Healdsburg Day Four: Other activities

Lake Sonoma has good hiking trails with expansive views over the lake and surrounding area

Armstrong Redwoods State Park has hiking trails among the redwoods.The main square in Healdsburg usually has something going on - whether it's some type of market or even Shakespeare in the Park

Healdsburg Day Three: Where to eat

My favorite place to eat in Healdsburg is Willi's Seafood. Offering a mix of tapas and a raw bar, you won't leave disappointed. The tiny ribs are my favorite.

Other ways to go, especially during the day, is stopping off at places like Oakville Grocery or the Jimtown Store to pick up your picnic to eat at whatever winery you will be tasting at later.

Healdsburg Day Two: Where to drink wine

Healdsburg is surrounded by three valleys. Here's 1 or 2 wineries per each valley and 15 (!) wineries in town to check out.

DRY CREEK VALLEY
Yoakim Bridge - small mom & pop outfit with a relaxed setting, small tasting room and great view. They make less than 2000 cases a year, great zinfandels, and great meatballs served up with a zin bbq sauce.

Papapietro-Perry - I'm a club member here and they recently closed their club, so get on the waiting list. Great selection of pinots and zins and a small tasting room.

ALEXANDER VALLEY
Jordan - Tom Jordan put Sonoma on the map. A visit to his French country manor is accompanied with a small tour of the grounds, a taste of his olive oil. Jordan only makes excellent cabs and chardonnay. Tasting is done in library with couches (by appointment only)

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
J - I'm a club member here and everyone I take to it seems to really enjoy the tasting. It's an excellent setting, but what really sets them apart is that they have an executive chef on premises. That allows them to serve up food pairings with tastings. Known for their brut, but all their wines are excellent especially their Nicole's Vineyard Pinot Noir. FYI - the J stands for Judy Jordan, Tom Jordan's daughter.

GaryFarrell - Excellen pinot noirs along the Russian River. They are set on top of a hill and so command some stunning views.

HEALDSBUG TASTING ROOMS
Healdsburg has about 15 tasting rooms to check out, all within walking distance. Some of my favorites include Toad Hollow, Thumbprint, and La Crema.

Healdsburg Day One: B&B

I go up to Healdsburg a lot, as I'm member of a couple wine clubs and it's a great getaway from the city. Only about an hour drive north, and with plenty of things going on in and around Healdsburg, it can be enjoyed as a week-long base for all types of activities to as short as a daytrip.

Recently, we went up for a weekend and stayed at the Haydon Street Inn. This great Victorian b&b is located a couple blocks off the main square. With well-appointed rooms (each with its own unique touch), fireplaces, and jaccuzzi tubs built for two, it's an excllent spot. One of the owners is a former chef at Churchill Downs and creates excellent snacks to be enjoyed during the daily wine tasting where you can meet the other guests.

The highlight of the Haydon Street Inn is a three-course breakfast. While we were there, we enjoyed some freshly baked pastries, a refreshing fruit salad, and a delicious eggs benedict, all served with your choice of coffee, decaf, or tea.

We'll be staying there again in September!

Week of Lists Day Four: AFI's Top 100 Movies (updated)

Last night, AFI updated their top 100 American movies of all time (adding in movies from the last 10 years to the mix). Roger Ebert has a commentary up about it. There's also a good overview here about which films have been added, which have dropped out, and which films have moved positions.

The top 10 & then some of my favorite movies:

1. "Citizen Kane" (1941) - every single shot is perfect
2. "The Godfather" (1972) - this, really, is America's story
3. "Casablanca" (1942) - my favorite movie of all time
4. "Raging Bull" (1980) - Deniro at his best
5. "Singin' in the Rain" (1952) - I've only seen highlights
6. "Gone With the Wind" (1939) - Frankly my dear...
7. "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) - Lean at his best
8. "Schindler's List" (1993) - Speilberg at his best
9. "Vertigo" (1958) - Hitchcok at his best
10. "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) - technicolor magic

13. "Star Wars" (1977) - although I like Empire Strikes Back better
14. "Psycho" (1960) - the classic thriller
15. "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) - got to rewatch this for Lost clues
17. "The Graduate" (1967) - coming of age in the 60's
19. "On the Waterfront" (1954) - classic Brando
20. "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) - what's Chrismtas without it?
21. "Chinatown" (1974) - Jack at his best
24. "E.T. -- The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) - my youth
25. "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962) - excellent courtroom drama
30. "Apocalypse Now" (1979) - trippy Heart of Darkness
31. "The Maltese Falcon" (1941) - my favorite flim noir
32. "The Godfather, Part II" (1974) - more about America's favorite family
33. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975)
35. "Annie Hall" (1977) - hilarious, Woody Allen at his best
36. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) - classic war film
38. "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948)
39. "Dr. Strangelove" (1964) - best anti-nuclear / anti-war film made
47. "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951) - STELLA!
48. "Rear Window" (1954) - creepy
50. "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001) - fantastic
52. "Taxi Driver" (1976) - even creepier
53. "The Deer Hunter" (1978) - Christopher Walken will freak you out
55. "North by Northwest" (1959) -
56. "Jaws" (1975) - da da....da da...da da...
57. "Rocky" (1976) - da da da da da da da da ...dada da dada da...
64. "Network" (1976) - I'm mad as hell...
66. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) - reminds me of my youth
68. "Unforgiven" (1992) - great Clint movie
70. "A Clockwork Orange" (1971) - trippy
71. "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) - the opening scene alone is amazing
72. "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) - best Stephen King adaptation
73. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) - Redford & Newman
74. "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) - one of my favorites
84. "Easy Rider" (1969) - the 60's: drugs, hippies, motorcycles
86. "Platoon" (1986) - more vietnam madness
89. "The Sixth Sense" (1999) - I just wish M. Night Shyamalan would make more like this
92. "Goodfellas" (1990) - gangsters done Scorcese style
93. "The French Connection" (1971)
94. "Pulp Fiction" (1994) - phenomenal, especially Samuel L. Jackson
97. "Blade Runner" (1982) - best Philip K. Dick adaptation
99. "Toy Story" (1995) - great cartoon

Week of Lists Day Three: Failed States

Today, the Fund for Peace released its annual "failed states" list. There's also a lengthy article in Foreign Policy. Here's your rogue's gallery of top 20 failed states:

1. Sudan
2. Iraq
3. Somalia
4. Zimbabwe
5. Chad
6. Cote d'Ivoire
7. Democratic Republic of Congo
8. Afghanistan
9. Guinea
10. Central African Republic
11. Haiti
12. Pakistan
13. North Korea
14. Burma/Myanmar
15. Uganda
16. Bangladesh
17. Nigeria
18. Ethiopia
19. Burundi
20. Timor-Leste

Week of Lists Day Two: most expensive cities

This came out today and I've lived in quite a few of these cities (no wonder I've not saved a lot of money!). My current city, San Francisco, ranks 54th.

World's most expensive cities 2007
1. Moscow
2. London (lived here 1994-1996)
3. Seoul
4. Tokyo
5. Hong Kong (lived here 1999 and 2001-2002)
6. Copenhagen
7. Geneva
8. Osaka
9. Zurich
10. Oslo
11. Milan
12. St. Petersburg (Russia)
13. Paris (lived here 1993)
14. Singapore (lived here 1998-1999)
15. New York City (lived here 1994, 1998, and 1999-2001)
16. Dublin
17. Tel Aviv
18. Rome
19. Vienna
20. Beijing
Source:Mercer

Week of Lists Day One: You should know all these words

According to Houghton Mifflin, "The editors of the American Heritage® dictionaries have compiled a list of 100 words they recommend every high school graduate should know."

"The words we suggest," says senior editor Steven Kleinedler, "are not meant to be exhaustive but are a benchmark against which graduates and their parents can measure themselves. If you are able to use these words correctly, you are likely to have a superior command of the language."

abjure
abrogate
abstemious
acumen
antebellum
auspicious
belie
bellicose
bowdlerize
chicanery
chromosome
churlish
circumlocution
circumnavigate
deciduous
deleterious
diffident
enervate
enfranchise
epiphany
equinox
euro
evanescent
expurgate
facetious
fatuous
feckless
fiduciary
filibuster
gamete
gauche
gerrymander
hegemony
hemoglobin
homogeneous
hubris
hypotenuse
impeach
incognito
incontrovertible
inculcate
infrastructure
interpolate
irony
jejune
kinetic
kowtow
laissez faire
lexicon
loquacious
lugubrious
metamorphosis
mitosis
moiety
nanotechnology
nihilism
nomenclature
nonsectarian
notarize
obsequious
oligarchy
omnipotent
orthography
oxidize
parabola
paradigm
parameter
pecuniary
photosynthesis
plagiarize
plasma
polymer
precipitous
quasar
quotidian
recapitulate
reciprocal
reparation
respiration
sanguine
soliloquy
subjugate
suffragist
supercilious
tautology
taxonomy
tectonic
tempestuous
thermodynamics
totalitarian
unctuous
usurp
vacuous
vehement
vortex
winnow
wrought
xenophobe
yeoman
ziggurat

Week of Alchol Day Four: Raw food and wine

If you think of great pairings, you might consider steak and zinfandel, duck and pinot noir, and of course oysters and sauvignon blanc.

Recently, we made it to an excellent raw bar near Union Square that is located in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it space. Tucked on top of the Stockton tunnel, in between the Tunnel Top and a deli, Bar Crudo features an assortment of great food, wines, and beers.

We started with an order of fresh oysters, accompanied with the aforementioned sauvignon blanc. The fresh oysters went well with the mignonette and the sips of wine afterwards helped pull everything together.

Next, we had a platter of various crudo. Mixing spices, fruits, caviar, creams, and other assorted delicacies with various raw fish, these crudo were amazing. From spicy tuna to delicate fluke, each one stood out and was distinctly different from the next.

We also had their tartare, paired with a tempranillo. The tartare was very fresh and had been prepared with a variety of spices and mustard. A unique touch was the little sliver of fish they placed on each: the saltiness of the fish worked extremely well with the spicy meat.

Besides raw food, Bar Crudo also has some hot dishes on the menu. One not to be missed is an extremely buttery, creamy, velvety smooth chowder chock full of seafood. One of the best chowders I've ever had.

The space is great: 2 tiny bars downstairs with several stools arrayed about it (one in the window, one overlooking the chefs at work). In the back hangs a jellyfish chandelier and the upstairs loft has all of about 8 tiny tables. The service is casual, friendly, and people pop in all the time, creating a dropping-over-at-friends atmosphere.

While we stuck to their excellent wines, their beer list is potentially even better. Mainly sticking to Belgium, I'll be back to sample them!

Week of Alcohol Day Three: Alcohol was involved

Chain Saw-Wielding Man Arrested in Maine
Thursday, June 7, 2007
(06-07) 13:42 PDT Howland, Maine (AP) --




A man who waved a chain saw over his head, threatened motorists and did some impromptu pruning of local shrubbery was arrested at gunpoint.




Lionel Dube Jr., 47, of Argyle, was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal threatening and violation of bail conditions after police responded to reports that he was waving the chain saw at passing motorists late Tuesday.




"You know how in the 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' the guy raised his chain saw up and revved it? That's what he was doing," Deputy Sheriff Michael Knights said. "Alcohol was involved."




Knights and Maine State Police Trooper Thomas Fiske said they disarmed Dube at gunpoint near the Howland-Enfield Federal Credit Union. By that time, Dube's chain saw didn't pose much of a threat because the chain had fallen off, they said.




"It's not a common occurrence for this sleepy little town," said Gary Bragdon, the credit union's manager, who learned of the incident when he reported to work Wednesday morning.




Bragdon, who lives near the building, said he'd heard the chain saw the night before. "You hear a chain saw at 11:30 at night and you think, no, it can't be. My mind must be playing tricks on me," Bragdon said.



Dube, who has a lengthy criminal record consisting mostly of minor offenses, is due in Lincoln District Court Aug. 7.

Week of Alcohol Day Two: Classic guys night out

Saturday was a big night out which had a bit of everything:

• steak


• red wine


• limo


• whiskey


• cigars


• club


• late-night-bar-that-owner-opened-up-for-us

We started on Van Ness at the House of Prime Rib, where 10 of us crowded into a table making sure we had plenty of wine (Merry Edwards pinot noir, Rafinelli zinfandel, Yoakim Bridge zinfandel, and overflow Opus One). Huge meal: caesar salad, baked or mashed potato, creamed spinach, yorkshire pudding, and of course huge slabs of steak. Excellent meal.


Afterwards, a limo picked us up and we made sure it was stocked with some excellent prosecco. We moved on to North Beach to the Cigar Bar where others met us so that now we were a group of 15. Much drinking of Scotch, bourbon, beer, and even jaeger shots were consumed. In the back was salsa, but we mainly stuck to smoking the cigars in the outside patio.


Then, it was on to Soma and Fluid. Here, one of the guys was able to get us in without having to stand in line (and if I remember correctly, we didn't pay either). It's getting fuzzy at this point.


We then made our way back to the limo when the club closed and moved on to the Mission. Here, we ended up at a bar/restaurant that was closed. However, walking in through the back door, we were greeted by the owner who made sure we had plenty to drink. Then, he thought we might be hungry so made us some amazing ribs with an excellent barbecue sauce.

I somehow made it home at likely around 4 a.m.

Week of Alcohol Day One: Pinot Days are coming

In three weeks, Pinot Days is upon us.

Week of Music Day Four: Don't Mess With Beatles-Loving Judges

FROM THESMOKINGGUN.COM

Week of Music Day Three: my favorites

My favorite three radio stations:

KEXP - possibly the best radio station in the world

KCRW - excellent, especially Nick Harcourt 's Morning Becomes Eclectic program

KUSF - the local university station!

My favorite three labels:

Dangerbird Records - home to Silversun Pickups and Sea Wolf

Saddle Creek Records - home to Bright Eyes and Rilo Kiley

Sub Pop Records - home to Band of Horses, Flight of the Conchords, Iron & Wine, Rogue Wave, the Shins, Wolf Parade, and so many more


My favorite three albums in 2007 (so far...)

Neon Bible - Arcade Fire - follow-up to the phenomenal Funeral, this one reminds me of Bruce Springsteen

Writer's Block - Peter, Bjorn & John - pop by way of Sweden

The Once soundtrack - words don't do it justice. Go see the movie and listen to the album.

Week of Music Day Two: Upcoming concerts of bands you don't know yet but should

A good lineup of indie bands coming through town in the next 2 months.

6/8 LCD Soundsystem @ Mezzanine
6/8 Mice Parade, Tom Brosseau @ Bottom of the Hill
6/12 The Pipettes @ Popscene at Rickshaw Stop
6/14 The Fratellis @ The Fillmore
6/15 Scissors for Lefty The Independent
6/16 Architecture in Helsinki @ Bimbo's 365
6/18 Ariel Pink, Gang Gang Dance @ The Independent
6/19 Bebel Gilberto @ Bimbo's 365
6/19 Low, Death Vessel @ Great American Music Hall
6/26-27 Feist, Grizzly Bear @ The Fillmore
6/28 Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Hot Tuna @ The Fillmore
7/13 Dr. Dog, The Delta Spirit @ Café Du Nord
7/17 The Polyphonic Spree @ Great American Music Hall
7/27 Daft Punk, The Rapture @ The Greek
8/3 Rufus Wainwright, Sean Lennon @ Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium

If you want to stay in touch with what indie bands are coming, sign up at Filter Magazine. Go here - http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1100819204984&lang=en

Week of Music Day One: Preview of Stern Grove

Several weekends stand out.

Local boy Huey Lewis & the News kick off the season onJune 17th.

Two weeks later, on July 1st, the venerable Preservation Hall Jazz Band brings a little N'Awlins jazz to SF.

July, in fact, is a great month at Stern Grove as July 8 is the SF Symphony's turn. The symphony will present some Rossini, Mozart, and Beethoven.

July 15 will feature tropicalia masters Os Mutantes. Along with Gilberto Gil, Tom Ze, and Caetano Veloso, Os Mutantes were leaders in the tropicalia movement.

Then, in August, the SF Ballet will be featured on August 12 and the SF Opera will close out the season on August 19. Both those days will likely be highlights, rather than a full ballet or full opera.

For a full list of who is to come go here.

All concerts start at 2 p.m., but get there early!

I got a ticket

On May 30, Google Maps launched "StreetView" where you can see not only simply the maps, but also views from street level. So far, it's only a handful of cities including San Francisco, NYC, Las Vegas, Miami.

There's been some interesting pictures that people have found and you can find out more at this NY Times blog and more pics here and here. These are not live pictures, by the way, but pictures that Google has been taking over the past year.

I of course looked up my address and saw my car parked in front. Then, I noticed that DPT had noticed my car parked there as well. You can see for yourself that I have a ticket. I think I remember getting this ticket a few months ago.

Damn.