Ariel Soto-Suver Archives — Page 6 of 13 — San Francisco Bay Guardian Archive 1966

Bastille Day at Sous Beurre? Oui, oui!

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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July 13, 2011

I’m sure all the travel stories in this week’s issue are making you jealous, especially when it’s raining fog outside and acting rather un-summery. But I have a secret to tell you. One of the best things about traveling is the food, and if you can find a restaurant here in San Francisco with authentic enough dishes in their kitchen, eating out can be almost as good as getting a new stamp in your passport. Here is one of them.

My husband and I just got back from our honeymoon in France a few weeks ago. It was not your typical French honeymoon, strolling around Paris. We spent it mostly in the country, hiking more than 100 miles, from tiny village to tiny village — and then in the evening, gorging ourselves on decadent three or four course meals, made with more butter than anything else. The other night, back home and back to the grind, I did a Yelp search for a French restaurants, thinking I could take my hubby on a buttery date, and a place called Sous Beurre Kitchen popped up, with one, five-star review (it now has two). Somehow, a tiny French restaurant has just appeared inside Sugarlump Cafe on 24th street and based on that one review, I knew we had to go there.

Sous Beurre’s name means “in butter,” which sounds incredibly true to the French way of cooking. We found the chef, Michael Mauschbaugh, behind the counter, in a new tiny kitchen that he built all on his own. Everything on the menu is made from scratch (except for the dairy items) and Mauschbaugh told me that he’s a big fan of making his own sausages and liver pates. Homemade pate? That was one of our favorite discoveries in France, the way they scooped it out of gigantic ceramic bowls, wrapped it in paper, and then sent you on your way to slather it on warm baguettes while picnicking along a river. Just the mention of pate made us drool.

But then it came out, slathered on crispy pieces of toast and topped with balsamic roasted figs and we knew that, yes, reliving our French foodie fantasies was not such a far off dream. It was delicious. And so was the hearty cassoulet with home-made juniper berry sausage, the perfect antidote to the chilly evening outside. Not only is the food perfectly French, it’s also local, organic whenever possible, and always served with a big smile. And for something even more fun, Mauschbaugh has created a special prix fixe menu for Bastille Day ($26), that will not only add a little culture to your life, but might even make you feel like you’ve traveled to that beautiful far off country where butter is truly king.

Bastille Day Dinner
Thu/14, 5pm-10pm, $26
Sous Beurre Kitchen
inside Sugarlump Cafe
2862 24th Street
San Francisco
www.sousbeurrekitchen.com

Live Shots: Eddie Vedder and Glen Hansard, Paramount Theatre, 7/11/11

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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July 13, 2011

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He sat surrounded by dozens of instruments, all of which were lovingly named in the playbill for the show. As Eddie Vedder made his way through an extensive repertoire of new and old songs, a fresh ukulele or guitar was switched out with each piece, giving the whole evening an ever changing sound and flavor.

Vedder, whose latest album Ukulele Songs, came out earlier this year, has embraced the tiny Hawaiian contraption, mashing it up with his strong, experienced voice, to create something you might call “aloha with kick.” The audience was in complete awe throughout the whole performance, shrieking at unexpected moments and shouting out requests, which were often surprisingly obliged to, including when someone asked to be sung a special wedding song.

And then there were those guitars. Both Vedder and his opener, the talented Irishmen, Glen Hansard, had wild musical moments on stage, where their guitar and singing made it sound like they were playing with a whole band, drums and other singers included. I don’t really know how to explain it, but only that there was so much music coming out of them, that it seemed like the stage was jam packed with musicians, when in reality it was just some dudes with their guitars.

Pretty awesome. But then again, the whole show had a very intimate feeling, like were were all around a bonfire, on some beach in Hawaii, wasting away the evening to some beautifully poetic ukulele songs.

Ariel Soto-Suver’s world of animals

Andrew Lam

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July 12, 2011

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Pygmy elephants, Kinabatangan River, Borneo, Malaysia, 2010. My husband Sam and I spent three days along this river, spotting hornbills and proboscis monkeys. On the last day, we came across a herd of these gentle mini-giants, who played along the shore of the river for almost an hour, just 10 feet from our boat. Sadly, they are very much in danger of disappearing — the exploding palm oil business is decimating their habitat.

Yellow-eyed penguin, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2010. Unlike most penguins, the yellow-eyed penguin is unique in its mating habits. It likes to nest in the woods, under trees, just like this fellow we found while hiking along the coast of New Zealand. Only a few thousand of these penguins remain, mostly due to excessive tree removal along the coast for pasture land.

Green sea turtle, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, 2010. My mom, a.k.a. Snorkel Mom, read that there was a tiny beach along the North Shore where giant green sea turtles like to chill. There’s no sign on the beach, but after several hairy U-turns we found the beach, and several gigantic turtles, lazing at sunset in the sand.

Monkey cat, Koh Libong, Thailand, 2008. After gorging on a huge pile of stir-fried noodles prepared by an elderly lady in a turban, we wandered around the small village in search of even more delicious local food. Instead, we came across this cool little customer. The special love child of one monkey and one cat? Probably.

Yelle at the Regency Ballroom, 5/19/11

Andrew Lam

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May 22, 2011

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Major props to any super-hot French pop star who starts her set wearing a full body mop. That’s just what Yelle‘s lead-singer, Julie Budet, did last night at the Regency Ballroom — but it was to be expected since the group is consistently donning edgy threads in their eccentric music videos.

Budet has true star energy which fires her fans into hours-long dance fests at her concerts, despite the fact that probably the majority of them have no idea what her French lyrics are on about.

But little matter — it’s not just about the music.

It’s also about the spunky ’80s dance moves and her too-cute white Keds. And I love the fact that even though Yelle has a very electro pop sound, the group is actually two band mates tinkering on the keyboard and drumming away on a kit, which infinitely surpasses hitting play on a Mac Book. The beats last night were infectious and gave off that essential French coolness that everyone was trying to absorb just a little bit of, even if they couldn’t quite sing along.

Live Shots: Kinna Grannis at the Swedish American Hall, 5/10/11-5/11/11

Andrew Lam

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May 11, 2011

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It’s rare these days to go to a concert and feel like you really saw something truly wholesome. It’s more likely you leave smelling of booze, covered in dance-floor sweat, and with the beat of the drums still pounding in your ears. Luckily, there are still musicians like Kinna Grannis making beautiful, simple songs that can make an audience just sit in total silence as gentle guitar chords wave over them. Grannis is performing at the Swedish American Hall for two nights this week (last night and tonight, Weds/11).

The first of these gigs left people standing out in the horribly cold wind, staring at the sold-out sign plastered to the door. Grannis, who has become famous mostly through the powers of Youtube, shared the stage with her equally talented sisters, Misa and Emi. Lots of her songs have to do with love and happy moments, which will just make you smile, and on her Youtube channel she’s explored all sorts of covers, from Tracy Chapman to Britney, bringing a bit of her own folksy twist to all of them.

Imaginary Friend started out the evening with melancholy ballads, just the thing you’d want to play when you’re all alone with that special someone.

There was something so pleasantly innocent and precious about the whole night — maybe if you’re lucky enough to get a seat, tonight you can go experience that wholesomeness for yourself.

Kinna Grannis:

Imaginary Friend:

Grrrl Brigade Stands Up! this weekend

Andrew Lam

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May 6, 2011

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Back in the day, despite the fact that we went to a super jock high school, my friend Lex and I decided we would be part of the after school dance theater workshop. There were definitely some good times, especially when the big show came along at the end of the year, which gave us a chance to prance around on stage to “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” while wearing Ring Pops covered in glitter and dresses that made us look like we should be on maternity leave. So last night when I stopped by the final dress rehearsal of Stand Up! A Show of Resistance at Dance Mission, there were a lot of reminders of those dance-tastic times, of getting to run around stage with friends and get dressed up in cool costumes, but then the dancing actually started, and all I could think was “Where the heck was GRRRL Brigade when I was in high school?”

There were no Ring Pops, but there was floor-shaking taiko drumming and powerful Amazonian women dancers, all tied together with feminist stories from past and present. The strength of the performance didn’t come solely from the message of girl power exploding from every corner of the room — the talent and skill of the young dancers were incredibly real and striking.

The show starts tonight, Friday, May 6, and runs through the weekend. It’s worth stopping by to see the next generation of strong and devoted young dancers take center stage — and I promise the lack of glitter Ring Pops is absolutely a plus.

Stand Up! A Show of Resistance

Fri/6 and Sat/7, 7.p.m.; Sun/8, 5 p.m., $12

Dance Mission Theater

3316 24th St., SF

(415) 273-4633

www.brownpapertickets.com/event/171334

Our very own Eco-Opolis: Earth Day at Civic Center Plaza

Andrew Lam

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April 25, 2011

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“Have you been to Eco-Opolis?” a woman asked me as I leaned in to look at a miniature green city complete with recycled soap bottle skyscrapers and strawberry basket fences. The set-up was part of a phalanx of carnival booths with very green themes — just one part of this year’s Earth Day Festival in Civic Center Plaza.

The amount of recycled art that peppered the grounds in front of San Francisco’s city hall was quite impressive, from ornate altars made of orange peels and bottle caps to adorable burlap fish friends. Beyond the art, there were booths galore with demos on solar power water heating, hip recycled glassware by Bottle Hood and to die for raw vegan chocolates by Sacred Chocolate.

And for those looking for something a little more experiential there was the sound therapy booth, where one could sit within a circle of gongs and feel the vibrations, or get one could get dirty and learn how to build using straw bales. I’ve got to give a shout-out to the two gals running the Teens Turning Green booth, who were working to educate their cohort on the dangers of toxins in so many products that teens love to use.

There was definitely a encouraging mood throughout the whole event, which made me feel positive that one day, we’ll all be able to live in Eco-Opolis.

Live Shots: Bomba Estéreo at the Independent, 4/19/11

Andrew Lam

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April 20, 2011

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Do you ever go to a concert and realize that the lead singer is your new style icon? From the peacock feather in her hair to the flamingo tee-shirt and chipped red nails, Liliana from Bomba Estéreo has got definite style chops. But the sold out audience at the Independent last night, April 19, wasn’t there just to see what hip threads Liliana might throw on. They were there to hear the band’s utterly unique music, a mix of electronica and traditional Colombian beats.

I grew up with a Puerto Rican dad, which meant that on Saturdays we’d be blasting classic salsa from the KPOO radio station. Those classic Latin rhythms just become a part of any Latino kid’s body, so I love that Bomba Estéreo has kept so much of their roots present in their music while at the same time venturing into the future by mixing in technology.

At one point in the show, someone yelled out “Psychedelic trip!” as a plethora of colors and images danced on the stage and the beat became almost trance-like and hypnotic. There was definitely some major heat and energy coming off the stage — luckily it didn’t become a full out fuego.

Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown, 4/17/11

Andrew Lam

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April 18, 2011

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Every which way you turned, there was someone else you wanted to get your picture taken with, from the big wooly Totoro to people decked out in over-the-top anime costumes. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown was in full bloom this weekend, April 16-17, and everyone in town seemed to be there. The streets were packed with yummy eats, colorful clothing, and of course, lots of stands dedicated to raising money for Japan and their rescue relief efforts.

On Sunday, the morning started with the Grand Parade, which went from Civic Center to the heart of Japantown. For me, there was one main attraction: the anime costume contest. I’ll confess, I don’t know much about anime or what characters the contestant’s threads were representing. But I do know that they were all super-creative and I loved how much attitude everyone on stage had. In my mind, pyramid head, with his jumbo-sized bloody sword and yarn-ball-head sidekick, definitely should have won. They rocked.

Live Shots: Fact/SF at The Garage, 4/14/11

Andrew Lam

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April 15, 2011

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I remember when I was a little girl, I used to live down at my Grandma Kay’s house in Belmont. She had a big living room, with floor to ceiling windows that looked out over the bay. I used to dance around on the wooden floors in my socks to her Peggy Lee and Patsy Cline cassettes, which I played over and over again. It was a strange time. Grandma Kay was sick with cancer and I was too young to totally understand what was going on.

Last night I went to watch FACT/SF at the Garage. The first piece was two people, sitting in metal folding chairs, a lit cigarette filling the room with sweet smoke. There was not an inch of movement, just the sound of Peggy Lee singing “Is That All There Is.” It was melancholy and brought me right back to that living room in Belmont, and I wondered how many other people in the audience had some strange connection to that song.

This is my third time seeing FACT/SF and every time I see them it’s emotional. Yes, there are perfect pirouettes and elegant extensions, but then there’s always something deep, slightly dark and always thought-provoking.

There’s a little bit of theater, at least a few wonderfully wacky costumes, and of course, there are the eyeballs. Choreographer Charles Slender has a serious thing about eyeballs and their ability to transform his dancers into more than just moving bodies. Whether the dancers are staring straight into your own eyes, or directly up at the ceiling, there’s an intensity about those eyeballs that brings so much to the performance.

The show, which has one more run tonight, is a collection of new and old works, including an excerpt from the evocative “The Consumption Series,” with it’s fluffy red tutus and bright orange tangerines. I know you haven’t made any plans for tonight, so now you’ve got some. Now then: let’s keep dancing. Let’s break out the booze and have a ball …

Live Shots: Caitlin Rose at Cafe du Nord, 4/7/11

Andrew Lam

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April 8, 2011

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To be honest, I could have cared less who the Cafe Du Nord headliners were that night. I was there for only one reason: to see the opener, Nashville-born singer Caitlin Rose.

I found Caitlin Rose’s music on one of those lucky Youtube click-happy sessions. You know what I’m talking about. Where you go from one “recommended” video to the next, until finally you land on something good. And that goodness was Caitlin Rose’s “Own Side,” a melancholy, sweet bluesy, twang-licious song. Oh yes, this was a very good recommendation. And as luck would have it, she was going to be coming to San Francisco in less than three weeks. Perfection.

At the show last night, Rose brought a beautiful set of songs to the stage about everything from sleeping around to pushing people into wells. Her voice has a bit of Iris Dement and Patsy Cline, mixed in with classic country chords, that rolled effortlessly off the lap steel guitar.

I’ll confess, I used to be a pretty big country music fan back in high school, but then when Bush took over the White House, I just couldn’t do it anymore. It just felt dirty and wrong. But I think Caitlin Rose has got me back into it, because her music is not about American pride or getting a new washing machine. Her songs are about teen pregnancy and the inevitable shotgun wedding, or about falling in love with a gorilla man. This is new country, that’s quirky, catchy, and it’s music that I would definitely recommend to you and yours.

And below — this is amazing. Best cover by a 5 years old ever:

Live Shots: Nrityagram Dance Ensemble at the Palace of Fine Arts, 3/31/11

Andrew Lam

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April 4, 2011

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You could hear the dancers before you could actually see them. The stage was dark, but there was a jingling of a hundred bells that encased the dancer’s ankles and jangled with each of their movements. When the lights went up, the audience came face to face with an array of brilliant colors as the dancers moved across the stage in dazzling Indian saris.

These performers have traveled all around the world to share dances that go back to dates that end in B.C. We’re talking ancient movements, ones that have been passed down for tens of generations. But what makes Nrityagram Dance Ensemble so unique is not the dances they perform, but the way in which they learn them.

The dancers live communally in India, in the Nrityagram dance village located on a rural farm. The dancers not only practice their performance pieces, but also yoga, meditation, and martial arts — to name just a few of their ongoing areas of study. The goal is not only to become great dancers but to become well-balanced human beings. Dance as a form of life. Ingenious, right?

The whole performance was strikingly beautiful, especially with the help of four live musicians, whose beats and rhythms could put anyone into a hypnotic trance. There were many movements that I’d seen in yoga class, from elegant hand mudras to precarious one-legged balancing acts. It was ancient and yet so modern — back in the B.C.’s, these kind of dance moves never would have made their mark on soil of San Francisco.

Live Shots: Naughty By Nature at Yoshi’s San Francisco, 3/24/11

Andrew Lam

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March 25, 2011

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Everyone get ready for a blast from the past — and the sudden realization that maybe we’re getting old. That’s right, turning into real fogies. That’s how it goes down when you’re at the concert of a group you listened to when you were young and sprightly and they keep throwing words out like “time machine” and “1989” — it’s like, wow, I’m at a 20th anniversary reunion concert for a band I actually like. Weird.

Luckily, Naughty by Nature, the award-winning hip-hop trio from New Jersey, don’t look like they’ve aged a bit and they’ve definitely still got the same contagiously groovin’ energy that made us love them so much in the first place, way back when.

But I was there to take photos, which you can read as dancing like a fool while snapping pics — precarious, but how could I stop myself when NBN is singing “OPP” right in front of me? And they were truly giving their fans their all. There was major sweat dripping on stage only two songs in, proof of their unfaltering commitment to genuine hip-hop-hooray.

Time to go find my Walkman and mix tapes, pull on a pair of stirrup leggings and spend the rest of the day soaking up the nostalgia. Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!

You know you still jam this

Live Shots: Whole Beast Supper Club Rabbit Tasting Dinner, 3/18/2011

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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March 23, 2011

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Growing up, my best friend Suzy Q (then and now) used to raise bunny rabbits in her backyard in Pacifica. In the spring, there would sometimes be two or three new litters at the same time, and we would set up a tent on the lawn and let the dozens of fluff balls run around us in circles. Although many of the bunnies were sold once they got big enough, there were some extremely special ones, like Mr. Casey, who used to ride around on Suzy Q’s shoulder like a parrot and who I became the loving godmother of at a full-blown bunny baptism. So, you can imagine my tangle of emotions when I spent last Friday night at a pop-up rabbit tasting dinner at La Victoria Bakery, for a meal with the Whole Beast Supper Club.

The concept of this dining group is absolutely righteous. Eat the whole animal and also try out new parts of plants that you might not have thought of before as edible. The rabbits for the meal were provided by Devil’s Gulch Ranch in Nicasio. The farmer, Mark Pasternak, was also at the dinner to see for himself what an all rabbit meal would be like.

The evening started with a hearty offal stew, which contained livers, hearts, cheeks, etc, and heirloom beans, that was far from awful. It was delicious. Next came batter fried shoulders (read: southern fried chicken), topped with this amazing homemade pickled black mustard, which I could have eaten a vat of with just a spoon. Back in the kitchen, it was obvious that the chef, Kevin Bunnell, was totally enjoying himself. After chatting with him a bit, it’s clear that Bunnell is in the food business for the adventure aspect of it. One of their last dinners was all about pig, and Bunnell got the pig for the meal from a guy he knew that knew another guy who had a pig. It was dropped off at Bunnell’s house, on ice, still covered in hair, which meant Bunnell had to learn how to butcher a pig then and there. He loves getting creative with the different parts of meat and seems determined to really use the whole beast.

The rest of the dishes that evening included a delicious braised leg on a mound of fresh made pasta, topped with roasted baby artichokes, and then a seared loin on a bed of wild mushrooms. I loved Bunnell’s use of greens too, from delicate spring pea shoots to crisp fava leaves (who knew you could eat fava leaves? And they’re so yummy!). And to top it all off, there was a carrot sponge cake coated with a fluffy fennel-thyme bavarian cream custard that was over the top decadent and a delight to devour.

So, I made it through four courses of rabbit (and half a bottle of wine) and at the end of the night, I have to say I was pretty darn satisfied. Mr. Casey, you will always have a special place in my heart, but now, some of your peers have a special place on my palate, too.

Live Shots: Fujiya and Miyagi with Fol Chen, the Independent, 3/21/2011

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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March 22, 2011

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Techno spaz dance-off. That’s how the evening started.

Fol Chen was on stage and one of their guitarists was doing some spaztastic moves, while his doppelganger in the front row played along. This went on for several of Fol Chen’s songs, the leg kicking, the head bopping. It was quite entertaining to watch. The rest of Fol Chen, wearing matching red band-camp uniforms, were equally enthusiastic on stage, while they belted out a song about a wedding cake.

Then it was the headliner’s, Fujiya and Miyagi, turn on stage. They did not rip out the cray-cray dance moves, but they did figure in some funky guitar riffs. This British band, with their whisper-sung lyrics and eery keyboard chords, create sounds that make you feel like you’re in a dark, dramatic film, speeding by on a subway, rain pouring down outside, and you have no idea where you’re even going. It’s music to get lost in, to daydream with, and hey, maybe even enjoy with your bowl of minestrone.

Pie attack? Bike Basket Pies delivers

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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March 7, 2011

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Get your fork ready: SFBG videographer Ariel Soto grabs some piping hot slices with Natalie Galatzer of Bike Basket Pies in the Mission

Noise Pop Live Shots: robbinschilds at SF MOMA, 02/24/2011

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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March 1, 2011

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The fact that there was a dance performance going on as part of the annual music festival Noise Pop, was unique in and of itself, but then it was happening at the SF MOMA, and I knew I had to go check it out.

The dance group robbinschilds is a pop-color-clad duo who mix video, dance, live music, and even a little sumo-wrestling, to create experimental performances that also use the specific space where they’re happening, in this case, the SF MOMA. So at one point, there were just videos up on three walls, then the dancers were passing a huge rainbow tassel between levels of galleries, and then they were right in front of us, stripping off their clothes and gyrating uncontrollably. They were backed by a live Seattle noise band called Kinski, that was well, very noisy.

There was a second dance show at the MOMA that was a presentation by Russian artist Anna Parkina, who is also having a collage show upstairs in the galleries. Her piece was a mixture of paper cutting and movement, using projections of the collages she has made and moving human sculptures to create a living art piece.

Both dance shows were completely unique, and I like that Noise Pop is venturing beyond music and collaborating with a variety of artists to bring us odd and wonderful shows, like these two.

Live Shots: Pearls over Shanghai at the Hypnodrome, 2/19/2011

Charles Russo

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February 24, 2011

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Glitter, check. Feathers, check. Pearls, check. Add in some fabulous lyrics, a few wildly inappropriate lines, and you’ve got yourself a full blown production of “Pearls over Shanghai,” performed by the fantastic Thrillpeddlers.

To be honest, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into this weekend at the Hypnodrome, but I figured that any show that had been running for almost two years must have something to offer. And it surely did. If you only go see it for the beautiful costumes and vibrant make-up, you will be fully satisfied. But then there’s the singing, the piano playing, and the spanking and you’ll realize it’s one of those once-in-a-life-time events. The story revolves around a myriad of love stories, taking place in the skanky part of Shanghai in the 1930’s, revealing the innocent, the naughty, and the disturbing side of Shanghai’s infamous underworld.

This show is definitely not for the timid, because there is a bit of skin showing here and there, and a creep show in the dark that totally freaked me out — this was an original production by the legendary Cockettes after all — but it a good way, where afterward I kept wondering how in the heck they actually made me feel like I was tripping on opium … and also made me never, ever, want to do opium.

“Pearls over Shanghai” will finish its run on April 9th, so don’t miss it. Go see it, maybe even twice.

Live Shots: 7th Annual Black Choreographers Festival, ODC Theater, 02/16/2011

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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February 16, 2011

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I believe it’s almost everyone’s dream to be able to fly and for some, it is a reality. I stopped by ODC Theater this week to check out a final rehearsal of a dance piece choreographed by Raissa Simpson and actually got to watch her fly across the stage. OK, she was actually attached to cables, but there was still quite a bit of airborne action going on, and to be honest, it made me a little jealous.

This weekend, ODC is hosting the Black Choreographers Festival, which brings together a smorgasbord of dance talent, in celebration of African and African-American traditions and culture. And, from what I saw during rehearsal, it’s bound to be a vibrant and exciting show. There was not only an element of theater and drama in Simpson’s piece, but also an awesome hot pink prom dress that one of the dancers was sporting. So go get your fill of perfect pirouettes and fabulous flexion, You won’t regret a minute of it.

7th Annual Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now
Feb. 17-19, 8pm and Feb. 20, 7pm
$10-$20
ODC
351 Shotwell, SF.
www.odcdance.org/performance.php?param=48

Live Shots: Belly Dance Show and Kardash, Red Poppy Art House, 2/10/11

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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February 15, 2011

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I’m all for intimate venues and performances — and the shows at the tiny Red Poppy Art House literally happen in your lap — but it’s kinda scary when the performers are wielding huge swords and you wonder if you’ll go home missing the tip of your nose.

Luckily, these blade-brandishing belly dancers knew what they were doing and even though there were several sharp shiny weapons balancing precariously on the head of a dancer at one point, just about two feet from my face, I felt OK.

The performance at Red Poppy not only featured belly dancing, but also the groovy fusion beats of Kardash and several of their musical friends. Their sound had a Middle Eastern flare to it and there was one moment that stuck with me the most during the show. One musician played the tambourine for a piece with such precision, isolating the drum and then the bells around the edge of the instrument, that it created a totally foreign sound like nothing I’ve ever heard before. It was truly beautiful.

The dancers also showed their considerable talents, especially Elizabeth Strong in a dance titled “Mata Hari,” about the infamous exotic dancer who was also a spy. Donning red lilies in her hair, Strong started the dance very slowly, creating a mesmerizing concoction of mystery and movement, but ended with a feverish mix of whirling hips and flying scarves.

And guess what? At the end of the night, I left with all my “Jewish princess nose” (as my mother likes to call it) fully intact.

Live Shots: Claudette King, Biscuit and Blues, 02/04/2011

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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February 13, 2011

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Do you ever watch a performer and find that they exude so much positivity and joy that you find your mouth stuck in a perpetual grin? And then you realize they’re singing the blues, rambling away about whiskey woes and dead beat good-for-nothing dudes, and you’re like “Why am I smiling?” This is what happened to me on Friday night for the Claudette King concert at Biscuit and Blues.

King not only has a set of powerful, bluesy pipes at her disposal, she also has a disposition of someone who just found herself in a candy shop and can’t stop giggling. The audience took it all in, clapping and hooting while simultaneously consuming huge plates of bbq ribs and mashed potatoes. King is the daughter of the much loved B.B. King, but I really think she stands on her own as a true blues singer, although I’m sure her father was an inspiration and an influence on her as an artist.

Oh and I have to mention this: Sam Love and I had the chance to meet King before the show and somehow the convo turned to love and marriage. During her set she sang a piece that’s all about “gettin’ some good lovin’.” Halfway through the song, King points to me and goes “See that photographer over there? She’s getting married to that dude next her. Now, they better get some good lovin’ on that wedding night! Well, they probably already are!” So in front of a sold out audience, King just told Sam Love and me a thing or two about getting down. Um, yeah – that just made my night! King has spirit, groove and a whole lot of blues and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Live Shots: Stag Dining “Speakeasy” Clandestine Dinner, 01/29/2011

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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February 2, 2011

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These days, it’s hip to be in the know of well-kept secrets. OK, maybe that’s confusing, but what I’m trying to say is there’s an ever-growing list of underground events going on in San Francisco, but if you don’t know about them, well, than you better start getting on it. Now. I’ll give you a hint. Secret restaurants are popping up everywhere and it’s the kind of eating experience you don’t want to miss out on.

Case in point: this past weekend, Stag Dining Group hosted a clandestine dinner at a mysterious locale, which included a myriad interesting dishes, from Japanese lobster custard to skewered duck hearts in mole sauce.

The chefs, Ted Fleury and Jordan Grosser, were bustling in the kitchen to get six courses out to almost eighty people at the same time, while Cocktail Lab was busy concocting a new libation for every course, filled with everything from chili peppers to flaming cinnamon sticks. And boy, my drinking habits are not up to snuff these days … I could not keep up!

The food was tasty and carefully crafted, and I especially loved dessert, a thick creamy chocolate mousse, topped with a see-through thin olive-oily piece of cinnamon toast. My only crit note was the lack of carbs in the meal. I definitely felt the need for one dish that might be considered “hearty.”

Stag Dining is comprised of a bunch of affable dude-bros who have been friends for years and decided to collaborate to create a supper club. Beyond the delectable delights, I also loved that they did a spiel about their values, right down to their handmade recycled menus and to the fact that eating sustainably is really becoming a must. Sometimes people overlook the “spiel” — but I’m one of those people who is constantly giving them and feel that it’s so important to educate whenever possible. (My broken record spiels include: “Check your bathroom products … they might contain parabens!” “Non-organic strawberries taste like crap … and can kill you!” “Did you know that health care in other countries is way better than in America? Write a letter!” It’s something people still do!)

So folks, now you’re a little in the know for something well worth being in the know about, start exploring some of these hidden edible treasures, which are sure to tantalize and tickle your taste buds.