The name of the bakery is a play on the Chinese breakfast/brunch dim sum, which means "a little bit of heart." The bakers at Bake Sum adhere to that concept in their work by serving delicious bake goods that reflect flavors and ingredients that are close to their hearts. Their "Crosubi", a hybrid of croissant and musubi, was recognized by the New York Times as one of the best dishes in the U.S. Try one for yourself and you'll see why...
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| Bake Sum, Oakland CA, 11/2025 |
When we used to dine at Trader Sam's, the staff would give us a peek of the Enchanted Tiki Room to show our underaged party what cool experience we would have once everyone turned 21. It finally happened and our party was all of drinking age. And, it was pretty cool...
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| Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Room, 11/2025 |
CoWaBunGA!
KAWS makes his west coast debut at the SFMOMA with his show KAWS: FAMILY. The show features drawings, paintings, commercial products, and sculptures from KAWS' extensive work over the past 30 years. We were fascinated by KAWS' transition from street art to the fine art and then product collaborations in his art career. This is a show that will appeal to all ages and interests.
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| "What Party" Kaws 2020 |
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| BJeng sketching "What Party" at SFMOMA |
It's nearing the end of the year and the sun lit days are becoming shorter and shorter. It is time to revive your spirits with art. This year's Mini-Masterpieces Show in Alameda starts on November 7, reception from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. My exhibit for this year is inspired by Thomas Dambo's trolls recently on display at Filoli Gardens in Woodside.
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| Bill Jeng's exhibit at K Gallery |
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| Jodi working out the supports for her exhibit |
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| Alice hanging her display. |
Fog City Java has been such a gracious host of my art shows; I look forward to setting up the new show every year. This year's show features my troll sketches inspired by Thomas Dambo's trolls exhibited at Filoli Gardens in Woodside. The message that each troll presents inspires us humans to be better stewards of our environment.
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| Fog City Java show, featuring Trolls, Calendars, and greeting cards. |
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| 2026 Cafe Sketches calendars and Troll greeting cards are for sale. |
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| Assorted donut paintings by Natalie! |
CoWaBunGA!
In college, my classmates and I would head over to Everette and Jones BBQ and order a couple of slabs to share with our roommates. Delicious and filling enough to last a whole week of meals. Recently, I heard about the break-ins at E&J on Broadway and was sad to hear how that affected their business. Support our local Oakland businesses and let's keep them going through these tough times.
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| Everette and Jones BBQ, 10/2025 |
Still delicious and filling!
CoWaBunGA
My artists friends and I are exhibiting at the K Gallery in Alameda as part of the Mini-Masterpieces Show and Holiday sale. If you are in the area and need holiday gifts, please stop in and support our local artists. More information is in the flyer posted.
CoWaBunGA!
Cafe Sketches 2026 Desk Calendars are here! This year's calendar features some of our favorite East Bay cafes and restaurants including:
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| 2026 Desk Calendar - Sobo Ramen in Oakland Chinatown |
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| March 2026 features Hanshin Pocha in Temescal Oakland |
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| October 2026 features Prescott Market in West Oakland |
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| September 2026 features Simurgh Bakery in Emeryville |
Go for a run and stop at Timeless Coffee & Bakery, on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, for a pick-me-up afterwards. You can sit outside on the sidewalk, or find a cozy seat by the coffee roasting machine to enjoy your post run reward.
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| Timeless Coffee and Bakery, Oakland 9/2025 |
CoWaBunGA!
At Jack London Square in Oakland, CA, you can have delicious ramen in a neon rainforest. You'll forget that it is starting to get cold outside as you marvel at your tonkotsu ramen and stare at the tropical flowers...
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| NoKA Ramen, JLS Oakland, 9/2025 |
If you need help with your solar power project, Tso Pol, the PV Troll, is glad to lend a hand. Tso Pol's height allows him to easily reach your roof to install those PV panels. Although he enjoys installing PV systems, Tso is also learning about wind generators that can work when the sun is not so bright. Tso Pol is working toward sustainable power to reduce the impacts of climate change on humans.
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| Tso Pol, the PV Troll, 9/2025 |
Meet Ele Veho, the EV-loving Troll. Ele Veho is fascinated by electric vehicles and wishes humans would drive EVs instead of ICE (internal combustion engine) cars. During his spare time, Ele Veho takes ICE cars and converts them to EV cars with motors and batteries. Ele Veho is inspired by the Dambo trolls visiting Filoli Gardens.
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| Ele Veho, EV-loving Troll, 9/2025 |
CoWaBunGA!
Inspired by the Thomas Dambo trolls at Filoli Gardens and my recent trip to the Grand Canyon, I present to you Asto Damus, the Astronomer Troll. Astro Damus is very enthusiastic about stargazing and takes every opportunity to show off the stars to humans.
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| Asto Damus, Astronomer Troll, 9/2025 |
When you see a star or planet up-close in a telescope, you feel how small and precious the Earth is.
CoWaBunGA
Sofus Lotus, the Listening Troll, hearing messages from Mother Earth at Filoli Gardens. It's healthy to take time to be quiet, stay still, and listen to what your environment is telling you.
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| Sofus Lotus, Dambo, Filoli Gardens, 9/2025 |
Basse Buller likes to paint the environment with earth colors. Natalie is taking notes and lessons on an earthy approach to painting.
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| Basse Buller, Dambo, Filoli Gardens, 9/2025 |
CoWaBunGA!
On a trip to Turkey, our daughter tasted all kinds of Turkish food and relayed to us how delicious it was. We were mainly familiar with Turkish delight, baklava, and Turkish coffee. However, when we saw the review of Simurgh Bakery on "Check Please Bay Area," and it is located in nearby Emeryville, we had to go try the Turkish food that our daughter described. It was delicious!
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| Simurgh Bakery, Emeryville, 8/2025 |
CoWaBunGA!
Kamma Can gets creative with all the plastic trash that humans throw out. Thomas Dambo's Treasure Troll reuses plastic garbage to make jewelry. What else can we do with all that plastic trash? Can we make less plastic containers?
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| Kamma Can, Filoli Gardens, 8/2025 |
Although I try my best, my gardening skills are just not adequate to grow beautiful vegetables and flowers. So, I take some tips from Rosa Sunfinger, Dambo's Troll who is current gardener-in-residence at Filoli Gardens. Natalie is taking a few notes as Rosa plants her Mini Cooper box.
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| Rosa Sunfinger, Filoli Gardens, 8/2025 |
Cousin Jennifer invited us to return to Filoli Gardens to enjoy the beautiful flowers and reconnect with our human loving Trolls by Dambo. Here is Ibbi Pip helping the birds in the forest by hanging houses for their shelter.
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| Ibbi Pip, Thomas Dambo, Filoli Gardens, 8/2025 |
CoWaBunGA!
We have often attended art openings at the Minnesota Street Project galleries in SF Dogtown and noticed the crowded restaurant anchoring a corner of the building; Besharam. Finally, we made reservations and were delighted by the Gujarati cuisine and beautiful interior.
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| Besharam, SF, 8/2025 |
CowABunGA!
West Oakland is developing a small artist enclave and various restaurants are moving in to support this growing community. Recently, Prescott Market Hall, a food court consisting of small, local restaurants, moved into the neighborhood. The food court is housed in what appears to be a former warehouse and a small outdoor seating and kids play area is attached.
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| Prescott Market Hall, West Oakland, 8/2025 |
We had brunch at Cafe Noir and it was delicious. We can't wait to try the other spots.
CoWaBunGA
One of my favorite brunch/dessert spots in LA; Bottega Louie on Grand. In addition to the fun people watching, the food is beautiful and delicious.
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| Bottega Louie, Downtown Los Angeles, 6/2025 |
CoWaBunGA!
We first encountered the Trolls by Thomas Dambo on our trip to Seattle. This year, the Trolls have come to visit the Bay Area at Filoli Gardens in San Mateo! Dambo's Trolls are here to teach humans to be good stewards of the Earth and to rediscover nature. We certainly enjoyed their lessons and presence at Filoli.
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| Ronja Redeye, Dambo, Filoli Gardens, 7/2025 |
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| Thanks for hanging out at Filoli Ronja Redeye! |
Asian inspired dishes served in a beautiful dining room...delicious.
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| Saucy, Oakland, 6/2025 |
We heard about the Great Elephant Migration on CBS Sunday Mornings and were hoping to get a glimpse of the elephants as they travel the world. We finally got our chance last weekend in, of all places, Beverly Hills California. The Migration is a global fund raising effort to support indigenous artists and co-existence between humans and our remaining earth creatures. More info can be found here: https://thegreatelephantmigration.org
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| The Great Elephant Migration on Santa Monica Blvd |
Roosters and chickens run free on the isles of Tahiti. This guy is enjoying his time on Rangiroa...
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| Rangiroa Rooster, acrylic on canvas, 7/2025 |
This Satyr has such a deliciously evil smile, I couldn't resist the grapes...
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| "Satyr holding basket of grapes" - Rubens, 1620 |
Again, the Gibson show at the Broad is fantastic. The use of native American traditional art practice with modern techniques is telling the story by drawing the viewers into their world.
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| "I'm a Natural Man" Gibson |
The Wayne Thiebaud exhibition at the Legion of Honor is closing soon. The exhibition has a wide range of Thiebaud's work in figure painting, still life, and landscapes. Catch it soon before it's too late.
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| Revue Girl, 1963, Thiebaud |
Update 6/17/25 - because there was more space on my wall, my daughter decided to help me fill out the space with her art. Now, my wall looks complete.
The Alameda art group Art Jam is exhibiting at the Blue Dot Cafe and Coffee Bar, 1910 Encinal Avenue, Alameda, California. I have a few works in the show and may be adding more later this month. Please stop in if you're in the area.
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| Acrylic on paper artworks by Bill Jeng |
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| Natalie adding her artworks to the show, 6/17/25 |
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| Filled in wall at Blue Dot Cafe and Coffee Bar, 6/17/25 |
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| Artworks by Pons Maar and Fitz |
About two blocks from the Los Angeles I.C.E. protests, the Broad Museum is exhibiting Jeffrey Gibson's show "The space in which to place me." Jeffrey Gibson is a Native American/Black artist who creates works that celebrates individuals and communities who have maintained their dignity and traditions in impossible circumstances, centering on the resilience of indigenous makers.
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| "I'm gonna run with every minute I can borrow" Gibson, Broad Museum, 6/2025 |
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| Inspired to sketch by Gibson, "I'm gonna run with every minute I can borrow" |
CoWaBunGA
In celebration of Auntie Angele's birthday, I painted this beautiful image of her preparing lunch for her family with cousin Catherine tasting the samples. Auntie is an elegant, graceful woman who is a very active 80 years young.
HaPpY BirThDaY!
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| "Lunch with Family", acrylic on canvas, 6/2025 |
My friend's coworker recommended the South Kaibab Trail after he learned that we were planning a road trip to the Grand Canyon last month. The Trail leads down into the Canyon close to the Colorado River, 4000 feet down. Being novices to this hike, we decided to hike down, but only to Ooh Aah Point, the first stop 790 down from the rim. It was well worth the effort.
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| Ooh Aah Point, Grand Canyon AZ, 5/2025 |
CoWaBunGA!
On a road trip to the Grand Canyon, we noticed this prolific cacti throughout our trip: the prickly pear cacti. There was even a beer named Prickly Pear beer. It appears formidable and beautiful.
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| Prickly Pear Cacti, 5/2025 |
There is a new sculpture at the Embarcadero in front of the Ferry Building. It's very impressive and you can observe arguments about its meaning and purpose when you are viewing it at the site. For me, it reminds me of mother Nature and her fight to bring back equilibrium in our reality. What does it inspire in you?
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| "R-Evolution" by M. Cochrane, at SF Embarcadero |
