Japanese Tea Gardens in SF; Golden Gate Park

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Japanese Tea Gardens // Golden Date Park; SF

I have been needing a day of relaxation. Sometimes the rat-race gets the best of us and we need to take a step out of the fog and clear our heads. I decided to find my "zen" at an SF landmark I had yet to visit in the heart of Golden Gate Park; The Japanese Tea Gardens. This lush, green landscape, with vibrant red pagodas, an arched drum bridge, and traditional stone lanterns was the perfect place to find tranquility. 

It was a rather crowded day in this small garden oasis, but even with all the people, I found beautiful moments of serenity; Much stemming from good conversation with my girlfriend Christine. After doing an initial stroll through the sunny garden, we plopped down in the outdoor cafe and talked over cups of tea, bowls of Miso soup and a few nut tarts for a sweet finish.

The Tea Gardens are tucked in the corner of Golden Gate Park's Main Concourse. With an $8 entrance fee for out of towers and a hefty serving of tea, you can find a couple hours worth of peace for less than $13! Today I enjoyed a cup of Hojicha while looking over a waterfall, and Koi pond surrounded by Japanese maples and pines. This was a great way to feel like you are not only away from bustling city, but in another part of the world all together. 

“When a garden is used as a place to pause for thought, that is when a Zen garden comes to life. When you contemplate a garden like this it will form as lasting impression on your heart.”
— Muso Soseki

I am looking forward to going back to the gardens! Make a stop here if ever in Golden Gate Park!

xx

Sara De.

Tourists In Our Own Town - One; SF

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It had been a rough week at work. I was looking so forward to the weekend, but the weather decided my fate early. With storms both Friday and Saturday, my mood stayed gloomy and body in bed. Then Sunday reared around with a plan unbeknownst to me. 

I made plans to spend the day with my dear friend Taylor. What our plan was: Go with the flow. We decided to meet at my place and start the day with a pricy brunch (no penny pinching there!) to treat ourselves for the rough and hard working weeks we had just seen. Since I have moved here I have wanted to dine at the Wayfare Tavern. Between its ambiance, open kitchen aesthetic and yummy menu, I knew that was the perfect place to live bit larger this morning.

By the time we were in and seated at the bar, overlooking the hustle and bustle of the dreamy French-tapestried kitchen it was seemingly Lunch time. Fried Chicken it is then! A regular on many of SF's best lists, I figured I would see what all the fuss was about only side a starting order of "Poutine" and an accompaniment of asparagus. Oh, an beer, did I mention the beer! Feast your eyes.......

Wayfare Tavern // financial District; San Francisco

Wayfare Tavern // financial District; San Francisco

Our lavish lunch was a fantastic way to start off the day. It felt good to check this famed SF restaurant off the list. It encouraged us to want to do more things that turned us into tourists for the day. That got us thinking about all the things that people come here to do, yet we had never accomplished. An Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista?! With eager curiosity, despite the pushback from out taste buds, we hoped in an Uber and head for the bottom of Hyde St.

Now, I am not big into coffee. I know.... shocking, but true. But I do love me some whiskey, so I figured I would give into the experience and throw one back. If you are unfamiliar, the Buena Vista Cafe is FAMOUS for dishing out lines and lines of pipping hot "Irish Coffees" as well as having one of the best views of the Golden Gate and SF Bay. Their Irish Coffee is Simple: 2 sugar cubes, 2 parts hot coffee, 1 part whiskey, 1 part whipped foam. Boom! The gentlemen behind the bar are all dressed with fitted white jackets and a black bowtie. Very old fashioned for an old fashioned drink. Savor it, throw it back, whatever! Just go, try and be like the rest of the tourists. Truly an experience!

Now, I can see why these unique beverages are sought after for the experience. I myself have had nothing like it. If not for the warming drink, head to the Buena Vista for the bustle and views.

With a little more liquor in our gust we decided to continue on in the area and push ourselves to do something we have never done. We walked one block down to Jefferson, and head for Fishermans Wharf. Look, since the dawn of time, tourists are told to come to this area. And in all honesty, I am not sure why. Over priced tourist traps and tacky vacation knick-knack are in high supply, but do your best to put your head down and not get sucked in. Instead seek out a particular treasure just past the Crab Markets; "Silver Fox Fishing and Tours." For $15 cash (plus a polite tip, if you please) you get a lap from the dock, past the Marina District and Palace or Fine Arts, under the Golden Gate, round the back side of Alcatraz, ending with a beautiful view of The Bay Bridge, Downtown, Coit Tower and Nob Hill. 

I had exactly $30 cash in my wallet, a rare thing. It was a serendipitous moment. So we hopped on, ready to see to the Bay like never before; In it!

Taking the last few inches of space on the bow of the boat, we expected some ocean spray and even better sites. Windy, noisy, and beautiful! Again, I highly suggest this easy, cheap and enjoying time on the water.

Those were the last pictures I got of the day before the sun went to sleep. After our boat ride, we decided to have cocktail at a place with one of the best views in all of California; The Top of the Mark. 360 views of the entire city, the Bay and Beyond, all from a restaurant and bar at the very top of the Mark Hopkins Hotel at the peak of Nob Hill, catty-corner from Grace Cathedral. Also, amongst  other notable buildings along California St., The Fairmont Hotel is home to the Tonga Room; a tiki-themed bar and grill in lowest level of the iconic hotel. A dark island paradise with Mai Tai's the will pack a punch! Of course, we got a lethal dose of rum for 4 in a fish bowl to share. Yes, a fish bowl. 

The end of the day was a silly and slurry one. Using ride shares in the city like Uber, and Lyft is the only way to enjoy yourself responsibly on a Sunday Funday. Come to San Francisco, see the sites, sip the sustenance and enjoy yourself! 

xx

Sara De.

 

Chimney Rock Sunrise; Point Reyes

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Sara in the Sand Dunes // Photo by: Harry Glazier

Sara in the Sand Dunes // Photo by: Harry Glazier

(Click PLAY below to set the mood! - 1:16 is where it picks up!)

There are certain instances in your life, where no matter how long ago they took place, nor how many fresh memories have happen since, they arrive joyfully welcomed at the forefront of your mind when recounted. They were THAT GOOD. Well, that was this morning - Sunrise at Chimney Rock.

It was a brisk Fall morning. Myself, along with two zestful friends, some photo gear, picnic munchies and the most perfect soundtrack, head to the Northern Most Tip of Point Reyes to be greeted by the dawn; And she was please to meet us as well!

 

I asked my friend Harry Glazier to recount that morning. As much as I enjoy being a storyteller, I love hearing how friends who shared those same moments dream up the details. In his own whimsical way, he paints a portrait of the morning that helps me relive it in all of its immediate wonder. I hope you can imagine your own vision and play along too.

  

Here's Harry: 

 "I think it was the bag of leftover scones that saved the morning. And in all honesty, it took me half of the drive to completely wake up. But once we reached the park entrance, I knew the trip would not be in vain. Sara, Chris and I had been planning our escapade for a few weeks, in expectation of capturing a glorious sunrise on the coast. Point Reyes is one of the few areas on the west coast where you can watch the the daybreak over water, but Mother Nature had a different plan for the morning. Much to our dismay, upon arrival in Point Reyes, we hit a typical West Marin fog spell. I could barely see just yards in front of the car, but with caution and persistence we arrived in one piece at the Chimney Rock trailhead.

    Bundled head-to-toe in canvas jackets, flannels and jeans, we completed the short hike to the bluffs, blankets and (more) scones in tow. Upon arrival at the top, it was as though we had been transported to alien planet. For the first ten minutes, we could have practically swam in the fog. We snapped a couple shots on the edge of a bottomless cliff, then settled on our blankets to enjoy the morning. Just weeks prior, in a similar early morning trip, my friend Rachel had shown me the Icelandic band Sigur Ros, and I knew it would be fitting for our momentary rest. And we were in luck, too! Sara had brought her portable speaker. It was almost like Mother Nature was in the mood for some post-rock too, because the second we began playing Valtari, the skies opened up just enough for us to see the expanse of eroding bluffs and coastal behemoths.

    Openings in a fog bank like this can sometimes only last for a matter of minutes, maybe even seconds. We knew that if we wanted any shots of the sunrise, or something that could barely be considered a sunrise, this was our chance. So I scooped up my camera and we ran, with no destination in mind: the wind to our backs, reeds brushing our calves, slices of sun cutting through our hair. We lost track of time.

    When I look back on that  morning, I cannot recall how long we spent on top of the bluffs. While I know we would eventually leave to spend time on the beaches and later head home, sometimes I still feel as though we never left Chimney Rock."

Following our time on the bluffs, the dunes below were calling our names like vacant playground slides, dying to be ridden. We tore through the heaps of dewy sand, going ankle deep up and over its curved peaks. The view of the coast was breath taking. As the sun beat a little warmer in the sky, burning off the clouds, we set out to picnic at  a deserted beach. Just us, our scones, a block of cheese and the quite whistle of the wind. 

Chris and Sara Picnic // Photo by: harry glazier

I feel very lucky to gave a circle of people around me that share the same importance for documenting memories as I do. This is a cherished one forever.

xx

Sara De

(All full frame photography above contributed by Harry Glazier)