larry king leaving cnn talk show...

After celebrating his 25 years hosting Larry King Live- he'll be gone in the fall.

Everything comes to an end...

I always thought King had a face only for radio, where I first became familiar with him driving through the night to a place like Reno and listening on the Mutual Radio Network.

I believe low ratings did him in and his marital woes with Shawn Southwick over 25 years younger- didn't help...

bob geren...

The manager of the A's. His record is 263-299 which translates to a .468 winning percentage. Geren is in his 4th year as manager of Oakland. Most managers with such a shitty record would be long gone by now. But, Geren is a puppet of the most overrated GM in baseball- Billy Beane who gets rewarded for mediocrity.

yes, sarah palin is really that dumb...

Okay, she's a rich blubbering idiot- making an estimated 12 million from her ghost written book, speaking engagements, etc...

Her speech @ Cal State Stanislaus included a statement about her hero Ronald Reagan. "This is Reagan Country, and perhaps it was destiny that the man who went to California's Eureka College would become so woven within and interlinked with the Golden State."

Reagan did go to Eureka College, but it's in Illinois.

guy fieri's sunglasses...

I was watching DINERS, DRIVE-INS AND DIVES on the Food Network and I noticed Fieri wears his own signature sunglasses by Gatorz. They retail for $169.

bartender of the day...

Sergio of Kyoya in the Palace Hotel.

Very nice man from Guatamala.

I believe Sergio works M-F from 5pm.

Kyoya has a great Happy Hour from 5-7. Happy 2 Hours...

brown sugar kitchen...

I like to eat...

Located in an industrial area of West Oakland on Mandela Parkway.

I had their chicken and waffles. The waffles are fabulous! Very light and delicious with their special apple cider syrup.

The fried chicken is good, not great- I prefer Roscoe's House of Chicken'n Waffles. I like the location in West LA on West Pico near La Brea.

Brown Sugar uses Roast Coffee Company java. Excellent and strong.

If I went back, it would be for the corn meal waffles.

zuni cafe hamburger...

House-ground hamburger on a grilled rosemary focaccia with garden lettuce, aioli, and zuni pickles. Probably the most famous burger in the City...

The burger is sold only @ lunch and after 10pm.

Okay, I was a bit inebriated, therefore I don't think I appreciated the burger as much as I could have if I had about two less beers.

I do remember how flavorful the meat was. I asked for no onions and they still served me the pink colored pickled onion.

I don't think I'm a big fan of the rosemary focaccia.

According to Michael Bauer of the Comicle- chef/owner Judy Rodgers and her crew liberally salts chunks of chuck before going home @ night and the next day grinds the meat, therefore there is juicy goodness in every bite. Even in my drunken state, that's what I remember about the burger.

I guess the bottom line is salting overnight. I'm partial to Hawaiian salt...

cafe gratitude on check, please! bay area on pbs...

I went to Cafe Gratitude about nine months ago with a Brit who said she was a masseuse who turned out to be a stripper...

Again, I'm going to steal a line from SEINFELD- "not that there's anything wrong with that." I have many friends who currently work in that trade or have in the past...

Cafe Gratitude is a vegan restaurant and it wasn't that bad. Matter of fact, it was somewhat tasty. I probably wouldn't go back, unless a beautiful lady suggested it.

The joint is quite pricey for what it is. And the napkins they use look like rags I use to clean the floor in my kitchen...

Thanks to Check, Please! Bay Area for rekindling my memory of Cafe Gratitude...

I have to end this entry by stating that the Brit/Masseuse/Stripper is a serious head case... If she's still in the industry, she works @ The Gold Club on Howard...

ny's sf restroom secrets...

Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf- enter through Knuckles the sports bar. Usually clean- due to the crowd watching the USA get eliminated in the World Cup; it wasn't that clean today.

Walk along the left side(as you enter) of the restaurant/ bar which leads into the hotel and the toilets are to the right.

calder to warhol: introducing the fisher collection...

The exhibit just started @ SFMoMA. The above pic of a painting is POLAR STAMPEDE(1961)by Jackson Pollocks' wife Lee Krasner.

Sadly GAP founder Donald Fisher passed on before he was able to see his collection displayed @ SFMoMA. For awhile there, I thought he was going to have a museum in the Presidio and I was looking forward to it...

When I first viewed CALDER TO WARHOL: INTRODUCING THE FISHER COLLECTION- I really felt SFMoMA was entering the big leagues, closing the gap(no pun intended) on MoMA in New York City.

A wonderful exhibit and I highly recommend it to any art lover...

ayola...

Located on Kearny near Pine. One of my favorite lunch spots in the City...

For $8.98 including tax, you can get a 7 inch gyro, fries, and a drink.

Ayola's orange colored hot sauce is very tasty.

I usually opt for the lamb & beef gyro with tzatziki sauce.

The owner is a friendly gentleman...

warriors nba draft party @ oracle arena...

I was lucky to go to the season ticket holders barbecue outside of Oracle Arena that featured beef brisket, chicken, baked beans, potato salad, rolls, and soft drinks. It was a bit brisk out there, yet nice enough to enjoy myself.

Once inside the Arena, I was surprised to see so many people in attendance for the NBA Draft- by the way, we drafted power forward/center Epke Udoh from Baylor. I wanted the Warriors to draft Greg Monroe out of Georgetown and he was available when Golden Gate picked @ #6 and Detroit subsequently picked him with the 7th pick of the draft.

We'll just have to wait and see if this was the correct pick for Golden State. Udoh seems like a solid citizen who was astute enough to wear a suit to his interview and workout with the Warriors. Monroe also wore a suit for his interview and workout, but through the grapevine I heard he was schooled by local product Omar Samhan out of Saint Mary's who went undrafted. However, I'm pretty sure Samhan will be on a NBA roster next season.

In reality, the Warriors will not go forward until there is new ownership and when Don Nelson and Larry Riley no longer run the team. This won't happen until 2011...

hachiko: a dog's story...

Also known as HACHI:A DOG'S TALE starring Richard Gere. A film that debuted @ the Seattle International Film Festival last June. Yet the movie never had a theatrical release in the states.

Based on a true story and a remake of a 1987 Japanese film HACHIKO.

I recently viewed HACHI on DVD and it's a tearjerker.

Richard Gere was also in another remake of a Japanese film- SHALL WE DANCE (2004). I much preferred the original 1996 version starring Koji Yakusho. Who I first became familiar with in TAMPOPO (1985)- a great film about the pursuit of making the perfect bowl of ramen...

Gere also starred in a Akira Kurosawa film RHAPSODY OF AUGUST (1991) and played a part Japanese character in the movie.

I'm a dog lover and dogs are truly mans best friend...

One added note, once I get the story straight, I'll write how the original Hachiko, not the movie, but the dog has relevance to my family...

flip video...

Those things are fun to play with...

I find that you need to take @ least 10 seconds of video @ a time.

If you're taking a video of someone- 30 seconds is a good amount.

They say that the new iPhone 4 will put a dent on sales of the Flip. We'll see...

what you won't do for love...

By Bobby Caldwell. One of my favorite songs of all-time.

I've seen Caldwell many times in concert and the women just swoon when they hear that song- men swoon too...

He's so versatile that he can sing Sinatra, Bobby Darin, etc... I like Caldwell best when he sings soul...

Can't wait to see Bobby sing @ the Rrazz Room in @ the Nikko Hotel in the City- September 9-12.

the first day of summer...

Yes, she was good...

Okay, weak joke...

The Summer Solstice.

I love summer in the City, even when it's 45 degrees with a wind chill factor making it feel like it's near freezing...

And I won't quote Mark Twain...

Happy Summer!

Famous summers- Indian, Sanders(Olympic Swimmer), Breeze(best rendition by the Isley Brothers)- to be cont...

penn & teller: bullshit!...

On Showtime. I don't watch it enough. It's hilarious!

I saw Penn & Teller when they first started out. It was on Broadway in San Francisco and their show was called Asparagus Valley Cultural Society. This was in the late seventies, early eighties.

Penn is so tall that he dwarfs Teller, yet Teller isn't that short. Well, he's not tall, about 5'9 or so.

Gotta watch more BULLSHIT!

world cup fever...

I definitely don't have it...

I grew up playing football, basketball, and baseball.

I don't understand why there is so many ties in the World Cup? Can't they play a sudden death overtime? Or a shootout?

I could get into hockey before soccer...

I realize soccer is the most popular sport in the world, but definitely not in the United States.

In reality, all you need is a soccer ball to play soccer. You can say that about basketball, yet you still need a court, a rim, preferably a net and a backboard. You can play soccer nearly everywhere. A makeshift goal can be made from just about anything- two coffee cans...

Another thing about soccer, it's basically all legs. Sure, they're in great condition, but most soccer players I know can't even throw a baseball, football or shoot a basketball. Their upper body skills are limited. Of course, there is pushing and shoving involved on the soccer field...

Okay, I admit it, I hate soccer...

impressionist paris city of light...

@ the Palace of Legion of Honor. To me, the highlight of the show is the above Eiffel Tower by Georges Seurat.

A nice thing about Impressionism Paris City of Light- there isn't a special exhibition fee. Adults are $10, however you can get a $2 discount with a Muni fastpass or transfer. Plus, your ticket is also good for the deYoung Museum on the same day. I believe if you want to view The Birth of Impressionism exhibit, there will be an additional $11 charge.

sony dash...

Went to a party last night @ the Sony Kiosk on the third floor of SF Centre, Bloomingdales side introducing the Sony Dash.

Free booze and food from Straits which is located on the fourth floor of the mall. I must admit I had a few too many scotches.

The Dash is a person internet viewer, it's not portable like an iPad. It's designed to be stationary in a room like the kitchen so you can surf the internet or view pictures, watch streaming movies, etc... The Dash doesn't have a flash drive.

When viewing pictures you have to access them via wifi from your photobucket account.

It doesn't run on batteries. The Dash has a 7-inch touch-screen display.

I need to play around with the device to get a better read on it. The price is right @ $199.99.

hunter bryce...

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tower of power...

They finished the concert well, yet they started very slow.

I swear they didn't play a hit until more than halfway through the concert.

They've been together for nearly 42 years. Gone is lead singer Lenny Williams, but the current lead is very good.

The strength of ToP is their horn section- they're phenomenal.

I wished they played more of their hits...

Viewed the concert @ the San Mateo County Fair for the fair admission price of $10- such a bargain!

They're playing again tonight @ 7:30pm.

joan rivers- a piece of work...

What a riveting documentary!

Joan just turned 77 years old.

I'm lucky to live in a city where I have access to independent film and docs. JOAN RIVERS-A PIECE OF WORK opened in New York, LA, and San Francisco last Friday.

Opening in another 14 cities this Friday. Although, I don't know if I'd call Plano, TX a city? Or Highland Park, IL? Or Bethesda, MD? Or Evanston, IL? Or Cambridge, MA?

I missed the doc @ Sundance this past January.

Betty White has had a renaissance in her career @ 88. I foresee Joan Rivers making another comeback...

And yes, Joan Rivers is a piece of work...

new hong kong menu...

Recommended by Jason Gee.

Located @ 667-669 Commercial between Kearny and Montgomery.

Their lunch special is a bargain that includes soup and dessert.

I had chicken with garlic sauce which goes for $5.25. The other five items on the lunch special page are $5.50.

The entree was good, although I'll ask to hold the white onion next time I order the dish and I didn't eat the garlic. It looks like they used half a bulb of garlic. If I ate the garlic on the plate, I would smell like garlic for about two days. You know how it reeks out of ones pores. It's similar to eating garlic fries @ a Giants game...

The soup was okay, but better than Hong Kong Clay Pot City Restaurant.

The watermelon and tapioca dessert was very good and refreshing.

I want to say "domo" to Jason Gee for the recommendation.

tu lan...

A true dive Vietnamese restaurant on 6th Street near Market.

The area is terrible, therefore I had to have three beers @ Amber India before venturing to Tu Lan.

I had my usual shrimp fried rice which came out literally in two minutes and a vietnamese coffee.

The fried rice is flavored with curry seasonings, therefore it isn't your usual fried rice.

My meal was tasty, but afterwards I didn't feel up to par.

I hadn't gone to Tu Lan for quite some time- I don't know when I'll go back, even if Julia Child is on the cover of the menu...

tom izzo...

I'm very pleased that Izzo decided to stay @ Michigan State. The money offered by the Cleveland Cavaliers was about double the 3 million or so he makes coaching the Spartans.

I believe Tom Izzo is one of the best college basketball coaches and he will add another title or two to his legacy.

Ex-Cavalier coach Mike Brown won 127 regular season games in the past two seasons and still got fired. I don't think I've ever seen a coach get fired after winning that many games. The expectations with LeBron were unrealistic- win the NBA title or get fired...


Plus, successful college coaches rarely do well in the NBA.

specialty's...

I know I've written this before, but their turkey and swiss croissant is phenomenal!

To go price $4.09. Better than the cleansor.

Specialty's uses real and fresh roasted turkey breast in the croissant, as they do in their sandwiches. None of that pressed stuff...

Another good thing about Specialty's is the free wifi.

almaden in san jose to nob hill in the city...

Door to door it took me 3 hours and 30 minutes...

I probably mentioned this before, but I could have flown to Vegas, checked into my hotel, and lost a significant amount of dough on a blackjack table in that time...

caltrain...

I enjoy taking the train back and forth between San Francisco and San Jose- sometimes stopping in Palo Alto on my way back to the City.

Tonight, I was delayed about an hour due to a fatality on the track.

Unfortunately and sadly people choose to end their lives jumping in front of trains along the peninsula.

This was the first time I was delayed due to a tragedy.

I'm lucky I didn't see it...

celtics up 3-2...

Game 6 in LA on Tuesday.

I foresee the NBA Finals going 7 games.

And I hope I'm wrong, but I feel the Lakers will take 2 straight @ the Staples Center.

danielle staub sex tape...

I'm guessing she had something to do with the release of her sex tape to Hustler...

Don't waste your $29.95 if you're curious..

I know someone who did...

By the way, she's in the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

nba finals tied 2-2...

Didn't watch the game, but I'm happy the Celtics won. Every time I count Boston out, they come back...

And I'm pleased my fellow Rainier Beach grad and UDub guy Nate Robinson scored 12 points and contributed to the victory...

Game 5 in Boston @ 5pm PST...

rosenblum 2007 england shaw vineyard syrah...

Solano County. Part of my June 2010 Explorer Wine Club.

Retail $35. Club shipment price $28.

When I first opened the bottle, I didn't like it that well.

It opened up a bit, but I'm not a big fan of the finish.

The syrah is chocolaty. That's about all I can describe.

I can steal from my Wine Club Notes, but I won't...

rosenblum cellars...

I'm only a member of one wine club and Rosenblum is my wine club of choice because they make great Zins and Syrahs, but also they are a twenty minute ferry ride from the Ferry Building in the City...

Located in Alameda a hundred yards or so from the ferry landing...

new belgium mothership whit...

I love it!

Sweet and spicy...

a funny facebook post- not by me...

"Don't know what is up, but I'm feeling kind of horny, think I had better get back to the gym and work off some of this extra energy...."

My friend said he didn't write it- I have doubts...

tower of power...

San Mateo County Fair June 16 Wednesday and June 17 Thursday @ 7:30pm.

My favorite Tower Power songs- YOU'RE STILL A YOUNG MAN, DOWN TO THE NIGHTCLUB, and SO VERY HARD TO GO...

Looking forward to seeing TOP for the first time in about a decade...

ios 4 update and iphone 4...

Free upgrade is available for iPhone and iTouch on June 21.

Pricing for iPhone 4- 32G $299 and $199 16G.

On sale June 24.

iPhone 3Gs $99.

FaceTime videoconferencing between iPhone 4s and works only on Wi-Fi.

iMovie $4.99.

charlie wedemeyer...

The great, great John Wooden passed away on Friday, but another great coach Charlie Wedemeyer left us a day before...

He was a football coach @ Los Gatos High. Wedemeyer was 64 years old and was stricken with ALS aka Lou Gehrig's Disease since his early 30's. Younger brother of All-America St. Marys running back Herman Wedemeyer who may be better known for his role in HAWAII FIVE-0. My father and Herman went to St. Louis School in Honolulu @ the same time.

Charlie coached on the sidelines with the aid of his wife who read his lips and relayed the call or instructions to his assistant coach Butch Cattolico who has gone on to an impressive career as head coach of the Los Gatos High football team.

Mr. Wedemeyer was an inspiration and I thank C.W. Nevius of the SF Chronicle for reminding me of how great a man Coach Wedemeyer was...

murder in peru...

After reading an article from USATODAY.com- I believe a prison sentence for murder is up to 35 years in Peru.

I won't even name his name because I find him so despicable- if this kid gets convicted of murder in Peru, at the very most he'll be in his late fifties when he gets out of prison. To me, that's not long enough...

This wretched person has been caught on tape twice admitting he had something to with the disappearance of the young Alabaman woman in Aruba and attempting to traffic Thai women for the sex trade in the Netherlands.

I really hope justice is served in this case...

maggie q...

Starring in a new CW series NIKITA.

She's simply beautiful!

summertime in the city...

Although, it isn't officially summer until the third week of June- in my view, the Union Street Fair is the unofficial kickoff of summer in the City...

I haven't been for years, therefore I'm looking forward to what has evolved since my last visit. I've heard the fair will have an eco-friendly theme this year...

Anyway, it's always great people watching and that's what I'm going for...

Cheers!

money can't buy you class...

A horrible song by that Countless C u next Tuesday. The queen of autotune and lipsynching. And is deluded enough to think she has singing talent...

I'm going to steal a line from Bethenny Frankel, "Money can't buy you class, but money can buy you ass..."

skinnygirl margarita...

100 calories per 4 ounce serving. From Bethenny Frankel of the Real Housewives of New York City and Bethenny Getting Married.

I bought a bottle @ Costco two or three weeks ago for $10. It's not bad, but it's blah. Not tasty like one desires in a margarita.

The skinnygirl margarita doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup or yellow dye #4 or preservatives.

I give Frankel much credit for building her brand the last few years.

ken griffey jr....

He just retired @ 40. Jr. was definitely a great player, but he was injured far too often in his career. 630 home runs is 5th best of all-time.

And to be quite frank, why has he basically been given a pass on whether he took steroids during his career? Frequent injuries usually equates to using performance enhancing drugs.

Ken Griffey Jr. is a first ballot hall of famer and his career somewhat mirrors Mickey Mantle. Both great players could have had out of this world baseball careers, but both were curtailed by frequent injuries...

5 hour energy shots...

I'm addicted to that stuff...

I buy cases @ Costco.

june...

May was an interesting month for NY...

I'm hoping June is a better month...

Speaking of June- last week when I attended the THE BIRTH OF IMPRESSIONISM @ the de Young, I ran into a June who I haven't seen in about 25 years...

June will be a great month...