Robot Revolution

Yesterday, woke up mid-morning, had a leisurely brunch at the Absinthe Brasserie & Bar (an elegant establishment), walked to Golden Gate Park, wandered the park for a bit. Was going to visit the Academy of Science, but the line to get in was really long so I ditched that plan. Went back to the hostel, took a nap, went out for dinner at Tommy's Joynt (good diner comfort-food served cafeteria-style, plus a bar featuring "beers of the world" at really remarkably cheap prices), then to the DNA Lounge for Barbot 2010 (an exhibition of the finest drink-making robots America (nay, the World!) has ever seen). Was quite fun. The DNA Lounge is basically a nightclub designed by geeks, for geeks, a fine venue in my book.

Random things I've encountered on my trip:

• Some skinny shirtless dude singing soprano opera walking down the street (or at least a really convincing falsetto).
• Some JET-setter type getting viciously sucker punched by a Japanese kid in the group he was touristing around with (Az wasn't exaggerating, evidently?).
• A group of Japanese skateboarders taking the city by storm.
• A group of art students out of Austria (including one exceptionally cute individual) who evidently are getting college credit for building and exhibiting a whiskey-slinging robot.

Today: My family (minus my sister) arrives in town, dinner with my Dad's host sister (from his time studying away in the Philippines). Tomorrow: Sightseeing with family for a bit (Cartoon Art Museum?), then head out to visit extended family.