Yesterday, I got to take some family members to the California Academy of Sciences for the first time as a staff member. It was really fun showing them my favorite exhibits and giving them a bit of the insider perspective on the Academy. It was also the first time I have been to the museum…
Jiro Dreams of Sushi: A Delicious Portrait of Master Sushi Chef and His Sons
I just saw "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" last night in San Francisco, at a special showing with the director of the film David Gelb. What a perfect film for a foodie — a respectful and elegant portrait of a master chef Jiro Ono and his stern but loving relationship with his two sons. The…
Josh Klipp and the Klipptones Swings at Savanna Jazz April 7
My friend Josh Klipp is a triple threat singer / dancer / musician which kind of blows me away. (Plus he's not hideously ugly, as you can see.) Josh and his jazz band the Klipptones will be performing on Saturday April 7 at Savanna Jazz in San Francisco. I'll be there to dance and enjoy…
How To Teach Swing for People with Disabilities?
I ran across this article on the BBC website "Wheelchair user barred from dance class in Reading". Ms. Susi Rogers-Hartley, a wheelchair-bound former Royal Navy communications worker, had hoped to take a lindy hop class at the "All Jazzed Up" dance studio in Berkshire, UK. The organizers told her that they must first "consult their…
“Mr. Beebe”: Incredible Tap Performance featuring Harold Nicholas (video)
My favorite video clip that jazz historian Mark Cantor showed at the Jewish Community Center of SF last Saturday was this this outstanding performance from the movie "Carolina Blues" (1944) featuring Harold Nicholas, one half of the legendary Nicholas Brothers. According to Mark, older brother Fayard Nicholas was drafted during the war at the…
Infographic: Who I Am on Twitter (according to Visual.ly)
Here's an infographic on me and my tweeting profile based on my Twitter data , provided to the infographic service visual.ly. I'm not sure I agree with the topics listing at the end — what, no "food porn"? And I could hardly be called a "shopper." But otherwise, kind of interesting. You can generate your…
Mark Cantor’s Treasure Trove of Vintage Jazz Footage on Film
On Saturday, I had the pleasure of sitting in a packed auditorium at the Jewish Center of San Francisco to watch a lovingly curated showing of vintage clips of jazz dance on film from the 1930s to the 1950s. Called the "Giants of Jazz on Film," this is a popular series of film clip showings…
My Cat’s Deadly “Scratching Pole Sneak Attack” Documented
My cat Mole Negro has a devastating scratching pole hunting maneuver he has developed that I have finally captured on my camera, at great risk to myself. Here's his ninja-like technique photo-documented for the first time in the wild. Lurk Mode Mole lurks steathily behind his scratching pole, waiting for an unsuspecting victim to…
Gregoire’s Potato Puffs : Tater Tots from Heaven
Gregoire's is my go-to take-out place when I want something French-y but not spendy. Situated in a claustrophobic storefront on Piedmont Avenue in Piedmont, Gregoire's churns out a surprising array of delicacies, from soups to sandwiches to full-dinners. After reading about all the raves on Yelp, I finally had to try Gregoire's crispy potato puffs….
Hack-A-Thon for Youth Health March 31 in San Francisco
Attention Bay Area coders, designers and tech innovators! On March 31, TechSoup.org and ISIS are co-sponsoring a "hack-a-thon" on youth health in San Francisco. You can help design an app that can save the lives of young people. Here's the details: ISIS is hosting our first ever hack-a-thon, together with our partners TechSoup. A hack-a-thon…