I'm a Grown Up! How The Heck Did That Happen?

Our past weekend was spent house hunting in Seattle. And even though I squeezed in some culinary adventures at Fremont's El Camino and Madison Valley's Harvest Vine (thanks to our outstanding realtor Ron for the recco!), our time was spent dealing with such fun items as: square footage, upgrades, gas or electric stoves, resale value, mortgage good faith estimates, loan points, origination fees, earnest money, disclosures, days on the market, rate lock-ins, escrow.......good God, I can't go on anymore. Someone get me a margarita and more of those yummy plantains.

We officially crossed some mythical line in the past 2 weeks. The line where age does not necessarily force your crossing, but life circumstances do. We are buying a home. And, just like getting married over a year ago, it's a line people cross every day all over the world, but when it happens to YOU, you feel like you've been granted access to some secret society. A society where you are now cognizant of the fact that there are "things" behind those walls that you don't understand but for which you are legally responsible (shiver).

Many of my friends in the Midwest - where housing is affordable and does not require you to donate organs or first-borns - crossed this threshold long ago. Some of them even before they got married. And to them I say, "Kudos to you for going through this process when you were so young!" It's scary, dammit!

But we embarked on this journey for a reason and we are very glad of it. I just weep a little inside feeling like another part of my carefree child-like outlook is slipping away as the man behind the curtain of adulthood reveals himself once more. God, our parents made things look so easy, didn't they?

Hmmmm.........on second thought, no way! I'm not going out without a fight. Bring me another purple hooter shot and let's watch some college sports!!! And if we get too loud or trash the place, at least the only people who can yell at us is, well, US.

Seattle Bound

Yes, loyal Red Slice readers (my mom, Carrie, Angela, Peter Finch....) it's true. The Red Slice is moving north to Seattle. After 8 wonderfully crazy, happy, nutty years in the Bay Area, I am leaving my heart and taking the rest of me to the Emerald City. My husband and I are very excited by the new adventure and all that it entails - including exploring a whole new variety of restaurants, bars, wineries, and farmers markets.

No one can ever really say they've done everything there is to be done in SF (if you can, you are lying) and the friends who have left before me did so with a few uncrossed items on their "Must Do Before I Leave" list. I'm sure I will as well. But what does my list even look like? Hmmmmm....

• Final meal at Gary Danko
• Drinks at Top of the Mark
• Legion of Honor museum
• Wine at CAV
• Delfina
• Farina (fairly new)
• Last dinner at Ristorante Parma (where we had our first date)
• TBD....any suggestions are appreciated!

I have been so busy lately with my new play, just wrapping a student short film, mortgage/househunting, and work, I really haven't had time to think about this. It seems so "final" like I will never come back again. And that is truly not the case. My job is still based here and more importantly, so are good friends. With a less than 2 hour plane ride, there really is no excuse.

What I like about "the list" is that I can even have one. I'm glad I felt I lived life to the fullest here and STILL did not get to everything I wanted to do. That's a city I can get on board with: one where you never stop making discoveries, never get bored, and constantly feel like you are learning new things.

If that's the case, I have a feeling I'm really going to love Seattle!

If I Exploded Right Now, I'd Die Happy

I just spent the weekend with good friends Carrie and Monty from Indianapolis on their annual mission to eat their way across SF. And eat (and drink) we did. We hit Chaya Brasserie for some amazing seafood and beef dishes (yes, they do both well). How can you not love a place that offers an appetizer called "Trio of Beouf?" Then Carrie and I headed south to hit the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay for their "Inside the Kitchen" cooking class series, headed up by my friend, the fabulous and talented Diana Gil-Osorio, the hotel's Director of PR. We were entertained and educated by Mark Gordon, executive chef at Terzo here in SF. Terzo is a small plate Nirvana of mediterranean delights. He demonstrated how to make an artichoke dish, asparagus dish and herbed salmon served with fennel salad. If you get the chance to attend one of these classes, go. The Ritz's wine director even pairs wines with the food for the class.

And finally, the visit culminated with Presidio Social Club, a former enlisted men's barracks in the Presidio with a very 50's supper club vibe. It's located right across from the Lucasfilm building just past the Lombard Gate. They do comfort food with gourmet panache - and do not leave until you try the chocolate cupcakes. Service was a bit spotty, but the food was delicious. Us gals felt as though we should be in crinoline-lined dresses and bright red lipstick as we ask our husbands for money for the "powder room." I ordered the Idaho trout and silky, buttery mashed potatoes. My husband ordered the Sloppy Joe served with brisket (not your Mom's sloppy joe, that's for sure).

All in all, a wonderful weekend of friends, wine, and glorious food. But my jeans are tight today so I need a respite. Fine dining is hard work....

Curtains Up

The ground has thawed, the spring has sprung and summer is in full swing. The solstice has come and gone....and with it, my respite from "the theatre". But hark! What is that? Yes, that sound you hear is another fun SF theatre production! Hurrah! I just got cast in Thunderbird Theatre Company's "Aaah! Rosebud" - a comic rendition of Citizen Kane in a snappy "Philadelphia Story"-type rat-a-tat-tat rhythm. And there's zombies. Duh, what comedy is complete without them? It was written by KFOG's own Peter Finch and even he was happy to get a small role in his own play.

Seriously, I was very excited to get invited to join. I almost thought I didn't make the cut, since I got the call a day after the official "if you don't hear from us, you did not get cast" deadline. But joy of joys, they gave me the plum role of Esther. All I know of her is she is an aspiring diva who can't act and who sleeps with the director to get the role. Jennifer Tilly, I'm channeling you!

This seems like a fun and fearless bunch and I'm looking forward to the challenge. I did after all throw all inhibition to the wind during the audition and bust out "Footloose" at the top of my lungs while dancing around the room as a caffeinated cheerleader (which is kind of like bungy jumping in my book - after doing that in a room full of strangers, I think I can do almost anything). I haven't yet seen the script, but buy your tickets anyway!

Do you HAVE to double park?

This is a short PSA rant on double parking in SF. This issue is enough to send me packing to the suburbs (a bold statement, I know). I hope I do all my city brethren a favor.

People, please stop double parking on already narrow streets and blocking traffic! You are in a lane of traffic, you can't just stop whenever you feel like it. What driving school told you this was okay? And putting your blinkers on to wave me around does not help when I can't get through.

I am not immune to ever having done this, don't get me wrong. I have done my share of picking people up, running in to get my take out order, etc. But I'm older and wiser now and try to have a little consideration - not to mention appreciation for safety.

What I can't understand is people that do this when there's a perfectly good parking spot or driveway up ahead they can just pull into. You're waiting in your car anyway - they won't tow you for blocking the drive, they'll just ask you to move. If you are really going to be "just a second" then for the love of God, just pull into the driveway 2 feet in front of you and let traffic flow normally.

The best are the people that do this right at an intersection. So there you are , in the middle of the crosswalk now, hanging out into traffic, endangering pedestrians and causing unecessary traffic snarls. Really, is it so much to ask that you pull up a half a block? Parents dropping off and picking up their kids do this in front of the school down the block from my house. Make your kid walk 50 feet, will ya? I promise it won't kill them, although your inconsideration for others people's children crossing the street just might.

Sigh....charity begins at home in small ways. The world is hard enough and mean enough these days. Show a little courtesy and self-awareness for how your actions impact others.

Peace out....