art is the new religion

there is always music

I haven't gone to many show over the past six months, but there are several concerts coming up that I don't want to miss.

11/1: Shudder To Think in LA
11/2: Shudder To Think at the Fillmore in SF

I met Craig back around '97 or '98 in Austin.  Shudder To Think played Emo's on a Wednesday so cover was a criminal two bucks.  We ended up standing next to each other at the bar, waiting for our drinks, started talking, and have been friends ever since.  I have waited a decade to see one of my favorite bands of all time again. (Also, this video - not my favorite David Wain production):

11/22: My Brightest Diamond with Clare & the Reasons at Swedish American Hall in SF
11/30: Azure Ray in LA
12/11: Wildbirds & Peacedrums at Bottom of the Hill in SF 

It's been years since Azure Ray has toured; in the meantime Maria and Orenda went their own ways to release solo records.  This is a one off show, not yet part of a larger tour.  I miss those Azure Ray harmonies.  Also, slip dresses and scooters:

I've seen My Brightest Diamond, the brainchild of Shara Worden, twice now and both shows were full productions: she definitely brings the theatre.  But beyond her wit, fanciful outfits, immaculate hairdos, and absolute shredding on guitar, her voice is the star of her show.  Can't wait to hear it in the delicate, old-wood acoustics of the Swedish American Hall.

Owing to Shara's impeccable taste, I'm already checking out the artist she's bringing with her on tour: Clare & the Reasons.

Under The Water

Shara was the one who tipped me off to Wildbirds & Peacedrums, whose debut record Heartcore tops my Best of 2008 list so far.  Mariam Wallentin's voice is a universe unto itself, a true original.  This show will be a revelation, I guarantee it.  Get your tickets now!

Related reading:

• My post about My Brightest Diamond
• My post about Wildbirds & Peacedrums

How Frosty lost her top case

This is why we can't have nice things.

Shortly after I got Frosty, my scooter, I ordered a matching top case for her.  A top case is the optional rounded suitcase-looking thing that's installed on the butt end of the scooter.  It more than doubles the storage space, since the only built-in storage is under the seat and that's just big enough to hold your helmet.

It took almost two months for the matching blue top case to arrive, so it was an exciting day when I went to the SF Scooter Centre to have the case installed.  I have really enjoyed the top case these past few months.  When I arrive at my destination, I can store my my unwieldy armored scootering jacket (I like to call it my Robocop jacket) in there and not have to lug it around, carrying it awkwardly over my arm.  When I'm at the grocery store, I don't have to consider my purchases so strategically according to size and weight (the top case easily fits awkwardly shaped products like a six pack of bottled beer, which is not easy to transport otherwise). 

There were downsides to the top case though.  It was kind of rickety and not top quality, which I found out only after I purchased it and had it installed.  I had chosen the blue top case because it looked cuter than the black ones I've seen, but it turns out that the black Givi cases are sturdier, roomier and removable. 

Speaking of removable...

My blue top case was bolted to the back of my scooter by four screws.  A few weeks ago, I heard some rattling around and noticed the back set of two screws had come very loose.  I asked Steve, my scooter mentor, for help tightening them and he figured they'd come loose from the vibration of riding around.  He tightened all four screws and sent me on my merry way.  Then, two days later, the other set of two screws had nearly come off completely.  Vibration, or attempt at grand theft top case?  I was a little worried that someone was stalking Frosty, trying to steal her top case (which I always left empty) and returning to the scene of the crime after unsuccessful attempts.

I didn't get a chance to get the screws retightened that day, and when I woke up the next morning my suspicions were confirmed.  All four screws were loose, a few missing, and some crackhead had clearly tried to rip through the thin layer of metal that kept the case attached.

As you can see, the crackhead was almost successful.  You may also notice that in this photo, the case is no longer affixed to Frosty.  That's because I had to take an emergency trip to SF Scooter Centre to explore my options.  Turns out you can't just buy a new black metal plate to replace the one ruined by the determined crackhead - I would have to order and purchase a new top case all over again.  So, while the thief was thwarted, they did manage to render my top case utterly useless.  Currently it sits on my desk at work, lying on its back like a dead bug, taking up space.

My friends at SF Scooter Centre were sympathetic to my plight, so as a gesture of goodwill they offered me a deep discount on one of the black Givi cases.  They even made light of my crackhead story on the printed price quote.

While the black Givi case does sound sturdier and safer (I could unlock and remove it completely, storing it inside my apartment when I'm not using it), I'm hesitant to buy it just for some other crackhead to come along and try to steal it.  I went through so many break-ins, thefts and woes when I had a car, and now, sadly, my scooter innocence is lost too.

This is why we can't have nice things.  In San Francisco.

So I think I'll go without a top case for a while.  It does make Frosty ride a little more swiftly and quietly.  And, you have to admit, she's got a pretty cute rack.

Trip to LA Part 1: Kiss Pez

This past weekend, I flew down to Los Angeles to visit my dear friend Laurie.  She lives in Brooklyn and I haven't seen her in about two years, so when she told me she'd be in LA for business I jumped at the chance to go see her.

We checked in late Friday night to the Farmer's Daughter hotel.  After a late night dinner and survey of the strange scene at Canter's, we called it a night.

On Saturday we woke up early to visit the "Farmers Market" at the Grove, which was right across the street from the hotel.  I put quotes around it because it wasn't the kind of farmers market I was expecting - it was more like an overgrown food court at a county fair (they had funnel cakes!), with a few stalls of produce of unknown origins that appeared to be there year-round.  When I complained to an LA acquaintance about calling it a farmers market when it wasn't really one, he replied, defensively: "Well the Castro isn't really a Castro."  Indeed.

After brunch at the hotel, we drove around a bit and went shopping.  For no good reason at all, I got kind of excited when we passed by High Voltage Tattoo.

Uncle Jer's is one of Laurie's favorite stores.  They sell tiny scooter shirts for the kids:

At Uncle Jer's I finally bought two sets of chopsticks, per the advice of my friend Case, who prefers to eat his salads with them.

One of the coolest stores we visited was Zanzabelle in Silverlake.  They sell toys and food and clever, functional art like punk rock pillows:
 

And custom-crafted Ramones Pez dispensers:

And some amazing Kiss Pez dispensers:

Now, you'd think that the enterprising Gene Simmons would have made Official Kiss Pez dispensers aeons ago, but apparently all this time if you've really wanted Kiss Pez dispensers you've had to make your own.  About a month ago, there was announcement that Kiss was finally releasing their own Pez candies, but the dispensers will only have album art on them, not the likenesses of the band.  Considering the vast array of custom merchandise they've churned out over the decades, it seems like Kiss really missed an opportunity with creating their own Pez dispensers. 

Or, maybe the Pez company is just afraid of rock n' roll?

All this information makes these custom Kiss dispensers at Zanzabelle even more attractive.  I shoulda bought them.

Now that I look closely, Gene appears to be fashioned out of a Pebbles Flintstone dispenser, and Peter is secretly Lucy from Peanuts.  My guess is that Paul and Ace and all the Ramones used to be Wonder Woman. 

Sounds like a fun weekend project!

Stay Frosty

Steve (my scooter mentor): Have you named your scooter yet?

Me: No.  All I know is that she's a she.

Steve:  How are things going?

Me:  Great!  There's been an evolution over the past few weeks.  I'm finally feeling more comfortable with speed, it's actually taking me less time to get to work now.  I'm really zipping around!

Steve: It's great that you're feeling comfortable, but now that you're feeling more confident it can almost be more dangerous because you're paying less attention.  You gotta stay frosty.

Me: Stay frosty?  I've never heard that before.  It's good advice!

Steve: Maybe you should name your scooter Frosty.

Me: Ooh, I like it!

~

Bonus:  Listen to this NPR interview with Barry Gwin from the SF Scooter Centre, where I bought Frosty, about the rising popularity of scooters.  In my experience, the 100 mpg selling point is a myth; I've been getting around 75 miles per gallon.  It is pretty amazing filling up at the gas station for less than five bucks, and riding around for a few weeks before I need to top off the tank again.