San Francisco and what to do in it

One of the best things about Oakland is all the killer Ethiopian food. Cafe Romanat is one of my favorites, but there are a bunch of very good options.

Azit has killer Korean cheese fries.

if you have small children, take them to Fairyland

at least oakland's lower density means you're not constantly tripping over abandoned scooters like you would in downtown SF

― Scam jam, thank you ma’am (Sparkle Motion), Wednesday, September 19, 2018 5:16 PM (yesterday)

well, parts of Oakland that is the case. Not my part.

in terms of "what to do" in Oakland -- it depends what you like to do. If you're into hiking/outdoorsy stuff, there are some nice hikes and woodsy stuff. If you like drinking at tiki bars, we have those. If you like goth dj nights, we have lots of those. if you are into craft beer -- there is a lot of that, too. If you like looking at industrial buildings in various states of decay and gentrification/renovation, we have a lot of those as well.

I think there's some dumb music festival happening in the park by the port that used to be held in SF going down in a few weeks. The park is dope tho.

one thing to notice about the scooters in Oakland - it mostly community members and kids using them rather than techies getting to work and what not. i'm pro scooter.

I noticed that too

If you're into hiking/outdoorsy stuff, there are some nice hikes and woodsy stuff.

this trail is rad, not too far from Oakland: https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7024978/vollmer-peak-trail

at least oakland's lower density means you're not constantly tripping over abandoned scooters like you would in downtown SF

― Scam jam, thank you ma’am (Sparkle Motion), Wednesday, September 19, 2018 5:16 PM (yesterday)

well, parts of Oakland that is the case. Not my part.

idk, even the on most dense sidewalks of Uptown I don't trip over a million scooters the same way I did walking to work in SOMA, but I hear you. I can't say whether they're a social good or ill but the way people drive on them I am amazed that no one has been killed yet.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/09/04/police-man-dies-after-apparent-electric-scooter-accident/?utm_term=.f82b600c91ed

https://nypost.com/2018/09/04/man-dies-after-electric-scooter-accident/

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/08/despite_voluntary_pause_in_ope.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_vehicle_fatality_rate_in_U.S._by_year

cars are infinitely more deadly, I was just pointing out that ppl had already died

has anyone been killed by someone riding a scooter, or has it been only the people riding the scooters who have been killed (i.e. by cars)?

cars were not involved in the deaths I linked above

I'm flying out for a bar mitzvah, actually, so I don't think I'll get to go too far afield. But I do know that I'll have a few hours off each day, family commitments aside. So less hiking, more food and shops. I've never been to Berkeley, so there's that; staying at the Hotel Shattuck, which is right by campus, I believe. And the synagogue is right by Chez Panisse, iirc. .

Hotel Shattuck is downtown -- it's about 5-10 blocks to campus. And like one block from the train to Oakland and SF. The hotel restaurant is pretty good (though I think it recently changed) - they had really good mac & cheese and nice drinks. Berkeley has great bookstores, and Amoeba is still pretty decent depending on what you're looking for and what format.

If you have a dog, my friend has a shop that makes gorgeous dog collars. I mean, they make them custom, so if you wanted a collar for a not-dog, they could do that do.

Is it the one near Berkeley Bowl that got a shoutout in that Todd Barry special?

That makes me wish we had a dog. Our jerk cat would just lose it.

Actually, our cat is awesome, but he probably would lose it.

cats gonna cat

This cat cats.

yep - near Berkeley Bowl!

Paco Collars! my dogs wear them proudly. Didn't know that was your friend's shop. I recommend these collars for dogs.

Hotel Shattuck is across the street from the YMCA where I swim twice weekly. Landmark theater downstairs.

Am I going to get ads on Facebook Scrabble telling me to vote against Prop C from now until the election?

I think you know the answer

RIP La Victoria, but this would be kinda awesome tbh
https://missionlocal.org/2018/10/russian-bakery-eyes-former-la-victoria-building-on-24th-street/

I wouldn't say it's like Tartine at all but idk

went to Cinderella my last trip and i thought it was amazing.

had about enough of the protection racket bullshit tbh

?

https://missionlocal.org/2018/10/laundre-owner-shaken-after-private-meeting-with-mission-community-groups/

Eh cant say i care too much - that place is lame

I don’t have feels about Laundré one way or the other but demanding access to their books? gtfo

so yeah Cinderella isn’t like Tartine but hey a shakedown opportunity is a shakedown opportunity

haven't been to Laundré so I have no opinion on the place itself but I did want to open something like that place in the east bay at some point! poo. maybe I can still get away with it.

I think local community organizations are important; but that all sounds kind of bad. And frankly I've seen local community groups do more damage to Berkeley than good; they're absurdly hostile to businesses, even small businesses, here.

I get the sense that there are a lot of things the reporter misunderstood or wrote in a misleading way. The comments are actually not horrible, as far as comments sections go.

It sounds like the United to Save the Mission people met with the business owner and her people, and discussed things. There were undoubtedly some things that were crucial to the agreement, and there were probably some things they said that were along the lines of "it would be cool if you did x" but those weren't things that would explicitly go into the MOU. At "worst" they would be examples of something like, "provide an inviting atmosphere to local families" which could include x, y, and z.

But, it makes me think of the flipside, of business districts and groups that impose rules about decor and business practices that are designed to encourage gentrification and tourism, that one might think should just be up to the owner(s) of the business.

Yeah that was my interpretation too

Re: how the meetng was reported

maybe. “give us your books” is next-level.

otoh these coalitions tend to be made up of a bunch of people who are progressive, but also realistic and sane, but there are also people who are aggro-radicals who will try to pull ridiculous shit.

What not to do? Breathe. Air quality just went to purple - unsafe for everyone.

turns out I am really glad to be going to Yosemite this weekend where the air is still clear

xp So I noticed. Fun fun.

Schools closed tomorrow.

maybe we should all start living underground

Wonder if anyone still has N99 masks in stock, I'm always slow on this stuff

I'm gonna be out there next week so I can experience this wonderful air you have. Would love any recommendations anyone has. Would also be down for a meetup if folks can pull themselves away from Thanksgiving festivities.