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Quirky San Francisco

• Magic Show at the Julia Morgan Center in Berkeley

  28Sep
  Categories: Cheap Fun, Event, Excursion, Fun, Kids, Odd Click Here to Leave a Comment

  A friend invited me to a magic show in Berkeley recently. Taking Bart left a long hike down College Ave. to the Julia Morgan Center, but it was a warm, sunny day; so it was an easy trek. I couldn’t believe how many great little shops and restaurants there were along the way. There was food for any taste.

  Maybe you’ll see these people performing on TV or somewhere in your neck ‘o the woods. The show was a lot of fun and each performer had a unique act and style all their own. It all made for a fun Saturday afternoon.

  I shot two videos – Ric and Kara in which Rick escapes a straight jacket while Kara reads from Dr. Suess, and Gerald Joseph, who raises a table magically into the air. I snapped stills of the rest.

  The list of performers is in order of performance, and their media below, including my friend Mac:

  1. Danielle
  2. Peter Morrison
  3. Benny Buettner
  4. Ric and Kara
  5. Jerry Barrileaux & Reggie
  6. Bob Steiner (as Merlin)
  7. Gerald Joseph
  The host was Germar the Magician.
  And, Mac McCarthy, my friend and backstage helper.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  Tags: Berkeley, Bob Steiner, Bunny Buettner, Danielle, Gerald Joseph, Germar the Magician, Jerry Barrileaux & Reggie, Julia Morgan Center, Mac McCarthy, Peter Morrison, Ric and Kara

• Town Hall Restaurant

  22Sep
  Categories: Cocktails, Dinner, Food, Lunch, SOMA Click Here to Leave a Comment

  

  Town Hall was new a while back and immediately became popular. I think it was the fact that they offer a selection comfort foods, as well as fresh, organic, healthy and inventive dishes without being overly fussy. I had a whole trout, stuffed with crab once that was absolutely amazing – simple, yet bursting with flavor. It made my taste buds stand up and say, “Whoopie”. I keep hoping I’ll see it on the menu again, but I don’t. It doesn’t keep me from going back though. \

  This shot from the bar was late, after most people had gone. Plan for it to be bustling with activity and a bit on the loud side, but also plan for a tasty meal. If it’s summertime, ask about a drink they make with lemonade and ginger beer. Boy do those go down easily. If it’s cold outside, go for the hot chocolate. It’s a thick, creamy amazingly rich desert that you’ll never forget. I promise. I’ve even popped people into a cab to whisk them off for a surprise desert; then taken them to Town Hall and ordered the hot chocolate for everyone – at the bar, or the communal table near the front. Be prepared for one of the most sinful deserts ever, but so worth the effort … and calories.

  Click on this link for more info about Town Hall.
  Tags: Town Hall

• Oracle’s Big Trade Show

  21Sep
  Categories: Art, People Watching, Photo Opp, SOMA Comments: 1

  

  This is just one example of the big trade show events that come to the city. Oracle does one of the largest. They even close-off one of the busiest streets in the city – Howard Street, between 3rd and 4th. Most of the conventions are inside one of 3 buildings, but I guess the show kind of reflects the ego of you-know-who? (Larry Ellison, maybe?) Not that I have an opinion!

  This is one of the signs for the event. I was just walking home after dinner last night and snapped a few shots. I’m not sure what the sign will say or do, but in the next few days, I’m sure it’ll become clear. In the interim, it was something worth shooting.

  This is just one example of the type of thing you can accidentally run across when you just walk around downtown.
  Tags: Howard Street, Moscone Center, Oracle