High Tea at Pardee Home

April 2014

Private High Tea and tour at Pardee Home Museum.

Photo Gallery – April 2014

April 1, 2014 — I was going to stay home all day, went to buy a cabbage to make soup, then I spontaneously jumped into train. I didn’t have any purpose or where to go. I was wearing trench coat. I put make-up on the train. I went to SF city hall. A several groups of wedding. More than one man said to me “You are beautiful” . . . Oh? Today is April fool’s day. (but I think they meant it, hope so)

On April 17, 1906, the dome atop San Francisco’s City Hall that was completed in 1896 supported a 20 foot statue by F. Marion Wells. The Goddess of Progress, with lightbulbs in her hair, held a torch aloft in her right hand, causing some contemporary counts to refer to it as the Goddess of Liberty.

It makes me feel sad to see other people who are at some of the worst times of their lives. . . I had a few crises in my life after I came to the U.S. I thought I only had two choices, either to commit suicide or to become homeless with a baby. My dignity and sheer willpower overcame obstacles. I am lucky compared to those people on the street.

April 1, 2014 — United Nations Plaza

April 1, 2014 — No rain just overcast sky while my outing to The city. Surprise, surprise, I noticed hail on my backyard. Forecast is Intermittent downpours are likely to be accompanied by hail and gusty winds.

4/4/2014 — Discarded to Divine is a fashion show and auction that showcases the work of local designers who transform discarded items into one-of-a-kind garments, which are then auctioned off to benefit programs of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

4/4/2014 — The Sankofa Project, led by Keenan Weber, plays music of Africa and America, including traditional blues, jazz, and Americana.

Sunday, April 6, 2014 – High Tea . . . The Pardee Home is a house in Oakland, California that was home to three generations of the Pardee family. It is now a non-profit museum, showing over 100 years of the life of a prominent California family.

Sunday, April 6, 2014 – High Tea . . . We had the house to ourselves it felt intimate just to be the only guests in the dining area for High tea. — All volunteers are extraordinary people who give of their time, and skills to keep Pardee Home history alive.

Sunday, April 6, 2014 – High Tea . . . . . All of the food is made by hand in the Pardee kitchen by volunteers who love to cook, bake, and serve. All docents are volunteers, so you know that they’re genuinely passionate about what they do.

Sunday, April 6, 2014 – High Tea . . . . . The Pardee House is run by volunteers that truly want to share their love of Pardee history. We need to support them, otherwise, it is in danger of closing due to lack of visitors, volunteers and funds. I thank Patsy for scheduling our visit.

At Pardee, there is only one type of tea. . . . Last year, I celebrated my 67th birthday having “Afternoon Tea” at Palace Hotel San Francisco. As you can see I had several tea selections and tasted them all.

Sunday, April 6, 2014 – High Tea . . . . Tina, my daughter-in-law loves trees. Of course, we posed front of big tree and Camellia shrubs . It is nice background, indeed!

Sunday, April 6, 2014 – High Tea . . . . . . . kodak moment

Sunday, April 6, 2014 – High Tea . . . . . . . . kodak moment . . . . . . . .

Sunday, April 6, 2014 – High Tea . . . . . . . . kodak moment . . . . . . . .

Friday April 11 — The Rotunda Dance Series is free noontime performances taking place the first Friday of each month. Tiruchitrambalam School of Dance (classical Indian dance form, Bharatanatyam) did fantastic performance today.

Friday April 11 — We were given pamphlet that tells the stories of each dance. It was mesmerizing to watch dancers’ hands, feet movements. I understood the stories thru their dances.

Friday April 11 — I requested to them to show me facial/body expressions of “nine emotions”. Boy, what a big surprise! While Q&A was going on, dancers were discussing who is going to play what characters and storylines. And “presto” — They instantly created dance for me. It was so amazing.

Friday April 11 — The nine emotions are love, laughter, kind-heartedness or compassion, anger, courage, terror, disgust, surprise, and peace or tranquility. These are the emotions that human shows according to the situations.

Friday April 11 — Those young, beautiful, and skilled dancers were very friendly. I enjoyed picture-taking with them. The artistic director, Deepa Mahadevan has done a good job.

Friday April 11 — Off the Grid: Civic center — The San Francisco Bay Area is home to a wonderfully innovative local street food culture that is growing extremely quickly through its combination of technology and mobile, sustainable, food.

Friday April 11 — UN Plaze — SF Police foot patrols. It’s good idea having a visible police presence in high-crime corridors. They ask politely and tactfully to homeless people who occupy pubic space for long time to move somewhere else. I was impressed.

Friday April 11 — This place is bizarre. Most of the art on 2nd floor is by a man named H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Master Wan Ko Yee Recognized as the True Incarnation of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. He lives in SF. The first floor of the museum is a fake rain forest. Is he cult leader?

Saturday April 12 —

Saturday April 12 —

Saturday April 12 —

Saturday April 12 —

Saturday April 12 —

Saturday April 12 —

Saturday April 12 —

Saturday April 12 —

Saturday April 12 — SF Japantown * * * The US government & people, SHAME ON YOU!!! * * * How could you do such injustice to innocent people ???

April 17 — Spring Delight: Dinner & Dance — My tablemates are of course Maxine & Tom. I don’t know other people at my table. However, I socialized with several acquaintances. Enjoyed music (with two great vocalists) and dinner.

April 17 — Spring Delight: Dinner & Dance — I bought this dress from street vender at Cherry Blossom festival. Asking price was $65. My negotiated price $45. SOLD!!! You don’t find this print in local fabric stores.

April 17 — Spring Delight Dinner & Dance . . . . . icebreaker ???

Saturday April 19 – Earth Day. Naked cyclists at Justin Herman Plaza.

Saturday April 19 – SF Cherry Blossom Festival . . .

Saturday April 19 – SF Cherry Blossom Festival . . .

Saturday April 19 – In Japan, they do have good senior programs. Seniors (65+) who belong to clubs for senior citizens enjoy diverse activity types such as 1. individual activities, 2. social participation/volunteering, 3. education/training etc., — This team is from Tokyo. Their dance team name is literary “Recreation Club”.

Saturday April 19 – We, Japanese feel our own prefecture is so unique. My Gunma prefecture is nothing compared to Okinawa. Okinawa has many intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and people are making efforts to preserve them.

Saturday April 19 – Okinawa was once the independent Ryukyu Kingdom. The Okinawan language, for the most part completely unintelligible to Japanese. A quarter of the civilian population died during the 1945 Battle of Okinawa. After the end of World War II in 1945, Okinawa was under US administration for 27 years. The issue of U.S. bases has become tangled with the sense of colonialist treatment of Okinawa by Tokyo.

April 21 — My plan for today – (1) 1:10pm St. Francis 110 years celebration tour (2) Tour of Diego Rivera’s 1930 Mural . . . I was here(St. Francis) last month. Today, marketing manager and other staff approached me and said, “I recognized you, you were wearing a hat.” Formula: “service-oriented business = good memory”

April 21 — The Westin St. Francis Hotel . . . Over the years, prominent guests strolled passed the clock, including Emperor Hirohito of Japan, the Shah of Iran, and Queen Elizabeth II, as well as countless movie stars and U.S. Presidents.

April 21 — Ronald, thanks. I had more than 10 of “Eggs Epicurean”. It was my lunch because I couldn’t have Ramen noodle at Westfield Mall restaurant – was too long line. – St. Francis’s staff are friendly, and non pretentious. If I were rich, I would stay and sleep in ‘Heavenly bed’ in a heartbeat. $$$$ I love anything ‘UPSCALE’

April 21 — Hall of light and mirrors. My next visit will be Holiday season – * Largest Holiday Sugar Castle at St. Francis. * The Fairmont Hotel’s enormous Gingerbread House. * The Hyatt Regency’s snow shower (curtains of sparkling silver lights, more than 300,000 lights in total)

April 21 — The Westin St. Francis Hotel — COLONIAL BALLROOM — A space full of charm and sophistication with an ornate balcony that wraps the room on three sides. One entire wall is a restored mural depicting a Tuscany countryside.

April 21 — COLONIAL BALLROOM — A space full of charm and sophistication with an ornate balcony that wraps the room on three sides. One entire wall is a restored mural depicting a Tuscany countryside.

April 21 – Old Pacific Coast Stock Exchange Building at 301 Pine Street (Built in 1915) which currently houses Equinox Fitness. Adjacent building — The Stock Exchange Tower — the 11-story building opened just one year after the stock market crash (1929). The Stock Exchange Tower housed the offices of brokers who worked on the trading floor.

April 21 – Old Pacific Coast Stock Exchange Building . . . The tower (Deco-influenced modern designs) has a restrained Modern entranceway and a notable lobby. 155 Sansome Street.

April 21 – 10th floor. I can tell this is an exclusive club, by just going to the restrooms. They don’t have paper towels. They have neatly folded little white hand towels stocked in baskets. Sorry, not same as Iced Eucalyptus Spa Towels that next door Equinox offer.

April 21 – 11th floor Dining room . . . The City Club of San Francisco now occupies the upper floors that originally housed the Stock Exchange Lunch Club. — The 155 Society – Highest level of membership, limited to 155 members. How much are membership dues?

April 21 – This is a very first mural that Diego Rivera painted in the US. The City Club mural covers a wall between the 10th and 11th floors and the ceiling above it.

April 27, 2004 — Too many mimosas ? Typical American Sport Bar. Brunch? Jeez, they only had a few sandwiches / burgers. I’ll never go there for lunch again. I often have lunches at The Greenery Restaurant at Diablo Hills Golf Course. Their menus are a million times better.

April 27, 2004 — Foods was just ordinary. Last Sunday I enjoyed authentic Russian foods at ‘Babushka’.

April 27, 2004 — A man with camera was there. His name is Robert, very skilled semi-pro photographer. Thank you so much.

April 27, 2004 — Marsha and I strolled along Walnut Creek downtown. Street Art Fair and ‘Restaurant Week’. So we checked out menus from many venues. It was pleasant walk.

April 27, 2004 — This is 4th Sunday night Dance at gated community ‘Rossmoor’. Maurie is Jackie’s boyfriend and Jackie is friend of Chuck and I am also friend of Chuck. Chuck is Rossmoor resident.

April 27, 2014 — This is my first time taking selfies on ipad. I switched to rear camera. At that moment, it was shocking, disgusting to see my ugly face. I was standing right under the florescent kitchen light. Bad idea. I put desk lump on the floor. This time I got better selfie pictures.

4/30/2014 — It is always a treat to dance to the magical sounds of “Nob Hill Sounds”, a very popular Bay Area ballroom dance band. I was here last October. It has been a long time. Sammy always welcomes me with warm hug. — I am not singing.