside of Asia. Here, Chinese residents have lived for over one hundred and fifty years. Past the tall steel buildings, marble store fronts and glass bank doors of Market Street, and wedged between the refined shopping corners of Union Square, and the rows of colorful homes in Nob Hill, lies Chinatown.

Though it is surrounded by different realms that leave it intact, Chinatown is crowded in a cluster of culture and sound and smell that is unlike any other in the city. To live in this pluralistic society, the youth of Chinatown have adopted the material and technological fads from the modern world, yet many still attend Chinese high school, speak mainly Chinese, and live with their parents and grandparents who rarely step outside the boundaries of Grant and Stockton streets.

On my first visit to Chinatown, I spotted three young girls sporting Abercrombie sweatshirts, boarding the city bus. A young couple, their arms around one another, teased by their gaggle of peers who came up behind them outside a storefront, taking pictures on their iPhone. A group of teen boys, eating fried wontons as they swaggered along in their loose jeans, wearing Giants jerseys. Two girls I passed heading back from Union Square in the tunnel, thin and brimming with arms full of shopping bags from Forever 21 and GAP. Clearly, the modern world and its ensuing trends have influenced nearly every nook and cranny of today’s America. This applies even to Chinatown, where teens speak Mandarin into their iPhones.

Two cell phones and a frappachino

I set out at the beginning of summer 2009 to study San Francisco’s Chinatown through photojournalism. Through my observations, I wanted to reach a better understanding of the area’s old and new worlds and discover if a rift exists between them. I set out to photograph both, to study intently the chasm between them—however wide or small it might be. Over the many hours I spent on the streets of Chinatown, I came to discover that the social parameters of each generation are comparably similar to any other neighborhood within America today. However, in Chinatown this comparison is swollen by language and culture so entrapped within the larger city.

Driven by Henri Cartierre Brasson’s “the decisive moment” approach to photojournalism, I soon discovered that taking photographs of people on the street was one of the more difficult things I’ve ever done. All too often I would fumble with the focus on my camera, missing that decisive moment—seeing it in my  mind as a subject walked by—then losing it as quickly as it came. This work was frustrating at times. How could I capture what I wanted my audience to see?