• How to carry your feline while riding BART. [SFBART's Blog]
• Pro-life censorship advocate pies food critic in face at Anarchist Book Festival in Golden Gate Park. [Eye On Blogs]
• SF's recycling centers hurting recycling, says Nevius. [SF Chronicle]
• Steve Poizner, scary? [SFBG]
• Talk of bike tax riles easy, breezy Sausalito cyclist lifestyle. [Streetsblog]
• Tougher smoking rules officially approved. [BCN, via Appeal]
• More cranes-under-Bay-Bridge photos [SF Weekly]

Mommy and daddy, we wish you'd stop fighting. Is it because we're bad? Do you hate us? We promise to be good if you stop hating each other. Because when we read this:

The Bay Guardian's total disregard of SF Weekly's lenders' senior lien rights have led those banks to ask a Delaware court to issue a temporary restraining order and injunction that would end Bruce Brugmann's increasingly frantic efforts to bleed money from the Weekly.

The Bay Guardian's total disregard of SF Weekly's lenders' senior lien rights have led those banks to ask a Delaware court to issue a temporary restraining order and injunction that would end Bruce Brugmann's increasingly frantic efforts to bleed money from the Weekly.

...it makes us want to hit the pole to seek attention when we get older. And to pay for our impending heroin habit. Can't you see that you two are tearing us apart? Sob.

Previously: SF Weekly to Turn Over Half of Revenue to SF Bay Guardian
SFBG To Seize SF Weekly's Rent Check?
SF Bay Guardian Wins Case Against SF Weekly

In honor of St. Patrick's Day (remember, fellow redheads, tomorrow we drink for free!), aptly-named Allison McCarthy at 7x7 Magazine came up with a handy list ranking the top ten San Francisco Irish pubs in which to blackout. And we'll spill a few -- just a few -- of them for you. Ahem: 10. The Liberties ("warm wood accents," BLT with Irish bacon); 9. The Chieftain (drunk SF Chronicle ilk); 8., Kennedy's (curry and air hockey); 7. Durty Nelly's ("where the real Irish men hang out"); 6. The Phoenix ("rub elbows with hipsters"); 5. Little Shamrock (second oldest bar in the city); 4. Buena Vista Café (birthplace of the Irish coffee). For the top three spots, head over to 7x7.

Photo swiped from the greatest nascent site you aren't reading but should, Go Back To Berkeley. Be sure to check it out.

While we wait to hear back from the fuzz on this violent mugging, here is a recent alert sent out from the South Beach/Rincon Hill/Mission Bay Neighbor's Association:

Sent: Mon, March 15, 2010 12:35:37 PM
Subject: [SouthBeachRinconMissionBayNeighAssn] Mugging at 4th/Brannan last night

Dear neighbors,

I wanted to make you aware of a mugging that took place last night at the corner of 4th/Brannan Streets at 7:30pm. Many of you know that this is a busy intersection with cars (heading towards Mission Bay or Hwy 280) and pedestrians (many of which are walking to the Caltrain Station). But this didn't deter 5 people from attacking, beating, and mugging one person. Luckily the victim did not sustain major injuries. Personal items such as wallet, id, cell phone, etc were taken. Nearby witnesses came to the aide of the victim, the police were called, and a report was filed.

Sadly, we're hearing more and more about these types of incidents in our part of town. They don't all occur late at night on a dimly lit street. Please be aware of your surroundings.

Anyone else have more details? We'll update as soon as we know more.

Also, District 6 Supe candidates, we'd love to hear your thoughts about crime in the area, too.

Meatpaper and Blue Bottle Coffee are joining forces to open SFMOMA’s third Thursday springtime event series, SFMOMA: Now Playing.

What is "Now Playing," you ask? Well, it's when SFMOMA "invites artists to animate the museum in unexpected ways—and audiences to come play and see the museum in a new light." It's a time when the patients take control of the sanatorium, if you will, while "guests can roam the galleries, take in live performances and talks, and unwind with cocktails and food while experiencing the atrium as a projection chamber, a hidden annex as a lounge, and artists playing the architecture."

So, before Thursday's screening of films from Long Play: Bruce Conner and the Singles Collection (7pm) and a performance by LA-based My Barbarian (9pm), Meatpaper and Blue Bottle Coffee, two local gastronomic ingenues plucked from obscurity and made famous over the last year, will put together "an evening of coffee-inspired charcuterie, meat-inspired desserts, and Blue Bottle coffee," featuring meat by Morgan Maki of Bi-Rite, Chris Kronner of Bar Tartine, and Staffan Terje of Perbacco and Barbacco. (Meat and coffee = dieting secret of the stars!) Complimentary wine will also be served. (Food will be served at 6pm sharp.)

What: SFMOMA: Now Playing
Where: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (151 3rd Street at Howard)
When: Thursday, March 18
Cost: Rooftop event is free with half-price museum entry. (Free for SFMOMA members.) Tasting plates $5. Visit SFMOMA for more details.

Say what? Yes, you heard right. Rich Lieberman reports that KPIX political editor Hank Plante will retire at the end of March. Alas.

One of the first openly gay TV reporters in the country, Plante's work on the early stages of the AIDS epidemic, as well as numerous interviews with political types, made him a local talent with which to be reckoned -- and, let's face it, a star in his own right. (He earned several local and national Emmys, as well as the Peabody Award.)

What we will miss most, however, are Plante's phenomenal interviews. Take, for example, the one he conducted with Mayor Newsom in November. Fresh off his failed gubernatorial campaign, Newsom was livid at Plante for, you know, asking questions about the city's budget crisis while the mayor tanned golden brown in Hawaii. If you recall, after storming out of the chatfest, a dejected Newsom spit back, "Off the record, I'm amazingly disappointed. Amazingly. I just am, personally, you know."

Watch it again for the very first time.

Anyway, Lieberman goes on to mention that Plante and his partner plan to retire in Palm Springs.

We'll miss you, Hank. Seriously.

7 p.m. // SF Playhouse (533 Sutter) // $40

FILM: Inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, DIRT! The Movie focuses on how dirt, which is part of everything we eat, drink, and breathe, is mistreated by industrial farming, mining, and urban development.

5:45 to 7 p.m. // San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium (100 Larkin) // free

LITERARY: Writers Nona Caspers (SF), Lonely Christopher (Brooklyn), and Richard Loranger (Oakland) celebrate the release of Correspondence #3, a new Brooklyn-based journal of poetry, prose, and critique, with "an evening of ecstatic riddles, laughter, and just plain kickass work."

8 p.m. // Adobe Bookshop (3166 16th Street) // free

On this seemingly sluggish news day, local MSM outlets are all aflutter over cranes under a bridge.

While it will star neither Mary Martin nor Cathy Rigby, J M Barrie’s Peter Pan, which will be performed at "the world’s first 360-degree CGI theatre," will make its U.S. premiere on April 27 at the Ferry Plaza. SF Citizen describes it as "something like Cirque du Soleil, except it’ll be cheaper and aimed more at kids."

Show performances will be on Wednesdays - Sunday. All the details you'll ever need are at Facebook, Twitter, or here.

Tickets, which are now on sale, range from $15 - $125.

In the meantime, let's hope this Peter Pan production doesn't end up like this one. Egads.

Over in Oakland yesterday, two men are wanted in connection with an alleged kidnapping and robbery. According to reports: "Two men, one who had a handgun, approached another man in the 4200 block of Foothill Boulevard in Oakland at about 11:40 a.m." The suspects then "forced the victim into his vehicle and made him drive them to a bank" where they had him withdraw some cash, then let him go unscathed with his car. The victim wasn't injured, no arrests have been made, no description of said suspects is available, and there you have it.

Shortly before 6:30 am this morning, a nine-car BART train headed from San Francisco to the East Bay through the tube "separated into two pieces." BCN (via CBS 5) reports: "A five-car section of the train was removed first with the operator on board ... Another operator then boarded the second, four-car portion, and moved it out of the way as well." Although service has since resumed,SFGate says you should "expect some residual delays ranging from 15 to 40 minutes" throughout the morning.

• Nearly 22K California teachers pink slipped. [CBS 5, Calitics]
• San Francisco State University is 21st in Peace Corps volunteers. [Examiner]
• Twitter still doesn't know how it will make money. [Valleywag]
• San Franciscans not sure if they like sit/lie law. [SF Appeal]
• Weigh in: Chez Panisse cafe vs. downstairs. [Chowhound]
• SXSW looks fun, insufferable. [Eater]
• A call to outlaw fur in California? (Noooooooooo!) [Vegansaurus]

Muni bus stop on mid-Market this afternoon. Photo by Gregory Gaston.

Number of people pictured in Saturday's "Miss Bigelow's Social City": 72

Minority count: 6

The help: 1

Who was celebrating what and where: At the Legion of Honor where a dubiously-named committee crawled out from under the gold bricks in which they live to attend the Fine Arts Museum's "7th Mid-Winter Gala," honoring an exhibit dedicated to gorgeous, albeit blood diamond-encrusted, jewels.

Getty vs Traina: 2 / 5

Number of people whom we recognize: 8 (Billy Getty and VANESSA GETTY, cruel PR dowager that refuses to invite SFist to her fancy events, Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Mayor Gavin Newsom, Maxx Traina, Stanlee Gatti, Le Club's Gina Milano)

Images of Her: 2

Images in need of Her: 28

Visibly homosexual: ∞

The scene: long gowns, solid colors, Vanessa Getty's luminous and pervasive aura, free alcohol, more money than you could possibly imagine

Matching color of choice for Jennifer and Gavin: purple

Ties, bowties, furs: 5, 24, 1

Man who we'd most like to have slip us a roofie...and more: Maxx Traina

Persons saddled with the grave misfortune of being photographed with scene-stealing Vanessa Getty: Leslie Thieriot and event designer Stephen Brady

Uncomfortably clutching her (empty!) wine glass, thus revealing a multitude of conflicting emotions and reservations: Suzanne Levit

Oh, really now: Amber Marie Bently (in a dress of her own design, as executed by Dark Garden)

Our kinda woman: Le Club owner Gina Milano, who looks like a sparkly fairy princess(while pulling off a phenomenal hairdo without the aid of a Bumpit.

"We're not in foreclosure, we're not seeking a bailout, we're not a million dollars in the hole," says center Director of Community Development Roberto Ordeñana. Like many non-profits in this economy, Ordeñana says, the Center has been looking for ways to cut expenses to balance their budget. One of the ways they've done that has been to renegotiate the terms of their $3 million dollar construction loan.

Last year, with operating revenue of $2.1 million — of which 70% comes from donations and government contracts for multiple programs — they ran a relatively tiny overall loss of $6,000. "As part of the loan modifications," Ordeñana clarifies, "the bank is requiring us to have a reserve fund of $157,500 in cash, and that's what we're asking the City to help us with. We're not asking for a million dollars, and we're not asking for a grant. This is just a low-interest loan from the City to satisfy the bank's terms. We have every confidence we're not even going to have to dip into that fund, and that we'll be able to pay the City back within a reasonable amount of time."

As for the vibrancy of the Center, Ordeñana concedes that many community members have suggested food, drink, and retail uses be added to the complex (the Center's Three-Dollar Bill Café closed a couple of years back). The fourth floor, which includes an outdoor patio, is being considered for a large food-and-drink use, the details of which can not be made public yet. But nevertheless, he wants people to know that there is still plenty of foot traffic through the building as it stands. "Last year we served over 930 meals to homeless queer youth, and we have about 9,000 visitors to the Center per month. In a year we host over 3,000 different programs serving the LGBTQ community, and recently we had our 100th job placement through our Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative, which is doing pioneering work in helping transgendered individuals facing employment discrimination."

And there you have it. The Chron got something kind of wrong and we ran with it. What do you know?

PREVIOUSLY: The LGBT Center is Bleeding Cash, Needs a Mortgage Bailout

In a snafu that has resulted in the dismissal of at least 90 criminal cases so far, new reports reveal that the San Francisco Police department waited two months to launch their investigation into into a drug lab technician, Deborah Madden, "suspected of stealing cocaine evidence, even though her sister had told the lab she feared the woman had taken home a vial full of the drug" back in December, the Chronicle uncovered. (Speaking of drug abuse and reckless behavior, have you seen the curious promotions for The Learning Channel's new shows Addicted and -- and! -- Hoarding: Buried Alive? Which are, of course, unabashed ripoffs of A&E's Intervention and Hoarders? At first viewing, we thought, how rude, TLC; you totally stole these ideas from your cable neighbor. Then, after stewing about it for a few minutes, we realized that Intervention has been woefully under-produced this season. [For example, what's with all the functioning alcoholics? What happened to strippers nakedly proclaiming themselves Jesus reincarnated while naked and high on meth? Or, better yet, her?] And Horders, while interesting for the first 15 minutes, devolves into 45 minutes of watching a greedy basket-case have a meltdown over whether or not to throw away a broken Ziploc bag. Point being: both shows have ample room for improvement. We're thrilled to see TLC, if we may use a bit of reality-speak, step up to the plate.)

While Madden was receiving treatment at an alcohol rehabilitation program last year, her sister came across a bullet of cocaine in her bedroom. The sister informed the police lab on Dec. 16 about her coke findings, but, according to officials, "before police could examine the vial, the sister turned it over to Madden's rehabilitation counselor, who destroyed it."

Madden's boss, Lois Woodworth, then reported to her seniors what the sister told her in late December or early January, but the Police Department's special investigations division only started to conduct a criminal probe into Madden in late February. Which: odd.

Anyway, the delay may have botched loads of San Francisco narcotics prosecutions, the Chronicle goes on to say, "because drugs were tested at the lab after suspicions arose about the technician and the Police Department's ability to ensure the integrity of seized evidence." Madden has not (and most likely, will not) face criminal prosecution. Attorney General Jerry Brown has also joined SFPD into the department investigation.

The next Sunday Streets will be on April 11 in conjunction with 1000 Cities, 1000 Lives. The route will be through Golden Gate Park and along Great Highway. Check out the whole line-up of Sunday Streets this spring, summer, and fall!

While Saigon Sandwich has the unmitigated gall to increase the price of its Banh mi a whole quarter -- the nerve! -- some places keep the prices real. Very real. Take for example, Traci Des Jardin's accurately-lauded Hayes Valley joint, Jardinière. Which is a multi-layered mecca of calming and inspiring delights.

For those of you who have yet to check out the place -- and, mind you, between sips of PBR and pretending like you don't have a trustfund, you really should at some point during your time in San Francisco -- the restaurant offers reasonably priced prix fixe dinners on Mondays for a subjectively scant $45.

"For $45!," you feign disgust. "I can get two Coronas and a veggie Cheguevaraquixote burrito at La Canunistadorasalmahayek for two bucks!" Yeah, well, you can squelch your steamed, gloppy San Francisco burritos and pretentious attitude for one night. Because tonight (3/15) at Jardinière (whose tag line is "French fine-dining restaurant with Californian accents") you'll get:

"A Tasting of Riesling" -- Tonight's dinner will feature a selection of sparkling, off-dry and sweet Rieslings all selected by Dade Theriot of DeeVine Wines, San Francisco. Also: Chilled shellfish boudin, salad of Chantenay carrots and pea greens; Riesling gelée; loin of Berskhire pork, ragout of fennel and spring onions, and Tellicherry pepper jus Grans-Fassian; followed by an almond tart, (with elderflower honey ice cream and Riesling Gastrique Von Hövel, Riesling Auslese "Saar Scharzhofberg" Mosel, Germany 2006)

And, yes, to answer your question, that's a steal for a mere $45.

Next week's dinner, "Dinner Down Under - A Taste of Australian Wines," sounds just as impressive. Check out the menu here, or call 415-861-5555 to make a reservation.

9:30 p.m. // Bottom of the Hill (1233 17th St) // $12

FOOD: It's another week of 111 Minna's Eat on Monday's, featuring tasty appetizers, entrees, and desserts by Executive Chef Tommy Halvorson. Enjoy 2 sliders for $10 from 5 to 6 p.m. and happy hour drink specials from 5 to 7 p.m.

5 to 10 p.m. // 111 Minna Gallery (111 Minna) // no cover

LITERARY: The International Poetry Library of San Francisco presents A Benefit Poetry Reading, featuring Marc Pinate, Matthew Zapruder, and Camille Dungy. Forty percent of all wine and beer sales will go to the library.

7 p.m. // Bin 38 (3232 Scott St) // $10 ($5 w/ a book of poetry)

After two car had gotten into an accident on Sunday night in Oakland, "a passenger in one car stabbed an individual in the other car." Occurring a little before 9 p.m. last night at the intersection of Scotia Avenue and Golf Links Road, the victim was whisked to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. The suspect was arrested. [BCN, via SFGate]

A bus hit a pedestrian in the city's South of Market neighborhood this morning. Happening at around 8 a.m., BCN (via SF Appeal) reports that the bus was turning left onto Eighth Street from Howard Street when it struck a female pedestrian. "The pedestrian was alert and speaking when she was transported by ambulance to a hospital, but the extent of her injuries was not immediately clear." The driver will undergo routine booze and drug testing. Oh, and the bus was a Golden Gate Transit vehicle, not a MUNI clunker. Shocking, we know.

"Prove It" by Mike Thorn.

by Amy Crocker

According to the Wall Street Journal, it's increasingly likely that Mountain View-based Google will cancel operations in China as negotiations with the government over censorship stall. There's a lot of legal drama in a story like this and we think it is much more fun when imagined as a Western showdown.

Taking ten paces to the left is Google, the American outlaw who wants to play by his own rules. And on the other side is China, who has been the lone sheriff of these parts for a long time now. The sheriff's cronies have warned Google that if he don't toe the line and quit blabbering on about unapproved nonsense, he'd "have to bear the consequences." And though 36% of the townsfolk have already clamored to Google's side, the young gunslinger's rakish grin won't give him an extra bullet.

Their hands are hovering at the holster. Women are weeping into white handkerchiefs as tumbleweeds blow by. This score will be settled within weeks.

Past Lives, Photo by Robin Stein

A bit of a slow week in live music, with a significant chunk of local bands and would-be touring acts making the annual trek down to Austin for SXSW. There are still a handful of great show options, however, with politically charged poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron at Yoshi's Tuesday and Wednesday, droney locals Common Eider King Eider at Amnesia Thursday and experimental act Xiu Xiu at Bottom of the Hill Saturday.

Our featured band this week is Seattle's Past Lives, who play a pre-SXSW show at the Elbo Room tonight. While prominently featuring four members of the sadly defunct spastic hardcore-leaning outfit The Blood Brothers, Past Lives take on post-punk has more in common with Gang of Four and Fugazi than it does with the admittedly noisy band from which the project first spawned. Yet while the sound here is a bit tamed, the raw power and abundant talent that made The Blood Brothers so memorable has hardly disappeared -- the quartet absolutely blew us away with their high energy Hemlock performance last March, and their debut LP Tapestry of Webs is one of our favorite albums to come out this year. It is an absolutely stacked bill with previously profiled Clipd Beaks, local krautrock revivalist Bronze and Portland's Get Hustle rounding out the night -- this one is not to be missed.

Monday, March 15th
Get Hustle, Past Lives, Clipd Beaks, Bronze @ Elbo Room $10
Efterklang, Tartufi, Vir @ Bottom of the Hill $12
Balkan Beat Box, Kid

Beyond @ Fillmore $22.50

Tuesday, March 16th
VNV Nation @ DNA Lounge $25
Mujahedin Bernstein Affair, Diminished Men, DMPH @ Hemlock $6
Gil Scott Heron and Friends @ Yoshi's (SF) $26

Wednesday, March 17th
Gomez, Buddy @ Great American Music Hall $28
Razorhoof, Iron Witch, Hazzard's Cure @ Hemlock $6
Gil Scott Heron and Friends @ Yoshi's (SF) $26

Thursday, March 18th
Gomez, One Eskimo @ Great American Music Hall $28
Grayceon, Jucifer, Serpent Crown @ Thee Parkside $8
Common Eider King Eider, Raccoons, Das Blut, Hiss and Hum, Marigold Crowns @ Amnesia $7
HIJK, Love is Chemicals, Rademacher @ Cafe Du Nord $10
Groove Armada, Lilofee @ Fillmore $30

Friday, March 19th
Gomez, The Little Ones @ Great American Music Hall (Sold Out)
epicsauce.com/Neon Reverb presents: Rainbow Arabia, Wallpaper, Afghan Raiders, Little Girls, VOICEsVOICEs, Turbo Fruits, Man/Miracle and Birds & Batteries @ Music Gym (Austin TX)
Jucifer, Disastroid @ Uptown $10
Deceptikon, Captain Ahab, Twin Crystals, Tik//Tik @ Hemlock $7
Groove Armada @ Fillmore $30
Jesus Fucking Christ, CCR Headcleaner, Drugs @ Sub Mission
Voodoo Glow Skulls, Compton SF, Hub City Stompers @ Bottom of the Hill

Saturday, March 20th
Xiu Xiu, tUnE-YaRdS, Noveller @ Bottom of the Hill $12
Casey Chisholm, Laughters, Totally @ Mama Buzz Cafe
Jizz Wisard, Summer Blondes, Boyz IV Men @ Apgar House
Gosub, Eats Tapes, Body Body @ Amnesia $5
Airfix Kits, Housecoat Project, The Teutonics @ the Knockout (Free)
Dadfag, The Impediments, Hooray For Everything @ Victory Warehouse (Oakland) $5

Sunday, March 21st
Pearls, Shakes, Same-Sex Dictator @ Flux53 $10
Ash Reiter @ Rasputin Records Berkeley (Free)
Rubies, General Elektriks, Jel @ Bottom of the Hill $8
Massive Moth, Your Cannons, Here Come the Saviours @ Hemlock $6

Census forms go out in the mail today, and if you don't mail yours back by April 1, a census taker will come knocking to count you. This process is, of course, terrifying for illegal immigrants, so it's also the delicate jobs of these census takers to somehow explain that they come in peace, they will not report them to immigration, but they still need to know how many children they have and how much money they make. [Examiner]

6 to 9 p.m. // Sera Phi Healing Center (1117 Howard St) // $11.11

COMEDY: Dave Attell, of "Insomniac" and "The Gong Show" fame, is known for being a comic's comic due to his caustic wit, rapid-fire delivery, and "adult" material.

8 p.m. // Cobb’s Comedy Club (915 Columbus Ave) // $35.50

ART: Seven eclectic Bay Area artists and photographers will exhibit their "stunning portraits, dramatic photography, exquisite landscapes, emotive abstracts, intricate prints, and more" at this special Art Soiree at a private residence.

4 to 8 p.m. // 1080 Eddy St, Apt. 501 (dial 51 to buzz up to Apt. 501) // free

• Torontoist investigated some onomatopoeias ("OUCH!" "THUNK!" "OOF!" "YIPE!") painted along a road, pointing to potential hazards for cyclists.
• Gothamist had its fill of salt-related news: There was "salty" Eric Massa's resignation and "snorkeling" allegations and then a NY lawmaker's proposal to ban salt.
• Bostonist spent the week pondering local challenges to Obama's health care reform from both the right and the left.
• Seattlest went behind the scenes of much-lauded local pizza place Delancey.
• Chicagoist began a new series in their ongoing look at the battle to bring another Wal-Mart to the city, this time exploring what it's like to work at the store.
• Shanghaiist found a cafe advertisement for Starf*cks.
• LAist couldn't apply the brakes to the comments section on this post about a San Diego man's runaway Prius.
• Phillyist co-editor Jenn DiSanto and staff writer Leigh Simpson represented Philly at the Disney Princess Half Marathon ... and made it to the finish line.
• SFist waited in line to visit the SF Underground Market.
• Houstonist pondered the addition of two minor league baseball teams within its metroplex.

Like any geographical location though, there are downsides, such as the grittiness of certain neighborhoods. A post on Buboblog the other day made that aspect all too clear. This particular SoMa toddler loves to pick up rocks on the sidewalk that are often littered with dog (or human?) urine and other substances, such as bottle caps and prophylactics. But as tempting as they are, he's not allowed to pick up cigarette butts or the random raver glow sticks.

This reminds us of an anecdote involving a year-and-a-half-old we babysat in the Outer Richmond several years ago. We were walking back from the playground when all of a sudden she was holding a cigarette butt between her lips (but not actually touching her lips, luckily) and was furiously and hilariously puffing her cheeks in and out. Her parents were not smokers and had no idea where she had picked up such a nasty pretend habit.

All in all though, the grittiness of the city is undoubtedly canceled out by its amenities, not to mention the year-long mild weather.

Speaking of mild weather and parks, Happy Spring Forward on Sunday!

It's made with two kinds of bitters and two kinds of vermouth, and something that's kind of making a comeback: sloe gin. (We will avoid mentioning here a certain other cocktail that bears our city's name that is made with crème de banana. So gross.) Perhaps a bartender out there would like to take a stab at reinventing this little recipe so that it's a little more befitting our farmer-market-driven / house-made-bitters cocktail culture? Do let us know.

The San Francisco Cocktail

3/4 oz sweet vermouth
3/4 oz dry vermouth
3/4 oz sloe gin
1 dash orange bitters
1 dash bitters

Shake all ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

PREVIOUSLY: The Fleur de Pepin at Era
The Spencer Manhattan from Trademark Grill
La Lambretta from Quince
The Recoil at Bloodhound
The B Line at Range
La Perla at Fifth Floor
The DiVine Cocktail at The Parlor
A New School Cocktail Glossary
The Piccadilly at Absinthe
The Ginger Ante from DOSA Fillmore
The Fogcutter from Smuggler's Cove
A Sour Mezcal Cocktail from Camino
The Spruce Goose from Spruce
Seven Decades of Cocktails from Gourmet
The Pisco Sol from Pisco Lounge
The Five-Spice Margarita and Laughing Buddha
from Cantina
The Improved Sunrise from Rickhouse
The Grape Drink from Blackbird
Smokin' Stoned Fruit from Conduit
The Promissory Note from The Alembic
Blackberry Shrub
Strawberry Gin Shrub from NOPA
The Naughty Sun Dress from Bourbon & Branch
Gitane's Castillan Cup
Tales of the Cocktail
The Sexy Saint at The Four Seasons
A Roundup of Cocktail Blogs
The Rio Grande Cocktail at 15 Romolo
Old Sydney Town Punch at Elixir
The Vicious Circle from Range
Thirsty Bear's Strawberry Rhubarb Manhazarac
Rock & Rye from Rye
The Black Lavender from Alicia Walton at Elixir
Boulevard's Biscaccianti
DOSA's Batsman

We had a second row seat for a performance of Duo Revirado, a violin-guitar team of alumni of the SF Conservatory. And indeed, we could hear the breathing of the performers, read the handwritten scribbles to add intonations and fingerings on the scores, and had to squeeze by them during the intermission as the backstage area doubles as the hallway to the restroom (singular).

They were Thomas Yee on the fiddle and Jose Rodriguez on the guitar, performing a studious Paganini sonata concertata, an inspired Spanish Dance by De Falla, lively Bartók Romanian Folk Dances, or a sultry encore of Piazzola's Libertango. The program also included two pieces by living composers: Terry Riley's Cantos Desiertos, followed by the word premiere of Beeri Moalem's Kinneret. Beeri is another SFCM grad, a violist himself, and neither he nor the performers is much older than twenty-five.

Kinneret, as Moalem explained, means both the only fresh water lake in Israel (and thus a source of conflict in this otherwise dry place) and a stringed instruments in Hebrew. The piece did combine water motifs with more conflicting textures, all tinged with middle-Eastern harmonics, emphasized by the lines the guitar borrowed from the oud, a non-fretted lute from over there. While we wish Moalem to reach Riley's notoriety, his piece did not pale in the immediate comparison.

There was a refreshing vitality to the concert; the audience clapped between movements. At Davies it would be rank somewhere between a breach of protocol and a crime of lèse majesté, but here it came naturally. You could sip your beer during performance. A cook behind the bar added a sizzling quesadilla orchestration to the first piece after intermission; nobody coming up late was turned away. And yet, there was no denying the commitment to the music from the performers, and their ability to draw the audience in. It was a challenging program of modern music, yet it was really fun.

The San Francisco Appeals court has ruled that "Under God" is not a prayer when used in the Pledge of Allegiance. In 2002, the court declared that the phrase was unconstitutional. The new 2-1 ruling from the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals states it is a "recognition of our founders' political philosophy that a power greater than the government gives the people their inalienable rights [...] Thus, the pledge is an endorsement of our form of government, not of religion or any particular sect."

In a separate 3-0 ruling, the "In God We Trust" was also found to be non-religious; the motto is patriotic and ceremonial.

Michael Newdow, the Sacramento atheist who first filed the lawsuit in 2000 will likely appeal according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Local band Or, the Whale, who take their name from the sub-/alternate title of Moby Dick, perform at The Independent tonight. Their sound is sort of pop-folky, with an injection of classic rock. Above, a shaky video (sorry) of them performing in Seattle in '08. You may have also seen them on the small stage at Treasure Island that year. Anyway, enjoy.

The ABC7 story ends with, " Muni says the doors are not supposed to open while the bus is moving." So, apparently there was a malfunction with the doors, which serves as a warning not to stand on the steps between stops. SF Appeal is checking with SFPD, so check back over there for more details. Did anyone out there see it happen?

We know this isn't reflective of the weather today, but nevertheless...

From Justin: "Took this in the defunct Cityscape restaurant at the top of the Hilton on O'Farrell. Been there twice; just walked right in both times. Take the elevator in Tower One as high as it'll let you go (44th floor, I think), then take the stairs up to the restaurant."

8 p.m. // Artists' Television Access (992 Valencia St) // $8

ART: Lower Haters Gallery presents New works by Jimmy DiMarcellis & Jerry Ilkenhons. Jimmy DiMarcellis aka Porous Walker, who's been described as always having something up his sleeve, has been featured in galleries and countries all over the world, and Jerry Ilkenhons "likes pizza, star wars, comic books, N Judah, tattoos, flirting, birds, hugs and kisses, etc." Not much has been divulged about the show, but we hear there will be some quirky drawings.

7 to 11p.m. // Lower Haters Gallery (597 Haight St) // free

PARTY: The creators of "Yipe! 5: Attack of Idle Hands," a new retro role playing iPhone game featuring a pack of zombie rabbits, are having a Launch Party tonight at Modern Relics. The event will feature an art installation by Dylan Sisson (who created the art for the game), and all three colorways of the vinyl collectible zombie rabbit toy, Idle Hands, will be available for collectors, along with a special t-shirt designed by the artist.

6 to 10:30 p.m. // Modern Relics (771 Cabrillo Ave) // free

Last year--and in each of the 16 years before that--San Francisco was the best city in the U.S. to visit, according to readers of Conde Nast Traveler. We get thumbs-up for our restaurants, atmosphere/ambiance, culture and sights, friendliness, accommodations and shopping. (Hey, we're nice to visitors, as long as they don't move here).

SFO, however, is just middling among the nation's big airports, according to a recent report.

The 2010 North America Airport Satisfaction Study by J.D. Power and Associates is based on surveying more than 12,000 passengers who did round-trip flights last year. They rated various elements in six categories, namely, the airport's accessibility, baggage claim, check-in/baggage check, terminal facilities, security check, and food and retail services.

Big airports that ranked at the top in overall satisfaction were those in Detroit, Denver, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Orlando and Phoenix, scoring the maximum of 5. SFO was rated 3, or "about average" in overall satisfaction. (The lowest score is 2, aka "the rest.")

Across all six categories, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County came in first place. In security, terminal and baggage claim, the gritty auto city's airport scored 5; in the other three areas, it earned 4 ("better than most").

San Francisco International earned 3 in airport accessibility, baggage and check-in, and 2 in the terminal, security and eateries/shops categories. Our numbers were similar to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International's and Seattle-Tacoma's, and a tad better than JFK's, LAX's and Miami's.

SFO is just so-so originally appeared on About.com San Francisco on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 03:18:20.

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Under the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau's Neighborhood Membership Grants, free SFCVB membership for one year, mentoring and access to educational seminars and schmooze fests will be given to up to 10 under-the-radar local businesses.

Since the ultimate purpose is to expose out-of-towners to areas other than Union Square, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf and the usual tourist clichés, the grant winners should be "only in San Francisco" kinds of businesses, be able to potentially lure visitors to their non-name-brand neighborhoods and be involved in their communities.

Businesses in San Francisco that are not current members of SFCVB are eligible to apply for the Neighborhood Membership Grants. The application is available online and includes the question, "What makes your business 'only in San Francisco?'"

Applications must be received by the SFCVB by 5 p.m. on March 15. Finalists will be interviewed by representatives of the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the San Francisco Office of Small Business, the SFCVB Community Partnership Council and SFCVB staff.

Help for the Little Guy originally appeared on About.com San Francisco on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 07:00:17.

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But during last week's budget meeting and hearing, the SFMTA board also voted to cut services by 10 percent, lay off more than 200 employees (most of them drivers), and raise the prices of residential parking permits and parking and traffic tickets and in some city parking garages. An overflow crowd of hundreds of people turned up for the public hearing, which was mentioned in last week's newsletter.

Muni's operating budget is almost $769 million, but it has a $12 million deficit for this fiscal year ending June 30.

The service cuts start May 1. But Muni will no doubt stir up other controversies as the agency board continues its budget deliberations this week.

Muni drivers, who are guaranteed the second-highest salaries in the U.S. in their sector by San Francisco's city charter, are also under the gun. They recently refused contract concessions that would have saved $15 million over two years. Reformers are proposing a ballot initiative that would end the pay guarantee.

A San Francisco Chronicle story traces previous efforts (in vain) to overhaul the chronically problematic Muni.

Muni cuts with doubled-edged sword originally appeared on About.com San Francisco on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 10:30:05.

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But things could get still worse: to balance its budget, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is now proposing the most drastic service cutbacks ever in its history. That'll mean even fewer buses and streetcars packed with even more passengers.

Muni operators recently refused to accept contract concessions that would have saved the agency $15 million. On Friday starting at 9 am, the Muni board will hold a public hearing on other ways to balance its budget, including extending parking meter hours in certain commercial areas. Transit Not Traffic, an alliance of organizations that includes the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, is lobbying for extended parking meter times (e.g., on weekends and in the evening) to help avoid further transit fare hikes and service cuts; it's hoping for a turn-out of supporters at the hearing.

Want to voice your opinion about Muni and its finances? Head to City Hall on Friday morning.

What: Muni's public hearing on its budget

When: Friday, Feb. 26, at 9 am

Where: City Hall, Room 400

SF Muni: Worse Service, Higher Fares? originally appeared on About.com San Francisco on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 08:14:14.

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Tonight at the Museum of the African Diaspora, the celebration's kick-off is a taste-off of shrimp and grits made by Bay Area restaurants like Miss Pearl's Jam House, Gussie's Chicken & Waffles, 1300 on Fillmore and Vegan Soul Kitchen. Tickets are $30.

The food-themed fest is a tribute to "the region's best in Black Cuisine" and is part of the San Francisco Black History Month Celebration, according to sfnoir, an organization that promotes African-Americans in art and culture.

Local poetry-slam veterans (including a high school senior) wax poetic about food at Thursday's In Defense of Food: A Spoken Word Affair. The evening of wine and words is hosted by Poetri (pronounced just like the noun), a poet (naturally) who has a funny riff on his Achilles' heel, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, aka "glazed drugs" (originally they were "Krispy Kreme Kroissants, KKK, ...and were started to keep the black man down--and round. So when the revolution comes back around, all the black men will be too fat to fight").

The highlight is Saturday's Wine and Food Gala, which serves live jazz, Cajun, Caribbean, Creole, Southern, soul and African food and the products of 40 wineries in California and South Africa. If you stop drooling and buy a ticket by Thursday, it'll cost you $60; after that, the price is $75.

Food & Wine for the Soul originally appeared on About.com San Francisco on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 05:30:30.

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The monks are from Shaolin Temple USA in San Francisco, a branch of the Shaolin Temple and Monastery in the central-eastern part of China. The Buddhist center was founded in the 5th century and is considered the home of Shaolin kung fu, a style of Chinese martial arts that features acrobatics and lethal kicks. (Think Kung Fu, the 1970s TV series: David Carradine played a Shaolin monk).

The monks are slated to show their stuff at 6:30 and 7:30 pm. If quiet but powerful guys with shaved heads aren't your type, you can wander the newly opened Shanghai special exhibit and grill docents about it, make your own New Year good-luck poster or move to DJ music. Cash bars and the museum café will be open.

The Thursday night special is a MATCHA event, a mixer in which the Museum reveals its fun side.

MATCHA: Eye of the Tiger

Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St.

Thursday, Feb. 18, at 5-9 pm.

Cost: $10 (includes entry to Shanghai exhibit)

Monks in the Museum originally appeared on About.com San Francisco on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 06:26:36.

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Just five decades ago, though, Chinatown was a nightlife hub--as shown in the exhibit Swinging Chinatown: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs, at the Old Mint. The eye-opening display offers front- and back-stage looks at the crooners, chorines, cocktails and Americanized Chinese food served up at the clubs, whose heyday was from the late 1930s to the early 1960s.

Besides black and white photos, the exhibit includes costumes, shoes, advertisements and mementos from clubs like the Chinese Tea Garden, New Shangri-la, Kubla Khan and Chinese Skyroom. One of the largest establishments, the Forbidden City on Sutter Street, promised "exotic Oriental dancers" in three nightly floor shows.

The Chinatown nightclubs were the only places where Asian entertainers then could find work. Singers, dancers and musicians from Hawaii, Hong Kong and beyond made their careers at the clubs, and the most talented earned nicknames like "the Chinese Frank Sinatra" (Larry Ching) and "the Chinese Fred Astaire (Paul Wing).

Some of the Chinatown performers are still kicking--as the Grant Avenue Follies, which entertains at elderly homes and community centers. The Follies sashayed and strutted at the exhibit's gala opening last week, in little black sequined dresses, tap shoes, elbow-length fuchsia gloves and bobbed-hair wigs. Ivy Tam, 75, danced a solo, balancing her towering tiara of white feathers while twirling matching white-feather fans that were half as large as she is.

The exhibit ran last weekend and re-opens--and closes--this weekend. Catch it and you won't think of Chinatown in the same way as before.

Swinging Chinatown: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs

When: Friday, Feb. 19 through Sunday, Feb. 21, from noon to 5 pm.

Where: Old Mint Building, 88 Fifth St., San Francisco.

Tickets: $5 for members of the San Francisco Museum & Historical Society or Chinese Historical Society of America; $10 for non-members.

Details: Visit the SF Museum & Historical Society website.

SF Chinatown Nightlife originally appeared on About.com San Francisco on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 16:13:48.

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The Real Americans, Dan Hoyle's belly-achingly funny yet disquieting look at our fellow citizens living outside the San Francisco Bubble, has been selling out--so thankfully, it's now extended through April 18 at the Marsh theater.

Hoyle braved 100 days in Small Town, USA, outfitted with little more than a van, Stars & Stripes T-shirts, an open attitude and a keen ear. Like a chameleon, he re-creates on stage the Creationists, Christian fundamentalists in the closet, embittered blue-collar workers and old Southern Democrat segregationists he met on the road. (My full review of Hoyle's show has more details).

Liberal San Francisco tends to dismiss Sarah Palin and the New Tea Partiers. Hoyle doesn't, and his performance shows that we shouldn't, either.

The Real Americans

WHEN: Thursdays and Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 5 pm, and most Sundays at 3 pm, through April 18.

WHERE: The Marsh, 1062 Valencia (at 22nd Street), San Francisco

TICKETS: $15-50. Visit the Marsh website, or call 800-838-3006.

Extended Road Trip: “The Real Americans” originally appeared on About.com San Francisco on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 06:00:21.

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On Saturday, Feb. 13:

Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart has rounded up a gaggle of musicians for a "Heartbeat for Haiti Benefit" at the Fillmore.

Besides Hart, conga drummer Giovanni Hidalgo, jazz pianist Rebeca Mauleon, Bay Area favorite Linda Tillery, Nigerian percussionist Sikiru Adepoju, rockers Big Head Todd and the Monsters, songwriters Brett Dennen and Amos Lee, and a Haitian drum group will perform.

Proceeds will go to two aid organizations operating in Haiti. What If? Foundation funds food and education programs for Haiti kids, and Partners in Health provides health care to the poor.

Doors open 7 pm; show starts 8 pm. Open to all ages. Tickets are $35 for general admission and $100 for VIP Meet and Greet, and are available online. The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd.

On Sunday, Feb. 14:

"Sweethearts for Seva" has the legendary Joan Baez, folk musician Steve Earle, David and Tracy Grisman, Tuck & Patti, and Wavy Gravy and his missus performing at Bimbo's 365 Club, to benefit Seva Foundation.

The 32-year-old, Berkeley-based foundation made its name by providing affordable cataract surgery to millions of the world's poor. It has since added programs to support indigenous community development in Guatemala and Mexico and to deliver health care to Native Americans.

This good-cause concert has a Grateful Dead connection, too: Bob Weir is on Seva's advisory board.

Doors open 6:30 p.m.; show starts 7:30 p.m. Ages 21 and over. Tickets are $75 and are available via Bimbo's website. Bimbo's, 1025 Columbus Ave. (at Chestnut).

Concerts for Causes originally appeared on About.com San Francisco on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 06:12:45.

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Through Friday, Feb. 12, you're invited to take children's clothing (new or in good condition) to any San Francisco firehouse--and you can pick up a charitable deduction form to submit with your taxes. The clothes will be shipped to Haiti and distributed to kids in the quake-hit areas.

The clothing collection is a collaborative effort of the firefighters' union, the SF Fire Commission and the SF Fire Department, which also has a handy list and map of fire station locations.

More questions about the clothing drive? Call the SF Firefighters Union Local 798 at (415) 621-7103.

Clothing Drive for Haiti originally appeared on About.com San Francisco on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 03:19:53.

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