J-Pop Center Opening

I checked out the opening of the new J-Pop center (1746 Post St) in Japantown over the weekend, and was surprised to see a relatively large turnout for a niche type retail market. Who knew there was so many people interested in Japanese pop culture? Post street was jammed with Asian hipsters and girls in Little Bo-peep outfits-they must have been sweltering in the 80 degree heat.

I stood in line for a good 30 minutes to check out the modernist glass structure, designed by Japanese architectural firm Torafu. It reminded me a lot of the SPUR building, with its three narrow floors (plus theater basement) and compact use of space. The main floor had a coffee/snack bar serving...you guessed it, Blue Bottle Coffee. Man those guys are everywhere. There's also the New People retail shop, that seemed to specialize in expensively designed Japanese products like a cute ipod speaker ball thingy...that cost almost 40 bucks! They are going to have their work cut out for them in this economy.

The second floor seems to be focused on fashions for young Little Bo-peep wannabees. I don't get it, but it looks colorful and fun. There's also a wall of glass looking over Post street, which might be useful for people watching. The third floor is a gallery space for Japanese Pop art (my term) that I could see hanging in some millionaire Google employee's loft. Roy Lichtenstein would be proud. I didn't get to check out the theater, but will definitely make a trip back soon. The new complex finally puts a spark in the dowdy Japantown district. Now if they could only modernize that mall...

Takeshi Kaneshiro

I've always loved these pics of Asian mixed race superstar Takeshi Kaneshiro for Prada back in 1998. I remember feeling proud that an Asian (especially one that is half-Taiwanese) face is being advertised for a major fashion design house.
Of course, TK is now one of the most recognized Asian actors in the west, having been featured in at least 2 Wong Kar Wei films: ChungKing Express and my personal favorite Fallen Angels. He also starred in one of the most popular kung fu films House of Flying Daggers.

I've been impressed that his personal life seems very private. I can certainly hope that he may be "family", one always wonders about attractive single men in their late 30's. But as I heard my young female cousin respond to these rumours, his fans really don't care that much. He's that good.

John Hughes RIP

John Hughes' films helped define my generation. I remember seeing Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Beuler and Some Kind of Wonderful during my formative high school years, they are forever etched in my mind. Even his later films like Planes, Trains & Automobiles and She's Having a Baby still resonate. It's too bad he became sort of reclusive in his final years. His films aren't considered "high art" but they are exceptionally re-watchable. And isn't that the best compliment of all?

Marvelous Meryl at 60

In honor of the greatest living actress turning 60, I'd like to resubmit my favorite Meryl Streep roles. Who knows, the next one, as Julia Child, in the upcoming Julia and Julia, (opening Aug 7th) might be my new favorite.

1981 in The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Streep was gorgeous in the dual role of Sarah/Anna. and starred opposite an equally gorgeous Jeremy Irons. I still like to picture her in that brown hooded cape walking along the pounding surf. No other film has captured Streep’s physical beauty quite as well in my opinion. This was her 3rd Oscar nomination, and first as best actress.

1982 in Sophie’s Choice. The first time I saw Streep onscreen, and I was mesmerized. I like Roger Ebert’s description of her performance "there is hardly an emotion that she doesn’t touch in this movie, and yet we’re never aware of her straining". She dominated the acting awards that year like Philip Seymour Hoffman did in 2005. Her 4th nomination, first win as best actress.

1985 in Out of Africa as Karen Blixen. One of my all-time favorite films- that music, cinematography and wonderful chemistry between Streep and Redford. I saw it twice in the theater when I was 14! Her last narration dialogue while she is planning to leave her African farm still gets to me every time. It also started the trend towards Safari clothing…hello Ralph Lauren! Her 6th nomination.

2002 in Adaptation as Susan Orlean. The movie lost me in the last quarter, but Streep was having a blast playing novelist Orlean. Who can forget her transformation and hilarious scene when getting high on orchid dust. That’s the power of her involvement in any movie, she makes it even more watchable. Her 13th nomination.

2006 in The Devil Wears Prada. She nails the icy queen of Runway magazine. Never raising her voice, and saying much more with her deadly silences, she can rip you to shreds without a moment’s hesitation. My favorite line? Her last, "…….Go!" Her 14th nomination. She has 15 nominations and 2 wins.

CONDUIT

Conduit, a relatively new modern American style restaurant in the Mission area, caught my eye a while back for it's interior design. It's done by the Stanley Saitowitz/ Natoma group, the architect responsible for the gorgeous Yerba Buena Lofts on Folsom and the controversial Beth Sholom synagogue in the outer Richmond. I'm a big fan

and still wish I had made the move into YBL when I had the chance. The restaurant is definitely striking with it's interlocking pipes, dark woods and clean lines. The bathroom is partially unisex, only the minimalist frosted-glass covered stalls are marked men and women. I know alot of folks aren't fans of this type of sterile modernism, but I find it relaxing and peaceful. Nothing fancy or overly precious.

<--shared sinks and faucets

Oh yeah, they serve food here, really delicious food actually. Chef Justin Deering apparently worked at Boulevard and Fifth Floor, and the food served here is certainly comparable in my opinion. I had the scallop risotto as my first course and black cod for my main. Both were first rate, flavorful and cooked just right. The desert was somewhat disappointing however, a rather dry almond cake. I should have had the pot-de-creme which the waiter recommended first. The wait staff were very friendly and knowledgable, and even gave me tips on which angle to shoot my pictures! The menu is written in sparse terms only, like some haiku poem. Just ask the waiters for further clarification. Sometimes minimalism can be carried too far.

280 Valencia St. SF CA 94103 415.552.5200

SPUR and urban living

SPUR without signage yet

Loungy interiors - not a loungy crowd...

Opening day

I attended the opening party for the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) at their brand spanking new building on 654 Mission St. (thanks Steven for the invite!) The space seemed smaller than I expected, though that may be due to the packed masses of urban planning enthusiasts and city developers jammed into the modest square footage.

I support alot of their program goals, especially making SF a more livable and transit friendly city. Having lived in one of the most livable cities in the world (Vancouver, BC) and now living in one of the most expensive cities in the US, I have high expectations about spending so much of my income just to stay here. I continually weigh the pros and cons of urban life in SF. Could I find a comparable lifestyle in Seattle or Toronto, which are somewhat more reasonable financially? I know I still want to stay near a vital downtown, and SF has one of the most populated and popular downtowns of any city in the States. It also has great cultural venues, museums, restaurants, gay culture galore, mild climate and scenic vistas everywhere you look. BUT...it's also very expensive, dirty, druggy, politically retarded, has inconsistent public transit at best (a real hell hole at worst), precious little green space (despite wearing environmentalism like a boy scout medal) and just plain full of itself.

The SPUR center has a board with cards indicating "what's the first thing you would like to do if you were mayor of SF?". Where to start?

SFMOMA Rooftop Sculpture Garden

I went to the opening preview of SFMOMA's new rooftop sculpture garden last Saturday and enjoyed the beautiful day in this lovely new space (15,000 square foot expansion) designed by Jensen Architects and landscape designers Conger Moss Guillard. It's connected to the cavernous 5th floor gallery (my favorite floor) and gives an eye popping view of the art deco PacBell Building. Cost? A cool 24 million.

Also, for you coffee snobs, Blue Bottle coffee is opening a retail stand here!




Of course, I suffered a tongue lashing from the Filipino security guard for taking this video "No video, pictoors OK"...I didn't mind so much as she reminded me of the kindly Filipino nurses at San Mateo County Hospital where I did my residency.