You'd think it wouldn't happen, eh? "Gritty" The Wire and the genteel parlours and homes of Ms. Austen. Well, here's Mr. West (Detective McNulty) to tell you different*
* Possibly only enjoyable to siblings and mates-who-like-English-accents-AND-Ms. Austen!
4.7.09
On Mitchell and meanderings
A quick one, with a new David Mitchell for y'all and with limited linkage since I'm feeling rather lazy. It's a quiz no less and I got a fair few of the answers--those Pub trivia nights did come in handy after all!. It's done very well (ETA: I'm not sure the link works. IF not, go here. It's worth it and will make yous feel rather clever since the questions aren't too difficult, even without Wiki and Google!)
David Mitchell’s SoapBox: A Quiz
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In other news, I had a few days off from teaching. While I should really have been revising my dissertation further, it didn't happen. The weather was too nice and I was (am) on my "it's the last time ever that I'll be on the West coast" phase. So:
- I (accidentally) crashed a posh post-wedding party at a grand hotel and was invited to stay on. And did. It was excellent--an Eastern European/Balkan (that's what they called it) wedding.
- Went and saw the Samurais exhibit at the Asian Art Museum and also went to the Cartoon Art Museum. (preferred the Cartoon Art museum by a lot actually). Talking of Samurais, the exhibition is advertised all over the city except the posters look like something Star Wars-related, rather than Samurai-y. But then I'm not known for my Samurai knowledge (and the exhibit didn't really help much). Did I also mention that it was bloody expensive (in my view anyway)? I reckon I've been spoilt by Washington's free museums. Next up: King Tut (maybe. It, too, is expensive and I think I'd rather go to the California Academy of the Sciences. All this art and culture is getting on my nerves a bit)
- Drank at one of the many, many bars that Dylan Thomas drank in. Apparently it was also a favourite of the Beat poets.
- Did a speakeasy tour of San Francisco and a Beat poets tour. Avoided the vampire tour ("led by Vampiress Mina". Riiiight. Wouldn't Lucy be more appropriate?)
- Discovered Fish Alley at the Fishermens' Wharf. See the 1908 version here.
- Spent time having cheese(s) and wine(s) at the Ferry Building.
- Realised Oakland's city centre is rather grotty and not really worth visiting though the people there seemed remarkably friendly. I had a chap take out his iTouch/Phone thingy and find me directions to the bus stop I needed to be at.
- Re-visited one of my favourite San Francisco sites, the Musee Mecanique
- Bludged around North Beach, drinking Cappuccinos and eating Tiramisu.
- Finally got around to exploring Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto and discovered the Berkeley version of Lovers' lane (which is actually very pretty and has a grand view across the bay. Though I doubt the people who go there would be much interested in grand views)
- Really really wish I drove since I have two more days off after this programme ends. I have to check out of the dorms by the 26th but my train from Portland to DC doesn't leave till the 30th. None of the more interesting spots seem to be public transport-accessible. Getting to Yosemite, for example, would take up a whole day, leaving me with one day (or half a day?) to explore. I'm rather pissed off at myself at the moment.
- Remind me of the previous statement when I get back to DC, please. So I can hie myself to the nearest driving school and get my licence.
David Mitchell’s SoapBox: A Quiz
Shared via AddThis
In other news, I had a few days off from teaching. While I should really have been revising my dissertation further, it didn't happen. The weather was too nice and I was (am) on my "it's the last time ever that I'll be on the West coast" phase. So:
- I (accidentally) crashed a posh post-wedding party at a grand hotel and was invited to stay on. And did. It was excellent--an Eastern European/Balkan (that's what they called it) wedding.
- Went and saw the Samurais exhibit at the Asian Art Museum and also went to the Cartoon Art Museum. (preferred the Cartoon Art museum by a lot actually). Talking of Samurais, the exhibition is advertised all over the city except the posters look like something Star Wars-related, rather than Samurai-y. But then I'm not known for my Samurai knowledge (and the exhibit didn't really help much). Did I also mention that it was bloody expensive (in my view anyway)? I reckon I've been spoilt by Washington's free museums. Next up: King Tut (maybe. It, too, is expensive and I think I'd rather go to the California Academy of the Sciences. All this art and culture is getting on my nerves a bit)
- Drank at one of the many, many bars that Dylan Thomas drank in. Apparently it was also a favourite of the Beat poets.
- Did a speakeasy tour of San Francisco and a Beat poets tour. Avoided the vampire tour ("led by Vampiress Mina". Riiiight. Wouldn't Lucy be more appropriate?)
- Discovered Fish Alley at the Fishermens' Wharf. See the 1908 version here.
- Spent time having cheese(s) and wine(s) at the Ferry Building.
- Realised Oakland's city centre is rather grotty and not really worth visiting though the people there seemed remarkably friendly. I had a chap take out his iTouch/Phone thingy and find me directions to the bus stop I needed to be at.
- Re-visited one of my favourite San Francisco sites, the Musee Mecanique
- Bludged around North Beach, drinking Cappuccinos and eating Tiramisu.
- Finally got around to exploring Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto and discovered the Berkeley version of Lovers' lane (which is actually very pretty and has a grand view across the bay. Though I doubt the people who go there would be much interested in grand views)
- Really really wish I drove since I have two more days off after this programme ends. I have to check out of the dorms by the 26th but my train from Portland to DC doesn't leave till the 30th. None of the more interesting spots seem to be public transport-accessible. Getting to Yosemite, for example, would take up a whole day, leaving me with one day (or half a day?) to explore. I'm rather pissed off at myself at the moment.
- Remind me of the previous statement when I get back to DC, please. So I can hie myself to the nearest driving school and get my licence.
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