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Zuckerman's Asparagus: The Way of the Dinosaur?

Sara — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:12:40 -0700

While pondering what to blog about today, I looked out at the pale wash of clouds over the day's blue sky and while there might be some pressing chef gossip, what's on my mind right now is spring: the apricot jam I'm going to make, the sour cherry pie I'm going to perfect, the green garlic, the peas, the morels, the asparagus!

So, what do writers do when they don't know what to write about? They google. And I googled asparagus and up popped an article, "Hard Times for California Asparagus" that I'd missed in last week's LA Times from produce savant and writer David Karp.

According to Karp, Mexican and Peruvian-grown asparagus has taken over because of access to cheap labor (which translates to cheap prices)—but to such an extent that one of our favorite San Joaquin Delta growers here, Zuckerman's Farm, is on their "last stand":

"Farmers often cry that the sky is falling when they are really just experiencing a cyclical downturn in markets, but hard facts back up Zuckerman's concern. California still grows about 11,500 acres of asparagus, estimates Cherie Watte Angulo, executive director of the California Asparagus Commission. But this is down from 20,200 in 2007 and 40,900 is 2000. Twenty years ago, California produced 62% of the asparagus consumed in the United States; so its share is close to 10%, Angulo says."

Read the rest of the article and then go out and buy some fat local asparagus and cook it up for dinner tonight. Zuckerman's is available at both the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and the Alemany Farmers Market. It's a worthy cause and a good way to celebrate the (almost) beginning of spring. We've got four days before the official kickoff.

I always like asparagus topped with a soft-cooked egg but this is one of my oldie but goodie ode-to-spring recipes.

Vintage Shopping with Splendora’s Gina Pell

LorraineSanders — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:05:02 -0700

Ask Splendora founder Gina Pell about her must-haves style picks for spring, and you might expect a lengthy list comprised of the latest from Louboutin and brand names plucked off the racks at Barney’s New York. But you’d be wrong.

When we sat down recently with Pell to quiz her about spring style, the conversation surprised us with its quick shift to vintage fashion. Instead of visits to high-end boutiques or a trend treatise on choice items from spring collections, Pell’s style radar has its sights squarely set on one local shopping event, this weekend’s Vintage Fashion Expo.

“I love vintage because it’s green, and it’s original, and it lasts a lifetime. I mean, it already has,” says Pell, whose San Francisco-based site has long been a daily must-read for fashion fans.

A regular at the semi-annual exhibition, whose vendors span periods from the Victorian to Art Deco to the 1980’s, Pell has been known to spend hours pouring over the racks at the shows, making friends with dealers and searching for new finds.

“It’s really like treasure hunting,” says Pell.

For those new to vintage shopping, she suggests slowly adding vintage pieces by starting with jewelry and accessories first. And because the sheer volume of vintage at an event like this weekend’s can be overwhelming, Pell recommends narrowing your hunt to a few favorite time periods.

“Figure out what era you’re attracted to. For me, it’s 60’s mod, 70’s hippie and 80’s preppy working girl. And 20’s and 30’s accessories,” she says.

Last but not least, her advice for shoppers frustrated with the notoriously small sizes of vintage: focus on outerwear.

“Coats are always the exception,” says Pell.

The Vintage Fashion Expo takes place March 20-21 at the Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 8th St., San Francisco. Tickets ($10-$20) are sold at the door.

Beached Art

leilanimarielabong — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0700

What do star-crossed lovers (thanks, Shakespeare), a black fly in your chardonnay (merci, Alanis) and Santa Cruz artist Jim Denevan's elaborate sand drawings have in common? They're all prime examples of beautiful irony. Denevan's doomed artistry—which can be found, on any fair-weather day, on SF's Ocean Beach or Santa Cruz's Cowell Beach—is front-and-center in this month's Sunset magazine. The geometric precision of Denevan's awe-inspiring patterns nods to the handiwork of aliens (as seen in some of England's notable crop circles) and the great Dutch optical illusionist, M.C. Escher. So, if you want to view one of these fleeting tableaus, it's probably high time you get to the beach before high tide. Just cross your fingers that Denevan is on the same, er, wavelength.

Peruse A Mission Boutique From Comfort of Your Cubicle

JaclynBinder — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:44:27 -0700

Have you ever dreamed of finding unique treasures ranging from seemingly sweet heart pendants to a double-headed chick, all in one glorious place?

Well then look no further than BellJar's newly launched e-commerce site, perfect for those moments when you're stuck in front of your computer instead of taking a Four Barrel-fueled stroll around the Mission. Just in time for their two-year anniversary, the darling boutique's site features clothing, jewelry, art, trinkets for home and more in addition to a brand-new blog for their musings.

So what are you waiting for? Okay okay, your boss is gone now...click!

On Restaurant Magic

Jessica — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:17:10 -0700

Last weekend I had a great meal at Church & State in Los Angeles. My dining companions and I sat there, in the center of the dining room amidst a swirl of activity, and I felt the happiest I'd been in a restaurant in quite some time. Everything was great—great energy, smart servers, terrific food—but there was also some indescribable brilliance that made that spot feel special. Restaurants—even good restaurants—don't always have this magic ingredient, and while we worked out way through bacalao fritters, escargot, perfect John Dory, we tried to figure out what it was.

I actually think about this a lot—why some restaurants are great and others are lame, what it is—beyond the obvious (food, service) that makes a restaurant feel special. Across the pond, the London Sunday Times restaurant reviewer A.A. Gill was thinking the same thing, and yesterday published a story called "The Golden Rules of a Perfect Restaurant." More then rules for a perfect restaurant, his article reads more like a cautionary tale for wanna-be restauranteurs and chefs, a dose of reality.

Says Gill, "The worst reason to open a restaurant is because you really love feeding people, and want to make a warm, hospitable, elegant space with great food, where friends can come and have a wonderful cosy time. A restaurant is a business. You have to want to work for money, not give dinner parties and be palmed tips." He goes on for nine more bulleted points, each with his gems of wisdom—"a restaurant is not a theatre" (sorry, OPEN restuarant); "Every facet of a restaurant needs fixing all the time" (true); "Restauranteurs have no idea what it's like to be a customer in their own dining room" (also true); "To become a restauranteur is to lose any sense of relative worth"; "No restaurant PR has ever made a positive difference to any restaurant in the history of catering" (hmm); "location, location, location means little or nothing" (true at Church & State, certainly, which is in an alley on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles, and true at Aziza, way out in the middle of nowhere); "hard work seems to make little difference" (I'd argue here that hard work won't make a bad restaurant good, necessarily, but it goes a long way towards making a good restaurant great).

But like me, Gill can't put his finger on the magic. I suppose if he or I could, we'd probably become wealthy restaurant consultants and none of us would ever again have to suffer the indignity of a terrible dinner at a subpar but well-intentioned neighborhood joint. As he ends his piece, "I still can't tell you what will make them good or successful (not necessarily the same thing). It is an elusive and capricious alchemy." Those who have it should feel, above all else, incredibly lucky.

St. Patrick's Day Flash Mob: Shoot From The Hip

Stephanie — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:46:18 -0700

Oh, St. Patrick’s Day. How we love your lucky leprechaun jigs, green beer and authentic Irish pinching traditions.

To celebrate this debaucherous holiday, we’re holding another 7x7 Flash Mob, so grab those camera phones and snap whatever you’re doing throughout the day on March 17. Sitting on the sidelines of the parade? Guzzling pints at the pub? Eating a killer plate of corned beef and cabbage? Just email your photo to our Flickr group at flashmob@7x7.com to be featured on 7x7’s site. Be sure to include a title in the subject line and a short description of where you are with your email address in the body (so we can let you know when your photo's up and if you've won a $100 gift certificate to Harris’ restaurant).

We suggest setting an alarm now to remind you of the contest; there's no telling where your mind will be after a pint (or three) of Guinness!

The 10 Best Irish Pubs in the City

allisonmccarthy — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:41:28 -0700

Sure, green beer is kinda gross and Irish car bombs are a bit fratastic, but what other day can you go out, down a Guinness and say, “Kiss me, I’m Irish” without getting slapped? The sophisticated amongst us may choose to stay couch-bound Wednesday, but for those who want to revel, there’s no shortage of solid pubs. Here’s where you might find us quaffing a few.

1. The Irish Bank
Tucked away at the end of a dirty alley, this pub is a favorite of the downtown after-work crowd. Indoors or out, you’ll get a little taste of Europe in the heart of SF. 10 Mark Ln. at Grant Ave. (Union Square), 415-788-7152

2. The Plough and the Stars
Fiddlers, flautists and bagpipes, oh my! Known for their stellar lineup of live jigs, The Plough and the Stars has been keeping the Celtic tradition real for more than 30 years. 116 Clement St. between 2nd and 3rd Ave. (Inner Richmond), 415-751-1122

3. The Blarney Stone
UK sports broadcasts and dart challenges are staple good times at this Outer Richmond bar, but we like it because of the proximity to John Campbell's Irish Bakery. Head next door for the quintessential slice of soda bread (then go back in the morning for their legendary Irish bacon breakfast sandwiches). 5625 Geary Blvd. between 20th and 21st Ave. (Outer Richmond), 415-386-9914

4. Buena Vista Café
St. Patrick’s Day may be synonymous with beer, but if you’re not feeling a pint, head to Russian Hill for Buena Vista's signature Irish coffee instead. 2765 Hyde St. at Beach St. (Russian Hill), 415-474-5044

5. Little Shamrock
The second oldest bar in the city, and a great spot to snuggle up to a game of backgammon. Whiskey connoisseurs will appreciate the vast selection of Irish varieties. 807 Lincoln Way at 9th Ave. (Inner Sunset), 415-661-0060

6. The Phoenix
Avoid the financial district’s block party and head to the Mission instead to rub elbows with hipsters over a Harp or Smithwick’s. Get there early to line your stomach with corned beef, cabbage and soda bread. 811 Valencia St. at 19th St. (Mission), 415-695-1811

7. Durty Nelly's
Lost in a sea of Asian restaurants and markets, this Sunset outpost is where the real Irish men hang out. Join the throngs of expats for an authentic Celtic toast. 2328 Irving St. between 24th and 25th St. (Outer Sunset), 415-664-2555

8. Kennedy's
It’s the only place we know of where you can get a side of curry with your Guinness and finish with a game of air hockey. 1040 Columbus Ave. at Taylor St. (North Beach), 415-441-8855

9. The Chieftain
Old world abounds at this Emerald Isle mainstay south of Market. We’re hoping the street grunge on the surrounding blocks will keep the tourists away so you can pound a pint in peace. 198 Fifth St. at Howard St. (SoMa), 415-615-0916

10. The Liberties
The dark mahogany bar and warm wood accents lend an air of sophistication to this neighborhood pub. Do what the locals do and order a BLT made with Irish bacon and soda bread to soak up all the booze. 998 Guerrero St. at 22nd St. (Mission), 415-282-6789

Disagree with our picks? Let us know in the comments.

New in Cow Hollow: Conifer Opens

LorraineSanders — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:24:55 -0700

A brand new reason to come out of the woods and go shopping in Cow Hollow comes in the form of Conifer, a cozy little shop just up the hill on Webster Street from Union in the space previously home to Great Overland Books.

The first retail venture from former longtime Built By Wendy employee Amy Mautz, who returned to San Francisco in 2008 to open the indie label’s now-shuttered Mission boutique after several years in the Big Apple, the shop focuses on the smaller New York labels she fell in love with while living on the East Coast.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own store, and I knew that was going to happen one day,” says Mautz.

Reclaimed wooden floors and redwood shelves from Petaluma’s Heritage Salvage set the stage for racks of industrial black piping hung with women’s apparel by designers such as Rachel Comey, Organic by John Patrick, Lover, Lauren Moffat and Built By Wendy. Bags by Lauren Merkin and sunglasses by Karen Walker accompany jewelry by Dirty Librarian Chains, Wendy Nichol, Aesa and Munted Kowhai. Hansel by Basel socks, Blithe and Bonny soaps and candles, Austin Press cards and what Mautz dubs other “gifty items” adorn a central table Mautz designed herself using salvaged wood and metal.

The table’s hardly the only thing in the shop made by Mautz, who learned patternmaking from San Francisco’s Apparel Arts. A small selection of her designs, which include tops and skirts, are also available at the store. In addition to using the shop as her studio space, Mautz also plans to have rotating art shows throughout the year.

See it for yourself during a grand opening party this Friday, March 19, from 5 to 8 p.m., 2848 Webster St., San Francisco, 415-922-1892, www.conifershop.com.

Craigslist Deal of the Week: $1595 Washington Square 1 Bdrm

LilyGahagan — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:00:00 -0700

Oh, Mama's. We'd gladly trek across the city for a plate of your French toast, but with this week's Craigslist deal, we wouldn't have to. Located just half a block from Mama's brunch spot and Washington Square, this North Beach cottage is the perfect location for late morning brunches and leisurely strolls–two necessities for happy living, says us. Relax on the unit's private deck, then head inside to a newly renovated kitchen, complete with dishwasher and gas stove (the ad also lists "reefer" as a kitchen area bonus–um, you'll have to ask about that on the tour).

One cat is allowed in the home, washer and dryer are in the building, and parking is available for an additional fee. Head over to Filbert and Stockton to check it out. At the very least, it'll give you an excuse to stop by Mama's for that French toast. Immaculate 1BR Cottage

ODC's 39th Season: A Guide to Elegance and Labor of Love

AmberAdrian — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:02:32 -0700

Dancers soaring across stage in their underwear are never to be missed. Especially when the women strip the men down to the barest of skivvies and redress them in haute couture created on the spot with masking tape, butcher paper, and tissue. Inspired by a manual on correct female conduct written in 1963, the world premiere of A Guide To Elegance features dancers moving to the sounds of Pamela Z's original score and a voiceover intoning the themes of the manual.

Suggestions for the elegant woman include never shopping with another woman because no matter how dear a friend, she will unconsciously sabotage your sartorial efforts. It also recommends assuming the persona of a delicate bird so men feel encouraged to protect you. Ironic, humorous and ever-so-slightly alarming, the piece explores the evolution of gender identity and the nature of social commentary. As well as the impossible-to-underestimate value of a black velvet dress in winter.

ODC's 39th annual spring season includes a number of company favorites as well as Labor of Love, another world premiere that portrays the struggle of committed adult love set to Mozart. A San Francisco tradition for almost four decades, ODC busts it out with the compelling modern dance yet again.

Through March 28. Yerba Buena Center, 700 Howard St. Tickets are $10-45 at www.odcdance.org.

SF's Alite Brings Delight to Camping Gear

AlliePape — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:36:57 -0800

With so many great natural spots within an hour or two of driving, the Bay Area is a camper's paradise. But even as we pack our organic local edibles, throw on our Timbuk2 backpacks, and cover up with a locally-designed raincoat, the gear we take with us is pretty much the same as the rest of the country's: blandly designed, more functional than fun. That's why we were excited to see the new spring product line from Alite, a Mission-based manufacturer of outdoor gear. Founded by three Stanford grads, the company's manufacturing life began with colorful butterfly chairs, which roll up to the size of a burrito (SF-style, of course) and fit easily into a bag. Now they're extending their empire to the overnight aspect of the great outdoors, with fun yet hardy equipment like their In-Law Outlaw tent, designed to mimic the look of a vintage RV.

Those who retreat to the outdoors to spice up their relationships may want to consider investing in the Sexy Hotness sleeping bag. This brightly colored sleeper doubles as a bodysuit, allowing campers to basically wear their bedding around the campfire, like a high-tech Snuggie. When you and your partner are ready for bed, the bags zip easily into each other and feature adjustable middle flaps-- perfect for a little action under the stars.

Even if your idea of the outdoors is an afternoon of beers at Dolores Park, Alite has some great products for an urban day out, like a camera stand that doubles as a cupholder, and a dog leash with a built-in baggie dispenser for cleaning up after Fido.

Best of all, Alite's offerings won't break the bank. Prices range from $30 for the baggie-dispensing leash to $270 for the tent-- not much higher than comparable plain-Jane products, and supporting a local business to boot. You can view the complete spring line (launching March 15) at their website. Alite products are available at REI, Eastern Mountain Sports, and Cole Hardware, as well as from their online store.

An Alternative St. Patrick's Day

AlliePape — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:20:00 -0800

Green beer, car bombs, pinching strangers: St. Patrick's Day, the old-fashioned way, can be plenty of fun. But if your memories of last year's hangover are still painful, or you can't stomach the antics of a holiday bartenders not-so-lovingly refer to as "Amateur Night," there are still plenty of ways to enjoy St. Patty's this Wednesday that aren't on the traditional Irish-pub route. (And if you still love the classics, take heart: three of the four bars recently chosen by Thrillist as the city's best are Irish pubs.) Here are a few suggestions for a fresh take on St. Patty's (all hours are for Wednesday):

Spice up your Guinness with Indian food. One of those great places that give SF its character, Kennedy's is the only Irish pub we know of that doubles as an Indian restaurant. Plus, if you're trying to save money on your bar tab this year, they've got a brilliant happy hour deal: from 5 to 7, Guinness is only $2, and any other draft beer you buy (and there are many) comes with a token good for a second, which can be used even when happy hour is over. Settle in with a stout and a saag paneer, and revel in the contradictions. Kennedy's, open 11 am-2 am, 1040 Columbus Ave., (415) 441-8855.

Trade that Irish car bomb for an Irish coffee. Our fair city has always had a special relationship with Irish coffee, having served as its introduction to the United States. The Buena Vista is the go-to locale for the classic version of the drink, but if you don't feel like battling the tourists, nearby Vesuvio is slightly less crowded. Or go exotic: Nopa serves a tasty brown-sugar molasses version. The Buena Vista, 9 am-2 am, 2675 Hyde St., (415) 474-5044. Vesuvio, open 6 am-2 am, 255 Columbus Ave., (415) 362-3370. Nopa, 6 pm-1 am, 560 Divisadero St., (415) 864-8643.

Explore the world of whiskey beyond Jameson. We love a good glass of Jameson or Bushmill's, but on a night when everyone else will be draining bottles of Irish whiskey, you can still get a taste of the brown stuff without limiting your country of origin. The Excelsior's Broken Record has an excellent, well-priced selection of whiskey, with an emphasis on craft bourbon, as well as a sizable Scotch offering. Or you can sip on a Japanese single-malt at Nihon Whisky Lounge, which boasts what is probably the city's largest variety of Scotch. The Broken Record, open 6-11 pm, 1166 Geneva Ave., (630) 963-1713. Nihon Whisky Lounge, open 5:30 pm-2 am, 1779 Folsom St., (415) 552-4400.

Take in some Celtic cinema. Recent Oscar nominee The Secret of Kells is a lovingly hand-drawn animated film made in Ireland last year, and opening in the U.S. this weekend. The story is a whimsical take on the Irish monks (and their young apprentice) who illustrated the titular book, one of the most exquisite illuminated texts ever made. A showing at the Century San Francisco Centre in the Westfield mall would make a great St. Pat's date or outing with kids. Or, for a comfy night at home, bump some Irish films to the top of your Netflix queue: Michael Collins, Angela's Ashes, and My Left Foot all capture the indomitable Irish spirit, Waking Ned Devine is a delightful comedy, and The Secret of Roan Inish is lyrical and kid-friendly. Pick up some Guinness or Harp to sip with your popcorn. Century San Francisco Centre at the Westfield Mall, 835 Market St., (415) 538-3456.

Calling all Cougars and Cubs!

JessHemerly — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0800

Cougars and cubs, Trader Vic's in Palo Alto is the place to be on this rainy Friday! Ladies get locks, men get keys, and you spend the night tracking down your match. The party starts at 8 and goes until midnight so you'll have plenty of time to find that special someone. Lock and key party will be followed by a "dance party" with a "professional DJ." Even if you're not a cougar or a cub, if you happen to be in Palo Alto tonight, it might be worth the $20 for the sheer spectacle.

The Winner of the Big Eat Scavenger Hunt: The Exit Interview

Sara — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:48:30 -0800

Michael Meadows completed the Big Eat scavenger hunt on Food Spotting on February 24, barely three weeks after the February issue of 7x7 containing the 2010 Big Eat came out! We were stunned. We were curious. After congratulating him (and getting ready to send off his winning prize of dinner for two at Quince and a stay at a hotel), we got down to the nitty gritty.

What do you do when you're not eating?
I do project management for Satmetrix.

How on earth did you complete this so quickly? You cheated, didn't you.
No! This year there was a map, so I was able to divide the city into different regions. My kids go to school in the Haight and we live in the outer Misison, and we work downtown, so there's always this arch that I'm traveling through. Every Tuesday I go through the Haight and get the Blue Bell Bitter, anyway. My wife got into it as well. What we'd eat was completely random: We'd get a loaf of bread from Tartine and the chicken from Limon and the chips from Papalote and that would be dinner.

What was your biggest day?
For Valentine's Day, we kicked into high gear. We left work at 5 o'clock to get to Swan Oyster Depot before they closed, headed to Bix, got the tuna tartare and martini, then walked over to Quince, got the agnolotti, went from Alfred's [Steak House] to Wexler's to Perbacco and there was a wait for an hour-and-half to get into Tadich [Grill], so my wife said 'forget it!' and we went to Anchor & Hope (and if she drank red wine we would have gone to RN74), then we went to Michael Mina and got the lobster pot pie in the lounge. Then we went to Tosca and had a coffee and stopped Katana–ya and got the ramen. These are all places that I've known about, but a lot I hadn't been to

My god. [stunned moment of silence] So how did you get into the restaurants without reservations?
Well, we'd just go into the bar and just sit whatever. I had the printout of the Big Eat and I'd show it to the restaurant and explain that we were on the scavenger hunt.

What compelled you to finish so quickly?
Part, truly, was the Food Spotting app, because you could see the other competitors. People would leap frog. One person would have 10 and one person would come back with 20… then I'd have to go slightly above them. I followed their twitter feed to know what they were eating.

Tensest moment?
At one point, Darwin [another competitor on the Food Spotting Big Eat scavenger hunt] got to 87. We were going 1 to 1. The pork sugo at Delfina wasn't on the menu and I knew we'd both be at 98 and he had things like the burrito at El Farolito and it was going to be like the Mad Mad Mad World. So I called up Delfina and asked if they'd had it on the menu. I called every day, so I think they wanted me to stop calling, and they finally put it on the menu and that's how I won! And then my family went to Anthony's Cookies for dessert.

Are you going through a post Big Eat depression?
Since I wrapped this thing up so we haven't been out at all. I cook quite a bit.

What were your favorite dishes on the Big Eat?
I really liked the huaraches with the nopales from the Alemany farmers market. I know this is a cop-out, but the roasted chicken from Zuni and the basil gimlet from Rye. Every though I don't love Heaven's Dog, I could live off the Shanghai Buck.

What would you like to see on there next year?
I would put possibly the Monterey scramble from Primo Patio. That's really good. Or classics like the pancakes from Sears or the cotton candy from the Stow Lake boat house.

What’s the Deal: Free Lashes, Discounted Denim, Spring Jackets + More

LorraineSanders — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:21:53 -0800

What's your deal? Here are ours:

shu uemura: If you’re headed to the Asian American Film Festival on Saturday, scope out this Japanese beauty company’s booth for complimentary makeovers and lash applications.

Gap: Turn old jeans into new ones and save at the same time with this retailer’s eco-friendly denim drive. Through Sunday, drop off an old pair of jeans at any Gap store, and you’ll save 30 percent on a new pair. What happens to your oldies? Gap recycles them to become natural cotton fiber insulation used in homes for people in need.

Rock Solid Fitness: Cleansing for spring just got cheaper. Sign up for a spring cleanse session with this local fitness company by March 15, and you’ll save 20 percent on the total package price. You can also get a package of 10 personal training sessions for $550 when you sign up by Monday.

H&M: Jackets and blazers for men and women are $15 off at stores right now, while kids’ jackets and blazers are $5 off.

SenSpa: This Presidio spa is offering a weekend of workshops, mini-makeovers, discounts and free products as part of a grand opening celebration for its on-site Wellness Apothecary. Workshop topics range from stress management to supplements, while appointments are available throughout the weekend for makeup and skin evaluations.

Mara’s Salon: A mani pedi from this Hayes Valley destination is $20 (reg. $35) via a deal on Joffer today.

Tenaya Med Spa: A Laser Genesis Facial can be had from this Union Street destination for $79 (that’s 77 percent off the regular price of $350), thanks to a deal up today on FreshGuide.

Collective: The Mission neighborhood home of TaxiCDC is offering 20 percent off all men’s and women’s boots through March 28.

Oxenrose: The Hayes Valley salon is giving away two tickets to Mighty Tiger on March 27 and a copy of their limited edition vinyl. To enter the drawing, stop by the salon or email nico (at) oxenrosesalon (dot) com. The winner will be chosen March 26.

The Firm: Save $20 on in-store purchases of $100 or more through March 18 with this online coupon from the Pacific Heights boutique.

To Dye For: Lauren Pierce Atelier Hits Barneys

JaclynBinder — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:13 -0800

You've always dreamed of having a famous fashion designer, model and George W's humanitarian niece make a one-of-a-kind dress especially for you. Okay, maybe your dreams weren't that specific, but they should have been because now's your chance.

Today from 4-7 p.m., Lauren Pierce Bush will be on-hand at Barneys to debut her exclusive collection, Lauren Pierce Atelier. Five of her gorgeous eco-conscious garments will be on display on the third floor and if you like what you see (and we bet you will) this is where the fun really begins.

So here's how it works. Choose the silhouette (classic, one-shoulder, mini, etc.) you like best, then make your way to select from the dizzying array of one-of-a-kind fabrics hand-dyed by women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, via a program set up by Women For Women International. Six weeks later, your customized dress will be delivered to your door with a personalized label featuring your name and the name of the woman who dyed the fabric for you. If you can't make it today, the collection will be available until Mar. 18 but we definitely recommend going sooner than later for the best selection.

A stunningly original piece that gives back to the global community? Sign us up.

Lauren Pierce Atelier at Barneys New York from Fri, 3/12-Thurs. 3/18, 77 O'Farrell St., 415-268-3500

Indie Theater Roundup: 7 Movies to See This Week

RossiterDrake — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 -0800

The Oscars may be over, but the big winners – The Hurt Locker, Crazy Heart and Avatar, as well as acclaimed foreign nominees like The White Ribbon and A Prophet – are still playing at an indie theater near you. Elsewhere, Matt Damon returns as a very Bourne-like soldier hunting nonexistent weapons of mass destruction in Paul Greengrass’ Green Zone.

1. 28th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
Where: Clay Theatre, 2261 Fillmore St., 415-346-1124, Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, 1881 Post St., 415-929-4650
When: All Week
Why: Since 1982, the SFIAAFF has been a crucial launching point for Asian-American independent filmmakers, as well as a vital source for new Asian cinema. This year, its selections include The Forbidden Door, Joko Anwar's Freudian thriller about an artist haunted by his own sculptures, and Yonfan's Prince of Tears, a twisted fairy tale inspired by the mass execution of suspected Taiwanese communists that represented Hong Kong at this year's Academy Awards.

2. The Art of the Steal
Where: Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St., 415-863-1087
When: Feb. 14, 18
Why: Don Argott (Rock School) asks us to consider the battle raging over the treasures of the Barnes Foundation, and it's an invitation well worth accepting. Founded in 1922 by millionaire art enthusiast Dr. Albert C. Barnes, the Foundation boasts a collection of Post-Impressionist and early Modern art worth roughly $25 billion. The only problem? Barnes left control of it to a small college, on the condition that the paintings never be exploited for commercial gain. Now, the city of Philadelphia, for one, wants to make them a tourist attraction. Art of the Steal is a powerful meditation on public vs. private rights, and, thanks to Argott, fascinating entertainment.

3. A Prophet
Where: Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, 1881 Post St., 415-929-4650
When: All Week
Why: Winner of the Grand Prix at last year's Cannes Film Festival, Jacques Audiard’s story of a 19-year-old whose life is redefined by six years in prison has been compared in some quarters to The Godfather, and the comparison makes sense on a superficial level. Malik (Tahar Rahim) goes to prison an innocent and leaves a criminal. We are grateful for his survival, but the violence that becomes second nature to him is nothing to celebrate, something Audiard understands. A Prophet is no fairy tale – there are neither heroes nor villains, merely men married to a desperate career path, fighting to eke out an existence. Malik proves better at it than most, but his tragedy is a depressingly common one: To save his life, he must sacrifice his soul.

4. Green Zone
Where: Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, 1881 Post St., 415-929-4650
When: All Week
Why: Brian Helgeland’s sometimes shallow but briskly paced story, inspired by Washington Post national editor Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s critique of America’s reconstruction of Iraq, is the basis for Green Zone, director Paul Greengrass’ second movie about Sept. 11 and its messy aftermath, after the chilling United 93. There's real energy here, a sense of urgency nearly vitiated by one particularly tiresome shootout but invigorated by Matt Damon, who gives his conflicted Army hero the same authoritative presence that made Jason Bourne so appealing. By now, Damon is an old hand at this sort of thing, but his intelligence always shines through.

5. The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Where: Bridge Theatre, 3010 Geary Blvd., 415-751-3213
When: All Week
Why: By leaking the contents of the top-secret Pentagon Papers to the media and forever altering America's perception of the Vietnam War, former Marine and military analyst Daniel Ellsberg, now 78, helped bring on the downfall of the Nixon administration. His story is told here concisely and powerfully by documentarians Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, who recall a time when mainstream journalists were less hesitant to challenge White House propaganda.

6. Alice in Wonderland
Where: Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, 1881 Post St., 415-929-4650
When: All Week
Why: Tim Burton began his career as a Disney animator, and given his flair for strangely evocative images, brilliantly invested in movies like Edward Scissorhands, that makes sense. All of which makes you wonder why Alice in Wonderland, his first live-action feature made specifically for 3-D, looks so ordinary. Burton's Wonderland is hardly the definitive adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s story, but his slyly feminist take on the mythology is sweet and engaging without ever seeming vital. Like its incredibly shrinking heroine, it’s a pleasure, but smaller than you might have expected.

7. The Last Station
Where: Opera Plaza Cinema, 601 Van Ness Ave., 415-771-0183
When: All Week
Why: Michael Hoffman's bittersweet story of Leo and Sofya Tolstoy, whose tempestuous marriage of nearly 50 years unraveled shortly before the author's death, is worth it for the performances alone. Christopher Plummer plays Leo as a troubled patriarch, bemused by his celebrity and wary of his wife's mercurial ravings; Helen Mirren, as Sofya, is his greatest love and most strident critic. Both earned Oscar nominations, and deservedly so, in Hoffman's exhilirating adaptation of Jay Parini's historically based novel.

The ‘Bourne’ Gang Reunites for ‘Green Zone’

RossiterDrake — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:00:00 -0800

The creative pairing of Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass has yielded two gripping sequels to The Bourne Identity (2002) and now Green Zone, another skillful exercise in breakneck storytelling that finds Greengrass questioning the sincerity of America’s search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

It is 2003, and Army Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller (Matt Damon) is hunting for Saddam Hussein’s rumored WMDs, but finding little to justify his search, much less America’s occupation of foreign soil.

Miller dares to question the veracity of intelligence, gleaned from a confidential source known only as “Magellan,” that points his unit in the direction of alleged bomb-making plants. In their place, he finds, in one instance, a dilapidated toilet factory, and mounting evidence that Operation Iraqi Freedom was sold to skeptics on a thinly disguised lie.

Brian Helgeland’s story, inspired by Washington Post national editor Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s critique of America’s reconstruction of Iraq, is the basis for Greengrass’ second movie about Sept. 11 and its messy aftermath, after the chilling United 93 (2006). It is at its best when considering the political implications of Miller’s indignation, rather than surrounding him with routine action set pieces.

The movie’s visual style – grainy, gritty and reflective of Greengrass’ fondness for long (sometimes too long) takes and jittery camerawork – will inevitably invite comparisons to the Bourne sequels, as well as to The Hurt Locker, which also featured Barry Ackroyd’s neo-realist cinematography. Yet as a mix of formidable effects and stunt work, Green Zone is not as compelling as The Bourne Supremacy (2004) or The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), nor does it approach the fate of its characters with the gravity of The Hurt Locker.

There are heroes (Damon and the reliable Brendan Gleeson as a C.I.A. agent not in step with America’s plan to dismantle the Iraqi military) and villains (Greg Kinnear, of Ghost Town, as a high-ranking government fabulist), but too rarely are their motivations revealed in other than the most obvious terms.

There is real energy here, however, a sense of urgency nearly vitiated by one particularly tiresome shootout but invigorated by Damon, who gives his conflicted hero the same authoritative presence that made Bourne so appealing. By now, Damon is an old hand at this sort of thing, but his intelligence shines through as always.

In Miller, a man who seethes with slow-burning fury as he uncovers a growing conspiracy to cover up a deception, he finds a bold voice of dissent, with a message that rings true – that the lives of soldiers are too valuable to waste on a war whose roots are so hopelessly tainted.

Michael Hoffman Talks About Casting Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren in ‘The Last Station’

RossiterDrake — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:00:00 -0800

Neither Christopher Plummer, 80, nor Helen Mirren, 64, the stars of Michael Hoffman’s The Last Station, took home Oscars from last Sunday’s awards ceremony. But as far as Hoffman is concerned, their work remains indispensable, the key to breathing the intensity of life into his screenplay, adapted from Jay Parini’s 1990 novel, about the last days of Leo Tolstoy.

Plummer, recognized by the Academy for the first time in a remarkable career spanning more than five decades, secured a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of the celebrated author-philosopher as a warm-hearted but conflicted cultural icon. Tolstoy was one of the foremost celebrities of his day, regarded, both to his amusement and annoyance, as a sort of omniscient sage in his native Russia.

In the movie, Mirren, a Best Actress winner for her performance as the self-contained Elizabeth II in The Queen (2007), earned her fourth Oscar nomination playing a very different role: Sofya, Tolstoy’s explosive, sometimes paranoid wife. Together, they are a most combustible yet compatible couple. (She was, after all, the mother of Tolstoy's 13 children.) But forces, embodied by Paul Giamatti as the author’s friend and fawning publicist, conspire to keep them apart.

“It’s such an extraordinary event – the biggest media celebrity and most famous author in the world wakes up in the middle of the night, when he’s 82 years old, and runs away from home.Then his wife gets on a train and follows him across Russia,” says Hoffman, who first read Parini’s historically inspired fiction 19 years ago. “You should be able to make a movie about a story like that.”

Hoffman admits it took him until 2004 to figure out how to turn Parini’s story, which is told from a variety of perspectives, into cinema, and says being married himself gave him insights into Leo and Sofya’s struggles. Soon enough, after directing Out of the Blue, a documentary about the Boise State University football team, he was ready to find the actors to play the tempestuous lovers.

“I wasn’t looking for naturalism in the performances,” says Hoffman, 53, who originally lined up Anthony Hopkins and Meryl Streep for the project before his financing fell through. “I wanted to commit to the spirit of the story, the extremity of the emotion. This is a tragicomedy about marriage. Some people might not appreciate its sense of humor, but that’s the same approach I’d take if I were directing The Cherry Orchard or Uncle Vanya.

“I could not be more grateful for Chris and Helen’s participation. Now, I couldn’t watch the movie and imagine it starring anyone but them.”

Hoffman wasn’t happy to lose Streep, whom he has considered the greatest living actress since 1978’s The Deer Hunter, but he never thought of it as a fatal setback.

“In terms of box-office appeal, Helen is just as big in Europe as Meryl, so that aspect of it didn’t bother me,” he says. “But Helen’s sexuality, and the sexual tension between her and Christopher, is incredible. I’d never approached the movie as a romantic comedy before, but watching their chemistry made it so obvious it should be.”

“She’s a bit younger than Chris, but the passions they provoke in each other fuel the movie. And one of the things that I loved about Chris, besides the fact he’s a phenomenal actor, is that he’s 80, playing Tolstoy when he was 82. I didn’t want to put a 50-year-old actor in makeup. I got a sense of authenticity from Chris, and from Helen, that gives the movie the kind of power Tolstoy’s story deserves.”

The Last Station is playing now at the Opera Plaza Cinema in San Francisco and the Albany Twin in Albany.

Manila Heartbreakers, Nanking Horrors and a Predatory ‘Housemaid’: The Asian American Film Festival

kimberlychun — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:45:42 -0800

The special tonight, March 11? It has to be the opening of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival -- now in its 28th incarnation and taking off with Today’s Special, David Kaplan’s rom-com with a Bollywood/foodie twist (Indian cooking icon Madhur Jaffrey plays the mother of a sous chef in search of the secret spice missing from his life).

Yet even if you can’t make opening night and the gala reception, there’s plenty more to catch at one of the best, and oldest, film festivals in the Bay Area. This year’s collection of films are marked by a focus on Filipino cinema -- with a retrospective honoring legendary director Lino Brocka -- as well as a clutch of films looking at the Nanking Massacre and the Japanese occupation of China. Here are a few must-sees:

In The Claws Of Lino Brocka
Moving agily between genres -- including melodrama, neo-realism, agitprop, and noir -- and aiming straight for the core of Filipino culture, the boldly political and openly gay filmmaker Lino Brocka gets his due at this year’s SFIAAFF as his country’s most noted auteur. Western audiences are likely familiar with his 1988 homoerotic dancing homage, Macho Dancer, which unfortunately doesn’t twirl onto the screen this time around. Nevertheless 1975’s allegorical Manila in the Claws of Neon, the tale of a country boy’s descent from innocence to decadence, is here, as is Brocka’s 1985 Marcos regime critique Bayan Ko (the director smuggled a print out of the Philippines to the Cannes Film Festival and had his citizenship revoked for his trouble) and the acclaimed 1976 masterwork Insiang, a tough melodrama of maternal sacrifice and rough life lessons set amid the Tondo slums sitting in the shadow of Smokey Mountain, the country’s notorious garbage heap. Bayan Ko screens March 18 at PFA, Insiang is March 13 at Kabuki, Manila in the Claws of Neon is March 20 at PFA, and You Have Been Weighed and Found Wanting screens March 17 at Kabuki.

The Fall Revisited
The brutality of WWII’s Nanking Massacre and the subsequent Japanese occupation continues to leave its imprint on Chinese and Taiwanese filmmakers. Lauded as one of the finest films of last year, Lu Chuan’s City of Life and Death looks at the events of December 1937 in Nanking -- 300,000 Chinese people were killed by Japanese soldiers -- through diverse, street-level perspectives, based on those of real-life individuals: a teacher, an assistant to a Nazi merchant, and both Chinese and Japanese solders. James T. Hong and Yin-Ju Chen’s documentary, Lessons of the Blood, deconstructs Japanese revisionism and the nature of historical memory, while exposing Japan’s use of biological weapons and human experimentation in China during that time via archival materials, film clips and interviews with survivors. On the feature side of the aisle, Chen Kuo-fu and Gao Qunshu bring together Chinese stars -- including Li Bingbing of The Forbidden Kingdom and Zhou Xun of Suzhou River -- for a white-knuckle thriller based on a 2007 novel about WWII Chinese code-breakers in occupied Nanking. City of Life and Death screens March 12 at Kabuki and March 19 at PFA, Lessons of Blood happens March 14 at PFA and March 16 at Kabuki, and The Message screens March 12 at PFA, March 14 at Castro and March 21 at Camera.

Love, Sex And Food
In the mood for “Sex and the Asian City Slick?” Quentin Lee -- he of the influential indie Shopping for Fangs -- updates the sexy rom-com with a real sense of racial diversity: Karin Anna Cheung of Better Luck Tomorrow is looking for Mr. and Ms. Goodbar in Lee's The People I’ve Slept With. I loved the Dilip Mehta’s documentary, The Forgotten Women, at last year’s film festival -- and this year’s 360 shift, made with Mehta’s sister Deepa, sounds like a comedy to savor: Cooking with Stella, a battle of wits between Canadian civil servants and their kitchen staff. Also displaying a knowing comic touch is Iranian American director Suzi Yoonessi’s feature debut, Dear Lemon Lima, a bon mot to awkward adolescence, as well as Native Alaskan survival skills. Dear Lemon Lima screens March 13 at Clay and March 15 at Kabuki, Cooking With Stella is March 14 at Clay and March 21 at Camera, and The People I’ve Slept With screens March 14 at Castro, March 16 at PFA, and March 20 at Camera.

Shock And Awe
Kim Ki-young’s wild 1960 domestic pot-boiler The Housemaid promises to grab you with its grand hysteria and mesmerizing melodrama. All is not well on the home front in this psychodrama, recently restored by the Korean Film Archive and Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Foundation: A girl begins to take private lessons from an uptight music teacher who denounces a student who wrote a heart-baring love letter. The teacher’s wife is too busy sewing up the family’s financial security to keep house, so a maid is hired -- who becomes a substitute homemaker in more ways than one. The Housemaid screens March 14 at Castro.

For more information, go to www.asianamericanmedia.org