The Kinokuniya Book Store - My Favorite Store In Japantown, San Francisco

From where we were staying, Japantown was not too far away from us.

Japantown, a courtyard plaza in S.F.

But we did not visit this place until the last day before moving to another hotel downtown.

Japantown, San Francisco

The travel brochures we read in SF did not specifically recommend Japantown as a place to visit therefore we left it to the last on our list.

It is a nice venue with a spacious square and places to sit and enjoy a picnic lunch if one chooses to do so.

Japan Centre, Japan Town, San Francisco

Or if one prefers to stay indoor, there is a good size shopping centre devoted to all things of Japanese.













There are a number of eateries such as sushi and Japanese restaurants,cafes, bakery and ice cream shops in the mall.

Because we went on a Saturday, it was a busy place, packed with many people.

A musical performance at the Japanese mall

We had to wait in line and put our name down on a waiting list on one of the restaurants so that we could get a seat inside.

While waiting for our turn, we browsed and visited some of the speciality stores.

We browsed in the gallery.

We looked at the booths set up in the big hall.

They were selling various arts and crafts, drawings and gift items.

I saw some beautiful hair pins and accessories perfect for my style.

There were lots of shoppers looking and shopping for gifts on their lists.











My favourites were the ceramic flower pots in the flower shop.














My most favourite store in the Japanese mall was the Kinokuniya book store!

This book store was more than just selling books.











There were a lot of interesting items on display.

Sushi Socks at the book store

I liked the display on sushi socks!
These socks were colourful, rolled and displayed just like the sushi dishes they serve at the Japanese restaurant.

Without looking at these sushi socks carefully, one might have taken some and eaten them instead of wearing them.

Sushi socks, how neat was that!

















We enjoyed a nice Japanese lunch at the busy restaurant.

While I enjoyed some shopping, S. was the happiest when enjoying some good food.

 Peace Pagoda, Japantown, S.F. USA

After lunch, we went back and checked out of the bed and breakfast inn where we stayed for a week and checked into a hotel on Grant Street, downtown.




R.T.
Japan Town
San Francisco
USA

A Disappointing Children's Christmas Sing-along Show at a San Francisco Cathedral

We went to see a Christmas sing-
along show at the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

It was a Disney style type of Christmas show.


The singers and dancers kept referring to the real meaning of Christmas throughout the show.












They ran around the whole time singing and dancing trying to find a gift box.

Watching a Christmas show inside a magnificent cathedral during the Christmas season, we were expecting a Christmas scene with which we are familiar:

- Angels appearing to the startled shepherds in the field
- Wise men bearing gifts for baby Jesus
-  the highly anticipated scene of baby Jesus lying in the manger beheld lovingly by Mary and Joseph by his side.

There was none of the above.

Though the show was colourful with fancy pretty costumes and nice singing, it was disappointing for me as it never showed the real origin or meaning of why we are celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus.

I wonder how will our children and next generations in North America  be able to preserve and continue our Christian traditions if they are not told about the real story by the adults at all year after year?

The biggest threat of us losing our Christian faith and identity in both Canada and USA is not any threats from immigrants or external factors.

We are our biggest threat - North Americans who are unwittingly not passing any of our Christian traditions and beliefs to our children and grandchildren.


R.T.
Grace Cathedral
San Francisco
USA

Awed by the Les Colombes Art Installation at the Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, USA

The Grace Cathedral started from a small parish church built in 1849 during the gold rush.

After the 1906 earthquake, Grace Church was completely destroyed. An influential San Francisco family donated the present site to have the  church rebuilt.

Beautiful  murals inside the cathedral tell the history of San Francisco

The church started construction in 1927. With its many details and murals, it took more than thirty years and was the cathedral was finally completed in 1967.

Martin Luthur King Jr. delivered the sermon to during this significant event attended by more than 5000 people.

Grace Cathedral is currently hosting the Les Colombes art installation

Grace Cathedral is currently hosting the Les Colombes - a multimedia installation by German artist Michael Pendry.

Les Colombes installation is made up of 2000 doves hanging from the ceiling

The Les Colombes : The Doves, an installation is made up of 2000 doves, a symbol of spirit and peace. The doves float through the nave of the church in a forty five foot long sculpture.

The 45 foot long sculpture is a spectacular sight at the Grace Cathedral

The paper doves wee folded by congregants, visitors and friends.

With written wishes and messages on their wings, the doves soar through the air and respond to the air current creating a special and spectacular sight in this beautiful cathedral.

We were fortunate to see this art installation while vacationing in S.F.

R.T.
Grace Cathedral
San Francisco
USA

Tom and Jerry's Decorated Christmas House and Lights in S.F.

Christmas light, Noe Valley area, SF

I love Christmas and love watching any shows related to the theme.


While in Toronto, Canada I watched an episode of a TV program called the Great Christmas Light Fight on an U.S. channel.

Tom & Jerry's decorations outside their home in Noe Valley, SF

In this show some Americans have gone to the extreme decorating their houses and properties with Christmas lights and entered to compete with each other to win the title.












In this particular episode, it featured Tom and Gerry's house, one of the final four contestants from San Francisco

.

I knew we were going to the city soon and made a note of the address of this well decorated house.

We went to visit this house while vacationing in SF as it has made it to America's national television.

Though a raining evening, parents brought their children to see the light show at Tom & Jerry's decorated house in SF.

It was not a good evening to go looking for this house. It was drizzling all the way but we were determined.

Located on the 21 Street of  SF, the house was quite far from where we were staying. But we were determined!

Tom and Gerry's house is a private residence in the Noe Valley area.

Apparently they have been doing this over the top decoration for years and it keeps growing.

The scale and details of the Christmas decorations were remarkable!

There were young families with kids coming to watch the lights and the decorations. I liked it!

My hubby said that I am a very curious person and a kid at heart.

Yes, I am a big kid!  Doing  all these kiddy stuffs make me happy, therefore, why not?

After visiting this house full of Christmas decorations, we walked down to the Castro District to explore the area a little.

The Castro Theatre, San Francisco

We passed by the Castro Theatre which was designated as a historic landmark in 1996.

The Castro District is a community with many nice restaurants and shops

The Castro District is synonymous with the gay culture in San Francisco.


















We passed by numerous eateries offering a wide variety of ethnic food.












We went into a place called Slurp, sat by the window looking out to the street.

We did some people watching while enjoying some fusion Thai food there.

A Google shuttling bus taking its employees to & from work in SF area.

We took the public bus back to our inn.

While waiting for the bus, we got talking to one of the ladies waiting at the bus stop.

 She was very friendly and explained to us the numerous unmarked buses passing us that they were Google buses transporting the company's employees to google from various parts of SF.










We met nice people, heard interesting stories and enjoyed a fantastic light show. What an enjoyable day we have had!



R.T.
Castro District
San Francisco
USA