October 13, 2008
Red Bull Soapbox Race
http://www.redbullsoapboxusa.com/races.aspx
Every year auto amateurs, gear heads and adrenaline junkies construct eccentric non-motorized carts to compete head to head in a downhill battle. This year Red Bull Soapbox Race travels to Philadelphia, Cincinnati, San Francisco and Denver.
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
June 12, 2008
Dine About Town, SF, Jun 1-15
http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid=67&m=4&ref=1354
June 1 - 15, 2008
SF Dine About Town
Dine About Town - Gourmet Prix-Fixe Menus
Enjoy gourmet, 3-course meals at some of San Francisco's best restaurants.
Duration: June 1 - 15, 2008
Pricing: $21.95 lunches, $31.95 dinners; prices are per person and do not include beverage, tax or gratuity
Participating Restaurants: See list below.
Please ask for the official Dine About Town menu when you are seated.
**Note: Not all restaurants on OpenTable.com are participating in Dine About Town, and not all participating restaurants offer the prix-fixe menu at both meals. Please refer to the list below for participating restaurants and their specific meal offerings.
Void where prohibited. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer valid through June 15, 2008.
Participating Restaurants
1550 Hyde Cafe & Wine Bar, Russian Hill, Organic, $$$
750 - Hilton SF Financial District, Financial Dist / Embarc, Californian, $$
A16, Marina / Presidio, Italian, $$
Absinthe Brasserie and Bar, Civic Center / Van Ness, French, $$
Alioto's, Fisherman's Wharf, Seafood, $$
Americano Restaurant - Hotel Vitale, Financial Dist / Embarc, Californian, $$$
Ana Mandara, Fisherman's Wharf, Vietnamese, $$$
Andalu, Mission / Bernal, Tapas / Small Plates, $$
Annabelle's Bar & Bistro, Downtown / Union Sq, American, $$$
ANZU, Downtown / Union Sq, Sushi, $$$
Asia de Cuba - San Francisco, Downtown / Union Sq, Asian, $$$
Asia SF, SOMA, Asian, $$$
Azie, SOMA, Asian, $$
Aziza, Richmond District, Moroccan, $$
B44, Downtown / Union Sq, Spanish, $$$
Baraka, Potrero Hill / Dogpatch, French, $$$
Big 4 Restaurant - The Huntington Hotel, Nob Hill, Contemporary American, $$$$
Bong Su, SOMA, Vietnamese, $$$
bushi-tei, Pacific Heights, Fusion / Eclectic, $$$
Butterfly The Embarcadero, Financial Dist / Embarc, Pan-Asian, $$
Cafe Andree, Downtown / Union Sq, Californian, $$$
Cafe Bastille, Financial Dist / Embarc, French, $$
Café Claude, Downtown / Union Sq, French, $$
Cafe de la Presse, Downtown / Union Sq, French, $$
Campton Place, Downtown / Union Sq, Californian, $$$$
Cassis, Pacific Heights, French, $$
Chez Papa, Potrero Hill / Dogpatch, French, $$$
Chez Papa Mint Plaza, Downtown / Union Sq, Provencal, $$$
CHIAROSCURO, Financial Dist / Embarc, Italian, $$
Chouchou, Forest Hill / West Portal, Contemporary French, $$
Chouquet's, Pacific Heights, French, $$$
CIRCA, Marina / Presidio, Contemporary American, $$
CIRCOLO, SOMA, Californian, $$
Colibri - Mexican Bistro, Downtown / Union Sq, Mexican, $$
Cortez, Downtown / Union Sq, Modern European, $$$
Cosmopolitan Restaurant Lounge, Financial Dist / Embarc, American, $$
Côté Sud, Castro / Noe / Glen Park, French, $$
Daffodil, Downtown / Union Sq, Contemporary, American, $$
Destino, Castro / Noe / Glen Park, Latin American, $$
Emporio Rulli Gran Caffe & Ristorante, Marina / Presidio, Italian, $$
Fior d'Italia, North Beach, Italian, $$
First Crush Restaurant Wine Bar & Lounge, Downtown / Union Sq, Californian, $$
Fish & Farm, Downtown / Union Sq, Californian, $$$
Foreign Cinema, Mission / Bernal, Californian, $$$
Fournou's Ovens, Nob Hill, American, $$$
Fringale, SOMA, French, $$$
Garçon, Mission / Bernal, French, $$
Garibaldi's on Presidio, Presidio Heights, Californian, $$$
Grand Cafe, Downtown / Union Sq, French, $$$
Grandviews at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, Downtown / Union Sq, Californian, $$$
Horizon, North Beach, American, $$
Hyde Street Bistro, Russian Hill, French, $$
Jack Falstaff, SOMA, Californian, $$
Joe DiMaggio's Italian Chophouse, North Beach, Italian, $$$
La Provence - San Francisco, Mission / Bernal, French, $$
Laiola, Marina / Presidio, Spanish, $$
LarkCreekSteak, Downtown / Union Sq, American, $$$
Le Charm, SOMA, French, $$
Le Colonial, Downtown / Union Sq, Vietnamese, $$$
Le Zinc, Castro / Noe / Glen Park, French, $$
Lingba, Potrero Hill / Dogpatch, Thai, $$
luella, Russian Hill, Californian, $$$
LuLu, SOMA, Provencal, $$
Mangarosa, North Beach, Italian, $$$
Market Street Grill, Civic Center / Van Ness, Californian, $$
Maya - San Francisco, SOMA, Mexican, $$$
Mexico DF, SOMA, Mexican, $$
Namu - San Francisco, Richmond District, Asian, $$$
One Market Restaurant, Financial Dist / Embarc, American, $$$
Oola, SOMA, Contemporary, American, $$
Palio d'Asti, Financial Dist / Embarc, Italian, $$$
paul k, Civic Center / Van Ness, Mediterranean, $$
Plouf, Financial Dist / Embarc, Seafood, $$$$
PlumpJack Cafe, Marina / Presidio, Californian, $$
Poleng Lounge, Park North / USF, Asian, $$
Ponzu, Downtown / Union Sq, Asian, $$
Prana, SOMA, Fusion / Eclectic, $$$
Pres a Vi, Marina / Presidio, Global - International, $$
RNM Restaurant, Haight, American, $$$
Roots, Financial Dist / Embarc, Contemporary American, $$$
Roy's - San Francisco, SOMA, Seafood, $$$
Rue Saint Jacques, Nob Hill, French, $$
Sauce, Civic Center / Van Ness, American, $$
Sens Restaurant, Financial Dist / Embarc, Mediterranean, $$
Straits Restaurant - San Francisco, Downtown / Union Sq Asian, $$
supperclub san francisco, SOMA, Global - International, $$$$
Sutro's at the Cliff House, Richmond District, Seafood, $$$$
The Oak Room - The Westin St. Francis, Downtown / Union Sq, American, $$
Tommy Toy's, Financial Dist / Embarc, Chinese, $$$
Tres Agaves, SOMA, Mexican, $$
Villa Romana Ristorante, Sunset District, Italian, $$
Vitrine - St Regis Hotel San Francisco, SOMA, American, $$
Waterfront Restaurant and Cafe, Financial Dist / Embarc, Seafood, $$$
XYZ, SOMA, Contemporary, American, $$$
Yoshi's San Francisco, Western Addition, Japanese, $$$
Zazil Coastal Mexican Cuisine, Downtown / Union Sq, Mexican, $$
Zingari Ristorante, Downtown / Union Sq, Italian, $$
Posted by chek at 06:41 PM | Comments (0)
May 03, 2008
Maker Faire
http://makerfaire.com/
May 3 & 4, 2008
San Mateo County Fairgrounds
Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset. It’s for creative, resourceful people of all ages and backgrounds who like to tinker and love to make things.
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
March 30, 2008
Norouz Parade, San Jose
http://www.payvand.com/news/08/mar/1280.html
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
Persian Parade in San Jose
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2007
Filoli Gardens, Feb
http://www.filoli.org/
Filoli Center
Woodside, California
2007 Calendar
February 13 Filoli opens for 2007 season
February 27 -March 3 Opening Event:Camellia Treasures - Trees to Teas
March 21 - 25 San Francisco Flower and Garden Show
March 31 Spring Festival
May 10 Flower Show Preview Party
May 11-13 Mother’s Day Flower Show and Brunch
June 28 Members-Only Twilight Stroll (1)
June 17 through September 23 Jazz at Filoli
July 17 - 21 Flowers in the Home
July 28 Wine with Roses (Evening Event)
September 18 Members-Only Twilight Stroll (2)
October 6 Autumn at Filoli Festival (Fruits at Filoli Cookbook)
October 28 Last day of 2007 season
November 23 - December 1 Holiday Traditions
Posted by chek at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)
October 06, 2007
Sandcastle Classic, Oct, SF
http://www.leap4kids.org/sandcastle/index.html
The Sandcastle Classic is a spirited competition between teams of architects, engineers, contractors, and elementary school students to craft the most impressive creations of the imagination. Leap's major fundraising event of the year, it is the largest sandcastle building contest in Northern California.
2007: Sat, Oct 6, 10:00am-3:00pm
Ocean Beach, just south of the Cliff House (at the intersection of Balboa Ave. and The Great Highway)
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
September 29, 2007
Love Fest, SF, Sep
http://www2.sflovefest.org/
2007: Sep 29
2006: Sep 23
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
September 28, 2007
Moonlight Run, Sep, Palo Alto
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/moonlight_run/index.php
23rd Annual Palo Alto Weekly
Moonlight Run & Walk
2007: Fri, Sep 28
• 5K walk 7:15 pm
• 10K run 8:15 pm
• 5K run 8:45 pm
Run night registration 6:30 - 8 pm at City of Palo Alto Baylands Athletic Center, Embarcadero & Geng Roads (just east of the Embarcadero Exit off Highway 101).
5K and 10K loop courses over Palo Alto Baylands levee, through the marsh lands by the light of the Harvest Moon! Course is flat, USAT&F certified (10k run only) on levee and paved roads. Water at all stops.
Pregistration is $20 per entrant (postmarked by Sept. 21, 2007) and includes a long-sleeve t-shirt. Late/run night registration is $25 and includes a shirt only while supplies last. A scantron card must be filled out at race night registration.
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
September 07, 2007
Reno Balloon Race, Sep
http://www.renoballoon.com/
Rancho San Rafael Park
2007: Sep 7-9
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
July 09, 2007
International Chocolate Salon, Jul, SF
http://www.sfchocolatesalon.com/
San Francisco CHOCOLATE SALON
2007: July 6-15
Recipe and Technique Demos
Speaker Presentations and Tastings
Posted by chek at 11:39 AM | Comments (0)
July 01, 2007
Rainbow Gathering
http://www.welcomehome.org/
Rainbow Family of Living Light Unofficial Home Page
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
June 03, 2007
Webby Awards, Jun
http://www.webbyawards.com/
Webby Awards
2007: Jun 3-5, NYC
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
May 31, 2007
Valhalla Renaissance Faire, Tahoe
http://www.valhallafaire.com/
The Valhalla Renaissance Faire
Two Full Weekends of Entertainment
The magic & pageantry of valhalla returns to Camp Richardson in beautiful South Lake Tahoe, CA
7 Acres, 4 Stages, 1000 Actors
* Hard Hitting, Lance Splitting Jousting
* Live Sword Fighting
* Children's Games
* Jugglers, Magicians, Minstrels
* Food, Beverages, & Fun
Camping
530-541-1801
800-544-1801
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
April 24, 2007
San Francisco Film Festival, Apr
http://fest07.sffs.org/films/film_details.php?id=40
San Francisco International Film Festival
2007: Apr 26 - May 10
A Few Days Later ...
Niki Karimi
In her second narrative feature, Iranian writer/director/actress Niki Karimi presents a gorgeous minimalist portrait of a woman crushed by indecision. At first it seems that 34-year-old graphic designer Shahrzad goes about her daily life—working, driving, listening to phone messages—with placid ease, but her surface stillness masks a maelstrom of weighty decisions she desperately wishes to avoid making. Shahrzad is contemplating leaving her boyfriend, with whom she is raising a disabled son. At the same time, her father is very ill. Although boyfriend, son and father loom large in Shahrzad’s psyche, these characters appear infrequently. Instead, the film's focus is firmly on Shahrzad as she grows distracted at work, watches TV as a deadening means of avoidance, ignores persistent phone messages and repeatedly drives her car to the same lookout point. Her supervisor is unhappy with her latest work, an obnoxious neighbor constantly parks his SUV in her space and she must transfer her son to a new hospital. Despite her best efforts to maintain solitude and inertia, she eventually must contend with some tough choices. Karimi’s style shows the influence of Iranian master Abbas Kiarostami, with whom she has worked. Like her previous feature One Night, A Few Days Later. . . tells a gripping story of personal choice amid a vividly depicted social and cultural milieu.
—Laurie Koh
U.S. Premiere.
Posted by chek at 05:49 PM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2007
Cherry Blossom Festival, SF, Apr
http://www.iranian.com/Shahrokhi/2007/May/Spring/index.html
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
2007: Apr 14-15, 21-22
Posted by chek at 11:23 PM | Comments (0)
February 02, 2007
Elephant Seal Mating, Ano Nuevo
http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/nationalparksca/a/anonuevo.htm
* Ano Nuevo is located on California Highway 1, 20 miles north of Santa Cruz and 27 miles south of Half Moon Bay, about 1.5-hour drive south of San Francisco.
* The only way to see the seals during breeding season is on a guided tour.
* Tours are given daily from December through March, but January and February are the best times to go if you want to see a lot of action.
* Spaces on the tour are by reservation only, and there is a modest fee. There is also a parking fee at the park. Reservations can be made online through Ano Nuevo SR or by calling (800) 444-4445 or (916) 638-5883.
* No food or beverages (except for bottled water) are allowed on the tour, and no refreshments are available at the park, so eat before you go or take a picnic with you.
* Pets are not allowed in the park and umbrellas are not allowed on the walk.
* The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and the walk is about 3 miles long.
* The walk is moderately strenuous, and the path to the viewing area is not suitable for those with mobility impairments. However, the park can accommodate people with special needs on a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk with advance special reservations.
Posted by chek at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)
January 02, 2007
Googoosh Concert
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C003D8EBB77560A?artistid=761750&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=5
Googoosh will have a concert in Cupertino on Jan 20th. (Tickets)
Posted by rangin at 08:19 PM | Comments (0)
"AIDS in Iran" by Dr. Alaei
http://www.chekonim.com
Please join us to learn about the history of HIV/AIDS
and drug addiction in Iran…
“Global Health in the Middle East & Central Asia:
How we can help HIV+ patients in Iran”
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Kamiar Alaei, MD, MPH
Executive Director of Pars Institute, Iran
Harvard School of Public Health, USA
Thursday, January 4th, 2007
7-9 pm
UCSF Parnassus Campus
Medical Sciences Bldg, Room S-214
(appetizers/refreshments provided)
About our speaker…Dr. K. Alaei is the co-author of “Iran’s National and International Strategic Plans for the Control of HIV/IDU/TB”. He was a key player in putting Iran’s proposal to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS/TB/Malaria, which was awarded 16 million dollars. He and his brother have established the first counseling and care center for HIV-positive patients in Iran, which recently was documented as one of the “Best Practice[s]” by the World Health Organization in the Middle East and North Africa region. He has currently been named by Asia Society as one of the 21st century young leaders in Asia." www.ghinmeca.com
Sponsored by UCSF’s Iranian Cultural Organization, UC Hastings’ Iranian Law Students Association, and Stanford’s Persian Student Association. Funding provided by ASUCSF.
Posted by rangin at 07:56 PM | Comments (0)
October 14, 2006
Burning Man 2006 Album
http://www.chekonim.com/zpic00.htm
100 Pictures
Black Rock City
Click on image below or > for next one.
Posted by chek at 07:12 PM | Comments (0)
September 21, 2006
Balloon Fair, Montague, CA
http://clubs.district5110.org/shastavalley/balloonfair/
Montague Balloon Fair
2006: Sep 22 - 24
"The Dawn Express" takes riders to Montague to witness 35 to 40 hot air baloons taking off at dawn as part of the annual Montague Rotary Balloon Fair. If the winds cooperate, which they have each year so far, the balloons will fly out to the train and decend for great viewing and pictures.
The Dawn Express leaves the Yreka Depot at 6:00AM, September 23, 2006. The roundtrip is about 3.5 hours.
Map of Montague, and Launch Site
Directions to Montague
Posted by chek at 03:40 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2006
California Windsurfing
http://www.californiawindsurfing.com/
2 day class
3 hours/day
$110
Posted by chek at 02:06 PM | Comments (0)
August 16, 2006
Miss Teen USA
http://www.missteenusa.com/
2006: Aug 15, Palm Springs, CA (Photo Store)
Posted by chek at 01:44 PM | Comments (0)
June 01, 2006
SF Marathon
http://www.runsfm.com/
San Francisco Marathon
Run the Golden Gate Bridge (Course Map)
Race Date: July 30, 2006
Full Marathon (26.2 miles)(you have 6 hours to complete)
Half Marathon - choose your half (13.1 miles)(you have 3 hours to complete)
-Half Marathon Runners Receive -
An official tech Runner's Shirt, a finisher's medal, a RunSFM Finisher's Certificate, and a RunSFM course map.
Marathon Training Program:
Mileage Build-Up
Building a Base
Without question, the most important area one should focus upon prior to beginning marathon training is to safely build a mileage base. I believe that one should be running four to five days a week with minimum mileage totals of 25 miles per week before considering training for a marathon. From that point, long run and weekly mileage can be added in small increments.
The Ten Percent Rule
Do not increase either your (1) weekly mileage and/or (2) long run mileage by more than 10 percent a week. Doing so greatly increases the chances of incurring an injury, thereby delaying or stopping your training all together. Refer to How to Avoid Injury section for additional information.
Where to Start
Please refer to the Mileage Buildup Schedule (Schedule I) below to find the level of training that most closely matches your present training routine/volume. Start training at that point and follow the schedule. When you have reached the end of Schedule I, you have now developed a base from where you may now consider training for a marathon. Since the Marathon Training Schedule (Schedule II) is a 17-week program, continue to train at the concluding levels of Schedule I until the marathon you wish to run is four months away.
For marathons even further down the road, the best approach in filling the time gap between schedules is to put your training in a "holding pattern". During this time, once you reach the 10-mile mark of your long run, you can then alternate your long run sequence weekly as follows: 8, 9, 10, and then 6-mile long runs. As a means of facilitating leg rest and recovery, "easy weeks" are recommended every fourth week where both weekly mileage and the distance of the long run is reduced.
Mileage Buildup Schedule (Schedule I)
| Week# | Sun. | Mon. | Tue. | Wed. | Thu. | Fri. | Sat. | Total |
| 1 | 4 | Rest | 3 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 3 | 14 |
| 2 | 4 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 3 | 15 |
| 3 | 5 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 3 | 16 |
| 4 | 3 | Rest | 3 | Rest | 3 | Rest | 3 | 12 |
| 5 | 5 | Rest | 3 | 3 | 3 | Rest | 3 | 17 |
| 6 | 6 | Rest | 3 | 3 | 3 | Rest | 3 | 18 |
| 7 | 6 | Rest | 3 | 4 | 3 | Rest | 4 | 20 |
| 8 | 3 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 3 | Rest | 3 | 13 |
| 9 | 7 | Rest | 3 | 5 | 4 | Rest | 3 | 22 |
| 10 | 7 | Rest | 4 | 5 | 4 | Rest | 4 | 24 |
| 11 | 8 | Rest | 4 | 6 | 4 | Rest | 4 | 26 |
| 12 | 4 | Rest | 3 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 4 | 15 |
| 13 | 8 | Rest | 5 | 6 | 5 | Rest | 4 | 28 |
| 14 | 9 | Rest | 5 | 6 | 6 | Rest | 4 | 30 |
| 15 | 9 | Rest | 5 | 7 | 6 | Rest | 5 | 32 |
| 16 | 5 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 4 | 17 |
| 17 | 10 | Rest | 6 | 8 | 6 | Rest | 4 | 34 |
| 18 | 10 | Rest | 6 | 8 | 7 | Rest | 4 | 35 |
| 19 | 6 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 5 | Rest | 4 | 19 |
Using a training schedule without basic knowledge of training principles and injury prevention strategies, and without the consultation of a coach can indeed be hazardous to your health! Check out my Personal Training page if you might be interested in me designing an individualized training schedule to match your ability level with your goals/needs for an upcoming marathon or shorter distance race.
Marathon Training Schedule (Schedule II)
| Week# | Sun. | Mon. | Tue. | Wed. | Thu. | Fri. | Sat. | Total |
| 1 | 10 | Rest | 6 | 8 | 6 | Rest | 4 | 34 |
| 2 | 12 | Rest | 6 | 8 | 6 | Rest | 4 | 36 |
| 3 | 6 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 4 | 18 |
| 4 | 14 | Rest | 6 | 8 | 6 | Rest | 4 | 38 |
| 5 | 16 | Rest | 6 | 8 | 6 | Rest | 5 | 41 |
| 6 | 18 | Rest | 6 | 8 | 6 | Rest | 5 | 43 |
| 7 | 6 | Rest | 5 | Rest | 5 | Rest | 4 | 20 |
| 8 | 20 | Rest | 5 | 7 | 6 | Rest | 4 | 42 |
| 9 | 14 | Rest | 6 | 8 | 6 | Rest | 4 | 38 |
| 10 | 7 | Rest | 5 | Rest | 6 | Rest | 4 | 22 |
| 11 | 21 | Rest | 5 | 7 | 6 | Rest | 4 | 43 |
| 12 | 14 | Rest | 6 | 8 | 6 | Rest | 4 | 38 |
| 13 | 8 | Rest | 6 | Rest | 6 | Rest | 4 | 24 |
| 14 | 22-23 | Rest | 5 | 7 | 6 | Rest | 5 | 45-46 |
| 15 | 12 | Rest | 6 | 8 | 6 | Rest | 4 | 36 |
| 16 | 14 | Rest | 7 | Rest | 5 | Rest | 4 | 30 |
| 17 | 10 | Rest | 6 | Rest | 4 | Rest | 1-2 Opt. | 20-22 |
| 18 | 26.2 | Rest | Rest | Rest | Rest | Rest | Rest | Marathon Week |
Posted by chek at 04:28 PM | Comments (0)
May 26, 2006
Carnaval, SF, May
http://www.carnavalsf.com/
Carnaval San Francisco 2007 Festival
goers can expect some musical surprises on the seven live stages rocking Harrison Street on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27.
See also: Carnival in Brazil
Carnavals Around the World
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
May 16, 2006
Titanic in SF, Jun 10 - Jan 31
http://www.rmstitanic.net/
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
Jun 10th 2006 - Jan 31st 2007
Metreon
101 Fourth St., San Francisco
Tickets: $14.95 to $19.95
One of the most impressive — and massive — objects on display will be a 17-by-26-foot, 30,000-pound hunk of the ship's port side from C-deck, a middle deck housing first-class passengers.
Millions of people have flocked to the exhibition in some 20 countries in the past 12 years.
On its storied maiden voyage, the reputedly unsinkable Royal Mail Steamer Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the early morning of April 15, 1912, killing 1,522 of its 2,227 passengers.
InsideBayArea article.
Posted by chek at 01:46 PM | Comments (0)
May 05, 2006
Mother's Day
http://www.holidays.net/mother/index.htm
Being a Mom
We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family."
"We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?" "It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.
"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."
But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.
I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable. I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?"
That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.
I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub.
That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a souffle or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.
I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she would be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.
I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma.
That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.
However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.
That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.
I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, and not in the way, she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she would fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic. I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.
I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.
My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.
May you always have in your arms the one who is in your heart.
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
April 06, 2006
Iranian New Year in SF
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/news_in_brief/narooz_060331.shtml
Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi host 1st annual Iranian New Year, Nowruz, celebration
March 31, 2006
San Francisco, CA - Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi hosted 500 guests from across the Bay Area for the 1st Annual Nowruz Celebration in the City and County of San Francisco.
Posted by chek at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2006
13 Bedar, Vesona, Apr 1-2
http://www.norouzfestival.org/schedule.html
2006
Vesona Park, Los Gatos
April 1 and 2 (Sat and Sun)
Sorna and Daf, Ey Iran, Beshkan and Niosha Dance Academies, Tara, Rushid, Jamal Vafaie, Perisan Idol, Shahram Shabpareh, Behrooz Vosooghi, and more ...
Posted by chek at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)
March 06, 2006
Tiburon Film Festival, Mar
http://www.tiburonfilmfestival.com/festival.php
Tiburon International Film Festival
1680 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon CA 94920 USA
Telephone: 1(415) 381-4123
Fax: 1(415) 388-4123
E-Mail: info@tiburonfilmfestival.com
Web: www.tiburonfilmfestival.com
2006
Tiburon international film festival is starting next week, and they are showing lots of interesting (and not necessarily good!) Iranian movies.
Some of you asked me before about these movies. I tried to be brief, and didn't include the information you can find on the web site, but I included the URL for each film.
* There is a tribute to Shirin Neshat. As you may know, she is one of the most famous and hip artists in New York. She's very famous for her photographs, but she's also a film maker. Almost all of her art works are
about women, and religion. You've probably seen some of her photos. Her videos are more experimental than conventional. She will be there in person, don't miss seeing her. For all Iranians, Behrooz Vosoughi is going to be there too! :)
They will show 4 of her videos: Zarin, The Last Word, Making of Mahdokht, and Tooba.
Show Time: Monday, March 13 @ 7:30 PM
* Also, there's another film called 9/11/03: A Day in the Life of New York, which is a documentary about the lives of few New Yorkers including Shirin Neshat and Salman Rushdie.
ShowTime: Sunday, March 12, 2006 @ 05:30 PM
* There's a documentary by my brother Bahman about a small group of nomadic gypsies in North of Iran that people call "Infidels". If you're a documentary kind of person, don't miss the opportunity to see this movie!
Show Time: Thursday, March 16 @ 09:25 PM
(He's not only a great documentary maker, but also a very handsome guy! Check his picture at
http://www.tiburonfilmfestival.com/contactInfo.php?contact_id=3210,
but ladies, don't ask me to introduce you to him... :))
* Mania Akbari first time appeared as the leading actress in "10" (and was great!), but immediately after that she made her first movie "20 fingers" which got a lot of attention. She's a very strong and opinionated woman, and she's not afraid of showing it in her videos. She has 6 short videos in the festival called "6 Video Arts" talking about "Self", "Repression", "Sin", "Escape", "Fear", and "Devastation".
Show Time: Tuesday, March 14 @ 3:15 pm
* "Murderer or Murdered" and "Prostitution Behind the Veil" are two documentaries about women who are sentenced to death, and about prostitutes. Get a more real image about women in Iran!
Show Time: Saturday, March 11 @ 3:25 pm
* I don't know anything about "The Slap", but I know the director "Ehsan Amani" who is a smart, intelligent and very funny guy, so I'm not surprised that the festival's catalogue says "Clever, witty, and extraordinary funny" about his movie.
Show Time: Sunday, March 12 @ 3:15 pm
* Group projects are usually not interesting, but I'm usually interested to see them! There's a movie in the festival called "Visions of Europe" by 25 European filmmakers (maybe the brightest, including Aki Kaurismaki and Peter Greenaway) that I'm going to see.
Show Time: Tuesday, March 14 @ 09:15 PM
Ahmad Kiarostami
Posted by chek at 11:44 PM | Comments (0)
March 05, 2006
Oscars - Academy Awards
http://www.oscars.org/index.html
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Sunday, February 25, 2007 (5pm PT, 8pm ET)
79th Annual Academy Awards Presentation
from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland
Televised live by the ABC Television Network
Host: Ellen DeGeneres
Tuesday, January 23, 2007:
Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PST, Samuel Goldwyn Theater
- Best motion picture
Babel
The Departed
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen
- Best animated short film
The Danish Poet
Lifted
The Little Matchgirl
Maestro
No Time for Nuts
- Performance by an actor in a leading role
Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson
Peter O’Toole in Venus
Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland
- Performance by an actress in a leading role
Penélope Cruz in Volver
Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren in The Queen
Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet in Little Children
- Best animated feature film
Cars
Happy Feet
Monster House
- Best documentary feature
Deliver Us from Evil
An Inconvenient Truth
Iraq in Fragments
Jesus Camp
My Country, My Country
- Best foreign language film of the year
After the Wedding, Denmark
Days of Glory (Indigènes), Algeria
The Lives of Others, Germany
Pan’s Labyrinth, Mexico
Water, Canada
- Achievement in visual effects
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Poseidon
Superman Returns
- Adapted screenplay
Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Peter Baynham & Dan Mazer
Children of Men, Alfonso Cuarón & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby
The Departed, William Monahan
Little Children, Todd Field & Tom Perrotta
Notes on a Scandal, Patrick Marber
- Original screenplay
Babel, Guillermo Arriaga
Letters from Iwo Jima, Iris Yamashita
Little Miss Sunshine, Michael Arndt
Pan’s Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro
The Queen, Peter Morgan
Razzie Awards - mock the bottom of Hollywood's barrel.
Previous Years:
Sunday, March 5 , 2006 (5pm PT, 8pm ET)
78th Annual Academy Awards Presentation
from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland
Televised live by the ABC Television Network
Tuesday, January 31, 2006:
Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PST, Samuel Goldwyn Theater
- Best motion picture
* >> Crash <<
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich
- Best animated short film
>> The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation <<
Badgered
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello
9
One Man Band
- Performance by an actor in a leading role
>> Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote <<
Terrence Howard in Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line
David Strathairn in Good Night, and Good Luck.
- Performance by an actress in a leading role
>> Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line <<
Judi Dench in Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman in Transamerica
* Keira Knightley in Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron in North Country
- Best animated feature film
>> Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit <<
Howl’s Moving Castle
* Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
- Best documentary feature
>> March of the Penguins <<
Darwin’s Nightmare
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Murderball
Street Fight
- Best foreign language film of the year
>> Tsotsi, South Africa <<
Don’t Tell, Italy
Joyeux Noël, France
Paradise Now, Palestine
Sophie Scholl - The Final Days, Germany
- Achievement in visual effects
* >> King Kong <<
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
War of the Worlds
- Adapted screenplay
>> Brokeback Mountain, Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana <<
Capote, Dan Futterman
The Constant Gardener, Jeffrey Caine
A History of Violence, Josh Olson
Munich, Tony Kushner and Eric Roth
- Original screenplay
* >> Crash, Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco <<
Good Night, and Good Luck., George Clooney & Grant Heslov
Match Point, Woody Allen
The Squid and the Whale, Noah Baumbach
Syriana, Stephen Gaghan
See Also:
Red Vic Moive House
San Francisco International Film Festival
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
March 01, 2006
Balboa Theater, SF, Feb-Mar
http://www.balboamovies.com/program/mar_apr_2006.html#oscarShortDocs
3630 Balboa St. at 38th Ave
(415) 221-8184
2007
Feb 20, 21
March 2006
Every Feb - Mar, watch Oscar nominated films you won't see elsewhere
Monday, March 6 — Thursday, March 9
Oscar Short Documentary Films
The rarely seen short documentary category hits the big screen.
The Mushroom Club -Steve Okazaki examines the terrible personal toll that followed the bombing of Hiroshima 60 years ago; 10 people whose lives were marked by the explosion are profiled. 35min.
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin -Corinne Marrinan and Eric Simonson explore the lasting impact of radio broadcasting legend Norman Corwin's work focusing on his landmark "On a Note of Triumph," which aired on the evening of VE Day. 40min. (2:55), 5:45, 8:35
The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club -Dan Krauss- After shooting an award-winning photograph that captured the full horror of starvation in the Sudan, South African photojournalist Kevin Carter found himself tormented by doubts about the ethical implication of his work. 27 min
God Sleeps in Rwanda - Kimberlee Acquaro and Stacy Sherman - The genocide that devastated Rwanda in 1994 also left in its wake a population that was suddenly 70% female. Five courageous women struggle to rebuild their lives in a society still reeling from its bloody recent history. 30min. (1:40), 4:30, 7:20
Intermission between each pairing. - One admission price for all 4 films.
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
February 27, 2006
NY Persian Parade
http://www.persianparade.org/
New York, New Year Persian Parade
3rd Persian Parade
New York City
March 20, 2006
See also: Other web site
Posted by chek at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2006
Singing Valentine
http://singingvalentines.com/showentry.asp?ID=2329
Say "I Love You" with a song.
Dazzle your loved one with a serenade by an authentic barbershop quartet! The guys will appear at your designated time and location (home, office, restaurant, etc.) to deliver a love song or two with a rose and your personal message on a Valentine Card.
In many cities around US.
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
February 11, 2006
Mardi Gras, Feb 11-28
http://www.mardigras.com/
New Orleans Beads, Pictures, BourboCAM, uncensored webcam and parades and Mardi Gras Highlights
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
Chinese New Year Parade, SF
http://www.chineseparade.com/parade/about/about.asp
Chinese New Year
Parade and Festival
2007 - Year of the Boar - Lunar Year 4705
March 3, 2007 (Sat 5:30 pm)
2006 - Year of the Dog - Lunar Year 4704
Feb. 11, 2006 (Sat 5:30 pm)
Named one of the top ten Parades in the world by IFEA, the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the few remaining night illuminated Parades in the country. Started in the 1860’s by the Chinese in San Francisco as a means to educate the community about their culture, the Parade and Festival have grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia.
Watch it on TV (6:00-8:00 pm)
KTVU Fox 2 or
KTSF Channel 26
Parade Route Map
Posted by chek at 05:30 PM | Comments (0)
February 08, 2006
A Eulogy for King, a Scolding for Bush
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-coretta8feb08,0,6083766.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage
A day of eulogizing Coretta Scott King turned into a rare, in-person rebuke of President Bush, with a succession of civil rights and political leaders assailing White House policies as evidence that the dream of social and racial equality pursued by King and her slain husband was far from reality.
Posted by KP at 07:29 AM | Comments (0)
February 03, 2006
Axis of Evil, Comedy
http://www.axisofevilcomedy.com/
Axis of Evil Comedy Tour
Maz Jobrani, Ahmed Ahmed, Aron Kader
2006 Shows:
$25 General Admission. Includes afterparty.
$5 discount with valid student i.d.
Tel: 408-241-0777
Sunday, February 12, 7:30pm
Santa Clara, CA
Avalon Nightclub
777 Lawrence Expressway
Other cities:
Thursday, February 9, 8pm
San Francisco, CA
The Palace of Fine Arts
3301 Lyon Street
FREE PARKING
Saturday, February 25, 8pm
Detroit, MI
Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
15801 Michigan Ave.
Dearborn, MI 48126
Posted by chek at 02:44 PM | Comments (0)
February 01, 2006
Sundance Festival
http://festival.sundance.org/
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
Jan 18-28, 2007
Park City, Utah
Previous Years:
Jan 19-29, 2006
Watch Short Films
Posted by chek at 04:55 PM | Comments (0)
January 31, 2006
State of the Union
http://www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/
2007: Tue, Jan 23rd, 6:00 pm PT
BBC Analysis
2006: Tue, Jan 31st, 6:00 pm PT
BBC Analysis
Bush prepares for keynote address
US President George W Bush is preparing for his fifth annual State of the Union address, at the start of a critical election year for the Republican party.
In the speech, to a joint session of Congress, Mr Bush will focus on Iraq, efforts to restrain Iran's nuclear programme, and Hamas' election victory.
He will make health care reform central to his domestic policy agenda.
With Mr Bush's approval ratings hovering around 41%, aides suggested that he would not announce any radical reform packages.
Posted by chek at 06:00 PM | Comments (0)
Pacific Orchid Expo, Feb 15-18, SF
http://www.fortmason.org/features/2006/02/feature04.shtml
55th Pacific Orchid Exposition, Feb 15-18, 2007
54th Pacific Orchid Exposition (Photo Album)
More than 50 orchid nurseries from all over the planet transform Fort Mason Center's Festival Pavilion into an indoor jungle with close to 150,000 plants in every hue, shape, and size. The expo also offers tours and educational demonstrations on the latest trends in orchid cultivation. Orchids grow in many world regions, from tropical lands to mountainous areas and award-winners from every climate are on display at the expo.
Feb 16-19, 2006
Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion (Map)
San Francisco
Cost:
General Admission: $12.00
Seniors (65+), Disabled: $8.00
Children 12 and under free
Tel: (415) 665-2468
www.orchidsanfrancisco.org
Posted by chek at 02:46 PM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2006
Rose Parade, Pasadena
http://www.tournamentofroses.com/roseparade/index.asp
2007: The 118th Rose parade themed Our Good Nature, will take place on Monday, January 1, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. (PST) featuring spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, majestic floral floats, and high-stepping equestrian units.
TV: Will be broadcast on ABC, NBC, Univision,
HGTV, Travel Channel, Discovery HD as well as KWHY
and KTLA in the Los Angeles area.
Previous Years:
2006: The 117th Rose parade themed It's Magical, will take place on Monday, January 2, 2006 at 8:00 a.m. (PST).
Never on Sunday
In 1893, officials decided to move the parade to Monday, January 2 to avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches and thus interfering with worship services. As a result of this reverent gesture, speculation abounds as to the rare instances of rainfall on New Year’s Day (only nine times in Rose Parade history), prompting some to ask the Tournament about its special pact with a “friend upstairs.” The upcoming Rose Parade is on Monday, January 2, 2006 in observance of the Never on Sunday tradition.
Posted by Chekonim at 10:03 AM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2005
Shahram Nazeri, Bay Area, Dec 10
http://www.flintcenter.com/cal/dec05.html
Flint Center for the Performing Arts.
In the Path of Rumi - Shahram Nazeri & Hafez Nazeri
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, CA 95014
Tel: (408) 864-8820
Fax: (408) 864-8918
Posted by KP at 12:45 PM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2005
Snow Show
http://www.bayareasnowshow.com/
FREE Lake Tahoe area lift ticket with each adult admission!
BAY AREA SKI AND SNOWBOARD SHOW
2006: Nov 10 - 12
2005: Nov 11 - 13
SACRAMENTO SKI AND SNOWBOARD SHOW
2006: Nov 4 - 5
2005: Nov 19 - 20
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
October 10, 2005
World Champ Pumpkin Weigh-Off, Oct 10
http://www.miramarevents.com/weighoff/facts.html
The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Heavyweight Championship of Gargantuan Gourds
I.D.E.S. Grounds, 735 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, California
2006: Monday, October 9 – 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
2005: Monday, October 10 – 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
2005:
Joel Holland, of Puyallup WA, took top honors in 2004 with his record-setting 1,229-pound Atlantic Giant.
2005 Pumpkin Festivals & Weighoffs around US
Posted by chek at 11:55 AM | Comments (0)
October 09, 2005
Blue Angels Air Show, SF
http://fleetweek.us/fleetweek
The Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's precision flying team, will be back in the Bay Area for Fleet Week next October after skipping this year's annual air and water show.
2006: Oct 7-8
2005: Oct 8-9
Event Schedule and Locations
San Francisco Aquatic Park
Marina Green at Marina Blvd and Laguna St
Posted by chek at 12:56 PM | Comments (0)
October 04, 2005
Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, NM
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/
International Balloon Fiesta
2006: Oct 6 - 15
2005: Sep 30 - Oct 9
Map of
San Diego Ave Ne At San Mateo Blvd Ne
Albuquerque, NM 87113
See Also: International Balloon Calendar
Posted by Chekonim at 05:07 PM | Comments (0)
ICER AIR
http://www.icerair.com/events/bigAir/index.html
ICER AIR 2005
The notoriously steep streets of San Francisco will become the site for the first of its kind urban big-air competition. 10 top snowboarders and 10 top skiers will compete in the 1 day event for over $100,000 in cash and prizes.
If you are in the San Francisco area, come check out the competition. The event is free, and there will be lots of entertainment, raffles, and free stuff from our sponsors.
Salim Madjd Photos
Watch it on TV.
EVENT INFORMATION
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Location: Fillmore Street at Vallejo
Entrance: Please enter from Webster Street onto Vallejo Street
Time: Noon - 4pm
Posted by chek at 10:46 AM | Comments (0)
October 02, 2005
Bridge to Bridge, SF
http://www.bridgetobridge.com/
Bridge to Bridge Run: San Francisco, California
2006: Oct 1
2005: Oct 2
12K Run (is NOT a walk)
7K Run and Walk
(12K is about 7.2 miles)
9 AM Start - Ferry Building, San Francisco
12K Sanctioned Race; 7K Run and 7K walk on a course described by USA Today as one of the ten best in the nation. In its very first year, 1977, Sports Illustrated called it "America's Most Beautiful."
The Course is a sightseeing tour of San Francisco, taking participants from the start line in front of San Francisco's historic Ferry Building, on the Embarcadero past Coit Tower, past Pier 39 and through Fisherman's Wharf, the Great Meadow at Fort Mason, along Marina Boulevard past the St. Francis Yacht Club and Palace of Fine Arts into the Presidio National Park. The 12K runners go along the Golden Gate Promenade through the new Crissy Field Wetlands to Fort Point at the Golden Gate Bridge and back to meet the 7K participants at the Presidio Parade Grounds.
Fee
$25.00 through September 19
$30.00 through race morning
(Kids under 16 are $20.00 at all times)
Park FREE at Embarcadero Center
Your registration includes the event shirt, free parking at Embarcadero Center, free shuttle service after the run from the Presidio finish area to Embarcadero Center, free concert, free food and drink and an event bag with product and coupons.
See Also
152-mile Spartathlon race
India's marathon boy, aged 3
Posted by chek at 01:10 PM | Comments (0)
September 30, 2005
International Airshow, Salinas, CA
http://www.salinasairshow.com/
California International Airshow
Salinas - 25th Anniversary (2005)
2006: Sep 30 - Oct 1
2005: Sep 30 - Oct 2
Featuring
The USAF Thunderbirds
Robosaurus
The Incredible Wall of Fire
and more!
Salinas is 20 minutes East of the Monterey Bay
Map of Salinas, CA
Posted by Chekonim at 04:47 PM | Comments (0)
September 11, 2005
Opera in the Park, SF, Sep
http://sfopera.com/eventdetails.asp?id=621
Bring the whole family for a free afternoon of music and celebration. Opera in the Park features "Opera's Greatest Hits," performed by the stars of the San Francisco Opera and the Opera Orchestra. This easy introduction to opera for the novice is also a pleasure for the experienced opera buff.
9/10/2006 1:30 PM
Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park
free
Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, lie back and enjoy one of San Francisco Opera's most popular traditions.
Tel: (415) 864-3330
9/11/2005 1:30 PM
Posted by chek at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)
September 01, 2005
Emmy Awards
http://www.emmys.org/
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Posted by chek at 02:28 PM | Comments (0)
August 29, 2005
Burning Man
http://www.burningman.com/
Labor Day Weekend
2006: Aug 28 - sept 4 (100 Photos)
2005: Aug 29 - sept 5
Decompression Party
2006: Sep 8
See Also: Cacophony Society in Covina, CA
Don't Forget:
. Ticket, Bicycle, Body Lights, Flask, Masks, Mister, Car Charger, Generator, Air Pump
. Washing Water and Drinking Bottled Water
. Individually Bottled Orange Juice and Milk
. Cans: Tuna, Fruit
. Power Bar, Energy Bar, Cereal
. Banana, Water Melon, Fruit
. GPS, Phone, Camera, Camcorder, Battery, Charger, Film, Memory, Tape, Tripod
. Hat, Sun Block, Sun Glasses
. Tent, Sleeping Bags
. Flash Light, Battery
. Plates, Cups, Utensils, Zip Locks
RV Rental:
How old? Millage? Insurance?
Cruise America: 800-671-8042
KW RV: 916-726-1222, 916-969-5744
California RV: 916-991-3058
Happy Daze: 916-920-8255
Adventure America: 800-915-1009
Fly
. Soghaati. Wet Suit, Swim Suit, Towel
. Suit, Tie, Shirt, Shoes, Socks, Belt
. Passport, Ticket, Cash, Frequent Flyer Card, Medication
Ski
. Hat, Headband, Sun Block, Sun Glasses, ChapStick
. Gloves, Socks, Coat, Pants, Stretch, Night Pants, T-Shirt
. Shirt, Pants, Shoes, Belt, Socks
. Cash, Lift Ticket, Medication
. Bottled Water, Nuts, Orange Juice
. Phone, Camera, Battery, Charger(s), Memory
Posted by Chekonim at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
August 27, 2005
Dragon Boat Festival, SF
http://www.sfdragonboat.com/
San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival
Celebrating 10 Years
Previously known as Northern California International Dragon Boat Championships (NCIDBC), we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary this year with nearly 100 dragon boat teams and 2,500 dragon boat paddlers from across North America racing our 500-meter course.
In addition to the exciting dragon boat racing, the Festival features many fun cultural activities - an entertainment stage with live dance and music performances, Dragon Land, a children's activity tent, and a variety of food, arts & crafts, and other vendors.
Free Admission and Free Parking
Sep 23 & 24, 2006
Aug 27 & 28, 2005
Treasure Island, San Francisco
Festival :
Sat & Sun 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Dragon Boat Racing :
Sat 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM &
Sun 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Posted by chek at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
August 15, 2005
Segway - Monterey
http://www.segwaybythesea.com/
Segway By The Sea - Authorized Segway Retail and Rentals!
Rent a Segway HT for as little as one hour, or for an entire day, and tour Monterey Bay in total comfort, at 8 miles per hour. Each rental comes with 20 minutes of training and instruction.
685 Cannery Row - St. 240
Monterey, CA 93940
Tel: (831) 238-7044
Posted by chek at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2005
ARTSopolis
http://www.enewsbuilder.net/artsopolis1/index000087134.cfm
Artsopolis Weekly eSavers
Silicon Valley's Ultimate Guide to Arts & Culture.
Highlights of Silicon Valley's diverse Arts and Cultural scene.
Half-price ticket offers for the coming week.
Posted by chek at 02:54 PM | Comments (0)
July 30, 2005
Kite Festival, Berkeley
http://www.highlinekites.com/Berkeley_Kite_Festival/
The Berkeley Kite Festival
and West Coast Kite Championships
The event is FREE !
Last weekend in July
(July 29th & 30th, 2006)
Sat & Sun (11:00 am to 5:00 pm)
![[ Yahoo! Maps ]](http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/mp/gr/mplogo.gif){kind=small}
Spinnaker Way at Marina Blvd
Berkeley, CA 94710
Posted by chek at 11:54 AM | Comments (0)
Lotfi in Concert
http://www.juliamorgan.org/#upcoming
Saturday, July 30, 8:00 PM
Seven Valleys
Persian Classical Music
Seven Valleys presents master persian classical musician Mohammad Reza Lotfi on tar and setar, accompanied by his talented son Omid Lotfi on setar and Mehrdad Arabic on tonbank and daf. They take you to the world of the unseen. Poet Robert Bly has said, "My first response upon hearing Lotfi's music is astonishment. As he plays he opens a path and finally a road to that place inside us of enormous assurance, such assurance paradoxically often brings tears to the eyes."
Tickets: Adults $40, Children 5-12/Students w/ID $30, Seniors over 65 $35
CBON Ticket Line
Tel: (925) 798-1300
Posted by chek at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)
July 29, 2005
Grand Prix, San Jose, July
http://www.sanjosegrandprix.com/main.html
2006: July 28, 29, 30
Grand Prix of San Jose is one of California's largest and most anticipated sporting events.
The San Jose Grand Prix will be so much more than a race. It’s a week-long festival both on and off the track. Activities include Speedfest, Pit Stop Park and Festival Areas with interactive games, live music, driver autograph sessions and more. Off-track events include a golf tournament, a drivers’ VIP party, the CXO Go Kart race and the Canary Foundation gala fundraiser.
2005: July 29, 30, 31
2005 was the inaugural Champ Car event roaring through the streets of San Jose.
Tel: (408) 277-9470
Posted by chek at 04:08 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2005
Rafting on American river, Apr - Oct
http://www.river-rat.com/raft_rentals.htm
River Rat Raft Rental on the American River
Class level 1 Basic (Easy and Fun)
One day trip in Sacramento
2 1/2 hours North from San Jose
On a typical day, rafting the Lower American River, you are on the water for approximately 5 hours. It is best to start early, we open at 9:00am weekends and 10:00am weekdays.
Shuttle service is your ride back to River Rat.
Bring:
Swim suits, river shoes (Teva's), beach towels, a change of clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats
Water guns and buckets, goggles, and water proof camera
Drinking water, plastic ice chest (bunji cords to tie the cooler inside the boat), lunch, and soft drinks in plastic or cans (Absolutely no glass bottles)
Contact:
Tel: (916) 966-6777
(800) 500-RAFT
Open 7 days a week (April - October)
Map of
9840 Fair Oaks Blvd Ste B
Fair Oaks, CA 95628-7068
See Also:
Bike Rental
Class II to IV rapids
Class IV to V
Posted by chek at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)
Canoe on Russian river, May - Oct
http://www.burkescanoetrips.com/
Burke's Canoe Trips on the Russian River
Located in the heart of the Redwood Country
Just one hour and twenty minutes North of San Francisco
A ten mile self guided canoe trip through the redwoods, past mountains and warm sunny beaches. The canoe trip takes between 3 to 5 hours, depending on how much time you spend swimming and sunbathing.
Return Courtesy Shuttle Service provided
Bring:
Swim suits, river shoes (Teva's), beach towels, a change of clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats
Water guns and buckets, goggles, and water proof camera
Drinking water, plastic ice chest (bunji cords to tie the cooler inside the boat), lunch, and soft drinks in plastic or cans (Absolutely no glass bottles)
Contact:
Tel: (707) 877-1222
Open 7 days a week (May through October)
Map of
8600 River Rd
Forestville, CA 95436-9681
Picutres
Russian River
Posted by chek at 11:28 AM | Comments (0)
June 25, 2005
Pride Parade, SF, June
http://www.sfpride.org/
San Francisco Pride
2007: June 23 - 24
2006:
June 24th, Sat. Pride Celebration - Noon until 6 pm
June 25th, Sun. Pride Parade - 10:30 am, Celebration until 7 pm
Posted by chek at 10:30 AM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2005
Kayaks - Monterey Bay
http://www.montereybaykayaks.com/
Monterey Bay Kayaks, with two locations, offers a wide selection of guided tours, equipment rentals, kayaking classes and group events, as well as carrying a full line of retail products including kayaks and accessories, outdoor clothing and footwear.
For about $30 per person you can rent a single, double or triple Kayak for a whole day. (prices)
Monterey (The Harbor, Kelp Forest, and Cannery Row)
Set within the nation's largest marine sanctuary, you Paddle through the sheltered waters of the harbor or explore the expansive, vibrant kelp beds along Cannery Row. World class wildlife viewing, includes coastal bird species, sea lions, harbor seals, and sea otters. Lucky paddlers may spot playful dolphins, or even glimpse gray whales during their winter migration through Monterey Bay.
Monterey Paddling Area Map
Moss Landing & Elkhorn Slough (one of the largest coastal wetlands in California)
Moss Landing is a quaint, historic fishing village, located at the mouth of Elkhorn Slough. This charming, eclectic seaport is the gateway to the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve an important habitat for sea otters, harbor seals, and over 250 resident and migratory bird species.
Moss Landing Paddling Area Map
Contact
Monterey Location
693 Del Monte Avenue
(800) 649-5357
Info@MontereyBayKayaks.com
9am - 6pm Sunday - Thursday
9am - 8pm Friday and Saturday
Moss Landing Location
2390 Highway One
(800) 649-5357
Info@MontereyBayKayaks.com
9am - 6pm Daily
Posted by chek at 11:19 AM | Comments (0)
June 06, 2005
Italian Street Painting - Jun
http://www.youthinarts.org/pages/italian.htm
Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival
A celebration of art, music and cuisine!
Just 25 minutes north of San Francisco at the historic Mission San Rafael Arcangel, hundreds of Madonnari (street painters) transform the streets of San Rafael into a color-splashed gallery for 60,000 visitors each year. Using chalk as the medium and asphalt as the canvas, artists create over 200 images in various styles and sizes. This feast for the eyes is complimented by entertainment on 2 stages and a wide variety of Italian fare.
Youth in Arts showcases some of the world’s most talented Madonnari in this captivating and unique performance art. Imported from Italy, the tradition of street painting has discovered its place in the United States and the Youth in Arts festival is renowned as one of the finest street painting festivals in the world.
When:
2007 - Saturday & Sunday, June 9 & 10, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
2006 - Saturday & Sunday, June 10 & 11, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
2005 - Saturday & Sunday, June 11 & 12, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Where:
Fifth Avenue & A Street
in downtown San Rafael, California
Admission is free.
For information contact Festival Director,
Sue Carlomagno, 415.457.4878 x15
scarlomagno@youthinarts.org
Other links:
Julian Beever, 3D Illusions
Posted by chek at 06:49 PM | Comments (0)
May 31, 2005
Relay For Life, June 25-26
http://www.acsevents.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=94682&u=94682-81432965&e=305702915
Hello, my name is Sunoz Soroosh, but a lot of people call me Sunny. I am 18 years old and I will be attending UC Berkeley next year. I am a Persian and Arabic dancer with Niosha Dance Academy.
Once again this year, I am participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Tri-Cities on June 25-26, 2005 with Team Niosha Dance Academy. This is an overnight walkathon event, where each team tries to keep at least one member walking around the track for 24 hours. We also perform at this event, along with many other musicians and dancers. At the Relay for Life, there is a Luminaria ceremony, to honor loved ones lost to cancer, and a Survivor's lap to honor those who have won the battle against it. Each year, my fellow dancers and I participate in this event and raise money for cancer awareness and research, and since our dance teacher, Niosha Nafei, is a cancer survivor, this event is extremely important to us. But personally, I participate in this event in honor of my grandparents, Jamshid and Behbood Soroosh, because I lost them both to cancer. I am committed to raising money for the fight against cancer, and last year I raised 300 dollars, which was the most money out of anybody in my dance class.
This year, I have raised my goal to 400 dollars, and I hope that you can help me out by donating to this cause. You can donate online by going to my American Cancer Society webpage.
Any amount of money is appreciated, and will go to help win the fight against cancer. All donations are tax deductible and please do not hesitate to email me with any questions.
Thank you for your time,
Sunoz "Sunny" Soroosh
Dancer, Niosha Dance Academy
Donate:
Follow this link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Relay for Life of Tri-City.
State fundraising notices and the American Cancer Society's Privacy Policy.
Posted by Chekonim at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2005
Cherry Picking
http://www.harvest4you.com/products4.htm
Come visit us in Brentwood's bountiful agricultural region to celebrate Harvest Time!
Farm-fresh is just naturally more delicious, nutritious, and economical too! Whether you prefer picked produce, or enjoy picking your own, we have fruits, vegetables, and nuts waiting for you. We also have pies, juices, gift baskets, gourmet treats, Alpaca clothing and nursery stock.
Directions:
Brentwood is less than 60 mile away from San Francisco, or San Jose.
From 680 take the I-580 EAST exit toward STOCKTON, go 11.0 miles,
then take the VASCO ROAD exit onto VASCO ROAD NORTH and go 17.1 miles.
Brochure:
You may download a Harvest Time Brochure or obtain one by mailing a #10 self addressed and stamped envelope to
Harvest Time
PO Box 810
Brentwood, CA 94513
List of Growers:
Pomeroy Farms
Lopez Ranch (925) 634-4433
Salvador's Cherry Farm (925) 634-1957
Peterwolfe.com (925) 634-1308
For more growers or a harvest calendar visit
www.harvest4you.com
Posted by Chekonim at 12:50 PM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2005
Kart Racing - Lemans
http://www.lemanskarting.com/
LeMans Karting Center, Indoor Kart Racing
Fun for the Whole Family
Supremely engineered by pros in the U.K. with a celebrated track record in motor sports, the technically advanced kart delivers an unbeatable combination of speed and handling for drivers of all levels.
LeMans Karting
45957 Hotchkiss Street
Fremont, CA 94539
Phone: (510) 770-9001
eMail: contact@lemanskarting.com
Sun: 12 - 10pm
Mon: 6 - 10pm
Tue - Wed: 12 - 2:30pm; 5pm - 10pm
Thr - Sat: 12 - 11pm
Posted by chek at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2005
Lake Berryessa Marine Resort
http://www.lakeberryessa.com/
We have it all and water too!
Adjacent to Northern California’s famous Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa Marina Resort is a magnificent setting for your next vacation!
Lake Berryessa offers a multitude of activities. From tubing and wake boarding, to fishing and jet skiing, there is something for everyone at Lake Berryessa Marina Resort. Barbecue the catch of the day on one of our grills.
5800 Knoxville Rd, Napa, CA 94558
Resort (707) 966-2161
Boat Rentals (707) 966-4204
Posted by chek at 12:08 PM | Comments (0)
May 16, 2005
Bay to Breakers, SF, May
http://www.baytobreakers.com/
Third Sunday in May
May 18, 2008
(Hour:Min, place, age grade)
Ramin Sh (1:11, 3894, 47.1%)
Babek H (1:05, 2338, 52.0%)
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May 20, 2007
(Hour:Min, place, age grade)
Ramin Sh (1:09, 3287, 47.6%)
Ramin G (1:14, 4873, 48.8%)
Turaj Sh (1:14, 4913, 44.3%)
Babek H (1:15, 5063, 44.3%)
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May 20, 2007
Your Pictures (online on May 23rd)
Register before March 22nd for a discount fee
Fees:
Adults $39.00, Children $33.00 (Early (thru March 22))
Adults $44.00, Children $39.00 (Standard, after March 23)
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May 21, 2006
(Hour:Min, place, age grade)
Siamak H (1:12, unofficial)
Ramin G (1:13, 2964, 49.1%)
Ramin Sh (1:14, 3162, 44.4%)
Babek H (1:23, 5581, 40.6%)
Babak S (1:30, unofficial)
Gilbert Okari (Kenya), again, at the top of the men's group, finished the race in 34:20 (improving his last year record by 29 seconds).
Tetyana Hladyr (Ukraine), at the top of women's group, finished the race in 39:09.
S.F. Mayor: Gavin Newsom, 59:04
Number of Registered Runners: 40,000
Estimated Total Number of Runners: 62,000
Fees:
Adults $33.00, Children $27.00 (Early (thru March 22))
Adults $38.00, Children $33.00 (Standard, after March 23)
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May 15, 2005
A new women's record was set by Moroccan Abmae Leghzaoui who ran the 7.46-mile from Bay to Breakers in 38 minutes, 22 seconds. (15th place overall).
Gilbert Okari finished the race in 34:49 at the top of the men's group.
Race organizers said there were 40,000 official Bay to Breakers entrants, but they estimated about another 30,000 unregistered runners joined the fray.
San Francisco mayor, Mr. Gavin Newsom finished the race in a little over one hour.
A few friends, along with their time (Hour:Min, place), who participated in the race were: Ramin G (1:12, 3146), Farshad M (1:30, 9084), Nazanin H (2:01, 16049), Shidrokh M (3:17, 25757)
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PS. A German man has completed a 43-day run across Australia (4500 Km) to raise awareness for the victims of the Asian tsunami. Mr Heukemes, who averaged 105 km a day, beat the previous record of 47 days set by a Frenchman, Serge Girard, in 1999.(BBC)
Posted by chek at 05:18 PM | Comments (0)
May 13, 2005
Dance Dimension
http://www.dance-dimension.com/
DJ NP, Kharazam, DJ DR. T, Daudi, DJ Sep
Music Style: Persian, House, Hip Hop, Live Keyboard Remix, European Trance, and International.
Posted by chek at 02:52 PM | Comments (0)
May 12, 2005
Novin Afrouz in San Jose
http://www.iranian.com/Sponsors/2005/May/Afrouz/index.html
IFWC and Payvand present
ROOZ-E-PEDAR
Father's Day Celebration
June 19th, 2005
Visiting world-renowned pianist from Milan, Italy
NOVIN AFROUZ
Le Petit Trianon Theatre
72 North 5th Street
San Jose, CA 95112
Reception 6:30 pm
Program 7:00 pm
Tickets: $30
For more information call (408) 381-4268
Posted by chek at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2005
Carnaval, San Francisco
http://www.carnavalsf.com/
Carnaval San Francisco
California's largest annual multi-cultural celebration and one of the City's most spectacular traditions, Carnaval San Francisco showcases the very best of Latin American and Caribbean cultures with a diverse array of food, music, dance and artistry, including works created by the talented community of Mission District residents and Bay Area artists. This year's celebration brings even more cultural diversity to the party, featuring traditions from Africa, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Guatemala, India, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, the Philippines, Polynesia, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and more.
The Carnaval San Francisco Festival
On Harrison Street, between 16th and 23rd streets
The Carnaval Parade starts 9:30 a.m.
At the corner of 24th and Bryant streets where it will proceed west to Mission Street.
From there, the parade heads north on Mission down to 17th Street, where it will turn east and flow into the festival area.
Posted by chek at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)
Red Vic movie house
http://www.redvicmoviehouse.com/
RED VIC MOVIE HOUSE
In 1980, a group of movie lovers decided to collectively run their own cinema. Hence, the Red Vic Movie House. For almost 10 years, Red Vic's first home was at the corner of Haight and Belvedere Streets. They introduced their now legendary couches to offer patrons a funky, yet comfy, place to watch their favorite films.
In 1991, the Red Vic moved to its present location, on Haight Street between Cole and Shraeder Streets. Unlike the orginal Red Vic location, the new Red Vic offers a larger auditorium equipped with video, 16mm and 35 mm dolby stereo sound projection. But they still have signature couches and organic treats available for your movie watching pleasure.
Every May watch the Academy Award Nominated Shorts
The Red Vic Movie House is located on 1727 Haight Street,
between Cole and Shrader, just a block and a half east from Golden Gate Park.
Red Vic Movie House
1727 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Tel : 415-668-3994
Email: info@redvicmoviehouse.com
Posted by chek at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)
April 01, 2005
Wharf to Wharf - July
http://www.wharftowharf.com/2005.htm
Wharf to Wharf 2005
Length: 6 miles
Mens record: 26:42 min
Womens record: 30:42 min
Registration: April 1st
Race day: July 21
It's the Best Little Road Race in California
Here comes the 33rd annual Wharf to Wharf Race! Are you ready? If you've run this scenic six-mile classic before, you know about the weather, the forty live bands, the throngs of festive spectators and the chance to win the coveted Wharf to Wharf Runner T-shirt, awarded only to race finishers and never sold to anyone, anywhere, at any price ... ever. If you've never run it, now's the time.
So, get off the couch, get in shape, and go for it ... and go for it soon, because Wharf to Wharf is not for everyone. Narrow streets and small town venues limit participation to 15,000 runners on a first-come-first-served basis. Nearly twice that number apply each year. Registration opens April 1st and the field typically sells out in sixty days. There is no raceday registration. If you want to run, you have to sign up early.
If you missed the cut for this year's race and want to make sure you don't get left out next year, send a Self-Addressed-Stamped-Envelope to:
WHARF TO WHARF ... 2006
P.O. BOX 307
CAPITOLA CA 95010
Posted by chek at 10:44 AM | Comments (0)
March 31, 2005
St. Patrick's Festival, Dublin
http://www.dublinstpats.com/
Dublin St. Patrick's Day Festival
Posted by Chekonim at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)