$5 prism near bathroom window will give you free daily thrills.
Weather permitting :-)

Trees get “pissed off” a lot in SF… Duboce @ Church.

Although my dad was once the only photographer in town before I was born, it wasn’t until I got to the Harvey Milk photography center many many years later that I learned to develop film and print black and white photos. The Photo center is located inside of Harvey Milk Center on 50 Scott St in Duboce park, and reopened in 2009 after a major renovation. I remember in the weeks and months I spent there, Peter, Clarence and other staffers were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. They created a sanctuary for film lovers. Photographers, experienced or new, loved to work, to learn, and hang out in that laid back darkroom community. Since Peter suddenly passed away a few years ago, Clarence Towers, the director of the photo center had to run the facility with even less staff and funding.

Unfortunately I just found out yesterday that due to the city’s budget crisis, a decision was made to eliminate the position of the Photography Center director. Everybody knows that the photo center would never be the same without Clarence, because there will be no one available to offer the proactive service, leadership and “hands on” attention that everybody have appreciated over the past 22 years. We wouldn’t be able to continue to enjoy the exhibitions, seminars, classes, the largest publicly funded darkroom in the country and, of course the new digital lab. It would be a tremendous loss if we cannot keep this most valuable resource that has served San Franciscans for over 53 years.

So, please, please, write to the superintendent of Citywide services, Ana Alvarez, (ana.alvarez@sfgov.org) and the general manager, Phil Ginsburg (phil.ginsburg@sfgov.org) to appeal their decision to exclude the Photography Centers’ director position from the 2010-2011 budget. We do not want to lose that nice photographer community!

Yawn. Alarm o’clock went off at 7:55am this morning. I’m determined to try my luck to call China at the busiest time of the year — 5 minutes before the arrival of the Year of the Tiger. There are hundreds and millions of people trying to do the same, and normally would take me more than an hour to get through.

Miraculously I got through immediately this time! Sudden blasts of fireworks from the other side of the phone almost blew me off the bed. Grandma shouted on top of her lung:”Can you hear the fireworks?! Can you hear them?!” “Yes yes” I talked so loud that the whole block could hear me, “I can hear nothing but fireworks, Grandma!”

Chinese New Year atmosphere is what I miss the most since I left China. Fireworks day after day, parties in the house and on the streets, smell of food in the air, music and dances everywhere… so much fun! Chinese New Year’s Eve is tonight for San Franciscans, so I am getting ready to make some dumplings at friend’s house. Wish everybody a very lucky year of the tiger — and check out my Chinese New Year tote bags, shirts and postcards here!

I wanted to kick myself everyday for the past year for not updating my website. Finally I hijacked myself from a pile of other works and got www.SFlocal.net updated. There are a lot more items to come, but my other works just hijacked me back. So I will try to update the site another time before Xmas (while my other works are at sleep :) Stay tuned!

If you live in CA 94117 area, I might deliver your order personally (pretending to be a USPS new-hire). Custom orders/designs available! There’s no better holiday gift than that:) email me at 415local(at)gmail(dot)com if you have questions.

$70 for a fastpass? No wonder no artist can afford to live in San Francisco anymore! I designed these shirts for myself, but looks like I am not the only one who wants them :-)

I think I am going to wear these starting December 5th. Available here.

the back of the card says:

Getting tired of choosing different cards every time new occasions come up? Announcing the arrival of the master card that does it all! Multiple choices for different occasions. $1 for the value of $15 or more! :-))

Check out: “What?” “Wow!”"Yes!”"Hey!”"Hi”"Doh” cards at my website SFlocal.net

Just in time for the holidays! I had these SF alphabet postcards right next to my popular SF Map postcards at the Cole Valley Fair, and they were well received. Let me know if you don’t see your ‘hood on the website, and I will keep you in mind when I create more categories in the future.

I was working on a collective noun project, and happen to came up with a new series of postcards. They are a bit “spicy” but here’s my famous quote: “Those who dare to laugh at themselves, have the courage to be themselves.”

They are available at www.SFlocal.net. Enjoy.

Avoid long lines and busy malls…this year Santa will be waiting for you and your family at our local Postal Chase (912 Cole Street) for that classic Santa photo!

When:
Sunday, December 6th
10 a.m. – 12 noon & 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

These are high quality Santa photos right here in Cole Valley! Don’t stand in line; simply sign in and be given a number and approximate wait time. Shop, have a hot chocolate, or start tackling your Christmas gifts while you wait! Later, go online and order photos directly or purchase the photo file to suit all of your holiday greeting and gift needs.

Photo sitting fee is $20.00. Online orders start at just $1.00 per photo and $15 for the photo file. Santa on Cole is a fundraiser supporting the Cole Valley sidewalk cleaning program. All of our “elves” are part of the friendly Cole Valley neighborhood who look forward to helping you make your holiday memories truly special.

For full event and pricing details, please click here.