almost paradise

The weekend of April 12 was scalding hot for April (high 80s well after sunset)--so what is any water baby to do? Head down to the beach to soak up the sun and get out of the concrete jungle.
After getting lost 3 times on our way down to Santa Cruz (yes with the navigation) my mom and I finally made it to the other side of the Boardwalk around 3 p.m. We walked along the crowded, sandy beaches at the boardwalk incredulous of the sun beating down--and regretting that I had not planned to be bikini ready for my day trip. Something about being in the sun by the ocean totally restores me and I feel instantly at peace--as long as my line of vision can avoid the enviously perfect bods that line the shoreline.
We ended this picture perfect day with an early sun-drenched dinner on the deck of the Crow's Nest restaurant.

Will you find my torch?

San Francisco's leg--if you can still call it that--of the Olympic Torch run was rought with crowds and confusion. As San Francisco's brass worked hard to keep the much sought after torch out of public sight, demonstrators and spectators alike lined up in numbers along San Francisco Embarcadero in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Chinese Olympic torch. More cops than I have ever seen in one place worked hard to keep the crowds in check for what turned out to be a mostly peaceful demonstration.
While we missed the torch run all together the scene along the water had very much to offer in terms of people watching and repetitive chanting--if I hear China lies people die I may cut off my ears. It was however great for a change to see such a large number of people take the time out of their day to unite for a cause they believed in. Many of those in opposition to Olympics in China prostested in ways that reflected their personality like this juggler. Other made t-shirts, banners and played music in the spirit of protest. My personal favorite were those professional protestors who were "telecommuting" from the phones while simply taking in the sights.

Joe Bagale's CD release Concert

I head over to the Great American Music Hall on Friday night to check out Joe Bagale’s CD Release Concert. As I enter for the first time—I am embarrassed to admit—I am impressed by the ornate balconies in this welcoming musical hotspot taking you back to when it was built in 1907. Upon mentioning the concert to my dad waxes nostalgic about the days in his youth that he saw legends BB King and Ray Charles on stage.

While this is not my usual music scene (if I am bold enough to say I have one outside of tagging along at concerts with more music savvy friends) I enjoyed the stray from my musical routine, a night studded with up and coming artists and heart felt performances.

Nino Moschella kicked off the night with gritty vocal stylings with a flair for funk and soul. After a substantial lag time between acts, local musicians, The Shotgun Wedding Quintet, got the crowd pumped and on their toes as people moved over to the dance floor. MC Dave Payne-Schwirtz aka ”Dublin” (paying tribute to his Irish roots) dominated the mic as he rapped "We take it Back" whose poignant lyrics ran from generation to generation from wild jungles to its concrete counterpart. One of my favorite songs of the night for its energy and social introspection.

Next up was the star of the night Joe Bagale and his 10 piece funk soul band—which simply took over the stage if not music in sheer size alone. It was interesting to see Bagale perform with such an ensemble as he plays every instrument on his record except the horn. This 24 year old even writes his own lyrics, composes the music and sings the backup vocals—stand aside superman here comes Joe Bagale.

His passion for the craft oozes out as he sings guitar in hand under the pink and blue lights of the stage. On his album his voice glides over the music about our president like “I am not gonna sit here and listen to your policies, there is so much fear and baby theres so much dying…and why wont they listen to us, why can’t they hear what t had to let my voice be heard through all this pain and sorrow” in Your President. While on stage accompanied by a stellar band the band and back up singers were really talented, I could hardly hear Bagale’s voice amidst the two female backup singers, the electric piano, saxophone, bass player and trumpet.

His voice and personality really shines as the show goes on, He takes a break from the band and spends a little one on one time with the crowd and makes a shout out to his parents who flew here to see him perform. After singing along with his recorded voice beat boxing he engages the crowd by splitting us into a two part harmony while he takes over the mic as he sang "That Is Me".

Towards the end of the performance he asks the crowd for permission to swap his guitar for the drums and adeptly picks up the sticks and drums as he sings like he was born to do it. He sings "I Need You" and "If You Listen" as he simultaneously plays the guitar.

Though I didn’t make it to the whole show, as I left at 12:30 pm, it was a night of filled with musical talent.

http://www.joebagale.com/
http://www.jazzmafia.com/the-shotgun-wedding-quintet/
www.ninomoschella.com

A chocolate drenched affair

Sunday proved to be quite a sticky situation with San Francisco's International Chocolate Salon at Fort Mason. Coco junkies and casual appreciators of this tasty bean came from all over the bay for a taste at some of the hottest trends in chocolate. And because of the unseasonably warm weather--this event become a little bit of a cattle call to taste molten chocolate bites.
For more info check out my blog post at San Francisco Magazine www.sanfranmag.com

Saturday Night Lights

This mini hour study on long exposure night photography was one of my most interesting shoots to date. Waiting to see what came of a long steady exposure was a completely new experience. These two shots taken on the corner of Oxford and Hearst Streets are of the exact same intersection just minutes apart from different angles and with different players in the scene.

The Nightwatch

While hanging out with my friend Jessica we get caught up in this horrible, yet equally addicting, documentary special about this murder case and its remorseful criminals. Jessica, lounging in the bed in the reflection above, is sucked into the heart-wrenching dialog which often crosses the line over to pathetic, as I, camera in hand, become fascinated with the soft glow of the candles and the pale eerie glow of the TV. After many trials I manage to capture the strange light emitted from the TV and the colored shadows it casts. These photos shot in a room where I spent many a high school gab session and the very spot I deliriously composed Jessica's own theme song. Sadly due to high rent prices and our almost non existent financial situation we both find ourselves back under the roof of those who raised us.

In my Backyard

As my parents spent a sunny Sunday afternoon out in our backyard they had some fun shooting photos with me. They both have equally wonderful personalities but in different respects. My caring mother-- who I can drive across France or spend the day around the house with-- a tenacious woman that I have much admiration for, who moved here from Jordan without knowing a soul. My father, ever the story teller, loves to share his experiences traveling in South East Asia or his random encounter of the day, knows every sports stat, jazz performer and seemingly every person in world. Both parents there for me in a heart beat, contribute to the richness and excitement of my life.

Sucker for flowers

While as cheesy as flower shots maybe these particular blooms have some significant importance to me. The purple petaled vine plants, identified by my boyfriend, Brian's, botany enthusiast friend a a relative of a pea plant, snakes its way up and down the stairs leading to my boyfriends apartment. These spiraling flowers finally give the place a touch of color and charm instead of being the overgrowth that whips me on my walk up. The yellow-orange flower is a spuratic gift from him last week that is still looking as colorful as ever--you go floral stand at Elephant Pharmacy.

Home on the Range

These are just a couple extra pictures from the event that really seem to transform the locale into a southern landscape. The picture to the left really gets me into the action of the moment making me glad that those cattle had their horns de-horned.

Save My Palace

Amidst the chaos of this small scale rip roaring rodeo there was a somber, yet hopeful undertone to this unusual spectacle. Horses clad in garb studded with the words "Save My Palace" evoked a message of solidity in a time of controversy over the fate of the Cow Palace. This 67 year old building may be gone in the future making way for urban development in the area or what is viewed by some as better use of the land.

San Francisco moves a little south

As if you don't discover a new San Francisco/ Bay Area tradition everyday... a new street fair, ethnic celebration, Valentine's Day pillow fight or an annual Cattle Drive? Cows parading down Geneva street shouldn't have come as a surprise to me, but on Thursday April 3rd it did. In honor of the Grand National Rodeo starting on April 4th these bucking steers strutted their stuff on Geneva from Bayshore Ave down to where they reign at the Cow Palace. Cowboys on horseback adeptly guided the cattle in the right direction. Those drivers who weren't caught in this urban cattle drive could see the pungent evidence of such a spectacle littering the streets.