already in need of a new lens

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll need to accompany all photos with a novella as my photography skills are not up to snuff. Armed with my Nikon D60, I thought that I would be capturing all noteworthy moments. Unfortunately, the camera is a little too bulky to carry as often as I would like. And even when I do have it on person, I am not artistic enough to recognize when a great photo op comes along; somebody has to bludgeon me with a hard object for me to pinpoint a perfect opportunity.

I was fortunate enough to have my Nikon D60 with me on MUNI yesterday. 

A couple walked onto the train and continued a conversation that had commenced prior to boarding. I didn't hear anything because I wasn't interested at first but I watched the girl (in sunglasses) mouth to her boyfriend, "wow" in a very infuriated manner after he had finished explaining something to her. She crossed her legs to purposely turn away and proceeded to ignore him for the next five minutes. The reticent guy split the agonizing minutes staring at the ground and the inseam in his jeans. His countenance appeared as a child who had just wet his bed.

And right then, I felt a mental smack across my temple. Camera Time!

Obviously, I couldn't capture exactly what I saw. To be fair, there were a couple of obstacles in my way. Firstly, a crazed, overgrown toddler sat next to me screaming at the top of his lungs while his parents sat idly by, probably pleased with how expressive their kid is. Additionally, my lens isn't powerful enough to zoom closer and I couldn't risk getting caught snapping pictures of strangers (and getting spit on by the fatso directly in front of me).

In five minutes time, the guy formed a smirk on his face and began to engage his girlfriend. He says something, no response. He offers his hand, not taken (by the way, this is the tell-all sign that your girl is pissed at you, as if there needed to be confirmation of such things). Finally, she takes off her sunglasses and says something. It must be playful because he smiles. An olive branch. He says something back. She bites him on the neck. They both laugh. All is forgiven; their world moves forward.

What seemed like a serious matter resolved itself very quickly. I concluded that it was a stupid conversation followed by some jealous reaction and settled with both parties admitting some culpability.

Thus, I offer my interpretation of the conversation that preceded boarding MUNI:

CRAZY: So, if you could be with anyone other than me who would it be?

STUPID: Um, I don't think about that.

CRAZY: C'mon, the train isn't gonna be here for another three minutes. Entertain me.

STUPID: O.K. fine, you start though.

CRAZY: Well, I've actually thought about this...

STUPID: You have? Well, I have too then...

CRAZY: What?!

STUPID: I'm just kidding, you were saying?

CRAZY: You'd better be joking. I can't choose between Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp. It's such a tough choice.

(Train arrives at 2nd and King.)

STUPID: Ha, ok. Since I'm a great guy - you can have either. Let's get on.

CRAZY: Ok, but you still have to answer.

(Couple boards train. They sit next to each other.)

INNOCENT: Well, if I could get with someone, I guess I would choose your roommate Sarah.

CRAZY: WOW!

The moral of the story: I need a new lens. Thanks.

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paul k - san francisco (hayes valley)

Paul K, you forced Paul S to focus on the wine

ML and I dined at Paul K over the weekend with some friends. I had been eager to try the popular mediterannean spot in Hayes Valley. After completing our latest epicurean venture however, I felt a little unsatisfied with the forgettable experience.

There was nothing particularly bad about the place. More than anything else, I found the entrees a tad on the boring end. At mediterranean restaurants, I like ordering the smaller plates rather than the main entrees. Perhaps a more intimate setting would have allowed ML and I to trade in one of our main dishes for a couple of appetizers. I am perusing the online menu again and there seem to be some items worth trying. For what it's worth, the mezza platter we ordered for the table was delicious (especially the lamb riblets) and paired nicely with the bottle of syrah that ML picked out.

The duck and halibut were easily the best entrees, but not exquisite. All other dishes, including my braised rabbit, were boring and lacked finesse (I won't post the pictures of my rabbit dish - it looks like vomit).

Wow - I was pretty displeased with the food on Saturday night, but I just blogged myself into keeping an open mind about Paul K in the future.

Yes, the halibut stood out as a highlight. But man, look at the detail in this photo. Loving the Nikon D60...

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nikon d60 has landed

Look very carefully. You can see the ball flying perfectly down the middle.

Well, I finally did it.

I bought a Nikon D60 DSLR.

There were a multitude of factors that led to this somewhat impulse purchase two Saturdays ago:

• It was a rare Saturday when ML and I were not together, staring at each other. I had no idea what to do with all of the free time
• I lost my beloved Olympus digital camera on Halloween (once I have access to my albums from that camera, I will pay proper tribute)
• I had collected over $200 of Best Buy credit through some sweet financial negotiations with my credit card (not that sweet)
• I convinced myself into believing that I would be a better photographer with a better camera
• Oh, I almost forgot, it was raining (duh)

Clearly, I had no choice but to realize this purchase. I sought out the advice of a co-worker, photographer extraordinaire. He recommended starter DSLR models from the Nikon and Cannon product lines. I adopted his brand choice and went with Nikon. 

In the 1+ week that I have owned this camera, I have some stats to share:

• ~5% success rate of decent photos to snapped pictures
• 100% annoyance from friends
• 1 jealous Caroyln Shin
• 1 lost camera lens cover (I am alleging that it was stolen)
  
• 1 drop (in a soft patch of dirt thankfully)
• 0 understanding of Aperture, Shutter...

This is going to be fun!

Cathy Shin surprisingly approves of the new toy.

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namu - san francisco (richmond)

Future Top Chef contestant and current Namu sous chef/eligible bachelor Jeff Kim pats down Namu's famous burger patty.

ML and I have been eating at Namu, a neighborhood gem tucked away in the Richmond district, for some time. Not long ago, I learned of distant cousins that reside in the area and pleasantly discovered that one of them is a sous chef there. I am a huge fan of the Korean and Japanese influences that inspire their cuisine and became partial to the restaurant prior to learning of the family connection. However, one can argue that I may have an un-biased opinion of the food (I think it's great). 

Being the fair person that I am, I will attempt a GreensandBrowns first. I now turn this post over to guest blogger ML to extricate all (acknowledged) unfair predispositions:

Namu means "wood" or "tree" in Korean.  The only thing I can think of that is consistent with the theme, Namu, are the wooden chopsticks (and the wooden floors... and the bar top).  About the food, there were mushrooms in the dumplings... actually, I suppose the dumplings would fit into the theme as well since mushrooms are known to grow on trees.  

Thanks, ML. Very succinct and to the point. Doesn't that say it all?

In all seriousness, the food here is quite good and its location is easily accessible, allowing for a sophisticated dining experience without having to endure some of the pains that accompany San Francisco dining.

The menu consists primarily of shareable small plates and creative takes on traditional Asian dishes. All of their items from the raw bar are excellent and offer an alternative to your run of the mill Japanese fare. Additionally, they have some nice proteins, again prepared with Asian flavors. They complement the dishes with a robust sake menu and some premium sojus that I rarely indulge in elsewhere.

My goal is to try everything on the menu and will continue to report back on my epicurean adventures at Namu. Next on my "to eat" list are the lamb chops and some of the super-charged Korean entrees.

Editor's note: GreensandBrowns will be re-evaluating the guest blog feature.

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sebo, san francisco (hayes valley)

My parents have been running a Japanese restaurant for close to half of my life. Therefore, I have always held a critical (but fair) eye towards Japanese cuisine. Most sushi places I have visited in San Francisco have all been pretty good; I don't think you can really get away with offering bad fish in one of the food meccas in this country. Additionally, it's a coastal city and the Japanese heritage is intertwined deep into its fabric. Thus, most establishments range from fair to very good.

The best sushi meal I've ever had was probably at Kaygetsu in Menlo Park. Sebo (Say-bo), a Japanese restaurant in Hayes Valley, is another establishment in the upper echelon of Japanese cuisine.

Sebo resides in the charming Hayes Valley district of San Francisco. It’s not a tiny hole-in-the-wall but seating is fairly limited as they reject the idea of cramming as many tables as possible. The décor reflects the menu - minimalistic. Unlike most sushi bars, the chefs at don’t hide behind the usual elevated sushi refrigerator that divides the patron from the sushi man’s creations. Here, the fish are stored in a flat chest – almost like a glass coffee table that props open. Folks sitting at the bar have full visibility into each preparation. I enjoyed this element very much. You bear witness to the grace with which the chef deftly constructs each piece.

My cousin, a sous chef at Namu, suggested the place as he is an acquaintance with one of the head sushi chefs – Fukashi (sp?). We sat at the sushi bar opposite him. He had a kind face and was helpful throughout the night in explaining the dishes. It really pays to dine with a chef; they appreciate discussing technique and ingredients with each other. Fukashi expounded on each course that he placed in front of us.

I immediately identified several nigiri pieces on the menu that I had never seen before and learned that Sebo only serves fish delivered from Japan. I was in for a treat! The basic difference between Japanese and American flavors is the simplicity. Nothing is drizzled in a sauce; all additions serve to highlight the fish’s natural flavors. For instance, they prepare their unagi (fresh water eel) with a sprinkle of sea salt compared to the American tendency to drown it in a rich, sweet reduction. 

Every piece was unique to my palate, tasteful, and firm (extremely fresh). We had several different pieces, all of which were excellent and new. And the ika (squid) - one of my favorite pieces of sushi is prepared both with the body meat and also with the tentacles that are lightly grilled. They are able to offer preparations like this because the fish is often distributed as whole pieces. We watched the sushi men scaling and de-boning at times, which is pretty rare and fun to observe. 

Towards the end of the menu, we were treated to some off-the-menu dishes (It's awesome to have family connected in food; I am looking forward to taking advantage of this more frequently). The highlight was an uni and maguro dish. Fukashi placed some diced tuna into an empty avocado rind and poured some mashed up uni and some other ingredients into its contents. It was really delicious and imaginative.

The menu is relatively expensive, but it really can't be compared to your average sushi restaurant. There is obviously a much higher cost from the quality of product and the distribution process. I am a huge fan of the minimalist approach and no frills menu. Check out some of these laughable Yelp reviews and you’ll see that it’s not intended for the average sushi eater. You get what you pay for. Check it out (and take me).

I need to go to Japan...

I didn't take this picture, but wanted to share this because Sebo makes their own tamago. It is very delicate and has a nice, subtle sweetness to it. It makes for an interesting dessert.

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barack obama - winner winner, chicken dinner

I now offer a post mortem on Barack Obama's historic presidential election win. Well, not really, I just wanted to share some links. 

I didn't get the opportunity to see the announcement live so I dedicated several hours to learning of how the various networks made the announcement. There is nothing quite as moving as watching Obama supporters at Grant Park in Chicago countdown in unison for the polls to close on the west coast and then erupt in euphoria when the victory was announced. I haven't found a clean version of that so I have omitted it here.

My favorite call of the election was actually from Comedy Central. Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert teamed up to cover the election live. This was actually the first one I watched when I got home. 

You can actually see Stewart choke up and fight back tears. While this isn't Walter Cronkite informing the nation of John F. Kennedy's death, there is a certain weight to this moment as Stewart is just barely able to maintain composure on a comedy program. Obama's pending victory at that point was obvious and all that was needed were for west coast polls to close to announce the official result. Still, considering the magnitude of Obama's victory, there was obviously a huge disparity between knowing that he would win and actually learning of the desired conclusion and sharing it with a live audience. 

I want to believe that Colbert gets emotional too, but I may be talking myself into that one. Colbert's ultra-conservative TV persona are so over-the-top that it is difficult to pinpoint moments when he breaks from character. Either way, it was personally satisfying for me as I have watched these hosts' shows religiously over the last couple of months leading up to the election.

Below are Electoral College results from the last two presidential elections (sans Alaska, Hawaii). You would think that a young black man would be polarizing to the country, but not with this man. His words captivate and challenge; America answered the first challenge. Virginia, congratulations on becoming a blue state.

2004 Electoral College results:

2008 Electoral College results:

Lastly, some key footage from the real victors of the 2008 Presidential election, Saturday Night Live:

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november 4, 2008

“A new world.”

Words uttered by a slightly inebriated gentleman on my way home on MUNI Tuesday night. He raised his brown paper bag and toasted with his companion; a pre-game drink en route to a post-election celebration.  All those with either Barack Obama paraphernalia or an "I Voted" sticker acknowledged each other and smiled as if to say, “We did it.”

This was followed by fits of spontaneous applause among the passengers on our train. Outside, we could hear honking car horns on the streets, a sound normally reserved for impatience and annoyance, overtaken for one night by jubilation and elation. It was more than an excuse to celebrate, and still more than genuine happiness. These were the sounds of ownership, a realization of having participated in the most dramatic change this country will undergo in our lifetime, a real sense that America had won. "We did it."

I recently blogged that I have an affection for times when the inhabitants of my city, San Francisco, all move in unison. Some type of holiday event usually influences uniform participation, but there are instances when it is caused by something of greater magnitude. And as a city with a famously homogeneous (and liberal) viewpoint on most social matters, there is a call for this great city to serve its purpose as trailblazer when the challenge arises. On Tuesday, San Franciscans heeded the call and hit the polls in support of Barack Obama. On Tuesday night, they watched Obama's win together and celebrated afterwards as one.

I shared the Obama victory announcement with classmates in my UCB Extension class. Our professor was kind enough to update election results on his projector throughout the course of the class. It only took until halfway through our session to learn of the historic moment. The entire class cheered when we saw that Obama had secured the necessary 270 electoral votes. I felt a slight tug in my heart and was a little surprised by my emotional investment. Until that very moment, I had solely looked forward to a Democratic candidate replacing the incumbent party from the nation's highest office. At some point during his campaign, Obama's eloquent rhetoric transformed into a sincere call for change in my eyes. The official announcement of his win erupted a dormant joy that had been unknowingly seeded in me. I shared this sentiment with my classmates. And every corner of San Francisco cheered. "We did it."

We watched Senator John McCain’s gracious concession speech that fully cemented the inconceivable result. I was very much moved by his poignant words and seeming desire to return to be a dutiful servant. McCain can now use the remaining years of his office to rebuild a tarnished image borne of a campaign rooted in mudslinging and one almost unforgivable mistake. He is an honorable man, and I think we will see that again going forward as evidenced in his amazing speech.

Once I reached my stop, I walked around my neighborhood to consume myself in the palpable energy. Bars were packed even by weekend standards and election coverage replaced the usual ESPN highlights on flat screen televisions. Even hours after the landmark announcement, folks were still high-fiving and gleefully recounting the night's happenings. "We did it." I thought that Bill Clinton's victory over George Bush in 1992 must have fostered a similar energy among young people. That election is in no way remotely comparable to what happened on Tuesday, but for young people in a metropolitan city, the sense of change must have been inspiring. 

I concluded my night by sharing a personal moment with the President-Elect. I watched Obama’s victory speech online in my bedroom. I felt an overwhelming flood of emotion and pangs of joy usually reserved for my family. They are truly words that inspire, words that challenge, words that bind us. 

“A new world”, I will keep coming back to this indelible phrase for the tenure of Obama’s presidency. It is a lofty challenge, and one that can’t possibly be lived up to by policy changes. But I’ll remember the sincerity with which those words were spoken. I think the real takeaway is simply the fact that someone actually chose those words to describe an election. In that sense, a change has already swept over this country. Obama is the leader of a new voice; one that recognizes that it shouted for something fresh. Things are different. Young people are connected. San Francisco cheers. "We did it."

Godspeed President Obama. 

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the house, san francisco (again)

One good meal deserves another. ML and I returned to The House in San Francisco for dinner with my sisters over the weekend. Whenever we have a memorable meal, we always vow to return but it's difficult when there are so many other establishments that require our patronage. Thus, we jumped at the opportunity to go back as ML enjoyed her previous epicurean experience at The House. 

It was an all meat night consisting of two steak dishes, the pork chop (in photo above), and a chicken dish. We started with the shrimp and chive dumplings as well as a lobster tempura salad - a special for the night and really delicious. 

The highlight had to be Carolyn Shin's first ever glass of wine. We ordered an Argentine Malbec for the table and when our server set four glasses, I noticed Carolyn's eyes grow wide and she began to not-so-subtlety poke me in my side which is Saebom sign language for "hey, check this out. i'm about to get away with some underage drinking". She excused herself to the bathroom and later we learned that she left our table to make sure she wouldn't be carded. Ha!...clever girl; you are ready to leave the leave nest and move on to college for sure.

Good time, good food as always at The House.

A sophisticated drink should be handled with elegance and grace. Carolyn Shin spent some time to educate me on how to properly handle a glass of wine without embarrassing myself (and others).

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Halloween 2008 in San Francisco

Promoting Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons". Also, last time my beloved Olympus camera was seen

I hadn't dressed up for Halloween since 2003 and thus, approached Halloween 2008 with a high level of anticipation. ML and I had to scrap our original idea of dressing up as Robin (both of us) as we learned that a friend had already planned for the same thing. We didn't want to blow her away with our interpretation and thus had to quickly shift gears. 

ML went ahead and bought a seductive devil costume so I tried to be as cheeky as possible and put together an Angel costume. My budget didn't allow for wings and a halo, but I did manage to collect enough hodge podge items to make a successful contrast (as long as I took the time to explain that I was the light to ML's playful darkness). The creative process was the real fun, and we have already made some mental notes about next year's costumes. Additionally, I really enjoy days when the entire city moves in unison. Halloween is one such night with all sorts lurking the streets, eager to show off their clever creations.

Some of the better costumes seen during the night:

• A Mario Kart posse
• Girl dressed as red lego brick using just carboard, red wrapping paper and plastic Solo cups
• Deal or No Deal model
• Peter Pan and Tinkerbell with animated hair made out of felt

Lastly, the passing of Halloween brings forth the homestretch of 2008. This was confirmed tonight for me as I heard Christmas music at the supermarket. The weather grows a little colder and lights shine a littler brighter. It's a good time.

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