Last night I played a show at the Rockit Room in the Inner Richmond district of San Francisco. I don’t know that I have anything particularly profound to comment about it, other than that it was important to me, and that as a result I’m sleep-deprived and a little sick today, therefore not feeling particularly moved to do any other deep analysis or commentary.

I’d been excited about this show ever since I landed it a month and a half ago. Truth is, though I’ve considered myself a serious musician for over ten years, everything I’m doing now is pretty new territory for me. It’s the first time in my life I’ve devoted nearly every spare moment to music, and actively sought to create as many extra spare moments as possible. It’s the first time I’ve tried to actively and unabashedly self-promote, the first time I’ve really hustled for gigs. And this was the first paying show at a specifically-for-music (as opposed to food) venue that I’d landed without having any preexisting contact.

The night before my band had our first rehearsal with everyone present. Guy Brown on guitar. Erika Oba on keys. Sarah Thompson backing me up with the vocals. For sure I was nervous about it coming together on short notice, but they’re all superb musicians, very responsive and present with what’s going on in the moment. Just as important, they’re all totally serious about making good music and not dicking around. We got everything together with about three weeks of hastily scheduled rehearsals. We came up with our band name, or rather I suggested four or five I’d had floating around in my head and they ranked them. Right now we’re Shareef Ali and the Radical Folksonomy, which basically speaks to my own obsession with categorizing/relating all that I encounter (see “Wikipedia Brown” as an example) and my belief in the right of common folk to reframe the world in drastic departure from tradition. Anyway, I think we all like the name pretty well, and I hope that some version of it sticks. We agreed to all wear button-downs and jeans, and I brought a supply of bandannas the day of the show so that they might better relate to my own presentation.

I am a fan of all of the groups I asked to play, and none of them disappointed: many thanks to Scotch and Bones, S.A. Bach (and Jonathan and Allie) and the Tenderloins for joining me on the bill last night. For my set, I was joined by the band on four songs: “World’s Oldest Profession”, “The State Of The Garden”, “Red Balloon” and “Broken Record”. It felt amazing to have all these other subtle musical elements woven throughout my songs, adding color, nuance and touches of each of the other players’ personalities. Simply put, the songs are sounding more like they were meant to than they ever have before. I was perhaps even a little distracted during the solo portion of my set because I kept thinking about how great whatever song I was playing was going to sound with everyone else doing their thing on it. As we were playing last night, I was feeling thrilled that we had pulled it off, and even more thrilled by the knowledge that if we could sound that good after just three weeks, how much we had to look forward to as a band. After our set ended, we had a big group hug onstage. I meant it, guys.

Also making my night totally special were all my wonderful friends who came out, not least of all two people who drove up from L.A. (not counting Sebastian and Co.); a buddy from middle school whom I still owe a drink; another friend who lives in SF but I stink at getting back to; and Cortnee Rose from the Starry Plough.

I had sensed earlier in the day that my throat had been feeling a little ticklish, and mid-set I knew that it was getting thin. But I powered through, and promptly afterwards I lost my voice. Today I’m alternating between honking and whispering. I should go to bed and really get serious about recovering, because we’re maybe going to have band practice on Saturday. But I’ve just given myself license to quote Conor Oberst:

You should never be embarrassed by your trouble with livin’; because it’s the ones with the sorest throats, Laura, who’ve done the most singing.

The Comfort and Knowing of Time

Yesterday I was sitting in the family room with CJ, enjoying the autumnal vibe in the air, and the perfectly imperfect pumpkin and eccentric decorative squash we brought back from one of our favorite annual traditions, a roadtrip to Muelrath’s Ranch in Santa Rosa (hayride, pumpkin slingshot, haunted maze, and all!). I looked up at the ceiling and the walls of that room for the thousandth time, and I just had this deep sense of the longevity of my time in this neighborhood, this building, this flat, this “home”. We’ve shared over 4 years together in this home, and I’ve lived FIFTEEN years of my life here. That’s getting on a damn long run. My history here is nearly a teenager!

It’s amazing to think that my first (and only) roommate in this flat moved out a good 9 or so years ago, and to the best of my knowledge has lived in at least 3 different cities, and likely as many houses (not apartments/flats) since, and here I/we remain.

There have been times when I’ve had an itch to move out, ideally into a house, and in a more suburban hood (although still somewhat urban in spirit). We even spent some time looking at houses in Berkeley before my lay-off and CJ’s career reevaluation. And, there are many times when we bemoan our lack of space, especially storage. All of my non-Bay Area friends and family have long since been in houses, some very large.

Home As a Glimpse Into the Soul

I have periodically felt some sort of peer pressure to do the same…as if there are steps we must take at certain stages of our lives. But, there are no rules, and no requirements. We can create whatever life we long to create, barring some limitations, of course. And, thankfully, being gay actually gives us even more of a sense of this kind of freedom, because noone else is urging us forward, or expecting anything specific from the trappings of our life…which is in many ways is its own blessing.

I’ve often thought the circumstances of my life had kept me in this flat, but then realize it only seems so at first glance. Somehow, this cozy flat matches my/our sensibility so perfectly. I love to travel, indulge in local cuisine, saturate in theatre and entertainment. All that has continually proven to be more important to me than having a house. And, in this town, unless you’re loaded, you likely can’t have both!

I have a deep seeded feeling that you should only bite off as much of this world and its resources as you need. Yes, I take gratuitously long showers, and blow through way too many paper products (I ain’t no saint!), but other than that, I hope I only take my fair portion of what I need in life. I also like the communal feel of having neighbors just on the other side of a wall, not separated by a large yard or fence (perhaps a somewhat socialist view). I may not interact with them any more than someone in a ‘burb, but I think in that proximity there is a sort of intimacy…and, certainly in the sharing of a roof. I liken it a bit to public transportation. There is a leveling or equalizing effect of it…that all passengers are created equal. And, it’s enlightening to be around people from many different walks of life, even ones that smell bad, to remind you that we are all one. I haven’t been using public transport as often as when I worked on Market St., but I still do periodically.

Shadowbox made from Grandpa Ziller's letterpress printing metal type drawers

In Touch With the Pulse of Life

That’s a big piece of what keeps me embedded in city life. You can look out your window at any moment and see people walking down the sidewalk, cars driving by, someone in the window across the street. That activity, and connection to the bustling heartbeat of life feeds me. I sometimes fear that a quiet neighborhood, a yard, and a fence would cut me off from that pulse.

CJ shares some of this view of the world, and the desire to connect to local community…in his quest for organic foods, weekly shopping at local farmer’s markets, much more regular use of public transport, and real commitment to composting.

We have also fallen in love with Golden Gate Park as our true backyard. Our traditional walk past The Conservatory of Flowers, the DeYoung, out around Stow Lake and back again is such a part of me, I would miss it terribly if I moved. And, although I really want a porch and garden, for now it continues to fulfill me, and is a lot less work!

And, everytime I sit down to blog, prepare a song for an audition, or take a long afternoon nap I realize that if I owned a house, some of these favorite past-times could be replaced by more housework, repairs, and/or projects.

“…but a house is not a home”

My life here with CJ has made this so much more of a home. I muse on all of our wonderful gatherings of friends and family, as well as the depth of our time here together, just the two of us, and now with the third member of our tribe, our cat Sammie. The framed “Bless This House” engrossed print from my Grandfather near our front door has so much more meaning as the years pass. Our time here has indeed been so blessed.

Although I often feel the call of life outside our home, and thankfully embrace and tackle that life with great fervor too, I also love and cherish the “nest” that is our home…the warmth (often heated like an “old folks’ home”, as CJ chides…YES, I like it on the toasty side!), the personal expression that it is (ie: art, interior design, tchotchkies, cookbooks, etc.), and both a haven from the world, as well as a reflection of that world…as we sometimes create our own challenges and barriers for each other in our own home. What couples don’t at times?

None of this is to demean how others create their sense of home, only to give thanks for ours, and honor what a true outward manifestation it is of our inner selves. Yet, it’s amazing how truly ephemeral home is (ie: “Home is where you make it.”), because when we move on, this space will become a vessel for the next person’s dreams, and concept of what home is. And, wherever we move on to one day will become our new home.

I’ll let one of the soul masters tell it like it is!

Dirty Trix
408 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94118-2318
(415) 387-1400
Inner Richmond

$2 PBR Open-Close Everyday
$3 Vodka drinks Open-7pm Everyday

When you have local favorite Burma Superstar down the street from your restaurant serving similarly-influenced cuisine, it would be easy to get lost amidst all the buzz. For family-owned Java Restaurant, they’ve managed to do just fine. So fine, in fact, that they have been in business in the same location in the Inner Richmond since 1977. That’s 32 years, which is probably older than many of my readers. It also means they must be doing something right to stay in business for so long, no small feat in the city with the highest number of restaurants per capita in the U.S.

Though it bears the name “Java,” it isn’t a coffee shop. Java is actually an island of Indonesia, which is the style of cuisine served at Java Restaurant. Indonesian food is essentially fusion food, taking influence from India, China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Popular Indonesian dishes that have become assimilated across Asia include satay and rendang, which are especially prevalent in Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine.

At Java Restaurant, they serve a wide variety of Indonesian dishes that aren’t only good, but affordable. At my most recent visit, I tried a bit of everything and came away very satisfied.

The first thing we ordered was the spicy fries, which everyone raves about. I covered them previously in an Examiner article, where I said:

It’s a very simple, but very tasty dish to have as an appetizer before your meal, or even as just a standalone snack. They take perfectly crisp french fries and toss them in a homemade sweet and spicy chili sauce. The result is a perfect combination of salty, sweet, and just a hint of spiciness. The sauce coats the fries in a nice glaze with speckles of chili flakes, and does not overpower the texture or flavor of the fries, rather enhancing it with a nice flavor profile that doesn’t require any additional condiments. After eating at Frjtz dozens of times, I thought I have tried fries every which way imagineable, but Java Restaurant serves them in such a way that would make me return and order multiple plates to share with friends over a few glasses of fresh guava juice. At only $3 an order, you can afford to!

The satay sapi, or beef satay, was incredibly juicy and tender. It came served with a cabbage slaw with vinegar that balanced the sweetness of the peanut sauce, which was very creamy and smooth. All three parts were very well balanced, from the flavors to the textures.

The ayam kari (pictured at the top of the post), or chicken curry in coconut sauce, is a very simple and mild curry. Consisting of mostly chicken and potatoes, it wasn’t too sweet or too spicy, right in the middle.

The bami goreng, or stir fried noodles, was my favorite dish. The noodles are stir fried with shrimp, chicken, beef, and bok choy, and served with a sweet and spicy chili sauce on the side, similar to the sauce used in the spicy french fries, but with less sugar and more spice. The sauce gave it an extra layer of flavor, which made it slightly spicy and sweet, on top of the multiple savory flavors from the combination of meats.

We washed everything down with a cold glass of fresh guava juice, which was the perfect for neutralizing the oils and spices from the other dishes. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we had deep fried banana with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The banana was battered and deep fried with a bit of powdered sugar on top, and the vanilla ice cream was, well, vanilla ice cream.

Overall everything was good, but what makes this place great is the affordable prices and great service. Most dishes are well under $10 for fairly big portions, and they even have a variety of daily lunch specials for just $5.50, which comes with an entree, rice or noodles, and satay or lumpia. The service is very attentive and friendly, which is to be expected from any mom and pop restaurant. The husband and wife team have been running Java Restaurant for over 30 years, back when Clement Street was full of American supermarkets and there was even a comedy club across the street that once hosted a young Robin Williams. Though much has changed in this neighborhood over the years, the friendly service and Indonesian comfort food of Java Restaurant has remained consistent.

Java Restaurant
417 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 752-1541

Also check out:
Thailand Restaurant in the Castro; Best Restaurant Name Ever
Tia Margarita in the Outer Richmond
Brenda’s French Soul Food Review; Best Southern Brunch in San Francisco
Cha Cha Cha Tapas Restaurant and Bar in the Haight and Mission
Good Luck Dim Sum in the Inner Richmond serves cheap Chinese for dine-in or take-out
Sweet and savory crepes from Genki Crepes & Mini Mart in the Inner Richmond

Java Restaurant is a family-owned and operated restaurant on Clement Street in the Inner Richmond. They serve Indonesian and Chinese-style food, which is very good in its own right, but many people visit this little restaurant for their spicy french fries, of all things.

It’s a very simple, but very tasty dish to have as an appetizer before your meal, or even as just a standalone snack. They take perfectly crisp french fries and toss them in a homemade sweet and spicy chili sauce. The result is a perfect combination of salty, sweet, and just a hint of spiciness.

Continue reading ‘Spicy french fries from Java Restaurant in the Inner Richmond’

When you have a craving for something sweet, a warm crispy crepe from Genki Crepes & Mini Mart in the Inner Richmond never fails. Though it appears to be a simple creperie from the outside, it houses an entire mini mart that carries drinks, snacks, toys, and other random products from Japan. The crowd that gathers around the entrance is usually there for the crepes, though.

For those who are unfamiliar with crepes, they are a type of very thin pancake, usually made with wheat flour. They are then rolled and filled with an assortment of sweet or savory food, such as chicken and pesto or fresh fruit and ice cream. Crepes are usually very soft, but at Genki they have a crispy exterior and soft interior. This makes it easy to hold the food inside while rolled and served as a cone, so you can eat it without a plate and a fork, which is how it is commonly served in creperies and cafes.

Continue reading ‘Sweet and savory crepes from Genki Crepes & Mini Mart in the Inner Richmond’

Stopped by Chin Sushi Bar & Restaurant on California while waiting for laundry tonight. I figured it was a better health decision than pizza by the slice. I really enjoyed it and I was happy to let my wallet take the hit rather than my gut.

Ordered a Daniel roll, because I couldn’t resist, and some unagi because it’s delicious. Both were good, a touch more expensive than I normally spend on dinner for myself, but I really enjoyed it.

The Daniel roll had avocado on the outside, and topped with spicy seared tuna and I think crab on top. It was good and not too heavy. I liked the whole sushi bar atmosphere. I don’t always like it, but it was done well here.

Will have to try toe sushi restaurant across the street (literally). Since they’re so close together they must be on par with each other. Both had a good amount of people in there for a late Sunday night so I’m excited to try it next. Anyone want to join?

Inspired by 7×7 magazine, here’s a short but sweet love letter to the Inner Richmond:

The first love letter I ever wrote to the Inner Richmond actually came in the form of a map.  I marked off my haunts in giant red exes and recalled the first time I had visited each.  I remember the quaint Blue Danube, a sweet yet headstrong café defying the norm of Asian establishments on Clement, always prepared to serve me my regular Rosemary Chicken sandwich.  During my first visit, my roommate promised that it was the best sandwich she had tasted in the city.  One bite and I knew she was right, as a heavenly chorus began singing in my mouth.  Fellow customers complimented my divine voice, but little did they know I owed it all to the culinary masterminds of the Blue Danube.  And I remember when I first stepped through the de Young’s sleek, modern doors.  The young edifice enticed me lower, lower, to the basement level, where her wild Vivienne Westwood exhibit laid.  As if one love affair weren’t enough, I discovered O’Keeffe’s, folded into one of the Inner Richmond’s quiet corners.  Mainly frequented by Irishmen (not Americans claiming Irish blood, but actual Irishmen), the gritty dive bar won me over with lusty accents and cheap liquor abound.  So with this letter, I proclaim my love for you, Inner Richmond, my physical map with red exes transformed into a literary map of my memories.  I’ll let everyone know that we are in love, madly in love, and I will dance in your streets till my legs are old and weary, and even then, seated at your park benches, I will still take in your splendor.

Q Restaurant in the Inner Richmond was something of a stumble-upon surprise. While researching restaurants in the weeks leading up to our trip, Q would appear every here and there in reviews and best-of lists and could not be ignored. Kat and I never had the intention of finding good soul-food in San Francisco, but we did and it was awesome.

We hit Q up mid-week, after our one touristy concession —but still awesome— for the trip, a Sonoma Valley wine tour. We hopped an outbound bus at rush hour, hopelessly sunburnt, the seeds of hangover future beginning to sprout, in search of some legitimate comfort food. The decor of the restaurant lived in the artsy-fartsy realm with local collage work on the walls and lightbox-esque table installations. Initially, this was something of a red-flag… Being a former Brooklyn resident and art student, the creativity of a restaurant’s decor directly related to the stuck-up-hipsterness of the experience.

Fortunately for us, this wasn’t Brooklyn, and the staff/food/experience was great. Mac & cheese topped with tater-tots for Kat and fried chicken with mashed potatoes and braised veggies para mi. Really simple and really good at a modest price.

Condo sales volumes were minimal in comparison to past first quarters, but again, prices held up. Areas such as Potrero Hill were given a boost by new construction buildings aimed at first-time home buyers. Once again, the mid-market selling range was king. Here’s a look at how some neighborhoods fared that cater to condo buyers:

Inner Richmond
# Sold: 1
Avge Price: $899,000

Inner Sunset
# Sold: 2
Avge Price: $750,000

Noe Valley
# Sold: 14
Avge Price: $794,071

Eureka Valley
# Sold: 7
Avge Price: $747,286

Mission Dolores
# Sold: 7
Avge Price: $787,143

Duboce Triangle
# Sold: 6
Avge Price: $862,333

The Haight
# Sold: 2
Avge Price: $835,000

Cole Valley
# Sold: 1
Avge Price: $760,000

Hayes Valley
# Sold: 1
Avge Price: $840,000

North Panhandle
# Sold: 6
Avge Price: $717,833

Pacific Heights
# Sold: 7
Avge Price: $763,667

Lower Pacific Heights
# Sold: 5
Avge Price: $669,200

Potrero Hill
# Sold: 13
Avge Price: $505,558

*South of Market
# Sold: 14
Avge Price: $693,343

*South Beach
# Sold: 17
Avge Price: $869,781

*Mission Bay
# Sold: 5
Avge Price: $611,700

*Limited to data provided in MLS; does not include data from sales offices in new development properties.

Popular indie rock band Johnny Hi-Fi is performing at Rockit Room this Friday, April 3rd. They have performed all over the world and have been featured on MTV, Billboard, CBS, and The New York Times. Expect great live music, drinks, and free giveaways as part of their new album release party. Special guest performers are also expected. The event is 21+ and starts at 8:00pm with $10 cover. Go get your rock on.

Rockit Room
406 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 387-6343
http://www.rock-it-room.com

Every Tuesday night at 8:00pm at the Rockit Room in the Inner Richmond, they offer a stand-up comedy showcase with local comedians. It’s free admission with a two drink minimum, though you were going to drink anyway.

Rockit Room
406 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 387-6343
http://www.rock-it-room.com

fri 20 march 2009

i rode my bike yesterday.  and rode and rode and rode.

my original idea was to ride over the GoldenGate Bridge.  but then i realized that once i went over the bridge, then i’d be in marin.  eeew.  and why would i want to be in marin??

i opted for a ride thru the marina, crissy field, and the presidio, which eventually brought me to the inner richmond, which begat GoldenGate Park, which begat the lower haight, and the Castro, and the Mission, and then eventually, 4 hours later, i went to the gym at new montgomery.

sidebar: saw some of my gym community there.  ChattyBrit, GuyWithBigNose, GuyWhoKindaLooksLikeMeBut Shorter, etc. it’s crowded at the gym at 6pm.  and it was irritating to have to wait for a machine, or weights, etc.

my day was filled with activity.

no wonder i was so tired when i got home.

I’m staying with a friend from college, Perry, and in the morning we walked from the Persidio to Inner Richmond. We went to a dim sum restaurant on Clement St, and ate all we could of shrimp and taro dumplings, stuffed sticky rice, and roasted eggplant, we drank pots of tea, and paid just $12.

It rained steadily all day, and felt good to stay inside.

Usually when we hear about Richmond in the media, it’s another sad crime story from the city across the Bay.  But this time, we’re bringing the attention closer to home and featuring an analysis of the Inner Richmond.  We took the liberty of running some numbers in the area and suffice it to say, were shocked at the results (especially in this market!)

We looked at median sales prices for condos and single family homes in the ‘hood, dating back to 1995 and running through October 22 of each respective year.  The reason we capped each year at October 22 is so that we could include 2008 and see what’s going on in the present-day market.  Here is a look at those median sales prices:

Holy moly, look at that rebound in 2008 for Single Family Homes!  Kind of reminded us of Dennis Rodman in his prime… the king of rebounding.

The other thing we notice is just steady-eddie growth over the long haul.  Those appreciation rates are not too shabby either.  For condos, the three year appreciation rate is 113%, the five year is 151%, and the seven year is 161%.  For single family homes, we’re looking at 130% for the three year, 141% for the five year, and 173% for the seven year.  This brings us to our next thought… we are so lucky to live in San Francisco.  Depreciation is the norm in just about every other micro-market in the country right now.  It’s also nice to know it’s not just the folks in Districts Seven and Eight that own solid investments in the city.

There is one caveat to this data, folks (aww man, why is there always a caveat?)  Calculating a median sales price requires a nice string of data.  In the earlier parts of the chart, there were fewer sales, but the data has grown more reliable over the years as more sales have taken place in the area (or, at least have been recorded in MLS).  In the interest of full disclosure, here are the numbers of sales for both single family homes and condos, dating back to 1995 for the Inner Richmond (thru October 22 of each year).

We’d like to see a few more data points, especially in the earlier years, but overall we trust the data trends we found in the Inner Richmond.

For more “Getting Granular” articles, click HERE.