Here are more pictures taken at the park in Alamo Square.

See the picture of the lost dog?  :((

Alamo Square Park

The view across the park

The view from one of the highest points at the park

THE   PAINTED   LADIES

I've been hooked on Monk lately and in the opening sequence

I spotted the familiar set of houses I took a picture of in Alamo Square. 

Little did I know, I was already taking pictures of the famous Painted Ladies.

The term "Painted Ladies" refers to colorful Victorian style houses that 

are located in San Francisco and all over the US. The term was first used

to describe the row of Victorian houses you see below. 

The Painted Ladies in Alamo Square

 

LIMA  LOUNGE

Yesterday we celebrated a friend's birthday at a Peruvian bar/resto lounge called Lima.

Lima is a three-storey establishment with a club in the basement, a bar on the first floor, and a sit-down restaurant on the top floor. They offer a variety of dishes, most of which I assume are Peruvian-fusion, but all of the ones I tasted were very good. 

Menu Highlights:

1. Ceviche - (We have a provincial and less sophisticated, but equally yummy version of this dish back home, called kinilaw.) The samplers we had were sashimi-like versions of salmon, tuna and white fish seasoned in lime juice, salt, pepper and at times red onions.  The Tuna Ceviche was my favorite.  I could have devoured an entire dish of it myself. 

2. Cuban Chicken - Ironically the most recommended meat dish in the restaurant was not a Peruvian dish. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my portion of the half roasted chicken served with a hearty portion of basmati rice topped with sweetened red onions (yum!), black and red beans, and fried plantains. This was the only food picture I was able to take. 

Cuban Chicken at Lima Restaurant

3. Wild Atlantic Salmon - I am unsure whether or not this is a Peruvian dish but it was garnished in such a way that the salmon did not look like fish at all - I'm saying this in a positive way. The fish was cut into an 8-inch lengthwise piece that tasted wood-grilled to me, topped with fresh tomato salsa (yum!), and served with a corn tamale  that was wrapped in what looked to me like a banana leaf. I'm obviously still very Asian.

All images (c) brandmarie at thecopyrightofbrandmarie.blogspot.com

FOOLING AROUND

Reflections on "The Bean"

Image taken at The Cloud Gate a.k.a. "The Bean" at Millenium Park, Chicago.
All images (c) brandmarie at thecopyrightofbrandmarie.blogspot.com

 

SERENITY & BALANCE

God grant me serenity 

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference. 

Image taken at the Googleplex, Mountain View, CA
All images (c) brandmarie at thecopyrightofbrandmarie.blogspot.com

CHICAGO TILT-SHIFTED

Chicago, Summer 2011

Image taken from the Sears Tower Skydeck.
Image was edited using Tiltshift Maker.
All images (c) brandmarie at thecopyrightofbrandmarie.blogspot.com

WHITEWASHED  ALCATRAZ

Facts:

1. If you are someone who is interested in Alcatraz or historical prisons in general, then the Tour of Alcatraz is a must-see!  We went in the afternoon coz there were no more night tours available but people have highly recommended the night tour because it is an enhanced experience of what life was like in the prison and on the island.

2. The prison is still very well maintained and the audio tour was fashioned in such a way that would allow you to appreciate the events that took place while appreciating the beauty of the island. It takes more than two hours to finish the tour but there was never a dull moment.

3. San Francisco is chilly year-round so if you decide to do the tour, be sure to bundle up for the boat ride and wear layers for when you set foot on the island. It is not as cold inside the prison as it will be outside, especially when you get to the ridge overlooking San Francisco.

4. Last but most importantly, bring a camera! You may not want to savor the moments inside the prison but the views from the island and on the boat ride are breathtaking.

This is what the sky looked like at sunset during 

my plane ride from San Francisco to Chicago. 

Proves that the world really is a beautiful place.

I love taking pictures of park benches and benches 

in general and am constantly in awe of big trees. 

So here's a series of pictures depicting both.

All images taken at the Boston Public Garden.
All images (c) thecopyrightofbrandmarie.blogspot.com

Summer has finally come to the East Coast and here's 

how people in New York City are spending it!

 

 

All images taken at Central Park, New York City. 
All images (c) thecopyrightofbrandmarie.blogspot.com