Rainbow Grocery

Rainbow is one of those organizations that traces its origin to the efforts for an alternative people’s political and economic system in the 1970's. The success of the experiement may be debatable, the grocery has, nevertheless, become an insititiona for those who support social causes from organic, anti-GM foods, to Fair Trade. For others, yours truly included, the combination of an ever-changing, fascinating, and wide-ranging selection of items at affordable prices is the key draw. Where else can you find no less than 13 and mostly organic sweetener alternatives in one spot or the cheapest Badoit bottled water in the San Francisco area. Oh, and the vast bulk item section of Rainbow is not to be missed.

Of course, you need to be willing to accept some degree of chaos as the clerks and patrons jockey for position to get at the groceries and re-filling the empty containers. Similarly, you should bring your own containers for bulk items to avoid paying for containers As Whole Foods gets more ubiquitous and blah, Rainbow offers a great alternative in both costs and entertainment value.

With or without the social causes.




Rainbow Grocery
1745 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA. 94103
T: 415 863-0620
F: 415 863-8955
www.rainbowgrocery.org

Hours: 9 – 9pm Daily

(C)2005 GlobalCorners About

Amoeba Music

When the term "independent record store" ilicits a pitying look in this age of mega chain stores and internet shops, Amoeba is a proud and thriving operation (and I am glad.) Considered a destination, it caters to specialized interests where the gray haired professorial types hunt down Funeral by the Arcade Fire in the midst of body pierced youngsters lusting after that elusive copy of Presti and Lagoya playing Sor's composition on vinyl.

Speaking of vinyl, Amoeba has rows of LP's. Each row has two levels - one waist high, the other on the floor level. Mostly classical and Jazz, the used LP generally sells for less than US$2 per disc. If you do not mind crouching on the floor to sort through the selection, the scavenger hunt for a good deal on an used disc is kind of fun.

Despite the fact that the Berkeley store has the better LP selection, it is still difficult to come out of the Amoeba San Francisco without armfuls of LP's, a full grin, and secured in the knowledge that a disc-washing party is coming again.




Amoeba Music San Francisco
1855 Haight St.
San Francisco, CA 94117-2711
T: 415.831.1200
www.amoebamusic.com

Hours
Mon-Sat 10:30-10
Sun 11-9

(C)2005 GlobalCorners About

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

With a majority Asian population, it is fitting that the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is the largest American museum focused on Asian arts. Designed by Gae Aulenti, who also designed Musée d'Orsay, the Asian Arts blends modern technology and comfort into spaces for permanent collection and special exhibits amongst its three floors. Third floor focuses on West Asia, South Asia, Tibet and early China. Second floor showcases China, Korea, and Japan. First floor is for special exhibits. It also offers a plethora of amenities from self-guided audio tour to a museum shop and a café.




Truth be told, for a comprehensive historic survey of Asian arts, one might do better with a visit to the British Museum or Taiwan's National Palace Museum. Nevertheless, there is something to be said about getting a good introduction to the culture and arts of the Asian continent without overwhelming a novice. For example, notes on the interactions of Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism in the southern Asian continent provides enough detail to make it interesting without being weighted down by minutea. While the East Asian antiquity tends to be the run-of-the-mill items regularly found in the auction houses of Sotheby's or Christie's, the modern East Asian collection is rather interesting. A series of Japanese bamboo work from the 1960’s in familiar 3-D forms using complex patterns are particularly exquisite.

Be warned. Not unlike an one-day visit to "finish" the Louvre, taking in everything at the Asian Art in one day is a Sisyphean task. For me, I look forward to visiting it again to see the special exhibits and the Tibetan collection.




Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
T: 415.581.3500
www.asianart.org

Hours
Tue-Sun: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thu: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.
First Tuesday of every month free
Closed Mondays, major holidays (New Years Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas)

(C)2005 GlobalCorners About