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.

Alzheimer's hits again

I just found out that actor Sean Connery, who passed away last October, died of complications due to Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's debilitates cognitive function. The cause of his death hit me three-fold: He was my mother's favorite movie star, they are both in their 90s, and she too has Alzheimer's. According to a recent AARP feature story , I was shocked that the great jazz singer Tony Bennett has Alzheimer's. Tony was also another idol of my mom. She would always perk up whenever she heard his infamous "I left my heart in San Francisco" ballad. Photo by Dyna Lopez In 2017, one year after his diagnosis, my mom, brother, and I watched him for the first time performing in San Francisco to a packed audience amongst a sea of silver-haired ladies. He was 90 at the time and did not disappoint. He belted out hit after hit and showed no signs of the debilitating disease. She sang along to a melody that was unfamiliar to my brother and me. My brother asked her, ...

Chinese New Year Greetings 2011

My Millbrae Patch "On the Street" video where I asked people at the Millbrae Library last month to share their Chinese Year Greetings and experiences. It's the Year of the Rabbit.

Bay Area Asian Bone Marrow Drive - News Article

https://youtu.be/2HNG96Jghd8 I produced a news story about the need for Asian and Pacific Islander bone marrow/stem cell donors. The Alameda, CA based Asian American Donor Program is conducting year long donor drives throughout the Bay Area. This story has a face to it, instead of a statistic, as one San Francisco native must undergo a bone marrow transplant next month. Diagnosed with leukemia in September, she hasn't found a match...yet. The self help swab donation kits can be mailed to residences. It's a simple process including paper work processing. For more information about the Asian American Donor Program, visit http://www.aadp.org/. My news article:

RamblingDyna

Search This Blog