Thursday, February 12, 2015

Randy's Guide 4-2-3

Music 
She's tired of crying
And sick of his lies
She's suffered him
For far too many years of her life
 -- "Odessa," by Caribou (4.0 million views; Feb '10 upload)

Canadian Dan Snaith has performed under three stage names - first as Manitoba, then Caribou, and finally briefly as Daphni. Catch his electronica at the Fillmore as part of Noise Pop Festival on March 1 and 2. 

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); Lightning Bolt (Jake Bugg); San Francisco (The Mowgli's); The High Road (Broken Bells); Call Me in a Day (La Luz); I Can't Go for That (Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers); Black Night (The Dodos); I Learned the Hard Way (Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings); The Robots (Kraftwerk); We Can Make the World Stop (The Glitch Mob); The Truth Don't Stop (Dr. Dog); & It Was U (How to Dress Well); Heartbeats (The Knife); Alive (Empire of the Sun); Holding on to You (twenty-one pilots); Tessellate (Tokyo Police Club); After Hours (We Are Scientists); It's Not True (William Fitzsimmons); Dance with Me (Ra Ra Riot); Inhaler (Foals); Will Do (TV on the Radio); A Few Honest Words (Ben Sollee); Higher Than the Clouds (Anuhea); Taking Chances (Sharon Van Etten); Sad Song (Au Revoir Simone); Keep Your Head Up (Andy Grammer); Zapata Se Queda (Lila Downs); Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk (Rufus Wainwright); Alexandra (Hamilton Leithauser); Latch (Disclosure, feat. Sam Smith); Clarity (Zedd feat. Foxes); Wonder Why (Vetiver); Jubel (Klingande); World Without Tears (Lucinda Williams); Talk Is Cheap (Chet Faker); You Cheated Me (Martha Wainwright); Beggin' for Thread (Banks); Elevate (St. Lucia); Speed of Sound (Alzara & Brother Spellbinder); You're Not the One (Sky Ferreira); My Silver Lining (First Aid Kit); Never Catch Me (Flying Lotus); Devils (Say Hi); Seasons - Waiting on You (Future Islands); Riptide (Vance Joy); Get Low (Dillon Francis feat DJ Snake); Collide (Laidback Luke feat Project 46 and Collin McLoughlin); Christmas Miracle (WestJet); Budapest (George Ezra); Rich Kids (Judah and the Lion); Now We Can See (The Thermals); Kites (Geographer); Demon Dance (Surfer Blood).


Food 
Mitchell's Ice Cream 
688 San Jose Ave
San Francisco, CA 94110 
(415) 648-2300
 Yelp - 4-1/2 stars (3043 reviews) 

Clearly, this place has a bit more street cred than Bi-Rite or Humphrey. Since 1953, Mitchell's has been mixing its own ice cream. Today, you'll find a bit more exotic Asian flavors - ube (purple yam), buko (baby coconut), langka (jackfruit), and lychee. There's almost always a line, so I suggest buying a $10 half gallon to skip to the front. 

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 FriedRange; Suzu Noodle House; The Codmother Fish & Chips; The Front PorchBlue Plate; Chomp N' Swig; PiccinoLa MediterraneeKen Ken RamenTommaso's Ristorante Italiano1760The Richmond; Nick's Crispy Tacos; Cinderella BakeryThe Little ChihuahuaZuni Cafe; Bistro Central Parc; Old Skool Cafe; Starbelly; The Sandwich Place; Primo Patio Cafe; Pearl's Deluxe Burgers; Boulevard; The Sausage Factory; Tommy's Joynt; Truly Mediterranean; Tadich Grill; Little Nepal; Roxie Food Center; New Eritrea Restaurant & Bar; Vega.

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); Romolo's Cannoli (San Mateo); Koi Palace (Daly City); Old Port Lobster Shack (Redwood City); Souvlaki's Greek Skewers (San Jose); Gorilla Barbeque (Pacifica); Ramen Dojo (San Mateo).

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); 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); Gather (Berkeley); Phnom Penh House (Oakland); Sue's Kitchen (El Sobrante); John's Ice Cream (Brentwood/Berkeley); TrueBurger (Oakland); Kensington Circus Pub; Kabana Restaurant (Berkeley); Ole Ole Burrito Express (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); Andie's Cafe (Napa); West Brooklyn Pizza Co (San Rafael).

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); Masa of Echo Park (Los Angeles); Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs (Denver); Philippe the Original (Los Angeles); Han Bat Sul Lung Tang (Los Angeles); Jayne's Gastropub (San Diego); Quinn's (Seattle); George's Greek Cafe (Long Beach); Ike's Quarter Cafe (Nevada City); Root Down (Denver); Champa Garden (Redding); The Hangout (Seal Beach); Pantry Restaurant (Santa Fe); Hey That's Amore (Pasadena).


Nightlife 
500 Club 
500 Guerrero St
San Francisco, CA 94110 
(415) 861-2500
Yelp - 4 stars (456 reviews) 

This run-of-the-mill dive bar makes strong drinks, offers a photo booth and fireplace, and is good for groups wishing to share a comfy booth. They used to open at 6am, though apparently that has since changed to a more normal 11am. It's a block off Valencia, which makes a world of difference. 

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 HomesteadThe Phoenix Bar & Irish Gathering House; Fillmore Karaoke; Musee Mechanique; Royal Cuckoo; The Phone Booth; The Bitter End; Dear MomEureka LoungeElbo Room; Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe; Amelie; Buckshot; Greens Sports Bar; The Hearth; The Armory ClubVinyl Coffee & Wine BarThe Willows; Barrel Head BrewhouseThird Rail440 CastroShotwell's; 83 ProofThe Dark Horse Inn; Hopwater Distribution; Novela; Twin Peaks Tavern; Great American Music Hall; Elixir; Topsy's Fun House; Wild Side West; Social Kitchen & Brewery; Triple Voodoo Brewery & Tap Room; Valley Tavern.

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); Grape & Grain (San Mateo); Freewheel Brewing Company (Redwood City); Cinebar (San Jose); Devil's Slide Taproom (Pacifica).

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); Ben & Nick's Bar & Grill (Oakland); District OaklandAlbany Taproom; The Pig & the Pickle (Concord); The New Parkway (Oakland); Torpedo Room (Berkeley); Moxy Beer Garden (Berkeley); Ale Industries (Oakland).

Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg); Tourist Club (Mill Valley); Mill Valley Beerworks;Billco's Billiards & Darts (Napa); Cline Cellars (Sonoma). 

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); El Prado (Los Angeles); Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey (Denver); Angel City Brewery (Los Angeles); The Hermosillo (Los Angeles); Polite Provisions (San Diego); Sun Liquor Distillery (Seattle); Alex's Bar (Long Beach); Avanguardia Wines (Grass Valley); The 1up (Denver); Fall River Taphouse (Redding); The Abbey (Seal Beach); Marble Brewery (Albuquerque); The Far Bar (Los Angeles).


Nooks & Crannies
Belden Place
San Francisco, CA

The French first settled in this area near the Financial District and Chinatown during the Gold Rush. A one-block pedestrian zone - marked by cafes, restaurants, and bars with ample outdoor seating - hosts the nation's largest Bastille Day celebration.

Previous Nooks: The Secret Garden (SF); Cal Park Hill Tunnel (San Rafael); Mount Olympus (SF); Watts Towers (Los Angeles); Seward Street Slides (SF); Bison Paddock (SF); St. Ignatius Church (SF); Albany Bulb (Albany); Feather Falls  (Oroville); Wolfe Ranch (Brentwood); South Park (SF); Castle Rock State Park (Los Gatos); Sutro Baths (SF); The Dish (Stanford); Bernal Hill (SF); Little Giant Gold Hydrant (SF); Redwood Valley Railway (Berkeley); Howard Langton Garden (SF); Philosopher's Way Trail (SF); Point Reyes Lighthouse; Sundial Bridge (Redding); Bay Bridge Trail (Oakland); Berkeley Rose Garden; Moraga Steps (SF); Angels Flight (Los Angeles); Grandview Park (SF); Corona Heights Park (SF); Lake Chabot (Oakland/Castro Valley); Friends of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (San Antonio, NM); Heron's Head Park (SF); History Park (San Jose); Runyon Canyon Park (Los Angeles); Cataract Falls (Fairfax); Coyote Point Recreation Area (San Mateo); San Pedro Valley Park (Pacifica); Ano Nuevo State Park (Pescadero); Redwood Regional Park (Oakland); Laguna Honda Reservoir (SF); Joaquin Miller Park (Oakland); Holly Park (SF).


Charity
Milo Foundation
The no-kill organization is named after Milo, a deaf-blind Australian Shepherd that the Director adopted during the '90s. A 283-acre sanctuary in Mendocino County complements an adoption space in Point Richmond. Volunteers are needed in Point Richmond for animal care, dog walking, and administration.

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 (Wes S), Re-volv, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Prevent BlindnessHamilton Family CenterRocky Mountain WildPlant SF, Delivering Innovation in Supportive Housing (DISH), City Slicker Farms, SCRAP, and Good Karma Bikes.


Free Activities
1. Free National Parks Weekend
Saturday-Monday
Celebrate President's Day with some fresh air. Hike through one of the 405 national parks such as Yosemite, Muir Woods, or Pinnacles with free admission.

2. Vietnamese Tet Festival
Saturday, 10:30am-5:30pm
Celebrate the Lunar New Year in UN Plaza with traditional rituals, lion dancers, dragons, and firecrackers.

3. Pillow Fights
 - Justin Herman Plaza (SF): Saturday, 6pm
 - San Jose: Sunday, noon
Bring your pillow or camera, and be ready to enjoy some Valentine's Day weekend revelry.

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