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.
We're happy that the best thing to come out of colonialism in Southeast Asia has gone from a cheap comfort food into a high-end culinary attraction top chefs tinker with and put on their menus.
Because not everyone can shell out a week's worth of rent on the edible art of a hand-tweezed tasting menu, veteran restaurateur Kash Feng (owner of Michelin-starred Omakase) and consulting chef Shin Aoki (formally of Michelin-starred Kaigetsu) bring you Okane — legit Japanese fare for epicures of the 99 percent.
PostedByIan S. Port
on Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I recently stumbled a cool mix of S.F. music, murals, and musings--a blog called Secret Sonic Streets of San Francisco. The site documents two days of eye- and ear-tickling psychedelic culture in this city, from live footage of New Thrill Parade to plenty of colorful shots of local street art...check it out.
PostedByIan S. Port
on Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Ain't nothing new about the track I'm posting today. Then again, ain't nothing new about loving a sunny day either. Every time it actually gets hot in this city, I get Roy Ayers' classic "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" stuck on repeat until the cold fronts return.
And really, this song is pretty much a perfect anthem for the afternoons when temperatures rise. With the mix of jazzy piano melodies and sci fi synth riffs, casual percussion beats, and lines like "Sunshine/folks get down in the sunshine. Sunshine/folks get brown in the sunshine" it only gets better than this if you can actually listen to this song outside, among the "bees and things and flowers."
PostedByEric Arnold
on Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Yesterday, Chron radio columnist Ben Fong-Torres reported that Energy 92 (KNGY) has been sold. As far as I know, the station was the only major commercial station in this market to actively target gay and lesbian listeners with its programming. It was a bit of an anomaly in the world of commercial radio with a playlist based around electronic dance music and club hits rather than Top 40 songs. Though it played its share of songs by Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga,, Energy also broadcast underground material, remixes, and songs which didn't get much play on other stations. At this time, Fong-Torres reports, it's unknown whether the new owners will keep the same format or start over from scratch.
PostedByEric Arnold
on Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Devilish: Heaven & Hell
With the possible exception of Judas Priest's Rob Halford, Ronnie James Dio is probably the greatest heavy metal singer of all time. Dio's a bit of an anomaly to metal's usual Satanic shtick--he's an Italian-American Roman Catholic--though that hasn't stopped him from recording and touring with the members of Black Sabbath as Heaven and Hell, who play the Warfield tonight. Nor has it prevented him from writing tunes like "Lady Evil" and "Heaven and Hell." Dio's high notes frequently surround lyrical themes of existentialist humanistic issues, but he's got a flair for classical mythology, Dantean archetypes and quasi-mystical magical realism as well. We thought it would be fun to see if all you true heshers out there can tell a real Dio couplet from a fake one.
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.'"
