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August 2010 Speaking of words that rhyme, Hogz and Rocks makes the best moscow mule in town. Next time you're getting ready to go to SF. Here is my short list of things for you to hit: Beretta - for awesome pizza and vibrant scene Hogs & Rocks for Moscow Mules (and if you're still hungry fish and chips, of course their specialty is pig) Little Baobab to warm up for a night out with a little Reggae March 2010 "As You Like It" was the friggin' best party yet at the Compound in San Francisco. ASR - the promoter of this event, got one thing right;  they didn't advertise on SFstation, myspace or other mainstream sources. The only place I saw this event posted was on Resident Advisor's website, which automatically eliminates 99% of idiots. And guess what? Idiots didn't show up. Really, really good crowd showed up, moved their asses, screamed their lungs out and generally had good time, which in turn translated into other people having a good time. The place was comfortably packed, none of that  sardines-in-the-can thing going on.  Which tells me that ASR peeps are not a bunch of greedy bastards, another bonus point! Bam! For DJ headliners the line up was -  Noah Pred, Sassmouth & Limacon.  They all rocked the house. I've never heard/seen LIMACON before and after last night, I will be listening to a whole lot more of him. He is a mean base machine! And what's up with all the lady-DJs being knocked-up lately? No, I have no issues with SASSMOUTH being pregnant. Pregnant or not, she is a top notch DJ and that baby in her belly is going to be one techno addict by the time it pops out. Sassmouth had some of the best transitions I've heard in the techno business.   She spinned a few crowd favorites, but nothing cheesy, all with great taste and hard-ass kicking. I meant to get some more snippets for you, techno heads out there, but I was having too much fun shaking it. It's all I got. Enjoy. Take 1 Take 2 Take 3 Why k.flay Rocks K.flay rocks because my teenage daughter won't stop listening to her.  Ok, k.flay rocks for a lot more reasons than that. For starters she is a skinny, white girl that knows how to rap. She can mix her tunes, no shit!  She has excellent lyrics, and while my daughter thinks she is the female version of Eminem, I wouldn't venture that far, but she is pretty damn good  (psych major - stanford graduate, makes her that much more exotic). I picked up her one and only CD release - Mashed Potatoes. It kicks ass! K.flay has an excellent sense of humor, she is a pro at poking fun at social dysfunctions in a bad-ass, hip-hop, indie-rock, electronica mesh-up style.  K.flay knows how to bring it on and lay it hard. Yeah... Crank up the volume and listen to her "vanilla coke" track and you'll know what I mean. Billygoat, Switchboard Music Festival Stanislaw Lem's book - Solaris, was one of my favorite books growing up. I read it over and over and if I could have had Billygoat's Golden Age album to play along, it would have been a trip of a life-time (might I add, no external help needed for trippin'). Billygoat's music is out-worldly, haunting, melancholic, alien, nostalgic. It slows everything down, it feels as if you're in a spaceship, without gravity,  bouncing in the air, making somersaults and finding nothing to ground you. I loved their music, I never imagined that sanctuary within could be haunting and peaceful at the same time. I was intrigued by their choices of instruments, between the two of them they played 7 or 8, I lost count. There was only one thing that didn't work for me - their film. The film was accompanied by music, it was interesting, complex and with lots of punches on a subconscious level. I would have liked the film and music separately. I wanted to have my own interpretation of their music, it had so much depth, I wanted to use my own imagination, not to see someone else's projected for me on the screen. The following morning, I popped their CD while on the way to work and immediately was in another world. I worked hard to push away images from the night before, they didn't work for me, I wished I hadn't seen them at all. Be on the look out for Billygoat - David Klein and Nick Woolley, I am sure they will write some amazing scores for independent films and beyond. Rainbow Arabia Rainbow Arabia's performance at Caf‚ Du Nord (SF) last month was invigorating. I missed their performance during the Noise Pop music festival and heard some really good things. The tales were true, they - Tiffany and Danny Preston - are two very innovative musicians in a genre yet to be defined (I will spare you the paraphrasing and classifications they've been swept under). In most simple terms, their music incorporates sounds from all over the world, mixed-in with electronics, electric guitar, keyboard and Tiffany’s disorientingly-delicious voice.  The artist I would pin them closest to is MIA. Tiffany is as much of an attraction as the music itself. That’s partially why I enjoyed the performance way more than the music on my CD the following morning. This long-legged beauty makes the diversity of their sound her own, her voice blends and mixes, turns and twists and the result is a very authentic and unique sound.  I really haven’t heard anything like them before and that’s what makes rainbow Arabia such a great find. February 2010 I am stuck in the suburbs, it's a long story and you really don't care. My usual San Francisco getaways involve music, dancing, food and drinks. I am also a sucker for literary events and theatre. Recently, I spent a few days in the city and thought that it would be great to share my finds with some other poor, unfortunate souls stuck in the suburbs. Of course, it will serve you just as well if you're coming to visit San Fran from far away. Where to Stay? I've been eyeing couch surfing for a number of years and while it looks like it works for a lot of people, I just can't seem to get over the "unpredictable nature" of crushing on someone's pad. I am not a huge fan of the establishments in general, so staying in a hotel in the city is not only expensive, it's also boring. B&Bs are a great alternative, but they usually book quickly and can be expensive. Try something new, it's called Airbnb, it's the same idea as couch surfing, but better. You get to rent a room from a local, depending on the location and accommodations you can get a really great deal. We rented a studio in the Mission (where we love to hang out anyway), and absolutely loved it. It wasn't perfect, but for what we paid, it was a great find. Day 1: Friday Evening EAT: Gracias Madre, Mission. Grab a bite in the mission at Gracias Madre restaurant. It's spankin' new, brought to you by owners of Caf‚ Gratitude. It's 100% vegan, my favorites are three tacos and guacamole. It's a great space, simple menu, high quality, organic ingredients. Food comes out very quickly and the few times I was there, I never had to wait to get a seat (located on 2211 Mission Street). Think of it as a good place to have a small meal, but not good enough for dinner. Check out their menu for prices, they are not that cheap. DANCE: Rickshaw Stop, Hayes Valley BLOW UP @ Rickshaw Stop, buyer beware it's an 18+ event! It's a regular gig and happens every Friday, but first Friday (got that?). Expect lots of funky 18 year olds with lots of energy to burn on the dance floor. Quality of music is usually average. I personally am not a great fan of BLOW UP, but if I was 18 I would TOTALLY dig it. So if you're somewhere in that age category, check-it out, you'll have fun. Day 2: Saturday EAT & STROLL: Pacific Heights Head to Lower Pacific Heights for a stroll to see where San Francisco's rich and famous hang out. It's a great little area with lots of boutique shops, ranging from new-age Japanese clothing to high quality olive oil shops. In the area, stop by The Grove Caf‚ , you'll have lots of options to chose from and will likely end up with a satisfying meal that will not break your wallet. CHILL: Baker's Beach/Ocean Beach A trip to San Francisco is not a real trip unless you've visited the beach. There are lots of choices, but if you're trying to stay within the boundaries of the city, your best bet is probably Ocean Beach. During the day, it's a favorite spot for dog people and ultimate Frisbee players. During the night, it's one of the last remaining beaches in California where bonfires are allowed. Word of caution, going down to Ocean beach and sharing the fire with a bunch of strangers may evoke most primitive, long forgotten, tribal human instincts. If you don't do anything really stupid, it might do you some good. Not far from Ocean beach, is another little jewel that shows-off a picturesque view of the Golden Gate bridge - Baker's Beach (also less crowded). EAT: Pizzetta 211, Outer Richmond A short drive from Ocean beach is a tiny little pizza spot that serves some of the best pizza in town - Pizzetta 211. It's like a pizza dive bar and one of the few places in the neighborhood where you can get local/organic, excellent quality ingredients prepared with a touch of TLC. Highly recommend it (be prepared to wait, it's always busy).$$ FEEL, THINK & LAUGH: Writers With Drinks, Make-Out Room, Mission. Writers With Drinks is a spoken word variety (live literary reading) event that takes place every 2nd Saturday at the Make-out Room. On this Saturday, the host of the WWD was a total blast, her introductions of guest readers were in some cases better than the main act itself. Pardon my French, but her cluster-fuck-of-imagination, delivered imagery nonsensical and funny at the same time, and made two hours of standing up mostly bearable. There were a few really good short stories, some funny, some melancholic and heart wrenching. It gets crowded quickly, so get there WAY early to get a seat in the house. WWD is an awesome, intelligent, entertaining, best way to spend your $10 for a good cause kinda gig. EAT: Bar Tartine, Mission. It was late and we were running out of options. So there we were, hungry and exhausted and there it was, Bar Tartine open to feed us at a hefty price. Bar Tartine is probably a good place to come on a first date with a girl you really like and want to impress. It's a high-end, corporatish looking spot in the heart of the mission. Food was good, but the price/value combination just didn't deliver. There are many places in the city where you can get same qualify of a lot more food for a lot less. Service was excellent though, given the corporate feel, staff was very professional and non-pretentious. DANCE: House Heads @ the Compound Compound is one of the last remaining places where you can almost always expect a combination of good music and a decent crowd. We had a blast, stayed up till the wee hours (6 am or so) and managed to get buzzed from drinking Tecata (don't ask, I didn't think it was possible either). Day 3: Sunday EAT: Dosa, Mission Dosa is an authentic South India restaurant. There are two locations, one is in the mission the other one is in the Lower Pacific Heights. The one in the mission is better, it's a smaller, more intimate space, with casual atmosphere and a much better service staff. Restaurant's specialty, as you may have guessed is dosa, which is a very thin crepe (kind of) made with a whole lot of butter . It can be devoured with sweet or savory sides (go for the spicy stuff, otherwise what the hell are you doing in the South Indian Restaurant?). Dosa is not light fare, eat it in the morning, otherwise you may be taking naps for the rest of the day. Espresso Stop: Blue Bottle Coffee Kiosk, Hayes Valley Coffee can be a little bit of haven in a cup, or a whole lot of crap (yes, it's that black and white). Starbucks is a whole lot of crap, Peet's coffee - definitely a step up (depending on a shop and who's making it). And then there is Blue Bottle Coffee above it all. Roasted in Oakland, CA, it's the best cup of haven you can find in the Bay Area. Blue Bottle's coffee promise is simple: 'only sell coffee 48 hrs out of the roaster', the result is a well balanced cup of coffee with rich, bold flavor. Blue Bottle is served in many restaurants in San Francisco and has two locations, a small caf‚ nearby union square and the kiosk at Hayes Valley. Be Entertained: Center for Sex & Culture This weekend happened to fall on valentine's day. Being allergic to all things mainstream, we opted for a rather unconventional gig at the center for the sex & culture, called: My Sucky Valentine. We saw a few girls from SOMA walk through the doors and leave as quickly as they arrived. It's not for the weak at heart as it's a bit edgy. But overall the show had a lot of grit, wit and some good-old erotica storytelling. Try it at your own risk next year. EAT & DRINK: Basil Thai Restaurant & Bar, Bloodhound, SOMA If you're in hurry and want a well priced, quick meal, Basil Thai Restaurant on Fillmore (between 7 & 8th) will do the trick. The selection of lamb dishes is superb and you get a great deal for your buck. They are conveniently located next to one of our favorite local bars - Bloodhound. The food is especially good after too many beers, or in my case too many bloodhounds, which always get me hammered in no time. DANCE: Elbo Room, Mission Sunday nights at Elbo room are the BOMB! I've had plenty of disappointing evenings at Elbo room, but never on a Sunday. It's always packed, the crowd really gets into it, and between the regular and guest DJs you'll be in dub nirvana. It's always a safe bet. Day 4: Monday EAT: Kitchenette, Dog- Patch (American Industrial Center) According to the web-site, Kitchenette is: "Spontaneous, organic, covert nourishment." It's a handful of San Francisco's own, talented chefs operating out of a garage door in the dog-patch district. It's a lunch-only-menu-affair that changes daily and focuses on creative options made with local, fresh, seasonal ingredients. It's always tasty and frequently very unique. Check out their web-site for a much better take on what they really do. January 2010 Silicon Valley, an epicenter of wealth, high-tech and extreme-tech creativity, educated, smart professional-yuppie-central. And it's all good for nothing, it still blows me away how little support there is in Silicon Valley of independent musicians, investment in art, and in general a local, independent scene. I have absolutely no idea what 20/30 something yuppies do around here other than procreate and work their asses off for a promise of a better future. OK enough of my ranting, let's cover places where YOU can go Dancing if you just can't spend an hour driving to San Francisco for the real deal. Palo Alto: Rudy's- Ladies Free, Boys pay $5, this place has been around forever. Most of the time they play top 40s/ hip-hop. The crowd is nicely diverse, mostly made up of non-pretentious twenty somethings just having a good time drinking and making out. You will see a lot of baggy clothing and plenty of cheesy men looking for ass, but it's consistent with a character of the place, so no real offense should be taken. If you're looking for anything non-mainstream, this is NOT a place to go. B412: A fairly new club, this used to be Fanny and Alexander's space. The new place is not much better than the old one. They have a nice patio outside and a DJ spinning techno on occasion, in the main room there is usually hip-hop/ top 40. Music isn't that bad, but the crowd is a real downer. Mountain View: Molly McGee's on Thursday nights: This places kicks ass during spring and winter breaks when a lot of students have the time and money to have some fun. But even outside of those short windows of fun, Molly can deliver a reasonable dancing experience. The crows is not bad, the DJ for the past 2 years has been the same guy, spinning the exact same tunes (and I swear in the exact same order!), of course he adds to his repertoire the more up-to-date hits. Sometimes they a have a different DJ (I've only seen this happen twice),which makes the experience that much better. I would definitely recommend Molly's for a low-key, local outing, in fact I would venture off as far as to say, that it's probably the best dance venue in the bay area right now (as of Feb 2010). Campbell: Cardiff Lounge: Foxy Nights on Thursdays are great, but the catch is that the dance floor serves as a hallway, gathering place, and spot for men to do their usual standing around and ogling at girls. In short, there is no real dance floor, but if you just don't care and fight for your box of space, you will probably have a good time. For zero techno scene in silicon valley, it is definitely a place to check out. Crowd varies, sometime big groups of asian boys show up to showcase their latest dance moves (or karate kicks, or whatever else you may want to call it), older ladies like it there too (after a day of scrubbing their faces and making their hair look all pretty). The Spot: Used to be King's Head. They play top 40s, I've seen them "accidently" flip to a porn channel a few times on their big screen TVs. The space is great, the music is so-so, the crowd is below average. San Jose: Agenda Lounge: Man, that corner in downtown San Jose used to host some reasonable clubs, I remember the Cell and it's techno days, it was great fun. No more, the downtown SJ is for the most part dead. The Agenda has reasonably priced and consistently decent Reggae nights on Sundays. If you're a reggae kinda dude/dudette you will likely enjoy the music, tolerate the crowd, and for the most part be content with your Sunday night evening. Los Gatos: Mountain Charley's Saloon: Not great (but still beats awful places in San Jose like, TOONs, Vault, etc) but if you like young, rich girls and you enjoy watching grinding on the dance floor, it is a place for YOU! Music is top 40s, dance floor is big enough to handle dancers and drunken frat boys.

Thanks for stopping by. I started this blog out of a desire to spread the word about venues and musicians that have a sense of authenticity about them. I got fed up with the plastic-fantastic coverage of San Francisco on the web. I enjoy living in the part of the world with some of the most creative, vibrant, and liberated people. I want to play my part in promoting the independent, local scene in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Although, as you'll see from my blog, my promotion isn't all about the good stuff, when I see dysfunction, I call it out. Someone has got to do it, right? I am in my early thirties. I live and work in the Bay Area, I have a teenage daughter, a lovely boyfriend and a very mischievous cat. Email Ksenya