We once fantasized about moving to the City, even long enough to pick out our favorite neighborhoods (I fancied Noe Valley). But after my travels in Spain and sleepless nights in Madrid I realized I couldn’t survive in a big, noisy city very long. However, this weekend made the City very alluring. After spending Saturday morning on the beach enjoying coffee with an old friend, we headed up to San Fran to break in my good friend Rachel’s new adorable studio at a housewarming party. Good conversation, highly-spiked punch and a wild haired cabby (When we exited the cab Hubby asked “Was that a man or a woman?”) served as the perfect Saturday night. Making it a full weekend, we stayed overnight at the Pickwick Hotel (featured in the classic flick “The Maltese Falcon”) and woke up late in search of a java-jolt and sugary pastries–the perfect hangover medicine.
What is a trip to the City without art and shopping? So we perused the Market Street wares (I got a fab fall sweater, Hubby some much-needed t-shirts) and then embarked on a tour of the SFMOMA’s Matthew Barney exhibit. We were familiar with Barney’s work from our trip to New York in 2002 and his bizarre exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum. But his “Drawing Restraint” exhibit took weird to a whole new level. I could become very tangential about what art is, and what makes an artist after viewing Barney’s show, but it would be far too long.
After another short visit with Rachel we headed back to our shore-side home, missing the electric vibe of San Francisco, but refreshed by the green air and somber silence of home. Maybe someday we’ll experience city living, but for now, our proud redwood trees fill the soul (and encourage the zzzzs).