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Monday, December 27, 2010
Tourist Trapped: San Francisco International Airport
Tourist Trapped is a weekly Culture Blog post in which Beth Spotswood visits San Francisco's popular tourist destinations and reports back. This week: SFO.
What could be more of a Tourist Trap than the airport? I find myself writing this post from Krakow, Poland, where my family has spent Christmas, and obviously, just spent a chunk of recent time in airports. I've always found airports glamorous, pleased I grew up with SFO as my start and finish line for every major trip. San Francisco International is a pretty solid airport. It's not like the Vegas airport, where you'll find dead bodies in the bathrooms or Heathrow, a purposefully complex maze where you can miss a connecting flight with a four hour layover.
No, I like our classy, efficient airport. And I liked it right up until my family arrived Wednesday night to board our Lufthansa flight to Munich. There weren't many people in line. "This'll be a breeze." We thought. "However shall we kill so much time?"
But Lufthansa, with their three smiling check-in ladies, had two lines. There was the regular people line and the first class line. It's enough of a tragedy to be sent to steerage, but to add insult to injury, the first class people got to cut. So each time someone would finish up checking in, the Lufthansa lady would look to the first class line.
"Anyone? Anyone flying 12 hours in glorious, luxurious style feel like cutting these poor schmucks who'll arrive in Germany with their knees stuck to their chins?"
It was agony, like waiting in line at the DMV and having to let people with better cars cut in front of you. Read More 'Tourist Trapped: San Francisco International Airport' »
| Dec 27 at 01:45 PM
Hey, Watch It! - This Week's TV Picks
Monday December 27th
You're not going to get much more than repeats on the networks this week, but in some cases those repeats--disguised as "marathons"--can prove a good opportunity to play catch up on shows you've missed. Like tonight's three episodes of "Chuck," which include the season premiere and the Halloween episode. 8 P.M. on NBC.
Tuesday December 28th
It's time for the "33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors," in which luminaries speak nary a word, but instead sit and smile uncomfortably in the theater balcony as people they may or may not know talk about how awesome they are. This years honorees: Merle Haggard; composer and lyricist Jerry Herman; dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones; Paul McCartney; and Oprah Winfrey. 9 P.M. on CBS.
Wednesday December 29th
Gear up for your New Year's weight loss resolutions by watching others struggle with the battle of the bulge in the new series "I Used To Be Fat." 10 P.M. on MTV.
Thursday December 30th
Here's another chance to catch up on a show, big time, as USA airs 22 hours of "Burn Notice," starting at 6 A.M.
Friday December 31st
If you're not the type to leave the house to celebrate the ringing in of the New Year, there are plenty of countdown shows to choose from tonight; just pick a network. But I can think of no better way to spend a New Year's evening at home than with the Marx Brothers marathon on TCM tonight. Here's the schedule: Animal Crackers at 5 P.M.; Monkey Business at 7 P.M.; Horse Feathers at 8:15 P.M.; Duck Soup at 9:30 P.M.; A Night at the Opera at 10:45 P.M.; A Day at the Races at 12:30 A.M. and Go West at 2:30 A.M.
Saturday December 1st
If you did go out and revel with the rabble and are welcoming the year in with a hangover, or are, frankly, still a little drunk, just crawl onto that couch and turn on Syfy for an all-day marathon of "The Twilight Zone." It's up to you to decide whether the weirdness you see is the show, or morning-after hallucinations.
Sunday January 2nd
ABC comes out of hibernation with new episodes of "Desperate Housewives," (will Susan live? Who shot Paul?), and "Brothers & Sisters," (what wacky coincidence will bring all the Walkers together in one place this week?). 9 P.M. and 10 P.M.
| Dec 27 at 12:00 PM
Honorable mentions for the year in gaming
There's only so much space they afford us over the in the hallowed pink pages of Sunday Datebook, so there's bound to be a few titles we couldn't get into the year in review roundup. It's been such a good year in gaming though that even this list of runners-up leaves out some worthy titles. Of course subjectivity plays a bigger role than usual in these lists; Peter Hartlaub might have put in a mention of MLB 10 The Show, and I'm sure Christopher T. Fong would have argued for Civilization V. As for myself, these were the first three games that came to mind, and they all happened to fall into the spies and mercenaries category. It's been a strong (and moderately diverse) year indeed for these three not to make the cut. Read More 'Honorable mentions for the year in gaming' »
| Dec 27 at 06:00 AM
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Top 10 movies of 2010 from Leba Hertz
Everyone is weighing in on what movies are the best this year, I couldn't resist my own selection. And please make sure this Sunday Dec. 26 to read the Pink section to see how Movie Critic Mick LaSalle and Pop Culture Critic Peter Hartlaub rated their movies.
Here are my top films of 2010.
1. Ghost Writer
2. Hereafter
Both of these are equal in stature. Roman Polanski and Clint Eastwood delivered exquisitely made films, and in each case the endings were thought provoking. One of these days maybe those two can give a master class (yeah, would probably have to be in Europe) to show how to make a movie. These are two of the best at their best.
3. Social Network
4. King's Speech
These two will definitely be the prime contenders for the Academy Award's best picture. And Colin Firth as King George VI is hands on the favorite to win best actor. And by the way, the hype is right for both of these movies although the casting of Winston Churchill in "Speech" was a bit of a putoff.
5. Toy Story 3:
Who would think the third in a series could be so fresh and original? But Pixar pulled it off. And yes Ken stole the movie from Woody and Buzz!The next five in no particular order
| Dec 25 at 10:05 AM
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Driving this road until death sets you free
As I'm getting ready to hit the road tonight, it occurs to me that it's been a good year for driving games, with something for everybody ranging from silly kart racers to hardcore simulators. This past May saw the release of Split/Second, Mod Nation Racers and Blur within weeks of each other, leading to inevitable comparisons between three wildly different styles of driving. The same thing happened again a few weeks ago with the releases of Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, Gran Turismo 5, and the portable version of Split/Second. Read More 'Driving this road until death sets you free' »
| Dec 23 at 06:00 AM
Monday, December 20, 2010
Hey, Watch It! - This Week's TV Picks
Monday December 20th
Not to give anything away, but the National Geographic Channel special "World's Biggest Cave" is about a really big cave. 10 P.M.
Tuesday December 21st
The Thin Man has everything a good Christmas movie should have: Parties, drinking, fancy clothes, presents, witty repartee, and murder! 9 P.M. on TCM.
Wednesday December 22nd
If you haven't had a chance to see the San Francisco Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker" live and in the flesh, then PBS's "Great Performances" presentation is the next best thing. Watch it tonight at 8 P.M. on KQED.
Thursday December 23rd
"Late Show With David Letterman" continues its annual Christmas tradition, with a guest appearance by Jay Thomas, Darlene Love singing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," and, hopefully, Paul Shaffer impersonating Cher. Though, wouldn't it be great if Cher herself showed up to sing her infamous version of "O Holy Night"?
Friday December 24th
Speaking of holiday traditions, TBS once again airs 24 hours of A Christmas Story, starting at 8 P.M. tonight. (I like A Christmas Story...)
Saturday December 25th
"Doctor Who" gets in the Christmas spirit with a Dickens-inspired episode featuring guest stars Michael Gambon and opera singer Katherine Jenkins. 9 P.M. on BBC America.
Sunday December 26th
Road House airs at 2:30 P.M. and 5:30 P.M. on AMC, and I list it here purely as an excuse to include this little holiday ditty in this week's post. I hope everyone has a Patrick Swayze Christmas this year!
| Dec 20 at 12:00 PM
Tourist Trapped: The San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker
Tourist Trapped is a weekly Culture Blog post in which Beth Spotswood visits San Francisco's popular tourist destinations and reports back. This week: The Nutcracker at the San Francisco Ballet.
The last time I went to The Nutcracker at the San Francisco Ballet, I was 9 years old, wearing a taffeta dress to a matinee and holding the gloved hand of my grandmother. I regarded the entire experience as indescribably glamorous, and as this was the 80's, took great enjoyment in brushing past women in mink coats. As an added bonus, every time my grandmother took me to the ballet, she bought me Mentos. I'm not going to lie, the Mentos were on par with the experience itself.
Lo these years later, I found myself at the San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker again, this time arm in arm with my friend Tara. It was Tara's idea to head to the Nutcracker for Tourist Trapped, mainly because I suspect she is sick of being dragged on double-decker bus tours and to dine at Fisherman's Wharf.
"Anytime you want to do one of these high-brow activities," Tara said, meeting me in the Opera House lobby on Friday night and shaking off her raincoat, "I'm in."
We were early for the performance and decided to get a drink while taking in the crowd. Turns out, there are no more Mentos at the ballet. Instead, one can buy adorable, little $4 bags of gummy bears and mini cookies, along with wine, champagne and soft drinks. But if you want Mentos, bring your own. Read More 'Tourist Trapped: The San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker' »
| Dec 20 at 10:35 AM
Thursday, December 16, 2010
12/18: Cyndi Lauper @ the Independent
Cyndi Lauper, pop idol, fashion icon, and singer of some of the most nostalgia-producing songs for girls that grew up in the 1980s and 90s, performs Saturday, December 18, at the Independent.
Lauper's first album, 1983's She's So Unusual became an instant mega-hit, landing her the cover of Rolling Stone in 1984, making her an MTV regular, and winning her a Grammy for "Best New Artist" in 1985. One stint on Celebrity Apprentice and ten albums later, Lauper embarked most recently on her Memphis Blues tour, which lands in San Francisco on Saturday. Released in June, Memphis Blues debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and remained there for 14 consecutive weeks. With a performing career spanning over 25 years, Lauper has played countless huge auditoriums, so this is a very rare opportunity to see the pop legend in a relatively small local venue.
If you visit her Myspace page and listen to the tunes from the last few records, you'll see that Lauper hasn't lost her touch. Some albums are still poppy and synth-based, like 2008's Bring Ya to the Brink, some are more bluesy, like this year's Memphis Blues, but regardless of experiments in style, Lauper's voice retains every trace of pizzazz that made her a 1980s pop darling.
via Myspace
With quintessential songs like "Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time after Time" still stuck in our heads after all these years, Lauper's voice still employs the subtle mix of little-girl innocence and seductive huskiness that it had 25 years ago. And unlike most pop icons of that era, Lauper embraces the neon, leather, and lace outfits and edgy hairstyles that made her a fashion icon. Pink hair and all, you can expect no less from a Cyndi Lauper show than you would have in 1986.
San Francisco's own The Ferocious Few have been supporting Lauper on tour and will open at this Saturday's show. The Ferocious Few is a tiny band with a huge sound.
With the release of their latest album, they were dubbed by the Bay Bridged (where you can stream the full album) as "one of the most kinetic bands in the Bay Area." Ferocious and especially few, the duo is made up of singer/guitarist Francisco Fernandez and drummer Daniel Aguilar. Known around town for their street corner performances, you wont believe how much punch the band packs at their indoor shows. Don't miss out!
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Cyndi Lauper
Saturday, December 18, 9pm
The Independent
628 Divisadero St.
| Dec 16 at 03:39 PM
12/17: Horse Feathers @ the New Parish
Horse Feathers, photo by Tarina Westlund
Portland, Oregon-based folk band Horse Feathers makes its way to the New Parish this Friday, December 17. The quartet is made up of singer/songwriter Justin Ringle, violinist Nathan Crockett, cellist Catherine Odell, and multi-instrumentalist Sam Cooper. Idaho native Ringle moved to Portland in 2004 after fronting several rock bands, turning towards acoustic music and releasing his debut album as Horse Feathers in 2006. Several band lineup reincarnations later, the band released its sophomore LP, House with No Home, on the Kill Rock Stars label in 2008, receiving much praise for the haunting single, "Curs in the Weeds."
Earlier this year in April, Horse Feathers put out their third record, Thistled Spring. With a thumbs up from both Pitchfork and Stereogum, the recent album delivers nothing less than the celebrated one that came before. Frontman/guitarist Ringle rounds out the folk outfit's three part harmonies and string accented songs with his delicate yet husky voice. The band a video, complete with stop-motion animation, for the single of the new album, "Belly of June." For more, watch the band's live performance on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts podcast series.
Horse Feathers will be supported by opener Y La Bamba. Another Portland band, Y La Bamba is a female-fronted septet with a reputation for putting on terrific live shows. You can listen to Y La Bamba's complete album, Alida St., on the band's Bandcamp page. No doubt you'll fall in love with frontwoman Luz Elena's old-timey voice and thick harmonies.
Y La Bamba, Alicia Rose Photography
With a dual lineup promising soothing folk melodies, this is the perfect evening to enjoy the New Parish's lush interior. If you have yet to check out this downtown Oakland venue, which will celebrate its one year anniversary in January, you're in for a real treat. The classy velvet-curtained bar has a medium-sized stage, a truly intimate feel with easy viewing from both the floor and balcony, and an outdoor patio that connects it to Hibiscus restaurant. The relatively new venue has yet to book a no-name act, so make sure to take a peek at the venue's upcoming calendar, which boasts a diverse and impressive lineup over the last year and in the coming months.
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Horse Feathers, with Y La Bamba
Friday, December 17, doors 8:30, show 9:30
The New Parish
579 18th Street, Oakland
Tickets
| Dec 16 at 03:07 PM
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Five things we loved about Ghost of Sparta (and three we didn't)
Sony
Ghost of Sparta boasts an impressive amount of detail in nearly all of its screens.
While putting together the top ten list for the Chronicle's Pink section this year, I found myself considering which of this year's two God of War releases would end up getting a spot. God of War III ultimately won out for its sheer muscle, but the notion that a PSP game even had a chance of edging out one of the PS3's biggest sequels speaks to the amount of fight in God of War: Ghost of Sparta. One of Ghost of Sparta's strengths is that it willfully ignores its handheld pedigree, which is a testament to the determined craftsmanship from the development team at Ready At Dawn Studios. After the jump are the touches that stood out the most. (Spoilers ahead.) Read More 'Five things we loved about Ghost of Sparta (and three we didn't) ' »
| Dec 15 at 05:00 PM
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