When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, it’s a good core workout. If you’re sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More
Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More
December is almost over - the New Year is coming up and everyone is busy drying off from the rain or holiday shopping. Let's take a look at what's happened this month.
The world nearly stopped last year when rumors that this well-graffitied, deeply historied Market Street rock 'n' roll bar would be knocked down and turned into condos started circulating.
Hendrick’s Gin, the 16-year-old Scottish botanical spirit that goes really well with a cucumber slice, is launching a 130-foot airship and touring the country with it. The Flying Cucumber will be stopping in San Francisco from April 22-26, after departing from its previous ports-of-call in Los Angeles, Constantinople, and British Honduras.
A “return to the true glamour of flight,” the Flying Cucumber will maintain a cruising speed of 35 mph at an altitude of below 1000 feet, that passengers may better appreciate the Bay Area from above. While it won’t tether itself to Sutro Tower’s seldom-used zeppelin mast, the Cucumber will be piloted by a “wonderful gentleman whose name we cannot recall” who will probably be waxing his handlebar mustache on his downtime as everyone else on board tears into the gin.
But if you want to go for a ride, you’ll have to take a pic of the Flying Cucumber and post it to Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtags #HENDRICKSGIN and #CUCUMBERCHALLENGE. It shouldn’t be too hard to spot, as the airship itself is painted with a vaguely cetacean eye-in-the-sky, that the frightened masses may gaze up in awe at this Eighth Wonder of the Mechanical Age. Like everything Hendrick’s does, this endeavor is filled with steampunk derring-do (as well as helium).
Bio:
Peter Lawrence Kane is SF Weekly's Arts Editor. He has lived in San Francisco since 2008 and is two-thirds the way toward his goal of visiting all 59 national parks.
Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"
