We wanted to go out to dinner for my 79th birthday, and I suggested Quinn's Lighthouse on the Oakland waterfront. We had been there once before and liked it. When we got there we found that the main downstairs area was closed and the upstairs was packed and very noisy. We tried to think of alternatives, and Maureen had read about a place in Alameda, Pier 29. So we drove across Alameda to the Ballena Bay neighborhood. The parking lot was nearly empty and an older couple was coming out and we thought maybe it was one of those places for old people. Well, it kind of was, but it was quiet and uncrowded and the food was ordinary but pretty good. It was right next to a marina with lots of boats, and as clouds moved in there was a rainbow. Then, as we were leaving, we saw an incredible sunset across the bay, which I tried to show in this painting. It turned out to be quite a memorable birthday.