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
   

Sketches: San Francisco Chinatown, Lunar New Year - 2/2026

The red lanterns create a warm glow against the buildings lining the streets in San Francisco Chinatown. During Lunar New Year, the glow adds to the festive atmosphere of the bustling shoppers and packed shops. 

San Francisco Chinatown, Lunar New Year - 2/2026

HaPpY NeW YeaR! Year of the Horse...

CoWaBunGA  

Cafe Sketches: Forge Pizza, Oakland - 2/2026

During the holidays, Forge Pizza in Oakland decorated their stunning main dining room with decorations that accentuated their dramatic ceiling. It's a little late, but I finally got around to sketching this beautiful room. Forge Pizza was originally at Jack London Square, but is now in the Rockridge neighborhood in Oakland. Their wood-fired pizzas are fantastic.

Forge Pizza Oakland, 2/2026

Don't forget to order a side of cheese curdles...

CoWaBunGA! 

Cafe Sketches: Motoring Coffee, San Francisco - 1/2026

After stopping at the Roundhouse Cafe next to the Golden Gate Bridge, I slowly realized that I was too early for a morning coffee break while riding the FatBob. Checking what other coffee shops were nearby opened at that hour, I noticed that one coffee shop had a 911 Porsche parked in its lobby. Well, that was an easy decision...

Motoring Coffee, SF, 1/2026

I found out that Motoring Coffee opened about a year ago, and there is a second location in Santa Monica Los Angeles. The mocha was pretty good and the atmosphere was perfect for a moto break on my weekly ride.

CoWaBunGA  

Cafe Sketches: Marufuku Ramen, Oakland - 1/2026

It's been a little cold here in the Bay Area recently. When I get chilled, my favorite warm up food is ramen. In Oakland's Temescal neighborhood, a favorite is Marufuku Ramen on Telegraph. If you sit at the bar, you'll get to watch the ramen chef work their magic.

Marufuku Ramen Oakland, 1/2026 

Stay warm folks and enjoy your ramen.

CoWaBunGA!
  

Cafe Sketches: Sana'a Cafe, Oakland - 1/2026

HaPpY NeW YeaR!

Enjoy the new year with a pistachio latte and Dubai Chocolate cheesecake at Sana'a Cafe in Oakland. Inspired by Yemeni culture, Sana'a Cafe serves authentic Yemeni coffee, tea, sandwiches, and desserts. There are two Sana'a Cafe locations in Oakland; the Temescal location features comfy banquette seating with fluffy throw pillows that you can form into a cozy niche for yourself and your laptop. However, it's the cheesecakes that are calling me back...

Sana'a Cafe, Temescal Oakland, 1/2026

The Pistachio latte goes well with your cheesecake too.

CoWaBunGA!