Category Archives: Bay Area

When in Santa Fe…

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Growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I will unabashedly admit to my adolescent disregard of Santa Fe’s unique culture. After moving away, my perspective was radically shifted and I began to appreciate all that Santa Fe has to offer. It also became apparent to me that no one knows what a “frito pie” is, or Zozobra or even adobe! After living there for a good 17 years of my life, I can confidently say that I know my way around and am always glad to offer guidance to those who may be passing through. Santa Fe is one of the most historically and culturally rich cities in the US, making it a popular tourist destination. The predominance of Native American and Hispanic (of Spanish origin who arrived with the conquistadors) culture has shaped Santa Fe, from the cuisine to the traditional adobe/pueblo styled architecture. Santa Fe embraces its heritage through preservation of its authentic style and maintaining traditions. Santa Fe is an art capital within the US alongside some major cities such as New York and L.A.; therefore, Santa Fe attracts artisans, artists, art fanatics and collectors. In fact, Georgia O’Keeffe found inspiration for her paintings from the landscape in Abiquiu, a small town about 45 minutes north of Santa Fe. Continue reading →

Sweep LA!

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“BEAT LA!” This cheer demonstrates the great rivalry between the SF Giants and the LA Dodgers, one that is commonly seen around my office and the city. Since I am new to San Francisco, this rivalry is new to me—even professional baseball is new to me. Despite the fact that my office is located near AT&T Park, I had never thought of going to watch a baseball game. I prefer Korean soccer and I felt that baseball was none of my business. Honestly, the only reason that I supported the Dodgers and attended the game was to see the Korean pitcher, Ryu, who plays for the Dodgers. He is a rookie on the team, which was expected to defeat the Giants—at least I really hoped so. However, the Giants destroyed my hopes, and in time all the things about the Giants made me shout “SWEEP LA!” in the end. What happened to me? Please keep on reading to find out.

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My Impression of Architecture in San Francisco and Differences to Japan

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Hello, I’m Maki Dan. In Japan, I’m studying architecture and majoring in structural engineering and disaster prevention, especially for earthquakes. Right now I’m in San Francisco, working at Wcities as an editorial intern for one month. Although I am in San Francisco for a very short time, I’ve experienced a lot and have seen many beautiful buildings. I’d like to write about buildings in San Francisco and their differences to Japanese buildings, based on my feelings and knowledge about architecture. In addition, I’d like to write about some of my experiences here.

City level

urban design

This is a view from Coit Tower. San Francisco’s urban design is grid pattern. This kind of grid design can also be seen in many other cities in the United States. In Japan, we also have a city which has a grid pattern, Kyoto. In Japanese, Kyoto is translated as “Goban-No-Me”, which means Go equipment (Go is a popular board game mainly played in Asia). I have been to Kyoto once, and I found that both Kyoto and San Francisco have some similarities. Continue reading →

My Visit to SFMOMA

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Meet Zhuoran, one of our new interns visiting from China. A few weeks ago we took her to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), a few blocks away from our office. Below are her reflections.

When I first walked into SFMOMA, the first thing I saw was thousands of white computer-controlled LED spheres hanging from the ceiling; they dimmed and grew brighter, creating shapes. It was hard to see what the shapes were, but later when we went upstairs the shapes were clear: two dark figures boxing or practicing gongfu (kung fu). Very interesting. It was a new temporary installation designed by Jim Campbell, a local SF artist.

SF MOMA Lobby

Visiting SFMOMA was a good opportunity for me to better understand the fine art of photography. Before, I imagined photographers were just people with fancy cameras. I thought if the camera was good enough and the subject matter was beautiful enough (for example, super models or a scenic view) then their job was easy. After visiting the museum, I learned that photography is more than that.

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Restaurant Review: Ryoko’s

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A few blocks from Union Square, tucked away on Taylor Street (between Sutter and Post) you’ll find Ryoko’s. This late night, hole-in-the-wall sushi joint has been turning out quality sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese fare for the past 23 years.

With its nondescript entrance, Ryoko’s can be pretty easy to miss—that is, unless you go during peak hours and see the line of people out the door. The restaurant is actually located below street level, so once you step inside you descend a set of stairs to reach the dining area. The atmosphere inside is warm and inviting. Cave-like, even. It’s the type of place where you think “Cool, I had no idea this place was here.” Lighting is dim, ceilings are low, and the walls are painted a deep cobalt blue. The brightly-lit sushi bar takes up half the space, while small tables set close together take up the rest. There’s a baby grand piano squeezed in amidst everything too, though I have yet to see anyone play it.  Overall it’s cozy and lively.

Everyone that arrives is greeted by the staff with a boisterous “IRRASSHIMASE!” which means “welcome” in Japanese. It’s in all caps because they literally shout it at you. With Ryoko’s being the popular place that it is, people are always walking in so you hear a constant sing-song of “IRRASHIMASE!” throughout the night. It’s not too noticeable though, given the high decibel degree. If anything, it just adds to the friendly and jovial vibe of the place.

On to the food.  The food here is simple, not flashy.  It’s best to order from the daily specials board above the bar. That’s where you’ll find the freshest stuff. If they have it, I recommend the Hamachi Toro (toro being the fattiest part of the fish). It’s flown in from Japan so it’s not too cheap—usually $9 for two pieces—but my god, the flavor and buttery texture…perfection!

Hamachi Toro (and some other fish I can’t remember)

The sushi rolls are decent. They’re not fancy, but they’re executed nicely and the fish is always fresh. However, the portion sizes are a bit small in comparison to other places of the same caliber quality and price range. [SIDE NOTE: for fancy sushi at reasonable prices, check out Sushi Bistro in the Richmond.] Specialty rolls range from $7-$14.50 and usually only comprise of five pieces (sometimes six, if it’s a smaller roll). Continue reading →