by Gene Mahoney

May 2001

Make sure you make this: A Truly SF Herald Music Event happens Saturday, May 26th at Circadia (2727 Mariposa Street @ Bryant). SF Herald columnist/cab driver Lee Vilensky and his trio perform, followed by Kimberlye "Almost Famous" Gold and her band. Best of all, the show will be hosted by me (so who even cares who’s playing, right?). In case you are interested, Lee’s band plays jazz, blues, and surf guitar music. Kimberlye plays her own original brand of pop, folk, country, and a little bit of funk. Dinner, drinks, and schmoozing starts at 6:30 p.m., the trouble starts at 8. Don’t show up too late because the music has to stop at 10:30 sharp. Admission is $3. Call 552-2649 for info....

There isn’t one stretch of the planet Earth, heck, even if it’s in Texas, that our president, the moron from Midland, George Dubya Bush doesn’t want to pollute. So it’s crucial to get organized. You can start today by logging on to www.ran.org, which is the web site for Rainforest Action Network (221 Pine Street, 2nd floor, San Francisco, CA 94104.) Become a member today by sending them a check for $30, $40, $55, or more. Do it today, okay?...

I just noticed an art gallery/clothing boutique called SIX4SIX (646 Hyde, 771-4463.) It was opened 17 months ago by artist/furniture designer Mycal of FOUNDESIGN, fashion designer Leora of Wyt Industrie, and illustrator/painter JJ Levine. The store specializes in furniture/interior concepts, fashion & accessories, and sculpture & fine art produced by local artists & designers....

Right around the corner from there is a new trendy bar (painted bright yellow on the outside) where The Hunter (an old non-trendy bar) was located. It’s on Geary between Hyde and Larkin. I forgot the name of it. Great trance/techno type decor, though....

Thanks to the folks at Miyako (1470 Fillmore in The Fillmore Center) for sending Howard Hallis, Harris Rosenbloom, and myself flyers about their delicious "Asian Ice Cream" (Green Tea and Kona Coffee flavors), "Hawaiian Ice Cream" (Buko, Mango, Coconut Pineapple), and "Filipino Ice Cream" (Halo Halo, Langka). What? Your heart can take all that? Then listen to this: "All Cigarettes Only $3.65 Per Pack"! Thanks for the tip, guys....

A couple of new clothing stores have arrived: minnie wilde opened May 1st at 519 Laguna (in Hayes Valley) and features clothing designed by the owners, Ann D’Apice and Terri Olson. nida Boutique (2163 Union Street) has opened a second location at 544 Hayes (also in Hayes Valley.) Boasts store manager Emiko Hamada: "We feature exclusive European designers"....

The Marsh’s Mock Cafe (1074 Valencia) presents comedy every Friday and Saturday night, May 5 - 26. Saturday nights will feature Mike Duvall’s male version of "The Vagina Monologues" titled "The Boner Monologues". All shows are $7. Call 826-5750 x-2 for more info....

Kathleen Dunne’s paintings of Santorini, Greece and other new works are on display at Vorpal Gallery (393 Grove) May 15 - June 30. Call 397-9200 for info....

The Bay Area celebrates National Dance Week April 20 - 29. Six local artists/dance companies will perform in the windows of seven SF retail stores (Metreon, Discovery Channel Store, Border’s Books & Music, Schauplatz, Retrofit Vintage, My Boudoir Lingerie, & Cafe LaBoheme)....

Coming to A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books (601 Van Ness at Opera Plaza): 5/12 at 7pm; A reading to celebrate the publication of in*tense 4, the literary magazine at St. Mary’s College, 5/15 at 8pm; Michael Ondaatje, author of The English Patient, reads from his latest novel, Anil’s Ghost. Also appearing will be acclaimed author Alistar MacLeod. $10 ($6 for students with I.D.) 5/23 at 12:30pm; A literary luncheon at Stars Restaurant with SF Chronicle columnist Adair Lara. When Adair Lara’s daughter turned 13, she became angry, secretive, and couldn’t be disciplined. Adair wrote a book about it. Pre-registration is required. Call 441-6670 or mail a $25 check to them
("Attn: Literary Lunch")........

Back to dance: The Thumbnail Festival happens May 3 - 20 at Venue 9 (252 Ninth Street.) This is a celebration of dance, including Butoh, Action Theater, European expressionism, postmodern dance and abstract performance art (all original pieces.) Help support the local dance scene. Tickets are $15, reserve them by calling 289-2000. Visit www.venue9.com....

The Imperial Dub Dance Party happens the second Friday of every month at 60 Sixth Street (btw Mission & Market). $10 before 11, $12 after. Dedicated to the deepest disco, soul house, and dub jazz. Call 764-2903 for more info....

Jello Biafra hosts Alternative Tentacles Showcase S.F., featuring Victims Family, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, Dead and Gone, The Pattern, and the Phantom Limbs May 12th at the Great American Music Hall (859 O’Farrell). Punk mayhem for all ages. $10, doors 8:30, show 9:00....

Ever hear the chorus "Eat Ally Eat!" in the college radio hit "Ode to Ally McBeal"? Neither have I, but those lyrics and other irreverent ones can be heard from the mouth of Goddess Perlman, who’ll be performing at Cafe Du Nord (2170 Market) on May 8, 9, 15, & 16. Tickets are $12. www.goddessperlman.com....

SF Indiefest presents DocFest, a festival of documentaries May 25 - 28 at the Academy of Art College’s Post Street Theater, located in the Old First Congregational Church at Post & Mason. Tickets are $7.50, a series pass good for all films is $35. May 24, from 6pm - 9pm at HANG (556 Sutter), there will be a DocFest benefit/launch party with DJ’s, short film screenings, and refreshments. www.sfindie.com.... Read Molly Lori’s review of Laurel’s Cuban Restaurant on www.sfherald.com....

Cafe Ethiopia (878 Valencia) has been remodeled....

Check out Sawa Restaurant (559 Divisadero, 614-0580), an Eritrean eatery owned by Tsegai Lettebahan, who used to own a similar restaurant in the Inner Sunset years ago. It’s good to see he’s back. More power to you, Tsegai....

I actually found a dot com company walking in the Mission recently (!) It’s called www.ahappyplanet.com and sells organic clothing, underwear, and bedding....

There’s a new salon for men, women, and children called Look of Love, located at 3903 - 18th Street @ Sanchez. Call 553-6613....

I have a great jujitsu partner every Tuesday now. His name is Gary Flickinger and he owns the United Studios of Self Defense at 2675-B Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. If you’re down there call (650) 325-4946 and arrange for a class in Kenpo Karate, Kung Fu, or Cardio Kickboxing....

Go down to Funky Door Yoga, 1336 Polk @ Pine (only $10 for 10 days, see their ad on the back cover.) Jeff Renfro opened Funky door nearly a year ago, after selling his Plug Busters plumbing company (including Hamlet, his world famous sewer-sniffing pig, who would locate underground plumbing pipes that were too deep for electronic equipment to locate.) Hamlet the Pig was featured on CNN, the National Enquirer, and numerous talk shows. Maybe you recall that memorable image of Hamlet eating what was left of the pie that got thrown in the face of our mayor, Willie Brown, at that press conference a few years ago. After years in the plumbing business, Jeff prefers fixing broken bodies over leaking pipes. Jeff’s father, Ed Renfro, a world famous illustrator, did those cartoons that adorn his studio. Says Jeff: "His cartoons add a sense of humor to a challenging exercise." Speaking of challenging -- the Queen of Grunge, Courtney Love, took a class there in April. Says Jeff: "She’s learning to mellow her, uh...

extroverted personality through yoga." Classes are from 6am - 8pm. I might see you there....

Don’t forget the lovely Pretzel at Pretzel’s Yoga, right near where Plug Busters used to be, at 485-A Carolina Street. See her ad in this issue, too. Maybe I’ll see you there...

One of the best-kept secrets in North Beach: Caffe La Piazza (700 Columbus across from Washington Square). A delightful place for coffee....

The Cartoon Art Museum (814 Mission) needs money to relocate. Send them what you can. Their number is 227-8666 or log on to www.cartoonart.org....

David Hecht, formerly of the now defunct Death Metal Rock Group Old Grandad is now marketing seniordiscounts.com, a web site for the elderly. Check it out for bargains O’ plenty.... Make sure you send KQED (88.5 FM) some money so they can keep "This American Life" on the air. If you haven’t heard it, it’s on the radio Saturdays at noon with a repeat at 11p.m. It’s also broadcast on KALW (91.7 FM) Fridays at 1p.m.... R.I.P. - Joey Ramone, the punk rock pioneer who headed The Ramones. Memories of The Ramones: I was born in Queens, just like The Ramones were. I didn’t grow up there, though. I grew up in Nassau County, further out on Long Island. It was a nice place to...

oh wait, this is supposed to be about Joey. I’m sure you’ve heard this already, but Joey Ramone died of lymphoma at the age of 49 on April 15 (Talk about a tax dodge! Sorry.) Though British bands like the Clash, the Jam, the Damned, and the Sex Pistols refined punk, the Ramones, these loveable losers from Queens, were the ones who really invented it. They deserve more credit for inventing punk rock than Bill Haley does for inventing Rock ‘n Roll. They never cracked the Top 40, just about all their songs sounded the same, probably no one really picked them as their favorite band -- but they were still quite an influence. And now for some memories: Joey being interviewed on MTV, crying after Johnny, the Ramones’ guitar player, got the shit kicked out of him in a fight. Watching "Rock ‘n Roll High School" on TV at 3 in the morning. Seeing a concert at the Fulton Street Pier in Manhattan as the Ramones played a special low-priced concert for the unemployed. It was the summer of ‘84, they opened with "Psychotherapy", Joey awkwardly holding his microphone in the air, then announcing to the crowd, "It’s a great night tonight at the Pier... because WE’RE here!", and then dropping the mic, resulting in sarcastic applause from his fans. Gabba Gabba Hey! Oh well, he wasn’t exactly Bryan Ferry. I remember this friend I had named Hank Strole who looked just like Joey! He was even dorkier, though. Still is....

Other recent obituaries: Rev. Leon Sullivan, a once unknown minister of a black church in Philadelphia who helped lead the South African divestment movement after security agents strip searched him in 1974 on a visit to that nation. Jacob Getzels, who conducted studies challenging the traditional notion of what makes a student smart and the reliability of the I.Q. test. Harvey Ball, the man who invented the yellow smiley face logo which adorned bumper stickers, cycling shorts, T-shirts, waste paper baskets -- you name it (he claimed he was paid $45 for it and never applied for a trademark or copyright)....

This past April 12th (the 17th anniversary of my mother’s death) I read a rather sad article in the Chronicle about someone likely to experience death soon. Written by Dwight Chapin, it was the story of Patrick Clardy, a USF basketball star in the ‘80’s who, according to his doctors, is probably dying of intestinal cancer. He was hooked up to machines at Alta Bates Hospital, but is at his mother’s home in Oakland now, on morphine and other heavy-duty pain medications. 35-year-old Patrick wants to make sure his 6-year-old daughter, Taylor, is taken care of if he doesn’t live. Donations in the name of either Patrick or Taylor Clardy may be sent to 1514 Chestnut, Oakland, CA 94607....

This just in: Howard Hallis has a new karaoke album online at his site wrongdimensionboy.com. It’s called Long, Slow and Violent, and each song has been animated with a Shockwave Flash mini movie that plays along with the music! You need Shockwave to see and hear the thing, and you can get it for free at shockwave.com. If you have a slow connection it might take a while for each one to load. Howard will be having a CD release party for it at his apartment in Los Angeles. His brother’s rap group Kill Whitey will open, and 42 CD’s will be available for a donation of $5 to $10. Better bring your own beer to be on the safe side. Contact Howard at WRNGDIMBOY@aol.com

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