Oh, And...

In related but not local news. Just before the show started, one of our party who happens to be from New York gave us the news that New York passed a Same Sex Marriage Bill, making it the largest state to do so. After some drama, this was a welcome announcement, last night! California, what are you doing?...

Song and Dance for Pride

During this year's Gay Pride, A.C.T. is featuring the musical version of Armistead Maupin's San Francisco-based story series, Tales of the City. Last night, I gathered three friends to enjoy the show with the original Mrs. Madrigal, Olympia Dukakis, who came onstage to say a few words and congratulate the magnificent cast.

In preparation for the evening, one of my friends talked another friend into borrowing his Tales of the City Anthology and once received, the second friend read 100 pages of the book in two nights. I read the first book years ago now and am inspired to not only read all of them but, also rent the entire series from Le Video, my awesome neighborhood video store!

The show was so much FUN! There were a few great songs thanks to the folks who created Avenue Q and those who brought us the Scissor Sisters. And some of the acting was outstanding. It's gotten mixed reviews with good reason but, was definitely worth the half price tickets in the Mezzanine section, via Goldstar!

Nuevo Latino in the Sunset

On my way to dinner, I stopped in at the Great Overland Book Company on Judah and 9th and bought a $1 Mistress of Spices and a super cheap copy of Gertrude Stein's A Novel of Thank You. After seeing the Stein exhibit at the SF MoMA, I was inspired to read one of her books from the time period focused on in the show. The book shop's owner was incredibly friendly and someone I'll enjoy visiting at the store in the future. And, I will go again... Probably too much, especially since I vowed not to buy any books until I gave the same amount away. I am giving away two recent reads but, I also have two books coming from QPB since I neglected to opt out of the automatic order for June. Again.

Anyway, Fresca is a restaurant I've wanted to go to for years, now, and yet haven't (so many restaurants so little time!). But, Pasion, its sister restaurant in the Inner Sunset has brought the yummy Latin flavors to me. My old roommate and I headed here after work, this evening. Apparently, Thursday is a good night to go since one of the sous chefs from Fresca is there helping prep and serving his infamous jello shots to patrons.

We met up at 6:00 and it was the perfect time to go as there was not a wait and we were able to get the prime spot in the window, allowing us to enjoy the long summer evening. We ordered a side of fried plantains as our appetizer, which was incredible, as always. You can't really go wrong with sweet plantain goodness. I ordered the vaca encebollada, a roasted pepper wrapped New York steak with yuca fries and chimichurri. Oh my goodness, that is good! If I ate fish, I would have ordered the ceviche but, my companion did on our behalf. She said the trio she chose for her main dish was lip-smacking good aside from one which had vanilla in it. The neighbor who raved about this place the week prior as I stood reading the menu was not lying when she said the food was delicious. I'll be back again!

Found It!

Well, like with my apartment, I'd hunkered down and prepared myself for a long haul in trying to find the perfect couch... and then?! There it was! A gorgeous Danish mid-century modern day bed with the most perfectly colored pattern. Right there on my last turn around Past Perfect II, on Lombard. After my stroll around the store on Union Street and much prodding by my co-worker to check it out, I stopped by after work. Here she is...

The best part was the negotiation that was had between me and the guy working there. When I went to ask about delivery services, he asked how much the piece was that I was eying. "$850," I grimaced thinking that I would go home and think about it some more. "Would you pay $500?" he asked me. "Uh, yeah." I said aghast. "How about $450?" he continued talking me down... "Yes, of course!" I practically screamed. "We've had that piece forever and the owner may just want to get rid of it. Let me see," and he called the owner, the owner said yes, and I handed him my credit card! Hallelujah!

I also spotted this amazing Edwardian chair that also matched my room and new couch!

 My wonderfully tasteful Uncle suggested that I make sure to mix in some pieces that capitalize on the historic nature of my turn of the century apartment but, they are asking $300 for this and it's in need of repairs. The hunt continues. Next on my list, a chair kind of like this one, an antique dresser for my room, and an armoire for the living room.

Mr. Weatherman, You Are So Wrong!

On the bus this morning, there was a woman wearing a heavy winter coat and leather boots and a woman wearing flip flops and capri pants. The weatherman (i.e. Google's weather god) told me it would perhaps be humid and muggy but, merely cloudy. When I stepped off the bus, the mist was coming down so heavily that my hair kinked out and I had to whip out my umbrella....

Mr. Weatherman, you were wrong yesterday, too! The sun was out when I hit up the farmer's market and while the clouds sat heavily overhead throughout the day, there was no rain as predicted. What is up? Are you on vacation? When will this end? Summer in San Francisco is never what I want it to be but, this is ridiculous...

Fashion from Spain

The de Young truly never disappoints! My flamenco dancing friend and I went to the Balenciaga and Spain exhibit today and it was eye popping. Hamish Bowles of Vogue is the curator of this amazing exhibit and it features many pieces owned by him. The influence that flamenco dancers, Catholicism, matadors had on Balenciaga's work is obvious and I can imagine that high fashion Parisians between the late forties and late sixties found that look exotic and different.

Something that made a real connection for me was that many of the dresses were previously worn by San Francisco's very own society dames. Eleanor Christenson de Guigné was just one of these Bay Area women who had the fortune (literally) to own several Balenciaga gowns that she later donated to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Elise Stern Haas, of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund and from the Levi Strauss family in San Francisco, also owned gowns that were donated to the Museums.

But, my favorite San Franciscan who owned a pretty hand-embroidered dress was Jean Magnin. I was unable to find proof of this but, I assume Jean is from the Magnin family that started I. Magnin and who built the home across the street from my old place on Page Street. Maybe she even grew up in one of the houses belonging to the family and went out to social events wearing the dress. I'd like to imagine!

More Farmer's Market Finds

My favorite stand at the Inner Sunset Farmer's Market is probably Serendipity Farms' stand, where I get three greens for $5! What a steal and the greens are delicious. This is the last stand on my tour of the market and with the delights I pick up I've made kale chips, kohlrabi hash browns, and sauteed pea tendrils. And, the lettuce is hardy and long-lasting enough to make it through a week or two. Last week I also picked up some delicious radishes for my lunch-time salads, as well.

Aside from the places I mentioned in a previous post, I always stop at Fifth Crow Farms, Garcia Farms, and Far West Fungi. Fifth Crow Farms also has wonderful lettuces and as I mentioned, they have organic, free-range, pastured eggs that never give me tummy aches. Far West Fungi, which can be found at pretty much every farmer's market in San Francisco, has some of the best mushrooms around. They have the basics (which are humongous) and they have a wide variety of exotics, like the oyster trumpets I picked up today. My first stop is usually Garcia Farms where I get Brussels sprouts for as long as they're in season (which seems like forever), artichokes, and the foods that are okay to eat even if conventionally grown because they don't harbor as many pesticides (like onions).

Quartets and Sunsets

Kronos Quartet is a unique group of men who play stringed instruments - like in a quartet - primarily at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. But, they are not your average every day quartet; along with the violins, viola, and cello, they use instruments like toys and mouth organs and transistor radios. And, today, they played with the amazing Wu Man, the pipa master (for good reason!) in a preview of their show called A Chinese Home. It's like a history of Chinese music from the times of the 19th century Qing dynasty in the mountains of the north and southwest to the present with cellphones and technology and noise. Wu Man played the pipa in the traditional way and ended up rocking on it like a guitar, to illustrate the present day din. It was a great show!

 The stage before A Chinese Home

Directly afterward, my friends and I wandered through the Song Dong exhibit which is a variety of pieces that he created about his family, mostly his father whom he struggled with much of his life. But, the largest exhibit that had the biggest impact was the one called Waste Not. It was a large room filled with the stuff his mother hoarded during her life, made into an artful installation that could be viewed from above or within. Truly thought provoking.

After an art-filled afternoon, I made my way with another friend to Beach Chalet for a great dinner. I enjoyed a tasty Thai beef salad, with beef so tender and juicy I wanted more. My fellow Chalet-goer enjoyed a burger and fries which left him quite satisfied. We watched the sun set and the youth start storming the Great Highway (I still don't know why) as summer tried to start. The Chalet's historic murals were also of interest from the days when the building served as the Golden Gate Park visitor's center.

View of Ocean Beach