L.A. Alley

Alley, Daytime - Los Angeles  2013

Alley, Nighttime - Los Angeles  2013

This is the alley in back of my usual motel in Los Angeles, the Rodeway Inn on Beverly. I always request a room on the second floor, 'cause the floor squeaks, and I'd rather be the squeaker than the squeakee.

Sacramento Alleys

Alley, Dumpster - Sacramento  2025

Alley, Dumpsters, Reflections - Sacramento  2025

Sacramento alley sightems. Latest in a long list of alley photos.

Melrose Avenue #7: Alley

More stuff found after hiking up to Whole Foods for some . . . uh . . . whoo . . . can’t remember. Ground coffee, I think.

Anyway, then down Fairfax to the newsstand to pick up the NYT, then through the alley over to Ogden.

Photos: Tear—Los Angeles, 2009; Screen Novelties—Los Angeles, 2009

Alley Art: Melrose Avenue #61

Cheeseburger Special - Los Angeles  2018

Alley Art, Boxes - Los Angeles  2018

Yes, Melrose Avenue has its own special label (found on the right).

Melrose Avenue #1 was posted way back in 2009.

Monday Crow Blogging

Alley, Crow - Vancouver  2017

As I walked around Vancouver I became particularly intrigued by its alleyways, which seemed to me to be of much more photographic interest than the glass-covered highrises. So I took a number of alleyway photos; however and alas, very few of them are of any particular value.

Alley - Vancouver  2017

San Rafael Sightems

Alley - San Rafael  2020

Alley - San Rafael  2020

 

Carrying the iPhone around San Rafael in the midst of various chores.

Beverly Alley

Garages, Palm Trees - Los Angeles  2018

Pastey Whyte - Los Angeles  2018

Walking from my motel through the alley parallel to Beverly Boulevard.

Earlier photos taken in 2013.

BTW, Pastey Whyte has an Instagram account.

Chinatown Alley Sign / Building for Sale

Alley Sign (Chinatown) - San Francisco  2023

Building for Sale, Art (Chinatown) - San Francisco  2023

The Canon G5XII is great for taking photos in the rain. Nice and small, can be easily tucked under one's parka.

Japan: Culinary Adventures (9): Shinjuku Night

I met Hali, Maz and Shawna at the Shinbashi Station as they were returning from their sushi class. Hali went back to the hotel for some well-deserved relaxation; the rest of us, along with John (a fellow-student from the class) took the, yes, Yamanote Line to Shinjuku Station ("busiest train station in the world.")

We plunged through the crowds following John, who seemed to know his way around—or at least he gave that impression. Past the crowds, out onto the street, a right turn and then down a narrow alleyway lined with tiny countertop restaurants.

Very, very atmospheric.

Our countertop restaurant was, in fact, pretty crowded. On one side, you had your Sapporo beer reps, and on the other, your K2 snowboard rep. Behind the counter you had your nesan thoroughly in charge. The air was redolent with cigarette smoke, which of course only added to the mystique of the place.

I had a plateful of skewered chicken and some sake, but in deference to the Sapporo reps, we all started drinking quantities of beer. Have I mentioned how well Japanese beer goes with Japanese food?


Off to another restaurant for some sashimi and sake, and then back to Shinjuku Station for a late night train ride back to the hotel.



Photos: Shinjuku Alley—Tokyo, 2008; John & Nesan (Shinjuku)—Tokyo, 2008; Sapporo Reps (Shinjuku)—Tokyo, 2008; Yamanote Line (Late Night)—Tokyo, 2008

Eugene Sightems

 

Moon, Van - Eugene  2021

Alley - Eugene  2021

Evening walking-around.

Tokyo Nighttime Food Tour - 4

Alley (Tokyo) - Japan  2016

Rooster (Tokyo) - Japan  2016

"Skewers, monjayaki and Ginza lights." That's all that I wrote in my notes. Oh, and "Lots of pix."

Fun!

Oroville

Alley (Oroville) - Butte County  1997

Club Sierra (Oroville) - Butte County  1997

Some friends of ours used to own a trailer in the woods near Oroville; I was able to stay there a few times. Photos were taken with a Mamiya twin-lens reflex.

Lake Oroville - Butte County  1997

North Park (San Diego)

North Park Alley - San Diego  2018

Street Art (North Park) - San Diego  2018

On our last day in San Diego we attempted to visit the non-zoo area of Balboa Park. After a series of droll GPS adventures we finally managed to reach Balboa Park's Botanical Building, only to find that the crowds had beaten us there. All the parking lots were full and street parking would require a really substantial hike. So we passed.

We made our way over to San Diego's trendy North Park neighborhood where we bought a couple of burritos to eat in the airport while we waited for our plane. (Which was delayed at both ends due to winds at SFO.)

Burrito Place - San Diego  2018

Japan: Culinary Adventure (11): Kaiseki at Ajihana

October 14, 2008: Go down a narrow street lined with restaurants, then turn right into an even narrower alley. Then duck through the noren and inquire if this is the correct spot.

Yes it is. Or, that is to say, yes it was. We had arrived at Ajihana, a very small restaurant in Kyoto featuring kaiseki-style meals. Very small: two tables and a counter. There were two businessmen at the counter; the four of us were the only other diners. Behind the counter was the chef and one apprentice.

Kaiseki refers to a specific Japanese multicourse meal with no set menu. The chef and Maz had a longish discussion concerning what kind of food was acceptable to our gaijin tastes. After being reassured that anything he made would be acceptable, the courses began to arrive.

Some of the items served (in small individual plates, the compositions jewel-like in their perfection):

—Sashimi.
—Anago (eel) wrapped in kelp. Braised to perfection.
—Miso glazed cod.
—Local fresh vegetables served tempura style.
—A crispy glutinous dish—like nothing we’ve had before.
—Pickled vegetables.

Served with beer, tea and sake.

During the meal, Maz and the chef discussed various culinary topics, including the use of avocados in California sushi rolls (much scoffing by the chef.)

Very special meal. And, it was Mike’s birthday!

[Blog Note: For this particular meal I’ve had to rely on others’ memories of the event, so it’s taken me a while to get some of the details of the meal straight. Strictly speaking, in terms of chronology, this should really be Culinary Adventure #2, instead of Sumiyoshiya.]

Photos: Night Street—Kyoto, 2008; Ajihana Exterior—Kyoto, 2008; Chef & Apprentice, Ajihana—Kyoto, 2008

Photo by Maz: Tempura Dish, Ajihana (Mike pouring beer in background)—Kyoto, 2008

Placerville - 3

Road, Snow - Placerville  2019

Alley - Placerville  2019

We spent a goodly amount of time in the snow, throwing snowballs and building an avant-garde snowman. Then, a little bit of wandering around town, lunch and a return to Sacramento.

Carrot, Snowman (Masa, Hanna) - Placerville  2019

L.A. Cow, L.A. Bird

Blue Cow - Los Angeles  2013

Tweet Tweet - Los Angeles  2013

Cow in front of Mendocino Farms sandwich place on Third St.

Bird spotted in an alley in back of Melrose Avenue.

Melrose Avenue #56: Provocateur / Trinity Boxing

Provocateur - Los Angeles  2016

Trinity Boxing - Los Angeles  2016

Trinity Boxing is located in an alley just off Melrose. Highly recommended by Yelp reviewers.

Tibet

A themed blog post.

Top photo was taken in San Francisco March 10, during a pro-Tibet, anti-Chinese occupation demonstration.

Next photo is a mural of the Dalai Lama (surrounded by Chinese soldiers) that I found in a back alley in Los Angeles last week. After some research I’ve determined that it was done by the artist known as "Mear One;" you can watch a video of him creating the mural on YouTube.

Photos: Demonstration—San Francisco, 2009; Dalai Lama Mural—Los Angeles, 2009

Dim Sum

Let me recommend City View Restaurant on Commercial (just off Kearney) for their dim sum. (This was the most recent Diners' Club selection.)

Commercial is a small alley-like street running from the Financial District to Grant Avenue in Chinatown.

Photos: City View Restaurant—San Francisco, 2010; End Commercial—San Francisco, 2008

Nori's Saimin

Palm Trees with Lights - Hilo  2012

Interesting Japanese restaurant in Hilo. To quote from a Yelp review: 

The food is pretty standard in quality and taste for a  Hilo restaurant. This is not a put down.  There just aren't amazing restaurants in Hilo.  That being said the food is good but nothing to get too excited over.

Its kind of an odd location lending to its customer base being primarily Hilo dweller's.  It is across from the bowling alley in a parking lot next to Bamboo garden.  There is no sign street side leaving it lesser known to the passer by.  Even if you find your way into the parking lot their signage is small and obstructed by a stairway leading down into the restaurant. 

The Atmosphere is pretty typical to the area.  Its just out of downtown so its kind of town-y with hints of ruralism.  Its not the Ritz but definitely short of ghetto-fab.  Sometimes, It smells like piss right before where the counter is.  I have no idea why. Only sometimes it smells but most times it doesn't.  I have seen a roach once and killed it.  I was then awarded a free meal.  Its a restaurant in Hilo,  It happens,  they gave me free food for killing the roach, fair enough.

No free food for us, luckily.

Also, lots of Hello Kitty items at a little auxiliary store next door.