Beast Blog

Shotgun Players puts on a fantastic Cyrano de Bergerac in Berkeley's John Hinkel Park this August

My experience of theater in Berkeley is that like the food in Costa Rica, it defies the laws of economics. The less you pay, the better it is, and vice versa. Several years ago I was given an expensive season's subscription to the Berkeley Rep, and to my great disappointment, almost all the shows turned out to be dreck, Overacted melodramas with gratuitous female nudity. Who needs a faux "Épater le Bourgeois" sensibility in a town that features The Explicit Players as regular naked street performers? If I wanted to watch Sex and the City, I could always go find someone who has a TV and watch it. Then I found a local community theater that puts on plays 3 blocks from my house, The Actor's Ensemble of Berkeley. They do a fantastic job. The performance of Long Day's Journey into Night they did was as good as the Broadway version I saw 20 years ago. Tickets for the Actor's Ensemble shows are only ten bucks, and well worth the price. The next show is Six Degrees of Seperation in October.

I have been on the mailing list for another of Berkeley's theater ensembles, the Shotgun Players, for a while, but had never seen a performance, but I got inspired this weekend to go see their production of Edmund Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac. What a fantastic show! The setting is the open air amphitheater at John Hinckel Park in Berkeley (the original home of the California Shakespeare festival). The play is set in 17th century France, and the soldiers and swordsmen in their costumes look right at home in the park, appearing out of the trees or running down the aisles, swords flashing. Language is both a subject of the play and celebrated by the play, and The Shotgun Players picked a great translation of Rostand's play, and found someone able to do justice to the beautiful language and the part of Cyrano, Clive Worsley, who delivers a great performance. There are lots of memorable characters, from the pastry-chef poet to the lady-in-waiting with the swooping voice, and there is something for everyone in the family (over 8) to like: Musketeers, fancy dresses and swordplay for the pre-teens, star-crossed romance for the teens, great language for the adults, and wit for all to enjoy. And the cost? Up to you -- it is pass the hat donations at the end of the show. I was generous, because it is great to be able to support so much great inexpensive theater in Berkeley.

Cyrano de Bergerac is playing through Labor Day, and I highly recommend it for anyone over 8 years old. Bring warm clothes and a jacket, because it gets cold in the shade, especially if the fog comes in, and arrive 15 or 20 minutes early if you want to sit close to the center of the action.

Cross posted at The Berkeley Blog

Berkeley Cybersalon - Citizen Journalism - June 19

From the official announcement:

BERKELEY CYBERSALON
6-8 p.m., Sunday, June 19, 2005
Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley
“Got News? Citizen Journalism with Dan
Gillmor, Becky O’Malley, and Peter Merholz (and Craig Newmark in the
Wings)”

Technology is making it easier for grassroots journalism to
take root. Craig Newmark, the father of online community classifieds,
recently planted the seeds of this new movement, and Dan Gillmor gave
up his tech column at the San Jose Mercury to start his own
interactive-journalism venture, www.Bayosphere.com. In print, publisher/editor Becky
O’Malley speaks to the spirit of the local community with The
Berkeley Daily Planet. And the father of “blog,” Peter Merholz
founded the Beast Blog [Ed--you're here!], a group blog
that covers everything of note in the East Bay. With organic
publications like these, who needs the artificially flavored New York
Times?

Come discuss the future of journalism with us. We’re joining
with Kevin Werbach, host of Supernova, an emerging technology event
starting June 2 in S.F., for a traditional pre-Supernova dinner at 6
p.m., followed by the panel discussion at 7 p.m.

Werbach is offering Cybersalonistas a $300 discount for the two-day conference; or $500
off on the full three-day conference – just mention Berkeley
Cybersalon when/if you register at www.supernova2005.com.

Dinner is $20, and if you plan to come, RSVP to whoisylvia AT aol.com so we
can order food (Vietnamese, with lots of vegetarian alternatives for
those grassroots types) and drinks.

We know it’s Father’s Day, so bring your dad(s).

This is an event for everyone interested in the
future of journalism.

Directions:
Via gas-guzzling vehicle:
From Oakland or the Bay Bridge, take Hwy 80 and exit at University, make a
quick RIGHT under the freeway and onto the frontage road, and turn RIGHT at the 4RENT sign onto Cedar St.
Continue straight two miles past Shattuck and park.
From the Richmond
Bridge, take Hwy 80 and exit LEFT at Gilman, turn RIGHT on San Pablo
for a few blocks, and LEFT on Cedar St. 1.5 miles past Shattuck, and
park.

Via “natural” mode, i.e, foot/bicycle/Segway:
From downtown Berkeley BART, go north on Shattuck, and east on Cedar St. This is an easy and
safe 15-minute walk.

Posted by peterme at 08:18 AM | Comments (2)

OH MY GOD THIS PIZZA IS AMAZING...

...will be the words out of your mouth after you chomp into a slice from Gioia Pizzeria. A New York-style joint (read: Thin Crust, As God Intended Pizza To be), this, with the CheeseBoard Pizza Collective, firmly places Berkeley in The Best City For Pizza In America contest. I usually give the crust to the dog, but in this case, I ate every bite -- it was like pastry it was so good. The cheese -- delightfully greasy, expertly seasoned. The sauce -- divine. The toppings-- first rate. My favorites were the Formaggio (good ol' plain cheese) and Pepperoni. With options this good, I don't have to whine about not living in the city of Tommaso's any more...

Christopher's Hamburgers

Last week I ventured to Christopher Burgers for an evening meal. I've been on the trail for a great Beast burger for a while, and recently noticed this establishment at the head of Solano. (Seemingly as part of the conspiracy to dupliicate every restaurant in Rockridge on Solano... see Cactus Taqueria.)

The menu is pretty simple - burgers with the expected toppings (cheese, bacon), a few other sandwiches, milkshakes and malts. I went with a basic burger and a side of fries. The burger was quite good. Not great -- no match for Joe's Cable Car Diner or Burger Joint. The fries were good -- in the In-n-Out style, but lighter, fresher, tastier.

So, if you're on Solano, and itching for a burger, it will satisfy. But -- I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there.

Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival - May 29

It's chocolate week on Beast Blog!

From my inbox:

CHOCOLATE & CHALK ART ON SOLANO The sidewalks along the entire length of Solano Avenue in Berkeley and Albany are the target of artists young and old, professional and greenhorn during the 8th annual CHOCOLATE & CHALK ART ON SOLANO on Saturday, May 29.

With no fees to artists, areas of sidewalk will be assigned to participants to create their own fanciful chalk paintings. Registration takes place 9-5 in three locations on Solano: 1561 @ Peralta Park; 1850 @ Andronico's Market.; and 1216 @ YMCA Kid's Club. Artist's chalk and a Polaroid of their finished work are available for a fee. To encourage early registration, a raffle for merchandise donated by local businesses will be drawn at noon from the names of registered artists.

Buy a packet of $1 tickets for $10 at any of the registration sites for CHOCOLATE SAMPLING. The menu features delectable brownies, yummy rich chocolate cake, Brooklyn'€™s "My-T-Fine" chocolate pudding, and spicy chocolate mole burritos as well as the stranger chocolate fried wontons, chocolate raspberry body paint for adults, and chocolate covered ants! Spend your tickets on these
delights in the Solano Avenue businesses flying festival banners. Music & balloons fill the air, street poets slam on the corners, there are pet adoptions at Peralta Park, and there are many more surprises as you stroll along the sidewalks viewing the artwork which remains in place for the next two weeks.

Unfurling of the SPRING ART STREET BANNERS which have been individually painted by 150 members of the community will complete the cycle of art above and below!
Sponsored by the Solano Avenue Association
510/527-5358
www.solanoave.org.

CHOCOLATE & CHALK ART FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2004

All along Solano Avenue from The Alameda in Berkeley to San Pablo Ave. in
Albany
9AM-5PM Chalk Artists draw on sidewalks
9AM-5PM or from store openings to closings
Look for the stores with brown festival pennants to redeem your
tickets for items listed on the Chocolate Menu

Peralta Park, 1561 Solano Ave., Berkeley
9AM-5PM Registration of Chalk Artists
Information, Chocolate Menus, Chocolate Tickets (10 for $10)
SAA Headquarters booth, First Aid
12 Noon Artist's raffle at SAA HQ booth
12-4 PM Berkeley Animal Care Pet Adoptions

Andronico's Market, 1850 Solano Ave., Berkeley
9AM-5PM Registration of Chalk Artists
Information, Chocolate Menus, Chocolate Tickets

YMCA Kid's Club, 1216 Solano Ave., Albany
9AM-5PM Registration of Chalk Artists
Information, Chocolate Menus, Chocolate Tickets

ENTERTAINMENT
Papel Picado demonstrations 11-3 1564 Solano @ Gathering Tribes
Poet - Chokwadi 1-2 1580 Solano @ Solano Cellars
Mike Glendinning - Guitarist 1-3 1115 Solano @ Albany Theatre
Carol Denney & Jim Nelson 1-3 1850 Solano @ Andronico'€™s
Pat Ryan'€™s Celtic Junket 11-1 1744 Solano @ Pharmaca
Featherlight the Clown 11-3 1224 Solano @ Sweet Potatoes
Poet - Tony Caine 2-3 1561 Solano @ Peralta Park
Poet - Selene Steese 12-1 1497 Solano @ High Tech Burrito
Poet - Louis Cuneo 3-4 1745 Solano @ Sue Johnson'€™s
Poet - Jim Williams 3-4 1561 Solano @ Peralta Park
Dana Smith &
His Performing Dog Lacey 3-5 1275 Solano @ Key Route
Gassy Bones 3-5 1423 Solano @ Gordo'€™s

CHOCOLATE MENU

Artbeat Salon 1887 Solano Cacao Eye Liner by Aveda $11
Noah'€™s New York Bagels 1883 Solano Chocolate Chip Mini Bagels 3/$2
KNA Copy Centre 1865 Solano Chocolate Colored Note Pad 1/Free
Andronico'€™s Market 1850 Solano Adult Thick Chocolate Brownie $5
A.G. Ferrari Foods 1843 Solano Gianduja Chocolate Brownie $1
Peet'€™s Coffee & Tea 1825 Solano Chocolate Covered Blueberries $6
Ideas 4 Elements 1774 Solano Real Swiss Chocolate 'Clogs' $1
Pharmaca Pharmacy 1744 Solano Chocolate Raspberry Body Paint $10
Pharmaca Pharmacy 1744 Solano Organic Milk or Dark Chocolate Bar $2
Pharmaca Pharmacy 1744 Solano Milk Chocolate Calcium Chews $8
Pharmaca Pharmacy 1744 Solano European Chocolate Orange Soap $4
Pharmaca Pharmacy 1744 Solano Mexican Cocoa Votive Candle $2
Tangerine Food Bar 1707 Solano Dutch Cocoa Hot or Cold $2
King Tsin Restaurant 1699 Solano Chocolate Fried Wontons $3
Bone Room 1569 Solano Chocolate Covered Ants $2
Frishman'€™s NY Deli & Bakery 1561 Solano Ortman'€™s Chocolate Ice Cream $2
Frishman'€™s NY Deli & Bakery 1561 Solano Brooklyn'€™s '€˜My-T-Fine'€™ Chocolate Pudding $2
Frishman'€™s NY Deli & Bakery 1561 Solano Rich Chocolate Homemade Brownie $2
Seven-Eleven Food Store 1540 Solano King Size Hershey Bar $1
High Tech Burrito 1497 Solano Spicy Chocolate Mole Chicken Burrito $6
Sophia Cafe 1247 Solano Chocolate Covered Marzipan Fingers $2
Celadon Fine Teas 1111 Solano Yummy Rich Chocolate Cake $3
Max'€™s Liquor 865 San Pablo Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich $2

From the police blotter

Mr. Mopps is the children's toy and book store around the corner from my house. It is often crowded, and the salespeople are usually extremely rude and unhelpful. Still, it's convient, the toys aren't totally segregated by gender, and I like that it isn't a chain, so I do a fair bit of my holiday shopping there (this year I managed to take care of all the cousins in one trip!). While I understand the impulse to attack somebody while shopping there, so far I've managed to avoid doing so. I wonder what caused this woman to snap?

From today's Berkeley Daily Planet

Woman Attacks Two In Bookshop, Ends Up Bloody in the Street

A woman inexplicably attacked two shoppers with her bare hands at early Tuesday afternoon at Mr. Mopps ... Police said they arrived at the store to find the woman getting into her car parked outside the store.

Berkeley BPD spokesperson Kevin Schofield said that when police ordered her out of the car, she pulled the car out, striking one officer in the leg. Police at the scene quickly boxed in the car with three patrol cars, then approached her again and demanded she leave her vehicle, Schofield said. ...

The police spokesman said that when the woman continued to violently resist, several officers pinned her on the pavement and held her there until the could confine her in a velcro binding called The Wrap.

One of the most interesting things about the police blotter is all the things that are left out. Who did the woman attack? Why did she attack them? Did she buy anything? What on earth is The Wrap?

Cross posted at the Geodog's MT Weblog. Happy holiday shopping to you.

Discussion on the future of libraries, 11/16 at the Hillside Club

Cybersalon: Libraries and the Future
Sunday, November 16, 6:00 - 8:30 P.M.
Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley

Libraries have never been better equipped to provide universal access to all human knowledge. While technical advances promise to change the way libraries serve the public, librarians are now at the center of a number of contentious issues ranging from copyright, censorship and content filtering to enforcement of the Patriot Act. We'll hear about the future of libraries and discuss these issues with an all-star panel that includes:

- Daniel Greenstein, president, the California Digital Libraries Initiative
- Anne Lipow, director of the Library Solutions Institute
- Brewster Kahle, founder of The Internet Archive

Doors open at 6:00; discussion starts at 7. A $10 donation is suggested to help fund the Hillside Club and cover food and drink. RSVP to w h o i s y l v i a @ a o l . c o m if you're coming!

Directions: From the Bay Bridge or Oakland and points south, take the University St. exit off 880, bear right and go straight (north) along the frontage road for about half a mile. Make a right onto Cedar Street and continue 2.3 miles. The Hillside Club is three blocks east (up the hill) of Shattuck Ave, between Spruce and Arch Streets, and there is parking in the neighborhood.

The Prole, the Bourgeois, Capital and GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!

Dear God. Only in Berkeley. Anarchist vs. Communist soccer. Sunday the 26th, 5:30pm, at Harrison Park. I suspect they don't play by FIFA rules.

Panel on Election 2004 at the Hillside Club, Sunday, 10/19

Cybersalon: Digital Democracy in 2004?
6:00-8:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 19
Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley

Will the Internet encourage more people, including political candidates, to participate in the next Presidential elections? Joan Blades, cofounder of moveon.org, will relate how moveon.org has moved hundreds of thousands of citizens to take direct action; Garrett Gruener, former gubernatorial candidate and founder of search engine Ask Jeeves, will describe the implications of the Internet for candidates; and Tyler Ziemann, 23-year-old founder of Affinity Engines, will talk about why a major Presidential candidate is using Affinity's software platform to mobilize and monitor voter support.

Also on our panel is Lauren Gelman, assistant director, Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society, and Zane Vella, executive director, Campaign Video Project.

Notice: We're starting later and ending earlier, serving light refreshments (not dinner!), and lowering our donation request to $10. RSVP to whoisylvia@aol.com and feel free to bring friends and family.

Directions: From the Bay Bridge or Oakland and points south, take the
University St. exit off 880, bear right and go straight (north) along
the frontage road for about half a mile. Make a right onto Cedar Street
and continue 2.3 miles. The Hillside Club is three blocks east (up the
hill) of Shattuck Ave, between Spruce and Arch Streets, and there is
parking in the neighborhood. For BART travelers, get off at the Central Berkeley BART, and take any bus going along Shattuck and get off at Cedar.

Say it! Say it! Say, "Cheese!"

The Chronicle features Berkeley's historic Cheese Board Collective. For those who've never had the pizza at CheeseBoard Pizza, put down your computers right now and head there for an amazing treat.

I had thought that the Cheese Board was directly affiliated with local bakery Arizmendi, but the article points out that the two are very separate, with the Cheese Board having helped out Arizmendi, but having no financial stake.

Coffee, Ice Cream, and Wi-fi

Chowhound's Chownews alerts us to Angel Falls Cafe, in Walnut Square. With coffee, desserts, and free wireless access.