Yarn Bomb! I’ve seen this in Europe, but San Mateo? really?
Wait- there’s more!
A lot more…
I’m re-naming this street Tube Sock Alley- we’ll see if it holds up… get it? holds up?
Wait- how’d they’d cover this PARKING sign?!
San Mateo has officially been bombed and I love it! It’s more friendly, easier to clean up, and always makes me smile. Can you say that about graffiti?
Here are more incredible attacks, including my personal favorite- the tank covered in a blanket with a pompon on the end of the barrel AND the accompanying article by the Twilight Taggers about how to do it! Seriously, could you really raise weapons against humanity with a pink cozy on your weapon? I see a whole new kind of revolution coming on and I love it! Have a great weekend, everyone.
It’s easy to blink and miss San Mateo, a sleepy city sandwiched between San Francisco to the north and Silicon Valley towns in the South Bay, and tucked in the shadows of affluent hillside areas like Hillsborough and Woodside to the west.
I know. I live here and often berate myself for leaving the greener pastures, er uh, brighter lights of ‘the City’ for this.
So, to adjust my attitude, I invited (perhaps begged) some friends to join me on a food crawl up B Street, an unassuming little boulevard of international restaurants- mostly individually owned- here in downtown San Mateo.
That's my brother-in-law Andrew, sister Paige, and friends Meghan, and Carrie warming up at the Downtown Tiki Lounge. (I think I owe them something for making the trip out here, but shhh, maybe they'll forget)
From the Tiki lounge we headed straight for adventure at Street Food, a Chinese restaurant, firing up a long list of skewers.
(thanks for ordering the bbq squid, Andrew. I just love chewing through rubbery food)
("fish balls and cilantro rolls, eh?... ok, we can do this")
Next up, Peruvian faire at Las Americas…
The food was delicious but this was such a ‘hole-in-the-wall’ situation that when Paige asked to use the restroom she was directed through the liquor store next door.
I think you had to be there to fully understand why she documented the event...
and why, in an effort to stay focused on the benefits of living in San Mateo, we won’t speak of this further.
Suffice it to say, we were all happy to move on to Kingfish, an upscale Louisiana style restaurant in this iconic art deco building.
(You can't see it, but the oysters, cornbread and burrata were all big hits here at Kingfish! The martini was awesome too- olives count for food, right?)
(I love the art here too)
We headed for a new Hofbrau next, but it was closed so we ended our crawl, appropriately, at 31st Union, a delicious little farm to table (of course) bistro for people like us who can’t help but ‘heart’ California.
(another of the many art deco building dotting downtown)
and by now, we’re not even taking pictures at all- I ‘borrowed’ these. That’s what happens when you get to the ‘crawl’ part. And, we didn’t even make it to the Indian, Italian, Japanese, Thai, Mexican, or Irish spots on B street!
So, if you’re coming to San Francisco and have even just an extra half day or so, come to downtown San Mateo (caltrain stops right here!) and fill your belly with your friends. Or call me, I’ll do the crawl with you. San Mateo is definitely (finally) growing on me
It’s been a long time since I’ve shown my work as a collection, but I’m thrilled by Kaffeehaus’ invitation show my work and present a reception for me.
You’ll see familiar pieces, new works and pieces I’ve been completing for my painting-a-week challenge. Original pieces are for sale and prints and pillows will be available for order.
Contact me if you’d like to be added to the invite list. info@shannonkaye.com
How have I NOT noticed this shadow before? I walk by this almost every day!
I'm not sure what's in this office but I'm it's something happy.
This is how I usually look... feel... when I start my walks
But as I get going, I start to wake up and look around...(this is painted on the other side of the same dumpster, by the way. So, whichever direction I'm going, I always have to look back)
Just happened to look down the other day and see this beautiful imprint in the sidewalk. How did this happen? There are no marks of any kind around it to imply that it was stepped on, rode over, or in any way pressed into the cement a freshly pack square of wet cement. Hm...
Wondering how to integrate these colors/patterns into a painting...
This tree always makes me happy... I'm ready to start my day now. What did you see today?
I had to do it, I had to break out and do something much bigger than I have so far this year.
So instead of painting a canvas this week, I tackled the rug in my living room.
A couple of years ago, I flipped this rug over when I got tired of the pattern on the other side. I liked the color and texture of the linen backing. (Careful though, this isn’t a durable option for most).
Of course this makes me want to change the walls. My mom came over the other day and laughed at me when I mentioned that. What? It’s been at least a year and half since I painted my walls, maybe go with dark green… solid eggplant… sea blue… stay tuned
(I like that even with a low table I can see the center of my pattern)
Reminds me of Mary MacDonald’s famous floors. Ah, to be so refined…
