Oakland

My wonderfully food nerdy friends on Chowhound have put together a Google Maps edition of Oakland taco trucks. Oh man, I want a burrito right about now.

I was with Boyk and Michele today in downtown Oakland, and we happened to park in front of a new Belgian beer bar that’s about to open up on 8th St. at Broadway. Dude, Belgian beers! Right here in Oakland! The Trappist: The Trappist is owned and operated by Aaron Porter and Chuck Stilphen. We strive to bring you the finest beer available, served properly at the correct temperature and in the correct glass. Our bottle list features over 120…

There’s cops blocking both ends of my street. Apparently, there’s a robbery suspect running around the neighborhood. I’ve never seen so many cops here before. Whoa. I got this email from a neighbor: “As I write this the cops are staked out on [street name redacted] and surrounding streets looking for the suspect in a strong-arm robbery. Believed to be BM with white pants. If you see anything call 911.” Update from said neighbor (1:28 pm): “Hi All–The cops apprehended…

Man, I should have pitched this to NPR! But still, it’s def worth a listen. All Things Considered, September 18, 2007 · Taco trucks are a new destination for gourmands. They are celebrated in blogs with maps of where the best trucks park. In Oakland, Calif., many fans embark on late-night taco treks.

My cousin Nena is visiting California for about 10 days and took this photo of me at my desk a couple days ago. The Flickr version has notes, detailing what’s on my desk right now. That is all. Carry on.

Universities Install Footbaths to Benefit Muslims, and Not Everyone Is Pleased The New York Times August 7, 2007 But as a legal and political matter, that solution has not been quite so simple. When word of the plan got out this spring, it created instant controversy, with bloggers going on about the Islamification of the university, students divided on the use of their building-maintenance fees, and tricky legal questions about whether the plan is a legitimate accommodation of students’ right…

I tried to import five bottles of Belgian beer back, but one of them broke, sadly. But other than that, I made it back in one piece.

I just read that there was an earthquake about two hours ago in Oakland. I assume that everyone is ok?

My current Craigslist listings: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/hsh/338239882.html http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/wet/338252040.html

So while driving home from last night’s Nous Non Plus show at Café du Nord at around 12:30 am last night, I was pleased to see that the I-580 connector was reopened — I drove across it en route home. C.C. Myers sounds like a helluva guy, as in this previous anecdote about his getting part of I-10 in LA done on time in 1994. He rode his crews hard, praising, goading and yelling in equal measure. When he had…