My City By The Bay

 For A review of the Rrazz Room and this concert series visit:

Photo courtesy of www.sonyholland.com and Terry Dudley - All Rights Reserved

Guest Post by Rasa Vitalia

Ethnic Dance Artist, Rasa Vitalia , in collaboration with Open Secret Bookstore is proud to present “A Celebration of Rasa: The Summer Solstice” at Open Secret Bookstore Saturday evening, June 27, 2009, from 6pm-9pm. We are looking for interested Artists, Musicians, Drummers, Performers, Story-Tellers, Massuses, Tarot Readers, Palm Readers, Variety Acts, Caricaturists, Writers, Vocalists, Photographers, Videographers, Dancers, Poets, Magicians, Bakers, comedians, arts and crafts, jugglers, you name it (be creative!) etc.. to volunteer/sell their talents and showcase their ideas revolving around the theme of the Summer Solstice. Themes regarding, life, birth, rebirth, summer, celebration, the seasons, the planets, the earth, the moon, the sun, the nature, Ethnic art/dance/song, healing, shamanism, spirituality, the god/goddess, mysticism, folk, etc., are encouraged.  No pay, but wonderful place and people to showcase your work. 

• Contact: Rasa Vitalia: RasaVitalia@yahoo.com with your any ideas, your website, videos, music, writing, etc. that you may wish to contribute.

• Rehearsals: If you would like to dance with Rasa’s Rhythm Dance Group and have the opportunity to perform in the showcase with the group, please come to class! It will be a fairly easy but athletic circle dance. It’s a follow the leader dance. Having rhythm, stamina, ability to follow Rasa, zaghareet, hoot, hollar, have fun, laugh, and clap would be wonderful. Both men and women welcome. A nice, colorful skirt would work best and nice colored pants for the men.  Please bring your idea of a costume during rehearsal. For the showcase, a black, long sleeve top would work best.  Class/rehearsals Thursdays at Open Secret , 932 C Street, San Rafael, CA 94901. Please arrive at 3:30pm if you would like to participate in the show. You will take class first 3:30-4:30. The last 30 minutes of the class will be rehearsal from 4:30-5pm.  Class is $10. Other rehearsal/class times will be scheduled according to participation interest. (I.e. Thursdays after 9pm, Wednesdays at 4-5pm & Fridays 5-6pm work best.)

• Birthday: P.S. This is also in celebration of my birthday. Your talents would make the BEST gift to me. Thank you!

• Arts Alive: I am so happy to have this opportunity to showcase artists! Please contribute and keep the arts alive! It’s even more important NOW than ever! Healing and Peace to all!

• Tell!  Please forward this to those you think may be interested in performing or being in audience at this event!  An official event announcement will be sent out once details are set. 

• Interested? Please respond to this email and let me know!

• More: And for a little more information about Rasa Vitalia, please visit: http://www.RasaVitalia.com . If you click on the “Dance” link, not only will you learn more about her performance background, but also about the meaning behind Rasa Vitalia.

Living in San Francisco all of my life, I spent many weekends and more recently days at Ghirardelli Square .  Being a chocoholic myself, I grew up savoring those bit size chocolate morsels knows as Flicks which were packaged in a cylinder type cardboard box.  I absolutely loved those.  Now they are packaged in a 16 oz. plastic round gift box full of those chocolate tidbits that I loved.  Much more for me to savor.

They have a vast assortment of chocolate treats packaged and available at Ghirardelli Square to include holiday specials, chocolate bars as seen below, chocolate squares and their ever popular hot chocolate which is something I cannot miss whenever I am there.  It could be 80 degrees outside and if I’m at the square, I have to have my hot chocolate.  It is truly decadent.

Although Ghirardelli has seen major changes within the past few years the one thing that remains untouched or unspoiled is their chocolate.  It is rich, dark, creamy, sometimes decadent and sometimes pure and soft.  Whatever your taste, they have it.  The raspberry chocolate bar which is blatantly displayed, in your face as shown below is one of my favorites.  It is an elegant explosion of flavor with real raspberry sweetness and rich dark chocolate.  Plus, it’s good for you.  While I don’t know the calorie count which I honestly don’t want to know with all I eat, it has both fruit and dark chocolate which are both healthy.  How can you go wrong?

Below this scrumptious raspberry chocolate fantasy we also have the Ghirardelli cookbook which displays some mouthwatering recipes including my hot chocolate dream that are just to die for.  Although I do not bake myself, I have tasted a couple of recipes from this book and well,  let’s just say those recipes are clinging to my hips.

Finally, we have the unsweetened bars which you can use for baking.  And another point I’d like to make is that if you go to Ghirardelli you will be paying a little bit more in price for all of these chocolate delights than if you order here.  How do I know?  I basically have a tab running at the square.  Seriously though as they eloquently advertise “give the gift of timeless pleasure” or something like that.

Photo courtesy of www.sfjazz.com

Kim Nalley , previous owner of Jazz at Pearls in North Beach can sing the blues like no one else I have ever heard.  I’ve seen her perform in night clubs and jazz festivals and I can say she knows how it’s done.

She will be in concert at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco as a part of the 10th anniversary of the San Francisco Jazz Foundation on June 6th.  You can buy tickets here though the premier seats for the concert are already sold out.

She is quite a performer and knows how to get the audience in a frenzy.  Her ivory tickler, Tammy Hall is one of the best in the business.  I sat there in awe of her performance the first time I saw her playing that piano.  There is nothing like Kim Nalley singing “Need My Sugar” an original song and Tammy on those keyboards.

Kim’s show will be a tribute to Nina Simone.

The midweek dinner cruise on San Francisco bay provided by Hornblower Yachts is a definite must do if you are ever in San Francisco.  You sail from Pier 3 which is not far from the San Francisco Oakland Bay bridge and the Ferry Building along the bay to and under the Golden Bate Bridge.

This cruise offers sensational views of The Embarcadero high rises, Coit Tower, the San Francisco skyline, Bank of America and Transamerica pyramid buildings along with the Wharf area, Alcatraz, the Marina Green and distant Sausalito.  The night lights provide an exceptional panoramic view of the city.  Even shrouded in fog, this cruise is not to be missed.

You will dine on gourmet food prepared and served fresh to your table which includes seafood specials, steaks, pastas, organic salads and much more.  Soak your palate with some champagne while listening to jazz standards right out of the Great American songbook.  This is truly a five star dining and cruise experience you will never forget.

For more information please click the widget below.

Courtesy of Stonestown Galleria Shopping Center

Join Aveda for Earth Month 2009 Buy our Light the Way™ Candle with organic lavender – and every penny, pound, euro and yen supports clean water around the world.Offer available while supplies last. Offer code: GGPEM09

Return to Origins Drop off any empty cosmetic jar, bottle or tube - regardless of brand - at any Origins Store and we’ll recycle them or use them for energy recovery.Plus get a FREE sample of one of our most popular Origins products. One per customer.

Green is not a colour; it’s a state of mind. FREE Bag for Life with $30 purchase! Get a free reusable tote bag made from organic cotton with any $30 purchase on Earth Day. While supplies last. Offer not available with gift card purchase. Threshold must be reached pre-tax and post Love Your Body discount. Offer valid only on April 22, 2009, in U.S. retail stores.

	$5 OFF a $20 purchase
One coupon per purchase. Excludes ear piercing, clearance & promotional merchandise, gift cards & prior purchases. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Offer expires April 30, 2009. Coupon Code #18

FREE My Pillow My Pillow is the go-anywhere, pressure-relieving pillow. This $29.95 value is FREE with the purchase of an iNeed™ Lumbar Massage Cushion. Assorted colors. Offer valid now through May 10, 2009. While supplies last.

Regis DESIGNLINE on SaleDESIGNLINE Styling & Finishing Products Buy 1, Get 1 50% OFF. Save up to $6.25. Excludes Cashmere and Pure Results. No double discounts. Higher price prevails. While supplies last. Offer valid through April 30, 2009.

Share the benefits of being a Swarovski Crystal Society (SCS) Member!If you are a SCS Member, bring a friend to our Swarovski retail store if your friend signs up to be an SCS Member, you will receive a stunning tote bag* adorned with crystal leaves. *Offer valid April 1 - 30, 2009. While supplies last.

Fitness, Health & Safety Fair at Aquatic Park
Sunday, April 26

In conjunction with the city of San Francisco’s “Sunday Streets”, the Fitness, Health & Safety Fair will take place in Aquatic Park, just below Ghirardelli Square. Activities for the family include rock climbing, lessons on sustainable foods, how to keep your mind and body whole, and how to plan and protect your families in emergency situations. Stop by Ghirardelli Square to see live music in the Plaza!

Photo courtesy of SFist.com

Another Only In San Francisco moment.  Enjoy!