San Francisco Over New Years ... and Mission Dolores (San Francisco de Asis)

Be the weirdo who dares to enjoy.

~Elizabeth Gilbert 

Over the extra long holiday weekend, in Sausalito, I headed over the Golden Gate Bridge and into the city a couple of times ... Still listening to Elizabeth Gilbert's "Big Magic." 

One trip over the bridge was for an amazing seafood meal at Tadich Grill ... YUM!!! The place was hopping. If you go when people are getting off work (it's in the financial district) it's packed and you may have to wait a bit. You have to swoop in and grab a stool, as soon as someone gets up, but it's definitely worth the wait!

Tadich is believed to be the 3rd oldest continuously run restaurant in the U.S.!  (The only two older restaurants are Union Oyster House in Boston (1826) and Antoine's in New Orleans (1840).

Julia and I both ordered the seafood Cioppino which is apparently their specialty and let me tell you it was chocked full of seafood goodness ... Prawns, bay shrimp, scallops, crabmeat, mussels, and white fish simmered in a tomato based sauce that is out of this world. And the garlic bread was great for sopping up any last morsel. O.K., I'm getting so hungry as I type this!

Julia and I after sampling ...

By the time we left it had definitely died down in there ...

See the sign? It says established 1849! Very old for California!

On New Years Day, I headed back in again, but on my own. I was a bit nervous to drive into the city on my by myself (I know I live in L.A. but it's still an unfamiliar city!) but with Siri's help in directing me, I made it to Amanda's place for her her open house!

She lives in a great old building and I wish I'd taken photos of her her yummy brunch treats but I was too busy eating them!

You can tell by the light I stuck around for awhile!

As I mentioned in the previous post, Amanda is an old family friend. She and her family lived 3 doors over growing up, and it was fun to see her brother Steve there too, who was my childhood friend, honorary brother, and fellow mischief maker! (For instance, the time we walked across the railroad tracks, to the pet store, and bought ourselves pet mice without telling our parents!)

The oldest of friends!

Love these old buildings!!

If you're alive,

you're a creative person.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic

City Hall ...

Keep you eyes open.

Listen, follow you curiosity.

Ideas are constantly try to get our attention.

Let them know you're available.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic

And, the day I left, I also drove through the city on my way out. I couldn't help but stop and take more architecture pics! 

You have extraordinary treasures hidden within you. 

Bringing forth those treasures takes work and faith 

and focus and courage and hours of devotion. 

We simply do not have time anymore to think so small.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

I also wanted to stop at the  Mission San Francisco de Asis. How could I resist? I mean, Saint Francis after all! Anyway, the mission is obviously the city's namesake, as I think most of the California Missions are.

I thought, if I could actually find a parking space nearby, then it was meant to be that I'd stop at the Mission.

As you can see ...

There's my little red car in the foreground, and there is the Mission right across the street. It was the only spot and the best parking karma ever! Clearly Francis wanted me to be there! 

Next to the old Mission you can see the larger Mission Dolores Basilica ...

Mision San Francisco de Asìs

Founded 1776

Also known as Mission Dolores, for the nearby creek named Arroyo de los Dolores, or "Creek of Sorrows." It was the 6th of the California Missions.

"It is the oldest intact building in the City of San Francisco and the only intact Mission Chapel in the chain of 21 established under the direction of Father Serra." 

I love the painted patterns on the ceiling! And, of course, I'm a huge fan of the old California Spanish architecture.

There is a breezeway between the mission and the basilica ...

There were standing placards in the walkway, with the history of the mission, as well as old etchings. This one, below, I found the most interesting. The caption says "Bullfight at Mission 1842."

It was only a day or two after the New Year and as you can see, the pretty Christmas decorations were still up, in the Basilica. A choir started singing so I tried to be extra low key with my camera!

I liked the stained glass windows that represented the various California Missions ... Below, San Rafael Arcangel and San Francisco de Solano.

You do not need a permission slip from the principal's office 

to live a creative life.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic

I grew up in Ventura, so I had to get a shot of the San Buena Ventura window ...

And of course, if you have explored my blog much, then you know I enjoy photographing a cemetery!

You have to participate relentlessly 

in the manifestation of your own blessings.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

"The Cemetery and Gardens of Mission Dolores are located adjacent to the Old Mission. The beautiful gardens have been restored and planted with traditional native trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants from the 1791 period."

 

"Mission Dolores is the final resting place of some 5,000 Ohlone, Miwok, and other First Californians who built Mission Dolores and were its earliest members and founders."

I also made it to the Mission San Raphael Arcangel, while I was in the Bay Area, which I will probably post down the road a bit. Enough Mission for now! Lots of other things to get to! 

I finished my Book on tape of Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic, before heading back down South. It was a creative pep talk that I needed. Speaking of which, I am finally working on a new series of works and priming wood panels for oil paintings!

If you want to visit the Mission website, click here.

The website for Tadich Grill is here.

Big April Blessings! 

What is creativity?

Creativity is a crushing chore and a glorious mystery. 

The work wants to be made,

and it wants to be made through you.

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic