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Music
Chances
People tell you not to take any chances
When they tell you that there aren't any answers
And I was starting to agree
But I awoke suddenly in the path of a lightning bolt
-- "Lightning Bolt," by Jake Bugg (7.9 million views, May '12 upload)
The
19-year-old Brit evokes Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles with
his catchy blues rock. He's touring after releasing his second album
last month. His local stop is Oakland's Fox Theater on January 23.
Previous
songs: Down to the River to Pray (Alison Krauss); Three Rounds and a
Sound (Blind Pilot); Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band); The Story (Brandi
Carlile); Lucky One (Pure Bathing Culture); Easy Way Out (Gotye); Hell
or High Water (William Elliott Whitmore); Hymn #101 (Joe Pug); Midnight
City (M83); So American (Portugal. The Man); Carry On (Fun.);
Remembrance (Balmorhea); Miss Atomic Bomb (The Killers); Take a Walk
(Passion Pit); Closer (Tegan and Sara); It's Time (Imagine Dragons);
Higher (Matt Nathanson); Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second (STRFKR);
So Many Details (Toro Y Moi); Ho Hey (Lumineers); Winter Winds (Mumford
& Sons); Wanted (Hunter Hayes); Levels (Avicii); The A Team (Ed
Sheeran); Hold On (Alabama Shakes); Don't You Worry Child (Swedish House
Mafia); Lonely Boy (The Black Keys); It's a War (Blackbird, Blackbird);
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros); Big Girl (Mika);
Step (Vampire Weekend); All of Me (Tanlines); King and Lionheart (Of
Monsters and Men); Celestica (Crystal Castles); Angels (The xx); Out of
My League (Fitz & the Tantrums); If I Know You (The Presets); Dumb
Disco Ideas (Holy Ghost!); Even If I Could (Rachael Yamagata); Tired
Eyes (The Trophy Fire); Knock Knock (Band of Horses); Around the Block
(Pretty Lights); Brave (Sara Bareilles); Same Love (Macklemore + Ryan
Lewis, feat. Mary Lambert); Safe and Sound (Capital Cities);
All-American Boy (Steve Grand); Entertainment (Phoenix); Your Drums,
Your Love (AlunaGeorge); Garden (Lost in the Trees); Royals (Lorde); The
Mother We Share (Chvrches); High School Lover (Cayuca); She Keeps Me
Warm (Mary Lambert); Dyin' Bedmaker (Andrew Bird); Zombies (Radiation
City); Bitter Rivals (Sleigh Bells); Tall Tall Shadow (Basia Bulat);
Sunday (Crocodiles); Pompeii (Bastille); Breezeblocks (Alt-J); Sweater
Weather (The Neighbourhood); Hurricane (MS MR); Trojans (Atlas Genius);
Animals (Martin Garrix); Promising Actress (John Vanderslice and
Magik*Magik Orchestra).
Food
Gather
2200 Oxford St.
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 809-0400
Yelp
With
tall windows radiating warmth and community across to Berkeley campus,
Gather is an excellent option with its proximity to BART, downtown
theaters, and watering holes such as Jupiter. The vegan charcuterie
plate really is something to explore - and rather filling, at that. I
loved the kale salad and vegan tomato pizza too. And in case you're
wondering, they do offer meaty options like pork belly, swordfish, and
sausage pizza. 4 stars - 1231 reviews
Previous
San Francisco picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star
Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign
Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing
Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern;
Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet
Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe;
L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous;
Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India; Sotto Mare; Sweet Maple;
Shanghai Dumpling King; Super Duper; Kokkari Estiatorio; Olea; Bodega
Bistro; The Chairman Truck; Molinari Delicatessen; Wayfare Tavern;
Wexler's; Thorough Bread & Pastry; Lers Ros Thai; Helmand Palace;
HRD Coffee Shop; Fat Angel; Aperto; Pho Huynh Hiep 2; Ted's Deli; Zero
Zero; Zazie; Shalimar; Swan Oyster Depot; Dottie's True Blue Cafe; La
Taqueria; Chez Maman; Radio Habana Social Club; Tony's Pizza Napoletana;
Hard Knox Cafe; Shabusen; Ragazza; Morty's Delicatessen; Hawaiian Drive
Inn #28; Just For You Cafe; Woodhouse Fish Co; Mission Pie; El Metate;
V-105; Kitchen Story; Frisco Fried; Range; Suzu Noodle House; The Codmother Fish & Chips; The Front Porch; Blue Plate; Chomp N' Swig; Piccino; La Mediterranee; Ken Ken Ramen.
Previous
Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca
Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San
Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo
Park/San Jose); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San
Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto); Nini's Coffee
Shop (San Mateo); Kabab and Curry's (Santa Clara); Fiddler's Green
(Millbrae); Alana's Cafe (Burlingame); Sushi Sam's Edomata (San Mateo);
Shanghai Dumpling Shop (Millbrae).
Previous
East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana
Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food
(Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's
(Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland);
Zachary's Pizza (Oakland/Berkeley/San Ramon); Gregoire
(Berkeley/Oakland); Val's Burgers (Hayward); Homeroom (Oakland); Jong Ga
House (Oakland); Cheese Board Pizza (Berkeley); Vik's Chaat (Berkeley);
Wat Mongkoratanaram (Berkeley); Phnom Penh House (Oakland); Luka's
Taproom & Lounge (Oakland); First Street Ale House (Livermore);
Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe (Oakland/Emeryville); Mua Lounge (Oakland); Grand Lake Kitchen (Oakland); Shan Dong Restaurant (Oakland); Taste of the Himalayas (Berkeley); Korea House (Concord); Miss Ollie's (Oakland).
Previous
North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery
(Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael/Mill Valley); Stumptown Brewery
(Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg); Super Duper (Mill
Valley); The Pelican Inn (Muir Beach); Garden Grill (Guerneville);
Buckeye Roadhouse (Mill Valley).
Previous
Other picks: Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento); Built to Grill (Portland);
Freshies (South Lake Tahoe); Mon Ami Gabi (Las Vegas); Fox & Goose
Public House (Sacramento); La Bonne Soup Cafe (Sacramento); Snow City
Cafe (Anchorage); Starling Diner (Long Beach).
Nightlife
Ben & Nick's Bar & Grill
5612 College Ave.
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 923-0327
Yelp
This
sizable option, also near a BART station (Rockridge), is a solid anchor
along that commercial stretch with Zachary's and A Cote. The tap menu
is extensive enough, and there are even TVs (though small) if you're
looking to catch a game. 3-1/2 stars - 297 reviews
Previous
San Francisco picks: Blackbird; El Rio; Rickhouse; Southern Pacific
Brewing; The Hidden Vine; Vesuvio; The Pig & Whistle; Biergarten;
Martuni's; Tosca Cafe; Toronado; The Alembic; Trad'r Sam; Sugar Lounge;
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers; Lucky 13; Hotel Biron; Bottom of the Hill;
Blackthorn; Local Edition; Magnolia Pub & Brewery; Whiskey Thieves;
Bourbon & Branch; The Monk's Kettle; Amsterdam Cafe; Aunt Charlie's
Lounge; Latin American Club; Two Sisters Bar and Books; Doc's Clock; 15
Romolo; Thee Parkside; The Social Study; The Page; Rye; Bloodhound;
Azucar Lounge; The Residence; Tommy's Mexican; The Revolution Cafe;
Trick Dog; The Hot Spot; Hi Tops; The Homestead; The Phoenix Bar & Irish Gathering House; Fillmore Karaoke; Musee Mechanique; Royal Cuckoo; The Phone Booth; The Bitter End; Dear Mom, Eureka Lounge;
Elbo Room.
Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Antonio's Nut House (Palo Alto);
The Oasis Beer Garden (Menlo Park); Rose and Crown (Palo Alto);
Fiddler's Green (Millbrae).
Previous
East Bay picks: The Trappist (Oakland); Heinold's First and Last Chance
Saloon (Oakland); The Turf Club (Hayward); Jupiter (Berkeley); St.
George Spirits (Alameda); Drake's Barrel House (San Leandro); JC Cellars
(Oakland); Dashe Cellars (Oakland); Room 389 (Oakland); Beer Revolution
(Oakland); Make Westing (Oakland); Altamont Beer Works (Livermore);
Prizefighter (Emeryville); Heart and Dagger Saloon (Oakland); Dogwood (Oakland); Bar Three Fifty-Five (Oakland); Triple Rock Brewery and Ale House (Berkeley); Fauna (Oakland).
Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg); Tourist Club (Mill Valley); Mill Valley Beerworks.
Previous
Other picks: New Deal Distillery (Portland); Stateline Brewery (South
Lake Tahoe); The Garage (Las Vegas); The Shady Lady Saloon (Sacramento);
Mercantile Saloon (Sacramento); 49th State Brewing Co (Healy AK); Goat
Hill Tavern (Costa Mesa).
History
Berkeley Pier
(1926 - present)
The Golden Gate Ferry Company started construction of the current Berkeley Pier in 1926. Cars had a two-lane road to the ferry terminal, which connected with Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco. The lengthy dock closed in 1939 after the Bay Bridge opened, but remained partially viable as a fishing pier. The remainder is blocked off to pedestrians.
Previous
San Francisco history: John Geary; Samuel Brannan; Michael
O'Shaughnessy; Jasper O'Farrell; Frank McCoppin; Thomas Hayes; Francisco
de Haro; Jose Bernal; David Broderick; Henry Haight; John Townsend;
Cyril Magnin; Jose Arguello; Keiko Fukuda; John Le Conte; Eugene
Schmitz; Theodore Judah; Herb Caen; James Phelan; Lawrence Ferlinghetti;
Angelo Rossi; Charles Brenham; Warren Hellman; John McLaren; Dogpatch;
Thomas Larkin; Nancy Pelosi; Levi Strauss; John Sloat; Jose Sarria;
William D.M. Howard; Edwin Bryant; George Davidson; William Alvord;
George Moscone; Jack Early; Thomas Starr King; Minnie Ward; Rosalie
Stern; Carlton Goodlett; Phillip Burton; Jose de Jesus Noe; Frederick
Funston; Shotwell's; Castro Theatre; Kezar Stadium; Nathaniel Lyon;
Playland at the Beach; Edward D. Baker; Frank Turk; Treasure Island; Ella Hill Hutch; Washington Bartlett.
Previous
Peninsula/South Bay history: Millbrae; Tanforan Racetrack; T. Jack
Foster; Leland Stanford; Milpitas; Donald Tresidder; Josiah Belden;
Hiram Morgan Hill; Simon Mezes; James Forbes; Henry Coe, Jr.; John
Gilroy; Joseph Grant; Henry Naglee; Anson Burlingame; William Ralston;
Paul Trousdale; San Gregorio General Store; William Kimball; James Fair; Emma Prusch.
Previous
East Bay history: Charles Tilden; William Hayward; John Fremont;
Mariano Vallejo; Ygnacio Martinez; Henry Kaiser; Anthony Chabot; Thomas
Caldecott; Laurentine Hamilton; Joel Clayton; Edson Adams; Robert Crown;
Samuel Merritt; Joaquin Miller; Robert Livermore; Gay Nineties Pizza
Co; Joseph Emery; Oakland Athletics; Frank Ogawa; Clark Kerr; John Muir.
Previous
North Bay history: Cotati; Charles Fairfax; Luther Burbank; William
Richardson; Oscar and James Shafter; George Guerne; Frank Doyle; Samuel
Taylor; Harrison Standley; Helen Putnam.
Previous
Other history: Francis Pettygrove (Portland); Betty Willis (Las Vegas);
Esteban Munras (Monterey); John Sutter, Jr. (Sacramento); James
Marshall (Placerville); William Seward (Alaska); Seal Beach Pier.
Charity
Charity: Hamilton Family Center.
The Hamilton Family Center started as the first family homeless shelter
in San Francisco in 1985. Since then, they've added transitional
housing, permanent supportive housing, children & teen services, and
First Avenues (which helps to prevent evictions and provide move-in
financial assistance).
Previous
organizations Randy's Guide has spotlighted and donated: Common Ground
Relief, LYRIC, Aldea Inc., Glide Memorial, City CarShare, Maitri, Loaves
and Fishes, Friends of the Urban Forest, Farm Sanctuary, Bay Area
Community Services, Blue Energy, My New Red Shoes, College Track,
Foundation for the People of Burma, Vital Life Services, Little Angel
Fund, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, Natural Resources Defense
Council, Bay Localize, San Francisco Women Against Rape, Sustainable
Conservation, Ashoka, Old Skool Cafe, Darfur Sister Schools, Rebuilding
Together San Francisco, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center,
Urban Solutions, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, The East Bay Depot
for Creative Reuse, Shanti, Curry Without Worry, SF Neighborhood Theater
Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of
Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer
Foundation (Amy C), KQED (88.5 FM), FabMo Creativity Center;
Duboce/Valencia Fire Relief; The Coming Home Project; Urban Tilth; Queer
Lifespace; Re-volv, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Prevent Blindness.
Weekend Weather
More
above-normal warmth and offshore winds. Beach advisory is in place
through tomorrow for surfers and swimmers between Sonoma and Monterey
County.
Coast: low-60s
SF: low-60s
Bay: mid-60s
North Bay: mid-60s
Inland East Bay: mid-60s
South Bay: upper-60s
Free Activities
1. Kwanzaa
- West Bay Conference Center: Thursday 7pm
- Minnie & Lovie Rec: Friday 4pm
- Bayview YMCA: Friday 6pm
- IT Bookman Community Center: Friday 7pm
- Potrero Hill Rec: Saturday 1pm
- Ella Hutch Center: Saturday 5:30pm
- Main Library Koret Center: Sunday 1pm
- Third Baptist: Sunday 4pm
- Western Addition Senior Center: Monday 1pm
- African American Arts & Culture Complex: Monday 6pm
- Hamilton Rec: Tuesday 1pm
- Marcus Book Store: Tuesday 6pm
- Bayview Opera House: Wednesday 2pm
- St. Cyprian's Episcopal: Wednesday 7pm
Kwanzaa spreads its love across San Francisco with a screening of "12 Years a Slave," two fashion shows, spoken word and dance performances, live jazz, and more.
2. Chamber Orchestra- Nourse Theater (SF): Sunday 3pm
- First Congregational (Berkeley): Tuesday 8pm
- First United Methodist (Palo Alto): Wednesday 3pm
Conductor Benjamin Simon leads pianist Jon Nakamatsu, 18-year-old double bassist Jared Pabilona, and the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra to a night of Mozard, Saint-Saens, and Bottesini.
3. New Year's Eve
- Urban Hike: 8pm-midnight
- Zen Celebration: 8:30pm-midnight
- Fireworks: midnight
Sierra
Club will lead an evening hike that starts from the Ferry Building, and
ends in time for the fireworks. Best spot to see the fireworks should
be between Mission and Folsom, along the Embarcadero. The Zen Center
hosts Buddhists to clean, meditate, and enjoy a bonfire.
Freebie of the Week
Free Public Transit on New Year's Eve. Take it. (BART is not free, but will run until 3 a.m. using a skip-stop schedule.)
MUNI: 8pm-5am, with extended Metro service and extra Owl buses
AC Transit - B Shuttle: 7pm-1am (along Broadway)
CalTrain: 11pm-3am, with four extra trains
SamTrans: 8pm-5am
VTA: 8pm-5am
Music
Yes I can see now
Her story's a hoax
Recorded impulses laid
Dubbed and cross-faded
It's just light replayed.
-- "Promising Actress," by John Vanderslice and the Magik*Magik Orchestra (260K views, Aug '09 upload)
Led by founder Minna Choi, the Magik*Magik Orchestra has collaborated with over 60 artists since 2008. You might recognize Death Cab for Cutie, Santana, and Third Eye Blind among the client list. Celebrate their fifth birthday at a benefit gala in Oakland's Fox Theatre on January 31, as they perform three sets with groups ranging from The Dodos and Rogue Wave to Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers and the Pacific Boychoir.
Previous
songs: Down to the River to Pray (Alison Krauss); Three Rounds and a
Sound (Blind Pilot); Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band); The Story (Brandi
Carlile); Lucky One (Pure Bathing Culture); Easy Way Out (Gotye); Hell
or High Water (William Elliott Whitmore); Hymn #101 (Joe Pug); Midnight
City (M83); So American (Portugal. The Man); Carry On (Fun.);
Remembrance (Balmorhea); Miss Atomic Bomb (The Killers); Take a Walk
(Passion Pit); Closer (Tegan and Sara); It's Time (Imagine Dragons);
Higher (Matt Nathanson); Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second (STRFKR);
So Many Details (Toro Y Moi); Ho Hey (Lumineers); Winter Winds (Mumford
& Sons); Wanted (Hunter Hayes); Levels (Avicii); The A Team (Ed
Sheeran); Hold On (Alabama Shakes); Don't You Worry Child (Swedish House
Mafia); Lonely Boy (The Black Keys); It's a War (Blackbird, Blackbird);
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros); Big Girl (Mika);
Step (Vampire Weekend); All of Me (Tanlines); King and Lionheart (Of
Monsters and Men); Celestica (Crystal Castles); Angels (The xx); Out of
My League (Fitz & the Tantrums); If I Know You (The Presets); Dumb
Disco Ideas (Holy Ghost!); Even If I Could (Rachael Yamagata); Tired
Eyes (The Trophy Fire); Knock Knock (Band of Horses); Around the Block
(Pretty Lights); Brave (Sara Bareilles); Same Love (Macklemore + Ryan
Lewis, feat. Mary Lambert); Safe and Sound (Capital Cities);
All-American Boy (Steve Grand); Entertainment (Phoenix); Your Drums,
Your Love (AlunaGeorge); Garden (Lost in the Trees); Royals (Lorde); The
Mother We Share (Chvrches); High School Lover (Cayuca); She Keeps Me
Warm (Mary Lambert); Dyin' Bedmaker (Andrew Bird); Zombies (Radiation
City); Bitter Rivals (Sleigh Bells); Tall Tall Shadow (Basia Bulat);
Sunday (Crocodiles); Pompeii (Bastille); Breezeblocks (Alt-J); Sweater
Weather (The Neighbourhood); Hurricane (MS MR); Trojans (Atlas Genius); Animals (Martin Garrix).
Food
Ken Ken Ramen
3378 18th St. (at Capp St.)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 967-2636
Yelp
I now have a solid second choice for ramen in San Francisco. (Previously I gave high marks to Katana-Ya in Union Square.) The soft-boiled egg in the tonkotsu ramen (served on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is delightful. The perfectly cooked noodles are house-made from Hokkaido-imported wheat flour. Vegans can rejoice that a vegan broth is offered, a rarity for ramen. 3-1/2 stars - 310 reviews
Previous
San Francisco picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star
Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign
Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing
Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern;
Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet
Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe;
L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous;
Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India; Sotto Mare; Sweet Maple;
Shanghai Dumpling King; Super Duper; Kokkari Estiatorio; Olea; Bodega
Bistro; The Chairman Truck; Molinari Delicatessen; Wayfare Tavern;
Wexler's; Thorough Bread & Pastry; Lers Ros Thai; Helmand Palace;
HRD Coffee Shop; Fat Angel; Aperto; Pho Huynh Hiep 2; Ted's Deli; Zero
Zero; Zazie; Shalimar; Swan Oyster Depot; Dottie's True Blue Cafe; La
Taqueria; Chez Maman; Radio Habana Social Club; Tony's Pizza Napoletana;
Hard Knox Cafe; Shabusen; Ragazza; Morty's Delicatessen; Hawaiian Drive
Inn #28; Just For You Cafe; Woodhouse Fish Co; Mission Pie; El Metate;
V-105; Kitchen Story; Frisco Fried; Range; Suzu Noodle House; The Codmother Fish & Chips; The Front Porch; Blue Plate; Chomp N' Swig; Piccino; La Mediterranee.
Previous
Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca
Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San
Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo
Park/San Jose); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San
Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto); Nini's Coffee
Shop (San Mateo); Kabab and Curry's (Santa Clara); Fiddler's Green
(Millbrae); Alana's Cafe (Burlingame); Sushi Sam's Edomata (San Mateo);
Shanghai Dumpling Shop (Millbrae).
Previous
East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana
Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food
(Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's
(Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland);
Zachary's Pizza (Oakland/Berkeley/San Ramon); Gregoire
(Berkeley/Oakland); Val's Burgers (Hayward); Homeroom (Oakland); Jong Ga
House (Oakland); Cheese Board Pizza (Berkeley); Vik's Chaat (Berkeley);
Wat Mongkoratanaram (Berkeley); Phnom Penh House (Oakland); Luka's
Taproom & Lounge (Oakland); First Street Ale House (Livermore);
Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe (Oakland/Emeryville); Mua Lounge (Oakland); Grand Lake Kitchen (Oakland); Shan Dong Restaurant (Oakland); Taste of the Himalayas (Berkeley); Korea House (Concord); Miss Ollie's (Oakland).
Previous
North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery
(Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael/Mill Valley); Stumptown Brewery
(Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg); Super Duper (Mill
Valley); The Pelican Inn (Muir Beach); Garden Grill (Guerneville);
Buckeye Roadhouse (Mill Valley).
Previous
Other picks: Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento); Built to Grill (Portland);
Freshies (South Lake Tahoe); Mon Ami Gabi (Las Vegas); Fox & Goose
Public House (Sacramento); La Bonne Soup Cafe (Sacramento); Snow City
Cafe (Anchorage); Starling Diner (Long Beach).
Nightlife
Elbo Room
647 Valencia St. (at 17th St.)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 552-7788
Yelp
It's been the low-lit Elbo Room since 1991, far predating many of its tony neighbors on Valencia. Upstairs, I have a fond memory of stumbling into a random concert. I remember it being a loud, sweaty mess. Happy hour is pretty darn good, lasting until 9pm. Photo booth and pinball, of course. 3-1/2 stars - 993 reviews
Previous
San Francisco picks: Blackbird; El Rio; Rickhouse; Southern Pacific
Brewing; The Hidden Vine; Vesuvio; The Pig & Whistle; Biergarten;
Martuni's; Tosca Cafe; Toronado; The Alembic; Trad'r Sam; Sugar Lounge;
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers; Lucky 13; Hotel Biron; Bottom of the Hill;
Blackthorn; Local Edition; Magnolia Pub & Brewery; Whiskey Thieves;
Bourbon & Branch; The Monk's Kettle; Amsterdam Cafe; Aunt Charlie's
Lounge; Latin American Club; Two Sisters Bar and Books; Doc's Clock; 15
Romolo; Thee Parkside; The Social Study; The Page; Rye; Bloodhound;
Azucar Lounge; The Residence; Tommy's Mexican; The Revolution Cafe;
Trick Dog; The Hot Spot; Hi Tops; The Homestead; The Phoenix Bar & Irish Gathering House; Fillmore Karaoke; Musee Mechanique; Royal Cuckoo; The Phone Booth; The Bitter End; Dear Mom, Eureka Lounge.
Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Antonio's Nut House (Palo Alto);
The Oasis Beer Garden (Menlo Park); Rose and Crown (Palo Alto);
Fiddler's Green (Millbrae).
Previous
East Bay picks: The Trappist (Oakland); Heinold's First and Last Chance
Saloon (Oakland); The Turf Club (Hayward); Jupiter (Berkeley); St.
George Spirits (Alameda); Drake's Barrel House (San Leandro); JC Cellars
(Oakland); Dashe Cellars (Oakland); Room 389 (Oakland); Beer Revolution
(Oakland); Make Westing (Oakland); Altamont Beer Works (Livermore);
Prizefighter (Emeryville); Heart and Dagger Saloon (Oakland); Dogwood (Oakland); Bar Three Fifty-Five (Oakland); Triple Rock Brewery and Ale House (Berkeley); Fauna (Oakland).
Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg); Tourist Club (Mill Valley); Mill Valley Beerworks.
Previous
Other picks: New Deal Distillery (Portland); Stateline Brewery (South
Lake Tahoe); The Garage (Las Vegas); The Shady Lady Saloon (Sacramento);
Mercantile Saloon (Sacramento); 49th State Brewing Co (Healy AK); Goat
Hill Tavern (Costa Mesa).
History
Washington A. Bartlett
(1816-1865)
Much of his life centered on the U.S. Navy, moving up to the rank of Lieutenant during the Mexican-American War. He served as the first mayor of Yerba Buena in 1846, then renamed it as San Francisco early the following year. Bartlett also created some of the first City maps, using his skills as a surveyor. Later, his work as a U.S. Treasury agent and as a first lieutenant for the African squadron landed him in scandal and struck from the Navy List. Bartlett's Naval Brigade was rejected for service by the commanding officer during the Civil War. Bartlett Street, which runs between Cesar Chavez St. and 21st St. in the Mission District, is likely named after him.
Previous
San Francisco history: John Geary; Samuel Brannan; Michael
O'Shaughnessy; Jasper O'Farrell; Frank McCoppin; Thomas Hayes; Francisco
de Haro; Jose Bernal; David Broderick; Henry Haight; John Townsend;
Cyril Magnin; Jose Arguello; Keiko Fukuda; John Le Conte; Eugene
Schmitz; Theodore Judah; Herb Caen; James Phelan; Lawrence Ferlinghetti;
Angelo Rossi; Charles Brenham; Warren Hellman; John McLaren; Dogpatch;
Thomas Larkin; Nancy Pelosi; Levi Strauss; John Sloat; Jose Sarria;
William D.M. Howard; Edwin Bryant; George Davidson; William Alvord;
George Moscone; Jack Early; Thomas Starr King; Minnie Ward; Rosalie
Stern; Carlton Goodlett; Phillip Burton; Jose de Jesus Noe; Frederick
Funston; Shotwell's; Castro Theatre; Kezar Stadium; Nathaniel Lyon;
Playland at the Beach; Edward D. Baker; Frank Turk; Treasure Island; Ella Hill Hutch.
Previous
Peninsula/South Bay history: Millbrae; Tanforan Racetrack; T. Jack
Foster; Leland Stanford; Milpitas; Donald Tresidder; Josiah Belden;
Hiram Morgan Hill; Simon Mezes; James Forbes; Henry Coe, Jr.; John
Gilroy; Joseph Grant; Henry Naglee; Anson Burlingame; William Ralston;
Paul Trousdale; San Gregorio General Store; William Kimball; James Fair; Emma Prusch.
Previous
East Bay history: Charles Tilden; William Hayward; John Fremont;
Mariano Vallejo; Ygnacio Martinez; Henry Kaiser; Anthony Chabot; Thomas
Caldecott; Laurentine Hamilton; Joel Clayton; Edson Adams; Robert Crown;
Samuel Merritt; Joaquin Miller; Robert Livermore; Gay Nineties Pizza
Co; Joseph Emery; Oakland Athletics; Frank Ogawa; Clark Kerr; John Muir.
Previous
North Bay history: Cotati; Charles Fairfax; Luther Burbank; William
Richardson; Oscar and James Shafter; George Guerne; Frank Doyle; Samuel
Taylor; Harrison Standley; Helen Putnam.
Previous
Other history: Francis Pettygrove (Portland); Betty Willis (Las Vegas);
Esteban Munras (Monterey); John Sutter, Jr. (Sacramento); James
Marshall (Placerville); William Seward (Alaska); Seal Beach Pier.
Charity
Charity: Hamilton Family Center.
The Hamilton Family Center started as the first family homeless shelter
in San Francisco in 1985. Since then, they've added transitional
housing, permanent supportive housing, children & teen services, and
First Avenues (which helps to prevent evictions and provide move-in
financial assistance).
Previous
organizations Randy's Guide has spotlighted and donated: Common Ground
Relief, LYRIC, Aldea Inc., Glide Memorial, City CarShare, Maitri, Loaves
and Fishes, Friends of the Urban Forest, Farm Sanctuary, Bay Area
Community Services, Blue Energy, My New Red Shoes, College Track,
Foundation for the People of Burma, Vital Life Services, Little Angel
Fund, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, Natural Resources Defense
Council, Bay Localize, San Francisco Women Against Rape, Sustainable
Conservation, Ashoka, Old Skool Cafe, Darfur Sister Schools, Rebuilding
Together San Francisco, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center,
Urban Solutions, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, The East Bay Depot
for Creative Reuse, Shanti, Curry Without Worry, SF Neighborhood Theater
Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of
Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer
Foundation (Amy C), KQED (88.5 FM), FabMo Creativity Center;
Duboce/Valencia Fire Relief; The Coming Home Project; Urban Tilth; Queer
Lifespace; Re-volv, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Prevent Blindness.
Weekend Weather
No rain in sight.
~ Thursday-Friday: Upper-50s
~ Saturday-Sunday: Low-60s
Free Activities
1. Renegade Craft Fair: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-6pm
Over 250 artists will pack the Concourse Exhibition
Center for last-minute gifts. Other sites include Austin, Brooklyn, and
London. Photo booth, hands-on workshops, live music, and full bar should add to the enjoyment.
2. Contemporary Jewish Museum: Wednesday, 11am-4pm
Celebrate Christmas at the Jewish Museum, which offers free admission to all exhibits. Create puppets in the Frog & Toad Studios, or marvel at the puppeteers from The Pop Ups.
3. Winter Solstice
- Ocean Beach Plunge: Friday, 4pm
- Zen Chant: Saturday, 7am
- John Muir Campfire Stories: Saturday, 3pm
- Winter Night Hike: Saturday, 5pm
Enjoy the longest night of the year by cleansing at Ocean Beach, hiking in the Presidio, hearing stories about John Muir, or chanting at a Buddhist center.
Freebie of the Week
Peet's Coffee offers free coffee and tea on Christmas Eve. Consider donating to each store's chosen charitable organization.
Current Event
Enough with the heavy news. Watch what one Canadian airline did for a set of passengers on a recent flight this month.
http://youtu.be/zIEIvi2MuEk
(13.6 million views, Dec '13 upload)
Music
"Animals," by Martin Garrix (92.7 million views, June '13 upload)
Not
a lot of lyrics to speak of. The 17-year-old Dutch DJ is taking the
global dance scene by storm, even hitting the top of the charts in the
UK and Belgium. And with nearly 1.5 million likes on Facebook, it's no
wonder he can basically pick his venue - from Shanghai to Vienna.
Previous
songs: Down to the River to Pray (Alison Krauss); Three Rounds and a
Sound (Blind Pilot); Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band); The Story (Brandi
Carlile); Lucky One (Pure Bathing Culture); Easy Way Out (Gotye); Hell
or High Water (William Elliott Whitmore); Hymn #101 (Joe Pug); Midnight
City (M83); So American (Portugal. The Man); Carry On (Fun.);
Remembrance (Balmorhea); Miss Atomic Bomb (The Killers); Take a Walk
(Passion Pit); Closer (Tegan and Sara); It's Time (Imagine Dragons);
Higher (Matt Nathanson); Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second (STRFKR);
So Many Details (Toro Y Moi); Ho Hey (Lumineers); Winter Winds (Mumford
& Sons); Wanted (Hunter Hayes); Levels (Avicii); The A Team (Ed
Sheeran); Hold On (Alabama Shakes); Don't You Worry Child (Swedish House
Mafia); Lonely Boy (The Black Keys); It's a War (Blackbird, Blackbird);
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros); Big Girl (Mika);
Step (Vampire Weekend); All of Me (Tanlines); King and Lionheart (Of
Monsters and Men); Celestica (Crystal Castles); Angels (The xx); Out of
My League (Fitz & the Tantrums); If I Know You (The Presets); Dumb
Disco Ideas (Holy Ghost!); Even If I Could (Rachael Yamagata); Tired
Eyes (The Trophy Fire); Knock Knock (Band of Horses); Around the Block
(Pretty Lights); Brave (Sara Bareilles); Same Love (Macklemore + Ryan
Lewis, feat. Mary Lambert); Safe and Sound (Capital Cities);
All-American Boy (Steve Grand); Entertainment (Phoenix); Your Drums,
Your Love (AlunaGeorge); Garden (Lost in the Trees); Royals (Lorde); The
Mother We Share (Chvrches); High School Lover (Cayuca); She Keeps Me
Warm (Mary Lambert); Dyin' Bedmaker (Andrew Bird); Zombies (Radiation
City); Bitter Rivals (Sleigh Bells); Tall Tall Shadow (Basia Bulat);
Sunday (Crocodiles); Pompeii (Bastille); Breezeblocks (Alt-J); Sweater
Weather (The Neighbourhood); Hurricane (MS MR); Trojans (Atlas Genius).
Food
Miss Ollie's
901 Washington St. (at 9th St.)
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 285-6188
Yelp
Ooh,
the skillet-fried chicken on a recent Saturday afternoon in Old Town
really hit the spot. The lunch menu entrees rotate by day, but you'll
always find this dish - along with others such as slow-roasted pork
shoulder or vegetable curry - on the supper list. It's no surprise this
spacious upscale-casual spot was named best new restaurant by the East Bay Express a few months ago. 4 stars - 146 reviews
Previous
San Francisco picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star
Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign
Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing
Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern;
Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet
Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe;
L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous;
Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India; Sotto Mare; Sweet Maple;
Shanghai Dumpling King; Super Duper; Kokkari Estiatorio; Olea; Bodega
Bistro; The Chairman Truck; Molinari Delicatessen; Wayfare Tavern;
Wexler's; Thorough Bread & Pastry; Lers Ros Thai; Helmand Palace;
HRD Coffee Shop; Fat Angel; Aperto; Pho Huynh Hiep 2; Ted's Deli; Zero
Zero; Zazie; Shalimar; Swan Oyster Depot; Dottie's True Blue Cafe; La
Taqueria; Chez Maman; Radio Habana Social Club; Tony's Pizza Napoletana;
Hard Knox Cafe; Shabusen; Ragazza; Morty's Delicatessen; Hawaiian Drive
Inn #28; Just For You Cafe; Woodhouse Fish Co; Mission Pie; El Metate;
V-105; Kitchen Story; Frisco Fried; Range; Suzu Noodle House; The Codmother Fish & Chips; The Front Porch; Blue Plate; Chomp N' Swig; Piccino; La Mediterranee.
Previous
Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca
Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San
Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo
Park/San Jose); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San
Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto); Nini's Coffee
Shop (San Mateo); Kabab and Curry's (Santa Clara); Fiddler's Green
(Millbrae); Alana's Cafe (Burlingame); Sushi Sam's Edomata (San Mateo);
Shanghai Dumpling Shop (Millbrae).
Previous
East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana
Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food
(Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's
(Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland);
Zachary's Pizza (Oakland/Berkeley/San Ramon); Gregoire
(Berkeley/Oakland); Val's Burgers (Hayward); Homeroom (Oakland); Jong Ga
House (Oakland); Cheese Board Pizza (Berkeley); Vik's Chaat (Berkeley);
Wat Mongkoratanaram (Berkeley); Phnom Penh House (Oakland); Luka's
Taproom & Lounge (Oakland); First Street Ale House (Livermore);
Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe (Oakland/Emeryville); Mua Lounge (Oakland); Grand Lake Kitchen (Oakland); Shan Dong Restaurant (Oakland); Taste of the Himalayas (Berkeley); Korea House (Concord).
Previous
North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery
(Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael/Mill Valley); Stumptown Brewery
(Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg); Super Duper (Mill
Valley); The Pelican Inn (Muir Beach); Garden Grill (Guerneville);
Buckeye Roadhouse (Mill Valley).
Previous
Other picks: Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento); Built to Grill (Portland);
Freshies (South Lake Tahoe); Mon Ami Gabi (Las Vegas); Fox & Goose
Public House (Sacramento); La Bonne Soup Cafe (Sacramento); Snow City
Cafe (Anchorage); Starling Diner (Long Beach).
Nightlife
Fauna
1900 Telegraph Ave. (at 19th St.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Yelp
A
perfect complement to a show at the Fox Theatre, which sits across the
street, the companion bar to its larger neighbor, Flora Restaurant, mixes specialty cocktails at a relatively affordable price by Bay Area standards. And yes, a bar food menu exists and has the popular caramel pudding with sea salt from next door. 4 stars - 34 reviews
Previous
San Francisco picks: Blackbird; El Rio; Rickhouse; Southern Pacific
Brewing; The Hidden Vine; Vesuvio; The Pig & Whistle; Biergarten;
Martuni's; Tosca Cafe; Toronado; The Alembic; Trad'r Sam; Sugar Lounge;
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers; Lucky 13; Hotel Biron; Bottom of the Hill;
Blackthorn; Local Edition; Magnolia Pub & Brewery; Whiskey Thieves;
Bourbon & Branch; The Monk's Kettle; Amsterdam Cafe; Aunt Charlie's
Lounge; Latin American Club; Two Sisters Bar and Books; Doc's Clock; 15
Romolo; Thee Parkside; The Social Study; The Page; Rye; Bloodhound;
Azucar Lounge; The Residence; Tommy's Mexican; The Revolution Cafe;
Trick Dog; The Hot Spot; Hi Tops; The Homestead; The Phoenix Bar & Irish Gathering House; Fillmore Karaoke; Musee Mechanique; Royal Cuckoo; The Phone Booth; The Bitter End; Dear Mom, Eureka Lounge.
Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Antonio's Nut House (Palo Alto);
The Oasis Beer Garden (Menlo Park); Rose and Crown (Palo Alto);
Fiddler's Green (Millbrae).
Previous
East Bay picks: The Trappist (Oakland); Heinold's First and Last Chance
Saloon (Oakland); The Turf Club (Hayward); Jupiter (Berkeley); St.
George Spirits (Alameda); Drake's Barrel House (San Leandro); JC Cellars
(Oakland); Dashe Cellars (Oakland); Room 389 (Oakland); Beer Revolution
(Oakland); Make Westing (Oakland); Altamont Beer Works (Livermore);
Prizefighter (Emeryville); Heart and Dagger Saloon (Oakland); Dogwood (Oakland); Bar Three Fifty-Five (Oakland); Triple Rock Brewery and Ale House (Berkeley).
Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg); Tourist Club (Mill Valley); Mill Valley Beerworks.
Previous
Other picks: New Deal Distillery (Portland); Stateline Brewery (South
Lake Tahoe); The Garage (Las Vegas); The Shady Lady Saloon (Sacramento);
Mercantile Saloon (Sacramento); 49th State Brewing Co (Healy AK); Goat
Hill Tavern (Costa Mesa).
History
Thomas L. Berkley
(1915-2001)
The
grandson of slaves, Mr. Berkley was a world-class hurdler, attended
UCLA law school, and joined the U.S. Army during WWII after the Olympics
were cancelled. He then opened the nation's largest racially integrated law firm, and started newspapers such as El Mundo.
He also served on the Oakland School Board, the California World Trade
Commission, and the Oakland Port Authority Board of Commissioners.
Then-Mayor Jerry Brown renamed a portion of 20th Street in downtown
Oakland after him.
Previous
San Francisco history: John Geary; Samuel Brannan; Michael
O'Shaughnessy; Jasper O'Farrell; Frank McCoppin; Thomas Hayes; Francisco
de Haro; Jose Bernal; David Broderick; Henry Haight; John Townsend;
Cyril Magnin; Jose Arguello; Keiko Fukuda; John Le Conte; Eugene
Schmitz; Theodore Judah; Herb Caen; James Phelan; Lawrence Ferlinghetti;
Angelo Rossi; Charles Brenham; Warren Hellman; John McLaren; Dogpatch;
Thomas Larkin; Nancy Pelosi; Levi Strauss; John Sloat; Jose Sarria;
William D.M. Howard; Edwin Bryant; George Davidson; William Alvord;
George Moscone; Jack Early; Thomas Starr King; Minnie Ward; Rosalie
Stern; Carlton Goodlett; Phillip Burton; Jose de Jesus Noe; Frederick
Funston; Shotwell's; Castro Theatre; Kezar Stadium; Nathaniel Lyon;
Playland at the Beach; Edward D. Baker; Frank Turk; Treasure Island; Ella Hill Hutch.
Previous
Peninsula/South Bay history: Millbrae; Tanforan Racetrack; T. Jack
Foster; Leland Stanford; Milpitas; Donald Tresidder; Josiah Belden;
Hiram Morgan Hill; Simon Mezes; James Forbes; Henry Coe, Jr.; John
Gilroy; Joseph Grant; Henry Naglee; Anson Burlingame; William Ralston;
Paul Trousdale; San Gregorio General Store; William Kimball; James Fair; Emma Prusch.
Previous
East Bay history: Charles Tilden; William Hayward; John Fremont;
Mariano Vallejo; Ygnacio Martinez; Henry Kaiser; Anthony Chabot; Thomas
Caldecott; Laurentine Hamilton; Joel Clayton; Edson Adams; Robert Crown;
Samuel Merritt; Joaquin Miller; Robert Livermore; Gay Nineties Pizza
Co; Joseph Emery; Oakland Athletics; Frank Ogawa; Clark Kerr; John Muir.
Previous
North Bay history: Cotati; Charles Fairfax; Luther Burbank; William
Richardson; Oscar and James Shafter; George Guerne; Frank Doyle; Samuel
Taylor; Harrison Standley; Helen Putnam.
Previous
Other history: Francis Pettygrove (Portland); Betty Willis (Las Vegas);
Esteban Munras (Monterey); John Sutter, Jr. (Sacramento); James
Marshall (Placerville); William Seward (Alaska); Seal Beach Pier.
Charity
Charity: Hamilton Family Center.
The Hamilton Family Center started as the first family homeless shelter
in San Francisco in 1985. Since then, they've added transitional
housing, permanent supportive housing, children & teen services, and
First Avenues (which helps to prevent evictions and provide move-in
financial assistance).
Previous
organizations Randy's Guide has spotlighted and donated: Common Ground
Relief, LYRIC, Aldea Inc., Glide Memorial, City CarShare, Maitri, Loaves
and Fishes, Friends of the Urban Forest, Farm Sanctuary, Bay Area
Community Services, Blue Energy, My New Red Shoes, College Track,
Foundation for the People of Burma, Vital Life Services, Little Angel
Fund, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, Natural Resources Defense
Council, Bay Localize, San Francisco Women Against Rape, Sustainable
Conservation, Ashoka, Old Skool Cafe, Darfur Sister Schools, Rebuilding
Together San Francisco, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center,
Urban Solutions, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, The East Bay Depot
for Creative Reuse, Shanti, Curry Without Worry, SF Neighborhood Theater
Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of
Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer
Foundation (Amy C), KQED (88.5 FM), FabMo Creativity Center;
Duboce/Valencia Fire Relief; The Coming Home Project; Urban Tilth; Queer
Lifespace; Re-volv, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Prevent Blindness.
Weekend Weather
The Bay Area is slowly emerging from a week of below-normal
temperatures. In fact, by early next week, we may be seeing spring-like
weather in the 70s.
~ Thursday-Friday: upper-50s to low-60s
~ Saturday-Sunday: low-60s to mid-60s
Free Activities
1. Santa Is Coming to Town
- SantaCon: Saturday, noon onward
- Santa Skivvies: Sunday, 1pm
The
merriment begins in Union Square with a toy drive through the SF Fire
Dept. Revelry radiates outward to bar-populated areas such as the
Castro, North Beach, and Mission. A snowball fight at Duboce Park is
scheduled for 3pm. Numerous nightclubs, such as Public Works and DNA
Lounge, are offering free admission. Then, to work off all of Saturday, a
brief run through the Castro starts at the Lookout as part of a
fundraiser. The catch is that most of the participants only wear red
underwear and a provided Santa hat.
2. Family Snow Day
Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4:30pm
Bring
your kids to enjoy a snow-filled Civic Center Plaza in front of SF City
Hall. Enjoy a bouncy house, snow saucers, and other activities far away
from the reaches of tipsy Santas.
3. Drag Queens on Ice
Thursday, 8-9:30pm
MC
Donna Sachet, along with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, host an
only-in-San-Francisco event in front of the Embarcadero Center. Weather
should cooperate.
Music
Change the locks
Change the scene
Change it all
But can't change what we've been
Your Trojan's in my head.
-- "Trojans," by Atlas Genius (3.3 million views, Nov '12 upload)
Originally
a conception for three Australian brothers, the band has retained two
of the brothers and added a keyboardist. Their debut album peaked at #34
on the US Billboard charts. You can catch them as part of the KROQ
Almost Acoustic Christmas on December 8 at Los Angeles' Shrine
Auditorium.
Previous
songs: Down to the River to Pray (Alison Krauss); Three Rounds and a
Sound (Blind Pilot); Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band); The Story (Brandi
Carlile); Lucky One (Pure Bathing Culture); Easy Way Out (Gotye); Hell
or High Water (William Elliott Whitmore); Hymn #101 (Joe Pug); Midnight
City (M83); So American (Portugal. The Man); Carry On (Fun.);
Remembrance (Balmorhea); Miss Atomic Bomb (The Killers); Take a Walk
(Passion Pit); Closer (Tegan and Sara); It's Time (Imagine Dragons);
Higher (Matt Nathanson); Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second (STRFKR);
So Many Details (Toro Y Moi); Ho Hey (Lumineers); Winter Winds (Mumford
& Sons); Wanted (Hunter Hayes); Levels (Avicii); The A Team (Ed
Sheeran); Hold On (Alabama Shakes); Don't You Worry Child (Swedish House
Mafia); Lonely Boy (The Black Keys); It's a War (Blackbird, Blackbird);
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros); Big Girl (Mika);
Step (Vampire Weekend); All of Me (Tanlines); King and Lionheart (Of
Monsters and Men); Celestica (Crystal Castles); Angels (The xx); Out of
My League (Fitz & the Tantrums); If I Know You (The Presets); Dumb
Disco Ideas (Holy Ghost!); Even If I Could (Rachael Yamagata); Tired
Eyes (The Trophy Fire); Knock Knock (Band of Horses); Around the Block
(Pretty Lights); Brave (Sara Bareilles); Same Love (Macklemore + Ryan
Lewis, feat. Mary Lambert); Safe and Sound (Capital Cities);
All-American Boy (Steve Grand); Entertainment (Phoenix); Your Drums,
Your Love (AlunaGeorge); Garden (Lost in the Trees); Royals (Lorde); The
Mother We Share (Chvrches); High School Lover (Cayuca); She Keeps Me
Warm (Mary Lambert); Dyin' Bedmaker (Andrew Bird); Zombies (Radiation
City); Bitter Rivals (Sleigh Bells); Tall Tall Shadow (Basia Bulat);
Sunday (Crocodiles); Pompeii (Bastille); Breezeblocks (Alt-J); Sweater Weather (The Neighbourhood); Hurricane (MS MR).
Current Event
In a
partnership between Code for America and the City and County of San
Francisco Human Services Agency (HSA), Promptly has launched as a mobile
app designed to help clients receive an additional reminder about
potential benefits disruption.
"It's proven successful. They are getting these text messages, and they are retaining their benefits."
-- Trent Rhorer, HSA Executive Director
"They saved 50 people from embarrassment at the grocery store buying their Thanksgiving dinners."
-- Shannon Spanhake, City and County of SF Deputy Innovation Officer
"Both HSA and our team believe that text messaging is a quick and easy way to reach people who are in danger of not receiving necessary benefits."
-- Andy Hull, Code for America fellow
Food
La Mediterranee
288 Noe St. (at Market St.)
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 431-7210
Yelp - SF (Castro)
or
2210 Fillmore St. (at Sacramento St.)
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 921-2956
Yelp - SF (Pac Hts)
or
2936 College Ave. (at Ashby Ave.)
Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 540-7773
Yelp - Berkeley
Two
Lebanese cousins founded the first location on Fillmore St. back in
1979, then opened the Castro spot in 1981 and the Berkeley cafe a year
later. The pomegranate chicken, hummus, and avgolemono soup are all
top-notch. I highly recommend a mixed plate for either your appetizer or
main course needs to get a broad spectrum of tasty goodies. 398 reviews
- 4 stars (SF - Castro); 991 reviews - 4 stars (SF - Pac Hts); 854
reviews - 3-1/2 stars (Berkeley).
Previous
San Francisco picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star
Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign
Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing
Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern;
Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet
Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe;
L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous;
Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India; Sotto Mare; Sweet Maple;
Shanghai Dumpling King; Super Duper; Kokkari Estiatorio; Olea; Bodega
Bistro; The Chairman Truck; Molinari Delicatessen; Wayfare Tavern;
Wexler's; Thorough Bread & Pastry; Lers Ros Thai; Helmand Palace;
HRD Coffee Shop; Fat Angel; Aperto; Pho Huynh Hiep 2; Ted's Deli; Zero
Zero; Zazie; Shalimar; Swan Oyster Depot; Dottie's True Blue Cafe; La
Taqueria; Chez Maman; Radio Habana Social Club; Tony's Pizza Napoletana;
Hard Knox Cafe; Shabusen; Ragazza; Morty's Delicatessen; Hawaiian Drive
Inn #28; Just For You Cafe; Woodhouse Fish Co; Mission Pie; El Metate;
V-105; Kitchen Story; Frisco Fried; Range; Suzu Noodle House; The Codmother Fish & Chips; The Front Porch; Blue Plate; Chomp N' Swig; Piccino.
Previous
Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca
Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San
Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo
Park/San Jose); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San
Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto); Nini's Coffee
Shop (San Mateo); Kabab and Curry's (Santa Clara); Fiddler's Green
(Millbrae); Alana's Cafe (Burlingame); Sushi Sam's Edomata (San Mateo);
Shanghai Dumpling Shop (Millbrae).
Previous
East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana
Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food
(Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's
(Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland);
Zachary's Pizza (Oakland/Berkeley/San Ramon); Gregoire
(Berkeley/Oakland); Val's Burgers (Hayward); Homeroom (Oakland); Jong Ga
House (Oakland); Cheese Board Pizza (Berkeley); Vik's Chaat (Berkeley);
Wat Mongkoratanaram (Berkeley); Phnom Penh House (Oakland); Luka's
Taproom & Lounge (Oakland); First Street Ale House (Livermore);
Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe (Oakland/Emeryville); Mua Lounge (Oakland); Grand Lake Kitchen (Oakland); Shan Dong Restaurant (Oakland); Taste of the Himalayas (Berkeley); Korea House (Concord).
Previous
North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery
(Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael/Mill Valley); Stumptown Brewery
(Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg); Super Duper (Mill
Valley); The Pelican Inn (Muir Beach); Garden Grill (Guerneville);
Buckeye Roadhouse (Mill Valley).
Previous
Other picks: Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento); Built to Grill (Portland);
Freshies (South Lake Tahoe); Mon Ami Gabi (Las Vegas); Fox & Goose
Public House (Sacramento); La Bonne Soup Cafe (Sacramento); Snow City
Cafe (Anchorage); Starling Diner (Long Beach).
Nightlife
Eureka Lounge
4063 18th St. (at Noe St.)
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 431-6000
Yelp
I
can't vouch for the food, aside from the $1 tasty oysters during happy
hour, but the premium cocktail specials upstairs for $7 are pretty good
for the area. I ordered a Bulleit manhattan, but there are other options
such as a sidecar, dark 'n' stormy, and margarita. You'll also find
wine specials too. It's cozy, quiet, and spacious... a welcome respite
from the noisy clatter in most of the other nearby options. 4 stars -
431 reviews
Previous
San Francisco picks: Blackbird; El Rio; Rickhouse; Southern Pacific
Brewing; The Hidden Vine; Vesuvio; The Pig & Whistle; Biergarten;
Martuni's; Tosca Cafe; Toronado; The Alembic; Trad'r Sam; Sugar Lounge;
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers; Lucky 13; Hotel Biron; Bottom of the Hill;
Blackthorn; Local Edition; Magnolia Pub & Brewery; Whiskey Thieves;
Bourbon & Branch; The Monk's Kettle; Amsterdam Cafe; Aunt Charlie's
Lounge; Latin American Club; Two Sisters Bar and Books; Doc's Clock; 15
Romolo; Thee Parkside; The Social Study; The Page; Rye; Bloodhound;
Azucar Lounge; The Residence; Tommy's Mexican; The Revolution Cafe;
Trick Dog; The Hot Spot; Hi Tops; The Homestead; The Phoenix Bar & Irish Gathering House; Fillmore Karaoke; Musee Mechanique; Royal Cuckoo; The Phone Booth; The Bitter End; Dear Mom.
Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Antonio's Nut House (Palo Alto);
The Oasis Beer Garden (Menlo Park); Rose and Crown (Palo Alto);
Fiddler's Green (Millbrae).
Previous
East Bay picks: The Trappist (Oakland); Heinold's First and Last Chance
Saloon (Oakland); The Turf Club (Hayward); Jupiter (Berkeley); St.
George Spirits (Alameda); Drake's Barrel House (San Leandro); JC Cellars
(Oakland); Dashe Cellars (Oakland); Room 389 (Oakland); Beer Revolution
(Oakland); Make Westing (Oakland); Altamont Beer Works (Livermore);
Prizefighter (Emeryville); Heart and Dagger Saloon (Oakland); Dogwood (Oakland); Bar Three Fifty-Five (Oakland); Triple Rock Brewery and Ale House (Berkeley).
Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg); Tourist Club (Mill Valley); Mill Valley Beerworks.
Previous
Other picks: New Deal Distillery (Portland); Stateline Brewery (South
Lake Tahoe); The Garage (Las Vegas); The Shady Lady Saloon (Sacramento);
Mercantile Saloon (Sacramento); 49th State Brewing Co (Healy AK); Goat
Hill Tavern (Costa Mesa).
History
John Muir
(1838-1914)
His
Scottish family moved to Wisconsin when John was still in school, and
later he would spend time in the Canadian wilderness to avoid the Civil
War draft. Eventually, he would find himself in California, where he
would become an explorer and later an activist to protect Yosemite via
the Sierra Club, which he co-founded. He met his hero, Ralph Waldo
Emerson, for a day, and turned down a Harvard professorship offer from
him. Following an trip to Alaska, John married into a family who owned a
2600-acre fruit orchard in Martinez. He published 12 books and hundreds
of articles. Muir Woods and Muir Beach, both in Marin County, as well
as the John Muir Historic Site in Contra Costa County, are among the
locations named after him.
Previous
San Francisco history: John Geary; Samuel Brannan; Michael
O'Shaughnessy; Jasper O'Farrell; Frank McCoppin; Thomas Hayes; Francisco
de Haro; Jose Bernal; David Broderick; Henry Haight; John Townsend;
Cyril Magnin; Jose Arguello; Keiko Fukuda; John Le Conte; Eugene
Schmitz; Theodore Judah; Herb Caen; James Phelan; Lawrence Ferlinghetti;
Angelo Rossi; Charles Brenham; Warren Hellman; John McLaren; Dogpatch;
Thomas Larkin; Nancy Pelosi; Levi Strauss; John Sloat; Jose Sarria;
William D.M. Howard; Edwin Bryant; George Davidson; William Alvord;
George Moscone; Jack Early; Thomas Starr King; Minnie Ward; Rosalie
Stern; Carlton Goodlett; Phillip Burton; Jose de Jesus Noe; Frederick
Funston; Shotwell's; Castro Theatre; Kezar Stadium; Nathaniel Lyon;
Playland at the Beach; Edward D. Baker; Frank Turk; Treasure Island; Ella Hill Hutch.
Previous
Peninsula/South Bay history: Millbrae; Tanforan Racetrack; T. Jack
Foster; Leland Stanford; Milpitas; Donald Tresidder; Josiah Belden;
Hiram Morgan Hill; Simon Mezes; James Forbes; Henry Coe, Jr.; John
Gilroy; Joseph Grant; Henry Naglee; Anson Burlingame; William Ralston;
Paul Trousdale; San Gregorio General Store; William Kimball; James Fair; Emma Prusch
Previous
East Bay history: Charles Tilden; William Hayward; John Fremont;
Mariano Vallejo; Ygnacio Martinez; Henry Kaiser; Anthony Chabot; Thomas
Caldecott; Laurentine Hamilton; Joel Clayton; Edson Adams; Robert Crown;
Samuel Merritt; Joaquin Miller; Robert Livermore; Gay Nineties Pizza
Co; Joseph Emery; Oakland Athletics; Frank Ogawa; Clark Kerr.
Previous
North Bay history: Cotati; Charles Fairfax; Luther Burbank; William
Richardson; Oscar and James Shafter; George Guerne; Frank Doyle; Samuel
Taylor; Harrison Standley; Helen Putnam.
Previous
Other history: Francis Pettygrove (Portland); Betty Willis (Las Vegas);
Esteban Munras (Monterey); John Sutter, Jr. (Sacramento); James
Marshall (Placerville); William Seward (Alaska); Seal Beach Pier.
Charity
Congrats to Prevent Blindness for being the latest Randy's Guide donation recipient!
New Charity: Hamilton Family Center.
The Hamilton Family Center started as the first family homeless shelter
in San Francisco in 1985. Since then, they've added transitional
housing, permanent supportive housing, children & teen services, and
First Avenues (which helps to prevent evictions and provide move-in
financial assistance).
Previous
organizations Randy's Guide has spotlighted and donated: Common Ground
Relief, LYRIC, Aldea Inc., Glide Memorial, City CarShare, Maitri, Loaves
and Fishes, Friends of the Urban Forest, Farm Sanctuary, Bay Area
Community Services, Blue Energy, My New Red Shoes, College Track,
Foundation for the People of Burma, Vital Life Services, Little Angel
Fund, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, Natural Resources Defense
Council, Bay Localize, San Francisco Women Against Rape, Sustainable
Conservation, Ashoka, Old Skool Cafe, Darfur Sister Schools, Rebuilding
Together San Francisco, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center,
Urban Solutions, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, The East Bay Depot
for Creative Reuse, Shanti, Curry Without Worry, SF Neighborhood Theater
Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of
Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer
Foundation (Amy C), KQED (88.5 FM), FabMo Creativity Center;
Duboce/Valencia Fire Relief; The Coming Home Project; Urban Tilth; Queer
Lifespace; Re-volv, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and now Prevent Blindness.
Weekend Weather
Record cold is
hitting the Bay Area this week. Morning lows today hit 16 at Healdsburg,
21 at Walnut Creek, 25 at Stanford, and 36 at Ocean Beach. Spotty
showers are expected for Friday, with snow level dropping to 1,000 feet.
This means potential dusting on Mount Tam, Mount Diablo, the Santa Cruz
hills, and even Twin Peaks.
High temps should stay near 50 degrees through Monday.
Free Activities
1. Support your local artisans.
- SFMade: Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
- SF Bazaar: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-6pm
SFMade hosts 50 different vendors each day at Fort Mason. Their focus is on items solely made in San Francisco. SF Bazaar,
formerly Bizarre Bazaar, brings over 200 artists to the Concourse
Exhibition Center. The first 200 entrants each day receive a limited
edition tote bag and an art print.
2. Party with Valencia St. merchants.
- Mission Holiday Block Party: Friday, 6-10pm
Paxton
Gate, PUBLIC Bikes, Dandelion Chocolates, and Good Vibrations are among
the 50+ businesses participating in an evening of discounts, free
refreshments, and entertainment.
3. Repeal Prohibition, now!
- 21st Amendment Brewery: Thursday, 4pm
- Goorin Bros: Thursday, 6-9pm
March
from Justin Herman Plaza to 21st Amendment Brewery in support of the
repeal of Prohibition, then enjoy a Dixieland band, freshly tapped
Firkin beer (for purchase), and an upstairs speakeasy complete with
charity-driven casino games and free Three Twins ice cream. Goorin Bros.
will be enforcing a strict Prohibition-era dress code, but once inside
you'll be treated to free cocktails, food, music, and knickknacks.
Music
Welcome to the inner workings of my mind
So dark and foul I can't disguise
Nights like this I become afraid
Of the darkness in my heart
Hurricane.
-- "Hurricane," by MS MR (1.8 million views, Apr '13 upload)
They
met at Vassar College. They released this song, their first single,
back in 2012. Their debut album came out earlier this year, with Grey's Anatomy and Game of Thrones sampling their music. Catch them in Sacramento's Sleep Train Arena on December 4.
Previous
songs: Down to the River to Pray (Alison Krauss); Three Rounds and a
Sound (Blind Pilot); Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band); The Story (Brandi
Carlile); Lucky One (Pure Bathing Culture); Easy Way Out (Gotye); Hell
or High Water (William Elliott Whitmore); Hymn #101 (Joe Pug); Midnight
City (M83); So American (Portugal. The Man); Carry On (Fun.);
Remembrance (Balmorhea); Miss Atomic Bomb (The Killers); Take a Walk
(Passion Pit); Closer (Tegan and Sara); It's Time (Imagine Dragons);
Higher (Matt Nathanson); Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second (STRFKR);
So Many Details (Toro Y Moi); Ho Hey (Lumineers); Winter Winds (Mumford
& Sons); Wanted (Hunter Hayes); Levels (Avicii); The A Team (Ed
Sheeran); Hold On (Alabama Shakes); Don't You Worry Child (Swedish House
Mafia); Lonely Boy (The Black Keys); It's a War (Blackbird, Blackbird);
Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros); Big Girl (Mika);
Step (Vampire Weekend); All of Me (Tanlines); King and Lionheart (Of
Monsters and Men); Celestica (Crystal Castles); Angels (The xx); Out of
My League (Fitz & the Tantrums); If I Know You (The Presets); Dumb
Disco Ideas (Holy Ghost!); Even If I Could (Rachael Yamagata); Tired
Eyes (The Trophy Fire); Knock Knock (Band of Horses); Around the Block
(Pretty Lights); Brave (Sara Bareilles); Same Love (Macklemore + Ryan
Lewis, feat. Mary Lambert); Safe and Sound (Capital Cities);
All-American Boy (Steve Grand); Entertainment (Phoenix); Your Drums,
Your Love (AlunaGeorge); Garden (Lost in the Trees); Royals (Lorde); The
Mother We Share (Chvrches); High School Lover (Cayuca); She Keeps Me
Warm (Mary Lambert); Dyin' Bedmaker (Andrew Bird); Zombies (Radiation
City); Bitter Rivals (Sleigh Bells); Tall Tall Shadow (Basia Bulat);
Sunday (Crocodiles); Pompeii (Bastille); Breezeblocks (Alt-J); Sweater Weather (The Neighbourhood).
Current Event
More
than 800 recovered bicycles sit in a Hunters Point warehouse for the
SFPD. About 1/4 of them will be contributed to a program with the SF
Bicycle Coalition and the Human Services Agency. Today, San Francisco
ranks third in bike ridership, behind Portland, Ore., and Seattle.
"We need more people to actually report bike theft, to know their serial numbers, and to take pictures of their bikes."
-- Officer Matt Friedman, lead on bicycle theft investigations
"It's definitely a growing problem. We're very interested in working with the City to reduce the amount of theft."
-- Kit Hodge, deputy director for the SF Bicycle Coalition
Food
Korea House
1835 Willow Pass Rd.
Concord, CA 94520
(925) 691-8888
Yelp
What
a find! In the midst of the Concord maze-like downtown, in a strip
mall, you'll find an unassuming clean cafe with sizable portions, two
rounds of banchan small plates, and excellent lunch prices. I ordered
the kalbi short ribs, but I could see people around me ordering all the
favorites - bulgogi, bibimbap, tofu soup. 4 stars - 477 reviews
Previous
San Francisco picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star
Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign
Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing
Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern;
Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet
Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe;
L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous;
Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India; Sotto Mare; Sweet Maple;
Shanghai Dumpling King; Super Duper; Kokkari Estiatorio; Olea; Bodega
Bistro; The Chairman Truck; Molinari Delicatessen; Wayfare Tavern;
Wexler's; Thorough Bread & Pastry; Lers Ros Thai; Helmand Palace;
HRD Coffee Shop; Fat Angel; Aperto; Pho Huynh Hiep 2; Ted's Deli; Zero
Zero; Zazie; Shalimar; Swan Oyster Depot; Dottie's True Blue Cafe; La
Taqueria; Chez Maman; Radio Habana Social Club; Tony's Pizza Napoletana;
Hard Knox Cafe; Shabusen; Ragazza; Morty's Delicatessen; Hawaiian Drive
Inn #28; Just For You Cafe; Woodhouse Fish Co; Mission Pie; El Metate;
V-105; Kitchen Story; Frisco Fried; Range; Suzu Noodle House; The Codmother Fish & Chips; The Front Porch; Blue Plate; Chomp N' Swig; Piccino.
Previous
Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca
Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San
Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo
Park/San Jose); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San
Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto); Nini's Coffee
Shop (San Mateo); Kabab and Curry's (Santa Clara); Fiddler's Green
(Millbrae); Alana's Cafe (Burlingame); Sushi Sam's Edomata (San Mateo);
Shanghai Dumpling Shop (Millbrae).
Previous
East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana
Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food
(Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's
(Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland);
Zachary's Pizza (Oakland/Berkeley/San Ramon); Gregoire
(Berkeley/Oakland); Val's Burgers (Hayward); Homeroom (Oakland); Jong Ga
House (Oakland); Cheese Board Pizza (Berkeley); Vik's Chaat (Berkeley);
Wat Mongkoratanaram (Berkeley); Phnom Penh House (Oakland); Luka's
Taproom & Lounge (Oakland); First Street Ale House (Livermore);
Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe (Oakland/Emeryville); Mua Lounge (Oakland); Grand Lake Kitchen (Oakland); Shan Dong Restaurant (Oakland); Taste of the Himalayas (Berkeley).
Previous
North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery
(Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael/Mill Valley); Stumptown Brewery
(Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg); Super Duper (Mill
Valley); The Pelican Inn (Muir Beach); Garden Grill (Guerneville);
Buckeye Roadhouse (Mill Valley).
Previous
Other picks: Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento); Built to Grill (Portland);
Freshies (South Lake Tahoe); Mon Ami Gabi (Las Vegas); Fox & Goose
Public House (Sacramento); La Bonne Soup Cafe (Sacramento); Snow City
Cafe (Anchorage); Starling Diner (Long Beach).
Nightlife
Mill Valley Beerworks
173 Throckmorton Ave. (at Miller Ave.)
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 888-8218
Yelp
Quite
simple, really. Choose from one of 15 options on tap, pull up a seat at
either the bar or communal tables, and relax. It's a modern atmosphere -
think gastropub mixed with a little Marin touch. 3-1/2 stars - 187
reviews
Previous
San Francisco picks: Blackbird; El Rio; Rickhouse; Southern Pacific
Brewing; The Hidden Vine; Vesuvio; The Pig & Whistle; Biergarten;
Martuni's; Tosca Cafe; Toronado; The Alembic; Trad'r Sam; Sugar Lounge;
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers; Lucky 13; Hotel Biron; Bottom of the Hill;
Blackthorn; Local Edition; Magnolia Pub & Brewery; Whiskey Thieves;
Bourbon & Branch; The Monk's Kettle; Amsterdam Cafe; Aunt Charlie's
Lounge; Latin American Club; Two Sisters Bar and Books; Doc's Clock; 15
Romolo; Thee Parkside; The Social Study; The Page; Rye; Bloodhound;
Azucar Lounge; The Residence; Tommy's Mexican; The Revolution Cafe;
Trick Dog; The Hot Spot; Hi Tops; The Homestead; The Phoenix Bar & Irish Gathering House; Fillmore Karaoke; Musee Mechanique; Royal Cuckoo; The Phone Booth; The Bitter End; Dear Mom.
Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Antonio's Nut House (Palo Alto);
The Oasis Beer Garden (Menlo Park); Rose and Crown (Palo Alto);
Fiddler's Green (Millbrae).
Previous
East Bay picks: The Trappist (Oakland); Heinold's First and Last Chance
Saloon (Oakland); The Turf Club (Hayward); Jupiter (Berkeley); St.
George Spirits (Alameda); Drake's Barrel House (San Leandro); JC Cellars
(Oakland); Dashe Cellars (Oakland); Room 389 (Oakland); Beer Revolution
(Oakland); Make Westing (Oakland); Altamont Beer Works (Livermore);
Prizefighter (Emeryville); Heart and Dagger Saloon (Oakland); Dogwood (Oakland); Bar Three Fifty-Five (Oakland); Triple Rock Brewery and Ale House (Berkeley).
Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg); Tourist Club (Mill Valley).
Previous
Other picks: New Deal Distillery (Portland); Stateline Brewery (South
Lake Tahoe); The Garage (Las Vegas); The Shady Lady Saloon (Sacramento);
Mercantile Saloon (Sacramento); 49th State Brewing Co (Healy AK); Goat
Hill Tavern (Costa Mesa).
History
Emma Prusch
(1876-1969)
Her
father immigrated from Germany and eventually started ranching in San
Jose, Calif. Emma and her three siblings lost their mother early in
life. Emma never left the ranch, and bequeathed it to the city of San
Jose in 1962. Today, most of the 86.5 acres remain Emma Prusch Park,
with a fruit orchard, two community gardens, a barn with farm animals,
and the original Prusch family home.
Previous
San Francisco history: John Geary; Samuel Brannan; Michael
O'Shaughnessy; Jasper O'Farrell; Frank McCoppin; Thomas Hayes; Francisco
de Haro; Jose Bernal; David Broderick; Henry Haight; John Townsend;
Cyril Magnin; Jose Arguello; Keiko Fukuda; John Le Conte; Eugene
Schmitz; Theodore Judah; Herb Caen; James Phelan; Lawrence Ferlinghetti;
Angelo Rossi; Charles Brenham; Warren Hellman; John McLaren; Dogpatch;
Thomas Larkin; Nancy Pelosi; Levi Strauss; John Sloat; Jose Sarria;
William D.M. Howard; Edwin Bryant; George Davidson; William Alvord;
George Moscone; Jack Early; Thomas Starr King; Minnie Ward; Rosalie
Stern; Carlton Goodlett; Phillip Burton; Jose de Jesus Noe; Frederick
Funston; Shotwell's; Castro Theatre; Kezar Stadium; Nathaniel Lyon;
Playland at the Beach; Edward D. Baker; Frank Turk; Treasure Island; Ella Hill Hutch.
Previous
Peninsula/South Bay history: Millbrae; Tanforan Racetrack; T. Jack
Foster; Leland Stanford; Milpitas; Donald Tresidder; Josiah Belden;
Hiram Morgan Hill; Simon Mezes; James Forbes; Henry Coe, Jr.; John
Gilroy; Joseph Grant; Henry Naglee; Anson Burlingame; William Ralston;
Paul Trousdale; San Gregorio General Store; William Kimball; James Fair.
Previous
East Bay history: Charles Tilden; William Hayward; John Fremont;
Mariano Vallejo; Ygnacio Martinez; Henry Kaiser; Anthony Chabot; Thomas
Caldecott; Laurentine Hamilton; Joel Clayton; Edson Adams; Robert Crown;
Samuel Merritt; Joaquin Miller; Robert Livermore; Gay Nineties Pizza
Co; Joseph Emery; Oakland Athletics; Frank Ogawa; Clark Kerr.
Previous
North Bay history: Cotati; Charles Fairfax; Luther Burbank; William
Richardson; Oscar and James Shafter; George Guerne; Frank Doyle; Samuel
Taylor; Harrison Standley; Helen Putnam.
Previous
Other history: Francis Pettygrove (Portland); Betty Willis (Las Vegas);
Esteban Munras (Monterey); John Sutter, Jr. (Sacramento); James
Marshall (Placerville); William Seward (Alaska); Seal Beach Pier.
Charity
Charity: Prevent Blindness.
The Northern California chapters in San Francisco and Redding have
screened over one million individuals for vision since 1966. Recently,
they partnered with fuseproject to launch See Well to Learn, which provides free eye exams and glasses to Bay Area students.
Previous
organizations Randy's Guide has spotlighted and donated: Common Ground
Relief, LYRIC, Aldea Inc., Glide Memorial, City CarShare, Maitri, Loaves
and Fishes, Friends of the Urban Forest, Farm Sanctuary, Bay Area
Community Services, Blue Energy, My New Red Shoes, College Track,
Foundation for the People of Burma, Vital Life Services, Little Angel
Fund, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, Natural Resources Defense
Council, Bay Localize, San Francisco Women Against Rape, Sustainable
Conservation, Ashoka, Old Skool Cafe, Darfur Sister Schools, Rebuilding
Together San Francisco, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center,
Urban Solutions, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, The East Bay Depot
for Creative Reuse, Shanti, Curry Without Worry, SF Neighborhood Theater
Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of
Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer
Foundation (Amy C), KQED (88.5 FM), FabMo Creativity Center;
Duboce/Valencia Fire Relief; The Coming Home Project; Urban Tilth; Queer
Lifespace; Re-volv, and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Holiday Weekend Weather
San Francisco: Partly cloudy. mid-60s
Los Angeles: Partly cloudy. low-70s
Portland, OR: Mostly cloudy, then chance of rain Sunday. low-50s
Seattle: Mostly cloudy, chance of rain Friday-Sunday. low-50s
Las Vegas: Partly cloudy. upper-50s
Denver: Partly cloudy. mid-50s
Houston: Mostly cloudy. mid-60s
Chicago: Partly cloudy. upper-30s
Boston: Rain today and Sunday, otherwise partly cloudy. mid-30s
New York: Rain today and Sunday, otherwise partly cloudy. low-40s
Raleigh: Rain today, otherwise partly cloudy. mid-40s
Miami: Mostly cloudy. upper-70s
Free Activities
1. Happy Hanukkah!
Ghirardelli Square Light the Menorah Festival: Wednesday, 4-6pm
Bill Graham Menorah Day Festival: Sunday, 2-5pm
In
Ghirardelli Square, participate in a dreidel dance, lollipop and taffy
games, and the lighting of the 9-foot-tall menorah. Craft activities,
live music by the Glenn Hartman Klezmer Trio, and the lighting of the
fifth candle on the 25-foot menorah will be the highlights of this
annual festival in Union Square Plaza.
2. Downtown San Jose Christmas
Winter Wonderland: Friday, 4-7pm
Christmas in the Park: Friday, 6pm
The
downtown turns into a carnival, and rides are free on Black Friday. It
stretches along Paseo de San Antonio and Park Ave. Nearby, in Cesar
Chavez Plaza, the opening night of Christmas in the Park includes
performances by Voices in Harmony, magician Robert Strong, and American
Idol singer DeAndre Brackensick.
3. Harvey Milk Memorials
March from City Hall to Castro: starts at 4:30pm
March from Castro to City Hall: starts at 7pm
The
first march with Harvey Milk Foundation includes the Gay Men's Chorus
and Milk and Moscone family members. The second march by the Harvey Milk
LGBT Democratic Club features Dustin Lance Black, the Gay Men's Chorus,
and a recorded message from Harvey Milk.
