Princeton by the Sea

This weekend found this meztiza in the fog, looking for fire pits and fine brews after a frolick on the beach. No matter how sunny the rest of the Bay looks, you can count on the fog in Half Moon Bay. It was even sunny in Pacifica!

Brunch was absolutely amazing at 3 Zero Cafe although the biscuits weren't all that and the Yelp reviews are right, the owner's sense of humor is a bit 'off color'. I overheard him make a comment to the Indian man sitting at the next table over about 'his Hindu princess'. Oy. Despite all this, the food was fresh, service was friendly and prompt and the drive along the 1 made it worthwhile. This might be our favorite breakfast place for a while...and so close to my place!

We tried going to the Moss Beach Distillery but it was closed for a private party. Instead we ended up passing the afternoon next to the big fire pit at the Moss Beach Brewing Co. Ideal for passing the time sampling the various Maverick brews while cozying up to a fire and chatting about nothing in particular. The evening ended with clam chowder in bread bowls and calamari. Not too shabby for a Sunday afternoon in the fog.

I'm Strait

Felt like lounging tonight so I met my girlfriend at Straits in the Westfield Shopping Center. I like what they did with the space, with cavernous ceilings, exposed brick, modern decor infused with a pan-Asian style. Lots of light filters through vinyl coated glass panes to diffuse the light. It's a comfie place to kick back and have a few drinks and...the drinks are STIFF. I ordered the Maker's Manhattan (I'm digging Maker's lately) and it kind of messed me up a little. I should have stopped drinking there but was thirsty so, I ordered another drink- should have stuck with the water, he, he. But whatever, this girl is going to work really hard this week so I figured I might as well live it up a little.

Stick to the Drinks
The last couple of times I've been here the drinks have been better than the food and the service is well, moody- what can I say. The sauce for the ribs was a tad on the sweet side and not a lot of flavor as I'm used to. The corn fritter thing was too sweet (I know, corn is SUPPOSED to be sweet) but this was too much and the Samosas were a bit soggy and flavorless instead of being crispy outside, soft and subtly flavored on the inside. Crabcakes had no spice either. I thought I'd give the food another chance but this meztiza is finished with the food here- the food court downstairs has better food options and therefore is a better value. I hear good things about Lark Creek next door though and may stop by that bar next time and nibble on appetizers while I'm at it. At least my drink was good!

Rocked the Bells

Yesterday's concert at the Shoreline featured some of the biggest and baddest names in 90's hip-hop, when it was raw, real, and rugged.

We caught the tail end of De la Soul, but managed to see the rest of the lineup including Method Man and Redman of the Wu Tang Clan, The Pharcyde, Mos Def, Nas and Q-tip/Tribe Called Quest.

The weather was perfect, we had some kick ass seats and the company was good. All in all, it was a fine weekend in the Bay.

The music was so loud it made our noses itch and our chests thump- I haven't heard bass like that since I was in high school rolling with my boys and their beat booming in their cars (remember bazookas)?

Needless to say, it brought back some memories of the high school days and how much music has changed, especially hip-hop. I believe one of the performers announced yesterday that he's tired of hearing people say that "50 is the best lyricist out there'...the crowd laughed and boo'ed at the notion. And 50 thought he was gansta.

Anyhow, check out some of the photos from the show.


My folks: Kickin' it with my oldest friend in the world- G-Money. And I don't mean she's the oldest, I mean the longest...ha, ha.

I also managed to get myself almost thrown out of the concert- that happens a lot these days, getting picked up by random guys, lol.

Rush Hour, Bangkok

Thailand, August 6, 2008

Hayes Valley-Girl

So not all of you know this, but I lived in Hayes Valley in the mid-90's when this community sported lived in storefronts, pimps and their hos (Rappin' 4-tay would drive by in his ragtop Caddie on the regular) and was at the end of the Central Freeway. Despite some challenges, there was a real community here that watched each other's kids on the block and loved Powell's Place chicken and black-eyed peas, and peach cobbler (Powell's relocated to the Jazz Preservation District and subsequently closed deep in rent arrears- but that's another story) and really felt like part of the Fillmore when I was here. The Afrikan boutique sold champa and reggae and you could find plenty of parking and cheap eats in the area. (Glad to see the drag bar Marlena's is still here) and that Flippers burgers survived the hipsterfication of the neighborhoodm (worked there as a waitress for a week before I figured out that the owner was an ass). But let's go back to the 90's for a moment: the shadows cast by the freeway were only superceded by the ones cast by the social disinvestment- little did they know- the little junk shop selling Star Trek figurines and Dungeons and Dragons would move over so economic development could have a turn.

As I strolled to City Hall from Haight and Laguna yesterday, I took the scenic route, down Hayes Street to check out some of my favorite spots like the German 'soup kitchen' Suppenkuche and Frijtz (which just opened its relocated business next door). Let's not mention Place Pigalle, where I spent too many underage nights drinking Rolling Rock and shooting pool). I was curious as to what other businesses sprung up since the last time I played at Lang and took the team to Hayes Street for beers and pizza.

I think I like the european spots (above). Both sport Belgian and German ales, and a menu that's sure to carbo-load the girls enough so you won't see them for the rest of the week as they're burning off the cals on the Marina green. But anyway...

I bring up Hayes Street because like many darlings of the dot.com and hipsterfication, it's also going through some hard times. The SALE, SALE, SALE signs were everywhere. Frijtz was forced to relocate because the landlord wanted much, much, much more rent so we lost the patio in the back...the old location is papered over. The market across the street is now covered in Mirkarimi signs...and a photo gallery...how long are these businesses going to last? And without any chains (Hayes Valley merchants based a formula retail ban in 2005). So I ask, what is going to happen to the brave entrepreneurs that took a chance on this transitional neighborhood? It's up to you I guess.

Loca(vore) for Asopao

Gracias Sam for the Asopao! For those uninitiated in the Puerto Rican art of cooking- it's artistic "looking" anyway...asopao is a combination of soup and paella, hearty, tasty and of course, home made. I love it when men get in the kitchen. It's such a production, even with a one-dish meal.

Kidding aside, I couldn't help but think, how easy are we that when a man offers to cook, the women flock? If you cook it, they will come. We had a good time, thanks Sammy, you can cook for me anytime.

P.S. And no, I didn't pull my Thailand pictures off Google cabron! (not like this picture, cuz your dinner looked nothing like this...). It's all love hermano!

Where to next?

The co-workers and I are thinking Mexico- Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Acapulco maybe? My vote is for the first...I'm looking for a fishing boat like this one...no gringus americanus in sight, LOL.

Ko Phang Nang, Thailand.