Monday, August 30, 2010

A Plethora Of Sports Teams

The SF Bay area has quite a number of sports teams in the three major ball sports: baseball, basketball, and football. We even have a hokey team. In general, the state of California seems to host the most number of professional teams that any other state. The only other state that can rival ours is possibly New York. Their teams are much older and have probably attained more championships but we can be proud of the output of our local favorites who are no slouches either. We've had so many football teams that I almost forgot about the Rams who used to be out of the southern area. In light of this, its surprising that the state even lost the Rams franchise. At the time, they were battling it out for the fans with the LA Raiders. Competition for fans was fierce between these NFL teams.









Heres a listing of franchises headquarter in the bay area and state . I hope Im not forgetting anyone
Football
SF 49ers
Oakland Raiders
San Diego Chargers
(Formerly LA Rams)

Baseball
SF Giants
Oakland Raiders
LA Dodgers
Anahiem Angels
San Diego Padres
Basketball
Golden State Warriors
Scaramento Kings
LA Lakers
LA Clippers
Hockey
San Jose Sharks
LA Kings

Monday, August 23, 2010

Toyoko Inn, Japan

Toyoko Inn is a chain of business hotels in Japan. For the last several years that I have been visiting Tokyo, most of my sleepong hours have been spent with this line of hotels. It was about 5 years ago and my friends and I were planning to hit the Sapporo Snow Festival. As our planning had occurred pretty late, it was hard to find rooms at some of the other places that we were familiar with in Sapporo. By chance, I was reading through the Sunday travel section when I happened upon an article of a writer who had suggessted this as a decent accommodation. The rest, as they say, is history. I primarily stay at the one in Shinagawa, shown below, since its the only location that is situated close to a fairly major JR station that has Shinkansen access, a subway line, and several JR train lines.

In the Tokyo area, most of their other sites are not as conveinent. However, with plans starting to take shape for another visit to Sapporo, Im finding their other locations to be situated near the JR train stations that we will be visiting on the way back to Tokyo from Sapporo. The one shown below is not near Sapporo station, although they do have one. This is near the Susukino downtown area where the ice sculptures are put on display and numerous restaurants amke meals very breezy. The main site, Odori Park, is a short walk from here as well.


We will be spending a night in Hakodate. By train, its about 3.5 hours from Sapporo. Most areas of Hokkaido is known for seafood and this is no exception.


Aomori is another stop on the way back. After leaving Hakodate, we will be sightseeing and trying out some of the famous local products of the area like apples and beef tongue. One of their most notable festivals, the Nebuta Festival, occurs in early August. Brightly colored floats lit up from the inside parade around the city before being set adrift
Lastly, you can find their endlish site at

Monday, August 16, 2010

On The Job-Federal Building

I am not on a Federal government kick. Its just coincidence that the past 2 posts were about our government and some locations they reside in within the borders of the city. This time around, we have the Federal building located at 7th and Mission st.



This was rebuilt a few years ago. It was erected with the expressed purpose of making it modern and green


A typically gray and cold summer day in the city casts a pall over the building making it look as gray as the day was


Monday, August 9, 2010

On The Job-Federal Reserve Bank

Located at 400 Sansome the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco sits in the heart of the financial district. Bordered in all directions by banks and financial instituions big and small.
There seemed to be some kind of newsworthy event going on during the time I was there. 3 news vans were parked outside with one van apprantly very happy to see me. The other two were mildly excited to couldnt care less that I was there. I never did find out what the hubbub was about.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

For Lunch-Dos Pinas cont

For lunch today I went to a Mexican place near work. The added convenience of telephone and online ordering is a big plus when the place gets pretty busy during the midday meal hours. I cant speak for the evening times. They have a decent selection on their menu from plates to ala carte items like burritos and tacos.
They also have wraps. One of my favored wraps is a bacon cheeseburger stuffed into a tortilla with Ranch dressing, the Baja Burger wrap. The wraps are comparable in size to their burritos and other burritos found in the nearby Mission district. Their tacos are more of the authentic types on soft corn tortillas not like those found at Taco Bell. You can have them with a variety of meats and a plate of 3 goes for $5. Though slightly pricer than those found at some food trucks

Lately, I have been opting for the Santa Fe salad. You can get it with different kinds of meat. Ive had it with carne asada(beef), al pastor(pork), and plain. Today, the pollo asada(chicken) is up at bat. Aside from the protein addition, the salad dresses romaine lettuce, corn, beans, radish, sour cream, queso fresco, and avocado in a lime cilantro dressing. All on top of a fried corn tortilla

They must have been feeling generous today as the heft of the salad seemed havier than what I am accustomed to. The lime-cilantro dressing is too weak for me and requires extra accompaniment by pico de gallo available at the self-serve utensil and condiment area adjacent to the pick-up window.. The salad is crisp and refreshing but can be a bit heavy from some of its ingredients but you can customize to your liking

My perceptions were correct as I could not finish the entirety of my lunch. The already sizeable portion is readily consumed to its fullest. Today's extra helping laid waste to my hunger and beyond. The remnants make visible the other ingredients: radish, black beans, fried corn tortilla, corn, etc. I admit defeat