Bay Area Bridges

There are numerous bridges in the Bay Area of California.  I thought I liked bridges, but discovered I like the lines and symmetry of bridges and tunnels.

Lots of symmetrical lines here (Carquinez Bridge between Crockett and Vallejo)

Curved arch of the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel heralds the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge

More leading lines (SF-Oakland Bay Bridge)

Iconic architecture of the Golden Gate Bridge

Bay Bridge view while we were stopped in morning traffic below

Pattern of lines painted by the setting sun's golden yellow light (lower level of the Bay Bridge)

Pretty lines.  I'm just saying...

Japantown, SF

We stopped in Japantown to shop at Daiso Japan (a $1.50 store in the US and the largest 100-yen chain in Japan).  As usual, I started looking looking in other shop windows.

These are decorative canisters of different teas.

Cute teapot-for-one with a canister of tea

Then I spotted this little cupcake in the Cako Bakery window

There were more cupcakes

Really, probably a couple hundred cupcakes in the window!

A window with lots of teeny tiny hard candies

A display of pretty wooden Kokeshi dolls

 Lauren with a huge Totoro in a bookstore (iPhone picture)

Lani with pickled kimchee in a Korean market

Lots of pickled kimchee items!

Baby crabs in kimchee

Mushroom chowder, ready for a pot

Teddy bought 4 packages of kimchee and spam fried rice.  The ground red chili peppers in kimchee turn the entire dish red-orange.  Really, it's not as hot or spicy as it looks. You're missing out if you haven't tried kimchee fried rice.  If you're feeling adventurous, you can find a recipe and cooking instructions here.

Baker Beach, SF

I've seen this view of the Golden Gate Bridge on postcards and posters.

I'm glad someone told me it was here so I could see this vantage point.

My brother, Teddy, told me to look at rocks on the beach.  So I did.

I like this view.  The majesty of this iconic bridge behind the beach.  And, my three peeps.

Uncle Teddy and Lauren exploring sand critters

When I take pictures, I become a lagger

But, lagging provides this view of father-daughter

Beach exploring apparently tires the young

Till next time, Baker Beach

Bi-Rite Creamery, San Francisco

I found Bi-Rite Creamery while reading a photographer's blog about a must-do snack stop.  This was one of our highlight treats during our Memorial Day weekend and a definite return trip!

We passed the Bi-Rite Creamery window (they also make baked goods and sell grocery items) and decided to stop at the market first.  Their "picnic cakes"which are the size of jumbo muffins.  Yum.

Bi-Rite Creamery is part of Bi-Rite Market, a local organic, "good food" SF neighborhood market  across from the street from the creamery.  Lauren worriedly mentioned someone was looking at us.

As we got closer, we laughed because it was a cardboard man perched in a window "looking" back at us!

In a time when businesses are striving to increase their profits, it was inspiring to see this window sign.

The simple exterior of the market

We stopped by the flower section to look at the green snowballs

These colorful snowballs looks like hydrangeas to me.  Lovely green color.

Aren't hydrangeas beautiful?

Amen to this sign!  Coming from an agricultural community, I support our local farmers.

Back to the creamery.  While waiting in line, I was looking at these.

It was so hard decide on flavors.  

Teddy's banana split!  The bananas were hand-caramelized with a small torch.  Absolutely delicious!

I shared with Kirk so we chose 5 scoops of 4 flavors:  salted caramel, ricanelas (cinnamon with snickerdoodles), brown sugar with ginger caramel swirl and coffee toffee.

I  didn't take a picture of Lauren's order.  She already started eating and was outside doing this...

Happy eaters

This hand-drawn sign was on the napkin dispenser.  In support of the Napkin Conservation Project started in 1990.

I also noticed this hand-drawn sign above the trash bin.

Today's tasty discovery.  Thanks Bi-Rite Creamery!