Recently I encountered the most courteous concierge who went far above and beyond any job description when he heard that I was flying into a city outside of California, where I couldn’t get a shuttle to my hotel due to a 6-hour flight delay.   I had phoned the hotel I would be staying at to see if they would arrange for a taxi to pick me up upon my arrival (what woman likes to hang out at an unfamiliar airport at 3 am right? ….).  No such luck.  However, a friend of mine who I had spoken to on the phone had mentioned it to Scott MacIntosh, concierge at the Beverly Hills Peninsula who, to my surprise, immediately arranged for someone to pick me up near the gate, help me with my luggage and drive me safely to my destination.  I’ve never even stayed at the Peninsula and yet they reached out across 2,000 miles and saved the day for me!  What a pleasure to encounter someone so thoughtful.  I’ll definitely remember him when I go gift shopping for the holidays!

Here is a list of places in the Bay Area offering free Thanksgiving dinners:

(listed alphabetically by location)

Antioch
Veterans Memorial Hall
403 West 6th St
10:30-2:30
(925) 516-0653

Benicia
Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church
120 East J St.
4:30-6:00
(707) 745-0307

Berkeley
Cafe Graitude — free vegan Thanksgiving dinners to all those who help serve.
1730 Shattuck Ave.
11:00 – 3:00
(415) 725-4418
www.cafegratitude.com

Bethel Island
Scout Hall
3090 Ranch Lane Rd.
11:00-3:00
(925) 516-0653

Brentwood
Veterans Memorial Hall
757 1st St.
10:30-2:30
(925) 516-0653

Castro Valley
Church of the Nazarene
1920 Lake Chabot Rd.
11:30-1:00
(510) 314-8500
www.sharethanksgiving.com

First Baptist Church
18550 Redwood Rd.
11:30-1:00
(510) 314-8500
www.sharethanksgiving.com

First Presbyterian Church of Hayward (yes, it’s in Castro Valley)
2490 Grove Way
11:30-1:00
(510) 314-8500
www.sharethanksgiving.com

Neighborhood Church
20600 John Dr.
11:30-1:00
(510) 314-8500
www.sharethanksgiving.com

New Life Christian Church
20394 San Miguel Ave.
11:30-1:00
(510) 314-8500
www.sharethanksgiving.com

Redwood Chapel
19300 Redwood Rd.
11:30-1:00
(510) 314-8500
www.sharethanksgiving.com

Concord
First Lutheran Church
4000 Concord Blvd.
11:30-2:30
(925) 671-9942 (english); (925) 261-9315 (spanish)

Fremont
Centerville Presbyterian Church
4360 Central Ave.
4:00-6:00
(510) 314-8500
www.sharethanksgiving.com

Hayward
All Saints Catholic Church
22824 2nd St.
11:30-1:30
(510) 314-8500
www.sharethanksgiving.com

Hillside Alliance
944 Central Blvd.
11:30-1:00
(510) 314-8500
www.sharethanksgiving.com

Healdsburg
Cafe Graitude — free vegan Thanksgiving dinners to all those who help serve.
206 Healdsburg Ave (in the Olive Leaf)
11:00 – 3:00
(707) 723-4461
www.cafegratitude.com

Livermore
Bothwell Center
2466 8th St.
1:00-5:00
(925) 455-9782
www.lctd.org

Mountain View
Ristorante Don Giovanni
235 Castro St.
11:00-4:00
(650) 961-9749

Newark
Newark Pavillion
6430 Thornton Ave.
12:00-4:00
(510) 793-5683

Oakland
Imagine That!
Rainbow Recreation
5800 East 14th St.
(510) 689-7601
imaginethatkids@yahoo.com

Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1330 Lakeshore Ave.
1:00-3:00
(510) 465-4793
info@lakemerrittumc.org
www.lakemerrittumc.org

Oakley
Mountain View Christian Center
5000 Amaryllis St.
6:30-8:30
(925) 625-9570

Richmond
First United Methodist Church
201 Martina St.
12:00-2:00
(510) 236-0527
www.pointrichmond.com/methodist

GRIP
165 22nd St.
11:00-1:00
(510) 233-2141

San Francisco
Cafe Graitude — free vegan Thanksgiving dinners to all those who help serve.
2400 Harrison St.
11:00 – 3:00
(415) 830-3014
www.cafegratitude.com

San Jose
Church of the Chimes
1447 Bryan Ave.
starts at 1:00
(408) 284-9655

San Rafael
Cafe Graitude — free vegan Thanksgiving dinners to all those who help serve.
2200 4th St.
11:00 – 3:00
(415) 578-4928
www.cafegratitude.com

Santa Clara
JJ’s Blues — free Thanksgiving potluck
3439 Stevens Creek Blvd.
doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00. No cover charge
(408) 243-6441

Sonoma
Sonoma Community Center
Andrews Hall
276 East Napa St.
3:00-5:00
(707) 938-4636, ext. 1

Vallejo
Chris’ Club
656 Benicia Rd.
starts at 2:00
(707) 552-2916

Christian Help Center
2166 Sacramento St.
starts at 5:30
(707) 553-8192

First Baptist Church
2025 Sonoma Blvd.
11:00-1:00
(707) 644-4087

Good Samaritan Missionary Baptist Church
407 Capitol St.
11:00-2:00
(707) 553-1896

Walnut Creek
1515 Restaurant & Lounge — free turkeys will be handed out to those in need on Wednesday
1515 North Main St.
1:00-4:00 on Wednesday, November 25.
(925) 939-1515
www.1515wc.com

The Pizza Place — free turkeys will be handed out to those in need on Wednesday
1521 Main St.
1:00-4:00 on Wednesday, November 25.
(925) 935-0100
www.thepizzaplacewc.com

Sun filled vacations

Baja California, Mexico is simply divine. There are no words to express the free and non crowded beaches, the golden days filled with sunshine and the perfect weather that lasts the year around, cooled by the rich sea-laden breezes. There are just too many activities to do in the Baja peninsula, and appeals to just about everyone. So whether one is looking for a sports adventure or a quite trek through ancient ruins to, Baja peninsula has it all. The variety of water sports is mind boggling, with surfing and kayaking topping the list, along with other activities such as diving, snorkeling, sailing and fishing.

Affordable real estate lures immigrants

The magic of the free and unfettered lifestyle and simple lifestyle appeals to all people and thousands of immigrants flock the shores of Baja California Mexico. The inexpensive housing has sent the Baja California real estate flourishing, with many retirees and migrants seeking to own an apartment, a beach condo or a villa. Many wonderful options are available as the Baja peninsula boasts of beautiful sparsely populated beaches, coves and bays. Convenient oceanfront houses are available, open to the seas and sun, as well as villas and beach homes with all amenities like pool, play courts; club houses etc, in the Baja California real estate options.

There are timeshare options available to vacationers who prefer to share the ownership as they are only present in the vacations. There are about 200,000+ Americans living in Baja peninsula, some of them have jobs and have accepted this land as their home, other continue to hold American passports.

Vacation spots- easy to get there But no vacation in the Baja Peninsula is complete without a visit to Mexicali, the capital of Baja California, about 63 kms from the US border. In spite of its arid desert location Mexicali is watered through a system of aquifers in the valley, which was built to encourage agriculture. Mexicali Baja California now produces grapefruit, dates, vegetables, alfalfa, cotton, and cottonseed oil. Many US companies have set up base in Mexicali Baja California due to the availability of cheap labour.

Mexicali Baja California also relies on tourism and visitors cross by foot or car from Calexico in the United States every day. The welcoming atmosphere of Mexicali Baja California includes delicious food in Mexican restaurants, taco stands, music shows, bars and dance clubs attract tourists to this city. Shops selling Mexican crafts and souvenirs are also located in walking distance from the border.

Another attraction for the young students from many high school and colleges is the low drinking age of 18years in Baja California, Mexico, as opposed to 21 years in the United States.

Rosarito – Where the mountains meet the sea

Rosarito Baja California is another favorite vacation spot as it is conveniently located 20 minutes south of the border from San Diego, California; USA is a perfect weekend getaway. The proximity to the border and stunning location as the coastal foothills greets the Pacific Ocean, makes the Rosarito Beach one of the leading resort towns in Baja California Mexico.

Whatever be the reason, the enchantment of the Baja peninsula lures the tourist with its simple life and natural charisma. The dream vacation is closer than you think, and the way to it is inexpensive, so pack those bags and get moving!

Crema tenisului mondial masculin a descins in Londra, cu ocazia barclays ATP World Masters Tour. Primii opt in ierarhie, duelandu-se in grupe parca importate din competitii sportive pe echipe, si cu un britanic printre ei. Andy Murray, un fiu al Scotiei.

Tabelul competitiei masculine domina curtea interioara de la Wimbledon, intre Central Court si Court 1.

Care a si dat la o parte cortina turneului, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, dupa ce demarase cu un 5-0 in 22 minute, in fata argentinianului Del Potro, locul 5 mondial. Un insular in varsta de 22 ani, dispunand de un sud-american de 20, nu intr-o reeditare a razboiului Malvinelor…

Ce-i interesant despre aceste zile de tenis la cel mai inalt nivel tine insa si de localizarea evenimentului. Nu la All England Lawn&Tennis Club, sediu situat in sud-vestul Londrei, in inverzitul si traditionalul Wimbledon, ci la O2 Arena, acea labartata cupola cu tepi din ecranizarea cu James Bond, campata aidoma unui cort extraterestru, undeva pe malul sudic al fluviului, in tuguiul peninsulei Greenwich.

Ce aduce nou aceasta repozitionare a tenisului, de pe iarba Wimbledonului in sala complexului cu nume de furnizor de servicii de telefonie mobila? Beneficii atat pentru spectatori, cat si pentru jucatori.

Pentru jucatori!? Cum asa? Ei bine, e o lege nescrisa partizanatul in favoarea simpatiilor gazdelor de la Wimbledon de a oferi Central Court si in general terenurile principale celor mai bine clasati dintre britanici. Avantajul de a juca pe iarba proprie. Asta pe cand alde Dinara Safina, la vremea verii numarul unu mondial intre femei, era azvarlita pe terenurile periferice ale complexului de inalta tinuta. Un Murray probabil nici nu mai stie prea bine cum arata alte terenuri decat cel Central.

In O2 in schimb, fiecare tenisman isi asteapta randul si democratia e impartita si pentru purcei, si pentru catei. Pe acelasi teren de sub o cupola atat de mult blamata, atat de nefunctionala in opinia multora, la ora cumpenei dintre milenii, cand, intr-adevar, megainvestitia parea a fi devenit un “elefant alb”, un proiect muribund din fasa, miliarde aruncate pe malul Tamisei.  

Iata insa ca i s-a gasit utilitatea, fiind de fapt multifunctional. De la concerte de muzica, incluzand cel al Madonnei, pana la recentele Campionate Mondiale de gimnastica, iar acum, o noutate, tenisul.

Madonna, "aterizata din spatiu", intr-o coreografie scenica de exceptie, in timpul concertului din vara in O2 Arena

E bine si pentru spectatori. Putini muritori de rand isi permiteau luxul de a prinde un bilet la Wimbledon, ale carui destule meciuri se derulau si cu suficiente locuri lasate libere, pentru ca angajatii sau simpatiile ori prietenii angajatilor ori simpatiilor diverselor companii ce-si asigurasera pe cai comercial-corporatiste locurile lor in jurul dreptunghiurilor verzi nu catadicsisera finalmente sa onoreze cu prezenta.

In plus, Wimbledon e cochet, capsuni cu frisca si sampanie, bonomie de moda veche, dar nu intr-atat de extins. E oarecum exclusivist. O2 in schimb e pentru norod, mai mare, cu 17.500 locuri, si extrem de putine dintre acestea de un alt rang. Uniformitate si incluziune prin diversitate. Si un baietel dintr-o familie nevoiasa, de pe-acolo, din estul Londrei, dar de pe malul nordic, atat de “mai altfel” decat inverzitul Greenwich, poate prinde cu taticul sau un loc, inspirandu-se din arta cu racheta a urmasului lui Henman si intrebandu-si parintele cand incepe si el orele in preajma fileului.

Indirect, un imbold pentru regenerarea tenisului la nivelul juvenil si in general al maselor, in Regatul Unit. Atat de zgarcit in oferta de campioni pe scena mondiala. Atat de optimist acum, cand intre aspirantii la glorie suprema se regaseste si un britanic, fie el scotian si nu englez.

Acest turneu la O2 e in pas cu tendintele evidente ale globalizarii, tenis pentru mai multi, o nivelare prin devalorizare, sapand incet la temelia unui emblematic Wimbledon, atat de inradacinat in malul de care incet-incet ne indepartam.

Iar in crema jocului se va remarca Roger, ce ne zambeste cu crema pe fata si Gillette la purtator, nu ca Napoleon, cu o mana folosind racheta de tenis si cu cealalta ingrijindu-se de aspectul sau facial, aparandu-si concomitent amicul din reclama TV cu cei trei muschetari, Thierry cel cu mana pe lama de ras dar si pe minge.

Vom afla curand cine va triumfa, cine va lua potul, acolo unde recent si Marian Dragulescu sfida legea acceleratiei gravitationale si dadea Romaniei si mai mult aur. Unii aduc aur, cu sudoare si repetitie, altii iau aerul romanilor intr-o tara cu munti ca ai nostri care aur poarta. Iar noi?

Cladirea terenului principal de la Wimbledon, Centre Court, vazuta dinspre poarta 5. Wimbledon inseamna traditie, istoria jocului dar si emfaza. Nu e multora accesibil... De aceea Murray se poate astepta in O2 sa fie incurajat de un spectru mai larg de suporteri

From Globe Street (linked here):

“MOFFETT FIELD, CA-A three-million-square-foot mixed-use community on 77 acres within the NASA Research Park here will serve as a test-bed for advances in green technologies. The project is a joint venture of the University of California at Santa Cruz and the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, which have formed a non-profit entity (University Associates-Silicon Valley LLC) for the endeavor. The two schools this week announced the master developers for the project, San Francisco-based TMG Partners and the Related Cos. of New York City.”

Remainder of story here…

The living room runs along the opposite side of the house from the carport. This is the view from the carport door, past the kitchen peninsula, and into the living room. The windows behind the couch are visible from the exterior here and here.

The living room is embarrassingly IKEA-fied, but I love every bit of it. It was also a great solution to furnish a room with stuff we liked in time for our first round of visitors, who arrived two days after we moved in. The sofa is an IKEA Karlstad loveseat in Linneryd natural with a chaise add-on unit. The ottoman is an IKEA Karlstad footstool with a cover that I can’t find online. The end tables are the IKEA Stockholm side table in white/golden brown. They’re topped with Lykta table lamps in white. I love the Lykta lamps because they’re made of 100% glass–base, shade, everything is glass!

This is the fireplace, made with the same brick as the chimney visible from the exterior. I would love to replace the fireplace surround. It seems super ’80s compared to the rest of the house. I’m kind of into the concrete hearth, though. The rattan chair is the IKEA Vibbyn, which we got on clearance right before they stopped making it.

From the floor-to-ceiling window next to the fireplace, you can see straight through the master bedroom at the back of the house, out a similar floor-to-ceiling window, and into the blue spruce in the back yard. I hate the fact that the wood paneling on the wall at the left is painted brown. I really wish it were still natural, like it is in the guest cabin (that part of the tour is coming soon).

Next to the sofa is the “front” door, which is opposite the door from the kitchen to the living room, with the coat closet next to it.

The coat closet and the door from the kitchen to the living room are examples of the sliding interior doors in the house. Of the 12 interior doors in the house, ten of them are sliding. (The two standard doors don’t have adjacent walls with sufficient space to slide away.) I think it’s a great solution for a small house with narrow hallways.

This is what the kitchen door looks like closed. It reveals the wall that is hidden behind the door when it’s open.

Next up is the very exciting utility room.

Stanford University // Palo Alto, Calif.

From the California Beat photography collection, Bay Area Snapshots is an occassional glimpse at daily life in the San Francisco Bay Area.

If you’re anything like me, you eat a lot. After all, this beautiful Heavyweight Champion’s body didn’t happen by accident! My wrestling-physique aside, eating a lot requires a great deal of food. Keeping a great deal of food around is a real challenge when you’re on a budget like ours. The simplest answer is to cook, rather than order out, which nine-times-out-of-ten, is also healthier! But groceries can be expensive too! So it’s important to hunt around and find the cheapest groceries you can. That’s what we’ve done.

For certain groceries, like fresh fruits and vegetables, we’ve found that the Farmer’s Market is a great place to shop, but for canned goods, cereal, juice, and the like, we’ve found the best deals to be at The Grocery Outlet chains. Their selection is constantly changing, so it’s never a guarantee that the same foods are available, but the low prices are a constant.

For store locations and hours, visit the Grocery Outlet website.

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Me haría ilusión algún día poder conocer la península ibérica más a fondo y poder narrar en GAY.CAT lo que me fuera aconteciendo
En este post mencionaré algunos lugares por los que me gustaría estar no porque sepa algo de ellos sinó porque sus nombres me han llamado la atención al mirar un mapa.