michaelD: the bay area buzz report

On my mind...

If it were not for my insatiable Curious George nature, I would be overwhelmed!

VIPLineup - What was I thinking when I decided to relaunch VIPLineup? Technology has moved so fast and so much over the last 2 years that I feel like I need 6 mos to catch up! Will have to piece it together over the next 2 months. Twitter, rss feeds, blogs, facebook pages, website, event listings, uploads, downloads; trying to get it all to sing in harmony with the click of a button ... Cuddle Party - What?  Gimme a break, cuddling as an event?. i'll let John Stossel handle this one ... Twitter -  Warning - If you, your business or organization don't have a Twitter account, GET ONE NOW. Even if you don't use it, just get it! Eventually, you will realize that you want one, and like website domain names and email addresses, you'll be upset if your name is already taken. Then you'll end up with something like @joesmith7834619. Same goes for organizations and businesses. Don't say I didn't tell you so. I've quickly become a huge fan of Twitter, but not because of the idle chatter from individuals, because of the massive amount of information it allows me consume when I want to, as I want to, and from whom I want to. Most reputable businesses and orgs have twitter accounts these days. Here's my quick summary of the Twitter world (or check Twitter FAQs), and if you want more (and you should), check out The Twitter Guide Book. ...

Family - My daughter is only 19 mos old and already she insists that I look at her when she's "talking" to me! Where did she get that from? ... Oakland - Oakland has its share of crime issues.  People living there know that fortunately it's limited to a couple of neighborhoods that get a lot of ink. People outside of Oakland think that the whole city is a war zone, except for maybe precious Piedmont, Montclair and Rockridge. But what a lot of us are excited about is the growth of downtown's "Uptown Broadway Hip Strip," which runs from the corner of Broadway/Grand to Broadway/Webster. Check it out: Lukas | Franklin Square Wine Bar | Ozumo | Pican | Mimosa | Mua.  Go a little further up Broadway and there's also Z Cafe and Bar. The fun has only just begun ... Nothing to do? Impossible. In the last week I've rediscovered that the Bay Area isn't a matter of "what is there to do, it's more like, "how do I fit all this in? ...

Luv technology.  Besides the obvious (email, pics, text, phone, games, banking), from my iphone I can write this blog (typepad), read and send "tweets" (tweetdeck and tweetie), record and send video (built-in), send video tweets (12seconds), read the Bible (youversion), view any location on earth (google earth), automatically share photos/videos/pics/notes with my desktop (mobileme and evernote), level a piece of wood (ihandy level), and always name that tune (shazam). What can you do? ... The summer  is nearing an end and I still haven't been to Tahoe or Capitola.  What's my problem? ... Tomorrow, it's all about the opening of Lake Chalet (article) on Lake Merritt in Oakland ... It's 1:45p on Sunday and my daughter (Amaya) just woke up from her nap. Sunday Choices - Art & Soul, Oakland Museum, Wine Festival in Moraga, Singing in the Rain @ Woodminster, Stern Grove, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival...   Gotta go!

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Been busy... | Sat Aug 8 09

The blog posts before this one are very old. I can't believe it's been 20 months since my last post! Life happens (marriage, family, work). I'm in the process of updating this blog. It should be ready to go by Monday, August 10.

But what else is new? Just launched...

• Follow my personal Twitter - twitter.com/michaeldef

• Follow BayAreaHookUp (deals and steals) - twitter.com/bayareahookup

• Follow VIPLineup (top picks in lifestyle and entertainment) on Twitter - twitter.com/viplineup back...
  

VIPLineup.com is coming back soon (don't look yet)! It's the San Francisco Bay Area's only lifestyle and entertainment e-magazine targeting the diverse and mainstream urban professional population. Known for its discerning events, reviews and recommendations, VIPLineup serves 12,000 subscribers through e-newsletters focused on cultural, entertainment, and charitable activities.

Tidbits - Wed Oct 10 07

First Belden Place and now Mint Plaza, preparing to open in the alley across from Westfield Centre (Nordstrom's and Bloomingdales) behind the Old Mint in SF. Described as a "pedestrian oasis," The Plaza was consciously designed to accommodate a wide range of uses, including art exhibitions, theatre, live music, cafés, and small festivals, while also providing a quiet, green and clean refuge for residents and visitors to pause and rest.  The owners of the Mission's popular Limon, as well as Martel&Nabiel (Sushi Groove, Harlot, and Oola), and Chez Papa are taking up residence, among others. How do you say, "sureshot."

 

Will someone please visit Two for me? It's the place that I always forget to check out when I'm in SF. Where? It's Hawthorne Lane reinvented, just off Howard near 3rd. Sounds like our type of place, although they may be too busy for their own good. LMK ... South Food + Wine Bar (featuring the Australian and New Zealand lifestyle) just opened down the street from "the" cash cow wine bar, District, on Townsend and 4th in SF. Wine bars are in, in, in; and this appears to be hot, hot, hot ... The guys at A16 opened SPQR at Fillmore and Bush recently, and it's supposedly the rage already. Besides great food and wine, they'll seat you until 11p! ... I missed the opening of Ducca in August at the new St. Westin (formerly The Argent) on 3rd between Market and Mission. The report is generally good, in particular because of their indoor/outdoor terrace style bar/restaurant. Perhaps not a destination by itself, but worth a stop through if you're in the area, and looking for the next spot after dropping in at the St. Regis lobby bar on 3rd and Mission.

 

Prepare yourself for the upcoming opening of 1300 on Fillmore (Oct 25), and Yoshi's (Nov 28), both part of the new Fillmore Heritage project. It's safe to say that together these will be one of the hottest combinations of restaurant and entertainment venues in the Bay Area. Don't forget about Sheba Lounge and Rasselas down the street. Perhaps you know one of those lucky souls that gets to live above it all in the new condos.  It's not to late to nab one, but don't blink.

 

You may notice that I'm partial to SF venues in Downtown, SOMA, Fillmore, and Hayes Valley (occassionally Laurel Heights). It's not that there aren't great things happening in the Sunset or Richmond District for example, but since I live in Oakland, it can take a good 50 minutes to get there...not exactly appealing for the drive home.

 

New Stuff | Editor's Choice Events | Dine/Lounge | Shop Around | Young Adults

Weekend Roundup

THIS WEEKEND
Thru May 20	Performing Art	Blue Door
Thru May 28	Visual Art	Artsfest
Thru May 28	Visual Art	Picasso and American Art
Thru June 10	Visual Art	Vivienne Westwood: 36 Years in Fashion
Thru July 1	Photography	Bare Witness: Photographs by Gordon Parks
May 11 - 12	Health	Road to Health Expo (Tavis Smiley)
May 11 - 13	Music (jazz)	Zipper Festival
Sat May 12	Music/Fireworks	KFOG Kaboom
May 12 - 13	Mother's Day	Mother's Day Activities (SF Chronicle)
May 12 - 13	Street Painting	Italian Street Painting Festival
UPCOMING
May 16 - 27	Arts	San Francisco International Arts Festival
Thurs May 17	Visual Art	Lens on Life: From Bamako to San Francisco (Opening Reception )
May 17-18	Performing Art	The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess
Sat May 19	Opera	Merola Opera Program Anniversary
May 19 - 20	Wine	Spring Fling Open House
Sun May 20	Jazz	11th Annual Jazz on Fourth Street
Sun May 20	Sports	Bay to Breakers
Sun May 20	Gala	Meals On Wheels Star Chefs and Vintners Gala
DINE
Ongoing	Restaurants	Top 100 (SF Chronicle)

SEASIDE GETAWAYS (boutique retreats)
The Beach House, Half Moon Bay / [article]	The Inn Above Tide, Sausalito
Waters Edge Hotel, Tiburon	Albion River Inn, Mendocino

The Buzz Report (Jan 2007)

Start this year the right way. What's hot....and this is only January! The Top 30 (or so) shortlist...

1. Ballet: SF Ballet Encore & City Club Opening Night Gala - hope you can attend ENCORE's (SF Ballet's young professionals group) final pre-event before the big night! Great raffle prizes from Mikimoto, Danzante WInery, Plump Jack, Remede SPa at the St. Regis and more. Wine and hors d'ouvers will be served.
2. Beats: ProjectVibe
3. Classical: A Tribute to MLK - if you're not the symphony type, this may be a great way to break yourself in.
4. Consumer Reviews: Yelp
5. Freebies: Top 10 Freebies (Citysearch)
6. Gas: GasBuddy | Gov't Guide
7. Health: African American Health Expo - if you don't think you need to go, then you probably should be the first in line.
8. Jazz: SF Jazz Spring Season - tickets go on sale Jan 7.
9. Movies: Paramount Movie Classics
10. NeoSoul: Angie Stone @ Mezzanine on January 19th
11. New Kid on the Block: MoAD Vanguard - the newest auxilary group of the Museum of the African Diaspora. Keep an eye on these young movers and shakers...
12. Olive Lovers: Olive Festival - proof that there's there's something for everyone.
13. Photos (online): Slide | FilmLoop
14. Politics: Ron Dellums Inaugural Events - there's a new sheriff in town.
15. Professional: Joint Networking Mixer - since inception 4 years ago, this has been without a doubt the most successful and well attended professional networking event in the Bay Area
16. Restaurant (new - Oakland): Di Bartolo - first Mezze, then B, then La Raza, then Cesar and now Di Bartolo.. Keep them coming!
17. Restaurant (new - SF): Pres a Vi - if you've been to Va da Vi in Walnut Creek then you'll know what to expect from this newcomer to the Presidio | SF Dish
18. Restaurant (other new) - Salt House/Review | Straits/Review | Hime/Review | Circa/Review | Coi/Review | Brick/Review
19. Restaurants (deals): Dine About Town - it's like you've dined and gone to heaven. Dine About Town is back for its sixth delicious year. January is slow for most restaurants, so they use this promotion to pick things up. | OpenTable
20. Save The Date: MoAD's Diaspora Carnaval - a Gala Celebration to commemorate the First Year Anniversary of the Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco's newest cultural institution.
21. Set The Record Straight: Oh No She Didn't
22. Shopping (online): Bluefly | Overstock
23. Shop/Dine (SF): visit the new Westfield San Francisco Centre. Shop at Bloomingdales (First Chance Clearance through  Jan7) and grab a bite at Bristol Farms.
24. Shop/Dine (San Jose): Santana Row - for you stubborn snobby San Franciscans, Union Square has nothing on San Jose when it comes this wonderful combination of shopping, sidewalk dining, weather, and people watching.
25. Singles (SF): Single in the City - starting January 2007, The Cellar will be launching a new line of happy hours uniquely designed for the single professionals in the city (mid 20s to late 30s).
26. Theatre: Jersey Boys - corny, but actually a great ride down memory lane, if you're old enough.
27. Travel: Sidestep - the best airline search engine around | Site59 and TravelTicker - the best in last minute discount travel packages | HotelDiscounts - works every time.
28. Wine: Wine Bars (aol) | Wine Bars (citysearch)
29. Young Professionals: Events - the Bay Area's only compilation of events for sophisticated young professionals.

Did I miss a favorite newcomer of yours? Add your Comments link below to let me know!

Holiday Toy Chest (Winter 2006)

Add these to the list...

• Wine Spectator Top 100
• Custom Label Cigars
• Esquire Gift List
• Inspired by ... The Bible Experience (audio cd, see commercial below)

The Buzz Report (Oct-Nov 2006)

I JOINED THE CLUB...NOW MARRIED!

• Proposed at Union Square on July 29 - view pics
• Snuck off and got married on August 23 at Fallen Leaf Lake near South Tahoe. Check out the venue and wedding pics if you need a break from the daily grind.

TRAVEL and LEISURE: THE CARIBBEAN

We're off to the Caribbean for our honeymoon (October 25 - November 5). I'll use this opportunity to launch our upcoming section on Travel and Leisure, where we'll profile resort properties throughout the world, and give you a true first hand impression of the experience you're likely to receive should you venture out.

First we're headed to St. Lucia's Food and Rum Festival. We'll tell you about the 3 Sandals resorts on the island, a new up and comer called Coco Palms, and a favorite of mine, Ladera. Next it's 5 nights in Montego Bay, Jamaica at the glorious Half Moon Resort. We'll also visit some surrounding properties (Ritz Carlton, Coyaba, and Wyndham) and let you know how they fare as well. See honeymoon page>

The Buzz Report (Aug 2006)

Sponsored by

 

WEEKEND PERSONAL PICKS (Thurs 8/3 - Sun 8/6)

• Thurs-Sun Aug 3-6 (las vegas) - NBS Summer Carnival 2006 at Montelago Village Resort. This sounds doable, beach by day and casino by night. Guarantee a fun time and bring your party with you.
• Sat Aug 5 (sf) - AfroSolo Jazz in the Gardens

NEW HOTSPOTS

• Easy and Joe DiMaggio's - see June Report below

WEEKEND WEATHER: Oakland | SF | Palo Alto | San Jose | Tiburon | Napa

COOL WEBSITES

• Travel: Travel Ticker | Sidestep | Site59 
• Consumer Content: Yelp | Upcoming | YouTube | Gasbuddy.com
• Dining: OpenTable

SAVE THE DATE

• Thurs Aug 10 (sf) - Visual Art Exhibit: Stephanie Anne Johnson: Art and Theater, Legacy and Testimony
• Sat Aug 12 (sf) - AfroSolo Health Fair Town Hall Meeting
• Sat Aug 19 (sf) - The Tribute to Johnny Land
• Thurs-Sun Aug 17-20 (sf) - Black Voices Series
• Thurs-Sat Aug 24-26 (sf) - Living in the Jungle
• Thurs-Sun Aug 17-20 (sj) - San Jose Jazz Festival. Take the drive to SJ...it's worth it.
• Sat Aug 19 (concord) - JVC Jazz Festival. I'm not a fan of the Chronicle Pavilion, but for this...

The Buzz Report (May 2006)

NEW PLACES TO CHECK OUT

Editor's Choice - my official list. Check out Editor's Choice at VIPLineup.com

San Francisco

• Fannatics (sf - sports entertainment lounge) - review coming soon
• Sheba Lounge (sf - piano bar/lounge) - - review coming soon
• Farmer Brown (sf - bar/restaurant/lounge) - Expectedly slow on a Wed night at 6:30p, 1 week after opening, but it's got great promise, and worth a return visit. The things I've heard, like "cool scene, upscale, organic ingredients, AA owned, late night dining, neo-soul food, turntable, dj, lounge, nightspot, beautiful" rang true for the most part. Except...for the lounge area, it needs a little more work to feel inviting. Don't let the Tenderloin location scare you.  There's a parking lot with direct access next door. Check reviews in Yelp and SF Chronicle | Photo.  25 Mason St @ Market.
• Bong Su (sf - bar/restaurant/lounge) - sophisticated Southeast Asian style comes to SoMa...takes place of Max's Diner.  SF Chronicle article | Photo
• Bubble Lounge (sf - bar/lounge) - bored on a Tuesday night?  Try their Tuesday Night Jazz Series. Haven't been so I can't tell you about the crowd, but if you're in the mood, worth a shot. Full calendar here

The Buzz Report (April 2006)

It's been a while, eh? Well, a man's gotta eat ya know. So, what is happening on the Bay Area scene these days? A quick rundown...

Event

• Sat Apr 29 - The New Garde - A Celebration of Innovative San Francisco Fashion

East Bay

• Silk Road (jack london square) - A cool new spot at the corner of Broadway and Embarcadero in Oakland...yes Oakland! Could this be a Paragon alternative? Very nice bar/lounge restaurant feel...great for drinks...nice digs, good ambiance..even a live band on occasion. Worth a drive by, but it's still building it's clientele.
• La Taza Cafe (oakland) - used to be a fairly popular  brunch spot (I guess not popular enough) near the Safeway on Grand. Great cuban/latin american tapas, great service, live brazilian music, outdoor patio in rear. Put it on your list for dining any night of the week. For socializing, it's gaining steam on Thursdays and Fridays, after 8p.