San Francisco

So the Internet tells me that there’s crazy rain in the Bay, which means that it looks like Becky and my flights will probably be delayed by a couple of hours tomorrow. Argh.

While it may not be as close and convenient and convivial as The Trappist — William Brand points to the recent opening of La Trappe, a new Belgian bar and restaurant in North Beach, across the Bay. This is definitely going to be my pre-Bimbo’s dining spot. 🙂

The interview went awesomely! MC Hammer was a gentleman and was happy to let me monopolize his time for the better part of an hour. After the interview, we totally geeked out, comparing our iPhones — he was giddy over the Labrnyinth game for the iPhone. He was cooler than I ever could have imagined.

I have a small but (hopefully) growing collection of Bay Bridge iconography, including a poster from Bay Bridge Coffee. On eBay I found some neat stuff, including a stamp that I just bought:

Blue Scholars always know how to rock a stage — so drop a Hamilton, and join me at Café du Nord!

I just found this link to the SFPL online photo archive, courtesy of Telstar Logistics. After spending the better part of an hour perusing the collection, here are my six favorite pics: 1952 Dec. 8. Written on back: “The beach sand dunes at the foot of the Sunset District was the dumping ground for outmoded horse and cable cars at the turn of the century. They were much in demand by enterprising citizens who converted the old cars into both…

SF Bay Guardian: But after the 1989 Loma Prieta quake and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, residents found there was still a way to reach their loved ones and let the world know they were OK; they used an old-fashioned communications tool that’s low tech, securely grounded, publicly accessible, and reliable. It’s called a pay phone. NYT: There is a reason for their survival: Public telephones are one of the stranger cash cows in…

The three final selections for the new Transbay Terminal have been unveiled at a ceremony earlier this week. Pictured: The proposal: An 82-story tower topped by a wind turbine that includes offices, housing and a hotel next to a transit center that would have fresh food markets and cultural facilities. The architects: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. The London firm’s current projects include a tower for the World Trade Center site in New York City. Founder Richard Rogers is the…

Many of my favorite acts/bands are playing shows in San Francisco in the coming weeks and months: Eddie Izzard Marines Memorial Theater – August 6 The New Pornographers Warfield – September 17 Arctic Monkeys Bill Graham Civic – September 27 They Might Be Giants Fillmore – September 30 Also of note: Youssou N’Dour at the Masonic – November 30 Ira Glass & David Rakoff at Zellerbach (Berkeley) – February 23