Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival 50th Anniversary

Ohayou Gozaimasu!  The clouds parted just in time for the Golden Journey to celebrate 50 years of Japanese culture Saturday morning as it unfolded into a beautiful morning to kick off the 50^th anniversary of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco Japantown. 

 

I have been attending the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco Japantown almost every year for the past 20+ years including the 30^th and the 40^th, making it a no-brainer that I would partake in their 50^th anniversary this year.  Spanning two weekends as usual (4/8, 4/9, 4/15, 4/16) and culminating in the Grand Parade at 1PM this coming Sunday 4/16, they had added some extras to the celebration, including extended evening hours on opening day, a scavenger hunt the first weekend and an anime film festival at New People Theater on Post Street for $13 showing classics like My Neighbor Totoro. 

Instead of the bonsai exhibit during the first weekend but returning for the second weekend, it was my first time seeing the beautiful flower arrangement exhibit which really drew me in. 

 

 

 

Shishu Japanese embroidery

 

 

and Washi Ningyo paper doll exhibit the first weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Shodo (calligraphy) and Karuta Card Game (Poetry, Game) planned for the second, you will want to attend both. 

A complete schedule of events and parking information can be found on Northern California’s Cherry Blossom Festival’s Website http://sfcherryblossom.org/ and as you can see is promising another action packed second weekend perpetuating and sharing the beautiful Japanese culture. 

After years of attending one of my favorite festivals, here are my top 5 tips I have learned from through the years. 

 

Tips:   

1.      Arrive before it officially starts for the day so you can get a chance to pick up a box of mochi from Benkyodo (Sat only)

 

 

 

 

or stock up on goods from Nijiya Market before it becomes packed with literally wall to wall people.  If you spend $30+ at Nijiya, you get $2.00 of your parking at the garage. 

2.      If you are here on Saturday and are driving in, park at the garage as you have to pay parking at meters anyways and you do not want to have to run back and move your car when you have reached the maximum.  It is impossible to find parking later on.

3.      Hit the takoyaki food booth first (between 11-12) as that line will get and remain long for the rest of the day and get the 13 for $10 if you have at least 2 people.

 

 

 

4.      While everyone is lining up at the lunch booths, 1-2PM is the perfect time to get your fresh imagawayaki, a Japanese dessert filled with sweet azuki red bean paste made to order.  Get 2 per person as you can always pop the second into your microwave to refresh for a treat the next day. 

5.      Do attend one of the tea ceremonies and then pick up some matcha powder before leaving Japantown so you can recreate and share this important and sacred part of their culture with others. 

 

Arigatou Gozaimasu NCCBF for 50 wonderful years!!  Here is to the next 50!

 

 

 

 

I Got Mugged in Maui, by a Humpback Whale!!

Just like one of my favorite animals on Earth, the Giant Panda, to much deserved fanfare, the humpback whales have quietly also been reclassified from endangered to vulnerable just last year thanks to hard work and conservation.  

But unlike the generally solitary panda which is nearly impossible to see in the wild, sightings of humpback whales in its natural environment is more accessible especially in the Hawaiian waters thanks to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary created back in 1992 to protect the humpbacks’ Hawaiian habitat.  Thousands make the long trip from frigid Alaska to the warm waters of Hawai`i to mate or give birth and to teach their pups the basics before making the long journey back. 

 
The Past

I was lucky enough to have been in Maui during peak whale season (December – March) 13 years ago where I was treated to sightings right from our lanai while eating breakfast overlooking the Au Au Channel between Maui and Lana`i.  Scanning the horizon for what looks like puffs of “smoke” which is actually a water spray and then patiently training our eyes on that area to be treated to a fin slap, tail slap, or if lucky the whale breaching made us squeal like a dolphin!! 

That created a fan and follower out of me supporting organizations like Whalesong Project - http://whalesong.net/ and the Pacific Whale Foundation www.pacificwhale.org, also designated as my Amazon Smile recipient. 

 
The Present

Thirteen years later, I was given an incredible opportunity thanks to a friend to return for a closer look and what better operator to go with than the Pacific Whale Foundation – www.pacificwhale.org, a non profit with a mission to research and educate the public about whales.  Unfortunately my first attempt was a bust as there were some issues with the generator resulting in a minimum 45 minute delay so I rescheduled for two days later.  The silver lining in that cloud was I was able to see a pod right from Ka`anapali Beach that afternoon as they took turns breaching, not once (already a treat to see), not twice (that would be amazing), but 5 times (had to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming)!

Sorry to burst your bubble so early but the three is not your typical family dynamic that you imagine but is actually mama, baby, and their male escort/wannabe baby daddy for next year or as our naturalist at the PWF puts so diplomatically, her Maui boyfriend.  So yes, I did go out on that whale watching cruise two days later on April Fool’s Day and was treated to a whale of a show that was no joke.   

 

 

 

With April being the tail end of whale season, we would have considered ourselves lucky to have a sighting or two of that “tail end” and after 30+ minutes of quiet where the only thing breaching was a jumping fish, I was already mentally preparing myself for third time being a charm.  As we braved into rougher waters, learning that what attracts them to the waters of Hawai`i are the warm waters to give birth and the clear waters for mama to be able to keep her eye on her baby in case he/she already gets a case of wanderlust, we finally had our first sighting.  We carefully followed making sure to keep the minimum 100 yard legal distance as we rocked and rolled along glad that they ate their 1-2 tons of krill per day in Alaska giving them enough to live off their reserves as they fast during their journey to and from Hawai`i and while on island instead of eyeing us like tasty morsels.  The majestic sight of one breaching from the 12 to 1’o clock position shortly after did make me wonder how big they were prior to their “diet”.  Now that mama got our undivided attention, baby got to practice and show off her cute baby “tail slaps” every so often keeping us entertained for the next 15-30 minutes.  Just when we thought it just could not get better than this, as we watched a mama and a baby emerge from the 10 o’clock position, we got mugged by her Mau`i boyfriend as he glided out from under our boat to join the pod.  Although our vessel is expected to keep that 100 yard distance, the whales do not get the same memo and are free to approach us as they please.  If they choose to do so, the vessel is required to remain where they are until the whale is a safe distance, hence the term, mugging your boat.  I have never been so happy to say I have been mugged in my life. 

Unfortunately due to the rough waters they were in that day, the unpredictable timing of nature and Murphy’s Law where my camera malfunctioned that prevented me from getting the money shots, I gave up halfway through it and learned a great lesson in the process.  So many of us too often these days look at the world from behind a lens or a phone instead of truly enjoying the experience that can be unfolding right in front of our own eyes.  This was definitely a surreal experience that pictures or videos would not have done it any justice plus the flip flop of the sky, ocean, sky, ocean that would convey only motion sickness it was probably a blessing in disguise.  Besides, now you all have an excuse to experience it for yourself.  Whale season in Hawai`i starts mid-December and runs through mid-April with peak sightings during January and February so if you do not catch the tail end of this season (pun intended), it is never too early to start planning for next season. 

 

 

 
The Future

Despite the beautiful sanctuary, threats still lurk from within, with entanglements still all too common as demonstrated by an emaciated sub adult’s encounter with a PVC insulated electrical type cable just last month and vessel collisions.  It is a reminder that we cannot sit on our laurels and get too comfortable but need to be even more motivated with our conservation efforts now that we are actually seeing some progress from the hard work.  After seeing these gentle giants up close, it is as unfathomable to imagine a world without humpbacks as a world without Giant Pandas. 

Where Adults (and Kids) Can Be a Kid

For the most part, my childhood was pretty serious.  Despite being an only child, I rarely got toys, we never went on vacation, did not celebrate birthdays and for Christmas, only the bare bone minimum with a 1 foot artificial table top tree.  Instead of the Teddy Ruxpin that was on my Dear Santa List year after year or the My Little Pony I would immediately make a beeline for upon arriving at the CVS only to have to put back every time we left, I would get $20 cash from Santa which I had to immediately deposit into the bank instead of finally getting my $6.95 pony.  The upside is the savings ended up helping with my down payment on a home 20 years later but the downside is I never truly got to experience what it was like to be a kid. 

Just like my lack of exposure to travel and the diversity of food growing up due to that sheltered childhood that makes me want to try it all as an adult, sometimes I find myself just wanting to be a kid, not again, but for the first time. 

Tilden Park Little Farm, Berkeley, CA

South Bay Yelp Community Manager Candice had done a segment on KRON 4 News a year or two ago and Little Farm was one of the places featured.  Although children would love the petting zoo aspect of it, it was the feeding part that immediately drew me in.  With free admission you just need to BYOL (Bring Your Own Lettuce) and BYOC (Bring Your Own Celery) making it a fun and cheap way to spend a good hour or so interacting and feeding the cows,

 

 

 

 

 

pigs,

 

 

 

geese,

 

 

 

chickens, goats,

 

 

 

 

and lambs

 

 

(rabbits although there for viewing are off limits to feeding). 

 

 

 

 

 

Over just two visits last month since celery was on sale for 79 cents each, I love already knowing the cows and goats prefer celery and lambs lettuce and that it is a good idea to bring at least 2 celeries. 

High Scores Arcade, Alameda and new Hayward, CA location - http://www.highscoresarcade.com

As expected, I did not go to arcades as a kid but did play some games on the computer especially when everyone went on the overnight middle school class trip to DC and Boston but I of course was not given permission to go.  Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man, both of which I still suck at all these years,

 

 

 

Tetris, Frogger,

 

 

Atari Star Wars,

 

 

Space Invaders, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, BurgerTime

 

 

and what I was so psyched to see and the first game I ever played, Tapper!  As a kid, I think it was modified to sling lemonade or root beer and not beer but now as an adult, I get to sling Budweisers!!

 

 

At throwback retro prices from when I was a kid, $5 for an hour or $10 for unlimited play all day with your wristband, it was the best $10 spent in a long time.  Chuck E Cheese may be where a kid can be a kid but High Scores Arcade is where adults (and kids) can be a kid.  The jukebox blasting classics was just icing on the cake. 

With that $20 from Santa, I could finally go experience both Little Farm and High Scores Arcade for a full day of fun.  As the saying goes, better late than never!!

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Beautiful San Francisco has so much to offer in terms of romance that you can understand why Tony Bennett left his heart here and celebrating the weekend leading up to Valentine’s Day is no exception. 

Food From the Heart

Now that the Super Bowl is over, you can kickoff your Valentine's celebration early with your sweetheart tonight, February 10^th at 5PM.  Retreat after a long work week to stroll through the historic Ferry Building by candlelight at the annual "Food From the Heart" event where you will be soothed with classical music and energized with tango dancing throughout the evening. Admission is free but you would want to bring some cash to sample the decadent chocolate tasting and delicious seasonal hor d'oeuvres from local merchants and restaurants ranging from $2-$6 per taste as well as the $4 wine tastes from local Napa Valley Vintners. To top it off, you can feel good about it as the proceeds will go towards Slow Food San Francisco's programs.  Afterwards, step right outside for a beautiful view of the Bay Bridge and the waterfront right at your doorstep.

L’Ardoise – A Way To His/Her Heart

We all know that the way to anyone's heart is through the stomach and San Francisco boasts so many great restaurants that it can be hard to choose "the one".  But what can be more romantic than sitting in a French bistro in Paris?  Since a flight over to Paris is out of most of our budgets, a stop at L'Ardoise is not.  Nestled in the middle of a residential area, but close enough to bustling Market Street is intimate and cozy L'Ardoise.  Authentic French fare that can rival the bistros in Paris, a welcoming and warm staff that you can not help saying Merci to and service that is as 5 star as its food.  Bon Appetit!

Ferry Building - 1 Ferry Building by Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111 - https://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/food-from-the-heart/

L'Ardoise - 151 Noe St, (between 15th St & Henry St), San Francisco, CA 94114, (415) 437-2600  - http://ardoisesf.com/

Sleepless in Seattle

No, I did not just have my own romantic comedy experience in Seattle but with only a few precious hours in the city, sleep was definitely not part of our itinerary there.  Although only a short 2 hour flight from the Bay Area, it has been 20 years since I have been to Seattle and upon arriving, there were aspects that reminded me of the other city in the Northeast, Boston.  Ironically or coincidentally it was like déjà vu as just like Boston - http://aroundthebayandaway.blogspot.com/2016/07/in-and-out-of-boston.html, we only spent about an hour in Seattle upon landing before heading on to our destination and a few hours right before flying out again 3 days later.

However, this foodie just had to make a couple of food stops in Seattle during our limited time there.  With only an hour allocated for lunch upon arrival since we wanted to get into Leavenworth - http://aroundthebayandaway.blogspot.com/2017/01/leavenworth-washington.html, another 2 ½ hour drive along the scenic but only 2 lane Stevens Pass to the base of the Cascade Mountains, while the roads were still dry, I needed more of a grab and go option. 

Dahlia Bakery

Coming across Tom Douglas’ Dahlia Bakery during my research, it was like a dream come true as I discovered the best of both worlds.  A casual offshoot to his Dahlia Lounge next door, offering baked goods and sammies, I was still able to get a taste of the masterpieces this James Beard award winning chef was capable of churning out to have previously beaten out Morimoto on Iron Chef America.   

Upon arrival with the energy of the Women’s March right outside its doors along 4^th Ave., I discovered their grab and go sammie of the day was a lot smaller than expected coming in only slightly bigger than a slider.  So I switched to two hot breakfast sammies, one bacon and egg, one meat and egg served on an English muffin.  Unsure of how large or small they would be, I added an order of made-to-order Dahlia’s donuts and a slice of their world famous Triple Coconut Cream pie to ensure we were satiated for the next 2 ½ hours, like bears loading up before hibernation.  Ravenously eating in the car after the flight meant the food disappeared before any pictures were taken so you will have to use your imagination or better yet try it out for yourself.  You’re welcome.  The Dahlia’s donuts were six mini beignets tossed with cinnamon and sugar served with marscapone and a seasonal jam (strawberry that day) to slather on before each bite.  Admittedly it was a bit of a challenge eating in the car but one we managed somehow and after swinging our legs out to shake off our sugar coated clothes, grateful it was not powdered sugar, I could have used another order. 

 

Matt’s in the Market and Pike Place Market 

After experiencing every weather condition over the next 4 days, rain, ice/snow, clouds, and finally sun and clear skies the day we left and days of German food, my stomach was ready for a change in scenery.  So making sure we had a few hours for a sit down meal in Seattle before heading back to the airport, we arrived back in time for lunch.  I knew I wanted to check out Pike Place Market,

 

 

 

often referred by many as a Foodie’s Paradise before leaving so lunch reservations were made at Matt’s in the Market housed in the top floor of the building across the street, offering a great view of the Public Market. 

 

 

It was a refreshing change to have some fish again especially after 3 meals in a row of wurst, beers, and Bavarian pretzels.  We both opted for the fish options and shrub,

 

 

the steelhead trout fish’wich

 

 

and the albacore tuna sandwich,

 

 

 

while half wondering if it came straight from the famous Fish Market we had a clear view of across the street. 

After lunch, we leisurely strolled through the Pike Place Market,

 

 

 

spotted the first Starbucks outside,

 

 

and snapped some pictures of the ferries crossing the sound

 

 

and the Seattle Great Wheel which I was seriously considering whether I had time to see up close and personal. 

 

 

But alas time did not permit this time around and just like our drive by of the Seahawks Stadium CenturyLink Field and the Mariner’s Ballpark Safeco Field on the way to Dahlia the first day, I barely slipped in a 2 minute photo op of the Space Needle

 

 

while we filled up the rental car across the street before heading to the airport.  Just like Boston, where I hope it would not take another decade to return, I hope it will not take another 2 for Seattle.