A Taste of Tequila & Tamales by The Bay

The first significant experience I had with a tamal was in a small town outside of Merida, Yucatan in the sweltering heat, sitting next to a chicken, a tub of habanero chiles too near for comfort, watching banana leaf packages emerge from an underground fire pit. It was the weekend before Hanal Pixan, meaning Day of the Dead in gringo and "soul food" in Mayan, and my host family wanted me to see the traditional mucbil chicken tamales (called pibs for short) emerge from "mother earth's womb." I had feasted on and made tamales before, but the ceremony behind this, from the careful unwrapping of each one to the tiny corner alter of a picture of la virgin, two coke bottles and two pibs is one of my favorite food related memories.

Fast forward to Sunday, April 17th for the 2011 Taste of Tequila & Tamales by the Bay, where top tequila producers boast their spirits and local tamale makers compete for the People's Choice award. There's no sacred ceremony here, and no chickens, but the event was a tribute to one of Mexico's oldest and greatest culinary gifts, wrapped in golden corn husks and ready for opening. The runners up (according to Ferronlandia), followed by the winner (according to the voters):

Tina Tamale. The minute I walked up to the stand of La Boriqueña Mex-icatessen, Tina's energy reminded me of the love, community and labor that goes into making tamales. 

Chatty, warm, and charming, Tina had already made friends with my parents who came by the booth earlier and I wouldn't be suprised to find her at their dining room table with a tamale assembly line by this weekend. Tina reps tamales as hard as she reps Oakland- Started by her grandmother, La Boriqueña has been in the Old Oakland neighborhood since the 1940's. Her website, filled with articles and links dedicated to Old Oakland, is testament to her community connection that runs three generations deep. She also makes a good green chile and cheese tamal. 
Chef Steve. Fast-talking Chef Steve is made for TV. Which makes sense because he specializes in coooking demonstrations. 

I was taken away by his wild gestures and enthusiastic demeanor and then softly released into my own thoughts of discovery as he smiled while I savored his filipino tamales. Covered with banana leaf and made with coconut, rice, and pork filling. 
El Huarache Loco. I believe that at their weekly Alemany Farmers Market stand, Veronica Salazar's Mexico City influenced menu is presented a little nicer than my messy plate. That half tamal was turned inside out. 

However, in Ferronlandia flavor rules, and the untidiness on my plate was due to an unusual ratio of spicy, chocolaty, nutty, delicious mole to tamal, which made me wonder if anyone in the polished SF Design Center Galleria would notice an otherwise well-mannered girl licking a corn husk and paper plate dry. El Huarache Loco is a La Cocina business.

And the winner is... The Whole Tortilla. Because doing things differently pays off. Ricardo and Vanessa make a no-husk tamal with New Mexican red and green chile incorporated into their pork, chicken and veggie fillings. Their philosohpy centers around using the whole fruit, vegetable, and chile pepper to incorporate full flavors and nutritional value. The result was the moistest tamale I've ever tasted. Find them at the Jack London Square Farmers Market. 

Got the travel bug?
http://www.tamalesbythebay.org/
La Boriqueña Mex-icatessen
Chef Steve
El Huarache Loco
The Whole Tortilla

East Oakland Thai: Old Weang Ping (don't blow it up)

Old Weang Ping is overgrown with ivy and tropical plastic flowers. Wood birds suspend from the ceiling, mismatched string lights adorn the walls, and a cascading alter to an orange-cloaked meditation guru greets you at the doorway. But here my normal gag reaction to clutter doesn't kick in. In fact, the palm thatch booths, the tiny window that peaks into the kitchen, the easy, beachside paced service and yes, the chachki exude the feeling that somewhere along I-580 E we exited and ended up at a Phuket hideaway.

This tiny restaurant sits next to an apartment building on MacArthur and 62nd, it's both out of place and yet completely at home in its quirkiness. A husband and wife tag team the kitchen and floor, and for the duration of your stay in what feels like their converted home you submit to their pace and their rules. Survive the hurdles- a locked front door, a timely wait to order, flavorless tea (in glasses that cater to your play-pretend pimp desires) and you'll make it to what's anything but quirky, their seriously good food.

The menu is a black and white photocopy underneath the glass top of our table. Half of it is handwritten, the subheads are in old English (pimp cups, pimp font!), and the prices are all under $7.25. Specials up on the chalkboard range a little more. Aside from your standard appetizers and sides like satay and papaya salad, you'll also find a  barbarian soup, seafood cucumber salad, three different kind of cakes, and a fruit drink (it's not a juice, it's a fruit drink).  But for the most part the menu works as so: pick a protein ranging from duck to catfish and pick a sauce (curry, peanut, sweet basil, etc.) Or for the vegetarians, pick three veggies and pick a sauce. If there's a chili pepper next to the sauce believe it means you'll get a little sweat on the brow. 

Our dishes appeared one by one, the pad see ew with more flavor than normal, the green curry with major bite, and the heaping basket of sticky rice provoking an urge to ask for a lifetime supply to go. Fire-loving friends don't neglect the salsa. 

For those of you who don't have a copy of the Berkeley High Slang Dictionary, the term referenced in the title of this post, "don't blow it up" means don't go running and tell all your hipster friends about this place. As we bid goodbye and promises of good reviews the owner called out, "noooo, no more yelp! Too many good reviews!" with a weary smile on his face. Which I can only interpret as, this is a family restaurant with happy regulars and a slow flow of new customers, and we don't want to overwhelm the service (which is also the kitchen and the management). Come here quietly and come with an appetite. 


Got the travel bug?
Old Weang Ping, 6217 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland
They do take out! 
Phone: (510) 430-8771

Revisiting downtown Berkeley: Japanese food at Ippuku

Being in downtown Berkeley has always made me feel like I'm in high school again. Those days of scrambling for crappy off-campus lunches, impatiently waiting for the hourly 65 bus, and being called a godless parasite by angry, angry bums. Enduring the mix of cal students, frumpy entitled hippies, sad empty storefronts, and bad drivers has never seemed worth it just to get to that one nice brunch. But recently a few places have popped up, creating a strip of destinations that are (dare I say it) hip, interesting, and in true Berkeley style, a little weird. Here's one:
Ippuku

Walk through the mysterious wooden doors and you're immediately greeted by an upside down Shochu bar, a hallway of cool concrete walls and natural wood tables, and the gleeful suspicion that you're about to remove your shoes and sit on heather blue cushions for this meal. The decor, down to the pepper shaker and sake cups, alternates between stone colored ceramic and rustic wood, it feels like a spa, then it feels like New York. There's a sleek, comfortable, and thoughtful vibe.

I required a little bit of help navigating this menu, but a few things were instantly clear- there's no shortage of chicken parts, mochi, or sake here. The menu is a maze of small plates ranging from $6 to $15, making Ippuku a great place for a quick quail egg fix and a drink (sake and beer), or a relaxing place to chill and eat a ten course dinner. My top picks? The gyoza to start, the negima (chicken thigh with leeks) to devour, yaki onigiri (rice balls) to fight over, the krobuta bara (pork belly) to make you smile, and the kuro goma sundae to finish. For those of you who like liver, my friend in the chicken-liver-lover-camp was highly pleased. Skip the ramen.

 Chicken liver

Pork belly

Sundae (with crispy tempura bits, mochi, and a type of bean paste)

Sake

Unless you're familiar with Japanese food (not just sushi) be prepared to walk away having learned something from Ippuku, whether it be a taste for chicken tartare or the idea that downtown Berkeley can surprise you. 

Got the travel bug?
http://www.ippukuberkeley.com/

Strollerless in Rockridge

I know most of us strollerless folks tend to avoid Rockridge for fear of getting a toe crushed or being attacked by the dirty hands of a cute blond toddler, but here are a few places to drink, eat, and indulge that are 20-something friendly. 
Happy Hour at Hudson

What once was Garibaldis (and then Garibaldis and Marzano) is now Hudson: strong drinks, good pizza, weird Tahoe hotel lounge carpet situation, and a bartender that looks like a hyperactive Chirstian Bale (that's a plus, ladies!) Their happy hour is from 5 to 6  with deals on well-done classics like a margarita, negroni, French 75, pizza and cesar salad.
Sandwiches at Southie

The "Pulled Piggie" is a juicy, giant bite of pulled pork, aioli, pickles and slaw on an acme bun. Wood Tavern's new "Pantry" is a cute, airy, bougie sandwich joint with great College Ave. window seating for people watching. We also liked "The Standby" (a cup of soup with a pressed levain grilled cheese).
Candy at Powell's Sweet Shoppe

I realize it's hypocritical to include a candy store in this post, but any parent that takes their kid into this store is asking for a sugar high from hell. Walking in is like diving into the inside of a piñata. Here lives every color of the M&M rainbow, a party of Pez figures, an endless pay by the pound gummy and jelly bean selection, a disturbing array of lollipops (pie lollipops, toolbox lollipops, tie-die peace sign lollipops, watermelon popsicle lollipops), and shelves and cases of childhood candy favorites whether you grew up on 5¢ Baby Ruths or 25¢ Cry Babys.
Hot Chocolate at Bittersweet

This is my suggestion for a gloomy day: Do and eat whatever relieves your winter doldrums, then come to this cozy cafe to top it off with a classic hot chocolate. While Bittersweet has a range of alluring chocolate drinks and treats, splitting a cup of the classic is a perfectly satisfying shot of chocolaty heaven. It's so rich if you put it in the fridge I'd bet it would come out a flawless milk chocolate bar. 

Got the travel bug?
Hudson: http://www.hudsonoakland.com/ Happy hour 5-6 daily.
Southie: http://southieoakland.com/
Powell's Sweet Shoppe: http://www.powellsss.com/go/
Bittersweet: http://www.bittersweetcafe.com/index.html

What makes homey food homey, homies?

One chilly night last week, my friend and I sat down to a bowl of soup and a bottle of wine and in between our sipping we began to ponder the characteristics of "homey" food. Comfort food. What makes it comforting?

Did you come home to it when you were a kid? The simple snacks and desserts after dinner that rocked your sixth grade world? Like a brownie or root beer float? Mac and cheese and carrots or broccoli dipped in some kind of sauce that makes the vegetables less vegetably? (ranch if you're normal, mayonnaise mixed with soy sauce if you're Ferron). And while the food is important, is it more about the memories surrounding the food than the food itself?

If that's it then Homeroom, the new mac and cheese joint around the corner from me is the recess bell, the sleepover, the under-the-desk passed note of our food nostalgia. Only now the options of mac and cheese (artisinal Californian cheese) are many and worldly, the oreos are salted, the root beer is home-brewed, and there's beer on tap.

But what if your Jewish mother (my dad) didn't make you macaroni and cheese? Or Cambodian soup? Why would three people from different upbringings be able to go into a Cambodian restaurant and label a dish they never had as comfort food?

Maybe it's witnessing and participating in someone else's comfort food, and adopting it as your own. When we walked into Phnom Penh House there were three families, grandmas, babies, teenagers abound, having family meal. Find it on the dim corner of 8th and Alice Streets. The pink awning outside has faded into an awkwardly charming Easter-egg hue, there's chintzy wall paneling and scuffed tables, but on a rainy night it's the place you want to be: small, tucked away,  family-owned and family friendly, where wafts of coconut milk, BBQ chicken, and cilantro wander around you.

The coconut milk soup (#218) has tomatoes, pineapple, and catfish and tastes like a spoonful of the tropics.

What about flavors? Deep flavors we find in soups and dishes that have been stewing for hours. Homemade dishes with ingredients that we can identify as real food. When my friend Danny Perales makes a soup we all come running and it doesn't matter how cold it is outside, we just know we can count on it to taste delicious and make us feel better. That's why when Danny was guest chef at Guerilla Cafe earlier this month, there was a line out the door of people waiting to try the special menu dubbed "Like Water for Chocolate" after a Mexican novel whose protagonist best expresses herself through cooking. Building off his mom's recipes from Chiapas, my favorites were Guisado, a stewed chicken dish with prunes and olives, and Pozole, a Mexican stew that makes Raul (Danny's brother) come into the kitchen and without fail say, "mmmm it smells like Mexico up in here!" every time it's on the stove.

If comfort food is made up of flavors we can count on, then we should all count on coming to the next Perales guest chef night at Guerilla (email me to get word on when it's happening). I'll be helping out on the floor, so stop me (not when I'm carrying food, people) and let me know if it's comfort food to you:  Does it strike a chord in your food memory? Make you feel like part of the family? Taste like something homemade and authentic?
Did I mention the flan made by Danny's mom? Tastes like sex on the Mayan riviera with caramel on top. And now I'm thinking my next post should be on aphrodisiacs.

 

Got the travel bug?

Homeroom

Phnom Penh House

Get on Perales Pop-up Kitchen email list

Head East... To Oakland!

America getting you down? It's been a year since I left the country, so you know I'm getting anxious and I have a feeling a few of you are feeling the same way. But, if you can't drop everything and head overseas here are two spots to alleviate your red, white and blues:
Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant

I'm gonna call myself out right now and admit that I don't know much about Ethiopian food nor do I consider it one of my favorite cuisines. The spongy bread injera has never done it for me and I can't say I've had a dish that's been memorable. But this week I went to Ensarro, and it accomplished what few restaurants can do- it opened my snobby little mind. A huge, family style platter arrived at our table, the yellow of the pigeon peas matched the wall to my right, the turmeric set off the amber drapes on the ceiling, and I noticed that there's something special when the hues of your food and your environment combine harmoniously. I enjoyed every flavor of the Yetsome Beyaynetu (veggie combo) and the Bozena Shirow (finely grounded splot peas, and chickpeas simmered in minced beef). Look at me knowing the names. 

Oasis Market 

One of my favorite things to do when I lived in Istanbul was take the tram to the spice bazaar and walk through the piles of turkish delight and saffron, past the coffee roaster, and up through the districts of fabric stores and electronics as they twisted and evolved into the Grand Bazaar full of antiques, carpets, and hookahs. My other favorite thing to do was stumble out of bars at 3 a.m. and follow the scent of döner, a rotating spit of lamb sliced off and served to order- especially good after a long night out. Oasis Market fills those two gaps in my life as best as any market could. Call it what you like, shawarma, gyro, al pastor, rotating roasts hit the spot and you can get a good one there with freshly baked pita and all the fixings (tahini, humus, onions, etc.) for $8. There's also an entire selection of pistachio and date-filled pastries, savory pies, feta cheese, and mezzes. And, in case you wanna get freaky, there's the classic freak-eh soup:)

They also have fresh veggies (yay for more fresh veggies in Oakland!), a huge selection of middle eastern staples, and hookah supplies. Afiyet olsun!
Got the travel bug?
Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant
Oasis

Holiday Survival Tip #1

Need a pre-party drink but afraid to go to any old pub for the fear of running into those few annoying douches you went to high school with who will want to know all about what you're up to these days? (Drinking, bitch.) 

Have an aviation and a couple $1 oysters at Cafe Rouge. That maraschino cherry at the bottom of the glass made me smile all night. Rouge is too classy for the recent college grads (I'm talking Mad Men classy), so unless you regularly kick it on 4th street you won't have to watch the door in paranoia. Their burger and fries are top notch, so fill up here before heading to another spiced holiday ham.

Merry Christmukah!

Got the travel bug?
Cafe Rouge Oyster hours are Tuesday-Thursday 5:30- close, and Friday and Saturday 12:30 pm- close.

Teach a Man to Fish...

and he'll eat for the rest of his life. Give a girl a tasty five course meal and... she'll love you forever. Or at least blog about you. Last week I had the pleasure of dining at St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda for The Kitchen of Champions' Guest Chef Series. Kitchen of Champions is a culinary training and job placement program that supports St. Vincent de Paul's free dining room by serving 1,000 hot meals a day to Oakland's homeless and hungry. The program is a complete menu: Job training and placement, a side of safety net services, accompanied by some delicious food. 

The culinary students, who commit to 12 weeks of culinary training, life skills training, and case management, get hands on experience as they prepare meals under a master chef. On nights like tonight, they prepared a five course meal alongside Jacob Alioto, Chef of Luka's Taproom as a fundraiser for the program. It's a chance for over 100 supporters to enjoy a fancy meal and an opportunity for the students to work with professional chefs like Alioto and last year's guest chef, Matt Colgan of A Cote (check out Oakland North's story).

     (Peep Chef Alioto in the glasses)

As far as fundraisers go, this was a hit in my book (and my book counts because I do fundraising, oh-kay). I met a board member, a food journalist, a volunteer from UC Berkeley, and a local artist who all loved talking food. At my table I overheard a "damn, I could curl up with these shortribs" (wait, I said that) and a "I've never had crem brule before!" (you know that wasn't me) and one of the best compliments a chef could receive after serving a five course meal, "I feel satisfied, but not uncomfortably full. I feel perfect."

The program also includes job placement services, so that students find fair wage employment and get support retaining their jobs. Over 70% of graduates have gained employment after completing the program, and the staff is building partnerships with local restaurants (hint, hint my restaurant-owning friends). Glasses raised to the students, because kitchen work is a grind, and big ups to the staff, because putting together a program like this ain't no piece of cake either.

Got the travel bug?
Check out the champions here: St Vincent De Paul or the Kitchen of Champions Blog. 

Local Yokel Holiday Shopping Guide

It's estimated that for every dollar you spend, twice as much will be reinvested in the community by a local store than a national store.1 It's also estimated that Bay folks are so damn cocky we think we live in the coolest place in the world and we love us some Bay-related things. It's also estimated that the Bay is home to some of the most creative, stylish, and planet-positive entrepreneurs around. No footnote for the last two. Lesson of all these estimations? Buy Bay, give Bay, you'll make many a Bay people happy. Because this holiday season... who gives a fuck about the rest of this country?
Ready, go!

The City

• 12/4: Chillin Productions Annual Holiday Show is paradise for the indie designer lover.
• 12/4: 3rd St Holiday Sale with over a dozen of my favorite SFMade companies.
• 12/9: Get your SFMade gift bag at their holiday mixer 
• 12/10: La Cocina Gift Fair is gonna be delicious. Period.
• 12/4 & 12/11: Market SF, see previous post.
• 12/11 & 12/12: KPFA Crafts & Music Fair for the Berkeley moms.

East Bay

• 12/3: First Friday in Oakland could inspire you to buy some art.
• 12/4: The Find at Jack London Square looks coo', never been.
• 12/11, 12, 18, 19, 23, 24: Telegraph Holiday Street Fair. Helloooo high school. 
• 12/11: Temescal Holiday Stroll- that's my hood! woot woot!
• Get Online @ http://www.shopoakland.com/

Know of a cool holiday shopping event? Holla at yo girl... let's make it a collective list. 

Battle of the Greyhounds: The Layover vs Cafe Van Kleef

Both have the old school grapefruit juicer, but who squeezes and mixes best? Ferronlandia sent in the thirsty troops to find out.

Layover

 

The drink-To be honest, they skimped on the grapefruit. Never thought I would say it, but too much alcohol, not enough juice. However, the bartender was 1. cute 2. responded "crazy dogs" when I asked him what he calls a grapefruit & tequila and 3. made this delicious alternative for me: tequila, grapefruit and squirt- a paloma with real grapefruit!

The scene-If you need an alternative to the Saturday night sloppy sleazy of Lukas or Mua, come and find a good-humored, motley crowd here. I had three pleasant conversations with strangers (alright, cute guys) and the rest of the bar was too busy getting down to talk to nobody. Comfy couches and a big enough dance floor to dance salsa like a Mexican (elbows, hella elbows). Warning, the DJ has major ADD- the minute you start enjoying a song it turns into something else. I won't hate though, I was happy with the transitions.

Van Kleef

The drink- Major points on the pulp factor. My friend pointed out that the giant slice of grapefruit on the rim puts Van Kleef's grapefruit to vodka ratio at perfection. It's like drinking a vodka-filled grapefruit, which for some disturbing reason just made me think breakfast.

The scene- Looks like Fairy Godmother Salvage Yard waved her wand and sprinkled relics of  the 60's, Mardi Gras, and Wyoming across the walls here. Funky like your grandma's cluttered closet that still has a few wigs and flapper dresses, cozy like your brother's hot-boxed basement with the couch you don't want to leave. Try and check out the music before paying cover but it's always a good conversation space.
The winner? Van Kleef for the drink, Layover for the scene. Good thing you can do both in one night.

Got the travel bug?
http://www.cafevankleef.com/ ($5 on weekends)
http://oaklandlayover.com/ (no cover)

Notes from a Chez Panisse Groupie

Every foodie has an opinion about Chez Panisse. Some of you love it, some of you hate it. Some of you think Alice is a loopy-doopy diva with a fake British accent, and for some of you she's your asparagus queen and slow food movement champion.  In my mind, there's no question that organic and local food should be enjoyed by all, sans the high price tag. I've had the privilege to eat an entirely homegrown meal sitting on a log in my dusty cutoffs in the backwoods of central chile, and I've been lucky enough to enjoy several wonderful meals at Chez Panisse. Both had great value. So putting aside the social and economic contexts of both, I would like to note the most important common thread of those meals: pure love for making a beautiful and delicious plate of food with fresh ingredients. I felt the love the other day when I made a pasta with squash and squash blossoms straight from my garden, but hats off to the people who do it a million times better- the folks at Chez P. give me a food orgasm every time without fail and always surprise me with how exquisite a plate of fresh greens (with baked goat cheese) can really be.

I get to eat my way to a blissful state of fullness at Chez Panisse because my best friend works there, making me an official groupie. Which also means I get to go to the staff parties. By now you may have realized that I'm using this post to brag about an awesome farm party I went to. All I can say is yes, I am, but I hope you enjoy the photos.  I also hope you get a little inspired to visit a local farm and get a feel for where your food is coming from (links below). 

Got the travel bug?
Chez Panisse: http://www.chezpanisse.com/about/
Green String Farm (one of the Chez Panisse parties was here): http://www.greenstringfarm.com/
Resources for local farms: http://www.wisefoodways.com/bay/produce.php
http://www.localharvest.org/

Recipe for a Good First Friday in Oakland

On the first Friday of every month Oakland's art galleries open their doors and hold receptions- I love the idea and it always makes me happy to see so many souls wandering around downtown. But if you find massive crowds of hipsters irritating (it's natural), here's a recipe for a good first Friday in Oakland:
1. Start at Chaparral City- Seraphina and Hugh opened this gallery space on 9th and Washington St. just recently. Featuring rotating local artisits and some of Hugh's work. Tucked away from most of the Art Murmur happenings. Lil space, lotta love. 

2. Boot and Shoe for a snack-  Go to the bar in the back. It's cozy and charming and feels secret. Beware, the fancy pizza smell is intoxicating, we had the rapini with homemade sausage even though we weren't hungry and we couldn't remember what rapini was exactly (uh... some kind of green, right yo?) I could've had five of the Sister Sarah cocktails (it has tequila and rum, why would you tempt me with such a a drink??)

3. Bar 355 for more drinkin- Just opened a month ago, the newness doesn't imply that you won't run into old scenes from high school, but we can live with that. Classy beer and wall paper, nice lighting, strong drinks.

The only problem I had with 355 was the bad Mexican banda music at the end of the night- I know this music well, I have indulged in it at various cantinas, and I don't understand why it's trendy all of a sudden. It's not salsa. You don't dance salsa to it. You jump around like this:

You can't replicate it Oakland, stick to your chillness- that's why I love you.

Got the travel bug?
Chaparral City Gallery: http://www.chaparralcity.com/Home_Page.html Open first Fridays of the month from 7 pm on and Friday farmers markets from 10-2.
Boot and Shoe Service: http://bootandshoeservice.com/
Bar 355: 355 19th st (and Franklin)

Saving the world one microbusiness at a time!

Sometimes the greatest inspiration is right under your nose... or over your nose? Sylvia Rosales-Fike was my boss at AnewAmerica Community Corporation and last night was awarded the San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Award. I have to say that I've heard Sylvia talk a lot over the past few years (she likes a loooong Gala program), but this speech went above and beyond- In a few minutes she told her story, her home country's story and the story of anyone in this country who is considered an "outsider." It was a powerful reminder of why many of us wake up every day to fight poverty (even though it sometimes feels like you're just sitting at a desk). Check out this video done by CitizenFilm:

And of course, it takes a village- so props to my homies at AnewAmerica! Read more about their work empowering new American communities in the Bay Area.

Oakland's Best Dance Party

I've been hearing about The People party for a long time and my cynicism has kept me from checking it out. A dance party put on once a month that has a great crowd, good music and is always fun? Really? Every month, every time?

Yes. It's all true. The People, you are the cherry on top of Oakland's revamped nightlife. The venue, New Parish, was perfect for a hot night- a big sweaty dance floor, a balcony, and a beautiful, cool outdoor courtyard. I've never been around a nicer, more dance-happy crowd in Oakland (or a nicer looking crowd- so that's where you're hiding!) DJ Spinna was dope, the pretentious but talented dance circle was super entertaining, and even though I don't know how to dance to house music (I just followed Yeshi) it may have been my favorite dance party of 2010.

As my friend said while we were walking home, "Oakland hasn't been this hot since World War II!" Dance on Oakland, dance on.
Got the travel bug?
The People: http://thepeopleoakland.com/ Every 4th Saturday of the month
New Parish: http://www.thenewparish.com/

Late Night Sushi in Temescal

You had a long happy hour. You just realized you've had three margaritas and no dinner and it's 11 pm. And magically, right when you grudgingly start going through your fridge to make a sandwich, the boys call for Sushi. Not just sushi, but Koryo sushi.

My favorite sushi spot in the town, and it's open late. The music is always too pop or too hard, but the food is always on point. If you're into the crazy rolls I recommend the 49'ers roll (pictured above), the titanic (tastes like it sounds-epic), and the poki roll (heh heh, poki). Keep coming back and you'll make friends with these badass chefs pretty quickly.

Got the travel bug?
http://gotsushiandsake.com/

Antiquing in Alameda

Walking into the Alameda Flea Market is how I imagine Aladdin felt walking into that treasure cave. Who knew that through the Webster tunnel, across from Oakland's own dinosaur crane habitat, there existed a sprawling treasure trove of antique goodies? Beware, you're going to get an intense adrenaline rush, leave your friends behind, and four hours later wonder what the hell you've been staring at the whole time. Basically, you're going to feel like you're doing mushrooms again. Except after this trip you'll end up with a cookie monster cookie jar, a copper table, a giant lantern, a mini guitar, tacky gold jewelry (hey- I'm gonna be Jewish grandma someday) and... a rhino head? Some chickens?

But seriously, the antiques run from undervalued to overpriced, barely functional to beautifully restored, international to retro American. People will bargain a bit if you're nice about it. I went in August looking for furniture and got four amazing pieces for very fair prices, went this month and walked away with a dress and a necklace for $8. This is not for the novice thrifter, be prepared to dig and go with a goal in mind. I recommend heading there after 9 am ($5 entrance) and when in need of a refreshment getting down on some beans, rice and plantains at the African food stand. Happy thrifting!


Got the travel bug?
Alameda Point and Collectibles Fair, first Sunday of every month: http://alamedapointantiquesfaire.com/index.php