Thursday, January 3, 2013

Randy's Guide CCCXXIII (323)


I don't think you're right for him
Look at what it might have been
If you'd took a bus to Chinatown
I'd be standing on Canal
And Bowery.


Bay Area Quote
"Mr. Speaker, here we are again today in wonder over the decision that we think has been made by the Republican leadership in the House not to bring legislation to the floor that addresses the needs of those affected by (Hurricane) Sandy."
 - Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D - CA)

"Anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee should have their head examined."
 - Rep. Peter King (R - NY)


Bay Area Food Pick
15 Shoreline Hwy
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 331-2600

The venerable roadside destination, opened in 1937, sits nestled among redwoods and a bustling highway. The oysters bingo, a classic take on fried oysters, is a must-order appetizer. From there, you can shift into steak, pork chops, scallops, or kale-ricotta ravioli. Free parking sometimes stretches for a block or two from the restaurant along the road. 4 stars - 557 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.

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); 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).

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).

Previous North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery (Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael); Stumptown Brewery (Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg); Super Duper (Mill Valley); The Pelican Inn (Muir Beach); Garden Grill (Guerneville).

Previous Other picks: Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento); Built to Grill (Portland).


Bay Area Nightlife Pick
30 Ridge Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 388-9987

Not far from the Roadhouse is a private club accessible only by a hiking trail. For three weekends of most months, from 1-5pm, the lodge opens its doors to the public. You can purchase food and beer from the club, and make it a picnic day by bringing board games, blankets, and snacks. We hiked the entire way from downtown Mill Valley, but there are locations closer if preferred. 4-1/2 stars - 201 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.

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Antonio's Nut House (Palo Alto); The Oasis Beer Garden (Menlo Park); Rose and Crown (Palo Alto).

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).

Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg).

Previous Other pick: New Deal Distillery (Portland).


Bay Area History
Henry M. Naglee
(1815-1886)

Raised in Philadelphia, Mr. Naglee graduated from West Point and moved to California during the Mexican-American War. He later fought during the Civil War as well. His estate in San Jose included a brandy distillery, large vineyard, and an English garden. Other properties included a spot in SF's Occidental Hotel, a large ranch near Stockton, and a house in Philly. Following his death, once his younger daughter turned 30, the two kids with their husbands formed a development corporation that divided up the San Jose estate into 602 lots. The neighborhood, which borders San Jose State, has undergone a recent revival in development.

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.

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.

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.

Previous North Bay history: Cotati; Charles Fairfax; Luther Burbank; William Richardson; Oscar and James Shafter; George Guerne; Frank Doyle; Samuel Taylor; Harrison Standley.

Previous Other history: Francis Pettygrove (Portland).


Bay Area Charity
401 1st Street
Suite 215
Richmond, CA 94801

Such a cool idea. For seven years, Urban Tilth has worked to bring agriculture to urban areas of Richmond and San Pablo. The program has partnered with schools, nonprofits, corporations, and government and now coordinates 12 small farms and three churches. The Greenway Community Garden, in the heart of the Iron Triangle, and the Kennedy High Farm and Garden are two great examples. Earlier this month, Richmond High hosted a student-run salad bar for lunch by using harvested lettuce and lemons, and student-made salad dressings.

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; and The Coming Home Project.


Bay Area Weekend Weather
Slight chance of rain for Sunday morning. Nights remain crisp, with low-40s for SF and 30s elsewhere. Daytime temps should max at 60 degrees.



Bay Area Free Activities of the Week
1. Celebrate MLK Jr. at 5800 Third St.
Saturday, 11am-4pm

2. Explore the Vintage Paper Fair in Golden Gate Park.
Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 11am-5pm

3. Try a free museum day.
* Wednesday: San Francisco Zoo


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 (Starfucker); So Many Details (Toro Y Moi).

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Randy's Guide CCCXXII (322)


What did happen to our time we had
Of when you said you'll never
You'll never regret
What happened to us?


Bay Area Quote
"I live here, I make more money than my employees that live here, and I can't afford to eat at most of the restaurants that have opened up (on Valencia). I splurged and went to dinner, and my bill was $50 without alcohol."
 - Jefferson McCarley, General Manager of Mission Bicycle Company


Bay Area Food Pick
941 Cole St. (at Carl St.)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 564-5332

Zazie, quite the cute French cafe, has anchored Cole Valley for over two decades. Renowned for its breakfasts (and hefty waits for them), the standouts are the gingerbread pancakes, challah french toast, and eggs benedict. Yes, it's open for dinner too, and Monday "bring-your-dog" and Tuesday "no-corkage-fee" nights are popular. And, for New Year's Day, they'll be serving its brunch menu until 9pm, with pajamas-wearing patrons receiving a free mimosa. 4 stars - 2030 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.

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); 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).

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).

Previous North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery (Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael); Stumptown Brewery (Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg); Super Duper (Mill Valley); The Pelican Inn (Muir Beach); Garden Grill (Guerneville).

Previous Other picks: Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento); Built to Grill (Portland).


Bay Area Nightlife Pick
547 Emerson St. (at University Ave.)
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 327-7673

After the Rose Bowl clinching victory over UCLA, I finally found my way into this English pub. It was politely rowdy. Twelve imports and twelve domestics on tap, including obscure options like Chicago's Goose Island Matilda and Palo Alto's Hoppy Ending Ale. I didn't partake in the food, but that includes housemade shepherd's pie and fish + chips. Entertainment options include dart boards, pool, ample televisions, and Tuesday trivia. Patio was spacious too. 3-1/2 stars - 335 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.

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Antonio's Nut House (Palo Alto); The Oasis Beer Garden (Menlo Park).

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).

Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg).

Previous Other pick: New Deal Distillery (Portland).


Bay Area History
Edwin H. Bryant
(1805-1869)

Born in Massachusetts and raised in Kentucky, Mr. Bryant served as a newspaper editor and befriended Senator Henry Clay. His health deteriorated, so he joined the Donner Party briefly in 1846 then fortuitously stayed on the main longer road to Sacramento. He led San Francisco as a lieutenant then commander, and traversed the county a couple of times. His historical novel, What I Saw in California, stands as a thorough overview of the Wild West and Plains. Bryant Street, which runs from South Beach through SoMa and ends in the Mission, is 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.

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.

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.

Previous North Bay history: Cotati; Charles Fairfax; Luther Burbank; William Richardson; Oscar and James Shafter; George Guerne; Frank Doyle; Samuel Taylor; Harrison Standley.

Previous Other history: Francis Pettygrove (Portland).


Bay Area Charity
Congrats to The Coming Home Project, the latest recipient of a Randy's Guide donation!

401 1st Street
Suite 215
Richmond, CA 94801
(510) 778-5886

Such a cool idea. For seven years, Urban Tilth has worked to bring agriculture to urban areas of Richmond and San Pablo. The program has partnered with schools, nonprofits, corporations, and government and now coordinates 12 small farms and three churches. The Greenway Community Garden, in the heart of the Iron Triangle, and the Kennedy High Farm and Garden are two great examples. Earlier this month, Richmond High hosted a student-run salad bar for lunch by using harvested lettuce and lemons, and student-made salad dressings.

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; and now The Coming Home Project.


National Weekend Highs
Showers are likely for Friday night into Saturday morning. Otherwise, things look good for New Year's Eve revelers in San Francisco.

SF: low-50s
Honolulu: mid-70s, clear
LA: near 60, slight chance of rain on Saturday, otherwise clear
Portland, Ore: mid-40s, chance of rain/snow through Friday, then clear
Las Vegas: upper-40s, partly cloudy
Denver: upper-30s, slight chance of snow today, otherwise clear
Chicago: mid-30s, chance of snow through Saturday, then cloudy
San Antonio: low-60s, mostly cloudy, then rainy New Year's Eve
Miami: low-70s, fairly cool and partly cloudy
Detroit: low-30s, chance of snow through Saturday, then hazy
Washington, DC: low-40s, rainy Saturday, otherwise mostly cloudy
Brooklyn: upper-30s, rain today, snow Saturday, otherwise clear
Boston: mid-30s, rain today, snow through Sunday am, then clearing


Bay Area Free Activities of the Week
1. Happy New Year!
- Fireworks: Monday 11:59pm
- Mighty 1984: Monday 9pm - Tuesday 2am
- Tipsy Tow: Monday 6pm - Tuesday 6am
- Cab Rides: Monday 10pm - Tuesday 4am

Watch fireworks under likely clear skies with over 200,000 others along the Embarcadero. Best spot appears to be near Pier 14. Or, if you feel like dancing into 2013, Mighty is hosting a free '80s-themed night with two dance floors and a free champagne toast at midnight. If you've had more than your fill, AAA offers its tenth and final free tow service on New Year's Eve. Call (800) 222-4357 and request a tipsy tow for up to 10 miles to the driver's home in Northern California. Or, if you're stumbling about, Berg Injury Lawyers is sponsoring free cab rides, up to $35, within San Francisco. Call (415) 282-4141.

Sunday 3pm: Herbst Theater (SF)
Monday 8pm: First Congregational (Berkeley)
Tuesday 3pm: First United Methodist (Palo Alto)

The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra serves up works by Mendelssohn, Meltzer, and Mozart. If I were in town, I'd be there.

Friday, 11am

Thousands of college football fans are coming to San Francisco for Saturday's matchup between Arizona State and Navy. A large pep rally will be held in Union Square Park, where players, coaches, and bands will square off. 


Bay Area Freebie of the Week
Free Public Transportation

MUNI (incl. cable cars)
* 5am Friday - 5am Saturday (100th anniversary)
* 8pm Monday - 6am Tuesday (New Year's Eve)

* 11pm Monday - 2am Tuesday (New Year's Eve)

* 11pm Monday - 2:15am Tuesday (New Year's Eve)

* 7pm Monday - 3:59am Tuesday (New Year's Eve)


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 (Starfucker).

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Randy's Guide CCCXXI (321)


All my life
There you go
Oh please stay
Just this once
Anyway.


Bay Area Quote
"Having sex in the library is just not that controversial.... In the context of Berkeley, this is not one of the craziest things. It's just like everyone is so worried about what's on Facebook or what's on Google, and I'm just not really that concerned. I think it's generational."
 - The Daily Cal and Huffington Post sex columnist Nadia Cho


Bay Area Food Pick
1911 Russell St. (at Martin Luther King Jr. Way)
Berkeley, CA 94703
(510) 849-3419

Every Sunday morning, the Buddhist temple offers up traditional food and beverages like pad thai, mango sticky rice, and Thai iced tea. You offer up cash and receive dollar tokens, which are then used as donations at the various stalls. I noted more than one person bringing Tupperware. Arrive early, or else face a shortage of seats and sold-out items. 4 stars - 522 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.

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); 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).

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).

Previous North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery (Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael); Stumptown Brewery (Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg); Super Duper (Mill Valley); The Pelican Inn (Muir Beach); Garden Grill (Guerneville).

Previous Other picks: Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento); Built to Grill (Portland).


Bay Area Nightlife Pick
Whiskey Thieves
839 Geary St. (at Larkin St.)
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 506-8331

Enormous whiskey-scotch-bourbon selection on the chalkboard. Knowledgeable bartenders. Decent beer on tap, for those wanting to go lighter. Close to Union Square and BART, as well as tasty Tenderloin dives on Jones or Larkin. And Santacon-friendly. 4 stars - 328 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.

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Antonio's Nut House (Palo Alto); The Oasis Beer Garden (Menlo Park).

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).

Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg).

Previous Other pick: New Deal Distillery (Portland).


Bay Area History
Joseph D. Grant
(1858-1942)

San Francisco-born Joseph Grant managed his father's dry goods business and founded the Columbia Steam Company. Eventually, he owned mansions in San Francisco, Burlingame, and Pebble Beach. He served as president of the Save-the-Redwoods League for 21 years, and was a life trustee of Stanford University. His estate ranch between San Jose and Mount Hamilton hosted guests such as Leland Stanford and Herbert Hoover. The land was purchased by Santa Clara County in 1975 and named Joseph D. Grant County Park.

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.

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.

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.

Previous North Bay history: Cotati; Charles Fairfax; Luther Burbank; William Richardson; Oscar and James Shafter; George Guerne; Frank Doyle; Samuel Taylor; Harrison Standley.

Previous Other history: Francis Pettygrove (Portland).


Bay Area Charity

Based in San Francisco since 2006, this organization provides emotional and psychological support to Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, service members, and their families. Estimates are that one out of six troops returning from the wars will have psychological trauma.

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; and now Duboce/Valencia Fire Relief.


Bay Area Weekend Highs
Get ready for several inches of rain starting tonight and lasting through Sunday. Christmas should be dry, but rain is forecast to return Wednesday.

Expect mid-50s everywhere.


Bay Area Free Activities of the Week
Enough of Christmas!

1. Contemporary Jewish Museum: Tuesday, 11am-4pm
Create Ezra Keats-inspired book bags, listen to Octopretzel, and tour the Keats or NY Photo League exhibits.

2. Kwanzaa: Wednesday, 7pm
To kick off San Francisco's 7th annual Kwanzaa celebration, the first night will feature blues entertainment from Bernard Anderson & the Old School Band at the Westbay Conference Center in the Western Addition.

3. Winter Solstice: Thursday 3:30pm; Friday 6:40am
It's already started. Meet on Ocean Beach near Taraval St. Bring firewood, refreshments to share, musical drums, and a towel for a cool plunge into the ocean. Rise early for the sunrise of Solstice morning at Inspiration Point of Oakland's Tilden Park. Bring an umbrella or slicker in case light rain strikes. Heavy rain cancels the event.


Bay Area Free Activities of the Week
Peet's Coffee
Bay Area locations

Consider making a donation to the store's chosen local nonprofit organization in exchange for complimentary coffee and tea on Christmas Eve (Monday).


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).