michaelD: the bay area buzz report

DO Something: Please HELP during the holidays

Can you spare $5 this holiday season?
(2 cups of coffee? A fast food meal? Half a movie ticket?)

The ACCFB serves 40,000 people every week. 14,000 of those people are kids.

1 in 6 Americans are unsure of where their next meal is coming from.

The Bay Area Buzz Report is proud to announce our partnerships with OaklandSeen, The Nikki Thomas Network, First Fridays, VIPLineup and Facebook Friends Fighting Hunger this holiday season in support of the Alameda County Community Food Bank's (ACCFB) efforts to alleviate hunger in our community. 

We're not trying to break your bank. All we ask is that you make a $5 donation to help feed a local family during the holidays. Emergency food assistance is provided to Alameda County residents in need, including low-income and working poor adults, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, abuse survivors, people living with AIDS, and the homeless. 100% of your donation goes to the food bank.

No amount is too small...$1 $5 $10. We need every dime. Your contribution will be multiplied seven-fold as the potent purchasing power of ACCFB stretches every $1 in donations into $7 worth of distributed food!

Help us help others, and reach our team goals of $1,000 each, worth $7,000 of distributed food!

Can you spare 3 minutes to spare $5 to help feed a family? Donate here today, before you forget > 

Click on image/play button to watch the video

Holiday Lights, Skating and Parades

There's not a whole lot more than lights and ice that signify Christmas. And it's happening all over the Bay Area.

What's the rush? (Thanksgiving 2009)

I was thinking about the upcoming holidays, and then realized that I was beginning to make the same mistake that I made last year, and the year before, and the year before that...skipping over Thanksgiving.  I did a little better this year, and organized a volunteer effort among friends. Four years ago I wrote the following article a few days before Thanksgiving. It still applies...

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I was excited when I learned that the Embarcadero Center Holiday Lights Celebration was scheduled for this past Sunday.  Those of you that know me, know that Christmas is my favorite time of year (except for the short days…if Christmas had the long summer days I would be in heaven). Corny as it may sound, I love the decorations, the music…and the spirit. During the holidays people tend to act a little nicer, and just a little friendlier, even if only for one month out of the year. The Lighting ceremony would be my first official dose of holiday spirit, although I was sneaking it in before Thanksgiving.

Being the Christmas nut that I am, I had been thinking about the Lights Celebration all day, and around 3:00pm I started “to get ready.” It sounded like my kind event, what a great way to ring  in the holidays. I grabbed my camera (so I could share this momentous occasion with you), and headed out. Should I drive the bridge or take BART, BART or bridge? I always like to have my car, but then with all the masses of people, will I be able to find parking?  BART lets me off right there at Embarcadero, but I won’t be able to use my cell phone on the way over. Okay, I’ll survive - BART wins.

Turkey Time: Thanksgiving '09

If you're dining out on Thanksgiving, hopefully it's by choice, and either way, check out the list Zagat put together for "the big bird" in San Francisco...
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Photo: Ion Sokhos

A Thanksgiving dinner where you don't have to clean up afterward is truly something to be thankful about. The following restaurants are offering meals for gobbling on November 26.

Ame
689 Mission St.; 415-284-4040

Let Hiro be your hero this Thanksgiving day, when in addition to his regular menu, chef Sone offers a special five-course tasting menu at his SoMa spot in the St. Regis. The menu is still being finalized, but options being mulled include tuna tartare, roasted squash soup, seared Hokkaido scallops and the pièce de résistance , a turkey “porchetta” (4–8 PM; $85 per person; wine pairings cost an additional $65).

More...

Serving Others This Holiday Season!

Received this from the Stanford Alumni association. Sounds like a great way to help someone else over the holidays.
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What: First Place for Youth: Thanksgiving Celebration & Graduation
When: Friday, November 20 from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Where: 1601 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA.
 
It is the mission of First Place to support foster youth in their transition to successful adulthood by promoting choices and strengthening individual and community resources. 
 
The Thanksgiving celebration is a community dinner for the youth at First Place for Youth.  Volunteers are needed to donate, cook and serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal including turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and desserts. 

If you are unable to attend, you are also encouraged to consider donating a food item, beverages or other donation.  Please contact Lois Corrin (c/o '75) at lois.corrin@stanfordalumni.org to participate or if you would like to make a contribution.

For more information about First Place for Youth, please click here.

Chill at The Rrazz Room

The where? That's what I said. The Rrazz Room inside the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco (near Union Square) has an eclectic mix of entertainment this fall, and maybe it's been that way for awhile and I'm just now noticing. What caught my eye was Ashford and Simpson's "The Real Thing" from November 3 - 15. Talk about talent! Don't miss this one. The Rrazz bills itself as "A new sophisticated night club offering the finest in world class cabaret, jazz, comedy, and popular music entertainment." I haven't seen the space yet so I can't give you any tips on seating, but check out their website. It also says that if you join their "Club R" you'll be entitled to beverage discounts, free parking, and some free admissions...for $200/yr.  Your call on that one.

Holiday Top 10...or 20! (2005)

Here it is, my list of Holiday “must do’s.” Check back on this one, the list may grow. If you have a suggestion, let me know. Will I actually attend all of these?  You betcha!

• Wed, Nov 9 thru Jan 1 - Ice Skating at Justin Herman Plaza ($11 including skates)
• Wed, Nov 9 to Dec 31 - White Christmas ($40 - $85)
• Fri, Nov 11 to Dec 18 - Cirque du Soleil ($85 - $200)
• Sat, Nov 19 to 27 - San Francisco International Auto Show ($8)
• Sun,Nov 20 - Embarcadero Center Lighting Ceremony
• Sun, Nov 20 - Pier 39 Tree Lighting (1st of the season)
• Wed, Nov 23 - Babyface ($40 - $70)
• Wed, Nov 23 to 27 - Handel's Messiah ($20 - $107)
• Fri, Nov 25 - Union Square Xmas Tree Lighting
• Plus...

Holiday Top 10...or 20!

Here it is, my list of Holiday “must do’s.” Check back on this one, the list may grow. If you have a suggestion, let me know. Will I actually attend all of these?  You betcha!

1. Wed, Nov 9 thru Jan 1 - Ice Skating at Justin Herman Plaza ($11 including skates)
2. Wed, Nov 9 to Dec 31 - White Christmas ($40 - $85)
3. Fri, Nov 11 to Dec 18 - Cirque du Soleil ($85 - $200)
4. Sat, Nov 19 to 27 - San Francisco International Auto Show ($8)
5. Sun,Nov 20 - Embarcadero Center Lighting Ceremony (4:00p)
6. Sun, Nov 20 - Pier 39 Tree Lighting (1st of the season, Noon - 5:30p)
7. Wed, Nov 23 - Babyface ($40 - $70)
8. Wed, Nov 23 to 27 - Handel's Messiah
9. Fri, Nov 25 - Union Square Xmas Tree Lighting
10. Fri, Nov 25 - Jan 1 - Christmas in the Park
11. Sat, Nov 26 - Union Street Fantasy of Lights parade
12. Thurs, Dec 1 - VIPLineup Holiday Lounge @ Maxwell’s featuring Lonnie Tuck ($15), or Thurs, Dec 1 - Museum of the African Diaspora Grand Opening Gala Dinner ($250)
13. Fri, Dec 2 - Museum of the African Diaspora “Global Groove” party ($75)
14. Fri, Dec 2 to 29 - SF Ballet's Nutcracker ($18 - $175)
15. Sat, Dec 3 - Harold Ford Fundraiser @ The Bubble Lounge ($50)
16. Sat, Dec 10 - Blind Boys of Alabama Gospel Holiday Concert ($25 - $62)
17. Tues, Dec 13 to 15 - Colors of Christmas
18. Thurs, Dec 15 - ENCORE! SF Ballet Nutcracker Night ($68 - $86)