This town has so many fascinating faces. With Steve Lawton I took a wonderful walking tour of Pacific Heights, learning the history of San Francisco’s “painted ladies”. These Victorian homes are a symbol of San Francisco in the same way that the Golden Gate bridge, the Presidio, the bay and the marina capture other dimensions. We saw hundreds of Victorians on a glorious 78 degree day, savored the full moon over Union Square, shopped at Gump’s, took a 350Z convertible quickly around the bends to Muir Woods, bought macadamia nuts and pears by the side of the road above Sausalito, ate seafood on the water, and talked politics with cabdrivers.

We visited Steve’s longtime friends, Joe and Ashley Criscione, who are pictured above as we toured their private vineyard in Napa Valley. They make the best wine no money can buy, and the 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon they gave me has since won rave reviews from singers and artists in Kansas City, Bukeka Shoals and Brigid Greene.

Obama sign in SF window

After Bukeka had one glass of the Criscione’s private label wine, Bukeka belted out her signature song, “I Am Worthy of Love” at my kitchen table, and I saw the molecules in the glass actually dancing!

We decided she should sing this song at the Obama inaugural, and I believe she will.

Oh yes, and we did something I’ve wanted to do on a dozen trips past and never had the time or the connections to pull it off.  Steve got us reservations on a Friday night at Chez Panisse, where we had the most fabulous five course meal at Alice Waters’ restaurant in Berkley.
Chez Panisse is where the simple food movement began in America several decades ago.

I have now purchaased  ”The Art of Simple Food”, but don’t worry, that  doesn’t mean I will learn to cook. I’m giving it as a  wedding gift to my daughter-in-law Kim’s sister, Carrie Cronin, at next week’s shower.