SFist

Day Around the Bay

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-08T17:33:51-08:00

Dave Chappelle performs in Oakland this week. [Eye On Blogs]

Local internet notables to serve you drinks for Rocket Dog Rescue. [Appeal]

Behold Traci Des Jardins' sneak peak at her new ballpark eatery, ACME Chophouse. [Eater]

Daisy has a tattoo removal consultation. [Oopsie Daisy]

Nearly 50,000 Californians have their social security numbers made public. [Chronicle]

Woman chasing dog falls off Mendocino cliff. [CBS 5/AP]

SFist Out and About

Leanne Maxwell — 2010-02-08T16:50:17-08:00

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We're starting a new series in which we capture photos of places of interest as we're out and about. The above photos are from the Goodwill at Post and Fillmore. We've scored lots of swank stuff from this location, most notably a Hobo bag and a sweet cape, but it seemed pretty well picked over today, unless you're into Bernadette Peters on vinyl or outdated electronics.

[Sponsored]

2010-02-08T16:50:17-08:00

Afternoon Palate Cleanser: The Swagger Stagger

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-08T16:20:30-08:00

Join Monk's Kettle's Sayre Piotrkowski, one of the city's very few cicerones (i.e., a beer sommelier) and Broke Ass-Stuart as they honor SF Beer Week by going on a walking tour of San Francisco’s best beer places.

SF Beer Week, by the way, for those of you into fancy brewskis, is still going on. Check out the schedule of events to get nice and toasty.

Marina Yoga Studio Donates Old Mats for Haitian Relief

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-08T15:48:52-08:00

Photo by James Fallows at The Atlantic.

Already sending readers into numbing states of fury at BoingBoing, The Pad, a yoga studio in the Marina district, put out this sign asking for old yoga mats to send to Port-au-Prince quake victims.

Horrifying, right?

Not so. See, SFist called The Pad today see if, in fact, they were asking Haitians to eat cake. The receptionist at The Pad, who sounded exasperated with the (unfair) mini-flame war being directed at the small studio, explained to us,"the yoga mats are being used as makeshift beds in Haiti, not for yoga ... We've already sent loads of them over." (One commenter at Mission Mission already pointed this out.)

To reiterate, The Pad isn't worried about Haitians being able to do the downward dog on a soft spot; they're worried about providing the earthquake-stricken country with makeshift beds. Deep abdominal breaths, people.

Meanwhile, In Berkeley...

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-08T14:45:37-08:00

"Nader/Gonzalez" by quinn.anya.

Food Royalty Reveal Junk Food Favorites

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-08T14:01:36-08:00

Yes, it's the time again when Bay Area chefs, critics, and other artisan slop notables break their silence on what junk food they let pass over their acclaimed, richly-textured palates. Everything from aged (read: stale) Swedish Fish to Tombstone Pizza (mmm) to Rotel cheese dip (quadruple mmm) to Beard Papa cream puffs receive tips of the hat from the gastronomic elite. Many thanks goes out to the fine food folks who participated.

Thomas Keller (The French Laundry): "My favorite junk food is Reese's peanut butter cups."

Chris Cosentino (Incanto and Boccalone, executive chef): Swedish Fish - buys them by the bag, "then lets them sit out in the open to 'age.'"

Matthew Accarrino (SPQR, executive chef): "I got a box of these for xmas and they are so good. Crispy crepe covered in chocolate - what's not to like?"

Traci Des Jardins (Jardiniere, Manzanita, ACME Chophouse): "Nachos, but really good ones."

Ryan Farr (4505 Meats): "Not much makes me feel guilty, but I do feel pretty bad when my wife leaves the room and I eat her ice cream."

Jonathan Kauffman (SF Weekly, food critic): "Tombstone original pepperoni pizza. And I make no apologies for it."

Thomas McNaughton (Flour + Water, chef): "Jersey Pork Roll - which is basically pork scraps and all that stuff put together in a roll that is then prepped by frying, making a sandwich, etc."

Frankie Frankeny (Frankeny Images, food photographer): "Rotel cheese dip with REAL Velveeta cheese."

Jason Berthold (RN47, executive chef): Sour Patch Kids, Good and Plenty, Snickers Bars, and Cheez-Its.

Michael Dotson (Martins West Gastropub, Redwood City, chef/owner): Chicken wings, American cheese, and menudo ("Yummy icky bits, boiled and served with lime and fresh cilantro -- it's just delicious -- period.)

Sarah Sung (UrbanDaddy, writer/editor): Twizzlers, Nutter Butters. pretzels ("the gigantic kind like at Monk’s Kettle"), Orbit Sweet Mint Gum ("I chew a pack a day.")

Michael Morrison (Coco 500, executive chef): "Beard Papa [cream puffs] - like 4 at a time."

Scott Hocker (Tasting Table, writer/editor): Cheetos puffs ("Never the crunchy kind. Blech"), cereal ("bowl after bowl of Lucky Charms in one sitting, eaten rapidly enough that they don't get soggy. Then dump the murky, unholy milk.")

Dottie Guy (The Sweet Cart): "Tastykakes are my favorite. They remind me of home (they are an East Coast thing)." (Note: Guy is done with The Sweet Cart. "I'm going back to school soon and needed to focus on that," she told SFist. Alas. We'll miss you and your red velvet cakes!)

Alice Waters (Chez Panisse, God): N/A

Foodie Royalty Reveals Junk Food Favorites (June 2009)

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SFist Interviews: L.A. Electronic Star Nosaj Thing

Jay Barmann — 2010-02-08T13:25:16-08:00

by Kevin Meenan of Epicsauce

As we discussed last Monday, Mighty lined up one of LA's rising electronic stars over the weekend, Nosaj Thing. We had a chance to catch up with the 24-year-old beat maker before his show last week, where we discussed his hip hop fundamentals, LA's infamous DIY venue The Smell, his beta stage visually synced show and much more.

Kevin Meenan: Your 2009 full length debut Drift was one of the year's most unique and compelling records, clearly drawing inspiration from an endless range of genres. At its core, however, I really see Drift as a hip hop record. Was hip hop part of your earliest musical foundation, or was it an influence that came later in life?

Nosaj Thing: I guess it all started when I was in 3rd grade. My parents enrolled me in an after school program at the YMCA, and the bus driver that picked us up always had on the local hip hop stations -- Power 106, or it would be 92.3 The Beat. I would hear that everyday, and when I would get home I would want to listen to it more. I had this clock radio that had recording capability, and I would just record the shows that I liked and from then on just listen to it.

One thing that separates you from many artist in the hip hop and electronic world is your ability to do something truly memorable live -- you use your midi controller as an instrument, improvising a unique set each night. While it is something we are starting to see a bit more of, it is still a relatively new and exciting direction in music. What was your early inspiration for this type of approach?
What inspired me to do live shows was actually going to this venue The Smell, in downtown LA. I started going there when I was in high school and saw a lot of DIY acts - lots of noise and punk artist, just doing their thing. I remember seeing this one artist that would do a whole set with a variety of pedals. I thought it was really cool that he could express himself like that, and do such a cool show with just one man.

Computer and music technology was also just booming with all the midi controllers and stuff at this time, and growing up this was just more affordable. So I started experimenting and getting into it -- I just started doing it.

I understand that some of your early shows actually took place at The Smell. That is really interesting to me -- while a lot of amazing artist got there start at the venue, it has never struck me as a super electronic or hip hop friendly place. How did the crowd react to your early performances there?
Every time I would go there it was just a random lineup - I’d play between a noise artist and a folk artist. [laughs]

But I think my sound was a bit different then. Of course the backbone was hip hop, but it would be more melodic, and some of the songs also had some noise elements as well. I think people kind of got that.

These days you are affiliated with Low End Theory, a weekly party that LA Weekly described as The Smell's "beat-oriented little brother." Do you see any room for this traditionally hip hop oriented event to put together these type of eclectic bills?
Definitely, and I know it has been done before. They have had a few bands there -- School of Seven Bells and Health played, and a few other bands. But yeah, I would like to see more of that.

From start to finish, Drift is a distinctly solo affair. Have you thought at all about bringing in collaborators the next time around?
I have done some production work for a couple of LA based MCs, like Bus Driver and Nocando, and definitely want to get a few vocalist for the next record.

It is actually kind of funny. When I first started working with production software, my dream was pretty much do hip hop beats, like Timbaland or Neptunes -- that’s what I grew up with. But the more I got into music, the more I started thinking --“how am I even going to get this music to these [MCs]?” So I just kind of went my own way, and started creating more songs. And that made me feel better than making something for someone else.

Is there anything that you are working on right now that we can look forward to hearing in the near future?
Well I am working on a record - it is probably going to come out early next year. I also have a remix EP on the way -- so far it is Daedelus, this dubstep group from UK called 16Bit, Lorn, and hopefully some others. And I am working on a remix for Fever Ray -- the song is called Keep the Streets Empty.

Sounds like you are keeping busy! There has also been a bit of buzz surrounding a synced visual show that you have been working on lately. Can you tell us a little bit about how that came about, and if we can expect to see it in SF anytime soon?

I got really inspired to do a visual show after I saw Cornelius play. At the time, my girlfriend had just graduated from the Art Center College of Design and was taking an internship to Seattle. We live in a two bedroom apartment, so to save on cost we needed someone to take over this room we had for a bit. Her classmate Adam moved in, and it turned out we were into a lot of the same music. So I just told him that I thought it would be cool if I could do something like this [visual show], and it turned out he was really into the concept as well -- he was even exploring basing his thesis on the idea. So along with my girlfriend Julia, we just started throwing out ideas together -- just brainstorming and experimenting and trying things out.

Julia and Adam actually both come with me when we do the live visual show. We are all controlling these visuals with three separate midi controllers, routed through this special software. I would say it is in the beta phase though. We probably have done it three times, and every time we did it we just learned so much from it. I think we only did it successfully once, which was the last time we did it. But yea definitely want to tour it, but it is just logistical issues -- you know?

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Suspect Calls 911 to Report Tenderloin Stabbing Death

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-08T12:53:58-08:00

Tuan Nguyen, a 36-year-old San Franciscan, was found dead inside an apartment in the 600 block of Ellis Street. He was stabbed in the chest. The incident occurred a little before 1:30 a.m.

The suspect, 42-year-old Phuck Van Lee, whose relationship to Nguyen isn't quite clear yet, was kind enough to call the police to report the stabbing. Arriving officers "found him with blood on his hands and clothing," promptly arresting Lee soon thereafter.

One possible explanation? Booze. "They were sitting in the apartment drinking," said homicide Lt. Mike Stasko.

SFist Tonight

Leanne Maxwell — 2010-02-08T12:15:12-08:00

MUSIC: The San Francisco and Shanghai Conservatories of Music will celebrate the creation of their sister-school relationship with their Shanghai Celebration Concert, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the signing of the first sister city agreement between the U.S. and China. The concert will feature mezzo-soprano Zheng Cao, conductor Nicole Paiement, and cellist Emil Miland.

8 p.m. // San Francisco Conservatory of Music Concert Hall (50 Oak St) // $15-20

FILM: Enjoy a beer and a movie at the Independent's weekly movie night. Tonight's feature is Zombieland, in which "studly Woody Harrelson, nerdy Jesse Eisenberg, sexy Emma Stone and sunshiny Abigail Breslin roam a near-dead world kicking zombie ass."

7:30 p.m. // The Independent (628 Divisadero St) // free (2 drink minimum)

CLUB: Hey now, hey now now, head over to the weekly Death Guild and get your goth/industrial on.

10 p.m. // DNA Lounge (375 Eleventh St) // $3-5, 18+

Denny's Free Grand Slam Breakfast Day Tuesday

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-08T11:32:55-08:00

Holy heck, folks. Tomorrow, fine-dining establishment Denny's will be giving away free "Original Grand Slam Breakfast," their signature plate of twos.

What is a "Grand Slam Breakfast," you snort? Well, if you can pull yourself away from the mobile food cart, we'll tell you: It's two eggs, 2 sausages, 2 strips of bacon, and 2 pancakes. Sure, it's no "Moons Over My Hammy," but, really, what is?

The Appeal confirms that both SF Denny's locations (861 Mission and 495 Beach) will be participating in their free Grand Slam Breakfast on Tuesday, February 9, going down between 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photo du Jour 567

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-08T11:00:23-08:00

"Yeah I know you see me" by SullyStyle.

Prop 8 Trial Judge Is Gay; Should This Matter?

Jay Barmann — 2010-02-08T10:26:31-08:00

Photo: Mlinksva

On Sunday, Matier and Ross carefully stepped into some potentially controversial territory in pointing out the open secret that federal Judge Vaughn Walker is gay. Walker will be delivering a decision concerning the overturning of Prop 8 — a judicial referendum on gay marriage which will next head to a federal appeals court and likely also to the Supreme Court, where it will create a national uproar.

Walker did not seek out the case; it was assigned to him at random. And Prop 8 backers have so far kept quiet about Walker's orientation, waiting to see how the case turns out. In seeking the job as federal judge, Walker previously had to disprove allegations that he was, ironically, anti-gay, due to a case he he tried in private practice in the early 80s in which the U.S. Olympic Committee sued San Francisco's Gay Olympic Games for use of the Olympic name -- Walker acted on behalf of the plaintiffs, who won, and consequently pissed off a lot of gay people.

Says Kate Kendell of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, "There is nothing about Walker as a judge to indicate that his sexual orientation, other than being an interesting factor, will in any way bias his view."

In any event, though no brouhaha over Walker's orientation is likely to explode over this Chron piece, you can bet that if the Prop 8 proponents lose the federal case, Walker's homosexuality will be front and center in their arguments on appeal.

PREVIOUSLY:
Prop 8 Trial Undramatic Reenactment
Update on Federal Prop 8 Lawsuit: Should SF, Gay Legal Groups Get Involved, Or Not?

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Antioch Super Bowl Party Leads to Murder Killing

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-08T09:55:42-08:00

During yesterday's annual Super Bowl jubilation, an Antioch man was shot and killed over a reneged bet/drunken behavior.

An initial investigation, according to the Contra Costa Times, claimed that a Super Bowl party in the 900 block of San Carlos Drive, "one of the partygoers made a bet on the game during the broadcast but retracted his bet as soon as it looked like he wasn't going to win." Then, as logic would dictate, this sparked fury among the guests, sparking an argument lasting "well past the end of the game."

After the game, "the argument made its way outside, and the deceased man, who lives at the home, told everyone to leave." Which is when several guests refused to leave. So, the man went inside the home and came back outside with a handgun."

The unidentified victim, eschewing his buddy's pleas to put away the gun, was killed a short time later, dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

And, yes, the details do seem a bit sketchy. We know. That's because, as Lt. Leonard Orman explained to the CoCo Times, "several witness statements were questionable because of the level of intoxication at the party."

In related news, for better or for worse, the New Orleans Saints won yesterday's game.

Update: It looks like, according to KTVU, the Antioch man "appears to have shot himself in the head," meaning that the 28-year-old host "committed suicide or shot himself accidentally." Huh. Bizarre.

The Week Ahead: Bay Area Concerts 2/8 - 2/14

Jay Barmann — 2010-02-08T09:12:45-08:00

This week's concert preview is being brought to you by Kevin Meenan of Epicsauce, providing detailed concert listings for the Bay Area every week. Follow them on Twitter.

The Mantles

There are a plethora of show options this week with Brooklyn's The Antlers at The Warfield tonight, Los Angeles's buzzed lo-fi pop act Best Coast with Vivian Girls at Bottom of the Hill Tuesday and San Francisco's beyond hyped Girls doing a V-day show with Magic Kids at Great American Music Hall Sunday (sadly, very sold out).

Our pick for this week, however, is San Francisco's garage-pop outfit The Mantles at Hemlock Saturday. While no doubt at home alongside previously profiled local garage favorites Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall, The Mantles' sound really has more in common with of The Byrds and Paisley Underground era jangle than it does with the current wave of fellow reverb soaked lo-fi acts. This pop prowess is perhaps most evident on Don't Lie, a standout track that deservedly topped several best of lists last year. While the quartet found quite a bit of success with their enjoyable self-titled debut last fall, our money is on 2010 being their true breakout year -- just last week the group was added to tastemaker Gorilla Vs Bear's buzz band packed SXSW showcase, a surefire sign that they are on the brink of reaching critical mass. Saturday's bill is rounded out by the aforementioned Ty Segall (the dude really gets around) and Sacramento's G.green, so be sure to arrive early.

Monday, February 7th
Editors, The Antlers @ Warfield $20
Death Sentence: Panda!, Pompoir, Slaughtering Dolphins @ 21 Grand $5
Scott H. Biram, Dirt Daubers, The Ferocious Few @ Bottom of the Hill $10
St. Vincent, Wildbirds & Peacedrums @ Great American Music Hall (Sold Out)

Tuesday, February 8th
Vivian Girls, Best Coast, The Bananas @ Bottom of the Hill $10
Airfix Kits, Rank/Xerox, La Corde @ Knockout (Free)
Dave Rawlings Machine @ Fillmore $27.50
Garrett Pierce, Mountain Man, Mira Cook @ Hemlock $6

Wednesday, February 9th
T.I.T.S., Eats Tapes, Houndsound @ Elbo Room
Eyedea & Abilities, dosh, Cubik & Origami @ Bottom of the Hill $10
Curse Of The Birthmark, Careerers, Tank Attack @ Hemlock $6

Thursday, February 10th
Alice In Chains @ Fox Theater (Sold Out)
Wild Beasts, Still Life Still, Magic Bullets @ Independent $14
Shannon and the Clams @ Amoeba Berkeley (Free)
Nothing People, Moon Duo, Epikurs Euforie @ Hemlock $6
Mumford & Sons @ 330 Ritch (Sold Out)

Friday, February 11th
The Thermals, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down @ UC Berkeley (Free)
The Album Leaf, Sea Wolf @ Great American Music Hall $15
Alec Ounsworth @ Cafe Du Nord $16
De La Soul @ Yoshi's (SF) $40

Saturday, February 12th
Ty Segall, The Mantles, Ggreen, Peter Grimm @ Hemlock $7
Sound Tribe Sector 9, Nalepa Dub Orchestra @ Fox Theater $27.50
Blowoff (DJs Bob Mould and Rich Morel) @ Slims $15
Sinden, Disco Shawn, ORO11, Tuesday Lockhart @ Elbo Room $5 - $10
De La Soul @ Yoshi's (SF) $40

Sunday, February 13th
Girls, Magic Kids @ Great American Music Hall (Sold Out)
The Entrance Band, Lights, Sic Alps @ Independent $15
Dead Prez, Pep Love, Nima Fadavi @ Shattuck Down Low $20
Chicago Underground Trio @ Cafe Du Nord $12
The Damned, Hewhocannotbenamed, The Generators @ Slim's $30

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One Dead in Fisherman's Wharf Nightclub Shooting

Jay Barmann — 2010-02-07T21:30:13-08:00

Early Sunday morning a 20-year-old Richmond man allegedly shot three people outside Suede nightclub, at 383 Bay Street, near Fisherman's Wharf. One of those shot, 19-year-old Richmond man Lawson Hall, is dead, and the two others suffered life threatening injuries. The suspect was shot and later arrested by a patrol special police officer in the neighborhood. A conflict inside the nightclub allegedly moved onto the street, where at least the one gun was drawn.

There's no word on whether the shooting was gang-related, but clearly it was Richmond-related. Any potential witnesses are asked to call the SFPD's confidential tip line at (415) 575-4444. [CBS 5]

Muni Bus Nails a Fire Hydrant

Leanne Maxwell — 2010-02-07T21:00:54-08:00

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Update II: Sorry, y'all, last night's update needs an update -- we were a little out of it from the Super Bowl imbibing. It's not clear whether the person using the wheelchair lift was actually in a wheelchair, just that they fell from the lift and were taken to the hospital. [Cue the Benny Hill soundtrack here.] Twenty minutes later, during the initial investigation, the bus lurched forward for some unknown reason, and nailed the fire hydrant with the wheelchair lift. Then the airborne hydrant hit the Muni investigator in the head, who was treated at the scene. Water from the hydrant caused flooding in at least one of the nearby buildings. See SF Appeal for more info.

Update: SF Appeal, of course, has the full scoop on the incident. Apparently, a wheelchair passenger fell as they were being lifted from the 22 Fillmore, and then the bus lurched forward and nailed the fire hydrant. The hydrant then reportedly hit a Muni inspector, who was treated on the scene. The passenger was sent to the hospital for unknown injuries.

Friend of SFist Nathan Moomaw witnessed a Muni bus nailing a fire hydrant in the Haight tonight and then getting drenched by the onrush of water from the hydrant. Keep up the good work, Muni!

SFist Tonight

Leanne Maxwell — 2010-02-07T13:00:03-08:00

FILM: Indiefest documentary Oh My God! It's Harrod Blank! about local artist Harrod Blank, creator of interactive art pieces such as the Camera Van and the Flash Suit, showcases twenty years of footage of the "loveable boy-man in all his oddball glory."

7:15 p.m. // Roxie Theater (3117 16th St) // $10

SPORTS: The Lookout's weekly Training Camp presents their Super Bowl Edition. Half-time festivities include go-go dancers and a fundraiser for Haiti via the Rainbow World Fund. Each Sunday features drinking games, relay races, jock dancers, drink specials, and tasty food.

3 p.m. to Midnight // Lookout (3600 16th St) // $2

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-07T11:35:15-08:00

Photo by James Calder.

DCist is busy digging out of the great Snowmaggedon of 2010.

Londonist discovered an alpine ski lodge, some abstract art, a treasure-trove of antiques and several tube-carriage offices, all in the unlikely setting of East London's rooftops and alleyways.

Gothamist was amazed when a Best Buy shopper was arrested for using valid gift cards. Oh, and when a 12-year-old was arrested for doodling on her desk. Oh, and when a 9-year-old was almost suspended for a Lego-sized toy gun. Oh, and when ?uestlove wondered about NBC's Black History Month cafeteria menu.

Phillyist reported from the Miss'd America pageant in Atlantic City, former home of the Miss America pageant.

Torontoist has been interviewing the members of the Kids in the Hall one by one by one, now that the much-loved comedy troupe is back on TV with a new mini-series, Death Comes to Town.

Shanghaiist got shoved into overcrowded subways by new professional subway shovers.

Bostonist toyed around with a naked Scott Brown action figure.

LAist was exited to announce that a light rail line and route connecting Santa Monica to Downtown had finally been approved.

Chicagoist followed PETA's battle to get the controversial "Lobster Zone" game removed from a local bar (PETA won).

Seattlest checked out the strange case of a photographer sued for taking a picture of Seattle public art.

SFist recoiled at senate candidate Carly Fiorina new campaign attack ad, which features swine, sheep and furries.

Houstonist focused a spotlight on the local music scene.

[Sponsored]

2010-02-07T11:35:15-08:00

This Week at Heart of the City Farmers Market

Leanne Maxwell — 2010-02-06T20:00:23-08:00

Jalapeno/Garlic Pistachios

At this Wednesday's Heart of the City Farmers Market, located at the United Nations Plaza in Civic Center every Wednesday and Sunday, we

bought Jalapeno/Garlic Pistachios, which are wonderfully spicy and flavorful, but half of them have flaws -- either the shells stick together, the nut sticks in the shell once you do get them open, and the green powder stains your fingers green.
sampled some sinful Almond Toffee Popcorn
and met a guy with a caged parrot, whom he says thinks it's humans and watches over babies so they don't get swept up by hawks. (We had an infant with us.)

SFist Tonight

Leanne Maxwell — 2010-02-06T11:30:18-08:00

MUSIC: Obscure Canadian metal band Anvil, whose comeback warmed the hearts of America (and Japan), in Anvil! The Story of Anvil!, will be turning it up to 11 at the Fillmore tonight.

8 p.m. // The Fillmore (1805 Geary Blvd) // $17.50

COMEDY: "Roastmaster General" and the "Meanest Man in Comedy" Jeffrey Ross will throw his trademark insults about Cobb's.

8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. // Cobb's Comedy Club (915 Columbus Ave) // $22.50

DANCE: In Two-Year Old Gentlemen, Evidence, a traditional African dance company based in Brooklyn, poses questions about male responsibility -- to one’s community, to one’s family, and to one’s self.

8 p.m. // Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission St) // $10-30

SFist Drinks: The Recoil at Bloodhound

Jay Barmann — 2010-02-05T18:15:43-08:00

We recently had a simple and delicious drink at Bloodhound that's kind of like a cross between a whiskey sour and a bourbon-and-ginger (does that drink have an official name, btw?) with the added magical power of St. Germain. Bar manager Dylan O'Brien sent us the details. Sidenote: Have one yourself at a happy hour price this Sunday during the BIG GAME. Chef Ryan Farr of 4505 Meats will also be there roasting a whole hog. From Dylan:

The drink is called the Recoil because we like to use Bulleit (pronounced like bullet) Bourbon and it goes down easy but it has a kick. Kinda cheesy, I know. I like the drink because it's really balanced and can appeal to all different kinds of drinkers. Whiskey drinkers like it because you can taste the bourbon and it's not too sweet. However, it's sweet enough to appeal to those that like sugary stuff. And lets face it, you can add St. Germain to just about anything and it makes it taste better. It's like bacon that way.

The Recoil

1.5 oz good quality bourbon (we use Bulleit or Buffalo Trace, but any good one will do; Makers, Knob Creek, Old Grand Dad, etc.)
.5 oz St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
.5 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
Ginger Beer - Not ginger ale. Ginger beer is spicier and drier and makes a more balanced cocktail.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and shake the first three ingredients 20 times. Strain into a pint Mason jar filled with ice and top with the ginger beer. Garnish with a lime.

PREVIOUSLY: The B Line at Range
La Perla at Fifth Floor
The DiVine Cocktail at The Parlor
A New School Cocktail Glossary
The Piccadilly at Absinthe
A Classic Hot Toddy
Smuggler's Cove Opens
The Yuletide Moon from Elixir
The Ginger Ante from DOSA Fillmore
The Fogcutter from Smuggler's Cove
A Sour Mezcal Cocktail from Camino
The Spruce Goose from Spruce
The Autumn Apple Cocktail from Cyrus
Seven Decades of Cocktails from Gourmet
The Pisco Sol from Pisco Lounge
The Five-Spice Margarita and Laughing Buddha
from Cantina
The Improved Sunrise from Rickhouse
The Grape Drink from Blackbird
Smokin' Stoned Fruit from Conduit
The Promissory Note from The Alembic
Blackberry Shrub
Strawberry Gin Shrub from NOPA
The Naughty Sun Dress from Bourbon & Branch
Gitane's Castillan Cup
Tales of the Cocktail
The Sexy Saint at The Four Seasons
A Roundup of Cocktail Blogs
The Rio Grande Cocktail at 15 Romolo
Old Sydney Town Punch at Elixir
The Vicious Circle from Range
Thirsty Bear's Strawberry Rhubarb Manhazarac
Rock & Rye from Rye
The Black Lavender from Alicia Walton at Elixir
Boulevard's Biscaccianti
DOSA's Batsman

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Chamber of Commerce Wants to Save You From Democracy

Chris Jones — 2010-02-05T17:37:37-08:00

What is it with the people in this city and their obsessive need to tinker with things that aren't broken as a way of drawing attention away from things that actually are? It's like, Muni doesn't work, so let's ban salt within city limits because that's like a far more serious issue to contend with than like getting people to actual places away from their houses, you know?

See, Thursday's Comical reported that the Chamber of Commerce has hatched a nefarious plot to tamper with the city's legislative branch by potentially shifting some supervisorial seats away from individual districts and into at-large positions for which the whole city can vote. The reason? Just cruelty, apparently. Excluding the excuse that electing supervisors by district leads to the rise of alleged zealots (i.e., Chris "Fuck!" Daly), none of the other justifications for this nonsense hold water.

Keep in mind that this is hardly a new idea. Back in April of 2008, town whiner Michela Alioto-Pier went running off to Stepmother of the Century, Dede Wilsey, with complaints of how this pesky thing the peasantry calls democracy was getting in the way of her being able to do her job and, gee, wouldn't it be all great if we could just elect a bunch of rich white guys from Pacific Heights to the Board of Supervisors instead of actual humans from actual neighborhoods who might have a clue as to what's actually going on around town, etc.?

Of course, local commuter and rumored strip mall shopper Chuck Nevius thinks the Chamber's scheme is a grand idea. Why? Basically because:

Supervisors are too focused on their neighborhood issues to pay any attention to problems that plague the entire city;

Districts, from a geographic perspective, are too small to justify their own supervisors; and,

For every Sophie Maxwell we elect, we get stuck with a Chris Daly, who, while kinda hot in a pencil necked sorta way, dresses way too much like the President of Iran to get any constructive work done.

The Bay Guardian does a good job of pointing out to Chuck that, contrary to his argument, the supervisors do focus on citywide issues (almost too much, in this writer's opinion). Examples like Dreamy Mirkarimi's plastic bag shenanigans or Tom Amiano's Healthy San Francisco healthcare for the poors are good examples of that. Similarly, Chuck's attempt to compare San Francisco's tiny supervisorial districts to Los Angeles County's mammoth equivalents is just as half assed. Los Angeles County may have giant districts of two million people each, but those districts are also broken up into cities with representatives with much smaller constituencies. In SF, the county and the city is all we got.

As far as the issue surrounding the ease with which young firebrands like Chris Daly can get themselves elected to the BOS goes, maybe we should take into account the fact that as far his bedraggled constituents are concerned, he's been an effective supervisor. Hence their desire to keep sending him back to City Hall. Sorry kids, until we've finally banned democracy for the good of the people and have driven out the last of the downtrodden refusing to buy into that forced faux-Tuscan lifestyle we totally adore, we're basically stuck. Nice try though, Chamber of Rich Old White Guys.

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Day Around the Bay

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-05T17:00:19-08:00

The steepest streets in San Francisco. [Weather Sealed]

Muni joins Twitter, but won't offer service alerts. [Appeal]

13-year-old Concord girl claiming that three men in a white van had attempted to kidnapped her admits hoax. [CBS 5]

Fiorina FCINO ad versus Pink Floyd. [Uptown Almanac]

Daniel Brusilovsky, 16-year-old tech journalism wunderkind, caught in bribery scandal. [Valleywag]

The attack on district elections begins. [SFBG]

Fresno, drunkest city in the U.S. (SF, by the way, placed 86.) [Eater]

Tomorrow: Lil Miss Hot Mess' Bat Mitzvah

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-05T16:05:07-08:00

by Rachel Brodsky

We, the chosen ones, remember bar & bat mitzvah season clearly. There would be this six-month period where fat, shiny envelopes arrived in your mailbox by the pound, inviting you to share in the newfound adulthood of someone who probably ignored you in Hebrew School. So, you'd sack up, buy them a neon bubble chair, don your most impressive mini-skirt and dance all afternoon with the hired backup dancers while "Cotton Eyed Joe" blared in the background.

That said, we bet those of you who experienced the awkwardness of bar/bat mitzvah season in your adolescence would appreciate local SF queen Lil Miss Hot Mess' outrageously good-natured (not to mention much boozier) bat mitzvah celebration this weekend. Lil Miss Hot Mess is not only one of SF's most adored queens, but she's inviting all of her friends (Anna Conda, Glamamore, Monistat and Vivvyanne ForeverMORE) to join in her waltz into womanhood. All bat mitzvah proceeds will go to the US Social Forum.

What: Lil Miss Hot Mess' Bat Mitzvah
Where: The Blue Macaw (2565 Mission)
When: Saturday, February 6 (10pm)
How Much: $5

Thanks to This Week's Advertisers

tien mao — 2010-02-05T16:00:00-08:00

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on SFist.

Regus Office Solutions, where you can win one year of office space in one of their 27 Bay Area locations!
SocialBuy, where buying together means saving together. Up to 90% off the best SF has to offer.
American Apparel, with 3 stores in San Francisco, you can look your best any time.

If you're interested in advertising on SFist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.

Dolores Park Works, Bevan Dufty Put Renovation Rumors to Rest

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-05T15:23:48-08:00

(Altered image credit: Mission Mission)

Although Dolores Park will undergo a lengthy renovation process, a plan that's been in the works for quite some time, this hasn't stopped people from losing their collective feces over the park's estimated year-long closure. Everywhere from SFist's initial post on the closure to comment threads to this Facebook page, folks are curled up in the fetal position, bathed in a pool of their own tears and drool over their precious patch of grass.

But? Many have good reason to nut, since the park would mean certain death for many a Dolo Park goer. "That would totally ruin my social life---and part of my sex life, for where would I meet the new-to-town 26-year-old gay boys?," a friend explains.

Indeed.

Fortunately, the renovations will be done in phases. "The whole park will not be closed or fenced off for the duration of the renovations," notes Dolores Park Works, the folks in charge of the extreme makeover.

How so? Well, according to Dolores Park Works:

Phase 1: The playground remodel, which has been in development by Friends of Dolores Park Playground, Supervisory Bevan Dufty’s office and SF Rec & Parks since 2006. It is scheduled to start in October 2010 and end in April 2011. Please note that this work will be done in the “off season.” The rest of the park will be available during this time if safe access can be provided. YAY!
Phase 2: Initial estimates, and I do mean initial, put the park’s renovation at about 16-17 months. This is a liberal estimate. You know the mantra - under promise and over deliver. From what we’ve heard so far, it doesn’t look like the park will be closed for the entire time. The goal is to limit the impact on the community while ensuring that the work is done efficiently and safely.

If your fears haven't been sufficiently squelched, the best thing to do at this point is take part in the renovation planning and design process later this year, which, we're told by Supe. Bevan Dufty's office, will provide a "forum to express concern about substantive design and the duration of construction." And while it's still to early to set exact dates, Dufty's office went on to promise us that "there will be plenty of posted and mailed notice in advance of the meetings."

The Dolores Park renovation will include "the repair and/or renovation of the courts, field, and clubhouse; restoration of existing roads and pathways; upgrades to subsurface infrastructure, irrigation and lighting; modifications to the site to remove barriers and improve accessibility, and overall reconditioning of the park landscape."

The new playground would be part of a separate project altogether.

(Mission Mission and Uptown Almanac, by the way, are choice sources for Dolores Park updates.)

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Meanwhile, In Berkeley...

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-05T14:31:37-08:00

"Garden Signs" by technomonk.

SFist Does the Super Bowl: Sweet and Salty Brownies

Leanne Maxwell — 2010-02-05T13:30:38-08:00

credit: olya/Flickr

We came across these delicious-looking brownies by Jessie Oleson of Cakespy via Serious Eats the other day and thought they'd be a sweet ending to the Super Bowl themed recipes.

The recipe was adapted from Betty Crocker's Cooky Book. Roasted peanuts, a chocolate caramel candy bar, and pretzels? We're sold!

Ingredients
Serves 6.

2 squares unsweetened chocolate (2 ounces)
1/3 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chopped roasted peanuts
1 caramel chocolate candy bar (I used a 3.5 ounce Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Bar with Caramel), coarsely chopped (Note: the pieces will be a bit gooey and messy)
1 snack sized bag of pretzels (about 1 ounce), crushed into small pieces

Procedure

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Either grease or line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
2. Mix flour and baking powder in a medium bowl; leave to the side.
3. Melt chocolate and shortening over low heat until melted; stir frequently to avoid scorching.
4. Remove from heat; beat in sugar and eggs.
5. Add in the flour and baking powder mixture, blending well.
6. Mix in the nuts and chocolate caramel bar.
7. Add in the pretzel pieces last, mixing only until they are incorporated.
8. Spread the mixture into the pan.
9. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until top has a dull crust and a slight imprint remains when touched lightly. Cool slightly and cut into squares.
10. (Optional) Because of the chocolate and caramel in the brownies, these are rich enough so that they don't really need frosting; however, if desired, decorate with white writing icing with little football shapes or to say the name of your favorite team.

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Buddhist Sect Soon to Ply Their Wares at Mid-Market 'Museum'?

Jay Barmann — 2010-02-05T13:00:57-08:00

For some time now we've been following the progress of the amusingly titled Superb Art Museum of America, which remains papered over but with an impressive new, neo-classical facade at 1025 Market (between 6th and 7th). Curbed became intrigued early last year when the building's name got engraved, they connected it to some Buddhists, and then in December revealed the bizarre, cavernous interior which appears to have a large water feature with a foot bridge. We're now connecting this to the rumors we heard over the last couple years about Buddhists taking over the Hibernia Bank (a deal which must have fallen through, if it was ever a reality).

The 'superb' venture appears to be a retail one spearheaded by one H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III whom "persons of holy virtue have recognized or congratulated His Holiness as being the true incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha." The esoteric Buddhist sect behind it all is called Hua Zang Si (locally headquartered at 3134 22nd Street). A while back they held a "fish release and art exhibition to pray for disaster victims" at the Hilton in San Gabriel, featuring art by H.H. Dorje Change Buddha, as well as other Chinese artists whose work will likely also be on display at the Superb Art Museum. The event had a sales component that lets us understand what wares they may be plying at the museum, once it opens: "Superior Art Building Material Co., Ltd. will provide nearly one hundred items for display, including art frames, faux precious-stone tiles, translucent paintings, and three-dimensional paintings."

This weekend, Hua Zang Si will be celebrating the birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva, the Future Buddha, on February 7th. We'll let you know as soon as the doors appear open at the Market Street museum, but hopefully it will be soon.

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SFist Tonight

Leanne Maxwell — 2010-02-05T12:35:11-08:00

'The Wave,' credit: Light at 11B

MUSICAL: The Marsh presents the Marsh Youth Theater’s (MYT’s) Teen Troupe in the premiere of The Wave, a musical by Ron Jones, based on his real-life classroom experiment on fascism that he conducted at Cubberley High School in Palo Alto in 1967. The musical runs through this weekend and next.

8 p.m. // The Marsh (1062 Valencia St) // $7-14

MUSIC: The Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco brings a jazzy theme to their 7th annual anti-Valentine's Day Cabaret and Musical Extravaganza with Love Bites - All That Jazz.

8 p.m. // The Women's Building (3543 18th St) // $15-30

COMEDY: Friars Club Roaster Susan Alexander brings her 5 Funny Females tour to the Purple Onion with two different line-ups at tonight's shows featuring comedians from around the country. The show also runs tomorrow night.

8 and 10 p.m. // The Purple Onion (140 Columbus Ave) // $20 (no drink minimum)

Dave Eggers Reveals Identity of the Real Timothy McSweeney

Jay Barmann — 2010-02-05T12:10:40-08:00

Assuming you've given any thought at all to such things, you may have believed, as we did, that the Timothy McSweeney who figures in the name of Dave Eggers' ten-year-old literary journal and website was a fiction. It turns out, the man was real, and died last month, and Dave now explains for the first time that he was a mentally ill member of a family with the same last name as Eggers' maternal grandfather, and who used to write letters addressed to both Dave and his mother when Dave was a kid. It turns out that Eggers' grandfather was the attending obstetrician at Timothy McSweeney's birth in Boston, and from the birth certificate Timothy assumed that he was related to these McSweeneys. He taught studio art at Rutgers before later being confined to an institution~~, where he presumably still lives,~~ from whence he wrote the letters that entranced little Dave and inspired the name for his quarterly concern.

Dave writes, "the name Timothy McSweeney came to hold an aura of mystery. He was an enigma, a man looking for a home, producing writing that was cryptic and full of longing... So many years later, when I was conceiving a name for this literary journal, the name Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern occurred to me. It made sense on many levels."

Anyway, there you have it. It's a touching story.

Social City By The Numbers

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-05T11:50:58-08:00

Tatiana Sorokko (credit: Catherine Bigelow)

Number of people pictured in this week's Miss Bigelow's Social City: 28

Minority count: 20 -- a minority blowout!

Who was celebrating what: Arts of Pacific Asia Show at at Fort Mason Center / Gung hay fat choy! It's the year of the "Tiger."

Number of people whom we recognize: 2 (Tatiana Sorokko; former Asian Art Museum director Emily Sano)

Rotation of Tatiana Sorokko's head turn: 3/4

Shots of the piercingly beautiful Vanessa Getty: 0

Shots that need more of Vanessa Getty's piercing beauty: 19

The scene: exotic communism

Pretty fans: 3

Dragons: 2

Food: dim sum buffet

Visibly homosexual: 0

Ties, bow ties, Miao Tribal helmets: 3, 0, 2

Royalty: 2 (Chelsea Kuo, Miss Congeniality, Miss Asian America 2008; Crystal Lee, Miss Teen Chinatown)

Call For Submissions: Neighborhood Gems Photo Project

Leanne Maxwell — 2010-02-05T11:30:53-08:00

(source: eb78/Flickr)

Get out there and shoot some photos of your favorite neighborhood spots this weekend, or dig through your archives. Good Magazine, in partnership with Pictory Magazine, is looking for some great shots of local spots to include in their upcoming Neighborhoods Issue, such as a "bar, coffee shop, library, park, bench, record shop, water fountain—whatever it is that gives you that 'I love this neighborhood' feeling." Pictory will also include the winning shots in one of their showcases.

Here are some tips from Good's creative director on what they're looking for:

I'd love to get as intimate a picture as possible, but also something quite easy to replicate. For any retail place, I'm thinking a straight-up storefront shot...Don't be too far away or zoomed out. And probably stay away from shots looking down the street or up at something or down at something—unless that's the only way to get your favorite thing.

Submit your photo to Pictory, along with a caption, by February 24. Good luck!

Photo du Jour 566

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-05T11:05:58-08:00

"Spring!" by k2nsf.

[Sponsored]

2010-02-05T11:05:58-08:00

Man Arrested In Connection with Mission Apartment Fire

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-05T10:35:32-08:00

Police arrested Willie Tucker, 56, yesterday for allegedly setting fire to an apartment building at 2949 18th St. at about 8 a.m. on Jan. 28. Tucker, a transient gentleman, it seems, set the fire "outside an apartment door of a female resident, who had reportedly befriended him months ago and given him food." What's more, the words "Welcome hell" and other illegible ramblings "were found scrawled on the door in permanent marker." Egads. Anyway, no one was injured. [via Appeal]

Juvenile Suspect's Identity Revealed In Vallejo Attempted Murder

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-05T10:02:37-08:00

Teenagers, as we have pointed out to you again and again and again, are evil. They are creatures in need of taming. Take, for example, this 15-year-old boy suspected of shooting of a woman in her ice cream truck during a robbery gone bad in Vallejo on Wednesday.

According to KCBS, "Police say the 15-year old was with at least one other boy when they tried to rob the ice cream lady at gunpoint. They demanded money, but 39-year old Amarjit Kaur - a recent immigrant from Northern India - does not understand English." Since she didn't understand their demands, they shot her.

"Her condition is said to be improving, but her family members say she is still in a lot of pain."

Anyway, it's all kinds of sad. (Side note: Vallejo -- if you go by this teen mob attack and a moronic mayor in office, among other things -- it seems, is some sort of sinking ship these days, desperately in need of a no-nonsense principal with a baseball bat.) So, the media decided to publish the identity of the suspect, Peter Montenegro, a foster home runaway, since he's wanted to attempted murder and attempted robbery.

"Normally, we don't release a 15-year-old's information. But during our investigation we've determined that he is considered armed and dangerous," said detective John Whitney of the Vallejo Police told CBS 5.

After the shooting, the teens hid in some nearby bushes, then ran through Sac's Tasty Hot Dogs at 2245 Springs Road. If you see Montenegro, get him! But do be careful.

Also, is it right to reveal the identity of juvenile suspects? Sure, why not. But what say you, angry readers?

Muni Accident Snarls Commute

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-05T09:39:06-08:00

An outbound M Ocean View smashed into a car at 19th and Junipero Serra a little before 6:30 am this morning, resulting in backed up traffic. According to SF MTA spokesman Judson True, according to SF Appeal, "the accident has been cleared and regular service on the M has resumed." 19th Avenue is also again open.

Heinz Ketchup Packet Makeover

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-05T09:10:13-08:00

by Amy Crocker

Sliced bread can move aside, another food innovation is about to take America by storm.
For forty years, the Heinz ketchup packet has walked the fine line between convenience and annoyance. On one hand, it lets you eat french fries anywhere, anyway, anyhow. On the other hand, they are messy and only contain enough sauce for five McDonald's size or one-and-a-half steak cut fries (by our calculations).

Dave Ciesinski, vice president of Heinz Ketchup, told The New York Times that the ketchup packet has long been the bane of consumers.

''The biggest complaint is there is no way to dip and eat it on-the-go," Ciesinski said.
Currently being tested in the Midwest and Southeast, the new Heinz packet contains three times as much ketchup and will be conducive to both dipping and squirting - with a rounded bottom and a tear-off end. Designers tested their product in a minivan to ensure ease of potato consumption.

The new packets will of course be more expensive, which may prevent some restaurants from stocking them. But we have a feeling you'll soon hear people say, "That's the greatest thing since the new ketchup packet!"

Day Around the Bay

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-04T17:02:15-08:00

Dolores Park playground shipwreck boat coming soon. [Curbed]
Arrest in Hayward double slaying. [Chronicle]

Oakland tries to take on guns. [NYT]

LGBT center seeks $157K loan from city. [BAR]

Berkeley Daily Planet stung by alleged fraud. [East Bay Express]

Prospective student files suit against SFSU. [Golden Gate XPress]

Afternoon Palate Cleanser: A Face You Can Trust

Brock Keeling — 2010-02-04T16:00:15-08:00

Dave Fayram's excellent film is short and satisfying.

[Hat tip to Uptown Almanac]