Medicine Eatstation (Crocker Galleria, 161 Sutter Street, 3rd floor;wwwmedicinerestaurant.com; 677-4405; weekdays 12-6) is a culinary oddity. I coaxed PJ who Maxed out his credit card for a lovely jaunt to this "real Shojin" temple in the heart of the Financial District. Dr. Brian Waits is the chef; he "waits" for no one, if you come after 3:00. Not even if you are a yoga teacher or the Dalai Lama? Medicine has an unfortunate name, it's true, and the last time I ate there, the service was on the slowish side. In fact, the kvetchers on my last trip quipped slow service can make a trip to the Doctor seem like fun.
Medicine is in flux. It used to be a serene, stark place where you sat at wooden benches at long mahogany tables while video screens showed landscapes. That area has been cordoned off for remodeling and two benches are left. Most of the harried 9 to 5ers do take out, sit under the glass canopy of the Crocker Galleria, or trek up to the roof garden. Tuesday was a spectacularly sunny day, but we stayed indoors for me to meet Brian.
Brian it seemed had stepped out. Whereabouts unknown. The Medicine formula is haute Japanese vegan cuisine. A refreshing change from the Crocker Galleria's fast food joints. If you are a committed carnivore, skip this place.
I remembered Harold Pinter's line from the Caretaker about the monk, as I slipped onto the austere wooden bench:
I said to this monk...I heard you got a stock of shoes here. Piss off, he said to me.
I go to Refuge to the Buddha
I go to Refuge to the Doctrine.
I go for the Refuge to the Order of [monks].
(Pali Canon - Last words of the Buddha c 500-250 BC)
8 fold path: RIGHT VIEWS, RIGHT ASPIRATIONS, RIGHT SPEECH, RIGHT CONDUCT, RIGHT LIVELIHOOD, RIGHT EFFORT, RIGHT MINDFULNESS, RIGHT CONTEMPLATION.
Medicine's motto: loving kindness to your body/simple food for jaded palates. The signature plate is the medicine roll: 9-grain rice, avocado, sour plum, nori carrot, shiso leaf, spicy sprouts and flax seed (5).
Mountain monk: tender baby salad greens tossed with seasonal fruit, pinenuts, walnuts and Daitoku-jinatto in our special sake-kasu dressing (9). Subtle and plentiful, a perfect lunchtime snack.
I had the Clarity: a cornucopia of seasonal vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, rice, tofu) steamed to perfection served with our housemade peanut sauce and 'germinated' sweet brown rice. (9) Not enough peanut sauce and had to imbibe some of PJ's Sappora to wash it down. "If feel like bombing Pearl Harbor all over again," he blurted out!
The add-ons are a great addition: jumbo prawns, chikuzen salmon, whitefish marinated with sweet-soy. (5). If you come after 3:00 p.m., guess what? the chef is out to lunch. Literally! You have to settle for deep-fried or steamed tofu. No baked here, which is fortunate.
We skipped the yuzu shaved ice specialty and headed for Union Square and settled into the IT'S IT, a San Francisco treat (ice cream sandwich) to people-watch.
MEDICINE IS A SYMBOL OF SOLITUDE, SECURITY AND IS AS IMPORTANT AS A SHELL TO A HERMIT CRAB! MAY IT THRIVE IN ITS FUTURE REINCARNATION
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
PANE E VINO: MARINA AMICI SAY DELIZIA! DELICIOSA!
Pane e Vino (1715 Union St./Gough;415-346-2111;www.panevinotratorrio.com) is a great place to spend a Saturday or any night. I've been here more than once and met the chef/owner, 50-something Bruno Quercini, and his fun-loving/hardworking staff. The word on the street is this is the go-to place for cucino e vino: delizia! It's loud like an authentic Italian tratorrio should be and a joyous place on a Saturday night!
Bruno hails from a small village near Lake Como, where the Lombard plains rise into the Alps. Northern Italy is pocked by a series of lakes; playground of the Milanese rich; hordes of tourists. George Clooney has a beautiful home on this blue-green lake with signs: SWIMMING NOT ADVISABLE. Stendhal walked the lake in 1800 and wrote his Charterhouse of Parma here; another famous son, Alessandro Volta, in 1745, came up with the battery!
Bruno, includes the cucino of his native country: rabbit, polenta, buckwheat pasta, cured beef on his menu. A new father of baby girl (Serafina), born December 6th, he has been chef for over 11 years. He sported a black beret and told me his favorite things that come from the rotisserie, including duck, roast veal. In my mind, Pane e Vino has not mellowed with age: it is a raucous, gorgeous crowd in a t-shaped, rose room with a bar that faces the kitchen. RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST!
I walked there with my friend Serge down Polk Street, stopping in at the Tonic bar, to meet Ryan, political consultant to the Mayor's office, and a black dude, "Hollister" who Ryan introduced as the "Mayor of Polk Street." He said to me: you have a great spirit...don't I know you"? Nope. I checked out the poster of Einstein at the door, a preview of things to come for Trivia night (Wednesdays). I made a bar bet, a la Henny Youngman. Try this, folks: Place an apple and orange (or any 2 objects, for that matter) in front of your friend. Bet him that he cannot lift either of them alone. You win no matter which he lifts. You say: "You are not alone, I'm here!"
We moved cautiously down Union until we finally came to the crowded restaurant. Bruno and I shared a few jokes. So there are these two muffins baking in an oven. One of them yells, "Wow, it's hot in here!" And the other muffin replies: Holy Cow! A talking muffin!" Did he read that in the New York Times recently? Yep!
Bruno immediately brought to our table antipasto della casa and bruschetta (with mushrooms), followed by his grandmother's recipe: polenta taragna e funghi (terrine of corn and buckwheat and cheese topped with sauteed wild mushrooms). Gratis for me and my dear friend who is one of the founders of the San Francisco International Film Festival (1947).
Anna (to Serge): Tell me something you know to be true:
Serge: This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou can'st not then be false to any man. (Polonius' advice to Laertes;Hamlet). Serge is fluent in 5 languages, reads Latin and Greek, and is a Luddite (no computer, no cellphone, no watch) and is one of my dearest friends. He has been a mentor to the San Francisco drama department for eons! We celebrated his unbirthday!
Here's what I recommend from pane e vino:
Spinach salad with warm pancetta and eggs in a balsamic vinegar-olive oil dressing. (9)
Flat spinach and egg noddles with meat sauce (14)
Diavolo (devilishly delightful) pizza: tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy salami, hot pepper flakes and oregano (15)
Daily specials from the rotisserie (18). We had the chicken and it was succulent, juicy, served with potatoes, winter greens (you can substitute a salad, if you'd like).
Fillet of Petrale sole sauteed in white wine, lemon and limejuice (23).
We did not have room for dessert and opted for the house expresso! I interviewed several people at the bar, regulars whose verdict is simply: Delizia! Deliciosa! If you decide to get the spumanti, try the prosecco, Cantine dal Bello Colli Asolani e Montello, NV (30). Bon Appetit!
Bruno hails from a small village near Lake Como, where the Lombard plains rise into the Alps. Northern Italy is pocked by a series of lakes; playground of the Milanese rich; hordes of tourists. George Clooney has a beautiful home on this blue-green lake with signs: SWIMMING NOT ADVISABLE. Stendhal walked the lake in 1800 and wrote his Charterhouse of Parma here; another famous son, Alessandro Volta, in 1745, came up with the battery!
Bruno, includes the cucino of his native country: rabbit, polenta, buckwheat pasta, cured beef on his menu. A new father of baby girl (Serafina), born December 6th, he has been chef for over 11 years. He sported a black beret and told me his favorite things that come from the rotisserie, including duck, roast veal. In my mind, Pane e Vino has not mellowed with age: it is a raucous, gorgeous crowd in a t-shaped, rose room with a bar that faces the kitchen. RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST!
I walked there with my friend Serge down Polk Street, stopping in at the Tonic bar, to meet Ryan, political consultant to the Mayor's office, and a black dude, "Hollister" who Ryan introduced as the "Mayor of Polk Street." He said to me: you have a great spirit...don't I know you"? Nope. I checked out the poster of Einstein at the door, a preview of things to come for Trivia night (Wednesdays). I made a bar bet, a la Henny Youngman. Try this, folks: Place an apple and orange (or any 2 objects, for that matter) in front of your friend. Bet him that he cannot lift either of them alone. You win no matter which he lifts. You say: "You are not alone, I'm here!"
We moved cautiously down Union until we finally came to the crowded restaurant. Bruno and I shared a few jokes. So there are these two muffins baking in an oven. One of them yells, "Wow, it's hot in here!" And the other muffin replies: Holy Cow! A talking muffin!" Did he read that in the New York Times recently? Yep!
Bruno immediately brought to our table antipasto della casa and bruschetta (with mushrooms), followed by his grandmother's recipe: polenta taragna e funghi (terrine of corn and buckwheat and cheese topped with sauteed wild mushrooms). Gratis for me and my dear friend who is one of the founders of the San Francisco International Film Festival (1947).
Anna (to Serge): Tell me something you know to be true:
Serge: This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou can'st not then be false to any man. (Polonius' advice to Laertes;Hamlet). Serge is fluent in 5 languages, reads Latin and Greek, and is a Luddite (no computer, no cellphone, no watch) and is one of my dearest friends. He has been a mentor to the San Francisco drama department for eons! We celebrated his unbirthday!
Here's what I recommend from pane e vino:
Spinach salad with warm pancetta and eggs in a balsamic vinegar-olive oil dressing. (9)
Flat spinach and egg noddles with meat sauce (14)
Diavolo (devilishly delightful) pizza: tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy salami, hot pepper flakes and oregano (15)
Daily specials from the rotisserie (18). We had the chicken and it was succulent, juicy, served with potatoes, winter greens (you can substitute a salad, if you'd like).
Fillet of Petrale sole sauteed in white wine, lemon and limejuice (23).
We did not have room for dessert and opted for the house expresso! I interviewed several people at the bar, regulars whose verdict is simply: Delizia! Deliciosa! If you decide to get the spumanti, try the prosecco, Cantine dal Bello Colli Asolani e Montello, NV (30). Bon Appetit!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
FORUM AT GRACE CATHEDRAL: READING JUDAS/DID JESUS HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR?; MARCH 25, 2007 /ELAINE PAGELS AND KAREN KING
I spent Sunday morning at The Forum in Gresham Hall, Grace Cathedral (1100 California Street, San Francisco Nob Hill (415) 749-6300: 9:30 a.m. The Forum is free and open to the public and webcast live and archived at www.gracecathedral.org/forum. Civil Conversation on Critical Issues. The credo: We believe in one God, known to us in Jesus Christ, also known by different names in different traditions. We seek to transform the world, beginning with ourselves, celebrating the image of God in every person. We are a house of prayer, worship, and service for everyone, welcoming all who seek an inclusive community of love.
Reading Judas with Elaine Pagel and Karen King, of Harvard and Princeton, respectively. When the Gospel of Judas was published by National Geographic Society in 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike.
Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newly found text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In Reading Judas, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window into understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it.
Alan Jones, Dean (the top banana) presided over the Forum exchange. During the question and answer I directed by question to Elaine Pagels:
Q: The first thing I look for in a person is a sense of humor, and obviously Jesus had a lively sense of humor. Is there anything in the text of the Gospel of Judas that connects his sense of humor with anger? What is the nature of his anger? The one time I recollect that he got angry, according to what you call "Bible lite" childhood reading, was when he was in the temple and overturned the money-changers' tables. Maybe it's an off-the-wall question, but that's my question!
A: Have you read the text?
Q: No, I haven't.
A: Excuse me, but it's an absolute right-on question! (Is it?) Yes, because here in the opening of the Gospel of Judas, there is a scene in which the disciples are celebrating the Eucharist, and Jesus laughs. (Right!) And the laughter isn't just funny - it's a kind of challenge, and this author, a Christian, or whoever wrote it, is saying. "If Jesus could look at what you're doing, what would he think? He would laugh at you!" It's similar to the way Dostoevsky brought Jesus into the Grand Inquisitor , Jesus would look at you, and say: WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY NAME? So the author of the gospel of Judas is bringing Jesus in, laughing at the way Christians are claiming to worship...when Jesus laughs, he's about to correct something someone is thinking or doing!
Alan Jones mentions Novelist Martin Amis in "Grace Notes" "Today, in the West, there are no good excuses for religious belief -unless we think of ignorance, reaction and sentimentality as good excuses." While I think this is a silly remark by a man seduced by his own cleverness (and he is clever), it, nevertheless, points to something deeply disturbing going on in our culture. We live in a "post-secular" time, defined as "a call to move beyond the ideological assumption that a purely rationalistic account of the world will be sufficient."
Presumably, the Christians believe that Lent is a time for us to aim at a certain end -- the love of God -- as Mr. Top Banana (Dean) asserts. Is it also not the time to aim at love for our fellow humans? After all, did Jesus not say God is Love!
Downstairs, at the Peets coffee kiosk, I noticed Elaine Pagels was talking/pacing on her cellphone. She approached me at my table. I was having an animated fun exchange with the artist, Morris Taylor, who has an exhibition of his remarkable watercolors in the lobby: morris@morristaylor.net. Website: Http://www.morristaylor.net.
Elaine: I loved your question because I thought it made me think that, you know, Jesus got angry about the priests in Jerusalem, and in this text he gets angry at the disciples' worship saying it's like those priests in Jeruselam.
Me: Jesus was brilliant, an angry man but outrageously funny, right? If he came back today Elaine, would he be in Grace Cathedral with the "pillars" of the church or hanging out with the outcasts in the streets of San Francisco?
Elaine: That's a great question but my son is in trouble back East and I have to race to the airport, and fly back to New York.
Me: Bon Voyage!
Reading Judas with Elaine Pagel and Karen King, of Harvard and Princeton, respectively. When the Gospel of Judas was published by National Geographic Society in 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike.
Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newly found text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In Reading Judas, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window into understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it.
Alan Jones, Dean (the top banana) presided over the Forum exchange. During the question and answer I directed by question to Elaine Pagels:
Q: The first thing I look for in a person is a sense of humor, and obviously Jesus had a lively sense of humor. Is there anything in the text of the Gospel of Judas that connects his sense of humor with anger? What is the nature of his anger? The one time I recollect that he got angry, according to what you call "Bible lite" childhood reading, was when he was in the temple and overturned the money-changers' tables. Maybe it's an off-the-wall question, but that's my question!
A: Have you read the text?
Q: No, I haven't.
A: Excuse me, but it's an absolute right-on question! (Is it?) Yes, because here in the opening of the Gospel of Judas, there is a scene in which the disciples are celebrating the Eucharist, and Jesus laughs. (Right!) And the laughter isn't just funny - it's a kind of challenge, and this author, a Christian, or whoever wrote it, is saying. "If Jesus could look at what you're doing, what would he think? He would laugh at you!" It's similar to the way Dostoevsky brought Jesus into the Grand Inquisitor , Jesus would look at you, and say: WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY NAME? So the author of the gospel of Judas is bringing Jesus in, laughing at the way Christians are claiming to worship...when Jesus laughs, he's about to correct something someone is thinking or doing!
Alan Jones mentions Novelist Martin Amis in "Grace Notes" "Today, in the West, there are no good excuses for religious belief -unless we think of ignorance, reaction and sentimentality as good excuses." While I think this is a silly remark by a man seduced by his own cleverness (and he is clever), it, nevertheless, points to something deeply disturbing going on in our culture. We live in a "post-secular" time, defined as "a call to move beyond the ideological assumption that a purely rationalistic account of the world will be sufficient."
Presumably, the Christians believe that Lent is a time for us to aim at a certain end -- the love of God -- as Mr. Top Banana (Dean) asserts. Is it also not the time to aim at love for our fellow humans? After all, did Jesus not say God is Love!
Downstairs, at the Peets coffee kiosk, I noticed Elaine Pagels was talking/pacing on her cellphone. She approached me at my table. I was having an animated fun exchange with the artist, Morris Taylor, who has an exhibition of his remarkable watercolors in the lobby: morris@morristaylor.net. Website: Http://www.morristaylor.net.
Elaine: I loved your question because I thought it made me think that, you know, Jesus got angry about the priests in Jerusalem, and in this text he gets angry at the disciples' worship saying it's like those priests in Jeruselam.
Me: Jesus was brilliant, an angry man but outrageously funny, right? If he came back today Elaine, would he be in Grace Cathedral with the "pillars" of the church or hanging out with the outcasts in the streets of San Francisco?
Elaine: That's a great question but my son is in trouble back East and I have to race to the airport, and fly back to New York.
Me: Bon Voyage!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
CHRIS ROCK: I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE: NO SEXUAL CHARISMA/CAN'T PASS THE PHYSICAL!
Chris Rock, comic, screenwriter, director has come out with his second directorial effort (co-written with Louis C.K.).(www.chrisrock.com) After a stint with Saturday Night Live, and In Living Color, he broke out with his HBO Special BRING THE PAIN, a searingly brutal and candid analysis of race that earned him 2 Emmy awards. His latest effort is Everybody Hates Chris, an acclaimed sitcom. I saw the film, but here's a taste of my fave bits from Chris Rock
On childhood and adolescence: The Trench Coat Mafia was upset 'cause they didn't have any friends, "We were the OUTCASTS." There were 6 of the mothers(expletive). I didn't have 6 friends in high school! I don't got 6 friends now! And, everybody's like, what were they listening to? Who cares what they were listening to? What was Hitler listening to? What was in his CD case?
On Marriage: Marriage is the roughest thing in the world. Nelson Mandela endured 27 years in a South African prison, but once he got out, it only took 2 years before his marriage busted his ass!
On race: Everytown has 2 malls. The white mall, and the mall white people used to go to. They don't got nothing in the mall but sneakers and baby clothes. Guess that's all they think we're doin' -- runnin' and f..!
I was born a suspect. I can walk down any street in America and women will clutch their purses tighter, hold onto mace, lock their car doors. If I look up into the windows oF the apartments I pass, I can see old ladies on the phone. They've already dialed 9-1- and are just waiting for me to do something wrong.
On travel: The only think I know about Africa is that it is far, far away. About a 35-hour flight. The boat ride's so long, there are still slaves on their way here.
In I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE, Chris Rock does not play the sex fiend - he can't pass the physical. The movie is an attempt to reimagine the New Wave French Film by Eric Rohnmer (1972), which I saw recently. Rock and co-writer Louis C.K. do not "own" the original script; they borrow it, unfortunately. The best thing about the movie, as Richard Brody states in the New Yorker, is the "comic riffing on a serious subject, the social identity of America's black middle class, but it is too diluted by sketch comedy to take hold."
We inhabit suburban angst in this film. Rock plays an investment banker Richard Cooper, who commutes to Manhattan's posh investment banking firm, Pupkin and Langford. He's got the ideal wife Brenda (Gina Torres), who teaches, and the 2 kids. A great life, right? Yes, and no. His marriage, it turns out is "frozen solid". He's become robotic, his wife is tired, and there is zero sex. Enter the temptress, Nikki Tru, femme fatale, and possible home wrecker whose answering machine simply says: God is Love, Love is God. She represents sex, passion, excitement, the single life, in a word: fun. Let the flirtation begin!
Was it Zsa Zsa Gabor (Miss Hungary, 1959) who said husbands are like fires: They go out if unattended? Will Richard Cooper, Mr. Married Man, learn that the key to failure is trying to please both wife AND mistress? Will he run away with the femme fatale, find true love and passion, or will he be responsible, find true love and put "family first"? I won't spoil the ending for you but watch that TIE he wears. Will it liberate him or become a noose?
The bad news is that Chris Rock fails as an actor. In my opinion, Eddie Murphy should have been cast in the role of Cooper but Murphy was busy making his "comeback" in Dreamgirls. In I THINK I LOVE MY LIFE, Kerry Washington steals the show as the alluring femme fatale and we care more about her than Chris Rock. Sad, but true! I look forward to seeing more of her.
The movie has enough giggles to please any Chris Rock fan and if you love his comedy (I do) put this on your MUST-SEE list. Chris Rock ROCKS as irreverent, caustic, satiric comic. However,he should skip the silver screen, or take some acting lessons. Unfortunately, he's got no sexual charisma (unless you think comedy is the ultimate aphrodisiac) and he just does not pass the physical. Chris Rock: stick to your stand-up schtick!
On childhood and adolescence: The Trench Coat Mafia was upset 'cause they didn't have any friends, "We were the OUTCASTS." There were 6 of the mothers(expletive). I didn't have 6 friends in high school! I don't got 6 friends now! And, everybody's like, what were they listening to? Who cares what they were listening to? What was Hitler listening to? What was in his CD case?
On Marriage: Marriage is the roughest thing in the world. Nelson Mandela endured 27 years in a South African prison, but once he got out, it only took 2 years before his marriage busted his ass!
On race: Everytown has 2 malls. The white mall, and the mall white people used to go to. They don't got nothing in the mall but sneakers and baby clothes. Guess that's all they think we're doin' -- runnin' and f..!
I was born a suspect. I can walk down any street in America and women will clutch their purses tighter, hold onto mace, lock their car doors. If I look up into the windows oF the apartments I pass, I can see old ladies on the phone. They've already dialed 9-1- and are just waiting for me to do something wrong.
On travel: The only think I know about Africa is that it is far, far away. About a 35-hour flight. The boat ride's so long, there are still slaves on their way here.
In I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE, Chris Rock does not play the sex fiend - he can't pass the physical. The movie is an attempt to reimagine the New Wave French Film by Eric Rohnmer (1972), which I saw recently. Rock and co-writer Louis C.K. do not "own" the original script; they borrow it, unfortunately. The best thing about the movie, as Richard Brody states in the New Yorker, is the "comic riffing on a serious subject, the social identity of America's black middle class, but it is too diluted by sketch comedy to take hold."
We inhabit suburban angst in this film. Rock plays an investment banker Richard Cooper, who commutes to Manhattan's posh investment banking firm, Pupkin and Langford. He's got the ideal wife Brenda (Gina Torres), who teaches, and the 2 kids. A great life, right? Yes, and no. His marriage, it turns out is "frozen solid". He's become robotic, his wife is tired, and there is zero sex. Enter the temptress, Nikki Tru, femme fatale, and possible home wrecker whose answering machine simply says: God is Love, Love is God. She represents sex, passion, excitement, the single life, in a word: fun. Let the flirtation begin!
Was it Zsa Zsa Gabor (Miss Hungary, 1959) who said husbands are like fires: They go out if unattended? Will Richard Cooper, Mr. Married Man, learn that the key to failure is trying to please both wife AND mistress? Will he run away with the femme fatale, find true love and passion, or will he be responsible, find true love and put "family first"? I won't spoil the ending for you but watch that TIE he wears. Will it liberate him or become a noose?
The bad news is that Chris Rock fails as an actor. In my opinion, Eddie Murphy should have been cast in the role of Cooper but Murphy was busy making his "comeback" in Dreamgirls. In I THINK I LOVE MY LIFE, Kerry Washington steals the show as the alluring femme fatale and we care more about her than Chris Rock. Sad, but true! I look forward to seeing more of her.
The movie has enough giggles to please any Chris Rock fan and if you love his comedy (I do) put this on your MUST-SEE list. Chris Rock ROCKS as irreverent, caustic, satiric comic. However,he should skip the silver screen, or take some acting lessons. Unfortunately, he's got no sexual charisma (unless you think comedy is the ultimate aphrodisiac) and he just does not pass the physical. Chris Rock: stick to your stand-up schtick!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
BRIAN COPELAND: STAND-UP COMEDIAN/ONE-MAN SHOW/AUTHOR: NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN: HOW I CLAIMED MY PIECE OF GROUND IN LILY-WHITE SUBURBS
Brian Copeland is a remarkable African-American author/performer. He's 43 years old, and looks half his age. In his funny, surprising, and ultimately moving memoir, Copeland shows exactly how our surroundings make us who we are. At Borders on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 he described the genesis of his book: Not a Genuine Black Man, Or How I Claimed My Piece of Ground in the Lily-White Suburbs to a diverse crowd. (Hyperion Press, 2007). (wwwbriancopeland.com)
My one-man show was a gift. It played 2-1/2 years in San Francisco, went to Off-Broadway, then to Los Angeles. It will be a feature film, TV series, and now I am launching the book. Colleges have emailed me: theater, sociology, African-American departments may be using it as textbook. I may be the new Catcher In The Rye in a couple of years! Just like Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird, her only book). How come she never wrote another book? Because she didn't have to that's why!
In 2,001 I was divorced and got custody of 3 kids. I had been doing stand-up opening for Smoky Robinson, and all of a sudden I was stuck at home with three kids. Then it became all about lunches, car pools, baseball practice, and how I cut my elbow shaving. Then 9/11 hit. The story that resonated with me was about Cantor-Fitzgerald.
That particular day the President of the company was accompanying his son to kindergarten. He was not at his desk. He lost 90% of his company that day: they all died. I thought about all the Sundays (Tuesdays), you never know when your number's up. What was at the top of my list: a one-man show! I wanted to mix drama and comedy, tell a coherent story, but what to write about?
I was doing a radio show for KGO in the City, ABC affiliate, and Carl Reiner, a guest, one of my comedy heroes advised me about my impasse. "When I was in your position, in 1959, the Sid Caesar show had just been cancelled. All of a sudden I didn't know what to do. My advice: find a piece of ground that you alone stand on and nobody else, and write from there." (We all know what happened: the Dick Van Dyke Show).
What's unique about me? As fortune would have it, I get this letter in mail. Letters are basically from little old ladies and nuts -wack jobs- TYPED, in 2001. It said: AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, I'M DISGUSTED EVERY TIME I HEAR YOUR VOICE, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN." I thought: I've a winner. This is my piece of ground. This is something I've heard all my life as a black man growing up in the all white suburb of San Leandro (East Bay), California in the 1970's.
Brian Copeland's new book is on my MUST-READ list! In the question and answer, someone commented that he is so a-r-t-i-c-u-l-a-t-e!
A: I did not realize until recently how condescending that is! Has anyone read the Boondocks cartoon? Grandfather moves his 2 children to suburbs outside of Chicago, so they can have a better life. 2 radicals trying to keep blackness. Huey, the older grandson, has a dream he's at a garden party with string quartet. I just want to say, Jesus was black, the government knew about 9/11, and Ronald Reagan was the devil. Everyone screams, riots goes crazy. Grandfather is disgusted: Don't you ever tell white people the truth! Later at a real garden party, the same thing happens, and cartoon ends with older gent saying, ISN'T THAT THE MOST ARTICULATE BLACK MAN?
My one-man show was a gift. It played 2-1/2 years in San Francisco, went to Off-Broadway, then to Los Angeles. It will be a feature film, TV series, and now I am launching the book. Colleges have emailed me: theater, sociology, African-American departments may be using it as textbook. I may be the new Catcher In The Rye in a couple of years! Just like Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird, her only book). How come she never wrote another book? Because she didn't have to that's why!
In 2,001 I was divorced and got custody of 3 kids. I had been doing stand-up opening for Smoky Robinson, and all of a sudden I was stuck at home with three kids. Then it became all about lunches, car pools, baseball practice, and how I cut my elbow shaving. Then 9/11 hit. The story that resonated with me was about Cantor-Fitzgerald.
That particular day the President of the company was accompanying his son to kindergarten. He was not at his desk. He lost 90% of his company that day: they all died. I thought about all the Sundays (Tuesdays), you never know when your number's up. What was at the top of my list: a one-man show! I wanted to mix drama and comedy, tell a coherent story, but what to write about?
I was doing a radio show for KGO in the City, ABC affiliate, and Carl Reiner, a guest, one of my comedy heroes advised me about my impasse. "When I was in your position, in 1959, the Sid Caesar show had just been cancelled. All of a sudden I didn't know what to do. My advice: find a piece of ground that you alone stand on and nobody else, and write from there." (We all know what happened: the Dick Van Dyke Show).
What's unique about me? As fortune would have it, I get this letter in mail. Letters are basically from little old ladies and nuts -wack jobs- TYPED, in 2001. It said: AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, I'M DISGUSTED EVERY TIME I HEAR YOUR VOICE, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN." I thought: I've a winner. This is my piece of ground. This is something I've heard all my life as a black man growing up in the all white suburb of San Leandro (East Bay), California in the 1970's.
Brian Copeland's new book is on my MUST-READ list! In the question and answer, someone commented that he is so a-r-t-i-c-u-l-a-t-e!
A: I did not realize until recently how condescending that is! Has anyone read the Boondocks cartoon? Grandfather moves his 2 children to suburbs outside of Chicago, so they can have a better life. 2 radicals trying to keep blackness. Huey, the older grandson, has a dream he's at a garden party with string quartet. I just want to say, Jesus was black, the government knew about 9/11, and Ronald Reagan was the devil. Everyone screams, riots goes crazy. Grandfather is disgusted: Don't you ever tell white people the truth! Later at a real garden party, the same thing happens, and cartoon ends with older gent saying, ISN'T THAT THE MOST ARTICULATE BLACK MAN?
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
MYCONOS: FEELS LIKE GRECIAN VILLAGE/MOUSSAKA NO HELLENIC HEAVENLY DISH!
MYCONOS (1431 Polk Street, San Francisco; 415-775-7949; open every day, call for closing time). My friend Peter, Bon Vivant/Raconteur/Chess Master met on Polk Street at It's A Grind coffee house, and he shared some of favorite comic Henny Youngman lines with me before waltzing down the Polkstrasse!
Have you tried vodka and carrot juice? You get drunk just as fast, but your eyesight gets better.
Did you ever see one of those Italian movies, 'bread, love and pizza' or 'bread, love and mozzarella? What are the lovers over there: bakers?
I went to see a psychiatrist. He said, "tell me everything,". I did and he's now doing my act.
Manic-depressive: a person whose philosophy is: easy glum, easy go.
Generally speaking, women are.
Ideal wife would be a beautiful, sex-starved deaf mute who owns a liquor store.
A doctor asked his woman patient, "do you know what the most effective birth control pill is"? She replied, "NO". He said, "that's it"!
The heroes of the Trojan War seem to have feasted on lamb and roast pork. Actually, the ancient Greeks ate a lot of fish, the sea being on every side: sole, turbot, tuna, octopus. For citizens of Athens, Socrates advised moderation in all things, and a diet of bread, cheese, venetables, olives, and fruit. (Life is Meals, James and Kay Salter).
MYCONOS makes you will feel like you are in a Grecian village. Agatha (chef, co-owner with husband George, for six years) is very welcoming. Backgammon sets, a full bar, and a beautiful garden, in the back, blue-white checkered tablecloths to match the murals/walls. She offered us a glass of Skouras Red Cabernet (5.95) and we fingered the colorful menu. Here were my choices:
Appetizer:
Spanakopita (spinach pie). Spinach and fresh herbs rolled in filo pastry oven baked, topped with feta cheese;Green salad. (8.95)
Moussaka. Layers of baked eggplant, zucchini, potatoes, seasoned with ground beef, topped with bechamel sauce, oven baked and served with Greek salad, roast potatoes, and pita bread. (9.95). Unfortunately, this did not send me to Hellenic heaven.
I said to Peter, "taste this". He thought I said, "tasteless". He must be deaf in one ear, but I thought, "which one"??? Too unsavory for my taste.
I reached for the Louisiana hot sauce. Maureen Dowd's mother used to carry a small bottle of McEllheney hot sauce in her purse. I advise you do the same before coming to MYCONOS. Much too bland for my taste.
Vegetarian Combo: five falafel patties, pita bread, hummus, Greek salad, cottage potatoes, spanakopita, and dolmades. (7.95). Peter's excellent choice: delightful, delicious, and delectable.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY DINERS:
Arni Stifado (Lamb shank). It's thin, marinated, and delicious. Oven roasted in a tomato basil sauce and served with Greek roasted potatoes, Greek salad, and pita bread. (9.95)
We talked to Rob, a friend of Agatha and George, who unfortunately could not attend their wedding in Corinth, and he, along with others said: this is the best dish on the menu.
Try it the next time, along with Agatha's homemade baklava. Wanna bet it's impossible not to eat 3 at a sitting?
I recommended to Agatha that she contact www.zagat.com so that her place could be reviewed by customers, gave her the phone number, chatted with diners, and walked home to get prepared for the new Chris Rock movie, I LOVE MY WIFE. It was just another day in paradise, San Francisco style.
Have you tried vodka and carrot juice? You get drunk just as fast, but your eyesight gets better.
Did you ever see one of those Italian movies, 'bread, love and pizza' or 'bread, love and mozzarella? What are the lovers over there: bakers?
I went to see a psychiatrist. He said, "tell me everything,". I did and he's now doing my act.
Manic-depressive: a person whose philosophy is: easy glum, easy go.
Generally speaking, women are.
Ideal wife would be a beautiful, sex-starved deaf mute who owns a liquor store.
A doctor asked his woman patient, "do you know what the most effective birth control pill is"? She replied, "NO". He said, "that's it"!
The heroes of the Trojan War seem to have feasted on lamb and roast pork. Actually, the ancient Greeks ate a lot of fish, the sea being on every side: sole, turbot, tuna, octopus. For citizens of Athens, Socrates advised moderation in all things, and a diet of bread, cheese, venetables, olives, and fruit. (Life is Meals, James and Kay Salter).
MYCONOS makes you will feel like you are in a Grecian village. Agatha (chef, co-owner with husband George, for six years) is very welcoming. Backgammon sets, a full bar, and a beautiful garden, in the back, blue-white checkered tablecloths to match the murals/walls. She offered us a glass of Skouras Red Cabernet (5.95) and we fingered the colorful menu. Here were my choices:
Appetizer:
Spanakopita (spinach pie). Spinach and fresh herbs rolled in filo pastry oven baked, topped with feta cheese;Green salad. (8.95)
Moussaka. Layers of baked eggplant, zucchini, potatoes, seasoned with ground beef, topped with bechamel sauce, oven baked and served with Greek salad, roast potatoes, and pita bread. (9.95). Unfortunately, this did not send me to Hellenic heaven.
I said to Peter, "taste this". He thought I said, "tasteless". He must be deaf in one ear, but I thought, "which one"??? Too unsavory for my taste.
I reached for the Louisiana hot sauce. Maureen Dowd's mother used to carry a small bottle of McEllheney hot sauce in her purse. I advise you do the same before coming to MYCONOS. Much too bland for my taste.
Vegetarian Combo: five falafel patties, pita bread, hummus, Greek salad, cottage potatoes, spanakopita, and dolmades. (7.95). Peter's excellent choice: delightful, delicious, and delectable.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY DINERS:
Arni Stifado (Lamb shank). It's thin, marinated, and delicious. Oven roasted in a tomato basil sauce and served with Greek roasted potatoes, Greek salad, and pita bread. (9.95)
We talked to Rob, a friend of Agatha and George, who unfortunately could not attend their wedding in Corinth, and he, along with others said: this is the best dish on the menu.
Try it the next time, along with Agatha's homemade baklava. Wanna bet it's impossible not to eat 3 at a sitting?
I recommended to Agatha that she contact www.zagat.com so that her place could be reviewed by customers, gave her the phone number, chatted with diners, and walked home to get prepared for the new Chris Rock movie, I LOVE MY WIFE. It was just another day in paradise, San Francisco style.
Monday, March 19, 2007
JOHN BANVILLE: DUBLIN AUTHOR/BOOKS, INC.: HAS HE SWAPPED MAN BOOKER PRIZE FOR GOLD DIGGER AWARD?
John Banville flew in from Dublin (and boy were his arms tired!) to read from his latest book: Christine Falls (Henry Holt, 2006), a crime novel written under the pseudonym, Benjamin Black. Had he swapped the literary novel (The Sea won the Booker Prize in 2005) for the detective/crime/mystery genre? This was the central question of the Q/A at Books, Inc., 150-year-old independent bookstore in Opera Plaza, San Francisco, Monday night, March 19, 2007.
Banville may have swapped the literary novel for crime (see Julian Barnes', Joyce Carol Oates' latest indulgences), but he has not abandoned writing with elegance and beauty, to which he has added an absorbing plot, beguiling characters and evocative settings. He may well be the first author to add to his Man Booker prize a Gold Digger. (Marcel Berlins, The Times)
I met Banville at Max's Restaurant/Bar before the reading and he seemed amused at my W.C. Fields quips. (W.C. Fields' oeuvre now out on DVD. Check out Bank Dick, my favorite).
'Twas a woman who drove me to drink, and I never had the courtesy to thank her for it.
Inflation has gone up a dollar a quart.
Somebody left the cork out of my lunch.
I don't drink because fish pee in it.
Bring me my pineapple juice! (Bill always had pitchers of martinis on the movie set).
On the whole, I'd rather be in Philadelphia. (Epitaph)
Banville and I also shared some Irish humor while he quietly sipped his red wine and inscribed my copy of The Sea to my brother, David, a history/civics teacher in Georgia, whose birthday is "3.iv.1949". I know he'll love this luminous novel about love, loss, and the unpredictable power of memory.
Q: After writing a number of amazing, erudite novels, did you have more fun writing this one?
A: Yes. Writing is never easy. What was different about this was the speed. I stayed with a friend in Italy, sat down at the kitchen table at 9:00 a.m., and by lunch time, I'd written 2,000 words. I was amused, bemused. Great doing something new. I've almost finished 2nd BB novel. I can now not be stopped. What if in 100 years time, John Danville is completely forgotten but Benjamin Black takes center stage? (Is that possible? I thought)
Q: How did you decide on name Benjamin Black?
A: A character in earlier novel called Benjamin White. Wife, the decider, thought "Bs" were higher up than "Ws" on the librarians' purchaser list.
Q: Why a crime novel?
A: I was writing serious books in the 1980's and needed to break out of a rut I was in -- all first person narratives about wicked men killing people, spying, all kinds of things.
Q: (me) Describe your process of writing. Do you start with an image, idea, dream fragment, conversation overheard in pub?
A: Things are not decided. I don't work that way; a thing grows in way you plant a seed. Don't know what it's going to be until you water it, feed it, put it toward the light. I used to think when I was young I was in control, but the older I get I realize I'm stumbling in the dark, like every other part of my life. It's organic. When Rilke, the poet, went to Paris to work for the sculptor, Rodin, Rodin said "travailler": work! work! work! Don't sit and dream and wait for inspiration. Work generates work and writing comes from other books, my own books, my reading. People think writing comes from life, no, it comes from books.
Q: Did you know where Christine Falls was going to go?
A: Yes, this book came from TV scripts which I had done. Narrative flow. Infinite number of ways to write a sentence....There are two monads of writing: sentence and paragraph. Greatest invention of civilization is the sentence. Nothing is more subtle, all-encompassing.
I reread the opening lines of The Sea: They departed, the gods, on the day of the strange tide. All morning under a milky sky the waters in the bay had swelled and swelled, rising to unheard of heights, the small waves creeping over parched sand that for years had known no wetting save for rain and lapping the very bases of the dunes.
And the closing line: A nurse came out then to fetch me, and I turned and followed her inside, and it was as if I were walking into the sea.
I left the bookstore with my signed copy of The Sea happy indeed I had come to hear this brilliant, funny, self-deprecatory Irish genius now writing under the false name, Benjamin Black.
Banville may have swapped the literary novel for crime (see Julian Barnes', Joyce Carol Oates' latest indulgences), but he has not abandoned writing with elegance and beauty, to which he has added an absorbing plot, beguiling characters and evocative settings. He may well be the first author to add to his Man Booker prize a Gold Digger. (Marcel Berlins, The Times)
I met Banville at Max's Restaurant/Bar before the reading and he seemed amused at my W.C. Fields quips. (W.C. Fields' oeuvre now out on DVD. Check out Bank Dick, my favorite).
'Twas a woman who drove me to drink, and I never had the courtesy to thank her for it.
Inflation has gone up a dollar a quart.
Somebody left the cork out of my lunch.
I don't drink because fish pee in it.
Bring me my pineapple juice! (Bill always had pitchers of martinis on the movie set).
On the whole, I'd rather be in Philadelphia. (Epitaph)
Banville and I also shared some Irish humor while he quietly sipped his red wine and inscribed my copy of The Sea to my brother, David, a history/civics teacher in Georgia, whose birthday is "3.iv.1949". I know he'll love this luminous novel about love, loss, and the unpredictable power of memory.
Q: After writing a number of amazing, erudite novels, did you have more fun writing this one?
A: Yes. Writing is never easy. What was different about this was the speed. I stayed with a friend in Italy, sat down at the kitchen table at 9:00 a.m., and by lunch time, I'd written 2,000 words. I was amused, bemused. Great doing something new. I've almost finished 2nd BB novel. I can now not be stopped. What if in 100 years time, John Danville is completely forgotten but Benjamin Black takes center stage? (Is that possible? I thought)
Q: How did you decide on name Benjamin Black?
A: A character in earlier novel called Benjamin White. Wife, the decider, thought "Bs" were higher up than "Ws" on the librarians' purchaser list.
Q: Why a crime novel?
A: I was writing serious books in the 1980's and needed to break out of a rut I was in -- all first person narratives about wicked men killing people, spying, all kinds of things.
Q: (me) Describe your process of writing. Do you start with an image, idea, dream fragment, conversation overheard in pub?
A: Things are not decided. I don't work that way; a thing grows in way you plant a seed. Don't know what it's going to be until you water it, feed it, put it toward the light. I used to think when I was young I was in control, but the older I get I realize I'm stumbling in the dark, like every other part of my life. It's organic. When Rilke, the poet, went to Paris to work for the sculptor, Rodin, Rodin said "travailler": work! work! work! Don't sit and dream and wait for inspiration. Work generates work and writing comes from other books, my own books, my reading. People think writing comes from life, no, it comes from books.
Q: Did you know where Christine Falls was going to go?
A: Yes, this book came from TV scripts which I had done. Narrative flow. Infinite number of ways to write a sentence....There are two monads of writing: sentence and paragraph. Greatest invention of civilization is the sentence. Nothing is more subtle, all-encompassing.
I reread the opening lines of The Sea: They departed, the gods, on the day of the strange tide. All morning under a milky sky the waters in the bay had swelled and swelled, rising to unheard of heights, the small waves creeping over parched sand that for years had known no wetting save for rain and lapping the very bases of the dunes.
And the closing line: A nurse came out then to fetch me, and I turned and followed her inside, and it was as if I were walking into the sea.
I left the bookstore with my signed copy of The Sea happy indeed I had come to hear this brilliant, funny, self-deprecatory Irish genius now writing under the false name, Benjamin Black.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
IRISH HUMOR; NORTH BEACH: SF'S ROSE PISTOLA: ROBUST, RUSTIC; PUCCINI'S CAFE: MARCH 17, 2007
Told to me by friend, Hope, New Haven, Connecticut:
St. Patrick's Day: What kind of Irish girl stays out all night? Patio furniture! Kaboom...
Two guys are sitting at a bar. You look familiar, says one t'other. You do, too!
Where are you from? Dublin. Me, too! Where did you go to school? St. Mary's. Me, too. Which year did you graduate? 1966. Me, too! Customer on the other side of the bar looks baffled, asks bartender: What's going on over there? Bartender: Oh, it's just the O'Malley twins -- they're drunk again!
What do you call a "queer" Irishman. An Irishman who prefers women to booze!
They're remodeling St. Patrick's Cathedral. They're putting in a drive-in confessional. Guess what they're going to call it? TOOT 'N TELL!
North Beach. Rose Pistola (rosepistola.com; 532 Columbus at Green. 415.399.0499). This cavernous space hums with crowds devouring specialties of the Ligurian seacoast, home of the violin/guitar genius Paganini, born in Genova(Genoa). Homemade pastas, wood-fried pizza, fresh fish, and chops. A few thorny types say its lost its luster. I say, after 10 years, it's made a dramatic comeback and is tops in my book, rising above most North Beach factories. It is a pleasant brasserie with bar-jazz lounge (9:00p.m. until wee hours). Remember to skip the small plates and go with the main entrees delivered by convivial, affectionate waitpersons (ours was man of all trades, Cole). Want to wow your out-of-town friends? Escort them here to try the many robust, rustic, regional specialities.
My dining partner, Zontar, and I made our way on foot. Stephanie greeted us, and introduced me to the Executive Chef, Armando Paniagua. Alas! Armando, from Mexico, will be leaving April Fool's Day for the Heartland's Kansas City, where he'll open his own restaurant. He's "gonna see a lot of pretty women there, and he's gonna get him some," he sang gaily!
I asked Armando to prepare for us his favorite dish, and he flashed me a toothy grin!
We sat in the comfortable corner next to a couple from Seattle, Tony, in "construction". I know what I was thinking: Mafia? Actually, he's legit and his neighbor across the lake is Bill Gates. Tony opted for the Veal Ossobucco with Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes and Gremolata (28). He loves to cook so it was not as tasty as his homemade stuff, he gushed.
Armando's favorite dish (also most popular) is Salted Baked Branzino (a medium large fish from the Mediterranean). Zontar and I shared, and the fish was filleted at the table. It comes with Yukon potatoes, Parsley & Lemon Vinaigrette (garlic, rosemary, garlic, marjoram, lemon, white wine and a "secret herb" which remained a mystery to my palette.) This was the highlight of the evening. Cole: "an easy ride". (36)
My recommendations:
Antipasti: Grilled Monterey Calamari with Cucumber, Arugula & Fennel (11).
Chickpea Farinata with Caramelized Onion, Olive and Sage. (10). (This is a Ligurian specialty).
Wild Arugula with Strawberries, Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette and Gorgonzola Dolce. Exceeds expectations. Fresh and flavorful. (10)
Pasta: Fettuccine with Clams, Chili Flake & Broccoli Rabe (17). Entree size pasta (add 8)
Meats & Fowls:
Rocky Jr. Boneless Half Chicken Grilled UNDER A BRICK with Broccoli Rabe. (23). Zontar ate this so fast one one occasion that sparks came out of his knife and fork.
Vegetable sides (6,7) are plentiful: try the sauteed spinach with green garlic and lemon.
PUCCINI'S CAFE (Columbus/Vallejo). Fruit tart and coffee. My favorite place to people watch. We skipped the brouhaha at O'Reilly's ($20.00 cover plus cost of drinks: it was a low turnout this year) and listened to Kate's favorite jokes: Some of my closest, dearest friends are Jewish, the young, blond bombshell told us, so she could tell this one: How do you confuse a Jew? Offer him free pork!
A Blond walking down the street with huge earphones on, needs a haircut, goes to a barber. Barber: You need to take the earphones off. Blond is obstinate, refuses. Barber starts cutting her hair and needs to tell her something but she can't hear, 'cause she's got the darn headphones on. So he lifts them off her ears. She immediately falls dead on the ground. He's like, what the hell! Barber picks up the earphones and listens: Breathe in, breathe out! Breathe in, breathe out!
I hope you had a Happy St. Paddy's Day. I did!
St. Patrick's Day: What kind of Irish girl stays out all night? Patio furniture! Kaboom...
Two guys are sitting at a bar. You look familiar, says one t'other. You do, too!
Where are you from? Dublin. Me, too! Where did you go to school? St. Mary's. Me, too. Which year did you graduate? 1966. Me, too! Customer on the other side of the bar looks baffled, asks bartender: What's going on over there? Bartender: Oh, it's just the O'Malley twins -- they're drunk again!
What do you call a "queer" Irishman. An Irishman who prefers women to booze!
They're remodeling St. Patrick's Cathedral. They're putting in a drive-in confessional. Guess what they're going to call it? TOOT 'N TELL!
North Beach. Rose Pistola (rosepistola.com; 532 Columbus at Green. 415.399.0499). This cavernous space hums with crowds devouring specialties of the Ligurian seacoast, home of the violin/guitar genius Paganini, born in Genova(Genoa). Homemade pastas, wood-fried pizza, fresh fish, and chops. A few thorny types say its lost its luster. I say, after 10 years, it's made a dramatic comeback and is tops in my book, rising above most North Beach factories. It is a pleasant brasserie with bar-jazz lounge (9:00p.m. until wee hours). Remember to skip the small plates and go with the main entrees delivered by convivial, affectionate waitpersons (ours was man of all trades, Cole). Want to wow your out-of-town friends? Escort them here to try the many robust, rustic, regional specialities.
My dining partner, Zontar, and I made our way on foot. Stephanie greeted us, and introduced me to the Executive Chef, Armando Paniagua. Alas! Armando, from Mexico, will be leaving April Fool's Day for the Heartland's Kansas City, where he'll open his own restaurant. He's "gonna see a lot of pretty women there, and he's gonna get him some," he sang gaily!
I asked Armando to prepare for us his favorite dish, and he flashed me a toothy grin!
We sat in the comfortable corner next to a couple from Seattle, Tony, in "construction". I know what I was thinking: Mafia? Actually, he's legit and his neighbor across the lake is Bill Gates. Tony opted for the Veal Ossobucco with Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes and Gremolata (28). He loves to cook so it was not as tasty as his homemade stuff, he gushed.
Armando's favorite dish (also most popular) is Salted Baked Branzino (a medium large fish from the Mediterranean). Zontar and I shared, and the fish was filleted at the table. It comes with Yukon potatoes, Parsley & Lemon Vinaigrette (garlic, rosemary, garlic, marjoram, lemon, white wine and a "secret herb" which remained a mystery to my palette.) This was the highlight of the evening. Cole: "an easy ride". (36)
My recommendations:
Antipasti: Grilled Monterey Calamari with Cucumber, Arugula & Fennel (11).
Chickpea Farinata with Caramelized Onion, Olive and Sage. (10). (This is a Ligurian specialty).
Wild Arugula with Strawberries, Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette and Gorgonzola Dolce. Exceeds expectations. Fresh and flavorful. (10)
Pasta: Fettuccine with Clams, Chili Flake & Broccoli Rabe (17). Entree size pasta (add 8)
Meats & Fowls:
Rocky Jr. Boneless Half Chicken Grilled UNDER A BRICK with Broccoli Rabe. (23). Zontar ate this so fast one one occasion that sparks came out of his knife and fork.
Vegetable sides (6,7) are plentiful: try the sauteed spinach with green garlic and lemon.
PUCCINI'S CAFE (Columbus/Vallejo). Fruit tart and coffee. My favorite place to people watch. We skipped the brouhaha at O'Reilly's ($20.00 cover plus cost of drinks: it was a low turnout this year) and listened to Kate's favorite jokes: Some of my closest, dearest friends are Jewish, the young, blond bombshell told us, so she could tell this one: How do you confuse a Jew? Offer him free pork!
A Blond walking down the street with huge earphones on, needs a haircut, goes to a barber. Barber: You need to take the earphones off. Blond is obstinate, refuses. Barber starts cutting her hair and needs to tell her something but she can't hear, 'cause she's got the darn headphones on. So he lifts them off her ears. She immediately falls dead on the ground. He's like, what the hell! Barber picks up the earphones and listens: Breathe in, breathe out! Breathe in, breathe out!
I hope you had a Happy St. Paddy's Day. I did!
Friday, March 16, 2007
WILLIAM T. VOLLMAN: FEARLESS,VORACIOUS AUTHOR: 3/14/07; HANGING WITH BILL AT AUB ZAM ZAM ON HAIGHT STREET
William T. Vollman. www.booksmith.com; 1644 Haight St., SF. (415) 863-8688. Vollman: a rough-edged beast who has been slouching toward some millennial Bethlehem with a kind of monstrous elegance, utter fearlessness, and voracious appetite that one associates with Melville, Whitman, and Pynchon. (Los Angeles Time Book Review). Other adjectives come to mind: prodigious, talented, unconventional, exciting, imaginative. You name it, he's done it! He won both the National Book Critics Circle award in 2005 for Europe Central(fiction) and Critics' award for his Rising Up and Rising Down (non-fiction, 2004). The latter was an all-out investigation into violence. (I wanted to try and figure out what all the excuses for violence might be and how many of them could be justified)
Fonnie escorted him to the event at the Booksmith Wednesday night to read from his latest non-fiction book: Poor People. Vollman is a writer of great accomplishments: 7 novels, 3 collections of short stories, occasional journalism. The three amigos: two Harvard-trained lawyer/friends of Bill and I met him after at the Persian bar across the street, Aub Zam Zam. His fans, including me, surrounded the icon after the reading.
The new book is POOR PEOPLE. In the tradition of James Agee's LET US NOW PRAISE FAMOUS MEN, the book struggles to confront poverty in all its hopelessness and brutality, its pride and abject fear, its fierce misery, and its quiet resignation. It is compassionate, scrupulous, intense, fearless, moving. Vollman allows the poor from diverse countries to speak for themselves. 100 photographs--he shot them-- highlight the narrative. Vollman read from the section on Kazakhstan, after a warm welcome from the overflowing crowd.
Poverty is not about doing anything. It's a state of being, not just a monetary state. I decided to ask people why they were poor and what sort of decisions they make. How poor people amortize what they have -- mostly their bodies and their health. I'm going to read part of chapter on Kazakhstan about TCO (Chevron oil consortium) and it's about oil egotism and its effects on the environment (seals, caviar production) and people its hurting and helping...I am ambivalent. Bottom line: everyone here has a meal thanks to the oil in the region.
QUESTION and ANSWER:
Q: Any feeling about changing the world for good-writing fiction or non-fiction?
A: Non-fiction is probably more valuable for changing world, but writing fiction is probably something I'm better at. Unfortunately. (At the bar afterward, the consensus was that fiction can change people --especially children -- one individual at a time.)
Q: What are the root (economic) cause of poverty:
A: Two aspects. 1. The physical economic situation of person. 2. Protection of person involved...I advocate more aid, better directed, tailored to the individual case. Why people are poor varies from region to region. In Latin America, more class hatred. In Japan, more shame. What to do? LISTEN to poor people, try to make a difference. True COMMUNISM never tried. It it were, maybe could work.
Q: (my question 2-pronged). The Cyrillic alphabet is very difficult -- I studied it -- did you learn to say "kak pozivaete" (how are you) in Russian? Which Russian author did you RE-read to prepare you for your trip?
A: Russian rusty over the years (he went to Cornell; took Russian class at Berkeley). My favorite author is Dostoevsky and fave book: The Idiot, which I've read several times.
Q: What about the gap between rich and poor in America?
A: It's tragic, scary, horrible...This country was founded on idea which quickly became a myth: boundless frontier, endless opportunity for anyone who wanted to work. Of course, religious underpinnings are the Protestant thing: success is sign of favor from God, and if you work hard, God will reward you. If you are poor in this country, tend to feel ashamed of self, and bitter because this supposedly finite opportunity has not been made available to you...we are poor in neighbors and community, don't know our neighbors. People who do have a communitarian spirit can help each other.
Q: What are you working on now? I took a trip last fall retracing 1,000-mile trail taken by Chief Joseph along the Snake River and am continuing my seven dreams(?) book.
Many Vollman-lovers/EBAY sellers bought/brought shopping bags filled with his books . He signed POOR PROPLE, our collectively-owned book and we waited for him to join us at Aub Zam Zam, a gorgeious Persian bar across the street. Does anyone remember the former owner Bruno, who 86'd anyone too fastidious about his/her martini? Those were the days! It was a great night and thanks to the Booksmith for hosting this writer, who lives in Sacramento!
Fonnie escorted him to the event at the Booksmith Wednesday night to read from his latest non-fiction book: Poor People. Vollman is a writer of great accomplishments: 7 novels, 3 collections of short stories, occasional journalism. The three amigos: two Harvard-trained lawyer/friends of Bill and I met him after at the Persian bar across the street, Aub Zam Zam. His fans, including me, surrounded the icon after the reading.
The new book is POOR PEOPLE. In the tradition of James Agee's LET US NOW PRAISE FAMOUS MEN, the book struggles to confront poverty in all its hopelessness and brutality, its pride and abject fear, its fierce misery, and its quiet resignation. It is compassionate, scrupulous, intense, fearless, moving. Vollman allows the poor from diverse countries to speak for themselves. 100 photographs--he shot them-- highlight the narrative. Vollman read from the section on Kazakhstan, after a warm welcome from the overflowing crowd.
Poverty is not about doing anything. It's a state of being, not just a monetary state. I decided to ask people why they were poor and what sort of decisions they make. How poor people amortize what they have -- mostly their bodies and their health. I'm going to read part of chapter on Kazakhstan about TCO (Chevron oil consortium) and it's about oil egotism and its effects on the environment (seals, caviar production) and people its hurting and helping...I am ambivalent. Bottom line: everyone here has a meal thanks to the oil in the region.
QUESTION and ANSWER:
Q: Any feeling about changing the world for good-writing fiction or non-fiction?
A: Non-fiction is probably more valuable for changing world, but writing fiction is probably something I'm better at. Unfortunately. (At the bar afterward, the consensus was that fiction can change people --especially children -- one individual at a time.)
Q: What are the root (economic) cause of poverty:
A: Two aspects. 1. The physical economic situation of person. 2. Protection of person involved...I advocate more aid, better directed, tailored to the individual case. Why people are poor varies from region to region. In Latin America, more class hatred. In Japan, more shame. What to do? LISTEN to poor people, try to make a difference. True COMMUNISM never tried. It it were, maybe could work.
Q: (my question 2-pronged). The Cyrillic alphabet is very difficult -- I studied it -- did you learn to say "kak pozivaete" (how are you) in Russian? Which Russian author did you RE-read to prepare you for your trip?
A: Russian rusty over the years (he went to Cornell; took Russian class at Berkeley). My favorite author is Dostoevsky and fave book: The Idiot, which I've read several times.
Q: What about the gap between rich and poor in America?
A: It's tragic, scary, horrible...This country was founded on idea which quickly became a myth: boundless frontier, endless opportunity for anyone who wanted to work. Of course, religious underpinnings are the Protestant thing: success is sign of favor from God, and if you work hard, God will reward you. If you are poor in this country, tend to feel ashamed of self, and bitter because this supposedly finite opportunity has not been made available to you...we are poor in neighbors and community, don't know our neighbors. People who do have a communitarian spirit can help each other.
Q: What are you working on now? I took a trip last fall retracing 1,000-mile trail taken by Chief Joseph along the Snake River and am continuing my seven dreams(?) book.
Many Vollman-lovers/EBAY sellers bought/brought shopping bags filled with his books . He signed POOR PROPLE, our collectively-owned book and we waited for him to join us at Aub Zam Zam, a gorgeious Persian bar across the street. Does anyone remember the former owner Bruno, who 86'd anyone too fastidious about his/her martini? Those were the days! It was a great night and thanks to the Booksmith for hosting this writer, who lives in Sacramento!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
PUNCHLINE: WOWIE ZOWIE! HOT COMICS: MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007
Monday Night Comics: www.punchlinecomedyclub.com (Battery at Clay): The Great Dane and author Paul met me at this cutting edge club for "local" comedy talent night:
Stacy, a DJ from San Jose: San Jose is geeky engineers by day; ghetto at night. Daytime: laptop; Nighttime: lapdance. Daytime: Conference call; Nighttime: Booty call. Where I work, my fave geek wears a memory card around his neck (is that geek bling); we call him notorious MP3. Geeks when they go crazy in the heart of Silicon Valley, erase a bunch of shit from the hard drive! Dinner tonight at Baker St. Bistro where the median age is deceased. Opened my menu and a bingo card fell out.
Greg Edwards, African-American: I'm an actor, a comedian--that means I don't have a job. Best superhero is batman, 'cause he doesn't have any superpowers. Don't know about you but being rich is a superpower. I grew up in Virginia in a broken home. Everybody in the house was broke. Moved to Oakland where they call an ambulance a shuttle bus. A lot of rich people in the Bay. All have Ipods. 300 dollars for a walkman. In 10 years we'll all be deaf and Apple will be selling Ihear. Deafness is the new black! I love shoes, and buy them at different places EXCEPT Athlete's Foot! That's like going to a Chicken diner called Salmonella. McDonald's on Mad Cow Monday. Mexicans buying books from Borders!
Ken Avery, African-American: I was hanging out in Golden Gate Park today with a dude training for a Marathon! 26 miles? If anyone's going to do 26 miles, there better be some shit at the end like Michael Jackson tells all. We learn about the children and that MONKEY!
Dava Straus: MySpace Profile? Sitting on my ass smoking weed! Joined a sorority in college: Alpha Bulimic. We liked to puke a lot. Now in a GU relationship. He uses cellphone, cheap bastard so relationship doesn't start until after 9:00 p.m. Phone sex. I dumped him over email...Now dating Mr. Perfect, never had a cavity in his life. He's now reading Kamasutra for men: one page only, "stick it in."
Reggie Steele, African-American: I have a friend whose single goal is to get wasted. He's like, it's Tuesday, I'm gonna get messed up. No matter how much I drink, he says, I gotta eat my vegetables. That's like saying I can have unprotected sex with women cause I take my multi-vitamins.
ROB CANTRELL: Voted BEST COMEDIAN for the night lives in New York (graduate of Denison College, Ohio): See his profile: www.myspace.com/robcantrell.
Stacy, a DJ from San Jose: San Jose is geeky engineers by day; ghetto at night. Daytime: laptop; Nighttime: lapdance. Daytime: Conference call; Nighttime: Booty call. Where I work, my fave geek wears a memory card around his neck (is that geek bling); we call him notorious MP3. Geeks when they go crazy in the heart of Silicon Valley, erase a bunch of shit from the hard drive! Dinner tonight at Baker St. Bistro where the median age is deceased. Opened my menu and a bingo card fell out.
Greg Edwards, African-American: I'm an actor, a comedian--that means I don't have a job. Best superhero is batman, 'cause he doesn't have any superpowers. Don't know about you but being rich is a superpower. I grew up in Virginia in a broken home. Everybody in the house was broke. Moved to Oakland where they call an ambulance a shuttle bus. A lot of rich people in the Bay. All have Ipods. 300 dollars for a walkman. In 10 years we'll all be deaf and Apple will be selling Ihear. Deafness is the new black! I love shoes, and buy them at different places EXCEPT Athlete's Foot! That's like going to a Chicken diner called Salmonella. McDonald's on Mad Cow Monday. Mexicans buying books from Borders!
Ken Avery, African-American: I was hanging out in Golden Gate Park today with a dude training for a Marathon! 26 miles? If anyone's going to do 26 miles, there better be some shit at the end like Michael Jackson tells all. We learn about the children and that MONKEY!
Dava Straus: MySpace Profile? Sitting on my ass smoking weed! Joined a sorority in college: Alpha Bulimic. We liked to puke a lot. Now in a GU relationship. He uses cellphone, cheap bastard so relationship doesn't start until after 9:00 p.m. Phone sex. I dumped him over email...Now dating Mr. Perfect, never had a cavity in his life. He's now reading Kamasutra for men: one page only, "stick it in."
Reggie Steele, African-American: I have a friend whose single goal is to get wasted. He's like, it's Tuesday, I'm gonna get messed up. No matter how much I drink, he says, I gotta eat my vegetables. That's like saying I can have unprotected sex with women cause I take my multi-vitamins.
ROB CANTRELL: Voted BEST COMEDIAN for the night lives in New York (graduate of Denison College, Ohio): See his profile: www.myspace.com/robcantrell.
BACCHUS KIRK: LET'S PLAY TRIVIA TUESDAY NIGHT: March 13, 2007
Bacchus Kirk (Bush/Taylor). Tuesday Night Trivia Match your wits with the best and brightest 20-30-something year olds.
1. Top Fortune-500 Company, 2006?
2. First Women's Magazine and Editor.
3. Year Rosa Parks refused to give up seat?
4. Top Republican Presidential contenders for 2008? (In CNN poll order)
5. Artist most associated with Cubism?
6. Reel Work premier date?
7. Senegal is former colony of which country?
8. Who sang rock opera, Quadriphrenia?
9. Capitol of Sudan? Lebanon?
10. Name of worker who fills in for strikers?
11. Terry Garr played Inga in which movie?
12. University of Arkansas mascot: name ANIMAL (who cares?)
13. Bush visited which city in Mexico today?
14. First 747 flight was which year?
15. In boxing, between heavyweight & lightweight, what is category?
1. Top Fortune-500 Company, 2006?
2. First Women's Magazine and Editor.
3. Year Rosa Parks refused to give up seat?
4. Top Republican Presidential contenders for 2008? (In CNN poll order)
5. Artist most associated with Cubism?
6. Reel Work premier date?
7. Senegal is former colony of which country?
8. Who sang rock opera, Quadriphrenia?
9. Capitol of Sudan? Lebanon?
10. Name of worker who fills in for strikers?
11. Terry Garr played Inga in which movie?
12. University of Arkansas mascot: name ANIMAL (who cares?)
13. Bush visited which city in Mexico today?
14. First 747 flight was which year?
15. In boxing, between heavyweight & lightweight, what is category?
Monday, March 12, 2007
RICHARD JENI, STANDUP COMIC: IN MEMORIAM (1956-2007)
Richard Jeni was a brilliant standup and a genius at making people laugh. I've seen him live many times and it was very sad that he died of a gunshot wound, an apparent suicide, according to Los Angeles Police Officer Norma Eisenman. Richard's girlfriend discovered the body Saturday morning, March 10, 2007.. Presumably, there will be an investigation. Jeni was a frequent guest on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. He was proud of his HBO Specials and movies.
Richard Jeni: Irreverent, satirical, nutty, very funny stuff, but unfortunately, suicidal. His Dr. Kevorkian, the Doctor of Death jokes were prophetic!
DATING: I was single a long time and it was fun. But sooner or later you get tired of driving a car without a woman sitting next to you making you so tense you can feel your colon tying itself into a square knot.
HEALTH: We have an obesity epidemic in the United States: one out of every three Americans weighs as much as the other three.
(prophetic): Dr. Kevorkian's my man. He's the doctor who helps people die, who are so sick. They just wanna get out of here. I can't say I blame them. I've had the runs and written a suicide note. (!!!)
MARRIAGE: It's a sad fact that 50% of marriages in this country end in divorce. But the other half end in death. You could be one of the lucky ones.
Single or married, I think it's a close choice. You know what it boils down to? Whether you want to be lonely or annoyed.
SEX: The Web brings people together, 'cause no matter what type of twisted sexual mutant you happen to be, you've got millions of pals out there. Type in, "FIND PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEX WITH GOATS THAT ARE ON FIRE," and the computer will say, "SPECIFY TYPE OF GOAT."
TRAVEL: There are only two reasons to sit in back row of airport. Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people who do.
AMERICA AND THE WORLD: I love New York, because this city is always surprising. Today I went out to a Deli. Pastrami sandwich, $13.75. Walked back out on the Street. Genuine Rolex watch, 6 bucks.
RELIGION: If you're going to war over religion, now you're just killing people in a argument over war who has the better imaginary friend.
We have to respect people who have strong religious beliefs, because if you don't, they'll kill you.
I'm Catholic...well, I'm a Catholic in the same sense that if a cow is born in a tree, then it's a bird.
Childhood and adolescence: I was born by C-section. That was the last time I had my mother's attention.
My mother never saw the irony of calling me a son-of-a-bitch!
Richard Jeni, you will be sorely missed. May you rest in peace!
Richard Jeni: Irreverent, satirical, nutty, very funny stuff, but unfortunately, suicidal. His Dr. Kevorkian, the Doctor of Death jokes were prophetic!
DATING: I was single a long time and it was fun. But sooner or later you get tired of driving a car without a woman sitting next to you making you so tense you can feel your colon tying itself into a square knot.
HEALTH: We have an obesity epidemic in the United States: one out of every three Americans weighs as much as the other three.
(prophetic): Dr. Kevorkian's my man. He's the doctor who helps people die, who are so sick. They just wanna get out of here. I can't say I blame them. I've had the runs and written a suicide note. (!!!)
MARRIAGE: It's a sad fact that 50% of marriages in this country end in divorce. But the other half end in death. You could be one of the lucky ones.
Single or married, I think it's a close choice. You know what it boils down to? Whether you want to be lonely or annoyed.
SEX: The Web brings people together, 'cause no matter what type of twisted sexual mutant you happen to be, you've got millions of pals out there. Type in, "FIND PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEX WITH GOATS THAT ARE ON FIRE," and the computer will say, "SPECIFY TYPE OF GOAT."
TRAVEL: There are only two reasons to sit in back row of airport. Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people who do.
AMERICA AND THE WORLD: I love New York, because this city is always surprising. Today I went out to a Deli. Pastrami sandwich, $13.75. Walked back out on the Street. Genuine Rolex watch, 6 bucks.
RELIGION: If you're going to war over religion, now you're just killing people in a argument over war who has the better imaginary friend.
We have to respect people who have strong religious beliefs, because if you don't, they'll kill you.
I'm Catholic...well, I'm a Catholic in the same sense that if a cow is born in a tree, then it's a bird.
Childhood and adolescence: I was born by C-section. That was the last time I had my mother's attention.
My mother never saw the irony of calling me a son-of-a-bitch!
Richard Jeni, you will be sorely missed. May you rest in peace!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
CLEMENT STREET BAR AND GRILL; ZODIACARONI: CREEPY SAN FRANCISCO TREAT
The Inner Richmond is a hotbed of ethnic eateries. Locals never get tired of a lively spot: Clement Street Bar and Grill: 708 Clement Street;(415)386-2200. Acolytes love the mood, food, 'tude! My dining companion, Zontar, and I slid into a booth. He caught some of the street action & I...
...I met Harold, who has been the harried owner/manager for 24 years and does the Novato-SF daily commuter grind. Wildly popular dish? Roasted fresh Alaskan Halibut with fresh mango basil from April through December. (19).You will get no midget portions here in this consistently great restaurant with its friendly waitstaff.
The grill is not the holy grail of haute cuisine, so I'd stick with the daily specials: fresh wild salmon (18);dungeness crab cakes(11);rainbow trout(16);petrale sole(18); steaks & burgers(8-25);vegetarian meatloaf (15);fresh oysters (13).
I would recommend EVERYTHING on the menu. Here are some of my faves from the inventive seasonal menu:
Lemon dill chicken salad with mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, broccoli, fresh dill and lemon zest (9). A real San Francisco treat!
Garlic-parsley fettuccine with grilled chicken breast, veggies garlic, roma tomatoes, broccoli, olive oil and fresh mozzarella cheese (16).
Meyer lemon linguine - fresh sea scallops, prawns, tomatoes, sweet corn, sugar peas, sweet red bell peppers, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella cheese. (18)
All entrees are served with homemade soup or mixed green salad.
Check the chalk board for the fab desserts that will rock your socks off: banana cream chantilly is a staff hit and are delicious . (5-6).
This is no globe-trotting wine list. Try the Rabbit Ridge Chardonnay (6.50) or Beringer Cabernet (7.00).
Woody Allen: I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens.
ZODIACARONI: A SAN FRANCISCO CREEPY TREAT? Is that your distraction for Saturday Night? Yep! The Zodiac killer was ugly, beastly. David Fincher, Director and James Vanderbilt, Screenwriter put the truth on the screen. At the Bridge Theater later in the evening I met Robert Graysmith, former political cartoonist/author of ZODIAC(1986) who spoke briefly before the film:
I had the chance to watch David Fincher, Director, first word of script, day one and you won't believe work that's gone into it through all these trying years. Fincher actually became a detective and tracked down virtually every witness, every lawman, every supect: a lot of work! He told me the film is cousin to All the President's Men.
Melanie, ex-wife, called it a dream-like experience, thanked Graysmith for the dress he bought her for the Hollywood premier. "It's worth all the time I've spent with this man." (Applause/Laughter).
First question from audience? Are YOU the Zodiac killer? He confessed that as political cartoonist for the SF Chronicle during the Zodiac bloodbath, he may have been an obsessive but was/is innocent!
The film evokes nostalgia for the the late 60's! Where were you on July 4, 1969 when a couple was shot to death in their car? The film opens with the distinctive voice of Donovan and his Hurdy-Gurdy Man:
How can people be so heartless?
How can people be so cruel?
E-A-S-Y!
The film is quintessential ethnographic cinema: we see the cops, investigative reports, the SF Chronicle obsessives. There is an extreme attention to the details and the basic fact: incompetence of police in solving crime/capturing the beast! If you don't like investigative police work, the middle of this 155-minute film can be a slog!
There are funny bits however: Avery wearing the "I am not Avery Button" (and toting a .38 revolver in his breastpocket). Also, does it surprise anyone that the zodiac killer stole books from the military library (so titles could not be traced).
Remember: Sometimes "the truest wild beasts live in the most popular places. (Gracian)
...I met Harold, who has been the harried owner/manager for 24 years and does the Novato-SF daily commuter grind. Wildly popular dish? Roasted fresh Alaskan Halibut with fresh mango basil from April through December. (19).You will get no midget portions here in this consistently great restaurant with its friendly waitstaff.
The grill is not the holy grail of haute cuisine, so I'd stick with the daily specials: fresh wild salmon (18);dungeness crab cakes(11);rainbow trout(16);petrale sole(18); steaks & burgers(8-25);vegetarian meatloaf (15);fresh oysters (13).
I would recommend EVERYTHING on the menu. Here are some of my faves from the inventive seasonal menu:
Lemon dill chicken salad with mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, broccoli, fresh dill and lemon zest (9). A real San Francisco treat!
Garlic-parsley fettuccine with grilled chicken breast, veggies garlic, roma tomatoes, broccoli, olive oil and fresh mozzarella cheese (16).
Meyer lemon linguine - fresh sea scallops, prawns, tomatoes, sweet corn, sugar peas, sweet red bell peppers, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella cheese. (18)
All entrees are served with homemade soup or mixed green salad.
Check the chalk board for the fab desserts that will rock your socks off: banana cream chantilly is a staff hit and are delicious . (5-6).
This is no globe-trotting wine list. Try the Rabbit Ridge Chardonnay (6.50) or Beringer Cabernet (7.00).
Woody Allen: I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens.
ZODIACARONI: A SAN FRANCISCO CREEPY TREAT? Is that your distraction for Saturday Night? Yep! The Zodiac killer was ugly, beastly. David Fincher, Director and James Vanderbilt, Screenwriter put the truth on the screen. At the Bridge Theater later in the evening I met Robert Graysmith, former political cartoonist/author of ZODIAC(1986) who spoke briefly before the film:
I had the chance to watch David Fincher, Director, first word of script, day one and you won't believe work that's gone into it through all these trying years. Fincher actually became a detective and tracked down virtually every witness, every lawman, every supect: a lot of work! He told me the film is cousin to All the President's Men.
Melanie, ex-wife, called it a dream-like experience, thanked Graysmith for the dress he bought her for the Hollywood premier. "It's worth all the time I've spent with this man." (Applause/Laughter).
First question from audience? Are YOU the Zodiac killer? He confessed that as political cartoonist for the SF Chronicle during the Zodiac bloodbath, he may have been an obsessive but was/is innocent!
The film evokes nostalgia for the the late 60's! Where were you on July 4, 1969 when a couple was shot to death in their car? The film opens with the distinctive voice of Donovan and his Hurdy-Gurdy Man:
How can people be so heartless?
How can people be so cruel?
E-A-S-Y!
The film is quintessential ethnographic cinema: we see the cops, investigative reports, the SF Chronicle obsessives. There is an extreme attention to the details and the basic fact: incompetence of police in solving crime/capturing the beast! If you don't like investigative police work, the middle of this 155-minute film can be a slog!
There are funny bits however: Avery wearing the "I am not Avery Button" (and toting a .38 revolver in his breastpocket). Also, does it surprise anyone that the zodiac killer stole books from the military library (so titles could not be traced).
Remember: Sometimes "the truest wild beasts live in the most popular places. (Gracian)
Friday, March 9, 2007
IRISH-AMERICAN FESTIVAL: HOMETHEMOVIE.COM
We'll have/Manhattan/The Bronx and Staten Island too/It's Lovely/at the Zoo. (Lorenz Hart, 1925). The fifth annual Crossroads, Irish-American Festival (March 8-17,2007) kicked off with an award winning documentary focusing on the experience of contemporary immigrants in New York: Of Thee I Sing! at the Roxie for a one-night only affair. Home (Homethemovie.com) was presented by director Dawn Scibilia, an ebullient Director/Producer/Editor, who flew in from her native Brooklyn for its premier in San Francisco.(ducinema.aol.com)
Native New Yorkers,immigrants,actors,writers serenade,parade,sing the praises of the Big Apple: symbol of hope,dreams,aspirations. In a word, HOME! Dawn worked on the film for 8 years and maxed out credit cards to the tune of $40,000. Unfortunately, as of this date, she has found no distributors (not even Netflix). Why? Dawn: It is not controversial enough; it doesn't push any buttons. New stop? Dublin, Ireland on March 24, 2007. Check it out on the web or in the future, DVD! It's a GREAT documentary and a timely film that reaches heart,soul,guts. Dublin native Alan Cook loves the Tower of Babel,wrote and narrated the film. Contact him, if you like it
(irishwolf_769@earthlink.net). Here are my favorite bits:
Colin Quinn: NYC has the energy of Calcutta.
Malachi McCourt: Niagara Falls has nothing on New York.
Frank McCourt: It's a spiritual place; a leap of faith;mythological;a place to discover your soul. Don't have to leave your dream at your doorstep if prepared to suffer.
Fran Lebowitz: A densely populated suburban environment that Rudy and the GOP destroyed by "ruining" Central Park. What could be more suburban than worrying about the lawn? New York is now about REAL ESTATE! It always has been, Fran!
Woody Allen: I couldn't live anywhere else. Paris, London, maybe, but in 3 years I'd be back! (Isn't he the quintessential New Yorker? Hasn't Hollywood defined Manhattan for him and us?)
Elaine Kaufman: "New York is now FUCKED UP".
Pete Hamil: New York was not founded by the Puritans, or any other looney religious sect. It's always been the capitol of capital. People have always come here to be what they could never be at home. Tap dancing (African/Irish connection) could never have been invented anywhere else.
Susan Sarandon. I love its serendity. If you've run into a person in LA, you've had a car accident. 1000s of layerings that function. (She admits she can afford to "get away" from the STIMULUS!)
Mike Myers: (funniest bit in film): There's no "Toronto food, dish, no song, no mo". Toronto's a wonderful place but no one says, "come to my house, have a Toronto pizza."
New York: a journey, a quest, the most mythological place on the planet? I agree, so if you visit, be sure to check out the STREETS of this great city, and rent the movie as a reminder of your odyssey.
Native New Yorkers,immigrants,actors,writers serenade,parade,sing the praises of the Big Apple: symbol of hope,dreams,aspirations. In a word, HOME! Dawn worked on the film for 8 years and maxed out credit cards to the tune of $40,000. Unfortunately, as of this date, she has found no distributors (not even Netflix). Why? Dawn: It is not controversial enough; it doesn't push any buttons. New stop? Dublin, Ireland on March 24, 2007. Check it out on the web or in the future, DVD! It's a GREAT documentary and a timely film that reaches heart,soul,guts. Dublin native Alan Cook loves the Tower of Babel,wrote and narrated the film. Contact him, if you like it
(irishwolf_769@earthlink.net). Here are my favorite bits:
Colin Quinn: NYC has the energy of Calcutta.
Malachi McCourt: Niagara Falls has nothing on New York.
Frank McCourt: It's a spiritual place; a leap of faith;mythological;a place to discover your soul. Don't have to leave your dream at your doorstep if prepared to suffer.
Fran Lebowitz: A densely populated suburban environment that Rudy and the GOP destroyed by "ruining" Central Park. What could be more suburban than worrying about the lawn? New York is now about REAL ESTATE! It always has been, Fran!
Woody Allen: I couldn't live anywhere else. Paris, London, maybe, but in 3 years I'd be back! (Isn't he the quintessential New Yorker? Hasn't Hollywood defined Manhattan for him and us?)
Elaine Kaufman: "New York is now FUCKED UP".
Pete Hamil: New York was not founded by the Puritans, or any other looney religious sect. It's always been the capitol of capital. People have always come here to be what they could never be at home. Tap dancing (African/Irish connection) could never have been invented anywhere else.
Susan Sarandon. I love its serendity. If you've run into a person in LA, you've had a car accident. 1000s of layerings that function. (She admits she can afford to "get away" from the STIMULUS!)
Mike Myers: (funniest bit in film): There's no "Toronto food, dish, no song, no mo". Toronto's a wonderful place but no one says, "come to my house, have a Toronto pizza."
New York: a journey, a quest, the most mythological place on the planet? I agree, so if you visit, be sure to check out the STREETS of this great city, and rent the movie as a reminder of your odyssey.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
ORIGINAL JOE'S: 1940s FILM NOIR AMBIENCE; KQED RADIO PERSPECTIVES KING: MARK TRAUTWEIN
At a Wild Writing Women event at the Monticello Inn, recently purchased by a Marin consortium, I met Mark Trautwein, retired Congressional aide, who edits the 2-minute Perspectives on KQED radio, which airs daily at 7:37 am/11:07 pm, prime time drive times. (www.kqed.org/perspectives). He is looking for stories that have meaning without sake of defining them. (Hannah Arendt, Ph.D.) Authentic Voices, approximately 350-375 words. If you "write funny"(always very difficult) you've got a shot at airing your perspective. However, if you are peddling a movie, book, script, etc. you'll be disappointed to find out as editor, he does not allow blatant self-promotion. Self-absorbed writers need not apply. However, if aired, your piece will be posted on the website and linked to whatever you are selling and/or marketing. Good luck!
A good friend and I travelled down the "mean streets" of the Trendy Loin, 5 minutes away, one block from the Hilton to Original Joe's (144 Taylor/Eddy;775-4877), and plopped ourselves on the plush red leather booths to enjoy the show. Bay Area hipsters appreciate the irony of ordering humongous helpings of working man's food. You'll be served grub by your grandfather, a tuxedo-clad waiter at this Italian-American landmark with a 1940's film noir ambience. FACT: this is where Sinatra and the Mob hung out 60 years ago. Now the place is crawling with police, undercover narcs, tourists, bohemian types, families. No reservations needed.
I met Robert, an SF native (I pinched him) now moonlighting as a DJ at a club in the Fillmore district. He bragged about his son, a narc, sitting in the same booth, who had intelligent brown eyes, buffed and was, unlike his father, totally silent. A good thing! Father and I exchanged jokes, anecdotes: Why did God made the police? So firemen could have heroes too!
Recommendations at Original Joe's: Joe's Italian Salad (9.95); Chicken Cacciatora (14.95), Halibut or Wild Salmon Steak mesquite charcoal broiled (17.95) after 5p.m. Save room for dessert. Best bet is the New York Style Cheesecake. Bon Appetit!!
A good friend and I travelled down the "mean streets" of the Trendy Loin, 5 minutes away, one block from the Hilton to Original Joe's (144 Taylor/Eddy;775-4877), and plopped ourselves on the plush red leather booths to enjoy the show. Bay Area hipsters appreciate the irony of ordering humongous helpings of working man's food. You'll be served grub by your grandfather, a tuxedo-clad waiter at this Italian-American landmark with a 1940's film noir ambience. FACT: this is where Sinatra and the Mob hung out 60 years ago. Now the place is crawling with police, undercover narcs, tourists, bohemian types, families. No reservations needed.
I met Robert, an SF native (I pinched him) now moonlighting as a DJ at a club in the Fillmore district. He bragged about his son, a narc, sitting in the same booth, who had intelligent brown eyes, buffed and was, unlike his father, totally silent. A good thing! Father and I exchanged jokes, anecdotes: Why did God made the police? So firemen could have heroes too!
Recommendations at Original Joe's: Joe's Italian Salad (9.95); Chicken Cacciatora (14.95), Halibut or Wild Salmon Steak mesquite charcoal broiled (17.95) after 5p.m. Save room for dessert. Best bet is the New York Style Cheesecake. Bon Appetit!!
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
MASTERPIECES OF FRENCH JEWELRY: PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ/GLITZ
150 pieces of jewelry from the 20th century through June 10. Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, 34th Avenue and Clement (415) 863-3330 (www.legionof honor.com) Henny Youngman once said "wives dress to kill; some cook the same way." Dazzle your eyes with gold, diamonds, jade, rubies, opals, sapphires worn by tall gracious beauties of the last century with ample bosoms. Some of the Lucys in the Sky with Diamonds were/are Sarah Bernhardt, Mary Pickford, Sarah Bernhardt, Mae West, Jackie Kennedy, Diane Wilsey, Ann Getty. The word on the street is that stepson Sean Wilsey (O The Glory of It All) whose book is dripping with contempt for the blonde bombshell, President governing board of the Legion of Honor, hopes to inherit this piece. Fat Chance!
You will see 150 pieces: Art Nouveau, Belle Epoque, Edwardian, contemporary. Among the French designers of the 20th century: Rene Lalique, George Fouquet, Cartier, Van Cleef/Arpels, Boucheron, and exclusive to Paris Bas des - JAR, and many others.
My favorite pieces in this extravagant collection: art deco necklace worn by Liz Taylor(Burton);a Lalique iris bracelet opal with enamelled iris blossoms (all art comes from nature, n'est-ce pas?); a wide velvet dog collar with diamonds, rubies, sapphires (one visitor asked the docent, "did a dog really wear that?");wheat and chaff necklace with carved diamonds(Gaillard:1907);a Cartier pendant elephant watch (why are binoculars not supplied by museum?);zipper necklace by Van Cleef/Arpels;Edwardian bow broach of carved rock crystal with carved diamonds;owl handbag with garnet eyes;Faberge egg; umbrella handle with nude revelers;butterfly ladies brooch by Lalique, who took risks.
Feast your eyes on the collection's most stunning piece which Burton gifted to Liz Taylor: 2 separate bracelets and brooch necklace made with emeralds and diamonds. All pieces are secured by alarms, so don't get any bright ideas! Uzi-toting security guards? Not yet! Kaboom!
You will see 150 pieces: Art Nouveau, Belle Epoque, Edwardian, contemporary. Among the French designers of the 20th century: Rene Lalique, George Fouquet, Cartier, Van Cleef/Arpels, Boucheron, and exclusive to Paris Bas des - JAR, and many others.
My favorite pieces in this extravagant collection: art deco necklace worn by Liz Taylor(Burton);a Lalique iris bracelet opal with enamelled iris blossoms (all art comes from nature, n'est-ce pas?); a wide velvet dog collar with diamonds, rubies, sapphires (one visitor asked the docent, "did a dog really wear that?");wheat and chaff necklace with carved diamonds(Gaillard:1907);a Cartier pendant elephant watch (why are binoculars not supplied by museum?);zipper necklace by Van Cleef/Arpels;Edwardian bow broach of carved rock crystal with carved diamonds;owl handbag with garnet eyes;Faberge egg; umbrella handle with nude revelers;butterfly ladies brooch by Lalique, who took risks.
Feast your eyes on the collection's most stunning piece which Burton gifted to Liz Taylor: 2 separate bracelets and brooch necklace made with emeralds and diamonds. All pieces are secured by alarms, so don't get any bright ideas! Uzi-toting security guards? Not yet! Kaboom!
Monday, March 5, 2007
EMO PHILIPS: COMEDIAN EXTRAORDINNAIRE--PLAYFUL, HILARIOUS, FUN!
Emo is the master of creating hilarious thoughts from ether (no need for psychotropics). Other comedians steal from him, and he is widely quoted by generations X,Y,Z! His comedy is as light as air; he commingles high intelligence with childlike gamesmanship. Visit him at www.emophilips.com and my congratulations to Kipley, his fiancee of 10 years. I met her in the Green Room after and gave her my BORAT for President pin! She was elated! A wedding date set? No, after all, Emo was married to Judy Tenuta (remember her Judisms?). Is Emo a fan of Groucho? Yes, he believes marriage is a great institution, but who wants to LIVE in an institution?
Here's what I recall from Emo (high falsetto, grey hair au natural) on Saturday night's late show, March 3, 2007:
So many beautiful people in San Francisco. First thing I look for in a woman, well...in this city, an Adam's apple!
I'm not a Republican but I'm saving up to be one.
President Bush said children are America's most precious resource, well, We all pray it never comes to that!
It's not easy raising kids in the new millennium, of course. I've got to keep my nephew away from porn sites--at least until my sister's face changes in 10 years.
Emo asked a couple in front: are you two going to tie the knot or use some other form of protection?
My wife left me. I hate being divorced. I'd much rather be a widower --she takes lessons from the Devil on how to be evil...
My wife used to giggle during sex --no matter what she was reading.
Emo recited a poem to the ex: You look slinky, I said to her at the bottom of the stairs. [maniacal laughter]
I used to get drunk every night until I puked...finally, I admitted I was bulimic.
I want to retire but no completely. I'd like to open a Native-American sex shop and set wet dreamcatchers.
Now I live in Hollywood. No, I'm not a Scientologist. I don't like STUPIDITY even when it's evil.
I'm opening a new line of Greeting Cards: You're another year older --let's hear you blame that on the Jews.
His conversational banter with several in the young crowd (including one old fogey: me) was quick-witted and playful.
Emo: Where do you live...what do you do?
Girl: I'm originally from Texas but live in Alameda. I'm an artist.
Emo: Do you want to paint me nude? Once I posed naked for a magazine but it was VERY demeaning. I'll never go back to that newsstand again!
Did you see the Chinese New Year Parade? I didn't know about it. I was sewing an appointment into my cloth calendar.
Emo invited me to tell a few jokes and handed me the mike! Boy, was I in fun city! Later, the girls in the restroom asked, "Are you Anna with the Borat button? You were really funny!" Not as funny as the king and professional for 25+ years. Compared to Emo, I'm a babe in the woods. I love Emo's persona and contrast him to Steven Wright: both reign as kings of the bizarre one-liners. Steven is a depressive, negative; Emo is an optimist, positive.
Steven Wright: You can't have everything -- where would you put it?
I bought a house on a one-way deadend street. I don't know how I got there!I gave Emo a care package to take back with him to Hollyweird and wished him a Bon Voyage! Good luck and congratulations to a great stand-up for making people laugh for almost 3 decades! Don't miss a chance to see him LIVE at a venue near you!
Here's what I recall from Emo (high falsetto, grey hair au natural) on Saturday night's late show, March 3, 2007:
So many beautiful people in San Francisco. First thing I look for in a woman, well...in this city, an Adam's apple!
I'm not a Republican but I'm saving up to be one.
President Bush said children are America's most precious resource, well, We all pray it never comes to that!
It's not easy raising kids in the new millennium, of course. I've got to keep my nephew away from porn sites--at least until my sister's face changes in 10 years.
Emo asked a couple in front: are you two going to tie the knot or use some other form of protection?
My wife left me. I hate being divorced. I'd much rather be a widower --she takes lessons from the Devil on how to be evil...
My wife used to giggle during sex --no matter what she was reading.
Emo recited a poem to the ex: You look slinky, I said to her at the bottom of the stairs. [maniacal laughter]
I used to get drunk every night until I puked...finally, I admitted I was bulimic.
I want to retire but no completely. I'd like to open a Native-American sex shop and set wet dreamcatchers.
Now I live in Hollywood. No, I'm not a Scientologist. I don't like STUPIDITY even when it's evil.
I'm opening a new line of Greeting Cards: You're another year older --let's hear you blame that on the Jews.
His conversational banter with several in the young crowd (including one old fogey: me) was quick-witted and playful.
Emo: Where do you live...what do you do?
Girl: I'm originally from Texas but live in Alameda. I'm an artist.
Emo: Do you want to paint me nude? Once I posed naked for a magazine but it was VERY demeaning. I'll never go back to that newsstand again!
Did you see the Chinese New Year Parade? I didn't know about it. I was sewing an appointment into my cloth calendar.
Emo invited me to tell a few jokes and handed me the mike! Boy, was I in fun city! Later, the girls in the restroom asked, "Are you Anna with the Borat button? You were really funny!" Not as funny as the king and professional for 25+ years. Compared to Emo, I'm a babe in the woods. I love Emo's persona and contrast him to Steven Wright: both reign as kings of the bizarre one-liners. Steven is a depressive, negative; Emo is an optimist, positive.
Steven Wright: You can't have everything -- where would you put it?
I bought a house on a one-way deadend street. I don't know how I got there!I gave Emo a care package to take back with him to Hollyweird and wished him a Bon Voyage! Good luck and congratulations to a great stand-up for making people laugh for almost 3 decades! Don't miss a chance to see him LIVE at a venue near you!
Sunday, March 4, 2007
PUNCHLINE: EMO PHILIPS (KING OF BIZARRE ONE-LINERS); BRIAN MALOW; NICO SANTOS : March 3, 2007
Does Emo Philips still reigns supreme after 25 years as the King of the Bizarre One-Liners? It was a brilliantly sunny day and the beginning of the Chinese New Year (of the Boar). Later that evening firecrackers were popping inside & outside of the Punchline. Nicos Santos, a local gay Philopino comedian, who is a retail clerk at Bloomingdales & moonlights at the Punchline was the host. My advice is the standard for comics just starting out: don't give up your day job. Brian Malow, describes himself as a Jew from Houston/Austin, Texas and is a SF transplant. He and Kinky Friedman, right? Yep! His uncle thinks that should be his schtick: take off the cowboy hat and put on the yarmulke! Shalom, y'all! Two Jews walk into a Bar Mitzvah! Kaboom.
Memorable bits from his "act":
I'm not a Doctor but I play one in broken dreams of my parents.
Black Angus restaurants: If I were manager, I'd make sure one person was responsible for going out at dusk to make sure "G" lights up!
I never married but married people get tax breaks, regular sex partner -- for awhile at least.My question: why is there no break-up registry, gifts like an extra fork when you need it?
Memory lapses caused by marijuana I call potholes!
I used to be an astronomer but got stuck on the day shift, which sucked!
I think it's a seond-rate universe now that Bush is president. Maybe he could make it as "Employee of the Month" but PRESIDENT???
Terrorist alert system just does not work...how scared should you be when it's mauve?
A new system of 3 levels: Underwear scare: start at white, go to yellow, then brown!
Emo Philips combines old with new schtick and is still the king of the bizarre one-liners. He killed Saturday night in front of a full house!
Do you remember the old Emo (falsetto, page boy cut, kinky humor)???
Old Emo as I remembered him at the Punchline many moons ago:
You know a lot of girls go out with me to further their careers...damn anthropologists!
I was dating this woman from Cuba who was trying to teach me Cuban. It's v. close to Spanish, except there are fewer words for luxury items.
My brother says "hello"--so, hooray for speech therapy.
I always remember the last words of my grandfather, who said, "A truck!"
My nickname as a kid was Mister Baseball -- because of the stitches in my face.
My sister married a German. I'm at a deli with her husband, and he says: Emo, I
can't get a good bagel back in German. I said, who's fault is that?
When I went to college, my parents threw a going away party for me -- according to the letter.
A computer once beat me at chess but it was no match for me at kickboxing.
My girlfriend always laughs during sex -- no matter what she's reading.
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me a kickboxing.
I was with this girl the other night, and from the way she responded to my skillful caresses, you would have sworn that she was conscious, from the top of her head, to the tag on her toes.(TO BE CONTINUED: NEW EMO)
Memorable bits from his "act":
I'm not a Doctor but I play one in broken dreams of my parents.
Black Angus restaurants: If I were manager, I'd make sure one person was responsible for going out at dusk to make sure "G" lights up!
I never married but married people get tax breaks, regular sex partner -- for awhile at least.My question: why is there no break-up registry, gifts like an extra fork when you need it?
Memory lapses caused by marijuana I call potholes!
I used to be an astronomer but got stuck on the day shift, which sucked!
I think it's a seond-rate universe now that Bush is president. Maybe he could make it as "Employee of the Month" but PRESIDENT???
Terrorist alert system just does not work...how scared should you be when it's mauve?
A new system of 3 levels: Underwear scare: start at white, go to yellow, then brown!
Emo Philips combines old with new schtick and is still the king of the bizarre one-liners. He killed Saturday night in front of a full house!
Do you remember the old Emo (falsetto, page boy cut, kinky humor)???
Old Emo as I remembered him at the Punchline many moons ago:
You know a lot of girls go out with me to further their careers...damn anthropologists!
I was dating this woman from Cuba who was trying to teach me Cuban. It's v. close to Spanish, except there are fewer words for luxury items.
My brother says "hello"--so, hooray for speech therapy.
I always remember the last words of my grandfather, who said, "A truck!"
My nickname as a kid was Mister Baseball -- because of the stitches in my face.
My sister married a German. I'm at a deli with her husband, and he says: Emo, I
can't get a good bagel back in German. I said, who's fault is that?
When I went to college, my parents threw a going away party for me -- according to the letter.
A computer once beat me at chess but it was no match for me at kickboxing.
My girlfriend always laughs during sex -- no matter what she's reading.
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me a kickboxing.
I was with this girl the other night, and from the way she responded to my skillful caresses, you would have sworn that she was conscious, from the top of her head, to the tag on her toes.(TO BE CONTINUED: NEW EMO)
Saturday, March 3, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET: SLEEPING BEAUTY: UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT WITH RUSSIANS; ANYA ULINICH, AUTHOR: PETROPOLIS
San Francisco Ballet: Peter Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty. Would I stay awake for Sleeping Beauty? That was the question I posed as I made my way to the Opera House to see Helgi Tomasson's choreographed production of this timeless fairy tale set in Russia before and after the reign of Peter the Great (1682-1725). There was no need to worry. A 4.2 earthquake jolted everyone at exactly 8.40, including the critics. This one's epicenter I found out was in Lafayette. Many people were blase. After all, this is San Francisco. My witty companion said: Maybe they'll do it again? Many became agitated,excited and exited the balcony. By the way, not one dancer missed a step even though later a friend said, one of the girls almost fell over.
A young boy behind me muttered, "Jesus H. Christ, is that an earthquake?" Later, he quipped he pretty much did not believe in Jesus. "Unless there's an earthquake or turbulence?" Silence
Starksy Dias, who has worked at the Opera House since the last earthquake, in 1989, joked with me. "Anna, there's no safer place to be than this retrofitted building!" "If you were in Connecticut during a 9.0 earthquake", he said, "San Francisco's Opera House is where you'd want to be."
It turned out to be a wonderful production and everyone continued to yield to the sweet childishness of a 16-year old princess who is being asked to step into womanhood.
Earlier, at Books, Inc. I met Anya Ulinich, in SF from Brooklyn after a reading of her art-novel, Petropolis (2007, Viking). Anya is an artist/mother/author who emigrated with her family from Russia at age 17. It is a poignant debut, an unforgettable story of familial faultlines, cross-cultural confusion, the beguiling allure of new beginnings. It tells the story of Sacha Goldberg, an ultimate outsider: chubby, biracial, fatherless, living in Asbestos, Siberia with her mother. She is fatherless and eventually flees Russia as a mail order bride and lands in Arizona. Eventually, she embarks on a misadventure-filled journey in search of a father. I practised my college Russian on Anya ("very good") and left for the ballet. It truly was an unforgettable night with the Russians.
A young boy behind me muttered, "Jesus H. Christ, is that an earthquake?" Later, he quipped he pretty much did not believe in Jesus. "Unless there's an earthquake or turbulence?" Silence
Starksy Dias, who has worked at the Opera House since the last earthquake, in 1989, joked with me. "Anna, there's no safer place to be than this retrofitted building!" "If you were in Connecticut during a 9.0 earthquake", he said, "San Francisco's Opera House is where you'd want to be."
It turned out to be a wonderful production and everyone continued to yield to the sweet childishness of a 16-year old princess who is being asked to step into womanhood.
Earlier, at Books, Inc. I met Anya Ulinich, in SF from Brooklyn after a reading of her art-novel, Petropolis (2007, Viking). Anya is an artist/mother/author who emigrated with her family from Russia at age 17. It is a poignant debut, an unforgettable story of familial faultlines, cross-cultural confusion, the beguiling allure of new beginnings. It tells the story of Sacha Goldberg, an ultimate outsider: chubby, biracial, fatherless, living in Asbestos, Siberia with her mother. She is fatherless and eventually flees Russia as a mail order bride and lands in Arizona. Eventually, she embarks on a misadventure-filled journey in search of a father. I practised my college Russian on Anya ("very good") and left for the ballet. It truly was an unforgettable night with the Russians.
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