cupcake club

Pride 09

   

I love SF all the time, but I might love it most on Pride Weekend.  There's so much to do, lots of good people-watching, and this year, even warm/hot weather. 

On Saturday, Judy B. and I went to the Castro to see the unfortunately-named "Fruit Fly," H.P. Mendoza's follow-up to fun "Colma: The Musical."  This one started out great, with opening song "Public Transit" (filmed on MUNI and BART) and lots of only-in-SF jokes.  Midway through, I realized that it was actually a bad movie (questionable acting, wooden characters, muddy sound) with fantastic cinematography.  Later that night, Hal and I caught part of the Dyke March and not enough of Pink Saturday dancing.

On Sunday, Ted, Naomi, the nieces and I rode with the SFBC in the Pride Parade, which was really fun.  Ted was biking the girls in a Dutch cargo bike, which freed them up to wave and throw candy (not that Kiko did much of either, but at least she didn't cry).  Lots of cheers from the crowd, much of it probably directed toward 'Deep and his disco tricycle, playing tribute to Michael Jackson down Market Street.  Some more photos here.

The Graduate

It's been almost 3 years since Isabel started pre-school, and today she graduated.  There was a processional (complete with "Pomp and Circumstance"!!), songs in Japanese and English, caps, and diplomas.  Since I'm pretty sure pre-school graduations did not exist when I was a kid, I'm officially against this practice, but Izzy liked it and it sure was cute.  Almost as cute as her class photo this year, which I love.

Pigging out

 

This has been a good week for me and pork (better for me than for the pork).  Last Tuesday, Hal and I went to Bender's and split a highly delicious pulled pork sandwich, much better than either of us were expecting in a dive bar.  Next time I want my own.

On Sunday, David, James and I ate a maple bacon donut at Dynamo (decent) and drank a maple bacon latte at Pirate Cat Radio (not).  Then I ordered a ham and brie sandwich later at brunch, for good measure.  Family dinner the next night revolved around pork tenderloin.

 

Though I question whether anything should really be called "-aplooza" at this point, Porkapalooza lived up to its name.  This event, held last night at Bloodhound on Folsom, was a festival of gourmet hot dogs, corn dogs, pâté, pulled pork sliders, and light, spicy chicharrones.  Not to mentioned an Old Fashioned drink special, made with bacon-infused bourbon.  There was also a 250-lb. pig (already dead and bled) that was butchered on premises (I skipped this) and grilled and served in tacos (did not skip this). 

 

So, I'm off of pork for at least a little while, unless Jenny suggests a lunch at El Castillito Burrito, where the al pastor reigns supreme! 

Sita Sings the Blues

 

Hal and I went to see "Sita Sings the Blues" at Dolores Park Movie Night last night.  I'm not a huge animation fan but was very happily surprised, it was great.  Definitely the most vibrant, funny, emotional movie that's ever juxtaposd a modern American divorce with the Indian myth Ramayana, set to a 1920s jazz soundtrack.  Well, I assume.

The movie, which can't be released commercially because of song copyright issues, is available for free online all kinds of ways.  The list is here.

Isabel in the news

Last Sunday, San Francisco closed off Ted's block and a couple of other streets in the Mission in honor of his 37th birthday.  We spent the morning outside his house, playing games, trying to juggle, and tracing shadows with chalk.

 

The Chronicle interviewed one of Ted's neighbors, Richard Illig, and this was in the paper the next day:

Illig was thrilled on Sunday morning to see little kids from his neighborhood playing in the closed-off streets, even before the festivities began. A Wiffle Ball game broke out around 9 a.m. Illig said a 5-year-old girl was passing out Otter Pops to any visiting children who dropped by, just to be neighborly.

Izzy was so happy to be in the newspaper, she carried around the clipping all day.

After the streets re-opened we moved to Ted's backyard for a birthday party with carnitas, mojitos, cupcakes, and cornhole.  Later David G., Jenny, Harold and I snuck out for an hour to play four square in Dolores Park.  It was an amazing day, and will repeat (minus birthday party) July 19!

Don't believe everything you read

  

When it comes to the Snuggie, one size does not really fit all very well.

Dip it in ranch

Last weekend Alexis, Andrea, Ania, Craig, Hal, Holly, Jed, Jodie, Michael P., Michael S., Pam, Thom, Tom and I went camping at Black Rock Campground on the Little Grass Valley Reservoir.  It was so very beautiful there -- I love a good lake, even if this one was a little too cold to swim in.

We hiked and kayaked and read and played cards and ate and ate and ate.  My friends are gourmet campers: we had fresh pineapple, Indian curries, and a surprising amount of salad, considering we were camping and everything.  The best dish was the fish that Jed caught in the lake and fried up in pancake batter, yum.  Photos here.

Making faces

ET in NYC

What do you want to know about my trip to New York last weekend?

Celebrity sighting: Alexis Bledel (or, maybe, her identical twin)

Bike rides: Central Park with Sara, Park Slope to Bensonhurst with Josh

Meals ate, and liked: Pizza, more pizza

Books read, and liked: Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven and Secrets to Happiness

Movies saw, and liked: Adventureland, Anvil: The Story of Anvil

Shows saw, and liked: Fuerza Bruta, The Norman Chronicles: Round and Round the Garden

Friends saw, and loved: Sara, Nhadine, Steve, Patrick, Josh, Rachel, Cathy, Ben

Photos taken: here

A very popular t-shirt

 

Last Sunday was Sunday Streets, which drew lots of bicyclists and their bicycle t-shirts.  An alarming number had this Infinity MPG shirt, which I bought as a seemingly-original present for my brother last year. 

More photos from a fun morning here.