Cafe Sketches: The Caffe by Mr. Espresso, Oakland - 3/2026

You can see Oakland's coffee roaster Mr. Espresso when you ride BART through West Oakland. They have been supplying espresso equipment and beans to Bay Area businesses since the late 1970's. Well, Mr. Espresso recently opened their first retail location in downtown Oakland, The Caffe. As you enter, the decorative, curved slatted ceiling focuses your attention to the coffee bar in front of you.

The Caffe by Mr. Espresso, Oakland - 3/3026

There are no lines at The Caffe, so the ceiling feature directs you to hang out at the coffee bar and order your espresso.

CoWaBunGA

Cafe Sketches: Fanny's Cafe & Restaurant, 03/2026

It's getting busy at Fanny's Cafe & Restaurant located inside the Museum of Academy of Motion Pictures Museum. Named after Fanny Brice, Barbara Streisand's character in "Funny Girl", the cafe is getting ready for Oscars night, just one week away now. 

Fanny's Cafe & Restaurant, Los Angeles - 3/2026

You can feel the excitement in the air as staff gets ready for their big night...

CoWaBunGA

Sketches: Bonaventure Hotel, LA - 3/2026

Built by John C. Portman in the late 1970's, the Bonaventure Hotel was the most spectacular high-rise building in Los Angeles. Watching this building slowly come together, I was amazed by this futuristic structure/spaceship seemingly land in the city where I lived. 

At the time, my Uncle Henry worked for the Westin Hotel chain and was able to reserve rooms for his friends and relatives. As a gift, Uncle Henry arranged a room for me (I was in middle school) and my classmates for a weekend. I think that was one of the reasons I wanted to become an architect/engineer.

Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles - 3/2026

Even today, 50 years later, the Bonaventure Hotel is stunning in the skyline.

CoWaBUnGa   

Sketches: Wakao Kei, Asian Art Museum SF - 3/2026

The New Japanese Clay exhibit at the Asian Art Museum is full of surprises when regarding ceramics. These Japanese clay artists are showing new forms, colors, and abstracting the functionality of ceramicware. One piece that caught my attention was the work by Wakao Kei:

Wakao Kei, Asian Art Museum SF, 3/2026

On the one hand, it works as a sculpture of a fallen leaf; on the other, I can also see it as a very beautiful tray holding bon bons. Either way, it was beautiful and made me pause to sketch.

Oh, this definitely needs a sketch...

CoWaBUNga!
  

Cafe Sketches: Super Peach, Los Angeles - 2/2026

Chef David Chang, the founder of Momofuku, has opened a new casual restaurant at the Westfield Century City mall: Super Peach. Super Peach is a modern Korean-American restaurant in a LA-chic setting.  

Super Peach, Los Angeles - 2/2026

The highlight of our dinner was the jjajangmyeon, served with a side of fried pork - yum. 

CoWaBunGA!    

Sketches: Watching, KAWS at SFMOMA - 2/2026

Who is being watched?

"Watching" by KAWS, SFMOMA, 2/2026

See "Watching" by KAWS at the SFMOMA, until May 3, 2026.

CoWaBUNga
 

Sketches: Accomplice, KAWS at SFMOMA - 2/2026

KAWS' sculpted figures have lots of character. You can see the guilt, shame and dejection through the posture of the figure titled "Accomplice". 

"Accomplice" by KAWS at the SFMOMA, 2/2026

Catch the "Accomplice" at SFMOMA, through May 3, 2026.

CoWaBunGA