Sunday, September 28, 2008

Folsom Street Fair

The largest leather festival in California (?) in the world (?) occurs every September 28th on Folsom Street in the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco. We saw S&M, BDM, and just plain jerking off. 

It was a crazy day filled with leather outfits, whips, crazy costumes and music. FUN and interesting sub culture for sure. 

South to Big Sur

If you are looking to escape the grind of the urban jungle head south to Big Sur for a weekend of camping, eating, beaching and (sometimes) sun with good friends!

Visit Deetjen Inn for Eggs Benedict breakfasts.
Point Lobos Restaurant for cocktails with a view. 

Stay at Kirk Creek Campground ($22/night- up to two cars and eight people allowed at each site, bring a propane stove no BBQ's allowed) 

Hit up Pheifer State Beach for purple sand.
Hit up local beaches for everything else. 


Wednesday, September 24, 2008

HP gets 1984 on your ass

So the Oracle World convention brings an additional 43,000 people to the Bay Area every September. Computer nerds, techies and businessmen and women alike flock to San Francisco for workshops, social networking and free cocktail hours and Treasure Island Elvis Costello concerts. 

At an event I was hostessing last night at Lulu's Restaurant on 4th and Folsom St. I learned about the female CEO of Hewlett-Packard being fired as one of many let go for spying on their employees. Apparently HP is notorious for this brand of political strategizing. 

I can't speak for anyone but myself but if my employer spied on me at work I wouldn't be very productive. I'd be paranoid and neurotic that my every move was being watched. 

Monday, September 22, 2008

Thanks for your music rec Perez Hilton

I know Perez is in negotiations to start his own record label. He recommends music a bunch so here's a band, Arsenal, that he just put on his blog www.perezhilton.com

Arsenal. They're like Royksopp. Here is a link to their song: Estupendo

Hot tubbin in the late night yadda mean?

If you live at Trinity Tours or another building with a pool/hot tub combo on your roof top you're used to getting down late night.

If you pay $10 or $20 you can go to Van Ness and get your own room with a hot tub but it's kind of nasty looking.

OR, you can go to Pacifica to a beach hotel with a hot tub in the room for $160/night and wake up early to the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. 

Last night, I chose the last option. AMAZING Sunday.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Pleasure Island

Oh what fun it is to ride on a Bauer's shuttle (party bus, thanks designated driver D.D.) and ride to San Francisco's annual Treasure Island Music Festival. Last year saw acts like M.I.A and experienced the wonder that is Thievery Corporation.

This tiny island 10 minutes from the heart of San Francisco provided beautiful views from a rotating ferry-go-wheel (at $5/pop) or scenic wonders straight on the ground. The background was perfect for Saturday's acts: energetic Hot Chip, Powerhouse CSS, dance-your-ass-off JUSTICE! I even learned about two new artists: Foals and Mike Relm (DJ, mixed M.I.A with Rage Against the Machine. People loved TESTIFY!) 

TV on the Radio was a sexy and powerful set but alas, they did not play Poppy :( 

I can't afford nor do I have the energy to return for day 2 which includes sets by Vampire Weekend, Tegan and Sara and the Raconteurs. OH well. I'm spent. What a wonderful day of music and community art projects on Pleasure Island.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

It's chilly outside: I need My Morning Jacket

What a wonderful treat I received tonight. I visited the Greek Theater on the UC Berkeley campus for a stunning three + hr. performance by rock gods My Morning Jacket.  They played a funky encore with Highly Suspicious from Evil Urges. Knot Comes Loose, It Beats for You, Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 2, Off the Record- these were all major dance inducers! Hurrah MMJ for another majestic and moving performance at an incredibly unique and intimate venue. 

Click HERE for an official review of the show. 

Friday, September 19, 2008

Take back public space

It's PARKing Day. Hurrah. Whether you're on your lunch break or celebrating a warm, sunny free Friday afternoon in San Francisco grab a parking space for $1.25/hr, gather sod, picnic tables, bouncy balls, boom boxes, frisbees or just plant your little behind in the PARK(ing spot) of your choice. TAKE BACK PUBLIC SPACE! 

Thursday, September 18, 2008

This is SF for ya

Borts Minorts. More performance artist than musician. Definitely bizarre. AND HILARIOUS. 

The gap closes between the rich and poor

We're all fucked because of the Wall Street crash that occurred earlier this week. Here's an awesome article by Gawker with tips on how to understand what happened. 

Rolling Stone Tributes the City of Its Birth

Check this article about the Outside Lands Music Festival  that occurred in Golden Gate Park  from Aug 22 - 24. I got free entrance and paid working for Dell making buttons and heat transfers as part of their Summer Rocks promotion. I love craigslist. 

Theater Beyond the Great White Way

Beyond the O'Neils, the Barrymore's, the Arthur Miller's, those classic white male playwrights who wrote the realities of the American dream for the stage, there is a world of other, similiarly real truths portrayed by prolific African American writers and producers from the Negro Ensemble Company, people like Phillip Hayes Dean and Leslie Lee, who tell entirely separate truths that have been marginalized for far too long. 

Check this NY Times article to learn more about the African American theater companies and artists working in New York. Notice the familiar faces of Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington. 

Don't have time to read? Check this link to watch a 2 minute video that covers a history of the theater company. 

Monday, September 15, 2008

Soul Music Makes My Heart Beat Faster

Articles and Links for Bay Area 70s soul and funk lost legend Dorando: 



UK based DJ Gilles Peterson: "Digs America" (Features Dorando's "Didn't I" ) 

More Bay Area Gems: 


Kenny Burrell's 1963 album: Midnight Blue 
Wes Montgomery 

Jazz Pianist Al Tanner 

Moses Dillard 

JR Bailey 




Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Happy 50th Anniversary Green Belt Alliance

 For 50 years, Greenbelt Alliance has been the Bay Area's advocate for open spaces and vibrant places. 

Tonight we celebrate! For $75 members of the general public can gather in the Presidio for wine and food like only SF can provide: all organic, local and DELICIOUS! 

Much like Slow Food Nation, I found a way to get in for free. VOLUNTEER. I'll meet, greet and shuffle guests towards the food and then head there myself. 

I can't wait for more Chardonnay. Maybe they'll even have some whites from Louisiana like I sampled at Slow Food that was incredibly tasty but certainly not local (?) 

Click HERE for more information. 

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Radio Africa Kitchen

Delicious, organic, all over the city. 

Learn more HERE.

Radio Africa and Kitchen brings people together for conversation, laughter and authentic healthy meals- all while listening to a diversity of African music. Everyone sits together at one table (family style) as if you were in your own home. 

Check out Velo Rouge Cafe or other hot spots for Radio Africa dinners. 

Brooklyn Eateries

Roebling Tea Room: If Sasha Frere Jones can meet members of the Battles here to discuss music and technology then I'm willing to give it a go.

How I will miss the greenery of Northern California

Check this New Yorker article by David Samuels from July 28, 2008