Text and video by Sarah Phelan
83 year-old Minerva Dunn demands a total and unrestricted cleanup of Hunters Point Shipyard, not a cap, shortly before police use bull cutters to remove her from a giant stop-work order that she and other activists have chained themselves to, in an effort to blockade the former naval station”s main entrance in San Francisco.
Text and video by Sarah Phelan
Protestors chant “Don’t cap it, just clean it” after four people chain themselves to a giant stop work order at Hunters Point Shipyard, demanding that the Navy remove a radiologically impacted dump at the former naval station.
By Juliette Tang
Local author Stephen Elliott modeling purple fishnet stockings, from Alison Tyler’s blog
Stephen Elliott is not one to hide his overtly sexual side. Nor, for that matter, are any of the writers and performers lined up at the “Sex, Music, Comedy Night with Jill Sobule” to be held next Tuesday, July 7, at the Make-Out Room (3225 22nd St). The event is co-sponsored by Kink.com and The Center for Sex and Culture, and proceeds will support The Rumpus, an online magazine about culture – predominantly indie and alternative in nature – spearheaded by Elliott himself.
The event is solidly sex-themed and will feature readings by former sex workers turned authors Zak Smith, Michelle Tea, Kirk Read, and Madison Young, who will be reading selections from her upcoming bondage memoir. A comedy performance by Kyle Kinane, a film from Wholphin, burlesque by Mariel a la Mode, music by Sig Hafstrom, and special guest musician Jill Sobule round out the night.
Stephen Elliott, the night’s host, promises lots of sexiness for your money’s worth. “Jill Sobule is sexy. Everyone participating in the event is sexy. Doing an event with Kink.com is sexy, and introducing people to Zak Smith is really, really sexy, because he’s an incredible artist who chose to make porn. This is the first time we are having an event with a real sex theme so all the authors are or were sex workers. And I was a sex worker as well, so you even get a sex worker host.”
SFBG photog Ariel Soto just returned from Spain with a glimpse at the street fashion there. See the previous Look of the Day here.
Today’s Look: Flavia, Rambla del Raval, Barcelona
Photos by Neil Motteram
Ahem. So, we kind of just “came to” from Pride — we seem to have lost our pink bunny slippers, and also pants and innocence, at Juanita More’s Pride pool party — and boy/girl was it all a blur. Fortunately, rad photog Neil Motteram was wide-eyed and bushy-tailed enough to snap some pics, which we’re now posting days late. Because we’re cool that way. — Your editrix, Marke B.
PINK SATURDAY
DYKE MARCH
PRIDE SUNDAY
Since becoming an almost international incident, the stolenization of our beloved Guardian van has finally, breathlessly come to an end. It was found by the SFPD this morning on the 100 block of 25th Ave in the Richmond. It was merely stripped of its ignition.
Thanks to all who kept an eye out! Now we can go back to delivering fresh brownies to all!
UPDATE: According the Scavenger blog, a teacher from Corta Madera named Kevin Mahoney phoned in the van’s location. Kevin, if you’re reading this, please email marke@sfbg.com and claim your fresh brownie!
SFBG’s Justin Juul asks zookeeper Jane Tollini — former penguin keeper at the San Francisco Zoo, and originator of the annual “Woo at the Zoo” tour — about life, love, and sex in the animal kingdom. Read the previous installment here.
SFBG: Do monkeys get off on human porn?
Tollini: Apes do, yeah. You can teach an ape anything. If you bring in a human woman and have her demonstrate nursing to a gorilla that grew up in captivity, that gorilla will learn how to nurse a baby. But apes have pretty low sex drives so they probably wouldn’t be as in to porn as we are. The truth about animals is that very few of them actually have sex for pleasure. So there’s not much masturbating going on in the animal kingdom. It’s a little different at the zoo because our animals have more spare time, but masturbating and porn are pretty much human-specific. There are a few exceptions, I guess. I mean I’ve heard that alligators, elephants, and some primates have g-spots. But who the hell knows? I mean, how did they figure that out? You don’t just stick your finger inside and alligator and go “Does this feel good?” I mean, what…do they do give them a cigarette afterwards? Come on!
SFBG: You mentioned gay penguins a minute ago, and that’s something everybody knows about, but I was wondering, are there any other animals out there that practice homosexuality? And if so, what do you think that means for humans? I mean, if it’s not an issue for animals, why is it always such an issue for us?
Tollini: Oh my god! There are so many animals out there who just love the one they’re with. Really, you’d be surprised. I’ve seen gay chimps, gay birds, gay everything! Manatees –who are on the endangered species list, by the way, so they have an extra incentive to reproduce– form lifelong homosexual bonds in both sexes. And so do other animals, which to me is proof that being gay is totally natural.
SFBG: Is there any sort of ostracizing that goes down, like how humans gay bash each other?
Text and photos by Ariel Soto — hey, we’re Spain crazy!
I’m addicted to Spain. I’ve been there three times and I still want to go back to explore every single corner of what I consider to be one of the most unique and exciting countries I’ve ever visited. Here are some reasons why Spain is so amazing and why we should all pack our bags to move to the land of sangria and tapas.
1. Pintxos The Northern Basque regions version of the tapa, these two bite snacks cover every surface of the bars at all hours of the day. For the true pintxo experience, you’re supposed to have one or two (they cost about 1 Euro each) with a glass of vinegary sidra, then throw your napkin on the floor and head on to the next bar and repeat.
2. Bachelor Parties Instead of the usual bar hopping, men in Spain dress up in drag and then parade around town taking photos with people, while their friends blow away on whistles. Awesome!
3. The Markets The food markets, especially La Boqueria in Barcelona, are magnificent. Everything is fresh and delicious and reasonably priced.
4. Antonio Gaudi Probably the world’s most quirky and imaginative architect, whose work like the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, is worth going back to see time and time again.
5. Biking Naked While we have Critical Mass, the Spanish do a similar bike outing called “Desnudos frente el trafico” (naked in front of traffic) to promote bike safety and car speed limits in the city.
SFBG photog Ariel Soto just returned from Spain with a glimpse at the street fashion there. See the previous Look of the Day here.
Today’s Look: Montse, Riera Baixa, Barcelona
Text and photos by Ariel Soto
I don’t really know where to start. There was the waiter making sweet love to his customer on the table, the robot doing it with electronics, the freaky sex clowns and a hot dog ravishingly screwing a tomato ’til it turned into small packages of ketchup. It was the Air Sex Championships at the Independent on June 24, and all the contestants put every bit of their sexual energy to make the voyeuristic crowd howl and laugh. The highlight of the event was an impromptu last minute addition to the competition named Pandora’s Box, who, without any fancy props or even a costume, stole the show with her exotic and erotic moves that left everyone begging for more.
Text by Rachel Buhner and Sarah Phelan
Photos by Sarah Phelan
Protesters block the main entrance to the shipyard with a giant stop work order
A sizeable crowd gathered outside the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard’s main entrance Tuesday to protest Bayview Hunters Point residents and environmental advocates ongoing concerns with Lennar’s plans to develop 770 acres at the shipyard and Candlestick Point–and to blockade the entrance with a giant stop work order.
Sponsored by Greenaction for Health & Environmental Justice, POWER and the San Francisco Green Party, the protest was also attended by Nation of Islam followers, Mothers Against Crime, and even a few young and enthusiastic school children.
Interview by Mirissa Neff, photo by Caroline Bittencourt, location São Paulo Botanical Gardens, clothing by Farm. From SCENE: The Guardian Guide to Nightlife and Glamour, published in last week’s issue.
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Just when it seemed Brazil had maxed out its production of sexy songstresses, along comes Céu. This girl from São Paulo (or Paulistana) seems the antithesis of her polluted, overpopulated hometown: Céu means sky — a rare sight in Brazil’s megalopolis — and the songs on Vagarosa, her new album coming out on Six Degrees Records, revel in a sensual world of languor. Her debut CD was a cafe staple that garnered Grammy and Latin Grammy noms, yet Céu’s artful blend of samba, soul, jazz, and electronica has helped her earn her keep on São Paulo’s underground scene. Her music embodies that city’s contradictions: it’s at once cosmopolitan, gritty, earthy, and languid. A breath of fresh air in the concrete jungle, indeed.
About a decade ago every boutique and lounge had the “new” Brazilian sound on heavy rotation, but what was once new now sounds dated — over-produced and digitally heavy-handed. Bucking that trend, Céu has cultivated an organic sound that combines acoustic elements with breezy, tasteful electronic embellishments. Collaborating with the likes of Curumin and Nação Zumbi, her path has subtly turned toward roots music, paying homage to the past while forging into the future. In that respect, Céu is spearheading a leisurely Brazilian music revolution … it may not be televised, but you’ll gladly sip a caipirinha to it.
CÉU
Saturday, July 18, 8 p.m., $25–$70
Herbst Theater
401 Van Ness Ave., SF
www.sfjazz.org
www.sixdegreesrecords.com
SFBG What was it like growing up in São Paulo?
Céu I was born in a neighborhood called Vila Nova Conceição that was founded by a Portuguese community. Back then, it used to be a very calm place, like a little countryside town. Today it’s totally different and urban.
SFBG Brazilians are known for their beautifully mixed ethnic roots, with elements from the Amazon, to Europe, and on to Africa. What’s your family’s heritage?
Céu My family is definitely mixed, but it’s hard to say what’s what. Mainly Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, native Brazilian, and even American.
The 13th Annual Mission Creek Music and Arts Festival is nearing blastoff. It includes a pair of experimental music and performance series, Collision and Convergence MMIX, and an outdoor concert at McLaren Park’s Jerry Garcia Amphitheater. L.A. women are in the house, thanks to Carla Bozulich’s Evangelista and Ann Magnuson, but the SF boys will be bringing the noise, too, led by the likes of Ty Segall and Kelley Stoltz. Behold what’s to come:
MISSION CREEK MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL LINEUP
All shows 21+ unless noted.
FRIDAY, JULY 10
The Knockout
SMiLE! presents
Benefit for Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival
9 p.m., $7
Featuring:
Trust
EFFT
Jeepster
SATURDAY, JULY 11
Rooz Cafe
1 p.m. – 11 p.m., $10 suggested donation
Grand Lake
Make Me
White Clouds
Blank Tapes
Colossal Yes
The Splinters:
Ghost in the City (Oakland)
Dashing Suns (Oakland)
Double U
SUNDAY, JULY 12
21 Grand, Oakland www.21grand.org
8 p.m., $7 suggested donation
Djun Djun Drum Heroes
Zoo
Ryder Cooley
MONDAY, JULY 13
Rooz Cafe
Flexions
Young Savage
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
The Knockout
9 p.m.–2 a.m., $7
The Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival and SMiLE! present
The Aerosols
Dreamdate
My First Earthquake
Sonny & The Sunsets
Argus Lounge
9 p.m., $5
The Double U
Top Critters
The Why Because
Bocal Lobotomy
Ty Segall takes a dip in Mission Creek
El Rio
Colossal Yes
The Love Dimension
123 Picnic
Nick Jaina
THURSDAY, JULY 16
Argus Lounge
9 p.m., $5
Brandon Nickell
Al Qaeda
Horseflesh
Weird Habit
Cafe du Nord www.cafedunord.com
9 p.m., $10 Adv-$12 Door
The Lumerians
Graveyard (Sweden)
Citadelle
The Eagle
The Oh Sees
Meth Teeth (Portland, OR)
Buzzer
Ty Segall
Kimo’s
9 p.m. – 2 a.m., $7
Schande
Excuses for Skipping
By Michael Krimper
Modern graffiti practice — born out of New York’s behemoth subway system nearly 40 years ago — has diffused across the globe arguably faster and further than any other subculture of our time. Many thought the prohibitive end of New York subway graffiti in the mid-1980s might mark the death of the movement itself. But the phenomenon has instead grown vibrantly, evolving in imaginative and cunning ways while unexpectedly inspiring thousands of offspring movements worldwide. Regional mutations of graffiti now prosper in urban centers from São Paulo to Tokyo, as well as the sprawling suburbs spanning Paris and Phoenix, and even in small town America.
Photos by Michael Krimper
San Francisco was one of the earliest cities outside of the East Coast to contribute heavily to graffiti’s development. Young writers painted on freight trains in attempts to mimic their eastern counterparts’ love for subway cars, but they also brought the medium to life on the more stationary public spaces; walls, rooftops, billboards, and street furniture all gained color in rhythm. To this day the city is a hotbed for the creative evolution of style, approach, and placement. Graffiti tattoos the skin of our city, breathing vivaciously yet ephemerally in the rapid changing visual landscape.
During my morning routine in San Francisco’s SOMA district I come across hundreds of graffiti pieces. The moment I step outside my flat, vibrant names call forth on the neighboring walls, twisting and swinging frenetically in with an incandescence that is brighter than the fog-smothered sun rays. A school of simply stenciled koi fish meander curiously along the concrete sidewalk, snaking up the side of a storefront’s iron cage that is painted with a woman’s statuesque face locked in distant meditation. I jaunt over to the newspaper dispensers and reach for the daily only after appreciating any new stickers and wild, hand style lettering or drippy, dirty tags and rotating wheat paste prints, all competing equally for my attention. And I take a moment to imagine the people out there who took the time to get up, the thrills they must have felt, the inspiration that brought them out to the streets to write a shadowed name or post up a devilish cartoon character.
Is the newspaper vendor not the prime placement for graffiti — both literally and metaphorically — in this post-subway train era? Covering the pervasive street furniture are the etched names of hundreds of locals. Some invent complex calligraphy and craft intricate geometrical balance to stylize their nom de plumes. Some choose the course of improv for the signatures and let the muses of the moment guide their ink-saturated markers. And still others invest countless hours of preparation to the act of clandestinely posting up ready made stickers during the dead of the night or even the grind of the day.
By Louis Peitzman
Iranian-American actor Shohreh Aghdashloo first gained international success when she earned an Oscar nomination for her performance in The House of Sand and Fog (2003). Since then, she has continued to win critics over in a variety of eclectic roles. Now she stars as Zahra in The Stoning of Soraya M., based on the true story of an Iranian woman unjustly convicted of adultery and killed. Aghdashloo spoke with me about her background, the film’s political implications, and its ultimate message.
San Francisco Bay Guardian: Were you familiar with the story of Soraya M. before you did the film?
Shohreh Aghdashloo: No, I’m afraid I wasn’t, although I had seen a real (stoning) on tape. But it was a different one. The one I saw on tape involved two young men who were being stoned for being homosexuals. I had no idea about this story until (the director and co-writer) Cyrus Nowrasteh approached me with the screenplay.
Text By Sarah Phelan
Serpentinite rock with veins of naturally occurring asbestos
Henry Alvarez, executive director of the San Francisco Housing Authority, acknowledges that a judge tossed out the unlawful detainer suit that the SFHA brought against the Nation of Islam’s Center for Self Improvement in the Bayview and its leader Minister Christopher Muhammad.
“But the court left room for us to refile with some guidance,” Alvarez added, claiming that his agency tried to amend its complaints outside the court with Muhammad’s lawyer, Richard Drury, “but we could not reach an amicable solution.”
So, is the SFHA planning to file again, and if so, on what grounds?
Text and photos by Ariel Soto
Any show that ends with a bunch of people in a conga line has to be great. This past weekend, Pink Martini, a twelve-piece band hailing from Portland Oregon, joined the San Francisco Symphony for an electrifying performance that covered everything from classical concertos to foot stomping Brazilian street music. The range in styles of music this ensemble covers makes a single night at one of their concerts seem like twenty different musical experiences and then some. Being part Puerto Rican, I’m drawn to their more Latin based songs, like “Donde Estas Yolanda” and “Andalucia” but there’s really no way not to love all their music, especially when they get a little help for our very own San Francisco Symphony.
SFBG photog Ariel Soto just returned from Spain with a glimpse at the street fashion there. See the previous Look of the Day here.
Today’s Look: Pepi, Riera Baixa, Barcelona
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.
NEW OPENINGS
The Plant Cafe Organic’s second location with Bay views
The Embarcadero goes organic with The Plant Café Organic‘s second (and much larger) locale on Pier 3. Stunning Bay views, Blue Bottle and smoothies in the morning (in the cafe side of the space), lunch and dinner (restaurant side) with Spicy Fava Bean & Cherry Tomato Bruschetta or Chicken (organic, of course), Caramelized Onion, Point Reyes Blue Cheese & Fennel Pizza. If breezes kick in, there’s heat lamps outside, while inside the air is fresh with a wall plant installation. Watch the sky turn shades of pink and blue at sunset with a Honeycomb Colada (coconut milk, pineapple juice, rum, honeycomb and toasted coconut garnish) in hand.
Pier 3, The Embarcadero
(415) 984-1973
www.theplantcafe.com
Donato Enoteca debuts in Redwood City
Take a Michelin-starred chef from Italy, place him in the Peninsula and you have Donato Enoteca, Redwood City’s newest destination restaurant. Chef Donato Scotti highlights his Northern Italian roots in a menu using farm-fresh produce and Italian ingredients, like imported burrata, prosciutto and olive oils (the latter available in sampler tastings). While choosing from more than 100 bottles of (mostly) Italian wines, dine on handmade pasta, hand-pulled braised wild boar, octopus carpaccio, or spicy sausage/broccoli rabe pizza from the wood-burning oven. The place soothes in white and brown tones, with wine cellar, and a wrap-around patio replete with couches and chairs – an ideal Summer evening setting from which to sip an apertif.
1041 Middlefield Road, Redwood City
(650) 701-1000
www.donatoenoteca.com
By Susan White
Bliss by way of chocolate walnut cookies.
Not many are aware of the existence of Blissful Bites, a quaint bakery café tucked away in the Inner Richmond. I have to admit, I’m almost reluctant to divulge its whereabouts – the last thing I want is competition for what I’ve come to regard as MY tasty treats.
But I know it’s wrong to keep such delightful confections to myself. Blissful Bites is located near Clement and Arguello, right next door to the corner minimarket. Owned by chef Seungho Yoo, the establishment is known for its wide array of freshly made pastries, ranging from succulent croissants to mouthwatering cheesecakes. Yoo himself can often be seen in the back of the shop, designing new recipes that he occasionally tests on his customers. I once had the privilege of trying a caramel cupcake, which nearly paralyzed me with its earth-shattering sweetness. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to Yoo’s standards, and I have yet to see it on the menu.
By Mayka Mei
It couldn’t have been easy for artist and animator Michael Daley to choose a ring when he proposed to jewelry artist Meghan Patrice Riley. The woman is remarkably learned about the history of her craft. She talks vintage eras the way Guy Fieri talks grease.
Meghan Patrice Riley working under quite the curly inspiration board.
We chatted in her corner of a shared studio space on Wednesday morning. The visit flowed into over an hour and a half of conversation and dress-up, the space between us filled with household names like W and Women’s Wear Daily, industry leaders like Lynne Christiansen, and respected resources like Dianne’s Estate Jewelry.
By Juliette Tang
Just in time for your big gay Pride weekend, the talented artists at the HomoChic collective have launched their and improved site, now complete with an online store where you can get your very own designer poppers top. Created by SF’s Leo Herrera and NYC artisan Blue Bayer, these simultaneously classy and slutty swine-themed poppers tops are available in 14K gold plate or sterling silver, and come with a little chain so that you can conveniently wear your poppers around your neck (the coke necklace from Cruel Intentions is so ten years ago). Says Leo Herrera, co-founder of HomoChic, “”This piece of gay history is the best thing to happen to messy sex and sweaty dance floors since the pump lube bottle & the hanky code.” Herrera sat down with the SFBG to talk about the history of HomoChic, the innocent fun of poppers, and what it’s like to be a “chubby chasing feeder twink”.
SFBG: Can you describe, in your words, what HomoChic is? (And it’s absolutely gorgeous gorgeous, by the way). From my perspective, HomoChic is a little bit of everything, from photography to video to design to music to writing to fashion. From a creator’s viewpoint, what are you going for with the site?
LH: HomoChic.com is an artist collective, production house, and as of June 09, an online store for prints and gay artifacts. We produce events, films, costumes and images with a focus on gay anthropology and history. We are also planning on representing artists and performers through online promotion and commerce.
SFBG: How did HomoChic take off?
LH: HomoChic has taken off because of our focus on gay history and repackaging it in a way that isn’t too focused on looking toward the past (i.e. AIDS activism, “traditional” Pride) to shape ways of taking the Gay Movement to the future. At the same time, we are finding the resources and opportunities to create more of our own projects, so it’s something gay men of all ages can identify with. HomoChic started with myself, Jacob Sperber (co-founder of HoneySoundSystem) and my gay brother Allan producing art pieces that revolved around events and vice versa. Whether it is an after-party for an art show, or a film piece produced specifically to be a trailer for a nightlife event. The notion of Chic has always been associated with being a homo. As a lot of us, especially the younger generation, assimilate, we become too focused on being part of mainstream culture and forget that for a long time, the industries have looked to us to show them what’s cool and sellable, not the other way around. Think Madonna’s Vogue, or disco for example.
SFBG: How were you inspired to make your lovely pig-topped poppers bottles?
By Michael Krimper
If you’re having trouble getting through the day after yesterday’s great loss, then I got some medicine for you. Listening to Michael Jackson’s amazing catalog might just be the most therapeutic way to lift yourself out of your sorrows. I’m currently rocking J Period’s excellent mix-tape aptly titled, “The Man Or The Music”, blending seamlessly MJ’s hits, classics, and demos. Behind the fragmented mirror of his music and troubled life, you can hear a man unsure of himself. MJ’s songs are at the heart powerfully uplifting and incandescent in spirit, but they evoke a darker side as well, a deep yearning for love, friendship and a lost innocence stolen away by America’s celebrity-making machinery.
Listen to J Period’s “Man Or The Music” A Tribute To Michael Jackson. (ZIP file)
Tracklisting:
Workin Day & Night (Demo Version)
Workin Day & Night
P.Y.T. (Re-Edit)
Wanna be Startin Somethin
Mama Say/Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough (Interlude)
Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough (Demo Version)
Let’s Dance (Shake Your Body Down to the Ground)
Dancing Machine
Billy Jean (Demo Version)
Can You Feel It?
Off the Wall
Rock With You
Say Say Say
Smooth Criminal
In the Closet
Remember the Time
I Wanna Be Where You Are
It’s Great to be Here (Remix)
Can’t Help It
Ah One Two
Heartbreak Hotel
I’ll Be There
Right Here Interlude
Human Nature
Don Ray, an independent investigative reporter in Los Angeles, broke the story in l993 that the Los Angeles Police Department was investigating Michael Jackson as a possible child molester. He discloses the story for the first time on his blog and discusses the impact of Jackson’s death. View the original here. B3
Thoughts on the death of Michael Jackson
Let there be no doubt about it, I’m saddened to learn that singer Michael Jackson has died.
My sadness isn’t, however, because I will miss his music. Truth be told, I don’t believe I could name any song he recorded since he sang “Never Can Say Goodbye” or “Ben” — whichever one came first. I probably heard him sing, however, before most anyone I know. I was stationed outside of Detroit in 1969 and 1970 and I remember watching him and his brothers on local television there.
He was cute and amusing. And it was clear he had a lot of talent.
It was 1993, however, when he sort of stepped into my life and changed things forever. It was when a Los Angeles Police detective blessed me by tipping me to what was, up until today, the biggest single entertainment story in history. I was able to break the story that the police were investigating the famous singer as a possible child molester.
