Escaping The Heat

Richmond Marina, 7/8/17.

Temperatures in Vallejo were well into the 90s again this afternoon, so we fled the heat towards Richmond, where it was in the mid 60s, then the temperatures kept dropping.

This is supposedly the last day of a weeklong heat wave in the Bay Area, and after we ran some errands in Santa Rosa, we headed due west for the coast, through Forestville, Guerneville, Jenner, south on Highway One to Bodega Bay, then on to Tomales, Point Reyes Station, Olema, then turned onto Sir Francis Drake east through Samuel Taylor State Park, then Fairfax where we tarried awhile, then home.

But first we had some errands to run in Santa Rosa, and decided to check out a relatively new (one year old) Burmese restaurant that's mind-blowingly good. I'll review it later, but above you can see the server mixing up Tea Leaf Salad, and below their Chicken & Shrimp Biryani. Easily one of the best restaurants in Santa Rosa!

Shots on the coast itself, where temperatures were much lower than in Santa Rosa. These are shot just south of Shell Beach in Sonoma County. Click on the photo below, and look at the boulder in the middle, it has purple flowers growing on it! On the photo above, one of the boulders, above the middle, had a bunch of seals!

Frances getting muddy at Bodega Bay.

Tomales Town Hall.

Suddenly, Point Reyes Station's got a bunch of great restaurants. Above and below are salads at Station House Cafe, both using local fresh ingredients, perfect execution. The Steelhead Trout below has a nice char on the outside, but is still slightly raw (sashimi grade, I'm sure) in the middle. As someone who used to cook fish 5 nights/week, I gotta say, that chef's got game. The flank steak salad above, wow--so tender and spot on, great counterpoint in texture and flavor.

And then onto the Marin redwoods. This is shot in downtown Fairfax.

El Huarache Azteca in Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland

Haven't been to El Huarache Azteca since last summer, today (3/3/18) we thought it a great idea to check it out again. Above and below is the Huarache Azteca, which is steak, nopales, cheese, lettuce beans on a huarache made from Blue Corn Meal. Superb, as one would expect.

Otherwise we just got the same stuff as usual, the Borrego Birria plate (smoked mutton with smoked nopales and the fixins. I also got a Jamaica agua fresca, which is Hibiscus Tea.

Above and below: tacos on freshly made corn tortillas. The smell and flavor always reminds me of El Paso.

Fantastic Mexican restaurant on International. Above: smoked lamb barbacoa plato, with nopales, rice and frijoles made from scratch, the latter two with the rich flavors of meat stock and manteca. Sublime.

From left: salsa verde, salsa rojo (probably habanero), and my Jamaica, or Hibiscus tea.

Tortillas made from scratch, natch.

Quesadilla: another tortilla made from scratch, with Huitlacoche, cheese, lettuce. Can't wait to return.

El Huarache Azteca

3842 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601

(510) 533-2395

King Crimson at Fox Theater Oakland

My first time to this venue, the fabulous restored Fox Theater in downtown Oakland, Faux 1920s Art Deco Orientalism.

The pre-concert music consisted of haunting, trance-inducing chimes. Ideal for these Demonic spirits with glowing eyes.

The stage before the show, with huge signs saying photography and recording is prohibited during the concert. The fine staff at The Fox had no problem though with my taking photos before the show.

I got relatively inexpensive seats in the balcony.

After the final song (21st Century Schizoid Man) of the set. You probably can't see it, but Robert Fripp and Tony Levin were taking photos of the crowd, while we all got out our cameras and cell phones.

Waves of euphoria & adrenaline whilst in trance state. This new lineup of King Crimson presented some new songs and old ones with new arrangements. At times note for note precision, at others it felt loose and instinctive, like Free Jazz. With three drummers in the front, this is the most percussion-based version of the ensemble I know of. Highly recommended for all, especially King Crimson fans.

Sunday Drive: Sebastopol, Valley Ford, & points south

Outcropping of grey rock on Valley Ford-Franklin School Road, just north of Dillon Beach Road

Same spot, looking NNE. Notice the thunderstorms rolling across central Sonoma County and parts north towards Napa, Vallejo and the East Bay. A few minutes later, as we headed back east towards Novato on the Marshall-Petaluma Road (which is mostly untouched wilderness, an amazing back road) we'd be driving through the moderate rains ourselves. Thunderstorms are extremely rare on the West Coast, I think this is something like the 3rd or 4th one I've experienced here.

Same spot, looking just south of due east.

Looking north down the road, Valley Ford in the distance, with Freestone & Sebastopol beyond.

South down the road. Winds were starting to really pick up.

Light in the trees in the Peace Park in Sebastopol, across the street from the Sunday Farmer's Market.

We thought about going to Occidental, but we both just wanted to head down roads we hadn't been on, and first stop out of Sebastopol was Wildflour Bakery in Freestone. Most of their breads were sold out by the time (4pm) we got there, but there were still a few excellent choices. This is a cheese bread they make there called Fougasse--gouda, mozz, scallion and red bell pepper--it was still warm as we greedily tore into it.

Above and below: Bodega/Tomales Bay in the distance, Dillon Beach below.

Above & below: Tomales Bay. The wind was mighty & strong here.