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Victory Gardens
Put some sizzle in the dog days with the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma or a night at AsiaSF. Plus, the Edible Gardens Festival at COPIA.
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posted on June 30, 2008
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 Image credit: Jenne Giles
SALVAGE LOVE
August 15–17, Fort Mason hosts the annual American Craft Show, which may sound like something you'd take your Aunt Mabel to, but is actually a showcase of some of the latest, most unusual furniture, fashion and jewelry designs in the country. This year, the show has gone green to boot, featuring such local artists as Amy Faust, who creates eco-friendly baubles out of salvaged glass and recycled silver and gold, and Susan Kinzig, who fashions one-of-a-kind lamps of brass, copper and handblown glass.
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 Image credit: Rick Camargo PhotographyBOYS WILL BE GIRLS
What exactly does the convention and visitors bureau mean when it says "Only in San Francisco"? Something like the evening of August 17, we imagine: It begins with "Long Hot Summer," a fundraiser for GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) at SoMa foodie lounge Orson, featuring a fashion show and apps from celeb chefs. Follow that up with dinner at AsiaSF, where the gorgeous "gender illusionists" will deliver your sake-steamed mussels and a cocktail (Malena's Man-Go Crazy perhaps—Finlandia mango vodka, lime juice and Chambord) before jumping up on the runway-bar for one helluva convincing natural-born-woman routine. After dinner, head downstairs and dance till closing time. Here in SF, that's how we roll.
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 Image credit: courtesy of Hudson Street Press
STORIED CHARACTERS
Take a break from the outdoors and check out InsideStoryTime, the reading series that draws SF's who's who of lit to a host of bars throughout the city. This Thursday, August 21, at Edinburgh Castle, the lineup includes queer-lit darling Michelle Tea and Alan Black, Edinburgh's own Lit Chief in Residence and author of Kick the Balls (Hudson Street Press)—a hilarious first-person account of his trying to apply his own Scottish rough-and-tumble sensibility to a soccer team of spoiled American kids.
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 Image credit: Joan Marcus
THE BIG SLEEP
August 17 presents your last chance to get to the Orpheum to see The Drowsy Chaperone, the musical comedy that took five 2006 Tony awards, including Best Original Score and Best Costume Design. Showgirls, flappers, slapstick, gangsters and a whole lotta soft-shoe pad this highly entertaining production, which clocks in at less than two hours. Some critics have called it Musical Lite. Agreed—that's exactly why we like it.
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 Image credit: Stefanie MichejdaCRUZ SOUTH
Not up for the crowds at Outside Lands the weekend of August 22–24? We've got a Plan B. Before summer ends, head to Santa Cruz. Stroll the old-school boardwalk and ride the Giant Dipper roller coaster. For dinner, don't miss the homemade Michoacan specialties—or tequila-filled happy hour—at local fave El Palomar. Afterward, check out the lineup at the Catalyst Club, a small and admittedly grungy venue that's a frequent stop for established rockers on their way through California. Then spend the night at the beachfront Dream Inn, a 165-room cement-block hotel recently redone in retro-swank style by Joie de Vivre. Every room has an ocean view from its balcony or patio—and if the ocean's still too cold, just jump in the heated outdoor pool instead.
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 Image credit: courtesy of COPIA
GARDEN OF EATIN'
Don't expect to find a ride-filled midway at the Edible Gardens Festival, held at Napa's COPIA on August 23 and 24—just feel-good family fun of the green-thumb variety. After touring the center's impressive edible gardens and taking in demonstrations by sculptors and glassblowers, catch a lecture on how to create an edible habitat in your own backyard. Then, do some old-fashioned butter churning with the kids before grabbing a snack from the festival marketplace (corn on the cob, fish tacos and beer from Lagunitas) and settling in to enjoy a performance by the Zydeco Flames.
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 Image credit: Mike Doran
CIRCULAR LOGIC
On their way to the 2009 Indianapolis 500, drivers such as Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti and recent Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon will compete at the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway August 22–24. In addition, watch a spine-tingling air show by the Patriots Jet Team, dance all weekend to the sounds of longtime local fave cover band the Unauthorized Rolling Stones and enjoy a pre-race gala dinner at a nearby winery.
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 Image credit: Chris Andre
FOG DAY EXTRA
Although SF may not empty out in August as much as Rome does, this is still probably the best time all year to get a table at SPQR. See you there.
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Image credit: Jenne Giles
SALVAGE LOVE
August 15–17, Fort Mason hosts the annual American Craft Show, which may sound like something you'd take your Aunt Mabel to, but is actually a showcase of some of the latest, most unusual furniture, fashion and jewelry designs in the country. This year, the show has gone green to boot, featuring such local artists as Amy Faust, who creates eco-friendly baubles out of salvaged glass and recycled silver and gold, and Susan Kinzig, who fashions one-of-a-kind lamps of brass, copper and handblown glass.
|
Image credit: Rick Camargo Photography
BOYS WILL BE GIRLS
What exactly does the convention and visitors bureau mean when it says "Only in San Francisco"? Something like the evening of August 17, we imagine: It begins with "Long Hot Summer," a fundraiser for GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) at SoMa foodie lounge Orson, featuring a fashion show and apps from celeb chefs. Follow that up with dinner at AsiaSF, where the gorgeous "gender illusionists" will deliver your sake-steamed mussels and a cocktail (Malena's Man-Go Crazy perhaps—Finlandia mango vodka, lime juice and Chambord) before jumping up on the runway-bar for one helluva convincing natural-born-woman routine. After dinner, head downstairs and dance till closing time. Here in SF, that's how we roll.
|
Image credit: courtesy of Hudson Street Press
STORIED CHARACTERS
Take a break from the outdoors and check out InsideStoryTime, the reading series that draws SF's who's who of lit to a host of bars throughout the city. This Thursday, August 21, at Edinburgh Castle, the lineup includes queer-lit darling Michelle Tea and Alan Black, Edinburgh's own Lit Chief in Residence and author of Kick the Balls (Hudson Street Press)—a hilarious first-person account of his trying to apply his own Scottish rough-and-tumble sensibility to a soccer team of spoiled American kids.
|
Image credit: Joan Marcus
THE BIG SLEEP
August 17 presents your last chance to get to the Orpheum to see The Drowsy Chaperone, the musical comedy that took five 2006 Tony awards, including Best Original Score and Best Costume Design. Showgirls, flappers, slapstick, gangsters and a whole lotta soft-shoe pad this highly entertaining production, which clocks in at less than two hours. Some critics have called it Musical Lite. Agreed—that's exactly why we like it.
|
Image credit: Stefanie Michejda
CRUZ SOUTH
Not up for the crowds at Outside Lands the weekend of August 22–24? We've got a Plan B. Before summer ends, head to Santa Cruz. Stroll the old-school boardwalk and ride the Giant Dipper roller coaster. For dinner, don't miss the homemade Michoacan specialties—or tequila-filled happy hour—at local fave El Palomar. Afterward, check out the lineup at the Catalyst Club, a small and admittedly grungy venue that's a frequent stop for established rockers on their way through California. Then spend the night at the beachfront Dream Inn, a 165-room cement-block hotel recently redone in retro-swank style by Joie de Vivre. Every room has an ocean view from its balcony or patio—and if the ocean's still too cold, just jump in the heated outdoor pool instead.
|
Image credit: courtesy of COPIA
GARDEN OF EATIN'
Don't expect to find a ride-filled midway at the Edible Gardens Festival, held at Napa's COPIA on August 23 and 24—just feel-good family fun of the green-thumb variety. After touring the center's impressive edible gardens and taking in demonstrations by sculptors and glassblowers, catch a lecture on how to create an edible habitat in your own backyard. Then, do some old-fashioned butter churning with the kids before grabbing a snack from the festival marketplace (corn on the cob, fish tacos and beer from Lagunitas) and settling in to enjoy a performance by the Zydeco Flames.
|
Image credit: Mike Doran
CIRCULAR LOGIC
On their way to the 2009 Indianapolis 500, drivers such as Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti and recent Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon will compete at the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway August 22–24. In addition, watch a spine-tingling air show by the Patriots Jet Team, dance all weekend to the sounds of longtime local fave cover band the Unauthorized Rolling Stones and enjoy a pre-race gala dinner at a nearby winery.
|
Image credit: Chris Andre
FOG DAY EXTRA
Although SF may not empty out in August as much as Rome does, this is still probably the best time all year to get a table at SPQR. See you there.
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