Pixel Vision Archives — Page 87 of 133 — San Francisco Bay Guardian Archive 1966

Writers Issue: Trip the Light Fantastic

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October 7, 2009

By Arisa White

I’m the lady in the joint without a g-string and waxed chocha.
Winter dressed and the money in my pocket afforded me a Heineken.
I have no ones to offer to thighs that can headlock Washington.
Coins work best for parking meters and wishes.

When the next dancer arrives to stage, she brings a blanket.
The basket and wine are missing. She wipes the pole
with a moist napkin — the abracadabra is gone.
Gestures to the wall to press start, positions her gingham
so it doesn’t abandon her when she scripts her alphabet.

She takes an interest in me — this is not ego —
she sees the wardrobe of long sleeves and pants in how I stare.
Weeks ago, I saw her forefinger in some butch’s belt loop,
coupled like his and hers towels. Maybe she noticed me then.

She comes to my earring and requests, slap my ass.
Shakes it like wind went through her leaves.
My hands are on pause. She laughs
then brings her undulations to a man in woodsman flannel.

She returns her legs, fans the sweet of green
apples ripe in my nose. In doggy style, demonstrates.
Her spank is the utter of unbreakable dishware.
Again — thud. No shatter.

She encourages me, recognizes this is my first time on a two-wheeler.
I grab the Heineken to cool the singing in my palm.
I’m ordered to give it to her, and like the kid in band
who plays cymbals, counting to cue, I make her bottom ring like Saturn.
She wanes from stage with a fête of smiles in her strut.

Writers Issue: The men behind Peter

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October 7, 2009

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By Johnny Ray Huston

This week’s Writers Issue includes a page devoted to the visual side of books and magazines, with contributions by comic book artist Eric Haven and comedy routine and joke book specialists Kasper Hauser. You’ll notice some compelling ads on the page — after admiring them, contemplate the fact that they are from Peter, a local men’s magazine co-created by David Enos and Tag Savage with a little help from their friends. So, what exactly is Peter? I recently met Enos in the smoking section. When I asked him for some background, I got some priceless rugged poetry for my troubles. Man oh man. Ooh la la!

SFBG How did Peter come to be?
David Enos Well, last year Tag (Savage) found a copy of a ’60s-era tabloid for men, a poverty-row Esquire or Argosy, called Man. This was from the Magazine, a great used bookstore in the Tenderloin that also sells found photographs. The voice of Man was that of a tough guy who doesn’t mince words, like a Kirk Douglas, but who also has a thirst for some very questionable, morbid information. In the way that Kirk Douglas wouldn’t think it odd to go into a book shop and ask the girl behind the counter for a book on Roman entertainment practices; to him it’s just part of having a healthy curiosity and he should catch up on the details.
The cover was a grid of boxes, and each one was a tease for an article: “KKK On My Skin” was a headline I remember. We both independently made take-offs after reading it. It was hard to shake. Around the same time, we had been talking about recreating the covers of board games like Mastermind as a photography exercise. Peter was a result of mushing these projects together. Also borne of this was Scumbag, a crasser counterpart to Peter.

SFBG Who is the target or ideal Peter reader?
DE I was never sure who would end up seeing it. Peter is for the reader who enjoys the finer things in life. Scumbag is for a different audience, maybe in jail. I think it was more of a success. It gets right to the point.

SFBG Unlike with so many magazines, Peter‘s advertisements often have an appeal that matches the editorial content. What advertisers are drawn to you, what do you like about their style or their products, and what advertisers would you like to court in issues to come?
DE Peter is 80 percent ads.
I saw an ad in an issue of Popular Mechanics. They send you the black widow eggs and you build wooden homes for them. You receive blueprints of cubbies for them to get into and build webs.

Writers Issue: Eric Haven

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October 7, 2009

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By Johnny Ray Huston

Lots to enjoy about Eric Haven’s The Aviatrix (Buenaventura Press, 32 pages, $4.95): killer anteaters, male masochism, surveillance run amok, a tiny but buxom beauty named Protona, a large monster named Melgor, noxious human odors that might even make George Kuchar blush, and a truly imaginative mind taking advantage of the kind of hilarious and radical shifts in perspective that can only happen in the frames of a comic strip. In conjunction with the appearance of a Haven comic in this week’s Writers Issue, I recently asked the Bay Area resident about his characters, his interesting day job, and his past connection to this rag.

SFBG You have a long-ago connection to the Guardian. Can you tell me the details?
Eric Haven Almost exactly 20 years ago, I entered the Guardian‘s annual cartoon contest. I won first place in the “best comic strip parody” category, and was quoted in the accompanying article as saying, “I hope to be a professional comic book artist by the time I’m 24!” or some such nonsense. I was incredibly naive and thought I could make money with my comics. Ha!

SFBG What books and artists did you like growing up, and today? What are your favorite B-movies?
EH In terms of comics, I was a Marvel zombie growing up. I would pick ’em
up for 10 cents each at a used bookstore in town. Their covers were torn off but I didn’t care… I could go in with a couple bucks and come out with a stack of comics.
Nowadays I tend to read stuff by single creators… not produced by a system which divides the chores among writers, pencilers, letterers, and colorists. I’ve recently enjoyed reading Prison Pit by Johnny Ryan, the “Sulk” series by Jeffrey Brown, and The Red Monkey Double Happiness Book by Joe Daly.
My favorite B-movies are ones where you can see budget constraints. Attack of the Crab Monsters, It Conquered the World, The Colossus of New York, etc. If it looks like the creature was cobbled together in someone’s garage, out of spare parts and supplies found in the attic, and then shot in someone’s back yard, I love it.

SFBG Tales to Demolish seems to cover any range of time and place, from prehistoric eras to present-day Oakland. Are there particular settings or periods you prefer rendering or are you drawn to drawing all manner of realms?
EH I enjoy rendering weird topographies, whether it’s ice-strewn glacial sheets or ancient dinosaur-infested forests or the wilds of my own kitchen. I’ve recently become obsessed with the history of Upstate New York, and have begun work on a comic which has many pages devoted purely to its geography and geology.

SFBG If the Aviatrix came across and read The Aviatrix, what would she think and have to say? How about Protona — what would her view of the book be?
EH The Aviatrix is well aware what’s going on, as I feel her looking over my shoulder when I draw. Who knows what she thinks? She’s inscrutable, unknowable. Protona would wonder why I drew her so tiny.
She’s actually not that small… close, though.

Writers Issue: Steve Rotman

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October 6, 2009

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By Johnny Ray Huston

The cover image of this week’s Writers Issue and some of the photos accompanying the writing itself come courtesy of Steve Rotman, whose dedication to photographing work by local painters is evident in his amazingly vast and comprehensive Flickr contributions under the name funkandjazz. It’s also on display in a pair of recent books, Bay Area Graffiti (Mark Batty, 208 pages, $29.95) and San Francisco Street Art (Prestel Publishing, 91 pages, $14.95). I recently threw some questions Rotman’s way, and his answers were characteristically generous. Read up, then scope out his work.

SFBG What got you started taking graffiti and street art pics?
Steve Rotman In early 2004, I was spending a lot of time roaming around the city with my camera. At some point, I got inspired to shoot photos of all the incredible murals spread around San Francisco just because I really liked the art. I also enjoyed the process of searching for the murals — it became a fun new way to explore the city. Eventually, I came across some stunning murals created by graffiti artists, and they blew me away. I got curious about graffiti and began to look for it more and more and I also started to research the subculture and its history. Pretty quickly I got hooked! I’ve been photographing graffiti and street art ever since. I totally dig the art and to me it’s especially compelling because of its outlaw nature.

SFBG How did the funkandjazz moniker come about?
SR Years before Flickr, I was active on another photo-sharing site and needed a moniker. I spur-of-the-moment picked funkandjazz just because at that time I was listening to a lot of classic funk music and I’ve always been heavily into jazz — I was a jazz dj for years. No deeper meaning to it than that. When I joined Flickr, I kept the name and for some reason — inertia I suppose — I’ve stuck with it.

SFBG How would you say SF street art varies from street art in other cities featured within the series?
SR I don’t notice huge differences. Graffiti and street art today are worldwide forms of expression and styles are less regional than they used to be. San Francisco attracts artists from all over the world, so there’s a lot of variety and experimentation here. That melting-pot quality keeps the scene fresh. There does seem to be a little more playfulness or weirdness here, and that’s especially reflected in the city’s rich tradition of character-based graffiti.

SFBG Within the graffiti documentation realm, who do you have a kinship with or admire?
SR There are so many fantastic graffiti photographers out there. I’m a huge fan of the groundbreaking work of Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant. Steve Grody does inspiring work covering the scene in Los Angeles. Jim and Karla Murray‘s documentation of New York and Miami is outstanding. And there are many others. Honestly, before I began to shoot graffiti, I was mainly into landscape photography, and I think my style and approach often reflects that, for better or worse. Many of my favorite photographers are landscape people. I tend to be influenced a lot by criticism and advice from friends and the other photographers I shoot with.

Street Threads: Look of the Day

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October 6, 2009

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SFBG photog Ariel Soto scoops SF street fashion. See the previous Look of the Day here.

Today’s Look: Mijo, City College, Ocean Campus

Tell us about your look: “I got this shift from a thrift shop in the Mission.”

Boozehounds: Drink a pint with your pet

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October 5, 2009

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By Kristen Haney

Usually the sentence “this bar is full of dogs” is a bad omen. Dive bars lend themselves famously for hiding the less-than-fortunate looking in their dim lighting, and I’m sure that more than one unlucky gentleman or woman’s been accused of “dog catching” in the wee hours of the morning.

But there are a few places that celebrate their willingness to let in dogs – that is, of the canine variety. Infinitely better than the dog park, since you can imbibe without reproach, your only worry when bringing your pooch into these drinking establishments is making sure your canine companion can lead you home as you shuffle drunkenly behind. (Side note: Does this make them service dogs?).

Here are our some of our favorite places to down a Fernet with Fido:

Stray Bar
As you may have picked up from the name, dogs are not just tolerated but welcomed. In fact, the décor of the whole place is dog-themed, with Boston terrier-adorned signs and treats available. Aside from the fact that your puppy pal is welcome, Stray Bar has other draws: The crowd is usually attractive, which
means you no longer have to solely rely on your dog for scoring a date (although a cute canine never hurts), and patrons represent all sides of the sexuality spectrum.
309 Cortland Ave, SF. (415) 821-9263

Bender’s Bar & Grill
Bender’s allows four-legged pals as long as they’re leashed, and it’s rare to not see at least one mellow pup kicking it with the regulars. Bender’s also has dog treats behind the bar, so even your pet can enjoy some relief after a long day of chasing tail. The staff just asks that you use common sense when deciding the best times to bring in your furry friend.
806 S. Van Ness, SF. (415) 824-1800

Appetite: Major wine and whiskey brouhahas

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October 5, 2009

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Every week, Virginia Miller of personalized itinerary service and monthly food, drink, and travel newsletter, www.theperfectspotsf.com, shares foodie news, events, and deals. View the last installment here.

10/14 Wine & Spirits Top 100 Event at SF Design Center
Six years strong, I’ve heard that Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting, honoring their pick of the Top 100 Wineries of the Year from around the globe, is one of the better wine events of the year, full of tastings, food, and merriment. Yes, you can meet the winemakers while sampling their award-winning wines. Just a few wineries at this year’s event include Krug, Louis Roederer, Diamond Creek, Henschke, Shafer, Williams Selyem. Never fear, foodies, the food is equally a draw. They’ve assembled a line-up of eats from the classic (Cliff House) to the latest and greatest, like Flour+Water, RN74, Gitane, Il Cane Rosso and Showdogs. There’s even signature specialties from the likes of 4505 Meats, Candybar, Barefoot Coffee, Brix and Hog Island. Sounds way better than happy hour.
6:30-8:30pm (VIP 6pm)
General admission $95, VIP $125
The Galleria at SF Design Center
101 Henry Adams Street
www.wineandspiritsmagazine.com/top100

10/16 SF WhiskeyFest at the Marriott
Call me a lush, but knowing there will be some of the world’s finest whiskeys (and whiskies – yes, there is a difference) all under the roof of the San Francisco Marriott for Whiskeyfest makes me a bit giddy. It’s three hours of tasting bourbons, scotches, and ryes from around the globe. Distillers and experts will be pouring themselves, so you can ask questions, dialogue, and find new favorites. A charity whisky table features ultra-rare bottles (donations for tasting go to Meals on Wheels San Francisco), and bartenders, like the Bourbon & Branch crew, will be mixing special cocktails at their booths. There’s also seminars, a food buffet, and with the price of admission, a Scottish crystal glass, and a one-year subscription to Malt Advocate. If you still want more (you greedy aficianado, you), $150 VIP passes secure access one hour before everyone else arrives, plus an additional number of rare pours.
6:30-9:30pm
Regular $110, VIP $150
San Francisco Marriott
55 4th Street
800-610-MALT
www.maltadvocate.com/docs/whiskyfest/san_francisco

Street Threads: Look of the Day

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October 5, 2009

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SFBG photog Ariel Soto scoops SF street fashion. See the previous Look of the Day here.

Today’s Look: Clarissa, City College, Ocean Campus

Tell us about your look: “My shoes match my shirt.”

The dining mash-up

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October 2, 2009

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By Paula Connelly

One Monday night a month from 5p.m.-10:30p.m., Tommy Halvorson (executive chef of the Phoenix Supper Club) and 111 Minna team up to offer enthusiastic adventure diners a mash-up cultural experience called EAT. The idea? Order from a menu consisting of small plates (all at $10 or under), then enjoy your food and drinks at cocktail tables while surrounded by art and listening to a DJ’s digestivo tunes.

As an art gallery and lounge in SoMa, 111 Minna is no stranger to the nightlife mashup that has been gaining popularity in San Francisco. These days, most SF museums even host weekly nightlife events that cater to the 21+ crowd by combining later hours, DJs, live music, lectures, and makeshift bars to help the culture go down all the more smoothly. Maybe it’s the bad economy that’s given us a hunger (and thirst) for an inexpensive, DIY cultural experience; it has certainly prompted us to host more dinner and cocktail parties at home. Or maybe it’s because the Internet’s social networking overload has rewired our brains so that we need real life aggregators too. (Stay tuned for Google Wave. ) Whatever the reason, when San Franciscans go out to see and be seen, we want a destination that appeals to our many facets, and we want to get the most bang for our buck .

Satisfying your sense of adventure, thrift, and quality all at once, Mission Street Food has been a pioneer in this category. MSF takes over a hole- in-the-wall restaurant in the Mission on Thursdays and Saturdays and has rotating local chefs design inexpensive, gourmet weekly menus to benefit charity. The brief cocktail menu even has an ode to the musical mash-up genre called the Grey Album, a 32-ounce mix of Old English and Boddington’s, whose name nods to Danger Mouse’s combination of the Beatles’ White album with Jay-Z’s Black album. Yum.

NY Fashion Week: Meet the students

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October 2, 2009

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Fashion writer Laura Palmer learns more about the Bay Area students who showed in New York. Read her account of the fashion show here.

The seven fashion design students who showed at Bryant Park this season seem to reflect the Bay Area’s diverse cultural quilt. Here we unfurl the designs of all seven students, shake out their insights and inspiration, and uncover the daily lives of our budding local designers.

Amanda Cleary

A native Californian, Amanda Cleary’s designs were inspired by packages. No, no, not that kind of package. Actual boxes. Her vinyly angular shifts have multiple armholes, square shoulders, and a dimension that does, in fact, suggest duct tape and cardboard. Interesting, surely, but as far as form meets function is concerned, the designs would perhaps better suited to a Martian runway, so all four armholes could be filled. If any of the aesthetic from Elie Tahari’s line rubs off on Cleary (since she recently interned with Tahairi), Cleary’s next fashion week jaunt may be more cohesive.

When she’s not busy with bonding (one fabric to another, that is), Cleary is watching flicks at Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland.

Sawanya Jomthepmala

The geometric, origami designs that Sawanya Jomthepmala created were inspired by the stained glass in Thai Buddhist temples and the boats fashioned out of banana leaves during the Krathong Festival. (The boats are floated out to sea to bring good fortunes to those that release them.)

Free Roman Polanski!

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October 2, 2009

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By Steven T. Jones

Like most American journalists, I reacted to the news of director Roman Polanski’s recent arrest by assuming he was finally getting what was coming to him. After all, I’m the father of two teenaged daughters and he pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977, entering into a plea deal to get more serious charges of rape and drugging his victim dropped, and then fleeing the country on the eve of his sentencing hearing.

But then yesterday I finally watched the HBO Films documentary “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” – which Netflix is featuring and allowing its customers to watch instantly online – and my opinion of the case changed completely. While Polanski did commit a crime, he has more than adequately been punished for what he did in a case where attorneys for the defense, prosecution, and victim all agree that both the judge in the case and the media behaved reprehensibly and in clear violation of basic fairness and Polanski’s rights.

Watch the film, search your heart, and then join me in saying: Free Roman Polanski!

Street Threads: Look of the Day

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October 2, 2009

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SFBG photog Ariel Soto scoops SF street fashion. See the previous Look of the Day here.

Today’s Look: Erica, City College, Ocean Campus

Tell us about your look: “I’m sad that it’s foggy.”

Balmy Alley kicks off block party season

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October 1, 2009

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By Caitlin Donohue

“Naya Bihana” (A New Dawn), a Martin Travers mural in Balmy Alley commemorating the struggle for freedom in Tibet.

Balmy Alley is awesome. In general, I am content to mosey through this painty wonderland with a loved one, preferably with a cup of coffee from Phil’z or a $1.50 24th street taco grasped firmly in my paw. But this Friday there’s a top-shelf chance to enjoy Balmy in my most favoritest form of celebration: the block party.

The alleyway gallery on Balmy Street was started in 1975 by Mujeres Muralistas, and exploded into its present glory in 1985, when three dozen muralists threw up 27 pieces on the back road’s garage doors, walls and sitting stoops. Originally a celebration of Latin American indigenous culture and refutation of our government’s malicious shenanigans south of the border, its walls now include send-ups of Mission gentrification and a commemoration of the Katrina tragedy. It has become an important focal point of the neighborhood and is a kickass place for a block party.

Street Threads: Look of the Day

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October 1, 2009

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SFBG photog Ariel Soto scoops SF street fashion. See the previous Look of the Day here.

Today’s Look: Rebecca, City College, Ocean Campus

Tell us about your look: “Everything was cheap, from Target or Forever 21. I like to mix colorful and weird pieces with casual and normal ones.”

Hope in hard times: Michael Moore discusses “Capitalism: A Love Story”

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October 1, 2009

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By Louis Peitzman

To call Michael Moore a contentious filmmaker would be something of an understatement. A stalwart champion of the left, he has managed to piss off Republicans and Democrats alike. At an appearance in San Francisco recently, I spoke to Moore about his latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story, a bipartisan look at an economic system that — according to Moore — has let this country down.

San Francisco Bay Guardian: With a topic as broad as capitalism, where do you begin?

Michael Moore: Well, I began by thinking about all the stories I’ve heard over the years of things that, to me, are the most illustrative of this economic system. So I first talked to a pilot on food stamps 13 years ago. I first heard about “dead peasants” eight or nine years ago. I’ve kept in my head a list of these stories, because a lot of people stop me on the street or in a restaurant or whatever, and they want to tell me their story. I’ve listened to a lot of stories. I get thousands of emails every week and so I hear a lot that way. It’s a culmination of 20 years of just being inundated by the misery that this economic system has created.

The bong show

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September 30, 2009

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By Johnny Ray Huston

In honor of how quick Guardian workers just were at helping a fellow employee who needed eye drops, here are some photos of John De Fazio‘s work at [2nd Floor Projects], where he and Daniel Minnick share a show.

E.T. bong. All photos by Johnny Ray Huston

The name of the show is “Sweet Believer Exit,” and the opening on Saturday night was sweltering. When John Waters arrived at the small space, his appearance couldn’t help but become a mini-performance piece on how people react to the glare of celebrity: some lingered nearby and said hi, while others retreated to the less crowded and thus slightly cooler hallway or escaped outside.

Weird octodoll bong

More bongs and some wonderfully creepy dolls by Minnick after the jump.

Street Threads: Look of the Day

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September 30, 2009

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SFBG photog Ariel Soto scoops SF street fashion. See the previous Look of the Day here.

Today’s Look: Kaida, City College, Ocean Campus

Tell us about your look: “My hat is from Wondercon Comicon. I got these jeans from my mom and I don’t know where she got them. The jacket is from Hot Topic.”

This weekend, catch crabs

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September 29, 2009

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By Caitlin Donohue

Loves it when you eat him. Photo by Erik Anderson

There’s a brisk wind running down Market today. And though I hear that it was 80-degree loveliness over the past weekend, I spent the past few days out of town in a place where they have things called “seasons.” So I missed out this time on the Indian summer benefits and am now reaccustoming myself to living in one of the world’s most bizarre weather systems.

But the Bay Area possesses many charms, and primary among these is the sheer fertility of the ecosystem we live in. Particularly when it is producing things I can eat. On Saturday, the National Park Service will be schooling hungry people on this glory of nature. Namely on how to catch your very own crabs in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. There will be a 15-minute demonstration on how to use a crabbing net (nets provided) as well as on which crabbies can come home with you and which will live to pinch another day (rock and red crabs = all yours, dungeness = their life, their love, and their lady is the sea).

After the quick lesson you’ll have the next hour and a forty five to mess with your new favorite hobby, smiling dreamily over thoughts of bouillabaisse and etoufees. And you will have a new dinner option on the table, as the Fort Point pier is open for permit-free public crabbing 24/7. Just cross your fingers that our crabby friends haven’t shared the fate of their herring brethren, whom recent studies suggest have been adversely affected by the 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill. Dang polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons!

Crabbing How-To
Sat/3 10 a.m.- noon, free
Fort Point Pier
End of Marina Drive, at south anchorage of Golden Gate Bridge
(415) 556-1693
www.nps.gov/fopo

Appetite: Pheasant eggs, shrimp and grits, Soul Food benefit, and more

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September 29, 2009

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Every week, Virginia Miller of personalized itinerary service and monthly food, drink, and travel newsletter, www.theperfectspotsf.com, shares foodie news, events, and deals. View the last installment here.

10/11 Soul Food Farm Fundraiser from Il Cane Rosso & Coi
Our Nor Cal food and farm community was saddened to hear about 30 burned acres and 1000 baby chicks lost in a recent devastating fire at Soul Food Farm in Vacaville. Daniel Patterson and his dynamic duo of restaurants, Il Cane Rosso and Coi, sponsor a fundraising dinner next week where all proceeds go to Soul Food Farm and you’re treated to a three course, family-style meal at Il Cane Rosso. Two seatings (between 5:30-6 pm, or 7:30-8 pm), offer a communal, heartwarming meal prepared with generously donated ingredients from Prather Ranch, Mariquita Farm and Full Belly. It feels good to help… and eat well at the same time.
$50 (including wine, not including tax & gratuity)
10/11, Sunday, 5:30-6pm or 7:30-8pm seatings
Il Cane Rosso, Ferry Building
415-391-7599
www.canerossosf.com
http://soulfoodfarm.com/blog/2009/09/cane-russo

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Magnolia’s new Southern-inspired brunch
Magnolia Gastropub is one of our best local breweries and a darn good restaurant to boot. With my great love for New Orleans comes excitement at Chef Ronnie New’s Southern-inspired brunch menu (he is from New Orleans, after all). Saturdays and Sundays there’s dishes Shrimp & Grits (made from the best, naturally: Anson Mills Grits), Crab Cake Benedict, even Pheasant Eggs & Toast. Magnolia’s best is still on offer, including their house-made sausages), excellent Chicken & Waffles, French Toast, and so on. So whether you prefer your brunch with Blue Bottle Coffee or Magnolia’s renowned suds (the sampler lets you try six), you know the morning after can be nearly as fun as the night before.
Saturdays and Sunday, 10am-2:30pm
1398 Haight Street
415-864-7468
www.magnoliapub.com

Street Threads: Look of the Day

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September 29, 2009

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SFBG photog Ariel Soto scoops SF street fashion. See the previous Look of the Day here.

Today’s Look: Gavin, City College, Ocean Campus

Tell us about your look: “My shoes are from Hong Kong.”

Bargain Bites: Ode to Osha

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September 28, 2009

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By Sarah Jimenez

Glen Park: Charming home of yogis with nonfat lattes, rich moms with dogs, and … cheap lunch? Yup.

Poor lunch. It always gets overlooked. While breakfast gets all the crepe and omelet glory, and dinner gets a sexy night vibe, lunch has long been demoted to that awkward hour you finally meet up with your ex and eat another fucking Cobb Salad, dressing on the side – or stuff your face with whatever boring staples are in your cupboard. Bore me to tears.

I contemplated this one recent afternoon as I sat at home, hungry as hell, with a fridge full of condiments and no freakin’ food. Watching Paula fry chicken on the Food Network wasn’t helping matters. How’s a poor girl to give the midday meal it’s due?

I threw on yesterday’s threads, brushed my teeth, and got my lazy ass outta the house. Over the river and through the woods is a bomb-ass Thai place that you’ve probably heard of, even if you’re an Excelsior brat like me and can barely see outta the fog: Osha Thai. The Glen Park location has $11 lunch specials — just right if you’re a broke bastard or just a big cheapskate (hey, I don’t judge). The new spot on Diamond Street is my closest samosa salvation, just a hop away on the always eventful (aka brain-cell destroying) 44 line where I get pushed and shoved into the mosh-pit of teens screaming on their cell-phones and at each other.

Street Threads: Look of the Day

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September 28, 2009

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SFBG photog Ariel Soto scoops SF street fashion. See the previous Look of the Day here.

Today’s Look: Alanna, City College, Ocean Campus

Tell us about your look: This sweater is my grandma’s and it’s a really old Guess. The shoes are my mom’s.”

Back to the future: Handcar Regatta

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September 25, 2009

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By Dan Abbott

Video of last year’s Handcar Regatta by Mike Sloat of Roaring Mouse Productions

Do you ever get the feeling that we’re totally screwed? I do, but I’m kind of into it. I’ve been consuming dystopian science fiction most of my life. I don’t remember the last time I read or watched speculative fiction that saw the future as being better than the present. That may be one of the fundamental differences between the Boomer generation and their children; up until the early 70s, people actually believed the world would be better in 20 years. I grew up watching The Terminator and The Road Warrior, and at this point anything better than fighting wasteland mutants for a dented can of Dinty Moore will be a pleasant surprise. And considering the widespread interest in being actually prepared for a zombie apocalypse, I am not alone.

This is indicative of a deep distrust of progress, which is really the fundamental belief of modernity. The idea that there is a trajectory for the human species, that mistakes are learned from and that we are slowly but surely improving ourselves. Before the mechanized bloodbath of World War I began to throw it into question, this belief in the inexorable march of progress was iron-clad. The technological wonders of the 19th century inspired writers like Jules Verne to envision a future made utopian through invention, a world of crackling Tesla coils, bicycles and iron gears powered by steam. While this vision was drowned in a sea of bubblin’ crude at the dawn of the 20th century, there is a revival of this sort of speculative engineering going on. Some of the Bay Area’s best and brightest gearheads will be showing off their technological prowess this Sunday, Sept. 27, in Santa Rosa at The 2nd Annual 2009 Great West End & Railroad Square Handcar Regatta & Exposition of Mechanical & Artistic Wonders!

Getting blurry and cross-eyed at Tauba Auerbach’s Deitch Projects exhibit

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September 25, 2009

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By Spencer Young

SF-gone-NY artist Tauba Auerbach, who has a keen obsession with language systems and structures, departs (slightly) from the well-worn two-tones of her 50/50 series in the current anagrammatically-titled exhibit “HERE AND NOW/AND NOWHERE.” Showcased at the ever-so-hip Deitch Projects, these new works dazzle with optical trickery and viewer interaction. The stars of the show (aside from the elephant-like organ that stands obtrusively in the gallery’s center) are the seemingly innocuous “Crumple Paintings” that hang all the way in the back. I say seemingly because at first glance the canvases look crumpled, but deeper inspection of their disorienting visual static reveals they are rife with polka dots.

In a previous exhibit, Auerbach explained this work as a confrontation of the “threshold between order and chaos, or between pattern and randomness,” wherein “it’s never a discreet line” and “maybe these states overlap or maybe they don’t really exist in a pure way.” She also suggests a 2-D and 3-D interactive experience new to her work that develops between viewer and object. Hence the need to be near or far to see both sides.

Tauba Auerbach, Crumple VII, 2009, acrylic and inkjet on canvas, 96 x 128 inches

If I understand correctly, from a distance the “Crumple Paintings” are meant to represent chaos/randomness and a contoured 3-D experience, but up close bring orderliness/pattern, flat/2-D. However, neither is necessarily accurate, because it’s all a matter of perspective, based on where you’re standing. In other words, it’s all relative. Check. But isn’t this too easy and rigid of an analysis — much like the clean nicety of an anagram where nothing gets left out, just rearranged? If so, isn’t it then a return to the same formulaic structure of her 50/50 pattern pieces? Or has a blurring evolved between the two, as exemplified in the actual visual blur that happens when physically approaching the work?