San Francisco is My Home

29
Jan

The Chalets

Author: kris, Category: Food

If you’re looking for the perfect restaurant, and you’ve got a car, check out the Chalets at Ocean Beach.

This double restaurant is nestled in what is essentially the perfect spot. One side faces the ocean — surfers, sunsets, bonfires, the occasional leaky tanker. This is the Beach Chalet. Perfect for first dates and romantic anniversaries, the Chalet’s view is stunning, its beer is home-brewed, and its food is good and reasonably-priced.

After you’ve had the first date, the anniversary date, the wedding and a couple of kids, you might switch to the downstairs Park Chalet. Facing, as you can imagine, onto Golden Gate Park, the Park Chalet has all the food and home-brewed drinks of the Beach Chalet. It also has a giant patio and lawn outside where antsy kids can run around.

You’ll often find live music in both restaurants, though I prefer the Park Chalet for performances and the Beach Chalet for staring out to sea.

As if this weren’t enough, check out the building’s lobby for a giant room-sized fresco on every wall. The fresco was painted under the WPA program, and it’s outstanding. Also check out display cases detailing the creation of GG Park, as well as a tiny, enchanting model of the park itself.

29
Jan

The It Girls of San Francisco

Author: kris, Category: People

On Saturday, some friends and I got together to watch the Miss America pageant. All the participants dutifully stuck to the party line in their pre- and post-contest interviews: This year’s Miss America will be the “it girl,” confident, strong, smart — and, of course, thin enough that you could add her to your cheese plate when you run out of crackers. (”Carbs! Carbs!” the host shouted to the contest losers, waving a plate of muffins in front of them like snausages in front of a good dog.)

Well, I enjoy beauty pageant irony as much as the next it girl, but let us take a moment to enjoy a brief reality check. Allow me to present a few of the real “it girls” currently haunting San Francisco and environs:

Carmen Chu

Replacing the notoriously corrupt Ed Jew on the SF Board of Supervisors, Chu had worked as the deputy director in the mayor’s office of finance before he offered her the job on the Board. Many were skeptical at first, given her age (29) and lack of hands-on political experience, but most have since admitted that she is smart and capable. Chu is the daughter of Chinese immigrants, and worked in her parents’ restaurant growing up before graduating magna cum laude from Occidental. She will kick ass, take names, and eat carbs.

Image from the Chronicle website, by Deanne Fitzmaurice.

Janie Spahr

You might not expect a 64 year old mother of two to be a Presbyterian minister. You certainly wouldn’t expect her to be an out lesbian who has spent much of her career fighting tirelessly for the rights of “all second-class citizens,” from LGBT people to women to people of color. But all of this is true about Janie Spahr.

Spahr founded the Spectrum Center in Marin, which provides HIV awareness training and support, youth counseling, and political advocacy. She has also spent most of her life working with conservative religious groups to gently open their minds to the notion that LGBT people are just as human and normal as everyone else. You can check out the full bio of this amazing woman here.

Photo was taken from The Bay Area Reporter website.

My mom

The Vice President of a local software company, Eydie Larson began her career as an ordinary programmer. Because of her dazzling technical skills, her strong work ethic, her intelligence, and her eerie ability to manipulate people into doing what she wants, Larson rose through the management ranks to become a VP and Board Member. She also spent many years during my childhood leading my Girl Scout troop, and if you think it’s easy to steer four kids through the rocky shoals of adolescent backstabbing and insecurity, think again.

Larson is currently rehabilitating a neurotic rescue dog, and has spent the last few years tirelessly campaigning for grandchildren.

28
Jan

Benefit for Rocket Dog Rescue

Author: kris, Category: Bars and Clubs, Charity, Events, Groups, Music

Those of you who were struck by the sad destruction of Rocket Dog Rescue’s headquarters but didn’t know what to do about it are in luck. On Friday, February 1, you can attend a benefit for the non-profit dog rescue group at Slim’s, featuring a dazzling lineup of performers, plus some disco funtimes. Show starts at 8:30, and you can buy tickets here.

Flyer from Rocket Dog website.

25
Jan

Life in the Rain

Author: kris, Category: Museums

It’s going to keep on raining all next week. Maybe forever. However, we cannot let the rain force us to hide in our houses — well, YOU can’t. I completely can; I work from home, after all. But for everyone else, life must go on. In keeping with this philosophy, I will from time to time present Stuff You Can Do While It Is Raining.

Here is one such stuff: visit the Randall Museum. You can see live animals, learn about natural history, find out about earthquakes, take classes, play in a treehouse (if you are a toddler), and right now the whole lobby has been converted into a giant labyrinth.

I also have an anecdote about this. My lovely British friend was here on a long visit last year, and looking for some museum work to plump up her resume and put her art history degree to work. She applied for and was granted an internship at the Randall, and was very excited — until her first day, when she discovered part of her job would consist of holding the tarantula. She eventually wound up working at the De Young.

At any rate, the Randall is open 10 - 5, Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is free. You don’t have to hold the tarantula unless you work there.

24
Jan

Furniture not from Ikea

Author: kris, Category: Shopping

I got invited into my upstairs neighbor’s apartment a while back and I’m still not over it.

I live in one of those — oh, you know what, this sounds like it’s going to be a horrible story about being assaulted by my neighbor or something, but it’s actually about furniture. Don’t panic. (She does not get eaten by the eels at this time.)

As I was saying, I live in one of those great old buildings whose residents have been in the same apartments for thirty years or more. They’re all friends, and they maintain our gorgeous garden together and everyone chats in the laundry room and puts up a tree at Christmas and is a genuine community.

The neighbor I speak of is one of the long-term residents, and over the years he’s decorated and re-decorated his home until it is, currently, a real stunner. My fellow and I, surrounded by the glowing ruby walls, the deep carpets and the rich tones of the wooden furniture, sighed regretfully over our own haphazard collection of hand-me-down pieces.

Most people I know, being in their mid- to late-twenties like me, are in a similar predicament. We’d like to have nice things, but we simply can’t afford them, and so we depend on the kindness of relatives who are trading up and need to ditch their old couch in a hurry. (Actually, we do have a few nice pieces. It’s not a war zone in here. But it could still be better.) If you, too, find yourself longing for some of the finer things, take heart: there are non-Ikea options that even you can afford.

Mickey’s Monkey is the junkshop of choice for cognoscenti in the Haight. Its collection of furniture spills out onto the sidewalk and is both funky and, in general, reasonably priced. You can find it at Pierce and Haight.

If you’re willing to venture a bit further afield, befriend someone with a largish vehicle and head down to Urban Ore in Berkeley. This large warehouse space (3 acres, or so they say) is packed to the ceiling with furniture of all descriptions. A lot of it is falling apart, scarred, or generally junky, but the great joy of mining is that sometimes you strike it rich. I myself found a beautiful huge dining room table there. And, of course, it’s all completely affordable because it’s all second (or third, fourth or fifth) hand.

If even these prices are a bit too high-end, then I suggest you consult the one-stop shop for most of us: Craigslist. Specifically, the section on Garage and Moving Sales. Artists are being priced out of this city all the time; it’s been happening for decades. When they go, they often sell their stuff, and it’s often quite nice. The city’s tragic loss is your living room’s gain.

23
Jan

Antiquarian Book Fair

Author: kris, Category: Events, Literature, Shopping

The Antiquarian Book, Print and Paper Fair is fast approaching. I know, I know: it seems like only yesterday that you attended last year’s Antiquarian Book, Print and Paper Fair. The older you get, the quicker the years seem to pass. Soon you will be attending an Antiquarian Book, Print and Paper Fair practically every darn day.

But seriously, folks. This Fair is not as nerdy as it sounds; or rather, it is exactly as nerdy as it sounds, and possibly more so, but it’s the fascinating kind of nerdy that makes even non-nerds sit up and pay attention.

Fans of first editions, ancient maps, rare old photographs, and anything else old and printed that you can think of will of course love this fair. But the truth is, even if you’re not keen on old stuff, anyone with an eye for aesthetic appeal will enjoy this. The fair is a testament to the craft of all things paper, a bonanza of book-related beauty.

Lacking thousands of spare dollars, I myself will attend to look rather than buy, but collectors and hapless rich folk should come with pocketbooks prepared.

The Fair will take place on February 9th from 10 am to 7 pm and on February 10th from 10 am to 5 pm. It’s located at 7th Street & Brannan.

17
Jan

The Stampede

Author: kris, Category: Groups

Note: both links in this post lead to fetish-related content. If you have a very strict office, I suggest you wait until you get home to follow the links.

Sometimes I worry that these posts I write — Opera House, bars, bands — aren’t accurately reflecting the originality that is the defining element of SF.

So today, I bring you The Stampede. The Stampede is a group of folks who like to get together for pony play. For those of you who never read Safe Word, pony play is when humans gear up in pony trappings (bridle, harness, etc.) and are treated like ponies by other humans.
As fetish play goes, this is on the delightful side. And as groups go, I really admire this one: the whole purpose is to offer people a safe, private place to act out their fantasies where they won’t be judged. (If you’re still shaking your head, ask yourself how many of your friends could refrain from judging you if you acted out some of your fantasies in front of them?)

Those who are pony-curious but still on the pasture fence about the whole thing can attend one of the Munches at Sparky’s Diner, where you can meet members of the group in a non-dressed-up environment. But if anyone reads this and attends a Munch solely to mock or abuse, I swear I will hunt you down myself and make you sorry. These are nice folks with a fascinating hobby. Be cool.

16
Jan

BRAINS! BRAINS!

Author: kris, Category: Events, Groups

Living in San Francisco isn’t all soothing bird walks and train accidents. Sometimes things get downright grim. Sometimes, there are zombie attacks.

Happily, the San Francisco Zombie Mob helps concerned citizens keep abreast of all this distressing undead activity. Check the website to find out when and where the next zombie attack is expected to occur.

Of course, zombies can also check the website, so they know when to meet up with their brain-seeking pals. Dress like a zombie or an ordinary joe to take part in these highly enjoyable little meet-ups.

Photo is courtesy of the Zombie Mob website. 

15
Jan

Bird Walks

Author: kris, Category: Events, Kids, Nature, Outdoors

I’ve been slacking on my promise to include some kid-friendly activities, but here’s a good one for older kids: birding walks in the SF Botanical Gardens.

This sounds like the kind of thing I might have dragged my feet through as a kid, whining and wishing to be back with my Nintendo, but the guide is an old hand at peaking kids’ interest and the gardens are actually filled with some pretty exciting things: ospreys carrying fish in their talons through the air, and all that “red in tooth and claw” stuff.

The walks are held on the first Saturday of each month. Meet in Strybing Auditorium at 10:00 am. Walks last a couple of hours and are free, but will be canceled if it rains. As an added bonus, you can hang around for a picnic lunch in the gardens afterwards, since this is one of the most beautiful and visually interesting spots in Golden Gate Park.

This photo was taken by Mike Baird and obtained from Wikipedia. 

14
Jan

Science: not just for the nerds anymore

Author: kris, Category: Museums

I almost went to the Exploratorium yesterday. This would probably be a better post if I’d actually gone, but we ran out of time. No science for us. Still, I was reminded that it exists and I thought I’d do the same for you.

The Exploratorium is a great big warehouse full of hands-on stuff that they tell me has some relation to science. All I hear is blah blah blah giant bubbles. The science is not strong with me, but even I love a room full of fun science experiments. Freeze your shadow in the shadow box or holler down the length of the echo tube. Or just run around like a crazy kid, too excitable to sit still at any one experiment.

Added bonus: you get to wander through the Palace of Fine Arts, home of a scene from So I Married an Axe Murderer, my after-prom party 11 years ago, and, of course, fine art.