Short Walk Down Memory Lane: Vesuvio

A staple in North Beach since 1948 and the former stomping ground of none other than Jack Kerouac, Vesuvio is one of those gems that San Franciscan's will never tire of. Tucked just off of Broadway's strip of neon lights, tourist traps, and gentleman's clubs, the place is truly an artists delight. Standing outside soft light pours through the stained glass windows urging you to enter- but if you have a moment- saunter down Kerouac Alley for some inspirational passages entrenched in the stone.


When you're inspired enough, make your way inside and grab a Lagunitas, or some other form of local libation to wet your pallet. Accompany this drink with a shot of Fernet, it will make you feel more at home, I promise. Repeat as necessary.


The interior is an awesome time capsule of old photographs, art, painted passages, wooden nooks, and beer saturated regulars. Scuffed floors lead comfortable cusioned booths and if you happen to peak upstairs, steal away at a small table to take in more of the time washed decor while watching over the scene below.


Whether mid-afternoon or late-night- relaxing, thinking deep thoughts, and immediately forgetting them is the name of the game at Vesuvio, so bring something to write or draw on. I have yet to have the opportunity to really let my creative juices stew here, but there is something magical about sitting in this historic space and feeling the electricity of SF pulse through your veins. If nothing else, bring some friends and stay a while!

Tristan falls down... and Dodger doesn't dodge much

The first year of dog ownership has been filled with shock, frustration, self-doubt, and fear- counter balanced with a healthy dose of excitement, achievement, fun, and satisfaction. I've learned a lot from the Dingo, and I believe he might have learned something? from me. We go to the beach, we run in the woods, we pee anywhere that is hidden (or not) and we take lots of naps. The responsibility that comes with pet ownership is a solid insurance plan that I won't have a mini-me for YEARS to come. I am stoked that he is by my side, and I can't wait for the years of adventure to come.

On that note- I have a bunch of video clips of him joining us as we do the stupid things that we do. Check it out.

In the Singing Box and Silent Film

Considering my summer long obsession with Animal Collective's My Girls video- a simple, bubble infused experience- it comes as no surprise that I'd like this:





Animal Collective's "In the Singing Box" synched to Le Voyage Dans la Lune by Georges Melies (1902). The last two minutes when they are exploring the moon and hitting the gremlins who inhabit her with shovels are awesome. Not much has changed in the last 100 years with regards to trippy other world landscapes... cough cough Alice in Wonderland, Avatar

Margarita Mondays at Tortilla Heights

Reason #1(possibly the only one, but I'll work on more) to work 7 days a week: Monday nights can be declared the equivalent of Saturday night... and you should throw yourself a fiesta.

If you are anywhere near San Francisco, Tortilla Heights is the go-to on Monday nights. The tequila selection is solid, their fresh squeezed margaritas are not too sweet or tart, and their food is tasty and affordable. Bartenders Adam and Brian provide solid service and will concoct a solid Mexi-style drink to round out your day. I'm a big fan of the comfortable wooden bar and the expensive SUP on the wall makes me want to road trip down to Mexico for some warm water waves. Some nights the place get's packed early as they have a great happy hour and nightly specials, so you gotta time it right.

If you want to balance out that rowdy tequila buzz with more than the delicious chips and salsa they provide gratis- their menu has plenty to offer. My roommate swears by the Tortilla Soup- chicken, onion, tomato and spices topped with crispy tortialla strips, avocado, cheese and cilantro, while I typically opt for a few fish tacos. You have a choice between grilled mahi-mahi with tormatillo salsa and pico de gallo or baja style with roasted tomato salsa and lime crema- I find the combination order to be killer. If you are feeling an entree- the tender Niman Ranch Chili Beef Chimichangas are fantastic and filling.

The bottom line: If you are looking for a laid-back neighborhood bar to kick it with friends, catch a game, or just get some good eats while finishing up a little work, this spot will satisfy your craving.

Where is your Monday night hangout to cast off the grind? I'll be all over the map this year- so tell me where we should grab a pint!

Swell Girls

One of the things I love most about waves are their distinctly different personalities. Like every good woman, they can be powerful, nurturing, and enthralling, and the smart ones have no problem putting you in your place when you get out of line. Here in NorCal the romance is strong; but be careful, one might just break your heart.

Ocean Beach- She’s close to home, temperamental, unpredictable and you know her better than any other woman in the world. She can be sweet one day- the most open, clean, shot-gun barrel thing that will rock your world; or the cruelest, darkest, most tormenting feline who will drag you through the depths of your soul. You spite her for leaving you in the cold for weeks at a time, but the good times are hard to forget and she will always be a focal point in your life.

Linda Mar- This girl is dirtier than a hopped up Lindsay Lohan at 3am looking for a fix. The problem is that you will definitely get drunk and go back for more. No matter how haggard she might get, she always provides a desperation ride.

Fort Point- This girl is the center of attention. She can be so hot, but she absolutely knows it and never fails to be a bitch. If you are lucky enough to catch her alone it is worth the score, but when there’s a crowd, simply walk away.

Bolinas- The hippy queen; she is so close, but always feels so far away. She’s a huge flake and when you are most sure she is going to show she is nowhere to be found. I’d suggest parking your long board on the beach, joining the party and not building yourself up with expectation around her. Crack a brew, enjoy the crowd, sights, and sounds and wait for her to show.

Mavericks- Forget it. If you aren’t prepared, she’s WAY out of your league.

Rockaway- Considering her accessibility she tends to stay out of the limelight and seems quite tame. Keep a close watch and you will learn she is an absolute closet freak. Her southern entrance rips rapidly into the mix and you might get a bombing drop with a few turns, or run through the ringer when you least expect it.

Half Moon Jetty- Gentle and nurturing, she’s great for beginners and will keep the rest of us entertained when things are out of hand elsewhere. You might get bored with her, but she just wants everybody to get along and serves up a mean beer at the end of the day (Half Moon Brewery).

Steamer Lane- The jewel of the coast, if she picks you up you are guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face. She comes on strong and serves up a long, fast paced ride; just don’t blow it or you may never get the chance again.

Pleasure Point- Her name says it all. She’s the cute, fun, hippy cousin of Steamers who isn’t quite as overrun with talent. Show some respect and you might fall in love. With many points of interest to choose from, don’t rush it with her and she’ll be a lasting friend.

These are just a few of our lovely ladies in the Bay Area. What are your favorite spots and how do they speak to you?

FitzyRadio Fires Up a Mountain of Online Radio

Since the beginning of recorded history- music has been woven into the culture of every society, helping people to express themselves and confront the varying challenges they met. The mystical craving for a steady injection of music into our lives is a strange consistency across humans from every culture, background, and location in the world.

With the advent of the internet we have been granted access to a broad range of diverse music from artists in every corner of the world. We all have our favorite artists, genres, and tracks that we repeatedly return to, but with this access, I often find myself frantically combing through the clutter on the web in an attempt to find some new soul stirring sounds.

To date, however, I’ve found the process of blind searching largely arduous and unsuccessful; a bummer when you think of all those satisfying grooves that got away. This all changed for me with the recent unveiling of FitzyRadio.com. A free service which indexes thousands of online radio stations into one central location, FitzyRadio allows you to search its massive database of stations by song, artist, keyword, genre, or station name and listen to high quality music for as long as you like.

While there are plenty of other music services on the web, I particularly enjoy FitzyRadio because it is not limited to an algorithm of songs you might “like”, contained on a limited database. Each station is run by actual DJs who play music from their own collection- giving you the opportunity hear extremely obscure tracks from anywhere in the world.

FitzyRadio is also working on an interactive component to be released soon. You’ll have to hold tight in the meantime thought – Mr. Fitzy would have my head if I spilled the beans. So tune in and you might be lucky to stumble upon Edward Sharp and the Magnet Zero’s, some Dutch house beats, or a little known group from Nigeria that makes your day.

How do you navigate the sprawling landscape of music on the internet? What sites or services do you use, or do you listen to your personal collection? If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for FitzyRadio, fire away!