San Francisco: Day 2

Hmmmm... I could get used to this.

Woke up this morning to the beautiful sight os skyscrapers out the window. After a leisurely start to the day, I took the elevator 23 floors down...Walked out the front door of the hotel, walked to an Bank of America ATM at 555 California Sreet*, made a few deposits... then kept walking to the job site. 101 2nd St.

I love this particular client -- very easy to get along with, very responsive when I need something. Just makes my life not a pain in the rear. Day went more or less smoothly; some technical issues that I need not go into here... then I walked back to the Hotel.

From the hotel I hit Coit Tower-- which I can't beleive I've never seen before-- some amazing views from the top, equally amazing were the murals surrounding the base. The old school elevator (with operator) is also just kind of cool. There are some very steep streets in San Francisco, particularly leading up to and down from the tower.

From Coit tower I walked down some neighborhood streets that were completely devoid of street signs, eventually arriving at The Embarcadero, proceeding to Fisherman's Wharf and my mecca -- In-N-Out Burger. Honestly the fries were a little overdone, but the burger satsfies a craving that I can only satisfy in California. Now that that's out of the way I promise to try some "more local" food for the rest of the week. If you have never had In-N-Out, I can not understate the importantce of trying it at least once. (My order is a #2 Spread Only)

After In-N-Out I walked back up the Embarcadero past the ferry terminal, cut up some really quiet streets and wound up at the base of the Transamerica Pyramid... it's an impressive building from the ground, but not nearly as smooth as it looks from a distance. From there it was back to the hotel and here is where I call it a night...

Until tomorrow.

Lincoln
* - Useless bit of trivia: Until 1998, the headquarters of BofA.

Lincoln In... San Francisco?! Day 1

Yep... I got into San Francisco this evening for an extended work/vacation visit.

It's been probably close to 10 years since I spent time in San Francisco proper and I have to admit that was just before I truly discovered the wonder of travel. The strongest memories of that trip were the homeless, who have significantly decreased in both quantity and agressiveness since that visit. This time around, I am in awe -- and wondering how I can see all I want to see in the short period of time I'm here

I've only been here for a handful of hours (on a Sunday evening) and I'm truly looking forward to the week ahead. BART from SFO to Montgomery, waked from Montgomery to Kerney to the hotel-- right near the Transamerica Pyramid, the top of which is currently encassed in a light fog. I'm pretty sure I can see the building that my project is in from the hotel room... I had considered cabbing it, but it's only about a 15 minute walk so using a taxi just seems crazy.

More posts later this week... I can see the top of Coit Tower (at least I'm pretty sure I can see the top of Coit Tower), there's an In-N-Out in Fisherman's Wharf so I need go get my fix while I'm in CA.

Lincoln

Blossom: La Mer, etc.

Hit Blossom for what will likely be the last visit of this season (what can I say, I have a hard time getting excited about Bugs Bunny).

Saturday's program was one where I have a hard time choosing a most or least favorite piece. I have to say that Debussy's La Mer didn't live up to my expectations -- not to say that it was bad or that I didn't enjoy it-- I just wasn't moved. That was countered by being very pleasantly surprised with both the Overture from Le Corsaire (Berloz) and the Suite from Pelléas and Mélisande (Faure).

The real gem, though was Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. I generally dread seeing a pianist on a Cleveland Orchestra program; I treat it as a necessary evil, as awful as that may sound. This is for the simple reason that I don't think I've ever heard* a piano concerto where the piano has felt like a natural part of the overall work--to my ear or to my eye--always seeming like the orchestral work is glued onto a piano piece or a piano piece is glued onto an orchestral work. Ravel's concerto held my interest and felt like a unified piece with passages for the piano being reflected in the orchestra and vice versa.

Lincoln
* - This is not to imply that I am well read in the subject; I have perhaps a half dozen piano concertos under my belt.

Sigh. Sunday Night

Ok. It's Sunday evening. I really want to do something but -- and this is relatively rare -- Cleveland isn't cooperating.

No shows that I haven't seen that I'm even the slightest bit interested in.
No movies that look even the least bit worth it.
No concerts that sound appealing.

Speaking of movies, "The Goods" was on the list for yesterday, mainly out of sheer desparation. The most unfunny comedy I've ever seen -- I've seen dramas that exacted more laughs. The only thing it had going for it was that it was set in a highly fictionalized version of the city I grew up in. The movie ends with two angels singing "Temecula's not even mother-(explitive)ing Fresno". Having spent time in both, I don't know that I'd go that far.

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Cleveland Orchestra/Joffrey Ballet collaboration at Blossom. The second half of the program was immensely more enjoyable than the first half, but that's not to say that the first half was unenjoyable. It was interesting to see the musicians in Blossom's pit -- I have to admit that I never knew that Blossom had a proper pit, but it would have been nice to actually see them play.

One of the reasons I love seeing/hearing/experiencing classical music live -- and attending the Orchestra in particular is the visual; it sounds great, but watching musicians working as a team to accomplish the sound that is music (the strings especially, violins in particular watching the bows move rhythmically) adds a certain unmatchable something extra.

Lincoln

About Me.

Do I think anyone will read this? No.
Do I have an egalitarian purpose in mind? No.
Do I even have a topic? Not really.

I'm Lincoln. Originally from Southern California I moved to Cleveland a just over 4 years ago; I'm single, I'm a guy, I'm 25. I'm beginning to think I'm the only person under 30 in this town who would rather spend time at Severance Hall than Browns Stadium. I love the violin, and feel a connection to Spring Awakening. I'm dying for meaningful conversation.

While a fervant supporter of most things Cleveland -- especially University Circle and the various performing arts groups -- I enjoy the act and mental state of traveling. There's something to be said for walking around a new city on foot with no maps, no plans, and no preconceptions.

As a result, I have a feeling this blog will serve as an outlet for my thoughts, observations, and reactions primarially in those two directions.