Via California - Summer 2019 - 16

ON THE ROAD

WEEKENDER

San Francisco's
SoMa
↘ Head south of Market for sculpture
gardens, burger bots, and Ping-Pong.

San Francisco's downtown
core is dotted with privately
owned public spaces. SoMa's
best is the garden at 555
Mission Street Plaza. Look
for a colorful, 36-foot tower
of pixelated figures by artist
Jonathan Borofsky, a leafy
green living wall, and Ugo
Rondinone's trio of whimsi-
cal characters that look like
they were plucked from a
Tim Burton animation.
●

The San Francisco Bay
Area's foodie and tech
worlds meet at Creator,
where gourmet burgers are
made to order on a sleek,
roboticized assembly line.
Diners can watch toppings
being sliced, cheese getting
●

24caMJ19_WKNDR.indd 24

grated, and condiments dis-
pensed as the automated
device puts together the
meaty sandwiches, some
designed by notable local
chefs. Best of all, these
futuristic burgers sport the
very retro price of $6.
Around the corner from
SFMOMA and Yerba Buena
Gardens cultural center, the

●

Museum of the African
Diaspora showcases con-

temporary works from an
international roster of art-
ists with links to Africa.
Captivating aesthetics and
social commentary fre-
quently mix in exhibits such
as Coffee, Rhum, Sugar &
Gold: A Postcolonial Paradox,
which explores the legacy
of colonialism through the
Caribbean's exports.
Ping-Pong gets the night-
club treatment at Spin, a
stylish venue decked out
with street art, lounge seat-
ing, a bouncy sound track,
and up to 18 tables. Onehand snacks, such as fried
chicken sliders, let you nosh
while you play; regular
events draw pro paddlers.
●

- ga r r i c k

ramirez

top: The Museum of the African Diaspora hosts more than a dozen
exhibitions yearly. bottom: Creator's burger machine slices toppings.

TOP: COURTESY OF MUSEUM OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA; BOTTOM: AUBRIE PICK

Thirty years ago, San Fran-
cisco's South of Market
neighborhood-or SoMa-
was best known for its ware-
houses. Now it's home to
the San Francisco Giants
(at Oracle Park), the city's
tallest building (Salesforce
Tower), and a world-class
art collection (San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art).
But amid those marquee
attractions are plenty of
other delights.

3/25/19 10:40 AM
Via California - Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Via California - Summer 2019
