Adventures in downtown San Francisco

Yesterday my family and I visited the illustrious Cartoon Museum of Art on Mission Street in downtown San Francisco. The adventure was in getting there – first taking the Caltrain from Hillsdale to downtown and then walking several blocks to arrive at our destination.

San Francisco is a vibrant and bustling city; we would have been lost had it not been for our iPhone. In a real-world situation, the iPhone passed its field test with aplomb.

The Cartoon Museum of Art was a gratifying experience for me. To see so many pieces of original penciled / inked art so beautifully framed and presented nearly brought a tear to my eye. There were many types of art on display, with a heavy leaning towards sequential arts (mostly gag strips). I recognized several names behind the works on display, but there were an equal number of artists showcased whose works I wasn’t readily familiar with. (Alas, no webcomics were on display.) I could have spent an entire day studying the line work hanging on the walls, but my wife and daughter would have probably killed me.

The highlight for me was the special Oz display, showcasing various artists’ interpretations of L. Frank Baum’s literary works. The gift store was amazing, too, with a wide range of independent books for sale. (There was a decent representation for webcomics, I might add.)

I’d have taken a few snaps, but the Museum does not permit photography inside.

All in all, we had a terrific time at the Cartoon Museum of Art. Adding to the experience was being joined by my friends Sonny Rao and Justin Hamrick. Together we grabbed a bite at Eddie Rickenbacker’s, where this photo was taken.

We capped off our downtown excursion with a stroll through Union Square, a snack at a local bakery and a visit to a few stores in the area.

And our SF tour continues…

–Krishna

Krishna December 21, 2011