michaelD: the bay area buzz report

Fat Tuesday in Oakland

Fat Tuesday at Brown Sugar Kitchen: BEIGNETS!! Come for the beignets, stay for the Creole Shrimp and Shrimp & Smoked Chicken Gumbo!

Ozumo Restaurant in Oakland will be hosting their 2nd annual “East Meets West” Mardi Gras celebration on Tuesday, Feb. 16 beginning at 5:00 p.m. Highlights will include live entertainment in the spirit of the occasion, the diverse sounds of New Orleans as presented by DJ Gray, and “Fat Tuesday” food and Brazilian drink specials served in the bar and lounge. More>

Picán Restaurant -- Oakland’s hip spot for dining -- celebrates “Fat Tuesday” Bourbon Street-style on February 16th, 2010 @ 5:30 pm. According to assistant manager, Cynthia Fung, the festivities will include beads, boas, traditional NOLA “bites,” as passed hors d'oeuvres, and “bottomless” Southern Comfort Hurricanes and Bulleit Sazerac, a specialty cocktail made with premium small-batch Bulleit bourbon. Masks are optional but encouraged. Space and ticket availability are limited. More>

Miss Pearl's Jam House - They will be celebrating Mardi Gras with live entertainment by the Craig Caffall Band.  They will also have a raffle in the evening.  Be sure to try their new menu and specialty drinks (Jello shots and Hurricanes). More> and here>

Also, head over to Arizmendi Bakery on Lakeshore or in San Francisco for Fat Tuesday. No cocktails, but they do have something called "King Cake", a "colorful Danish pastry with pecans"! Now, as a word of warning, it seems only the San Francisco Arizmendi has a Fat Tuesday-related happening, but check the Oakland Arizmendi Bakery anyway. They're always full of unannounced surprises!

Okay already...Era is open!

Why is it that certain openings get all the ink, and others come and go without notice?  Era Art Bar and Lounge, another addition to the Uptown Oakland district, fits the former. It opened a little over a week ago, and other than some comments about its lack of sufficient seating that I read on twitter, it appears to have fared pretty well.
Era Art Bar & Lounge | 19 Grand Ave, Oakland | web | twitter | yelp | 510.832.4400

[1.25.10] ERA ART BAR AND LOUNGE | Cubism, Cocktails and Clubbing | San Francisco | SFO | Lake Merritt District | Bar | [Urban Daddy] http://bit.ly/aKvaex
This massive space combines a turn-of-the-century cocktail den with a modern art gallery and nightclub—which at first blush sounds a little schizophrenic. And it is, but it's a high-functioning and nattily outfitted schizophrenic, one from the 1890s who draws a mean cocktail.

[2.5.10] Speaking of bars, tonight marks the debuts for two newcomers on the Oakland nightlife scene: ERA and BEER REVOLUTION. The latter is a fairly standard beer spot, but the former, Era, is an ambitious, two-story 5000-square-foot bar/artsy lounge with a 35-foot steel and concrete bar. 19 Grand Avenue, Oakland; 510-832-4400; website [OT via Eater SF]

[2.09.10] The Beginning of a New ERA | The Chatterbox | Tablehopper http://bit.ly/9Nl0VL
The 5,000-square-foot space will bring together art (expect bi-monthly collections of modern and contemporary art), handcrafted artisan cocktails with house-made syrups and bitters, local small production wines, and a wide range of music (with occasional live performances).

[2.12.10] Night Owl: BEER REVOLUTION and ERA add to Oakland's night life scene - [Inside Bay Area] http://bit.ly/bTsn8X
If you happened to pass by the intersection of Grand Avenue and Broadway last Friday, your curiosity about the throng of would-be barflies wrapped around the block would have been justified. Era Art Bar and Lounge attracted 700 people that night in what may be a recent record-setting opening night ... The opening Beer Revolution created a beer loop between Linden Street several blocks west and The Trappist and Pacific Coast Brewing Co. to the north. The city had to make an exception for Beer Revolution's location because the building is so close to other off-site liquor selling establishments. If they hadn't, the City Council might have had a revolt on their hands.

Oakland: Bar Updates and New Eats (2.15.10)

You take a break, slow down a bit, ease on into the new year, and BAM! The Oakland bar/restaurant scene leaves you in the dust. Time to catch up...

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[11.10.09] Word is that eVE (not to be confused with Eve Lounge in SF) will be a 28-seat Berkeley eatery from husband and wife team Christopher Laramie (executive chef) and Veronica Laramie (pastry chef) who plan to open before the month is up.  The Le Cordon Bleu Paris graduates have created a New American menu that will be "micro-seasonal and locally sourced."  Main courses will include:  quail with pancetta, chestnuts and star anise; seared black cod with miso, carrots and almonds; and corned Wagyu beef with rye bread, sauerkraut and mustard.  The menu is available in a prix fixed format only wherin three courses are  $33, five for $55, and seven for $77. 1960 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA. [Sf Examiner]

[12.4.09] Pican Restaurant, Oakland | Foodnut.com http://bit.ly/902btb
Pican is a restaurant in revitalized Uptown Oakland next door to Ozumo. New Orleans native Michael LeBlanc started this restaurant in 2009. This area is undergoing a transformation from long closed auto dealerships and the like to a modern inner city. It serves California infused Southern Cuisine with lots of fresh seasonal ingredients in a vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere. They were on the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand list for 2010.

[12.10.09] SPICE MONKEY is big on portions, community http://bit.ly/aN5bes
That's just the kind of place Spice Monkey is. You couldn't find a sweeter, more sincere, more gratitude-filled cafe on the planet. And that's precisely Kanitha Matoury's intent for the place, which she opened 19 months ago in the space long occupied by Sabina's, an Indian restaurant. "It's kind of like a community restaurant," says Matoury, a native of Cambodia who lives in Oakland herself.

[12.12.09] MERITAGE in Berkeley matches farm-to-table food with wines - Inside Bay Area http://bit.ly/aWGD6u
...His wine-driven food is certainly exceptional — fresh, local, seasonal, inventive and pretty. The menu is an education in food and wine pairing, as dishes are categorized by the weight and style of wine that best matches them. Thomsen has no formal education in wine; just a sharp palate and the kinds of friends who own Napa wineries and invite him up for golf and breakfast burritos, he tells me...

What's so hot about The Republic?

Either The Republic has a great PR department, or it's one of the best things to hit SF in a while. Everyone's talking about it. The last time in recent months there was this much hype, people were talking about Ironside. So, I guess we have to put this one on the list for at least a drive-by.

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Take a look around the Marina's latest, The Republic
Here we have a stroll around The Republic, the follow-up effort to Bin38 by the foursome of Don Davis (Uncorked Events), Peter Scully (Apartment 24), and Shaw Amirghassemkhany and David Sheridan. Still only a few days old, The Republic already been generating plenty of buzz amongst young Marina things. Set in the old Jones space, Jim Maxwell of Architects II is responsible for the swanky facelift that sees flatscreen televisions literally everywhere (in nooks, behind sliding doors), something that probably should play well in the middle of football season. NB: Brunch service is due in December. More... [eater sf]

Open to the Republic: Your New Craft Beer Sports Bar
Allow us to present The Republic, a new classed-up sports bar and grill from the team behind Bin 38, pouring the city's largest domestic craft beer list seven days a week, opening today.

Night Writer: Playdate is fun for grown-ups

So tell me, have you tried this playdate stuff?
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This particular playground is Jillians, the sports bar inside downtown San Francisco's Metreon, where dozens of tables are covered with pristine white tablecloths and games such as chess,  Uno, Connect Four, and Operation. Football is on the big screen for those interested in that kind of game. And cocktail waitresses breeze by if you need a drink because someone sank your battleship. Previous Playdates have taken place at hotels, including the Oakland Marriott, which drew 800 people in August.

More...

San Francisco offers a different type of Nightlife

I wouldn't normally do this, but the email I received from SFStation looked so inviting I decided to share the whole thing. Check out the California Academy of Science' weekly Nightlife (Thursdays)...for all ages of adults.

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date: Every Thursday
time: 6pm - 10pm
admission: Tickets are $12 ($10 for Academy members).
age: 21+ with Valid ID.

The new California Academy of Sciences-the only museum in the world to combine an aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum under one roof-is already one of San Francisco's most popular attractions by day. Now, it's also the hottest place to be after dark.

Every Thursday night, the Academy opens its doors from 6 - 10 pm for NightLife, a chance for adults to explore the museum in a whole new light. Dance to some of San Francisco's most popular DJs, enjoy food and cocktails, and mingle while you delve into the Academy's world-class exhibits and get up close and personal with aquarium critters. Take in some knowledge with your libations - each week features provocative science programming and a few surprises.

Next NightLife - 11/12
Buy Tickets »

Program Details: 

The 38 Essential San Francisco Restaurants, Nov. '09

To ring in November, here, now, the newly updated version of the Eater 38, your answer and ours to any question that begins, “Can you recommend a restaurant…” This highly elite group covers the entire city, spans myriad cuisines and, collectively, satisfies all of your restaurant needs, save for those occasions when you absolutely must spend half a paycheck. Every month or so, we'll be adding pertinent restaurants that were omitted, have newly become eligible, or have stepped up their game. We'll also drop those that are no longer deemed 38-worthy. After reading the comments on the original list, poring over the emails sent to to the tipline, and tuning in to various back channels, we're dropping sentimental favorites/wild cards Allegro Romano, Washington Square B&G and Ocean Taqueria. New to the 38, we're adding Boulevard, Range and now that it's got six months under its belt, the newly-eligible Flour + Water. Welcome to the dance floor, kids. (sourcre: eater sf)

More...

Bits & Pieces (11.07.09)

DRINK
Barrel Tasting (SF)
Sure, you could go on a chauffeured tour of the region’s vineyards, but you don’t even have to leave town now that quirky, beloved Bonny Doon Vineyard recently opened its Tasting Room & Cellar Door Cafe. There, culinary superstar Charlie Parker of Manresa and Ubuntu turns out seasonally driven, local tasting menus. Or pop into the cozy counter at downtown’s Soif Wine Bar & Merchants to sample local faves and French varietals. (source: daily candy)

SHOP / LIVE
Icons of Design (source: daily candy)
What: A designer showcase at Millennium Tower’s luxurious (and usually not open to the public) 52nd-floor Grand Residences, featuring more than 25 local design superstars. Proceeds benefit a different local charity each weekend.
Why: Ain’t life grand?
When: Weekends thru Nov. 22. Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 301 Mission St., at Fremont St. (415-593-1700).
(daily candy)

SEX IT UP
Get Your Motor Running (source: daily candy)
Postpartum Sex Q&A with Sexologist Logan Levkoff
Discussing the birds and the bees with your kids is a nightmare. But it’s even worse when your own urges vanish. It’s a tough (and hardly talked-about) topic. We turned to sexologist and sexuality educator Logan Levkoff for some answers.
How do you deal when you get the six-week “go ahead” after giving birth but you’re not ready to give the green light? More...

KPFA 94.1FM launches OaklandSeen...includes michaelD in weekly segment

Could this be my real calling? I received a call from Aimee Allison the other day, and next thing you know I've got a regular spot on her new weekly radio show, OaklandSeen, airing Tuesdays at 11am on KPFA (94.1 FM). This is pretty cool, and seems to be right up my alley. The show is one hour long, and is billed as "...a platform for new ideas and community activism.  (It will) tap the Oakland we hardly hear from to discuss the most pressing local issues, to highlight great work in the city, and to keep our city leadership accountable."

I join Aimee at the end of the show for a 5 minute segment on cool Oakland haps, the latest and greatest in entertainment, nightlife, dining, arts and culture. So, it will be along the lines of what I provide here at The Bay Area Buzz Report, with a little inside scoop thrown in!

Read the full press release>

UPDATED: Second show (getting better, but I still need to slow down!) - airs Tuesday, Nov 10. Subject: Piedmont Ave (North Oakland) & Weekend Haps (11/12 - 11/15) | 5 min | Program Notes

michaelD joins Aimee Allison on OaklandSeen (KPFA 94.1FM 11/10/09 

1st show - Please excuse the fading audio levels. The sounds levels were normalized when it originally aired. Subject: Uptown District (Downtown) and Weekend Haps (11/5 - 11/8) | 5 min

michaelD joins AImee Allison on OaklandSeen (KPFA 94.1FM 11/03/09)

Or listen to the entire show, where Aimee discusses the one-year anniversary of the election of Barack Obama; the euphoria that surrounded his election and a current pulse on how “Oaklanders” feel about his presidency.  Aimee examines if campaign activism last year has inspired local involvement in citywide politics. | 60 min

Entire Show -  Aimee Allison on OaklandSeen (KPFA 94.1FM 11/03/09)

Listen live online: KPFA 94.1 FM (24k mp3) | KPFB 89.3 FM (16k mp3) | iTunes Radio: "Public" | Comcast Digital Cable 967 | iPhone: Public Radio Tuner App

Oakland Eats: Heard on the street

Can you keep up with all of this? Luv the challenge!

Tamarindo in Oakland is going to be opening a tequila bar by December in the space next door (it used to be New World Vegetarian). There will be 30 more seats and later hours—you'll be able to pass through a shared doorway, but the spaces will be kept separate. 468 8th St. at Broadway, Oakland, 510-444-1944. [Tablehopper]

I also asked owner Alfonso Dominguez about his other project, ERA, the upcoming gallery and bar project he is doing with Kevin Best of B Restaurant and Bar, and Gairy Jacques of Air. It's about a month or so out, will keep you posted. 19 Grand Ave. at Broadway, Oakland. [Tablehopper]

For those reasons, Jack London Square is attracting such San Francisco culinary luminaries as four-star chef Daniel Patterson, whose third restaurant, Bracina, is scheduled to open at the end of the year, and Richard Corbo, whose Pizzeria Zanna Bianca is slated for 2010. [SF GATE]

Just outside the square, Eric Tucker, chef of San Francisco's vegan mecca, Millennium, plans to open Encuentro Cafe and Wine Bar next month. At least three Chez Panisse graduates have started restaurants, and two of them are working on seconds. [SF GATE]