San Francisco / Haight / Petaluma

Stayed in Petaluma with my brother-in-law, Brian Griffith. Great dude, he’s morning host on KRCB, one of the Public Radio stations in the Bay Area. He lived in LA for a long time, working as a producer for Westwood One Radio. But when he couldn’t take LA anymore, he came north to this town. Incredibly charming place; a short drive from San Francisco, but a quiet respite from its traffic and pace.

My signing Saturday was at SomArts, an art center near the Mission District. Huge old warehouse structure, with a gallery for regional artists, and an enormous space for installations. The current show is a series of installations on the themes of Voodoo, the effects of Katrina on New Orleans, and missing children of New Orleans. Haunting. By turns both dark and light. And when it came to the subject of the missing kids, disturbing. The photos of them.

Had lunch afterward in Haight/Ashbury with an old friend, Jeff Novak. Brilliant businessman who’d rather be a writer or pastry chef. He came here from KC seven years ago. Loves it and yet not: the insane traffic, the cost of living, the transitory nature of the city. In some ways it lacks a sense of community the way LA does, but maybe the views, the architecture and art scene make up for that. Also the food. Loved walking through Haight: the ghosts of Janis Joplin and Jerry Garcia, the head shops, the nouveau hippies, and the panhandlers. Dope dealers everywhere, especially in Golden Gate Park. Didn’t dig that, but people will what they will do.

Later went down to one of the yacht clubs for the view of the bay. Watched a wealthy couple pulling out for an evening cruise, with their chef and crew and 100-foot vessel. Do I think I’ll ever own a yacht? Neah, I’ll settle for a sailboat.

Walked out on the Golden Gate to dig the views of the Pacific and the fog coming in, then later along the docks in Sausalito. Finished with a sushi dinner in Petaluma. Brian said it was the best sushi north of the bridge; I believe he was right.

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