John King is the San Francisco Chronicle’s urban design critic and author of the book Cityscapes: San Francisco and its Buildings. Before moderating a panel on whether architects shape cities, he explained in the Zócalo green room why there’s not a city in the world he’ll never return to.
What’s your biggest weakness?
Second-guessing things before I do them, which isn’t always a good trait in a critic. You have to give people a strong opinion if you’re actually taking a stand.
What’s on your nightstand right now?
About 12 architecture books I haven’t read and a Perry Mason novel and a Craig Rice mystery that I have read. So, basically, fun mysteries and important obligatory architecture books.
What’s your favorite thing about Los Angeles?
This sounds totally clichéd and 1970s and ’80s, but I just like kind of the billiard-like connection of the points—that it’s such a fluid city. Obviously it depends when you’re driving down the road or walking down the street. But there is such a fluidity about L.A. that other cities don’t have. And the payoff: You drive 45 minutes and you’re at the ocean, or you drive 45 minutes and you’re in some remarkable place.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
I don’t do karaoke.
How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
Strive for eight, usually six, sometimes seven. I wake up too early. It’s not fun late living; it’s waking up in the morning thinking of what I have to do.
What’s your favorite ice cream sundae topping?
Good hot fudge with nuts. No whipped cream or cherry.
What’s your best tweet of all time?
The one I haven’t written yet. They’re just like little … bits of water that go down a stream. A day later you’ve forgotten them.
What city won’t you be returning to?
You know, honestly I like every city I go to. I’m an urban design reporter and critic; if I go to a place that’s totally against my grain and puts me off, it’s still fascinating—just, what is it about it that’s different?
Winter or Summer Olympics?
Winter. Much more fun to watch—all the cool skiing and things like that.
What’s the ugliest piece of furniture you own?
The ugliest, but in a good way: a very big oversized lamp that my wife got from the basement of the first apartment we lived in for free. The landlord pointed it out and said we could have it. That was 30 years ago. And we still have it.