Little Otsu was a favorite seller of paper products in the Mission for the greater part of the past decade. The independent publishing company sold beautiful illustrated paper, "uncommon illustrated books," and other handmade goods first on 16th Street and then from a Valencia Street storefront leased by McSweeney's from 2002 through the end of 2010. Many among us can recall lazy afternoons spent flipping through exquisite decorative planners and books or eyeballing dozens of hand-drawn cards.
Last week, SF Weekly's resident comedian and blogger, W. Kamau Bell, wrote that he originally planned to use his weekly blogosphere platform to talk about the comedy show he's putting on tonight and Wednesday.
That all went out the window, however, when he felt that Tracy Morgan's homophobic diatribe last week couldn't go unanswered.
So, we're taking over and relieving him of his self-promotion duties. This time. And only because Bell has done a good job of shrouding his show, Bell Curve Project: Apologies, in intrigue. In a departure from his four-year solo show, The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About an Hour, this time he is collaborating with 13 comedians who believe in his dream of making the jump to TV (see the lineup here).
Sure, it was fun to watch that angry lump of uncooked cookie dough Newt Gingrich get covered in glitter at a Minneapolis book signing.
And to see Tim "What's-His-Name" Pawlenty treated to a glitter-pink shower at the Moscone Center last week.
And even to catch Michele Bachmann's disappointing near-miss in Minnesota over the weekend. Seriously, in this case the protester doesn't so much glitterbomb Bachmann as she does salt her like a diabetic's grilled chicken -- so gently you wouldn't even notice.
But all that pales compared with the single greatest moment in filmed shaming of antigay public figures.
Yes, it's superclever and endlessly self-referential. But it's not off-putting -- in fact, it's kind of sweet. You might even call it inspiring. [title of show], now making its regional premiere at TheatreWorks in Mountain View, is one of the most purely entertaining productions I've seen so far this year, and it's well worth an excursion to the South Bay.
Your Crap Archivist brings you the finest in forgotten and bewildering crap culled from Golden State basements, thrift stores, estate sales and flea markets.
Squiffy the Skunk
Author:Grace Neff Brett and George Neff
Date: 1952
Publisher: Rand McNally
The Cover Promises: Your vocabulary now includes "squiffy," the perfect word to describe a sneaky, silent, pervasive stink.
Discovered at: San Francisco Library Book Sale
Representative Quote:
"'As soon as I finish this dress,' Mama Skunk said, 'I must bake a cake.'"
Picture the scene: Interior. Giants clubhouse. Day. An executive walks in holding two folders. "Okay, guys, I have two promotional opportunities. One's to appear at Victoria's Secret with an underwear model, and the other is to back a new line of snacks at Walgreens. Who wants what?" You would think that a fleet-footed outfielder such as Andres Torres would be first to claim the appearance with the underwear model. You would also think that a pitcher -- whose job involves standing still and contemplating his next move -- would be last. But you would be wrong. Closer Brian Wilson appeared earlier this month with Victoria's Secret model Chanel Iman, whereas at noon today Torres will appear during a promotion for Popchips. (Snacktastic!)
Okay, okay, we know it didn't happen that way . But you have to admit it's a fun thought. Today at noon, fun for Giants fans will be getting the chance to see Torres up close and personal for photographs and autographs at a Walgreens branch in the Financial District.
![Laura Jordan (left to right), Ian Leonard, Jamison Stern, and Farah Alvin in [title of show] - MARK KITAOKA & TRACY MARTIN](https://media2.fdncms.com/sfweekly/imager/laura-jordan-left-to-right-ian-leonard/u/big/2653838/tos_laura_jordan_ian_leonard_jamison_stern_farah_alvin.jpg?cb=1454778338)
