Senator Chuck Schumer says he gets regular deliveries of cheesecake from Juniors Restaurant in New York City. We always make a stop at Juniors whenever we are in the City. Yeah, it's a Big Apple favorite and the interior decor can take you back to the 1950's diners.
 |
| Juniors Restaurant, NYC 12/2022 |
 |
| Cheesecake, of course |
We visited the Hammer Museum for the first time in October of last year. Although the Hammer is a smaller museum, their collection is very good. One highlight is their courtyard with desert garden and cafe-bistro for the museum visitors.
 |
| Hammer Museum courtyard, 10/2022 |
During our visit, the Hammer was exhibiting Picasso.
 |
| Picasso Rooster metal sculpture |
 |
| Picasso paper sculpture, 1919 |
Check out the Hammer Museum on your next visit to LA.
CoWaBunGA
The Mini-Masterpieces show has been extended to the end of January 2023. The show is at Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda California.
I've refreshed my little corner with some small paintings for the show's extension.
 |
| Engineering and construction paintings, flower paintings |
CoWaBunGa
After visiting the Diego Rivera exhibit at the SFMOMA for the third time, I was tempted to sketch in his style. What is so great about Diego Rivera's artwork is the depth of color that he infused into his paintings. Here are a few of my sketches, in homage to Diego Rivera:
 |
| Allegory of California, Diego Rivera, 1930 |
 |
| Edsel Ford, Diego Rivera, 1932 |
 |
| Billionaire's Folly, Rivera-like, Jeng 2022 |
Ramen and motorcycles?!? What's happening here, why are my two favorite things here in the same place and time? I thought at first this was a bit too clever for its own good, but after trying the Tonkotsu Ramen, I was convinced. This is a real ramen shop and the silver-flaked, 70's motorcycle helmet display wall just adds to the ambiance.
 |
| Roji Ramen, on Piedmont Ave in Oakland, 12/2022 |
 |
| Tonkotsu ramen with chasiu |
 |
| Agadashi tofu appetizer |
On Piedmont Avenue, there is a little restaurant tucked into a wedge floor plan. This location has been turned over many times, previously a hamburger diner during the pandemic. The recent update to this venue is Charm Thai Bistro and it lives up to its namesake. The decor is modern, tasteful, and beautifully lit.
 |
| Charm Thai Bistro, 12/2022 |
 |
| Seafood Curry and Vegetarian Pad Se Ew |
 |
| Spicy Basil Wings |
One of the classic dim sum restaurants on the San Francisco peninsula is Hong Kong Flower Lounge in Millbrae, California. When I worked in Millbrae on the SFO BART Extension, my coworkers and I would sometimes enjoy dim sum here when we celebrated a big milestone in the design and construction of the BART system. We recently visited while we were in Millbrae and it's just as good as before.
 |
| Hong Kong Flower Lounge, 08/2022 |
CoWaBunGA
