Tweeting up in Napa
I had a great time on my final last day in San Francisco, hanging out with my Kawananakoa classmate Debora Aoki. She now lives in the Bay Area and is an “arteest” known for her About.com blog on manga.
Even back in seventh grade, she was super talented and drew cute, satirical cartoons about the things that happened at school. I thought I had kept one particular one of us going to a zoo excursion — knowing, even back then, that she would be famous some day — but all I can find is an essay she wrote about me that is funny, but way too embarrassing to publish. Ah, but I digress.
We went to two very distinct wineries: One was the Kenzo Estate, a multi-ulti-uber-million dollar, state-of-the-art, 4,000-acre gated property in the mountains, owned by the chairman of Capcom Co., the distributor of the video game Street Fighter. The other was the more rustic, family-owned, traditional Rubissow winery hidden so far down a winding gravel road that GPS signals can’t find them. Both produce exquisite wines that, once compared to lessor commercial ones, make all others taste like water.
At the end of the day, graffiti artist Estria Miyashiro joined us. Deb had interviewed him last week at his graffiti battle and was trying to finish up a story on him. Guess what? Even on the mainland, Hawaii ties bring us within two degrees of separation. Turns out, Estria and Deb had actually met over 20 years ago, and he has photos of her graffiti work. He was shocked to realize who she was, and she was just as surprised that he knew her tag. The world gets smaller once again.
First stop: Brown Sugar Kitchen
I had a great time, and am sad to be leaving. But, it’s time to go! Next stop: Los Angeles.
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You can read all of Melissa’s blogs at www.nonstophonolulu.com/urbanmixplate. Follow Melissa on Twitter@Melissa808, on Foursquare as Melissa808, or email at Melissa@nonstophonolulu.com.
My recent blog posts:
San Francisco: Wandering Noe Valley
Visiting Family and dinner at Zero Zero
Eating, meeting LiveFyre, eating, and more eating
Eating my way around San Francisco
The San Francisco Nike Women’s Marathon
San Francisco: One of my fave ways to chill
What’s hot in San Francisco: Off The Grid
San Francisco, Day 2
San Francisco, Day 1
Backstage at Cirque Alegria
California, here I come!
The Good Table 2010
Magnolia to Open at Kahala Mall
High tea and a merry un-birthday
Autumn Harvest Dinner at Roy’s
