Is it ever okay for a 101-year-old to get a facelift?
The Roxie, San Francisco's oldest continually operating theater, just completed her renovation. She's still a classic beauty, but now she radiates with her restored veneer. Located in the heart of the Mission at 16th Street and Valencia, the Roxie is one of the only movie houses featuring a Peerless Magnarc projector. Nope, they don't make 'em like they used to… most movie buffs believe that the carbon arc lamphouses produce a superior picture with warmer and truer colors. And now the bass is bumping like a lowrider in a Dr. Dre video—Pixar Studios and the Community Futures Collective donated a state-of-the-art THX Dolby Surround system with 16 digital speakers and a couple subwoofers.
The Ploom Portable Hookah
Even non-smokers would agree that there’s no better icebreaker than, “Got a light?”
Ploom, a tech-meets-tobacco company based in the Dogpatch, just launched their “model One.” This hand-held, gas-powered vaporizer is best described as a portable hookah. The device warms a corn kernel-sized capsule in the heat chamber, releasing a bouquet of all-natural ingredients. It might be time to retire the Altoids… Ploom freshens breath. And some varietals pair well with adult beverages. Try the Café Noir with a bold red wine, the Orchard with a stein of hefeweizen, or the Gold with a fine whiskey. Or skip the tobacco and fire up their herbal pods—the fresh Kick-Ass Mint or the relaxing Blue Tea.
But what about second-hand smoke?
You deserve a break from the daily grind. Take a deep breath and close your eyes… you are now imagining the rest of this write-up.
Yoga to the People recently performed a Sun Salutation to San Francisco by opening a studio in the Mission. They grounded their practice on the spacious top floor of a warehouse loft. Your mountain pose will feel just a bit taller while appreciating the sweeping views of downtown skyscrapers. YTTP teaches Power Vinyasa Flow—a practice marked by breath-synchronized movement improving both strength and flexibility. Expect traditional Ashtanga poses mixed with a surprise jolt of “Eye of the Tiger” crunches. They offer a few classes each day… the house special is the Sunday evening candlelight yoga to ease into the work week. Arrive a bit early since they close the doors as soon as class begins to minimize interruptions.
The Slip ‘n Slide is for the burbs.
After trying to swim against the current to replace the bowling alley, the Presidio Trust is now going with the flow. They recently revealed plans to open up an urban water slide in time for summer. (No update though on Operation Pea Soup, the government-sponsored weather control station to combat the late summer fog.) The designated location is on the southeast corner of the Presidio, creatively capitalizing on the undeveloped space adjacent to the Lyon street stairs.
Director of the Presidio Trust and part-time maritime lawyer, Cherith Cutestory, shared that they are under intense pressure to get to continuous break-even by Fiscal Year 2014. He shared, “we were feeling the financial urgency and…
True virtuosos name their businesses after themselves. Gary Danko’s, Ike’s Place, Philz Coffee, Mitchell’s (ice cream… although the O’Farrell Theater also had its day). After all, when your name is on the door, you tend to work a little harder.
Enter John Campbell.
John Campbell’s Irish Bakery just set up their second shop in San Francisco. Their freshly baked goods blossoming from cloth-lined baskets evokes the warm memories of grandma’s freshly baked pie cooling on the window sill.
