A few days is more like it. We had a three day weekend this past one, and we intended to enjoy it. Friday we drove to San Francisco to see a couple events. But first we had brunch at Hebivore, a vegan restaurant with three bay area locations. When you think vegan you might think “no thanks”, but this place would convince you. The food is really good and totally animal free. Check out the menu on their web site with an open mind. Then we went over to the DeYoung Museum to see the Andy Warhol exhibit. It was excellent, and you have two more weeks to see it before it leaves. We arrived just as a free docent tour was starting, so we got a thorough explanations of his life, his motivations, and his work. Then we walked back through to see some of the items we had skipped and to linger over others. There were some seven or eight rooms (from memory) filled with artwork and other items from different periods in his life and/or focusing on different subjects for his art. Also included were some of his experimental films. There was a lot more to him that that Campbells Soup Can painting! Much more after the jump…
A Day In The Life – Take 5
A Warmer Week In Indio
It was gray, cold, and rainy in our town of Sacramento. So when we got offered a week’s stay in southern California, we were more than ready. Petra‘s parents had a timeshare they would let us use, and we took them up on it. We had heard about how nice and warm it is in the Indio-Palm Springs area, even in the winter, so it sounded pretty darned inviting. Since it was a two-bedroom place, we mentioned it to friends Larry and Robin and they met us there and spent five of the seven days with us. From what I am told it was rainy, cold, and gray in our home town while we were gone too. Good time for a short vacation, eh?
Friday, February 13th
We got an early start since we had over 500 miles to go. But after a while on the road we were hungry, so we stopped at Pea Soup Anderson’s for breakfast. They are known for, guess what, their pea soup, but I don’t like pea soup and it was breakfast after all. A pea soup omelet? Pea soup waffles? Pea soup benedict? I don’t think so. We had a normal breakfast. Well, if normal includes waitresses that are very reminiscent of Frau Blucher (video) in the movie Young Frankenstein. And if you haven’t seen that movie then you must see it. Now. Meanwhile, full and happy, we headed onward toward
Happy Tofurky Day
Yep, you read that right. We don’t eat no dead birds ’round these parts. We’ll have a vegetarian feast instead. And you can tell by looking at us that we are NOT starving. So, Happy Tofurkey Day to family and friends. And anyone else who has stumbled into this den of rogues, scoundrels, n’er-do-wells, and blackest of sheep.
Today’s culinary tip: What kind of wine should one enjoy with a fake “turkey”? Most experts, including myself, would suggest limiting it to either red, white or pink. Anything else would be a major faux pas.
Now, could you kindly please pass the Tofurky, the nut loaf, the potatoes, the stuffing, the corn, the soup, the bread, the gravy (of course), and both kinds of pie? You can keep the cranberry sauce ;-p
Yes On Proposition 2 – Help Farm Animals
Whether you are a vegetarian or not, most people do not want animals to be mistreated or abused. This measure would help prevent cruelty to animals, improve our health and food safety, support family farmers, protect air and water and safeguard the environment, and is a reasonable and common-sense reform. Read more here or visit the campaign site here or maybe even donate to this worthy cause here.
Don’t believe me? Read the frequently asked questions to find out what the measure will do and why it is necessary. In a nutshell, this measure will provide more humane treatment of millions of farm animals by phasing out their confinement in small crates and cages where they can barely move for virtually their entire lives. The law would take effect in 2015 and would require that calves raised for veal, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens are given enough space to turn around, lie down, and stretch their limbs. Similar laws have been passed in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Oregon, and throughout the European Union’s 27 member countries.
VOTE YES ON PROP 2 !!!
The Excellent Seattle Trip: Days 6 – 8
Note: Be sure to check out some of the links too!!
Monday 9/1
The last day of the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival. Yikes! So let’s enjoy it!! After a quick monorail ride to the festival grounds, we strategized in the hospitality area. And we ate. Hey, you gotta eat or you’ll die, right? We started the days entertainment with an hour containing two short independent fims grouped loosely under the title of Portrait Of The Artist. The films were a bit weird but harmless and not bad really. Then on to the main stage for recently popular modern rockers Paramore. They are a young and energetic band with a charismatic female singer, and we were up pretty close to the stage. I had ony heard a song or two by them but ended up liking their entire set. I’ll have to watch for their CD. Oh, and as a general side note, there will be pictures of them and the rest of the trip up on this site soon. Check back often! Then, when the pictures are not here yet, you can grumble “Why is Steven so slow?” Ha! It’s fun, try it! Anyway,
The Excellent Seattle Trip: Days 4 – 5
Note: Be sure to check out some of the links too!!
Saturday 8/30
Today is the first day of the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival. We are totally psyched and even more ready. Lots of music and almost every kind of arts spanning what, 15 or so stages, and elsewhere on the grounds too. It’s huge and wonderful! Check out their web site! We got there and ended up standing in a bit of a line to get in, since it is such a popular event. Once in, we headed to the hospitality area. Since we had bought the “gold passes“, we got an indoor area (with private restrooms) and free snacks and beverages all day long. We were with friends Larry and Robin and we met up with Mama O and her posse there too. Then the various groups headed their various ways. Petra and I went to see
The Excellent 2008 Seattle Trip: Days 1 – 3
Note: Be sure to check out some of the links too!!
Wednesday 8/27
We flew into Seattle. Actually the plane did, but we were on it. There was me and Petra, friends Larry and Robin, and Mama O (who would meet up with the rest of her posse later). We took a crowded bus to the Camlin hotel. It let us off right across the street which was very convenient. We checked in and took a quick look at the nice rooms. But of course we were all hungry so we walked a block over to Cyber Dogs Internet Cafe and Vegetarian Oasis, a great vegetarian hot dog place. The dogs are meatless but good and the toppings more than make up for that. I’ve tried a couple different ones over the last few trips and all were great. The menu is here, check out the specialty dogs. After food, what else is important? You guessed it. We took a quick and easy bus ride to the state-run liquor store. Yar!! Then we started walking back to the hotel and
I’m Gettin’ Hungry, Dawg
Do you like hot dogs? Doesn’t everyone? Are you a vegetarian? Isn’t everyone? Ha!
We tried a new eating place Friday, Capitol Dawg, in midtown. They offer a variety of dawg types, including a vegan dawg for us non-carnivores. Then you pick your toppings, or choose from one of their many menu dawgs. The great thing? Any of the items can be done using the vegan dawg! Check out the menu here. Note: Their web site was having some problems when I tried it today.
They have a more-or-less Sacramento theme, with their name, of course, and items like the Prop-51 Dawg, the Gold Rush Dawg, the Deftones Dawg, the Hornets Dawg, the Monarchs Dawg, you get the idea. There are lots of different dawgs and a nice patio out in front. If you’ve tried this place, let me know what you thought in the comments.
A Day In The Life – Take 1
Yesterday Petra B was at an art class so I decided to start getting caught up on my Mixmasters CD reviews. Or get ONE done at least! (If you don’t know what Miximasters is, click here for the old web site then click on Mixmasters along the bottom of the page). And yes, I did get a review done, and another CD ready to review today. Once PB got home, we headed out to run an errand and then to check out a Second Saturday art installation in the Curtis Park area, at the Tangent gallery. Strange art but very cool.
Then we went next door to the Coffee Garden, a great coffee shop in the Curtis Park area that has entertainment and a large indoor and outdoor seating area. Free Wi-Fi too, of course, but we didn’t have the laptops. A woman was playing guitar, then viola, then accordian, and singing (The Heather Show) We watched her for 20-30 or so minutes.But it was getting late and we were hungry!
So it was off for our first visit to Andy Nguyen Vegetarian. Yeah, the whole place is vegetarian, maybe even vegan, I didn’t check that. But we could actually order anything on the menu! Woo! Some of the items have wild names like Unending Bliss or Supreme Awareness and things like that. And there was some new-age type music playing. But the food was good and the place was nice and the service was decent too. My dish was described as spicy and it wasn’t really. But it was good. No alcohol served, though. Anybody out there even eaten there? If so, what did you think?
Pigs And Dogs. You Decide.
Do you think you know about pigs and dogs? Take a minute or two and check out this quick and fun quiz. You might be surprised.
What was your score? I got a seven out of nine. Not too bad.
Did you know? Pigs are the smartest animals on the planet besides primates. They’re as smart as 3-year-old children, and pigs can suffer and feel pain just as we can. Think about it: If pigs said “woof”—would we treat them like we do? I won’t go into all the gory details about what happens to pigs on factory farms. And if you don’t want to know then don’t watch the video.
Just remember how smart pigs are and think of this next time you want to eat one!
