The Agenda is a big advocate of seeing movies on a big screen, surrounded by a crowd of friends and strangers connected by laughter, suspense, pathos, and excitement. Sure, the ability to watch Mark Ruffalo while sprawled on your couch in nothing but boxers and a blankie is a benefit to home viewing, but we spend so much solo screen time these days that the communal experience of film in a theater is well-worth hanging on to.

But the economics can feel tough to justify:  Up to $12 a ticket (never mind popcorn and parking) at many SF theaters makes regular moviegoing a hard pill to swallow.  For goodness’ sake, its only five bucks or so to rent a film and squeeze a whole gang of skivvy-clad Mark Ruffalo fans onto your comfy loveseat (Don’t forget to factor in the cost of a massive afghan).

Enter compromise, in the form of the SF MovieBears, a group of furry, film-loving fellows who—out of pure sociability and movie love—organize weekly group movie nights which allow members of the general public (regardless of physique, hirsuteness, and gender) to purchase discount tickets (usually $8) to screenings of first run films. You just reserve online, show up at the theater to get your ticket, and enjoy.  You can even sit wherever you want, although introducing yourself and sitting with other MovieBear participants offers a great opportunity for making new friends with at least one (movies) and quite possibly two (bears) common interests.

Jake Grrrrr..ylenhall in End of Watch, the MovieBear screening on October 3

Among upcoming outings are:

—Keep the Lights On,  the much buzzed about film about a gay relationship sullied by drug abuse

—The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a coming of age comedy featuring Ezra Miller, the demon seed from We Need to Talk About Kevin

—End of Watch, with Jake Gyllenhall as a cop

Check out th SF Movie Bears website to learn about their other social events, including nights at the theater, karaoke parties, hiking excursions, and more.

One of the favorite topics of San Francisco’s sometimes snobby food freaks (We love ‘em, we ridicule ‘em, we confess to being them) is the local proliferation of so-called “Third Wave” coffee houses and roasters. Starbucks and Peet’s—once viewed as premium, relative to standard-issue diner Joe—have been downgraded in the minds of javaficionados who now opt for Blue Bottle, Four Barrel, and their kin.

But coffee is not the only bean demeaned and esteemed by the elites. (Say that three times fast.) Witness the evolution of San Francisco’s cocoa business and choco-tourism, from Ghirardelli to Tcho:

Old school

Ghirardelli Chocolate has long been the candy brand associated with our city. Ghirardelli perambulated from factory to factory around town from its founding in 1852 until settling until its landmark headquarters near Fisherman’s Wharf in 1895. In the early 1960s, Ghirardelli left the hands of its namesake family ownership, purchased by another Italian immigrant family business—the Golden Grain Macaroni Company, creators of Rice-a-Roni—at which point the bayside factory was shut down, with production moving to suburban San Leandro, south of Oakland. (Today, Rice-a-Roni is owned by PepsiCo., and Ghirardelli is an American subsidy of Swiss mega-choclatier Lindt and Sprungli).

Ghirardelli Square, long a lure for choco-tourists, is a triumph of marketing, not manufacturing. Opened in 1964 on the former site of the SF chocolate factory, it’s an early example of the sort of urban renewal project later mimicked by the likes of Boston’s Faneuil Hall, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and nearby Monterey’s Cannery Row—basically a mall built on the bones of an old industrial site. The Ghirardelli Chocolate brand still throws a cocoa halo over the place, its flagship retail operation complete with faux manufacturing display—and pretty damn good hot fudge sundaes—anchoring an otherwise unexceptional collection of shops and restaurants. And next weekend (September 8 and 9), the Square salutes its past with the 17th Annual Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival, featuring ample samples along with a bake-off, an ice cream eating contest, and a talk on chocolate manufacturing from a Ghirardelli honey.

New wave

To move from old school to new wave in San Francisco chocolate, walk just a mile and a half east along the waterfront from Ghirardelli Square to the Tcho chocolate factory. Founded in 2005 (making it over 150 years junior to Ghirardelli) and owned by the original publishers of Wired magazine and a NASA space shuttle engineer along with a chocolate business veteran, Tcho’s vision of chocolate is less influenced by Willy Wonka than by wine-tasting (and the third wave coffee business). Organic single-sourced cocoa beans; close relationships with farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America; complex flavor profiles; hushed white production facilities, and high-end contemporary packaging are hallmarks of this boutique brand. Its a stark, contemporary contrast to the Ye Olde Fudge Factory imagery and brass fixturing at Ghirardelli’s sundae and candy shop. In fact “candy” is not a word you’ll hear on the fascinating—if more than a morsel self-serious—Tcho factory tours, offered for free a couple times daily (Reservations required). Much of the one-hour “tour” time of is spent in a slide show presentation and tasting session rather than on the plant floor, but its reasonably educational in regard to chocolate production and an utterly compelling demonstration of branded corporate storytelling.

Later this year, another fancypants chocolate manufacturer is slated to open its doors to the San Francisco public:  Dandelion Chocolate‘s “bean to bar” facility in the Mission. Watch for coverage here on the San Francisco Agenda.

On the Tcho tour: Free chocolate tasting and hygienic headgear

The 55th annual Monterey Jazz Festival runs from September 21 to 23, with a terrifically varied roster of mainstage performers, from soignée chanteuse Melody Gardot, to iconic figures including Tony Bennett and Bill Frisell, to the Agenda’s pick for the most entertaining contemporary jazz musician on the touring circuit, Trombone Shorty. Over 500 artists will perform on 8 stages throughout the weekend-long event

On Thursday the 20th, the night prior to the festival opening, Jack DeJohnette will be honored at the non-profit festival’s fundraising Jazz Legends Gala. The evening’s host will be the Invisible Chair Whisperer himself, former Carmel mayor Clint Eastwood. The gala festivities will take place at the Hyatt Regency Monterey, home to one of SF Agenda’s favorite Bay Area escapes, the Accista Spa.

The deluxe couples’ suite at the Accista Spa in Monterey

If you like to feel jazz hands all over your bod, its well worth taking a break from the weekend’s concerts to treat yourself to a customized Accista massage. You’ll be asked to sample four different scents—from an almost medicinal herbal blend to a warm, sunny citrus—and select an aroma that matches your mood and the tone of the treatment you’d like to receive.

The spa’s most extraordinary offerings are its lavish couples suites, with private sitting areas, fireplaces, side-by-side massage tables, wine and cheese service available, and—in the largest suite—a hydrotherapy tub with room for two. Even if you don’t reserve a suite of your own, Accista’s hushed, sprawling post-therapy relaxation areas are arrayed with comfortable daybeds, encouraging dreamy naps to extend the spa experience (If you look drowsy, an attendant will likely offer you a soft blanket to snuggle up in, you little jazz kitten, you.)

Wake up! There’s a fierce Trombone Shorty video after the jump! Read more…

I’ve never been the sporting sort, but your SF Agenda editor must admit that he’s taken a fancy to the occasional round of disc golf on the impressive free course in Golden Gate Park.

I used to say that the only golf course you’d find me on was the kind with a windmill and an 18th Hole clown face eager to swallow your balls. Now, while I cannot vouch for any ball swallowage, I can say that you’re likely to find some of the friendliest, most laid-back scruffy hipster dudes hanging out at the disc golf tees waiting to whiz their plastic platters at the chain basket targets placed throughout a stretch of heavily wooded terrain. They often bring refreshments—quaffable and smokeable—as should you. And bring enough to share. It helps take the competitive edge off of a sportsman’s afternoon, turning it into quite a nice, casual social event where you’ll find yourself chatting with folks you might otherwise never cross paths with.

Now, don’t be mistaken. To many, this is a serious sport as well as a pastime, but there’s a leisurely collegiality to the scene that makes it feel entirely reasonable for the spazzes of the world (yours truly) to seek some more expert advice on throwing skills from the more advanced players.

One preparatory note: While disc golf doesn’t require greens fees or caddy tips, you ought to have a minimal amount of proper equipment. Large Frisbees of the sort you might throw on the beach don’t offer the kind of control you need here, so pick up a basic mid-range golf disc, available for $10 or less.

Believe it or not, there’s now a good reason to venture into the vicinity of Pier 39, that  frightful morass of touristic kitsch. (Hard Rock Cafe—check! 24 flavors of fudge—check! Retailer of only hats—check! Retailer of only sunglasses—check!).

Sartre said Hell is other people. I say, Hell is those other people who choose to eat at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Factory.

Wandering through the dreckscape of Pier 39—on my recent visit the pier was hosting an Idol-style “Star Spangled Banner” singing contest—one feels as though he’s wandered out of San Francisco and into the fat, thick middle of America.

Still, the stench of lazy sea lions and the digital jangling of dated arcade games is all worth braving now that Pier 39 serves as the departure point for the RocketBoat, a 70 foot-long speedboat that rips through the Bay at 50 miles an hour, careening from side-to-side, rearing up in the nautical equivalent of a wheelie, and sending adrenaline rushing through the gang of gleefully screaming passengers that piles aboard once an hour (11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) between May and October.

In addition to the thrills, Rocketboat offers views that even locals rarely experience—including a full-length street-to-sky perspective on the Transamerica Pyramid and a view of the underside of the Bay Bridge. The 30 minute trip theoretically costs $24, but an internet search for discounts will generally yield tickets for $12-$16. My partner and I took our nieces and nephew last Saturday because we thought it would be fun for the kids——We’ve been recommending it to all our grown-up local friends all week long!

So, what’s cooking? Seriously, WTF is cooking? 

Welcome to the second installment in our series of snapshots showcasing the Bay Area’s greatest glitches on signs, window displays, and menus.

Waste not, want not..Let’s eat up, and just hope it’s not waste.
My theory is that “waist” is belly, as in “pork belly”…or maybe it’s “belli,” as in “embellish” which is the bigger mystery here. Have a clue? Leave a comment!

With a side of small fries, please.

Excuse me miss, can you tell me how that’s prepared?

A tricycle built for three

You’ll need to plan carefully to hit two big events this Saturday, both of which capture the spirit of the Bay Area by blending social change agendas with tons of fun.

At Jack London Square in Oakland, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., its the second annual Pedalfest, a celebration of cycling co-produced with the non-profit East Bay Bicycle Coalition, leading local advocates for green transportation. In addition to lots of cycling education and community-building, the festival features all-day entertainment including BMX stunt riders, tightrope biking, and The Whiskey Drome, a circular, wooden-sided arena—reminiscent of a whiskey barrel—where professional riders will build up speed and ride the walls, nearly parallel to the ground. There’ll be demos of bike-powered electricity generation and ice cream churning, tune-up tips for civilian bikers, and displays of exotic and antique bikes from collectors throughout the Bay Area.

Takin’ it to the streets…

On the San Francisco side of the Bay Bridge, the fourth annual San Francisco Street Food Festival, takes over 10 blocks of the Mission from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. More than 80 vendors of mostly ethnic edibles—from Yucatecan tacos to Polish perogies—will serve crowds that hit 80,000 last year. Beyond all the deliciousness, the Fest has a serious social intent. It’s hosted by La Cocina, the Mission-based non-profit community kitchen that provides cooking space and entrepreneurial advice for immigrants starting food-based businesses. La Cocina also engages with city government, advocating for fair licensing of food trucks, carts, and other small-scale culinary operations.

Check out the Street Food Fest’s uplifting and educational video after the jump
Read more…

The blocks of Valencia Street between 14th and 24th constitute one of America’s finest strolling, shopping, eating, and people watching zones. It’s a boutiquey slightly freaky wonderland that no visitor to the city should miss. But I’ll admit to being slightly shocked when, on a post-prandial stroll last week, it dawned on me that people actual live in the midst of this scene. Sweet people, it turns out, people interested in contributing the the giddiness of their immediate surroundings and concerned about the larger environment. People with a topiary dinosaur named Trixie. Learn all about it, here.

Trixie, the mascot of ‘Deepistan

This time of year is high season for free public movie screenings in the Bay Area, with terrific al fresco films series running as late as October in venues including:

• Union Square, every Thursday this month (Citizen Kane on the 30th is the highlight)
• Dolores Park, the second Thursday of August, September, and October (The Cove, Chinatown, Adaptation)
• Washington Square, Saturday, September 29 (Midnight in Paris)
• Jack London Square in Oakland, Sunday, Thursdays through September 20 (Highlights are hometown story Moneyball on August 9, and The Devil Wears Prada on closing night)

Dislocation: It’s about LA’s Chinatown, and it’ll play in Dolores Park

If you’re planning ahead—whether for the weekend, or for Christmas—mark Friday through Sunday (August 3-5) on your calendar for a visit to the American Craft Council’s annual exhibition at Fort Mason Center, featuring work from over 200 artists. With prices ranging from the tens- to the tens-of-thousands, the country’s largest juried craft show west of the Rockies is highlighted this year by two new exhibition categories sure to appeal to the Bay Area’s crafty cognoscenti:

• Foodieware features fully functional art for the kitchen and dining room. From cutlery to serving platters to woven table dressings, this is the intersection of beauty and utility. While it can be  nervewracking to select purely artistic craftwork to give to others, the practical dimension of the items on display in these booths makes them particularly gift worthy.

• Men’s Department focuses on one-of-a-kind handmade wearables and accessories for guys, including Santa Rosa leather artist Richard Davis’ museum-worthy murses.

Lesbian jewelry artists Lou Ann Townsend and Mary Filapek try to capture the cosmos in their work.

Members of the Bay Area’s overlapping scientific and GLBT communities will want to check out the bold sterling silver and polymer jewelry created by art- and life-partners Mary Filapek and Lou Ann Townsend, from North Carolina. The pair point to atomic and cellular structure as a major influence on their work, and the copy on their website suggests that they’ll be quite a hit with the local girl-geek crowd: “Two sodium atoms are walking along the street when one stops and says, ‘Oh my God, I think I’ve lost an electron.’ ‘Are you sure?’ asks the other sodium atom. ‘Yes,’ replies the first sodium atom, ‘I’m positive.’”

On Friday  from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.,  admission to the exhibition will be discounted to $5 (from $14), with live music and free sampling of Balvenie Single Malt Whiskey livening up the evening hours

PASSPORT magazine favorite Bryan Batt, of Mad Men and Jeffrey fame,  recently visited the ACCS’ East Coast show in Baltimore to find items for his  New Orleans design shop, Hazelnut.  Video after the jump

Read more…