Local Food Pick
My Tofu House
4627 Geary Blvd. (at 10th Ave.)
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 750-1818
Ample banchan (side dishes like kimchee) perfectly complement the star dish: tofu soup. You can tailor the level of spice and types of ingredients. Kalbi and bibimbap are also on the menu for those seeking traditional alternatives. 4 stars - 1018 reviews
Previous SF 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.
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); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose).
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).
Previous North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery (Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael); Stumptown Brewery (Guerneville).
Local History
Milpitas: Waves of European immigrants moved into the area during the 1850s and 1870s, and soon thereafter Smith's Corners set up as a saloon for weary travelers between San Jose and Oakland. An annexation battle with San Jose ensued during the 1950s, including the creation of the Milpitas Minutemen. Milpitas incorporated as a city, voted down San Jose's annexation attempt, and integrated Daniel French's Minuteman statue in Concord, Mass. as part of the city seal. Current population is about 67,000, with over 62% of Asian descent.
Local Charity
Organization: KQED (88.5 FM). Founded in 1969, this NPR-member radio station ranks nationwide as number one for listeners and number one for Bay Area radio stations as of last summer. Radio personalities such as Michael Krasny, Terry Gross, and Neal Conan deliver sharp commentaries and intellectual debates on topical issues. The latest listener-based donor drive is underway. Now is your time to contribute! www.kqed.org
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, and Lazarex Cancer Foundation (Amy C).
Bay Area Weekend Highs
Sun will shine down on the Parade this weekend.
~ Thu ~
Coast: low-60s
SF: upper-60s
Bay: low-70s
Inland East Bay: low-70s
North Bay: low-70s
South Bay: mid-70s
~ Fri-Sat ~
Coast: upper-50s
SF: low-60s
Inland East Bay: low-60s
Bay: mid-60s
North Bay: mid-60s
South Bay: mid-60s
~ Sun ~
Coast: mid-50s
SF: mid-50s
Inland East Bay: upper-50s
Bay: low-60s
North Bay: low-60s
South Bay: low-60s
Bay Area Top 3 Free Activities of the Week
1. Chinese New Year Parade [Sat 5pm]: Lion dancers, firecrackers, acrobats, marching bands, and local politicians. It's a three-hour exercise that's been in existence since the 1860s in San Francisco. Parade starts at 2nd/Market and travels down Geary then back on Post, and finally up Kearny to North Beach. www.chineseparade.com
2. America's Got Talent Tryouts [Sat-Sun 8am-7pm]: $1 million prize + headlining gig on Vegas Strip? Go for it! Line up at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (SF). www.americasgottalentauditions.com
3. Pillow Fight 2012 [Tue 6pm]: Planning to take part in the annual fight of about 1,000 people in front of the Ferry Building with pillows? Face masks are suggested due to flying feathers!
Bay Area Deal of the Week
Ben & Jerry's is offering a free slice of Americone Dream Ice Cream Dessert (by Stephen Colbert) on Monday from 5-7pm, then a free Americone Dream Ice Cream Cone on Tuesday from 5-8pm. SF locations include Union Square, Haight, and Fisherman's Wharf. www.benjerry.com
