I <3 this city

Varnish

Park Life

Hayes Valley

Bi-Rite

Enthralled with the good ones. . .

I was accepted into Summer Search when I was a 6th grader at Davidson Middle School in San Rafael. The program absolutely changed the trajectory of my life not only with summer trips but with a support system that continues to make me feel connected and part of something truly amazing and change-inducing. This past week was their annual fundraising Leadership Luncheon where current students, alumni and staff told their stories and inspired many to give to the program. This speech by Niles Lichtenstein left me speechless. Coincidentally, John Osterweis, the co-Founder of Summer Search works in my building and when chatting with him in the elevator about the program he summed it up well when he said, "I can't think of a better way to spend money." Neither can I.

My adorable friend Evie is finishing up her second year at UC Hastings and in connection with her studies there, helped organize an event about femicide in Guatemala. I had no idea how prevalent violence against women is there. What's even worse is that our government gives theirs millions for their justice system, which allows these crimes to go unpunished. Although Guatemala lacks many tools for investigating crimes, there are also problems deep in the system that perpetuate these human rights violations. The fact that we're basically funding that is letting them know it's acceptable, so Evie and her group at Hastings is working to educate our local representatives so actions can be taken in Washington and hopefully make some real change.

5ft2in

Tonight I met Sunny, the woman who started this company - clothes for women 5ft2in and under that aren't like the dowdy petite stores that cater to that market. I liked the idea of her company, but what's even more compelling, is that she started it with a microfinance loan from a Bay Area based organization called Opportunity Fund. Starting off with less than desirable credit, the loan from Opportunity allowed her to get out of debt, get organized and eventually start her company. Her idea for 5ft2in came from having so many women ask her to hem their pants after she graduated from fashion school that she realized there was actually a niche there. Being one that fits in that category, I certainly like the idea.

Microfinance has gotten a lot of press in relation to its impact on developing countries, mainly because smaller loans can be extremely helpful to entrepreneurs in places where capital simply doesn't flow. California on the other hand has a huge economy, but a growing number of both immigrants as well as unemployment rates. Small loans along with financial education for people attempting to get their ideas off the ground is a fabulous way to help our local economy at any time, but especially in the current climate everyone is faced with. If you have any experience or knowledge about microfinance, domestic or otherwise, I'd love to hear about it!

How I feel about New York, the city

I always used to think New York would be the ultimate city to live in, but after my most recent visit, I realized it's really just mean and dirty (see picture above for example of "mean"). Everything is a lot dirtier than San Francisco too. What really gets me is how everything, especially in Brooklyn is painted black. If it's not black, it's some other dark color. I understand dressing in black, but it seems like they take it a little too far out there.

In other news, B and I had dinner last night for the first time in exactly one week (whew!). I tried making a recipe from my Moosewood cookbook my sister gave me. It was essentially spinach leaves topped with this dressing of canned tomatoes, hot sauce, onions, peanut butter and cilantro then topped again with hard-boiled egg and sweet potato fries. It looked really strange but tasted surprisingly good. The ambiance was even better - candlelight and L.L. Cool J to really get us in the mood for 30 Rock.

Overheard on the 33 (to Potrero)

Tons and tons of Britney coming from the ipod of the guy sitting next to me. I happened to glance at his playlist at one point, but later on he turned it up so loud you could hear My Prerogative word for word. I <3 San Francisco.

OUR Fault???

No way. Clinton not only admits that demand for drugs in the US feeds the drug-related violence in Mexico, but also blames our country's loose gun laws. Finally, an American politician is admitting complicity in a situation in Latin America. Hopefully some kind of action will be taken. . .

Spring's Top Ten

This article in the SF Chronicle on 3/17 talks about procrastination and goals for not doing it. One of the tools to get away from putting things off is making your surroundings pleasant. It's kind of weird, but sad, depressing music makes me feel good. Always has, since I was little and frequently picked the songs in minor keys to practice before all the other happy ones. On that note, here are my current Top Ten:

10. Iron Lion Zion - Bob Marley
9. What's the Difference - Dr. Dre
8. Son of a Preacher - Dusty Springfield (maybe this one will help me get my stuff done)
7. If I ruled the World - Nas
6. Creep - TLC
5. Heartless - Kanye West
4. I'm Good, I'm Gone - Lykke Li
3. Speak for Me - Cat Power
2. You Know What it is - T.I.
1. New York - Cat Power

crispy.

Perhaps it's hard to understand if you didn't grow up where I did, but this is HILARIOUS. In my teenage years, I was always one the few girls in my high school who didn't go tanning. At my junior prom, I wore a dress that was very low in the back, showing off my sports bra tan (what serious runner wouldn't have one??), and a friend of mine kept making fun of me. Finally, I simply replied to her, a fellow redhead, "At least I won't get cancer", which promptly shut her up.
Seriously, tanning booths are so gross. At least cigarettes, which also give you cancer, have things in them that make you chemically addicted, which makes a tad bit more sense. Tanning booths are simply a product of vanity and our society telling us what is ideal. I find it funny that white women insist on going to great lengths to be tan, while dark skinned women are marketed skin bleaching creams (not really in this country, but still) -- so "perfection" is not too white, but not too dark, I guess. Just be happy with yourself and quite giving yourself cancer. Gross.

B's Book Pick

I recently finished Eva Luna, by Isabel Allende. She is one of my favorite authors, and her ability to weave intricate, multi-generational tales full of twisted love and fate without seeming sappy or over the top has always attracted me to her books. I especially liked this story, for Eva is a character whose magical ability to tell stories brings her through a series of tough situations with a positive and sometimes even funny outlook on life. As with most of Allende's books (much like her male counterpart, Gabriel Garcia-Marquez), Eva Luna is sexually and politically charged, juxtaposing adolescent exploration with a country's struggle for revolution. This quick read offers a story in which one can easily become immersed and distracted from the real world, and I really recommend it if you need a novel in which to escape for a few hours every day.

in my backyard

Apparently one is an Obie alum. No matter, I like them.