For a couple years now, the  Off the Grid organization has been choreographing regularly scheduled al fresco food courts, handling the logistics and licenses required to have three-to-eight food trucks corralled in a core urban location for a few hours of lunch or dinner time revelry, creating steady income streams for mobile food entrepreneurs and bringing a sense of camaraderie to local communities. Their online calendar provides info on where and when you’re guaranteed to find eclectic meals on wheels every day of the week.

But, now,  the next stage of street food evolution has arrived: There’s no need to check a calendar to get your grub on at the SOMA StrEatfood Park.  Opened this summer in a heavily trafficked area South of Market, the brainchild of Carlos Muela—proprietor of first-rate Mission tapas bar Esperpento—has turned a vacant lot into a festive hub of eclectic, modestly priced eats every day of the week—at lunch and dinner. It’s also about to become a major nexus of weekend nightlife, with a third shift of trucks now taking over on Friday and Saturday nights from Midnight to 4 am. From Vietnamese bahn mi, to pulled pork mac and cheese, to burritos, to chicken schnitzel, to falafel, to fresh baked cookies, this is a cornucopia on macadam.

As many as 10 trucks a shift set up camp around StrEatfood’s clever, barn-like covered seating area complete with big screen TVs playing local sporting events, heat lamps for the cooler weather, and—this being San Francisco—free WiFi access. And—drum roll please—there are public restrooms.

The StrEatfood Park also also has outdoor seating, with clustered plantings that make it feel less like a vacant lot than an urban garden.  At night, strings of tiny lights give the venue an carnival air as tail lights whiz by on the freeway above and giant billboards loom overhead.  There’s a gritty, urban magic to the place that’s likely to turn it into a regular spot on the itinerary of more adventurous tourists.

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!

San Francisco’s stellar siren, Veronica Klaus

Knockout song stylist Veronica Klaus is a real San Francisco gem, delivering respectful yet singular interpretations of  Great American Songbook tunes that will please devotees while winning new converts from younger generations.  The resident Tuesday night performer at the late, lamented Enrico’s restaurant during its final two years, Klaus now performs regularly at the Rrrazz Room—where she’ll be showcasing selections from the Peggy Lee songbook this weekend—along with Joe’s Pub in New York, The Gardenia Room in L.A., and other marvelous boîtes hither and yon.

Her superb new album, Something Cool, has been on heavy rotation here in the San Francisco Agenda office. Among the highlights is  Klaus’ jaded, jazzy rendition—killer trumpet solo!— of “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game,” a song oddly unfamiliar to the general public despite having previously been recorded by performers ranging from Ella Fitzgerald, to the Marvelettes, to Massive Attack.

Clearly, our Ms. Klaus has a discerning musical palate. And she’s equally impeccable in her selections of food, fashion, et cetera. Which is why we asked her to answer our Insider Tips questionnaire. Read her answers, and buy her album, stat!

What’s your favorite cultural institution to spend time at in the city?  

 The Alameda Antiques flea market—held the first Sunday of every month—qualifies as a cultural institution for me! You can learn a lot at a museum, but you can also learn a lot about society by the things it saves and casts off. Put on your hat, dress up and make an occasion of it!

Where’s your favorite view in the city?  

 It’s great to take in the sites while riding a bicycle through Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach. The park really is an incredible resource and presents LOTS of different opportunities for sightseeing and mind clearing. I do it as often as possible in good weather early in the morning.  There’s something about putting it in high gear and going as fast as you can downhill through the meadows and the mist that really starts the day right! Rent a bike and go!

Where is shopping central for you?

I’m an compulsive browser when it comes to antiques and vintage, and there are several places to get your fix:  For clothing and accessories it’s Torso Vintages near Union Square downtown. They have an exquisite collection of designer, vintage and accessories that always amazes me–from Yma Sumac estate vintage gowns to FABULOUS hats!  Full disclosure: I work there too, but believe me, I shop!

For antiques and such there is Stuff on Valencia–two floors of fantastic and fantastically priced things that I may not end up buying but NEED to
visit often. For instance, there’s a folding screen made up, probably in the 70s, of authentic 30s hand-painted movie boards used to advertise in theater
lobbys.  NO ONE does this sort of calligraphy painting by hand anymore and it is exquisite!

Name one thing a visitor shouldn’t miss eating in San Francisco?

 The sweetbreads at Florio!  I don’t know exactly what they are–and please don’t tell me–but they are the most decadent succulent treats in town! What’s even better?  Though they used to only be an appetizer, they recently added them as an ENTREE size dish!  Oh, and did I mention there is bacon involved?

What’s your cocktail spot of choice? 

Two places for different moods:  Most of the time when I go out to a club I want to see some live music with my cocktail, and the best place in town for that is The Rrazz Room!  It’s a fantastic room to see a show in:  great sight-lines, sound, and a stellar array of artists!  It’s downtown at the Nikko Hotel in Union Square so it’s very centrally located.  You might be lucky and catch renowned artists like Della Reese, Mary Wilson formerly of the Supremes or the amazingly talented Tammy Hall playing piano with her own trio or accompanying any number of wonderful singers! [Ed: Including Ms. Klaus...but, while she's biased, we completely agree with her recommendation.]

For those nights when you just want a quiet cocktail with friends, The Comstock Saloon in North Beach has been in continuous operation since 1907 and is a great holdover from the old days of the Barbary Coast!  They are serious about their bartending there and take great pains to make you the PERFECT Manhattan….though a good Scotch neat is more my style.  One of the attractions you must look for is the original porcelain trough running along under the bar stools which used to function as a spittoon and supposed urinal for lazy, and intoxicated 49ers.  Don’t worry, it’s only a conversation piece now.

You’ve got $50 or more per person to spend for a meal, where would you choose?  

Da Flora restaurant on Columbus in North Beach—home of the sweetbreads!  Flora and Mary Beth run this fine Venetian cuisine establishment in a tiny little10 table space that is dark and cozy–just what I would imagine a fabulous century old Venetian restaurant to look like.  The gnocchi will start the meal off with delicious comfort and the menu usually includes a risotto orduck livers and other assorted ultra fresh and delicious regional specialties.  Try to take it easy on the house made focaccia bread because you will need the room.  They have their specialty cheeses flown in and for wine aficionados, Flora is adept at suggesting the perfect compliment to their amazing menu!  Call for reservations.

So now you’ve got less than $15 per person to spend for a meal. Where will it be?  

It’s got to be Pancho Villa Mexican restaurant on 16th St. near Valencia.  For a budget meal, there is NOTHING better than Pancho Villa’s carnitas burrito with black beans and guacamole.  You can smother it with Pico de Gallo at the salsa bar for free!  Delicious, and a bargain! Oh yes, and if you want seconds you don’t have to stand in line again….don’task how I know that.

What would you tell a visitor that they absolutely must do while in San Francisco which they probably wouldn’t find in a guidebook? 

The rooftop garden at the Fairmont Hotel is a gorgeous and chic place to spend a free hour and is open to the public!  You can take a free City Guides tour of the hotel
and get some wonderful insights on its history in San Francisco: it was built before the 1906 earthquake and has quite a storied past.

When the Drifters sang “Up On The Roof,” they surely weren’t imagining a scene as luxurious as the one you’ll find atop the Hotel Vitale. Along with a series of interconnected, astro-turfed decks that allow you to take a slightly disconcerting stroll above the Embarcadero, the Vitale’s in-house spa offers a signature rooftop “Bathing Ritual”. It’s a one-of-a-kind urban indulgence that leaves you feeling utterly relaxed and gloriously spoiled.

Step off of the Financial District into the serene, earthtoned environs of the Vitale (Chosen as one of the World’s Best Business Hotels by Passport in 2010) and ascend to the penthouse level. After changing into one of the spa’s incredibly comfy robes (Yes, all spas seem to have comfy robes…but these are actually worth mentioning), you’ll be escorted to one of two outdoor tubs surrounded by natural privacy walls of tall green bamboo.

Slip out of the office and sink into a tub atop the Hotel Vitale.

While set within raised wooden structures, these are hardly hippie-style Northern California hot tubs, but full length polymer bathtubs, scrupulously cleaned and refilled for each guest. Its a strange, soothing feeling to stretch out in a lotion-infused outdoor bath in the midst of the city, nibbling your tubside snack of fresh fruit and sipping a warm cup of herbal tea. The Vitale’s carefully curated soundtrack burbles from surrounding speakers, muffling the street sounds down below to help create an oasis of solitude as you stare up at  shifting clouds and drifting seagulls, letting the cares of the day slip away.

Before or after your soak, put yourself in the strong hands—and forearms, and elbows—of Kyle Woolley, or one of Spa Vitale’s other licensed massage therapists,  for one of San Francisco’s secret spa bargains. In a city where hotel spa massages generally run $120 and up, 50 minutes at the Vitale are $105 (and 10% less on weekdays before 3 p.m.).

Jim Provenzano

Writer Jim Provenzano‘s latest novel, Every Time I Think of You, won a 2011 Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Romance. It’s a coming of age/coming out story that also addresses the challenges of physical disability, without ever feeling didactic or issue-oriented. Former sportswriter Provenzano—perhaps best known for his wrestling novel, PINS—is also the editor of BARtab, the Bay Area Reporter‘s glossy monthly guide to GLBT arts and nightlife, making him an ideal addition to our rogues gallery of Insider Tipsters.

Given his recent fictional focus on a character with disabilities, Provenzano suggested that, in addition to his personal favorite spots in San Francisco, he’d like to share some useful websites for travelers with disabilities. We couldn’t be happier to facilitate that:

• The San Francisco Access Guide:  A resource hub from The San Francisco Travel Association                            
• San Francisco On the Level: Wheelchair accessible tours of the city with no grades of more than 8%
• Ability Trip: San Francisco:  SF section of a trusted global guide to accessible travel

And now, on with Provenzano’s picks…

What’s your favorite SF cultural institution?

Aside from the GLBT Historical Society, which Michelle Tea previously spotlighted in your blog, I’d have to say The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, at least the foyer— it’s architect Mario Botta’s masterpiece, and word is that it’s going to be smashed apart to make way for, I dunno, something else. Really a shame. See it while you can, the way it is now.

Treasure Island with a hot Army guy before Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was abolished, on July 4, while holding hands. Sorry, that’s sharing a bit too much. Seriously, I’d recommend taking in the skyline while kayaking outside a Giants game in McCovey Cove; or from Angel Island; or from across the Golden Gate Bridge in the Marin Headlands.

Provenzano’s tips continue, after the jump

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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

A trumpeting bull elephant seal (Photo: Frank Balthis, California State Parks)

It’s that time of year when the B-52s’ “Love Shack” makes its annual comeback, delighting some and annoying many at barbecues throughout the Bay Area. While I’m certainly in the latter camp , I’ve also been having a much more positive, free-associative reaction to the tune this season.

Whenever I hear croaky vocalist Fred Schneider bellow “I got me a car, and its as big as a whale” my mind flashes on a visit I paid to Año Nuevo State Park—about 90 minutes south of the city, in San Mateo County—and I want to go back.

While gray whales can occasionally be spotted off the coast of this windswept peninsula during the spring, its the extraordinary elephant seals—many even bigger than a car—that you’re virtually guaranteed to spot lounging on the beach all year round. These are gigantic mofos, with males weighing up to 2.5 tons and measuring up to 16 feet long. During breeding season, from late December through March, 2000 or so of these behemoths crash the beach, and you can only hike the grounds on a ranger-guided tour.

In the summer months, though, when the ellies return to molt in huge raggedy patches, visitors can walk amongst them unchaperoned. Just pick up a permit at the park’s entrance and after hiking a few easy miles over undulating scrub and sand, you’ll find yourself in the land of the giants. The elephant seals are remarkably unthreatened by strolling bipeds. But bipeds like myself feel humbled in their presence, marveling at their cyclical journeys to and from the northern California shore.

We also think the sound of the seals is pretty much on par with the B-52s.

Brought to his knees by Venus!

This morning, it seemed like just another sunny day in San Francisco’s perpetual age of Aquarius. The hippies, pseudo-hippies, and tenderloin panhandlers were out in full force thanks to the glorious weather (We’re right on the edge of the foggy season, but we keep lucking out with sunny 65 degree days this week). The clear skies also made it an especially great day for astronomy lovers, as I learned when I stepped off Muni’s N line at Duboce Park. Turns out that one of the best spots in the city for dog walking and boy watching is also suitable for stargazing.

It’s hard to resist striking up a conversation with a handsome fellow who’s down on his knees with his hands around a big old telescope. So I ended up chatting with Tim DeBenedictis, the founder of  SF-based Southern Stars and a self-described “space geek.”  He had all sorts of gear set up in the park and was super psyched because “in about fifteen minutes, the Transit of Venuswill take place.”

Tim DeBenedictis (Photo: Southern Stars)

Now, I see lesbians on the Muni every day, but Tim explained that this was something special: Rarely, but predictably, the planet Venus passes between the earth and the sun, so you can actually see it—as a small black dot—moving across the sun’s face. This won’t happen again until December 10, 2117. So if you missed it, you really missed it. Sigh. (Take a look at the NASA video at the end of this post, though.)

Tim’s company has developed astronomy software at all levels: from systems for use in planetariums to the popular SkySafari smartphone app, which uses astronomical database information combined with the phone’s gyroscope and compass to let you spot constellations, planets, and other space stuff.

If you caught today’s big event, or if reading about it sets you all aquiver a la Lance Bass, check out the Bay Area’s terrific planetariums: The Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, The Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, and the Lawrence Hall of Science planetarium in Berkeley.

Check out the Transit of Venus video after the jump

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