Finally, a moment to wade through the hundreds of San Francisco photos. I managed to get this round down to under 100, but it must stop here. It’s been over an hour! I’ve hand-picked a few favorites for the post, and the rest are under the jump in a gallery. To navigate, click an image and then use the bar at the bottom of the window. To start off, here is a photo strip from a booth at the Musee Mechanique. I took a quadrillion photo inside, too, but those are a whole other monster, to be dealt with later, maybe. Maybe.
Ginny and I took the scenic route, and took our time, instead of gunning it down the 5 as usual LA –> SF protocol dictates. Our drive took about 7 hours, and it was far more pleasant than usual.
We stopped at the Madonna Inn, hoping for lunch. While waiting for their restaurant to open, we wandered around the halls and gift shops, marveling at the gaudy splendor and avoiding creepy dudes. The restaurant alone made me feel like I’ve died and gone to Vegas.
The hot pink, holographic bathroom did, too.
Some dark, especially Russian part of me was interested in this goblet. I’m weak before anything resembling gasoline spills. Managed to resist.
Self-explanatory:
Upon our arrival at Jon’s we invited Eso over and had a slumber party. Jon gave us stuffed sharks for pillows, which we nearly pilfered. So soft! So shark-like! Fortunately for Jon these items classify as “clutter” and aren’t allowed in my home. Adorable clutter.
After a night of sleeping bags and giggling, we ventured out for French breakfast, where I had the most beautiful French toast.
Then off to the water, to visit the aforementioned Musee Mechanique.
Here is Ginny kindly modeling a monkey hat enroute to the Musee.
A mind-blowing martini at the top of the city:
Ginny and Jon, anticipating cocktails.
Later that very night: Little Sheep Mongolian hot pot, wherein I discovered a spice I’ve never tasted.
Perhaps you can help me out. What makes your entire mouth go numb, then sour, then salty? When we asked the restaurant staff they claimed it was white peppercorn, but there just ain’t no way. It looked like this:
And this here is a flaming skull.
The next morning came much too soon and looked approximately like this:
And now I take my leave. Click the jump for 70+ pictures, if you dare!
I would guess that Sichuan peppercorns were used in the hotpot. Sichuan peppercorns are known for their mouth-numbing effects and they have a very unusual flavor that isn’t always equated with the idea of a “peppercorn.” I can’t really tell from the picture but your peppercorn could pass for Sichuan.
OMO! rickmond took me to Little Sheep on Tuesday…it was all you can eat night, waited for 2 hours but it was SOOO incredible! I love the spicy broth! you must come with us next time.
The little spicy / sour / salty spice is prickly ash. Extremely popular in Asian / Chinese cooking
I’ve seen Ginny online over the years, but never entirely clear photos. She’s gorgeous! Love the hair.
Beautiful trip photos. You inspire me to keep pushing my photography to greater heights!
I agree with the earlier comments on the spice… It sounded just like Sichuan pepper, which is also known as prickly ash in Chinese cooking, and Sansho in Japanese cooking.
Totally weird stuff, really good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sichuan_pepper
I want shark pillows. Though I would settle for one large squoose pillow.
I still find it suspicious that the literal instant you two left, San Francisco’s standard climate reasserted itself (we even got fog obscuring the Golden Gate Bridge). You’ll have to come back soon to make sure the Heatpocalypse wasn’t some kind of chronospatial hiccup. I’ve made new refreshments!
You & Ginny have the best glasses I’ve ever seen. I wish I could find such creative styles here!
Thanks for sharing your adventures!
the madonna inn is awesome! we stayed there for our 1 year wedding anniversary :)
I love how the madonna inn looks, i want to visit it soon!
I have no idea what that facial expression I’m rocking is supposed to convey, but it appears to be stuck somewhere between apprehension, bemusement and condescension. I assure you I was experiencing none of these feelings. It was genuinely fucking rad to hang with you all and I dug it ma-HOOSIVELY. Again! Soon! x
Mark — likewise, dawgg! When are you due back?
Also, everyone: it was TOTALLY the Sichuan pepper. I went to another branch of Little Sheep here in LA and they had it there too.