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Get Smart at a SF coffee bar



I took a City College of San Francisco podcasting class and about nine of my classmates and I had the unique opportunity to shoot, with our college loaned Flip Cameras, a live evening radio show at the Coffee Bar, a two level, industrial and contemporary loft size corner building in the Potrero hood of San Francisco. I used my Canon to shoot the latter half of the show, since the Flip’s zoom feature was inadequate. Unfortunately, since I didn’t return to class the following the week (blame my work schedule) I couldn’t access and use the Flip videos. This video is from my Canon only.

Now back to the bar. What it lacks in dessert selection, makes up for it with its healthy sandwiches, good coffee, rich hot cocoa, and generous wine and cheese/fruit pairings. It’s no surprise that a majority of the crowd were sipping red wine on this clear Wednesday night due to the topic of discussion – booze!

Get Smart Radio is a monthly 1.5 hour live broadcast hosted by Deborah Pardes who sings and plays guitar along with her three person folk band. It’s similar to Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” public radio program, as appropriately described by our class instructor, Dana Jae, who managed the sound board during the show. Although alcohol was the umbrella (who drinks it, the most popular cocktails, etc.) wine was the main elixir of choice. The engaging and lively Pardes interviewed two wine connoisseur guests: Debbie Zacharaes of Bacar and Toby Tullis of Norton’s Vault, in front of a packed top floor crowd of 60.

I’ve been to this cafe during the day but never knew it was the backdrop for a monthly talk show. Unlike the late 20-30’s year olds that I’ve seen during brunch hours, this crowd was of the Gen X’s to Baby Boomers.

To keep the audience engaged, a Q & A session followed with a contest. The guests threw out some questions rewarding the lucky winners with a free bag of healthy gourmet popcorn. Good wine, conversation, cocktail trivia, and live music in a cozy and relaxed café on an April Fool’s school night was all good.

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