By Gary Fong SAN FRANCISCO – So, I’m what you’d call comic book challenged. I’m the guy who asks (while watching the recent Avengers movie) whether Captain America can die and whether Black Window and Hawkeye actually have super human powers and, if they don’t, then how can they be super heroes, let alone members of the Avengers [...]
by GARY FONG SAN FRANCISCO – I miss so many things about Hong Kong: the perfectly temp-controlled, the over-the-top shopping malls, that incredible skyline (one of the best, up there with Chicago), the blunt and often endearing pessimism of the locals (who claim “HK died in 1997”). I even miss the city’s fascinating (and often frustrating) yin and yang [...]
By GARY FONG CALIFORNIA – To some, the train is one of the most enjoyable modes of travel. To others it’s archaic, a thing of the past. For me, it seemed an interesting way to spend some of my newfound, Cali-based free time and what I hoped would be a great way to a see a bit of the [...]
LOS ANGELES – While most visitors to LA flock to the renowned Getty Museum, they often forget about the city’s first major museum dedicated solely to art: the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Granted, LACMA may not be housed in a beautiful, mountain-perched Richard Meier-designed building (like the Getty) and can’t boast an unrivaled collection of [...]
By GARY FONG SAN FRANCISCO – Head over to the Van Ness/Upper Tenderloin area these days and there – amongst a cultural melting pot (Vietnamese, Indians, Pakistanis have all taken stakes in the area) and the backdrop of San Francisco’s skid row – you’ll find the very impressive gallery, 941 Geary. This relatively new exhibition space specializes in what is [...]
By GARY FONG SAN FRANCISCO – When it comes to San Francisco, I have very mixed feelings. Growing up, I loved spending time there and felt it was one of the best places ever. But now, after having seen a bit of what else is out there in the world and having looked at what SF has become, I find [...]
By GARY FONG SAN FRANCISCO – Cafeteria-style service, glass-enclosed serving stations, hand-carved mouthwatering meats, fun side dishes just waiting to be scooped up, and loads of beer and cocktails…what’s not to love? Known as the hofbrau, this American take on the German pub peaked in popularity back in the 70’s but nowadays you’d be hard pressed to find one [...]
By GARY FONG SAN FRANCISCO – Looking for a wicked triple cream or a super crusty sour batard? How about a special brew made from freshly roasted (within the last 48 hours), pesticide-free, shade-grown coffee beans? If this is the sort of stuff that makes your mouth water or if you just enjoy good food, then check out San [...]
SUGGESTED ROUTES By GARY FONG LOS ANGELES – Given all that we love about Downtown LA, what would we suggest if you only had one day to spend in Downtown? If you’re into the arts, we would suggest starting the afternoon with an art crawl (Route #1). Begin at MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo and check out their latest [...]
HOTELS: THE GRANDE DAME By GARY FONG LOS ANGELES – When it comes to Downtown hotels, there’s no better choice for us than the old Los Angeles Biltmore. Built overlooking Pershing Square in the 1920’s, when Downtown was the center of the city, the Biltmore is one of LA’s last grand dame hotels – classic, opulent, glamorous, from a bygone [...]
