Last night, we recorded another fun episode of the "SwingNation" talk show. This show we brought in the lovely and insightful Miss Ann Mony to sit in for Nicole, who wasn't feeling well. Get better, Nicole! It was a fun show to produce. We talked about a new documentary on swing chanteuse Miss Meschiya…
Umami Mart: an Adorable Japanese Foodie Shop in Downtown Oakland
My friend Kayoko and her partner Yoko launched a couple of years ago Umami Mart, a foodie-oriented store focusing on Japanese products and other fine barware, glassware and kitchen gadgets. I finally stopped by their downtown Oakland shop this weekend and was very pleased with what I saw. Inside the shop, they have a carefully…
Beyond Buffets: Less is More
Here's a picture of a typical buffet spread at my family's gatherings. For most of my life, I've loved a good buffet meal. The idea of endless choices of dishes and heaping plates of food has been a fantasy of mine. A lot of this comes from my family, who throw lavish potluck meals…
Cute Overload: Bali the Doberman Puppy Enjoys Weed (pic)
Yesterday my sister's doberman puppy Bali got his first exposure to actual dirt, grass and weeds yesterday, at at my cousin Ryan's house in Vallejo. Once he discovered a bit of nature, Bali wanted nothing to do with concrete or the indoors. Who can blame him? It's fun to roll around in the dirt! Bali…
Unexpected Thanks
I have so much to be thankful for, today and everyday. As Quakers, we are reminded that “thanksgiving” is a state of mind, a way of living. Still, it helps to have a special day on the calendar to be especially and publicly assessing what we are thankful for. There is the usual list of…
“Tis the Season for Science” at the Cal Academy: Live Reindeer, Indoor Snow, the Science of Seasons Show!
A couple of days ago, the California Academy of Sciences opened up our annual "Tis the Season for Science" exhibit in our main piazza courtyard. It's a nice, science-y way to celebrate the holidays in San Francisco. We are featuring: A pair of live reindeer Indoor snow flurries twice an hour A Snowman Theater –…
Amazing “Y: The Last Man” Fan-made Film (video)
"Y: The Last Man" is one of the most acclaimed comics of the decade, a dystopic scifi series that builds an elaborate universe around the premise of what would happen if every man on earth was wiped out by a plague. The characters are indelible and unique and the adventure is heart-pounding. Created by Brian…
What I Learned About Myself by Dying at SomARTS
This Saturday, I had the pleasure of being at the closing celebration for the "Day of the Dead" art exhibition at the wonderful SomARTS center in Soma, SF. There were a ton of excellent "Day of the Dead" themed art installations all over the place, including my friend Niloufar Talebi's very moving video installation "everybodydies." …
December 9 is Your Last Chance to See Baby Ostriches at the Cal Academy!
I just wanted to share the news that December 9th is your last chance to see our baby ostriches at the California Academy of Sciences! If you haven't seen them, they are pretty stinkin cute. After ostrich breeding season ends, the Academy’s last flock of ostrich chicks are sent to grow up at partner organizations…
Cute Overload: Week-old Ostrich Chicks at the Cal Academy (pic)
Last week we hatched our latest batch of ostrich chicks at the California Academy of Sciences for our Earthquake exhibit, and they are mighty cute. There are a dozen of them this time around, which we will keep until about the end of the year. More pics below. And why do we have ostriches in…